Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/181

 ROOT

ROOT

IV., 1893-96); American Ideals (1897); The Rough Riders (1899); Oliver Cromwell (1900); The Strenuous Life (1900), and TJte Deer Family of wliich he was part author (1902).

ROOT, Eleazer, educator, was born in Canaan, N.Y., March G, 1803; son of Dr. Eleazer Root, He was graduated from Williams college, A.B. 1831, A.M., 1824; was tutor at Williams, 1823; studied law at Hudson, N.Y., was admitted to the bar, 183-4, and practised in Hudson until 1830, when he removed to Virginia for his health. He was professor of languages at Hampden Sidney college, Va., for a short time, established and for several years conducted a private seminary, and in 1845 removed to Waukesha, AVis., where he founded Carroll college (chartered Jan. 31, 1846) and was its president and professor of Latin and and Greek, 1846-48. He was a delegate from Waukesha to the second state constitutional con- vention of 1847-48, where he advocated public schools and drew up Article X. (on Education) of the constitution as adopted, providing for a state superintendent of public instruction, the estab- lishment and maintenance of public schools, and the establishment of a state university. He was a charter member of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin, 1848-53, serving as first president pro tempore of the board, 1848-50; was the first state superintendent of public instruc- tion, 1849-53, a member of the state assembly, 1853, superintendent of schools in Fond du Lac county, 1853-53, and then removed to western Texas and was professor of languages in Guada- lupe county for four years, removing to Wiscon- sin shortly before the civil war. He was one of the founders and promoters of the Wisconsin Historical society; was for a time a resident of St. Louis, Mo. (about 1871); took orders in the Protestant Episcopal church, and served as rector of Trinity church, St. Augustine, Fla., 1874-84. He died in St. Augustine, July 25, 1887. ROOT, Elihu, cabinet officer, was born in Clinton, N.Y., Feb. 15, 1845; son of Oren and Nancy Whitney (Buttrick) Root, and brother of Oren Root (q.v.). He attended the common schools; was graduated from Hamilton college in 1864; assisted his brother Oren, who was principal of the academy at Rome, N.Y., in 1865; was graduated from the law department of the Uni- versity of the City of New York in 1867; was ad- mitted to the bar, and practised in New York city, first in partnership with John H. Strahan and later with Judge Willard Bartlett. He was married, Jan. 8, 1878, to Clara, daughter of Salem H. Wales of New York city. He was by appoint- ment of President Arthur, U.S. attorney of the southern district of New York, 1883-85; was a member of the county committee; chairman of the Republican county committee, 1886-87, and

delegate at large to the state constitutional con- vention of 1894, being chairman of its judiciary committee. He was employed as counsel for William M. Tweed on the exposure of the " Tweed ring " frauds; for Judge Hilton in the Stewart will cases, and for the Sugar trust and various political liti- gations. He was ap- pointed secretary of war by President Mc- Kinley, Aug. 1, 1899, as successor to Rus- sell A. Alger, and was re-appointed, March 5, 1901, being con- tinued in the office till he resigned in 1903. He was made a member of the execu- tive committee of the Carnegie Institution,

Washington, D.C., in 1903. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Hamilton col- lege in 1894, and by Yale in 1900. , ROOT, Erastus, representative, was born in Hebron, Conn., March 16, 1778. He was grad- uated from Dartmouth Qollege in 1793; was ad- mitted to the bar in 1796, and settled in practice in Delhi, N.Y. He was a member of the state as- sembly, 1798-1803, and many terms subsequently; a Democratic representative in the 8th, 11th, 14th and 22d congresses. 1803-05, 1809-11, 1815-17 and 1831-33; state senator, 1812-15; a member of the state assembly, 1818-23 and 1830; lieutenant- governor of the state, 1833-35, and again state senator, 1841-45. The honorary degree of A.M. was conferred on him by Union college in 1833. He is the author of: Addresses to the People (1834). He died suddenly in New York city, when en route for Washington, Dec. 24, 1846.

ROOT, George Frederick, composer, was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county, Mass., Aug. 30, 1820; son of Frederick Ferdinand and Sarah (Flint) Root, and grandson of Azariah Root and of Col, Daniel Flint. In 1836 he was left with the entire management of his father's farm and family. Having learned to play several musical instruments, he soon after went to Boston, where he obtained employment with A. N. Johnson, a prominent musician, who gave him lessons on the piano and in voice culture. He became suc- cessful as a music teacher; removed in 1 844 to New York city, where he taught in a school founded by Jacob Abbott (q.v.); and was mar- ried in 1845 to Mary Olive Woodman. He went to Paris in 1850, studied singing under Alary and began his career as a composer. He originated the Normal musical institutes and* was a member