Pike, Zebulon Montgomery, soldier and explorer, was born at Lamberton, N. J., April 27, 1879. His father, who had been an officer in the Revolutionary army, was still in the service, and after the son had finished his education, which consisted in a study of Latin, French and German in addition to the common school branches, he joined the company of which his father was captain. He served for some time on the western frontier of the United States; was made an ensign, and later became a lieutenant in the First U. S. infantry. In 1801 he married Miss Clarissa Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1805 he was ordered on an expedition to trace the headwaters of the Mississippi, and embarked at St. Louis in August with 23 men. On his return he was highly complimented on his work and shortly afterward was sent by Gen. Wilkinson on his famous expedition to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase. Among the events was the raising of the United States flag for the first time in Kansas, which occurred at the old Pawnee village in Republic county in 1806, the discovery of Pike's Peak and his capture at the Rio Del Norte by the Spaniards. (See Pike's Expedition.) He arrived at Natchitoches, La., July 1, 1807, and the government gave evidences that his services were highly appreciated. He was made captain, then major, and in 1810 colonel. He served in the war of 1812 and in 1813 was raised to the rank of brigadier-general and sent on an expedition against York (Toronto), Canada. He left Sackett's Harbor on April 25 with 1,500 men, arriving before the combined British and Indian forces at York two days later. When the position was about to be surrendered to him, a magazine inside the British works exploded, wounding Gen. Pike so seriously that he died shortly afterward, but not without the satisfaction of knowing the surrender had taken place.