Danske Dandridge 1854-1914

November 19, 1854 - Copenhagen, Denmark -

Caroline "Danske"(for "little Dane") is born to Caroline Lawrence Bedinger and her husband, the United States' first ambassador to Denmark, Henry Bedinger III.

Her siblings are Mary (born Aug. 3, 1850), Henry IV (born July 21st, 1853).

Her step siblings from Henry's previous marriage with Margaret Rust are George (born July 9, 1840) and Virginia (born January 22, 1842).

"Our house was large, enclosing two courts, the far side of the inner court being formed by the stables. My mother's housekeeper, Miss Smitzer, and the butler, Thomas, took entire charge of the establishment doing the marketing, general providing, etc. for a certain fixed sum, and if they cheated her themselves, my mother used to say, she was sure they would no one else cheat her of so much. Tjhis was very different from Virginia housekeeping and strange indeed to any American ideas of the fifties, but it seems a matter of course now and it was the only course open to my mother who could no speak Danish - the court language was French - and who was obliged to keep up her position as wife of the American representative.

Miss Smitzer was very kind to me and I used to take great pleasure in being with her in the kitchen - like all children who always find housework fascinating until they are obliged to do it. When we gave a dinner, however, Miss Smitzer was very busy and I was shut out. I remember several Danish dishes of her concoction which were unlike American ones. There was a certain sweet soup of a light purple color, served with barley and raisins that we children liked. I never knew what it was made of. Every morning before we joined our parents at breakfast we had served in our day nursery a beer soup of which we grew very fond and which the Danes considered the best possible thing for children. After we came home my mother tried tomake both these soups for us but with no success. The beet soup especially was an utter failture because there was no beer to be had like the mild Danish. There were other dishes that were strange to us. "Bonny clabber" or cloppered milk served with light cream in a great soup plate at evening parties. My mother said she never went out to any kind of entertainment where this was omitted - if anything was served at all - and it amused her to see the king's relatives, princes of the blood, with their napkins tucked under their chins eating bonny clabber from soup plates. But what I liked best of all was the common black bread, hard and sour and made of coarse rye but very much to my childish taste. I soon learned to know where it was kept and would trot to the cupboard to get it, much to the amusement of the maids who called it peasant bread and thought a little lady should eat something finer.

In those days peasant costumes were generally worn and our nurses were very picturesque in bodice, apron and cup. The costumes both of men and women made the streets bright with color. When the snow came in the winter there were countless sleighs gaily decked out passing and repassing along St. Anna's Platz.

At Christmas everybody had a Christmas tree. This was an entire novelty to us then and when my mother returned she dressed the first tree our friends either in Fushing or Virginia had ever seen. Now every body is familiar with the custom which has so often degenerated into a perfunctory exhibition for Sunday Schools and charities. I do not know why it is that so many beautiful and touching observances when transplanted to this country lose grace and significance if they do not actually become tawdry and vulgar. I should be sorry to seem to imply that there was anything essentially vulgar in the American mind but it is certain that customs adopted as fashions wither in our hands. We push the form to its extreme but the spirit dies.
Memories by Mary Bedinger Mitchell (Danske's sister), pp. 4-5.

1857-1858 - Willow Bank, Flushing, New York -

Sick and home sick Mother Caroline takes her children back to her wealthy parents home, leaving her husband in Denmark.Her father and banker John Watson Lawrence

and his wife Mary Bowne, had been the daughter of Flushing's mayor.

"The winter days (in Denmark) of course are very short. The sun would scarcely rise above the houses and it would be dark by three o'clock. The Danes are Lutherans and not strict in the observances of Sunday. My mother, brought up in the straitest Evangelical school, was shocked to see the people only going to church in the morning and amusing themselves all the afternoon, the men playing cards and the women sitting at the windows working the endless "worsted work," cross-stitich on canvas, then so much in vogue. My mother had been taught to consider cards a worldly amusement not fit for "professing Christians" and she was therefore much annoyed when our English clergyman who used to like to come often to see my father would insist upon having the curtains drawn and lamps lighted long before dark, obliging my mother to take her embroidery into another room to utilize the remaining daylight. What hurt and provoked her was to think that a minister of the gospel would stoop to what she called hypocrisy and I believe she would have been glad to forbid him the house.

But another, more welcome visitor of my father's, though he played cards by any light, and was fond as well of my father's own beloved game of chess was Hans Christian Anderson. I grieve to say I do not at all remember the great magician whose stories were afterward read to pieces in our house."
(Ibid.) by Mary Bedinger Mitchell, p.6.

November,1858 - Shepherdstown, Va. (now West Virginia) -

Tragedy follows Henry Bedinger III's happy return home to his wife and children.

"It was the first time father and son (George) met for more than six years, and the school boy of twelve had had time to become the collegian of eighteen.

He (Henry Bedinger III) was nearly crazy with joy at getting home and the people were delighted to see him. Such a welcome as he received must have done his heart good proving that the dear state to which he had turned so fondly during his days of absence had all the while remembered him as fondly. People came from far and near to see and talk with him and there were entertainments and merrymakings. I like to think that for those few weeks my father and mother were both really happy.

What my father's plans or expectations for the future may have been I do not know. Of course, he had to look about him for a means to support his family.

"We took rooms in Shepherdstown in Mrs. Line's house on the corner opposite "Entler's Hotel" where we took our meals. It was to be only a temporary arrangement until something better could be found. We children enjoyed running across the street to dinner, but my mother certainly did not. It was now growing colder. The first of November was at hand and the Fall elections. My father was not a candidate for any office nor did he actually take part in the work, but he was such a popular speaker that he was always being urged to speak at this meeting or that, and he never liked to refuse. I remember being allowed to get out of bed one cold evening to stand wrapped in a shawl at a front window whence I could see a monster bonfire burning in the street. Of course it was some official demonstration, or other, and the crowd was large and enthusiastic. As I watched I saw my father's figure pass between us and the vivid blaze and heard him greeted with cheer upon cheer.Then I was sent back to bed.

The next day I could not see my father, he was not well and was to be kept quiet. he had made a speech that night in the teeth of a keen wind, and he had caught cold. Typhoid pneumonia was developed and in a few days he was dead.

Sad days followed full of gloom and depression. I was taken to the funeral by my Uncle Lee.

And when we came to the grave I was lifted upon a stone wall and stood there holding fast my uncle's hand, while the coffin was lowered beneath the frozen clods. The day was cold and gray. I had never seen somany people together before. There seems no end to the carriages or the crowds on foot. But I had never in my short life felt so miserable, too forlorn to cry.

My father was buried in the old Bedinger burying ground.

just beyond Bedford garden and the house in which he was born.

From the orchard close by the apple trees that he had climbed as a boy thrust out their gnarled branches above the grave. The mountains that he loved were in full view and his own dear Potomac rolled a mile away.

There are of course many objections (in 1880)to private burying grounds and when Shepherdstown opened a cemetery some ten years later we were glad to move all the family tombs within its precincts. Still looking towards the eternal mountains, my father's grave lies on the eastern slope of the cemetery hill, with the graves of his father and mother, sister and brother, the last tokens of a vanished household, surrounding him.

It is still familiar ground, well known to him as boy and man. Yet there was something peculiarly touching and appropriate in allowing one whose affections were so strong to be first laid under his own walls in the home for which he had so longed across the sea.

1859 - Shepherdstown, Va. -

Danske's mother purchases "Poplar Grove" and about fifty acres from the Morgan family and begins building an addition. Danske remembers great times playing in the fields and rock brakes. Mrs. Griffith tutors Danske and her siblings, Mary and Henry.

September-October, 1862 - Shepherdstown, Va. -

Family cares for wounded soldiers from the battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg two miles away. Danske's sister Mary Bedinger (Mitchell) will later write a long account of her experiences for "The Century" Magazine under the pseudonym "Mary Blunt" The article is later published in Vol. 2 of "Battles and Leaders" under the title: "A Woman's Recollections of Antietam."

July, 1863 - Gettysburg, Pa. -

Step-brother George Rust Bedinger is killed fighting at the battle of Gettysburg.

April 4, 1864 - At Bedford, Shepherdstown, Va. -

Danske writes a short poem in the sentiment book of Nettie Lee's (cousin and daughter of Edmund Jennings and Henrietta Bedinger Lee of Bedford): "I know that you are very fair; With bright gray eyes and silken hair; Your face is as the lily rare; That bloometh with such favor; Your cheeks are red as any rose; That in the garden doth repose; Surroundest with its lovely foes; The queen of all the flowers." She adds below: "As this was written in a hurry, it is not straight and written well."

June 22, 1869 - Charlottesville, Va. at Mrs. Meade's Piedmont Female Institute -

"Date of Confirmation" - Listed in Ms. Dandridge's undated entry in her diary in 1891 as among "the forty-three days (that) have had more to do with determining my fate than any other." (All dates from this list will be henceforth in the timeline annotated with "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

April, 1869 - Charlottesville, Va. at Mrs. Meade's Piedmont Female Institute -

"Date of Conversion" from "One of 43 Most Important Days."

1869 - Unknown (Charlottesville,Va., Shepherdstown, Va., or Flushing, New York) -

Refers to in her "43 Most Important Days" "date of greatest misfortune."

April, 1869 - Flushing, New York -

Danske's mother, Caroline Lawrence Bedinger, dies after years of frail health at home. Danske moves to Flushing, lives with her grandparents and attends Flushing Institute.

April 20, 1870 - Flushing, New York -

"My first love affair with Arthur Hearman." (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

1870 - Flushing, New York -

1870 - New York, New York -

June 13, 1872 - Flushing, New York (?) -

April 16, 1873 - Jefferson County, WV. -

December 11, 1873 - Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. (She inherited the home with her brother and sister). -

"Refused Tom Michie" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

July 4, 1874 - Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Refused Willie Morrison" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

September 30, 1874 - Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Met Francis Greene" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

March 8, 1875 - Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Refused John Hearman" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

March 22, 1875 - Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Refused Willie Mitchell" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

April 5, 1875 - Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Missed Willie Eskridge's last, and probable offer."(From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

April 23, 1875 - Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Engaged myself to marry Francis Greene."(From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

- November 19, 1875 -Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Twenty-first birthday" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

March 4, 1876 - Probably while living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Broke off engagement with Francis Greene" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

August 9, 1876 - While living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

August 17, 1876 - While living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Picnic at the Porterfields" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.") This picnic was where Danske met Steve Dandridge and the courtship intensified greatly.

August 28, 1876 - While living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Steve asked me to marry him" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

January 25, 1877 - While living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Decided to marry Steve in the spring."(From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

February, 1877 - While living at Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

"Lawrence Thomas' proposal by letter" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

May 3, 1877 - Jefferson County, WV. -

"Wedding Day" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

May 11, 1877 - "The Bower," Jefferson County, WV. -

Arrived at "The Bower" the ancestral family home of Steve Dandridge's family, which was the inspiration to a popular novel in the 1840s called, "Swallow Barn," by John Pendleton Kennedy. It was also where Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart and several hundred of his cavalry camped and entertained for about three weeks in September-October, 1862.

This might begin what Danske Dandridge later called her "ten happiest years."

March 15, 1878 - The Bower -

Birth of Violet Dandridge, Danske's first child. (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

April, 1879 - Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV. -

Danske and family moved from "The Bower" to her home "Poplar Grove," shortened to "The Grove." (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

July 29, 1879 - Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV -

Birth of Danske's son, Adam Stephen Dandridge III.(From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

April 17, 1882 - Baltimore, MD -

"Operation in St. Vincent's Hospital" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

September 11, 1883 - Walter's Park Sanitarium, Wernersville, PA. -

"Margarette Lippincott showed me her poems and I began to write poetry again." (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

June, 1884 - Highland Home, PA(?) -

"Spent summer at Highland Home" (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

February, 1885 - Poplar Grove & New York -

First poem published by Godey. (From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

March 2, 1885- The Grove/Rosebrake,Shepherdstown, WV -

Danske renames her home "Rosebrake," according to a letter written by her aunt, Henrietta Bedinger Lee.

1886 - Shepherdstown, WV -

Unsuccessful at farming, Danske's husband, Stephen, opens a farm implements shop in partnership with wife's uncle, Edmund Jennings Lee. The one-story shop, located on the west side of King Street behind the town fire hall, was the scene of many a game of Muggins, a form of dominos, to which Stephen Dandridge devoted much time.

November 23, 1886 - Washington, D.C. -

Danske visits the big city.

September 10th thru October 31, 1887 - Dr. Walter's Sanitarium, Wernersville, PA. -

Numerous dates in this time period are described as "eventful" in Danske's list of Important Dates. This could be coincidental with the time she was romancing with a young Swedish Baron, as documented in her diaries.

March, 1888 - Poplar Grove/Rosebrake -

Danske's first book of poems, "Joy and Other Poems," is published by G.P. Putnam and Sons. Danske receives her copy.(From "One of 43 Most Important Days.")

1888-1890 - Poplar Grove, Shepherdstown, WV -

Son of renowned poet, Sidney Lanier, lives off and on at Rosebrake.

1890 - Walter's Park Sanitarium, Wernersville, PA. -

Dankse resides here again while husband is elected to the West Virginia House of Representatives in Charleston, WV, suggesting a degree of estrangement in their relationship.

October 17, 1890 - Poplar Grove/Rosebrake and New York City -

G.P. Putnam and Sons published an enlarged and much-acclaimed volume of Danske Dandridge's poetry called "Rosebrake."

January 29, 1896 - Poplar Grove/Rosebrake -

Danske's second daughter, Dorothea Spottswood Dandridge is born

January 13, 1897 - Charlottesville, VA.,University of Virginia -

Danske's son, Stephen, while a student in college, dies unexpectedly.

November, 1904 - Poplar Grove/Rosebrake -

"Aunt Kate" Katherine Serena Dandridge dies in Shepherdstown.

1892-1904 - Poplar Grove/Rosebrake -

Danske's period of writing most of her gardening articles, and fewer poems.

1904-1914 - Poplar Grove/Rosebrake -

Danske writes history books: "Historic Shepherdstown," "George Michael Bedinger: Kentucky Pioneer;""Prisoners of the American Revolution;" and an unfinished book on Gen. St. Clair and the American Revolution.

June 3, 1914 - Poplar Grove/Rosebrake -

Danske Dandridge dies at home after a long illness and breakdown. Her tombstone reflects the wrong date of 1913. She leaves no will, owning Rosebrake. Her husband and daughter, Violet, inherit the property. Stephen Dandridge dies in 1922 and "Miss Violet," who never married, lives there until 1956, becoming a familiar and popular philanthropist, sheep-herder, Sunday School teacher, and acclaimed artist.