The Washington herald., 1907-06-13
About Notable Americans
By FREDERIC j. HASKIN

When Aaron Burr introduced ''the great
little Madison" 70 the winsome widow
Dolly Payne Todd. in Philadelphia. he
little reckoned that the demure Quaker
ess was 10 reign at a then unbuilt White
House IN the future city Of Washington
as the most regal Of republican queens.
The White House has had many mis-
tresses. but none has left a greater impress
upon history as a woman of influence
and power than Dolly Madison Although
the delightful story that she cut the por-
trait Of Con. Washington from its frame
and carried it away when the British
drove her from the White House. in 1914,
may be only a fabrication. there are
many stories Of her life which are quite
true, and her own letters and memoirs
have q distinctive place in the contem-
porary history Of the early days OF the
republic.
Naturally many OF the interesting sto-
ries Of her life center about HareWOod,
the Washington manor, near Charles
town. ". Va. where she became Mrs
James Madison. HareWOOd IS a beautitul
stone house built in 1852 10 lI56 by Col
Samuel Washington, under the personal
superintendence Of his brother. George
Washington. Steps have been taken re-
Gently To preserve it as a memorial OF
its patriotic associations. Just as Mount
Vernon has been cared for. Col Samuel
Washington's son. George Steptoe wash
ington, was a favorite nephew of the hrst
President. When but boy he married
Lucy Payne. sister of Dolly Payne. When
John Payne was forced to move from
Virginia, because of the prejudice against
Quakers, and went 20 Philadelphia. his
daugher Dolly was married 10 John
Todd. an estimable young man. In the
great yellow fever epidemic Dollys hus-
band died and left her with a baby boy
Within a year she met James Madison,
the father of the Constitution, and one
day to be President of the United States.
Martha Washington. who was a cousin
OF Dolly Payne by marriage approved
the courtship and Mr.. Madison pressed
his suit warmly. The result was that She
went 10 Harewood 10 be married in the
home Of the Washingtons. Years aft
erWard. when George Steptoe Washing
ton had died. his widow lived much in
Washington. Her sister was then mis-
tress Of the White House and the queen
Of society. Both sisters had long since
forsaken the simplicity of their Quaker
father
Mrs. Washington met Judge Thomas
Todd. a justice Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States. and one of the most
eminent Kentuckians Of the day. They
became engaged and Mrs. Madison re-
turned the courtesy which her sister had
extended 10 her in her widOwhoOd. So it
came that Thomas Todd and Lucy Payne
Washington were married in the White
House II was the first White House
wedding. Thomas Todd, Lucy Payne's
last husband. and John Todd Dolly
Paynes first husband, were Of different
families Judge Todd was one Of the
first Kenrucki3ns TO come into political
prominence. He was clerk Of all the ten
constitutional conventions held in Ken
lucky, while that State was trying TO
gain admission To the Union, and was a
distinguished jurist.
His son. Charles S. Todd, became a
noted dipl0matist and was sent 10 Colom-
bia I'm the eos 70 Unravel the tangled
relations Of the United States with the
South American republics. Later he was
sent by President Tyler to be Minister
10 Russia. and there laid the foundations
for the friendship between the most lib
eral republic and the most 8gtocratic
despotism on earth. which friendship has
since continued. A son Of Charles 5.
Todd is still living IN Shclbyville. KY.
He is one of the only two surviving Ken
tuckiaus who fought in the war with
Mexico as a captain
Ii is interesting 90 note IN this con-
neCti0n that this family of T0dds was
not the same as the family founded by
Levi Todd. friend and companion Of Dam
iel Boone who was one of the first set
tiers Of Kentucky, and who lost his life
I'm the disastrous battle Of Blue Lick
when his brave band Of pioneers was
overcome by the Indians in the last Of
the Kentucky fights with the redskins
Levi Todd was the grandfather of an
other mistress Of the White House, Mrs
Abraham Lincoln.
The wide range covered by American
romances is illustrated by the fact that
man who came to the United States from
Italy without a penny was forced TO for
give his son for marrying a member Of
the Washington family, while the Wash
ington descendants maintained a mark
ed silence concerning their own opinions
of the marriage Miss Mary Caroline
Washington Bond was the gre9t-grand-
daughter Of George SteptOe and Lucy
Payne Washington. Her early girlhood
was spent I'm Virginia and Washington,
and she looked upon historic Harewood
as a part of her sentimental dowry.
She made her debut I'm New York at a
charity ball few years ago, and there
met Attillo p Morosini. son Of Giovanni
MOrosini. Her beauty captured the
young man. and an earnest Courtship
followed. His father was a Catholic she
was a Protestant So the marriage was
secretly planned and secretly sOlemnized.
His father forEave. The man whose son
thus married into the Washington FAM
ilv is one Of the most remarkable eN-
amples of what a man can do in Ameri-
ca. He is Of iilustri0us ancestry himself
tracing his family back to one Of the
rzigning doges Of Venice. but he came
to America with the exiled patriot, Carl
baldi absolutely penniless.
one day he found a lost child in the
streets. and carried it home. The father
offered to reward him with money. but
Nforosini declined He then offered
lob and Morosini took IT, The man was
President Marsh, Of the Erie Railroad,
and young Morosini became a Clerk in the
offices Of that corporation. He was call
ed "the silent Italian by his fellow
clerks but his ability and devotion 20
duty brought him to the attention of JAY
Gould. when that fnancier became head
Of the Erie. Morosini was made auditor.
When Gould left the Erie. MorOsini went
with him as a secretary. The two men
were rarely seen except together. The
Norosinl millions and the Morosui pal
ace are the rewards Of this Italian pa
triots loyalty to his friend.
Returning TO the families whose his
tory touches the old life at Harewood.
Fl js interesting to note that the oldest