Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-06-10
White Hou'e Weddings.

President Cleveland is the first Presi-
dent of the United States married in the
White House. and the only president, ex-
cept Tyler, who was married while hold
President Tyler died in the Executive
Mansion during the first year of his adj
ministration. In less than two years
from the da.e Of her death Mr.. Tyler stole
quietly away To New York, under the
nretense of looking after his political
fences in the east. but in truth, went
there for his second wife, a Mrs. Gardiner,
whom he brought few days later to the
White Hoase, where she reigned as the
mistress until the close of her husband's
Presidential term. But few of Mr.. Tyler's
friends knew of his intentions until after
the marriage had taken place, so adroitly
had he kept the secret, not even intrusting
any part of the details to the careful care
and custody of his private secretary.
In Mr.. Tyler's case there were no gossip
ing grandfathers and the bride-elect was
carefully enioined by the prospective
groom to neither write nor send word.
History portrays the fact that the lady
was not endowed with either an ambition
or desire to place herself upon record as
the coming wife of the president and fu-
those days the industrious newspaper cor
respondent was not SO great quantity as
at the present time, consequently it was
much liss difficult to keep the lawful
secret within the close confines of the
relatives and friends of the high contract
ing parties.
The first wedding to take place at the
White house was that OF Miss Todd 1911,
to Col. Jonn G.. jackson Of Virginia, who,
previous to this event, had served in four
of the early congresses. After the mar.
riage he was in congress for two sessions.
Miss Todd was relative of the illustrious
Dolly Madison, the beautiful wife of Presi
dent James Madison
Samuel j.. Gouveneur, who was at one
time the private secretary of.President
Monroe, was the second gentleman to be
thus honored with a marriage in the
Presidents mansion. The bride upon this
occasion was Miss Martha Monroe, a
laughter of the President. This was In
1920 the bride being but IL years Of age.
The marriage ceremony was performed in
the center of the great east parlor, in the
presence of very large gathering of the
prominent families of the government, in
Guiding the members Of the foreign lega-
tions and their families.
In 1896 during the administration OF
John Quincy Adams, his son, John Quincy,
Jr., was married in the White House to
his cousin, Miss johnson.
During the administration of President
Jackson the atmosphere about the White
House was prolific of weddings. While
"Old Hickory reigned he individually
planned for two marriages beneath the
White House roof. The first
of the two wedding while jackson was
president was that Of Miss Lewis of Nash
vile, with Mr.. Paquet of Martinique, who
was in after years French Minister to the
United States. The last of the two we'd
dings was that of Miss Eaton, also of Ten
nessee, neice of James X. Polk, who af-
terward became president.
In January, 1872 Miss Elizabeth Tyler, a
daughter of the first wife Of President Ty-
Ter, was married in the east parlor to Will
liam Wallen ofVirginia.
The most interesting nuptial ceremony
that ever took place In the White House,
and within the realization of the many,
was that of Miss Nellie. the only daughter
Of the late President Grant, which event
transpired on the 2lst OF May, 1874, she
marrying Algernon Sartoris.