Emily McPherin (1840-1859)

MCPHERIN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/18/2013 at 06:44:48

Burlington Hawkeye, June 29, 1859, reprinted in the Dubuque Express and Herald, July 3, 1859

We were pained yesterday to learn of the suicide of an estimable young lady, Miss Emily McPherin. She was about 19 years of age, and an exemplary member of the Methodist Church. For the last three or four weeks she had been desponding and from the fact she made an unsuccessful effort to drown herself two weeks ago, was supposed to be of unsound mind and had been watched. Her friends thought it best to have her visit and it was the intention to send her to Pennsylvania next week, where it was hoped her malady would yield to contact with early scenes in the society of friends and relatives. In the meantime she was staying at the house of Mr. Bailey, on the North Public Square. About 9 o'clock yesterday morning she was observed upstairs sewing. Soon afterwards her body was found suspended by a strip of cotton cloth near the landing of the stairs. The body was yet warm, but life extinct. The verdict of the Coroner's Jury was in accordance with above. Four years ago an elder sister under similar circumstances committed suicide by shooting herself.