Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-01

Inc WISE son VINO anew Not HIS
Own Father-A Famous VIII Case
Which Deals With Noted Louisiana
ans.
New Orleans Times, March 80.
An interesting will case has been on
trial before the Surrogate Of New York,
the parties to which have been associated
with important events and characters in
the history of this State. Il is the applica-
ton Of the grandmother of Sam Ward, Jr.,
who deceased in Paris in 1866, leaving all
his property to his mother, and declaring
that he did not know his father. And yet
that father was the well known Sam Ward,
the king Of the lobby at Washington and
the most famous dinner-giver on this con
tlnent; a gentleman renowned for his ac-
cOmplishmeEts, his universal knowledge,
his eOlyiviality, wit, and his large circle OF
acquaintances and intimateS in all the gay
capitals Of the old and new world. II
should certainly, too, have been known to
the son Of such a man, that his father,
when he first experienced the pride of pa
ternity, was a member Of the then great
commercial aud banking firm Of Prime,
Ward & King, in New York.
L was regarded, indeed, at the time,
more than thirty years ago, a very brilliant
match when the lovely and accomplished
MedOFa GTymes married the elegant, witty
and wealthy young sam Ward, Of the great
English firm. MedOra was the petted
daugi ter Of our great lawyer, John r.
Grymes, who, for more than forty years,
was regarded the head Of our bar. The
older members Of our bar viii remember
with what pride and affection the great ad-
vOcate used even in the midst Of a trial in
court to draw from mis- pocket his gold
snuf-bOx, and gaze upon the lovely medal
lion painted on it in ivory, with the in
scriptiOn MedOrG a son pere. Upon this
daughter the Oldllawyer layished all his love
and devotion. For the rest of the world
he manifested little regard, charity or in
diligence. Indeed, he was regarded
somewhat unjustly, as a misanthrOpe.
he certainly was a merCiless satirist.
But the utterance Of the name Of his dar-
ling MedOra never failed TO diSsipate all his
sOurness and gloom and call forth all the
tenderness Of his nature, aud far more Of
tenderness than men who have lived the
life, and experienced the sOrrOws and
troubles which had hardened his heart,
ever cherish OF manifest. She was the
daughter Of a mother from whom her father
had been long separated. That mother is
now the claimant under the viii Of her
grandson, the once lovely MedOra, the leg
atee Of her son, having survived him but a
few months. Here is another example Of
the longevity Of the Creole race. Mrs.
Suzette Grymes was the gay and beautiful
widow Of the first Governor Of Louisiana,
W. &. Q. Claiborne, to whom this province
of Louisiana was delivered in 1904. The
life and character Of Gov. Claiborne might
be familiar to all our readers. Tie was q
great friend and faVOrite Of President
Jefferson, and had voted for him as
member Of Congress, and, receiving
the brilliant position Of Territorial
Governor Of Louisiana, bore a most
prominent part in the organization and
defense of this State. No public
official was ever held in greater esteem
aud respect by a people than was Gov. Clai-
borne. Marrying as his second wife a
beautiful Creole lady, he died a few years
after retiring from the gubernatOrial chair,
leaving his widow and several children,
who now survive. Among these are Mrs.
n. Marigny and Mr.. Charles Claiborne,
late Clerk Of the United States Court i9
this State. Our honorable citizen, W. Q.
G. Claiborne, who also still lives, is the
son Of Gov. Claiborne by his first wife.
The widow Claiborne, some years after
the death Of the Governor, married Col.
John r. Grymes, then in the meridian Of
his fame and distinction as a lawyer. For
some years they lived together in grand
style and were the leaders Of fashionable
life in the city. Finally, however, their
relations were interrupted,
and Mrs. Grymes departed for the Nor h
with her young children, and purchasing a
country seat on Staten Island resided there
for many years, experimenting the etUca-
ton of her children.
Col. Grymes resumed his old bachelor |
habits, and lived for many years a solitary, |
unhappy life, holding little or no intercourse /
with any member Of his family save his /
loved MedOra, who made several visits 10 /
him, during which the old lawyers mOrose- /
ness entirely disappeared and his spirits |
resumed their old vivacity. Il is the son |
Of this lady who testifes his devotion to |
his mother by the will which is now in |
though it is hardly conceiya- |
bic, and, indeed, the fact Of her absence |
and illness at the time of his death would |
iisprOye such an inference, that she could |
have been a party to the Unfillial reference |
70 his father as unknown to him. Should |
he will be maintained, the venerable |
who must now be in the |
Of one hundred years old, !
will be the chief beneficiary thereof.