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Benjamin Azariah Colonna: A Biography

October 29, 2014 By Katie Gardner Leave a Comment

BenjaminColonnaCover

During their youth Benjamin and his brothers worked as hands on the family farm that was located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Benjamin, having been influenced by his mother and his schoolteacher, had a real desire to seek an advanced education. His father, John Watson Colonna, was able to send only one of his children to college. Benjamin applied for and received an appointment as a state cadet to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virginia; however, his father still had to pay part of his tuition.

As a youngster of sixteen years, Benjamin reported to VMI in August 1860. In April 1861, the War Between the States began and in May 1864, he and the other cadets were called upon to fight in the Battle of New Market, Virginia. Upon graduation in June 1864, he became an officer in the Army of the Confederate States of America.

After the war Benjamin built a one-room schoolhouse on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and taught his younger brothers and other students in the area. The war had left his father penniless and in order to make a living the family became separated. Charles went to Illinois and served an apprenticeship as a ship carpenter and in 1870 Benjamin became employed by the United States Survey. Five years later he helped his brother Charles to enter the ship repair business. This was the beginning of what is today, Colonna’s Shipyard.

Benjamin remained employed by the U.S. Survey—later renamed the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, for twenty-five years. During that time he worked in all parts of the United States and many territories that later became states. In 1879, he spent nine days on the summit of Mount Shasta. That was twice as long as anyone else. Later, in August 1884, he was caught in an avalanche and received injuries that lasted a lifetime. After that tragic accident, he was transferred to the Coast and Geodetic Survey headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1890, he married his secretary, Fannie Bindon Bailey. They made their home in Washington, D.C., where they raised an extensive family.

During his lifetime, Benjamin served as a farmhand, cadet at VMI, soldier in the War Between the States, schoolteacher, writer, engineer, businessman, speaker, and an advisor to several presidents of the United States and various Native American Indian chiefs. But most of all he was a great family man.

During my research I was privileged to study diaries, journals, ledgers, and other records in the handwriting of Benjamin Azariah Colonna. I soon began to understand that the man was no ordinary person; and his life had been filled with one exciting adventure after another. With that thought in mind, and with so much original information available, I decided to write this story not only about Benjamin, but also about his dealings with his siblings, especially his brother Charles who was at times, his business partner.

During their youth Benjamin and his brothers worked as hands on the family farm that was located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Benjamin, having been influenced by his mother and his schoolteacher, had a real desire to seek an advanced education. His father, John Watson Colonna, was able to send only one of his children to college. Benjamin applied for and received an appointment as a state cadet to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virginia; however, his father still had to pay part of his tuition.

As a youngster of sixteen years, Benjamin reported to VMI in August 1860. In April 1861, the War Between the States began and in May 1864, he and the other cadets were called upon to fight in the Battle of New Market, Virginia. Upon graduation in June 1864, he became an officer in the Army of the Confederate States of America.

After the war Benjamin built a one-room schoolhouse on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and taught his younger brothers and other students in the area. The war had left his father penniless and in order to make a living the family became separated. Charles went to Illinois and served an apprenticeship as a ship carpenter and in 1870 Benjamin became employed by the United States Survey. Five years later he helped his brother Charles to enter the ship repair business. This was the beginning of what is today, Colonna’s Shipyard.

Benjamin remained employed by the U.S. Survey—later renamed the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, for twenty-five years. During that time he worked in all parts of the United States and many territories that later became states. In 1879, he spent nine days on the summit of Mount Shasta. That was twice as long as anyone else. Later, in August 1884, he was caught in an avalanche and received injuries that lasted a lifetime. After that tragic accident, he was transferred to the Coast and Geodetic Survey headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1890, he married his secretary, Fannie Bindon Bailey. They made their home in Washington, D.C., where they raised an extensive family.

During his lifetime, Benjamin served as a farmhand, cadet at VMI, soldier in the War Between the States, schoolteacher, writer, engineer, businessman, speaker, and an advisor to several presidents of the United States and various Native American Indian chiefs. But most of all he was a great family man.

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