WAKELEY, Joseph B., clergyman, b. in Danbury, Conn., in 1804; d. in New York city, 27 April, 1876. At an early age he was apprenticed to a hat-manufacturer in his native town, but studied for the ministry, and was admitted to the Methodist Episcopal conference of New York in 1828. In 1857 he settled in Poughkeepsie, but he was subsequently appointed pastor of a church in Lexington avenue, New York. He was the author of “The Heroes of Methodism” (New York, 1856) and “Lost Chapters recovered from the Early History of American Methodism” (1858); edited “Reminiscences,” by the Rev. Henry Boehm, Bishop Asbury's travelling companion (1865); and also published “Anecdotes of the Wesleys,” with an introduction by John McClintock (1869).
WALBACH, John Baptiste de Barth, Baron
de Walbach, soldier, b. in Münster, valley of St.
Gregory, upper Rhine, Germany, 3 Oct., 1766; d.
in Baltimore, Md., 10 June, 1857. He was the third
son of Count Joseph de Barth, and received his
military education at Strasburg. In 1786-'92 he
was a lieutenant in the Lauzun hussars. He
returned to his native land to join the army of the
Comte d'Artois, brother of Louis XVI. He was
present during the campaign of 1792 in Champagne
in the advance of the Prussian army until it was
disbanded at Maestricht, on 6 Jan., 1793, participated
in the attack on Frankfort, and subsequently
served during the campaign of 1793 in attacks on
the French lines at Germersheim, Langenkandel,
and Weissenburg. In October, 1793, he accepted a
captaincy in the Hussars de Rohan in the German
service, and took part in covering the retreat of
the Duke of York upon Holland and Germany. In
1798 he obtained a six months' leave of absence,
with a view of visiting his father, who had come to
the United States at the opening of the French
revolution. But the father had died in Philadelphia,
and his estate had been sold by the sheriff.
Resigning his commission in the Hussars de Rohan,
in April, 1798, he was appointed aide-de-camp to
Gen. William Macpherson. He became 1st lieutenant
of U. S. cavalry and adjutant on 10 Jan., 1799,
was aide-de-camp to Gen. Alexander Hamilton in
May, assistant adjutant-general to Gen. William
North in September, and in December was assigned
to the staff of Gen. Charles C. Pinckney, whom he
assisted in preparing regulations for the cavalry.
In February, 1801, he was made 1st lieutenant in
the regiment of artillerists and engineers, and on
25 Oct. following he was appointed aide-de-camp
to Gen. James Wilkinson. He was retained in
April, 1802, as 1st lieutenant of artillery, and
became adjutant, 1 Dec., 1804. He was promoted
captain, 31 Jan., 1806, made assistant deputy
quartermaster-general in March, 1812, assistant
adjutant-general, with the rank of major, in June, 1813,
and on 6 Aug., 1813, adjutant-general. He took
part in the battle of Chrysler's Field, Canada, 11
Nov., 1813. Gen. George W. Cullum, in his
“Campaigns and Engineers of the War of 1812-'15,”
says that the enemy, “discovering our disorder and
slackened fire, pushed vigorously forward and
endeavored by a flank movement to capture our cannon,
when Adjutant-General Walbach, a German
veteran in our army who had seen much foreign
service, gave the order to 'charge mit de dragoons,'
and thus saved the pieces.” On 1 May, 1815, he
received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel “for
meritorious services.” He became major of artillery,
25 April, 1818, brevet colonel for “ten years' favorable
service,” 1 May, 1825, lieutenant-colonel in
the 1st regiment of artillery, 30 May, 1832, and colonel
of the 4th artillery, 19 March, 1842. In May,
1850, he received the brevet of brigadier-general, to
date from 11 Nov., 1823. Gen. Walbach possessed
mental and physical vigor till an advanced age. He
married in Philadelphia in 1807, and had two sons,
John de Barth, who entered the navy, and Louis
Augustus de Barth, who was graduated at West
Point in 1834, and died a captain of ordnance, 26
June, 1853.
WALBRIDGE, Arthur Dewey, musical
composer, b. in Gaines, Orleans co., N. Y., 10 April,
1843; d. in Rochester, N. Y., 14 Dec., 1872. After
graduation at Princeton in 1867 he studied law,
was admitted to the bar in 1871, and practised in
Rochester. He was the author of the words and
music of several popular songs, including “Now I
lay me down to Sleep” (1866); “Sleeping where
the Daisies grow” (1870); “Baby meets me on the
Stairs” (1871); and college songs.
WALBRIDGE, Hiram, lawyer, b. in Ithaca, N. Y., 2 Feb., 1821 ; d. in New York city, 6 Dec, 1870. He removed to Ohio with his parents at an
early age, was educated at the university of that state, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1842, was elected colonel of militia the same year, and in 1843 he was appointed brigadier-general. With others he formed a plan to establish four newspapers in Texas, to advocate the independence of that country, and to create an anti-annexation sentiment ; but the annexation of Texas rendered their enterprise futile, and Walbridge returned to Toledo, whence he removed to New York in 1847 to engage in commercial transactions. He was elected to congress as a Democrat, serving from 5 Dec, 1853, till 3 March, 1855, and advocating a Pacific railroad bill and the introduction of a bill to regulate the militia of the seas, which attracted public attention. He was a personal friend of President Lincoln, and during the war he frequently addressed the boards of trade in western cities, advocating a support of the government. He was vice-president of the National commercial convention at Chicago, and subsequently presided at similar conventions in Detroit and Louisville. At these meetings he advocated free banking, a reduction of taxation, and the development of the resources of the west. — His brother, Henry S. (1809-1869), served in congress as a Whig from 1 Dec, 1851, till 3 March, 1853, and was a judge of the supreme court of New York. He was killed in a railroad accident in the Bergen tunnel, near Hoboken, N. J.
WALCOT, Charles Melton, actor, b. in London, England, in 1815 ; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 10 May, 1868. He was educated at Eton, and became an architect, but left his profession for the stage, came to this country, made his first appearance in 1839 in Charleston, S. C, and acquired popularity. He frequently played at the old Olympic theatre and at Wallack's.'but in 1866 removed to Philadelphia. He was particularly excellent in eccentric comedy, and was also a prolific playwright. Among his original and arranged plays are "The Course of True Love " (1839); "Washington, or Valley Forge" (1842); "The Custom of the Country" (1848); "The Haunted Man" (1848); "David Copperfield" (1848); "Hoboken" (1849); "Edith" (1849); "One Cast for Two Suits" (1854); "Hiawatha" (1855); and "A Good Fellow" (1857). His songs include "My Love is a Sailor Boy " and "My own Little Rose."— His son, Charles Melton, actor, b. in Boston, Mass., 1 July, 1840. was graduated at St. John's college, Fordham, N. Y., in 1858, and in that year made his debut in Charleston. He is successful in light comedy and is a member of the Lyceum theatre company of New York.
