The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-07-05
An Eccentric Family.
Strange WHl-The TestatOr's Deay %
NOurfah an Elm.


In 1852 there died in Louisville, aged
ninety-five years, twin sisters, who
had come down from the Revolution
ary times, their father having been one
&the signers of the Declaration Of In
dependence, and they retaining TO the
close of their lives vivid recollections
of that stirring period. Elizabeth and
Sarah Hewes were born in Boston II
1867. The sisters had for each other d
most romantic attachment, which was
preserved throughout their lives. lt
made them inseparable. They never
slept for single night under different
roofs. Elizabeth remained single.
Sarah was twice married. but in choos-
ing male partners she aI eears to have
stipulated that the bond Between her
self and her maiden sister should not
be severed, and they never WERE The
women bore such close personal re-
semblance that they could scarcely be
distinguished from each other, except
by the most intimate friends. Elizabeth
Hewes died first. At her grave Sarah
sung one of the songs the sisters had
sung in duet since their early child
hood. Sarah followed in few months,
and then there was no one to slng>the
song. The grave cIosei over this un-
broken link of sisterly affection which
had been frightened by the shifting
sands of ninety-five years.
These sisters had remarkable intel
lects, which were exhibited in Ja,sny
acts and passages of their lives. and
there also seemed to- have been astrOng
tincture of eccentricity iii the family
blood. Sarah had several children,
among whom was = son, Sol. Hewes
Sanborn. A few months since, his
body was found on railroad in Mas
sachusetts, and it was not known
whether he was murdered or had been
killed by accident. After the death of
his wife, which occurred fifteen years
ago, he became n wanderer, and his
mother believed him dead. He was
seventy years of age, and left the fol-
lowing very singular will:
"SIsIPsON's HOTEL
MEDFORD, MASS, March 10, 1S7l.
"Some forty years since 1 assigned
my body, after death, to an institution
(the Hall of Science) in New York,
established under the auspices of
Frances Wright, one of the first
of 'wOman's rights in our
free and haFpy country
"That institution failed, and my car
cass reverted to its original owner, my
very humble self. L therefore have
disposed of my body thus:
"KNOw THYsELF."
SIN the name of the Omnipotent,
Omnipresent, Omniscient, of Science
and Common Sense. Amen.
"I, Sol. Hewes Sanborn (cosmopO-
lite), now sujourning mt Simpsons
Hotel, in Medford, Middlesex County,
State of Massachusetts,, do, by these
presents, will, devise, and bequeath
{ for the diffusion of anatomical know
ledge among mankind), my mortal
remains to Professor Louis Agassiz and
Oliver Wendell Holmes, of Harvard
University, OH the following con-
ditiOns:
"First-That my body be prepared
i'm the most scientific and skillful man.
ner known in anatomical art, and
placed in the Museum of Anatomy in
the aforesaid institution, or any other
public building the said Professor may
deem advisable.
''Second-It is my express desire Qf
with the usages of the
aforesaid university that two drum
heads shall be made of my skin, on one
of which shall be written in indelible
'Pope's Universal Prayer
and OH the other, The Declaration of
independence rs it originated i'll the
brain of its illustrious author, Thomas
jefferson; the said drumheads to be
presented to my distinguished friend
and fellow-citizen, Warren Simpson,
drummer, Cohasset, Norfolk County,
State of Massachusetts,, ON the follow
ing conditions: That he, the aforesaid
Warren Simpson, shall beat or cause
to be beaten on said drumheads the
National air of Yankee Doodle Mt the
base of the monument on Bnnker's
Hill, at sunrise on the 18th of June
Third-The viscera and other parts
Of my body unless for anatomical pur-
poses, wish composted for fertilizer,
to be used for the purpose of nourish-
ing the growth of an American elm To
be planted or set out on some rural
public thOrOughfare, that the weary
way yfaring man may rest, and innocent
children playfully sport beneath the
shadow of its umbrageous branches
luxurious by my carcass.
"SoL. HEwES SANBoRN."