The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-29
Eminent American Women.

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Eminent American Women,
From Tornsy's Progress @
European Queens all live in history,
but the wives Of our American Presidents
or statesmen pass away almost without
record. Unlike female rulers in foreign
countries, they have no political rights.
and only govern by their graces in social
and domestic life. IN e.1 ex sas
James Parton has done more than any
man living t. freshen the fading lines IN
the lives OF our lady Presidents. That in
comparable biograp hcr, in volume not
often read nowadays, though printed in
1858. Tho People Book Of Biography"
tells us that Mrs. Martha Washington
was aplump, pretty, sprightly, little
woman in her youth, but settled down
into plain, domestic wife, but looked
sharply sitter the servants; she was far
from an educated woman, and though she
kept her own accounts, was a poor spell
or. Parton quotes Miss Bremen, the au-
there's, who relates a "curtain lecture
of the great man by Martha, which she
overheard in the eleeping-room. Martha
was angry, and scolded a long time. The
General listened in silence till she was
done, and then mildly closed the scene
with, ''Now good sleep to you, my d ear r.
Gen. Washington was very rich, and Mrs.
Washington was very rich, and her three
children by her first husband were heirs
to great wealth. Washington's mother
was plain, llliterate, energetic, strong
willed lady, who preferred her own broad
acres, and declined to 60 and live with
her great son. IL thank you, George"
said she, "but desire to be indepen-
dent" And when Gen. Lafayette called,
she was at work in her garden, with her
)o!d sunbonnet on; 80 she came to him,
saying 81 could not pay you SO poor a
compliment, Marquis, as to stay t"
change my dress" = - Thomas
Jefferson, like Washington, married a
widow, Mrs. Maria Shelton, who had con-
siderable property; but that did not save
her great husband, who died deeply in
debt, owing to his lavish devotion to
his country. She was lady of extraor-
binary beauty of face ana form, and sin.
gularly competent to adorn and conduct
great household. A little above the
medium height, fair complexion, eyes
large. dark, and expressive, auburn hair,
and daring horscwoman, and full of
talent. She played, danced and sung
we'll, and had literary taste. When Jeffer.
son courted her he was % and she 10.
He played the violin and sung we'll, and
he had money then, and hi Oh position,
he distanced all rivals. They had
great wedding. She had an immense
responsibility managing her husband
great estate, had six children of whom
only two survived, and died before he
rose to his great renown, mourned by
him to the last. He renamed widswer
torty-four years, down to his death. or
course she never saw him in the White
House. y x + Dolly Payne was Quaker,
and widow when she married James
Madison, and a daughter Of a Virginia
planter, born in North Carolina. Her
father and mother set their slaves free
and moved to Philadelphia, and there
Dolly married lawyer named Todd.
She was 20, and he died three years after,
leaving her with son and no wealth.
Her mother kept boarders while Con-
gress sat here, and she helped her mother
to keep the establishment. Among these
hoarders were Aaron Burr, then Senator
from New York, and James Madison, a
member of Congress from Virginia. Dolly
was very beautiful and accomplished,
and when she married Madison he was
43 and she Is. They had no children.
When he became President, in 1909, the
White House received it's lovely mistress,
who enjoyed its attraction for eight years.
She died in Washington, in 1849, aged
50 years, surviving her husband thirteen
years. X = Daniel Webster was twice
married, but his first wife was the mother
of all his children. She was q clergy
mans daughter, one year older than HIM
self, quite accomplished, not beautiful,
but much esteemed and when she came
to Washington, more than fifty years ago,
made many friends. She died in New
York, aged 46. in 1927, whittier she had
been taken from the National Capital, by
her husband. II she never saw him in
his splendid prime she did not witness
his sad decline. * y I have spoken
of Mrs. Andrew Jackson more than once.
She was the wife of another man, Lewis
Richards of Kentucky, when young Jack
son saw and loved her. Her mother,
Mrs. Donelson, was keeping boarding
house at the time, having returned to
Tennessee with Mr.. and Mrs. Robards,
aud Jackson lived in her house Result.
jealous husband and separation. A
rumor came that divorce hal been
granted, and then jackson married the
''grass widow" but the rumor proving
false, they lived together two years be-
fore divorce could he really granted,
and then they were married again The
first husband left early, and these peculiar
circumstances led to many bitter quarrels
between jackson, who grew into great
| reputation, and his many enemies. She
was short and stout, great housekeeper
and manager, very religious, very litter
ate, kind to her slaves, and full of anec-
dote and fun. She had no children, and
died in December, 1928, just after her
great husband was elected President.
She was the "Aunt Rachel of Nashville,
and regularly smoked pipe with the
General. When the news of his election
as President came to her dying couch,
she simply said: SWELL, tor Mr.. Jack
sons sake [she always called him Mr.
Jackson] L am glad; for my part, never
wished it." ~ 5E.a,.ss5 ,..s'
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