University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-08
Jackson's S Marriage

married twice to the same woman
without divorce, but such was the fat'
of Andrew Jackson, for two term:
President of the United States.
short time previous to 1890 Andrew
Jackson left North Carolina, where ht
had been graduated in law from
North Carolina University, and moved
to Tennessee. He was regarded a:
one of the rising young men of the
community and became a promising
lawyer. He lived in the cabin OF a
widow named Donelson, who's,
daughter was famed throughout the
vicinity for her beauty.
Rachel Donelson was the wife OF
Captain Lewis Robards. RObards had
treated his beautiful wife cruelty in
the early months of their marriage
and had the i'll feeling of her mother
and little respect from Rachel her
self.
Shortly after Jackson came to live
in the cabin of the Donelson's, where
the Robards also made their home.
Captain Robards decided he would
move to Kentucky. This was against
the desire of his wife and her mother.
TO rthe beautiful Rachel was not :it-
ted for the hardships of pioneer life.
of this fact Robards set
out for Kentucky to build home and
clear a tract of land preparatory to
taking his wife to that new country.
Evil news filters through the trees
Of a forest and crosses swift-running
streams into the ears Of those whose
suspicious minds make them expect
ant. So the ravens of gossip carried
70 Lewis Robards the imaginary fact
hat Andrew Jackson, the handsome
7oung man whom Robards had first re-
,arded with envy and then jealousy
vas living in intimate relations with
lis wife back in Tennessee.
Siezing the malicious rumor with
ervor worthy of greater reason,
set out for Tennessee. The
lews of his coming preceded him ami
Andrew Jackson met him in the orch
lrd. near the Donelson cabin. 1t was
lot Jackson's custom to argue with
my man about a woman, for his chiv-
llrous nature instinctively fought in
heir defense. But he reasoned with
sobards as a man reasons with a beast
md cOnvincingly denied all of Ro-
'ard's accusations. Without further
discussion Robards disappeared into
he woods whence he came.
In the old days of Virginia divorce
vas obtained by act of the legislature.
tennessee was a part of Virginia, and
o Lewis Robards appeared before the
legislature of that state and got a
ivorce.
As soon as Jackson heard of the di.
orce. in the fall of 1891, he was mar
led to the beautiful Rachel at Watch
z. They lived happily until in the
Month of December, 1893, when one Of
ackson's friends heard that a divorce
ad just been granted Robards in the |
iercer county court. Jackson's chiv-
lrous sense prompted him to have
mother marriage ceremony perform
d, although he felt that the one was
erfectly legal. The divorce had been
'gally completed until the action by |
he Mercer county court. |
Judge John Overton. who had been |
ackson's bed-fellow in the home of |
lie Donelsons, affirms that none of
obard's charges were grounded. The
larried life of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson
as one Of greatest contentment. The
dies Of Washington were at first re-
lctant to accept Mrs. Jackson into
'ciety but at the end of a few months |
'teemed her as highly as any Of their
xn number. C.C.B.