Hussey, Emily 1876-1931

HUSSEY, SPECHT, MILLER, SCOTHORN, MICKELSON

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 4/29/2016 at 08:28:37

Storm Lake Pilot Tribune - June 11, 1931 - The Storm Lake community was shocked, indeed, by the death Sunday evening of Mrs J.M. Hussey of east of Storm Lake. Death followed an accident at her home at 8 o'clock that morning when Mrs. Hussey fell from an upstairs porch, after her railing had given away. Her back was broken in the fall.

The accident, which terminated so tragically, happened in this way: Mr and Mrs Hussey went onto an upstairs porch at their farm home three miles east of Storm Lake to lower a bed to the ground below. They had lowered part of the bed and Mrs Carl Redman had carried part to the tenant house, while Mr Redman on the ground stood ready to receive the head of the bed when without warning the entire north railing of the porch gave way from the weight of Mr and Mrs Hussey leaning over it.

Mrs Hussey was unable to gain her balance and fell, striking on her head, in a position like a ball, so that her back was broken at about the level of the lower border of the shoulder blades. Mr Hussey when he saw he would be unable to prevent his wife's fall, jumped after her, as he lost his balance in trying to save her. He alighted on his feet, slightly injuring them. It was about a 12 foot drop to the ground. The length of railing that fell was about 20 feet, and included three posts. The accident happened at 8 o'clock Sunday morning.

Mrs Hussey was immediately carried into the house as gently as possible and Drs Smith and Porath were called. Later Dr Arch R O'Donoghue, bone specialist of Sioux City, was summoned and he arrived at 1:15 p.m. bringing a trained nurse.

Miss Alice Hussey was the only immediate member of the family at home besides her parents when the accident happened, as Miss Pearl, another daughter, was visiting her sister, Mrs Harold Miller, in Waterloo. It was apparent from the first that Mrs Hussey's back was broken and that she only had one chance in many to live. She was, of course, paralyzed from the point of injury down. Her head was also bruised. She was very brave and calm, attempting to comfort her stricken family and told them that if she should be called to go, it was alright and they were not to worry.

Mrs Hussey was conscious until the last. The end came Sunday evening. Her husband and all her children, except her son, Earl, were at her bedside. Also with her at the last were her sister, Mrs John Scothorn, her son-in-law, Harold Miller, and her only grandchild, Richard Miller.

Earlier in the evening she had said to her grandson, "Hello, Dicky. My, you are such a sweet boy."

The fact that Mrs Hussey remained conscious and conversed with her family in her usual pleasant way will be an unending source of comfort to them. Only the weekend before, from Saturday evening until Tuesday morning, Mrs Harold Miller and son, Richard, were here from Waterloo on a visit with her parents and were accompanied back to Waterloo by Miss Pearl Hussey.

Emily Specht, daughter of George and Zelma Specht, was born July 6, 1876 at Naperville, IL and died Sunday evening June 7, 1931, aged 54 years, 11 months, and 1 day.

At the age of 3 years, she moved with her parents to Early, Iowa. Here she received her education in the Sac county schools.

February 21, 1900 she was united in marriage to John M Hussey at Early. To this union four children were born: Nellie, now Mrs H.F. Miller; Earl C, Pearl B, and Alice P, all of whom survive her.

Mr and Mrs Hussey lived at Early for 13 years after their marriage. They moved to their farm near Storm Lake in 1913. In 1920 they moved to town and resided there four years, after which they again came to their beautiful country home, Buena Lawn, where the family now resides.

One year and one week before Mrs Hussey's death, her aged mother passed on and the aged father, a year and one half before that. One fine trait of Mrs Hussey's character was brought out in the loving care she gave her parents, assisted by her sisters.

She leaves to mourn her death, besides her devoted husband her children: Mrs Harold P Miller of Waterloo; Earl C of Los Angeles, CA; Pearl B and Alice at home; one grandson Richard Miller; two sisters: Mrs John Scothorn of Early and Mrs Frank Mickelson of Regan, ND; one brother, Charles Specht of Colman, SD; and other relatives and a host of friends.

Earl and his wife are expected to arrive tomorrow (Wednesday) from Los Angeles. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon. Interment will be in the Storm Lake cemetery.