The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-02-11
RElGI9O ODNOES.
Why President Buchanan Never
Narriod--The Buchanan and For
ney Notwithstanding About
Harriet Lane - Political
"reminiscences ofl04O. q.
Mt. VERNON, o., Dec. 81, Isl.

;
Your correspondent ''Gath," in one
Of his recent interesting letters to the
Enquirer, gave long chapter in regard
to the courtship and marriage of many
prominent Americans. One paragraph
in the letter l quote, for the purpose Of
making some corrections. The para
graph IL ~ follows:
Colonel Forney, who died the other
day, married, while a young printer, u
lady In the town where he sprnng up.
editor of the financial organ Of Pierre.
ing at the time intimate with President
Buchanan, the latter became trustee. for
Mrs. FOrney in nearly block Of houses
adjacent to the pOstO1Iice. When, some
years afterwarl, FOrney and Buchanan
quarrellesl, the ex-Presitlent refused to
sign away the property .as its trustee,
fearing that FOrney meant tO use the
money to attack him. Buchanan, yo,
may remember, never married. 1t is
related IN Lancaster that he was en-
gagged to u delightful woman, but with
his cold nature he treated her once -,
dis<lainfnlly that she died. Harriet
Lane, Buchanan's = niece. fine looking
woman, did not marry either, througl,
consideration for her uncle, until he had
been long out of tho Presidency"
The story Of Mr.. Blcllanan's court
ship and cOntrrtcn,l,x with his lady love
which induced him to live and die IL
bachelor has often lxvn told. but the
writer's. like 'l;ath,' never seemed t"
have learned the real history of the case,
which was related to me over forty years
ago by an intimate friend AMI ncighlrr
Of Mr.. Buchanan, the late John Snyder
of Pittsl,ury. Mr.. Buchanan, after hc
returned home to Lancaster, Penn, af- |
ter the war of 1872, he opened II law Of
fec, and his talents AMI industry s0On
secured for him large and lucrative !
practice which extended over Lancaster
and the adjoining counties. lie was Il
large, tine-!'Mking young man, and his
society was very much sought after, cs-
pet'ially hy the ladies. In the course Vi
time he lus:.nlc engaged III marriage IT,
one Of I.anOastcr'S beautiful an.i :u-
daughter. higiI-i,,in,icd in E,
hut rather naughty :.ln! dom
inecrin.. Professional business caIl.rl4
Mr.. Buchanan to- il ncighln,ril,g county,
where he rc,,,ainc.! for several days. and
when he returned late in the dag, i,c .
found his office filed with clients await
ing his arrival. who kept him cngaye'! |
until after the usual bed hour at night,
without cvc,, attnriing him al oll",rtu-
nifty to- take hi. supper. ~ soon rs hc
was relieved from his clients. he ha>tcn-
I'll to the home. Of his la,lv-lOv., only to
find it closed and dark. Early the next
morn ing, llOv ever, he repeated his
visit. He ran. the bell. when Il servant
aplMlrt.l, and in RESPONSE to the inquiry
for the object Of his visit, was Uniformed
that she was mot at hOm".' This he
knew was f,lsclOOd for ne caught
glimpse of the lady through! al upper
chamber window, ;l> he WIS approach
ing the house. He wcntaw;.y, but new
pr called again. Both parties We're too
proud and independent to ask or make
III explanation. The lady soon after
ward went into decline rn'l died. NJ. :;
Buchanan meyer c"urtc,l another lady, y
md, although fond Of tho society "f the
sentlcr sex, he lived and died ik;.c!l-
Until the xvl',ur;. between Mr.. !
Buchanan amlsl lr. fOrnry. growing
ut OF the I.ecnnip nniptolt,.a''l~tituti"n fight
II Kansas, no men were ever warmer,
,r letter friends than those two Seietlc-
mcn. The old I'""xY'','n;0m. ut Phil
when edited b. John AnEO1~l
,ey, was always. c"l'<idcecd the 11-
i organ "f Mr.. Buchanan. ~ il
,Or and cxtravayant. and. ,a$ I'M hi
vas principally supported ~ gpolitIcIana
le was always hard up for money, and u
vas a standing pcn,ioner upon the
'ounty Of his political friends. lie Was
onstantiy bfrowing momey-horrow-
NJ from Peter to pay Paul. In the
ear lS46 the writer hereof then editor I
+ the Pittshurg .Norn;my Post, on his 5: