The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-04-11
Gen. Jackson's Wife.

Jackson was young lawyer. ii
was on his way from Tennessee TO som
town in Kentucky to attend court. IL
was passing through what is now eithe
Warren or Barren County in the Greel
River county, which was then bu
thinly settled, and most of it coyere,
with forests. Approaching lone cabll
in the road, he heard the cries of
woman, which grew more and NOR
distinct the nearer he approached tn,
house. Spurring up the animal he wa
riding, he soon reached the cabin, and
alighting from his horse, entered it t,
find shoemaker beating his wife will
a great strap of leather. The sounds h,
had heard proceeded from her throat
Disregarding the old admOnition, nevel
to interfere between husband and wife
he caught the mans arm and compelled
him to desist from his diabolical pas
time. Then half showing him, hal
kicking him into the yard, he told tn,
fellow to clear out. "You confoundet
scoundreln' he exclaimed; "leave the
country Immediately, and never let me
hear of your showing your ugly face tC
this woman again. My name is Andrew
Jackson; am lawyer. 1 am going
up here to court, but | will return to
this place every day or two until / am
sure that you are SO far away that you
can cause the lady no more disturbance.
If she has no one else to protect her, |
will doit."
The positive manner of the young ad-
vocate convinced the cOwardly husband
that his adversary meant what was
said. So he took Jackson's advice and
cleared out.
Jackson visited the woman, as he had
avowed he would, and from becoming
interested in her case became interested
in her and she in him. In the course
of year he procured a decree of divorce
for the woman from her husband, and
then married her. The marriage was a
quiet one, and occurred near Nashville.
The name of the wife's first husband
was Roberts, and her own maiden
name was Donaldson. Hopkins says
that she was an illiterate woman, but
had very kind heart, and was always
a good, true, and worthy wife of
Jackson.
Soon after the marriage, Jackson de-
termined to emigrate to what was then
the Territory of Mississippi. Here the
report became current that he had not
been married to the woman with whom
he was living. 81 was married to her."
he said, Sin Tennessee, in the presence
of two witnesses; but if it will be any
qualification to any of these people here
to have us married again, l am will
ing" "And, sure enough" said Mr..
Hopkins, soft he goes and is married
again"
Some time afterward Mr.. Jackson
and his wife went to Kentucky. There
they found that Roberts, Mrs. Jackson's
first husband, had been circulating the
report that they never had been mar
ried. Being willing that all parties
should be satisfied on this point, Jack
son went off and procured another
license and again was united in mar
riage with the woman he had rescued
from the wrath of an irate shoemaker.
Thus, though he never had but one
wife, Gen. Jackson was thrice married.
The knot so we'll tied never grew
slack. Jackson always loved his wife.
Mr.. Hopkins tells an incident illustrat-
ing his devotion to her. Hopkins had
remained over night at the Generals
house after the death of his wife. One
morning he arose very early and started
to walk toward the old family cemetery.
He approached rather close to the grave
of Mrs. Jackson, and was surprised to
find the General himself kneeling over
it. He retraced his footsteps as soon
as possible, but not too soon for the
quick eye of the old soldier to see him.
Afterward he spoke to him about the
matter, and said that the act in which |
he (Hopkins) had beheld him was no
uncommon one. Every morning, he
said, he went to the grave, for he
thought that the proper place for him
to conduct his religious devotion was
by the remains Of his wife, who had
been so dear to him, and who had so
great and SO abiding a faith in the
graciousness of the Ruler Of the Uni
verse.