Wife of John H. Eaton, Secetary of War.

Engraving is copied from an oil painting by Henry Inman, 18011846, made in Mrs. Eaton's lifetime, and now owned by Mr. Arthur Meeker of Lake-Shore Drive, Chicago by whose permission a copy is reproduced in this volume. See Chapters 13 and 22.

WILDEN FOTRDAY

Where Peggy O'Neal is subject to criticism was when at the age of sixty she married a young Italian who was the dancing master of her two daughters, and who wheedled her out of the greater part of her property, and fled to Europe with it. This marriage of hers was an act of supreme folly for which it is impossible to find any excuse or mitigation.

But let us take up in some detail the story of this woman who in Jackson's Administration loomed large in newspapers, politics, the kindest regards of Old Hickory and in the devoted affection of Major Eaton.

Wm. O'Neal, her father, also spelled O'Neil was a Pennsylvanian by birth, fine looking, friendly, given to hilarity, very popular, and a tavern keeper in Washington, D. C., in a house that was subsequently called "The Franklin." After his death in 1837 his hotel was bought by John Gadsby, greatly improved, and run by him for several years as a hotel. Gadsby then moved into what was called the "National Hotel" and changed the Franklin into five residences.

Wm O'Neal had a wife who died in 1860, three daughters, Margaret Peggy, Mary, Georgiana, and two sons, Robert and Wiliam. Peggy married John Bowie Timberlake, a purser in the Navy, June 16, 1816, who committed suicide leaving two daughters. She was 17 years of age when married. Timberlake was a Virginian. Mary O'Neal married Lieut. Grimes Randolph of Va., an Assistant Surgeon, United States Navy, and Georgiana married Rev. Frank S. Evans, on July 23, 1829, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Wm. O'Neal was probably of Irish descent, but he had no brogue and all accounts agree that he was a man of respectability and many friends, and that General Jackson, Major John H. Eaton, John Randolph and many of the political leaders of the day, lived at his hotel when Congress was in session. Here Peggy got acquainted with the politicians of the country. She was a pretty if not a beautiful woman, a close observer, gay, quick, lively, prompt in retort, fearless, sarcastic and combative from her girl-hood up. She was just such a woman that would be popular with men and unpopular with women, and it was women more than men who contributed most to the misfortunes of her life.

No American woman ever had the influence in politics and public affairs that she had, and none ever had more loyal and de

termined friends or more relentless enemies, and these enemies were mostly women. Opinions that have come down to us differ as to the kind and degree of her beauty but are unanimous as to the fascination and magnetism that she possessed. She had a wholesome joy of life and keen and exuberant love of pleasure. No wonder she was popular among men. Living was a joy to her and that of itself radiates attractiveness to others.

Her personality was marked and distinguished whereever she went, and drew from the first American lyric poet, Edward Coate Pinkney, who saw her in Baltimore after she married Timberlake, this beautiful toast, entitled "Health," and dedicated it to the most beautiful woman in America:

"I fill this cup to one made up

Of loveliness alone,

A woman of her gentle sex
The seeming paragon.
To whom the better elements

And kindly stars have given.
A form so fair, that like the air,

'Tis less of earth than Heaven.

"Of her bright face one glance will trace
A picture on the brain,

And of her voice, in echoing hearts
A sound must long remain;

And memory such as mine of her
So very much endears,

When death is nigh my latest sigh
Will not be life 's but hers.

"Affections are as thoughts to her,
The measure of her hours;
Her feelings have the fragrancy
"The freshness of young flowers.
And lovely passions changing oft
So fill her, she appears

The image of themselves by turns,
The idol of past years.

"I filled this cup to one made up

Of loveliness alone,

A woman of her gentle sex

The seeming paragon.

Her health! And would on earth there were

On January 1, 1829, Major Eaton married Peggy O'Neal whom he had known at her father's hotel as a girl, as Mrs. Timberlake and as a widow, and with this marriage began the troubles of himself and wife which got into politics and forms one of the most contemptible episodes in American history.

That the reader may appreciate the real inwardness of the Peggy Eaton episode it should be stated that John C. Calhoun was elected vice-president with Jackson as President in 1828, and was very anxious to succeed Jackson in the White House. It was uncertain whether Jackson would want a second term. In fact at heart he did not want a second term, but his friends talked him into running again.

Calhoun's friends opposed Jackson for a second race as they wanted Calhoun to run. The Senate refused to confirm Van Buren as Secretary of State in Jackson's first Cabinet and the Democrats nominated him for Vice-President with Jackson as President in the election of 1832.

Then began a determined political battle as to who should succeed Jackson at the end of his second term, on March 4, 1837, Van Buren or Calhoun.

It became known before the names of Jackson's first Cabinet were sent to the Senate, that Major John H. Eaton would be Secretary of War. The opponents to his being Secretary of War turned out afterwards to be all advocates of John C. Calhoun for President and against Van Buren, who was Jackson's choice as his successor. They began to try to keep Jackson from making Van Buren his successor, and in this fight began to make vague charges against the chastity and character of Mrs. Eaton. If Major Eaton had been for Calhoun for President the world would never have heard of what Van Buren calls in his autobiography "The Eaton Malaria." Calhoun's friends reasoned that Jackson would have controlling influence in the selection of his successor; that Major Eaton had great influence with Jackson, and was a friend and supporter of Van Buren for President, and if allowed to get in and remain in the Cabinet, would prove the undoing of Calhoun's ambition to run for President at the next election.

Happily for Major Eaton and his wife, Peggy O'Neal Eaton, they have both left behind them full statements of their social and political troubles which are reproduced in full in this volume, and which to a thoughtful reader does not afford a pleasant picture of the life and customs of that day. The author can recall no in