The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-22
WHERE BUCHANAN LIvED.
The Home OF the Fifteenth President OF the
United States.

The Home or the Fifteenth Prestd bot OF tn
United States.
Within sight OF the city Of Lancaster, Pa,
writes correspondent, on Whst is known as
the Marietta pike stands Wheatlands. for
many ears The residence of James B1chan.
an, fifteenth President of the United States.
1he house IS plain but substantial brick
residence, and stands some distance back
from the road, almost hid by the trees and
shrubs that surround. It makes no preten-
sions 70 architectural beauty, but has on its
face an expression OF ease and refinement
On retiring from Office Buchanan bought this
place from Mr.. W. NJ. Meredith, prominent
lawyer of Philadelphia, by whom il had been
used "a summer residence. Here B1chau-
an passed the last years of his life in quiet
agricultural pursuits enjoying the society OF
his many friends aud ne1ghhors. Almost
within sight OF the house lived mis- friend,
the illustrious DR.. John Neyin, Ii D. for
shall College. The house stands half way I'D
q gentle elevation, and is fronted By q broad
sloping lawn, on which grow some fifty
varieties OF trees aud shrubs. On the right
Is we approach the house from the road,
stands a venerable chestnut measuring more
than four feet across at the base. In fro2t of
the house, on either side of the porch, towers
a lofty pine. The view from the porch is
fine, looking out over the rich farms OF Ian
caster County, dotted by the homes of the
thrifty German farmers. In the distance the
cars OF the Pennsylvania railroad continually
cross and Tecross the scene, and far away tue
gray range Of the AIleghenies, meeting the
gTayer sky, bound the horizon.
The Wheatlsnds contain twenty-five acres
OF the best and richest Lancaster County
farm lapds. On the death OF President 3D.
chanan the property passed into the hands
OF Harriet Lane Mrs. Johnson the mistress
OF the White House under Buchanans ad-
ninistration. while she owned it the house
was almost t0thlly unoccJpied. Only occa.
siOnalIy she spent lew months in the sum-
mer here. In 1884 she cold the place 10 the
present owner, Mr.. George B Wilson, by
whose kindness we were permitted to see the
nouse and grounds. Mr.. Wilson has IN his
possession the original deed from Mr.. Mere
dith TO President Buchanan. 1t is written
on parchment and is a very beautiful and
elaborate document.
The house and grounds being 30 long un-
occupied had fallen into neglect but are be-
ing put in good condition az rapidly as pos
sible By the present Tner. The house has
been kept in almost exactly the same condi-
ton in which it vas left by President Buch-
snan at the time of his death, June l, 1868.
From the front we enter into wide, lofty
hall, which divides the main part OF the
house and meets st the back diagonal hall
opening into either wing. The floor of the
hall is of cold white marble. and the walls
are painted. To the left as We enter the hail |
is situated the parlor, a room about 2)x30 |
feet, with high ceiling. The walls are |
papered and 1t is heated by an open fire. |
place. Every room in the house, and there |
are nineteen, is heated by an open fireplace, |
except the library, in which there is a stove. |
The parlor is lighted by large windows Look |
ing to the north and east. The house con-
tains many windows, and the rooms always |
wear a light aud cheerfll aspect Much of |
the original furniture Of the parlor remains I
no al al Mo
senteu TO Harriet Lane by President Buch- !
snsn. We touched its keys and found its |
tones still foil and sweet. On the opposite
eide of the ball is the dining-room. In the \
corner stands the old clock OF President l
Buchanan, still keeping good time. In the I
center of the room is mis- dining table, solid
walnut table with very curiously carved |
legs.
In the left wing OF the house is the library.
Here at a window looking to the north over
rich farms and thrifty-looking homes, was
the faVorlte seat OF Buchanan. He loved to
sit aud read or mediate undisturbsd, The
room IS about thirty by eighteen feet. An
Old and very ouriously carved snd inlaid
writing desk of Buchanan's occupies one COR
Dsr. Several old chairs and an old sofa COW
cred with brown Spanish leather are still in
the library. The old wood stove together
with the tongs and shovel used by the Presi-
dent, ore still doing active service.
The rooms on the second floor are arranged
in exactly the same way as those down stairs.
The room in which Buchanan died is over
the library, and commands a view from both
sides, the north and south. In the rear of
the house are the gardens. The walks are
edged with evenly trimmed lockwood and
rose bushes. There are many rare and
beautiful varieties of roses among them.
There is also q small orchard OF fruit trees in
the rear of the house Here grow two Seckel
pear trees presented to Buchanan by Presi-
dent Pierce.
Still farther back and browning the top of
the gentle elevation, about half way up
which stands the house, is an old forest of
ancient oaks and cnes.nuts. Here in this
fine OLD country place dieo James Buchanan.
For three days he lay ia state ia the cold,
lofty hall. His funeral service was preached
by his friend and neighbor, DR.. John w.
Neyin. He is buried in Wood ward Hill Gem
etery, Just south of the city of Lancaster.
On the brow of a steep hill overlooking the
quiet waters of tina Cenestoga, where it
breaks abruptly through the hills, rest his
mortal remains. A plain marble slab marks
the place, bearing only this inscription:
JAMES BUCHANAN
Fifteenth President OF the United States.
Born in Franklin Co., ADtil p 1871,
Died at Wheatlands, June I, 1868.