On Monday night last, Mrs. Doane, an old lady living with her son, Mr. Frank Peck, on the town line, about two and one half miles south of this place, was frozen to death. It seems that she arose from her bed sometime during the night and left the house. She was missed the next morning by the other members of the family and search was made about the premises. Failing to find her, Mr. Peck went to the residence of Mr. J. M. Park, a near neighbor, and the two continued the search. Finally, Mr. Park discovered her body in a fence corner back of Peck’s barn. It was seen, by tracks made in the snow, that she had tried to climb the fence in several places and no doubt she became exhausted and sank into the snow, unable to rise, and was frozen to death. She was without shoes, stockings or any wraps, or covering on her head. Justice Rice of Lamont impaneled a coroner’s jury, consisting of Benjamin, John and Fred Luther, Geo. Starks, J. M. Park and John Weatherwax, who rendered a verdict of accidental death caused by exposure and cold. Mrs. Doane was 63 years of age and had lived on the farm where she met her sad end upwards of forty years. Her mind was at times somewhat unbalanced, and it is thought this was the case at the time of her death. A year ago, last fall, she was found unconscious in the lane back of the barn, having wandered out of the house at night.

(Eliza Hunt Peck married War of 1812 veteran, Allen Doane, about 1863. They had one child, Frederick Doane, who died on April 18, 1877, after being kicked by a horse, according to Ottawa County Death Index.)