Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-07
A REMARKABLE HISTORY.
Career OF Mrs. Gwinn, a California Sen
ator's Widow.

Mrs. GwInn who died In San Francisco
the other day at the advanced age of ~.
had most remarkable history. She was
the widow of Senator William NJ. Gwinn
of California and the daughter Of "A Ken
tuckian named Bell. who kept famous
tavern. William Logan. surveyor Of
Glasgow. Ky. married her when she was
II and took her to Texas. There they be-
came friends with Gen. Sam Houston Mr.
Logan died in 1885 or 1896. and his widow.
scarcely out OF her teens. returned to her
father : house. young. blooming and bux-
ON. The story goes that Dr. William NJ
GHinn. while riding past the tavern. saw
the youthful beauty at some work on the
rear porch. and then and there WAS 80
struck by her grace that he alightcd 10
WOO her.
Their marriage took place at Vicksburg.
Miss. and later the doctor took his bride
10 New Orleans. When the news came
that gold hnd been discovered in California
Mrs. Gwinn urged her husband to so
there at once and become United States
senator They arrived in California on
July I. 1919 and ever afterward Mrs.
Gwirn called that date her birthday, al
though she was born on June l. DIR
Gwinn was elected United States senator
in 1879. although the state was not adj
mittcd To the MON until 1850. The hos
pitality dispensed by him and his wife is
yet recalled in Washington. President
James Buchanan was one of Mrs. Gwinn
ardent admirers
In 1851 Adelina Patti was in Washington
and the project ri giving Il concert to in
troduCe her WAS submitted to Mrs. Gwinn.
The latter knew of the marvellous sweet
ness of the girl s voice and determined 10
make the concert the social event of the
season in Washington. She induced the
president. members of the cabinet and
prominent senators to attend the concert.
which was great success. Iattt never
:orcOt the Kindness. Years later. when
Mrs. Gwinn was a Confederate sympa-
thizcr i'll Paris. Patti saw grt at deal of
her, and never forgot to express her graf
10 for hnr SvIy
When the Civil War broke out. Senator
Gwinn espousei the cause of the South
lie went south. but did not enter the
army. Mrs. Gwlnn went to Baltimore.
where She had daughter ~ school. Bal
t.IHore was more or less notbed OF
southern sympathy. and tho government
at WASHINGTON was very ViSilant in re-
gard to communication from there to the
Confc,!erat, lines. II was suspected that
Mrs. Gwnnc was conveying Information
and Quinne through the lines. and az the
advice of her friends. and perhaps of DR..
Gvinn. she went to Paris The Gwinn
horne became Confederate hcadqu;l ters'
in Paris.
The most remarkable part of the Gwinn
story is that connected with their dream
of coloriZins the state of Sonora in Mex
leo with dissat isfied southerners after the
war The scheme was thought out IN lSoi
| and 1865, and received the support oil Ma
poleon III. This ambition was almost a
parallel to Aaron Burr's wild dreams OF
empire. Napoleon Ill. held that Framed
could claim Sonora for services rendered
the Mexican Empire. He agreed to IN
settlement by southerners by birth. am
promised DR.. Gwinn the post Of vicert1,
Of Sonora, with the title of duke.
January, 1865. DIR. Gwinn journeyed II,
Mexico with an autograph letter ~,
| Emperor Macmillan and to Mars ha
| BaZaine. Neither favored the idea. Va!
| though DR.. Gwin had great plans 10
making the mineral wealth of SonC =;
available to the Mexican Empire
He returned to Parts. and Napoleon wal
| about to aid him with troops. When MAXI
| milian's empire ytottered and fell to piece
! The dIkcdom vanished. and DR.. Gwir.
| Tested under more than the suspicion 70
| GiSloyaity In all his most am3ut pu
| schemes his wife had a part an1 m
doubt she dreamed OF power 81 VA
| never to Weld. Scmes years ago. re
| turned to California aS.. f:yed III I'll
tcr death.-L Louisville litter ins Cmo 2g'
| inter &c. an. tNA