Memoir of John Howe Peyton Part 26

Although of an impulsive nature, her religious feelings, like her social, were deep and permanent. Socially she was genial and companionable and a favorite with both old and young. With the young she was ever ready to talk and encourage them in their plans and studies, and she always had sympathy, advice and counsel for old and young when in trouble.

Her temperament was naturally somewhat quick. She was conscious of this infirmity and happily overcame it. Not giving herself credit, however, for the patience she had acquired, she has often with a womanly tear in her eye, regretted to the author that she was so easily excited and in the excitement so precipitate. She begged her children to be on their guard against such an enemy to our peace, quoting, "he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

In our intercourse with society, she urged that it was our duty to curb any tendency to hastiness of temper, for as a gentleman cannot take an affront, she said, he should be very cautious how he gives one; we should persevere in all that is right, and allow no weak desire of pleasing to tempt us from the paths of virtue. In this way she proved herself the sincerest of friends and the wisest of counsellors, and prepared her sons for "The court, the camp, the field, the grove."

Such in general terms was this model matron, this "mother in Israel" who deserves more than this brief notice, especially from her children whom she loved so well. This simple outline of her character and career, it is hoped, may not be considered unworthy of perusal. Gentle, affectionate and lenient, she was beloved by all who knew her. Happy in herself, she diffused happiness not only through the immediate circle which she, like a star illumined, but warming with a brilliance as effective as beautiful, all within her range.

Her understanding was good as her heart, and few human beings ever lived blest with a more cheerful disposition, a more generous spirit or a tenderer soul.

TO THE MEMORY OF

MRS. ANNE MONTGOMERY PEYTON.

OF "MONTGOMERY HALL," AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA.

True daughter of Virginia's soil, Scion of a n.o.ble race, Thy virtues, tho' by bards unsung, Hold in fond heart's a place, Which time with its dark sullen tide Can ne'er dim or efface.

Reared in a "sweet sequestered vale,"

Where flowers the fairest grew, And blossoms on their native hills, In beauty's varying hue; Mere crystal streams down Mountain's side Bright sprays of silver threw.

And thou, so like those blus.h.i.+ng flowers, Whose buds the Sun's soft ray Had kissed, until new beauties burst With every dawning day, And thy young heart free as those streams Whose waters idly play.

Endowed with learning's richest gift, A bright peculiar star, Thou mov'dst in social widening range, With not a shade to mar Or dim the l.u.s.tre soft and bright That blazed and shone afar.

The mystic spell of nature's charms Thy being closely bound, And in each changing, pa.s.sing scene, Thou some new pleasure found, And youthful hopes, and youthful dreams, By fortune's smile was crowned.

And when removed to other spheres, The love that warmed thy breast Shed 'round its rays with power that soothed Sad, aching hearts to rest, For of all gifts to fellow-man Sweet sympathy's the best.

Then children gamboled 'round thy knee, In childhood's glad delight, Thy watching eye marked well the road Which led them to the right; The straight and narrow way which leads Up to the heavenly height.

True daughter of Virginia's soil, Mother of an honored race, Thy memory in thy children's hearts, Still holds its loyal place, And years in their mad sweep and rush, Will ne'er dim or efface.

Wren's "_Echoes from the heart_," p. 214.

APPENDICES.

A.

THE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN H. AND ANN M. PEYTON.

1. Susan Madison Peyton, born 1822, m. Col. John B. Baldwin, no issue.

2. John Lewis Peyton, born 1824, m. Henrietta E. C., daughter of Col.

John C. Was.h.i.+ngton, of North Carolina, and niece of Gov. Wm. A.

Graham, Hon. James H. Bryan, etc., and have issue, one son, _Lawrence Was.h.i.+ngton Howe Peyton_, born 1872, a distinguished graduate V. M. I., having taken the 2d Jackson-Hope medal and the degree of C. E. In 1894-'95, Capt. Lawrence W. H. Peyton, after a law course at the University of Virginia, is a.s.sistant Professor of Mathematics in the Virginia Military Inst.i.tute, Lexington.

3. Anne Montgomery Peyton died unmarried.

4. Mary Preston, m. R. A. Gray and has issue: 1. Robert; 2. Susan Peyton, m. to Rockingham Paul, brother of Hon. John Paul, United States District Judge for Western Virginia, and have one son, John Gray Paul; 3. Isabella, m. Dr. Salmon Welsh, of Annapolis, Md., one daughter; 4. Howe Peyton Gray, m. Bessie Ma.s.sie and has issue, two children: 1. Sally Waterman; 2. a son; 5. Preston L. Gray, who m.

Mary S. Bingham, of North Carolina, and has issue, one daughter. Mrs.

Gray and all of her children, except Mrs. Welch, are residents of Bristol, Tenn.

5. Lucy Garnet Peyton, m. Judge John N. Hendren, of Augusta, and they had a large family, but only one living; 1. Anne Peyton, m. Wm.

Patrick, of Staunton, and at her death left an only daughter, Anne Hendren Patrick; 2. Samuel R. Hendren, a distinguished graduate of Was.h.i.+ngton and Lee University, and in 1894-'95 a student of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.

6. Margaret Lynn Peyton, m. George M. Cochran, of Staunton, and they have living issue: 1. Susan Baldwin; 2. Anne Peyton; 3. John; 4.

Margaret Lynn; 5. Peyton Cochran.

7. Elizabeth Trent Peyton, m. Hon. Wm. B. Telfair, of Ohio, and at her death left three children: 1. Wm. B. Telfair, Jr. Susan Peyton Telfair m. James Dougherty, and they have two sons.

8. Yelverton Howe Peyton, who died unmarried in Texas.

9. Virginia Frances, who m. Col. Joseph F. Kent, of Wythe, and have issue: 1. Joseph F.; 2. Susan Peyton; 3. Mary Preston.

10. Cornelia Bernard, m.: 1. Dr. Thos. Brown, and they had issue: J. B.

Brown and Peyton Brown. After Dr. B.'s death, she married Wm. H.

Greene, and they have issue, two sons, Peyton W. and Newport Barnett.

B.

MRS. SUSAN M. BALDWIN.

Susan, the eldest daughter of this marriage is so remarkable for the vigor of her intellect, her literary tastes and acquirements, for her unselfish generosity of heart, her n.o.ble charities and lovely Christian character, that we insert with much pleasure from the Spectator of 1891, the following tribute.

A VENERABLE AND RESPECTED LADY.

Mr. Wm. P. Johnson, now (1891) in the his 58th year, recently read to the Superintendent, teachers and scholars of the Staunton Baptist church, an interesting account of his connection with Staunton Sunday Schools. In his narrative he says, "I can remember the old school-room in the bas.e.m.e.nt of the old (Episcopal) church, which stood where the new (present) church stands, and the first teacher who taught me, I will give the name of, and it will be the only teacher whose name I shall mention. It was then Miss Susan M. Peyton, who was after several years teaching, married and became the beloved wife of one of Augusta's most brilliant and gifted lawyers, the Hon. John B. Baldwin. I shall never, no never forget the kind Christian teachings of that grand and n.o.ble Christian lady. It was in this school, through her teachings, that I first learned of that dear Saviour, who came into the world to suffer and die that I might live:"

The publication of the above affords us the pleasing opportunity to say that Mrs. John B. Baldwin still survives in our midst near seventy years of age, but so impaired in health by a severe illness some years since, that she rarely leaves her house, and then only in a carriage. She is an object of universal love and respect: all venerate her for her piety, accomplishments and charities. None know her but to "love her, nor name her but to praise." A woman of gifted intellect, under the eye of her good amiable mother, she enjoyed every advantage which precept and example could afford, and no daughter was ever more sensible of the obligations which she owed to maternal care.

To a liberal and munificent spirit she joins charity, philanthropy and beneficence and an uncommon share of dignity and firmness of spirit, for while she converses with the lowly, even with her servants as her humble friends, no one knows better how, in the highest society, to support their due consequence and state. She is a great reader and full of general information and can discourse on easy and equal terms alike with scholars, statesmen or divines. Few indeed excel her in wit and judgment. At Montgomery Hall, the charming home of her eminent father, Hon. John H. Peyton, she met nearly all of the distinguished men and women of Virginia, of his day, and has since mingled much in the society of Richmond, Was.h.i.+ngton and New York, making the acquaintance of the Websters, Clays, Fillmores, Tylers, Tuckers, Randolphs, Lees, Davises, and in fact all the leading public men of the country before and after 1861. Such were her personal charms and the vivacity of her conversation and manners that she was the life and ornament of every circle graced by her presence. The late Judge H. St. George Tucker, father of Hon. J.

Randolph Tucker, who was, like Blackstone, a poet as well as a jurist, wrote some beautiful lines addressed to her on her entrance into Richmond Society in 1839, which we hope some of these days to give in our columns.--_Staunton Spectator, March 11th, 1891._

C

CONTENTS OF A PIGEON HOLE.

We cannot resist the temptation of preserving here the contents of a pigeon hole in our desk.