The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-28
DIED FROM HEART DISEASE.
The Sudden Death of Colonel John H. Ferry.
a Former Resident.

Colonel john H. Ferry, resident of this city
before the war, late of Jersey City, died very
suddenly at the Occidental Hotel yesterday morn
ing, under circumstances peculiarly distressing
He arrived in the city about u o'clock on Satur
day night, to visit his wife and mother, and ow
ing to the lateness of the hour went to the hotel
About o'clock yesterday morning his sonorous
breathing attracted the attention of the house
keeper who tried to awaken him by knocking at
the door. The attempt was unsuccessful, and
DR.. c. c. Sharp, who lives at the hotel, and sew
eral other gentlemen, were summoned DR..
Sharp looked through the transom, and at once
said, THAT man is dying of heart disease" A
bell-boy was put in the room over the door,
which he unlocked, and determined effort was
at once made to relieve the sufferer, but it was
unavailing Resuscitants were freely admins
tered, but Mr.. Ferry died about an hour later.
In the bureau were found his pocketbook and
letter addressed to his wife, and in addition to
this the discovery of bottle of NOR
phine in one of his pockets gave rise
to the belief that he had committed
suicide This theory. however was totally dis
PEELED by a knowledge of all the facts in the
case.
Colonel Ferry, as before mentioned, had come
here to visit his wife, Mrs A. E. Ferry, a highly
respected and talented lady who for two Years
past has had studio and art school in Fletcher
d Sharpes Block He had written her a letter
apprising her of his intention to come West, and
she had been expecting him, and had gone to the
depot several times to meet him. The letter.
which was found after his DEATH was of private
character, and contained nothing that would give
rise to the falntest suspicion that he tired of
living. When his condition was first ascertained
nobody thought of sending for any friends or
hat hn ifr,4 IN, he os41,
Mrs Ferry was not notified until it was too late,
and she reached her husbands side a few min
utes after he was dead To Journal reporter
she said that Mr.. Ferry had been a sufferer from
heart disease for thirty years, and he always ex-
pected that his death would come suddenly. His
father and a sister had dropped dead from the
same cause, the latter only about
a year ago. When travelling her
husband always carried letter giving directions
regarding the disposition of his body in the event
that anything should happen" He had recent
ly been abroad and she with him, but had re-
turned about two years ago and resumed the
practice of law in the East and it was his inten-
ton to remove to this city for permanent resi-
dence at no distant day. Mrs. Ferry was par
ticularly distressed at the fact that she was not
notified of her husbands condition in time to see
HIM before ne died
When questioned regarding the morphine, she
said that he had been accustomed to take little
of it whenever he was Suffering from an attack
of heart disease, and that he always carried the
drug with him; and this particular bottle. which
was found on his person, he had kept for twenty
years OF more
Colonel Ferry was fifty four years of age and
very corpulent weighing about $50 pounds. He
married in this city, Twenty-Five years ago, his
wife being the daughter of Thomas Beaseley of
Lebanon. AT the beginning of the war he raised
a company at Aurora, Ind, which became com
pany c. of the Seventh Indiana, he being the
captain. He was promoted successfully to the
positions of heutenant-colonel and colonel,
and was in General Dumont's brigade,
and On his staff during the greater part of the
rebellion. Al the close of the war he was brig
ade quartermaster under General Robert Allen,
at Louisville, after which he removed to Wash
ington and other Eastern cities, where he prac-
ticed law and engaged in other vocations. He
was at one time quite wealthy but lost his for
tune several years ago. He is well remembered
by the older residents of the city, and by them
is described as being a gentleman of intelligence,
amiability and force of character.
The remains were taken yesterday to the resi-
dence of Mr.. Ferrys mother and sisters, No 276
North Tennessee street, whence they will be
buried, but the arrangements for the funeral
have not yet been definitely decided upon.