Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-05-04
James Buchanan's Great Grief.


rieu, another gentleman from Upper SAN
husky has written what he knows about
the reasons OF Mr.. Buchanau's celibacy.
The writer says: The amount of fact in
proportion to fiction in the above little
romance Is very small indeed-the sole ro-
nance attached 10 the lady mentioned is
in being the niece of Miss Ann Coleman,
OF Lancaster, Pa, who was the first and
only fdioSe of the late President Buchan-
an, newspaper reports to the contrary
notwithstanding. The incidents competed
with that sad affair, although occurring
when the writer OF this was youth OF
| sever teen or eighteen years of age, have
haunted his memory up to the present
| when he has passed the allotted threescore
and ten. | shall briefly state the clrcum-
stances as | remember them Mr.. Bu-
chanan, then somewhere in the neighbor-
hood OF thirty years OF age, HAD been
elected in the fall of 1920 as Member of
Congress for the Lancaster district The
long session extended, think, into the
| month of July. Ii was hot, dusty sum.
mer, and the stage coach then the only
approved means OF travel The Baltimore
coach did not reach the city until after
nine O'Clock in the evening There were
several printer boys waiting the arrival of
the stage, who congratulated Mr.. Buchan-
| an on his arrival home, and unanimously
pronounced him the best busted man they
mad ever met. At that time the Court
House stood at the intersection of the four
main streets of the city, AMI Mr.. Buchan-
! ans Office and chambers were in the
| southwestern angle Soon after alighting
and chatting few moments with ac-
quaintances who happened to be in the
viciAity, he went TO his chambers TO uu.
dergo much needed ablution This
accomplished. somewhere about ten
o'clsck he stepped out in morning gown
and slippers and without hat, and
promenaded back and forth the an
gle to catch what little breeze was
stirring Miss Grace HUXLEY, sis
ter-in-law TO William jerks, who resided
on the corner Of South Queen street, the
terminus of the Southwestern angle, hap
pening 10 be sitting in the parior with all
the windows open on account of the heat,
noticing that Mr.. Buchanan had returned !,
went to the door, and, passing the compli-
ments OF the evening, Invited him in,
with which he complied, and they seated
themselves by large open window and
| engaged in conversation, Not more than
twenty minutes thereafter an anonymous
note was handed in 10 Miss Coleman,
stating that Mr.. Buchanan was too tired
To cali on his afiianced, but that he could
call on and sit and chatwith Miss Hubley.
To understand what follows | must here
state that Robert Coleman, the father, was
a purse proud, imperious man, who, hav-
ing acquired great wealth at a time when
miiionaires did not grow on every bush,
and possessing but little educational adj
vantage, was very jealous of those whose
cultivation and social position were In
advance of his own, scrupulously stood
sentinel over his own dignity, and was
ever ready to resent any fancied infringe
ment oft. On the night in question there
happened TO be several callers at the Cole
man mansion who were sitting in the par
Tor in conversation when the note was
handed by the servant to Miss Ann On
perusing il the lady was naturally some
what disturbed, which was evinced In her
face, and Immediately attracted the attcn-
ton of the jealous and imperious old man,
who, Notwithstanding her remonstrance,
snatched and read ii. His offended dig
nifty was at once in arms, and within the
flour his daughter was placed in the family
carriage and on the way 10 Philadelphia
to visit her sister, Mrs. Judge Hcmhul.
Knowing the unrelenting nature Of her
father, and probably feeling hurt at the
innuendo thus anonymously conveyed to
her, although an intelligent and accom-
plished yoting lady and very much
attached TO her betrothed lover, she
became respondent, and in her des-
pair took laudanum and was a
corpse on the day following her reaching
Phiiadelphia Mir. Buchanan requested
aIass q
mourner, but was rudely refused. Being
man of ardent affections and entirely
devoted TO his beirothed, Mr.. Buchanan's
mind was nearly unhinged by the sudden
calamity which had befallen him--so
much SO, indeed, that his friends became
uneasy, and Judge Franklin persuaded
him TO remain in his family few days
While there, and wishing to write the
obituary notice himself, he requested Mr..
Dickson TO delay the publication Of the
I7tteltgencer as long as he could, which
was done, but as the mail was only posted
once a week. to certain points OF the
county we were compelled 10 close the
paper that evening, and WIS sent around
to the Judges to see il the obituary was
ready. | was informed that MIR. Buchan-
ans mind was 50 disturbed by grief that
he was unable 10 write the notice, but
the Judge suggested that should go into
the parlor, where Mr, Buchanan was alone
in his sorrow, aud inform him that he
must close the paper that evening" think
ing II might spur him up to the necessary
exertion. / have witnessed many sad
scenes in the course OF somewhat length
ened life, but none that made SO indel-
ible an impression on my mind as the
grief stricken appearance of Mr.. Buchan-
an on that occasion To see a man Of al
most perfect physical and mental structure
bowed to the earth by irreirievable grief
is one of the most painful sights that
person Of average feeling can witness.
Judge Franklin had 10 write the obituary
himself /. would here state that ! nave
heard, with pain, blame attributed 10 Miss
Hubley in this connection Of which she ~
wholly guiltless--the anonymous note
having been written by an enyious lady
who passed while Mr.. Buchanan and Miss
Grace were conyersing together.
THE INLAND MISUNDERSTANDING