The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-04-14
WHOLE NO. 1901.
A Remarkable woman.

/ Passengers passing to and from
the ferry boat az the foot of State
street during the summer may or may
not have noticed an old lady, alDos'
blind, and features piowed with the
deep furrows Of time. seated on the
steps near the corner of Front street.
However, there she has been sitting
during the sunlight and into the twi
light of seven long summer seasons.
with her basket Of ruiI at her feet
and her knitting in her hands, ply
ing the needle with fingers numbered
with callous marks Of hard labor
Beside her stands her grandson, the
ooly one with whom she conyerses,
except on matter pertaining to the
quality and price Of her wares.
Her name is Mary Eliz 4beth Mar
shall She wss born near Belfast,
Ireland, and is 6fJy-eighs years of
age, although in appearance, the re-
suit of her hard lot, she would
pass for person ten years cider.
Her parents were well to-do people,
but notwithstanding this she was in-
duced by several girlish companions
TO leave home and come to America
with them She made her home in
Montreal, Canada, and there met her
fate in the form of husband named
Marshall, a musician in British
regiment stationed there. They were
married in 1915 He was afterwards
reduced TO the ranks. One evening.
meeting his wife, with his months
pay as q soldier in his hand-eight
cents, after deducting expeoses-he
said "Mary, can't stand this; 1
am going to leave" With Eve COM
paaions be deserted Four of his
companions were arrested, but he,
with the remaining, succeeded in
reaching Lewiston, Me. Her hus-
baud wrote to her on reaching the
United States. She destroyed the
letter to prevent the authorities from
fading his Whereabouts, and shortly
after rejOined him
He being soldier by nature en-
listed in the United States Army as
a musician, and was off for the Mexi-
can war. Being taken sick while 10
Mexico, be sent for bis wife, ana she
went 10 hin, and followed bis for
tunes throughout the contest. He,
as musician, was on duty du!ing
engagements 10 carrying the wound
ed to the rear, and his wife was
among those who ministered to their
wants. She was on the field Of
Monterey and Chepultepec while
those engagements were ia progress,
an eye witness of the seeues OF car
mage end death. AT the close Of the
war she was sent to Governors Is
land, New York Harbor, 10 advance
of her husband, and there earned a
living by washing for tie garrison.
Ga her husbands arrival b was dis
charged, and with their two children,
for whom she had cared duriog the
war, they came West to Hannibal,
where be found employ ment on the
Hannibal aud ST. Joe Railroad, then
building, aud she in keeping board
ing shsnty Being of restless GiS-
position her husband was prevailed
upon by companions 20 go South,
where be was taken sick, and she by
washing obtained money and sent II,
and finally joined him, and on his
recovery they went to Cleveland
aud remained until the breaking out
Of the rebellion, when he enlisted 10
an Ohio regiment and was sent to
Virginia At New Greek be was
again taken sick, and she was sent
for. TO nurse him through, and then
remained in the hospital service. On
The close of the rebellion, they went
10 Detroit, hen to Milwaukee, and
finally back to Hannibal, where Mar
shall died. His wife, with her chill
dren now grown up, removed to
Saltwater, and the children marrying
she, seven years ago, moved to this
city, where, Notwithstanding her pow
erty and wretchedhess, she has sup
ported grandchild, boy of seven
or eight years, partially for the sake
Of having companion in her loneli
ness and partially because his par
cuts are no better of than she,