Regarding the death of his brother-in-law, Joseph Greatbatch. Transcription: have no doubt it was the Fever and Ague which is the invariable accompaniment of breaking up new land, and which renders this cursed country not fit for a civilized man to live in.) They gave quinine and other medicines. [Joseph] Greatbatch lingered for two weeks, sometimes being delerious, sometimes sensible. He would say he felt no pain and wonder why the doctor kept him in bed. Mary Anne [Greatbatch] was removed to a lower room, relapsed, took quinine, was delirious, yet, at times was able to attend her husband. A
Regarding the death of his brother-in-law, Joseph Greatbatch. Transcription: have no doubt it was the Fever and Ague which is the invariable accompaniment of breaking up new land, and which renders this cursed country not fit for a civilized man to live in.) They gave quinine and other medicines. [Joseph] Greatbatch lingered for two weeks, sometimes being delerious, sometimes sensible. He would say he felt no pain and wonder why the doctor kept him in bed. Mary Anne [Greatbatch] was removed to a lower room, relapsed, took quinine, was delirious, yet, at times was able to attend her husband. At length the crisis approached ? to terminate fatally. They had bathed him in whiskey and vinegar. He was sensible and died apparently without pain. ?ǣI asked him if he was better ? says poor Mary Anne. ?ǣHe said he supposed so. ? She, a neighbor, (a woman), the boys [Fred and Edward Greatbatch], and another neighbor (accidentally passing with a load of hay) were present. He died without a struggle, no motion indicating pain. ?ǣSo ends, ? she writes ?ǣthe short career of my poor, dear, kind faithful husband; ? here am I a widow, my poor boys fatherless in the far West, to struggle with our difficulties. ? It is sad, very sad news. I am shocked and grieved at it. Until towards the conclusion of the letter I entertained no other apprehension than that the family had passed through some severe experience of sickness and suffering, happily ending in recovery. He ? striving and patient and uncomplainingly industrious (in spite of the undeserved hard fortune which beset him all his life long ? to die thus, when, humanly speaking, he had earned such a right to a prosperous and tranquil future. It is sorrowful enough to make the hopefullest doubtful whether existence does not contain more of misery than happiness. I am sure that poor Mary Anne ?s fortu- Title: Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries: Volume 8, page 235, September 30, 1857 . 30 September 1857. Gunn, Thomas Butler, 1826-1903
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