Remsen in Oneida County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Paying Tribute to the Baron
Recognition from the Commander In Chief
General Washington’s final official letter as commander of the Continental Army was written to Steuben on December 23, 1783. In it, Washington paid tribute to Steuben and thanked him for his role in helping America achieve independence. Steuben and other leading figures of the period were on the balcony at Federal Hall in New York City in 1789 when Washington was inaugurated as the first U.S. President.
New York State Honors
In gratitude for his service, several states and cities offered Steuben land grants and tributes. New York State conferred honorary citizenship on Steuben in 1786 and awarded him 16,000 acres of land in the Mohawk Valley. Shortly thereafter, he erected a log cabin on his property and spent his summers there. When poverty forced him to leave his New York City residence, the baron retired to the cabin full time.
After military retirement in 1783, Steuben was regularly consulted on a variety of Congressional initiatives. He was appointed to the New York State Board of Regents in 1787. Steuben also presided at the laying of the cornerstone of what is now Hamilton College, in Clinton, New York.
Death of a Humble Servant
Following seven years of debate, Congress voted in 1790 to provide the baron with an annual pension of $2,500,
Location. 43° 20.235′ N, 75° 14.011′ W. Marker is in Remsen, New York, in Oneida County. Marker can be reached from Star Hill Road (County Route 57), on the left when traveling east. Click for map. Marker is located at the parking lot in Steuben Memorial State Historic Site. Marker is in this post office area: Remsen NY 13438, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. From Obscure Grave Site to Public Memorial (here, next to this marker); Baron Von Steuben: Father of the American Infantry (here, next to this marker); Steuben State Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Sacred Grove (within shouting distance of this marker); This Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Steuben (within shouting distance of this marker); General Baron Frederick William von Steuben (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); German-American Organizations (about 300 feet away). Click for a list of all markers in Remsen.
More about this marker. Several
Also see . . . Biography of Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben. (Submitted on August 13, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.)
Categories. • War, US Revolutionary •
Credits. This page originally submitted on , by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 207 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on , by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016.