The sun., 1893-06-05
ZACHARY TAYI0R'S WIFE.
MRS JEFFERSON DAYS. CORRECTS
SOME MIsSTA7EMENTs AMOUR HER


The General Was Never Farmer. and Was
n Gentle. silent Man, aud Not a Chronic
swearer-Mrs. Taylor Was n Woman OF
Birth and Education, Who Did Not
Smoke n Clay Pipe-Tho Taylor Family.
The liberty OF the press is one OF the sacred
rights of freemen. but liberty trenches on
license when such an article as the following
is uttered by a conservative and dignifled
monthly magazine. A person who signs him
self g. II. Yenowine in the December number
OF 1892 has an article on Louisville" ut the
end OF which is tho following libel upon sew
eral OF Con. Taylor's family. and notably upon
his wife. Tho article has probably not been
promptly answered because tho people OF the
Southwest know Louisville better than any
Southwestern city, aud did not therefore road
the article on Louisville. Thus the attack on
the Taylor family did not meet the eve OF their
friends until after 1t had deeply wounded and
incensed tho children and grandchildren Of
the heroic old ex-P President.
After setting forth that Mary Anderson was
born in Louisville. theiwriter goos on thus:
Tho parents Of President Zachary Taylor
wero virginans. but they settled near the
present city OF Louisville about the year 1875.
1t happened that Zachary Taylor was born in
Virg inia. hut was brought to Louisville when
he was only month or two old. and he grew
to manhood working on his fathers farm. Old
residents have interesting "reminiscences OF
President Taylor and his wife. Mrs. Taylor
seems to have been very domestic. abhorrng
all forms OF society. She was almost crazed
with grief when she learned that she was to
live in tho White House. After The inaugura-
ton she retired to one room. where she spent
all OF her time. refusing to see callers.
T~ku haf har Nm hnpl l.ntb
she lived the life OF recluse. and 1t is
related that the poor. simple old woman
sat in her room day after day smoking iher
pipe and bem gaming her sad fate! Many peo-
pie arc yet alive who claim to have seen her
calmly pulling an old clay pipe. Her Oldest
daughter eloped and married Jefferson Davis,
who was then a young army officer stationed
at Prairie du Chen. Wis. Gen. Tayor's burial
nlace was long neglected. Brars and bram-
bles grew over the grave. tho fences surround
ing it rotted down. and the little family ceme-
tory became thicket."
1t would be hard to have written two para
graphs which contained more errors than
these two which speak OF the Taylor family.
1t Is true that Gen. Taylor was taken to Ken
lucky when very young. and that he grew
to manhood In that state; but that he grew
up working on his fathers farm Is un-
true. That he would have done so with
no loss OF dignity or OF the esteem Of his
fellow citizens is also true. had such service
been necessary to the welfare OF his family:
for. through long life he met every emer-
gency with promptness. zeal. and efficiency.
From this peculiarly came his pseudonym
old Rough and Ready-not because he was
vulgar or rough in mind or manner. but be-
cause he was always ready for any ememer-
gency. and took the rough end OF every en-
counter. He was man OF Creat tenderness
of heart. OF very gentle manner. and so totally
devoid OF self-assertion or any petty vanity
that he undervalued the his greatest achieve
ments. He was n very silent man. but his dig
nifty impressed all who came into his presence.
When people who never knew. but who de-
sire to present Con. Zachary Taylor to those
OF this day. attempt to describe him. it Is
generally In an atmosphere blazing with oaths
and obiurgations. Every man Of Gen. Taylor's
day swore occasionally. perhaps most men do
now: but swearing is less the custom now
than in that day. Both In America and Eng
land men swore even in good society. sixty
years ago. as may be seen by any novel OF that
day. In long and rather close acquaintance.
when the writer saw Gen. Taylor under con-
siderable excitement twice. she had never
heard an oath or even O harsh expression
from his lips: and Jefferson Davis. who served
under him and knew him as son knows
q latuer Always UeCauo luulSntHI when inc
imputation upon Gen. Taylor Of being a chronic
:. The father OF Zachary. 'Tayior. Gen. Richard
served with credit to himse throug out the
war He was connected with James Madison.
ana Sdss
Gen. Hunt Of Texas. Gen. Gaines, the Con ways.
Taliaferros. and many other distinguished Vir-
Cinian families. After the war he removed to
Kentucky. where he served the State by assist
Ing to frame the constitution Of Kentucky.
shelter his family and repel the Indians
the walls Of which were three feet thick.
that she he was @u mai ., Wealth. % at T'hS,s That
day: and for i !hdt day no left ha1dsome ior,
which was through thick woods infested by
hostile Indians. Col: Taylor's house was bar
ricaded many nights against their attacks.
and the intrepid boy had many numerous and
narrow ESCAPES. Indeed. one Of his, school;
yards OF where young Zachary was living.
While Kentucky was in this unsettled state
they are now. nnd the excellent solid educa-
tion young Taylor acquired must have been
achieved under great difficulties and with
plication. so much for his having grown UP
working on his father's farm.
John Sergeant. Gen. Taylor has become an
historical character, and with an unconscious
brightest episodes in the qpnsls M Of tho United
States since the days OF washington II Is
perhaps needless to say more in defence OF
him against the "intsrestlnE remnisceneeS Of
as to our dead hero. A handsome monument
hns been erected to him: and In 1891 the
says. in speaking Of his burial place; Care
and attention can be seen on all sides. and
it is probable that with the one excep- |
tion Of the vault OF the first PRESIDENT
at SIt. Vernon. on the banks Of the Potomac,
mono OF the Executives OF the United |
States lie in more sncred-appearing or
more beautiful spot than does Gen. Zachary |
Taylor" 1t seems strange that the odd
residents" did not know Of the tender care be- |
slowed upon his last resting place. hut be-
lieved 1t was overrun with brlers and neglect |
ed. when in 1892 they favored Mr., ienowine |
with their "reminiscences.
The notice of Mrs TAYLOR Is more inexplica-
ble than that Of Gen. Taylor. as she never |
lived ip Louisville but FOLLOWED. her husband