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

The sudden death of Chief Justice Waite
placed in temporary elevation to the acting
chief justiceship, Senior Associate Miller, dur
ing which time Mrs. Miller was the leading
lady of the court circle. The succession after
many DELAYS was restored in the direct line by
the confirmation of the nomination of Melville
Weston Fuller. of Illinois. The leadership of
the social surroundings of the court SO well
filed by Mrs. Waite for thirteen years then
passed to the wife of the new Chief Justice.
Mrs Mary Ellen Coolbaugh Fuller, who is now
the first lady of the third coordinate branch
of the government. is the daughter of William
+. Coolbaugh. native OF Pennsylvania. but
one of the early settlers of Iowa. He went to
that state when it was still In the condition of
territorial subordination, and settled at Bur-
lington. His grandfather settled in the early
part of the century in Monroe county. then on
the frontiers of Pennsylvania, at a point on
the old stage road, along the west bank of the
upper Delaware, between Stroudsburg and
Port Jervis. The post hamlet of Coolbaugh-
ton, now in Pike county, is on the old family
estate, which is still held by the descendants
The Coolbaughs of Monroe and Pike have
been prominent in Pennsylvania politics for
three generations. The grandfather was
Jeffersonian, the father a Jacksonian, and the
younger brother of Mrs. Fuller's father a
Tilden democrat The three generations were
conspicuous in both branches Of the state leg
islature. the last-named having voted for Wal
progressive element of his party.
The eldest daughters, Grace and Maud and
Mary, are in society and are already great
favorrites among the young people. Miss Grace
Is petite blonde. of a retiring disposition. but
entertaining in conversation, and of ready wit
Miss Maud is tall and graceful and vivacious.
She is quick in conversation and very engag-
ing. Miss Mary has decided genius for music
She has already given year to the study of
the melodious art at the conservatory of music
at Berlin. and the day after New Years the
brave young woman will take steamer, with
only such acquaintances as she may meet. to
rejoin her friends at Berlin. where her old
apartments are awaiting her. and will devote
the next two years to the cultivation of her gift.
Miss Mildred. the fourth daughter. il a senior
at Wells college. Mrs. Clevelands alma mater
She stands high in her studies, having an ex-
cellent mind. Next season will witness her
debut into the social world of the capital The
fifth daughter. Pauline. in her middle teens. is
bright maid, self-pOssessed. and of classic
face and form. She will be belle about the
latter part of the new administration. The
younger daughters. Catherine, Jane and Fam
ME, are yet in the ages of younger girlhood.
Weston, the young man of the family. foOts
the list in years, but is in fact the most self
consciously important member of the house.
hold of the Chief Justice.
Mrs. Fuller. amid the cares of her large
family. has always been prominent in social
life. She is a well-preserved type Of middle
age womanhood. She has pensive expression
of countenance. but is animated in conversa-
ton. Her drawing-rooms have already become
the resort of the most fashionable in Washing
ton society.
Mrs. Fuller was born at Burlington just as
Iowa was merging into the sovereign relations
of statehood. and in 1866 married Mr.. Fuller at
her Iowa home. Later in life her father re-
moved to Chicago and became president Of the
Union national bank of that city, which posi-
ton he held at the time OF his death.
The domestic circle of Mrs. Fuller is made
exceedingly happy and interesting by the
presence OF six daughters and one son of her
own and two daughters of the Chief Justices
first wife. Colesta o. Reynolds whom he married
in 1853.