Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-13
LIFE OF MRS. T00MEY.
She Had Over s1,OOO,OOO, but Spent
Very Little for Living.
OLD FASHIONED IN ALL HER WAYS.
She Boarded at Restaurant and Lived IN
q Single Room.
ALWAYS REFUSED TO SELL PROPERTY

The death Of Mrs Mary E. Toomey in a
modest room on Grant street, away from the
fashionable life to which her fortune would
have secured her admission, recalls the his
tory of Pittsburg pioneer family and the
woman who to her death had observed the
manners of half century ago. She was
Christian to the extreme ideas of Puritan,
as economical as the Pilgrims when they
first landed in America and yet as wealthy
as many who occupy mansions. She
died without q will and over S1,000,-
900 is left to be divided among
ten nieces and nephews Since the death
OF her husband ten years ago a small room
in the house of Mr.. McIlwaine, at Grant
street and Virgin alley, has been her home;
her dining room 15-cent restaurant. 1t
was not the love of money, but remem-
brance of former days that caused her to
live so modestly. When at Penn avenue
church recently, which she attended in
childhood, she dropped 5000 in the contri
button box. That day she walked to her
room to save carfare. She was one of char
ity's best friends, but her acts were always
done quietly.
Mrs. Toomey was born in Pittsburg in 1928.
Her father was John Murtland, the owner
of large number of Conestoga wagons used
to haul freight over the old turnpike be-
tween Philadelphia and Pittsburg. He
was wealthy in the city's early days and
was prime mover in public enterprises.
When he died, in 1857. he left his fortune
to his daughter, who had previously mar
ried d. H. Toomey, the proprietor of foun-
dry.
Held Aloof From Society,
Mr.. Toomey was wealthy with his own
possessions, and like his wife found more
pleasure in living humbly and saving money
than in entering society's fashionable life
For while after getting married they
lived at Ross street and Third avenue.
They afterwards lived on Ninth street and
later on at Turtle Greek, where Mr. Toomey
died. He left all his fortune to his wife
and she immedi ately afterward rented
q room from McIlwaine.
She never sought pleasure or company.
Three times day she crossed the street to
knew exactly what she wanted and how it
was to be cooked. ''She always watched me
brew the tay," said the proprietress of the
restaurant yesterday "It had to be done
just the way she wanted it. She insisted on
having her meal cooked in the old-fashioned
way and objected to anything that didn't
suit her. But still she wouldn't pay more
than Is cents. She came in at the same
hours every day, and was watched for by all
our customers"
Mrs. Toomey was never known to 60 out
of the house without an old umbrella in her
hand. 1t was brown with age, had a shep-
hnrd Ia hal chaI&o
from rain and sun for 80 many years that
none remembered when it was new. Her
dress was always of the same pattern; with
flowing skirts of the style used half CEN
tury ago, wide sleeves fastened with band
at the wrist and Quaker bonnet. She
wore waterproof cloak when she went out,
and whenever any part of her clothing got
so old that it could not be worn, it was
duplicated as nearly as possible with new
material.
Refused to Sell Any Property.
She believed in the Irish landlord system
that property once acquired should never be
sold. Recently the Westinghouse Air
Brake Company wanted to get possession of
some property belonging to her at Turtle
Creek, but she refused to part with it. No
offer or agreement could induce her to yield,
and at last real estate firm represented
that unless she would sell, railroad COM
pany would be organized to run through the
and have it condemned. The ruse
worked. and Mrs. Looney was given S1OO,
600 for the land. At the time of her
death she had property at Letonia,
Ohio, and Haysville, near Sewickley.
When there was an oil excitement at the
latter place year or so ago, she was be-
sieged with people anxious to lease or pay
almost any price for the land, but she re-
fused, claiming that it was not right to
make money in such way. She was told
that wells were being drilled all around
the tract, and that the oil would be drained
from it, but the argument had no effect.
She would not permit her property to be |
used for any questionable purpose, and took
every precautIon to prevent baseball play
ing on any of her land, even if it was |
common.
She was sister of the late John Murt- |
land, in honor of whom Murtland avenue,
is named. The children of Mr.. |
are Mrs. Toomey's heirs. One of |
them is the wife of Harry Scully, of the |
Dollar Savings Bank, and two others are
the wives of the MCDOWELL brothers, the |
well-known hardware dealers.
Mrs. Toomey's death was caused by |
pneumonia. Her funeral services will take |
place at Smithfeld Street NJ E. Church, of |
which she was member.