Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-31
THE LITTLE MOTHER.
Death of Minnie Warren, Major New
ellis Wife, and General Tom
Thumbs Sister-in-Law-
A sad Fate.
Youngest and Prettiesr of Mr.. Bar
NUNS Dwarfs-COmm0dO Nuts
Attentions to LaVinia, and
Afterward to Her
sister.

New York Sun: Minnie Warren, the
youngest, brightest and prettiest of Mr.. Bar
num- s dwarfs, died in Middleboro, Massachu
sets, on Tuesday, evening, In childbed. She
was the youngest OF family OF eight chill
dren, all of whom except herself and her SIS
ter Lavinia, now Mrs. Tom Thumb, were of
ordinary size. When Minnie was eleven
years of age she joined the Tom Thumb
troupe, and for fifteen years she travelled
almost continually, visiting nearly all the CIV
ilized parts of the globe. She was forty
inches in hight, and never attained a weight
to exceed forty-hve pounds, being consldera-
bly, shorter and more slender than Mrs.
Thumb. She was twenty seven years of age
at the time of her death. To pretty face
she added pleasant disposition and winning
ways, and she became the fast favorite of
Mr.. Barnum, as we'll as of the public. When
Tom Thumb was married to Lavinia Warren
the general opinion was that Commodore
Mutt would take Minnie for his bride; but
the little commodore had set his affections on
Lavinia, and his little heart was blighted
when General Thumb won her from him.
Never mind, Commodore" the Joyial
Barnum said, Minnie Warren is better
match for you. She is younger than you,
while Lavinia is several years older.
THANK you sir" the commodore SAID,
stiffiy, Il would not marry the best woman
living. | don't believe in women any way"
Time lessened Commodore Nuts grief,
and he partly renewed his attentions to Miss
Jennie. But, after his first disappointment
in love, it is said he become fast young
man, and Minnie, like wise young lady, dis
couraged his addresses.
A few years ago Barnum found another
| Llliputian, Major Newell, who was rechrist-
ened General Grant, jr., and added to the
| Tom Thumb combination. The major was
| bright and intelligent, and he and Minnie
became great friends About a year ago
L taA nd ban iixy
together with General Thumb and wife in
| Middleboro. Their last tour together was in
| the western States, from which they recently
returned.
| When Mr., Barnum was in the city recent
| ly, he let out the secret, which had oeen
| closely kept 10y Minnle's family, but the
| memory of the spurious Thumb baby led
many to regard the story as Barnum hoax
\ But the New Haven women soon discovered
| the purchase of little bits of muslin, lace and
flannel by members of the Warren house
| hold, and secrecy became impossible. A lady
| friend, who visited the Warrens, described
| the little garments as "too comical for any
/ thing" Doll patterns were used, and the
| little slips and wrappers were made one
| sixth of the size of garments for ordinary
babies.
| Mrs. Newell is described as looking for
| ward to maternity. with great anticipations of
| happiness, and no misglyings. Her husband,
| uOWcfcis udu 4OEeOOui1SS, anu 6A-
/ pressed the greatest solicitude. Her death
was great shock to her family. The child
| died at birth. 1t weighed Ave pounds and
| ten ounces. Four hours later the mother
died from exhaustion.
Mrs. Newell's death caused deep sorrow in
| Middleboro, where she and her sister were
much loved. Much sympathy Is expressed
for Major Newell who is overwhelmed with
gref. Mrs. Newell is to be buried in Mid
| dleboro this afternoon.
The announcement of Mrs Newell's death
was received with many expressions of re-
greet by the members of the old museum
company In this city. Mr.. Barnum is now
| with his show In Indiana. His son-in-law,
Mr.. Hurd, who is full of "reminiscences of
the Lliputian family, is IN business in this
city, and is spending the summer at Mr. Bar
! NUNS home IN Bridgeport,
| A gentleman who was with Mr.. Barnum
for several years says that Major and Mrs.
| Newell were the smallest welded pair that
! ever lived. One smaller couple Is mentioned
by Marco Polo in his travels In Tartary. They
were each twenty-five years of age, and
| twelve and eleven inches in hight, respect
| lively. They were married by order of the
khan, and their fourth son was six feet two
inches in hight There are some doubts as
to the correctness of Polo's figures.
General Tom Thumb and wife have grown
corpulent IN the last few years, and neither
T appears 50 dimInutive as in their younger
days. The general has been wealthy, bit
has lived extravagantly and spent fortune
in yachting and other sports, and possesses
only moderate competence. He is forty-one
years Of age.