Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-03-13
OUR FIRST LOVE.
The Marital Secrets of American Pa
triOts.


1t is an old saying. says the Troy
Times, Whom we first love We never
Wed" and this, though not strictly true,
may be applied TO Scott, Byron, George
Washington, and many other men of
note.
Jefferson, the author of the Declara-
tian, was subjected to early disappoint-
ment. His first love was a Virginia
maiden of reputable family, named Re-
becca Burwell. The latter, however.
preferred young man named Robinson,
and Jefferson, like most sensitive youths,
keenly felt the loss of one he most ten
derly loved. He afterward married
22, and the union proved one of rare
happiness. 1t lasted, however, only ten
yeaI s, at the end of which Jefferson was
left wldower, with two daughters,
four others having died in eally child
hood. OF these daughters, Maria, mar
ried John W. Epps, while Martha be-
came the wife of Thomas Randolph.
The latter thus describes the care which
her father bestowed upon his dying
wife:
"For four months. during which she
fingered, he was never out of her call
A moment before the closing scene be
was led from the room in fainting
condition 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 con-
slant attention"
jefferson was evidently man of deep
tenderness, and after his death there
was found in his drawer lock of
hair from each of bis dead children,
which he kept as sacred memorials.
Though only SO when he lost his wife,
he never married again, and remained
for A years a widower.
Washington and Franklin both mar
ried widows. The former fell in love
with Martha Curtis at first sight, and,
having been disappointed in his expect
ations of the hand of Mary Morris, he
urged his suit until he was successful
He adopted his wife's children, and his
married life was one of unbroken happi-
ness
Franklin's case was rather peculiar.
During his early life in Phi|adelphia he
paid attention to MISS Read, but soon
after went to London, where lie remain-
ed several years. During the separation
he neglected Miss Read in a manner
which he himself afterward condemned.
On his return be found that she had
married, but her husband, who had
proved worthless, was gone on a voyage
nd Snh fn 10 dasa Ill, .,
early love returned, and being re-en-.
forced by sympathy, he asked her for
giveness and a renewal of her affections,
which were readily granted.
jefferson WAS married at the age of
90. Washington was 27, while Franklin
was only "a. The latter says of his wife:
"We prospered together, and it was our
mutual study to render each other hap
py. Thus | corrected as well as | could,
the error of nv youth" This union
continued for nearly forty years, and,
though Franklin was the survivor, he
remained a widower. They are buried
side by side in the old Philadelphia
cemetery, and huge slab which covers
both graves bears the simplest inscrip-
tion that Franklin could devise.
While speaking on this subject it may
be added that American statesmen have
generally been married men, and that
the Presidential chair has never but
once been occupied by bachelor. 1t is
said that Buchanan. like Irving, was
disappointed in his early love, and if so,
it affords pardonable reason for his
celibacy. Another bachelor politician
of note was the late Preston King, FORM
erly L. s. Senator and Collector of our
port. To these instarcesIis to be added
that of Samuel J. Tilden.