Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-21
SOME GRAVES At THE CAPITAL.
PrODIc.

Where Rest the Remains of Famous
People.
granite shaft bearing on its face the
name of Stanton marks the grave of Lin
coins secretary OF war-the man who held
that difficult post during the turbulent days
of civil strife, Gays a writer in Donahoe's
Magazine. One side of the shaft Is inscribed
ITO the memory of Edwin NJ. Stanton born
December 49, 1874 Died December "a 1869; ;
and his wife, Alice NJ. Stanton, born Septem-
Der "A, 1880, and died November II, 1873"
On another side OF the shaft is an inscrip-
ton to an infant son-James H. Stanton.
The three graves are covered with Ivy of an
evergreen variety and marked by small
square granite head and footstOnes.
Another tllustriOus secretary of war, whose
fame as a cabinet minister is largely identi-
ned with his beautiful wife-JOhn r. Eaton
of Tennessee-is also buried at Oak Hill. A
weRther-staned pyramidal monument, te--
minating in a broken column, states that he
wOs born June IS 1890, and died Noyem-
Der II, 1865 and that he was United States
senator from the state of Tennessee for
eighteen years secretary Of war, governor
OF the state of Florida and minister to the
court Of Madrid.
BY his side rr~.s his wife-the never-to-
be-forgotten Peg = Neil--the embod tnent of
generous impulses, daintly, bewiOchngly
beautiful, with her queenly carriage, eXquis.
itGly poised head, Scintillating eyCG, her
iaughtcr-lovug soul-and yet the object OF
the most intense social jeaOusies that ever
burned. Here rests beauty, sorrow and
triumphs, while over all grow grass and
viOlets in loving rivalry.
Near the entrance to Oak Hill. on a cir
cular plot covered with perwinkle, stands
4 pedestal Of white stone. surmounted by
marble bust of John Howard Payne. Tho
face o. the pedestal is inscribed: I'm mem
ory of John Howard Payne, author OF
Home Sweet Home Born, June ., 1791
died April ., 1852"
On the reverse Of the pedestal are the
words:
sure, when the gentle spirit fed
TO realms beyond the azure dome.
with arms outstretched, the angels said:
Welcome to Heavens Home. Sweet
Tho approach to the monument is through
an alley lined with palms and ferns. At
the time of his death Payne was consul at
Tunis.
1t seems a strange fate that man whose
inspired song OF home has touched and
thrilled so many hearts should have died
and been buried in foreign land, SO remote
from his native shores,
In 1888 Mr. Corcoran had him brought
homo and erected in his memory the above
described monument
Beside the monument Is his grave. COW
cred with the original slab that marked his
lonely resting place in far-aw3y Tunis. The
slab bears the coat OF arms or the united
states and a brief record OF Paynes life.
It was broken In transportation, seyering
tho coat Of arms fairly in two parts.
The grave OF that most magnetic OF men
in life, James G. Blaine, is visited perhaps
more frequently than any other at Oak Hlll.
These visits are not made in an idly curious
spirit. but rather in the nature OF pilgrim
ages to the last resting place Of man who
was widely beloved.
II Is, grave is marked simply by a white
marble footstone, bearing his initials. G.
b. Blaine selected his own grave at the
foot OF a blighted hickory. which. by his own
wish, was to fill the place OF a headstone
or monument. The tree died last year, and
it's removal became necessary.
It was rumOred that for many months
Blaine's grave had a military guard. II
had no military guard but brave. solitary
watcher for three weeks OF dark mid winter
nights in the person OF Frederick Sommer-
Vile, the superintendent Of the cemetery.
II carried pistol In each pocket and gun
on my shoulder, and you know | am Vir-
ginian," was Mr.. Sommerylles own com
ment on the fulflment OF that memorable
duty.
Walker Blaine rests at his fathers side,
and next to him Mrs. Coppnger, whose