Dr. E. M. Slocum (died 1909)

SLOCUM

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/19/2015 at 15:14:32

Carroll Sentinel, Tuesday, July 13, 1909

FOUND DEAD.

Wednesday Sheriff Hamilton and Coroner Kessler were called to Glidden to hold an inquest on the remains of E. M. Slocum, who was found dead at his home by neighbors. Mr. Slocum owned about 100 acres of land about seven miles north and one mile east of Glidden and had built him a shack of a home near North Coon river. Here he made his home and lived all to himself. Six or seven years ago he came to this county and lived a sort of a hermit’s life. But little was known of him for he had but little intercourse with his fellowmen. He had the appearance of culture and refinement about his person but his house inside was anything but such as his personal appearance would indicate. He lived very poorly, it is said, his diet being mainly composed of cheese and crackers. There was nothing on the place to indicate thrift or an attempt to make anything out of the farm or by raising stock. The only living thing on the place after the old man died was a hen and four little chickens.

It is thought that the hermit was a dentist by profession and had earlier in life followed it as a trade. A number of dental tools were still in his possession. He had two gold watches, a gold ring and about $16 in money. In a memorandum the name of a brother George of Potomac, Mont. and the address of a daughter. There were also letters from his daughter and from a niece in which he was urged to come and make his home with them.

The verdict of the coroner’s jury was that he came to his death from heart failure. Telegrams were sent to his relatives notifying them of the death. The remains were taken in charge by Undertaker Eaton of Glidden.

The Glidden Graphic in giving an account of the death of Mr. Slocum says:

Dr. E. M. Slocum died Wednesday morning at his home six miles north of Glidden. His death was due to heart failure, so pronounced the corner’s jury after holding an inquest Wednesday afternoon.

For some days past the doctor had not been feeling well, but he continued to move around and on Saturday walked over to the mail route at Walter Fobes’ place to mail a letter. While there he complained of not feeling well and the neighbors felt somewhat concerned about him. Wednesday morning, therefore, Walter Fobes and Mr. Willison thought it prudent to go over and see how the old gentleman was getting along. They found him dead, lying on his couch. Something over a week before he had been at the home of Mr. Willison and when he departed to go home was not able to reach it. Mr. Willison had been watching him and went to his assistance. He found him suffering with what seemed a heart trouble but after a time he improved somewhat and was again able to get around.

Concerning the relatives of this man we know but little. He was related to the General Slocum of the Civil War. He was a member of a distinguished family and prided himself much on the worth and merit of his relatives. And he tried to be one worthy among them. What led to his later mode of living, we know not. The most that can be said in this connection is that he drifted into ways impractical and to the normal average opinion of men, unreasonable. But the ways of men passeth understanding. He has now passed the great divide. As we go to press, the mortal remains lie in Mr. Eaton’s undertaking establishment awaiting direction from relatives, who have been communicated with and who will doubtless claim the body and see that it is properly interred.