Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-08

uiltll his QedIn. FOr q numDer OF years
in the latter part of his life he held a po-
sition in the department service in Wash
ington, but the changes of politics threw
him out, and he was unable to obtain re-
instatement.
The problem. what shall we do with our
ex-Prcsidents?" is not nearly SO important
as What shall we DO with the families
Of our ex-Presidents?" for Of late years the
ex-Presidents have taken care of them
selves, or have been cared for by their
friends, but this kindness has not been
extended always to their families. And the
son of President of the United States
Is handicapped for life. my greatest mis-
fortune is that I am the son Of the Presi-
dent" said the child of a chief executive.
Presidents wives have been cared for
by Congress. Pensions of 5000 year
have been granted to five of then,-Mrs
Tyler, Mrs. Polk, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Lin
coin and Mrs. Garfield. Mrs. Grant is COM
paratively rich, the result Of the success of
her husbands memoirs, and Mrs Garfield
has 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 r fortune of $50
600 to his son, John Quincy Adams but
the younger Adams had been elected Pres
ident Of the United States before he re-
ceived his fathers bequest. He was a man
OF great mental capacity, and ne was am
ply able to make his own way in the world.
Jefferson's children were not SO fortunate.
He was SO poor that he sold his library
to Congress for $23, 600 (about one-uuarter
of it's value), and later he Endorsed a ntte
for $4,000 for friend, which he was com
PEELED to pay. He was in danger then of
losing Monticello, but Philip Hone mayor
OF New York, raised $3.50 in that city in
1926. and the people of Philadelphia and
Baltimore added 5000 and $4,000. respect
lively. to the sum; SO chat Jefferson died
1oIr 4
her children, who had been with him dur
ing his last years, were left penniless, and
Mrs. Randolph contemplated opening a
school. But South Carolina and Virginia
voted $4,000 each for her support, and size
lived on the interest of this money till her
death. in 1886.
Some of the Presidents.
Madison left children to share his
small estate. Monroe died poor, but his
two daughters had married before his
death. one of them being the wife of George
Hay of Virginia, and the Other of Samuel
L. Gouverneur of New York.
John Quincy Adams left estate about
as large as that of his father-$50, 900; but
the Adams family was quite able to take
care of itself without Inheritance and
down to the present day it has earned hon
orS and wealth.
niece is a clerk in the government depart
ments. Van Buren, was one of the richest
of the Presidents. 1t was said he drew no
salary till he left the White House, and
that he received the 100000 which had ac-
cumulated during his term in one lump.
He had a son, Abraham, who graduated at
West Point and served with distinction in
the army. He was brevetted for gallantry
at Churubusco. Abraham Van Buren, mar
red woman who was we'll to do John
Van Buren,, President Van Burens second
son, graduated at Yale and became one of
the leading members of the New York bar
a cd Of of tt0
state.
William Henry Harrison left a small es-
tate, which went eventually to his son, the
father Of Benjamin Harrison, who was a
member of Congress from Indiana for four
years. Benjamin Harrison inherited very
little of his money, and he had to make his
own way from the beginning of his career.
But he showed conspicuous ability as law
yer, ami his practice, since he left the White
House has been worth probably $4,000 or
$4,000 year to him.
The Tyler Family.
President Tyler's first wife died while he
was in the White House. One of his sons,
Robert, went to Philadelphia, where he
held several civil offices. Then he went to
Richmond, whcre he was appointed register
Of the treasury At the expiration of his
term of Office he moved to Montgomery,
Ala, where he edited'a newspaper until
his death. John Tyler, who has just died,
was secretary to his father though he did
not hold the title of private secretary, as
that office was created after he left the
White House. He drew no salary, and he
said not long ago that when he left the
White House he pawned his watch for $3O
because he had no money. John Tyler
explosion on the Princeton, which killed his
future stcpmother's father, If he had rot
been escorting Mrs Gilmore, the wife of
the Secretary of the Navy, to the cabin at
fha irrn f1,~
Gilmore was killed in the accident. So was
Mr.. Gardiner of New York, whose daughter
became Mrs. Tyler not long afterward
president Tyler had a son by his second
of Virginia, and who became president of
William and Mary College, the institution
from which his father had graduated Mrs
Tyler was the first Presidents wife 10 re-
600 was granted to her.
Mrs. Polk also received a pension from
Congress. She had no children. President
Iayior left several children. who were quite
competent to take care Of themselves His
eldest daughter married Jefferson Davis
and is still alive. She draws a pension
from some Of the southern states. The sec
end daughter married W. H. Bliss. major
In the army, and she was the mistress of
the White House during part Of her fathers
term. After the death of her father and
her husband she married Philip cambridge
OF Virginia, who left her comfortably pro-
vided for. Her brother, 'Dick" Taylor.
was man of much distinction. He was a
member Of the secession convention of
Louisiana, entered the confederate army,
served under Stonewall Jackson in the val
ley campaign rose to the rank of general,
and served with credit till the end of the
war. After the war he went to New York.
where, just before his death in 1879. he
published book with the title, "Destruc-
ton and Reconstruction
Gloom at the White House.
President Fillmore had only one child-a
daughter, who died while he was yet alive.
President Pierce had three children-all
boys. Two Of them died while quite young.
The third lived to be thirteen. He was kill
ed in a railroad accident while travelling
with his father and mother from Andover
to Lawrence, Mass, in January, 1853. 1t
was only two months before the Inaugural
ton of his father as President, and the &C
cident cast gloom over the White House
during the entire administration of Presi-
dent Pierce. James Buchanan was a
bachelor. The Lincolns brought three boys
with them to the White House. One died
during his fathers administration-he was
the Presidents favorite child-and another
not long after the murder of the President