Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-11-01
The Blair Mansion.
Etn,n The Kashinnton STR.

From the Washington Star.
The old Blair mansion, No. 1861 Penn.
sylvania avenue, is one of the most famous
of the old historic homes in this city. Sew
eral generations have enjoyed its hospitali-
ties. 1t was built in 1910 by DR.. Joseph
Lowell, then surgeon general of the army,
who occupied it until his death, in 1886.
Soon after the death of DR.. Lowell the
mansion was purchased by Francis Preston
Blair, ST., from the Lowell estate, and he
resided there during the years he filled the
position of editor Of the Globe, the Demo
cratic organ of that period. His death oc.
Cured at his country seat, Silver Springs,
Montgomery county, Md, October, 1876, at
the advanced age of eightyfive.
His son, Francis Preston Blair, Jr., was
born in Lexington, KY, February 10, 1891,
but spent his early youth in the old home.
The mansion was leased to the late Geo.
Bancroft during his term as Secretary of
the Navy, from 1915 to 1916. In 1916 Mr..
Bancroft resigned the portfolio of the Navy
Department to go abroad as minister to
England.
The next distinguished occupant of this
historic house was John T. Mason, who sue
ceeded Mr.. Bancroft as Secretary of the
Navy in 1916, retaining the position until
the end OF the presidential term.
During the latter part Of his administra-
ton Gen. Taylor appointed Thomas Ewing,
of Ohio, Secretary of the Interior, and to
him the Blair mansion was leased. He was
the father of Generals Thomas and Charles
Ewing, both of whom won distinction dur,
ing the late war, General Thomas Ewing
also filled several diplomatic positions. Sec
rotary Ewing, after the death of his friend,
Charles r. Sherman, adopted his son, Will
liam Tecumseh Sherman, whose youth was
tlf,E ga
Secretary Ewing used his influence and
had "Cump" Sherman, as he was familiarity
called, appointed to a cadetship at West
Point He atterward served with distinc
ton in the Mexican war, and later was
sent to California to meet Kearney's expe.
dition across the plains. He was then first
lieutenant Of the third artillery. On return
ing Lieutenant William Tecumseh Sherman
married Miss Ellen Boyle, the only daugh
ter of Secretary Ewing.
The ceremony took place in the large
drawing room of the Blair mansion. Father
James Rider, President of Georgetown Col
lege, officiating. 1t was a very brilliant
affair, at which were present President Tay
lor and his entire cabinet, OF which Secre-
tary Ewing was member; Senators Clay
Webster, Mr.. Calhoun, Jefferson Davis,
Stephen A. Douglas, members of the army
and navy, and hosts of notable people resi-
dent in Washington.
In 1850 Thomas Corwin, who was Presi-
dent Filmore's Secretary of the Treasury,
occupied the Blair mansion.
Since 1858 the house has been occupied by
the family OF Montgomery Blair the latter
being a son OF Francis Preston Blair and
brother of Major General Francis Preston
Blair.
The old mansion is now occupied by the
descendants OF the late Montgomery Blair,
who are DR.. and Mrs. 5. o. Rlchey, (the
latter was Miss Minna Bair) Mr.. Wood
bury Blair, and Mr.. and Mrs Montgomery
Blair. The latter was Miss Edith Draper,
the daughter OF William f. Draper OF Hope
dale, Mass, and whose marriage was one of
the social events Of the past winter.
On the walls of the house hang the por
traits OF Levi Woodbury., father of Mrs
Montgomery Blair; Dolly Quincy, who
was Mrs. Hancock, and her sister Elizabeth
who was the great-grandmothe of Mrs.
Montgomery Blair; also OF Judith Cary
Bell, by Copey who was the great grand.
mother of Montgomery Blair, and one of G.
V. Fox, assistant secretary of the navy dur.
ing the war, and brother in law of Mrs.
Blair, and of Francis Preston Blair and Mr..
Montgomery Blair and others.
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