The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-08-02
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ANDREW GKSON and
MISS ROBARDS &
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Copyright. b. tAs AuthoF.l h. !
A raw.boned young sbackwoods law.
yer. Andrew jackson by name. went
in 1888 to Nashville, Tenn; to. practice
his profession. and boarded at the cot.
tage of the tswidow Donelson. His
landlady's frontier husband had re.
Gently been murdered and her pretty
daughter, Rachel, was living with her.
Rachel had Just left her own husband
under rather unfortunate circum.
stances. Thus the atmosphere; Of the
Donelson ? home was not especially
cheerful. Young Jackson readily
slipped into the position of family ad.
wiser and confidant 10 the "manless"
household. Thus began his life,s iro-
nance.
Jackson was a brilliant, stubborn,
honest, illiterate youth. who by sheer
pluck and determination had worked
his way up from AFFECT poverty. He
knew little law; he could never write
or speak correct English; his own
honesty often blinded him to the
faults Of others. Nevertheless, his
logged courage and masterful will
power were one day to make him
military hero and later to raise him
to the presidency Of the United States.
Rachel Donelson was born in 1867.
She was Just Jackson's own age.
While living In Kentucky she had met
Capt. Lewis Richards. a Jealous, bru-
tai fellow. Rachel was notronly pref.
ey and clever, but the best rider and
dancer in the new territory. She was
- ,,., induced to marry
Romanes Richards and at
n :. ''''as II went. to live Mt
his mothers boarding house. Robards
III treated her and at last 80 perse.
cuted her by his unreasoning jealousy
that she could no longer endure mar.
ried life with him. He sent her back
to her mother, in Tennessee, where
she and Jackson first met.
Jackson was fascinated by the
charming young woman. She was un.
educated and lacking in refinement It
Is true; but so was he. Bills bravery
and his masterful manner were equal.
ly attractive to Rachel Neither let
the other know by word or deed OF
this mutual attraction. Soon Robards
came to Nashville and patched up
some sort of temporary reconciliation
with his wife. But before long his
Jealous eye spied outEJackson's secret
love for Rachel Jackson and the
husband had n fierce quarrel. and the
former. to- prevent gossip about him.
self and the phhappy girl, moved away,
from the Donelson house. After max.
ing life miserable for Rachel: for some
months longer Robards left her and.
went back til KentuckE SEstt
Hearingtins 1TSp, tha her husband
was aboutsto come to- Nashville again..
Rachel fled In tterfpr % Natchez. The
journey was through agwilderness in.
tested by hostile Indians and beasts OF
prey. So Jackson and some friends
accompanies her, as armed escort.
Jackson left Rachel at Natchez and
returned at once to Nashville. Yet
this innocent Journey, infdriatedl Ro.
bards. In the first moments Of his
rage he brought suit for divorce. Pre-.
liminary steps inithe suit were taken.
Then. for two years, Richards allowed
the case to rest. Meantime. news
came to Nashville that. he had actual.
ly secured the divorce, and that Rachel
was free. There was no longer any
obstacle to Jackson's love. So he and
Mrs. Robards, in the. summer of 1871,
were married. They lived inideal hap.
piress and everything pointed to an
equally Joyous future. Then, 10 their
horror, in 1893, came tidings that the
divorce had never been granted. In
that year Robards secured It, and
Jackson and Mrs. Richards were mar
ried over again.
News Travelled slowly in tho
eighteenth century, and was often dis.
torted before 1t reached It's destina.
ton. Hence all sorts OF conflicting
and damaging reports about the young
wife sprang into circulation, These
SANDERS nearly broke her heart. They
had the effect on Jackson OF red rag
to bull. In blind fury, he set out to
crush tho false rumors and to punish
those who started or spread them. In
ether words, like a knight Of old, he
undertook to kill anyone who might
chance to speak slightingly of Rachel.
Married Same with wit l'us q lawyer vyer
woman Twice. named Avery in
1895; threatened to shoot Gov. Sewer
Of Tennessee on sight for light re-
mark about his wife. and shot and
killed one Charles Dickinson, who
was allegedly guilty Of indulging in
The same sort of gossip. In the Dick
inson duel Jackson received wound
from whose effects he never wholly
recovered.
Having thus vindicatcd his wife's
honor, the future president plunged
into politics, rising rapidly TO con-
gresham. senator and supreme court