Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-11-20
Mrs. Eaton.
Strange Fortunes Of Margaret
O'Seal.
The Woman Who Made Van Rur~.
President

In ashington, Saturday noon. occurred
the death OF 4 woman whose story, IL IL had
been written as fiction, would have been
denounced as sensational aud improbable
Nearly ninety years ago Peggy O'Neai
was born to an Irish hotel keeper. William
O'Neal, who established the first stylish
tavern in Washington. The girl grew Up
10 be beautiful. wild and witty. aud Gen.
John III. Eaton took 4 great fancy to her,
but she married purser in the navy, and
by him had two children. The purser,
whose name was Timberlake, was away at
sea large psIt of the time. In 1927 he
died suddenly 10 the Mediterranean, by
suicide on suspicion OF his wlfe's unfaith-
fulness, the gossips said by a rush OF blood
TO the head while bathing. the widow said
shortly after his death she bore another
child. and there was a scandal that Ii was
the child Of General Eaton, who was then
Senator, General Eaton, at any rate.
consulted President Jackson as to marrying
the widow, aud the Old war horse replied
Your marrying her will disprove all
charges aud restore her good name"
OF coarse the President was enlisted on
the side OF Mrs Eaton, but Washington
society Vas dead against her. The next
year t'eneral Eaton was appointed Sscre-
tsry Of War, but the wives OF Secretarie.
and diplomats would not assoclat with his
wife. Jackson qusrrelled with Calhoun
because he would not recognize her, aud
threatened To send the Austrian minister
home because his wife would not ait next
10 Mrs. Eaton At a dinner Martin Van
Barren was about the only one OF the mag
mates who would have anything to do with
Madame Secretary OF War. and he was os-
teutattous 10 his attentions, so that he won
E.H
sly New Yorker his succes Peggy
O'NeaI made Van Buren, President The
affair broke up the Cabinet and General
Eaton resigned and was appointed Cover
nor OF FLORIDA. aud during Jackson's see
ond term. Eaton was appointed Minister to
Spain. At the spanish court. his wife was
IN high favor, her beauty and Wit aud live
illness giving her great popularity.
Not hong after the end Of Jackson's = term
General Eaton died. leaving his vile rich.
Her eldest daughter married a me alber OF
the French legation and went TO France to
live, the second married a tandolph OF
Roanoke, and the youngest also married
aud Mrs Eaton lived pro~perously with II
prospect OF leaving numerous and respect
able de-cendauts. or the property len by
General Eaton WAS store, with hall In
The upper story, used as a dancing hail, In
Washington. one day one Of The grand
children brought to Mrs. Eaton an Italian
dancing master, named BuCcanini, from
whom they wanted 10 take dancing les
sous. The I,allsIr wanted TO hire the hall
and pay the rent Ia tuition, and this Wa
agreed To. tie pretended To be the son OF
a count, and was very attentive 70 Mrs
Eatou, and at last married her, although
she was Old enough to be his mother AZ
fer h..t "a ka, B. g. - 90.
90 in cash in 4 New York bank, and Al tn,
same time he discovered that he could not
I've IN Washington, but must 20 to New
ors and open a cigar store Before long
he had run through the money. and when
she would not give up the rest OF her prop
erty he ran away from her She begged
him To come back, but he declared that it
be had not her confidence he could not be
her husband. Not that he cared Tor her
property, but he wanted her confidence
AZ last she Snccumbed, gave up her prop
eriy TO him and he came back, and shortly
after ran away with her married grand
daughter 70 Europe
Two years later BlcCanini returned Ia
the United States with his mistress, and
Mrs. Eaton MAS informed Oft by the de-
tectiycs who were on the watch She went
to New ork and had him arrested and put
III PRISON. lie Or2Sci 10 De released, Deg
ged only to see her. There was only one
condition on which she would consent He
should lie IN Jail until divorce could be
obtained, and when he married the girl he
had seduced, then she would withdraw the
prosecution and let him 90 tree Ihi, wa,
agreed 10 and done. The deserted has band
had obtained divorce long before. As
Ham follows Steerforth to force him to
make an honest woman OF Little Emily, so
did poor Mrs Eaton follow her Italian
husband 70 wiring from him justice for her
grandchild. That done she returned TO a
ruined home, and crouched down beside a
cheerless hearth.
For mahy years-since that miserable
episode Mrs. Eaton has lived in the capt
tol OF the nation almost unknown, where
once she exerted SO much power. Even in
her scanty wardrobe she always appeared
as though stylishly dressed. There was a
nameless air about her that set of the gar
ments she wore. Her hair was white as
snow. Her eyes retained their remarkable 9
beauty until the day she died. Her convot-
satlon WAS always bright and cheerful. aud
she was never weary OF praIsiug the
stauuch manllueSs OF President Jackson