Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/97

 MCALLISTER

MCALLISTER

York in 1894. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical society in 1886 ; an officier d'Academie Paris in 1889, and served as trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, 1885-97. In 1890 he received from Brown university the degree of A.M., by special vote, and the honorary degree of LL.D. He is the author of : Manual of Pri- mary Instruction ( 1884) ; Manual of Instruction in United States History and Civil Government (1887); Catalogue of Pedagogical Library with Biographical Notes (1887); Manual Training in the Pd)lic Schools of Philadelphia (1890); Art Education in Public Schools {\^^Z); besides ad- dresses, reports and contributions to periodicals. McAllister, Matthew Hall, jurist, was born in Savannah, Ga., Nov. 26, 1800 ; son of Matthew and Hannah (Gibbons) McAllister ; grandson of Col. Richard and Mary (Dill) McAl- lister ; grand-nephew of William Gibbons, dele- gate (q. v.), and great grandson of Archibald McAllister. His father, born May 4, 1758, was a graduate of the College of New Jersey, 1779 ; U.S. district attorney for Georgia during Wash- ington's administration, judge of the superior court, mayor of the city of Savannah during the war of 1812, and died. May 9, 1823. Matthew Hall McAllister matriculated at the College of New Jersey, but was not graduated. He was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1821, and prac- tised in Savannah, Ga. In 1827 he was appointed U.S. district attorney for Georgia by President J. Q. Adams. He opposed nullification in 1832 ; was a representative in the Georgia legislature in 1835, and subsequently state senator for seven- teen years and president of the senate most of the time of his service. He established the court of errors of Georgia and declined the U.S. sena- torship. He was defeated for governor of Georgia on the Democratic ticket in 1845, and was a delegate to the Democratic national con- vention at Baltimore, Md., May 22, 1848. He re- moved to San Francisco, Cal., with his family in 1850 ; was U.S. circuit judge for California, 1855- 62 ; and rendered valuable services by adjusting disputed land titles and by maintaining the rights of the government to administer the law, when that prerogative was usurped by the vigil- ance committee. In 1862, being in ill health, he resigned. He received the degree of LL.D. from Columbia college in 1860. His Opinions were edited by his son, Matthew Hall McAllister. He married Louisa Charlotte, daughter of Benjamin Clark and Sarah Charlotte (Mitchell) Cutler and had sons : Julian, colonel, U.S.A.; Hall, lawyer ; Ward, lawyer, and author of : Society as I Have Found It ; Cutler, lawyer ; and Francis Marion, clergyman. Dr. McAllister is the author of a Eulogy on President Jackson. He died in San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 19, 1865.

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McAllister, Robert, soldier, was born in Lost Creek Valley, Juniata county. Pa., June 1, 1813 ; son of William, grandson of Hugh, and great-grandson of Archibald McAllister. Archi- bald McAllister came from Scotland in 1732, and settled in Cumberland county, Pa. William McAllister was a farmer, who held various public offices, and Robert was brought up on the farm and attended the neighborhood school. He was a member of the state militia, and readied the rank of brigadier- general. In 1861 he recruited a company of volunteers at Ox- ford, N.J., where he was engaged in build- ing a railroad, and re- ported with the company at Trenton, where he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 1st New Jersey regiment by Governor Olden. He served in General Runyon's 4th (reserve) divi- sion at Bull Run, Va., July 21, 1861, the division being stationed about six miles in the rear, guard- ing the road to Alexandria. His regiment re- turned to New Jersey at the end of three months' service and he recruited the 11th New Jerney volunteers for the war and was elected colonel. He served in Carr's (1st) brigade, Sickles's (2d) division, Stoneman's (3d) corps at Fredericks- burg, Dec. 13, 1862 ; in Carr's brigade. Berry's division, Sickles's corps at Chancellorsville, May 2-3, 1863 and in Carr's brigade, Humphrey's division, Sickles's corps at Gettysburg, July 1-4,

1863, where he was wounded and invalided home. He returned to the army after three months' absence and was assigned to the com- mand of the 1st brigade, 4th division of Han- cock's 2d corps and at Spottsylvania, May 12,

1864, he led the brigade at the '* bloody angle " forming the second line of battle in the assault at the salient. On May 13, 1864, on the consolida- tion of the corps, the 4th division was absorbed and Colonel McAllister resumed command of the 11th New Jersey in the 3d brigade as recon- structed, taking part in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864, and in the further campaign of Grant against Petersburg and Richmond, gaining for his conduct at the battle of Boydton plank road, Hatcher's Run, Va., Oct. 27, 1864, the brevet of brigadier-general. In the Appomattox campaign he commanded the 3d brigade, 3d divi- sion, 2d army corps, and on Marcli 13, 1865. was brevetted major-general of volunteers for gallant