Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-20

When President Harrison was looking over
tile country for men of experience in public
affairs. and at the same time possessing the
cId-ntal advantage Of geographical location,
the name OF John = GARRISON was prominently
associated with the prospective composition of
the new ministry. If the republicans OF the
state OF Iowa and the chairman of the national
committee had had the selection Mr.. Clarkson
would have been member of the present cabi-
net and Mrs Clarkson would have graced that
distinguished circle at the capital But consd-
erations which the President could not control.
chiefly. there being too many pegs for the sup
ply of cabinet holes forced him to omit the
Iowa statesman in the distribution of first
places. but he fastened TO avail himself of his
hbllltes ana experience IN an office more diff
cult TO nil than cabinet minister, that of first
assistant acknowledgement. The detail work
OF rehaOilltatlng a civil army of over 60. 900
pOstmasters requires political and administra-
tive generalship of the highest order. The So
elety people of Washington will find in the wife
of the first assistant pOstmaster-general lady
who will in every way honor the social life of
the administration and will be a leader in the
second rank in the scale of statutory dignities.
Mrs Clarkson Miss Anna Clarinda
Howell named after her two aunts. and daugh-
ter Of DIR. j. q. Howell, formerly of Spring
field. Ohio. She was born at UrbRnna in the
same state. where her father was practicing
medicine at the time of that domestic event.
Owing to the death of her mother she
reared by her aunt. Mrs. Judge Halsey, of
Springfield, Ohio. Her father removed to
Pella. a settlement founded by company of
Hollanders. and so named as place of refuge
commemOratlng an event of bible history.
Upon reaching the age of fourteen. Miss
Howell, who had now grown to be beautiful
girl. left the home of her childhood and Joined
her father at Pella, where he had built up
lucrative practice. She very soon after entered
81.
Holland settlers, and there acquired. a liberal
education.
ENGAGEMENT AND MARRIAGE
DIR. Howell having remarked, his second wife
was cousin to Mr.. GARRISON. II was through
this circumstance that the young people met,
and being brought frequently into each others
society. there grew up that mutual respect and
confidence which often leads to love and mat
rlmOny. In 1867 their nuptials took place at
ieIla, but the young couple went to Des Moines
to make their home. Here Mr. GARRISON and
his wife were associated with the social life of
the capital of that growing commonwealth
The original home of Mrs. Clarkson's ancestors
was Virginia. Her mother, who was Eliza Hem
kle. was a daughter of Saul Henkle. one of the
pioneers of Methodism in the west when Ohio
was wilderness.
THE ANCESTRAL STOCK
was conspicuously identified with Lutheran and
Wesleyan theology for several generations. Paul
Henkle, native of Rowan county, North Caro-
lima, born in colonial days, 1854. was a descend
ant of Gerhardt, court preacher in Germany.
and one of the earliest ministers who came to
America, settling at Germantown. Pa. in l740
PauTs father removed to North Carolina but
in 1850. driven from his home by the hostility
of the Catawba Indians, took refuge in the
western part of Virginia. Paul was converted
in 1776 by Whitfield and ordained Lutheran
preacher at Philadelphia in 1892. Being an ex-
pert hunter and pioneer, he traversed North
Carolina and Virginia. establishing churches
In the first decade of the century he made