George
Washington – Facts
George
Washington was born on February 22, 1732 at his father’s Pope Creek Estate in
Westmoreland, Virginia. George’s father died when he was only 11 years old. His
mother was known for being a very demanding and controlling woman. George respected
and looked up to his older half-brother Lawrence. George had no formal
education. However, he read as many books as he could devour and worked to
educate himself as much as possible throughout his life. One of the skills he taught himself was
surveying. Shortly after the death of
his beloved brother, Lawrence, George Washington was appointed to the rank of
major in the Virginia militia. During the French and Indian War, Washington
built Fort Necessity along the Ohio River. It would be the only time in his
military career that George Washington would surrender. After the French and
Indian War, George married Martha Dandridge Custis. Martha brought not only
land and money to the marriage but also two children from her former marriage
and George adored John and Martha. Sadly, little Martha died before the
American Revolution and John died during the American Revolution where George
was serving as the General of the Continental Army. After both the French and
Indian War and The American Revolution, George Washington would return to his
home at Mount Vernon and work his land as a planter. In 1787, George Washington
would once again leave Mount Vernon to serve his beloved United States of
America. This time, he would serve as the first President of America. George
Washington was the only president to ever be unanimously elected to office by
every elector of the Electoral College. Washington was disheartened by
partisanship that accompanied the formation of political parties. He felt
politics should be about the issues and not personality. Knowing he was aging,
George refused to serve a third term as President and returned home to Mount
Vernon. George Washington served as President of the United States of America
from 1789 to 1797. George Washington died at Mount Vernon, Virginia on December
14, 1799 after too much blood letting due to fever (Matthew March - Cumberland County Historical Society). My son and I had the pleasure of touring Washington's beloved Mount Vernon a few years ago with my brother and sister-in-law, both of whom are history teachers, and their children. My son was in awe at walking on the same land where George Washington trod.
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| Mount Vernon |
George
Washington’s Faith: “George Washington was a member of the Anglican church. He
made frequent references to God and the Bible in his public statements and
private letters. Personal friends and family members gave accounts of his
regular Bible reading, church attendance and moral lifestyle. He personally
promoted a project to evangelize Indians that was organized by Selina, Countess
of Huntingdon. Washington even had a portrait of the Countess hanging in his
house. The Countess was one of the leading evangelical ministers of the day.
Washington was a ‘Low Church’ Anglican, the branch of the Anglican church that
took the Bible literally and would be considered "true" to the Bible
by believing Christians today.” (Revolutionary War and Beyond)
More
Information on George Washington can be found at: Biography, White House,
History, Revolutionary War and Beyond, and Mount Vernon.
Abraham
Lincoln – Facts
Abraham (Abe)
Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log cabin in Hardin County,
Kentucky. In 1817, Abraham’s family moved to Perry County Indiana where they were
squatters on government land. A year later in 1818 when Abe was only nine years
old, his mother Nancy died. A little over a year later, Abe’s father, Thomas,
married Sally Johnston. Both his mother and step-mother were influential in
Abe’s life. Not only did he share strong bonds with both women but they also
taught him to believe in God and hold firmly to that faith. Abraham Lincoln
only received 18 months of formal education. The rest of his education was
self-taught. Abe would walk miles to neighbors’ homes to borrow books for
reading. At 22 years of age, Abe headed out on his own and made a living by
splitting firewood and rail fencing. Abraham Lincoln finally settled down in
Salem, Illinois where he held several jobs including shopkeeper, postmaster,
and general store owner. In 1834, Abraham Lincoln began his political career by
becoming a Illinois State Legislator. During this time, Abe became romantically
involved with Anne Rutledge who sadly died of Typhoid before the couple could
get married. Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd, who was his exact opposite:
from a well-respected family, highly-educated, and exuberant, in 1842. They had
four children together. In 1844, Abraham Lincoln became a partner in law with
William Herndon. Abe would serve a two year term in the United States House of
Representatives from 1847 to 1849. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln would be elected
the 16th President of the United States of America with only 40
percent of the popular vote and 180 of the 303 Electoral College votes. Approximately
one month after his inauguration, Abraham Lincoln would face one of the
greatest challenges any president would ever face: The American Civil War. In
1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all
slaves. On April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Army of
Virginia or the Army of the Confederate States, surrendered to General Ulysses
S. Grant, the Commander of the Union Army, at Appomattox, Virginia effectively bringing
the Civil War to an end. Several days later, on April 14, 1865 Abraham Lincoln
was assassinated by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington,
DC. Lincoln would remain in a coma until his death the following day on April
15, 1865. His body would be carried via a train processional from Washington,
DC to Springfield, IL where he would be buried. People came to pay their
respects as the train made its way west. My son and I have had the honor of
riding along the same train rails that carried Lincoln’s processional train
through Hanover Junction here in Pennsylvania.
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| Lincoln's Home |
Abraham
Lincoln’s Faith: Abraham Lincoln’s faith has been an issue of great debate over
the years. While Abe never joined any specific church, he did attend church
services on a regular basis both as a child and while serving as President. It
appears that Lincoln didn’t agree with the legalism of many churches. His faith
was simply stated: "When any church will inscribe over its altar, as its
sole qualification for membership, the Savior's condensed statement of the
substance of both law and Gospel, 'Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul and thy neighbor as thyself' that church will
I join with all my heart and all my soul." (Great American History) His
faith is exhibited furthermore in a proclamation for prayer and fasting on
March 30, 1863 when Lincoln stated; “It is the duty of nations as well as of
men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to confess
their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that
genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime
truth, announced in Holy Scripture, and proven by all history, that those
nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.” (Great American History) Even
more remarkable to note is a President on his knees in prayer for our nation: “I
went to my room one day and locked the door and got down on my knees before
Almighty God and prayed to Him mightily for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him
that this war was His war, and our cause His cause ... And after that, I don't
know how it was, and I cannot explain it, but soon a sweet comfort crept into
my soul.” (Great American History)
More information on Abraham Lincoln can be found at: History, Biography, Great American History, and Constitution Daily.
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