The Portland daily press., 1888-12-29
A KENTucKY ROMANCE.
Colonel Owen C. Breckinridge's
Strange Matrimonial Career.
IWashinpton Pnst ]

washington P0St.l
A story, the romance of the life of Colonel
Owen c, Breckenridge. comes to light today,
and is causing great sensation throughout
the State. He is a nephew of Congressman
w. G. p. Breckenridge of Kentucky, and a
relative of Congressman Breckenridge of Ar
kansas. For romance and strangeness it is
exceied by few tales of fiction. Colonel
Breckenridge was born and reared in Ken
lucky, and when young man was dashing
brilliant and handsome fellow, a favorite in
the families of the bluest blood ard the
most aristocratc people Of the Blue Grass re-
giOn.
Being of a strongly romantic and poetic
nature, he had not more than reached his
majority before he met. wo0ed aud married
beautiful girl from st. Louis. There being
some opposition on the part of his family. it
is said that he was secretly married, under
the name of Owen. and lived with her most
happily for one year, without his people hav-
ing suspicion OF his marriage A child, a
mothers death. The father heart broken
at his irreparable loss, came back to Ken
lucky, where he remained few years, and
then went to California. His little one, in
the meantime, was placed in the care of the
grandparents N st. Louis. the father con-
tribnting most generously to its support and
education.
In California Mr. Breckenridge, by his wit
and brilllancy, became the social fayorite of
the Pacific slope, and was elected and served
several terms in the Legislature. Two years
alter his first wife's death Mr.. Breckenridge
met the beautiful heiress, Miss Teyis. the
daughter Of Lloyd Tevis, Esq, formerly of
Kentucky and now ten millionaire of Cali
fornia. a courtship followed and they were
married.
All this time the FIRST marriage was kept a
profound secret, and the existenc of daugh-
Ter was, OF course. unknown, she not even
knowing her father by sight and was igno-
rant Of her right name. The second union,
was, like the first, Of comparatively short
duration, for after bearing two children Mrs
Breckenridge died. The second affiiction
nearly killed MIR. Breckenridge, and for some
time he wandered around the world, attempt
ing to forget his sorrow in the excitement of
foreign travel. He. however, returned to
San Francisco several years later and devOt-
ed himself to the practice of law.
His two children by his second wife were
reared and educated by the Tevises, and the
first born was fast maturing in years and
beauty in her far off St. Louis home. 1t is
said that the Teyis family gave Mr.. Breckin.
ridge $4,000 in consideration of allowing
them the full charge of their grandchildren,
and with, this in fortunate business affairs
ana speculation, he made very comfortable
fortune.
1t was seventeen years after his first mar
riage that Colonel Owen Bfockinridge, then
a man of possibly 40 years of age, married
for the third time. But the last chapter Of
the romance-the denouement--came lately.
Mr.. Breckenridge, who is man of fine char
acter, admirable courage and with warm,
impulsive heart, never forgot the little one
the offspring of his first love-and, deter
mined to make all reparation in his power,
went to st. Louis, made himself known to
his daughter, by this time a splendid speci-
men of beautiful womanhood, and told her
Of the past and of his desire TO take her back
home with him. This she readily consented
to do, and father and daughter started for
California. Upon their arrival Miss Breck-
inridse was introduced to her stepmother-
the third Mrs. Breckenridge. 1t is said that
this brought disclosure of the entire his
tory Of the husbands past life, and for some
reason not told, caused separation between
Mr.. breckenridge and his present wife.