The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-06-03
WHITE HOUSE LADIES.

The approaching marriage Of Miss
Folsom with President Cleveland lends
a romantic if not an absorbing interest
TO pass in review the ladies who have
presided in the White house. a Century
Of bright women, from Martha Wash
ington to Rose Cleveland. The Phila-
delphia Times furnishes chapter of
this character collated in such form as
to present facts both interesting and
new even to careful readers of the his.
toric annals of the country. Washing
ton, it is we'll known, married long be-
fore he became President or even Gen.
eral Of the army. He met the lovely
widow Custis at the Virginia Legisla-
ture. Mrs. Washington presided over
the Executive household at the seat OF
in New York then in
this city. with good deal of formality.
Their house in this city was one rented
from Robert Morris, on Market street,
between Fifth and Sixth. It was here
the Friday levces were held and the
rules were very rigorous.
The first Presidents wife was born a
Jones, that of the second Smith
Abigail Smith-so the Republic, SO far
as the domestic head of it was con-
cerned. was ushered in with certain
democratic simplicity. John Adams
married his wife when she was 20, and
her father, who was clergyman,
preached sermon on the SUNDAY after
the weddings a historic old chest
nut rclates-from the text. John came
neither eating bread nor drinking wine,
and We yay he hath devil" During Adj
am 5 term of Office in 1900 the Govern
ment was removed to Washington.
Mrs. Adams was the first Lady of the
White House, but she never liked i,
and lived there altogether but four
months. Her picture by Gilbert Stu
art. represents her as cheerful an,
not Misunderstanding woman Of 80
with cap aud ringlets of curls wreath
iag the edge.
Jefferson went into the White House
a widower Of nineteen years standing,
and his diary lately published by John
Bigelow shows he understood thor.
oughly the domestic economics which
were necessary in the matter of pro-
viding for the wants of the mansion
and its inequalities. His wife was th,
widow Of Bathurst Shelton. Virginia
gentlcman, and the daughter of Johu
Wayles of Charles City county, Vir.
ginia. She was said to be a beautiful
woman, and Jefferson to have won hcl
over other suitors through his musical
voice and ability to play the violin.
Dolly Madison was one of the mos,
popular of the White House women, il
We believe tradition, and yet she Ger.
tainly was not pretty. if Prudhomme's
engraving from the picture Of Herring
is to be accepted, with the queer tur
ban, profusion of ringlets, large
nose, and positive mouth
There is, however, a glimpse of {
pretty rounded arm and classic nccl
through the lace and drapery that per
haps may have combined with her vel
attested tact and vivacity to hay,
given her the reputation she certainl,
enjoys among the Presidents wives
She was an f. +. ", Dorothy Payne
although born in the Pine Tree State
and in early life her parents lived her
and Dolly actually Joined the Societ
of Friends in this city, although n
doubt rising young Quaker lawyer
one John Todd, whom she married
had something to do with this. Tod'
died and left her widow with on
son, SO Dolly set her cap for some fin
looking young members Of the Cor
gress then wont to come to Philadel
phia to transact the public bushes
and in 1894 married James Madison
one Of the most talented of the body
Mrs. Monroe was the daughter Of
British army officer named Cartwright
distant relations of the Philadelphia
Cartwrights. who settled in New Yor
after the peace of 1888. She was on
of four girls. One of these marie
Mr.. Heyliger, Grand Chamberlain t
the King Of Denmark; another Mi
Knox OF New York city, whose onl
daughter was the wife Of the late Ale,
ander Hamilton, son of Alexandt
! Hamilton. the first Secretary of til
Treasury; third married Nichols
Gouyerneur, of New York, and til
fourth Senator James Monroe Of Vel
gjnia afterward President.
The first White House wedding wa
that of President Monroe's yOunge!
daughter. who married her cousin
Samuel L. Gouverneur. in 1920
took place in the East Room, and wa
a Knickcrbocker affair, stylish an
high-toned for the day. A number {
brilliant receptions in Washingto
/ were rendered to the bridal couple
and the cards were out for yer
swell one by Commodore Essex
Porter and wife, when it had to b
given mp, owing TO the untimely deaf
| of Commodore Decatur, killed b
Barron in duel. The dead office
| had given the yonng couple brilliar
| party but few days before at his ow
home. An older daughter of Presidcr
Madison married Judge George Ha
of Richmond. Hortensia Hay,
beautiful girl, daughter of this mattel
was the wife of Lord Rogers of Bait
more. whom old society people Of TIL
city remember. Lady Rogers died i
Paris, and is buried in Pere Ia Chais,
Most persons who have read the vo
aminous diary of the ''old man elo
| quent" know more or less of Louis
Catherine Adams, his wife. She wa
the daughter of a Marylander name
johnson, who lived in London durin
the Revolution, where she was born