Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-06


band Dies.
4 most extraordinary woman in her
peculiar line, and one who is largely
responsible for the rapid increase in the
population of Philadelphia within the
past half century, is an old lady living
in Columbia avenuein the northern part
of that city, The New York Mercury
says she is the mother of no less than
twenty-One children, the most Of when
are living, y Representative of the
Mercury recently visited this wholesale
mother. Tho reporter was ushered into
the sitting room of her residence one
evening, and at first he was doubtful
whether he had dropped in on a Sun
day-SchOOl in session or a miscellaneous
party. There was certainly enough
human material present to make either
or both. The old lady consented to give
full particulars, providing" she said,
'you do not publish my name.
wouldn't like to have it spread all over
creation that have had so many chill
dren."
The required promise being freely
given, she said: "Yes, John and l
were married when / was 10. John, he
was lust -, and n handsomer man
could not Ie found in Philadelphia, even
if | do say it mys elf. About a year and
a half after our marriage / aStOnished
John by presenting him with triplets
'Well,' SAYS he, Mary, this is good
beginning, anyhow John was only
poor shoemaker then, and three added
To q family all at once did make great
difference, but three lovelier babies
couldn't be found in Philadelphia, even
il do say it myself, and so we thought
we'dget along. Two years after | be-
came the mother of twins. l could see
that John felt little blue over this.
But ne would have this little joke,
would John. We'll, Marry says he,
you're not doing any worse, anyhow.
Ii was little better thank God FIT
teen months after that / bore one
child only, dear little boy. All! then
We had a grand glorious family jOllitica-
ton. John for the first time in his life
got tight as q lord. 'Ah, sis said he,
we've got down to a proper economical
basis at last At that time | was only
twenty-One years old, and | tell you
what, To be the mother of six children
at that age seemed very queer, but still
| thought the worst was over. Many
women at double that age do not have
larger families than mine was then.
Two years passed by, and | again be-
came a mother. This time, to our as
touishmcnt, il proved to be another
pair of twins. John got tight again,
but this time from sorrow and not from
iov. Mother says ne this is awful
You're right, john says |. But these
two were a lovely little boy and girl,
and their cute little ways and beauty
soon put fresh hope and courage i'll our
hearts. John opened little shop, work
was brisk, and all went smoothly along
until a year and half afterward, when
we had another pair Oftwins.
This broke John all up, and he went
on spree for three weeks. old
woman says he, i can't support
whole country Well | sOothed and
sobered him up, and got him to working
again, for the Lord knows there was
need for it then. During the next ten
years i had only six children, being sin
gle births only. John AMI i began TO
feel very much encouraged. 'Ah, sis,
saws he, we won't have so much Of a
family after ALL Three years passed
away without any addition to my fam
ily, when in my thirty-eighth year
presented my amazed husband with an
other pair of twins. Mother says ne
this is astonishing They couldn't
have come in a worse time, for John,
who had for q number OF years done
very well i'm his business, had just made
a bad failure. But the older children
were working, and we put the best hce
We could on the matter. Two years al
ter, and when | wasin my fortieth year,
to our mbOunded surprise, L bore an
other set of triplets. This, L think,
killed poor John. Yes, sir, he's dead
died ten years ago this coming June,
Mother says he, think I've lived
long enough"
This remarkable woman is 30 years
Of age, hale, hearty and well preserved.
Her parents came from Scotland, marry
ing and settling in this country early IN
life. Her husband was of Irish decent.
His parents also emigrated to the
United States when quite young.
.'Yes, - the old lady said, 1--WE did after
n while have trouble to find the right
kind of names for the babies. First II
was easy enougg but when he had used
up all the family names, we were
bothered a good bit. | used to have
the neighbOrs call in and we would
have a good time thinking OF names.
But one day John got an almanac
which had in it long list of boys and
girls names, and then We were all
right.
"Of my children IL were boys and 10
were girls. All are living but two--one
son who died in his fourth year, from
Group, and little girl who was run
over by street car when she was three
wears old, and killed. You see l had so
many little things running around at
time that il was hard for me tofook after
them all. All the rest Of my family are
hearty and well.