From a 1901 Cattaruaugus County Newspaper:

EXTRACTED THE BULLET


John Lovewell of Griggs Corners, Ohio, who is now eighty-two years of are, a former resident of Ellicottville and vicinity, was a member of Co. A, 188th New York Volunteers., during the war of the rebellion. In a charge of the rebel breastworks at Hatcher's Run, near Richmond, Va., October 27th, 1864, he was struck by a bullet between but an inch and a half above his eyes. He was taken to the hospital and when he recovered conciousness the surgeon told him he had taken the ball out, but the wound never healded and he has been a constant sufferer. For more than a year at a time he has been obliged to sit up, and was also obliged to have his head well elevated at other times. Some years ago the examining surgeon probed the wound and found something, either the bullet or a piece of bone, but could not extract it, and at different times pieces of bone have come from the wound. Of late the pain has been almost beyond endurance, and on September 9th, 1901, Mr. Lovewell took a pair of nippers and worked them himself into the wound and extracted the ball, which had been there thirty-six years, ten months, and twelve days. He is greatly relieved, almost free from pain, and seems to be in a fair way to recover. We take the above facts from a newspaper sent up from Mr. Lovewell's home. His many friends here will be pleased to learn of his relief.

The above text was accompanied by a photograph of a locket containing a small wartime image of Mr. Lovewell, as well as the bullet encased as a souvenier.


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