The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-12-16

are you ~ favor OF the United
States taking over and maintaining
Monticello, the estate Of Thomas Jef.
ferson, which. under private owner.
ship, has gone into decay and is
largely a place forbidden to visitors?
lf 50. you can assist the movement
now In progress by signing a petition
which has been sent out by the asso-
citation which Is working for the pres.
ersation OF the estate.
Miss Annie Wade O'Nein and Mrs.
NJ s. Dudley have received copies Of
the petition and both have secured a
large number Of signers DR.. A. s.
Riddle circulated one Of the petitions
and It was signed by every one to
whom It was presented. Miss O'Neilrs
petition viii be at the college this
evening and everybody is invited 70
slgr It.
The petition is a formal document
sent out by the association which has
undertaken the work OF inducing con
gross 70 purchase the old jefferson
estate and maintain it as a mecca for
American visitors to the east VINO are
interested IN the history Of the ma
tion's illustrlOus dead IN connection
With it, the association sets forth the
salient facts IA the history Of the
estate as follows
Monticello IS located three miles
from Chariottyille. va. an isolated
mountain, $50 feet high. It came in
to possession Of the Jefferson family
in 1895. It remained a family posses
siol until after the death OF Jeffer-
son in July. 1924. almost a century Of
continuous ownership.
shadwell, his birthplace. was at the
foot OF Monticello Il was burned
down in l71o The place is not mark.
ca BY any grave stone. unnoticed. it
lies there under the trees OF the ri.
yans river Jefferson had chosen as
site for his future home. the top OF
the mountain. and had begun work.
Ne was then 81 years old. he mad no
architect but himself. no builder, but
slaves, and no landscape gardener. He
made his own brick, wrought his own
naiis, constructed his vehicle and
trained his own laborers
While he was in the public service.
work stood sin for. months, and even
years. The home, known as Month
cello, was 80 years in building. When
Jefferson retired from the presidency
after 60 years of public service, his
financial affairs were in a bad way,
ana he was old, weighed down with
debt and poor man His fortune
and lands we're eone and he often
said to his intimate friends that he
feared be would have no place FOL
burial.
/ He spent the rest Of his life at aion
ltioelio IN retirement. planning found
ing and building the University q
Virginia his chief thought and labor
which he called the child Of his ole
age
ne meet his obligations he had t
sell portions Of his estate. and wha
TO him was the most precious Of all
his library. During his retiremen
leading men Of the world made pil
grimages to Monticello. to pay hom
axe to the author Of the Declaration
OF independence. Then it was tha
Monticello became the Mecca for pee
pies of all races and creeds; a Niece
that will stand as long as Monticello
shall endure.
After his death. his daughter, an
onls child, Martha, found condition
Financially growing worse and sh
| proceeded to advertise the estate fo
sale It contained 400 acres and, wa
yalred at s710oo. II brought bu
s7o60 Thus the estate passed out {
the hands OF the Jefferson heirs an