DIED OF HOMESICKNESS - MATTIE PERRY

From: "Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert" iggy29@scican.net
To: IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com
Subject: DIED OF HOMESICKNESS - MATTIE PERRY.
Date: Sunday, September 16, 2001 8:58 PM

Decatur County Journal
December l2, l907

W.H. FROST, of this city, received a letter last Saturday bringing the particulars of the sad death of a daughter of his son-in-law, J.M. PERRY, of near Elgin, Nebraska, and the pitiful condition of another daughter who went insane following the death of her sister.

The young woman, who died, formerly MATTIE PERRY, and her older sister, who is now mentally deranged, are children born to MR. PERRY and his first wife. MISS MATTIE had been keeping company with a young man in Elgin and they decided to elope and get married although we understand MR. PERRY had not objected very strongly to the young man. The young couple went to Red Lodge, Montana, and in a short time her father and sister received a letter from her in which she stated that she was very homesick. Her husband, realizing that her homesickness was ruining her health, took her to Butte, Montana, hoping that the sights there would put her in better spirits, but she continued growing worse and a physician was called. He announced she could live but a few days and her people were notified by telegraph. Her sister, MISS LAURA, accompanied by a cousin, hurried to Butte, but the young wife had died before their arrival. When the sister learned of the death, she became deranged and continues in that unfortunate condition.

The body was taken to Elgin, Nebraska, and the funeral postponed for one week while an effort was made to locate JAMES PERRY, a brother of the dead woman, who was finally found lying seriously ill in a hospital in Canada. He was unable to attend the funeral. The family is certainly unfortunate.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
September 16, 2001