From 1898...
"This morning she was very stiff and sore. The outcome of the matter is not regarded with enthusiasm. Mrs. ____ is 73 years old and exceedingly stout, weighing about 250 pounds."
The accident is not amusing, but the newspaper description, well, that is another matter. I love the 'not regarded with enthusiasm' statement. I'm not so sure I like the inclusion of her weight! That would be distressing on top of the pain of the accident.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
You just never know....
I found a Bisbee family in Nebraska when researching a different branch of the family in the area. Something struck me at the time so I added the family to my database as no relation.
I recently learned I could access obituaries online through the Wichita Public Library. While searching for a Bisbee, I found a granddaughter's obit in the Wichita Eagle for the family listed above. Interesting. So I did a little searching again to see if I could connect her family to mine.
Bingo! She is a 6th cousin 1x removed. Nice to meet you Irene!
I recently learned I could access obituaries online through the Wichita Public Library. While searching for a Bisbee, I found a granddaughter's obit in the Wichita Eagle for the family listed above. Interesting. So I did a little searching again to see if I could connect her family to mine.
Bingo! She is a 6th cousin 1x removed. Nice to meet you Irene!
Dorthea
Dorthea is a third cousin 1x removed. Here is part of her story...the only part I know.
She was born about 1943 in Kansas as an only child. During her lifetime she was regarded as retarded. She was described as a happy person.
After her parents died she lived in a facility for mentally ill adults until the State of Kansas became aware of her situation. She was moved to a group home for mentally disabled adults where she attended events such as concerts at the Wichita River Festival.
She hadn't been at the new group home long when she decided to take a bath before retiring to bed. The group leader had no idea her diabetes had damaged her nerves so badly she could not feel the pain of hot water.
She took her bath.
When she walked back to her room the group leader saw her severely red feet under her robe.
Dorthea scalded herself in the tub. She was rushed to a burn unit where she died two weeks later.
She was born about 1943 in Kansas as an only child. During her lifetime she was regarded as retarded. She was described as a happy person.
After her parents died she lived in a facility for mentally ill adults until the State of Kansas became aware of her situation. She was moved to a group home for mentally disabled adults where she attended events such as concerts at the Wichita River Festival.
She hadn't been at the new group home long when she decided to take a bath before retiring to bed. The group leader had no idea her diabetes had damaged her nerves so badly she could not feel the pain of hot water.
She took her bath.
When she walked back to her room the group leader saw her severely red feet under her robe.
Dorthea scalded herself in the tub. She was rushed to a burn unit where she died two weeks later.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Death by Drowning - Caisson Collapse
Allan, a young man of 24, was working as a laborer on a caisson in Port Stanley, Canada when suddenly the structure gave way trapping workers under water. Allan, was one of the unfortunate ones trapped and ultimately drowned.
I first learned of the cause of his death on his death certificate.
As I was unfamiliar with the word caisson, I googled it. Then I added Port Stanley to it and finally found newspaper articles about the tragedy.
Too add to the horror of it all, I discovered Allan's dad was also a victim.
Allan's mother died earlier the same year at the age of 49 leaving six children.
The next to the youngest child would have been about 14 years old when he lost three of his family members in 1937.
I first learned of the cause of his death on his death certificate.
As I was unfamiliar with the word caisson, I googled it. Then I added Port Stanley to it and finally found newspaper articles about the tragedy.
Too add to the horror of it all, I discovered Allan's dad was also a victim.
Allan's mother died earlier the same year at the age of 49 leaving six children.
The next to the youngest child would have been about 14 years old when he lost three of his family members in 1937.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Partner in 1940
What does this mean? I thought maybe they were partners in business but one woman works as clerical help in a bank supply business while the other repairs jewelry beads. Wouldn't it be gutsy to declare yourselves as partners in 1940?
Having a marital type relationship with someone of the same sex is still a bit of a scandal (for lack of a better word) in this day and age even though rights to marry someone of the same sex are slowly increasing. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone in 1940. I suppose living in LA would be better than small town USA.
Do I put the partner listed on the 1940 census into my database? If in fact the woman is the relative's life partner, I want her recognized. If the word partner means something else, then she doesn't belong in the database. As this can be a delicate issue I am not putting the partner in the database at this time. Hopefully I can find an obituary and clear up this mystery.
Having a marital type relationship with someone of the same sex is still a bit of a scandal (for lack of a better word) in this day and age even though rights to marry someone of the same sex are slowly increasing. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone in 1940. I suppose living in LA would be better than small town USA.
Do I put the partner listed on the 1940 census into my database? If in fact the woman is the relative's life partner, I want her recognized. If the word partner means something else, then she doesn't belong in the database. As this can be a delicate issue I am not putting the partner in the database at this time. Hopefully I can find an obituary and clear up this mystery.
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