Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/330

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

MAVERICK

MAVERICK MAXEY

MAVERICK, Samuel Augustus Texan patriot, was born in Pendleton, S.C, July 25, 1803; son of ———— and Elizabeth (Anderson) Maverick; grandson of Gen. Robert Anderson, captain in the Revolutionary army, and a descendant of John Maverick, an original settler of Charleston, S.C, between 1670-80. His father was a leading merchant in Charleston, S.C. He was graduated at Yale. A.B., 1825. studied law under Henry St. George Tucker, of Winchester, Va., and was admitted to the bar in South Carolina. He was opposed to nullification and fought a duel with Senator John C. Calhoun, in which the latter was wounded. Maverick removed to Alabama and thence to Texas, settling in San Antonio in 1835. He took an active part in the storming of San Antonio, was taken prisoner by the Mexicans and sentenced to be shot, but was afterward released and was a member of the convention that signed the declaration of independence of the new Republic of Texas, March 2, 1836. He was married in 1836 to Mary Ann Adams, of Tuscaloosa, Ala. He was active in settling the affairs of the republic, served as mayor of San Antonio in 1839, and was captured by the Mexicans in that city in September, 1842, when they overpowered the few who attempted its defence. He was confined with others in the castle of Perote, Mexico, and was released in April, 1848, on the intercession of the American minister. He was a member of the Texas congress in 1845, when the republic was annexed to the United States. He converted his property in South Carolina into Texas lands, and he served several terms in both houses of the Texas legislature. He advocated secession in 1860-61, but after 1861 took no part in public affairs. He was placed under arrest in 1865 for taking part in seizing and transferring the fort and arms of the U.S. government to the use of the Confederate. He died in San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 2, 1870.

MAXEY, Jonathan, educator, was born in Attleborough, Mass., Sept. 2, 1768; son of Levi and Ruth (Newell) Maxcy; grandson of Josiah and Mary (Everett) Maxcy and of Jacob Newell, and a great-grandson of Alexander Maxcy, who settled first in Gloucester, Mass., and in 1721 in Attleborough, Mass. Jonathan was prepared for college at Wrentham academy, Mass.; was graduated at Brown university, honor man, A.B. 1787, A.M., 1700. and remained there as tutor. 1787-91. librarian, 1788-92. and as the first and only professor of divinity, 1791-92. He was ordained pastor of the First Baptist church in Providence, R.I., Sept. 8, 1791, and on the death of President Manning of Brown in 1792 he resigned his pastorate to become acting president pro tempore of the college, Sept. 8, 1782, although only twenty-four years old, and he was acting president, 1792-97. He was regularly elected president and served, 1797-1802. He was president of Union college, Schenectady, N.Y., 1802-04, as successor to Jonathan Edwards, Jr., deceased, and president of South Carolina college, newly established at Columbia, 1805-20. He was a trustee of Brown university, 1791-92, and a fellow, 1792-1802. He received the degree of D.D. from Harvard in 1801. He was married to Susan, daughter of Commodore Esek Hopkins, of Providence, R.I. He is the author of many published sermons, discourses and addresses, which were collected and published with a brief memoir of his life by the Rev. Romeo Elton, D.D. (1844). He died in Columbia, S.C, June 4, 1820.

MAXEY, Samuel Bell, senator, was born in Tompkinsville, Ky., March 30, 1825; son of Rice Maxey, clerk of the circuit and county courts of Clinton county, Ky., and a descendant of Huguenot settlers in Virginia. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy and brevetted 2d lieutenant in the 7th infantry, July 1, 1846. He served in the war with Mexico, was promoted 2d lieutenant in the 8th infantry, Feb. 23, 1847; was transferred to the 7th infantry, July 8, 1847, and was brevetted 1st lieutenant, Aug. 20, 1847, for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco. He resigned from the U.S. army, Sept. 18, 1849. He was admitted to the bar in 1850, and practised at Albany, Clinton county, Ky., where he served as clerk of the circuit and county courts and as master in chancery, 1852-56. He removed to Paris, Texas, in 1857, was district attorney of Lamar county, Texas, 1858-59, and a delegate to the Secession convention, 1861, where he favored the measure. He was elected to the Texas senate in 1861, but did not take his seat, joining the Confederate army instead. He raised the 9th Texas infantry, was commissioned its colonel and joined Gen. Albert S. Johnston in March, 1862. He was promoted brigadier-general in 1862 and sent to Chattanooga, where he served under General Bragg and took part in the assault of Mitchel's retreating army, driving it from Bridgeport, Battle Creek and Stevenson, and captured all the stores. He took part in the first siege of Port Hudson, the Big Black campaign and the siege of Corinth. He was appointed to the command of the Indian Territory military district by President Davis in 1863 where he placed 2000 more Texans and Indians under arms. On April 30, 1864, his cavalry division attacked Gen. Frederick Steele at Jenkins's Ferry, and captured his entire baggage train. He was promoted major-general for these services in 1864, and was commandant of the military district and superintendent of Indian affairs in