Obituary for Sim Callaway (c.1851-1901)
Uncited clipping.
From the collection of Mary O. Walker Hutt.
Sim CALLAWAY died Wedsneday night of this week about 9 o'clock at the home of Robt.
ARCHER, a few miles from Troy, of morphine poisoning taken with the sucidal intent. Last
monday afternoon Dr. W.P. SMITH was called to see him and found him suffering from
morphine poisoning, but proper remedies soon relieved him from the effects of the dose. He
declared that he had taken arsenic about a week before and it had failed to do more than
make him slightly sick. He said that he would kill himself sooner or later and upbraided
the people for saving him from death. Wednesday morning about 3 o'clock it was found that
he had taken morphine and all efforts to arouse him failed.
He was about 50 years old and leaves three sons and one daughter. His remains were buried
at the Thornhill graveyard Thursday afternoon.
[Transcriber's note: This is an old obit. and I see that the Thornhill Cem has no listing
for him. In the past I've had calls about him. I believe his dau. also died of poisoning.
I went back to the Segrass genealogy to check dates. Mr Callaway was born
about 1851 & died 1901. I have no name of the paper, but feel it must be a Troy paper.
I do not find Grace, her dad Sim, nor the wife and mother listed in the Thornhill Cemetery
but I feel they are buried there with no headstones. -j.g.]
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His last Letter
J. S. CALLAWAY, whose suicide two weeks ago was caused by despondency over the recent
self-destruction of his daughter, left a letter to his friends and relatives, which the
latter have given us for publication. It covers several sheets of paper in a rambling
fashion, and stripped of repetitons is as follows:
To my friends one and all: I have written this to convince you that I was in my right
mind. I don't want you to think I was not. This has been the third time and it has been a
failure. I want you to have no funeral but prayer and singing. I want you to sing "On
The Happy Golden Shore" and "Never Say Good-by In Heaven." Think not of the
past but look forward to the future. Grieve not for those that are gone but do the best
you can for those that are left behind. Be true to God and live upright and honest before
all men. Live not for self alone. May God bless you all now and forever. Farewell to all.
I am going I hope to a better place. Don't want to stay here and be a burden on my friends
for I am not able to work.
Well, children, friends and relatives, I don't want you to think that any one had anything
to do with this, but myself. This is all my own work. I am tired of this world since
Gracey is gone, and I have nothing to live for, so I am going to another world. I haven't
aught against no man but one and I can't live in hand with him, so I will tell you all
good-by.
Cordy, God knows that you have been a good sister to me and I hope God will bless you and
your children. Don't let this bother you. The more I think of it the worse I get and I
can't stand it much longer. When you put me away on the hill try to forget the past. I
want to be buried in my blue striped shirt and the suit that I have in the grip. Brothers
and sisters and children and friends, may God bless you is my prayer now and forever.
amen.
File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by June Groshong, 15 November, 2002.
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