Evening star., 1947-11-16
BY John cIasett Proctor

short distance east of Wisconsin
avenue, which b probably still
standing, and was for many years
in the possession Of his descendants.
Here the general was living when
he received the appointment as .
court clerk. A short time before, he
sold to his brother-in-law. Philip
Barton Key, $50 acres Of the Rose
dale tract, which Mr.. Key named
Woodley. Mr. Key practiced law IN
the District up to the year 1905,
when he transferred his business in
the District to his nephew, Francis
Scott Key. He then built q house
on the south side Of Woodley road,
still standing, between 1htrtieth
and Thirty first streets.
Since the death OF Philip Barton
Key many distinguished persons
have resided In the Woodley man
sion, including President Cleveland
during his second term. In 1929 1t
was sold to the then Secretary Of
State Sttmson, who made 1t his
home.
Gen. Forrest, Like q number Of
others, invested heavily in Washing
ton real estate at q time when
everybody thought it to be the one
and only way to get rich quick and,
like the rest, too, he suffered heavily.
When the Circuit Court Of the Dis
trict was formed in 1901 he felt
complimented at being made the
clerk for Washington County.
George Deneale being appointed to
serve in a like capacity for Alex
andria County. This was in the
days when the District was divided
into two counties, Washington
County being to the north of the
Potomac River and Alexandria
County lying to the south. 1t was
while Gen. Forrest was filling this
position that he died In 1905 and
was buried in the Presbyterian
Cemetery In Georgetown, but later,
on June al, 1883, his remains were
transferred to Oak Hill.
Old Georgetown Families.
Many of the early Georgetown
families were related through inter-
marriage, and 20 we find Col. For
rest and Philip Barton Key (uncle
Of Francis Scott Key brothers-in-
law, both having married daughters
of Hon. George Platter. sixth Gov
ernor OF Maryland. Col. Plater's
wife was the sister Of Gen. James
Macubbin Lingan and one of his
daughters. Ann, was the first wife of
Maj. George Peter, son of Robert
Peter, whose brother Thomas mar
ried Martha Parke Custis, grand
daughter of Martha Washington.
Robert Peter was very thoughtful
of his sons and built six houses on
K street NV. In groups of two for
his sons, Thomas, Robert, David,
George, Sandy and James-as stated
by Christian Hines. Two Of these
houses. which stood at the corner
of Twenty-fourth and K streets,
were consumed by fire about the
time they were completed. Two
others were at 2506 and 2508 K
street and the others In the block
to the west at 261s and 2620, and
it was in the last-numbered house
that Thomas Peter lived and was
visited by Gen. Washington. The
two houses between Twenty-fifth
and Twenty streets, were re-
moved some years ago and the two
between Twenty sixth and Twenty
seventh streets have been re-
modelled.
! Another interesting connection OF
old Georgetown families took place
when Col. George Corbin Washing
ton, great-nephew Of Gen. Wash
ington, married as his nrst wife,
Elizabeth, daughter Of Thomas
Beall, and whose son was Lewis
w. Washington. Col. George C.
Washington's second wife, Ann
Peter, was q descendant Of Ninian