The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-10-18
MRS, JOHN G. CALHOUN.
The Wife of South Carolina S Distin-
guished Senator During Days Of
Notification.

Edward A. Trescott in Sunday State.
In recent years much has been said,
written and printed, about the lite,
public and private, OF John c. Cal
houn. yet but very little, if anything,
has appeared in print about his wife
Of her the public know but little,
which may have been due to her ma
ture and temperament, or to the oV-
ershadowine prominence Of ner dis
tinsuished husband.
Some time AGO the writer. while at
Pendleton, where Mrs. Calhoun was
well known and for a time lived, gath
cred the following information:
Mrs. John C. Calhoun was Miss
Floride Calhoun, daughter Of a Mr..
Calhoun Of Abbeville, and a Miss
Bonneau Of Charleston. Finding tnat
it was somewhat difficult to raise their
children in the low-country OF the
state because of the climate, the fam
ily moved tc the up-country, where
they bought place known as "Cold
Springs" and lying between the pres
ent Clemson Agricultural college and
Calhoun Station, on the main line Of
the Southern railway. There they re-
mained until they moved to "Fort
HilE,' which originally had been
known as "Clergy Hall' and had
been acquired by John c. Calhoun
through his marriage with Miss
Floride Calhoun, his cousin. 1t cor
tanned about 900 acres of fertile up
land and lowland on the waters OF
Seneca river. The house, facing
north. but overlooking a beautiful
rolling country with the Blue Ridge
mountains beyond, was of colonial de-
sign; large: two stories high and IN
the shape of an L, with great white
pillars in front. To the back and left,
in the cool shade Of some trees, stood
{and still stands) Mr.. Calhoun's IL
brary. Still further back and on the
verv brow Of the hill can be seen
what is left of an old fort, noted IN
the prolonged Indian vars
AT this place the family lived with
the exception of the time spent IN
Washingtcn) until Mr.. Calhoun s
death. Shortly after that event,
Effort Hill" passed into the hands OF
others. and Mrs. Calhoun moved to
Pendleton. an attractive village
about four miles south and at the
time a county seat, also the summer
home Of many wealthy and cultured
people from Charleston, Beaufort and
other parts Of the low country, or sea
coast. of the state. Mrs. Calhoun $
place was known as "Mi Casa" and
from the house looking. north, the
view was a very picturesque one. 1t
was there that Mrs. Calhoun remain
ed until. on the 25th day Of July,
1866, she died. Her funeral, like, her
life, was simple and unostentatlous.
Mrs. Calhoun was barely OF med
ium height, but her whole figure and
bearing was indicative Of health, en-
ergy and endurance. A distinct bru-
nette; eyes brown, usual expression,
earnest and kindly. Features small
and we'll shaped; mouth neither large
moor small firm yet mobile; hair like
her eyes-dark- usually worn combed
back Of the ears and coiled low on the
neck, governed Of course by the pre-
7ailing style of the day. An nelress
and only daughter she was, however,
devoted to her home life. "Fort Hill"
was a model plantation. She took a
personal interest in the vegetable
garden, grapery and orchard. Gener-
Gus and bountiful by nature, ner ser
wants were we'll trained, we'll fed and
contented.
Fond of children, they realized that
she understood them and they loVeo
her. Recognizing and admirlng the
greatness Of her husband, she was a
devoted wife. Well educated, sne
nossessed unusual opportunities De-
cause of the wealth, social and polltl'
cal position of her family. Not only
Of a. warm and sympathetic nature
she vas a magnetic. An accomplish
ed musician, she never lost ner TASTE
for it. playing frequently. on thf
piano up to her last Illness
Mrs. Calhoun always accompanied
Inv. husband TO WASHINGTON while con