Saturday, July 4, 2015

On this Date in Minnesota history: July 4

July 4, 1897 - Seventy-three-year old widow Bridget Finnerty continues to refuse to allow St. Paul authorities to take away the body of her deceased daughter, Mrs. Katherine O’Conner, who died early Friday morning (July 2) of tuberculosis.

The intense heat over the last couple of days has caused rapid decomposition of the body, and a sickening odor now pervades Mrs. Finnerty’s home, as well as her neighborhood. No ice surrounds the still form in the plain pine box; no grave clothes shroud the lifeless body.

Notwithstanding the horrible condition of the body, and the complaints of her neighbors, Mrs. Finnerty refuses to have the body buried because she claims her daughter could not be given a Christian burial.

“I will put my child on a wheelbarrow and cart her through the streets to the cemetery myself,” the aged mother declares vehemently, “before she shall be taken away in that heartless manner.”

Mrs. Finnery was referring to the burial of her daughter by the county. O’Connor had been ill for nearly a year. The mother and daughter and the latter’s 13-year-old son lived in the dilapidated two-room cottage for several years. Mrs. Finnerty had no funds, and the county was called-upon to bury her daughter. Undertakers McCarthy & Donnally received an order for the body and went to the house yesterday afternoon to take it to the cemetery.

When the body was placed in the pine coffin, Mrs. Finnerty refused to allow it to be taken from the house. She desired the company of her dead daughter another day, and further insisted that some arrangements be made by which she could accompany the remains to the cemetery. After some argument, the undertaker left the house without the body, and it remained by an open window during the night. With no attention paid to the preservation of the corpse, decomposition soon set in, and the house became so offensive that no one but Mrs. Finnerty could go near the corpse. The neighbors complained to the police department, and Dr. Stone was notified of the condition of affairs, but up to tonight, the body has not been taken away.

Mrs. Finnerty declares the body of her daughter will not leave her house unless she can accompany it to the grave. She says she asked the undertaker to procure a carriage for this purpose, and that the request was refused. Mrs. E. E. Waldron, who lives next door to Mrs. Finnerty, says she tried to get assistance without success. The health department will probably take some action in the matter tomorrow.


The Saint Paul Globe; “Holds the Remains. Mrs. Bridget Finnerty Refuses to Allow the Burial of her Daughter. Died Early Friday Morning. The County Steps in to Look After the Interment for Her, But she Declines to Permit It Until Some Provision Has Been Made for Her to Attend the Funeral.”; July 05, 1897; p. 2.


Plain Pine Box Casket
http://www.naturescasket.com/Images/Unassembled3.jpg


               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com  




No comments:

Post a Comment