Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-08-20
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THOMAS Js2FEEElStsE.


and in full sight and on the line OF the rail~
road, is an old mill property which belonged
to Thomas Jetielsons father; and about
halt a mile over the hill the son was born
The venerable Librarian of the college told
me that he had often heard Mr. Jefferson
say that the success in life Of the fathers 0.
the repubiln, living III that section, was In
= great measure due to the thorough in>
struclion they received from Scotch Presbv-
teriun ministers. But Jefferson owed fully
as much to his father, who, though far from
beiug a learned man, had a literary taste
which lie constantly cultivated, though he
had little time to spare from most active
life, and he wrote a neat and exact hand
which he taught bis son with the utmost
ihoroughness.
Thomas jeff rson Was born April 9, l742,
died July 4, 1926. In due time he became
a lawyer, by which he Obtained n practice
worth $1,000 year, and with what his IA
ther gave him, and what he him self bought.
he had 1890 u cres Of choice land, including
Monticello. He married Young widow,
Mrs. Martha Skelton, born October 10,
las, Who died September &, 1892, mainly
through the shocks received from the
Invasion oi the British, and their inhuman
treatment Of her slaves She brought jeff
erson not nniy "a large number OF slaves bur
also 10, 900 acres OF land. she vas an ex~
celieut housekeeper and manager, and she
had five daughters and one son. The re-
igious bigots OF the North and the rehg>
ous lro-s!avery uen OF the South have uni
ted TO tarnish The name OF Mr.. jefferson,
| and heard some things at Charlotte which
| | could not well disbelteve, bat which, nev-
erJbeess. do, for men are to be Judged
less by their public deeds than by their DAT
IL life at home. Abroad, 1t is easy, and
| some lines il may be a duty, to disse mblc,
and every action Of a public nature is care
| fully pryInedita'ed. At home, all artifice is
laid aside. The good and the bad ilppul>
ses OF the heart are disclosed. and perhaps
the Great Book cannot we'll record the real
character of a man with much more fidelity
than he himself records it in his own family.
Mrs. Jefferson fingered long time. For
weeks her husband was bv her side or in n
room that opened al the head Of her bed.
and lie and - relative al ne watched. When
| at last she died, lie staggered back into his
room md tainted away, and for II long Tune
he was supposed also dead During the
three weeks following he did not leave his
room. Finally he was indus to mouat
his horse, and accompanied by his daugh-
ter, he rode among the mountains, often
bursting into tears. AT this time he Was
olly about 40 years old, but he never mar
ried again, and wien he died ~ years nt>
terwart,, lock Of her hair aud some other
tokens were found in seere. drawer of his
Il, IL, ,,ll
the marks of having been frequently hands
led.
The remainder of his life was spent in
public service and in improving Monticeilo,
around winch sad memories fingered, fnr
here his children were born. The cultiVa>
ton of bis garden was by his own hands, for
he evidently beievei that aside from the re-
wards which labor briDgs. in the bread and
rament for the support OF the human race.
it has flower and fruit growing out Of
mems communication md contact with mas
lure, which can come by no other means.
and to The true mln OF letters it is luxury
OF when only he who has enjoyed it can
even imagine the existence. While he was
President of the United States his interest
in gardening was unaiminahed. and man
UScIlIt btch 10 IN tIIl III Nuitb iiuttt tIIt
appearance and disappearance Of every veg>
etable brought to the Philndep!ia market
during the eight wears. AT home. and da>
ring cold and stormy weather, he often with>
drew to workshop where he had tools Of
all kinds for working in wood he made
wash~stands, tables, cupboards, and Shelves
turning out neat jobs he could stock
pow, repair wagon, and in the house
building going on for several years he was
not idle.
Mr. jefferson died deeply in debt. saw
an old gentleman IN charlottesville, who
said he as a merchant many years !; that
MIR. jefferson traded with him f; that some
of the 800 negroes came every day with or
ders for clothing and the like; that when
Mr.. Jefferson died they had barrel fall of
these orders tha, the indebtedness amount
c,. to S25, 900; and that a part Of the farm
was taken to close the account. During at
least thirty years OF TIE latter part OF his life,
there were visitors every day from almost
every part Of the world an open house was
Eept. and the negroes work was not mans
aged so as to lay expenses. He must have
known. il he knew anything, how his affairs
were going, and he would have done better
If he could, for 10 man ever lived with
sharper eye on surrounding things. But he
swas opposed to slavery, he would not exact
from The poor creatures All that they could
perform. and besides, the crowds of visitors
and the demands Of government and the of,
fee of President upon his time diverted
much Of his attention. and he died fu.ly cons
scious that he was insolvent. and also fully
conscious that his estate, time, and ability
hal been given to his country and to the
world. Cor. N. y. Tribune.