The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-31
QUEER OLD MRS. CHURCH.
A Wealthy Woman Whose Diversions Were
Churches and Horses.

Hartford Correspondence Springfield Republican.
One of Hsrtford's queer characters has disap-
peared in the death of Mrs. Leonard Church,
one of the richest women of the State, and prob
ably one of the most -parsimonious women in the
United States. Her husband, will his brother
Joseph. the father of Fred Church. the artist,
built up large paper factories at Lee and Low
ell, Mass. and accumulated fortunes which for
thirty years ago were princely. They came to
Hartford, bought adjacent lots on the brow Of
Asylum Hill, then on the outskirts
Of the city proper, and QUILT comfort
able and spacious brick houses. Then
the two brothers got into some wrangle with
each other. and for years before their deaths
did not speak. Leonard Church died in 1877,
leaving property worth then half a million. and
so well invested that il 1t has been carefully ad-
mlnistered il must be worth to day consider
ably over a million. For a year or two before
his death Mr.. Church was mentally inca
pacitated for managing his estate. although in
his widest moments he never exhibited a de-
sire TO throw any of it away or do any good
with il. His widow has lived the same close,
pinching, miserable life, denying herself every
thing in the way OF luxury. and conducting
her little household 30 closely that some
times the neighbors have taken pity on
her one servant and sent her food. Yet
che was of good family, a Lenox Mass Sedg-
wick, well brought up, and possessing. in her
earlier years. considerable culture. She has
hardly been known in Hartford excens as an at
tendant at the Center Church, aud her one con-
bplCuOua act o. puolC SpiEit uuriug ncr lIe was
in presenting to this church the magnificent
$l5. 900 organ. which is the pride Of the city.
She used to 90 TO church in an antiquated car
riage, with worn out harness and the seediest-
looking horses aud driver to match. One would
have to 60 into the rural districts of the South
TO find anything approaching such
a turnout The one diversion she
was known to indulge in, aside
from church-goinc, was to go TO Charter Oak
park during race week with the same establish
ment. She would go early, get her carriage To-
Gated inside the track near the finish, and stay
there through the afternoon. seldom exhibiting
the slightest interest IL the proceedings. She
had no children. and only the eelect four or five
knew that she had made a will. This was opened
after her funeral, and grieved If il did not as
tonish the expectant nephew and nieces. II is q
shrewd will. which bears on its face every indi-
cation OF being the careful work
of Henry Kennedy and his attor-
pey. Samuel F. Jones. MI. Kennedy has
managed the estate for a dozen years or more
and had the reputation of knowing how to keep
his own bread buttered on both sides. The
will makes Mr.. Kennedy the chief beneficiary,
and the witnesses to the signature are lawyer
Jones. lawyer Jones's hopeful son Samuel and a
constable who does work for lawyer Jones.
That Mrs. Church. passing by her church
friends and neighbors, should have selected law
yer Jones to prepare her will and should have
chosen such witnesses is a surprise to those
VINO are acquainted with Colonel Kennedy.
The estate is worth nearly or quite 81. 900. 900.
A gentleman who knew how it was invested by
Mrs. Church says if well managed it should be
wnrth cI 50O 000