~Sleeping Beauty of Obion County, Tennessee~

Susan Godsey was known as "The Sleeping Beauty" of Obion County, Tennessee. Jonas Jutton, a newspaper correspondent and publisher in the 1890's who visited her home stated, "she deserved that appellation, for rarely have eyes of man rested upon more beautiful features than those of Miss Godsey." Her illness was due to an unknown medical condition which caused her to sleep most of the day and night, for almost 24 years after the onset. Susan, born in Gibson Co., Tenn, moved to Obion County, Tennessee with family at eight years of age, when her strange illness began.

She was known all over the United States by those who read of her mysterious sleeping disorder, which was published in several newspapers and reported by physicians. Those who examined and took an interest in her case included a medical examiner from Paris, France. Her strange illness begin with chills at eight years of age. When she was ten years of age, it was believed a medicinal concoction, called Wasson's Remedy, given by a Dr. Wasson, of Middle Tennessee, caused her sleeping condition. He was later reported to be a quack.

Jonas Jutton, who observed her condition, said "other physicians were called in, who declared that the medicines Wasson had given her were the cause of her peculiar malady." Two of the remedies were known by the medical community as, delphinium and sulfuric ether. It was reported Wasson gave her a dose of sulfuric acid, said to be enough to kill three men. However, Susan's body was such that the concoction did not kill her, but along with other drugs, threw her into a condition to which death would have been preferable, according to news reporter, Mr. Jutton.

She suffered uncontrollable convulsions when awake, which no medication could relieve, until she fell into a coma. Her Father, Lacy Godsey, was said to have plans to prosecute Wasson for malpractice. His plans never transpired, as Wasson fled back to the Middle Tennessee area, where he died shortly thereafter." Susan Godsey was examined and observed by a number of physicians and medical examiners, some who did not believe her illness, and others who verified her strange condition, but could offer no medical help or cure.

No physician could wake her from her deep sleep. When awake, she would suffer terrible convulsions, be extremely ill, and then minutes later, would fall back asleep. Although her family was said to be of little means, newspaper reports state they refused a proposition for $1,000 a week, made by P. T. Barnum, to exhibit their daughter in her peculiar malady. If accepted, the agreement would have allowed spectators to view her sleeping, which was referred to by medical examiners as being in a death like state, for most of her days.

Visitors were allowed to the Godsey home to observe Susan sleep, as well as behold her beauty, which gave her the title of "sleeping beauty." There was no charge made by her family to view her sleeping, although some visitors would leave coins, or other money, near her bedside. She was said to awake at the same time each day, usually for only seven to ten minutes, and then go back into a deep slumber.

She succumbed when in her thirties to the mysterious illness, after suffering almost twenty four years. Susan C. Godsey was laid to rest beside her mother. It was reported that watchers guarded her grave site, at Antioch Union Cemetery in Obion County, Tennessee, for several days after her burial; to prevent removal for possible scientific examination purposes.

Information compiled by Jo Ann (Phillips) Kelly from Hickman Courier, other newspapers and sources below.

Sources:
Census records 1860, 1870
Nashville Union
Chicago Tribune
Science Of Health-Vol. 4--pg. 33-34, Digitalized by Google Books
The Daily Eagle--clipping from The Nashville Union-4.-1873
The Hickman Courier-Nov. 1873
Death of Obion County's Sleeping Beauty, Susan Godsey, Chicago Daily Tribune, 7 Nov 1873, p. 7
Discovery Park of America Exhibit-Susan Godsey, Sleeping Beauty of Obion County, Tenn,, Exhibit,
Obion Co., Tenn.
20 Nov 1869 - DEATH OF THE SLEEPING WONDER. - Trove - National Library of Australia--National Library of Australia (.gov) › au › ...
Rebel C. Forrester-The Sleeping Beauty of Obion County-Lanzer's Printing

~Sleeping Beauty of Obion County, Tennessee~

Susan Godsey was known as "The Sleeping Beauty" of Obion County, Tennessee. Jonas Jutton, a newspaper correspondent and publisher in the 1890's who visited her home stated, "she deserved that appellation, for rarely have eyes of man rested upon more beautiful features than those of Miss Godsey." Her illness was due to an unknown medical condition which caused her to sleep most of the day and night, for almost 24 years after the onset. Susan, born in Gibson Co., Tenn, moved to Obion County, Tennessee with family at eight years of age, when her strange illness began.

She was known all over the United States by those who read of her mysterious sleeping disorder, which was published in several newspapers and reported by physicians. Those who examined and took an interest in her case included a medical examiner from Paris, France. Her strange illness begin with chills at eight years of age. When she was ten years of age, it was believed a medicinal concoction, called Wasson's Remedy, given by a Dr. Wasson, of Middle Tennessee, caused her sleeping condition. He was later reported to be a quack.

Jonas Jutton, who observed her condition, said "other physicians were called in, who declared that the medicines Wasson had given her were the cause of her peculiar malady." Two of the remedies were known by the medical community as, delphinium and sulfuric ether. It was reported Wasson gave her a dose of sulfuric acid, said to be enough to kill three men. However, Susan's body was such that the concoction did not kill her, but along with other drugs, threw her into a condition to which death would have been preferable, according to news reporter, Mr. Jutton.

She suffered uncontrollable convulsions when awake, which no medication could relieve, until she fell into a coma. Her Father, Lacy Godsey, was said to have plans to prosecute Wasson for malpractice. His plans never transpired, as Wasson fled back to the Middle Tennessee area, where he died shortly thereafter." Susan Godsey was examined and observed by a number of physicians and medical examiners, some who did not believe her illness, and others who verified her strange condition, but could offer no medical help or cure.

No physician could wake her from her deep sleep. When awake, she would suffer terrible convulsions, be extremely ill, and then minutes later, would fall back asleep. Although her family was said to be of little means, newspaper reports state they refused a proposition for $1,000 a week, made by P. T. Barnum, to exhibit their daughter in her peculiar malady. If accepted, the agreement would have allowed spectators to view her sleeping, which was referred to by medical examiners as being in a death like state, for most of her days.

Visitors were allowed to the Godsey home to observe Susan sleep, as well as behold her beauty, which gave her the title of "sleeping beauty." There was no charge made by her family to view her sleeping, although some visitors would leave coins, or other money, near her bedside. She was said to awake at the same time each day, usually for only seven to ten minutes, and then go back into a deep slumber.

She succumbed when in her thirties to the mysterious illness, after suffering almost twenty four years. Susan C. Godsey was laid to rest beside her mother. It was reported that watchers guarded her grave site, at Antioch Union Cemetery in Obion County, Tennessee, for several days after her burial; to prevent removal for possible scientific examination purposes.

Information compiled by Jo Ann (Phillips) Kelly from Hickman Courier, other newspapers and sources below.

Sources:
Census records 1860, 1870
Nashville Union
Chicago Tribune
Science Of Health-Vol. 4--pg. 33-34, Digitalized by Google Books
The Daily Eagle--clipping from The Nashville Union-4.-1873
The Hickman Courier-Nov. 1873
Death of Obion County's Sleeping Beauty, Susan Godsey, Chicago Daily Tribune, 7 Nov 1873, p. 7
Discovery Park of America Exhibit-Susan Godsey, Sleeping Beauty of Obion County, Tenn,, Exhibit,
Obion Co., Tenn.
20 Nov 1869 - DEATH OF THE SLEEPING WONDER. - Trove - National Library of Australia--National Library of Australia (.gov) › au › ...
Rebel C. Forrester-The Sleeping Beauty of Obion County-Lanzer's Printing