Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-22

Mrs. Eliza Winters Miller, the senior lady
among the wives of the associate Justices goes
back in her social experiences in Washington
to 1862. Both her parents were of English
birth. Her father. Rev. John Winters, Bap-
list minister. was native of Bristol. and her
mother was of Scotch family, OF New Castle
on-Tyne. Mrs. Miller was born in Butler coun-
ty. Pa. where her father held the pastorate of
the Baptist church of Zelianople. SO named
after the wife of the proprietor Of that pictur-
esque post hamlet.
During the family perigrinations in
eident to an ecclesiastical vocation
of Lucretia Rudolph, afterwards the wife of
James A. Garfield, twentieth President of the
United States. While residing at Warren. Ohio.
with her parents. Miss Winters first met Lewis
Reeves. a young lawyer of ambition, who was
fortune and a name. Not many years after the
young lawyer, then in comfortable circum-
stances and with large practice, returned east
to offer his hand and his fortune to his school
girl love. They were married, and Lewis Reeves
and his bride returned to KeOkuk During
their brief courtship. when casting their lot in
life together was the serious thought be-
tween them. the sutton told of his success
and OF his desire to find partner
to share the labors of his increasing profess
sional obligations; He mentioned two young
men who had applied to him. One was Sam
Miller. young kentuckian. and the other
Charles Phelps (brother of the minister to
England), young Vermonter. From the de-
scription given of the two young men, the pros
pective matrimonial partner OF Lewis Reeves
lntuitvely favored Miller. Miss Eliza Winters
became Mrs. Lewis Reeves and Samuel F. Mil
Ter became the junior member Of the law firm
OF Reeves Miller. Keokuk, Iowa. This was in
lsi5. The welded couple were happy and the
law nrm was prosperous. Less than ten years,
however, brought a sad change. Lewis Reeves.
stricken with fatal malady, died, leaving his
estate IN the care of his partner in business for
the enjoyment of his widow.
During the nine years which interviewed the
junior partner Of the law firm married Miss
Baiiinger, OF the historic Kentucky family of
that name. One year after the death Of MIR.
Reeves Mrs. Miller also died Three wears later
Samuel T. Miller and the widow OF his business
partner were married. at the home Of her
brother, In Illinois, and returned to Keokuk,
where their old friends heartily welcomed
them: When the people Of Iowa rendered Con-
gressional honors to her husband Mrs. Miller
invariably said: There is but one place will
consent TO his accepting; and that is seat on
coin rendered to Samuel F. Miller the place of
his own and his wife's ambition.
mrs. Miller has been prominent in the dis
tinguished circles of the administrations of
Lincoln, johnson, Grant, Hayes. Arthur, and
notable ladies who figured in the DAYS of the
war and in the establishment of the new
regime. Her home, in one Of the fashionable
localities OF the city, il one of the favorite
establishments at which the social world
gathers on court ladies' days.
Mrs.. FIELD.
The blindfolded goddess il not q politician,
but If the Supreme Court were to be consid-
cred with reference to usual party lines Mrs.
Field would be the senior lady Of the demo-
cratic and Mrs. Miller would be the senior of the
republican wing Of the court. Both their hus-
bands have been prominently named by the ire
speetive parties for presidential nomination,
which in itself was an evidence Of tie regard
public services. Mrs. Field 10 Of Nolland ex-
traction. She was Miss Sue virRih Swear
ingen, a descendant Of tzfsmous
and ancient family of the Hagu1y = the
European descendants still live. Htss par