Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-09-17
DEATH OF MRS. MARIA G. UNDERWOOD.

Mrs Maria G. Underwood, the widow Of
the late Judge John c. Underwood, of Nir-
ginia, died suddenly, of heart disease, at her
home in Washington, D. c.. on Saturday
july 10Th, anG brief sketch Of her eVenttul
lie will not be without interest to our read.
erS, she having formerly resided in Herki-
mer county, and leaving many warm and
devoted friends here to mourn heir loss.
| Mrs. Underwood belonged to one Of the
oldest and most prominent Virginia families.
She was ii daughter of Edward b. Jackson,
| who represented in Congress district OF
| Virginia (Clarksburg, now part OF West
| Virginia) which might almost be said
to be his by inheritance, as for over thirty
wears members of her family held that
position, including her grandfather, Colonel
George Jackson, and her uncle John q.
Jackson, who married 4 sister oil the wife OF
President Madison. She was an own cou-
sin, on both her fathers and mothers side,
of General Stonewall Jackson, but poitl-
callv always sided with her husband, Judge
| Underwood whom she first met when he was
a tuto- in her fathers family. He was ma
tive of Herkimer county ,and after their mar
riage, in 1889, they came to Herkimer, where
| their oldest child, daughter was born,
who lived less than year. While resi-.
dent of Herkimer county, Judge Underwood
| founded labout 1871 under the title OF the
| Hcrkimcr County Journal, one Of the parent
| branches of this newspaper, which he ever
after alluded TO as his "oldest SON., and in
Herkimer their son Edward and daughter
Alice were born, who both survive. After
| q residence of some ten years they all re-
| turned to Virginia. settling in Clarke
county, in the valley of the Shenandoah, in
the shadw of the Blue Ridge, and here they
resided peacefully until the time of the first
republican nominative convention. at Phil
adephia, in 1856, which Judge Underwood
attended, unot1icially, but made speech in
favor of Fremont, which so incensed his
neighbors that he was only permitted to
return TO Virginia 10 settle up his affairs
there. Judge Underwood accepted posi-
ton as Secretary and Agent of the 'Nir-
ginia Emigrant Aid and Homestead Society"
| (which largely aided in populating western
| Virginia with loyal northern citizens, and
secured that portion Of the Old Dominion TO
| the Unn callse) and made his residence III
New York, while Mrs. Underwood stayed
most of this time in Virginia. AT the time
of the "John Brown raid" Gov. Wise sent
| :, detachment Of the noted "Black Horse
| Cavalry TO search the house and subsequent
| lv the Governor declared the place conLs-
| Gated and all their property there stored was
| sold stolen. or otherwise made away with
and destroyed. Judge Underwood was
member of the Chicago convention which
| nominated President Lincoln, and stumped
| the Western States as IL speaker during
| that exciting canvass, and after the cleo
| ton was appointed Consul TO Callao, Peru,
and all preparations for their journey were
| made: but the President and Secretaries
| rboca n
50 ioval and slalwart II citizen leave the
country, and prevailed upon Mr.. Under
wood TO accept instead, the post of Fifth
| Auditor of the Treasury, which he did, set
Ting in Washington with his family, and
there remaining until 1868. when he was
appointed United States District Judge for
| Virginia, which post he held until his death.
| He resided in Alexandria, Va, although he
died in Washington, in December, 1873, in
which city he was spending the winter,
meanwhile going every day to Alexandria;
but Mrs. Underwood never set foot on the
soil OF her native State after the day OF her
husbands death, but remained in Washing
ton, finding what comfort and solace she
| could in the renewed intercourse with her
old friends OF the troublous times when
her husband was Fifth Auditor.
| Her nature was singularly bright and sunny,
and her mind gifted. intellectual. and highly cd
| ucatcd. She prime favoritc with all who
| knew her old and young alike, and entered into
the enjoyment of the society and paStlmcs oil the
| latter with zeal and appreciation which Kept
her ever young, so that few could realize the bur-
den OF wears and weight OF intirnlities which op-
pressed her, physically. but never subducd her
| spirit. Her death shock and Il surprise 10
| ALL She was on the eve of departure for Sara
toga, with her sister, aud hardly thirty-six hours
before the final summons seemed in usually coed
health aud spirits. Friday she was very sick but
continued the preparations for her journey; but
that night she san k into IN unconscious state and
expired about four o'clock Saturday morning,
with her sister and children by her side. The
funeral took place the succeeding Monday, July
DIST from her late residence, being conducted
nv the Rev. Mr.. Nailor, of the Methodist church.
of which she was mcmber) and the mouse was
crowded for hours all that day with those who
came TO pay their last tribute of respect. In
death. as in life her face was regal in its calm ana
ouict beauty. and none who looked upon her III
rhr fowcr.hidden casket, could gaze unmovcd,
ALL even those bound by no tics save those OF ac'
ouaintanccshin. seeming to feel sense OF per-
/ nnf