The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-08-16
SrxcRR AxD uIs wsygs.
Rtnal Disposition Of she Dead sewing ia
chine szan's FabHIOus WenIGa-.-siBger's
Romantic Career.


terest for the public, owing to tho long
contest there has been oyer his will
and the extraordinary facts which have
from time TO time been brought to light.
Mr Singers life combined romance and
infatny TO an extraordinary degree.
Few men are 80 successful in amassiBg
wealth, and few ever sinncd 80 Outrage
ously against the laws of morality as
he did. He began life with nothing,
for years Inexperienced the vicissitudes
Of the deepest poverty, yet when he
died be left an estate valued at from
100000 to $1,000, 600, twenty.fo,ii.
children and five women that called
him husband But only two of the
latter were married to him, aud few Of
bis children were bis legitimate or
spring.
Singer was a native Of ScbagLticoko,
in this country, where he was born
about the beginning Of the war Of 1912.
lie early moved to Wayn county, where
he married Catherine II. Italey in
1880. At that time he was wood
turner. Two children were born there.
In 1887 they moved to New. York,
and soon afterward he joined com
panyof strolling players, his wife re.
naming in the city. AT Baltimore he
saw in the audience en- attractive look
ing woman about Is years of age,
whose appearance excited Singers in
tcrest. He found her out and called
upon her, and thrCagh his representa-
tion that he was single man, she nc.
eeptcd his attentions and promised 10
become his wife. Her name was Mary
Ann Sponsler. Ts!ey went to New
York, where he had guarreIed with his
wife, and they separated. Instead of
hullflling his promise to Miss Sponsler
q, marry her, be put her of with yari-
ous excuses, and finally persuaded her
20 assume the relations Of wife 70 him.
assuring her that when his fortenc had
improved the legal ceremony should
be performed. For thirteen years the
two lived the life Of strolling actors,
playing Temperance pieces in churches,
and earning meager living. They
carried all their effects in one-borse
wagon, and they were frequently obiie-
ed to Isaye that behind in pledge for
trihing expenses.
When in Chicago, Singers attention
was turned to invention; and he devils
ed . reaping machine fer harvesting
grain. In 1850 be made several valu-
able improvements, which were embod-
led in what IS called the eSinger sew.
ing machine, BY whash he acqaiEs.i sss.s ss
colossal fortune. He returned to New
York, and lived on Fifth avenue, where,
as wealth now poured in upon him, be
maintained q splendid establishment,
having ten horses and six carriages.
Miss SPonsler still lived with him as
bis wife, though he had made no eforl
to get a divorce from Afrs. Singer
From 1877 to 1867, ten children were
born to them, eight Of whom are now
living. In 1860, twenty-four year
after their separation, Singer obtained {
decree of divorce from his wife. In th,
meantime he had been building up othel
family relations. One was with Mis-,
Mary McGOnigal by whom he had fv,
children, and Mary E. W,dter, wht
bore him one child. Both women shar
ed in his bOunties, and the childreI
looked upon him as their father. Thes,
facts coming to light, Miss Sponsler, be
lieving that she was Singers wife, sue,
for enforcement. He denied the mar
riage, bGt admitted the accusation 0
adultery, and settlement was fnall,
made whereby he purchared hera dwell
ing house in New York, thetitleof whicl
was TO be vested in their children ol
her death. The following month, afte
she hadordered her lawyer to go on wit
the suit for divorce, she was secretl,
married to John e. Foster, of Boston
under her maiden name. She kept th
marriage secret until January, 1865
expecting to get the deed of her hous
from Singer. He induced her, probs
bly, BY threats Of legal prosecution 70
bigamy, to sign document, which wa
in fact q remuneration of their fcrms
relations, and to quit the house in whic
she lived. Since that time she has col
tinued to live with Mr.. Foster.
June, 1868, Singer was married in Ne
York to isabella Z. SomervilIe, W,
man whom he had met in France. ST
children were the result of this uDiol
They soon removed to France, whei
they remained until 1878, when he +
solved to reside permanently IN En-
land He purchased a large estate i
South Devon, and started to build
dwelling that SHOULD surpsss the Ba
onial castles in the vicinity in magniI
cence. But his death ended his cares
in July, 1875.
His will was offered for probate b
fore Surrogate Coffin, in White Plain
Westehester county. It divided Il
property in America, valued at 50 ,000
600, into sixty portions. There wei
requests to bis twenty-four children, /
women with whom he had cohabite
and to Mrs. Isabella Singer. Mi
Mary Ann Sponsler, now Mrs. Fost,
receiving nothing, contested the wi
In the meantime anothen will tnrns
up in England, which settled his pro
erty there, valued at about $5 COO, ,00
upon hrs. Isabella Singer and h
children. The property in Ameriea b
been al distributed to the legatees, a.
last Saturday David Hawlsy Of Yo
kers, one Of Singers executors, sails
for Europe, to arrange the accoun
, against The English estates Thus Vi
end one Of the b nst extraordinary VI
cases ever brought before Surrogate
Court 1roM a, K Tines.