First Ladies of New Series! America olley Madison was the fourth presidential wife to serve alongside a man elected to our country’s highest office. When she died in 1849, it is said President Zachary Taylor eulogized her, saying “she will never be forgotten, because she was truly our First Lady for a half-century.” His remark was the first time the title “First Lady” was uttered, and it became the title that all future presidents’ Dwives would inherit. In these pages you will find entertaining stories and facts about the ladies who were in the white house during each of 45 presidential administrations.olley WeMadison hope you enjoy was this educational the fourth section broughtpresidential to you by the enclosedwife advertisers,to serve the Gasconadealongside County a man Republican, the Missouri Press Association and The Joplin Globe. elected to our country’s highest office. When she died in 1849, it is said PresidentD Zachary Taylor eulogized her, saying “she will never be forgotten, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 2018 because she was truly our First Lady for a half-century.” His remark was the first The title “First Lady” referring to secretary, who established strict rules Washington held formal dinners on the wife of the president was not of protocol. Having her official life Thursdays and public receptions on timeMartha the title Dandridge “First Lady” Custis was createduttered, until several decadesand after it becameso rigidly defined wasthe difficult titlefor Fridays. that all future Martha Washington’s death, but Mrs. Washington, but throughout her When President Washington refused Mrs. Washington was in all respects husband’s presidency, she exemplified to run for election a third time, she presidents’Washington wives would inherit. America’s original first lady. the unselfish service that would inspire was relieved and happy to go home Admired by the general public, future first ladies. to Mount Vernon. Once there, she GEORGE WASHINGton’s ADMINISTRATION: 1789-1797 she was deeply revered by veterans Barely 5 feet tall, Mrs. Washington seldom left. There is no record of her of the Revolutionary War. They called was born into a wealthy, socially ever crossing the Potomac to visit the her “Lady Washington.” Soldiers elite Virginia family and inherited newly constructed city named after her Birthdate: June 2, 1731 in New Kent County, Virginia remembered how Mrs. Washington great wealth upon the death of her husband, Washington, D.C. n celebrationEducation: Tutored inof reading, Women’s writing, and servedHistory them during the worstMonth, days first husband,our Daniel Custis. She was After George Washington died of mathematics of the conflict. She frequently stayed skillfully supervising the nearly 18,000- a throat infection in December 1799, Marriage: 1750 to Daniel Parke Custis; 1759 to with her husband at his headquarters acre plantation he left her and caring Mrs. Washington predicted that “I newspaperColonel George will Washington publish a seriesand looked on after the him and Firsthis troops. Ladiesfor her children when she met George shall soon follow him.” She burned At Valley Forge throughout the terrible Washington. their private letters to protect their Children: Daniel Parke Custis (1751-1754); Frances winter of 1778, Mrs. Washington cared When George Washington became memories from prying eyes. She Iof America.Parke Custis Readers (1753-1757); John Parke will “Jackey” Custislearn aboutfor the ill, comforted these the dying important and president, Mrs. Washington was destroyed all but two, which she had (1754-1781); Martha Parke “Patsy Custis (1759-1773) sewed coats and socks for the freezing aware that the United States, its first placed in a desk drawer when her Died: May 22, 1802 at Mount Vernon estate in men. president, and the president’s wife chore was interrupted. Before she was hostesses, advisorsVirginia and social reformersMrs. Washington wasof warm the and Whitewere being watched closely. The able to retrieve them, she died on May gracious, but she didn’t enjoy being Washingtons agreed she should 22, 1802. famous. Her official responsibilities entertain in a formal style to enhance She and the former president are House. were dictated by the president’s America’s stature in the world. Mrs. buried together at Mount Vernon. First Ladies of* NAmericaOTE: Except for Melaniais a NewspaperTrump and Mary Todd In Lincoln Education all the sponsors inside were made by random drawing. series brought to you by this newspaper and the Missouri Press Association GASCONADE COUNTY REPUBLICAN ■ WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 2018 ■ PAGE 2B First Ladies of America Abigail Quincy Martha Wayles Dolley Payne Smith Adams Skelton Jefferson Todd Madison JOHN ADAM’s ADMINISTRATION: 1797-1801 THOMAS JEFFErson’s ADMINISTRATION: 1801-1809 JAMES MADison’s ADMINISTRATION: 1809-1817 Birthdate: Nov. 11, 1744 in Weymouth, Birthdate: Oct. 19, 1748 in Charles City County, Virginia Birthdate: May 20, 1768 in Guilford County, Massachusetts Education: Unknown North Carolina Education: No formal education; Marriage: 1766 to Bathurst Skelton; Education: Unknown homeschooled 1772 to Thomas Jefferson Marriage: 1790 to John Todd Jr.; 1794 to Marriage: 1764 to John Adams Children: John Skelton (1767-1771); Martha James Madison Children: Abigail “Nabby” “Patsy” (1772-1836); Jane Rudolph (1774- Children: John Payne Todd (1792-1852); Amelia (1765-1813); 1775); unnamed son (1777); Marla “Polly” William Temple Todd (1793) John Quincy (1767-1848); (1778-1804); Lucy ELizabeth (1780-1781); Died: July 12, 1849 in Washington, D.C. Susanna (1768-1770); Lucy Elizebeth (1782-1785) Charles (1770-1800); Died: Sept. 6, 1782 at Monticello Thomas Boylston (1772-1832) Plantation, Virginia Died: Oct. 28, 1818 in Quincy, Portrait of a young Martha “Patsy” Massachusetts Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter who sometimes served in as White House hostess during her father’s presidency Abigail Adams greatly influenced the political career of her When Martha Jefferson died, Thomas Jefferson recorded his Noted for her charm, warm personality and disarming sense of husband, one of America’s Founding Fathers, John Adams. The great loss in his account book: “My dear wife died this day at 11:45 humor, Dolley Madison’s success as first lady was an important factor couple exchanged hundreds of letters while he was serving in a.m.” Mrs. Jefferson was 33 years old. Overwhelmed by grief, in her husband winning a second term in office. Additionally, her Philadelphia as a member of the Continental Congress and later as a Jefferson remained secluded in his room at Monticello for three dazzling years in Washington set the standard by which future first diplomat abroad. Today, their letters remain fascinating eyewitness weeks, often pacing the floor until he was exhausted. For many ladies would be judged. accounts of how the early government operated during a key era of days that followed, he shunned company and spent hours alone Dolley grew up in a strict Quaker environment. After spending American history. riding horseback through the Virginia countryside. The Jeffersons most of her youth in Virginia, she moved to Philadelphia with her Mrs. Adams was born in Weymouth, Mass., to Reverend William were devoted to each other during their 10-year marriage, and he family when she was approaching marriageable age. Her family fell Smith and Elizabeth Quincy Smith. Her mother taught her and her remained a widower the rest of his life. on hard times and Dolley ended up a young woman on her own. sisters how to read and write, and under her mother’s tutelage, the When Jefferson courted his future wife, she was Martha Wayles In 1790, she married John Todd Jr., a Quaker lawyer in young Abigail flourished intellectually. She studied philosophy, Skelton, a young widow with a 3-year-old boy, living at her father’s Philadelphia, and they had two sons. Life turned tragic, however, Latin, literature and history, and by the time she was a young Virginia plantation. Her son died a few months before she and when Philadelphia was struck by an outbreak of yellow fever. Dolley’s woman, she was as well-read as any college-trained man. Jefferson married. With auburn hair and hazel eyes, she was husband and infant son, Temple, both died, and at the age of 25, As the American Revolution heated up, Mrs. Adams was too described as beautiful, as well as being accomplished and well she found herself a widow and single mother living inside America’s close to the action at times for her husband’s comfort. Taking her educated for her times. She loved to read, sing and play the spinet largest city. young boys with her, she climbed to the top of a hill where she saw and harpsichord; she rode well, danced gracefully, and held her Dolley’s fortunes changed again when she met Virginia the Minutemen’s defense of Breed’s and Bunker Hill in Charlestown. own in spirited conversation. After they married, Jefferson took her Congressman James Madison. Madison was 17 years older and a Later, when battle refugees poured down the road from Boston, home to Monticello, where they lived in a one-room cottage until longstanding bachelor. As the father of the Constitution, he was Mrs. Adams opened her home to them. the main house was built. Historical records show that as mistress also one of America’s most famous and revered individuals. He was At such time, it was difficult being completely responsible for of Monticello, Mrs. Jefferson managed her household with care and enthralled by Dolley, and following courtship, they married.