"Miss Ina Brewer, Dwarf, is Dead. Miss Ina Brewer died Tuesday afternoon at the home of her step-parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Brewer, on Fourth Street, death following an illness of some years. Funeral services were conducted at the home this morning at 9 o'clock by Rev. T.A. Groce and Rev. Turner Brown. Interment this afternoon at Pilgrim church, Alexander county.
Miss Brewer was a dwarf. 36 inches in height and her weight was said to have never exceeded 40 pounds. She was nearly 31 years old and was a native of Alexander county. She was an attraction exhibited by the Smith Shows and Jones' carnival througout the country.
She is survived by two brothers--S.P. Brewer and M.O. Brewer of Statesville--and one sister, Mrs. Annie Mayberry, of Hiddenite."
Two notes: John Preston Brewer, was Ina's natural father. Ina's natural mother, Sarah Catherine Potts Brewer, died two years after Ina's birth. John Preston Brewer then married Margaret Amelia Carson, and Ina become her step-daughter. Ina's death certificate indicates she died of "pellagra," which is a deficiency of vitamin B3 (niacin). The photo below is of Ina:
The next photo shows Ina with her niece, Anna Brewer (1902-1919), daughter of Shubert Pharis Brewer and Nannie E. Milsaps Brewer. We have indications that Anna also was a small person. In this photo, Ina appears to be later in life when she may have been suffering from the effects of pellegra.
3 comments:
Also let it be known that Mrs. ANNIE Mayberry should have been written as NANNIE Mayberry who was Nannie Kishma Brewer Mayberry (my great grandmother.)
Linda Gill Canada Larkin
Very good point, Linda.
We are still wondering if the gal on the left is family OR a friend at the carnival where Ina worked. There is debate as to who exactly she is.
Linda Larkin
Post a Comment