The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-04-14
THE YuLEE FAMILY.



FLORIDA Herald.
A statement Of the origin and history Of
this family, from Washington corre-
spondent, has been so widely quoted by
the press, snd particularly in the State Of
Florida, with whose history Hon, DavidS.
Yulee is SO closely identified, that we vio-
late no privacy by some corrections and
by the statement Of additional facts, which
are obtained from the most authentic
sources. Soma Of our older citizens can
confirm them.
The statement that the grandfather Of
Mr.. Yulee was Grand Vizier Of Morocco,
and that he detected conspiracy Of his
son TO dethrone him, is correct. Upon the
succession Of the son TO the throne the
Grand Vizier was not beheaded, but
knowing well what fate would be re-
served for him, he fed with his family to
| Gibraltar.
The family consisted of q son and daugh-
ter, Moses E. and Rachael. The Grand
Vizier died in Gibraltar. Upon his death
Moses and his sister emigrated to the
island Of st. Thomas in the West Indies.
While living here, the island was visited
| by Mr.. Joshua BeB Elisha, who fell In love
with the beautiful Rachel. He was, how
ever, compelled to adopt the patriarchal
term Of ordeal, and waited seven years.
His fidelity having been thus proved,
Rachel married him.
The meaning of Ben Elisha is "son of
Elisha" which, according to the Jewish
Talmud, was the Hebrew name Of the
Apostle Paul. The genealogy Of certain
| Jewish families, however, as belonging to
the "Sephardin," or learned men, is trace
able to greater antiquity than the Eu-
ropean nobility, who only date from the
Crusades. Among them are the families
of d'Israeli, d'Acosta and Ben Elisha. The
Ben Elisha family assumed the more Gu
phonious spelling Of Ben Lisa, Of which
one member resides in the State Of Flor
ida.
Moses <. Levy married Miss Abendanon,
Jewish lady, in England. He moved
from st. Thomas to Florida about the year
1915 with his son, David L. Levy. He was
gentleman Of excellent position and Of
literary accomplishments, and received
several grants from the Spanish Govern
ment. He died In st. Augustine In 1850,
and is buried there.
Upon arriving at his majority; his son
had his name changed by act Of the Legis-
Iature of Florida to the original name Of
the family, Yulee. The principal cause Of
the change to Levy was apprehension Of
thevengeance OF the Government Of Moroc-
co, which had interdicted the entrance Of
any member Of the family into Morocco
on pain Of death.
The Grand Vizier was q Moor by birth
and ancestry, and educated in the Moham-
medan creed. Being a man Of studious
habits, he became convert TO the Hebrew
faith, and transmitted his own convictions
10 his descendants, many Of whom have
been marked by a similar inquisitiveness
into spiritual beliefs, and similar inde-
pendence in their assertion.
Early in the century Senior Monsanto, a
Spanish gentleman visited the palaces
which had been owned by the Grand vi.
zier in Tripoli, Tunis, Tetuan, Mogadore
Salee aud ,Fez, and described them as be-
ing specimens Of mammoth magniAcenc,
| III Architecture anu eulDelllbnmenb, Ju'
walls covered with wainscotting and pan,
/, els Of mahogany and other costly woods
inlaid In the marquetry In silver and gold
When Mr.. Yulee married Miss Wycliffe
daughter Of the Postmaster General Of
the United States, she was one OF the bellies
and beauties of Washington City. She
was a noble specimen Of the bluegrass
region Of Kentucky, of commanding height
and figure, with features Of beautiful con-
tour. Her manners were gracious, simple
and engaging. Her children have Inherit
ed much Of the grace and beauty Of the
mother, with the intellectual traits Of the
father. They are the great-grandchildren
of a Moorish Vizier Of the Emperor Of
Morocco, the grandchildren Of dis
tinguished member Of the United States
Cabinet, and the children Of a United
States Senator. They combine the Arab
blood In that OF the Hebrew and English
cavalier.