Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/289

 BELO.

BEM.VX.

1872. He then studied civil law at the University of Berlin, meanwhile extending his knowledge of the languages and literature of Europe. Eeturn- ing to America, he entered the Colimibia law school, and received his degree of LL.B. in 1876. Shortly afterwards he entered upon the practice of his profession in New York city, and in 1880 was elected a representative to the 47th Congress, was returned by successive re-elections to the 48th and 49th congresses, when, in 1888, he was appointed U. S. minister to Spain by Presi- dent Cleveland. During his congressional career he set his face resolutely against the government or its officials taking any pecuniary interest in schemes or enterprises, as in the case of the Peru guano deposits, the Nicaragua canal bill, the Hawaiian sugar question, and the Congo confer- ence. He introduced and carried through the bill indemnifying the Chinese for the massacre at Eock Springs, the bill summoning the maritime conference and the bill for the improvement of the consular service, and he constantly advocated the abolition of the tariff on works of art imported for educational purposes. He presented the bill Avhich placed the United States government first among the nations to co-operate with the French repubKc in making the universal exposition of 1889 a success. The French republic recognized this service by creating Mr. Behnont a commander of the Legion of Honor. In 1896 Mr. Behnont was a delegate to the national Democratic conven- tion, but with the other delegates from New York refused to support the ticket and platform adopted by the convention.

BELO, Alfred H., journalist, was born at Salem, X. C, May 27, 1839. His boyhood and youth were spent in North Carolina, and when the civil war broke out he volunteered for active service in the Confederate army, and was elected to the captaincy of the first company from his native county of For- syth. He served dur- ing the operations in Virginia, earning a colonel's commission and the reputation of a brave officer. Twice he was severely wounded, at Gettys- burg in 1863, and again the following June, when Grant made his fierce attack on the Confederate lines at Cold Harbor. He was ith Lee when that general surrendered at ^^ Appomattox. Leaving

the scene of the disaster, he determined to seek

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a home in the new southwest, and he rode on horseback from Virginia to Texas, reaching the latter state in June, 1865. He accepted a position on the Galveston News, which journal he pur- chased in 1875. In 1881 Colonel Belo formed a stock company, authorized by its charter to pub- lish newspapers at Galveston and such other points in the state of Texas as they might select. He duplicated the Xeics and issued it simultane- ously at Galveston and Dallas. Each paper had its own local department, the same editorial writ- ers, the same branch offices in New York, "Wash- ington, Chicago and elsewhere, and the same press service throughout Texas, flatter was consolidated at either Galveston or Dallas, accord- ing to convenience, and transmitted from one office to the other, three hundred and fifteen miles distant, by telegraph. The two journals were thus enabled to command a complete equip- ment. He died at Asheville, N.C., April 19. 1901. BEMAN, Nathan Sidney Smith, clergyman, was born in New Lebanon, Columbia county, N. Y., Nov. 26, 1785; son of Samuel and Silence (Douglass) Bem^an. When he was a child his parents removed to Hampton, "Washington county, N. Y., where his elementary education was acquired. In 1803 he entered Williams col- lege, remaining there one year, and continuing his course at Middlebury college, where he was graduated in 1807. He then became preceptor of Lincoln academy, New Castle, Maine, meanwhile studying theology. He was licensed to preach, June 14, 1809, and was ordained pastor of the Third Congregational church in Portland, Maine, March 14, 1810. Two years later he went south to recover his health, and settled at Mt. Zion, Ga., where he organized a Presbyterian church and established an academy. He was elected to the presidency of Franklin college, Athens, Ga., in 1818, holding the office one year. Returning north in 1822, he began to preach in the First Presbyterian church in Troy, N. Y., and held the pastorate for a period of forty years. He was elected a trustee of Middlebury college in 1824, and in 1846 he declined an election to the presi- dency. Williams college conferred upon him thedegree of D.D. in 1824, and Middlebury college gave him that of LL.D. in 1852. In 1863 he was dismissed from his pastorate at his own request, and by vote of his people was given a Life annviity of one thousand dollars. His published writings include mmierous sermons, addresses and dis- courses, and the following volumes: "The Old Ministry" (1839); "The Influence of Freedom on Popvilar and National Education," "Letters to John Hughes" (1851); "Episcopacy Exclu- sive: a Review of Dr. Coifs Sermon and Pamphlet" (1856), and "Four Sermons on the Atonement." He died Aug. 8, 1871.