Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend!

Below is a link with more information on the history of Memorial Day:

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history 

MW

Governor Hunt Tomb

Governor Hunt Tomb 
625 N Galvin Pkwy
Phoenix, AZ 85008

George Wylie Paul Hunt was born on November 1, 1859 in Huntsville, Missouri. He went west in 1878, and eventually settled in Globe, Arizona. Hunt went about working a number of odd jobs including a miner, cattle ranch worker and general store clerk. In 1892, Hunt won his first election when he was elected to the Arizona Territorial Legislature as a Democrat. Hunt's work in the legislature helped to lay the groundwork for Arizona achieving statehood in 1912. He served as the President of the convention that wrote Arizona's constitution. Hunt was elected Arizona's first governor in 1911, and served seven total terms as governor. He held this office from 1912-1917, 1917-1919, 1923-1929 and 1931-1933. Hunt also served as the United States Minister to Siam from 1920-1921 during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson.

Throughout his political career, Hunt was considered a friend of the common man. He was a champion of workers' rights. He stood up to the state's powerful railroad and mining trusts on numerous occasions. Hunt's populist political stances became well-known around the United States. He supported women's suffrage, secret ballots, free silver coinage, income tax and compulsory education.

Hunt died in Phoenix, Arizona on December 24, 1934. He is interred in the white pyramid tomb in Phoenix's Papago Park with his wife, in-laws, wife's sister and his daughter. There are several markers and plaques surrounding the pyramid (pictured below). One marker states that Hunt was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution through his Patriot ancestor John Christian.

Below are two links with more information on George W.P. Hunt along with some photos that I took during my recent visit:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/15171

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/hunts-tomb-6569116

MW

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The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast - Episode #6

Check out the sixth edition of The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast!

SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/matt-ward-427598454/the-matt-ward-history-experience-podcast-episode-6

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-ward-history-experience/id1178237076

Episode #6 contains the following segment:

1. Let's Talk History - Interview with author, historian and tour guide Mark Nesbitt. 

You can check out Mark Nesbitt online via the following websites:

Ghosts of Gettysburg Website - http://www.ghostsofgettysburg.com/

Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Nesbitt/e/B001JS4SAK/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Ghosts of Gettysburg Facebook Page - https://m.facebook.com/GhostsofGettysburg/

Mark Nesbitt's Twitter - @hauntgburg

Below are a few photos of Mark Nesbitt and his first Ghosts of Gettysburg book:

First and foremost I would like to thank my guest Mark Nesbitt for sitting down in Gettysburg to talk history with me.

This episode would not have been possible if it had not been for the technical support of my good friend Peter Lloyd of One Stone Recording and Mastering. Pete mixed and cleaned up the original recordings into the great episode that you can stream on SoundCloud.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank all of my readers and listeners - Especially those who submitted questions for this month's segment of Let's Talk History.

The Matt Ward History Experience is brought to you by One Stone Recording and Mastering in New Brunswick, NJ. Check out One Stone Recording and Mastering for all of you mixing and mastering needs. Go to onestonerecording.com/mwhistory and receive 10% off your first session!

One Stone Recording and Mastering:

http://onestonerecording.com/mwhistory

http://onestonerecording.com

MW

Ira Allen

Ira Allen Marker
Located in front of the ARA Little League Fields
2800 Audubon Rd.
Audubon, PA 19403

Ira Allen Cenotaph 
Wetherills Cemetery (Free Quaker Cemetery)
Located in front of the ARA Little League Fields
2800 Audubon Rd.
Audubon, PA 19403

Ira Allen was an American patriot and politician from Vermont. He is best known for being one of the founders of the state of Vermont and for serving as a leader of the Green Mountain Boys with his brother Ethan Allen. Ira Allen was born in Connecticut on April 21, 1751. In 1771, the Allen brothers went to Vermont to serve as surveyors for the Onion River Land Company. Around this time, the two brothers purchased land in Vermont, and became involved in a dispute with the colony of New York over land claims in the area.

Allen became served in the Vermont Legislature from 1776-1777, and was a key figure in the establishment of the Vermont Republic in 1777. Later, the Allen brothers along with Thomas Chittenden served as members of a committee authorized to negotiate with the Continental Congress to allow Vermont to join the Union. Around this time, the Allen brothers and Chittenden were accused of potentially treasonous actions for negotiating independently from the Continental Congress with the British officials in Quebec. They discussed the possibility of Vermont becoming a British Province. Some historians believe that the committee did this in order to pressure the Continental Congress into allowing Vermont to join the Union separate from New York and New Hampshire. Vermont officially joined the United States in 1791. Allen is also credited with designing the official seal of the state of Vermont.

In 1780, Allen contributed money and land for the establishment of the University of Vermont in Burlington. He is known as the "Father of the University of Vermont." His contributions to the establishment of the university are reflected on campus in statues, memorials and buildings that bear his name.

In 1796, Allen traveled to France to obtain guns and ammunition. His contract stated that these weapons were for the use of the Vermont state militia, in which he had been appointed a Major General in 1790. Some sources claim that these weapons were intended for American volunteers who would support the French in overthrowing the British in Canada. The ship Allen was transporting the weapons on was captured by the British. Allen spent eight years attempting to reclaim the weapons in a British court. Allen received the weapons back from the British, but was forced to pay eight years' worth of legal fees. The money that he obtained selling the weapons went to pay his creditors.

Allen died in Philadelphia on January 7, 1814. He had come to Philadelphia to escape debtor's prison in Vermont. Prior to departing Vermont, Allen had made a series of poor business, political and land management decisions that led to his bankruptcy. He was originally interred in an unmarked pauper's grave at Philadelphia's Arch Street Presbyterian Cemetery, but his remains were lost when the site was destroyed. The remains of other individuals buried at this church were moved to Wetherills Cemetery in Audubon, Pennsylvania (see my blog entry on Timothy Matlack). There is a cenotaph honoring Ira Allen in this cemetery.

Below are three links with more information on Ira Allen, along with the link for my blog entry on Timothy Matlack and Wetherills Cemetery. I also included several photos that I took of the Ira Allen marker and cenotaph from my recent visit:

http://www.virtualvermont.com/history/iallen.html

http://www.nndb.com/people/298/000049151/

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071008/NEWS04/710080346/1004/NEWS03

http://www.mwhistoryexperience.com/search/label/Timothy%20Matlack's%20Grave

MW