Edward Otho Cresap Ord II

Edward Otho Cresap Ord, II (November 9, 1858 – April 4, 1923) was a United States Army Major who served with the 22nd Infantry Regiment during the Indian Wars, the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. He helped direct relief work after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He was a military instructor, an expert linguist and spent time in painting and writing poetry. He was also an inventor who patented a new type of gold pan and different types of rifle and handgun sights. Early life Ord was the eldest male of 15 children (13 lived past childhood) and was born at Benicia Barracks, California, on November 9, 1858. His father, Edward Otho Cresap Ord, married Mary Mercer Thompson (1831–1894) on October 14, 1854. The senior Ord was a career military officer who was a hero in the American Civil War and had served as a major general of Volunteers. After the war, he reverted to brigadier general in the Regular Army. On August 2, 1870, the family was in San Francisco, California with seven children. Edward, the eldest son, lived with servants and was taught by tutors and in public schools. His life in the west was one of which his father was a senior military officer, a decorated Civil War hero and he was "his father's son." His life was privileged compared to others. As he grew up he watched both military officers and men show respect and courtesy to his parents. Later young Edward attended the public school in Omaha, Nebraska. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1876, but withdrew after his second year. In 1879 he was appointed second lieutenant in the 22nd Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army.