The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-04
THE STRicKEN FAMILY.
Mrs. Tracy's Life Made Useful by
Many Good Works.

WASHINGTON, February 3.-The Tracys
are of New England extraction. The great
grandfather OF the present head, one of the
first to shoulder musket in the cause of in
dependence, fell with Warren on the sacred
soil of Bunker Hill. The Catlins, On the
maternal side, are descendants from Captain
Daniel Broadhead. who served with Cover
nor Nichols in 1864, in the expedition under
the Duke of York against the Dutch in
America, and upon the surrender of their
possessions to the English settled in Ulster
county, n. Y. This head of noted Ameri-
can name belonged to an ancient Yorkshire
Among his descendants were Daniel Broad
head, brave soldier of the Revoluti on,
friend of Washington and member of the
Society of the Cincinnati; and of a lat er
generation, John Romeyn Br0adhead, the
scholar and historian, deceased, who was
cousin OF Mrs. Tracy.
MIR. Tracy, in 1858, having begun succ ess-
full career in politics by defeating the
Democratic candidate for District Attor-
ney In a Democratic county, subsequently
served IN the Legislature, and in 1862 went
into the military service as Cononel OF the
18th New York Volunteers, distinguish
ing himself In the battles of the Wilderness
and at Spottsylvania. Having been trans
1erTed to the command of regiment of
colored troops, he was stationed near his
home and family while in command Of the
rebel prison camp at Elmira. At the close
OF the war, having formed a partnership
with New York law firm, Mr.. Tracy re-
moved with his family to that city, making
his home IN Brooklyn, but he retained his
laml'y seat near bis native town OF Oswego.
This, home, known as "Marshland." was
noted for its beauty. The prominence of
Secretary Tracy In the professional and
political circles OF New York and Brooklyn
nence in the highest walks of the social life
Of the great METROPOLIS and its municipal
offspring.
Mrs. Tracy was most gracious and esti-
mable LADY When her husband was called
Brooklyn where she had lived for many
years, and had beeh identified with the char
tiles of that charitable city. Her coming to
to the capital meant as much, in the Lady
Bountiful sense. as Mrs. Whitney's ar
one of the founders Of the "home for frend,
less children" in her own city, and for years
was one of its most helpful patrons. She
was above medium height, with delicate
cameo complexion. and face trimmed in the
prettlest gray halr' ,S,e Sne dressed well, but
of woman Of the colonial days. She liked
small entertainments where few people old
friends if possible. met. Her house in
Brooklyn was meeting place for the we'll
known people, OF henry Ward Beecher's
church when that famous minister was liv-
ing. Mrs. Tracy's maiden name was Delin-
da E.Catlin. She was the sister of Gen. Cat
lin, prominent Brooklyn lawyer. She was
a highly cultured woman, very fond of books
OF late years Mrs. Tracy has been quite an
invalid, and therefore relied almost entirely
upon her eldest daughter, Mrs. Wilmerding;
In 1875 Miss Emma Louisa Tracy, while still
Ferdinand Suydam Wilmerding. son Of VIII
| liam d. Wilmerding, a scion of the purest
blood of the Knickerbockers. The second
| daughter of the Secretary of the NAVY. Miss
Mary Harrington Tracy. was a gifted artist.
| She studied three years at Paris under the
celebrated French painter, mniF. Charles Champ
Yale and the Columbia Law School Secre,
tary Tracy sold his beautiful place at Marsh.
land soon after he was appointed to a cabi.
| net place, and invested the money realized
| in the residence mere which was DESTROYED
| by fire today.