52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 3

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 3 (UPDATE AT BOTTOM)

EJ Mendenhall (1857-1927)- My 6^th Cousin, 5x Removed

~I chose to write about this person because of his vagrant life-style and because he died in my hometown, Prescott, Arizona.

Birth:           1857            Iowa

Parents:       James E. Mendenhall (1834-1857) &

                              Ruth Jane Edgar Barnett (1829-1903)

Residences and Occupations

1860 (age 2) - Newton, Jasper, Iowa

1880 (age 23) - Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa

          Occupation- Farmer

1884 (age 27) - Moved to Arizona

1900 (age 43) - Coconino, Arizona Territory

          Occupation- Laborer on Farm

1920 (age 63) – Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona- EJ was living at the Kersting Hotel in Phoenix- 135 S. Central Ave

          Occupation- Brakeman at Railroad

28 Nov 1922 (age 65) – Prescott, Arizona- EJ was living at the Arizona Pioneers’ Home, Resident #239.

          Occupation- None


Marriage: 
EJ never married or had any children. He lived from place-to-place throughout his entire life. He lived in hotels and as a roomer on peoples' farms. He never seemed to have a steady home-life.

Arizona Pioneers’ Home:

Arizona Pioneers' Home Ca. 1911

EJ arrived in Prescott, Arizona in 1927 and by June 18, he was a resident of Arizona Pioneers’ Home. The home was established to provide retirement housing for early Arizona pioneers. It was originated by three prominent Arizonans: A.J. Doran, Johnny Duke and Frank M. Murphy. It opened in 1911 for men only. 

Then in 1916, it expanded for a women’s wing that could house 20 women. The building was then opened to disabled miners in 1927.

Its history is well known as the place where Big Nose Kate died in 1940. She was the common-law wife of Doc Holliday and later gained notoriety as the madam of a brothel.

Arizona Pioneers' Home Ca. 2012

Illness & Death:

At the age of 70, EJ died on 18 Jun 1927 in the retirement home. He suffered from heart disease.

Death Certificate of EJ Mendenhall 

Burial:

EJ is buried in the Arizona Pioneers Home Cemetery in Prescott Arizona: 

          Plot: Row K, Grave 11

UPDATE: 

Read update here