GAINES, MYRA. CLanx; b. New Orleans, 1805; daughter of Daniel Clark, had widow of gen. Edmund P. Gaines. Her father came from Ireland to New Orleans in 1799, and inherited the property of an uncle. He was U. S. consul while Louisiaha was still under French rule. After its transfer to the United States he became its repre sentative in congress. In 1813, he died, leaving a vast property to his mother, Mary Clark. After his decease, it was ascertained that, although he had always declared him self a bachelor, he had privately married a beautiful French woman, the reputed wife of a man then absent in Europe, and by her had two daughters. The youngest, Myra, was adopted by a col. Davis, and took his name, in ignorance of her real paternity. She was principally educated in Philadelphia. In 1832, she married W. W. Whitney, of New York, who had become acquainted with the facts of her birth. Later on, it was further discovered that Clark, a short time before his death, lied made a will, bequeathing his estate to Myra, and acknowledging her as his legitimate child. The
history of the case is one of the most extraordinary and interesting in American juris prudence. The result in, general terms, was, first, that the will, though never found, was sustained (1856) in the courts after an enormously expensive contest, in which, through many years, Myra showed dauntless purpose and indefatigable energy; secondly, that her legitimacy was established in the state and United States courts; thirdly, that by decision in equity in the U. S. supreme court (1867) she recovered possession of property in. and near New Orleans estimated at $35,000,000. She has been for several years engaged in the tedious process of ejecting those who have long had possession of portions of the estate. A large part of it has now come into her hands. After the death of her first husband, she married gee. Gaines in 1839.