The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-12-18
A FORMER BELLE.

Death Of the Lady who Caused the DissoIu-
Of Andrew Jackson's Cabinet, aud set
all Washington Agog Halfa Century Ago.
Mrs. Margaret L. Eaton, widow of
Gen. John Henry Eaton, secretary OF
war in the first cabinet of President
Jackson, died in Washington. Mrs.
Eaton's maiden name was Margaret L.
O'Neil. She was born in one Of the
Southern States in 179G, and was conse-
quenty in her eighty-fourth year. Her
father was a gentleman OF wealth and
good social position, and she received an
unusually good education for that early
period. She was endowed with high
personal beauty, and had o singularIy
fascinating manner, which combined
with great strength Of will, ambition
aud perseverance, enabled her to become
q reigning belle, and at later period, the
real queen of society at the federal court.
Her first husband, by whom she had
several children, was Mr.. Timberlake, a
purser in the United States navy. The
nuptials were celebrated with eclat, and
the father of Miss O'Neil presented her,
on her wedding day, with well-furnished
house at Washington. Mr.. Timberlake
was an intimate personal friend of Ma
jor John Henry Eaton, Senator from
Tennessee from 1918 to 1929, known as
the most trusted companion Of Gen.
Jackson. 1t has been stated that Pur-
ser Timberlake had a presentiment of
early death and had expressed the hope
that his young widow might become the
wife OF his friend, Major (aiterward
Gen. Eaton. Be this as it may, the sec
ond marriage took place in 1928, but
few months before the inauguration OF
Gen. Jackson. Uncharitable rumors
were in circulation in Washington con-
cerning the relations between Eaton and
Mrs. Timberlake, and the former con
suited Gen. Jackson about the expedien-
oy of silencing them by marriage. Gen.
jackson, whose chivalrous nature in
respect to women can not be called in
question, warmly advised that step, and
became so devoted a friend and admirer
of Mrs. Eaton that he, too, was accused
by his adversaries of maintaining i'm.
proper relations with the lady. Gen.
Eaton had rendered notable services
during the electoral campaign, and was
rewarded with a seat in the cabinet as
secretary of war, less on account Of any
personal aptitude than because Jackson
wanted 'to have a friend about him
upon whom he could rely Gen.
Eaton's entrance into the cabinet NOM
inally gave his wife high social status,
but the wives Of other members of the
cabinet declined to associate with her, and
for'more than year Washington was
tho theater OF q social warfare. old
Hickory demanded of his secretaries
the recognition of Mrs. Eaton, aud was
refused by all except Mr.. Van Buren.
Jackson next demanded the resignation
OF his secretaries, and they we're sent in
and accepted on the ground OF a determin-
alton to oreorganize the cabinet. In 1886,
Gen. Eaton was appointed minister to
Spain and Mrs. Eaton became q reign
ing favorite in Madrid. In 1S40 she re-
turned to Washington, residing there
until the death of her husband in 1855.
A year later she made the acquaintance
of on Italian dancing master named
Antonio Buchignani or Bourganini, who
was not much over twenty years of age,
and married him. In 1858 he was ap-
pointed librarian to Congress, and subse.
quently went with his wife to Nav York,
remaining there till 1866. He succeeded
by general power of attorney in get
ting $73, 900 of her money, and sailed for
Europe with his wife's grand daughter,
Emily Randolph, seventeen years old
They lived in Lucca, Italy, for several
years, but after spending all their money
went to Montreal. In 1868 Buchignani
came to New York, and was arrested by
his deserted wife and adjudged to pay
her weekly allowance of $S. He was
shortly afterward arrested for the abduc.
tion Of Miss Randolph, and was prosecut
ed before Justice Dodge. The suit,
however, was compromised and the de-
fendent returned TO Montreal, where he
probably still resides. For several years
past the former Mrs. Eaton resided at
Washington, in the most complete re.
tirement.