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MRS. JOE PERSON DIES SUDDENLY
Succumbs to Stroke of Apoplexy in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
REMARKABLE WOMAN.
Had Left Charlotte Last Saturday for Two Months’ Visit to California and
Alaska.
Mrs. Joe Person, inventor of “Mrs. Joe Person’s Remedy,” and one of North
Carolina’s best-known and most respected women, died suddenly of apoplexy
yesterday in Santa Fe, New Mexico, while en route for a visit to
California and Alaska.
A telegram announcing this unexpected occurrence was received at 4 o’clock
yesterday afternoon by Mrs. Person’s son, Mr. Rufus M. Person, who lives
on his farm near this city.
Mrs. Person left Charlotte last Saturday for this Western trip and was
joined at Hickory by her sister, Mrs. J. B. Beard, who was with her at the
last and who sent the telegram announcing her death.
The news of her passing will come as a shock to Mrs. Person’s thousands of
friends throughout the State. She would have been 73 years old on July 8
but had seemed to be in accustomed health, active, vigorous, interested in
everything about her. Members of her family knew, however, that for three
of four months her health had been somewhat precarious, and it was hoped
that travel would prove beneficial. Evidently it proved, however, too
great a tax on her strength.
Mrs. Person had made two previous tours of the West and was enthusiastic
about its beauty and its climate. It was her custom from various points
along the route to send postcards to The Observer, giving her impressions
of the country. On her return each time she brought hundreds of souvenirs
for her friends in this State. She was especially delighted by the
petrified forests.
Mrs. Person was a native of Petersburg, Va. Her maiden name was Miss Alice
Morgan, daughter of Samuel and Esther Morgan. She was married at the early
age of 17 in 1857 to Joseph Arrington Person of Franklinton, Franklin
County, this State. They went at once to Franklinton where they lived
until the death of Mr. Person in 1883.
INVENTED FAMOUS REMEDY.
Forty-seven years ago Mrs. Person invented “Mrs. Joe Person’s Remedy” and
from that time to this her name has been a household word in tens of
thousands of families, her invention enjoying a greater popularity than
any other proprietary medicine ever marketed in North Carolina. The
business under the direct personal supervision of Mrs. Person, who
represented it on the road, prospered marvelously and she accumulated a
comfortable fortune. The plant was located in Charlotte 30 years ago and
Col. Charles R. Jones was a partner. It was then moved to Tarboro where it
remained three or four years, and then was moved to Kittrell. Ten years ago
she returned to Charlotte and had since resided here. Three years ago the
business was sold to outsiders under the name of the Mrs. Joe Person’s
Remedy Company and the plant is now located at Kittrell.
Mrs. Person was a gifted pianist and once had the distinction of playing
Southern airs for a phonograph company in the North. Years ago she
published a volume entitled, “Old-Time Melodies.”
Mrs. Person is survived by her sister, Mrs. Beard, a brother, Mr. Albert
Morgan of Murphy, and by the following children: Mrs. W. H. Harris of Wake
Forest, Mr. Wiley M. Person of Louisburg, Miss Josie Person of Hickory, Mr.
R. M. Person of this vicinity and Mr. Willie M. Person of Corey, Ala. All
of these are expected to attend the funeral which will be held in this
city. Several days will be required for the trip from New Mexico.
STRONG PERSONALITY.
Mrs. Person was an Episcopalian in faith, though not affiliated with any
Church. She was in some respects one of the State’s most remarkable women.
In executive ability, in energy, in courage, in buoyancy of spirit she had
few equals. She was a woman of broad views and generous impulses and
always a leader in good works. She was the first contributor in this State
to the fund for the women’s monument to the Titanic dead, a characteristic
act. She was a woman of unusual versatility and the passing of the years
detracted no whit from her keen and lively interest in public affairs. She
thought for herself and maintained her opinions and in any situation in
which she was concerned, her personality was a factor to be reckoned with.
For all these reasons, the death of Mrs. Joe Person removes from North
Carolina a woman of peculiar force, whose like may not be seen again.
