The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-05-13
FAMILIES OF PRESIDENTS.
HOW THEY HAVE JARED AFTER
LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE.


Pensions, and Some Former White
House Tenants Have Lived on
Charity.
From the Washington Star.
A son of president of the United
States died few days ago in this city,
where he had lived in proverty and OBJ
security for number of years. Once he
lived in the white house and went to the
the capitol with the messages of the pres
ident, his father. His name was John
Tyler, and he was the son of the tenth
president Of the United State. He drew
a pension of s. month for service in
the Mexican war until his death. For a
number of years in the latter part of his
life he held position in the department
service in Washington, but the changes
of politics threw him out, and he was
unable to obtain reinstatement.
The problem, "Wbat shall we do with
our ex-presidents?" is not nearly so i'm
portant as "What shall we do with the
families of our ex-president?" Our eX-
presidents have taken care of themselves,
or have been cared for by their friends,
but this kindness has not been extended
alwaysto their families. And the son
Of president of the United States is
handicapped for life, my greatest mis-
fortune is that am the son of the pres
ident," said the chief executive.
Presidents wives have been cared for
by congress. Pensions of $1,000 year
have been granted to five of them-Mrs.
Tyler, Mrs, Polk, Mrs, Grant, Mrs. Lin
coin and Mrs. Garfield. Mrs. Grant is
comparatively rich, the result of the sue
cess of her husbands memoirs, ana Mrs.
Garfield has a very comfortable fortune,
contributed by some rich friends of her
late husband.
AS rule, presidents sons have shown
themselves amply able to care for them
selves. John Adams left fortune of $780,
900 to his son, John Quincy Adams, but
the younger Adams had been elected
president of the United States before he
received his fathers bequest. He was a
man of great mental capacity, and he
was amply able to make his own way in
the world.
Jefferson's children were not so fortu-
nate. He was so poor that he sold his Ii
brarY to congress for $23, 900 (about one
quarter of its value), and later he indoors
ed note for $4,000 for friend, which
he was compelled to pay, He was in
danger then of losing Monticello, but
Philip Hone, mayor of New York, raised
$1,000 in that city in 1926, and tie peo-
pie of Philadelphia and Baltimore added
$4,000 and $4,000 respectively to the
sum, so that jefferson died solvent bis
daughter, Mrs. Randolph, and her chill
dren, who had been with him during his
last years, were left penniless, and Mrs.
Randolph contemplated opening school
But South Carolina and Virginia voted
$4,000 each to her support, and she lived
on the interests of this money till her
death, in 1886. Madison left no children
to share his small estate. Monroe died
poor, but his two daughters had married
before his death. John Quincy Adams
left an estate about as large as his father
$4,000; but the Adams family was
quite able to take care of itself without
Inheritance, and down to the present day
it has earned honors and wealth.
Jackson left no children. His grand
niece was clerk in the government de
partment. Van Buren, was one of the
richest of the presidents. 1t was said
he drew NJ salary ill he left the white
house, and that he received $780, 900
which accumulated during his term in
one lump.
William Henry Harrison left a small es-
tate, which went eventually to his son,
the father of Bejamin Harrison, who was
a member of congress from Indiana for
four years. Benjamin Harrison inherit
ed very little of his money, and he had
to make his own way from the beginning
of his career. But he showed conspicu-