Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-12-17
GREAT MEMS RELATIVES
SAD Histories OF 0hio's First Fam
lilies, BY a State 0fficsr.
Romantic Liz. Of Dick Reyin, Who IS Known
in WheeIing-A Gallant Of Former uvh
Now Day Laborer-es-Gex Den
nison's Son and Daughter.
CoLrnrrs. O., December IA.

10 THIS renectlOn Dy seeing DnCA HNS'iS
rous, pass by. In former days he revealed
| in wealth, and was one of the important men
| of Ohio. He was politician and the puo-
lie printer for many years. III there ever
was a man who broke down all the sacred
bnlwarks Of the home it was Dick Nevin.
He sowed the wind for many years, and IS
BOW reaping the whirlwind. He has lost
all of his wealth, and at present barely OBJ
tains living as passenger agent OF littie
railroad over at Dayton. lie was once puo
liciy horsewhipped by famous Governor
| of Ohio for speaking lightly Of his daugh'
|. ter.
While thinking of
Nevin's Many Escapsdes
/ a lady passed, of whom distinguished
official OF the State Government sitting by
me said, referring to her:
That is Miss Parsons. Her sister mar
ried q prince-a German, l believe. a
little, insignificant looking, dark-complex-
toned Dutchman that almost any Amerl-
can girl having good sense would not have
married for any consideration. But MIS-.
Parsons got a mania, while travelling III
Europe, 10 have her daughter marry q
titled person. This German had utle,
bnt nothing else, and he finally consented
to marry the girl il her wealthy parents
would make suitable marriage settlement
upon the lady he was to wed. This was
agreed to by the aspiring mother and the
family came home to prepare for the
nuptials. Mrs. Parsons intended. TO make
it great occasion and ample preparations
were made for the event.
"a short time before the marriage was
to take place the prince arrived, and at
once proceeded to the business oi ms
take kindly to his highness, and refused to
settle more than $4,000 on the daughter
who was to wed him. The prince demand
ed 500, 900, and there was, consequently,
quite a hitch. The girls father would give
NO more, and the prince was obdurate IN
his refusal to accept less. In this dilemma
Mrs. Parsons produced the additional $oo,-
600 from her own personal estate, ana the
girl, fine.looking, splendid woman, LED
the prince her parents had bought TOR her
to the altar"
Where are they now2'
81 do not know, nor does anyone here
seem to have the knowledge. Naturally
the marriage was not a happy one. The
great, large house with extensive grounds
attached that stands at the head OF Town
street, is the home of the Parsons family"
continued the speaker. They travel great
deal in Europe"
Kate Chase SpragRe>s Early Home.
The peculiarly shaped dwelling that you
see on the corner a square or two beyond
was the home OF Salmon p. Chase when he
! was Governor and United States Senator.
1t was there that his famous daughter Kate
began her checkered life. She was the cen.
| tral figure of that HOUSEHOLD for many years,
| and the leader of Columbus society when
| it was composed of many notable people.
| How many interesting stories could be
old OF those days concerning people who
have now gone to their last rest to have re-
| tired from the stage of active life.
While this gentleman was narrating the
| strange histories Of many people who had
years ago made up, and some OF whom yet
| compose the leading society OF Columbus,
a little lady passed leading child five or
| six years Of age. She was plainly butvery
neatly dressed, and beside being strictly
| beautiful, there was an unmistakable air OF
refinement about her, both in apparel and
| manner. She was too small to be very line
looking, but her regular features, beauti-
| full eyes and wealth Of light brown hair,
added to perfect taste OF dress, easy car.
rage, and pleasant countenance would
| have made her a noticeable woman any
where. The little girl at her side gave
ample evidence in her appearance OF a
fond and careful mothers attention. AS
mother and daughter passed where we
were sitting the official who had been re-
counting the peCuliarities of the most
prominent citizens Of Columbus, said:
THAT little lady has the most pathetical.
ly interesting family history of any per-
son in the city, and she is one Of the most
cruelty wronged women in America"
| WHO is sheY'
, That is
| The Deserted Wife
of the good Neil Dennison.
| You know he is the son of Ex-Governor
Dennison, who for so many years bore
I such prominent part in our State and
national history. Neil Denuison, there
FORE had great advantages. His boyhood
was spent in the best of schools, and his
youth among men in high public positions,
for his father was q Cabinet officer after
he was Governor of Ohio. While yet in
his teens Neil was made an officer In the
regular army, and grew from a
good-looking boy TO be an exceedingly
handsome man. He led very fast life in
the army and finally lost his position be.
| cause of drink and dissolute companion.
ship. Soon after he left the army his
father took him in hand, brought him To
Columbus and tried TO reform him. About
that time he met that little woman who
had just passed us. She was then a school
| girl, living upon the banks OF the Susque
} hanna, near Harrisburg, Pa. Mary Helde'
] nan was. believe, her name. Her father
was Mr.. Haldemarii Sho was once nnromi.
nenent IN Pennsylvania affairs. He was al
the head Of a highly intellectual family
aud an iron-master OF some pretentions
Young Dennison was greatly pleased with
Miss Haldeman and she very soon fell IN
love with her handsome sutton. They were
finally married at Harrisburg with much
eclat, and when they joined hands at the
| altar thav rrna1a n atrikinn q
appearance. Every one predicted happy
future for the pair. She was so much in
love with him and he seemed so fond oil
her that every one said She can save
Neil Dennison from his evil ways, il nc
| one else can
mrs. Dennison on the Stage.
"a few days after his marriage Neil
DenRison brought his schoolgirl wife TO
Columbus. She was 70 beautiful and 80
| charming in her manners that she al
once became the most favored guest in
the best society in our city. BY com
mon consent she reigned as queen in
our social circles. Her society was
sought by men and women alike, and
she was SO much fisttered that il is strange
her head was not turned by this
universal adulation. For time she had
great influence over her husband, and
seemed 10 have almost entirely charmed
him from his evil ways. She was o mos,
devoted wife and mother and chung to her
husband with an absorbing determination
to make him the man he might be
through his unusual advantages Of birth.
education and connections. She seemed
for q time to have succeeded, and so we'll
did he advance that he was nominal
ed and elected to the city couBciI.
His wife cherished and aided hrs
ambitions in every way in her
power and when his term of councilman
bad expired the Democrats nominated him
for Mayor Of Columbus. with almost q Ger.
tainty of his election. The excitement OF
politics, however, seemed to be too much
for him and he began TO drink. After he
took TO liquor he seemed TO lose all moral
responsibility, and was soon an associate
OF the lowest classes in the town. Yet his
wife chung 10 him with unquestioning
fidelity, hoping that his election would
bring him the requisite good sense TO &c.
complish his reformation.
Without question she furnished him
with money out of the few thousands she
| had left from her fathers estate and did