The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1884-03-20
Peggyo 'Neal.
TFrom Review Of Partomas Noted Women !

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TFrom Review Of Partonas Noted Women.lI
Another woman Of a different kind;
Peg O'Neal, better known as Mrs. Ea--
ton, is recalled by Mr.. Parton in very
readable chapter. She was the pretty
and vivacious but not overprudent tav-
ern-keeper's daughter In Washington.
you know, who became the wife of Gen
eral Jackson's Secretary of War, and in
whose social behalf the whole power of
The Jackson Administration has brought
to bear with so much determi nation and
with such unusual consequences. The
ladies of Washington made up their
minds with one accord that Mrs Eaton
was an improper and unworthy woman,
and that they would not call upon her
nor recognize her In any way as the
wife of Cabinet Minister. Cen
eral jackson took her part
and became her personal champion, u.s.
ing every means at his command to COM
pei attention and consideration for her.
Il have had in my hands, says Mr..
Parton, hundreds of pages of manu-
script in General Jackson,s writing, all
relating to this affair. ~ He summoned
the propagators of the scandals concern
ing her; he made her case topic of cab
met discussion; be. threatened represen-
tatlves Of foreign government with dis
missal on her account; he sent his own
niece away from the White House be-
cause she refused to second his efforts
in the tabooed woman's favor. But it
was all futile. General Jackson's will
was strong" Mr.. Parton observes, ''but
he discovered Oh this occasion that wom-
ans won't was stronger" In spite Of
all his tuning and storming,
the ladies resolutely refused to
have any thing to do
with Mrs. Eaton. When she appeared
In a cotillon at fashionable ball they
would Immediately retire from it; when
seated next to her at supper they would
quit the table; when brought tete-a-
tete with her in conversation they would
turn their backs upon her and other
wise manifest their utter.disapproval of
her presence
1t was this CONTROVERSY over Mrs.
Eaton, that really contributed more than
anything else to, General Jackson's
quarrel with Calhoun and drove the
latter into the notification project. The
cabinet was conYulsed and broken UP
under the same pressure. And it is I'M
questionably true that Mr.. Van Buren,
gained the presidency by siding with
jackson in this matter. Mrs. Eaton
does not appear to have been an especi-
ally remarkable woman in any way.
She was passably handsome and intelii-
gent, and her father had been
an old friend of General Jackson. When
Major Eaton married. her she was q
widow, her first husband, purser in
the navy, having committed suicide,
leaving her withtwo children and very
little fortune. According to the best
testimony she was not in fact wan ton
or bad woman, but only careless
and indiscreet one. She liked admira-
ton and social excitement, but was not
given, we should say, to intrigue and
calculation. and the, circumstances
which made her such prominent fac
tor in Washington affairs were princi-
pally accidental rather than of her own
choosing or causing: 1t is none the
less true, however. that she was the
occasion gilmore contention and more
political and maneuvering and
animosity than any other one
woman who has ever figured in
American history. Soon after the close
of the, jackson Administration she was
again left atwidow, and rich one at
that, and she continued to live in
Washington for many years in elegant
style, though she never succeeded in
overcoming the old, prejudice against
her or in winning the measure of social
recognition which General jackson
strove SO hard and persevering1y to Sc
cure for her.. Nearthe close Of her life,
when experience should have saved her
from such folly, she took third hus-
band. in the person, Of worthless
young italian dancing master, who
squandered her fortune and brought
her in poverty and sorrow to the grave
at the age of eighty-four years.