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Archiver > OHERIE > 2001-07 > 0995748567


From: "Richard P. or Nancy L. Gleason" <>
Subject: [OHERIE-L] Re: Selfe's on Kelleys Island
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 16:49:27 -0400


Carol:

Well, I don't want to retype the story without the author's permission,
so I will summarize it...it's a good one!

The Selfe family came to Kelley's Island from Pelee Island. Mr. and
Mrs. Selfe, along with their children Jennie and James had migrated from
England to Canada in the 1800's.
Shortly after their arrival Mr. Selfe fell ill and died. The family was
left destitute. The people of the island came to their assistance and a
house was provided to them on Long Point.
Elizabeth Selfe disappeared from her home on June 27, 1877. Her
children reported her missing, and provided an account of the night she
was last seen. She had made some comments to the effect that she did
not know what was about. She cooked them supper, complained of a pain
in the head and went to bed about 9:00. The daughter reported seeing a
man looking in the window, and her mother got up and closed the blind.
Later the daughter heard her mother screaming as she ran around the room
wrapped in a quilt, then lay on the floor between the beds and turned
out the lamp. She then heard her mother walk about the other room and
the door opened and shut. The son told the same story except that he
did not see the man at the window.
On July 9, 1877, a story appeared in the Sandusky Register that her body
had been found in the lake east of the Island. There were marks on her
body around her face and neck and rumors circulated that an island man
was involved, yet he was never questioned. People were not satisfied
with the JP's inquest and it was not determined if her death was an
accident, suicide or murder.

Nancy




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