Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-20
When President Tyler Wed


Il az
DRBsTDENT WILSON whose engagement 10 Mrs
Norman Calf has lately been announced, VIII be
the third president Of the United states TO be
married during his term OF office. Grover Cleveland
was the second, whoee marriage thirty years ago 'n
the white House. June 2 1885, 20 Frances Folsom
Mrs Thomas J. Preston, took place during hh
second term The first was John Tyler. famous In
the spirited campaign song OF Tippeeanoe ana Iy,S.
death OF General William Henry Harrison, who had
been inaugurated just month before It was the
president had succeeded TO the office Of chief
ecutve to the death OF the one elected to that
place.
Tylers three years and eleven months Of office
were filled with political turmoil and trouble. Within
a few months. all Of HIS cabinet members resigned
with the exception OF two, Of whom Daniel WeDster
secretary OF state was one The great Webster was
severely citicsed BY his party. the whig Tor remain
ing. but in tfs end 1t much TO his credit as Wen
that OF the much magned administration that ne
did So for he carried TO successful termination That
memorable agreement with England known as the
Ashburton treaty, which removed many long standing
disputes regarding our Canadian boundary Soon after
the treaty signed in 1873 Webster left the cabinet
But amid his stormy presidential career. in which
public vituperation went 30 far TO bring forth
audible muttering Of threatened impeachment John
Tyler achieved the happy distinction of escortnF his
bride direct from the wedding to the White House
Yet the marriage was preceded, and. indeed,
indirectly caused by OF the most appalling dis
asters which has occurred to the American navy
during times OF peace The steam frigate Princeton,
the newest and finest type Of steam warship then In
the navy. had recently been put in commission On
February IS 1874 the president and secretary OF the
navy invited large party OF guests TO make trip
Of inspection on the war vessel down the Potomac
It's chief armament consisted OF two great guns OF an
improved pattern. capable OF hurting 2-pound shot
a distance Of three miles. One of the guns, at its
third discharge, when opposite Alexandria, exploded
killing six persons and inJurng many others. Among
the dead two recently appointed members OF the
~ u fAHhn nf ufa nd
Thomas w. Gilmer secretary Of the navy, and also
Commander Beverly Kenyon Of the United States
navy David Gardiner. former New York state SEN
ator. and Virgil Mickey. late charge d'sffaires at
Belgium
Among the large party Of ladies' board
the two dauRhters of David Gardiner friends of the
president, and who In Warrington on visit
from New York The body OF their father was taken
temporarily to the White House. and a result OF the
daughters he fell in love with the elder. Julia Gar
diner, and in little less than four months they were
married.
The bride was "a years OF age and a member OF
one of the socially prominent families OF New York
She was born Gardeners Island which became the
immortal possession Of the doughty Lon Gardiner
the founder Of the family this side Of the Atlantic
about 1870 This extensive island standing well out
into the ocean OF Long Island has passed
from the family ownership
Church of the Ascension then. now. at Fifth ave-
nue. and Tenth street, Wednesday June Is, 1874
newspapers however
to the nupais OF the president Of the United States
than accorded TO many local political happening.
This was due to two First because both tho
president and his bride had kept their secret securely
from the public, so that few persons, even OF the
newspaper editors IN New York. knew what was going
until appraised Of the fact on the departure OF the
president his wife by the salutes Of the warships
in the harbor The second was that In view OF
the recent bereavement in the Gardiner family the
ceremonies had been arranged very simple scale,
and the newspapers asked to treat the effav IN
| an equally simple manner.
This request generally observed that one
may pore over files the newspapers of the day
In vain TO discover anything like a comprehensive ac-
count Of the wedding In which president of the
United States was married during his term OF office
In connection with TIN wedding Of John Tyler nd
the approaching nuptiale OF President Wilson there
are certain condolences q interest Miss Gardiner was
President Tylers second wife. His first wife, Letta
Christian to whom he was married In 1913, died IN
September 1892 year. five months and five days
after the inauguration OF her husband president
The late Mrs Wilson mistress Of the White
House for almost identcay the same time. her death
| on August g. 1914. being year, five months and
two days the Inauguration Of Mr.. Wilson. Pres
| dent Tyler was married again In little over one
year and months after the death OF his first wife
and n President Wilson Is married In December as
has been announced II will be about one year and
| four months after the death of his first wife,
| At the time OF President Tyler's second marriage
ne was "a years old After his retirement from the
presidency spent his remaining years with his wife
at his Virginia estate Sherwood Forest the banks
OF the James river Richmond He died in 1852
Mrs Julia Gardner Tyler lived until July 10 1889 She
died in Richmond her way north after visiting
Oldest boy Lyon Gardiner Tyler, president of William
and Mary college. Williamsburg, Va. a position he
sti holds She had four children. three ons
| daughter.