Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11

Orphanage- In the early records or Is en-
lucky. her husbands name occurs as
explored the State, He had the tastes
and education Of scholar, but the break
ing up of the colonial governorship in
North Carolina changed his plan of life.
He was private secretary to Governor
Tryon, whose chaplain was his intimate
friend, and his widows, when she was
left at 81. with a family Of eight children,
the eldest, Thomas. only years Of age.
The great Senator often spoke Of this
friends taking him by the hand when
coming out Of the church. leading him
home. through the grove, and reading
aloud from the Greek observation-disclosures
laung as he read-and telling the boy he
must be classical scholar, as his father
had been. The boys course Of study was
planned by him and the mother. who was
woman Of rare mental endownaents and
force of chara cter.
It should be mentioned that the Harris
, had married into the Preston family,
one Of the largest and wealthiest in the
State. and so enlarged by marriages into
other distinguished families, that the
subject of this sketch is som chow related
to half the old Virginia families. In near
connection by birth and marriage We're the
families OF the Campbells and Patrick
Henry; of the A1arshalls, the Randolphs
the Madisons the Daniels, the Peytons,
the Floyds, the breckenridge the Ha mp
tons. the Carringtons, Harris, etc.
These were all people Of large property
and kindred tastes. It was the custom
with them to send the eldest son on a
four years tour in Europe. acoompa MED
by a clergyman as tutor.
Henrietta Preston. the sister Of William
Preston of Kentucky, was fourth cous-
in of Mrs Benton. She became the wife
Of General Albert Sidney Johnston. Mrs
Bentons aunt married one of the Madi-
sons. The sisters OF William c. Preston,
Of South Carolina. were beautiful wo-
men. much admired In society. Margaret,
the youngest, was the wife of General
Wade Hampton. Their son. Preston
Hampton. was killed in the civil war.
Such were the ancestors and relations
Of Miss Jessie Benton, who. passing her
early years in the settlement described,
and familiar with the beautiful scenery
surrounding her birthplace, where, four
genera tons Of cultivation had spared the
| time-honored oaks OF the primeval forest,
she rem rendered no rural picture with
greater delight AT that period. >,he Inter-
marriages Of the Richmond families with
| those OF the Southern portion Of the
State. had softened the rigid sternness
| Of manners formerly prevalent, leaving
! undistorted the cleanliness Of right and
wrong, with which no eHacing boundaries
was allowed.
Mr.. Benton kept his family in Wash
inGton every winter. The journey to St
Louis requiring three or four weeks. it
| was only taken at the close OF the short
sessions. when they could spend the time
| from March to November in their West
| ern home From March to May they were
sometimes in New Orleans, where Mr..
Benton had many clients among the old
French and Spanish landholders. That
city WAS then provincial Paris. far re.
moved from the social laws that govern
ed the yirginians.
Its French language. usaEes and cos
| tunes: Its Roman Catholic churches: its
| Sunday theatres and places OF amusement
! apprehension. On the score OF danger to
the children. among the cld-fashioned
relatives in Virginia.
ThTchanges Of moral atmosphere with the
travel to and frp through the liberal and
growing West, fhs polished and luxuriant
| life Of the Crescent City, with the varied
experiences OF Washington. where Europe
as wei as the United States was repre-
sented. no doubt contributed to enlarge
the IDEAS Of the yGunE people and teach
them moro ltbnrAl Judgment than usual
| 3lys belongs to puratanical and secluded
Iaacnnmunity. Mrs. Bentsn's winter circles
III Washington were scompoxed Of the most
distinguished persons Iii the capital. Chief
Justice Marshall. Mr.. Randolph, Chief
Justice Taney. Me- Mason. OF North Caro-.
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