Henry Carfac, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Henry Carfac
NEGLECTED VETERANS.
Sad Facts To Send Inquiring Friends Regarding Henry Carfac.
Will Hermit Blagg Meet the Same Fate?
Last week inquiry was made, asking for information regarding Henry Carfac. We find that he was the poor crippled man who lived at City West. From his neighbors wem learn that Carfac was an ex-union soldier, who died in his shanty at City West from starvation. He was the worst crippled-up man that ever appeared in this section. His body was drawn and twisted out of shape, and when he walked he did so with one arm leaning heavily on one knee. His disease was contracted in the army. Some time before he died, he was taken sick and sent to the Porter county poor house. Recovering, he came to City West and bought a small piece of land, two acres, I think, of Mr. Furness, promising to pay $25 fo it. Here he lived alone, but how, no one will ever know. He was unable to work, and his visible income was $4 a month, from the trustee. Some time before he died Mr. John T. Taylor, now of Guthrie, I. T., interested himself in the poor old man, and tried to get him a pension. He had a photographer take a picture of Carfac and sent it to the pension department together with good evidence supporting his claim. But while the wheels of that great institution were going round, poor Carfac died before his name was reached. So poor was he that when Assessor Coulter went to assess him he walked away without doing so. "Why, I wouldn't have given him twenty cents for his entire outfit," siad Coulter. An old man who lived next to Carfac, on being asked what ailed the old man, bluntly replied, "He didn't get enough to eat."
The old man has relatives in Ohio, who are now making inquiries about him. Their impression is that he was wealthy, owning farms near Chesterton and Valparaiso. The truth will rudely shock their expectations of inherited wealth, I fear.
Chesterton has another case in the person of George F. Blagg, the hermit, who lives near Baillytown. An effort is now being made to get from the government what is due this unfortunate man. He served in the 24th Massachusetts regiment, one noted for the care used in selecting men for its companies. Blagg passed the severest examination at the time he enlisted, and was successful. He was the son of a gentleman, and was well educated. But the injuries he received and scenes of horror he passed through affected his mind, and since the war he imagines that someone is after him to kill him. He was here a long time before notice was taken of him, and must have endured great hardships. Family friends made inquiry regarding him, and found his case a remarkable one. One strang part of it is that Blagg postively refuses to apply for a pension, and strenuously denies that his mind is affected. Steps are being taken to have a guardian appointed for him at the coming term of court, who will make application for a pension for Blagg, and if successful, will use the money to keep him in comfort for the rest of his days. Trustee Burstrom will like be appointed his guardian.
Newspaper: The Tribune
Date of Publication: August 29, 1889
Volume Number: 6
Issue Number: 20
Page: 1
Column(s): 4
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook