Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-04-19
Unmarried Presidents.

VI pIcSluciIS III tile ulV0 house,
the Washington Star makes the fol-
lowing interesting memoranda:
"Instead of asserting, as a writer
in Boston paper does, that .Presi-
ident Arthur is the third widower
who has held the Office within twen-
ty- five years, it would be more COR
rect to say that he is the second un-
married man who has been Prcsi-
dent since 1857. for President Bu-
chanan was bachelor, not widow
er; and as is well known here, Pres
ident johnson, whom the writer
quoted mentions AZ a widower, had
his wife with him throughout his
administration, though she was too
much of an invalid to assume the
duties Of lady of the White House,
which her daughters, Mrs. Patterson
and Mrs. Stowe, gracefully discharg-
ed. Mrs. johnson did, however, on
one occasion appear at an afternoon
reception at the White House, and
the writer hereof talked with her.
1t was during the last winter Of her
husbands term. She was a sweet
faced, looking old lady, tall
and quite slender. as the writer re-
members her. She sat on the divan
in the Blue parlor during the recep-
ton, and talked pleasantly with all
who approached her. Her husband
and children revered her, and al
ways showed her marked respect as
well as affection. When in her
prime her intellect was of high Or
der.
The Presidents who have been
widowers during their term of SER
vice are: Thomas Jefferson, whose
wife had been dead about nineteen
years when he was elected; Andrew
Jackson, whose wife died the winter
after he was elected, and before he
was inaugurated, and Martin Van
Buren,, whose wife had been dead
seventeen years when he was elect
ed. John Tyler lost his wife after
he became President, and married
another the summer before the ex-
piration of his term.
Gen. Harrison's wife was unable
to come here when he came to be
inaugurated, but was preparing to
do SO when she received the news of
his death. His daugter-in-law, Mrs.
Jane F. Harrison, and several other
ladies of the Presidents family were
with him during his brief term of
one month. Mrs. James Brooks of
New York, then a widow-Mrs.
Randolph-was there, as she was
related to the President, and she
once told the writer that Mr.. Brooks
courted her in the Green parlor of
the White House, and their engage
ment then began.
President Taylor's wife was una
BILE to preside during his term, but
living, SO says one Of our citizens,
whose memory is proverbial, and
who knew the family we'll. Col.
Bliss wife, Gen. Taylor's daughter,
presided for him.
President Fillmore's wife died
just after his successor, Gen. Pierce,
was inaugurated. She died at Will
lard's Hotel here, as she was too i'll
to be removed from Washington.
Her health had not permitted her
to so into society, so her young dau-
ghter had officiated as lady of the
White House. The latter died un-
married at % years Of age, Of chol-
era. Mr.. Fillmore's widow, who
died in August last. was his second
wife, whom he married some little
time after he ceased to be President.
She was the widow of Ezekiel Nc
Intosh when Mr.. Fillmore married
her. Her maiden name was Caro-
line McMichael. She had no chill
dren while Mr.. Fillmores wife.
She died in her list year."