Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/337

Rh WACKERHAGEN, Augustus, clergyman, b. in the electorate of Hanover, Germany, 22 May, 1774; d. in Clermont, N. Y., 1 Nov., 1865. He was educated at the University of G5ttingen, Germany, and, after the completion of his theological course, was for some time employed as an instructor in a seminary for young ladies, and later as private tutor in a nobleman's family. In 1801 he came to this country, where for three years he was private tutor to the only son of a merchant of Philadelphia. He was pastor of Lutheran congregations at Schoharie and Cobleskill, N. Y., in 1805-'15, and at Germantown and Livingston Manor, Columbia county, N. Y„ from 1816 till his death. During this time he also preached at Ghent, Athens, West Camp, Pine Plains, Green Bush, Ancram and other distant places, doing pioneer work from which resulted the establishment of numerous flourishing congregations in the state of New York. In addition to his pastoral duties, he also had charge for several years of the academy at Clermont, N. Y., where he resided, midway between his two principal congregations. He was a finished classical scholar and a diligent and critical student of the Bible. In 1825 he received the degree of D. D. from Union college. Dr. Wackerhagen was for many years the recognized leader of the Lutheran church in New York, and occupied many posts of honor and trust, being president of the New York ministerium for twelve years and trustee of Hartwick seminary for thirty years. Though he was one of the most learned men of his time, his retiring modesty prevented him from publishing the results of his studies. Except an occasional sermon, he issued only one work, " InbegrifE des Glaubens und Sittenlehre" (Philadelphia, 1804).

WADDEL, James, preacher, b. in Newry, Ireland, in July, 1739 ; d. in Louisa county, Va., 17 Sept., 1805. His parents emigrated to this country in the son's infancy, settling in southwestern Pennsylvania. James was educated at Nottingham, under Rev. Samuel Finley, became an assistant teacher in Rev. Robert Smith's academy in Pequea, Lancaster co., afterward emigrated to Virginia, and, under the influence of Samuel Davies, decided to study for the ministry. He was licensed to preach in 1761. the next year became pastor of Presbyterian churches in the northern neck of Virginia, removed to the Tinkling Spring church, Augusta county, in 1775, also preached in Staunton, and in 1785 settled on an estate in Louisa county, where he supplied vacant pulpits and was principal of a classical school. He became blind about 1787, but continued his labors without interruption, writing as well as preaching with great industry, and was known as "the blind preacher." Before his death he ordered that all his manuscripts be burned, so that his eloquence has become a matter of tradition. The best idea of him as a pulpit orator is to be gathered from the sketch of Dr. Waddel as the blind preacher in William Wirt's "British Spy." This was written in 1803, when Dr. Waddel was old and infirm. It has been questioned how far the author gave himself the license of fiction in his description, but Dr. Waddel's biographer, Dr. James W. Alexander, says: "Mr. Wirt stated to me that, so far from adding colors to the picture of Dr. Waddel's eloquence, he had fallen below the truth. In person he was tall and erect, his mien was unusually dignified, and his manners graceful and eloquent. Under his preaching, audiences were irresistibly and simultaneously moved, like the wind-shaken forest." James Madison, who had been his pupil, said: "He has spoiled me for all other preaching," and Patrick Henry classed him with Samuel Davies as one of the two greatest orators he had ever heard. Dickinson gave him the degree of D. D. in 1792. One of his daughters married the Rev. Archibald Alexander. See a "Memoir" of him by the Rev. James W. Alexander, in the "Watchman of the South " (1846).

WADDELL, Hugh, soldier, b. in Lisburn, County Down, Ireland, in 1734; d. in Castle Haynes, New Hanover co., N. C, 9 April, 1773. He emigrated to North Carolina in 1753, was clerk of the council in 1754-'5, lieutenant in Col. James Innes's regiment in the Virginia campaign of 1754, became captain in 1755, built Fort Dobbs, and commanded there in 1756-'7. He led the North Carolina detachment with the rank of major in the expedition to Fort Du Quesne in 1758, and became colonel the next year. In November, 1765, he led the armed resistance to the landing at Brunswick of the English sloop-of-war " Diligence," which contained the government stamps, seized the ship's boat, and forced Gov. Tryon to deliver to the people William Houston, the stamp- master, from whom they exacted a pledge, which he signed in the market-place, that he would " never receive any stamped paper which might arrive from England, nor officiate in any way in the distribution of stamps in the province of North Carolina." This act of patriotism was of not less importance in the history of pre-Revolutionary movements in North Carolina than the Boston tea-party in Massachusetts. In 1771 he commanded the expedition against the Regulators with the rank of major-general. During the intervals of his military career he frequently served in the legislature. — His grandson, Hugh, lawyer, b. in Newfields, Bladen co., N. C., in 1799 ; d. in Wilmington, N. C, 1 Nov., 1878, was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1818, and studied medicine, but abandoned it for law, attaining high rank in that profession. He represented Orange county in the legislature in 1828, was speaker of the state senate in 1836-'7. and again a member of that body in 1844-'6. He was an eloquent debater and an accomplished man of letters. — His son, Alfred Moore, lawyer, b. in Hillsborough, N. C, 16 Sept., 1834, was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1853, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He became clerk of the court of equity of New Hanover county, N. C, edited the " Wilmington Herald " in I860, and the same year was a delegate to the Conservative-Union convention which nominated John Bell for president. During the civil war he served in the Confederate army as lieutenant-colonel of cavalry. He was chosen to congress as a Democrat in" 1870, served by re-election till 1879, and was chairman of the committee on post-offices and post-roads in the 44th congress. He was defeated in the next election, and resumed the practice of law. He has in manuscript "A Colonial Officer and his Times." — The second Hugh's nephew, James Iredell, naval officer, b. in Pittsboro, Chatham co., N. C, in 1824; d. in Annapolis, Md., 15 March, 1886, on 10 Sept., 1841, was appointed a midshipman in the U. S.