Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-24
FAMILIES OF PRESIDENTS.
How Their Widows and Children Have
Fared in a Pecuniary Way.


How Their Widows and Children Have
Fared in a Pecuniary Way.
A son Of a President Of the United
States died few days ago in this city,
says the Washington Star, where he had
lived in poverty and obscurity for a
number of years. Once he lived in the
White House and went to the capital
with the messages Of the President, his
father. His name was John Tyler, and
he was the son of the tenth President
of the United States. He drew a pen
sion of IS a month for service in the
Mexican war until his death. For a
number of years in the latter part OF his
life he held a position in the department.
service in Washington, but the changes
Of politics threw him out, and be was
/ unable TO obtain reinstatement.
The problem, What shall we do with
our ex-Presidents is not nearly so
important as What shall we do with
! the families of our eX-Presidents? 4or
of late years the eX-Pres,dents nave
taken care OF themselves, or have been
cared for by their friends; but this
4 kindness has not always been extended
TO their families. And the son OF a
! President of the United States is hand
! icapped for life. My greatest misfor-
/ tune is that | am the son of the Pres
! ident." said the child of chief eXecu-
tive
Presidents wives have been cared for
BY Congress. Pensions Of $4,000 year
have been granted to five of them
Mrs. Tyler. Mrs. Polk, Mrs. Grant,
| Mrs Lincoln. and Mrs. Garfield. Mrs.
Grant is comparatively rich, the result
OF the success Of her husbands me-
moirs. and Mrs. Garfield has a very
comfortable fortune, contributed by
I some rich friends of her late husband.
As a rule, Presidents sons have
shown themselves amply able to take
care of themselves. John Adams left
a fortune of $4,000 to his son, John
Quincy Adams. but tbs younger Adams
had been elected President of the
United States before he received his
fathers beauest. He was man of
great mental capacity. and he was
/ amply able to make his own way in the
world.
Jefferson's children were not so for
unate. He was so poor that he sold
his library to Congress for $4,000
| (about one-quartsr of its value). and
later he endorsed a note for $4,000 for
a friend which he was compelled TO
pay. He was in danger then of losing
Monticello. but Philip Hone, mayor OF
New York. raised $500 in that city in
1926. and the people of Philadelphia
and Baltimore added $4,000 and $4,000
respectively. to the sum, so that Jeffer-
son died solvent His daughter, Mrs.
Randolph. and her children, who had
been with him during his last years,
! were left penniless, and Mrs. Randolph
contemplated opening a school. But
South Carolina and Virginia voted S1O,-
600 each for her support, and she lived
on the interest of this money till her
death in 1896.
Madison left no 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 9th
or of Samuel L. Grouyerneur, Of New
York.
John Quincy Adams left an estate
about as large as that of 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
] se 81 in, MT
partments. Van Buren, was one Of the
| richest of the Presidents. It was said
/ he drew no salary till he left the White
/ House. and that he received the $780,
600 which had accumulated during the
! term in one lump. He had son, Abra-
/ ham, who graduated at West Point, and
served with distinction in the army.
He was brevetted for gallantry at
| CherubuscO. Abraham Van Buren,
! married a woman who was well to do.
| John Van Buren,, President Van Bur-
| ems second son, graduated at Yale and
became one of the leading members of
the New York bar He was elected AT
torney General of the State.
William Henry Harrison left a small
estate which eventually went to his
son-the father of Benjamin Harrison
who was member of Congress from
Indiana for four years. Benjamin Har-
J rison 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 a law
yer, and his practice since he left the
White House has been worth probably
/ $4,000 or $4,000 a year to him.
President Tyler's first wife died
while he was in the White House. One
of his sons, Robert, went to Philadel-
phia, where he held several civil Off
ces. Then he went to Richmond, where
he was appointed Register of the Treas
ury 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 secre-
tary. as that office was created after he
left the White House. He drew no sal
airy. and he said not long ago that when
he left the White House he pawned his
watch for $50 because he had no money.
| John Tyler would have been one of the
! victims Of the explosion on the Prince
ton. which killed his future stepmoth-
er's father. if he had not been escorting
Mrs. Gilmore, the wife Of the Secretary
| OF the Navy, 10 the cabin at the time
the boat blew up. Mr.. Gilmore
was killed in the accident. so was Mr..
! Gardiner, of New York. whose daugh-
ter became Mrs. Tyler not long after
wa ri President 1,,-Iar I,ol ., -, - !, 4;