Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-01

An interesting romance brought the parents
Of Mrs: Davis to the browning happiness of
their lives - the marriage tie. Miss Anna
Dixon, who was born IN Marlborough, Scot
land, was the daughter of Margaret Malcolm. a
descendant of the noted Malcolm clan of the
DAYS of Wallace. +. T. Agnew was born In
Glasgow. His grandfather was Sir Andrew
Agnew. Of that ancient family of Norman orr
gIn which held for many generations the office
of hereditary sheriff of the County Wigtown.
Lieut.. Gen. Sir Andrew Agnew commanded the
kings troops at Blair castle and governor
OF TenmOuth castle in l7i7. Young Agnew n
Scotland was in love with the beautiful Scotch
maiden. Their love had sprung up amid the
youthful associations of school days. When
Anna Dlxon's parents came to America young
Agnew ran away from home and followed her
to Minnesota. He renewed his suit and strove
hard 20 win the consent of her parents. He
had not much to offer in the way of worldly
possessions, but at length his suit was success
ful and his marriage took place in 1852. when
the object OF his affections was but sixteen
years Of age. Miss Dixon at the time of her
marriage and afterward was noted as the most
beautiful woman in Minnesota. After brief
married life OF five or SIX years Mrs. Agnew
suddenly came to her death by kick from a
horse. She left three beautiful children
Anna, Margaret and Minerva. As the mother
possessed means in her own right the children
were placed in the care of a widowed aunt
jeanette Agnew Miller.
The Dixon estate, near Fort Smelling. was
one of the most beautiful in the northwest and
Its proprietor. the grandfather OF Mrs. Davis.
was intimate with the distinguished officers of
the army who had served at that fort in those
early days when that the frontier of the
vast northwestern territories. The guardian
hunt of the three orphan daughters believed
IN the Scotch idea of making girls useful in
life. she sent Anna, the eldest. to the school
OF the Convent OF the Visitation at st. Louis
and had her instructed in music and painting
At thirteen she finished her school days and
returned TO ST. Paul. Here she continued her
musical studies on the piano and in harmony
and at the same time. at fourteen wears of age.
began giving lessons in music-vocal and In
strumentai. Among the popular songs of
those days was beautiful mezzo-sOprano
adaptation of Mrs. BrOwnIng'S poem "A Years
SPINNING. Miss Anna N. Agnew was the SUBJ
1ect OF this interesting romance in real life.
In the midst OF her duties as a teacher of mn
Sic Miss Agnew wrote several poems that en-
titled Words Spoken Long Ago" possessing
unmlstabable merit. Judging from the atten-
ton II attracted in print. About
lslo Miss Agnew was engaged to teach q class
at bloomington, twenty miles from st. Paul
and went there twice a month for that pur-
pose. She made her home while there at her
uncle's residence.
Upon one occasion ex-Gov Cushman +
Davis was guest at this hospitable home. 1t
was his custom TO go there for a few DAYS fish
ing as a relaxation from business. Upon this
occasion be saw picture of the beautiful niece
among the attractions of the parlor. The
ex-governor, STRUCK with the wOmanly
beauty reproduced in the silent portraiture
inquired as TO the name OF the person. and be-
ing told by the host that il was his niece he
expressed a desire to meet the young lady,
Soon after the ex-governor happened to time
his fishing visit to be there when his hosts
niece was on her periodical visit of instruction
TO her pupils at bloomington. They were in
troduced and the year 1850, nearly two wears
after their first meeting, witnessed their union
by the impressive Episcopal ritual. in which
church the brides parents worshiped and in
which she had been baptized and confirmed,
The ensuing seven years were passed at their
beautiful home in ST. Paul
In 1851, Ex-Governor Davis having been
raised TO the United States Senate Mrs Davis
entered that select social sphere in which she is
prominent Her home is one of the most at
tractlye IN Washington. Her beauty and ac-
cOmpllshments make her welcome guest upon
all occasions. In her own home may be seen
the products OF her artistic skill in handling
The brush. She Is a superior performer on the
piano and guitar and sings with a voice full Of
power and melody. Her musical compositions
are evidences of her genius The addition of a
new composition to her list is now engaging her
leisure moments. Mrs. Davis is ready in con-
SersatIon and lmpresses every one with the
gentleness and yet the strength OF her per-
sonality.
William Drew Washburn, while STUDYING law
after his graduation in 1854 in the office of
Judge Peters, the present chief Justice of the
state OF Maine. made the acquaintance of Miss
Lizzie NJ. Muzzy at Bangor. The father of
the young lady, Franklin MuZzy was a man of