Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/104

 NORTH

NORTIIEN

NORTH, Simeon, educator, was born in Berlin, Conn., Sept. 7. Ib02; son of Col. Simeon Nortli, and a descendant of John and Hannah (Bird) North, original proprietors and settlers in Farin- ington. Conn., in 1653. He was graduated at Yule college, A.B., 1825, A.M., 1828; attended the Yale Divinity school, 1825-28, and wasa tutor at Yale, 1827-29. He was professor of ancient languages in Hamilton college, Clinton, N. Y., 1829-39, and was president of the college, succeed- ing the Rev. Dr. Joseph Penney, 1839-57, when he resigned and lived in retirement at Clinton, until his death. He was ordained to the Congre- gational ministry in 1842; was a trustee of Ham- ilton college, 1839-84, and of Auburn Theological seminary. 1840-49. He received the degree of LL.D. from Western Reserve college in 1842, and that of D.D. from Wesleyan university in 1849. He was married April 21, 1835, to Frances Harriet, daughter of Professor Thomas Hubbard, M.D., of Yale. He was the century annalist of Hamilton college in 1872, and is the autlior of: Tlie American System of Collegiate Education (1839); Faith in the World's Conversion (1842); Anglo-Sa-xon Literatur2, an address (1847); The Weajyons in Ciiristian Warfare (1849); Obedience in Death (1849), and Half-Century Letter of Reminiscences (1879). See Memorial of President Xorth (1884). He died on liis farm at Clinton, N. Y.. Feb. 9. ivi^4.

NORTH, William, senator, was born in Fort Frederick. Pemaquid, Maine, in 1755; son of Capt. John and Elizabeth (Pitson) North: grand- son of John North and of James Pitson of Boston, Mass. John North, the immigrant, was a native of West Meath, Ire- land. came to America in 1730, and settled in Pemaquid, Lincoln county Maine. Capt. John North com- manded Fort Fred- erick and Fort St. George during the French and Indian war; was the first surveyor of lands in Pemaquid, and judge of the court of com- mon j)lea3 from the organization of Lin- coln county in 17G0 William removed with his mother to Boston, Mass., where he was educated and placed with a merchant until the closing of the port in 1774. He entered the Revo- lutionary army in 3775. He wascommissione<l 2d lieutenant in Knox's reginipnt of Continental artillery in which ho served from May 9, 1770, to

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until his death in 1763.

Jan. 1, 1777. He was promoted captain in Col. Jackson's Additional Continental regiment May 10, 1777, and led his company at the battle of ^lonmouth. He was transferred to Spencer's regiment April 22, 1779, which became the 16th Massacluisetts, July 23, 1780, and was aide-de- camp to Baron Steuben from Ma}', 1779, to No- vember, 1783. Steuben made him one of his sub-inspectors in introducing and perfecting his military system in the Continental army. He was promoted major of the 2d U.S. regiment Oct. 20, 1780; transferred to the 9th Massachusetts regiment Jan. 1, 1781; to the 4th Massachusetts regiment Jan. 1, 1783, and attended Baron Steu- ben in the Virginia campaign and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. He was bre- vetted major Sept. 11, 1783. He served as in- spector of the army from April 15, 1784, to June 25, 1788; was promoted major of the 2d U. S. regiment Oct. 20, 1786; adjutant-general of the U.S. army, with the rank of brigadier-general, July 19, 1798, and was honorably discharged from the service June 15, 1800. He was married Oct. 14, 1787, to Mary, daughter of James Duane, of New York city. He settled in Duanesbuig, N.Y.; represented his district in the New York assem- bly several times; served as speaker, and was ap- pointed by Governor Joy U.S. senator to fill the va- cancy caused by the resignation of John Sloss Ho- bart. May 5, 1798, serving from May 21, 1798, until the election of James Watson by the legis- lature in 1799. He was appointed adjutant-gen- eral of the U.S. army March 27, 1812, but declined to serve. Baron Steuben bequeathed the larger part of his property to him at liis death, which he in turn divided among his military companions. He was one of the first canal commissioners of New York, and a member of the Society of the Cin- cinnati. He died in New York city, Jan. 3, 1836. NORTHEN, William Jonathan, governor of Georgia, was born in Jones county, Ga., July 9, 1835; son of Capt. Peter and Louise M. (Davis) Northen; grandson of William and Margaret Northen, who settled in North Carolina, and of Abner Davis, and a descendent of John Northen, of England, who settled on the eastern shore of Virginia in 1635. He was graduated at Mercer university in 1853; taught a high school, 1854-56; was an assistant instructor in the Mount Zion high school, 1856-57, and succeeded Dr. Carlisle Beeman as principal of the school. 1857-61. He was married Dec. 19, 1860. to Mattie 51., daughter of Thomas Neel, of Sit. Zion, Ga. He served in the Confederate army as a private in the com- pany commanded by his father, 1861-65, was principal of the'liigh school at Mt. Zion. 1865-72, and engaged in farming in Hancock county, 1874-90. He was a member of the Democratic state convention in 1867; a representative in the