The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-10
REMARKABLE WOMAN.

TVaEhInE by the Day, aud is Now Worth
Half Million Dollar, Which Shs
Made All Herself.
Mary Ann Bascombe. OF stapleton.
Staten Island. says the New York
Journal, is one of the most reHnarka-
BILE women In America. Born in a lit
tie frame house, In stapleton, nifty
six years ago, she began life Mt Il
years OF age as maid OF all work, re-
ceIvIng as wages but SIS per year; yet
from this humble beginning she has
succeeded through her own unAided
efforts in anassInI a fortune OF over
half a million dollars
She lives in modest house in Staple
ton, on the site where she was born.
MY maiden name was Mary Ann Nc
Donough," she said to a reporter. MY
father was Thomas McDonoUBh. n
contractor OF Richmond county and
during his lifetime l did not want for
anything. When he died l was still a
young girl, but It was necessary Tor
me TO find work or staTve, as he left US
very poor went out as general house
girl at 81 % per month. I stayed with
that, family fifteen months, and then
left to work in a rubber factory.
'At first was paid only 81 week.
but l put my whole heart and soul
into learning to do piece work. until
by the time | was II years old made
on an average 81 week. saved
great deal Of this money. For aVe
years l worked as a factory girl.
MY next place was IN family,
where was 4 domestic for eight
months. at s. per month. remember
81. L,a
site Fort WadsWorth, very well, / left
to get married TO my first husband,
William NJ. Richards. I lived with him
for two and half years, and we had
two children, Mary, now 80 years OLD,
and William, who is g years old.
when my first husband died ! went
to work us a washerwoman In the
household on Grynle's hill. Whenever
| went to work at the house | was
obliged to take my children with ma.
leading one by the hand and carrying
the other In my arms. l worked as
Washwoman for 1--WE years, saving all
the money l could. Then In 1864
married my present husband, James
Bascombe. After my marriage / went
TO work In a hat factory on Canal
street. StapIeton, where l remained for
three years. BY that time had saved
enough money to begin investing In real
estate. first bought q lot in StApleton
and then barn, which moved upon
my lot and changed into a house.
About this time my brother, Michael
McDonough, who was In the navy, sent
me $3.50, which invested in real estate.
And from this start / have gradually
Increased my fortune until now own
sixtS-flVs houses without cent OF
mortgage on any one OF them"
By her second marriage Mary Ann
Bascombe has six children, so that she
IL the mother OF eight children, all OF
whom are living.
She is a model landlord. Said she:
when a tenant comes to me and says,
Mary Ann. haven't the rent this
MONTH ! do not tell him to look for
lodgings elsewhere but I ask him II he
has plenty to eat In the house or Is In
need Of any money.
"Whcn that man leaves me he no
longer looks upon me as his landlord.
but as his friend. and he will slave his
fingers 20 the bone when he does get
work In order to pay me my due. You
see, I am a believer in the honesty OF
the poor"
She once let an apartment to a family
the heads of which were addicted 20
drink. Mary Ann advised them sew
eral times 80 mend their ways. When
the rent was not paid, she promptly
put the family on the sidewalk. The
result OF this punishment was that the
husband and wife signed the pledge
and then she permitted them to move
back. They were good tenants for II
years thereafter.
Whenever tenant needs advice he
has only to apply to Mrs. Bascombe. II
n father Is IN doubt as to what trade to
apprentice his son or mother Is un-
certain as to a career for her daughter.
Mary Ann Bascombe settles the Ques-
ton. II tenant has money TO In
vest, Mary AIMS advice Is invariably
asked. She Is not only the landlord
over her tenants. but she exercises a
direct influence In their lives, even
drawing up their wills and having their
lives Insured. The Insurance policy IS
made out In her name with the under.
standing that she will pay the eXarpi-
nation fees and all the dues. When
person Insured dies. Mary Ann collects
the policy, pays the funeral expenses,
takes out what she has advanced and
RENTS the balance to those entitled to
It. In paying dues on the lives OF ten
ants she has insured she spends about
$1,000 a year out OF her own income.