The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-01-25
PRESIDENTIAL POVERTY,
HARD-PUsHED DESCENDANTS OF
SOME PRESIDENTS.
JeTersOn's Granddaughter Dies in
P0verty-Tyler's Children-Esu-
mates of Presidential Wealth.

Abiding to the fact that niece OF |
Andrew Jackson's recently had to beg |
for a nights lodging in Washington /
hotel, New York World correspondent |
says;
Thomas Jefferson's grand daughter,
Septima Meikleham, died here recently,
leaving several grand children to battle
with the world. One of her sons, owing
to severe sickness, is not at all strong
mentally. One of her daughters il not
well enough to work, and the other Is
employed in one of the Government dc
paltments. Another great-grand.daugh
ter of jefferson has charge of a school IL
Baltimore, and Monticello has long since
passed out of the hands of the family
Just before jefferson died he was so
m ich in debt that lottery scheme wa
gotten up to sell his property and relieve
his necessities. He left practically
nothing to his children, and they re
ceived some two sums of $40, 900 each
from the Legislatures of two OF the
Southern States.
John Tyler left some property, but 1t
all went to his second wife. One OF his
sons, General John Tyler, who drove a
four-in- hand while his father was in the
White House, and who was then called
the handsomest man in Washington, lives
on a position in the Treasury depart
ment.sand one of Tyler's most accom-
plished daughters, lady who presided
over the Executive Mansion after her
mothers death and until her father mar
ried Julia Gardner, is guest at Cor
coran's Old aides Home here. A man
who claims to be one of the Washington
family, and who, by the way, has ia e
strikinglv like that of the President,
peddles trinkets in little booth in the
Pension building. Dolly Madison, the
Presidents wife, was, during part
of her last days, furnished food by
colored man WHO had been in PRESIDENT
Madisons service. She got however,
large sum of money from Congress for
Madisons papers, and it was this that
eased her declining years.
Most of the Presidents have died poor,
and few of them have made much out OF
ofice-holding. Monroe was so poor that
his latter days were spent with his son
| in-law, Samuel l.. Gouverneur, IN New
York, and there he died. Harrison lett
nothing to speak of. Polk left about
$50, 900, including Polk Place at Nash
vile, where his widow now lives. 1t is
a valuable block of ground in the center
of the town, which has risen largely in
value since the Presidents death.
Martin Van Buren, made money
out OF politics. He started life poor and
! died well-to do. One estimate puts his
estate at $500, 900, and he made money
in real estate as well as in the law. Both
of the Adamses were money savers, II
not money makers. The letters of John
Adams, the second President to his wife
Abigail, repeatedly urged her to cut dow
the household expenses and to practise
economy. He lunched himself on oat-
cake and lemonade, and he walked far
oftener than he rode.
John Quincy Adams received nearly
half million dollars from the Govern
mcnt in salaries during his lifetime, and
he possessed the Yankee thrift The
Adams fami v at present is one OF tho
richest in New England, and | was told
at Kansas City that Charles ranclS
Adams had more than a million dollars
invested in real estate there. He has
railroad stocks and bonds in addition,
and he makes his money breed like Aus
tralian rabbits.
AuNlCN obSNo'h SBNhh 'AiSiN N''NAN N@''
salary while he was in the White House
and he had TO borrow money to keep uT
with his exrenses. Thomas Jefferson
borrowed the money that carried him ouI
of Washington when he left the Presi
dency, and Andy Johnson, though he en-
tertained considerably, is supposed tC
have saved at least $40, 600 during hi
VIII te House career. He died, am told
worth about 800, 600, and the most ot
this came from economy. 1t was pretty
good estate for tailor to leave. jane
Buchanan was making about $1,000 !
year at the law when he entered Con
gress, and he spent during his Presi
dency what was left from his living eX
peuses in charity. He was not, how
ever, a rich man when he died, and hi
estate of Wheatlands was sold year o.
two ago.
President Fillmore began life as {
wool-carder. During the three years h,
was engaged to his sweetheart he had mo-
enough money TO pay the expenses of th'
hundred and fifty miles which lay be
tween her home in Saratoga County n
T., and where he had begun to practic'
law. During the liist year of their mar
riage his wife did the housework ant
taught school, and still he died one o
the richest of the Presidents. Th,
greater part of his fortune, however
came from his second marriage to a ricl
woman of Buffalo, whom he cOurted afte
his inst wife d ed
President G eveland is supposed to b,
worth about $780, 600, and he owns, l an
told, real estate in Buffalo which j.
rapidly advancing in vaue. Presiden
Arthur left much less than he was sup
posed to he worth. Garfield, shortly be
fore his death owed So, 600 to Genera
Swain, and Grant did not add to hi
fortune by his White House career
Hayes made money out of the Presidency
and is rich through inheritances anC
economy The Presidents, as rule
have not saved money during their Presl
drncy; but the same abilities whicl
made them Presidents would, if they haC
been used in the field of money maxim.
AMI money saving, have given them for