Eastside business group hears from historian

The East Side Business Association Feb. 17 heard local historian and former school principal, David Caswell, tell little-known facts about two great presidents.

"President Washington would have been 279 years old on his birthday, Feb. 22," Caswell said. "Washington contracted smallpox as a child and was unable to have children. However, he had two stepchildren, Jackie and Patsy, from his wife Martha's first marriage. His goal was to see the children live through the revolution, but both died before the war for independence ended."

According to Caswell, during Washington's reign as commander of the revolutionary forces, there were only four large cities in the U.S. — New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Charleston, each with a population of less than 10,000.

Washington had four best friends who were a major force in beating the British.

Benedict Arnold was a brave and wounded soldier who Washington placed a great deal of trust in. Arnold eventually betrayed his country.

Henry Knox, a bookseller with a deformed hand, joined the Continental Army and was sent by Washington to transport British artillery captured in the Battle of Ticonderoga to Boston. In winter, Knox oversaw the transport of artillery by oxen over snow and ice in a 300-mile trip. Washington promoted to him to general and he succeeded Washington as commander of the army.

Gilbert Lafayette, a French aristocrat and military man, was a general in the Revolutionary War who was instrumental in winning the Battle of Yorktown.

Alexander Hamilton was wounded in battle during the Revolution. Washington designed the Purple Heart for his friend.

The greatest president who ever lived, according to Caswell, was Abraham Lincoln. He would have celebrated his 202nd birthday Feb. 12.

Lincoln's mother died when he was nine. Lincoln, a carpenter, built his mother's coffin. Later, his father married Sarah Bush Johnston, with whom Lincoln became very close. Lincoln became distant from his father because his dad wouldn't allow Lincoln time for study. He did not attend his father's funeral.

Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was mentally unstable. They raised four children who ransacked the White House and caused havoc, Caswell said. Lincoln was a great president but not a disciplinarian.

Lincoln was the only president to gain a patent for an invention, Caswell explained. He developed a device to lift boats over shoals, but the invention was never built.

Caswell said that President Barack Obama's idol is Lincoln and Obama follows many of his government strategies.

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