Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-28
THE BLENNERHAsSETTS.
Melancholy Sequel to the History OF
Once Celebrated Family.
t,Incinnatl Ennnlrar.

Maria i. Woodbridge, II resident of
Marietta, describes in Lppiacoas Maya
zine the secret to some Of the most ro-
mantle and painful events Of which the
west has been the theatre.
Our readers generally know how Har-
mon Blennerhassett lived in ease on an
island in the Upper Ohio; how his wife
was admired for her beauty and kind
ness, and how her husbands connec-
ton with Aaron Burr brought ruin upon
the family. The subsequent misfor-
tunes of the Blennerhassetts is less
familiar to the public, and it is of them
that the author has written. Mr.. Blen-
nerhasset joined Burr on the night of
Dec. 10, 1906, to escape arrest. He was
followed by his wife week later. A
party Of drunken soldiers had already
taken possession Of the house and
spread desolation all around. BY the
1st Of January Mrs. Blennerhassett had
Joined her husband. The Burr expedition
proved failure, and they went to
Natchcz. The husband was arrested but
acquitted. He then returned to the
north, only again to be set at liberty
after several weeks confinement.
Meanwhile flood had added its effects
to the vandalism Of the marauders, who
had stripped the house of its furniture
and broken its windows-frame to get
possession Of the leaden weights; his
negroes had either been sold to satisfy
impatient creditors, or had escaped to
the Ohio shore. The island itself was in
the possession Of u Kentucky creditor,
who devoted it to the cultivation of
hemp. There was nothing to do but to
go back to Natchez, where Mr.. Blenner-
hassett bought plantation. This he
sold for $27 900, after the wnr of 1872
had crippled all branches Of business.
The above sum paid his debts, but little
more. What remained of his island
home was burned by the accidental ig-
milton Of the hemp with which it was
stored. lie took his family to New York
where he had friend in his country
man, Thomas Adds Emmett. He did
not succeed, however, in the
practice of law, which he now
took up, nor was he more
prosperous in Montreal, whittier he
had removed mt the recommendation
of his friend the duke OF Richmond,
then encouragement. He had been
promised iudgeship on the occurrence
of the first vacancy, but none occurred.
Ills once lovely wife is described about
this time us having I" lost every vestige
OF her former elegance and beauty"
though, when animated by converse
ton, the interesting expression for
which she was 80 remarkable would be-
come noticeable.
AS his law practice did not prosper,
Mr.. Blennerhassutt tried to enforce II
reversionary claim to property iii re-
lnnd, but was barred by the statute of
Added to this was the grief
which the dissipated habits of Domi-
nick, the eldest of their three sons, DC
casoned The second was amiable but
helpless, while the third was too young
to be OF any service. Finding it I'M
possible to make II living iii Montreal,
Mrs. Blcnnerhassctt visited her friends,
the Emmetts, in New York, in 1922,
They cheered her by their friendly
counsols, but the misconduct of Domi-
nick caused her fresh grief. He had
studied medicine, and she finally OBJ
tained for him II position rs surgeons
assistant i'm Commodore Portcr's eXpe-
dition, then about to sail. lie behaved
50 badly, however, that he was very
soon sent back to her. She regarded
him as almost irresponsible in his fear
full appetite for drink and placed him
10 board with poor woman ut $500 n
week. just rs she and her husband
was starting for Montreal having dis
covered that there was no chances for
employment in the states, il was found
that Dominick had enlisted rs u COM
mon soldier. His mother never saw
him again. A friend OF the family
afterwards found him wandering about
New Orleans in rags. a position MS
apoihecnry i'll N charity hospital was
found for him, but he soon left for St.
Louis, wherehe probably died unknown
and uncared for. Meanwhile her hus-
band was making desperate efforts TO
gain livelihood lilo went to England
and sought appointments in vain, and
his threat of publishing book contain
inp scandalous revelations about n royal
parsonage nearly related to the king
proved M equal failure. Mrs. Ben-
norhassett published little volume Of
her own entitled "Tho Widow Of the
Rock, and Other Poems,e but it was N
failure. Finally Mr.. Blonncrhassett's
maiden sister gave them home i'll
England, though her means were but
scanty. Iii 1881 the husband died Of
paralysis on the Island Of Jersey. Ills
wife, though shattered by physical and
mental ills, survived him eleven years.
Shortly before her death she revisited
tho United States, and urged on con.
gresa il claim for compensation for the
damage done by tho troops to the
Ohio river property III 1867. The plea
might have been successful, but she
died in New York before it had been
granted. Harmon, the second son had
first studied law, but failing in il lad
become u portrait painter. He shared
his elder brothers. habits and sank rs
low AZ he. lie died in the almshouse
on Blackwell's Island i'll 1851, il is sup
posed directly from the effects Of Il
bath, III unaocustomed thing with him.
Joseph Lewis, the youngest and only re-
manning SON, was Il lawyer iii Missouri,
~ e 4 4