Mervin Russell Lough 1899-1901

LOUGH

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/29/2010 at 22:01:39

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Lough at Watertown the 8th inst. (Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, April 13, 1899)

Christian Science Sacrifice
Estherville, May 7 – The funeral of the 2-year-old child of Lorenzo Lough was held Saturday. Up to within a week the child enjoyed good health but on Thursday [May 2, 1901] evening it expired while at the supper table, after only a few days illness with what medical science would probably have called pneumonia from symptoms learned from the father and near neighbors. The mother being a firm believer in Christian Science, refused all medical assistance and maintained that there was nothing the matter with the child, and even after the child was dead maintained that it was only sleeping from the unusual long sleep the powers of the local healers were called upon. This proving of no avail, a noted healer was summoned from Watertown, who arrived here Friday night after the child had been dead twenty-four hours. The mother dressed the child shortly before and remarked that it showed more signs of awakening than at any time before. On Saturday, the day of the funeral, she still maintained that it was not dead, but was sleeping. Much sympathy is expressed for the husband, who is a trainman and is away from home most of the time, and consequently left the care of the family to the mother, who with her family, hold these “peculiar” views. (Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, IA, May 7, 1901)

The many friends and acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Lough were grieved to learn of the death of their infant son, Mervin Russell Lough, aged two years, last Friday afternoon after a short illness. The funeral was held at the Lough residence on west Lincoln street Saturday. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, May 8, 1901)