History of Washington, (Cumberland County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

Absalom Baird, soldier, was born at Washington, Pa., Aug. 20, 1824. His primary education fitted him for entrance to Washington college, where he was graduated in 1841. He studied law, afterwards entered the military academy as a cadet in 1844 and was graduated in 1849, promoted to 1st lieutenant in 1853, and until 1859 was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point. At the outbreak of the civil war he commanded a battery in the defences of Washington and was promoted captain by brevet, May 11, 1861. He was assigned to the adjutant-general's department as assistant, and in July, 1861, was made adjutant-general in Tyler's division and took part in the Manassas campaign. including Blackburn's Ford and Bull Run. He was promoted captain Aug. 3, 1861, and major Nov. 12, 1861, and served as chief of staff of the 4th army corps in the Peninsular campaign, engaging in the siege of Yorktown and the battle of Williamsburg. He was commander of a brigade in the army of the Ohio in 1862, of the 3d division of the army of Kentucky in the operations of General Rosecrans in Tennessee. He received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel for gallantry in battle at Chicamauga, and that of colonel after the battle of Chattanooga, where he commanded a division of the 14th army corps. In 1865 he was brevetted brigadier-general for gallantry at the battle of Atlanta, and in September of the same year was brevetted major-general for his service in the field during the entire war, he was made major-general of volunteers for service at Jonesboro and Resaca in the Atlanta campaign and after various services, in the capacity of inspector-general, he was by the action of the law retired Sept. 22, 1885.

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

Joseph Albert Wright, governor of Indiana, was born in Washington, Pa., April 17, 1810. He attended the State University of Indiana; studied law in Bloomington, Ind.; was admitted to the bar in 1829, and established himself in Rockville, Ind., where his brother, Judge George Grover Wright was a law student. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1833; state senator in 1840; a Democratic representative in the 28th congress, 1843-45, and governor of Indiana, 1849-57. He was U.S. minister to Prussia, 1857-61, and 1865-67; was appointed U.S. senator to fill the vacancy caused by the expulsion of Jesse D. Bright, Feb. 5, 1862, and took his seat, March 3, 1862, serving till Jan. 22, 1863, when David Turpie, who was elected to complete the term, succeeded him. He was U.S. commissioner to the International Exhibition held at Hamburg, in 1863. He served again as U.S. minister to Prussia, by appointment from President Johnson, from June 30, 1865, until his death in Berlin, Prussia, May 11, 1867.

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

Andrew Wylie, educator, was born in Washington, Pa., April 12, 1789; son of Adam Wylie, a native of county Antrim, north of Ireland, who immigrated to America about 1776, and settled in Fayette county, Pa. Andrew Wylie worked on a farm and attended the common schools, and was graduated from Jefferson college, Canonsburg, Pa., A.B., 1810, remaining as tutor in the college, 1811. He subsequently studied theology; was licensed to preach, Oct. 21, 1812; ordained by the presbytery of Ohio, June 23, 1813, and was pastor at Miller's Run, Pa., 1813-16. He was married, in May, 1813, to Margaret, daughter of Craig and Mary Ritchie of Canonsburg. He succeeded the Rev. Dr. James Dunlap, resigned, as president of Jefferson college, serving, 1812-16; was president of Washington (Pa.) college, 1817-28, serving also as acting pastor at Ten Mile and West Liberty, Pa., 1817-28, and first president of Indiana college (now university) from 1829 until his death. He was ordained deacon of the Episcopal church in December, 1841, and priest in May, 1842, by Bishop Kemper. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Union college in 1825. He is the author of: English Grammar (1822); Eulogy on General Lafayette (1834): Sectarianism is Heresy (1840); published many sermons and left in MSS. A Treatise on Rhetoric and The Training of Youth. Dr. Wylie died in Bloomington, Ind., Nov. 11, 1851.

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

George Washington Morgan, soldier, was born in Washington, Pa., Sept. 20, 1820; son of Thomas and Katherine (Duane) Morgan, and grandson of Col. George and Mary (Baynton) Morgan, and of Col. William and Katherine (Corcoran) Duane. He entered Washington college, Pa., but left in 1836, at the age of sixteen, in order to enlist in a company organized and commanded by his brother, Capt. Thomas Jefferson Morgan, to assist Texas in gaining her independence. Upon his arrival in Texas he was comissioned a lieutenant in the Texan army and subsequently gained the rank of captain, and was in command of Galveston when only eighteen. He retired from the service, Sept. 6, 1839. In 1841 he entered the U.S. Military academy. He left West Point in 1843, and removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he entered upon the practice of law in partnership with his preceptor, John K. Miller, in 1845. On the outbreak of the Mexican war he became colonel of the 2d Ohio volunteer regiment and served under General Taylor, and in 1847 was appointed colonel of the 15th U.S. infantry, which regiment he commanded at Contreras and at Churubusco, where he was severely wounded. He was brevetted brigadier-general by recommendation of General Scott, and received the thanks of the Ohio legislature and a gold sword from the citizens of Ohio for gallantry displayed in these battles. He survived all officers who held the rank of general in the Mexican war. He was U.S. consul at Marseilles, France, 1856-58; U.S. minister to Portugal, 1858-61; was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, and commanded the 7th division, Army of the Ohio, in April, 1862, and was ordered to occupy Cumbarland Gap, Ky., and if possible drive the Confederates out of east Tennessee. General Morgan turned the Confederate position by marching through Big Creek and Rogers Gap and took possession of Cumberland Gap on June 18, 1862. Intrenchments were thrown up and the place was strongly fortified, but its importance in a general campaign was unproportionate to the force required to maintain it, and on Sept. 17, 1862, after a succession of efforts by Col. John H. Morgan to render the place untenable, and provisions becoming scarce, the fort was evacuated and the division made its way through eastern Kentucky to the Ohio river at Greenup, closely followed by Generals Carter Stevenson, Humphrey Marshall and John H. Morgan, who failed to intercept his march. He did not reach Greenup until Oct. 2, 1862. He commanded the 3d division, right wing, 13th army corps, under Gen. William T. Sherman, at the battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, Vicksburg, Miss., and the 13th army corps, Army of the Mississippi, under Gen. John A. McClernand, at the capture of Fort Hindman, Ark., Jan. 11, 1863. He resigned from the army on account of failing health in June, 1863, and practised law in Mount Vernon, Ohio, 1863-93. He was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio in 1865; and represented the thirteenth district of Ohio in the 40th, 41st and 42d congresses, 1867-73. His election to the 40th congress was successfully contested by Columbus Delano, who took his place in June, 1868, and served throughout the second session of the 40th congress. He was a delegate at large from Ohio to the Democratic national convention at St. Louis, June 28, 1876. He died at Old Point Comfort, Va., July 26, 1893.

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