Source:Fleming-schenley
George T. Fleming. "Mrs. Schenley's will filed here: Document proves that she considered herself still a Pittsburgher: Some old stories." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Feb. 13, 1916, sec. 2, p. 6. Newspapers.com 85898381.
THE final installment of the Schenley story will be presented today, together with some of the related stories and some recently discovered matters which shed new light on portions previously told.
The O'Hara genealogy should be more fully mentioned. Gen. O'Hara had two daughters, Elizabeth, who became the wife of Harmer Denny, and Mary, who was Mrs. William Croghan, and the mother of Mrs. Schenley.
Gen. O'Hara had four sons, William, James, Charles and Richard Butler O'Hara. The last-named did not marry until after his father's death in 1819.
Richard B. O'Hara was the father of the late Mrs. William M. Darlington of Guyasuta.
Many persons have believed that Mrs. Schenley stipulated her grant of the park land to the city should be named Schenley Park. This is a mistake.
It is very proper to affix the name Schenley to any part of the Schenley family holdings, but it is clearly a misnomer to fasten it upon any land never owned by Mrs. Schenley or her father or grandfather.
We hear the term, Schenley Heights, now in use. A street directory, with other matter pertaining to Pittsburgh, undertakes to locate, and define, the boundaries of certain Pittsburgh districts and, among others, we read:
Schenley Heights, the slope of Herron Hill overlooking the Bloomfield and Bellefield districts, a part of the Fifth Ward. A restricted residence district reached by Center avenue cars.
It would be well if the name were restricted also. Herron Hill, overlooking the Schenley Farms, included much of Jacob Ewart's farm and that part of the hill overlooking Bloomfield, a portion of the estate of Philip Winebiddle.
Site of Old Fort.
The Herron Hill reservoir, and much of the park there, was Herron property, the reservoir upon the site of Fort Herron built in 1864.
The Farms tract is remarkable for the number and character of the public buildings that have been erected upon it, and there are many fine residences also. But there are other portions of Pittsburgh just Pittsburgh—that compare favorably with the Schenley Farms in point of beauty and cost of the residential architecture upon them. Most of us can think of some of these.
Another matter susceptible of a wrong meaning demands explanation. The statement was made last week that the marriage of Capt. Schenley and Mary Elizabeth Croghan was regarded by many people as what the Apostle Paul termed "an unequal yoke."
It was not intended to say or convey the idea that Capt. Schenley was an unbeliever in the Christian religion. The inequality was based upon other considerations—age and adaptation, etc.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Schenley was a good wife and mother. Despite the fact that she left Pittsburgh in 1863 and never returned she expatriated herself only in that absence of twoscore years until her death in 1903.
Mrs. Schenley's Will.
She regarded herself as an American citizen and so testified in her will, which reads in the opening paragraph:
I, Mary Elizabeth Schenley, nee Croghan, a citizen of the United States of America, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but residing at the time of the execution of these presents in the county of Middlesex, England, widow of Edward Windham Harrington Schenley, late of 14 Princes Gate, London, in the County of Middlesex aforesaid, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament as to such property real, personal and mixed, in the United States of America.
During a residence of many years in Pittsburgh, the writer hereof has not heard ill spoken of Mrs. Schenley, unless it be that which has been written in regard to her elopement, and in that, she was more pitied than condemned.
Most historians and writers refer to it as a romantic marriage.
There is no doubt the Captain courted her ardently and she believed him. That they did not live happily ever after has never been asserted.
It may be taken for granted that Mrs. Schenley's gift to Pittsburgh is appreciated here and that there is a just regard for her memory. Several generations have come since the Captain resided here, and it is only the truth to say there was scant veneration, if any, for him in the flesh and none since.
Mrs. Cornelia Butler, maternal aunt of the writer, first came to Pittsburgh to reside in 1836, and continued to be a resident here for 71 years, or until her death in 1907. She was then almost 90 years old.
She was of mature age at the time of the Schenley–Croghan elopement and was competent to testify to the feeling prevailing in the community over the match at the time and the years succeeding.
Old Time Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh was not a large place then with its eastern boundary line at Washington street in the Hill district, and at about Nineteenth street in the Bayardstown district out Penn avenue or "the Pike."
The city had about 25,000 inhabitants within its corporate limits. Everybody knew everybody, or, if not, had some idea of each individual body or where that body resided.
Tales of the Schenley elopement were told for years in each Pittsburgh household and these were the tales spread about through the community and published in the papers at the time.
There is scarcely a Pittsburgher of today who has reached the age of 60—even a less age—who can not affirm that the story of the Schenleys as presented here in these columns is the same story that was heard over and over again in his childhood and that the facts herein related are true as he verily believes.
May 5, 1875, the writer made a visit to Pic Nic under odd circumstances.
Query—Why fix the date exactly after the lapse of so many years?
Answer—Because it was a natal day and because of an affliction that had murdered sleep for the two nights preceding—nothing less than a single edition of that abnormal exasperation or exasperator known as Job's comforter, which was very much in evidence on the left cheek, about where one is supposed to be scripturally smitten under certain conditions.
Dr. Daniel Cornman was a well-known physician in Pittsburgh both before and after the Civil War—one of the devoted ones who worked day and night during the cholera epidemic in Pittsburgh in 1854, and also one of the score of Pittsburgh physicians who went to Gettysburg after the battle and remained there for several weeks administering to the wounded. He was the cotemporary of Drs. George L. McCook, W. A. Hallock, the Dicksons, J. C. Lange, M. O. Jones, "Tom" Gallaher, Floyd, and other old-time Pittsburgh medicos.
At Pic Nic House.
For many years Dr. Cornman was the family physician of the Koehlers, caretakers of the Schenley mansion and tenants on the farm about it. On the day mentioned, Dr. Cornman invited the writer to ride out to the former Schenley home.
The doctor then lived on Center avenue, and it was somewhat of a protracted journey, with stops here and there of a professional nature. On the way out and returning he rehearsed much of the history of the Schenleys as told in these articles.
Arriving at the mansion the writer was left to his own will to wander over the well-kept farm and inspect the mansion, where things were just as the Schenleys had left them 12 years previously.
The life size oil painting of Mrs. Schenley as shown today, stood in its place on the wall showing a young woman in the glow of health and with an expression of quiet contentment. Its rich and heavy gold frame set off the more somber pigments of the olden time portrait painter.
The heavy mirrors, with their massive gold frames, were all in place, extending from floor to ceiling, and there is an unfading memory of a wan-eyed and fiery cheeked youth gazing listlessly into them and viewing his affliction, the uppermost thought in his mind.
Any other similarity to Job must be dismissed as unthinkable—but in all the years intervening the Schenley mansion to one visitor has been associated with mirrors and biles—and—Job.
The portrait of Mrs. Schenley in her young womanhood seems as real as viewed today. The large mirrors seem in their places, but memory fails to recall the portrait of Capt. Schenley, a portion of which, the bust and head, was shown in these columns January 30 last. Hence the writer is unable to state definitely whether it was there or not. The impression deepens that it had been removed.
House Fully Furnished.
The beds stood in their places, mattresses in place also; bundles of bed clothing were neatly tied up and lay upon the bedroom floors.
There were books on the library shelves, and piled up in a cupboard down stairs. Many of these were school books, and memory again is at fault.
Their ultimate disposition is unknown. Stocks and real estate were converted into cash and the proceeds remitted as the will required.
Those interested will find Mrs. Schenley's American will of record in the register's office of Allegheny county, Will Book No. 77, page 359, and occupying nine closely written pages.
The requirements of the English forms of law and the attestations requisite take up much space.
The first and final account of the executors is of record in Account Book No. 100, page 453. These matters were given due publicity at the time.
Estate Is Settled.
The executors were enjoined to sell and convert into cash all the real property held by the testatrix, all her estate of every description and of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal or mixed, at or near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America, including also all real estate in America. A remittance was required every three months. All stocks, bonds, shares, mortgages, and other personal effects and securities were to be sold and proceeds remitted to the English executors, the first named of whom was George Alfred Courtenay Schenley, her eldest son.
It is a matter of common knowledge that all the provisions of the American will have been carried out or are being carried out.
Mention is made in the will of property owned by the testatrix at Cannes, France, and elsewhere, and its sale decreed.
At the time of the visit to Pic Nic in 1875 the Koehlers, husband and wife, were very courteous and answered the many questions of the writer, giving full answers.
It may be noted that in the recent street renaming, or new naming, we have been given Croghan street from 4100 Fifth avenue to O'Hara avenue. This is in the Schenley Farms tract and some little commemoration of Col. William Croghan, Mrs. Schenley's father, but the effect of the commemoration is barred when we read in a street directory: "Crogan," which can be taken as a misprint, or suggestive of Grogan.
The first news of Mrs. Schenley's death came to Pittsburgh November 5, 1903. She died at her London home November 3. The Pittsburgh papers of November 6 devoted much space to her biography and made speculations concerning her will.
Among those then interviewed were John W. Herron, her agent, son of William A. Herron, who had been the agent for the estate in Pittsburgh, and Thomas D. Carnahan, now judge of the Common Pleas Court, who had been her attorney as had his father, Robert B. Carnahan, before him.
Both men from an intimate acquaintance with Mrs. Schenley were competent to speak of her life and character.
Judge Carnahan received on November 5 two cablegrams announcing her death, one from her London solicitor, the other signed "Schenley," doubtless from her daughter. They conveyed the news that Mrs. Schenley had died suddenly.
She had long been a sufferer from asthma, and Judge Carnahan explained that the smoke and heavy atmosphere of Pittsburgh affected her greatly, which was one reason she could not live here. She was a delicate woman for years.
Judge Carnahan went with C. M. Bigelow and the late James B. Scott to London in 1890 to see her in regard to 19 acres desired for an entrance to Schenley Park. They secured the option and the city subsequently bought this land.
In 1902 Judge Carnahan again visited London and obtained an option on 52 acres for the Tech School, but this option the city did not take up.
Mrs. Schenley was a shrewd business woman, quick to catch an idea and dispose of a question, Judge Carnahan stated.
At the same time Mr. Herron received telegrams of Mrs. Schenley's demise, one from the London solicitor and another from a daughter. Mr. Herron stated that Mrs. Schenley was a remarkable woman; one of the best business women he had ever met. Her letters were marvels of business acumen.
She was given to brevity of response and many a business proposition cabled her came back on the wires—"yes" or "no," as she decreed.
She was firm in her decisions and once made they stood. Not that she was arbitrary, but she always relied on her judgment and stood by it.
Mr. Herron had business relations with her for 13 years, first visiting her in London in 1890, again in 1891. She was then in delicate health, and residing in Eastport. It was at this time Col. William A. Herron was appointed the Schenley agent in Pittsburgh.
John W. Herron happened to meet Messrs. Carnahan, Bigelow and Scott on their errand in London in 1890. She decided their proposition very quickly, and had received them with great cordiality.
Mr. Herron had been abroad and wished to see Mrs. Schenley in 1902, a year before her death, but she was ill and could not see him.
Typical Tenements.
The Schenley types of tenements at the Point are shown in two pictures today. One view shows Fort street both sides, the other appears to be Second street. These were torn away about 1903, when these streets were vacated for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
One portrait of Mrs. Schenley shows her well-natured and presumably in good health. This picture appeared in the papers about the time of the sesqui-centennial.
The view of Pic Nic and grounds on Stanton avenue was taken from a photograph made about 1904. The house and grounds are now occupied by the Stanton Heights Golf Club.
In the Pic Nic tract Mrs. Schenley owned 105 acres and 122.48 perches, strict measurement, and across McCandless avenue a tract of 11 acres and 149.48 perches. The grounds were leased to the golf club for 10 years by the American executors in 1908.
Some Corrrections [sic].
Some errors that have crept into some proceding [sic] stories must receive attention and correction.
In the article of January 23, 1916, the statement in regard to the A. A. Carrier and R. C. Schmertz properties at Fifth avenue and Craig street is an error. The opposite is true. The Carrier home was on the Cathedral site and was demolished. The Schmertz home is still standing.
William Henry Sims writes that it was not his grand mother, Mrs. Ann Reed, daughter of James Tustin, who was killed by lightning as related by Thomas Thomson and so stated in the article of December 12, 1915. Mrs. Mary Russell Tustin wife of James Tustin, Jr., was killed by a stroke of lightning in May, 1869, at her residence on Fifth avenue a few doors below Gist street. She was the mother of the late William E. Tustin and a sister-in-law of Mrs. Reed.
Mr. Sims notes also an inaccuracy in the Price story previous to that. The firm operating the old Price foundry was there given as Price & Son. It should have been Price & Sims.
These corrections are made for the benefit of those who are keeping these stories in some permanent form.
George W. Wilson, a well-known Pittsburgher, sent Alexander G. Cochran a copy of The Gazette Times of January 23 containing the Gazzam story. Mr. Cochran, a former member of the Allegheny county bar, is now a resident of St. Louis, Mo., and a practicing attorney there. While in Pittsburgh he was a member of the law firm, Gazzam & Cochran.
Mr. Gazzam Is Alive.
Mr. Cochran states that his former partner is not dead, and that he has been in communication with Mr. Gazzam lately. The belief in Pittsburgh that Mr. Gazzam had died, he thinks, arose from the publication of a news story regarding a hotel fire in the South which occurred at night, and from which Mr. Gazzam barely escaped by leaping from the second story window of the hotel. He was quite seriously injured and for a time his life was despaired of, but he finally recovered, although never as strong afterwards.
A relative of Mrs. Schenley calls the writer's attention to some errors that occurred in the first Schenley story, January 30. However, several of these were in the article reproduced from the Telegraph of February 2, 1878.
It was Mrs. McLeod who conducted the school for young women on Staten Island, N. Y., which Mrs. Schenley attended and from which she eloped with the captain. Mrs. Inglis was the mother of Mrs. McLeod.
