Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-06-02

like himself. came of Dutch stock, Han
nah Hoes. She died early in their mar
ried life at Albany, and her brilliant
husband never after took another part
ner. The wife of Major Van Buren,
was the lady of the White House during
her father-in-law's tenure, and ably
filed the place.
Ann Symmes was the wife of Gen.
Harrison and was Jersey girl, born
near Morristown, her father being q
Continental army officer. She never
entered the White House, for when the
President came East in 1841 to be in
augurated her health was precarious
and would not permit the journey. He
died month after he be came Presi-
dent, while she lived until February,
1864.
President Tyler's first wife was Let
tia Christian, daughter of Robert
Christian of New Kent county, Virginia.
Tyler was at the time of his marriage
a young law graduate from the Office of
the celebrated Edmund Randolph, but
his political prospects were bright, as
the son of Gov. John Tyler, and to this
honor of the father the son succeeded,
and from thence to the Presidency.
MissC Christian was a noted EasternVir-
ginia belle, and when her husband be-
came President assumed the White
House duties. Her health was feeble
at the time, and she died there IN Sep
TENDER, 1912. Elizabeth, third daugh-
ter of President Tyler by this union.
was married III the White House to q
Southern gentleman named Waller.
Three grandchildren of this President,
sons of Lightfoot Jones. who married
the eldest daughter, fought in the Con-
federate army. One of them, Robert,
received three wounds at Gettysburg.
Mrs. Robert Tyler, a daughter-in-law
of this President, acted as White House
mistress after his wife's death. She
was lady of great culture and man
ners, the daughter of the tragedian
Cooper. Her eldest child. Letitia, was
born in the White House.
President Tyler remained a widower
but short time, paying the Johnsonian
compliment to the first spouse by soon
selecting another, Miss Juliet Gardi-
ner of New York. She was the
daughter of wealthy gentleman who
owned Gardeners Island, familiar to
many naval people as near the read
stead where the practice squadron, with
the Annapolis cadets, spends much of
it's summer cruising and exercising.
Although Mr.. Tyler was the first Presi-
dent-and so far the only one-to
marry in the high Office, the ceremony
was not performed in the White House.
but at the Church of the Ascension in
New York, June, 1874. After the
wedding a grand reception was given
in the Executive Mansion.
Mrs. Polk, now living at an advanced
age in Nashville, was one of the most
admirable mistresses the White House
has ever had. She was Miss Sarah
Childress, born near Murfreesbore, and
married James K. Polk, then a men,
Der of the Tennessee Legislature, in
her 10Th year. He went to Congress the
following yerr, and for fourteen sessions
continued there, being elected Speaker
in 1886. In 1889 he became Governor
of Tennessee, and Mrs, Polk presided
with grace at the State Executive Man-
sion, so that when in As they came to
the White House she proved one of the
most agreeable and popular of host
esses. Many innovations or rather
changes in old customs of receiving
were introduced during Mrs. Folks re-
sidence at the capital, notably the one
of dispensing with refreshments during
the levees.
The wife of old Rough and Ready
was a member Of the extensive famil y
of Smiths-Margaret Smith Mary
land girl-daughter of a plain farmer
was the r1osy one of an army couple
on the frontier. The first home they
had really was when in 1910 Col. Tay-
lor went to the United States barracks
at Dayton Rouge. 1t was while sta
toned here that Jefferson Davis met
and wooed old Zach second daughter,
mnch against the fathers wishes, who
disliked to see his children subjecte to
the same wandering existence he had
led bis spouse as an army officer.
Lieut. Davis was then handsome
young subaltern, and the seeding
element was so strong in him even 1T
that time he ran away with Miss Tay-
lor, who died soon after and before the
stern old couple had become reconcil-
ed to the elopement.
Miss Betty Taylor, the youngest dau-
ghter, was mistress of the White House
during President Taylor's short incum-
bency. She became the wife of Major
Bliss, Taylor's Adjutant-General in
Mexico, and was charming woman,
well known in her youthful days in
this citv, where she went to school.
The wife of the President never receiv-
ed or went out much in Washington
society, and, like Mrs. Garfield, never
liked the White House or enjoyed the
the life there.
Willard Fillmore married a New
York school teacher, Miss Abigail
Powers, before he became like Cleve-
land, Buffalo lawyer. She performed
all tho public social duties devolving
upon her by reason of her husbands
political emipence with great grace
and intelligence. When he became
Chief Magistrate she was not in very
good health, and a few weeks after the
close of his term died at Wizards
Hotel, Washington, of an illn ess prob
ably fastened by her attention to the
onerous requirements of her station.
President Fillmore survived his wife
twenty-one years, dying in 1874 at
Buffalo, and both lie buried with an
only daughter, in the beautiful Forest
Lawn Cemetery of that city.
Franklin Pierce-pronounced Perse
up in Boston-was a classmate of Haw-
thorne's at the Bowdoin College. The
President of the college then and for
many years was the Rev. Jesse Apple
ton. Jennie Appleton, daughter of
this college President, became Mrs.
Pierce, and her husband, at the time of
the marriage young New Hampshire
lawyer and Congressman, became af-
terward President of the United States.
The first few years of official life at the
White House Mrs. Pierce's life was
Swallowed with grief, owing to the
death of their only son q few weeks
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