BULLOCH MARRIED RICHMOND GIRL
Interesting Bit of History In Connection With President’s Family
WIFE OF UNCLE IS BURIED HERE
Was Miss Lizzie Caskie Daughter of Wealthy Tobacconist of This City - Wedding
Occurred in Richmond - Recalled By Many.
In connection with the recent visit of President Roosevelt to this city, an
exceedingly interesting bit of history has been recalled intimately
associating Richmond, and more particularly the Caskie family of this
section, with that of Capt. James D. Bulloch and his brother, Irvine, about
both of whom so much is now being said and written.
It is not generally known, and is, in fact, only now brought to public note,
that James Bulloch, uncle of the President and an arch-Confederate, never
reconstructed, married a prominent Richmond girl, whose body today lies in
Shockoe Cemetery. Elizabeth Euphemia Caskie was the daughter of John Caskie,
in his day one of the most wealthy men in Richmond. In 1851, at the age of
twenty, she was married to Captain Bulloch in this city. She died about two
years later, leaving no children, and, though her husband was married again
and after the Civil War left America, he kept up until the time of his death
a regular correspondence with the family of his first wife, to whom he was
much devoted. Captain Bulloch and his sister, aunt of Mr. Roosevelt, both of
whom were frequently here, are well-remembered by some of the older
residents. The Richmond connection attracted the attention of the President
himself some time ago, and he wrote, making inquiries of some of the
descendants of the original Caskies.
History of Connection
The relationship of the two families is somewhat intricate, and the
complication is not relieved by the lapse of time, which has allowed many of
the interesting events associated with Captain Bulloch’s life in Richmond to
be forgotten. Much is vague and uncertain, but, with the assistance of a
family Bible and the recollections of some of those whose memories reach back
to the time before the war, it was possible yesterday to trace the record
with tolerable clearness.
Two brothers - John and James Caskie - came to this country from Scotland in
the early years of the nineteenth century, and settled in Richmond, then a
small and struggling town. The history of the Caskie family in this section
dates from this time. Both John and James Caskie rose rapidly, and before
they died, were among the most prominent business men of Richmond. Each had
amassed a considerable fortune. John Caskie was a tobacconist, and James
became in the course of time president of the Virginia Bank of that day. The
old Caskie homestead was on the site now occupied by the Virginia Hospital.
John Caskie married Martha Jane Norvell, and had several children, one of
whom was Elizabeth Euphemia, better known as Lizzie Caskie, who was born on
February 15, 1831.
She is described as exceedingly pretty and very winning in manner. Miss
Caskie met Captain Bulloch in Savannah, or at least through a family
connection who lived in Savannah - one Robert Hutchison. Here is where the
intricacy appears. Hutchinson was a Scotchman, like the Caskies, and was
three times married. His first wife was a Miss Elliott, sister of the first
husband of President Roosevelt’s grandmother, who later married a Bulloch.
The connection between the Hutchinsons and the forbears of President
Roosevelt was extended to the Caskies by the marriage of Hutchinson twice
again - first to Miss Mary Edmonia Caskie, sister of Lizzie Caskie, and later
to Miss Ellen Caskie, first cousin of Lizzie Caskie. Both of these weddings
occurred in this city. There was much subsequent visiting between the
Hutchinsons and the Caskies, and it was on one of these visits, whether at
the Richmond or Savannah end is not known, that Lizzie Caskie became
acquainted with Captain James D. Bulloch, then an officer in the United
States navy.
They were married in this city on November 19, 1851, at the Caskie residence.
The ceremony was a brilliant society event, both families being very
prominent. Mrs. Bulloch, it is said, objected to the frequent separations
made necessary by her husbands position in the navy, and at her solicitation
he resigned and assumed charge of a line of merchant ships plying between New
York and Mobile. After this they lived partly in New York and partly in
Mobile, but mostly in Richmond, which place Mrs. Bulloch considered her real
home.
The health of the bride began to fail and she went to Cuba, seeking relief.
Her condition grew steadily worse and she started back to America to die on
native soil. A pathetic story is told of her last days. Her constant prayer
was that she might be able to see her husband again before the end. Captain
Bulloch hastened to Mobile, were she had stopped. As his ship was entering
the port and before he had time to reach the bedside his wife breathed her
last. This was on January 23, 1854. The remains were brought to Richmond and
were buried in the John Caskie lot in Shockoe Cemetery, where they still lie.
There were no children.
Subsequent History
From this time the connection of the Bulloch family with Richmond history
began to disappear. Miss Annie Bulloch, aunt of the President, spent two or
three winters in this city at the home of Mr. James Caskie, brother of the
wife of Captain Bulloch. Miss Annie Bulloch was a very clever woman and won
many friends here. Some of these are still living and recall her vividly. She
was afterward married to James Gracie, of New York. Her sister, described as
the more beautiful of the two, became the mother of Theodore Roosevelt.
The exploits of the Bulloch brothers during the Civil War are recorded in
history. Their mother was herself an ardent Southerner. Irvine Bulloch was in
the Confederate navy, and fought against the United States government long
after the surrender of Lee. He fired the last gun on the Cruiser Alabama
before it went down in the harbor of Cherbourg. His sword is now in the
Confederate Museum here, and was seen by president and Mrs. Roosevelt upon
their recent visit to the city. It was of this gallant uncle that Mr.
Roosevelt spoke in such affectionate and with such high praise.
James Bulloch was married again this time, it is said, in New Orleans. His
second wife is said to have been an English woman. Captain Bulloch acted for
some time as naval representative of the Confederacy, and a letter in his
handwriting is in the museum. He was never “reconstructed.” After the loss
of the Southern cause, he lived abroad, settling in Liverpool, England. So
far as is known, he came to this country only twice after the war ended, and
then only for brief stays.
Throughout his life, Captain Bulloch kept in communication with the Caskies
of Richmond. He was exceedingly devoted to his first wife, and always spoke
of her with the greatest tenderness. In person, the Captain was very
distinguished, and in manner magnetic. He is well remembered by several
Richmond people. One of these, who was closely related to his wife, gave a
most interesting description of him yesterday. She had known him best as
“Brother James,” and had seen him often. She recalled him as one of the most
courtly men she had ever met.”
