The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-12-28

fvrom he 0aas 0ity.l
rae Late MFs. Amne Clark Delknap.
fThe following biographical notice Of the late
Mrs. Belknap. written bv one who enjoyed her
aud i..,nuship, will be interesting
10 al who respect truly estimable qualities Of
character or take an interest in the early history
Of the West.
Mrs. Anne Clark Belknap was no ordinary
person. Her character approached as near per-
haps to perfection rs any that one ever meets
with; and her life was one of vicissitudes such
as but few women encounter. With advantages
Of early education, and association among the
most intelligent and accomplished society, she
possessed, in q marked degree. that delicate re-
finement Of manner which ever charactetizss
the well-bred lady. As such she was at once
whether at the Capitol Of our coun-
try or in the most remote Western wilds. There
cumstances, that rare blending Of perfect sweet
ness Of temper and pleasing dignity of deport-
ment that Immediately won the respect and es.
TEEN Of all who came within her influence
sentiments which grew daily in strength upon
continued acquaintance.
Ever cheerful, yet never frivolous, it was at
all times real pleasure to meet Mrs. Belknap,
especially when welcomed at her own door or
under her own most hospitable roof. Who that
was often favored with that privilege can forget
the kindly greeting with which they were ever
met? And yet how utterly free from the slight
est tinge Of ostentatious display, were the re-
ceptions under that roof.
The wife of a gallant and distinguished SOL
dier-the late Brigadier General William G.
Belknap- with whom che united her fortunes
ere he had yet attained high rank and distinc-
ton, Mrs. B. came with her husband to the far
net uonr 81 h l,e,
lead a frontier life at what were, at that time
the outposts of our little army. Crossing from
Green Bay, one Of those outposts, to the Missis.
sippi, and proceeding down the latter to ST.
Louis, she passed this point over thirty years
ago, when there was not yet human habita-
ton here, save perhaps the wigwam of the Sacs
and Foxes, old Black Hawk, keokuk and their
associates; long, in fact, ere even the Territory
OF Iowa was ushered into existence, and while it
still formed part-not of Wisconsin, but Of
Michigan!
OF what now constitutes the Territory of Kan.
sas, Mrs. Belknap was perhaps the first white
woman that ever became an inhabitant Her
husband, then Captain Belknap, was ordered to
establish military post on the Missouri, which
he die accordingly, probably in 1927 or 20,
with the name effort Leavenworth, near where
the present city of the same name stands
While the buildings for this post were being
erected, Mrs. Belknap, like true soldiers wife,
ate and slept under a tent, until they were ready
| to be occupied. Subsequently she follow ed her
husband to Florida, where he had been ordered
during the campaign with the Seminoles; and,
later still, she accompanied him to the posts on
the Arkansas, Forts Smith and Gibson, where
this devoted and noble wife, always Of frail
constitution, and never of robust health, spent
several years more, far removed from those
thousand comforts and refinements to which she
had been accustomed in early life. Did she
complain Of this? Neyer but remained always
the same true christian woman, aud devoted
wife and mother.
The gallant part acted by Gen. Belknap dur
ing the war of 1916, with Mexico, in which he
again distinguished himself at Palo Alto, Resaca,
! and other fields, is doubtless familiar to the read
er. After his death, which occurred in 1851,
in Texas, where he was on duty with his troops,
Mrs. Belknap, accompanied by her estmable
and highly intelligent daughters, came here to
JOIN her only son, and make this her home.
Reference has been made above to her cheer.
full and happy temperament, and to the fact
that it was under her own hospitab!e roof that
these beautiful traits were most strikingly de-
yeloped. 1t was there that she appeared true
model for her sex, not only in all her domestic
relations, but in its duocdtions as well. With
what admirable system were all of the latter per-
formed; and what scrupuous ncatness and Or
der reigned, ever, over the entire prcmses-in
door and out; and this without the least appar
ent bustle confusion, or Inconvenience to eth.
er visitors or the household; perfection of house
keeping-not the least difficult of arts! HouE
that home where so much of the lasl few
years OF her life were spent-was to her evident
ly one OF calm and true rational enjoyment;
while to her friends one of neverlaing attrac-
tions.
But it was as sincere and genuine, though
wholly unpretenti0us, christian, that the charac.
ter of Mrs. Belknap shone forth in its greatest
beauty and loneliness. That she was true
christian, if one ever lived, nobody for mo-
ment doubted who knew her well. 1t was clearly
mirrored upon her ever calm and serene coun-
tenance, and evidenced in the daily acts of her
life; yet she never obtraded her religion upon
others, nor made public display of it, to at
tract the worlds gaze-ifnot to enlist its praise!
Nor does the writer remember to have ever
once beard her condemn, by single harsh or
unkind word, any human being, whose opinions
Or creed, be they what they might were not
in accord with her own. If, as she thought,
wrong, it ever seemed with her a source of real,
unfeigned regret rather than of different feel
ing-sO commonly evinced. Oh what refor
nation will that be, il 1t ever occurs, when all
protesting christians shall act thus. How infin
itely greater the influence they lthen exercise.
CHARITY, no less than FAITH and HorE, was
cardinal and a practical principle in the chris
tianity of Mrs. Belknap; Charity which, if not,
as claimed by one of the master spirits of the
world, 'the essence of christianity is at least
one OF its essential eements-without which it
can have no real existence.
But enough: it is most gratifying to know
that the subject of this imperfect sketch was one
whose practice in life, no more than her ayowed
principles, were never called in question Tru.
ly it may be said, she probably had not an en-
envy on earth; and that,
"None knew her but to love her,
Nor named her but to praise"
Keokuk, Dec. 90, 1858. Va.