The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-12-19
4 QUEER GID GT4N.

At the last meeting of the Pioneer Socie-
ty Sir. J. S. Tibbetts read the following
sketch giving the incidents i'll the life Of 4
Eiichigan man who, although in perfect
health, has kept his bed for nearly twenty
years:
Sir. Samuel Dunn emigrated from the
State Of New York to Michigan III 1882,
and settled in the township oi Plymouth
Wayne county three miles west of the viii
lace of Plymouth, where he resided until
his death. which occurred IN the month Of
Nav. 1873 He was born in the year 1892,
and was therefore 81 years of age at the
time of his death. He served in the war
of 1912, was honorably discharged, and
pension was granted him by the General
Government about year before his death,
not cent Of which, however, did he or
any of his family receive.
Nothing very unusual in his life occurred
during the first twenty years of his resi-
GenCe here. lie WAS / man of iutemPer-
ate habits, and nearly every week would
go to tho village and have a spree. At
such times he was very NOISY, but not
UuaIrelsOme. The writer OF this sketch
has frequently heald him call out at the
dead of night for scme one to come and
block the wheel while he was ascending
n steep hill on his way home. On going
out Mr.. Dunn would be tound standing
midway up the hill, stamping and trcading
like bdlky horse, calling out loudly for
some one to come and block the wheel"
After making two or three attempts to as
cend the hill he would look down to the
foot Of it and take another start. After
two or three attempts of this kind he
would finally reach the sop, when he would
want to bet ''two-and- six that he could
yell louder and jump higher than any
other man in the community"
He had in his woods very large hollow
tree, and here he was in the habit of going
when he had his spreos, to hold what he
called his camp me ting At such times
tie woods would Tesourd with his devo-
tions, which were characterized more by
zeal than for piety.
After an unusual Weakening in this hel-
low tree one day, he went to tho house,
took down the bottle from the shelf, took
a horn" and then made solemn vow
that he would ne er touch auUtI er drop cf
ardent spirits while he lived, or utter an
other oath. And he rehgjously kept hs
vow, for he Immediately went 10 bed and
lay there for nineteen years and nine
months.
During all this long time he was never
known to have his clothes on or to walk a
step. st first, for n number of years lie
was very taciturn, and would not converse
WIFI any one, aIll NucuGFSI persons
preached his bed he would turn his head
away from them. During the latter period
Of his life he would converse with mem
bers of the family sufficiently to make his
wants known, which were few and easily
supplied.
He seemingly enjoyed the best of health
during all this time, never took any medi-
cine but once, and then only some simple
remedy. His appetite was good, and he
t,Ul ty me- ls Is
dinner, but no supper. He preferred
hearty food, and relshed pork, potatoes
and green's, baked beans and meat. He
drank tea and coffee regularly, but moth
ing stronger. He slept soundly from ten
to twelve hours out of the twenty four.
Never but once did he express a wish to
have his clothes on and go out. One dav
the family were all absent except a little
grandson. He expressed a wish to this
little boy that he might have his clothes
on and go down to the hollow tree where
he held his last devotions but the little
fellow could not find his pants, and so an
opportunity WAS lost of testing his ability
to walk.
His memory was remarkable, aud his
intellect remained unimpaired to the last
He manifested some interest in passing
events, and would occasionally ask infoT-
nation respecting them. Hearing the
clatter of moving machine one day he
was very anxious to know what it was.
He had never heard a word about such
a machine, SO he got his daugLter-in-law
to put him in chair and wheel bim to
the door so that he could see it work.
His food was carried to him. placed on
stand near his bed, and then he was left to
himself, as he would never partake of his
food while any one was present. After a
short time the food would be gone, and
he would be found shugIy in bed. lie
never missed two meals a day until lust
before he died, and he could not be Der-
suaded to eat third. His daughter-in-
law took the sole care of him during the
last sixteen years of his life, shaving him,
washing him, and preparing his food for
him-a rare Instance, Indeed, of iilial af-
feCtion and devotion.
No disease attacked him to terminate
his mortal career. He simply lived on.
the lamp of life growing DINNER and dim
Tner, until finally it went out altogether.
lie was not very much emaciated. but re-
tanned to the last his usual bodily propor-
tons, which were always very spare lie
was twice married, and survived his last
consUrt some twelve OF fifteen years.
History, probably does not furnish a
parallel instance OF one whose early life
was so active, So fun of stirring, exciting
scenes, and whose after life was such an
utter void and blank.