Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-07-19
Our Early Presidents.
Ho,o Wry Lirsi ANIL Lgf Their D8cmd
ans Poor.

Horo Tcy Lirsi ANIL Lgh Their Dsscmd
ants Poor.
Jefferson lived ut Monticello in the
meridian of his intellectual manhood
the patron Of seats of learning, the
friend of the great Of the carth-as a
citizen of Virginia, and his mountain
home was as accessible rs the laborcr's
cottage. His predecessors in the great
Office he filled dwelt like him in modest
homes-Adams in n New England
village and Washirgton Mt MONT
Vernon, where his muniticent hospi
tality made his Virginia home seem
great mansion, whereas it was not
more pretentous, save as to grounds,
than are the homes of mechanics to-
day. Madison's home was the finest
of all the Presidents, and he died 50
poor that his widow, to get the means
to pay her board in Washington, sold
her public papers to Congress. lie
had no children, and yet did not leave
wealth sufficient to keep his home.
stead in the possession of his family
ten years after his death. Monroe,
the author of the doctrine that is to-
day the guide and monitor of the ma
ton in its dealings with other nations,
lived for his country and died home.
less. Long before his death he sold
his country home in Virginia and be.
came an inmate Of his daughters
house in New York. where he died.
Jackson, like Washington, Jefferson,
Madison and Monroe, owned a farm,
and although he had no children, the
State Of Tennessee bought the Her
mitage to save it from the auctionccr's
hammer, and shelters there to-day the
last descendant of his wife. who, if she
were not so protected. would be a de-
pendant on public charity. In this
city at the present time is Septimia,
the seventh and youngest grandchild
of Thomas jefferson, an aged lady
who, through Congressman Robinson,
appealed and appealed in vain to the
last Congress for pension to keep her
from suffering for the comforts Of life.
The descendants Of the men who
pioneered the country through its dark
DAYS of war and aided it with their
splendid mental energies and patriot
ism'are for the most part, like Mrs
Mcikleham, poor, and they are like
her, aliens to the historic homes Of
their forefathcrs, while many Of them
are wanderers on the face of the earth.
There Is scarcely a historic family in
this country living on its ancestral
acres and perpetuatiBg the hospitablc
fame Of its distinguished ancestry.
Mount Vernon is owned by the women
of this country, and the people Of
Virginia, who have in their veins the
blood of Washington, are, for the
most part, very poor. Montpelier has
been sold several times within the past
twenty-five years, and now is owned
by a Richmond merchant. who will
live there in summer. The hermitage,
as has been said, belongs TO the State
of Tennessee, and the fate Of Monti-
cello oil the world knows.
The Presidents succeeding jackson
were men Of like mind in their appre-
citation Of the greatness Of their office,
and the descendants of the majority
Of them are to-day richer in blood
than they are in incomes. So also,
are the families Of men like Clay, Cal
houn, Benton, Randolph and Web.
ster. The example Of patriotism set
by the founders of the Government
has heen potent and powerful, and it
has been honor enough to be a grand
son or daughter, a neice or son of
a President.
The descendants Of these first of
our rulers are not numerous now. In
Virginia are few of the Washington
family of the Lawrence Washington
branch, and of the Madisons there are
none. Monroe has one or two neices
and nephew living, and Jackson has
not living descendant The Adams
family is the best represented of the
six. Jefferson has a number of de-
scendants and Mrs. Meikleham is his
nearest living relation. She is the
youngest daughter of his eldest dasgh-
ter, Martha, who married Randolph,
and is the lass of her seven daughters.
Mrs. Randolph left a large family Of
children, but all are dead save this
daughter, now a woman Of elderly
years and slender purse. She has been
supported for many years by her
daughter, who was an employe in one
of the departments in Washington.
Jefferson bad no sons, and his only
other child. Marie Ennqs. died dupiny