Evening star., 1939-10-22
East Front Capitol Grounds Once Occupied by Washington Dwelling
Noted Player,
Mrs. Lander,
Popular Here
Actress Married
General Who Died
In Civil War

In Civil War
its dimensions were Is by IS feet,
with Q gallery Brick was the ma
terial used In the walls. and the
entire cost was 81. 900. not including
5000 for special fittings for the
use Of Congress. paid from the
public treasury. The rent was fixed
on . basis Of 6 per cent Of the cost
Of the building, with IN allowance
for insurance, 80 that the annual
payment was 91,650."
Stock Issued.
Stock at 500 q share was issued
to the following persons: Daniel
Carroll of Duddington held 20
shares; Thomas Law. IS; Grifhth
Coombe and william Brent, 10;
William Emack, Robert Brent, VIII
liam D. Digges, Charles Carroll Of
Bellevue, Henry Ingle and Benja.
min Burns, S each; James D. Barry,
AZ; John C. Dixon, 4; B. G. Orr,
Alexander Mccormick and Fred.
erick May, each; Daniel Brent,
Daniel Rapine. Gilbert Decker and
Samuel Eliot. 2 each; James Young,
Thomas Claxton, Benjamin Burch,
Nicholas L. Queen. Francis Pic, I. 8.
Middleton. Henry Burford, John
Coyle, Adam Lindsay, Thomas
Foyles, Samuel N. smallwood, Kane
and Love and John earns, 1 each;
Charles Glover and Overton Carr.
n share each.
"These. in addition to the three
owners Of the old tavern property,
were the original stockholders"
The owners Of the old tavern
property, which stood just to the
rear Of this old building on the A
street side, who were Moses Young.
Henry 1ngle and e. B. Caldwell,
accepted for their holdings stock to
the extent Of S4,612
After 1t was vacated by Congress.
1t was used for various purposes
until 1t was taken over by the Gov
ernment toward the beginning OF
the Civil War and used as q prison
for political offenders. And ever
80 much else might be said about
this famous old landmark.
A house in the neighborhood Of
the Capitol which had more than
usual interest attached to it was
located at IS B street Sc, where
is now the House once Annex. This
was the home for many years OF
Mrs. Jean Margaret Davenport
Lander, whose husband. Frederick
w. Lander, was appointed . briga-
der general by President Lincoln.
May II, 1861, and was killed in battle
March 2. 1852.
Mrs. Lander was before her mar
riage to Gen. Lander . celebrated
actress and after her husbands
death she took up her residence
on Capitol Hill Many years ago,
Grace Greenwood" In writing Of
Pennsylvania Avenue and Its
Promenaders," speaks of q charm
ing party given at the National
Hotel which was attended by Mrs.
Lander and the famous violtnist, Ole
Bull. Referring to Mrs. Lander by
her maiden name, Davenport, Mrs.
Greenwood said:
Miss Jean M. Davenport-now for
many years the widow Of the heroic
Gen. Lander, killed in,the early days
Of the war-was then fair. win
some English girl. fine and refined
actress, displaying in private life no
theatrical airs. Her intelligence,
modesty and simplicity Of demeanor
made her a favorite in Washington
society then, as now, where it Is her
home"
1t was to her Southeast Washing.
ton residence that the body Of Mrs.
Lander was brought in August, 1903.
following her death at Lynn, Mass,
on August 3 Of that year.
Mrs. Lander was born in Wolver-
hampton, England, May 3, 1923, and
was therefore "A years old at the
time Of her death. Her father was
Thomas Donald Davenport. q law
yer, and later an actor. Her mother
was also on the stage at one time.
Mrs. Lander's first appearance on
the stage was as Little Pickle in
The Spoiled Child" She Travelled
In England and ireland and later
came to America under the man
agement Of James Wallach. Here
she took the part of Juliet In The
Counters" and Julia in The Hunch.
back" and took the leading charac-
ter IN many other plays.
Her marriage to Gen. Lander took
place IN San Francisco, October II.
1860. and following his death she
devoted herself to the cure of the
sick and wounded on Southern
battlefields, and with her mother
had entire charge for q year of .
Union hospital at Port Royal, 8. G.
Prominent in Capital.
At the time of Mrs. Landers
death, The Star, speaking Of her
said:
During her long residence In the
white frame cottage opposite the
Capitol garden Mrs. Lander was
identified with many phases Of life
at the Capital. as she represented In
herself one Of its most interesting
personages. She grew old grace
FULLY IN the company Of friends she
1
made when she first came here to
live. IN the early 7os, while at the
same time she never ceased to be
attractive to the young. The halo
OF her years Of triumph on the stare.
where her notable talent gave her
nrst place, seemed q fitting accom-
paniment to her many traces oY
manner and person. After leaving
the stage she rarely ever referred
TO her career there. In fact. the
subject was considered by her friends
distasteful one to her. She had
a conspicuous place In society for
years. and in her prime was . de-
nshtful hostess. She was among
the earliest members Of the Literary
Society Of this city. 80"
She was as fond Of roses as was
George Bancroft, the historian. She
had almost Is many varieties In
her rose garden back Of her cottage
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