Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/57

 NEHLIG

NEILL

6000 men. In May, 1863, he surprised the Con- federate cavalry under Col. Wirt Adams, at Sw-eeden's Cave, killing and capturing a large number and putting the remainder to flight. He was then ordered to take the town of Chatta- nooga, and after shelling the place was unable to cross the river from need of boats, and was ordered back by Gen- eral Mitchell, June 9. He was promoted major-general of vol- unteers for gallantry at Stone's river, Nov. 29, 1863, where he commanded the sec- ond (late eighth) division, 14th army corps. Gen. George H. Thomas, and oc- cupied the centre of the line of battle, where he greatly distinguished him- self. He was also present at the battle of Chattanooga, Sept. 19-30, 1863, where he re-captured 50 pieces of artillery abandoned by the right wing of Rosecrans' army, and was charged with disobedience of orders, but was exonerated by a court-martial convened at his request. He was honorably discharged. Jan, 19. 1865, returned to Pittsburg and engaged in business. He was the Republican representa- tive from the twenty-second Pennsylvania dis- trict in the 41st, 43d, 44th and 49th congresses, 1869-73, 1875-77, and 1885-87. He was a manager of the National Home for Volunteers for fifteen years; president of the National Union League of America; a member of the G.A.R. Veteran legion; Scott's legion; Military Order of For- eign Wars, and other patriotic orders. He was twice married; first to Kate Losey of Pittsburg, and secondly in 1869, to Grace Ashton of Phila- delphia, who with three daughters survived him. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from the College of New Jersey, in 1875. He died in Plainfield, N.J., Aug. 7, 1901.

NEHLIG, Victor, artist, was born in Paris, France, in 1830. He studied art under Leon Cog- niet and Abel de Pujol, and immigrated to the United States in 1856. He opened a studio in New York city, where he remained until 1873, when he returned to Paris. He was elected an associate of the National Academy of Design in 1863, and an academician in 1870. His works, principally figure pieces, illustrative of American history, include: TJie Cavalry Charge of St. Harry B. Hidden (1863), owned by the New York Historical society; The Artisfs Dream; The Captive Hugue- not; Gertrude of Wyoming; Hiaioatha and Min-

nehaha; Armorer in the Olden Time; Battle at Antietam; Battle of Gettysburg; Waiting for my Enemy; Serenade; Pocahontas {lSQd-72); The Bravo (1870); Mahogany Cutting (1871); The Princess, and book illustrations.

NEILL, Edward Duffield, educationist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 9, 1833; son of Dr. Henry and Martha Rebecca (Duffield) Neill; grandson of Dr. John and Elizabeth (Martin) Neill, and of Dr. Benjamin and Rebecca (Potts) Duffield, and a descendant of John Neill, a lawyer, who emigrated from the north of Ireland to America about 1739, and settled in Delaware. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, 1837-38; was graduated at Amherst college, Mass. , 1843; studied theology in Andover Theo- logical seminary in 1843, and completed his studies under the Rev. Albert Barnes and Dr, Thomas Brainerd of Philadelphia. He was mar- ried in October, 1847, to Nancy, daughter of Richard Hall of Worcester county, Md. He was home missionary at Elizabeth, 111., 1847-49; was ordained in 1848; in 1849 established a Pres- byterian church in St. Paul, Minnesota Territory; was pastoi", 1849-55, and of the Second Pres- byterian church known as the House of Hope, 1855-60. He was influential in establishing the first public schools in St. Paul; was first terri- torial superintendent of instruction, 1851-53; chancellor of the University of Minnesota, 1858- 61; secretary of the citj^ board of education, and superintendent of the public schools for several years. He served as chaplain to the 1st Minne- sota volunteers, 1861-63, and as hospital chaplain to the U.S. Army at the South Street military hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., 1863-64. He was ap- pointed to read and arrange the correspondence of President Lincoln, was his secretary to sign land patents in Febi-uary, 1864, and served in the executive mansion after the Presidents as- sassination until 1868. He was appointed U.S. consul at Dublin, Ireland, by President Grant, serving, 1869-70; returned to St. Paul in 1871, where he established Macalester college, was its president, 1873-84, and professor of history and political science there, 1884-93. He joined the Reformed Episcopal church in 1874, and was rector of the Cavalry Reformed Episcopal church in St. Paul for several years, but subsequently returned to the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the American Historical association; the Historical Society of Wisconsin; a corre- sponding member of the Massachusetts Histor- ical society, and of the New England Historic Genealogical society. He received the degree D.D. from Lafayette college in 1886. He is the author of: A History of mnnesota (1858); Tei-ra Marice, or. Threads of Maryland Colonial History (1867); Virginian Company of London