Family trees

ISSUE NO. 17 // FAMILY TREES 🌲

‘Tis the season!

Holidays are about family. And trees play a prominent role in Christmas. Put that together and you have… family trees! So, there you go. I’m sharing my family tree collection. They aren’t all warm and fuzzy, by as you’ll notice in the Venn diagram — I’m only promising family and trees. Nobody said anything about warmth or fuzziness.

Family trees ought to make for a tidy, concise POTUS Notice, right? Nope. Once again, it’s gotten out of hand. If you’re already thinking “TLDR”, at least check out the Harrison family tree before you close out this email.

It’s been quite a year and I’m glad you’re here.

All the best in 2023!

Presidential Doodler

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Family tree collection

James Madison’s grandmother was Zachary Taylor’s aunt.

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Woodrow Wilson’s family dynamics were … complicated. While his grandparents were all anti-slavery, the next coupla generations were a mixed bag. His paternal uncles were Union generals; his maternal uncle was chief chemist for the Confederates. And his parent’s church provided the family with enslaved people. Such generosity and hypocrisy! His dad, Reverend Dr. Wilson, didn’t patch things up with his family after the war. Forgiveness and love thy neighbor and stuff.

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The Adams Family

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ABOVE: So many Charles Adams

BELOW: John Quincy Adams’ sons (Including one of the Charles Adams)

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First born George was named after George Washington. John Adams wasn’t pleased. But the second born was named John, so it’s all good.

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As if I hadn’t doodled enough Adams family trees … I went ahead and read Bob’s Folly by Travis Bowman and felt compelled to draw one more.

• John Adams’ granddaughter, Caroline Amelia Smith died aboard the steamboat Henry Clay after it caught fire en route to Albany.

• Henry Adams, grandson of JQA and great-grandson of John Adams served as the ambassador to the UK under Abraham Lincoln.

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The next family tree in my collection also sprang from Bob’s Folly. No presidents in this one, but it does include a founding father:

• The Chancellor, Robert Livingston, was the founding father who swore George Washington into office.

• He partnered with Robert Fulton. (New Yorkers — he’s the guy Fulton and Fultonville are named after.)

• When the Chancellor died, these brothers-in-law (who weren’t exactly besties) each inherited half of the North River Steamboat Company.

• Margaret Maria and Elizabeth Livingston have something in common with Eleanor Roosevelt. Their name didn’t change when they married.

• Philip Philip Livingston or Doctor Doctor Bliss: which name is most comical? Hard to say. I’m still bitter about Doctor Doctor Bliss basically killing James Garfield with his grubby little hands. In all fairness, part of Bliss’ name is a title so I guess maybe it’s not quite the same thing?

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It’s all about the Benjamins, baby

Within the Harrison family, the name Benjamin didn’t necessarily pass from father to son. This tree forks a bit in weird ways.

• The original Benjamin Harrison arrived in Jamestown in 1633.

• Benjamin IV and his two daughters were killed when he was struck by lightning while trying to close a window. ⚡

• That left Benjamin V as the head of the family. He turned out ok. Two-time governor of Virginia. Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mountainous guy. 6’4” and 250 pounds. (He joked with the lanky Elbridge Gerry that he was at an advantage if they were both hung for treason. Benjamin V would die immediately, while Gerry would “dance in the air an hour” before he died.)

• Benjamin V’s son VI … meh. I have nothing to note about him. But VI’s brother William was president! For a month.

• William’s grandson, Benjamin VIII, served as president for four years. Then he went off and married his niece and grossed his kids out.

• Sandwiched between William and Benjamin was John Scott Harrison. The only guy to be both father and son of presidents.

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President Taft came from a line of strong women

• His grandmother, Susan Dutton Torrey, was fiercely independent and frustrated with the lack of opportunities for women.

• Susan’s husband was pretty chill about the freedom she gave their four daughters. Possibly because he believed his death was imminent. He continued to live more than four and a half additional decades.

• Taft’s mother didn’t want to marry, but finally wed an older widower. He was very liberal, and she knew she’d have freedom.

• Then Taft himself went ahead met a “self-contained, independent” “treasure” at a sledding party — Nellie. Ever since she visited the White House as a girl, she was determined to live there. In a horrible twist, she suffered a stroke while First Lady and had to step away from her duties for a year while she recovered.

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PS Holiday shopping? Check out my Holiday Gift Guide for History Buffs!

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