Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-11
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ored lived so long in this city. Benton was
senator for five terms, and wrote his
book, Thirty Years in the Senate in this
city, in his rooms on c street between Sd
and AZ streets northwest, in the row of
houses which is so famous as the Wash
inston homes of SO many distinguished men
In former times. 1t was Benton's strong
liking for Washington as a home which
brought about his defeat for reelection.
He believed that the schools of Washing
ton were better for the education of his
children than those of any other city in the
country, and they were all educated here
1t was from here that Jessie Benton ran
away and married Lieut. Fremont, then
an officer of the Typographical Corps of the
army, who afterward became so distin-
guished as The Pathfinder making the
earliest explorations of the Pacific coast,
and afterward being rewarded by a NOM
ination for the presidency of the United
states. Benton was the leader of Gen,
Jacksons adherents, and was one of the
nrst gold bugs of American politics though
Inc political nickname given him was that
oI va Bulion. He was one of the party
on the Inflated war steamer Princeton,
Wfen the explosion occurred on her in the
Potomac, which resulted in the death of
Two OF Jacksons cabinet officers Secretary
opshur OF the State Department and Sec
six others
kenna came later on, and as a represen-
tatiFe ana senator had nearly as lengthy a
career Two incidents happened in this
CITY tnat mad an important bearing on Mr.
kenna's life, and l don't think there is any
improperly in speaking of them now.
though L have not done SO before When
ne first came to Congress a young man.
Mrs. kearon. who always took an active
part in church fairs, church raff,es and the
like, sold him a ticket in a rattle for cook
ing stove and complete outfit, which had
been donated to a church fair, in which she
was interested. Later on she had the pleas
ure OIL handing him notification that his
ucket was the lucky one, and that the stove
and outfit had been packed up and were
subject to his order. He told her that he
would go up to his home in West Virginia
IN a Few days, Congress was just about ad-
Journey at that time, and would gladly
take the stove with him. He did so, and on
arriving there he was met at the depot by
a young lady, who accidentally happened
to be there, as he was busying himself hay-
Ing his stove unloaded from the express
car She made some pleasant remark that
though he had stove he had no one to
use it. and it is said he actually popped the
question to her right there by asking if she
would use the stove for him. Whether the
young lady made any reply there or not |
never heard, but it was not year before
she became his wife. On his return to
Washington he met Mrs. Kearon who was
again at the Capitol, this time selling tick
cts in a rattle for a handsome piece of lew
cry, Tor the benefit of some other church.
Mr. kenna told her the SEQUEL of his win
hing the stove, and that his marriage would
soon occur. Of course he took ticket in
the rattle for the jewelry, and, would you
believe it, won it. Mrs Kearon, herself,
told me that the jewelry was worn by the
bride at her wedding, and that the first
meal the newly married couple ate was
cooked on the stove that he had Won"