Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-30

possible discovery of missing links in The
annals of Michigan and the great North
| west, the facts came out. The story as she
tells it, runs substantially as follows:
1T was born 70 years ago last March. Oul
family includes many famous names. Ny
maiden name was Reauff That is taken
from my grandfather's name, ReaufanoE
My grandfather was a giant, both physic.
ally and intellectually. He was over seven
feet in height, and he weighed about $50
pounds He was a native of Russia He
was the firm friend of Alexander I, and
when the opportunity came he was made
commander-in-chief of the whole Russian
army. Europe has had but one general
since then that could in any way compare
with him, and that was Count Won Moltke.
My grandfather was sort Of tutor to Won
Moltke, and it is no doubt due to the les
sons in military tactics which he gave him
that the latter attained such great success.
Alexander II, Won Moltke and my father
were sent to school together, and were in
separable friends
AN ESTATE IN HOLLAND.
GAS reward for his services, Emperor
Alexander gave grandfather vast estate
of eight or ten thousand acres in the terri
tory which he had helped the French to
win. The old general resigned his position
in the army and moved to the new possess
sions, which became part of Holland. He
had his sons complete their courses at Zu-
rich, each of them taking up the study of
mining engineering. My father wooed and
won niece of Paul the Emperor; she was
also a niece of Peter the Great. am their
child, and hence a grandniece of those great
rulers
"But didn't tell you how the Reauffs
came to leave Holland, did I? Well, the
waSbetween the French and English broke
out as partial result of the war of 1872,
and the conflict of the merchant vessels Of
the two nations. Grandfather was still
strong and energetic, although nearly 80
years of age. He owed considerable to the
French Government, and he promptly Joined
its army. He was an old friend of 'Napol-
cons and the latter made him one OF his
greatest generals. He was finally taken
prisoner along with Napoleon and the rest
of the French. Napoleon was exiled to st.
Helena, and grandfather was given his
choice Of going with him or going to
America, besides having his vast estates
confscated. For his children's sake he
came to America
THE FAMILY IN PENNSYLVANIA.
'He brought all his sons with him and To-
Gated with the rest of the Dutch in Pennsyl.
vania and New jersey. Then grandfather
aud one of my uncles moved into Philadel-
phia, where they lived on Chester street
until the old man died in 1884. He was
then 10Y years of age. was 13 years old
when he died, being the youngest one of my
fathers family.
"My father and uncles became very active
In prospecting. They worked all over the
State. One Of them acquired competence,
and settled down for the remainder of his
life in Baltimore. Another became the
head of great iron company, with head
quarters in New York. think 1t was the
Holland Iron Company. The one in Phila-
delphia took care of grandfather until the
latter died. There are plenty Of Reauff de-
scendants in all these cities and scattered
around in their vicinities.
: "When I was 16 years of age was grad.
uated from the convent. was as highly
educated as one of that age could be in
those days. suppose was accomplished,
too, for I could play nearly every instru-
ment there was, could paint pretty well and
do many other things.
CATER graduated lived with my uncle
right along. Then one day he got letter
from Detroit, Mich, from Mr.. Mason, who
had been chosen Governor, making a propo-
sition to him to prospect in the upper pen
insula Of Michigan, and ascertain If the re-
ports were true as to its mineral wealth.
My uncle accepted the trust, and the next
summer he moved up there.
'T had not been in Detroit long when he
was visited by Governor Mason, old Judge
and others. Among them was
Mr. Pierce, who was appointed Superin-
tendent of Public Schools by the Governor.
He is the man who founded Michigan's ex-
.al
of every township in the State for public |
fund. They came up to see how uncle was
getting along with his work. One Sunday |
afternoon, when Supposed they were all
away somewhere, got out my guitar and |
was singing the German to what you call |
Home, Sweet Home My uncle sent for
ne to come into the parlor, and there sat
,he Governor and all the gentlemen.
HUSBAND WITH A GUITAR.
was presented to them, and Mr.. Mason
'aid he had heard the singing, and wanted
% hear more of it. 1t was a long time be-
ore 1 would consent sung two or three |
iongs, and then they went away, but Mr..
Mason watched me all the time he was |
here. 1 didn't know what to think. was
.fraid had done something l shouldn't. |
BE came next day. and asked me to sing |
lgain and the same thing the next day. |
Well, it was the same old story We wefe
married about six months after that, and
ettled down to housekeeping at Detroit,
hen the capital of Michigan. He had been
private secretary to Territorial Governor
Porter, and when the latter died in 1885,
Mr.. Mason was left in charge for short
ime, pending the Presidents appointment
Although he was only 20 years old and per-
ectly beardless, he succeeded SO admirably
hat President Van Buren appointed him
Governor.
"My husband is direct descendant OF
me of the oldest families of England. HIS
orefathers were very near to the English
brone at one time The leader Of the |
dason house embarked on the Mayfower