On a Sunday, a little girl was born to John C. Howard and Sarah Ann Pearl in Frederick, Maryland. Mary ("Mollie") was the second child and first daughter of the couple.

A one-month-old Mary Howard is enumerated in Creagerstown, Maryland with her brother (one-year old William T. Howard) and parents (23-year-old John Howard and 19-year-old Sarah Howard). Her father is currently employed as a laborer. The family is boarding in the household of 59-year-old Daniel Shafer, a shoemaker. Also boarding in the home is the family of 28-year-old Owen Dorsey, a butcher, and a 74-year-old Ann C. Hartzock.

By 1860, 9-year-old Mary was living with her family in Mechanicstown, Maryland. Her 33-year-old father, John Howard, was employed as a laborer. Her mother, Sarah, is enumerated as 29 years old. Also in the home are her siblings, Wiliam T. (11), Charles (8), Joseph (6), Samuel (4), Rosilla (2), and Cassandra (5 months).

Mollie married Michael Welsh, a Virginia civil war veteran and a stonemason and boatman from the area of Bakerton and Moler Crossroads. Michael was the son of Martin Welsh, an Irish stonemason from Lusmagh, Ireland. For a period before the couple's marriage, Mollie's father, Captain John Howard, was a superintendent at the Virginia Ore Bank in close proximity to where Michael lived with his Uncle Thomas Welsh. Thomas Welsh is known to have been employed periodically at the Virginia Ore Bank. This is likely how Mollie met Michael.

19 years old and newly married, Mollie was enumerated with her husband (28-year-old Michael Welsh) in the household of brothers William and Edward Reinhart at Moler Crossroads. Having served in the 12th VA Cavalry together and being close in age, Michael and William were likely friends. Michael was employed as a stone mason, while the Reinhart brothers farmed their family's farm.

On a Wednesday, Mollie and Michael's first child, John Martin, was born. John likely took the first name of Mollie's father and the first name of Michael's father. However, their son may have been named after Michael's uncle's son, John Martin. Thomas, Michael's Uncle, raised Michael after the death of his father, Martin.

On a Saturday, Michael and Mollie's second child was born. They named their son Thomas Howard Welsh. Their son was likely named after Michael's uncle, Thomas Buchanon Welsh, who raised Michael after the death of his father.

In 1880, 28-year-old Mollie and her husband, 34-year-old Michael, were enumerated in present day Bakerton near the Virginia Ore Bank and Flanagan's quarry. Michael worked as a laborer while Mollie kept house. Also enumerated in the household is the couple's two young sons, John Martin (10) and Thomas Howard (4). Next door is the widow of Michael's uncle, Annie Welsh.

According to her husband's obituary and city directories, Mollie and her family moved to Blair County two years prior to this census. This move was likely to follow both her father's work in iron ore and her husband's work within the railroad. By the year 1900, 49-year-old Mary is renting a home owned by railroad man George W. Jones on the outskirts of Hollidaysburg. Her 23-year-old son, Thomas Howard Welsh, resides with her and is working as a brickmaker. Michael is enumerated separately in a railroad workcamp in another county. Mary states that she is married, and has been married for 31 years.

Mollie lost her mother, Sarah Ann.

Mollie lost her father, John Howard.

In 1910, 59-year-old Mollie and 61-year-old Michael are enumerated in Hollidaysburg. The couple rents their home. Michael is working as a contractor on his own account. Living in their household is their youngest son, 32-year-old Thomas Howard Welsh. Thomas is currently employed as a brickmaker, noting that he was out of work for 40 weeks in 1909. Also enumerated in the home is the family of Charles Brown, a mail carrier, and the family of Fred McIntyre, a railroad man.

69-year-old Mollie is enumerated at 1010 Church St. in Hollidaysburg, PA with her husband and youngest son. Due to a work accident resulting in paralysis a few months prior, Mollie's husband, 73-year-old Michael, is currently unemployed. Mollie is working on her own account as a seamstress to help support her family. The couple's youngest son, 40-year-old Thomas Howard Welsh, is working as a laborer for the borough.

On a Saturday, Mollie lost her beloved husband due to his paralysis. The family laid him to rest on Tuesday, October 17 in Saint Mary's New Cemetery in Hollidaysburg.

79-year-old widowed Mollie is enumerated with her youngest son, Thomas Howard, at 1010 Church Street. Mollie was working as a seamstress on her own account to support herself and her son. Thomas is currently unemployed.

At 89-years-old, Mollie passed away at the Blair County Home at 2:11 in the morning. Her official cause of death is listed as arteriosclerosis and myocarditis with a date of onset of over 10 years. Doctor George Nichols was her attending physician.

Mollie was laid to rest on a Saturday at Green Lawn Cemetery in Blair County.