Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-02-20
HE, SHE, OR IT. st
Ydl -. fui'a.. - Ht
A Correct Account Of the MyS-
teriOus Female Man. r
Truth Stanger Than Fiction.

From the Broadhead Wis., Independent, Feb. L.
About the year 1855 there moved to
this village family by the name OF
Burnhanl, consisting of DIR. M. l.. Burn
ham, his wife, and two children, q
daughter aged sixteen, and son three
or fonr' years younger. DIR. Burnham
was man of some property, and of the
highest respectability. The family soon
became active members of our village
society, the doctor being an active mem-
Der ana one of the deacOns of the Con-
gregational Church. DIR. Burnhma was
well-reld physician, and did some prac-
tice i'll addition TO keeping drug store,
III which his daughter, Ellen, assisted
him as clerk ior the first two years of
the Doctors residence here. Miss Ellen
Burnham was by no means beautiful
girl. Her hair and eyes were dark !;
features regular, but rather course and
masculine storm tall, square shouldered,
and wanting in that grace of outline
that inspires admiration. If stranger
would be tempted to look at her the
second time, it would be from surprise at
the strong, masculine appearance un-
natural to woman, especially one 30
young. .
Miss Burnham was not a favOrite with
our young men, nor did she seem anx-
lous 10 be. Her time, outside of her
domestic duties, was devoted to instru-
mental music and to horseback riding,
in both of which she was decidedly ac-
complished. Her life for the four year SUBJ
sequent to 1856 was not unlike that of
other ung ladies of the place. She
had u arge class, mostly of young girls,
whom she instructed in instrumental
music In the fall of 1858 young man
IN, tba N mo ~ Dpwall co mo hara oni
was employed as principal of the village
school. Powell resigned the leadership
OF the school in the spring of 1853, and
started the Reporter, the first paper pub
lished in our village. During the sum-
mer he became intimate with the fam
lily of DIR. Burnham, and became engag-
ed to Miss Burnham in the fall of 1853.
The engagement soon became known
outside OF the family. The only surprise
excited on account of it was surprise at
the taste of Mr.. Powell in selecting a
girl OF such masculine appearance. Miss
Burnham's parents seemed particularly
pleased AT the prospective marriage of
their daughter, whom they believed well
qualified W make II good wife for an edi-
tor. In February 1860, l.. w. Powell
and Miss Ellen Bprnham were married
by Rev. Mr.. Cochran, the Congrega-
tIonal minister.
The happy couple took short bridal
tour, preparatory so settling down for
life. After an absence OF a week, they re-
turned to the residence of the brides
parents, who, in honor of their daughters
marriage, sent out invitations to large
numbers of our citizens to welcome the
bride and groom We were present at
think that 10Th the bride and groom
appeared remar kabiy solmn. We did
not kiss the bride, although that was
the fashion. Our objection to the kiss
ing part of the programme was dislike
to come in contact with an unusually
heavy and black moustache which mar
red the upper lip of the bride. 4
Mrs. Powell became more and more
masculine in her appearance as she grew
office, and learned the printers trade
rapidly. And in "a short time she prov
ed TO be the best Jour, in the Office. She
also took to smoking, in the cultivation