History of Ridgewood, (Bergen County) New Jersey United States of America

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Biographies:

Adam Badeau, soldier, was born in New York city, Dec. 29, 1831. He was educated at private schools, and became a regular contributor to the press, notably to Noah's Sunday Times, over the pen-name of "The Vagabond." In 1862 he volunteered in the army, and was attached to the staff of Brigadier-General Thomas W. Sherman. In 1863 he was severely wounded at Port Hudson, and the following year was appointed military secretary to General Grant, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, soon afterwards being promoted to colonel. He accompanied General Grant through the Wilderness and Appomattox campaigns, and continued a member of his staff until 1869, when he was retired with the rank of captain and the brevet rank of brigadier-general U.S.A. He was appointed secretary of legation at London in 1869 by President Grant, and the next year went to Spain with government despatches. President Grant then made him consul-general in London, which office he held for about ten years. During that time he accompanied General Grant on a portion of his tour around the world. In May, 1882, President Arthur appointed him consul-general at Havana, where he remained two years. When being denied an opportunity of proving certain charges he had formulated against the state department, he resigned and sought to reinstate himself in his former military position. This was not allowed, on the ground that he had vacated it when he entered the diplomatic service. In 1888 he sued the Grant estate for moneys which he declared to be due to him for literary services in aiding General Grant in writing his "Memoirs," but the case was decided against him in the courts. His principal publications are a collection of essays: "The Vagabond" (1859); a "Military History of Ulysses S. Grant," in three volumes (1867-'81); "Conspiracy; a Cuban Romance" (" Aristocracy in England" (1886), and "Grant in Peace" (1886). He died at Ridgewood, N.J., March 19, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Chester Buttre, engraver, was born at Auburn, N. Y., June 10, 1821. He received an academical education, studied portrait-painting, but abandoned it for wood-engraving, and removed to New York city in 1841, where he later applied himself wholly to engraving on steel. A unique method in the treatment of portraits by which he secured life-like expression brought him into prominence, and after his notable engraving of President Buchanan many orders came to him unsolicited. He executed a fine portrait of Lincoln, and a full length of Martha Washington. His work was in great demand for standard illustrated publications. He engraved a number of large plates for popular sale, notably Only a Little Book, Welcome Home, The First Step, The Empty Sleeve, The Old Oaken Bucket, and Prayer in Camp. His last engraving was a vignette of Grant, published after the general's death. He also published the American Art Gallery in 3 vols., containing the portraits of two hundred and fifty eminent persons in the United States, with letter-press by his daughter Lillian C. Buttre. He possessed a very large collection of steel-engraved portraits, daguerreotypes and photographs. He died at Ridgewood, N. J., Dec. 2, 1893.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor