The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-23
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
MRS. HARRIET B. MACoMB.


1t has occurred to me that light notice
of Mrs. Harriet B. Macomb might be ac-
eeptable to some of the readers of the Gen.
traI Presbyterian, as the deceased was wide
ly known both in the North and South of
of this country.
This lady was born in Georgetown, D.
c., 1888, and was the eldest child of the
Rev. DR.. Balch, so long the venerated pastor
of the Presbyterian church in that town.
Her mother was ineal descendant of Mn
ian Beall, who emigrated to Maryland not
long after the settlement of that State, from
Fifeshire, Scotland; and granddaughter to
George BeaIl, from whom the town received
its name. The deceased was early sent to
the Female Academy of Doctor Priestly,
located in Baltimore. | do not mean DIR.
Priestly of Northumberland, but a gentle
man who subsequently became President of
the University of Nashville, Tennessee. Her
girlhOod was passed for the most part in her
native town, with great buOyaney of feeling
and apparently a rich enjoyment of life.
She was much admired for her comely ap-
pearance and attractive manners. She be-
came popular; for though her will was firm,
it was blended with tenderness of heart
that melted at every tale of distress.
In 1909, she was united in marriage to
James r. Wilson, Purser in the United
States Navy, and went to New York, as her
place of residence. She there drew the at
tention of Mrs. Isabella Graham, Mrs. Beth
une, and Mrs. Scott-the last Of whom, was
daughter to Luther Martin, of Baltimore.
Here she sat under the ministry of the Rev.
Dr. Romeyn, in the Cedar street church, but
often heard DR.. Mason, then in the height
of his popularity. She afterwards removed
to Brooklyn, and occupied beautiful resi-
dence in that village, and was possessed of
every elegance which the abundant means
of her husband could bestow. But in 1914
the health of her husband rendered a tour to
Europe necessary; from which she did not
return till after the battle of Waterloo, in
1915. She was on that field a few weeks
after the battle, and saw the tree under which
Wellington held his position throughout that
eventful day.
She then settled in Georgetown, and losing
her husband in 1917, the afflictiOn was
blessed to her, and she contested herself
with the church of which her father was
pastor. She remained widow till 1926,
when she was married to Major General
MacOmb, who on the demise of General
Brown was nominated to the Senate by
President Adams, as Commander of the
United States Army. This event Occasional
her removal to Washington, in which city
she resided till her death. Her husband
commanded the military in 1S41 at the in
auguration of President Harrison, but a few
months afterwards followed the General in
the way we must all GO
We believe that all who knew her coneed-
ed that Mrs. Macomb filed her social posi-
tiOn with dignity and becoming humility.
She was remarkably popular among the Of
feers of the Army and Navy; for, on the
first day of January, during more than
twenty years of widowhood they invariably
called to pay their respects. In travelling
abroad with her husband she received many
marks of attention, and many tokens of
kindness. When Mr. Clay took his leave of
the Senate, the artist who executed that i'm
pressiye scene insisted on her being one in
the Photographic picture.
But these things are not so appropriate,