Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/232

 FYAN

FYFFE

eon of Henry Futhey of Scotch descent, who emigrated to Chester county, Pa., from county Antrim, Ireland, in 1730. He studied law at Dickinson college and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He vvas district attorney, 1844-49, and president judge of his district, 1849-59. He was interested in liistorical research, was elected a member of several historical societies, and con- tributed a series of 100 articles on " Historical Collections of Chester County " to a neivspaper. In collaboration with Gilbert Cope he prepared a "History of Chester County" (1881); and with Dr. William Darlington " Notse Cestrienses " for publication iu a local journal. His published works include: HiMor]i ot Upper Octorara PreHhy- terian Church (1870), Ilishirij of Educational Insti- tutions of Chester County (1877); Historical Address on the One Hundredth Annircrsary of the Paoli Massacre (1878) and Genealogy of the Futhey Family. See his autobiography (1889). He died in Westchester, Pa., Nov. 20, 1888.

FYAN, Robert W., representative, was born in Bedford county. Pa., March 11, 1835; son of Robert and Alice Fyan. He was admitted to the bar and in 1858 removed to Missouri. On the breaking out of the civil war he volunteered in the Union army and went into active service as major of the 24th Missouri infantry. He was soon promoted to the colonelcy of the 46th Missouri infantry and in that capacity served throughout the war. At its close he was elected circuit attorney of the 14th Missouri judicial circuit and a year later judge of the same cir- cuit, to which position he was re-elected in 1868, 1874 and 1880, and resigned in 1883 on being elected a representative in the 48th congress. He was a member of the constitutional conven- tion of Oct. 30, 1875. He was also a Democratic representative from the thirteenth district of Jlissouri in the 53d and 53d congresses, 1891-95. He died in Marshfield, Mo., July 28, 1896.

FVFFE, Joseph, naval officer, was born in Urbana. Ohio. July 26, 1832; son of Gen. Edward Petty and Sarah (Robinson) Fyffe; grandson of William and Maximilla (Petty) Fyffe; and a descendant of Fy fifes from Scotland, who originally set- tled iv Mary- land near An- napolis. He entered the U.S. navy as a midshipman, Sept. 9, 1847, and saw his first service on board the Cnmher- land and on the bombship StromhoU in the war with Mexico. 1847. He was transferred to the

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York-town on the coast of Africa, was wrecked near the Cape Verde islands, and was commended for gallant conduct on that occasion. He was next on board the St. Lawrence, sent to England in 1851 to represent tlie United States iu the London world's fair, and was assigned to duty at the U.S. naval academy, 1853-54. He was promoted passed midshipman, June 15, 18.54; master, Sept. 16, 1855, and lieutenant, Sept. 17, 1855; served under Lieutenant Hartstene as a volunteer on the Itelease in the Grinnell Arctic expedition that rescued Dr. Kane in 1856, when he was decorated with the medal of the Arctic order of Victoria bj' the queen ; on the lielief with the Brazilian squadron, 1850-57, and on the Germantown of the East Indian squadron and on the Lancaster on the Pacific station, 1857-60. In 1860-65 he was on the flagship Minnesota of the North Atlantic block- ading squadron; was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-com- mander, July 16, 1863; participated in the destruction of the Confederate blockade runner Ilehe, and commanded the lead- ing party tliat de- stroyed the works near Fort Fisher, N.C., in August, 1863; iu destruction of the Confederate blockade runner Hanger and in the engagement near Fort Caswell, N.C., in January, 1864. He commanded the Hunchback, in various engagements on the James river in 1864 and 1865, including driving back two iron-clad rams near Dutch Gap canal. Jan. 25, 1865. He was on duty at the Boston navy yard in 1866; was promoted commander, Dec. 2, 1867, and served on the Oneida, Asiatic station, 1868-69; commanded the monitor Cen- taur, in the North Atlantic fleet, 1869-70 ; at the nitre depot. Maiden, Mass., 1871-72; was light- house inspector, 1872-75; commanded the J/o- nocacy, A.siatic station. 1875-78; was promoted captain, Jan. 13, 1879, and commanded the receiving sliips St. Loxds, 1879-80, the Franldin, 1880-82. and the flagship Tennessee of the North Atlantic .squadron, 1883. He was on the Pacific station in command of the flagship Pensacola. and on sick leave, 1882-83; was captain of the Boston navy yard. 1884-88, and in command of the New London (Conn.) naval .station, 1891-93. He was pi-omoted commodore. Feb. 28, 1890. was in com- mand of the Boston navy yard. 1893-94, was pro- moted rear admiral, July 10, 1894, and retired, July 30, 1894. He died in Pierce, Neb., Feb. 25,1896.