Believe it or not, Martha Bulloch, the granddaughter of Archibald Bulloch, was both the mother of a president, and the grandmother of a first lady. What’s more, she is suspected as having been the actual model for the character Scarlet O’Hara in the famous novel Gone With The Wind. Both women (real and fictional) were portrayed as smart, witty, fit, black-haired beauties that lived in elegant southern plantation mansions set in an idyllic location (Bulloch Hall and “Tara”).
Martha Bulloch was born to Major James Stephens Bulloch and Martha Stewart Bulloch on July 6, 1835 in Hartford, Connecticut. Her mother was there visiting stepson James Dunwoody Bulloch, who would later become the Confederacy’s most famous secret agent. The trip had a second purpose: getting Martha Stewart away from the blazing heat of a summer in either of the Bulloch homes: in Savannah, and in Roswell, on the Chattahoochee River. Martha was raised in both locations, but spent most of her time in Bulloch Hall in Roswell. Both of her brothers, James and Irvine, were actively engaged in supporting the Confederate war effort.
Theodore Roosevelt Sr. met, and courted, Martha in Roswell. They married at the Greek-revival style mansion on December 22, 1853. They soon moved to New York City, as Theodore was an Assemblyman in the New York State Legislature. Martha’s mother and sister Anna soon joined them in New York City. There, “Mittie”, as she was known, gave birth to their four children: Anna (1855), Theodore (1858), Elliott (1860), and Corinne (1861).
During the Civil War, Martha was a staunch Confederate supporter. Her husband, Theodore, sent many shipments of medicines and other supplies to his Southern clan in a passive support of the Confederate cause. While at Harvard University, Theodore Jr. met and fell in love with Alice Hathaway Lee of Boston. They married and had their first child, Alice.
Tragically, wife Alice soon died of Brights Disease/ Nephritis after giving birth, and then mother Martha died of typhoid almost immediately thereafter.
After moving to Medora, North Dakota and ranching in order to work out his grief, he returned several years later and began his climb to the vice presidency. After President William McKinley was assassinated, Theodore Jr. became the 26th president of the United States (1901-09), the youngest leader of our nation (up until that point). Son Elliott was the father of Eleanor Roosevelt, who married her fifth cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The 32nd president, Franklin served from 1933-1945, when he died while at the family summer home in Warm Springs, Georgia.
Roger Allen is a local lover of history. Allen provides a brief look at Bulloch County's historical past. E-mail Roger at rogerdodger53@hotmail.com
Martha Bulloch was born to Major James Stephens Bulloch and Martha Stewart Bulloch on July 6, 1835 in Hartford, Connecticut. Her mother was there visiting stepson James Dunwoody Bulloch, who would later become the Confederacy’s most famous secret agent. The trip had a second purpose: getting Martha Stewart away from the blazing heat of a summer in either of the Bulloch homes: in Savannah, and in Roswell, on the Chattahoochee River. Martha was raised in both locations, but spent most of her time in Bulloch Hall in Roswell. Both of her brothers, James and Irvine, were actively engaged in supporting the Confederate war effort.
Theodore Roosevelt Sr. met, and courted, Martha in Roswell. They married at the Greek-revival style mansion on December 22, 1853. They soon moved to New York City, as Theodore was an Assemblyman in the New York State Legislature. Martha’s mother and sister Anna soon joined them in New York City. There, “Mittie”, as she was known, gave birth to their four children: Anna (1855), Theodore (1858), Elliott (1860), and Corinne (1861).
During the Civil War, Martha was a staunch Confederate supporter. Her husband, Theodore, sent many shipments of medicines and other supplies to his Southern clan in a passive support of the Confederate cause. While at Harvard University, Theodore Jr. met and fell in love with Alice Hathaway Lee of Boston. They married and had their first child, Alice.
Tragically, wife Alice soon died of Brights Disease/ Nephritis after giving birth, and then mother Martha died of typhoid almost immediately thereafter.
After moving to Medora, North Dakota and ranching in order to work out his grief, he returned several years later and began his climb to the vice presidency. After President William McKinley was assassinated, Theodore Jr. became the 26th president of the United States (1901-09), the youngest leader of our nation (up until that point). Son Elliott was the father of Eleanor Roosevelt, who married her fifth cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The 32nd president, Franklin served from 1933-1945, when he died while at the family summer home in Warm Springs, Georgia.
Roger Allen is a local lover of history. Allen provides a brief look at Bulloch County's historical past. E-mail Roger at rogerdodger53@hotmail.com