The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-12-30

PACED or written either. In fact little Of
the minutiG Of her early LIE Is generally
known, at least here in Paris, and In
America, think, even less. And prob
ably to those who know most Of It does its
course seem most wonderful. Her career
up to the present has been brief one
all comprised in the space Of ten short
years-as brilliant as II has been brief;
and strangc-ulmost TOO strange to be
true"
Harriet Ely was the daughter, by his
second wife, Of Rev. DR.. Ely, Of Phila-
delphia, for many years an eminent Old
School Presbyterian clergyman OF that
city, who, during the girlhoOd Of the Rus.
sian heroine, left Philadelphia and re-
moved 10 Missouri. There he established,
think, u college, AfterWard returning TO
Philadelphia, where he died some years
previous 10 the marriage Of his daug ghter.
Her mother Is spoken Of as "singUlarly
singular" woman.
Hattie "drew near to destiny" when
she went, school miss not YET sixteen,
in 1865 or 1866, to Parkersburg, W. Va,
to visit in the family Of Judge Jackson
there, his daughter, Miss Lille, who had
been schOOlmate Of hers. She at once
became quite the rage in that little pro-
vinCial center, and various stories have
been related Of her freaks and indiscre-
tions at this time. Many Of these are
doubtful Of foundation. She mingled
freel ly in sOciety-was admired, aattered,
caressed, courted, Among other deyo-
tees was her husband-perhaps | should
say her first husband-J. Beale Black
ford, then teller OF tho Parkersburg Ma
tional Bank. Blacklord was we'll con-
nected, moved in high society, was popu-
lar, and considered very eligible young
man. He was Of Incorporate habits,
however, and on that account had Just
been discarded by another woman, 10
whom he was devotedly attached, when
Miss Ely came upon the stage, To all
appearances he was greatly impressed
with her. lie Swallowed her eyeryW here,
was her special adorer and constant COM
paniOn. And though the acquaintance
was yet very new, and when her mother,
in response to suggestions from some Of
her friends, arrived in Parkersburg to
accompany her home, the lovers had
already determined their course, and
both were
"sWOrn
As deeply tOPIIect what We intend,
As closely to conceal what We lmpirt"
When Mrs. Ely and Miss Hattie babe
adieu to Parkersburg Mr.. BlaCkford ac-
Companied them. On the arrival OF the |
train at Oakland, Maryland, Mr.. Black
ford and Miss Ely left the train uncere-
mOniously, were married, and took the
return train for Parkersburg, leaving the
old lady to proceed quietly home alone.
Thus, after an acquaintance of less than
two months, Harriet Ely, at the age Of
sixteen, became the wife Of the man by
whose name she Is still best known.
OF course the friends Of both parties
were surprised at this denOuement aud
gave their own reasons for proceeding so
unlocked for. Mr. BlaCkiOrd was credit.
ed with having cOnsnmmated the mar
riagc in II 1T Of desperation and anger,
while suffering the pangs Of wounded
pride, and possibly the deeper anguish Of
disappointed love.
Miss Ely's motive in accepting the alli.
anCe has been yarOusly guessed at, but at
her time Of life and with her disposition
II was probably not deep one. There
can be little doubt, however, that she be.
lieved In the man she married, and her
disappointment and humiliation in find.
ing such reasons assigned for BaCkford's
choice Of her, are thought TO have deeply
embittered her life thence forward. The
style Of life lie pursued, too, did every.
thing to confirm her in the belief OF their
truth. Ills dissipation became more
marked, and though he attended 10 bust.
ness, the picture lie presented night after
night, by The time he was ready TO go
home, was certainly dispiriting and NOR
tifying to her, calculated In every way 10
crush her affections and make her hope.
less in her home, and almost sufficient to
give color to the dark suspicious that
found utterance In whispers after Black
fOrds death. ...
The course OF her married life, however
Is not important to the story. She has
one child, daughter, living, II Is sup.
posed, and In convent. Mr.. Blackford
died suddenly in the spring Of 1867. lie
retired In his usual state OF maudlin In
ebriety, one night, and was never seen
alive more. Mrs. Blackford came down
to breakfast the next morning, and alter
concluding her repast sent her nurse.
girl to call her husband. The nurse re.
turned with the information that he was
dead. Rnmor, Of course, was busy as TO
the cause and manner Of his death.
Many believed that driven TO desperation
by his habits and his lack Of affection for
herself, his wife had poisoned him, justi.
flying the suspicion by the provocation.
The matter was never investigated, but
there probably was no solid foundation
for the story, and like that OF many 9th
ers, both In Parkersburg and elsewhere,
lis likely IIeale BlackiOrda fate had long
laid in wait for him in his cups. His
life was insured for $1,000, and after col.
leCLing this Mrs. Blackford shook the
dust Of Parkersburg from her dainty feet,
and returned 10 Philadelphia. Known
here as The daughter OF Rev. DR.. Ely,
she had The eniree Of the very best society
there, and freely mingled theiein. She
seemed 10 seek TO keep herself before the
people and "away from herself;' waS seen
constantly in public, and was found at
every possible hrst.class entertainment.
and for her they all seemed 10 be posi-.
bic. In truth, she was, for one Of her
years, woman Of remarkable presence
and manner, and, looking back at her ca.
reer, may say talent. In Philadelphia
She became intimate with n man named
Portor or Proctor, the association con-
tinuing SOME time, and lianly Terminal.
inc al a cost 10 him Of about $4,000.
Immediately afterward shc appeared
in New York, where for time she
figured, and, Il was announced, had mar.
ried one Dr., phpnix. She Is supposed to
have levied heavily on his exclequer.
As Mrs. DR.. Phpnix "arose from The
ashesc Of lhis connection, she crossed the
Atlantic In 1869, and made her appear
ance in Paris. Here, as III Philadelphia
and New York, she entered the best
society, Here she met her Russian lover,
the Grand Duke, and the balance Is al
really history. Il