Margaret Tobin Brown page 15

 Margaret Tobin Brown page 15 by ric gustafson

A young man named Jack Landrigan fell in love with Margaret's half sister Mary Ann. He tried to convince her that big opportunities were in Colorado. In the fall of 1883, Jack, Mary Ann and Mary Ann's half brother Daniel took a train to Denver. From Denver, they took a train to Leadville. There, Jack opened a blacksmith shop. Jack and Mary Anne joined an Irish Catholic community in Leadville. Jack and Mary Anne eventually had 11 children. In late 1885, Daniel moved to Leadville. In spring 1886, Margaret moved to Leadville. Margaret would visit Hannibal many more times in her life.

Leadville Colorado was on the western slope of the Mosquito Range. The city was 10,152 feet above sea level. In the late 1870's, silver bearing lead ore or carbonate was refined and shipped back east for refining. By 1880, Leadville was the most important mining center in Colorado. In 1880, the Irish were the largest ethnic group in Leadville. In the spring of 1886, Margaret and her sister Helen arrived in Leadville Colorado. Margaret right away found a job in a boardinghouse. One myth about Margaret was that she became a saloon girl. She moved in with her brother Daniel. He was busy learning the mining business. Eventually, Margaret found a job with the May Company. She worked in the carpet and drapery department. 

research help: ' Molly Brown unraveling the myth' by Kristen Iversen

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric