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Details Surrounding David's Death
The letter David wrote to Hannah, dated 3 December 1874, is the only surviving example of his penmanship and writing style. He wrote it from the vicinity of Seneca Falls (Seneca Co) NY. Hannah and their youngest child
Pearl were 12 mites north in Clyde-(Wayne Co) NY at her parents' home. The two other children - Albert and Bertha - were at home with David.
David was farming on the north west slopes of Cayuga Lake and the family was living either on the farm itself or in a rental house nearby. Shortly after writing this letter, David collapsed in the field, a victim of pneumonia.
It is unknown who found him and cared for him or who notified Hannah to return immediately.
It appears that Hannah did not get home before David's death. The death date has yet to be substantiated by any official document but according to the notation at the bottom of this letter - assumed to be Hannah's writing -he died on December 7, 1874.
The list of expenses which is attached to this letter appears to have been written later by Hannah - probably as paper was scarce and expensive, she didn't wish to waste it.
Details regarding his funeral and burial are unknown as of this writing.
A notation in David's granddaughter Gracia Lillian Fero's papers reads:
"Aunt Bertha went to live with Aunt Jane at Jordan. Father (Albert) stayed at Bull's Grove and worked for a farmer - Bellows. Stayed a tittle more than a year, then went to Clyde and hired out there."
Written 16 April 2006 (MBFero)