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Joseph Merry ( - 1904)

MERRY

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 3/26/2018 at 09:30:02

The Osceola Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa
December 15, 1904, Page 3

From Island of Guam,

Cpat. Bisset's Letter Concerning the
Death of Joseph Merry.

Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Merry of Woodburn, received the following letter on the evening of December 6th, informing them of the sad news of the death of their son, Joseph Merry, a U. S. marine soldier in the Island of Guam. On the same mail came a cheerful letter written by their son previous to his being taken sick:

Marine Barracks, Naval Station}
Island of Guam, October 17, 1904}

Dear Madam: It is my very painful duty to inform you of the death on October 5th at 1.15 p.m. of your son, Joseph. He died at the naval sick quarters at this station in the fourth week of his sickness from fever called "febris interica". He was unconscious for several days before his death and it is to this that the surgeon in charge, Passed Assistant Surgeon J. L. Leys, U. S. Navy, attributes his not sending messages to his family. Among his effects, however, was a sealed letter addressed, Mrs. Millard Merry, Woodburn, Iowa, which I have caused to be posted. The remains were taken to the church on the morning of October 6th and both there and at the naval cemetery where your son was interred with full military honors. At 5.15 a. m. on Thursday, October 6th, the cottage moved from the naval hospital to the solemn and majestic music of Chopin's Funeral March. The funeral was attended by the Naval Governor and his wife, by officers of the station, and many comrades of this command by whom the deceased was held in high esteem.

The effects have been disposed of as recommended by a board of non-commissioned officers as indicated by paper enclosed. A box containing shells and a testament have been mailed to the following address, M. F. and N. J. Merry, Woodburn, Iowa.

The proceeds of the sale of effects can be procured by application to the Auditor of the Navy Department, Treasury Department, Washington, D.C. If you should desire the remains to be transported to the United States, request should be made to that effect upon the Assistant Secretary of the navy, Washington, D.C.

If I can be of any service to you in and way write me.

Very respectively,
H. O. Bisset,
Captain United States Marines Corps,
Commanding Marines.

P.S. The remains have been ordered to be transferred to his parents' M. F. and N. J. Merry, Woodburn, Clarke county, Iowa.


 

Clarke Obituaries maintained by Brenda White.
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