The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-27
THE LAST OF THE JEFFERsONs,
A Visit to Mrs. Meikleham, the Only SurviV-
ing Granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson.
Washington Letter in Cleveland Leader.


Jefferson, whom Congress has just refused to
give pension of S., 900 year. Within stones
throw of the convent I was told should find
Mrs. Meiklehams residence and as l jumped
from the car the house was pointed out to me.
An old fashioned two-story frame, with a great
porch looking toward the west. 1t was partially
shut out from view by a close whitewashed
board fence, which separated its large yard from
the muddy street. Going through gate which
sagged on its hinges l crossed the lawn, mounted
the steps and rang the bell A gray-haired ser
want woman led me into the parlor, took my
card, and, returning in moment, told me that
Mrs Meikleham would see me at once She is
tall, well formed woman, with fine open face,
bright blue eyes and rosy cheeks, and she looked
rather fifty than seventy years of age. have
seen many woman of fifty who looks older
than this woman, the last of the Jeffersons.
Her face is plump and almost free from wrinkles.
Her forehead is broad and high, partaking some
what of the characteristics of her grandfather,
and her auburn brown hair, the same color as
Jeffersons, as yet not greatly mixed with gray,
is combed down behind her ears in the good old
style of the past. AS l looked at her | know
l thought her one of the handsomest
cd ladies l have ever seen. Her costume
correspondent with the refinement shown in her
features and her surroundings A black cash
in a large white handkerchief which was tucked
in at the bosom, and pretty lace cap was her
only head-dress. She greeted me kindly and
talked freely about her bill in a strong, sweet
voice. She was much disappointed and hurt by
the action of Congress. Not that she felt so on
the ground of refused charity She did not
ask the appropriation on that ground. AS far as
that was concerned she willing to take the
chances with the rest of suffering humanity, but
she thought slight had been cast upon the name
OF Jefferson, whom she referred to as being the
civil father of his country as much as Washing
ton is its military father, and though she did not
wish for charity she felt that gift from the
people of the United States to of
Jefferson's descendants was due by
the country in gratitude for what it had re-
ceived And then she talked about her circum
stances, more in response to my questioning, |
fear, thai voluntarily and | felt ashamed for
my country as she told the story which bears out
the old saying as to the ngratitude of republics.
Her mother was Martha Jefferson, the Presi
dents favorite daughter, who was with him dur
ing the whole of his life, who administered the
honors of the White House while he was Presl
dent, and who took care of him in his old age
until he died at Monticello leaving large
estate to be swallowed up by the debts which he
owed. Two years after this, Martha Jeffersons
husband, Thomas Mann Randolph, Ex-Governor
of Virginia, died and left his wife with thirteen
children to care for, most of whom were at a
most expensive age. OF these Septimia, then
fourteen years old was the eleventh child and
the seventh daughter. AT this time the circum
stances of the family were such that
Martha Jefferson was thinking of open
ing a female seminary at Monticello
but before the thought had become action the
two States of South Carolina and Louisiana pre-
sented ten thousand dollars each TO her, and on
this she lived to the day of her death, when the
money was divided among the five daughters
then living. The family lived for some time at
Washington, and during Andrew Jackson's adj
ministration Septima great favorite at the
White House. She spoke very highly of Jack
son, saying that he had been represented
being coarse and gruff and ungentlemanly but
that was mistake. He was perfect gentle
man in his social relations, and he delighted in
having social chat with his family and friends
every day after dinner At this time the party
would gather about the fire and General jackson
would light his pipe, 1--WE did not consider it I'm
gentlemanly for him to slnokeSin the housed and
the evening would be spent in pleasant talk
There was piano in the room and he always
asked me to play: He wanted old tunes and
greatly loved Aud Lang Syne" l would
often ask him if he would not rather l
should play some of the new tunes
Of. ht the and day, put he would shake
old songs. and l do not like the new-fangled mu-
sic"
From jackson the conversation drifted to slick
Martin Van Buren, and the other statesmen of
that day, and then Mrs. Meikleham spoke of her
husband. She met him in Cuba, where she had
gone, as a girl, to benefit her health. He was an
eminent doctor well known to scientists, and his
home was Glasgow After she married HIM she
lived well and money was plenty. Her husband
made plenty of money, and he died on the high
road to fortune but leaving nothing of account
After his death Mrs. Meikleham lived for some
time abroad. and it is only few years ago that
she returned here and settled in the house where
she is now living She has two grown up daugh
tiers and a son with her. One of the daughters
is a clerk in one of the departments, and her
wages keep the family The other daughter is
in delicate health, and the son has asked for a
place under the government and been refused
Truly these are hard lines for the descendants of
one of the greatest men that America has ever
seen.
When / asked the old lady if she could remem-
Der her grandfather she replied yes indeed
just as well as if he were standing here now. l
was, you know, twelve years old when he died,
and my whole life up to this time had been
passed at Monticello He was tall, fine looking
man. well formed, and always dressed in gray
clothes While knew him he wore pantaloons,
rather than knee-breeches. and he walked with
cane. His hair was white, and he parted it in
the middle, and 1t flowed down upon his shout
ders. His forehead was high and broad and his
face one of the old colonial type. nobler one [
think, than those of to-day. Men of different
ages seem to me to run in classes. Take the
portraits of the days of the revolution. Do not
you see the characteristics common in them alll'
Yes" replied and went on to ask if Thomas
jefferson was fond of children
II know he was very fond of all at Month
cello. He had his library, which was sacred
and in which we were not permitted to go unless
accompanied by mother. But after he came out
of that he would romp and play with us for
hours at a time. We all loved him dearly
and we all felt very close to him indeed When
he rode TO his other estate. he generally took me
with him. 1t was about seventy miles away
across the country. and we needed four horses
to carry the carriage through the mud and it
took us from two to three days to 60 We al
ways spent two nights the road, and as we
stopped at the same hotels on every trip, they
always had things ready for us. l remember
how the people all came out to the hotels to bid
us good bye, and I rember that Mr. Jefferson
always took his butler with him His butler. in
addition to his usual duties, acted also as valet
to Mr.. Jefferson
And so the talk on, the old lady laughing
as she remembered some ridiculous circum.
stance, and growing sad as she told how she
stood by the hedsida when hn1. ia