The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-27
HER PALACE A PRISON
CAREER OF MRS. AsPIswALL, WHO
GAVE s3,00O,OoO TO PHILADELPHIA.
would Not Meet Strangers, Had n Fee
male Coach Driver, and Would Ac-
cept No Money but Gold.

Pittsburg Letter in Philadelphia Record.
Mrs. Anna r. Aspinwali. of this city, by
whose will the Episcopal Hospital, in Phila-
iclphia, is left all her estate, estimated to
De 100000. was a woman of excellent fam
Iy and decided eccentricity. In some ways
she quite peculiar as the famous
Hetty Green. She was a granddaughter OF
James Ross. of this city, who for half
century was the acknowledged head of the
local bar. was twice elected to the United
States Senate. member Of the con-
stitution convention OF 1870 and three times
A candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania.
lie owned great deal OF land in the
yicinity OF Ross street. the land where the
courthouse stands, some 5000 acres of
what is now Ross Grove, the site of the
town OF Aspinwal and more in the Belle
ield district. His son, James Ross, jr.. was
also lawyer and large landowner. Mrs.
Aspnwalps mother was Ann Ross, the
laughter OF the elder Ross, and she married
Edwin Coleman. whose father was Robert
Coleman. the millionaire mine-owner of
Cornwall and Lebanon. The issue of this
marriage was Mrs. Aspinwall and her sister,
who became the wife OF Alexander Living
ston. OF New York. The Livingstons's
laughter. Mary. married Martin L. Delafield,
Of New York city and are well-known in
fashionable society in Philadelphia. She
1t is who now, as niece and next OF kin of
Mrs. Aspinwall, appears as the contestant
Of the will of her aunt.
All the Colemans and their connections in
Philadelphia are understood to look with
more curiosity than with personal interest
N the outcome of the suit. because they
never knew very much about expected
.sery much from the lonely woman whose
inst de
K Aspinwall, whose will il at stake, mar
led Captain George Ainsworth Aspinwall,
sf New York, and had two children, a son
and daughter. but both died before they
were OF age. Two weeks ago last Monday
Mrs. AspinwalIs remains were buried be-
SIDE her husband and children in Green
wood cemetery, Brooklyn. She was about
seventy-eight years old, although she would
never tell her age. Her death occurred at
Edinburgh, Scotland, early in December, and
was attributed to heart disease and senile
decay Mrs. Aspinwall was connected with
botn or the Philadelphia Coleman and Dray-
ton families, who made SO much money out
of the Lake Superior Coleman Drayton iron
mines; William Drayton, whose law Office
Is at No. 1o6 Walnut street, Philadelphia is
cousin OF hers. The brothers OF Mrs
AspinwalfS husband controlled the Aspn-
wall line of ocean steamers He. however
was not wealthy. but his tastes were liter
ary, and he did some writing. He died
thirty or thirty-five years ago. Tt is said
mat ne spent or lost considerable sum
d money for his wife. fact that she was
well aware Of
MRS ASPINWALL'S MANSION.
Shortly after Mrs. Aspinwalrs husbands
death she built her a large mansion. 1t is
picturesque in location. being on a knoll,
surrounded by thick growth of trees, but
IL IS now both lonely and Anticipated. II is
in the Ben Venue section of the East End
district The edifice is partially screened by
the trees and a high board fence. and these
and the grass-grown drives combined with
- -.
the place. suggest portion of the past GEN.
tury hidden away and forgotten in the
march or time. Ii was a hit abode for this
peculiar woman. She received no calls. re-
fusing all attempts to lead her into social
relations with those about her. She had
her retinue OF servants. and one old house
keeper in whom she relied. The general ad-
ministration and care of her estate and the
collection OF rents. etc, she turned over to
Col William A Heron. 1t is said she made
him no end OF trouble. often sending for him
Fortunately he lived not far away. He was
very kind TO her, and was about the only
person with whom she could or would get
along without quarreiing. She was very
fond OF travel and would start for foreign
countries upon few hours notice. leaving
ner servants In the house a year at time.
On her downtown visiting days the old
carriage, with its one horse driven by the
woman driver. and Mrs. Aspinwall sitting in
the back seat we're such a sight in the
streets as 10 cause the observer to turn for
second look at the odd equipage. Many
remark has been passed as TO who the odd
looking couple We're. One OF Mrs. Aspin-
walls peculiarities was the kind of money
S Siss insisted on having from her banker.
For bank notes she had an adherence that
seemed unaccountable: nothing would do
her but the yellow metal. When the teller
would push her amount over the counter
she would slip Ii into the spacious pockets
of her dress and walk out satisfied Mrs
Asp.awalfs aversion to visitors was carried
TO the extreme The housekeeper did not
dare TO break over the rule that no one
should be admitted. and would at once re-
fuse TO take message to her mistress.
knowing in advance what the answer would
be. So the number of visitors TO the house
was small. a nephew even was refused ad-
mittance. He came from New York city
about two years. ago to see his aunt AS
soon after his arrival as was possible he
use: she would not see him. Anotb sss an mo
still another attempt was made by the
young man. but each time he met with the
THE OLD IADY's SUSPICIOUS.
The old lady thought II strange that he
should live for so many years without a
thought for her and then. when she was
advancing in years, and not very strong.
suddenly take a notion to look her up. She
connected his sudden soicitude with a de-
sire on his part to become possessed of her
generous bank account, and acted toward
him accordingly. The bulk OF Mrs. Aspin-
wallis estate is understood to be located
here. although there are known TO be other
interests of hers, including a good many
stocks and bonds. in Philadelphia. The
Pittsbury properties consist mainly In UNI
productive real estate. although ii is pro-
: ductive Of some rents Tx Is estimated by a
gentleman in a good position TO Judge 10 be
worth about 100000. IL rightly MANAGED
IL would produce more az time goes on, nd
become Immensely valuable. Some OF this
property, which was formerly worth only $50
an acre, Is now worth 10000 an acre Not
long ago she gave some land valued at S30,-
go 10 the West Penn Hospital. in this city.
IL Is supposed here that he Philadelphia
from her fathers side. and that they are
probably not so extensive as her pittsburg
estate. The same source OF Information
thought that the Ss.0o0.oo0 estimate OF her
estates should be at least divided by three.
and he vas OF the opinion thar her estate
would not exceed $1oo.Oo- George w. Guth-
yie. q leading attorney OF this city. Is the
sole surviving executor under Mrs Aspin-