The Ladies of the White House; Or, in the Home of the Presidents: Being a Complete History of the Social and Domestic Lives of the Presidents from Washington to the Present Time—1789–1881Holloway, Laura C. (Laura Carter)
History
The Ladies of the White House; Or, in the Home of the Presidents: Being a Complete History of the Social and Domestic Lives of the Presidents from Washington to the Present Time—1789–1881
Holloway, Laura C. (Laura Carter)
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Presidents' spouses -- United States -- Biography
“Graduating at the end of six months with the highest honors, she was
then employed as a teacher in the higher department of one of the public
schools of Buffalo for three months, where she exhibited an aptitude and
capacity for teaching that gave entire satisfaction. But the death of
General Taylor and the consequent elevation of her father to the
Presidency, compelled his family to relinquish their residence here and
remove to Washington. This introduced her into a new sphere of action,
but she moved in it with the same apparent ease and grace that she would
have done had she been bred in the midst of the society of the Federal
city. At the close of her father’s official term, she was destined to
suffer a heart-rending bereavement in the death of her excellent and
devoted mother. She returned with her father and brother to their
desolate home in this city, and by her entire devotion to the duties
thus suddenly devolved upon her, she relieved her father from all
household cares, and exhibited those high domestic and social qualities
which gave a grace and charm, as well as system and regularity, to the
home over which she presided. She again called around her the friends of
her childhood and early youth, for no change of fortune had in the least
impaired her early attachments—attachments which she continued to
cherish with unabated ardor and devotion. The home of her bereaved
father had once more become cheerful and happy, for her whole mind and
heart were given to promote his happiness and that of her only brother,
and they repaid her devotion with the kindest and most grateful
affection.
“She had some weeks since promised a visit to her grandfather, at
Aurora, about seventeen miles from this city. She went from here in the
afternoon of Tuesday last in good spirits and apparent good health, and
she reached Aurora in the evening. She appeared well and cheerful on her
arrival, and after conversing with her grandparents she retired to rest
about nine o’clock.
“She was soon after attacked with what proved to be the cholera; but
unwilling to disturb the family, she called no one until after 12, when
a physician was immediately sent for, but alas! too late. A messenger
was dispatched for her father and brother, but they only arrived to see
her breathe her last, unconscious of their presence. She died about 11
o’clock on Wednesday morning. The effects of this crushing shock upon
her fond and devoted father and her affectionate brother may perhaps be
imagined, but cannot be described.
“Her remains were immediately removed to Buffalo and interred yesterday
in the Forest Lawn Cemetery by the side of her mother. She was followed
to her last resting-place by a numerous concourse of sorrowing friends.
“In the absence of the Rev. Dr. Hosmer, her pastor, the Rev. Dr. Shelton
officiated in the funeral services.”
THE LATE MISS FILLMORE.
_From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, of July 28th, 1854._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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