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

u.
written and printed, about the life,
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-
crshadowing prominence Of ncr dis
iinguished husband.
Som" time ago the writer, while at
Pcndlcton, where Mrs. Calhoun was
we'll known and for time lived, gath
cred the following information:
Mrs. John G. Calhoun was Miss
Floridc Calhoun, daughter of Mr..
Calhoun Of Abbeville, and 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, tie fam
lily moved to the up-country, where
they bought place known as 'fCold
Springs' and lying between the pres
ent Clemson Agricultural college and
Calhoun Station, on the main line of
tnc Southern railway. There they re-
manned until they moved to "Fort
Hill,' which originally had been
known rs "Clcrgy ITaIl' and had
been acquired by John G. Calhoun
through his marriage with Miss
Floridc Calhoun, his cousin. 1t con-
tanned about 900 acres of fertile up
land and lowland on the waters Of
Seneca river. The house, facing
north, rbut 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 Ii
brary. Still further back and on tae
very brow of the hill, can be seen
what is left of an old fort, noted in
the prolonged Indian wars.
At this place the family lived with
the exception of the time spent in
Washington until Mr.. Calhoun S
death. Shortly after that event,
EFFORT Hill" passed into tae hands Of
others, and Mrs. Calhoun moved to
Pendlcton, an attractive village
about four miles south and at the
time county seat, also the summer
home of many wealthy and cultured
people from Charleston, Beaufort and
other parts Of the low country, or sen
coast, of the stale. Mrs. Calhoun's
place was known as "Mi Casa' and
from the house looking north, the
view was very picturesque one. 1t
was there that Mrs. Calhoun remain
cd until. on the 25th day Of July,
1866, she died. Her funeral, like her
life, was simple and unostentatious.
Mrs. Calhoun was barely Of med
lum 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 yes-dark-usually worn combed
back Of tie ears and coilcd low on the
neck, governed Of course by the pre-
vaiIing style Of the day. An heircss
and only daughter she was, however,
devoted to her home life. "Fort FIill'
was a model plantatio She took n
personal interest in the vegetable
garden, grapery and orchard. Gcner-
Gus and bountiful by nature, her ser
wants were well trained, well fed and
contenicd.
Fond of children, they roalizcd that
she understood them and thcy loved
her. Recognizing and admiring the
greatness Of her husband, she was a
devoted wife. We'll educated, she
possessed unusual opportunities be-
cause Of the wealth, social and politi-
cal position Of her family. Not only
of warm and sympathetic nature,
she vas a magnetic. An accomplish
ed musician. she never lost hcr taste
for il. playing frequently. on the
piano up to her last illness.
Mrs. Calhoun always accompanied
her husband to Washington while con-
grcss was in session. unless forced to
remain at Fort Hill in consequence
Of her health or that Of her children
she was al ANXIOUS ana Wnltnlul