Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/364

 PITZER

PLAISTED

Ohio volunteers; took part in the battle of Bull Run: re-eiilisto(l for three years in July, 1861, and in the Andrews railroad raid, which began on April 7. ISG'J, wivs captured, and escaped ex- ei'ution tlirough the unexpected advance of the Federal troops, but was imprisoned, escaped and was recaptured and exchanged, March 18, 18G3. He received one of the first medals of honor given to United States soldiers, April, 1863; was promoted lieutenant, and served with his regiment until ill-health forced him to resign in August, 1868. He wjis married. May 17, 186-1, to Winnie C. Osborne, of New Brighton, Pa., and in that year entered the Pittsburg conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, where he remained until 1870. He was then transferred to the New Jersey conference where he labored until 1889, when he was appointed to the California con- ference. He was professor in the National schrin<: in Burbank. Cal.. in 1903.

PITZER, Alexander White, author and clergy- man, was born in Salem. Va., Sept. 14. 1834; son of Bernard and Frances L. (Wliite) Pitzer; grandson of Bernard and Jane (Kyle) Pitzer and of Samuel and Frances (Penn) White, and a descendant of William Penn. He attended the Virginia Collegiate institution; was graduated at Hampden-Sidney college in 1854; attended the Union Theological seminary of Virginia, 1854-55, and was graduated at Danville Theological semin- ary, Ky., in 1857. He was licensed to pi-each Sept. 5, 1856, by the presbytery of Montgomery; ordained pastor by the presbytery of Highland, Kansas, April 5, 1858; was pastor of the 1st Presbyterian church, Leavenworth, Kan., 1858- 61, and preached in Sparta and Mount Zion, Ga., and at Cave Spring and Liberty, Va., 1865-68, He engaged in evangelical work in Washington, D.C., in 1868. and in that year organized the Central Pre^ljyterian church there, and became its pastor. He was stated clerk of the presbytery of Chesapeake from 1872; president of the Washington City Bible society from 1873, and professor of biljlical theology in Howard uni- versity, Washington, D.C., 1876-90. He was a trustee of Hampden-Sidney college, Va., from 1865; a member of the legislative commission of the American Sabbath Union; a member of the Prophetic convention in New York city in 1878, where he assisted in drafting and reported the doctrinal testimony adopted by the conference;

president of the Evangelical Alliance at Wash- ington, D.C., from 1886, and a delegate to the World's Missionary Conference in London in 1888. He was a member of the Toronto council of the General Presbyterian Alliance; a member of the permanent commission of the western section of the Presbyterian Alliance; a commis- sioner on foreign missions and Sabbath-schools, and introduced the resolutions in the general assemblj' at Atlanta, Ga., in 1882. to establish the fraternity of the northern and southern divisions of the church. He received the honorary degree D.D. from Arkansas college in 1876, and that of LL.D. from Howard university, Washington, D.C., in 1902. He is the author of: Ecce Deus Homo (1886); Christ the Teacher of Men (1877); Tlie New Life (1878); Shall God's Houses of Wor- ship he Taxed? Confidence in Christ (1888); Manifold Ministry of the Holy Spirit (1894); Predestination (1898), and contributions to denom- inational literature.

PLAISTED, Harris Merrill, governor of Maine, was born in Jefferson, N.H., Nov. 2, 1828; son of Deacon William and Nancy (Merrill) Plaisted, grandson of Judge Samuel Plaisted, and a des- cendant of Capt. Roger Plaisted, who with his two sons were slain at Kittery by the Indians, in King Philip's war. He attended the district school until 1845; taught school, 1845-47, and was graduated from Waterville college in 1853. While at college, he was principal of the Water- ville Liberal institute, and was superintendent of schools for three years. He was graduated with hon- ors from the Albany La%v school in 1855; began practice in Bangor in 1856; was a mem- ber of the governor's staff, 1858-61, and in August, 1861 enlisted in the 11th Maine vol- unteers. He was commissioned litutciiaiit-col- onel, Oct. 30, 1861, and colonel, May 12, lb62; com- manded his regiment in the Peninsular campaign of 1862; engaged in the siege of Yorktown, the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, and the seven days' battles, and commanded the 3il brigade, 1st division, 10th army corps, in the siege of Charles- ton, S.C, in 1863, and in Grant's campaign of 1864-65 against Richmond and Petersburg, Va. He was brevetted brigadier-general of volun- teers, in February, 1865, and major-general of volunteers, March 18, 1865, for " gallant and meritorious conduct in the field." He returned to his law practice in Bangor in May, 1865; was a representative in the state legislature, 1867-68, and was delegate-at-large to the Democratic national convention of 1868. He served as at- torney-general of Maine, 1873-76; was a repre- sentative in the 44th congress, 1875-77, and in