From Wealth to Poverty.

Southland Times, Issue 9383, 24 November 1886, Page 4

From Wealth to Poverty.

♦ A sad death occurred at Bed Bank, New Jersey, recently. A woman who at one time was a leader in Washing *on society and who had great influence with the leaders of the Confederacy, jdied in that New Jersey town nncared for and alone. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Morrell. She wa3 born in Bolmdel in 1791 and lived until she reached womanhood with the family of Daniel S. Holmes , for a number of years sheriff of Monmoutn County. Mi<s Morrell was a btautiful brunette. Her figure was perfection and her carriage extremely graceful. She dressed with g/eat taste, and the fame of her beauty travelled all over the State. Young men raved about her and the suitors for her hand ■vme innumerable. For years she received the homage of her many admirers without showing special encouragement to any one, and it became almost understood that ehe would not marry. When in her 35th year she visited Booth Carolina, where the at last met bet fate in the person of William Warren, Collector of the Port of (Jharl«Bt"n. It was a case of love at first sight. Mr Warren became madly attached to the beautiful Jersey woman. Betides being of good family he was wealthy, and after a short courtship they were roanied. They opened a house in the most fashionable part of Charleston and entertained royally. Pour years before the War opened Mr Warren died, leaving his wife a vast estate. During President Buchanan's Administration Mr<i Warren took up her residence in Washington with her sister-in-law, Mrs Freeman, whose husband was afterwards a prominent Confederate General. She wa* received into the best society at the Capital, jiud her charme, which did not lessen with growing years, brought her many frieude. rofgrp.ssrt.eii, ae'-atirs, and gopfcrnmeiit offieiab were aike aptivateri with lei aftidouvH f > c^ and winsome manner*. She «aj« invited by the President to acsist at ths focial entertainments at the White House and u'-itil th* close of the Admiiji«traiion was a iamiliai fignre at all the state receptions as well as society generally in Washington. •he had several opportunities to marry a second time, but refused them all. To the day of her death she cherished with great fondness the memory of her hu&band and looked forward to the time when they would be reunited. When Lincoln was inaugurated Mrs Warren returned to Charleston and lived there until ~ the close of the war. Her life in Washington had made her acquainted with all the great men of the day, and throughout the rebellion Bbc tools active part io t-fae cause of her adopted home, it i« said that her influence ] over some ot the leaders in the Southern -. cante was great, and many wounded soldiers owed to her the comforts they ev joyed when tnffering from woum's and sickness. When peace was declared Mts Warren found hertelf a po^t woman, for her vast estate had almost been rendered worthless by the havoc of war. Buildings and crops were destroyed, much of her personal property had been BtoleD, the banks where her money had been deposited had failed, and her slaves were free. In 1868 she came North, and took up her residence again in Bed Bank, a discouraged, heart-broken woman •without a dollar in the a{i world. She found Jier family scattered, and that her foro her nad met wita acancia! re- .. veißesand wai unable to support he. The ,V bank books which she bronchi with her, reT presenting thousands of dollars itepcfcitei in !L Southern banks, »vit worbl.ss. Through ~ the influe"c • t a weii-known man uving at Bed Bank 700 dollars was col ecttd from the — receivei of one of the banks m which Mrs * ' Warren had her deposits less t bat one-tenth of the entire turn which was to her credit on the books of thatt institution before it h*d failed. On this money, and with wbat little • she could earn, .sb'e lived until seven y^ais ' ago. When the last cenc was spent for food, application whs made to the town authorities, and op to the time ef her death Bhe was supported by them. She- died suddenly. A c- ; nebhbonr found her lying dead on the floor |l * fi? of her scantily funiißhaii sitting-room, and - the pby ci- vro ««.» oalte* .n *-«•■ »»w r dc*ta wascaus"-- *>> afoylexy . - I be funeral was a qui-t on«, only two carriages ulowvg the aear»o to tue ceraefcry &t Kumsea. Ihe miaUt§F »«»4 tbeaoicmu ttfyicefor.tbe deed,

able woman was concluded. Her given age wai 95 yean. The first paxt of her life was fall of sunshine; her last days were dark with misery ; but through it all she was never known to be otherwise than cheerful and re--1 signed. *