Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/263

 SCAMMELL

SCAMMON

SCAMMELL, Alexander, soldier, was born in Meiuloii, Mass., in March, 1747; son of Dr. Samuel Leslie and Jane (Libber-) Scamniell. Dr. Scammell. with his wife and brother Alexander, •came from Portsmouth, England, to Mendon, in 1737. Alexander Scamniell was graduated at Har%-ard, A.B., 17G9, A.M., 1772 ; taught school in Kingston and Plymouth, Mass., 1769-70; in Portsmouth, N.H.. and Shapleigh, Me., 1771-72, and was employed under his cousin, Thomas Scammell, in exploring timber lands for the royal navy, and in making survej's for a map of New Hampshire. He studied law at Durham, N.H., under John Sullivan (q.v.), and was one of tiie force under Sullivan that seized Fort William and Mary, Newcastle, N.H., capturing its armament with nearly one hundred barrels of gunpowder, Dec. 14, 1774 ; which act was pro- nounced treasonable by the royal governor. During the absence of his preceptor in attend- ance on the First Continental congress, Mr. Scammell had charge of his legal practice, and for this reason was prevented from joining the army at Cambridge. He was major of New Hampshire militia and in April, 1775, when Sul- livan was made a major-general in the Con- tinental army, Scammell was appointed on his staff as an aide-de-camp. He was transferred to General Lee's division, Oct. 29, 1776, and was promoted colonel of the 3d New Hamp- shire regiment, Nov. 8, 1776. He served under Gen. Horatio Gates, and was wounded at Saratoga, Jan. 5, 1778. He was adjutant general of the Continental army on the staff of Gen- eral Washington, Jan. 5, 1778,-Jan. 1, 1781, and assumed command of the 1st New Hamp- ijhire regiment, light infantry, in March, 1781. He was captured by Hessian dragoons at York- town while reconnoitering the enemy's position, Sept. 30, 1781, and was fatally wounded after he liad surrendered. He was allowed to be carried to Williamsburg by Lord Cornwallis at the re- quest of Washington, dying there, Oct. 6, 1781.

SCAMMON, Eliakim Parker, soldier, was born in Whitefield, Maine, Dec. 27, 1816 ; son of Eliakim and (Young) Scammon. He was grad- uated at the U.S. Military academy, and promoted "2d lieutenant, 4th artillery, July 1, 1837 ; was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point, 1837-38 ; and served as an assistant topo- graphical engineer in the Florida war, 1838-40, and in projecting a map of the territory west of the Mississippi, 1840-41. He was assistant pro- fessor and principal assistant professor of history, geography and ethics in the Military academy 1841-46; was promoted Its lieutenant Sept. 21, 1846, and was superintending engineer on the survey of the harbor. New Bedford, Mass., 1846. He served on the staff of Gen. Winfield Scott

early in 1847 ; took part in the siege of Vera Cruz, March 9-29, 1847; was engaged in the survey of the northwestern lakes, 1847-5-5 ; and in constructing military roads in New Mexico, 1855-56 ; was promoted captain March 3, 1853, and was dismissed from the army June 4, 1856, for " Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline and disobedience of orders." He was professor of mathematics in Mount St. Mary's college, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1885- 59, and president of the Polyteclinic college of the Catholic Institute in Cincinnati 1860-61 ; on June, 14, 1861, he was appointed colonel of the 23d Ohio volunteers, and he engaged in the campaign in Western Virginia, 1861-62 ; took part in the action of Carnifex Ferry ; com- manded the advance brigade at Fayette, Raleigh, Princeton, Va., Nov. 1861-Aug. 1862, and at Bull Run railroad bridge, Aug. 27, 1862 ; served at South Mountain and Antietam ; was promoted brigadier general of volunteers, Oct. 15, 1862, and commanded the district of Kanawha, W. Va., Nov. 1862-Feb. 3, 1864. He was confined in Libby prison Feb. 3, Aug. 3-1864, commanded the '' separate brigade " at Morris Island off diaries- ton, S.C.. October 1864, and the district of Florida, November, 1864-April, 1865. He was president of the board for the examination of ofRcers of volunteers in the Department of the South, May to August, 1865, and was mustered out Aug. 24, 1865. He was U.S. consul at Prince Edward Island, 1865-71 ; a civil engineer in the U.S. service in New York harbor, 1872-75 ; and profes- sor of mathematics in Seton Hall college, South Orange, N.J., 1875-85. becoming a resident of Chicago, 111., in 1886. He received the honorary degree A.M. from Bowdoin in 1843, and from Trinity college in 1845. He died in New York city, Dec. 7, 1894.

SCAMMON, Jonathan Young, educationist, was born in Whitefield, Me., July 27, 1812, son of Eliakim Scammon, and grandson of David Young, He was educated at Waterville college, Maine, studied law in Hallowell, and practised in Chicago, 111., 1855-57. He was assistant clerk of Cook county, 1835-36, prepared a new edition of Gale's Statutes, published " Scammon's Reports " (4 vols., 1832-43) ; became attorney of the State Bank of Illinois in 1837, and was reporter of the supreme court of the state, 1839-45. He was a founder and director of the Galena and Chicago railroad, originated the public school system of Chicago, serving as inspector of schools and as president of the board of education ; was a founder of the Chicago Academy of Sciences ; and alsoof the Chicago Astronomical society, of which he was the first president. He built Dearborn observatory at his own expense, and conducted it for several years, purcliasing for it the first