He was the son of James Alexander Magruder (1773-1838), whose place of burial is unknown as of August 23, 2020 and Millicent Beans Magruder.
The Evening Star Wednesday June 16, 1897
Col. Magruder Dead
The Treasurer of the Board of Public Works Passes Away
Colonel James Alexander Magruder, one of the oldest and best known residents of Georgetown, died yesterday afternoon at the home of his nieces, Mrs. E.A. Whelan and Miss Zeller, at 3019 P Street, after an illness of some months. The death proved to be a sad blow to his many friends and will be regretted by all who knew him.
The deceased was a native of Georgetown, having been born January 16, 1818, which would make him exactly eighty-one years and five months of age. Most of his life was spent in Georgetown, where he received his early education and training. Soon after he became of age he went to Washington County, Maryland where he embarked in the commission business. Later he returned to Georgetown, which at the time was a great shipping center and entered in the same business on Water Street, along with a large number of other residents of Georgetown, all of whom have become more or less prominent.
Services During the War
Just at the time the war was threatening Colonel Magruder was with General Meigs in erecting fortification in Virginia around the city. When the war came on he was commissioned as Major of the 15th New York Engineers. His regiment was immediately ordered to the front. The pontoon bridge across the Rappahannock River, at Fredericksburg, Virginia, was built under his directions, he at the time remaining in the saddle for sixty straight hours, under a steady fire from the enemy. Soon after going to the front he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and he held that position until the close of the war. He was a personal friend of General Grant. From the repeated cannonading, Colonel Magruder became deaf, but beyond this he suffered no other serious injuries from the struggle.
Prior to entering the army he was a member of the common council of Georgetown and had held the office for some years. He did not embark in the business immediately after the war and as soon as General Grant became President one of his first acts was the appointment of Colonel Magruder as Collector of the Port of Georgetown. At the conclusion of the term of this office General Grant appointed Colonel Magruder as a member of the Board of Public Works, the other members of which were ex-Governor Cook and ex-Governor Alexander R. Shepherd, Messrs. S.P. Brown and A.B. Mullett. Colonel Magruder was Treasurer of this board during its entire continuance. This was the last public work the deceased ever performed, as, when the board was legislated out of existence in 1874 he immediately retired from active life..
Stricken With Paralysis
He was stricken with paralysis June 25, 1883, which rendered him a helpless cripple, yet he was never heard to complain. His was a familiar figure on the streets of Georgetown, wheeled about in a small arm chair by a colored attendant, with a small, wooly, brown dog following. During the Christmas holidays the Colonel had an attack of grip, which kept him confined to his room until his death. Last Friday his condition began to get worse and yesterday morning he lost consciousness, expiring about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Death was caused by general debility, according to the certificate of death. The funeral services will be held Friday, afternoon at 4 o'clock from the late residence of the deceased, 3019 P Street. The interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
With the death of Colonel Magruder the last of the family expires. His wife died fifteen years ago and his only son, John W. Magruder, died five years ago, holding at the time the office of Bank Examiner of Boston, Massachusetts. A brother of the deceased, Dr. William B. Magruder, who at one time held the office of Mayor of Washington, died over twenty years ago.
Colonel Magruder was the last of the old line of business men to continue trade on Water Street. He did not belong to any organizations, not even the Grand Army. He was a member of Christ Church, Georgetown, in which a family pew has been kept ever since the erection of the edifice. The father of the deceased was one of the founders of the church.
The deceased came from quite a prominent family, their ancestry being traceable to revolutionary times and having been prominent in Maryland affairs. An uncle of the deceased, Dr. William Beans, whose home was at Marlboro', was captured by the British and made prisoner at Baltimore on a man-of-war. Francis Scott Key, the author of The Star Spangled Banner, was a friend of Dr. Beans and he endeavored to secure his release, visiting the boat, where he himself was detained over night and on which occasion he wrote his celebrated song.
The Evening Star Wednesday June 16, 1897
Col. Magruder Dead
The Treasurer of the Board of Public Works Passes Away
Colonel James Alexander Magruder, one of the oldest and best known residents of Georgetown, died yesterday afternoon at the home of his nieces, Mrs. E.A. Whelan and Miss Zeller, at 3019 P Street, after an illness of some months. The death proved to be a sad blow to his many friends and will be regretted by all who knew him.
The deceased was a native of Georgetown, having been born January 16, 1818, which would make him exactly eighty-one years and five months of age. Most of his life was spent in Georgetown, where he received his early education and training. Soon after he became of age he went to Washington County, Maryland where he embarked in the commission business. Later he returned to Georgetown, which at the time was a great shipping center and entered in the same business on Water Street, along with a large number of other residents of Georgetown, all of whom have become more or less prominent.
Services During the War
Just at the time the war was threatening Colonel Magruder was with General Meigs in erecting fortification in Virginia around the city. When the war came on he was commissioned as Major of the 15th New York Engineers. His regiment was immediately ordered to the front. The pontoon bridge across the Rappahannock River, at Fredericksburg, Virginia, was built under his directions, he at the time remaining in the saddle for sixty straight hours, under a steady fire from the enemy. Soon after going to the front he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and he held that position until the close of the war. He was a personal friend of General Grant. From the repeated cannonading, Colonel Magruder became deaf, but beyond this he suffered no other serious injuries from the struggle.
Prior to entering the army he was a member of the common council of Georgetown and had held the office for some years. He did not embark in the business immediately after the war and as soon as General Grant became President one of his first acts was the appointment of Colonel Magruder as Collector of the Port of Georgetown. At the conclusion of the term of this office General Grant appointed Colonel Magruder as a member of the Board of Public Works, the other members of which were ex-Governor Cook and ex-Governor Alexander R. Shepherd, Messrs. S.P. Brown and A.B. Mullett. Colonel Magruder was Treasurer of this board during its entire continuance. This was the last public work the deceased ever performed, as, when the board was legislated out of existence in 1874 he immediately retired from active life..
Stricken With Paralysis
He was stricken with paralysis June 25, 1883, which rendered him a helpless cripple, yet he was never heard to complain. His was a familiar figure on the streets of Georgetown, wheeled about in a small arm chair by a colored attendant, with a small, wooly, brown dog following. During the Christmas holidays the Colonel had an attack of grip, which kept him confined to his room until his death. Last Friday his condition began to get worse and yesterday morning he lost consciousness, expiring about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Death was caused by general debility, according to the certificate of death. The funeral services will be held Friday, afternoon at 4 o'clock from the late residence of the deceased, 3019 P Street. The interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
With the death of Colonel Magruder the last of the family expires. His wife died fifteen years ago and his only son, John W. Magruder, died five years ago, holding at the time the office of Bank Examiner of Boston, Massachusetts. A brother of the deceased, Dr. William B. Magruder, who at one time held the office of Mayor of Washington, died over twenty years ago.
Colonel Magruder was the last of the old line of business men to continue trade on Water Street. He did not belong to any organizations, not even the Grand Army. He was a member of Christ Church, Georgetown, in which a family pew has been kept ever since the erection of the edifice. The father of the deceased was one of the founders of the church.
The deceased came from quite a prominent family, their ancestry being traceable to revolutionary times and having been prominent in Maryland affairs. An uncle of the deceased, Dr. William Beans, whose home was at Marlboro', was captured by the British and made prisoner at Baltimore on a man-of-war. Francis Scott Key, the author of The Star Spangled Banner, was a friend of Dr. Beans and he endeavored to secure his release, visiting the boat, where he himself was detained over night and on which occasion he wrote his celebrated song.
He was the son of James Alexander Magruder (1773-1838), whose place of burial is unknown as of August 23, 2020 and Millicent Beans Magruder.
The Evening Star Wednesday June 16, 1897
Col. Magruder Dead
The Treasurer of the Board of Public Works Passes Away
Colonel James Alexander Magruder, one of the oldest and best known residents of Georgetown, died yesterday afternoon at the home of his nieces, Mrs. E.A. Whelan and Miss Zeller, at 3019 P Street, after an illness of some months. The death proved to be a sad blow to his many friends and will be regretted by all who knew him.
The deceased was a native of Georgetown, having been born January 16, 1818, which would make him exactly eighty-one years and five months of age. Most of his life was spent in Georgetown, where he received his early education and training. Soon after he became of age he went to Washington County, Maryland where he embarked in the commission business. Later he returned to Georgetown, which at the time was a great shipping center and entered in the same business on Water Street, along with a large number of other residents of Georgetown, all of whom have become more or less prominent.
Services During the War
Just at the time the war was threatening Colonel Magruder was with General Meigs in erecting fortification in Virginia around the city. When the war came on he was commissioned as Major of the 15th New York Engineers. His regiment was immediately ordered to the front. The pontoon bridge across the Rappahannock River, at Fredericksburg, Virginia, was built under his directions, he at the time remaining in the saddle for sixty straight hours, under a steady fire from the enemy. Soon after going to the front he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and he held that position until the close of the war. He was a personal friend of General Grant. From the repeated cannonading, Colonel Magruder became deaf, but beyond this he suffered no other serious injuries from the struggle.
Prior to entering the army he was a member of the common council of Georgetown and had held the office for some years. He did not embark in the business immediately after the war and as soon as General Grant became President one of his first acts was the appointment of Colonel Magruder as Collector of the Port of Georgetown. At the conclusion of the term of this office General Grant appointed Colonel Magruder as a member of the Board of Public Works, the other members of which were ex-Governor Cook and ex-Governor Alexander R. Shepherd, Messrs. S.P. Brown and A.B. Mullett. Colonel Magruder was Treasurer of this board during its entire continuance. This was the last public work the deceased ever performed, as, when the board was legislated out of existence in 1874 he immediately retired from active life..
Stricken With Paralysis
He was stricken with paralysis June 25, 1883, which rendered him a helpless cripple, yet he was never heard to complain. His was a familiar figure on the streets of Georgetown, wheeled about in a small arm chair by a colored attendant, with a small, wooly, brown dog following. During the Christmas holidays the Colonel had an attack of grip, which kept him confined to his room until his death. Last Friday his condition began to get worse and yesterday morning he lost consciousness, expiring about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Death was caused by general debility, according to the certificate of death. The funeral services will be held Friday, afternoon at 4 o'clock from the late residence of the deceased, 3019 P Street. The interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
With the death of Colonel Magruder the last of the family expires. His wife died fifteen years ago and his only son, John W. Magruder, died five years ago, holding at the time the office of Bank Examiner of Boston, Massachusetts. A brother of the deceased, Dr. William B. Magruder, who at one time held the office of Mayor of Washington, died over twenty years ago.
Colonel Magruder was the last of the old line of business men to continue trade on Water Street. He did not belong to any organizations, not even the Grand Army. He was a member of Christ Church, Georgetown, in which a family pew has been kept ever since the erection of the edifice. The father of the deceased was one of the founders of the church.
The deceased came from quite a prominent family, their ancestry being traceable to revolutionary times and having been prominent in Maryland affairs. An uncle of the deceased, Dr. William Beans, whose home was at Marlboro', was captured by the British and made prisoner at Baltimore on a man-of-war. Francis Scott Key, the author of The Star Spangled Banner, was a friend of Dr. Beans and he endeavored to secure his release, visiting the boat, where he himself was detained over night and on which occasion he wrote his celebrated song.
The Evening Star Wednesday June 16, 1897
Col. Magruder Dead
The Treasurer of the Board of Public Works Passes Away
Colonel James Alexander Magruder, one of the oldest and best known residents of Georgetown, died yesterday afternoon at the home of his nieces, Mrs. E.A. Whelan and Miss Zeller, at 3019 P Street, after an illness of some months. The death proved to be a sad blow to his many friends and will be regretted by all who knew him.
The deceased was a native of Georgetown, having been born January 16, 1818, which would make him exactly eighty-one years and five months of age. Most of his life was spent in Georgetown, where he received his early education and training. Soon after he became of age he went to Washington County, Maryland where he embarked in the commission business. Later he returned to Georgetown, which at the time was a great shipping center and entered in the same business on Water Street, along with a large number of other residents of Georgetown, all of whom have become more or less prominent.
Services During the War
Just at the time the war was threatening Colonel Magruder was with General Meigs in erecting fortification in Virginia around the city. When the war came on he was commissioned as Major of the 15th New York Engineers. His regiment was immediately ordered to the front. The pontoon bridge across the Rappahannock River, at Fredericksburg, Virginia, was built under his directions, he at the time remaining in the saddle for sixty straight hours, under a steady fire from the enemy. Soon after going to the front he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and he held that position until the close of the war. He was a personal friend of General Grant. From the repeated cannonading, Colonel Magruder became deaf, but beyond this he suffered no other serious injuries from the struggle.
Prior to entering the army he was a member of the common council of Georgetown and had held the office for some years. He did not embark in the business immediately after the war and as soon as General Grant became President one of his first acts was the appointment of Colonel Magruder as Collector of the Port of Georgetown. At the conclusion of the term of this office General Grant appointed Colonel Magruder as a member of the Board of Public Works, the other members of which were ex-Governor Cook and ex-Governor Alexander R. Shepherd, Messrs. S.P. Brown and A.B. Mullett. Colonel Magruder was Treasurer of this board during its entire continuance. This was the last public work the deceased ever performed, as, when the board was legislated out of existence in 1874 he immediately retired from active life..
Stricken With Paralysis
He was stricken with paralysis June 25, 1883, which rendered him a helpless cripple, yet he was never heard to complain. His was a familiar figure on the streets of Georgetown, wheeled about in a small arm chair by a colored attendant, with a small, wooly, brown dog following. During the Christmas holidays the Colonel had an attack of grip, which kept him confined to his room until his death. Last Friday his condition began to get worse and yesterday morning he lost consciousness, expiring about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Death was caused by general debility, according to the certificate of death. The funeral services will be held Friday, afternoon at 4 o'clock from the late residence of the deceased, 3019 P Street. The interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
With the death of Colonel Magruder the last of the family expires. His wife died fifteen years ago and his only son, John W. Magruder, died five years ago, holding at the time the office of Bank Examiner of Boston, Massachusetts. A brother of the deceased, Dr. William B. Magruder, who at one time held the office of Mayor of Washington, died over twenty years ago.
Colonel Magruder was the last of the old line of business men to continue trade on Water Street. He did not belong to any organizations, not even the Grand Army. He was a member of Christ Church, Georgetown, in which a family pew has been kept ever since the erection of the edifice. The father of the deceased was one of the founders of the church.
The deceased came from quite a prominent family, their ancestry being traceable to revolutionary times and having been prominent in Maryland affairs. An uncle of the deceased, Dr. William Beans, whose home was at Marlboro', was captured by the British and made prisoner at Baltimore on a man-of-war. Francis Scott Key, the author of The Star Spangled Banner, was a friend of Dr. Beans and he endeavored to secure his release, visiting the boat, where he himself was detained over night and on which occasion he wrote his celebrated song.
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