The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 27, 1901, Page 1

VOLUME XC-NO. 27. SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, JUNE.- 27, 1901. PRICE FIVE CENTS. VENERABLE MRS. MARY ELIZABETH GWIN, WIDOW OF CALIFORNIA’S == FIRST SENATOR AND ONCE ALL-POWERFUL IN OFFICIAL SOCIEETY AT WASHINGTON, PASSES AWAY AT HER HOME IN SAN FRANCISCO —eeep [ 1B50. HAN oM. LBrEJS HER *INFLUENCE ToO FALAFORNIA ADMITTED INTO Painless End of Life Both Long and Eventful. RS. MARY E. GWIN, widow of 4 States Sen- M. Gwin, died morning at 11 home, corner of nd Hyde streets months past of upon extreme old the al age free was expected th remarkably Her death uring the last vi- s most month, and exceptional tality e ed her to withstand the rav- ages of ilin ong Eerl morning it became evi- dent emong the mos ed who was once famous leaders of society &t the patio and whose wish was a power to sway the affairs of state, bad but a few hours more at most to sur- vive. Her son and daughters were sum- moned to her bedside, and at 11 o’clock ¢he breathed her last, so calmly and peacefully that those who stood over her scarcely kneW when the ~irit winged its flight Mre. Gwin had reached the advanced age of 5 years and 22 days. Until eight months ago she enjoyed excellent health and retained tke vigor of mind to which, as well as to ber beauty and charm of manner, was due her influence over public men of the days preceding the Civil War, and even during her prolonged illness her mind remained bright and her interest in her household affairs active. For many years the widow of Califor- nia’s first United States Senator has lived in comparative retirement and seclusion in San Francisco, and her own generation having almost entirely passed away few kKnew In detall the story of the eventful life of the charming and venerable old isdy mor recalled that her influence had once been strong In national politics, a President being proud to respect her wishes and grant her requests even in important matters of national policy. San Franciscans came to think of her mainly as & charming vJd lady with great culture and dignity and queenly bearing, and her triumphe of ante-bellum days and her ad- ventures during war times were seldom recalled except among intimate friends of the family. The news of her death will be received with sorrow by thousands of people who knew and admired and loved Mrs. Gwin. Among the old guard of public men there are some still surviving who knew her in the halcyon days of her power, and a few women still survive who were her asso- clates in the social life at Washington, and these white-haired men and women of & bygone day will learn with keen sor- row of her death. The funeral services will be held to- morrow &t 2 p. m. from her late residence, 1490 Sseramento street, at the cormer of Hyde. The Rev. R. C. Foute, rector of Grace Eplecopal Church, will officiate. lady e I1851° TNTERESTS PRESIDENT BOUCHANAN IN APELINA PATTI Years of Retirement Follow Early Triumphs. The interment will be in Laurel Hili Cem- etery. . Willlam M. Gwin Jr., formerly United States Shipping Commissioner at this port and a former State Senator, is a son of deceased. Two daughters survive her, Mrs. E. J. Coleman and Miss Carrie Gwin. “All three were at the bedside of their mother when the end came. EVENTFUL LIFE AND INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC MEN Mrs. Gwin a Favorite in Washington Society, With President James Buchanan Among Her Admirers. Mrs. Gwin was Mz1y Elizabeth Hamp- ton Bell, daughter of Willlam and Susan Bell. She was born in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, June 24, 1816, and was ‘married to William G. Logan of Glasgow, Ky., September 17, 1830, Her father kept the tavern at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, and was famous throughout the State.. It is Kentucky traditicn that his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Hampton Bell, was cele- brateq for personal Leauty and graces of character. It is not surprising, therefore, that Willlam G. Logan, a well-known sur- veyor of Glasgow, feli in love with the at- tractive young lady. Youthful marriages were then applauded in Kentucky, Vir- ginia and Tennessee; Lence it was not un- common for a girl to become a bride at 15. Surveyor Logan's sweetheart was only two montns past 1f when the wedding took place. The young couple went West and Bouth to grow up with the country. They settled in Texas, where Logan sur- veyed immense tracts of land and became the owner of a lordly number of acres. Among their many friends in the Lone Star Territory General S8am Houston was one of the most devoted. If Mrs. Logan had been his own daughtbr he could not have been more devoted. Mr. Logan died 1 1835 or 1836. In 1837 Mrs. Logan, a widow scarcely out of her “teens,” married Dr. Willam M. Gwin, !+ | G Son and Daughters at Their Mothet’s Bedside. who subsequently became United States Senator from California and one of the prominent figures in national history. The marriage took place at Vicksburg, Miss., but Mr. and Mrs. Gwin elected to reside in New Orleans. They were living in the Crescent City when the news came of the gold discovery in California. Mrs. Gwin must have possessed ambition as well as comeliness and energy, because she en- couraged her husband to try his fortune in California, saying “Doctor, go to Cali- fornia and become United States Sen- ator.” Dr. Gwin arrived in San Francisco on June 4, 1849. Thereafter Mrs. Gwin celebrated June 4 as her birthday, but as a matter of fact June 26 was the true an- niversary. She prefsrred, however, to cel- ebrate as the day of her birth the day wifich opened to Dr. Gwin his eventful career in the nation’s history. Husband Elected Senator. Her husband was elected to the United States Senate In 1849, but the State was not admitted to the Union until September 9, 1850. The Senator-elect and his remark- ably gifted wife used their influence to obtain Congressionai support of the meas- ure to admit California. The hospitality bestowed by Senator Gwin and his famly is often recalled by Californians who visited Washington in the “fifties.” It made no difference tc Senator Gwin if the visiting constituent from California be- longed to the Broderick or any other fac- tion. Californians of all shades of politi- cal opinion were cordlally greeted and hospitably entertained. The distinguished Senator’s wife was 34 years of age when she realized the dream- of her ambition. Among her devoted ad- mirers in Washington was' James Bu- chanan, President of the Unfted States. At once the Gwins became prominent figures in Washington society, and she took a prominent part in the social functions of the Capital City. / Senator Gwin served California in the SCTED SF N < '{gsf:m'rmfl TO CONFHDERATEY, ["AND ESCAPES To FRANGE *H RUSSELLYI Pas 1916 .- THE R-B LEE WITH | GWNIN ABOARD Ul s THE BLO%KADE. . o+ & PORTRAITS OF THE LATE MRS. GWIN AND SCENES IN HER LIFE. Last Sad Rites Will Be Held at House To-Morrow. —_— United States Senate for two terms, dur- ing which twelve vears he canvassed the State regularly, maintaining unquestioned party leadership. In his journeys to and frors Washington he crossed the Isthmus of Panama twenty-four times, generally accompanied by Mrs. Gwin. The leaders of both North and South gave Senator Gwin their confidence. This was due as much to Mrs. Gwin's tact and charming personality as to her hus- band's character and ability. At the hospitable table of the Gwins and In their drawing-room might be seen Butler —of Bouth Carolina, Mason and Hunter of Virginti, Atchison of Missouri and Davis of Migsissippi, brought into social con- tact there with Seward, Fish, Hale and other great leaders of the North, Spurs Husband’s Ambiticn. Mrs. Gwin’s influence on her husband's career in the Senate was marked and had much to do with its brilllancy, even as his original ambition to secure the Senatorship was stimulated by her. Sen- ator Gwin secured the establishment of the branch mint in S8an Franclsco. While \AND LIPELL N PAR cjw;N,meicl'N I:i?{ T FORT JACKSON 1S gi‘nmzau'ro LEAVE ‘THE UNITED JTATES .« 1267 ”R:gg {s TO L“‘:‘To—é NeA : : ENTBRTAINS JAASON [ — Sputred Ambitions o Able and Popular Husband. i chairman of the Committee on Naval Af- fairs he reported the bill for the estab- lishment of a navy-yard and depot in the bay of San Francisco, under, which Mare Island was subsequently chosen for the site. He advocated ‘the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands. and favored Government aid to a-trans-Pacific line of steamers. ~He offered a bill, in 1852, for, the construction ‘of -a Pacific railroad, but it was defeated. He secured, however, appropriations for the survey -of routes for a transcontinental railroad. Again and again he urged the importance of a Pa- cific railroad as a peace agency. It was due to his efforts that the “pony express” across the continent was established. In 1857 Adelina Patti, who has since achieved fame as the world's greatest singer, went to Washington. The project of giving a concert to introduce the young singer to Washington soclety was sub- mitted to Mrs. Gwin. Patti was then in her ‘“teens,” but Mrs. Gwin knew of the marvelous sweetness and range of the singer’s voice, and resolved that the con- cert should be an event of the season in ‘Washington. She decided that the Presi- dent, Cabinet officers and prominent Sen- ators should attend the funection, and sure enough President Buchanan, who was quite a stickler for form, acceded to Mrs. Gwin's request and attended the concert to acclaim the genius of Pattl. Never did Pattl forget the kindness. Years later Mrs. Gwin was a ‘“Confederate’” in Paris and Pattl was in the zenith of her glory. The two ladies then saw much of each other, and the famous singer always re- called with expressions of gratitude the concert in Washington and the start which Mrs. Gwin gave her. Between sessions of Congress from 1850 until 1860 Senator and Mrs. Gwin came to San Francisco. They lived on Jackson street, near Stockton, in the house subse- quently occupied by Dr. Toland. Sen- ator Gwin returned with his family to California after the war. The Gwins then Ante—Béllum _Affajrs Swayed by Her Influence. taok the house on Harrison street, Rincon Hill, where Irving M. Scott now dwells. The eldest of Dr. and Mrs. Gwin's chil- dren’ fs Lucy, now the wife of Evan J. Coleman. The second daughter, Mary, died at the age of 14" William M. Gwin Jr. was_ the third” ‘He married the daughter of George Maynard. For several years Mr. Maynard was Auditor of San Fran- cisco. Miss "Carrie Gwin is the fourth child. Children were born of Dr. Gwin's’ first .marriage and of Mrs.. Gwin’s first marriage, but none survive. In Paris During the War. ‘When the war came Senator Gwin es- poused the Confederate cause. He went South, but did not enter the army. Mrs. Gwin went to Baltimore, where one of her daughters was at school. There were many Confederate sympathizers of both sexes in Baltimore, and the Government at. Washington was forced to employ the strictest vigilance to prevent them from communicating with the Confederate gen- erals, In 1864 the Federal authorities sus- pected that Mrs. Gwin was giving in- formation "to the Confederates and send- ing quinine through the lines. At the sug- gestion of her friends and perhaps of Dr. Gwin she went to Paris. There she en- tertained Mason, Slidell and many other distinguished advocates of the Southern cause. In 1864 Dr. Gwin and his daughter Lucy ran the blockade at Wilnington on the steamer, R. E. Lee and joined Mrs. Gwin in Paris. Subsequently Willlam M. Gwin, an officer in the Confederate army, Joined them, having obtained sick leave. e also ran the blockade. The Gwin House in Paris was really Confederate headquarters in France. Of- ficers of the Alabama and the command- ers of noted blockade runners paid their respects to the eminent Southerners. Dr. Gwin had an eventful experience at the beginning and just after the close of the war. General Sumner had him placed in Fort Lafayette, New York, in 1861. In 1866, after his return from France, General Sheridan kept him at Fort Jack- son, New Orleans, for six months. His re- lease from botk prisbns was brought about through the influence of George D. -— President Buchanan a Warm Friend and Admirer. Prentice, who kept Kentucky from se- ceding. At Fort Jackson, Dr. Gwin received a message stating that he could have his liberty if he would leave the country. The message was brought to him from General Sheridan by Colonel Kip, son of Bishop Kip. - When the message was de- livered Dr. Gwin looked at the bearer and replied: “You were appointed to West Point on my recommendation, and you bring® me this insulting message. I am ashamed of you.” Dr. Gwin in Prison. Colonel Kip apologized, with the re- mark that he was simply obeying the or- ders of General Sheridan, to whose staff he was attached. Later on George D. Prentice interceded and the doctor got away from Fort Jackson. He rejoined his family in Paris in 1366,but not in time to attend the wedding of his daughter Luecy and Evan J. Coleman. He had advised the fagily not to postpone the weddins, as his prospects of release were slende: Dr. Gwin always expressed great fond- ness for California. When he learned that H. H. Haight, Democrat, had been elected Governcr, he said to Mrs. Gwin and the children: “I am going to Call- fornia to maks way for all of us to live there.” The doctor came and soon Mrs. Gwin and others of the family, including Mr. Coleman, came. Mrs. Gwin had a most remarkable ca- reer. Doubtless the happiest days of her life were passed in California, with her children at her side and the doctor dwell- ing upcn the memorable events of his ac- tive life. She possessed pecullar grace and tact in the art of entertaining. Asa manager she was unequaled, being able to accomplish with a limited wealth what others could not achleve with boundless treasure. She was truly a noble and gift- ed woman, who won the lasting affection and gratitude of her companions. MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE HONORS MRS. 8. T. MILLS Trustees am‘l Faculty Confer Upon Her the Degree of Doctor of Literature. In appreciation of all she has accom- plished in the interest of education, the trustees and faculty of Mount Holyoke College, at the recent commencement, conferred on Mrs. Susan T. Mills, presi- dent of Mills College, the honorary de- gree of doctor of literature. Mrs. Mills graduated from Mount Holyoke College in the class of "6 and has always mani- fested a deep Interest in the weilfare of the institution. This act of Mount Holy- oke College will be especially gratifying to the great number of gradu who have received their diplomas the hands of the honored president of Milly Colleze.