The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-05-04
James Buchanan's Great Grief.

A correspondent of the Chicago Euen.
ing Journal having given some reasons
why ex-President Buchanan never mar
rled, another gentleman from Upper San.
uusky hasWritten what he knows about
the reasons OF Mr.. Buchanan's celibacy,
The writer says: The amount of fact in
proportion to fiction in the above little
romance is very small indeed-tl1e sole 10.
nance attached to the lady mentioned is
IN being the niece of Miss Ann Coleman.
OF Lancaster, Pa, who was the first and
only f0ncee of the late President Buchan-
an, newspaper reports to, the contrary
Notwithstanding. The incidents connected
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. l shall briefly state the clrcum-
stances as l remember them. MIR. Blu
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, l think, into the
month of July. 1t was a hot, dusty sum.
mei, 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, vino congratulated Mr.. Buchan-
an on his arrival home, and unanimously
pronounced him the best busted man they
had ever met. At that time the Court
House stood at the intersection of the four
main streets OF the city, and Mr.. Buchan.
ans Office and chambers were in the
southwestern angle. Soon after alighting
and chatting a few. moments with &C.
quaintances who happened to be in the
vicinity, he went to his chambers to un-
dergo much needed ablution. This
accomplished, somewhere about ten
o'c!sck 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-ln-law to William jerks, who resided
on the corner of South Queen street, the
terminus of the southwestern angle, had
penlng TO be sitting in the parlor with all
the windows open on account of the heat.
notlclng that Mr.. Buchanan had returned,
went to the door, and, passin e 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 to Miss Coleman,
stating that Mr.. Buchanan was too tired
to call on his atfianced, but that he could
call on and stand chat with Miss Hubley.
10 understand what follows must here
state that Robert Coleman, the father, was
a purse proud, imperious man, who, hav.
ing acquired great wealth alta time when
mllionaires 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, scrupulouslv stood
sentinel over his own dignity. and was
ever ready to resent any fancied infringe
ment Of it. On the night in question there
happened to be several callers at the Cole
man mansion who'were sitting in the par
lor in conversation when the note was
handed by the servant to Miss Ann. On
perusing it the lady was naturally some
what disturbed, which was evinced in her
face, and Immediately attracted the atten-
ton Of the jealous and imperious old man.
who, notwithstanding her remonstrance.
snatched and read it. His offended dig,
nifty was at once in arms, and within the
hour his daughter was placed in the family
carriage and on the way to PHILADELPHIA
to visit her sister, Mrs. Judge Hcmhill.
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 young 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, f. flowing her reaching
Philadelphia. MIR. Buchanan reouested
permission to attend the funeral as chief
mourner, but was rudely refused. Being
a man Of ardent affections and entirely
Devoted to his betrothed, Mr.. Buchanan's
mind was nearly unhinged by the sudden
calamity, which had befalien him-so
much so, indeed, that his friends became
uneasy, and Judge franklin persuaded
him to remain IN his family few days.
Whlle there, and wishing to write the
OBITUARY notice himself, he requested Mr..
Dickson to delay the publication Of the
1ntet!igencer asalong as he could, which
was done, but as the mail was only posted
once week to certain points of the
county we were compelled TO close the
PoPoI 0.aot SVSuIuSi anu was sent around
to the Judges to see ii the obituary was
ready. ~ was informed that Mr.. B1chan.
ans mind was so disturbed by grief that
he was unable to write the notice, but
the Judge suggested that / should 20 into
the parlor, where Mr.. Buchanan was alone
in his sorrow, and inform him that he
must close the paper that evening, think
ing it might spur him up to the necessary
exertion. I have witnessed many sad
scenes in the course Of somewhat length
ened life, but none that made 50 indel-
sible an impression on my mind as the
grief-strlcken appearance Of Mr.. Buchan-
vs. gs5 e. a4;~ss- q. A--