Captain Andrew Talcott
Andrew Talcott (1797-1883) - Born 20 Apr 1797,
Glastonbury, Connecticut, died 22 April, 1883,
Richmond, Virginia.
Talcott graduated second in class West Point, 1818;
Engineers.
Assignments:
(1819-1820) 1st Lt. (1 Oct 1820), Camp on the staff
of Bvt. Brig.-General Atkinson, on the Expedition to
establish posts on the Upper Missouri and
Yellowstone rivers, Nov. 1, 1820, to Apr. 30, 1821 ;
He was garrisoned at Camp Missouri ( Fort
Atkinson near Omaha), and in 1820, explored an
overland passage to Camp Cold Water ( Fort
Snelling ), under Captain Magee accompanied by
Captain Kearny, Lieutenant-Colonel Willoughby
Morgan, two junior officers and fifteen soldiers.
Four servants, an Indian guide, his wife and papoose,
eight mules and seven horses completed the outfit.
The journey took twenty three days with Lieutenant Talcott taking observations for Latitude.
They visited St Anthony Falls and returned to Camp Missouri by way of the St. Peter and Blue
Earth River.
(1828-1835) Capt. (22 Dec 1830), Superintending Engineer for construction on Hampton Roads
at Fort Calhoun and Fort Monroe, where he was superior officer and became friends with
future General Robert E Lee.,
Spring 1835, to settle a dispute, the government sent Captain Andrew Talcott and Lieutenants
Robert E. Lee and Washington Hood to survey and map the Ohio-Michigan Border. On the
basis of this survey both Michigan and Ohio agreed to compromise and Michigan became a state
in 1837. This dispute nearly erupted into a border clash and is often referred to as the "Toledo
War."
Civil History :
Adjunct Chief Engineer of the New York and Erie Railroad, and in charge of its Western
Division, June 21, 1836, to Apr. 30, 1837.
Member of the Commission for the exploration and survey of the Northeast Boundary of the
United States, July 26, 1840, to Feb. 28, 1843,
Chief Engineer of Richmond and Danville Railroad, Va., Jan. 11, 1848, to July 31, 1855.
Astronomer and Surveyor for the demarcation of the Northern Boundary of the State of Iowa,
Feb. 16, 1852, to June 27, 1853.
Chief Engineer of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad from Cincinnati, O., to St. Louis, Mo., May
1, 1856, to Nov. 30, 1857,
In 1857 he became engineer for , Mexico and Pacific Railroad, from Vera Cruz, Mex., through
the City of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 1, 1857, to Apr. 1, 1859, which was organized under
the presidency of Don Antonio Escaudon, and surveyed the line from Vera Cruz to the city of
Mexico; but, owing to political events, the operations of this company were suspended, and
Captain Talcott returned to the United States.
U.S. Civil War: In 1861 he was appointed chief engineer of Virginia, but in 1862 he returned
to Mexico and resumed his office as chief engineer of the railroad from Mexico to the Gulf. A
new company was formed with the aid of British capital and under the imperial government of
Mexico, and the work on the railroad was prosecuted in 1865-'6, but on the change of
government in 1867 his direction of the work ceased.
Needing some supplies for the work, he came with the president to New York in March 1863,
where he was seized by the government officials and confined in Fort Lafayette as a spy, and
accused of planning and constructing the fortifications around Richmond. He was transferred to
Fort Adams, in Boston harbor, and kept there by the order of General John E. Wool until
General John A. Dix was put in command of the Eastern military department. General Dix, who
knew him well and believed in his loyalty to the United States government, had him brought to
New York, listened to his statement, and released him.
Post War: After a visit to Europe he spent the remainder of his life in retirement in
Baltimore and Richmond. He was a fine mathematician, and in 1833 devised "Talcott's method"
for determining territorial latitudes by the observation of stars near the zenith, contriving a
suitable modification of the zenith instrument for the purpose. The “Talcott method” was
adopted by the Coast Survey in 1846. It was used in the surveys of the northern and
northwestern lakes and in the survey of the United States west of the one hundredth meridian.
He died 22 Apr 1883 in Richmond, VA, buried Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond.
Personal Description:
Father: George Talcott, born 30 Sep 1755, died 13 Jun 1813, Glastonbury, CT.
Mother: Abigail Goodrich, born 1 Aug 1767, Glastonbury, CT.
Marriage: Catherine Thompson, married Apr 1826, Philadelphia, PA, born about 1800,
Philadelphia, PA, died Oct 1828, Old Point Comfort, VA
Harriet Randolph Hackley, married 11 Apr 1832,
Norfolk, Virginia, born 26 Jun 1810 in "Monticello",
Albemarle County, VA, died 13 Jul 1880. Harriet was a
cousin of Mary Custis Lee (Mrs. Robert E Lee)
Children: Lucia Beverley Talcott born Feb 8th 1833
Charles Gratiot Talcott born Feb 28 1834
m Theodosia L. Barnard 10/18/1858
Harriet Randolph Talcott born Nov 9th 1835
m Rev William S Southgate 11/01/1858
Mary Gray Talcott born Feb 8th 1837
Thomas Mann Randolph Talcott born March
27th 1838 in Philadelphia, PA
m Nannie C McPhail 1/07/1864
Richard Hackley Talcott born July 14th 1839
George Russell Talcott born Jan 21st 1841
Frances Lewis Talcott born Nov 19th 1843
Anne Cary Talcott born May 27th 1845
m Gustave Von Boleslowski
Edward C. Talcott born Sept 4th 1849
Henry Clay Talcott born Oct 24th 1851
Quartermaster David B Sears
David Sears was the second child of Joseph Sears and Sarah Pitts was born in Lima, Livingston
co., NY in April 26th, 1804. He died at Sears Illinois January 22nd 1884.
In 1811 removed with his parents to Sciota Valley, OH, where they lived during the war of 1812,
after Perry's famous victory, they removed to Cincinnati.
In 1814, the family ventured still further west, settling in Switzerland co., Indiana. In 1818, they
struck out for the Wabash valley, where they located permanently.
In 1820, David, who was then in his seventeenth year, yearning for an education, resolved to
return to his native state near Syracuse.
In 1824, he married Miss Melinda Stokes of Shawneetown, Illinois. They had 6 children. She
died in 1833. He married Delila Caldwell and had 8 more children. Mr Sears made farming his
vocation, taking annual trips to New Orleans to dispose of his produce, which he shipped by flatboat.
In 1836, Mr. Sears moved to the Upper Mississippi valley, to the point now covered by the busy
little city of Moline.
In 1837, Mr. Sears, in company with J.W. Spencer, Calvin Ainsworth, and Spencer M. White,
commenced building the first dam across the river between Rock Island and the Illinois shore.
In the fall of 1841, they erected a two-story saw-mill, In 1843, the company built the "big mill,"
at a cost of some $30,000
About 1843, Mr. Sears in company with Charles Atkinson, laid out and plotted the town of
Moline and its "Island City" subdivision, which consisted of a tract of thirty-seven acres, on the
upper end of Rock Island, then held as a military reserve. Mr. Sears established a foundry,
erected a store and other buildings in Moline,
In 1845, he built a saw-mill, and in 1859, a three-run flour-mill on Benham's Island, a narrow
strip of land lying contiguous to Rock Island. He constructed a steamboat landing below the
mill, erected a house and other buildings on the main land.
On February 21st 1852 Surveyor General George B Sargent appointed him Master of
Transportation on the service of running the boundary line between Iowa & Minnesota. He was
paid $4.00 per day.
In 1855, Mr. Sears purchased one-fourth of the present milling site of Minneapolis, (one-fourth of fortynine acres, and one-fourth of the water power ,) which he sold to the late Gov. C.C. Washburn for
$4,000 He at the same time built a saw-mill and furniture factory on Lake Minnetonka,
In August, 1861, he enlisted in 22d Illinois Regiment, and served honor- ably as Quartermaster
for three years.
In 1865, the government took possession of the island for the purpose of a National arsenal and
armory, the commission awarded him $145,175 for his property and improvements.
In 1867, he built the fine 300-barrel mill at Sears, and in 1870, a flour-mill at Cleveland, Mo.,
and another at Linden in 1873. In 1875, he went to Tama City, Iowa, erected a large mill, and
two years later dug a canal, put in a dam and otherwise improved the water power at Ottumwa.
In 1880, he constructed water-works at Red Oak, Iowa, and the following year performed a like
work at Joplin, Missouri.
Surveyor General Warner Lewis
Warner Lewis was born in Goochland Co., near
Richmond, in the year 1805,
Warner Lewis emigrated to Missouri with his father
in 1818, and settled in St. Louis
in 1827, he came to the upper lead mines of what was
then known as Wisconsin; he participated in all the
eventful and often bloody scenes of the Black Hawk
war in 1832, serving as aid to Gen. Henry Dodge
General Lewis settled in Iowa in the spring of 1833;
He was three or four times elected to the Iowa State
Legislature, serving several terms as Speaker of the
House of Representatives;
He was appointed Register of the United States Land
Office under the administration of James K. Polk.
Warner Lewis was appointed Surveyor General , by
President Franklin Pierce, April 23, 1853. He was
Surveyor General in Dubuque June 6, 1853 to July
27, 1859
Surveyor General George Barnard Sargent
George Barnard Sargent (1818-1875)
George Sargent, was born to Epes and Hannah Sargent, in 1818 in Boston,
In 1838, he moved to Iowa and married Mary Perin, they had ten children.
In 1847 he opened the bankhouse of "Cook and Sargent" in Davenport, Iowa.
George B. Sargent was appointed Surveyor General in Dubuque on March 24, 1851, by
President Fillmore. He was Surveyor General in Dubuque from May 8, 1851 to April 1, 1853
In 1857, was elected Mayor of Davenport
May 1, 1857 opening of Cook & Sargent's new banking house in Davenport, on the corner of
Main and Second streets. Sept. 28, 1857 first town clock in Davenport; put up by Cook &
Sargent in front of their banking house, on the corner of second and Main streets.
Dec. 16, 1859 suspension of Cook & Sargent's banking house of Davenport.
General George B Sargent, as agent for Jay Cook, opened the first bank in Duluth. The famous
Clark House was built under General Sargent’s direction.
In 1869, the family moved to Duluth, Minnesota.
George died in Duluth in 1875.
George R. Stuntz
Born in Albion, Pennsylvania, Dec 11th 1820 the
seventh child of eleven children of George Stuntz
and Mary Randall.
He obtained a two year course in mathematics,
chemistry, engineering and surveying from the
Grand River Institute in Ohio.
In 1842 left for St Louis Missouri where he taught
school for a year and then headed up river to the
Fox River Indian Reservation where he started his
surveying career.
He was elected County Surveyor in Grant County
Wisconsin in 1847.
Wisconsin Deputy Surveyor 1848 – 1851.
On March 29th 1852 Surveyor General George B
Sargent appointed him a Deputy Surveyor on the
service of running the boundary line between Iowa
& Minnesota. He was paid $4.00 per day.
On May 31st 1852 he was discharged from the Iowa Boundary. Surveyor General George B
Sargent sent him to run and mark the Wisconsin State Line from " the first rapids in St. Louis
river, above the Indian village, according to Nicollet's map, thence due south to the main branch
of the river St. Croix."
He returned to the Duluth area in 1853 to become the first settler of Duluth. He established a
small post near his dock on Minnesota Point.
He discovered iron ore in 1863 on the Vermilion Range. In he 1866 constructed road from
Duluth to Lake Vermilion.
He went to Washington D. C. in 1869 to convince General Sargent and Jay Cook to invest in
Duluth.
In 1870 he contracted to run the 11th and 12th standard Parallels west of the 3rd Guide Meridian
in Minnesota.
He married Mary J. Pugsley in 1872.
Duluth City Engineer in 1878.
In 1886 he was elected first president of the Old Settler’s Association
Died in Duluth, in Oct 1902, buried in Oneota Cemetery, Skyline Parkway Duluth.
Isaac W Smith
.
Isaac Williams Smith (1826-January 1, 1897)
Early life:
Smith was born in 1826 in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, the son of
Episcopalian preacher Reverend George A. Smith and his wife, Ophelia Williams Smith.
Education:
Isaac Smith attended the Fairfax Institute at Clairens and the Virginia Military
Instituteat Lexington, graduating in 1846. One of his professors was Thomas Stonewall Jackson.
United States Army
After graduation Smith served as assistant surveyor on many projects, including under Captain
Emory on the survey of the northeastern boundary between the United States and Canada.
In 1847, Smith was appointed Second Lieutenant in Company K, U.S. regiment of Voltigeurs in
the Mexican-American War, and fought at the siege of Veracruz.
Surveyor:
In 1851 he was Assistant Surveyor and Astronomer on the survey of the parallel between
the Creek and Cherokee nations of Native Americans under lieutenants Sitgreaves and
Woodruff.
On February 20th 1852 Surveyor General Gearge B Sargent appointed him First Assistant
Surveyor and Astronomer on the Survey of the Northern Boundary of Iowa. His salary was
$6.00 per day.
Resident Surveyor and Engineer for the construction of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad,
Virginia.
In 1854 Smith was Assistant Engineer on the Pacific Railroad surveys and explorations along the
southern route of a proposed transcontinental railway route under Army Corps of
Engineers lieutenants Williamson and Parke.
In 1855 he supervised the building of various lighthouses along the Pacific coast and Strait of
Juan de Fuca, Washington Territory.
In 1859 he surveyed the Puget Sound Guide Meridian from the area just north of Seattle to
within feet of the international boundary with British Columbia.
Smith was appointed chief registrar of the General Land Office in Seattle in 1860 and was
an aide-de-camp to Governor Isaac Stevens.
Confederate Army:
In 1862 Smith enlisted in the Confederate Army and was appointed Captain in the Engineer
Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia in charge of the Confederate pontoon service. He was
present at the surrender of Confederate forces at Appomattox Court House.
Post-War
Smith went to Mexico where he served as district engineer on the Imperial Mexican
Railroad from Veracruz to Mexico City.
He returned to the Pacific Coast in 1869 and worked as surveyor and engineer on various
railroad surveys in California, Oregon and the Northern Pacific Railroad in Washington.
From 1876 to 1878 he was on the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the State of California,
and was chief engineer of the Sacramento River Drainage Commission.
Smith returned to Washington with the Northern Pacific Railroad in charge of surveys through
the Cascade Range to find the most practical route across to Tacoma. The route adopted was
through "Stampede Pass", one of the lines Smith surveyed and mapped.
Father" of Portland Oregon's Water System
From 1885 to 1897 Mr. Smith was Chief Engineer for the City of Portland, Oregon, Water
Works. In January, 1886, Smith led a survey to discover a new water source for Portland. He
designed and supervised the building of the 24-mile pipeline from the newly surveyed Bull Run
Reservoir to Portland, from which the city still gets its drinking water.
"The Colonel" took to his bed on Christmas Day 1896 with pneumonia. His last words before
death were, "How is the wingdam in the Sandy River getting along? I hope the cost of it will not
exceed the estimate of $600. I would not like to have the cost exceed the estimate."
Isaac Williams Smith never married and died of pneumonia in Portland on January 1, 1897.
J. M. Marsh
,
J. M. Marsh was a native of Seneca Co., N.Y.; he grew up to manhood, and came West and
engaged in surveying; died Jan. 16, 1858
He surveyed a large part of the States of Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa;
He came to Iowa and settled in Dubuque in 1840; he was U.S. Deputy Surveyor
Married at Dubuque, Iowa Territory, by Rev. Stewart, J.M. Marsh to Miss Harriet L.
Langworthy 1-2-1846, a sister of the Langworthy brothers; she died in 1854, leaving one son
Frank M. who is a Civil Engineer and Road master on the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad.
In 1852, Deputy Surveyor Captain James M. Marsh used his own William Burt's solar compass
to survey an exploratory line ahead of Andrew Talcott on the Boundary Survey of the Iowa
Minnesota Border.
In January, 1856, Mr. Marsh was united in marriage to Ann J. Stevens, from Seneca Co., N.Y.
He built the large, attractive home occupied by Mrs. Marsh, in 1856; at that time, it was the
most elegant house on Couler Avenue in Dubuque.
Deputy surveyor James M. Marsh and the seven members of his survey party were robbed of
their food, equipment, and nine horses by a band of eleven Sioux Indians in Range 30 along the
2nd correction line (now western Webster County) August 1849
Major Nathaniel Henry Hutton
Major Nathaniel Henry Hutton (Washington, D.C.
November 18, 1833-Baltimore, Maryland, May 8, 1907)
Family:
Nathaniel Henry "Harry" Hutton was the fourth of five
children and youngest son of James Hutton (d. 1843)
and his wife, the former Salome Rich, Hutton was the
brother of artist, surveyor and civil engineer William
Rich Hutton and of artist, cartographer and pioneer
photographer James D. Hutton.
Hutton married Meta Van Ness (1839-1907) daughter of
Colonel Eugene Van Ness of New York. They had one
son and two daughters.
Hutton died in Baltimore on May 8, 1907. His wife died
on August 30 of the same year. They are buried in the
Greenmont Cemetery in Baltimore.
Career:
Hutton travelled west with Isaac Smith in March 1852 and was hired as a chainman on April 1st
1852 on the Survey of the Northern Boundary of Iowa.
Hutton was U. S. Assistant Engineer on explorations for the Pacific Railroad Surveys west of the
Missouri River, on the 32nd and 35th parallels
For the Department of the Interior, Hutton served as chief engineer of the El Paso and Fort
Yuma wagon road in 1857 and 1858.
He was Surveyor on the western boundary of Minnesota in 1859 and 1860.
Civil War,
Hutton served as U. S. Assistant Engineer on the Union defenses of Baltimore (1861–1865),
achieving the rank of Major. He served as U. S. Assistant Engineer in charge of the
improvement of the Patapsco River (1867 to 1876) and on the Western division of the Virginia
Central Water Line (surveyed 1874–1875).
Hutton formed an architectural partnership with John Murdoch from about 1867 to 1873, with
offices on Lexington Street, east of Charles Street in Baltimore. Their 1868 Norman Gothic St.
Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church (since 1910, the Baltimore Bethel A. M. E. Church), is a
registered historical site in Baltimore.
From 1873 to 1880, Hutton maintained an architectural practice with his older brother William
Rich Hutton.
From 1876 until his death he was an engineer to the Harbor Board of Baltimore, eventually
becoming Chief Engineer and president of the board. He was also U. S. Assistant Engineer in
charge of surveys for a ship canal to connect the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays (1878–1879),
and served as a consulting engineer for a project to build a ship canal between Philadelphia and
the Atlantic Ocean {1894–1895} and for a projected ship canal to connect Lake Erie and the
Ohio River in 1895–1896.
A collection of documents relating to his work with the Baltimore Harbor Board and other
papers is housed as MS.1323 (40 items, 1876-1877) by the Maryland Historical Society.
Iowa & Minnesota Boundary Survey
Organizational Chart
Honorable Justin Butterfield
Commissioner G. L. O.
Esquire George B. Sargent*
Surveyor General Iowa & Wisconsin
Captain Andrew Talcott*
Principal Surveyor & Astronomer
David B. Sears*
Quartermaster
Edwin W. Kirkup
Surgeon
Moses D Bush
Isaac W. Smith*
First Assistant
Sidney Coolidge*
Astronomer
James O. Sargent*
Computations
George R. Stuntz*/
Harry Taylor
Deputy Surveyors
Guide Lines
Richard J Cleveland*
Topographer
John S. Sheller
Deputy Surveyor
Monumentation
Sioux Interpreter
James M. Marsh*
Deputy Surveyor
Exploratory Line
*(See Biography)
Exploratory Line Party
Position/Name
Hired
Per/diem Home
Age
Deputy Surveyor
James M. Marsh 5/12/1852
$6.00* Dubuque
*(Per/diem included use of his Solar Compass)
Chainman
Spencer Fellows 4/3/1852
$2.50
N. Henry Hutton 4/1/1852
$2.50
Washington D.C. 18
(Came out with Smith, See Biography)
Flagman
Samuel P. Bonsall 3/30/1852
$2.50
Dubuque
William A. B. Jones 4/3/1852
$2.50
Dubuque
(Son of Senator & Surveyor General Jones from Iowa)
(Became Minnesota Deputy Surveyor)
Instrument Bearer
John P Quigley
3/29/1852
$2.50
(Became Minnesota Deputy Surveyor)
Dubuque
Axeman
Edgar Sears
5/17/1852
$2.00
(Became Minnesota Deputy Surveyor)
Daniel Gordon
4/1/1852
$2.50
Scott County 30
(Became Rock County Surveyor See Biography)
Teamsters
Kellogg
4/26/1852
Willard Whitmore 4/1/1852
$2.00
$2.50
Supernumerary
Ignatus E Wootton 5/17/1852
$2.00
Dubuque
(Dubuque County Treasurer See Biography)
42
Guide Line Party
Position/Name
Hired
Per/diem Home
Age
Deputy Surveyor
Harry Taylor
5/12/1852 $4.00
(Came w/ Talcott, Drew Final Maps)
Washington D.C.
Topographer
Richard J Cleveland 4/1/1852 $2.50
Dubuque
(Jones County Surveyor See Biography)
47
Chainman
Bartholomew Sheridan 3/29/1852 $2.50
(See Biography)
Charles Lewis
5/17/1852 $2.00
Dubuque
26
Dubuque
Flagman
William C Alexander 3/30/1852 $2.50
Dubuque
Eugene W. Crittenden 3/20/1852 $3.00
Kentucky
(Son of Senator Crittenden of Kentucky)
(Graduated West Point 1855 See Biography)
Instrument Bearer
John T McDuffie
4/1/1852 $2.50
South Carolina
(Son of Senator McDuffie from South Carolina)
Axeman
William Stratton
3/31/1852 $2.50
James S Fisher
4/1/1852 $2.50
Isaac VanHouten* 7/4/1852
$2.00
Teamsters
Samuel Jackson
4/1/1852
$2.00
4/1/1852
$2.50
Cook
Donahue Williams
Dubuque
Lansing
19
Monumentation Party
Position/Name
Hired
Per/diem Home
Deputy Surveyor
John S. Sheller
3/12/1852
( Iowa Deputy Surveyor)
$4.00
Chainman
Peter Morairty
4/6/1852
$2.50
(Became Iowa Deputy Surveyor)
William P Campbell 3/30/1852 $2.50
(Became County Surveyor)
Jackson Co.
Davenport
Axeman
Robert Cushow
3/30/1852
Charles M Christie 4/1/1852
$2.50
$2.50
Scott Co
Teamsters
William Todd
Jacob Myers
John P Beebee*
4/1/1852
4/1/1852
7/4/1852
$2.50
$2.50
$2.00
Dubuque
Lansing
Age
Topographer Richard J. Cleveland
R. J. CLEVELAND was born in Boston, Mass., in 1805; died. September 7, 1877
He graduated at Harvard University, in Class of 1827
He came to Iowa September 9, 1840, and entered 220 acres, and sold in 1868; the estate now
includes town property.
He was instrumental in securing the first post office in Jones Co. in 1841; was County Surveyor
and Postmaster for two years; Justice of the Peace;
He was also in the Surveyor General's office at Dubuque.
On April 1st 1852 he was assigned as a Topographer on Harry Taylor’s crew running the
Guidelines for the Iowa Minnesota Border Survey. His salary was $2.50 per day. On July 24th
1852 he was selected to lead a party of four to explore and map the Big Sioux River to its
junction with the Missouri River
Enlisted in the 9th I.V.I. in 1861, and was discharged in 1862
His wife, Mary E. Seeley, was born in New York in 1814; went to Illinois in 1836; came to Iowa
in 1840; married in 1839; in the winter of 1840, taught school in the village of Rome, in their
house, her services being paid for by subscription.
Mrs. Cleveland was married, in 1878, to Rev. Joseph Lowry, who was born in Ireland in 1813;
came to Canada in 1849, and to Iowa in 1854; he established the first Sunday school in the
village of Rome.
Astronomer Sidney Coolidge
COOLIDGE, Sidney, scientist, born in Boston,
Massachusetts, August 22, 1830; a grandson of
Thomas Jefferson died near Chickamauga,
Georgia, 19 September, 1863.
He was brought up in France, and spoke his
English with a French accent,
He studied abroad from 1839 till 1850, first in
Geneva and Vevay, and afterward in the Royal
military College in Dresden.
After his return to this country he assisted in the
construction of the Richmond and Danville
railroad Under Chief Engineer Captain Andrew
Talcott,
In March of 1852 he travelled to Iowa with
Captain Talcott to assist in running the Northern
boundary line of Iowa and assisted with the
Astronomic Observations. His Salary was $4.00
per day.
After working in the nautical-almanac office and
in the Cambridge observatory, he was appointed in 1853 assistant astronomer to Commander
Perry's Japan exploring expedition.
In 1854 he assisted Prof. George P. Bond in his observations of the planet Saturn, and
contributed drawings and notes to the published annals of the observatory.
He took charge in 1855 of the chronometric expedition for determining the difference of
longitude between Cambridge and Greenwich
In 1856-'7 studied the dialects and astronomical superstitions of the Indians near Saguenay
River and Lake Mistassinnie.
Being in Mexico in 1858, he took part in the civil war of that year, was taken prisoner and
sentenced to be shot, but was finally released and sent to the City of Mexico on parole.
He took part in an Arizona land-survey in 1860, and in May, 1861, became major in the 16th
United States infantry.
He was superintendent of the regimental recruiting service in 1862, commanded regiments at
different posts and camps, and was engaged at the battles of Hoover's Gap and Chickamauga,
where he was killed. For his services in the latter fight he received the brevet of lieutenant
colonel.
Captain Thomas Jefferson Lee
Thomas J. Lee, born 1808 Boston Massachusetts, died 1892
He Married Miss Cassandia Nibit and had a son Frank M. and daughter Susan P.
Military History:
Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1826, to July 1, 1830, where he was graduated with High
Honors and promoted in the Army to Bvt Second Lieutenant, 4th Artillery Classmates with
Generals Meade and Humphrieys of USA and Joseph Johnston of CSA
Served in garrison at Ft. Severn, Maryland., 1830-31
On Topographical duty, Nov. 25, 1831, to Dec. 31, 1833
In garrison at Ft. Severn, Maryland., 1834,—and Ft. McHenry, Maryland., 1834-35,1836;
As Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Winfield Scott, June 20 to July 7, 1836
In Operations in Creek Nation, 1836.
Resigned August 31, 1836.
Civil History.
U. S. Civil Engineer, 1836-38,on Survey for improvement of Harbor of Havre de Gra'je,
Maryland, Survey for improvement of Core Sound, North Carolina, and Survey for Canal
Route between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D. C.
Military History:
Re-appointed in the U. S. Army with the rank of First Lieutenant, Corps of Topographical
Engineers, July 7,1838.
Assistant in the Topographical Bureau at Washington, D. C., 1838-39 ;
Survey of the Boundary between the United States and Texas, 1839-40,
Boundary between the United States and the British Provinces, 1840-44 ;
Coast Survey, and making astronomical observations connected therewith,
Captain Corps of Topographical Engineers, March 3, 1847 Topographical Bureau at
Washington, D. C., compiling " A collection of Tables and Formulae, useful in Geodesy and
Practical Astronomy," 1S48-49 ;
Survey to determine the initial point of the Northern Boundary of Iowa, 1849
Assistant in the Topographical Bureau at Washington, D. C., 1849-51
Professional Duty in Europe, 1851
Assistant in the Topographical Bureau at Washington, D. C., 1851-52, 1852-54, 1854-55
Measuring Base Line on Straits of Mackinac, for Survey of Northern Lakes, 1851
Initial point of Northern Boundary of Kansas, 1854
Resigned Apr. 30,1855.
Civil History:.
Commissioner, on the part of Maryland, to retrace and mark the Boundaries between Maryland
and Virginia, 1858-60.
Member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Military Academy, 1859.
Civil Engineer employed on the Coast Survey, 1861-02,
Bureau of Topographical Engineers, 1862-63,
Engineer Bureau, Washington, D. C., in connection with River and Harbor Improvements,
1867-89