Death Letter for Christopher Columbus Eli Tilford Todd Dorsey

File submitted for USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County page by Patricia SummersSmith, 1 August 1998. Link change or update: 4 Dec 1999

Death Letter for Christopher Columbus"Lum" Eli Tilford Todd Dorsey
Original black-edged letter in the family archives of Patricia SummersSmith, 1998.

[Postmark city and date unreadable.]
[A 2-cent stamp is affixed to the envelope]

[Addressed to:] Mr. Ivan Dorsey
Windfield Missouri

Delano Cal
Sept. 8, 1914

Dear Brother Ivin: --

I know you will be surprised to hear of Lum's death. He died this a.m. about 6 o'clock.

He was taken sick last Sunday about 10 a.m. and while throwing up heard something burst inside. This bile spread all over his body poisoning his entire system. He was in agony from then on. He suffered the hardest of any one I have ever seen. He certainly had a strong constitution to stand it as long as he did for he certainly fought hard for his life.

The funeral is going to be tomorrow at 10 a.m. We have a nice casket and have some lovely flowers ordered.

The two little boys can hardly get over it; especially the oldest one. He sure does take it hard.

We are all well. Jessie's baby is getting big and fat.

Well Dick has just returned from the mountains and is feeling fine.

As I have several more letters to write I will close. Love to all. Hoping to hear from you soon. As ever

Jennie

Contributor's Note: Christopher Columbus Eli Tilford Todd DORSEY, known as "Lum," was born 11 December 1853 in Lincoln County, Missouri, where he was raised. He was a son of Richard C. and Lee Ellen (HILTON) DORSEY, and the first child born to them after they left Hardin County, Kentucky and arrived in Lincoln County, Missouri in 1851.

The addressee of the letter, Ivan/Ivin DORSEY, was a brother to "Lum." The signer of the letter would have been Jennie (PARKER) DORSEY, "Lum's" wife, who refers to her husband's brother as "brother." The "Jessie" referenced in the letter was most likely his son Jesse.

File submitted for USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County page by Patricia SummersSmith, 1 August 1998.

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