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from the Wenatchee World, Feb. 22, 1933
Nat Washington, Eagle Scout, Points Proudly to Lineage
EPHRATA, Wash., Feb. 22 (AP) — Two hundred years after George Washington was born in the "Old Dominion," a young descendant of his family, Nathaniel W. Washington, Jr., 17, Eagle Scout and athlete, is growing to manhood in a state named for his famous ancestor, who probably never dreamed there would be a great commonwealth on the Pacific to bear his name.
Young Nat was advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout at Wenatchee earlier this month at the annual meeting of the North Central Washington council.
The "father of his country" was young Nat's great-great-great-great uncle. The first president's brother, John Augustine Washington, was the Ephrata boy's great-great-great-great grandfather.
Nathaniel W. Washington, Sr., came to Washington state in 1906. He practiced law and at the time of his death in 1919, his son says, was the oldest living descendant of the Washingtons.
[The reporter confused Nathaniel W., Sr. with Bushrod C. in the preceding sentence. Bushrod, Nat Jr.'s grandfather, died in 1919. In the following sentence, the drowning was actually a swimming accident in 1926, in which James and Peachy, Nat Sr.'s brother and sister, were also drowned. See the account beginning on p. 72 of From Pioneers to Power. "Big Bar" or "Washington Flats" is located about 2 miles down-stream and across the Columbia river from my own grandfather's homestead. - C. S.]
Young Nat's father was drowned while hunting ducks. Since then, Mrs. Washington has been superintendent of Grant county schools.
Nat has found amusement in an inventory of his distinguished ancestor's home, Mount Vernon. Reading over the list in the wine cellar, he remarked to a friend, "George sure had plenty on hand."
"The old papers are about to fall apart," he said, but the writing is still plain. The data for the family tree was found in the old family Bible, printed in about 1800."
In going through the records, he learned that Bushrod, his grandfather, was cited for bravery in the Confederate army during the Civil war and was commended for his daring escape from a prison camp. Bushrod came to Washington in 1909, three years after his son settled here.
Nat is also a descendant of the family of President Madison. His grandmother's grandmother was a first cousin of Madison.
There are reputed to be about 3,000 descendants of the Washington family in the United States. The first president himself left no direct issue.
Here is the way Nat listed his ancestors:
John Augustine Washington — brother of George.
Corbin and Bushrod — sons of John Augustine.
Bushrod C. — son of Corbin.
Thomas C. — son of Bushrod.
Bushrod C., 2nd — son of Thomas.
Nathaniel W., Sr. — son of Bushrod C., 2nd.
Nathaniel W., Jr. — son of N. W., Sr.
John Augustine was a petty officer in the Continental army. Nat explained, "It was not George's custom to give high offices to his relatives." Further perusal of the documents, he said, showed:
Cited for Bravery
"Bushrod, the son of Thomas C., was cited for bravery in the confederate army during the Civil war. He was commended for his daring escape from a Union prison camp, and on this occasion brought to confederate leaders important information concerning northern plans.
"As a result he was promoted from private to lieutenant. He moved to Washington state in 1909. At the time of his death in 1919 he was believed to be the oldest living descendant of the Washingtons."
Nat said his grandmother's grandmother was the first cousin of President Madison and he understood the grandmother and Madison were raised together. He also is distantly related to Robert E. and Richard Henry Lee. Young Nat believes there still are several thousand descendants of the Washington family living at the present time.
Nat, a senior, is president of the Ephrata High school Associated Students, a three-year letterman in two sports and two-year letterman in football, basketball and track. He was captain of the 1931 football team and is captain of this year's basketball team. Last but bery proudly, Nat lists amoung his accomplishments — honor student.
His father was drowned while hunting ducks [see note above] several years ago and since then Mrs. Washington has bee superintendent of Grant county schools. The father had a remarkable collection of data to go with his knowledge and had intended to write it.
Among their possessions is a portion of the casket in which the hero of the revolution was first buried. After 30 years the body was removed into a vault.
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