Strangers – Today

James Samuel Wadsworth, October 30, 1807 — May 8, 1864

James Samuel Wadsworth was an American military officer and politician. He came from a wealthy landowning family, and studied at Harvard and Yale before entering politics, first as a radical democrat, and later aligning himself with Lincoln's new Republican party. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, Wadsworth felt compelled to volunteer his services for the Union Army. He was commissioned a Major General in the New York State Militia and later promoted to Brigadier General. Wadsworth first saw combat in May of 1863, and acted briefly as commander in the Battle of Gettysburg, helping to stop the advance of Confederate forces. He would be killed in action less than a year later, during the Battle of the Wilderness in northern Virginia. Wadsworth was popular among his troops, and upon his death Fort Richmond in New York Harbor was renamed Fort Wadsworth. A monument to him also stands at Gettysburg National Battlefield. The Record of Strangers indicates that Wadsworth visited the Athenaeum on multiple occasions, including this visit as a young man, accompanied by his father, also named James Wadsworth.

Portrait courtesy of the Library of Congress — Source — Source — Source

James Wadsworth, April 20, 1768 — June 7, 1844

James Wadsworth was an American land surveyor and leader in the early settlement of the Genesee Valley in New York. After inheriting a large sum from his father, Wadsworth became a land agent and investor in a purchase of over 2 million acres in western New York. By 1800, he himself owned over 30,000 acres which he leased to farmers and settlers. Wadsworth was an advocate for establishing schools with well-trained teachers in the area, and personally funded many of the local school libraries, as well as the Geneseo Atheneum, which opened in 1842. The Record of Strangers indicates that Wadsworth visited the Athenaeum multiple times after his settlement of the Genesee Valley, accompanied by his son, also named James Wadsworth.

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Zebulon Barton Stout, March 26, 1793 — July 17, 1864

Z. Barton Stout was an American lawyer and politician. He was a member of the New York state assembly, and was involved in multiple agricultural groups, including holding the position of Vice President of the Ontario Country Agricultural Society. Archival documents also show evidence of Stout having correspondence with President James Madison. Stout visited the Athenaeum multiple times over the years.

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W. H. Law, Jr

W. H. Law, Jr was a visitor from New Haven. This may possibly be William Henry Law (1856-1915), who was a nephew of Edward Ellenborough Law, the member by whom he was introduced.

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