The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-05-30
n THREE WIDOWS
Who Married jefferson, Wash
ington and Franklin.

It is an old saying, "Whom frs
though not strictly true, may be APP
piled to Scott, Byron, George WASH
ington and many other men of note.
Jefferson, the author Ot-the Declare
ton, was subject to early disappoint-
ment. His first love was a Virginia
maiden OF reputable family, named
Rebecca Burwell. The latter, how
ever, preferred a young man named
Robinson, and Jefferson, like most
sensitive youths, keenly felt the loss
of one whom he most tenderly loved.
He afterwards married Martha Shel-
ton, an attractive widow of twenty
two, and the union proved one of
rare happiness. It lasted, how
ev r, only ten years, at the
end of which Jefferson was left
a widower with two daughters, four
others having died in early child
hood. OF these daughters, Maria
married John w. Epps, while Mar
tina became the wife of Thomas Ran
dolpb. The latter thus describes the |
care which her father bestt wed on
his dying wife: "For four months,
during which she fingered, he was
never out of her call. A moment be-
from the in u fainting condi-
ton by his sister, and was so over
come that it was feared he would not
recover. He kept his bed three
weeks after the funeral and required
my constant attention." Jefferson
was evidently a man of great tender
ness, and after his death there was
found in a drawer a lock of hair
from each. of his dead children,
which he kept as sacred memorials.
Though only 80 when he lost his !
wife, he never married again, and
for forty-four years a wild
over.
Washington and Franklin both
married widows. The former fell in
love with Martha Gusts at first sight,
and, having been disappointed in his
expectation Of the hand of Mary
Morris, he urged his suit until it was
successful. He adopted his wife's
children and his married life was one )
IF unbroken harmony. FrankIin's ,,
Ease was rather peculiar. During his l
life in Philadelphia he paid at
ention to Miss E.ead, but soon after :,
went to London, where he re- =
NAMED several years. During the :.
he neglected Miss Read
n a name which he himself after
ward condemned. On his return he .
ound that she had married, but her e
husband, who bad proved worthless, Il
vas gone OF a voyage and supposed j.
o be dead. Fraaklin's early love e.
eturned, and, being REINFORCED by ST
ympathy, he asked her forgiveness o.
nd a r. lewalo of her affections. which ?
vas readily granted. Jefferson j
7as married at the age of %. a
Was p, while Franklin TO
'as only "a. The latter says of his 81
life: ave %pr"spered together and m
was u mutual study to reuder Sl
ach other happy. Thus I corrected
we'll as | could the error of my
This union continued for rs
early forty years, and, though
rankin was the survivor, he 1e-
FAMED a widower. They are buried S.
de by side in the old Philadelphia SO
emeteTy, and a huge slab which n ni
both graves bears the simplest Q.
that franklin could de-
Use. While speaking on this subject =
may be added that American states >.
zen Rave generally been married Z
Ien, and the Presidential chair has Z
but once been occupied by a -
lchelor. 1t is said that Buchanan, Is
ke Irving, was disappointed in his CT
.rly love, and, if so, it affords a par e,x y
unable reason for his celibacy. An 81
her ppiitinian cfcDn,o rnto I'm
as the late Preston King. formerly a,
States Senator and also COZ ~
ctor Of our port. To these instances -
to be added that of Samuel y. Til
n.