Martha
was born in Ohio on August 4, 1829 to James and Elizabeth (Talbott) Richey. Her
father, James, died December 16, 1837 in Hopewell, Ohio. She later lived in Illinois, and met Benjamin Beatty who was living nearby. They they travelled to La Salle County, Illinois where they were married on May
30, 1851.
Benjamin
and Martha relocated to Oskaloosa, Iowa where they would remain for many years. In 1870 Benjamin was a harness maker and
Martha was keeping house. They had two
students living with them and an adopted daughter by the name of Blanche.
By
1880, Benjamin was a grocer and Martha was keeping house. Benjamin was no longer listed in the
household by 1885 and Martha was a widow. Martha
developed tuberculosis and would move to Eddyville, Iowa south of Oskaloosa
before leaving for Phoenix, Arizona around 1889.
As she advanced in years, it became very difficult for a feeble, elderly woman to heat water,
fill and empty a bathtub in her own kitchen. Therefore, Mrs. Beatty took her baths at
Frank Shirley's Tonsorial Parlor (barbershop) in the basement of Goodman's Drug
Store.
The Tonsorial Parlor rented curtained cubicles for bathing, as most private residences of the time did not yet have indoor plumbing. When Martha Beatty visited the baths, she was usually accompanied by Mrs. S. J. Conley who would assist her.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930
February 07, 1901, Page 3
The Tonsorial Parlor rented curtained cubicles for bathing, as most private residences of the time did not yet have indoor plumbing. When Martha Beatty visited the baths, she was usually accompanied by Mrs. S. J. Conley who would assist her.
On August 9, 1902, Martha went to
the bathhouse, having arranged with Mrs. Conley to meet her there at 1 PM. However, Mrs. Conley was delayed and did not
arrive until 2 PM. Imagine her horror
when she entered the cubicle only to find Mrs. Beatty lying on her side with
her face completely under the surface of the water. Dr. Plath was sent for, but efforts to revive
Martha failed. He determined it was a drowning. - Adapted from a story by Donna C and Patty G
To this day, it has been reported that when the storm clouds come, and the rain drizzles down on the cemetery, one can venture out to Martha's grave and see it silently filling with water..........
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| "Patron of Education" - Martha donated much of her money to Lincoln College, Illinois Photo by Patty |
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