The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-19

| Adams was her third son. She accom-
panied her distinguished husband dur
ing much of his diplomatic and officia
journeying abroad, and did honors dur
ing his Executive term, and was woman
Of varied accomplishments. A fine paint
ing of her by Leslie is in possession of tn
Boston family, and represents her as 1
pretty woman, elegantly robed, jew
eled tiara in her hair, necklace ornament
and lace shawl, with handsome gown
cut far more decollete than Rose Cleve
land could possibly approve of: Mrs
Adams died in 1852, and is buried with
her husband at Quincy.
General Jackson's wife died before n
went into the White House, and, as hf
had married before she was formally di
vorced, the iron-healted old Democrat
was, with her. often the subject of pitt
less political calumny. She was plair
woman, but undoubtedly possessed the
undivided affection of the great Presi
dent, who never was so happy as wher
praising her memory or defending II
from SANDER.
Van Buren married a woman who, like
himself, came of Dutch stock, Hannah
Hoes. She died early in their married
life at Albany, and her brilliant husband
never after took another partner. The
wife of Major Van Buren was the lady of
the White House during her father-in-
laws tenure, and ably filed the place.
Ann Symmes was the wife of General
Harrison and was Jersey girl, born
near Morristown, her father being Con-
tinental army officer. She never entered
the White House. for when the Presi-
dent came East in 1S41 to be inaugurated
her health was precarious and would not
permit the journey. He died a month
after he became President, while she
lived until February 81.
President Tyler'S tir,t wife was Letitia
Christian, daughter of Robert Christian,
of New Kent county, Virginia. Tyler
was at the time of his marriage young
law graduate from the office of the cele-
brated Edmund Randolph, but his polit-
ical prospects were bright, as the son of
Governor John Tyler, and to this honor
the son succeeded, and from thence to
the Presidency. Miss Christian was a
noted Eastern Virginia belle, and when
her husband became President assumed
the White House duties. Her health was
feeble at the time, and she died there in
September, 1912. Elizabeth, third
daughter of President Tyler by this
union, was married in the White House
to Southern gentleman named Waller.
Three grandchildren of this President,
sons of Lightfoot Jones, who married the
eldest daughter, fought in the Confeder-
ate army. One of them, Robert, re-
ceived three wounds at Gettysburg. Mrs.
Robert Tyler. daughter -in-law of this
President, acted as the White House
mistress after his wife's death. She
was lady of great culture and manners,
the daughter of the tragedian Cooper.
Her eldest child, Letitia, was born in the
White House.
President Tyler remained widower,
but short time, paving the Johnsonian
compliment to his first spouse by soon
selecting another, Miss juliet Gardiner,
of New York. She was the dlughter of
the wealthy gentleman who owned Gar
diners Island, familiar to many naval
people as near the roadstead in east Long
Island where the naval practice squadron,
with the Annapolis cadets, spends much
of its 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 it
the Church of the Ascension in New
York, June, 1914. After the wedding a
grand reception was given in the execu-
tive 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 Murfrcesboro, and
married JAMES K. Polk, then a member
of the Tennessee Legislature, in her nine
teeuth year He went to Congress the
following year. 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 mansion, so
that when in '45 they came to the White
House, she proved one OF the most agree
able and popular of hostesses. Many
innovations, or rather changes, in old GUS
toms of receiving were introduced during
Mrs. Folks residence at the capitol,
notably the one of dispensing with re-
freshmcnts during the levees.
The wife of old Rough and Ready
was a member of the extensive family of
Margaret Smith, Maryland girl
daughter of a plain farmer of that
State, and their mlrr.ed life for many
years was the prcsy one Of an army couple
on the frontier The first home they had
1eally was when in 1910 Colonel Taylor
went to the United States barracks at
Baton Rouge 1t was while stationed
here that Jefferson Davis met and wooed
old Zach's second daughter, much
against the fathers wishes, who di;liked
to see his children subjected to the same
wandering existence he had lei his
spouse rs an army officer. Lieutenant
Davis wa then a handsome young sub
alte:n, and the seeding element was so
strong in him even at that time that he
ran away with Miss Taylor. who died
shortly after their MARI age and before the
stera old parent had become reconcilcd
to the elopement.
Miss Betty Taylor, the youngest daugh-
ter, was the mistress of the White House
during President Taylor's short incum-
bency. She became the wife Of Major
Bliss, Taylcr's Adjutant- General in
.scxico, and was a charming woman,
we'll known in her youthful days in this
city, where she went to school. The
wife of the President never received OF