Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-11-27
Peggy O'Neill, ''The Most Beau.
tiful Woman in America"

ulcuj IeRSy " Nelil was OOrn. Inc city
of magnificent distances then had Just three
thousand inhabitants. Congressmeu-
splushcd and travel stained-fordcd the
Tiber on their way to the Capitol, which
was then in course of construction, tho
corner stone having been laid six years
before. What changes were behold, in
mon and manners, by ono who lived from
the earliest days of the Republic down to
this present year of grace! This was tho
lot Of Peggy O'Neill.
While Peggy O'Neil was still child
her father opeued a tavern in Washington.
1t was frequcntod by young aud reckless
visitors to the Capital. There were seen
the live'ier Congressman, and the wealthy
brought to the political centre Henry
Clay, in his faster duys, frequontcd O'NcilFs
tavern, and was fair typo of those among
whom Peggy O'Ncill grew up. A fuircr
bud never ripencd into moro perfect bios
som. Sho was as brilliant 10 intellect as
sho was graceful in movement, and as
sparkling iu conversational charms as she
was beautiful in person. She was ambi-
tious, and her childish associations stmu-
lated in the young maiden the determina--
ton to enter the magic circle of that society
upon whose Threshold she had stood,
gazing at the gories she now burned to
make wholly her own. 1t was not whole.
some training, and the struggle was sure to be
hard. The distinctions of GLASS aud caste
were marked. Women were conventional;
men were frigid or coarse. From her
mother Peggy O'Ncill inherited more than
,ol ,f oh
her in good stead, but the warm blood of
her Irish ancestors more than once diverted
her from the course by inducing her to
sacrifice to love every present expectation
of socia! Advancement.
AS girl Peggy O'Ncll was sent to e
seminary in Georgetown, and flushed her
education in Washington. Ono of the
little triumphs of her girlhood was beiug
crowned by Mrs. Madison, the Presidents
wife, at ouc Of the dancing parties, as the
pretticst girl and tho best dancer in the
room. When she left school she was
nearly fifteen. Her first lover appeared in
the person of Capt. Root, with whom che
attempted to clopo This caused her to be
sent to New York, where sho soon became
so home-sick as to promise her father that
if he would let her come homo, neither
"Root nor branch should take her away
from him again. Tie punishment had its
effect, and the dainty Margaret won't back
to Washington. Leaning out of tho parlor
window one day she saw Mr.. Timberlake, o
pursor in tho Navy, ride by. He was
strikiogly handsome. 1t was case Of love
at first sight. They were married in few
weeks, had three children, and tho five
years of their union were unolouded. While
MIR. Timberlako was at SEQ, his wife re.
mained at O'NeIps tavern, whero Mai
Eaton, Senator from Tennessee, boarded for
ten years. Mr.. Timber]ake died in 1928.
1t was reported that in fit of melancholy ho
had committed suicide. Soon after, Mai.
Eaton and Mrs. rimberlake, whose namot
had already been coupled by the gossip
tho hour, were married. Tho wife of An
drow jackson was much attached to Peggy
O'NeiIl and her mother, and Gen. Jackson
became tho faithful and tenacious friend of
the blooming beauty, Gen. jackson ad-
Vised the marriage with Mrs. Tmberlako
when Maj. Eaton consulted him about it,
and few weeks later appointed the happy
bridegroom Secretary of War. Then Mrs
Eaton's troubles began. AS Senator's
wife, Mrs. Calhoun and the wives of the
Cabinet ministers had called upon her, but
they were opposed to admitting her into their
ranks. The President took up the cudgcls
for his friend. When DR.. Ely, Philadel4
phla clergyman, demonstrated in letter in
which tho current charges against the SEQ
retary's wifo were set forth, the President
responded in an epistle of formidable length,
10 which ho pronounced the stories vile Sian
ders, oud held Henry Clay chiefly respon.
slble for putting them in circulation. DR..
t4Iy was not wholly convinced, whereupon
the gallant defender Of female innocence
sent him second argumentatiye letter.