The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-20
Early History 81 the Brfdo 81 the
King % tho Lobby, Whose SON Did,r't
Know His Father.

EARLY History 81 the Brido 81 the
= King of the Lobby, Who're SON Did'"'t
Know His Father. @&
HSs [From the New Orleans Times.
An interesting case has been on trial
before tho surrogate Of New York, the
parties to which have been associated
with important events and characters in
the history of this State. It is the ap'
plication Of the grandfather Of Sam Ward.
Jr., who died in Paris in 1855, leaving all
his property to his mother, and declar-
ing that he did not know his father. And
yet that: father was the well.known Sam
Ward, the king Of the lobby at " ashing'
ton and the most famous dinner giver on
this continent; agcntleman renowned for
his accomplishments, his universal knowl'
edge, his conviviality, wit, and his large
circle of acquaintance and int;mates in
all the gay capitals of the new and the
old world. It should, certainly, too,
have been known to the son Of such
man that his father, when he first expe.
rienced the pride of paternity, was a
member Of the then great commercial and
banking firm of Prince, Ward d King, in
New York.
1t was regarded, indeed, at the time,
more than thirty years ago, very bril-
liant match when the loved and accom-
plished Mcdora Grymes married the ele-
giant, witty, and wealthy young Sam
Ward of the great English firm. Medora
was the petted daughter of our great law
yer, John H. Glymes, 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 trial in court to draw from his pocket
his gold snuf.box, and gaze upon the
lovely medallion painted on it in ivory,
with the inscription of Ms6ord son pere.
Upon this daughter the old lawyer law
ished 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
misantrophe. He certainly was merci'
less satirlst. But the utterance of the
name Of his darling Medora never
failed to dissipate all his sourness and
gloom, and call forth all the tenderness
Of his nature. She was the daughter of
q mother from whom her father had long
OCCA SCpd10tEO 1Adk 1uOLAVA 10 AO" VIZ
claimant.undert the will of her grandson,
the once lovely Medora, the legatee Of
her son, having survived him but few
months.
Here is another example Of the longev-
ity Of the Creole race. Mrs. Surzette
Grymes was the gay and beautiful widow
of the first Governor of Louisiana, W.
G. G. Claiborne, to whom this province
of Louisiana was delivered IN 1904. Gov.
Claiborne was favorite of President
Jefferson, and had voted for him as a
member of Congress, and, receiving the
brilliant position of territorial Governor
of Louisiana, bore prominent part in
the organization and defense of this
State. No public official was held in
greater respect BY people than was
Gov. Claiborne. Marrying his second
wife, beautiful Creole, he died few
years after retiring from the gubernato.
rial chair, leaving his widow and several
children, who now survive. Among these
are Mrs. M. Marigny and Mr.. Claiborne
late clerk of the United States Court in
this State. Our honorable citizen, W. c.
Claiborne, who also still lives, is the son
Of Gov. Claiborne.
Some years after the death Of the Gov
erner, his widow married Col. John r
Grymes, then in the meridian of his fame
and distinction as lawyer. For some
years they lived in grand style, and were
tho leaders Of the fashionable life in the
city. Finally, however. their matrimo.
Grymes departed for the north with her
-
on Staten Island, resided there for many
years, experimenting the education Of
her children. Col. Grymes resumed his
old bachelor habits, and lived Tor many
years solitary, unhappy life, holding
little or no intercourse with any member
of his family save his loved Medora, who
made several visits to him, during which
the old lawyers moroseness entirely dis
appeared, and his spirits resumed thei1
old vivacity.
It is the son of this lady who testife:
his devotion to his mother by the viii
which is in controversy, though it i:
hardly conceivable. And. indeed, tn,
fact Of her absence, and illness at the time
of his death, would disprove an inlerenc,
that she could have been party to thu
unfilial reference to his father as unknown
to him. Should the will be maintained
the venerable grandmother, who must b,
in the height orhood Of 100 years old, viii
be the chief beneficiary thereof.
Travel ON the Union Pacific RAILWAY
Suspended by High Water--Severa]
Trains Hung Up ut Way Stations.