Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1888 — NOTED DAKOTA FEMALE [ARTICLE]

NOTED DAKOTA FEMALE

SHE LIVES THE LIFE OF A FILTHY I AND FEARED MISER. Mary Ann Irvine, an Eccentric Western Character, Dies in Filthy Quarters, Le vin* Thousands —The Potato Crop—Other News Notes. [Sioux Falls (Dak.) special.] Mary Ann Irvine, one of the most noted characters of Dakota, is dead. During her residence of thirteen years in the vicinity of Sioux Falls, she proved herself a most venomous Amazon; had lived and died in the utmost filth and squalor, leaving thousands of dollars of accumulated wealth. No woman in Dakota, nor probably man. was more dreaded by all who came in contact With her than Mrs. Irvine. Vicious, revengeful and mean, she would hesitate to do nothing against the person or property of one who had incurred her hatred. For years she figured prominently at nearly every term of court as -defendant in various charges, such as applying the torch to the property of neighbors who had aroused her passions, threatening their lives, etc. A loaded revolver was her constant companion, and many a man has been made its target. It has always been believed that Mrs. Irvine had more to do with the murder of Mrs. Egan in 1882 than Mr. Egan, who was hanged for the crime. She and Egan were intimate, and many circumstances implicated her in the murder; but no one dared to testify against her. and Egan himself refused to "squeal/” For the last two years she had been living in Sioux Falls, and her reign had been one of terror to the neighborhood. for, no matter how much she imposed upon her neighbors, they quietly submitted rather thah make themselves the objects of her vengeance. In hunting’ through her hovel immediately after her death several chickens which she had stolen from a neighbor were found in the cellar. No one ever darkened her doors, and it was only a very short time before she died that even her own children dared to enter her house. When it was discovered that she was dying, and she was asked if a physician should not be sent for. she objected to Incurring so great an expense, and not until she had struck a bargain with the doctor for his fee would she allow any jnedicines to be administered. Her sleeping-room was found so full of all manner of filthy rubbish that much of it had to be dumped out of doors before the attendants could find room to get in or endure the stench. After her death a search among hor effects revealed deeds, mortgages, notes, bonds, and cash to the amount, in the aggregate, of $35,000. The woman was 63 years old, and had three children, to whom her property will revert.