Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-08-28
A NOrORIuU, CnARAUrKR GONE.

part east OF the road TO be constituted the
new election district.
NOTORIOU, CnAKAUTER GONE.
Death OF Emma Jacobs In tho Almshouse.
After . Long Career OF GiIded
Splendor.
Philadelphia Times.
There died in the hospital at the aims
house yesterday a woman who was known
on the register as Emma Thompson" 1"
but whose career quarter of century
ago, under the name of emma Jacobs, /"
had a national notoriety. She was born
in Lancaster county over seventy years
ago. Her life in Philadelphia began at an
early age and it was in this city that she
started her remarkable career. Her
powers of fascination were marvellous, and
some of the most prominent men in the
country We'd with each other to win her
smile and favor. The amounts of money
she received from these men aggregated
thousands of dollars year. Her beauty
is said by those who remember her in her
best days to have been Of q type that
compelled admiration from all who saw
her, and Daniel Webster said of her {:
She has the most perfect carriage of any
woman have ever seen."
She rapidly acquired wealth aud built
several houses in what is now Bryan's
court, little street running off from
Cherry, between Seventh and Eighth. The
houses she rented and by rsinvesting the
income her means increased until at one
time her property was valued at $50, 600,
large sum in those days. The corner
house she occupied herself. Here she held
court for gentlemen of leisure as we'll as
lawyers and men of letters, her house
being the resort at times for some of
the brightest lntellec.s in the couu
try. While Congress was in session
it was her custom to go to Washington
and it was there that some Of her most re
markable conquests occurred. She is said
to have completely fascinated ar least one
president of the United States and nearly
all the leading men in Washington from
1850 to go made her room = rendezvous.
So great was her influence over the men,
bers of Congress that her value as
lobbyist was known to corporations and
individuals, and many important bills
were passed through her instru-
mentality. Probably the only man
who ever won her affection was
preacher, named Thompson, a Virginian,
whom she married. Thompson afterwards
lost his reason and was placed in the insane
ward of tho almshouse, where he died
three years ago. Previous to this event Mrs.
ThOmpson's charms began to fade and she
had disappeared from public notice. Her
old time shrewdness seemed to disappear
and in few months shs had lost nearly all
that she had spent her life in acquiring.
Her properties on Cherry street were
gradually encumbered with mortgages
and finally losing them she became abso.
lutely in want. During Thompson's in,
carceration in the mad house his wife Wis.
tied him nearly every visiting day, con-
stantly supplying him with an abundance
of delicacies. Her facs was we'll known
to the officials of the institution and she
was supposed to be worth considerable
money.
On the 29th day Of November, 1881, she
presented herself at tho gateway of the
institution with the remark that she had
come to stay. The gatekeeper was sur
prised and refused to believe her state.
ment. cit is true" she said, and pulling
out card of admission signed by Guar
dian Chambers shs handed it to the man
and burst into tears. She left enough
money to pay for her funeral expenses and
will bs buried by William 8. Moore, on
Thursday.
Well known IN Lancaster Fifty Years ago.
The subject of the above sketch was a
we'll known leader of the demi monde in
this city fifty years ago. She was born
and feared in Leacock township, this
county, being the second daughter of o
tailor named Jacobs, who had emigrated
from Germany in his fourth year. When
Emma was in her eighteenth year, the
family removed to Lancaster, residing on
East King street near Plum, at which
place her father soon died from tho small
pox, which was at that time raging in the
city with great violence. Th )se who re
member her say that she whose death is
to day recorded was in all respects q
remarkable woman. In heighth she tow
cred far above the rest of her sex
and her proportions were queenly in their
symmetry. With wavy chestnut brown
hair, fair complexion and regular features,
her striking carriage on the street made
her at all times conspicuous figure. She
possessed no education. whatever, and
when old age approached she was aban-
dOned by her friends of earlier days to the
misery and want from which death has
now removed her. She leaves surviving
her brother, Edward Jacobs, tho huck-
ster, and an older married sister residing
on North Duke street.
An italians Close Gail.
As the day express was moving out of
the Pennsylvania station yesterday after
noon, poorly clad Italian, who had lin.
gsred too long in Chestnut street saloon,
was seen hurrying with great precipitation
ko~ c,le 10 In do