The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-05-14
Further Particulars.

At the request oil the respectable ana
esteemed community Of Shakers at
South Union, we publish their account
of the residence Of DR.. John P. Holmes
with them, and the circumstances which
attended his withdrawal from their So
ciety. We add to their statement the
information which has come to us from
other sources, since the publication of
our last article in regard to the history
and fate of the unfortunate and venerable
old man. After his arrival in this coun.
try, he went to reside with gentleman
near Nashville, as previously stated,
where he remained four years. The
circumstances that led to his removal
from Nashville to Mississippi, are relat-
ed in letter from Col. Vance, an emin-
emit citizen of fernando, Mississippi, who
says, myself and wife made the &C
quaintance Of Doct. Holmes, by an acct
dent. Our carriage broke down near the
house where he was living, short dis
lance from Nashville, nine years ago last
fall. We were so captivated with his
unaffected frankness, heartiness, and
general intelligence, that without know
ing who he was, | gave him an urgent
invitation to visit US. / sent for him
and he came and staid two or thee
weeks, and all of US were delighted with
him. He finally concluded to remove to
our town, bag and baggage, aud said he
would stay with us until could locate
him in some good place in the country
He was paralyzed soon after he came
back to our house from Tennessee, and
was completely bed ridden for several
months.
Expecting to die, soon after he was at
tackled, he made his will, and bequeathed
to his physician his instruments-my
wife his elegant snuff box-and to me
the rest of his property. But he yer.
unexpectedly partially recovered, ant
expressing desire to spend the remain
der of his days in seclusion-as l knew
the Shakers at South Union, XVI ad
yised him to seek their projections; an
gave him letter to the leading men c
the communion. They received hin
kindly, and he wrote to us afterward:
that he was we'll pleased with his ne,
home. Knowing that the rules Of tn
communion forbid it's members to hol
correspondence with people in the world
did not write to him, and our CORES
pondence ceased. But the Shakers wer
in the habit Of paying US annual visit
iaiba distribution of their seeds, an
changed messages, congratulations an
good wishes. The Shakers who came
us always spoke in the highest terms
the Doctor, and their relations, as far as
could learn, were mutually pleasant.
knew members of the society we'll
had every confidence in their goodness
and was sure they would treat him kline
ly. l believe he regarded me as h
warmest friend, and was probably tryin
to make his way to our house when
died. We heard from Mr.. O'Riley tn:
ne was at Evansville, and we had resol'
cd to take care of him if he arrived, /;
long as he lived. We thank, in the nan
of God, the kind gentlemen who min
tered to him in his sickness, and paid
decent respect to his memory when dea
He was much beloved by us. He CAV
us but little information in regard to h
family. He received letters from sist,
IN England, while with us, but her nan
and residence I do not recolect. Il
grieved much over the loss of his ho
breed son George. Scarcely day pas.
ed but he would utter some words
sorrow over his fate. He was a gre,
blessing to our family, and was an il
strument in the hands of God, in rcstol
ing the health Of our son, now hear
boy. He fully compensated us for all v
did for him in his helplessness. We a
glad to know his end was peaceful, thou.
the manner of his death is sad and pail
full to his friends to hear"
shakers Account of the Homeless stra,
gers
JOHN p. HOLMES, NJ. D.
DIR. Holmes came to South Union abo
seven years since, in very helpless and d
pendent conditon-was advised to make
way here, by his excellent friend. Col Van,
of fernando, Miss, with whom he had be,
boarding; and to whom, of late, he W
greatly anxious to return. We received hi
kindly, though we viewed him as AN uncon
mon stranger; yet, he gave every assuranC
OF which he was capable, that he would cor
ply with every yirtuous or religious requir
ment that would be demanded of the me
humble yotary of our faith, although he h,
not a full understanding of us as a peop
further, than informed by his friend VanC
lie was at that time paralyzed in one he
side-dead, rs it were ia the same and ,