Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-12-20
Brandon On the James.


Brandon, the couotry seat Of Col Benja
min Harrison, the father Of Ger. William!
Henry Harrison, is on the james river, about
sixty miles below Richmond. The house s
still the property OF the Harrisons, and is in
ompsra,ively good repair. The present
occupant and owner is the widow Of George
Evelyn Harrison. This lady was Miss I5s
bel Ritchie, the daughter OF the famous
Father Richie, of the Richmond Enquirer
who was called later to the editorship of the
Union, democratic paper started in Wssh.
ington under the patronage of the late w.
W. Corcoran. This Mrs. Harrison, of Bran
don, is an elegant and highly cultivated
woman. Her son, George Evelyn Harrison,
died about five years ego, leaving widow
and four children. She lives on a small es
tate belonging to Brandon. Her Oldest son,
the future heir Of The estate, who Is also
named George Evelyn Harrison, ID now IN
New York studying 10 be an architect. He
is O iiUe young follow, and has chosen this
profession on account OF his own teslo III
this direction. 1t will not 10 necessary,
however, for him 10 work very bard for u
living, as Brandon is slch plantstion, and
the produce il yieid5 brings 8 guud prica III
tho market and amply surpies the !nniiy
with all tEey Detd.
Tho present mietrcss oi BtardoD, Mrs.
Isaoei Ttohie HItiieon, has dsreh:eg,
who, willie shs il perhaps ahoG; orty-live
yeats old is one ol l,lie mo-l beautiful. wouen
n Virginia. Sne Is named fof b~r mother,
Isabel Ritchie She has mad otfera 6y the
score, but, loyal TO the memory VI a gallant
confederate colonial, who bore one o! tie
mos. distinguished names in Nirginia's hia
tory and who WAS shot while leading dts-
nerete charge in one ct thc battles OF North
ern Virginia, she haa lirmy declined ghem
all. Miss Harrison is decided brunette,
with clear olive complexion, U bright color,
large dark eyes and hair, is al accomplish
ed musician ard is something OF an artist.
Her education, like that OF Mrs. Amslio
Rives Chanler, was mostly acquired at home.
She is Sd omUiverous reader, and has spent
much Of her life in the rare old library at
Brandon. She is good politician in q way,
reads ell the papers, and isa democrat ofthe
strictest sort.
About 200 yards from the porch which
fronts toward the river is broad sweep of
the James two miles wide, where the Bran.
don,n trim yacht, is always ready to take
the family and guests of Brandon House for
sail. a broad avenue with an old fashion.
ed border OF box leads from the house to
Brandon wharf On either side of this aven-
ue ia On extensive lawn dotted with flowers,
shrubs, trees, and other ornamental plants.
Two very ancient white marble urns are
about half way between the porch and the
river. In the middle OF the irregular brick
structure is the oldest part of Brandon
House, built OF English brick, for the first
Harrison who settled at Brandon, the father
of Col Benjamin Harrison, the signer of the
Declaration of Independence and the friend
of George Washington. This part is two
stories and a.half high.
Antique dormer windows are on the top
of the slantisg roof and four round brick
columns, somewhat similar to those as Ar
lington, support the roof OF the porches,
which are of the same height as the two
stories and which ornament both the river
and country entrance to the house. It is
named Brandon House after the Duchess of
Brandon, q favorite friend and kinswoman
of the first Harrison of Brandon. Additions
have been made to the house from time TO
time. Two wings connected with the main
building by long halls, one used as billiard
room and the other as ten pin alley, now
constitute the entire house. It contains fif.
teen large rooms. On entering the house
one finds himself in large square hall
hung with stag horns, rusty old swords, an
clent looking guns and other implements of
hunting and warfare. This opens on one
side to drawing room OF magnificent pro-
portions. on the other to au equally large
dining-roo These rooms are filled with
very handsome old furniture, some OF which
antedate the Revolution. The sideboard in
the dining room is weighted down with sill
yer of unique and ancient pattern, some
of it bearing the Harrison coat Of arms.
In these two rooms also are hung great.
er portion of the family portraits. Some OF
these portraits are OF unusual interest and
several were painted from life by Sir Peter
Lely. The collection include5-the WestoveT
portraits. Westoyer, situated somewhat
further down the river, was the country scat
of Col. William Byrd, the sou.in.law of Col.
Benjamin Harrison and husband of the eld-
est sister of General William Henry Rsrri
son. Westover has not been managed as
we'll as the plantation of Brandon, and it
Wss sold to Col. Drury, of Virginia, several
years ago, when the portraits we're taken to
Brandon. Among theae portraits is one OF
the Duke of Albemarle, painted by Sir Peter
Ley, one of Col William Byrd, another OF
the beaulifu! Evelyn Byrd, one Of Virginia's
old.time bellies who died when she was
young lady. Between this portrait and
that OF Lady Betty Cromwell hangs n fine
portrait of Col. Benjamin Herrison, taken
when he wes g delicate. alender.lookirg
young man. On thu opposite wall is por
trait Of Mrs. Col. Benjamin Harrison, VINO
was Miss Julia Randolph. Over the mante
is modern looking portrait OF Mrs. Gid
dings of Baltimore. a kinswoman, painted
by Guillaume. In the dinirg room are
portraits of Lord Fairfax, Sir Robert
Southwell, Sir Robert Walpole. the Duke Of
Orrery, and the Duchess of Brandon. The
walls of both rooms are literally covered