Douglas, Adèle Cutts (1835–1899)
Douglas, Adèle Cutts (1835–1899)
American society belle and political hostess. Born Adèle Cutts on Dec 27, 1835, in Washington, DC; died Jan 26, 1899, in Washington, DC; dau. of James Madison Cutts (government clerk and nephew of Dolley Madison) and Ellen Elizabeth O'Neale; attended Madame Burr's School and Academy of the Visitation; m. Stephen A. Douglas (US senator), 1856 (died 1861); m. Robert Williams (military officer); children: (1st m.) Ellen; (2nd m.) Robert, Ellen, Philip, Adèle, James and Mildred Williams.
Attactive and intelligent Washington socialite, met Stephen A. Douglas during election campaign of 1856, soon after he had unsuccessfully campaigned for Democratic presidential nomination against James Buchanan; accompanied husband on political trips and won friends and supporters for him through charm; after husband died (1861), married Captain Robert Williams (1866), a Virginian who had fought with Union Army during Civil War; with Williams and their 6 children, traveled to military posts in West while husband served as adjutant general of Department of Missouri and later Department of the Platte; returned to Washington when husband was assigned to War Department.