Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-12-11
Wives of our Presidents.

Wives OF our Presidents.
James Parton. in his book. tells
the story of the lives of Presidents
wives. He says Thomas Jeffer~
son, like Washington, married q
widow, Mrs. Maria Shelton, who
had considerable property; ut
that did not save her great hus-
band, who died greatly in debt.
owing to his slavish devotion to his
country. She was lady of extra
ordinary beauty of face aud form,
and singularly competent to adurn
and conduct great household. A
little above the medium height, fair
complexion, eyes large, dark and
expressive, auburn hair and dar-
ing horsewoman, and full of talent.
She played, danced and sung well,
and had literary tastes.
When JeErson courted her he
was twentyeight and she nineteen.
He played the violin and sung well.
and, as he had money then and o
high position, he distanced all riv-
ais. They had a great wedding.
She bad great responsibility
managing her husbands immense
estate, had six children, of whom
two only survived, and died before
he rose TO his great renown, mourn
ed by him to the last. He remain>
ed q widower fortv-four years,
| down to bis death. OF course she
never saw, him in the White
House.
Dolly Payne was a Quaker and
widow when she married James
Madison, and the daughter of
Virginia planter, born in North
Car.,tina His father aud mother
set their slaves free and moved to
Philadelphia, and there Dolly mar
ried u lawyer named Todd. She
was twenty, and he died three years
after, leaving her a son and no
wealth. Her mo- her kept boarders
while Congress sat tbsre, and she
helped her mother to keep the es>
tablishment.-Amopg these board
ers we've Aaron Burr, then q Sena-
tor from New York, and james
Madison, member of Congress
hom Virginia. Dolly was very
beautiful and accomplished, and
when she married Madison he was
forty. three and she twenty-five.
They had no children. When he
became President, in 1909, the
White House received its lovely
mistress, who enjoyed it's attrac-
tions for eight years. She died in
Washington in 1919, aged eighty
two years. surviving her husband
thirteen years.
/ Daniel Webster was twice mar
ned, but his first wife was the
mother OF all his children. She
was clergvman's daughter, one
year older than himself, quite ac-
complished, not beautiful, b {
much esteemed and when she
came to Washington, not moro
than fifty years ago. made many
friends. She died 10 New York,
aged forty six, in 1927, whittier she
had been taken from the national
!, capita by her husband. If she new.
er saw him in his splendid prime
she did not witness his sad decline.
I have spoken of Mrs. Andrew
jackson more than once. She was
the wife of another man, Lewis
Robards, of Kentucky, when young
jackson saw and loved her. Her
,, mother, Mrs. Donelson, was keep
ing a boarding house at the time.
having returned to Tennessee with
|, Mr.. aud Mrs. Rohards, and jack
son lived in her house. Result. q
Jealous husband and separation.
A rumor came that a divorce had
been granted, and then jackson
married the grass widow {; but the
rumor proving false, they lived to-
gether two years before divorce
could be really granted, and then
they were married again. The
husband left early, and these pecu-
liar circumstances led to many
quarrels between jackson, who
grew into great reputation, and
bis many enemies. She WAS short
nnd stout, great housekeeper and
manager, very religious, very illit-
crate, kind to her slaves and full Of
aneedote and fun. She bad no
children, and died in December
1928.