IRVINE, Mary Ann died 1888
IRVINE, IRVIN
Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 1/12/2022 at 16:54:27
Death of a Noted Virago, who Twenty Years ago Terrorized all Hesper Township
Her Career to its end that of an Outlaw and Miser
Twenty years ago Mary Ann Irvine, a widow, lived in Hesper township, and, to draw it mild, she made it everlastingly hot for all her neighbors. She was a holy terror. At that time those who fell under the ban of her ill-will lived in anticipation of trouble, and felt themselves in the shadow of sore peril.
It was believed she would dare do any deed to secure revenge for even a fancied slight. Property would disappear, stock die, and building burn. But she was cunning enough to generally elude conviction, while always an object of suspicion. At least one family sold out, and left to escape contact with such a neighbor.
From this county she went to Lansing and lived a while and finally drifted to Sioux Falls. Her last escapade in this vicinity was three or four years ago, and consisted in stealing from the Clerk's office important papers in a law suit Judge Cooley had brought against her.
This reminiscence is revived by a clipping handed us by a friend from a Sioux Falls (Dakota) PRESS of some date in November, telling of the woman's turbulent life for thirteen years in that city, and her miserable death, surrounded by squalor, but possessed of riches. The story told by the PRESS is as follows:
Mary Ann Irvine, a character known to almost everybody in this section, died Thursday morning between 12 and 1 o'clock at her home on Third avenue, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, from blood poisoning, the effects being due to an abcess over the heart. She was 63 years of age and had lived in this vicinity for the past thirteen years.
There probably never was a woman in Dakota that was looked upon with more terror than Mrs. Irvine, and she was feared by all. Whoever crossed her track lived in dread least she would wreak her vengeance on them in an unguarded moment, for her hand was against every man's hand as she believed every hand was against her.
She has figured in the courts here for years, sometimes before a justice, other times before the grand jury and again in the district courts. Death alone prevented her from being brought before the November grand jury. She has quelled brave and strong men at the muzzle of a revolver, which she would not hesitate to use, has burned out two of her neighbors with whom she had trouble, and it is the opinion that with her death dies a secret in connection with the murder of Mrs. Egan, whose husband was hung for the crime in this city in 1882.
Mrs. Irvine and Egan were on very intimate terms previous to the murder, and it was always believed she knew as much about the crime as did Egan, but that he, rather than squeal, paid the penalty on the gallows. Previous to Egan's trial Mrs. Irvine dropped some remarks in the presence of one or two parties which led them to believe she knew a great deal about the murder, but her shrewdness in making them was such that it would be of no use at the trial, besides the parties who were present did not care to antagonize her by disclosing her remarks, for to say anything meant an enemy that would resort to any means to get revenge, if a half an opportunity was given.
She had it laid up against Judge Hawkins and numerous witnesses and many a night have these parties lain awake expecting to see their homes set on fire by her hands. She also swore vengeance on a reporter of THE PRESS and stated to him one day when they met on Main avenue opposite Willey's livery barn, that the only thing which prevented the reporter from losing his head was the fact that she had no gun to blow it off.
In the neighborhood where she lived the neighbors were completely terrorized and rather than have trouble submitted to any injustice, for they feared that with her ill will a torch might follow. Only two or three days ago one of the neighbors was going to have her arrested for stealing chickens, two of which were found alive in the cellar after her death. The only thing that prevented her being brought before a justice was fear of the future.
She was always known to be rich, but she lived like a miser, and existed by foraging on the town after honest people were asleep. No one ever entered her home, not even her children until just previous to her death. It was a wretched sight that greeted them when they were called in. Each room was piled high with worthless truck and filthy garbage. It was necessary to throw a large amount of the accumulation out of doors in order to make room for the people to get around and minister to the woman's last moments on earth.
The bed on which she laid was filthy in the extreme, and the lowest man on earth would be indignant if asked to sleep in it. She refused to have a physician at first, on account of the cost, but subsequently consented to allow one to the house, after a bargain had been made about the price. She was past the aid of medical assistance and soon expired, with neighbors whom she had wronged surrounding her bed and in the presence of a daughter.
After her death a search of the house was made, and enough effects were discovered to show that she was worth many thousand dollars. There was a note for $600, a certificate of deposit for $210, $10.00 in cash, a large number of mortgages, certificates showing that she owned government bonds, the amount of which cannot be determined, deeds for 160 acres of land near Decorah, Io., 160 acres near Valley Springs, two 160 acre tracts west of this city, property in this city and other personal effects which lead to the opinion that she is worth from $25,000 to 35,000. Under her pillow was found a heavily loaded revolver and two packages of poison.
So far as known she left no will, therefore the property will revert to her three children, two sons and a daughter. There was a report that she had made a will leaving the entire property to a grandchild that was living with her, but there was no one who could say they had seen such a document. It isn't believed there is any such instrument, and even if there was it would be contested before the probate court.
~The Decorah Republican, Thursday, January 3, 1889; pg 5
The reprinted article from the Sioux Falls PRESS, October 26, 1888 was also printed in the 'Lansing Mirror', Friday, November 2, 1888 with the addition of the following paragraph at the end:
"The woman is gone. She has made her life a stormy one, but it is hoped her ashes will rest in peace. Everybody has forgiven her and if on her death bed she did the same thing, she will not soon be forgotten."-- --
Note - additional information about Mary Irvine's children is on the Allamakee co. Orphan Page ... link below:
Children of Hugh & Mary A. Irvine
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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