Re: Seeking Information on Charles Miles on 1800 Census of Washington County
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In reply to:
Re: Seeking Information on Charles Miles on 1800 Census of Washington County
Carol Powell 2/28/14
Here is the write up about Henry Miles Dellinger. Very interesting person who installed the first experimental Morse Code device from Washington,DC to Baltimore, and was friends with Samuel Morse, and knew several presidents. The nieces listed at the end of the obit confirm his identity and it can also be verified through other documents. We now know his true middle name:
Dellinger, Henry Miles b. 22 Feb 1822 - d. 23 Feb 1911 R83/D-3
Dellinger. On Thursday, February 23, 1911 at 4:35 a.m., Henry M. Dellinger, aged 89 years. Funeral from his late residence, 231 G street n.w., Saturday, February 25 at 2 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited (Hagerstown & Williamsport, Md. papers please copy).
Dellinger The members of the Assn. of the Oldest Inhabitants, District of Columbia are respectfully invited to attend the funeral services of our late associates and vice president, Henry M. Dellinger at his late residence, 231 G street northwest, Saturday, the 25th inst. at 2 p.m.
Theodore W. Noyes, President
Benjamin W. Reiss, Rec. Secretary
The Evening Star, February 24, 1911
Last Rites For Dead
Funeral of Henry M. Dellinger Tomorrow Afternoon
Death Occurs at Age of 89
Man Who Installed First Telegraph Office for Inventor Morse
His Contribution to History
Was Vice President of Association of Oldest Inhabitants --
Trustee of Wesley Church
Funeral services for Henry M. Dellinger, a native of Washington county, Md., but for more than seventy-two years a resident of The District of Columbia, who died at his home, 231 G street northwest, yesterday morning, will be held at his late home at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. He died at the age of eighty-nine.
Mr. Dellinger enjoyed the distinction of not only being one of the oldest and most widely known officers and members of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants in the District of Columbia, but was the man who installed the first telegraph office in the world for the inventor, S.F.B. Morse, in his home in this city in 1844. He was also the oldest trustee of Wesley M.E. Church, corner of 5th and F streets northwest, having been associated with that organization since 1844. Mr. Dellinger was for a number of years vice president of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants.
Installation of Telegraph Office
In the course of a reminiscent talk some time ago, about early days in Washington, Mr. Dellinger told of the first installation of the telegraph, in which work he played so important a part. He said at that time:
"It was sixty-seven years ago, in 1844, when the first telegraph office in the world was installed in a couple of rooms in an old government building on 7th street. The general post office stood on the site of the old building. The first official dispatches that came over the telegraph wire, however, were received in one of the rooms of the Capitol some time before this."
Mr. Delinger recounted the astonishment with which these dispatches were received at the time. The first was the announcement of the death of an American commodore at Cadiz, in Spain, and the second was the announcement of the nomination of Polk for President by the democratic national convention, then in session in Baltimore.
These dispatches were received with incredulity by the scoffers of Morse, and they would not accept them as authoritative until verified by ail. Even then there were suspicions of a trick somewhere.
"People had the impression," said Mr. Dellinger, that it was the paper on which the dispatch was written that was sent over the wire. You have no idea how the people laughed at the old man (Morse) in those days.
Morse Subjected to Ridicule
"You know Congress voted him $30,000 the year before to build the line between Baltimore and Washington. Well, when that bill was up before Congress he and his telegraph were unmercifully ridiculed. One day he went into the House when the bill was up for discussion, and he was very much discouraged and down-hearted.
"Nathan Sargent, who was then sergeant-at arms of the House, came up to him, and, tapping him on the shoulder, said:
"What's the matter, Mr. Morse?"
"If this bill don't go through I am a ruined man. I can't even pay my bard. If it goes through, I am a made man."
"Cheer up!" said Sargent, "It's going through all right, and it did."
"When
"When Morse took his first messages at the Capitol I don't believe he had an instrument. He held the wires in his hand in some way and brough them against something. That's my impression. They had an instrument in the office, however, which Vail operated."
"I remember when Morse brought his lead pipes in coils to Washington the first time. You know, his first idea was to lay wires underground. But that didn't work. He couldn't insulate the wires in the pipes."
His Career in Washington
Speaking of Washington, he said:
"I have lived in Washington since August, 1838. I was born in Williamsport, Washington county, Md., on the 22d of February, 1822. I learned the carpentry business under Tom Ciscle in Georgetown, and afterward under John C. Harkness, a prominent man in those days. I started in a small way on G street between 4th and 5th. Then I carried on business for fifty years, until ten years ago, when I threw up the sponge to live retired.
"I remodelled Oak View for President Cleveland in 1886 and did all W.C. Whitney's work, built his ballroom on I street between 17th and 18th streets, and fixed up the Loughborough place near the Tenleytown road, when he bought it."
"For sixty-seven years I have been a member of Wesley Chapel, corner of 5th and F streets. That's no discredit for any man. I am the oldest member who has belonged
"The best thing I ever had was the smallpox. I used to have such bad sick headaches before that, but afterward I never did."
"I was the originator of what is called the 'Falling Waters Fishing Club,' on the Potomac, at the place where Lee crossed when he came back from Gettysburg. There were seven members at first, but some of them died and the rest I bought out."
Growth of the City
"Since I came here the city has grown from 35,000 to nearly 400,000. All the prominent public buildings have been put up in my time. I have known all the Presidents from Van Buren down, and have shaken hands with most of them. I shook hands with Lincoln and remember him very well."
"The local street car system has been developed entirely in my recollection. Why, when I came here buses were run from the navy yard to Georgetown, and the fare was 12 cents. I fitted up the laboratory here for Samuel F.B. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph and remember well the two messages first sent from Baltimore. One announced the death of one of our naval commodores at Cadiz, Spain--we didn't have admirals in those days--and the other told of the nomination of James K. Polk for President."
Mr. Dellinger was an uncle of Mrs. Joseph B. Updegraff and Mrs. S. Snively of Hagerstown, Md.
The Evening Star, February 25, 1911, p. 2
H.M. Dellinger Buried
Services Held This Afternoon for Old Inhabitant
Funeral services for Henry M. Dellinger, a pioneer resident of the city, who died at his home, 231 G street northwest, Thursday in the 89th year of his age, were held at his late home at 2 o'clock this afternoon under the auspices of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants, of which he had been a member since its organization, Rev. W.I. McKenny, pastor of Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church, 5th and F street northwest officiated.
Mr. Dellinger was the oldest trustee of Wesley Church and a large number of the congregation of that church attended the obsequies.
The following were the pallbearers: On the part of the Association of Oldest Inhabitants, Charles Behren and William A. Linton; from Wesley Church, J. Morris Woodward, J.F. Barker, J. Walter Duvall and G.H. Markward.
Last Updated: 10/18/05