The New York herald., 1879-01-02
Brief History of Early Life
and Training.
MRS. ACKLEN'S MARRIAGES
How the Tennessee Belle Caught
"a Millionaire.
THREE TIMES AT THE ALTAR OF HYMEN
[DY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust
upon them" The readers of the HERALD have prob
ably judged for themselves under which category
comes the of Congressman Acklen of Louisiana,
whose exploits just filling the public prints
and are rolled out trippingy the tongue of the
sensation loving public. The eminent social re-
lations of Mr.. Acken, particularly in the South.
render his case peculiarly interesting. Indeed,
there many incidents associated with Mr..
Acklen's social history which, though bearing
relation to his recent adventures. may yet be told
as part OF the romantic history OF most romantic
young man. Mr.. Acklen is young man. scarcely
more than eight and twenty, and is native OF Nash
vile, Tenn, born literally " mid pleasure and
palaces. He has been the especial pet of fortune,
and his life one of ease, elegance and luxurious
leisure His mother. at present Mrs. DIR. Cheatham,
of Nashville, formerly Miss Adelica Hays. whose
nephew. J. Addison Hays. of Memphis. about one
year since married the daughter Of Jefferson Davis
President of the late Confederacy.
AcKLEN's TRIPLE MARRIAGE.
In order. however to clearly set forth Mr. Ackens
connection with other prominent Southern families
it will be necessary to revive bit of history in which
Mr.. Acklen's mother is the heroine. Her matri-
monial events number three First she was the wife
of Mr.. Franklin, of Tennessee; second OF Joseph
Acklen. Sr., Of Huntsville, Ala, and third, of Dr.
William A. Cheatham. of Nashville. The history of
her life reads something like About forty
years ago there lived in Sumner county. Tenn
twenty miles north of Nashville, an immensely
wealthy old bachelor named Franklin. He was the
richest man in Tennessee, owned two cotton planta
tions in Mississippi, two sugar plantations
in Louisiana, and than one thous-
and negro slaves. His place of residence
Fairfield. lordly manor of several hundred blue
grass and rich in hill and vale and lawn and
running brook. 1t had magnificent park stocked
with herds of buffalo and deer. The stables were
filed with buebooded nags fat cattle browsed in its
fields and imported occupants bleated in its cosey
sheepfolds The Fairfield mansion was quite in
keeping with all its beautiful surroundings Splendid
art galleries of choice works. libraries stocked with
mental opulence, while statues, fountains lakes ar
bors. rustic bridges and conserva,ores adorned the
grounds and completed the picture of which these
words but rough outline. The owner of all
this was benevolent hearted, generous-soulcd old
thorough culture typical southern planter of flush
| times, hosptable genial and philanthropic, whose
doors always swung ajar for the coming guest
HOW MISS HAYS CAUGHT MILLIoNNAIRE.
One day gay party of young people from Nash
vile visited the abode of the bachelor, and among
them was Miss Hays, since mother to Congressman
Acklen who at that time a beautiful and viva
| cious belle OF the Tennessee capital. Mr.. Franklin
| was absent but his lodgekeeper accommodated the
visitors with the sight of buffalo chase and
deer hunt; the mditre dh6te set out bountifu
| spread, and the hours though brief rosy. Be-
|
to register IN the reception room an eccentricy of
| Mr. Franklin being autographs. Pretty Miss Hays
thought IT capital fun to place opposite her delicate
| chirography sentence signifyng her intention to
''set her cap for the old bachelor" 1t worked like
charm 1t was the turn of the tide in the affairs of
| Miss Hays. Bachelor Franklin hitherto inyulner-
able to Cupd's arrows. was struck in tender spot
by the feathered dartthe gray goose quill OF Miss
| Hays brief courtship, grand wedding and Miss
| Hays became Mrs. Franklin and the mistress, too.
| of Farfeld's broad and its concomtants Two
or three children blessed the union but the angel of
| 1Aufh nd in hn .hn11 md In, 4I,A
course of a few years claimed his each of the
babes. well as millionaire Franklin himself thus
| leaving a blooming young widow "rich as creek
| mud" and no encumbrances whatever.
MARRIED TO JOSEPH AcKLEN.
Mrs. Franklin had money to spend, money to lend,
money to give away Her corps OF gallants was
| strong as Scottish clan. and contained more
chivary than the retinue of feudal lord. IT, as it
| was charged. she married the first time for money
| her second wedding was to be affair of love
| Among her suitors poor but respectable
younc LAWYER OF Huntsville Ala Joseph Acklen
II is not known to the writer whether Mr.. Acklen
had ever formed the acquaintance of brief or re-
ccved an introduction to case in court, but in his
was successful. 1t is said that his en-
easement ring was paid for by the
they began TO live in regal spcndor Three children
were born to them, of whom Congressman Acklcn
was their eldest and their pride. They removed to
still more beautiful place near Nashville the
Franklin road 4 magnificent mansion erected
and called Belmont" 1t supcrbly situated on
those charming conterninous hills stretching
from river to river and encosng the hand
some city of Nashville. Behind was the
ing central HILL as If citadel. and quite pictur
esque Rhenish castle or Athenian acropolis In
'front.' two miles distant stood another range of hills
stretching from river to river Across this valley the
battle of Nashville was fought in December 1864.
While Sherman was marching down to the sea the
rebel General Hood made dash toward Nashville.
and drove General Thomas back upon this splendid
line of natural fortihcation. and Belmont became
General Thomas Headquarters. and thus becomes
historical ground. To describe this superb home,
with all of its elegant surroundings. would require
considerable space. II freely acknowledged the
grandest residence i'll the South and was the Mecca
of all sightscers.
YOUNG AcKLES's BIRrHPLAcr
Born and reared at this magnificent spot Young
Ackcn had u far happier lot than usually falls to
mortals. His education was intrusted to the very
best private teachers. He was taken to Europe
learned French. German and Italian: travelled and
strange lands. he grew up handsome, urbane.
dashng fellow. During the war his mother remained
in Europe with her children. His father went to
Louisiana to look after their plantations. One of
these plantations was situated up Rcd River, where
Mr.. Acklcn cut of from the world by the forces
of General Banks and where he taken sick and
died.
MARRIAGE no. 8.
After the war Mrs. Ackcn returned to Nashville n
widow for the second time, still fresh. blooming and
attractive. suitors were not at all backward in
coming forward" and finally, In 1867, she
ricd to DIR. William A. Choatham distinguished
Tennessee ply scian. whose brother the Confed-
crate General Frank Cheatham and whose first wife
sister to the wife of General John H. Morgan the
famous Confederate raider. Incidental to Mrs.
Acklcns history IL may be told that her crop of
ton having been seized by the federal authorities she
engaged the legal services of General Gideon J. Pill
low. of Tennessee who recovered for her the hand
some sum of 100000 in payment for the cotton
seized.
HOW AcKLIS REACHED CONGRESS-
As his share of the princcly fortune Congressman
Acklon received one of the Louisiana plantations.
After completing his education in Europe he also
graduated from the Lebanon, Tenn, Law school, and
shortly after moved 90 Memphis He did not prac-
ticc his profession long however for he soon became
enafnoured of and married to Miss BctseI.
whose father was also rich His wife only lived
about one year. and young Acklen moved from Mem