Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/237

 DENVER

DEPEW

years. In 1884 he became editor of the Geauga Leader, published in Burton, Oliio, and in 1887 removed to Cleveland, where he occupied edito- rial positions successively with the Sun and Voice, Evening World and Cleveland Leader and later as editorial writer on the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He was elected a member of the Western association of writers. He published a volume of poems (1883) and a novel. The Glass Dwarf, besides many contributions to periodical litera- ture.

DENVER, James Wilson, governor of Kansas, was born in Winchester, Va., May 28, 1817. He removed with his father's family to Ohio in 1830, was graduated at the Cincinnati law school, practised law at Xenia, and edited the local Democratic paper there. He removed to Platte county. Mo., and in 1847 raised Company H, 12th U.S. infantry, serving as its captain until the close of the Mexican war, and participating in the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Eey, Chapultepec, and the Garetas. In 1850 he removed to California, located in Weaverville, and served as state senator, secretary of state, and a representative in the 34th congress 1855-57, wliere he was chairman of the committee on the Pacific railroad. He was subsequently com- missioner of Indian affairs, which office he resigned in 1858 to accept the appointment of governor of the territory of Kansas. Colorado was included in the territory of Kansas at this time and Governor Denver instructed a company of miners starting out for Pike's Peak to select a county seat. Tliese men chose the site of Denver and named the town after him. In November, 1858, he resigned from the governorship and was reappointed commissioner of Indian affairs. He resigned in March, 1859, and in 1861 was ap- pointed by President Lincoln a brigadier-general of volunteers. After serving some time in Kansas he was ordered to report to Gen. H. W. Halleck at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. He ad- vanced to Corinth, Miss., where he had command of all the railroads in that section, his force increasing to 30,000 men. After his resignation from the army in March, 1863, he practised his profession in Washington, D.C., and at Wilming- ton, Ohio, where he also had a large farm. He died at Washington, D.C., Aug. 9, 1892.

DE PAUW, Washington Charles, philan- thropist, was born in Salem, Ind., Jan. 4, 1822; son of Judge John and Elizabeth (Battiste) De Pauw; and grandson of Charles De Pauw, who came from France with Lafayette and served hi the Revolutionary war. In 1841 he became an assistant to the clerk of Washington county, afterward being elected clerk of the circuit and probate courts and of the court of common pleas. In 1856 he resigned from office and established

large saw and grist mills, but especiallj- devoted himself to banking, and amassed a large fortune. In 1872 he established the American plate glass works at New Albany, Ind., and after a struggle with importers, which involved a less of more than half a million dollars, he succeeded in es- tablishing the in- dustry in the United States and making possible the large works which were afterward erected. In 1884, when the In- diana Asbury univer- sitj', Greencastle, was almost insolvent, he lifted its debt and generously endowed it. In May, 1884, its name was changed to De Pauw univer- sity, and jMr. De Pauw gave to it in all more than $1,000,000. He also founded the De Pauw college at New Albany for the educa- tion of young women, and in his will provided for the construction of a charitable institution to include an industrial school, hospitals, home for the friendless, readmg rooms, and stores, for free use of the worthy poor. He contributed to many charitable objects during his life and at his death he left generous endowments to edu- cational and religious institutions. He was married in 1855 to Katharine, daughter of Dr. Elijah Newland. Of his sons, Newland T. (De Pauw 1876), became president of various banks and of the glass manufacturing companies owned by his father ; and Charles W^ashington (De Pauw, 1880), became president of the several iron manu- factories owned by his father. Mr. De Pauw died in Chicago, 111. , May 5, 1887.

DEPEW, Chauncey Mitchell, capitalist, was born in Peekskill, N.Y., April 23, 1834. His paternal ancestors were Huguenots, who settled in West Chester county and gave to New Rochelle its name. From his mother, Martha, daughter of Chauncey R. Mitchell, he descended from Roger Sherman, signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was graduated from Yale in 1856, studied law in the office of William Nelson at Peekskill, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. He was a delegate to the Republican state convention of that j-ear and in 1860 he can- vassed the ninth congressional district of New York for the Republican ticket. In 1861 he was elected to the state assembly and was re-elected in 1862, serving during his second term as chair- man of the committee on ways and means. In 1863 he Avent upon the Republican state ticket as