Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/19

 ERNST

ERRETT

Boston, Mass. He was graduated from Harvard in 1871, and studied law in the office of Ropes & Gray, Boston, Mass., at the Harvard law school, and in the office of James B. Richardson. In 1879 lie «as married in Brooklyn, N.Y.. to Jeanie C. Bynner, sister of Edwin Lassetter Bynner, the novelist. Mr. Ernst was prominently mentioned for judge of the probate com"t in 1893; was a member of the lower house of the legislature, 1883-84, and helped to frame the first civil ser- vice law passed in Massachusetts. He published translations: The Widnw Lfronge (1873), and the C7iV;)(e o/ ftoM (1874), and wrote plays: A Christ- ni'js Supper (1873), The Douhle Wedding (187.'5), and Our Friends (1876), all produced at the Boston Museum; and law-books, including Laic of Married Women nS97\

ERNST, Oswald Herbert, soldier, was born near ('inciniiati. Ohio. .June 27. 1842; son of An- drew Henry and Sarah Henrietta (Otis) Ernst. His grandfather was a burgomaster in Germany, ami was forced by the oppression of Napoleon to emigrate. He came to America in 1812 and set- tled in Oliio. Oswald attended Harvard col- lege, 18.')8-o9, and entered the U.S. mili- tarj' academy in July, 1860, graduating in 1864, and by reason of hLs merit was made 1st lieutenant in the corps of engineers, June 13, 1864. He was assigned to the , ' army of the Tennes-

■it see as assistant en-

/'>--,• ,'-■ -^ ^ gineer and was assist-

^/*x)rtC5^<-64^^^ ant professor of engineering at the U.S. military academy in October. 18d4, and as- sistant engineer in constructing forts on the Pa- cific coast, 1864-68. He was promoted captain in Marcli, isfl7. He commanded an engineer com- pany at Willet's Point, N.Y., 1868-71, and in Decemlier. 1^70, as a member of the United States eclipse expedition, observed the eclipse of the sun from Spain. He was instructor of military engi- neering, .signalling and telegraphy at West Point, 1871-78, at the same time V)eing architect of the ncadeiny buildings then erecting. He was em- jiloyed on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers sur- veys and improvements, 1878-86. He was promoted to the rank of major in May, 1882, and after 1886 was employed on river and Iiarbor im- ])iovenients in Texas, on public buildings in Wash- ington. DC. and as aide-de-camp to President Harrison, 1889-93. He was appointed superin- tendent of the Military academy with the ex-nffirio

rank of colonel of engineers, March 31, 1893, and was. promoted lieutenant-colonel in Marcli, 1895. He was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers on May 26, 1898, and in June, 1898, was ordered to Chickamauga, and assigned to the command of the 1st brigade, 1st division. 1st army corps. In July he conducted liis brigade to Porto Rico, and took an active part in the .short campaign which followed. He was in immediate command of the troojjs in the affaii' of Coamo, August 9, in which with a loss of but seven wounded he inflicted upon the enemy a loss of nine killed, thirtj' wounded and one hundred and sixty-seven prisoners. In December, 1898, he was made in- spector-general of the Island of Cuba with station at Havana. He is the author of: Manual of rrnelieal Militarij Enrjineering (1873), and of various cyclopaedia articles on military subjects.

ERRETT, Isaac, editor, was born in New York city, Jan. 2, 1820. He was a younger brother of Russell Errett, representative in con- gress. He was educated in the public schools of Pittsburg, Pa., and in 1840 became a preacher of the Christian chui-ch, holding pastorates in Penn- sylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Chicago, 111. He was corresponding secretary of the Ohio Christian missionary society, 1851-54, and subsequently its president. He was also corresponding secretary and president of the American Christian mission- ary society, and president of the foreign society. In 1866 he established the Christian Standard at Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1868 removed with his paper to Alliance, Ohio. He was president of AUiance college until 1869, when he resigned and removed to Cincinnati where he published liis paper until his death. Besides many pam- phlets he is the author of: Dehate on Spiritualism icith Joel Tiffany (1855); A Brief Vieio of 31issions (1857); Walks about Jerusalem (1871); Talks to Bereans (1872); Letters to Young Christians (1875); Evenings with the Bible (3 vols., 1884-87); and Life cf George Flovxr. He received the degree of LL.D. from Butler university in 1886. He died at Terrace Park, near Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 19, 1888.

ERRETT, Russell, representative, was born in New York city, Nov. 10, 1817. By the death of his father in 1824, he was forced to depend upon himself for a living. In 1829 he removed to Pittsburg, Pa., served an appienticeshii) to a baker; was a journeyman in Alalaina and Ken- tucky for several years, then returned to Pitts burg and taught school. He was clerk to the mayor, and editor of the Pittsburg Sun, 1842-45; editor of the Washington, Pa., Patriot, 1845-52, and of the Pittsburg Gazette, 1853-65. He was paymaster in the U.S. army, 1861-65. He was in the state senate as clerk, 1860-61, and again 1872- 76, and as senator, 1867. He was assessor of internal revenue, 1869-73; was a Republicjin rep-