Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-08
JEFF. DAVIS HOUSE.
"REMINISCENCES CONNECTED WITH
IT'S ANTe-eeLLuM HISTORY.
ard ptured Man
tells and Luxurious Furnishing.
Written for tho pispa,ch.i

You have favored your readers with some
passages. from the Memoir OF President
Davis by his accomplished wife. In her
description OF the Confederate "White
House" she writes with admiration about
It's beautiful carara marble maItels, &C.,
and adds:
"Tho tastes and 20 some extent tho occupa-
ttone and habits OF the master OF house, II no
"a in this case assisted the architect IN his do
sign, are built In tho brick and mortar. and like
the matdonis blood Ia TIE great bell they pro-
o q aloud sympathy or war with tnoso whom
II shelters. One felt hero the pleasant sonse OF
being IN tho homo Of q cultivated, liberal, fine
gentleman, and that he had dwelt there In
psaceiul interchange Of Kind Offices with his
neighbors. Tho garden. planted In choTry-.
apple, and poar-treos, sl0ped IN steep terraces
down the hill 70 Join the plain below. To this
garden or pleassnce came always la my mind's
eye lovely woman, seen only by the eye OF
faith as che walked there In maiden medlta-
tion.'
Every old Virginia gentleman Of good social
position who came TO SEQ MS looked pensiyely
cut on the grounds and said with tone OF ten
der regret something like this: This house was
perfect whom lovely Mary Brockenbrough used
70 walk there, singing among the flowers; snd
thcn came a description OF her high step, her
dieniaed mien, her sweet voice. and the other
Rrscos which take hold Of our hearts with gen.
tie touch and hold them with grip OF steel"
She does not seem TO know part of the
history of the house, and as there may
be Others in tho same position it may not
be uninteresting TO give you few items
on that subject.
PRESIDENT BBoCKENBRoUGH.
DR.. John rockenbrough, so long presi-
dent of the Bank of Virginia in this city,
who had that mansion planned and erected,
married a Mrs. Gabrielle Randolph, and
they had no offspring. The lovely Mary
Brockenbrough referred to must have been
her daughter, the celebrated and fascina-
ting Mary Randolph, who became the wife
of Mr.. John Chapman, of Philadelphia,
and who died quite eariy-prior, think,
70 the year 1910. l remember meeting Air.
Chapman in Richmond society when he
was widower and was paying his devolrs
to another of our leading bellies. lie dld
not win her. however; she afterwards ac-
cepted a moro distinguished Virginia
widower.
PINE EQUHsTRIENNE,
There was a second daughter. Margaret
Randolph, who became Mrs. Francis A.
Dickens. of Washington city. She also
possessed many attractions, and Ike her
sister Mary, was very fine equestrIenne;;
My father told me of race no once had
with her. She challenged him in such
way that he. despite his greater age, could
not back out. During the contest she lost
her riding hat and the fastenings of her
hair 80 that her long tresses fell down ana
were streaming in the wind. THIS only
melted her the more; she urged on her
steed, and crying out, Come on, Doctor.
here goes Pocahontas," dashed ahead OF
him and won the race.
There was also third daughter, who be-
came Mrs. Albert White. She lived mostly
in Washington, but was married here, at
her mothers, and ! witnessed the cere-
mony. Mr.. White was United States SEN
ator from the State Of Indiana.
SO much for the maidens who enjoyed
and adorned the old Brockenbrough man
sion and its environments. Now Tor the
mansion itself.
Mr.. MoRsoN THE OWNER.
| DR.. Brockenbrough removed from Rich
mond to the Warm Springs and early IN
the year 1874 sold his residence here. 80
| that about eighteen years elapsed between
| that date and the time at which President
Davis and family were domiciled In 1t.
| During that period great changes were
wrought in the building. The purchaser
| of it for $4,000 was Dir. James Nj. Morson,
who was a gentleman of ambition and
| taste and of very liberal views IN regard TO
| their indulgence and qualification: de had
the means and the disposition to have the
| house refitted and furnished IN an ex-
ceptional style He added to it its third
story and had it decorated entirely anew.
| am quito sure that he introduced those
exquisite sculptured mantelpieces. L have
| some recollection of his taking me mp TO
see them and HE other improvements
whilst they were going on, for we had been
intimate friends from our schoolmate days;
| After be took possession OF the remodeiled
edifice he gave very handsome entertain
meuts besides dispensing general reflnedi
! hospitality. Thus the compliment pad
! by Mrs. Davis would apply TO him as well as
| to the original owners and designers. lie
also fusther embell shed the grounds.
oTHEh OWNERS.
When Mr. MorsonFemoved TO his coun-
! try-seat. Dover, in (iOochland county. he
| sold for $4,000 his city residence, In 1S45.
| TO his sister-in-law, who became the wife. of
| the Hon. James A. Seldom. another gentle
man of taste and culture, who was mem:
| Der of Mr.. Davis's Cabinet rs Secretary OF
| War. Air. Morson and MIR. Seldom were
| cousins and were once associated as part
| ners in the practice of law.
Mr.. Seldom also preferreda country resi-
depce and removed to Goochland county.
| In 1857 he sold his city premises TO Mr..
| Lewis ID. Crenshaw for $4,000 and In
June 1861. Mr.. Crenshaw sold them to tho
| city of Richmond for $4,000.
'' VRGNIUs.
Richmond. February Is, 1891.