The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-18
WHERE BUCHANAN LIVED.
The Home of the Fifteenth President of the
United States.

Ihe Home of the Fifteenth President OF the
United States.
Letter in New York Sun.
Within sight of the city of Lancaster. Pa,
writes correspondent, on what is known as the
Marietta pike, stands Wheatland for many years
the residence of James Buchanan, fifteenth Presi-
dent of the United States. The house is plain
but substantial brick residence and stands some
distance back from the road, almost hid by the
trees and shrubs that surround 1t makes no
pretensions to architectural beauty, but has on
its face an expression of ease and refinement. On
retiring from Office, Buchanan bought this place
from Mr.. w M. Meredith, a prominent lawyer of
Philadelphia by whom it had been used as a
summer residence. Here Buchanan passed the
last years of his life in quiet agricultural pur
suits, enjoying the society of his many friends
and neighbors. Almost within sight of the
house lived his friend. the illustrious Dr. John
w. Nevin, LII. d., for many years president of
Franklin and Marshall College. The house
stands about halfway up on a gentle elevation
and is fronted by broad, sloping lawn, on
which grow some fifty varieties of trees and
shrubs. On the right. as we approach the
house from the road, stands venerable chest
nut, measuring more than four feet across the
base. In front 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 Lancaster county. dotted by the homes of
the thrifty German farmers. In the distance
the cars OF the Pennsylvania railroad contin-
ually cross and recross the scene, and far away
grayer sky, bound the horizon
The Wheatlands contain twenty-five acres of
the best and richest Lancaster county farm
lands On the death of President Buchanan the
property passed into the hands Of Harriet Lane
MRS. Johnston), the mistress of the White
House under Buchanans administration. While
she owned it the house was almost totally unoc-
cupied Only occasionally she passed a few
months in the summer here In 1884 she sold
the place to the present owner, Mr.. George D
" Uh md cvvQv fod
to see the house and grounds. Mr.. Wilson has
in his possession the original deed from Mr..
Meredith to President Buchanan. 1t is written
on parchment, and is a very beautiful and most
elaborate document.
The house and grounds being so long unoccu-
pied, had fallen into neglect, but being put in
good condition as rapidly as possible by the
present owner The house has been kept in al
most exactly the same condition in which it was
left by President Buchanan 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 at the back dag
onal 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 hall is
situated the parlor, room about 20x30 feet
with high ceiling. The walls are papered, and it
is heated by an open fireplace. Every room in
the house, and there are nineteen, is heated by
an open fireplace, except the library, in which
there is stove The parlor is lighted by large
windows looking to the north and east. The
house contains many windows, and the rooms
always wear light and cheerful aspect. Much
of the original furniture of the parlor remains
noticeably the old threecornered piano pre-
sented to Harriet Lane by President Buchanan.
We touched its keys and found its tones still
full and sweet On the opposite side of the
hall IS the dining room In the corner stands the
old clock of President Buchanan, still keeping
good time In the centre of the room is his din
ing table, a solid walnut table, with very curl
ously carved legs.
In the left wing of the house is the library
Here, at window looking to the north over rich
farms and thrifty looking homes, was the favor
tie seat of Buchanan. He loved to sit and read
or mediate undisturbed. The room is about
30xlS feet An old and very curiously carved
and inlaid writing desk of Buchanan's occupies
one corner. Several old chairs and an old sofa
covered with brown Spanish leather are still in
the library. The old wood stove together with
the tongs and shovel used by the President, are
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 libra
ry, 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 small orchard of
fruit trees in the rear of the house. Here grow
two seckel pear trees presented to Buchanan by
President Pierce
Suii VI ohOi poOh anu CEUWuluS Lu6 Top Oh tne
gentle elevation, about half way up which stands
the house. is an old forest of ancient oaks and
chestnuts Here, in this fine old country place.
died James Buchanan. For three days he lay
in state in the cold, lofty hall His funeral
service was preached by his friend and neighbor
Dr. John w Nevin. He is buried in Woodward
Hill cemetery, just south of the city of Ian
caster. On the brow of steep hill overlooking
the quiet waters of the Conestoga, where it
breaks abruptly through the hills, rest his
mortal remains. plain marble slab marks the
place, bearing only this inscription:
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Fifteenth President of the United States.
Born in Franklin county April %, 1871, i.
Died at Wheatlands June 1 1868