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Literary Club enjoys program on First Ladies
The patio of the Annie Riggs Memorial Museum was the setting for the October meeting of the Fort Stockton Literary Club Wednesday, Oct. 17. Members gathered around a long table for the meeting and program.
During the meeting, conducted by Nancy Hammond, the recitation of the collect was led by Dorothea Ferrante. Roll call was answered with "First Lady I would have liked to be". Books will be chosen to be presented to the Fort Stockton Library as memorials for Mary MacFarland and Mary Walker. Announcements of coming events in Fort Stockton were also made.
Victor Gene Robbins had chosen three of the lesser-known wives of presidents as subjects for her program and gave very interesting information concerning their lives. She began with Louisa Johnson Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, the fourth president. She was born in 1775 in England to an English mother but her father was the United States consulate general in London. Naturally she was educated abroad and arrived in the United States for the first time in 1801. She led an interesting life that included a winter trip from St. Petersburg Russia to join her husband in Paris. She was the First Lady during her husband's presidency from 1825 to 1829. They were married 51 years before her husband died in 1848. She died in 1852.and was buried beside him in the United First Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Her second President's Wife was Letitia Christian Taylor whose husband became president upon the unexpected death of his predecessor, "Tippecanoe" Harrison. She was mother of eight children, seven of whom survived her. Her health was very fragile while she was in the White House and she was the first President's wife to die in the White House less than two years into her husband's term of office.
The third President's wife Victor Gene chose was Sarah Childress Polk who was born in Murfreesboro, TN and educated first in Nashville, then in the Moravians' "female academy" at Salem, NC.
A devout Presbyterian, she refused to attend horse races or the theater; but she always maintained social contacts of value to her husband. It was during his administration that gaslights were installed in the White House. Skilled in tactful conversation, Mrs. Polk enjoyed wide popularity as well as deep respect.
Only three months after retirement to their fine new home in Nashville, James K. Polk died. She survived another 42 years, guarding the memory of her husband and accepting honors paid to her as honors due to him.
Following the very interesting program members enjoyed finger sandwiches filled with bats and pumpkins, mixed nuts, chocolate pumpkin cheesecake, and iced tea from a table in the Museum dining room, which was laid with a gorgeous burlap cloth appliqued with woolen flowers. Halloween was featured in the centerpiece, serving pieces and plates.
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