Evening star., 1951-02-11
Washington Printers
Eorly Days Of Columbia Typographical 81
Society Recalled in Memoirs of Its Members
By John cIoqett Proctor

It is always a fascinating work
to delve into the past and read
ever the names of some of the
city's pioneer citizens and con-
meet them with the families of
the present day. Many are de-
scendants Of the founders Of the
Columbia Typographical Society.
now the Columbia Typographical
Union. No. 101. AS might natu-
rally be supposed, there were not
many printers in the District in
1915. but it is quite likely that a
goodly number are included in the
following list Of local union print
ers as handed down to us: Alex
ander Graham. Andrew Tate,
Francis Burke. Jacob Gideon, jr.;
F. Coyle, Peter c. Konkle, H. C.
Lewis. Henry Martin, John H.
Wade, David McKenna, Christie
pher Byrne, william RICHTER. John
Allen. Robert Allen, w.. T.
Nowlands. John Hines, James Pet
tigrew, John Erskine, John Nor
rison. Alexander I. Lawrence,
william Dougherty. H. G. Foster,
James B. Carter. Robert Dodson,
Augustin p. Soaring, D. Tuttle.
D. Force. T. Byrne, John Suter
and w. 8. D. Grusko.
Indeed. the old society had on
its roll many well-known printers,
quite q number Of whom left the
case for other fields of activity.
Some Of those whose names par
ticularly attracted the writer's
attention were Columbus Alexan-
der. who, the records state, was
admitted as q member in October,
1887: James Clephane. admitted
March. 1922: John r. Crocker,
March, 1884: Judah Delano. 1916;
r. M. Detweiler. January. 1850;
Peter Force. 1916; L. A. Gobright,
1884; William H. Gobright. 1886;
Joseph Hammacher, 1854; John
G. Judd. 1856: Thomas Larner,
1915; Jacob Gideon. 1915; Mi
chael Larner. 1925; N. D. Larner,
1851: Henry Polkinhorn, 1897;
John c. Proctor, the writer's
father, May. 1855: P. L. Rodier,
John Sessford. John H. Sessford.
1843: Lambert Tree, 1921: Lemuel
Towers. 1886; John Thomas Tow
ers, 1884; William H. H. Towers,
1854; Cornelius Wendell. 1854:
Enoch White. February. 1925. and
James Witherow. 1852.
The Peter Force Garden
Columbus Alexander became one
Of Washington's wealthiest resi-
dents and for years conducted q
printing office here. He is said
to have been very exacting with
his employees. The writer's father
served out his apprenticeship un-
der Mr.. Alexander, as did his
mothers brother, Henry L. David
son.
Nearly SO years ago Mrs. Jennie
Tree Rives read a paper before
the Columbia Historical Society
on "Old-Time Places and People
in Washington" including. as she
did, a sketch Of the Peter Force
garden, in which she said. in part:
a.. the old Peter Force garden.
situated on the north side of D
street between Ninth and Tenth
streets. It extended nearly as far
as Frank Wards dairy, on the D
street side, and to the gas Office,
on the east side Of Tenth street.
AS a child I played in the quaint
old garden with my little cousin,
George Force. It contained some
stately old trees. Beds of wild
grew at their roots.
The garden was intersected by
gravel walks, bordered with box.
Tall, white lilacs nodded their
graceful heads and threw out
sweet perfume. Great beds of
gay tiger lilies famed in the sun.
The spicy Glove pink, the moss
rose, marigolds, great beds of
lilies Of the valley. with their tiny
bells and sweet perfume; lilacs,
larkspur, lady's slipper, and four
o'clocks, all grew in this dear old
fashioned garden.
Fast Typesetters
Here Mr.. Force, dressed invari-
ably in q blue coat with brass
buttons and q white rufled shirt.
walked daily. pacing the gravel
walk, his old dog by his side, q
beautiful st. Bernard. We chill
dren left the garden as he entered.
No one was allowed to intrude
upon or disturb grandfather" It
was the household rule.
The house was q low. two-story
brick structure. rather rambling
in character. having two en-