The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-16
A ROMANCE In REAL LIFE.
A Niece Of Benedict Arnold Living In
Lock Haven.

LOCK Haven.
STRANGE AND EvENTFUL HISTORY
FRENCH AMERICAN WOMAN OF
NOBLE BIRTH LIVING BY THE AID
OF CHARITY.
[Lock Haven Daily Journsll
In that portion of the city known
as THE DEVILS Half Acre." has re.
sided for some time, one Mrs. Ann
Roam, widow lady aged about 30
years, as near as can be ascertained.
The history of her life reads like n ro-
nance, but the statements hereafter
to be made are borne out not only by
people who have known her, but by
history. Although at present living
off the charity I'm the humble home of
Mr.. John Raymond, an employe of
Kistler's tannery, this woman is
OF NOBLE BIRTH.
was French Nobleman, who was
given the City of Florence for his coat
of arms. Her father, Major DeHaas,
is mentioned i'm history number of
times for his daring exploits. Major
DeHaas married u Miss Shippen, of
Philadelphia. His wife's sister was
THE WIFE OF BENEDICT ARNOLD,
who turned traitor to bis county in
the dark days of the Revolution.
Every school boy or girl will remem-
ber the circumstances of his treason
as related in history. Arnold, while
stationed i'm Philadelphiaas command
| ant. fell in love with Miss Shipper, n
lady of very aristocratic antecedents
and of strong Tory predictions. This
union, no doubt predisposed him to
look favorahly upon any scheme look
ing towards the betrayal of his
country. Mrs. Roam is, therefore, by
marriage,
NIECE OF BENEDICT ARNOLD,
and descendant of one of the oldest,
wealthiest and most aristocratic fami-
lies of the country.
Mrs. Roan's mother died when she
was quite young and she has no recol-
lection of having seen her. Soon after
Mrs. DeHaas' death, the Major, almost
distracted with grief, left the city and
came to this country with his baby
daughter, in his coach heavily draped
In mourning, and drawn by richly
caparisoned horses. His appearance
| always created commotion on ac-
count of the splendor of his equip
was
VERY WEALTHY,
and purchased much land between
| Lock Haven and Marsh Creek.
Among the last of his possessions
were the farms now owned by the
heirs of Messrs. Hollenback, Herring
and Whitefeld, located this side of
Beech Greek.
HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER,
Ann, named after his beloved wife,
grew to womanhood and married one
Joshua Roam, blacksmith by occu-
patton, and a man of intemperate
habits. After her marriage she drifted
away from her father, who died with
out leaving her any of his wealth.
For many years she lived at Mill Hall
where her husband, she says, fel and
killed himself while Intoxicated. AT
the time of his death he was employed
by man named Nyhart. Mrs. Rom
Is the mother of three children-a son
and two daughters, all of whom reside
in the county. Almost all of her life
thus far has been spent in Mill Hall,
Flemington or Lock Haven, in all OF
which places she worked at whatever
she could find to do. Sometime since
|
to nurse the child of II woman named
Kitchen, and when her employment
ceased she had no place to go. Not
desiring to 20 to the Poor House, Mr.
and Mrs. Raymond kindly gave her q
home last September.
HER APPEARANCE.
This morning q journal reporter
found the remarkable old lady at Mr.
Raymond's. In appearance she is
small of statue, with face wrinkleG
and grooved by the sad experiences o
Il life begun in all the luXuriant com
forts of wealth and aristocracy ant
soon to end in the home of charitably
disposed people. Her hair is thin anC
quite gray; her sense of sight seems tC
be still unimpaired, being able to kni
and do other kinds of work withou
the use of spectacles. When remind
ed by the reporter that she was o
noble birth and wealthy parentag'
her memory seemed to brighten fo
she exclaimed: "Ah, yes, sir; no on,
can deny that! My father owned
thirteen plantations at one time and
could step from ole to the anothe
without crossing any other land.
mover saw my mother, snd as to m.
age l am not certain"
HER BROTHER, PHILIP,
was the father of the wife of the lat
Hon. James Chatham, of this city
Alex. DeHaas, Joseph DeHaas am
, Mary ]. johnson, of Beech Creek, an,
+ William DeHaas, of Corsica, Jefferson
/ county, Pa. She had two brother
besides Philip-William and Edwar
) and two sisters-Eliza and Harriet
= Mrs. Roam and Edward are the onl.
members of the family living, so fa
= as she is able to tell. Edward live
r with his son, John Philip DeHaas, o
= Marsh Creek, Centre county.
HER MOTHERS SISTER,
, Mrs. Bingham, is referred to as follow
Z in an article published in Philadelphi
! in 1875 in one of the papers: Here
: Mrs. Bingham, once Miss Shipper, a
y acknow lodged leader of society, wht
having reigned at the Court of Lou
XVI has returned to establish Inc
! brilliant salon in Philadelphia, and {
whom that man of sound judgmen
John Adams afterwards President
says: taken altogether, she Is tn
= finest woman ever saw"
Despatch from Mineral Point, Wis
= records the death of Christian Schaett
yesterday. He was soldier uno'
Napoleon Bonaparte, with whom |
was personally acquainted. He wa
in the battle of Waterloo. Anoth'
y despatch notes the death, at Ottumw
Iowa, of Nicholas Remy, also a soldi'