Today, not many Americans will recognize the name Nellie Bly when they hear it, but things were very different 100 years ago. It would be very difficult to find an American who had not heard of the famous Nellie Bly. Nellie Bly burst onto the scene at the turn of the century, when journalism was considered just a man's world. Nellie Bly helped launch a new kind of investigative journalism into the world. Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born May 5, 1864 in Cochran Mills, Pennsylvania. She was the thirteenth child in her family and was considered the most rebellious of the family. When Nellie was only six years old, her father suddenly died, leaving her mother to raise fifteen children. (Around the World in 72 Days). His father's death was a terrible financial blow to the family because his father left no will to protect the family's interests. A year after his death the family was forced to auction off the villa and move to a more modest house. Nellie helped her mother take care of the other children, but their times were still very difficult. (Around the World in 72 Days). Elizabeth's mother desperately sought financial security, so she remarried. She entered into a very disastrous marriage with a violent man. He often beat Elizabeth and her mother. Soon after the marriage began, he sued for divorce and Elizabeth testified at the trial. "My stepfather is generally drunk since he married my mother. He is very irritated when he is drunk and irritated when he is sober." (Around the World in 72 Days). Elizabeth soon sought an independent life and wanted a way to support her mother. He began attending Indiana Normal School to become a teacher. While attending school Elizabeth decided to add an "e" to her surname for the sake of sophistication. (Nellie Bly, Wikipedia). After one semester of school Elizabeth had to drop out because she didn't have enough money to continue her studies. Elizabeth then returned to Pittsburgh with her mother. She remained there for the next seven years, but had difficulty finding full-time work because only low-paid jobs were available to women at that time. (Nellie Bly, USA History).Elizabeth always dreamed of becoming a writer one day, but she didn't realize how close she was to realizing her long-held dream..