Chopin grew up in a home dominated by women, including her mother, great-grandmother, and the female slaves her mother owned who cared for the children. She often used this experience as a basis for her stories. Chopin's family was well off but they were also large, with many children. Her father was often away from home working on his boat or in other ways making money to support the family. When he was home he tended to be busy with his alcoholic wife or angry with her for some reason. He hit her sometimes, which is why she had bruises all over her body when she died at age 39. When Chopin was about 18 years old she married a man named Louis Buchan. He was also rich, but soon after their marriage he went to Haiti where he stayed for several years to make more money. While he was gone a slave revolt broke out in Louisiana where he lived. Most of the people in the town were afraid that their family property would be destroyed so they fled south while the rebels took control of the city. During this time, Louis came back but he did not bring much money with him because most of it was lost. The couple had three children together: George, Edna, and Marie.