The National tribune., 1909-03-11
PRETTY PEGGY o'NEAL.

PRETTY PEGGY o'NEAL.
Fascinating wife Of Secretary Of War
Eaton Won Against Odds, Then Lest.
One by one the old landmarks in
Washington are disappearing. Very
soon one will 60 which IL little remem-
bered or cared for now, but inside It's
modest confines much that was inpor-
tant to the welfare and peace OF the
country was enacted. It Is the home Of
Pretty Peggy O'Near' Eaton that is to
go now.
who was Peggy o'Neal? That is a
pertinent question, for so few know;
but pretty Peg was a power in this
town and this country at one time.
Peggy O'Neal was the daughter of a
saloonkeeper, and was born above his
saloon here in Washington just after
the death Of Washington. A tavern
would be more to the right in designat-
ing the then "saioon," and it was fire.
quented by the biggest men in the
country. Peggy grew up here as pretty
as wildwood flower. petted and spoiled
by the best in the land, who gathered
in the tap-room Of the famous hostelry.
She fell in love at 10. and tried to
elope. The family discovered the elop-
ers. and Peg was Immediately shipped
off to New York to a finishing school.
She came back a few years later hand
somer and more winsome than ever.
Andrew Jackson, then Senator from
Tennessee, and Mrs Jackson became
very fond Of her, petted and spoiled her,
and tried to adopt her as their daugh-
ter, but pretty Peg had other notions
in her head. She wanted to marry, and
did marry the purser of the Constitu-
ton, one Timberlake, and they were
happy for several years, but imberlake
overheard while cruising in the Medi-
terranean. Then she became the wife
of Gen. Eaton, formerly Senator from
Tennessee, bosom friend of Jackson's,
and then his Secretary of War. And
then the fun began. 1t was said that
Eaton had courted Peggy before her
husband died. Jackson himself had been
the subject of the most villainous scan
dal, because he had himself married
a woman who had been divorced from
her husband, and the nasty talk un-
doubted1y broke the heart Of the beau
tiful woman, who was absolutely inno-
cent Of any wrongdoing, as is now well
known. Because of Peggy's humble
origin the would-be aristocfats Of Wash
ington decided not to countenance her
as one of the Cabinet women. One Of
the cruelest things ever done in the
history of Cabinet scandals was perpe-
trated by John C. Calhoun. who was
then Vice President of the United
States. and who hoped to succeed Jack
son as President, but didn't, then or
ever. Any man ornery enough to at
tack woman is not fit to be accepted
in decent society. to say nothing of be-
coming President of the United States.
Where the good name of woman is
concerned real men 'slie like gentlemen"
to protect her.
Calhoun wrote letter for the public
press, in which he attacked Peggy
Eaton In the most malicious manner.
Then he stated that neither he nor Mrs
Calhoun would associate with Mrs.
Eaton or recognize her socially. Then
man named Ely, of Philadelphia, a
preacher Of the GospeP'-but not that
of the Iowly Na3arene, for He gave to
the world new commandment that
We love one another"--was unchristian
enough to write President Jackson an
open letter thru the newspapers, in
which he accused Peggy. among other
things, of "wallowing in pool of anna
tory iniquity." Jackson, mad as hat
ter. had all this Christian gentleman"
had charged Investigated, and it was
proven to even that scandalmonging
preachers satisfaction that Calhoun had
lied to him, and that Peggy was inno-
cent.
Donaldson, Private Secretary to the
President, had a wife who seems to
have had but little sense, for she
espoused Mrs Ca1houn'S cause, and got
her husband dismissed. Then the wo-
| men warred to the bitter end. Van Bu-
rem, a bachelor, sided with Peggy, and
asked her to preside over his State din
| ners. Van Buren, was Secretary of State.
| Secretary Barry did the same, and
pretty Peggy did the honors with great
| aplomb. She was charming as she
| was beautiful The Minister from Great
Britain and the Minister from Holland
were bachelors. and they gave great
| diplomatic dinners, over which Mrs
Eaton was asked to preside. She pre-
| sided. and the women who maligneG
her had to accept the invitations and
| the hospitality she dispensed or be cut
from the social lists of those who gave
the only dinners and receptions worth
attending
| When President Jackson found out
why Calhoun was toying with the name
of the wife of his Secretary of War he
side over White House functions. Peg
gy's triumph was complete, but II
caused an open rupture in Jackson's
| Cabinet. There were a lot Of resigna-
tions, those resigning doing so in con-
cert, believing that Jackson would fire
Eaton and Peggy rather than have his
official family upset. But Jackson was
not that kind of stuff. He let them all
go. Then Eaton himself resigned, to
be appointed Governor of Florida, and
there he and his wife lived most hap
PLY. Calhoun felt most the measure of
Jackson's wrath, for he turned from
| Calhoun to Van Buren. who had been
tso kind to Peggy. and made him Presi-
dent o fthe United States, which was
fearful rebuks to the old trader in
scandals. Van Buren, appointed Eaton
| Minister to Spain, and his still beauti-
full wife simply captured the strict
| Spanish grandees ana their womenkind.
She was well beloved there.
| She came back to Washington when
her husband died. Altar the war Peggy