Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-13
NOT A BACK NUMBER.
The Only Pensioner of the War of
1872 in Allegheny Now
APPROACHING THE CENTURY MARK
But She Is Hale and Hearty, and Bids Fair
to Live for Some Time.
A SKETCH OF MRS. MARY FULLER'S LIFE

or rather of the borough of Esplen, just
east of the mouth of CHARTERS creek, was
born before steam navigation and before
almost every discovery that has turned the
world upside down and destroyed romance
and sentiment, and she looks as though she
would successfully and happily round out
this century. Mrs Fuller was born on
October 10, 1892, when the French Revolu-
tion was making dynasties rattle about all
over Europe, and before Napoleon reformed
its geography. She was born in Staunton,
Augusta county, Va, and is not yet back
number, although she draws a pension for
services rendered the United States by her
husband, jeremiah Fuller, who served in a
Virginia regiment in the War of 1912, when
Mother England tried to spank Uncle Sam
for refusing to allow parental control of our
merchant marine.
Born During Washington's Presidency.
Mrs. Fuller attracted the attention of
Squire Miles Bryan some time ago, when
she came to his Office and asked to have him
put pension paper in shape so that she
could draw her quarterly allowance of $50
from the Pension Agency, and he could
scarce believe that woman apparently 60
years of age and fully as spry as the ordi-
nary woman of that age, submitted docu-
ments that proved incontestibly that she
was born during George Washington's first
term as President, and will be SO years of
age next October should she live so long,
| and the chances are that she will last much
longer, owing to the fact that she is not
only still in good health, but is assured of
comfortable maintenance, and does not
horrou- anr troub1a from +ba fut,,ra
Mrs Fuller came from Tyrone to this city
short time since to reside with her grand
daughter, Mrs. Nudge, whose husband is in
the employ of the Pittsburg and Lake Erie
Railway Company, and at present it seems
likely she will spend the remainder of her
pilgrimage here, as she is happy and her
descendants to the fourth generation are
enthusiastic in their attachment for her
She spent the greater part of her life in Old
Virginia, but resided for generation in
Maryland. Her husband jeremiah Fuller,
died since the War of the Rebellion, but
Mrs. Nudge recollection of him is shadowy
she being an infant at the time of his death.
He lived to good old age, being between
20 and so at the time of his demise.
Never Sick but Once.
Mrs. Fuller was never sick but once in
he- life, and that was caused by an accident
stairs and hurt her arm. She has since
wholly recovered, and the family of her
granddaughter find it necessary to peace in
the household to allow the venerable lady to
do her share of the housework. She does |
the sweeping and dusting, and on wash days
does the cooking for the family. She is as
straight as girl, but is too dignifed and re-
served to allow of a satisfactory interview,
as she pays her way and is inclined |
to resent curiosity on the part of |
strangers. She has always refused to sit |
either for an oil portrait or photograph, |
and it seems the only way to get her pro- |
file will be for some one to spring |
kodak on her. Mrs. Fuller is of German |
descent, but so far removed that she presents |
the appearance of a typical American. She |
attributes her long life and good health to |
regular habits and the fact that she has |
never quarreled with fate. In her youth |
and early womanhood her family were |
in good circumstances, and all their hard |
work was done by slaves, which caused the
day of gray heirs and wrinkles to be post |
poned; cankering care having no foothold, |
and though reduced in circumstances by the |
issue of the Civil War, Mrs. Fuller has al |
ways been in Independent circumstances,
and SAYS that if she did not have her pension |
she could still take care of herself.
A Woman of Strong Affections.
Though firm and inclined to hauteur in |
her intercourse with strangers, she is
woman of strong affection, and kindly, as
evidenced by the attachment felt for her by
one of her ex-servants, Mary Clator, an
elderly colored woman who drifted to Pitts
burg after the war. Last winter when
Mary Clator heard that her old mistress was
sick she hunted her up. At the time of
Mrs. Fuller's fall mention of it was made in
the papers and Mary heard it discussed
She at once gathered up all her effects and
''Missus." After Mrs. Fuller had re-
covered, Mary said the place suited
her and she intended to remain.
There was. an clubhouse in the
back yard which Mary said would
just suit her, and getting consent of the
Nudge family, she hung up her things,
pitched her bed and erected stove. Mary
is by profession a nurse, and is, conse-
quently, away much of the time, but when
unemployed is near her old-time mistress,
and their relations are cordial, but regu-
lated by the code that ruled the races in
days. Though Mary cannot
follow Mrs Fuller back in the corridors of
for more than 60 years, yet there
was much they enjoyed in common in cole
Virginny" between 1880 and 1860.
Decided to Let the Past Rest.
Mrs. Fuller's memories would be vastly
running back within 90 wears
of colonial days, could she be induced to
talk freely; but only to intimate
is she unreserved, and
she is not inclined to boast of having seen
Washington, nor indeed of any part of her
with the period beyond the
deluge of modern opinion and idea that de-
stroyed that splendid oligarchy of the
T. f. VS.. She seems to have decided to let
the-dead past go and live in the everything
present and even to her granddaughter,
Mrs. Nudge, she is not especially communi-
cative regarding the past
interest to learn that but ten original pen
sioners, or participators in the War of 1872
are still carried on the rolls Of the pension
agency of this district and as five of these
have not put in their applications for
their money at either of the last M
two quarterly periods, it is supposed
they have gone over Jordan. Pension
Agent H. II. Bengough states that they
will know at the Office ere long the fate of
those who have not drawn their money. but
it is almost certain that in this case mortal
ty has put on Immortality. Thus in the
vast territory covered by the Pittsburg Pen
sion Agency there are probably but five
survivors of the War of 1872 and but 260
others who profit from relationship to the
soldiers of that era, and this district in
,ludes all of the State west of the Susoue-
hanna river, Tioga county being in this
The men of 1912 are now almost
Is scarce as revolutionary relics were at the
late of our Centennial.