Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-26

father having been a native OF that state Her
mothers family came originally from North
Carolina. Mrs. Bowden was educated in her
native city of Norfolk. In 1875 she became the
wife Of George Edwin Bowden, who, few
years later, was appointed collector of the port
of Norfolk by President Hayes, and held the
Office until the incoming of the late democratic
administration. From the prestige of official
life for SIX years Representative and Mrs
Bowden stepped naturally into the sphere OF
congressional life upon the beginning of new
regime. Mrs Bowden is a lady Of many &C
eompllshments and a charming hostess.
Members OF Representative Bowdens family
have been conspicuous in political life for sew
eral generations. His grandfather was q repre-
sentative in Congress, but within IA month of
taking his seat fell one of the first victims TO
the smallpox scourge which threatened to
drive the government out of the city pending
its raysges. His father. Henry NJ Bowden was
for many years member OF the Virginia Legis-
Iature. and his uncle. Iemuel q. Bowden, in
1864 the chosen Senator of the United
States from Virginia, before the war Of seces-
sion had ceased.
MRS. vESABLE
Mrs. Edward Darlington Venable, wife of the
Representative Of the Petersburg district, who
Was Miss Helen Skipwith Wilmer, was born in
Philadelphia during her fathers pastorate at
81. Marks Protestant Episcopal Church Of that
city After a distinguished career in the ranks
OF the clergy her father raised 20 the
exalted ecclesiastical Office of bishop Of Iouisi-
ana The name of Bishop J. J.. H. Wilmer is a.
household word among the members OF the
Episcopal Church of the United States
Miss Wilmer began her education in Phila-
delphia and finished at New Orleans. She
made her debut n fashionable life at the cres-
cent city and was one Of the queenliest bellies
% that city. famed for the loneliness OF its
daughters. The mother OF Miss Wilmer WAS A
granddaughter Of Sir Grey Shpwith of Crest
valid. Thus celebrated scion OF the British
peerage possessed estates on two continents
that ia Virginia bearing the same name as the
patrlmonlai acres IN old England.
In 1873 the daughter OF Bishop Wilmer be-
came the bride of Edward Darlington VenabIe
The young people met while Nr. Nenable was
residing for a PREF period in New Orleans. In
1876 he returned 20 hIs native state of VIRGINIA
and became "a member Of a prominent firm
bearing his family name. The name of Ven
able Is associated with state and national
affairs since the early DAYS OF the royal colony
and the foundation of American Independence
In her home at Petersburg Mrs. Venable enter
taIns with the abundant hospitality and grace
Ter winch Virginia life has always been pro-
verbal The prominence Of her husband in
party councils gave him wide acquaintance
among The leading men of the state, which
SSs rendered dOubly pleasant by the tact with
which the wife bore her part in the social
phases OF her political surroundings
MIS- Nenabie made her first appearance in
the gay NE OF Washington at the beginning of
the late oinclal season, and attracted about her
by her social gifts . large circle of devoted
friends and admirers
MRS WHEELER
The difficulties incident to the operations
I'm Alabama and Mississippi after the bat
ties of PIttsburg Landing aud Corinth and the
land movement against Jackson and yicksburg
IN 1862 were made doubly realistic to the MIND
OF Gen. Grant by the presence of Whselar,.
cavalry. Joseph Wheeler. q graduate of West
Point and gallant officer in frontier operations
IN New Mexico, had been assigned to the COM
mand OF an army corps of confederate cavalry
To meet the emergencies of these campaigns
snd by his brilliant dashes aud persistent flank
movements contributed in no small degree to
the military experience of the great captain
Who q year after captured vicksburg and eigh-
teen months later brought the war for the
Union TO q close by the occupation Of the con-
fedsrate capital and the surrender of Gen Lee 4
bsttie-seasoned army Of Virginia. At the close
Si the var Gen Wheeler, Ike . good soldier,