Louis Bouchie died on this date in 1894. Laura was living in De Smet at the time; do you think she went to his funeral? Mr. Bouchie is buried in the De Smet cemetery next to his brother, Isaac.
For your reading enjoyment, here is what Louis Bouchie had to say about the death of his brother, Isaac. You know the story, right?
“I do not think that Mrs. Bouchie liked the deceased for several years. Have not heard her make any threats against him myself. She would stand up for Clarence whether he was right or wrong. I do not know whether she realized whether he was right or wrong. I had trouble with her when I was living at home. Her disposition was naturally cross and when things went wrong she made it disagreeable. If there was any dispute she stood up invariably for her own children. She did not govern her own children as she ought, if she had there would have been less trouble. She had some ill will towards the deceased but I do not know what it was. There has been trouble in the family between the husband and wife but I cannot tell what it was. I have not lived at home much for six years. I met the deceased July 2nd on the road and he brought me a book he had of mine. I asked him what was the matter with his face he says ‘Oh nothing!’ and kind of laughed. I says to him I guess you have been having a fuss up there. Then he said he had. I think I said who with. He said Clarence hit me with a bone. Then I insisted in his telling me how it happened and all about it. He did not want to tell me. He said they both pitched on him. He had been speaking of Clarance and Lib (Mrs. Bouchie) I mean them. I asked him how he commenced. I told him he was not to go back there if they could not treat him decent. I took him home. I quizzed him to tell me all about it. He said he came up with his horses to the stable from breaking and Clarence’s pony was tied in the stable door in some way so he could not get in with his horses. He waited and said to Clarence, ‘why don’t you take your horse out of the way or take him in and feed him?’ Clarance told him he was going after the cattle, he said you ought to have had him in and fed him instead of being tied to the post. Clarance gave some saucy reply and spoke of his sticking up for Lew and Lib, myself and wife. Then Clarence made some words and Isaac mocked him and turned it off that way when Clarance struck at him with a whip or strap he had in his hand. He hit him the first time. Then the deceased caught him as he struck at him again and pushed him against the manger. He said he did not hit Clarance, I asked him this in particular. Isaac said Clarence hollered and the first I knew mother was on top of me. I rose up and she grabbed the pitchfork to hit me. I took the fork away from her and stuck it in front of the manger. She then turned around and catched another one that was in the stable. When I saw it I jumped for and caught hold of it. I took that fork away and pushed her back against the manger and held her there. He said will you behave yourself or go away and let me alone. I asked him if he struck her. He said not then. Clarence struck me with the bone and she came at me again and then I struck right and left and got out of it… Clarence came here the evening before. I was outside and Clarence came in. I heard talk inside. My wife called me to come in and make Clarence behave himself. I told him if he could not behave to come out there. He was talking sassy. He called her a liar and she slapped him. I saw it and stepped up to them and stopped it and I told them to behave both of you. He went out and talked thro the window. Asked him to come in and sit down and urged him in. He was sassy but I did not care for it. He would not come in. Went out twice or three times to get him and come in and sit still and be quiet. He was sassing me and I told him to be still or I would spank him and send him home. I did not strike him. He staid outside growling, swearing and threatening as to what he would do. He went home. The next morning I was up by stable and saw a woman coming. It was Mrs. Bouchie. I was doing chores. Mrs. Bouchie and my wife were quarreling or jawing. I said what is the matter with you folks and talked to them and told them to set down and talk over any matters between them and not quarrel. Then I went out. I went in soon after and just then they both came out clinched. I sent my wife into the house and told Mrs. Bouchie to go home. They did so. They, the deceased and Mrs. Bouchie always had trouble. That is after – a sort of a fuss. I did not think he was in any danger by living there tho I had heard she had made threats against his life. About a week before she threw coffee in his face. He told me about it but not as bad as others who saw it told it. Some boys around the neighborhood told me that she said she would give him a dose that would put him out of the way. Isaac never said anything about it… Signed L.H. Bouchie” and edited by cyberbessie.
