Evening star., 1909-04-21

cure an act authorizing jury to in
vestigate and grant a divorce. provided
of 1890 Lewis Robards. husband of
Rachael Donelson. appeared before the
legislature of Virginia with declaration
that his wife had deserted him and was
living in adultery with Andrew jackson,
attorney at law, at Natchez, Miss. An
act was passed and published declaring
1.-The marriage between the said Lewis
and Rachael Robards totally dissolved,
provided a jury shall find instructions
that she hath lived in adultery with an
other man."
In September, 1893. the caseswas tried,
verdict was given In accordance with
the facts and the marriage was dissolved
In the meantime Rachael Robards had
deserted her husband and had been living
with Andrew Jackson for two years be-
fore this action. John Overton was ia
miliar with the circumstances, more so
than any other man. because he and
Jackson were law partners during the
entire period and he was boarder with
the mother Of Lewis Robards at the time
Andrew Jackson met and became ac-
quainted with Rachael Donelson Robards,
who was beloved and honored by Andrew
Jackson above any other woman. In his
defense of Jackson. OF which Secretary
Dickinson has the original, he says:
John Overton's Statement.
"Since the year 1901 Gen. Jack
son and myself have never been much
apart, except when he was in the army.
1 have been intimate In his family. and
for the mutual and uninterrupted hap
piness of Gen. and Mrs. Jackson. which
/ have at all times witnessed with pleas
ure, as we'll as those delicAte and po-
lite attentions which have ever been re-
ciprocated between them, I have been
long confirmed in the opinion that there
never existed any other than the most
honorable and virtuous intercourse be-
tween them"
Mr.. Overton gives in detail the history
Of the acquaintance between Jackson and
Mrs. Robards. her unhappy marriage.
her husbands i'll treatment. and her re-
treat to Natchez. where Jackson accom-
panied her in the winter OF 1870.
Shortly before their departure the act
was passed by the legislature, above re-
ferred to, and Jackson and Mrs. Robards
believed that it was Hnal divorce.
Therefore, in the summer of 1a91, Jack
son married Mrs. Robards and brought
her back to Nashville. where she lived
until her death, beloved and esteemed by
all classes. Later, in the spring of 1904,
having learned that the divorce was not
granted until September, 1913, Gen. and
Mrs. Jackson were remarked at Nash
vile.
Jackson always treated his wife with re-
spectful Difference that was frequently
commented upon. He never addressed
her as Rachael. but always as Mrs.
Jackson" She never called him Andrew
or General, but always Mr.. Jackson"
and whatever his manners may have been
to others, to her he was always gentle,
patient, courteous and kind. The pc
culiar circumstances attending his mar
rage made him unusually vigilant in de-
tending his wife's good name. and for
thirty-seven years he kept his pistols in
perfect condition to vindicate her honor.
He never forgave any one who failed
to treat her with the greatest degree of
respect. His worst quarrels and bitter
est enmitieS arose from this cause. and
while their social standing was not un-
favorably affected by their premature
marriage, he was always on guard In her
defense.
John Overton was selected by Jack
son to preside over the democratic presi-
dentia! convention at Baltimore, May
81, 1882, when Van Buren, was nominated,
and he accepted the honor, but was de-
tanned in Nashville by illness and could
not make the journey.
When John Overton died he was the
richest man in Tennessee. and although
his property has been divided and sub
divided among his descendants for four
SchcIdllOuS, HOHc VI nave DcCh
spendthrifts, and the estate has grown
in extent and value. The Overton fam
lily have been and still are among the
largest landed proprietors In the state.
and in addition TO their plantations they
own much city real estate. including the
Maxwell House the famous old hotel
which has been the scene of much excit-
ing history and many social events. 1t
is still the leading hotel in this part Of
the state, although 1t is old-fashioned, and
the table still maintains its ancient rep
utation-