The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-04-22
SAM. WARDS BRIDE.
The Daughter of n Famous New orleans
Iaxyver and of the Widow of LOUISE I
ana's First Governor-Lovely !medors
(.rHInea.
frrorn the Sew Orleans Tlmes. ]

Lawyer and of the Widow of Loussf-
ana's First Governor-Lovelyl Medors
Grymes
fFroan the New Orleans Tlmes.l
An interesting case has been on trial be-
fore the Surrogate of New \ ork, the par
ties to which have been associated with
important events and characters in the
history of this State. 1t is the applica-
ton of the grandmother of Sam. Ward.
Jr., who died in Paris in 1865, 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-
tinent; a gentleman renowned Tor ms ac-
cOmplishments, his universal knowledge,
his cOnviviality, wit, and his large circle
of acquaintance and intimates in all the
gay capitals of the new and old world. IL
should certainly, too, have been known 10
the son of such a man that his father,
when he first experienced the pride oil pa
ternity, was a member of the then great
commercial and banking firm OF Prince,
Ward, & King, in New York.
1t was regarded, indeed, at the time,
more than thirty years ago, very bril-
lent match when the lovely and accom-
plished Medora Grymes married the ele-
CANT, witty and wealthy young Sam.
Ward, of the great English firm. Medora
was the petted daughter OF our great law
yer, John Il. Grymes, who, for more than
forty years, was regarded the head OF our
bar. The older members Of our bar Will
remember with what pride and affection
the great advocate used, even in the midst
of a trial in court, to draw from
his pocket his gold snutf-box, and gaze
upon the lovely medallion painted on it in
ivory, with the inscription Msdord son
pere. Upon this daughter the old lawyer
lavished all his love and devotion. For the
rest of the world he manifested little re,
gard, charity or indulgence. Indeed, he
was regarded, somewhat unjustly, as a
misanthrope. He certainly was mercl'
less satirist. But the utteraIce of the
name of his darling Medora never failed to
dissipate all his sourness and gloom, and
call forth the tenderness of his nature. She
was the daughter of a mother from whom
her father had been long separated. Thai
mother is now the claimant under the will
of her grandson, the once lovely Medora,
the legatee of her son, having survived
him but few months.
Here is another example ofthe longevity
y
was the CAV and beautiful widow of the
first Governor of Louisiana, w. G. g.
Claiborne, to whom this province of Lou
isiana was delivered in 1904. Governor
Claiborne was favorite of President
Jefferson, and had voted for him as mem
Der of Congress, and, receiving the bril-
liant position of Territorial Governor Of
Louisiana, bore prominent part in the
organization and defense of this State. Nc
public officer was ever held in greater re-
spect by the people than was Governor
Claiborne. Marrying as his second wife q
beautiful Creole, he died few years after
retiring from the GubernatOrial chair
leaving his widow and several children
who now survive. Among these are Mrs
NJ. Marigny and Mr.. Claiborne, late Clerk
of the United States Court in this State
Our honorable citizen, w. Z. c. Claiborne
who also still lives, is the son of Governor
Claiborne.
Some years after the death of the Gov.
ernOr, his widow married Colonel John r.
Grymes, then in the meridian of his fame
and distinction as lawyer. For some
years they lived in grand style, and were
the leaders of the fashionable life IL the
city. Finally, however, their matrimonial
relations were interrupted, and Mrs
Grymes departed for the North with heI
young children, and purchasing a country
seat on Staten Island, resided there for
many years, experimenting the education
of her children. Colonel Grymes resumed
his old bachelor habits, and lived for many
years solitary, unhappy life, holding lit
tie or no intercourse with any member OF
his family save his loved MedOra, who
ma1a several visits 10 him. during which
the old lawyers moroseness entirely dis
appeared and his spirits resumed their old
vivacity.
1t is the son of this lady who testifes
his devotion to his mother by the will
which is in controversy, though it is hard.
ly conceivable, and, indeed, the fact of her
absence and illness at the time of his death
would disprove an inference, that she could
have been party to the untilial reference
to his father as unknown TO him. Should
the will be maintained, the venerable
grandmother, who must be in the neigh
borhood of 100 years old, will be the chief
hnOafipiarV thereof