November 17, 1870 was a dark snowy day when I arrived in Pittsburgh on Bedford Avenue near the Central High School - then a nice residential district.
Mysister, May had died the July before of summer complaint and Grandma Hart, vho had come from Philadelphia to help Mother then had stayed to care for her when I came.
Father told me that I was a hungry cry baby and it was a wonder he had not died of pneumonia from keeping one foot out of the covers to rock my cradle.
Father had been born on Taylors Island close tothe Eastern Shore of Maryland on a farm, but., after the Civil War began hisfather, George Bunting, mother, Sarah Burch and seven brothersand two sisters moved to Baltimore and entered the commissionbusiness.
Refused by the Union Army because of age, he became a pilotcarrying provisions and soldiers on the Chesapeake Bay - often among them General Grant. (Later he lunched with him inthe White House and served on the reception committee when PresidentGrant visited Pittsburgh.)
After the war he learned the Stencil andStamp business inthe Dorman Company and became theirtravelling saleman. Whilein Philadelphia he met my mother, Mary Ann Hart. After they moved to Pittsburgh he established the W.A. BuntingStamp Company.
Mother's parents were Peter and MaryHart,, Quakers (formallyMary Ann Brelsford - whose father was twice coroner of Philadelphia) Grandfather was foreman of a cotton mill in Frankford in North East Philadelphia. His father's name was William whoas a youngman came near being captured ashe carried food and clothing tothe men at Valley Forge. He had fivechildren, William,Peter, Ann, Flizabeth and Alice. Grandfather died atthe age of69 of pneumonia.
The year 1871 suffered badly in Pittsburgh by the epidemic of small pox from a train load of sick emigrants. Grandma Hart had stayed on fortunately as Mother had a fever after my birth and had never rightly regained her strength.
One day when she ventured as far as the neighboring grocery she stood beside a woman whose face whenher shwl slipped showed blue spots. Without strength to fight the dreadful disease she slipped away from us December 14, 1871.
Father had little May's casket laid on top of her and the little marble lamb placed at their f eet. There she lies between his other wife, Ella Flanigan, (mother of Charlie, Harry and Jim and their sister Stella). 'Now Father is buried there too in old Section 5 of the Allegheny Cemetery. I f eel sure it is Section 13 now and can be found by au obelisk-like monument near bearing the name Rosensteel - I have the deed.
Grandma took me back to Frankford where as Mary's child I was petted and spoiled byAunt Louise, three uncles, Frank, Samand Ed and fourolder cousins., Jennie., Lillie, Frank and Albert.But Grandma saw to it that I received a firm religious foundation,a fund of precious Bible verses, a love forthe old hymns andrespect for the Sabbath - the grandest of heritagesthat I havetried to live and'pass on.
The shrines of Philadelphia were mine and my devotion tothe Flag. I was lifted up to touch the original Declaration, torun my fingers along the crack of my bell, to sit in Washington's chair - and my childish scribble is early on the register of Betsy Ross 'house.
It was a happy life in a peaceful Quaker atmosphere vith a visit from Father every year., and his many letters and gifts, among them a melodeon so I could learn to play. There were many jaunts to the Bay and Ocean - I was a good swimmer until almost drowned when a jelly fish fastened onto my foot.
Grandma was buried the New Years Day after my 10th birthday and that April., Uncle Sam took me to Baltimore where I met Father's folks especially his Mother who lived to be 87 - his father had died at 67 from a strangled hernia.
There cousin BobBochmiller broughtme on to Pittsburgh withmy baggage and the covered basket containing a tortoise-shell catand her 5 kittens and another with my13 dolls.
My new Mother, Ella made me welcome, and as soon as I saw 7 year old Charlie, 5 year old Harry and Stella three and Jimmie still creeping I became a Mother. As usual I had a great time . We lived on Locust Street, Alleghney where I attended the Page Street School. Dwight Morrow sat beside me (Anne Lindberg's father) and had to stay after school with me for letting the teacher know that I had a big pickle.
Two years later, lovely little Stella just five died of diphthoria, March 5 and 25 days later her Mother died of exhaustion and hemorrhage. As there was no antitoxin then the only treatment was steam inhalations to try avoid strangulation. Just as she dieda final spasm brought up the membrane that could not be cut by sharpknife - was put in alcohol in the hospital.
Then Father took us all out to Grandma Flanigan's cottage at Arlington (between Castle Shannon and Mt. Lebanon) for a year, then to a rented house on Highland Avenue as I was ready for High School. That was another grand place for fun. We sledded down Highland Avenue., skated on the old reservoir and Silver Lake where I had my feet frozen. With Laura and Stella Evans I hiked out to the old Schenley mansion, walked down to the Allegheny River.
I rode with the Wainwright girls all over what is now East Liberty on their match carriage horses. We loved to visit with funny big fat Kate Edna Negley (General Negley's daughter). I've often combed beautiful Lillian Russells golden curls and Frank Buhl (of Boggs & Buhl) who lived near took me on my first date to the opening of the Alvin Theatre - fringed phaeton,, corsage and all.
Now, our new home in Ben Venue was finished. That was a development from Center Avenue to the Millvale bridge - only two side streets of 35 houses, so we were like one big family -- the Nevins,, Kaufmans, Rudds, Prof. Barkers, Templeton-Smiths, etc.
The spring at Lawman was our drinking water (Annie Lawman marred one of the Westmoreland Glass Wests and Brainard West called on Marian) but an epidemic of typhoid fever came from it and little Ben Venue had 47 cases and 2 deaths.
We had 4 of them, first, Lizzie, the German maid, then Charlie, then Father's new wife (a school teacher named Kate Hamilton), then little Jimmie whom we almost lost following 13 bowel hemorrhage - and had to teach him to walk again.
So I had a hard time to graduate with my class - having missed so much of my last spring. Mother Kate was still very weakand help and nurses so expensive that I gaveup plans for Wellesly.Restless at home I applied for aschool inJeannette - anew little country town advertising for teachers.
Dressed in my best with blacksuede gloves andshoes, I askedthe station agent where I could find the directors. After lookingme over he told me to ask forGeorge Moore at the Window Works. After miles of mud and cinders I arrived to find he was the manager.But I knocked and was admitted - my lovelyshoes ruined - and interrogated byMoore and 4 others - who came fromsomeplace very promtly.
Looking back it is funny - wasn't then. Asked for mycredientials, I had only ny High School Diploma with college preparation. "What! no NormalSchool - no experience - praywhat makes you think, young lady that you could teach our children?" One look at my shoes and I was ready - "Gentlemen, the reportsof my work are good. I love children and since our Mother's death,have brought up my three little brothers to begood boys and I think I could do that with your children. Now I was to makemy train and I rose to leave.
Two days later I received word of my election - was the only one of the eight teachers with no Normal or experience. I was wearing the ring of George Angier, a young medical student of Cleveland, but when I stepped off of the train that September first morning of 1890 a good looking young fellow was introduced and asked if he might carry my satchel - he has been carrying it ever since.
I choose Number three in the brand-new GaskillAvenue School., received $35 a month and had room and board with the Coon family next to the Reformed Church for $5 a week and went home once a month.
I loved myschool, never had to punish a child and made it apoint to call at least once in each ones' home.
If I were a school director I would choose teachers more for their disposition and love of children than by the number of their degrees for if one has the love of a child he can lead it.
The big houses ofmanager GeorgeMoore and of his secretary,Tom Cunningham were the onlyones about us then. There were nopaved streets nor street lights except the big20 foot flare atthe Second Street bridge. Homes and stores were lighted by gas.Board walks kept us from tracking in the mud, and cinder pathscrossed the streets. We had to goto the post office for our mail in the general store in the company building, nov McKees.
That, with the Marian Hotel across and the Treacher buildingmade up that square. The Methodists have a little wooden chapel now the Jewish Synagogue. Down ClayAvenue and on Fourth Streetstores were being build and rebuilt as there hadbeen manv fires.We bought at Trimble and Ford or Vogels Bakeries, meat atKnappenbergers, groceries at Diebolds and drugsat DaughertyBros.
Although Father and I belonged to the First Methodist inPittsburgh where Kaufmans Annex now stands, thenew wife KateHamilton, was a Presbyterian and the boys had been going to thenearby Shadyside Presbyterian Sunday School so we all joined there.Dr. Holmes was our minister and his daughter later the famouscontralto Louise Romer sang in our paid quartette.
Among our noted members were Robert Pitcairm, Supt, of the P.R.R., Marvin, the cracker man, Stevenson the wholesale grocer, the Craig Brothers who owned the Shadyside Academy and the Westinghouse family. How we all watched whenshe came rustling down to her front pew because she wore wigs to match mer gowns and lead George Jr. in his velvet and lace and curls.
So my first Sunday in town I went to Sunday School in the little Presbyterian church. Was met bydear Mr. Doty who presented mewith a class of little girls and the organ bench.
Once when Elmer Allison was singing ."Down inthe Cradle of the Deep" I forgot to pump and left him there. Welaughed so hardwe had even the minister, Mr. Milikenlaughing .
I helped George Lohr to start the ChristianEndeavor. My newbeau belonged there too., and knew where to find me Wednesday evenings.at Bible Class.
I was soon part of a jolly bunch ofeight couples that foundlots of things to do. To a city girl thisnewness of environmentand freedom was glorious.
A moment's notice was enough to gather up enough for music at Pearsolls or Stephens or games in the big parlors of Moores or Cunninghams. The country sides were a new dream to me and we hiked to the tops of our seven hills and picnicked everywhere
Woodlawn was a wilderness of old trees where I first heard thrush and red birds, gathered all kinds of wild flowers. Its bank was pink with Arbutus.
Where the Elliott now stands, we gathered 14 inch stemmed violets and ate lunches by the noisy little creek, or in the woodsaround the old Byers stone house on Nanny Goat hill.There is stillstanding an old birch tree with N.B. and C.D. cut into a heart. The band stand on the top of a hillwas agood lookout. We dancedon the ship-shaped porch of the Hotel Marian, in the McKee parlors,or school hall,had buggy or sleigh rides to Si Pooles in Ruffsdale for chicken and waffles or down to the old stage inn at Jacktown for beefsteaks; rode down Clay and Gaskill on Mr. Daugherty's 16 foot bobsled - once we went through the little wooden bridgeand into the icy creek.
Every year this creek washed out everything around and flooded downtown and on to Manor (until James' dry dam stopped this). We used to have to take in poor families and dry and house them.
Somehow, we seemed to be always, asked to the box socials and plays that the different sects used to help build their little churches like Mrs. Jarley's Wax Works, the childrens Carnival, theDistrict School,, Union Station, etc., etc., ,with an occasional train ride to Idlewild.
Then the street cars came and we could charter an open car for ten dollars, trim it all up, invite our friends and ride, singing clear to Mitingers in Greensburg or to Vogels in Jeannette for ice cream and a party. We loved a spellingbee especially after John Mull had spelled everyone here down and we imported other smart folks but had to give up.
Two glorious years I surely had - one at Coons the other at Cutters on Fifth Street (now Lighthills) ending with a fire that took out the Gillespie square. The backs of this row are of wood and surely would have gone too but for Mr. D. (then assistant fire chief) who stayed on the roof keeping in place a rug kept wet by out buckets of water.
We were married in my Ben Venue home (still standing) at 5:20, Thursday, August 1lth, 1892 with Bertha Ewart standing by me and Lincoln Gilbert of Indiana by Clark, as my Father gave me away and Kate played the wedding march.
Grandma Daugherty, Uncle Jim, Aunt Della and May and Helen with Uncle Frank and Aunt Jennie present. I was in white with white roses and my groom in black cCutaway coat and stripped trousers. Dr. Holmes was away so another Presbyterian minister officiated.
After a nice dinner, each guest wearing a white rose corsage weleft bytrain for Niagara and Chautauqua. A houseful of neighborsand an orchestra greeted our return and when we arrived at Lighthillsthe town band played and played and the children must have beensaving up all the old pans.
Then we went to housekeeping in the Elyside of the doublehouse on Second Street where we stayed until spring.It was toolonely for me as there were no houses around, no lights and ourstore open until eleven each night.
So, as I was already not going out, Dad got Drs. Morrowand Bell who occupied the rooms over the store (now Drachs) to move out and we put in some partitions and had a cozy flat where James, named for Father D and weighing 10 1/4 pounds arrived 11 A.M., May21st; Charles, for my brother Charles, weighing 10 pounds came just at noon the next May I9th and Harry twenty months later on January 17th weighing 10 1/2. He was called for my second brother (as Dad thought he was still too young to be a senior) and our young minister Egbert Koonce.
