The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-21
FOR THE FAIR SEX.
A Remarkable Woman.


Passengers passing to and from the
terryboat at the foot of State street dur
ing the summer may or may not have
noticed an old lady, almost. blind, and
with features ploved with the deep fur
rows of time, seated on the steps near
the corner of Front street. However,
there she has been sitting during the
sunlight and into the twilight of seven
long summer seasons, with her basket
of fruit at her feet and her knitting in
her hands, plying the needle with!
fingers numbed with callous marks OF
hard labor. Beside her stands her
grandson, the only one with whom she
converses, except on matters pertain
ing to the quality or price of her wares.
Her name is Mary Elizabeth Mar
shall. She was born near Belfast, Ire
land, and is fifty-eight years of age, al
thoug h in appearance, the result OF her
hard lot, she would pass for a person
t n years older. Her parents were
well-to-do people. but Notwithstanding
this she was induced 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, musician in
a British regiment stationed there.
They were married in lS45. He was af-
terward reduced to the ranks. One
evening, meeting his wife, with his
months pay as soldier in his hand
eight cents, after deducting expenses
he said: MARY: I can't stand this; I
to - With Gua
panions he deserted. Four of his COM
panions were arrested, but he, with the
remaining one, succeeded in reaching
Lewiston, Me. Her husband wrote her
on his reaching the United States. She
destroyed the letter to prevent the au-
thorilies from finding his whereabouts,
and shortly after rejoined him.
He being a soldier by nature enlisted
in the United States army as musician
and was off for the Mexican war. Being
taken sick while in Mexico he sent for
his wife, and she went to him, and fol-
lowed his fortunes throughout the en-
tire contest. He, as a musician, was
on duty during engagements in carrying
the wounded to the rear, and his vile
was among those who ministered to
their wants. She was on the field of
Monterey and Chepultepec while those
engagements were in progress, IN eye
witness of the scenes of carnage and
death. At the close of the war she was
sent to Governors Island, New YORK
harbor, in advance of her husband, and
there earned living by washing for the
garrison. On her husbands arrival he
was discharged, and with her two chill
dren, for whom she cared during the
war they came West to Hannibal, where
he found employment on the Hannibal
and St. Joe railroad, and she in keeping
Il boarding shanty. Being of restless
disposition, her husband was prevailed
upon by companions to 20 South, where
lie was taken sick, and she by washing
obtained money and sent, and finally
Joined him, and on his recovery they
went to Cleveland and remained until
the breaking out of the late war, when
he enlisted in an Ohio regiment and was
sent to Virginia. At New Creek he
was again taken sick, and she was sent
for, nursed him through, and then re-
mained in the hospital service. On the
close of the war, they went to De-
troit, then to Milwaukee. and finally
back to Hannibal, where Marshall died.
His wife, with her children now grown
up, removed to Saltwater. and the chill
dren marrying she, seven years ago,
moved to this city, where. notwith-
standing her poverty and wretchcdness,
she has supported grandchild. boy
of seven or eight years, partially for the
sake of having companion in her lone
illness and partially because his parents
are no better off than she.-La Crosse
Democrat.