The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-19
THOMAS MARTINS VILL

Ep York Sun,
About twenty years ago there died ii
southern Ohio a queer old charactel
named Thomas Martin. He was nevel
married, and his ecCentricities made hli
name familiar one in several counties
He lived in little log house on u farm
about four miles from a village, and
sometimes he was alone for months, and
again he would have his house crowded
with his relatives. While father and
mother were dead, no had three brothers
and four sisters living, and in the same
county. One day he might meet one oil
them and hand him a $50 gold piece,
The very next day he would pass tue
same person by without speaking, AS he
was worth about 100000, all made by
the sale Of oil wells found on his lands
In Pennsylvania, and as his relatives
were all poor, none OF them dared to OF,
iend him. II he treated them coldly
they put up with II; II he insisted OH
SOME family staying with him for week
they made every sacrifice to please him,
There was layer Of humor In the old
mans composition withal. think he
reasoned that all his relatives expected
slice Of his wealth, aud lie intended that
each oneshould have II, but be proposed
to make them earn 1t as far as they
could, II he knew that his brother
James was planting corn and in n great
hurry to get through, he would send for
him and insist that he hunt or fish or
20 looking over tho country for some
plant or root needed for sickness. II his
brother Henry was extra busy In his saw
mill, the old man was sure to send up u
message to him TO come down aud take
a witch hazel rod and go wandering over
tho hills to locate metals. There was
only one bed in the house, aud yet the
old man would insist that family OF
eight come and visit him and sleep
where they could. Twice a year hi
killed lamb. The rest OF the time he
lived on pudding and milk and vegeta.
bles.
Uncle Tom, as everybody called him,
was over seventy years Of age when |
frat knew him, and 1t must have seemed
to his relalivpsthat he intended 10 livetO
b. 100, AS the years went by he real y
seemed to improve, aud y wasa cold day
when he couldn'tthink ofsome newtriCk
" play on those who anxiously waited
for him to turn up his toes, He had
made will, as was well known In u Ger
tain law Office, dividing up his wealth
pro rata; but one daysomething occurred
to determine him to revoke 1t. He had
sent for his brother Henry and family
to come to him at once. Henry was raw
ing Timber on acontraCt, one OF the chill.
dren was ailing, and lie sent word that
he could not come. This was the first
time he had ever refused such a demand,
and when the messenger returned the
old man boiled over with indignation.
He sent for his lawyer to come and
make new will, aud the lawyer, oil
course, brought the old one. He saw
this laid on tho clock shelf aud 1t was
lying there when he went away. The
new will was not entirely completed that
day. Martin said lie might want L
make some other changes, aud so he did
His sister, May, who was an old maid
was with him that day, and alter th,
lawyer had gone, Martin wanted to lower
her down in the well to recover a los
bucket. She was timid and afraid, ant
tho result was that she was ordered t
puck up and leave, and was told plainl!
thatshe need not expect dollar.
Nor was this all. Having got his hant
In, as 1t were, tue old man went 70
another brother, and forced q rupture
aud then sent ior a lawyer and out tn
three persons off with legacy Of $40
each. He signed the new will an,
placed 1t with the other, saying he woul
keep both for q few days, and sec II any
thing else turned up. Then, 10 order
show his contempt for his relatives, h
sent for q woman named Thatcher
keep house for him. This woman was
grass widow, about forty years old, an
was looked upon az hRlf.crnzy and th
other half foolish, She was cmploje
In the village at laundry work. MafLi
bought her clothes and jewelry, an
even gave out that lie would marry heI
and lie was henrd to say mora tina
once that not one Of his relatives shodl
ever get a dollar Of his money.
One night two months after tho Tha
cher woman went 10 live with him, Il
got q bad fall whilo bringing In wOot
He had to DO helped TO bed, but only
portion Of what followed WINS known "a
months gftefward. The old man le
: thAthis last hour had come, aud he gC
rid Of her for few minutes by sendIn
her out TO the barn. Which will Ii
meant TO burn no one will ever know
but he got up and burned one Of then