PROMINENT PERSONS
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and Toledo against the Spanish in Mexico;
and in 18 12, as major, and subsequently as
colonel, commanded a force of about six
hundred Americans who cooperated with
the Mexican insurgents. The expedition
advanced into Texas, and several success-
ful battles were fought, but the dissensions
that followed between the Mexicans and
Americans enabled the Spaniards to defeat
the divided forces, and the Americans, re-
turned home. Kemper then joined the
United States army as a volunteer, served
under Andrew Jackson at the defence of
New Orleans, and performed important
duties. At the end of the war, he settled in
Mississippi. He died in Natchez, Missis-
sippi. October 10, 1826.
Early, Peter, born in Madison county, Virginia, in June, 1773 J graduated at Prince- ton in 1792, and settled in Georgia with his father. He studied law in Philadelphia, and practiced at the Georgia bar. He served in cctngress. 1803-07, where he opposed the African slave trade. He became judge of the state supreme court in 1807, and in 1813 was elected governor of Georgia, serving two years. Later he was a state senator. He died in Greene county. Georgia, August 15. i3i7-
Johnson, James, born in Orange county, . A'irginia, January i, 1774, son of Robert Johnson, who emigrated to Kentucky dur- ing the revolutionary war. He took an active part in the war of 1812. in which he served as lieutenant-colonel in his brother's regiment. In th^ battle of the Thames he commanded the right wing of the United States forces. After the war he was a con- tractor for supplying the troops on the Mis- sissippi and Missouri rivers, in 1819-20. He
was elected to congress as a Democrat, serv-
ing from December 5, 1825, until his death,
at Great Crossings, Scott county, Kentucky,
August 14, 1826.
Rclf, Samuel, born in Mrginia, March 22, 1776, was brought to Philadelphia, when a child, by his mother. He early became con- nected with the ^'National Gazette," of which he was for many years editor and its owner, until he became financially involved through friends. His writings were highly esteemed. He was the author of a novel entitled "Infidelity, or the Victims of Senti- ment." He died in Virginia, February 14, 1823.
Morris, Thomas, born in Augusta county. Virginia, January 3, 1776, son of a Baptist clergyman of Welsh descent. He went to Columbia, Ohio, in 1795, and became a farm hand for Rev. John Smith, first United States senator from Ohio. In 1800 he set- tled in Clermont county. While engaged in farming, he studied law. and was admitted to the bar in 1804. He was elected to the legislature in 1806, and was continuously a 'm.ember for twenty-four years; was a judge of the supreme court; and elected United States in 1832. An ardent opponent of slav- ery, he earnestly debated against John C Calhoun and Henry Clay in favor of receiv- ing the petitions for the abolition of slavery. On account of his anti-slavery sentiments, he was not returned to the senate. He was nominated for vice-president by the Liberal party in August, 1844. His "Life and Let- ters" were edited by his son, Benjamin F. Morris. He died at Bethel, Ohio, Decem- ber 7, 1844.
Emmerson, Arthur, born in Brunswick (now Greensville) county, Virginia, in 1778,
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