Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/645

WOOL the steamer " Narragansett," which* he took out to the Pacific coast in 1865-'6, and upon his return resigned from the navy, 31 May, 1866. — Samuel's nephew, Francis C, author, b. in Colchester, Conn., in 1812 ; d. at sea, 5 June, 1859, was a printer by trade, and afterward preached, but withdrew from the ministry on account of failing health. He then devoted himself to juvenile literature, in which he was remarkably successful. He died during a voy- age between Savannah and New York. His nu- merous publications include " Our own Fields " (New York, 1850) ; " Youth's Book of Gems " (1851) " Uncle Frank's Home Stories " (6 vols., 1851) " Uncle Frank's Picture Gallery " (2 vols., 1852) "Wonders of the Insect World" (1853); "The World as it is, or a Miniature Sketch of the Earth and its Inhabitants " (Philadelphia, 1854) ; " Theo- dore Tinker's Stories for Little Folks" (12 vols., New York, 1854-'8); "Young American's Life of Fremont " (1856) and " Uncle Frank's Pleasant Pages for the Fireside " (1857). He edited " Wood- worth's American Miscellany " (12 vols., 1853 et seq.), and " Woodworth ; s Youth's Cabinet," which was continued after his death (15 vols., 1854 et seq.).

WOOL, John Ellis, soldier, b. in Newburg, N. Y, 20 Feb., 1784 ; d. in Troy, N. Y., 10 Nov., 1869. His father was a soldier of the Revolution. The son was educated at the common schools of his native town, and, after a short experience in mercantile life in Troy, began the study of the law, at which he was engaged when war with Eng- land was declared. He entered the military service as an officer of volunteers, raised a company in Troy, was commissioned captain in the 13th U. S. infantry, 14 April, 1812, and greatly distinguished himself at Queenstown Heights, 13 Oct., 1812, where he was severely wounded. He was promoted major of the 29th infantry, 13 April, 1813, and at Plattsburg on 11 Sept., 1814, he received the brevet of lieutenant - colonel for gallantry. Maj. Wool was transferred to the 6th infantry, 17 May, 1815, and in the subsequent reorganization was made inspector-general of the army, with rank of colonel, 29 April, 1816. The routine of his duty was varied in 1832 by a professional tour abroad, comprising an inspection of the military establishments of Europe for the benefit of the U. S. service. In 1836 he effected the transfer of the Cherokee In- dians to the country west of the Mississippi, and on 25 June, 1841, he was appointed brigadier- general in the U. S. army. He was active at the be- f inning of the texican war in preparing volun- teer forces for the field, and in less than six weeks despatched to the seat of war 12,000 men, fully armed and equipped. He was Gen. Zachary Taylor's second in command at Bue- na Vista, selecting the ground for the action, making the preliminary dispositions, and commanding on the field till the ar- rival of his superior. For gallant and meritori- ous conduct in that battle he was brevetted major- general, 23 Feb., 1847. For his services during the war with Mexico congress awarded him a vote of thanks and a sword of honor, and a sword was also presented to Gen. Wool by the state of New York. He commanded the eastern military division in 1848-'53, and the Department of the Pacific in 1854-'7, putting an end to Indian disturbances in Washington and Oregon territories in 1856 by a three-months' campaign. He had charge of the Department of the East in 1860, and at the opening of the civil war saved Fortress Monroe by timely re-enforcements, afterward commanding there at the head of the Department of Virginia. He was promoted major -gen- army, 16 and had eral, U. S. May, 1862, charge successively of the middle military de- partment and the De- partment of the East till July, 1863. He was retired from ac- tive service, 1 Aug., 1863. Gen. Wool was a rigid disciplinarian, and had no superior in the U..S. service as an organizer of troops. The monument shown in the illustration was raised to his memory in Troy. It is 75 feet high, and bears the following inscription from the pen of Will- iam Cullen Bryant : "This stone is erect- ed to Maj or- General John Ellis Wool, the gallant soldier, the able commander, and the patriotic citizen, distin- guished in many battles ; and to Sarah Moulton, his excellent and worthy consort."

WOOLF, Solomon, educator, b. in New York city, 6 Jan., 1841. He was graduated at the Col- lege of the city of New York in 1859, and in the same year was appointed tutor in descriptive ge- ometry there and in the Cooper Union. In 1878 he was appointed to the professorship of geometry and drawing in that college, which chair he has since held. Besides various contributions to the press, he has published " A Course in Descriptive Geometry " (New York, 1888).

WOOLMAN, John, Quaker preacher, b. in Northampton, Burlington co., N. J., in August, 1720: d. in York, England, 7 Oct., 1772. He worked on a farm with his father till he was twenty-one years of age, when he became clerk to a storekeeper at Mount Holly, where he opened a school for poor children, and first began to speak at the meetings of the sect. Wishing to visit the various societies of Friends throughout the colonies, and to preach to them, he first learned the trade of a tailor, as best adapted for supporting him in the itinerant life that he had resolved to lead. In 1746 he set out on a tour, with Isaac Andrews, to visit the Friends in the back settlements of Virginia, and he spent a great part of his life in such journeys, for the purpose of preaching. He spoke and wrote much against slavery. In 1763 he visited the Indians on Susquehanna river. Early in 1772 he went to England, and, while attending the quarterly meeting at York, he was smitten with small-pox, and died, after a few days' illness. Woolman's writings have been much admired, and were highly praised by Charles Lamb. Perhaps the most interesting of his works is the posthumous " Journal of John Woolman's Life and