Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-17

HEX HUSBAND DIES.
A most extraordinary woman in
her peculiar line, and one who is
largely responsible for the very large
increase in the population of Phlla-
delphia within the past half century,
is an old lady living in Columbia
Avenue, in the northern part of the
city. The New York Merctry says
she is the mother of not less than
one and twenty children, the most
of whom are living. A reporter of
the Mercury recently visited this
wholesale mother. The reporter
was ushered into the sitting room of
her residence one evening-at first
he was doubtful whether he had
dropped in on Sunday school in
session or miscellaneous party.
There was certainly enough of
human material present to embrace
either or both. The old lady con-
scented to give full particulars, "pro-
viding, she said, you don't publish
my name. | would not like to have
it spread all over creation that l
have so many children"
The required promise being freely
given, she said: YES. John and /
Were married when | was is. John,
he was just %, and a handsomer
man could not be found in Philadel-
phia, even if | do say it myself.
About year and half after our
marriage, | astonished John by pre-
senting him with triplets. "Well,"
said he, Mary, this is not such a
bad beginning" John was only a
poor shoemaker then, and three
added to Il family all at once made a
great difference, but three loylier
babies couldn't be found in the city.
even if | do say it myself, and so we
thought we'd get along. Two years
after | became the mother of twins.
| could see that John felt "a little
blue over this. "Well, Mary said
he, 'you are not doing any worse.
1t was a little better, thank God !"
Fifteen months afterwards | bore
one child only, a dear little boy.
All then we had a glorious family
jolification. John, for the first time
in his life got drunk as lord. "Ah,
sis, we've got down to the proper
economical basis at last" he said.
AT that time | was only q years old
and tell you what,to be the mother
of six children at that age seemed to
be very queer, but still / thought
the worst was over. Two years had
passed and | again became mother.
This time, to our establishment, it
proved to be another pair twins.
John got tight again, but this time
from sorrow. Mother said he,
this is awful" "YOu are right,
john" said /. But these two were
a lovely little boy and girl, and their
cute little ways and beauty soon put
fresh hope and courage in our hearts.
John opened little shop, business
was brisk, and all went on smoothly
until year and half later, when
we had another pair twins.
This broke John all up, and he
went on spree for three weeks.
"Old woman, L cam support a whole
country" he said. Well | soothed
and sobered him up and got him to
working again. During the next
ten years | had only six children be-
ing in single births only. John and
l began to feel very much encourag-
ed. Three years passed away with
no further addition to my family,
when in my thirty eighth year, l
presented my astonished husband
with another pair twins. They
couldn't have come at a worse time,
for John, who had for a number of
years done very we'll in his business
had just made a bad failure. But
the older children were working and
we put the best face we could on the
matter. Two years after, and when
| was in my fortieth year, to our
unbounded surprise, | bore another
set of triplets. This, / think, killed
poor John. Yes, sir, he's dead, died
ten years ago. "MOther, / think |
have lived long enough y he said.
This remarkable woman Is fifty
years of age, hale, hearty and well
preserved. Her parents came from
Scotland, marrying and settling in
Vhio OOuuGAy OaAly III AlOs IAOA uCdN
husband was of Irish descent. The
old lady said: Eyes, we did after
while have trouble to find the right
kind of names for the babies. First
it was easy enough but when he had
used up all the family names, we
were bothered a good bit. l used to
have the neighbors call and we
would have a good time thinking of
names. But one day John found 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 years old and