St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-01
MARRIED SIX CRIPPLEs.
Mary Hotchkiss' Run of Husbands
Her Pr eference for Pensioned
Veterans.

tlh VI
Her Pr eference for Pensioned
Veterans.
| New York sun.
Mrs. Mlry C)Irs9n, now a widow
for the sixth time, buried her last hus-
band Thursday. In the fall of 1868
John Fellows returned to his home in
Sullivan county from the war of the
Rebellion. He was daShing young fell
low of twenty. one, but was minus leg.
He fell in love with Miss HotchkisS and
they were married. The bride was only
fifteen years of age at the time. The
husband got work as clerk in a gro
Gerry store, but wounds received during
the war put him on his death bed, and
two years after he was married he died.
The young widow mourned for eight
months and then married another sol
der named Jerry Shafer, who had Just
returned from Washington. Jerry got
Il pension shortly afterward, but he was
reckless and died little over year
after he had been married. The next
man who came to WOO the fair widow
was soldier also. His name was HeZe-
klah Farnham. He was a brickiayer
by occupation, but was prevented from
following his calling by reason of
missing leg. He was in receipt of a
good pension, and he and his wife lived
happily together until 1874, when he
was seized with typhoid fever and died,
leaving behind him three children.
The widow was still young and fairly
good looking, and after mourning her
third husband for a little over year
she married the fourth one in the per-
son of widOwer named John McCand-
less. Jack" was also a soldier, and
like the other husbands was wounded,
too. He was minus an arm and leg.
But ne had 4 good pension and he and
his wife lived comfortably. The veter-
an was seized with nflammatory rheu-
matism, however, due to the exposure
in the Southern sWamps, ana after ten
months suffering died. His last words
were: Il have lived ten months longer
than my time because my loving wife
has nursed me so tenderly." After the
fourth husband had passed away the
widow supported herself and children
on the pension paid her by the
government. But she could not resist
the attention of another veteran of the
war. His name was Joseph Kelcher.
He was also a cripple, and, like the
other husbands, was drawing good
pension. He had only one leg, and two
fingers from each hand were missing.
He was without occupation, but was
several terms. Kelcher and the widow
were married the Fourth of July, 1875
Their married life was happy one, but
1t was not a long one. Kelcher was
taken sick with consumption in 1855 and
died year later. Again the wife
proved faithful nurse, and the dying
veteran was loud in his praises of the
woman.
The widow said she would never
marry again, but she failed to keep her
promise. In the fall of 1897 John Cour-
sen, veteran and widower, with two
children. met the widow at tin we'd
ding, and was so Smitten that he pro-
posed marriage Few months later.
His offer was accepted, and Jan. Is,
1885, they were married. Coursen was
quite old and very homely. He lost an
eye at Gettsburg, but had all bis limbs.
The last marriage was not as happy as
the preceding CUES. The children
caused all the trouble. Coursen was a
good worker, being employed every day
in the woods by lumber company.
Two months ago he had to take to his
bed. He never got out again. Mrs.
COursehs said he acted just. like some of
her other husbands, His army wounds
troubled him."