Lost a very good friend yesterday–literally passed in her sleep at the age of 43 😦

Beer seems too frivolous right now so let’s just take a short look at the past:

• Signal of Liberty, June 10, 1844 – Died: Ann Eliza Hixson aged 18 years, 10 months, 20 days. Her parents were among the first to immigrate into our part of the state, arriving in 1826 with the infant Ann. She died from a “painful and protracted illness.”
• Michigan Argus, June 10, 1864 – Died: Lottie Hartwell, aged one year, one month and fourteen days, died of diphtheria. The two sons in the family passed away of the same disease in April and the father is fighting in the Civil War. Mother Theresa Hartwell is left alone.
• Ann Arbor Argus, June 10, 1892 – Died: Patrick Toban, aged 81, died of paralysis at the county house. [ed. note. I would guess this was the county poor house, located where the Washtenaw Rec Center now stands]
• Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat, June 9, 1899 – Died: John Ellse, formerly of Ann Arbor and then residing in Detroit, passed away and left behind a wife and six children.

Post Script ~

On perhaps a happier note, I’m helping some new friends with the Storytellers Project! Check out the great article at the link above.