© Kathy Duncan, 2024
Whenever I am researching someone, I watch for patterns of behavior. So far, what I know about James S. Piper is that he was well educated, wrote long informative letters and kept up a correspondence with family, was not shy about talking to newspaper editors, placed advertisements in newspapers, soldiered as a volunteer, and sought leadership positions. The next few years revealed his occupation as a contractor during peacetime and his political leanings.
I have yet to find James S. Piper on the 1850 census. However, he had at least one letter waiting for him at the Washington DC post office in the summer of 1850.
Also, in early 1850, Maryland passed a resolution thanking Capt. James S. Piper and others for their service in the Mexican War.
In August of 1851, James S. Piper obtained a contract to supply foundation stone for the Capitol expansion in Washington DC. In most announcements, he is referred to as a quarryman of Baltimore, Maryland.
This blueprint of the expansion features the new foundation.
In late December 1851, Capt J. S. Piper had two letters waiting for him at the Washington DC post office.
In April of 1852, newspaper articles were still noting that James S. Piper of Baltimore had contracted to provide building stone for the Capitol expansion.
James S. Piper was not just engaged in the Capitol expansion during this period. In 1854 he also contracted to number houses in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington DC. This particular clipping from the Daily Evening Star of 11 August 1854 specifically refers to him as "Capt. Piper, (who did good duty in the Mexican war,)," which leaves no doubt that the Capt. James S. Piper from Baltimore who served in the Mexican War was the same Capt. Piper who resided in Washington DC during this period.
Numbering the houses continued over several months.
The 1855 City Directory for Washington DC listed those contracted in the Capitol expansion. Among them was Captain James S. Piper, who provided stone for the foundations. I suspected for many years that James S. Piper was involved in the Capitol expansion, so it is exciting to have confirmation.
In 1855, James S. Piper was participating in the American Party.
The American Party was known by several names - The Native American Party and the Know Nothing Party. They were nativists, opposed to immigrants, especially Irish Catholics, who might be allowed to vote in future elections. Note that Capt. James S. Piper is the group secretary, which would have put him in frequent contact with the local newspapers because he was one of the members responsible for publishing meeting notifications.