|
MARTHA WAYLES SKELTON
JEFFERSON Thomas Jefferson
October 19, 1748 - September 6, 1782 [33]
Martha Jefferson died 18 years before her husband was president,
as did four of their six children. Thomas remained a widow after
vowing to her that he would never remarry. Dolley Madison was
the unofficial hostess of the White House during his term.
RACHEL DONELSON
JACKSON Andrew Jackson
June 15, 1767 - December 22, 1828 [61]
Rachel Jackson suffered a heart attack shortly after her husband
won the presidency, but died before the inauguration. The Jacksons
had no children. The president appointed his wife's niece, Emily
Donelson, to act as White House hostess.
HANNAH HOES VAN
BUREN Martin Van Buren
March 8, 1783 - February 5, 1819 [35]
Hannah Van Buren died 19 years before her husband was president.
Angelica Singleton Van Buren, the president's daughter-in-law,
acted as hostess.
ELLEN LEWIS HERNDON
ARTHUR Chester Arthur
August 30, 1837 - January 12, 1880 [42]
Ellen Arthur died just a few months before her husband
succeeded to the presidency. Their only child Ellen was ten years
old at the time, thus the president appointed his sister Mary
Arthur McElroy as hostess. Mr. Arthur placed a fresh vase of
flowers under his wife's portrait each day while in the White
House.
ALICE HATHAWAY LEE
ROOSEVELT Teddy Roosevelt
July 29, 1861 - February 14, 1884 [22]
Theodore Roosevelt suffered a double tragedy as both his mother
and wife died just hours apart on Valentine's Day in 1884. Alice
died during childbirth.
|
