davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-06-07
Prominent Washingtonians of the Old First Ward

end Of the Willard Hotel. When eventu-
ally given up as . church, this building
became known as Willard Hall.
AS supplementary information it is
also stated In the preceding document
that Mr. Barclay was born In the town
of Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ire
land, in the year 1755 Cor 1850, exact
year to him being uncertain. In detail
ing his war experience he mentions an
incident that almost puts him in class
with Sergt. York Of the first World War
fame. 1t was, upon one occasion he
says, when stationed between New Castle
and Wilmington that he captured single
handed seven prisoners-one soldier and
six sailors from the Lord Howe packet,
ut that time lying near New Castle.
Confusion of Names.
Unfortunately, in delving into the his
tory Of early Americans, one frequently
finds several persons by the same name,
all living at the same time. and some
times In the same community, who can
not be easily identified, and this Is
substantially what the writer found in
the case OF q certain Thomas Barclay,
who was q prominent citizen Of Phila-
delphia, was born in Ireland, and who
had . flne residence at Morrisville on
the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware.
opposite Trenton, N. j.
OF course this Thomas Barclay may
not have been connected on this side.
Of the big pond with the Barclays of
Washington, and still he might have
been. But whether he was or was
not. yet, at least he was valuable
patriot, and on Sunday, December 8,
1776, when Gen. Washington was being
hotly pursued by the British, he retreated
from Princeton, N. j., crossed the Della
ware, and made his headquarters at
the rambling stone mansion Of the
PENNSYLVANIA Thomas Barclay, who at
one time contributed 5000 pounds for
furnishing supplies Of provisions to the
Army Of the American Revolution. And
connect this patriot up with our honor
able Commissioner, yet he proved him
self to be q good Barclay and, like the
Thomas Barclay Of Washington. was a
pioneer member Of the Friendly Sons
Of st. Patrick.
According to family record, the Thomas
Barclay of Washington first settled in
Georgetown before moving to his home
east Of Rock Creek. He was close
friend Of Samuel Davidson. an original
proprietor. who, about 1885, Is said to
have decided him lot Is, in square 1859
which is in the First ward and bounded
by F and G, Seventeenth and Eigh-
teenth streets
For many years he resided in two
story brick house on the west side Of
Eighteenth street, between G street and
Pennsylvania avenue. his near neighbor
to the north being q DR.. Little. How
ever. in 1927 he resided at Twentieth and
M streets, and in 1880 he is shown to be
living on H street between Twenty-hrst
and Twenty second streets.
His activities included early member
ship in the Volunteer Fire Department
Of Washington. In 1884 he married Ann
Harper. in Alexandria, Va. and by her
had the following children: Mary, James,
Frances Johnstone, John Davidson and
Thomas. jr. His death notice, appear
ing In the National Intelligencer Of Oc-
tober IS. 1888 has this to say:
Yesterday, the oath, aged rs, Thomas
Evening star., 1942-06-07
Bv Allan NeVinS.

There exists group picture OF Grover
Cleveland and his cabinet taken late in
his second term-probably in 1896. Cab
inets were smaller then than today and
but eight men were grouped around the
President. At one elbow sat Richard
Olney. Secretary of State, looking-with
his grim jaw, stern eyes and generally
pugnacious expression-like bulldog
ready to spring At the other elbow sat
that keen-minded Kentucky gentleman,
John G. Carlisle. ouizzical smile on his
craggy, homely features; he was Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and his incessant
troubles gave him a jaded look. Two
men In the group were as handsome as
sctors-the tall Judson Harmon Of Ohio.
with deep-dark eyes and well-chiseled
nose and chin and the dapper John r.
Francis, with romantic flowing mus
tache
We might name others in the group;
for example, the slight, stopped Post
master General William L. Wilson, true
scholar in politics. But the most impress
sive feature of the photograph is the way
in which Cleveland dominates 1t.
Souarely in the center he sits, massive,
broad -shouldered, barrel-bodied giant OF
p man, his huge head thrown well back,
his pudgy hands resting on his tremen-
dous knees. His figure, though lacking
thrust and alertness has weight and
puny by comparison.
In much the same fashion Grover
Cleveland seems to dominate the whole
period of American history between re-
construction and the Spanish War; DOM
mate it not by bold leadership, but by
massive weight of character 1t was a
period Ct sharp contrasts. For a dozen
years thu currents of national life ran
smoothly: then, under pressure of the
hard times after the panic of 1893 they
burst up in a geyserlike spout of discon-
cent, class feeling and radical demand
for change.
Cleveland first came to the presidency
sd er,s prosperous term to show what he
could do for sober, honest and grimly-
thorough reform. Then he stood on the
sidelines for four more years while the
skies grew darker. He came back into
power just as the tempest burst.
Had to Be Obstructive.
In his second term he had to meet
fierce, unyielding depression, rlotous
strikes, marches of the unemployed, Jingo
demands for foreign war, and, most
dangerous of all, determined drive TO
force the Nation to cheap silver dollar
at a time when all the other great ma
tions had gold-standard currency. In
his first administration he had been con-
structive. In his second. ls93-97, he had
70 be dosgedly obstructive to forces that
Evening star., 1942-06-07
By John Clagett Proctor.

at an early date q Mr.. Harbaugh
an architect; Mr.. Shaw, stone cutter;
Joseph Wilson, Mr.. Sandiford, MIR.
Wirley, pump borer named Matthias,
Thomas Peter, Mr.. Luca, Richard
Elliott, Mrs. Pratt, Thomas Smith
(coloreO, Thomas Taylor ST.: Mr..
Stevens, Mr.. Wilson, Mr.. Willard, who
kept Willard's Spring Garden on the
square between c and D and Twenty
first and Twenty second streets, and
William King.
The King house, which stood on the
block between E and F. and Twentieth
and Twenty-first streets, was later owned
by Joseph Forest, and a near neighbor
was Mr.. Farrell, a school teacher. OF
course. there had to be a brewery, and
this was conducted in the square be-
tween B street and the Potomac and
Nineteenth and Twentieth streets-now
covered by the temporary War Depart
nent buildings-by a Mr.. Cunningham.
Mr.. Smoot, Mr.. Williams and Mr.. Clark
lived in the vicinity.
Mr.. Hines also mentions the Taylos
mansion and David Burns cottage,
where Marcia, the heiress, was born
and where she probably married Gen.
John p. Van Ness, United States Repre-
sentative in Congress from New York
and later Mayor Of Washington from
1880 to 1888.
To the north Of the Avenue at this
early date lived Mr.. Houseman, Mr..
Pollock, Samuel Mcintyre, Mr.. Middle
ton and William Waters. William
ONeale at this time Qs0O) was selling
coal and wood and conducting cooper
ing establishment on I street, between
Twentieth and Twenty-first streets, in a
three-story brick house, and had as his
next-door neighbor Joel Brown, esq.
These two houses formed the nucleus
of what q few years later became the
Franklin Hotel, where the charming
Peggy (ONeale) Timberlaks met Sena-
tor John H. Eaton of Tennessee, who
soon afterward became her second hus-
band. Suffice it to say that it was this
alliance that almost disrupted President
Jackson's first cabinet, in which Gen.
Eaton was then serving as Secretary OF
War. Senator Eaton subsequently held
other Federal posts Of honor. He died
in Washington in 1856 and was buried in
Oak Hill Cemetery. and here also calmly
reposes the charming Peggy.
Among the other prominent men who
lived at the Franklin House was George
Clinton, Vice President of the United
States from 1905 and until his death on
April 20, 1872. For nearly 100 years
the remains of this distinguished Amer
lean reposed in Congressional Gene
terry, but in 1908 they were taken to
New York and reinterred in the First
Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery in
Kingston. Upon Gen. Lafayettes visit
to Washington in 1824-5 he was a guest
in this famous hostelry.
Thomas Barclays Residence.
OF course, since Mr.. Hines refers gen.
orally to the period Of 1900, he omits the
names Of many prominent men and
families who resided in this section fol-
lowing that year and, no doubt, he
omitted others whose names did not
occur to him at the time he wrote his
recollections Indeed one early resident
who was living there at the beginning
of the 10Th century, was an old Revolu-
tionary soldier named Thomas Barclay,
Evening star., 1942-06-07

As a second achievement. in both ad-
ministrations he stood for a fairer taxa
ton system. and in particular did much
to educate the public to the need for
lower and more scientific tariff He got
an improved tariff law, though not as
good as the one he wanted; he helped
put on the statute books an income tax.
Later the tariff went back to high levels
and the Supreme Court annuled the
income tax law. But the work of educa-
ton he had done persisted.
Opposed Annexing Hawaii.
His third achievement was the main
tenance Of a high standard of national
morality in foreign relations. He re-
fused to let Nicaragua be made a pro-
tectorate; he opposed the annexation Of
Hawaii in 1893 by means that were
shown to be unfair and coercive; and he
resisted the clamor for war with Spain.
Himself upholding the highest ideals in
international affairs, he insisted in his
treatment of Venezuelan affairs in 1895
that Great Britain should also uphold
them.
Finally-and this is perhaps his most
striking service-he labored successfully,
against titanic odds, to maintain what
he regarded as sound monetary sys-
Evening star., 1942-06-07

Barclay. Esq, for many years clerk
in the Treasury Department. His friends,
and those of his son, John D. Barclay,
are invited to attend his funeral, at 3l1
o'clock this afternoon. from the residence
Of the latter, on Eighteenth street
He was buried in old Holmead Gem
etery.
John Davidson Barclay, son of Thomas
Barclay, was born in Georgetown. jan
uary 26, 1870, and died in Washington
Evening star., 1942-06-07

II Cleveland expected TO be renon1i-
mated for the presidency in 1892, it was
apparently necessary for him to fall into
line, or at least to keep silent. But ex-
pediency in such matter meant nothing
to him On February 10. 1891. he pub
lished his famous silver letter" in which
he fatly warned the country that 1t
would meet disaster If it entered upon
the dangerous and reckless experiment"
of free silver coinage.
Some thought he had thrown away
the presidency. But the courage with
which he took determined stand when
no other national leader dared do so
actually gave him enhanced strength.
When reelected President, his first step
was to force a repeal of the Sherman
Silver Purchase Act which was under
mining the existent currency system. In
doing this he made so many enemies
that passage of q drastically reduced
tariff, the reform nearest his heart, be-
came impossible. Yet he did not hesi-
tate over what seemed the larger duty.
To keep an adequate gold reserve in the
Treasury, he f1oated bond issue after
bond issue against the stormiest opposi-
ton. The abuse and threats never
daunted him.
st am sure was never more complete
ly in the right path Of duty than am
now" he wrote friend.
Gould Strike Heavy Blows.
He had a tremendous power of taking
punishment, and in the second admins
tration he needed it. He also possessed
a capacity for striking heavy blows. Half
way through this second administra-
ton, although he knew that he was
being accused OF disrupting his party. he
unhesitatingly published letter declar-
ing that Arthur Pue German, Calvin
Brice and other Senators who had op-
posed his plans for lower tariff were
guilty Of party perfidy and party dis
honor"
In 1898 william Randolph Hearst tele-
rraphed Cleveland that leading naval
and military ofhcers. some ex-cabinet
members. many Senators. Is Governors.
and more than 30 mayors had accepted
membership upon his committee to erect
a monument by popular subscription to
the dead sailors of the battleship Maine.
He asked permission to use Cleveland's
name. But Cleveland detested Hearsts
tactics in demanding war with Spain,
and instantly telegraphed him: Il de-
cline to allow my sorrow for those who
died on the Maine to be perverted into
an advertising scheme for the New
York Journal"
BY the application of his shrewd COM
mon sense and his firm love Of principle
to American affairs, Cleveland accom-
plished many services to the Republic.
The greatest of them may be grouped
under four headings. In his first ad-
ministration, undertaking the reform OF
all the Government departments, he re-
stored to many of them an honesty and
efficiency which they had lost. The
Navy, for example, was for the first time
given a modern footing; the Interior
Department forced the return OF vast
areas of public land taken from the
Government.
Evening star., 1942-06-07

AVA VI " Dot SbNSS tftN 'SN' "~N
James Rankin Young, a nelDS-
papernldn and later q men,
Der of Congress from Phild-
detphid.
was married by the Rev. James Laurie
to Anna Atmore Woodside OF Phila-
delphia.
John D. Barclay was man OF wealth
and prominence and probably could have
amassed larger fortune had he &C
cepted the opportunity of becoming
partner in the banking business with
w. w. Corcoran, instead Of leaving this
to George w. Riggs Nevertheless. at a
very early date, he did the next best
thing and became neighbor OF Mr..
Corcoran, when, in 1911, he bought the
Ann CaZanave house which stood on H
street near the corner of Vermont ave-
nue., the site now being covered by the
Veterans Administration Building.
Ann Cazsnave, who built this fine old
residence. later erected palatial home
at the southwest corner OF Fourteenth
and C streets S.W., site Of the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing, and the H street
residence was sold to Mr.. Barclay as
stated. Taxes were not so high in Wash
ington when Mr.. Barclay bought the H
street property, and for some years fol-
lowing the improvements were assessed
at only $1,400 and the ground at only
16 cents a foot.
Barclay Funeral Ceremonies.
Feeling that The Star would likely
contain an account Of the death Of this
prominent resident, the writer sought
the files of this paper. and here is what
he found in the issue Of January l3,
1870:
THE funeral Of J. D. Barclay, Esq,
took place yesterday afternoon. and was
largely attended. Rev. J. N. Combs
preached the funeral sermon, and the
following were the pall-bearers: DR..
John B. Blake, Mr. Lovejoy, Mr.. Adams.
j. H. Houston. Mr.. lockwood, Mr..
Stroman, Mr.. Eveleth, and ex-Mayor
wallach. Mr.. Joseph Gawler was the
undertaken The comm Of the deceased
was covered with black cloth, on which
was . silver plate with the simple in
scription, John D. Barclay, born Febru-
ary 2e, 17s0; died January 10, 1s7o.'
'Mr Barclay was born in Georgetown
when 1t was q part od Montgomery
County, Maryland, and has spent his
long life in the District of Columbia;
most Of 1t in faithful service to the
Government. He was exceedingly me
thodical and abstemious in his habits,
never having been inside a drinking
saloon or barroom in his life. His re-
mains were taken to Glenwood Cemetery
and deposited in the family lot"
1t should also be said to the credit OF
this good man that he was member Of
the Common Council in the Thirty-third
Council Of the City Of Washington in
1885, and that from the years 1886 to
1s47 he was an alderman-or a member
of the upper branch of the city Council
of which he was president in 1s46, during
which time he occasionally acted for the
Mayor, William w. Seaton.
The children Of John D. Barclay in
cluded John MCGOWAN. Eliza Jane,
James, William, Anna, Thomas Jeffer-
son, Mary Ann, George Washington, An
ME Reynolds and William Henry Harri-
son.
ably became the most prominent Of
the children, mentioned, died Decem-
Der "A, 1887. and the National Republican
of December 2s. 1887. printed the follow
ing interesting sketch:
After an illness of more than two
months Mr. John M. Barclay. for many
Evening star., 1942-06-07
Early Recollections.
THERE WERE GIANTS IN
THOSE DAYS."

This il the fourteenth of series Of
articles about men and women who worked,
fought and died that America might live
by contributing their own greatness to a
country which was founded and has en-,
the pursuit of happiness as the right OF
every man The fifteenth article in the
series will appear next Sunday.
Evening star., 1942-06-07

The Second Ward was north of Penn
sylvania avenue and west of Sixth street,
west to Rock Creek. and all of Wash
ington east of Sixth street west was
embraced in the Third Ward.
However, by 1871, when the Terri
torial Government came into existence,
the population of Washington had in
creased to such an extent that the
city had been divided into seven wards,
and the First Ward included all the
city west of Fifteenth street northwest.
Early Recollections.
Christian Hines, the author Of Early
Recollections of Washington City" who
resided in the First Ward prior to 1799-
and before his father moved to street,
opposite Woodward IL Lothrop's store in
18oo-mentions as residing in that ward
Evening star., 1942-06-07
Thomas Barclays Residence.

he thought sinister. He hardened his
will and gave his whole mental and
moral weight to the task.
No student of Cleveland's career has
ever felt any doubt as to the principal
quality for which the country will always
admire him. His courageous adherence
to duty, his stubborn insistence upon
principle, lifted him above all the mere
politicians Of his time. He had his
faults, and Intellectually he was more
limited than many contemporaneou fig
ures. He was not imaginative, flexible
or resourceful. But he possessed clear
eyed common sense that with few errors
picked out the right course; and when
he had once decided on it, he hewed to
the line without regard to pleas, cajolery
or threats-without fear or favor. He
was John Bunyan's Valiant-for-T Truth
transferred to the 18th century.
The illustrations of his blunt, undevi-
ating character are as refreshing as they
are numerous. When, as Governor Of
New York, he wanted to prevent the re-
nomination of a State Senator who had
opposed sound legislation, he did not 20
through the pretense of appealing to the
voters of a machine controlled district.
He sent a frank demand to John Kelly,
boss of Tammany, and fought the matter
out with him to a victorious conclusion
1t seemed certain in 1884 that he
would never get the electoral vote of
New York State without the support of
Tammany, and that he could never be-
come President without the New York
electors. Yet he steadfastly opposed
Tammany Hall, refused to make a single
concession to it in appointments or 9TH
erwise, and won votes by the enemies he
thus made. When in the heat of the
campaign of 1884 a scandal regarding his
private life as a bachelor lawyer some
10 years earlier was suddenly sprung
upon the country, he was undaunted.
Whatever you do" he telegraphed his
stunned friends in Buffalo, tell the
truth" A little later he wrote one of
them that the policy Of mot cringins"
had been the only possible course-and
his manly attitude won him admiration
and support.
Refused to Truckle.
Some men advised him that year to
take steps to conciliate the Greenback-
Labor candidate, who was being covertly
aided by Tammany. "I would rather be
beaten in this race than to truckle to
Butler or Kelly" he declared. He never
truckled to anybody.
The story is told of an editor who
came to the White House, tried to get
something from him, and departed, de-
claring: HE is the greatest man ever
met-and he wouldn't do a single thing
1 wanted"
More than once, in his unfaltering
fidelity to what he thought the right
course, he seemed about to wreck HIM
self and his party. In 1890-91 the West
and South, where the Democratic party
was strongest, appeared insistent upon
the free and unlimited coinage of silver.
The Senate twice passed free-coinage
bill, with Democratic members furnish
ing most Of the votes. Democratic con-
ventions In more than 20 States voted IN
favor of such action.
Evening star., 1942-11-20
New Trial Denied Sextet
Convicted Of Treason
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Ill. Nov. 20-Federal
Judge William J. Campbell today
denied motions for a new trial and
arrest of judgment for the six Ger
Americans convicted of treason
last week for aiding and sheltering
Herbert Haupt, executed Nazi sabo-
teur.
Judge Campbell, after hearing
arguments for mitigation of the
sentence, said he would sentence
the sextet at 1890 am. next Tues
day They face minimum SEN
tence of five years in prison and
may be sentenced to death.
The convicted defendants are Mr..
and Mrs. Hans Max Haupt, parents
of the executed saboteur; Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter Froehling, uncle and
aunt of Herbert Haupt. and Mr.. and
Mrs. Otto Wergin, friends Of the
Haupt family.
Attorney Paul A. F. Warnholtz
argued that the Government had
failed to prove the overt acts charged
in the Indictment. He said that the
jury did not take time enough to
consider the evidence properly be-
fore reaching a verdict. The jury
devoted only about 10 minutes to the
fate of each defendant, he charged,
and apparently had paid more at
tention to "inf1ammatory" remarks
hv the Government than to the evil
dence.
Evening star., 1942-11-20
Arrested as Draft Eyader,
Youth Tries 10 Re-EnIist.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20.-John
Robinson Baer, who was inducted
into the Army. tossed out through
no fault Of his own and later
arrested as a draft evader, proved
his innocence yesterday and then,
quicker than you can say Jack
Robinson Baer, said he would try
to get into the Army again.
Mr. Baer, 81. Of Hollywood, took
his first physical examination last
March and was deferred for six
months. He reported back to his
draft board at the end OF the
period. was re-examined, accepted
and sent to Fort Macarthur where
he trained for IS days.
Then they told him they had
no record Of his induction, and
what was he doing in their Army
anyway? So Baer was DISCHARGED,
wearing borrowed clothing because
he had thrown his own civvies
away, and bearing no draft card
brought about his arrest, and it
developed that his Selective Serv-
ice board for some reason had listed
him as fugitive.
He told his story to United States
Commissioner David B. Head, and
was speedily exonerated. Now, he
said, he will try to enlist.
Evening star., 1942-11-20
Grocers
Continued From First Page.)

farmers even if there is less taxicab
driving in New York" he said.
OF food rationing, Mr.. Jeffers
said:
What does the average farmer
out in the country think when he
reads in the New York dailies that
New York night clubs are doing the
best business Of all time?"
Mr.. Jeffers said that e break
down of the shortage of rubber
would be more disastrous than
military defeat"
Americans know we are at war"
he said. There has been much
confusion. There have been mis-
statements about rubber, but make
no mistake-we are short and we
can bridge the gap only If we will
play the game. We can win TO-
gether or lose together"
Low Ebb Next Fall.
Mr.. Jeffers said that the first unit
Of a group Of synthetic rubber
plants now being constructed would
be ready in West Virginia by the
middle of January, adding:
There will be some bugs in these
new plants that must be ironed out
and when q plant comes into service
1t will not mean that it will be
operating at capacity Immediately. :"
He prediced that the low ebb of
the Nations rubber supply would
he raArhAd ,@Avt faN ~nA s>{A U->
must bridge the gap between then
and the middle of 1874"
ITS a question Of the peoples
foot on the accelerator," he said.
ITS their Job to drive at less than
IS miles IN hour. It's not asking
too much to demand that q country
at war slow down.