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there is to…day a Casey County next to Adair； with a Montgomery County
somewhat farther east。 As for the Lamptons； there is an earldom in the
English family； and there were claimants even then in the American
branch。 All these things were worth while in Kentucky； but it was rare
Jane Lampton herselfgay； buoyant； celebrated for her beauty and her
grace； able to dance all night； and all day too； for that matterthat
won the heart of John Marshall Clemens； swept him off his feet almost at
the moment of their meeting。 Many of the characteristics that made Mark
Twain famous were inherited from his mother。 His sense of humor； his
prompt； quaintly spoken philosophy； these were distinctly her
contribution to his fame。 Speaking of her in a later day； he once said：
〃She had a sort of ability which is rare in man and hardly existent in
womanthe ability to say a humorous thing with the perfect air of not
knowing it to be humorous。〃
She bequeathed him this； without doubt； also her delicate complexion； her
wonderful wealth of hair； her small； shapely hands and feet； and the
pleasant drawling speech which gave her wit； and his； a serene and
perfect setting。
It was a one…sided love affair； the brief courtship of Jane Lampton and
John Marshall Clemens。 All her life； Jane Clemens honored her husband；
and while he lived served him loyally； but the choice of her heart had
been a young physician of Lexington with whom she had quarreled； and her
prompt engagement with John Clemens was a matter of temper rather than
tenderness。 She stipulated that the wedding take place at once； and on
May 6； 1823； they were married。 She was then twenty； her husband twenty…
five。 More than sixty years later； when John Clemens had long been dead；
she took a railway journey to a city where there was an Old Settlers'
Convention； because among the names of those attending she had noticed
the name of the lover of her youth。 She meant to humble herself to him
and ask forgiveness after all the years。 She arrived too late； the
convention was over； and he was gone。 Mark Twain once spoke of this； and
added：
〃It is as pathetic a romance as any that has crossed the field of my
personal experience in a long lifetime。〃
II
THE FORTUNES OF JOHN AND JANE CLEMENS
With all his ability and industry； and with the…best of intentions； John
Clemens would seem to have had an unerring faculty for making business
mistakes。 It was his optimistic outlook； no doubthis absolute
confidence in the prosperity that lay just aheadwhich led him from one
unfortunate locality or enterprise to another； as long as he lived。
About a year after his marriage he settled with his young wife in
Gainsborough； Tennessee； a mountain town on the Cumberland River； and
here； in 1825； their first child； a boy； was born。 They named him
Orionafter the constellation； perhapsthough they changed the accent
to the first syllable； calling it Orion。 Gainsborough was a small place
with few enough law cases； but it could hardly have been as small； or
furnished as few cases； as the next one selected； which was Jamestown；
Fentress County； still farther toward the Eastward Mountains。 Yet
Jamestown had the advantage of being brand new； and in the eye of his
fancy John Clemens doubtless saw it the future metropolis of east
Tennessee； with himself its foremost jurist and citizen。 He took an
immediate and active interest in the development of the place；
established the county…seat there； built the first Court House； and was
promptly elected as circuit clerk of the court。
It was then that he decided to lay the foundation of a fortune for
himself and his children by acquiring Fentress County land。 Grants could
be obtained in those days at the expense of less than a cent an acre； and
John Clemens believed that the years lay not far distant when the land
would increase in value ten thousand； twenty； perhaps even a hundred
thousandfold。 There was no wrong estimate in that。 Land covered with
the finest primeval timber； and filled with precious minerals； could
hardly fail to become worth millions； even though his entire purchase of
75；000 acres probably did not cost him more than 500。 The great tract
lay about twenty nines to the southward of Jamestown。 Standing in the
door of the Court House he had built； looking out over the 〃Knob〃 of the
Cumberland Mountains toward his vast possessions； he said：
〃Whatever befalls me now； my heirs are secure。 I may not live to see
these acres turn into silver and gold； but my children will。〃
Such was the creation of that mirage of wealth； the 〃Tennessee land；〃
which all his days and for long afterward would lie just aheada golden
vision； its name the single watchword of the family fortunesthe dream
fading with years； only materializing at last as a theme in a story of
phantom riches； The Gilded Age。
Yet for once John Clemens saw clearly； and if his dream did not come true
he was in no wise to blame。 The land is priceless now； and a corporation
of the Clemens heirs is to…day contesting the title of a thin fragment of
itabout one thousand acresoverlooked in some survey。
Believing the future provided for； Clemens turned his attention to
present needs。 He built himself a house； unusual in its style and
elegance。 It had two windows in each room； and its walls were covered
with plastering； something which no one in Jamestown had ever seen
before。 He was regarded as an aristocrat。 He wore a swallow…tail coat
of fine blue jeans； instead of the coarse brown native…made cloth。 The
blue…jeans coat was ornamented with brass buttons and cost one dollar and
twenty…five cents a yard； a high price for that locality and time。 His
wife wore a calico dress for company； while the neighbor wives wore
homespun linsey…woolsey。 The new house was referred to as the Crystal
Palace。 When John and Jane Clemens attended ballsthere were continuous
balls during the holidaysthey were considered the most graceful
dancers。
Jamestown did not become the metropolis he had dreamed。 It attained
almost immediately to a growth of twenty…five housesmainly log houses
and stopped there。 The country； too； was sparsely settled； law practice
was slender and unprofitable； the circuit…riding from court to court was
very bad for one of his physique。 John Clemens saw his reserve of health
and funds dwindling； and decided to embark in merchandise。 He built
himself a store and put in a small country stock of goods。 These he
exchanged for ginseng； chestnuts； lampblack； turpentine； rosin； and other
produce of the country； which he took to Louisville every spring and fall
in six…horse wagons。 In the mean time he would seem to have sold one or
more of his slaves； doubtless to provide capital。 There was a second
baby nowa little girl； Pamela；born in September； 1827。 Three years
later； May 1830； another little girl； Margaret； came。 By this time the
store and home were in one building； the store occupying one room； the
household requiring twoclearly the family fortunes were declining。
About a year after little Margaret was born； John Clemens gave up
Jamestown and moved his family and stock o