The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-07-27
A RELATIVE OF
VAN buren, DIES
OF STARVATION
Little Old Recluse Lived for
Years Unknown in New York
Apartment House
ONCE WEALTHY, LOST ALL
SPECIALIZING, IT'S SAID
EN- Presidents Influence Gave
Her 20 Years of Prominence,
Says Friend

NEW YORK, July ~ Until they
found her dead recently tenants lu
inc apartment house 40 Us Fast
twenty did not nnoW that
little Ola woman, VINO always
dressed in BLACK VINO minded her
ONu. affairs. seeking no acquaintance
and apparently with mo friends VINO
lived I'M the house for years. was
Hiss Mary Fowler Van Buren, direct
descendant of President Martin Van
Buren,. a woman OF great culture and
once known to almost every senator.
congressman and politician NJ Wash.
.lngton
According 10 Coroner Feinherg Miss
Van Buren, died OF natural causes.
mainly due 10 starvation This rs
denied By Edward irving supfrlnten-
dent OF the building who discovered
the body He said the old woman
managed TO provide herself wlth food
and clothing by the sale of bonds
Ii is admitted, however, that Miss
Van Buren, had nor paid rent for TWO
years Through the generosity OF q
former owner OF the house she was
allowed TO live there free.
Miss Van Buren,. SO Mr. Irving S
story goes, formerly was Wealthy.
Two years ago she lost through spec,
ulaton more than 100000. and she
told Mr. irving. who seemed 10 be ner
only conhdant and friend that, her
attorney then was former United
States senator whom she had known
many years ago in Washington
When ~ Miss Van Buren,, through
the influence Of relatives, obtained a
clerkship in the house OF representa-
tlves. according 60 Mr. Irving and
met many distinguished men. Her
boast was that had she saved al
the money paid 70 her fer writing
speeches for congressman and other
aspiring statesmen she would stll
nave been wealthy though the re-
mainder OF her estate was gone
Miss Van Buren, was a clerk In the
house more than 20 years. and made
a. special study or corporation law
Only recently she confded 10 Mr.
Irving, he said that she Vas plan
liug 20 promote corporation, the
nature OF which was NOT disclosed
Always She was planning for the
future One of her dreams was 20
visit the San Francisco exposition by
way OF the Panama canal She was
a student Of present day questions
and made no secret in her talks with
Mr. irving that she was opposed 10
woman suffrage.
III was a great pleasure 20 know
Miss Van Buren,, Mr. Irving said.
."l enjoyed going in Of an evening
and listening 10 her stories OF the old
days in Washington While she never
told names she often related stories
Of political and social achievement
and sometimes scandal that We're
woven around lawmakers now dead
Miss Van Buren, Is nor the first
relative OF President Van Buren,
10 die unknown and in poverty In
May. 1905. Martin Van Buren, a
nephew died in an Albany lodging
house He also was known only 70 a
few comrades who had served with
him IN the Civil war
Vie lived quiet. secluded life and
barely managed TO exist but always
his manners were courtly aud Of the
old school He too az one time was
wealthy At the time of his death
stories were printed OF a sister whose
name no one seemed 10 know
The body OF Miss Van Buren, was
sent TO the morgue Miss Mary
Miner Of Rhneback. is said to be
her only known relative Size was
notified,