The Suicide of James A. Moon

My 3rd cousin, 6x Removed- James Aaron Moon

If you ever visit Lafayette, Indiana, make sure you visit a legendary hotel named the Lahr. AND, if you're daring, stay in room 41.

Side Note: (I really liked my beginning so I kept it, although, you cannot stay in room 41... the building that once was the Lahr hotel, is now an apartment building, sadly).

In this room, 143 years ago, 38 year old James Aaron Moon committed suicide in the most unique fashion-even by today's standards! James was a civil war veteran, a farmer, husband and a father. He also took his own life with a homemade guillotine!

This is James Moon, born on 04 Jun 1838 in Mill Creek, Indiana. He was the son of Enoch Moon (1806-1881) and Elizabeth Lewis (1807-1868). He married Mary Cox (1837-1913) on 16 Sep 1858 and they had 6 children. 

1. Arthur Tellus (1860-1925)

2. Adella C. (1862-1901)

3. John Luther (1867-1920)

4. William Aaron (1869-1941)

5. Frank Marion (1871-1931)

6. James Albert (1877-1926)

On Saturday, June 10, 1876, he checked into the Lahr Hotel and then went to a hardware store to purchase a 12 inch axe head and two pieces of iron plate. He purchased cotton batting and chloroform from a drugstore and retired to his room. By midnight he was dead. 

With all of these items and a soap box and a candle, he had created an auto-decapitation machine. 

His head lay inside the soap box which was lined with the cotton batting soaked in chloroform. The candle was used as a "trigger"- see pictures. 

It is unclear why he why he wanted to die, but his death was ruled an suicide. His body was found by a maid the next morning. Because his door was locked, she had to enter in the joining room next to his. 

How I am related to Moon: 

Mordecai Mendenhall (1713-1803)

(Common Ancestor)

Aaron Mendenhall      Siblings        Richard Mendenhall

Dinah Mendenhall                        Joseph Mendenhall

Enoch Moon                                Richard Mendenhall

James                                        Aaron Mendenhall

                                                Richard Mendenhall

                                                Marion R. Mendenhall

                                                Earl D. Mendenhall

                                                Harold E. Mendenhall

                                                My Mother

                                                Me-Carrie

Multiples: The Story Family of Bakersfield, California

When exploring multiples online, I wanted to write about someone different. I wanted someone I could easily research (Living in the United States in the early-Mid 1900s). May I introduce Marion and Charlotte Story.

Marion Delroy Story was living in Franklin County, Ohio when he divorced his first wife, he left for California, leaving her to raise their only child, Helen. He then moved to Bakersfield, married Charlotte Lacount and together they had 20 children, including 4 sets of twins (all were born in California).

Marion Delroy Story    

Born: 27 May 1894, New York

Died: 17 Oct 1965, Bakersfield, Kern, California

       Son of Charles Hay Story (1868-1950) &

                Laura Estelle Kolb (1867-1942)

Charlotte M. “Lottie” Lacount

Born: 15 Oct 1902, Michigan

Died: 27 Aug 1972, Bakersfield, Kern, California

      Daughter of Abraham Dezara LaCount (1876-1963) &

                     Elsie E. Dubay (1882-1941)

      (Lottie herself was one of at least 11 children!)

Children: (Twin sets are in Red)

1. Jean Marian

07 Dec 1922 San Francisco

19 Dec 1992  Bakersfield         age 70

              Jean married William H. Hardscastle (1927-2011)

              They had at least one daughter: Denise M. 

2. Jane D.

07 Dec 1922 San Francisco

3. Jack Charles

22 Jun 1925 San Francisco 

19 Nov 2004 Hanford            age 80

               Jack married Ouida Gillis (1929-2002) and 

               they had 3 children: Lynda, Arnold and Daniel.

4. Jacqueline Veral    

21 Jun 1925

02 May 1977 Bakersfield         age 51

               Jacqueline married Vernon Cook on 11 Oct 1952.

               They divorced on 24 Oct 1997. They had 

               3 children: Donn, Kathleen and Leslie.

5. June Rose

14 Jul 1926 California

24 Jan 2007 Bakersfield        age 81

                June married Billie Gene Henson (1932-1994).

                They had 2 children: Marc and Carrie.

             

6. Eileen Evelyn "Babe"         

10 Jul 1927 Sacramento

30 Nov 1973 Bakersfield         age 46

   

                 Eileen married Carl Edwin Hays (1921-1992). 

                 They had at least 2 children, a set of twins, 

                 the boy died in infancy: Carl Edwin Jr. & 

                 Carolyn. I was able to find 4 more "Hays"                     children with the mother maiden name

                 of Story in the Kern County area: Florence, 

                 James, Clarissa J. and Victoria Ann. 

                   

7. Clyde Neal     

28 Aug 1928 Fort Bragg

22 Jan 2012 Bakersfield         age 83

           

                  Clyde married Barbara (ULN) and they had 

                  at least one daughter- Melinda. 

                                 

8. Robert Royal “Bob”     

07 Dec 1929 Mendocino Co

23 Jun 1998 Bakersfield         age 68

9. Jeanette Denise    

03 Dec 1930 Point Area, Mendocino County

08 Jul 2002 Paso Robles        age 71

                    Jeanette married 30 May 1953 to Joseph

                    Jacober. They could have had 5 children-
                    all of whom were born in California around 

                    the time the couple could have had 

                    children: Philip J., Charlotte M., Joseph, 

                    Kathleen Rose, Frederic T.

10. James Stanley “Jimmie”

03 Dec 1930 California

24 Jan 2012 Bakersfield         age 81

                     Jimmie married Ella May Baker in 1950. 

                     They had at least one son: Stanley 

                     Charles who died in infancy. I found 2
                     other children: James Michael & Stephen.

11. Steve Lee

08 Oct 1932 Mendocino

19 Mar 2006 Metaline, Washington       age 74

                      Steve married Dixie L. Cassady in 1956. 

                      They had at least two sons: Kevin Lee 

                      & Neal Steven. I found 4 others: 

                      Craig, Karen, Eric and Andrea.

12. Jerry Anthony

09 Feb 1934 Bakersfield

19 Oct 1997 Bakersfield          age 63

                       Jerry married Laverne White in 1957,

                       Sharon Lange in 1967 and Donna Marie

                       Gorsuch in 1977 (Div. 1981). I found 3

                       children for Jerry and Laverne:                                 Anthony, Brenda and Annette. 

                       I found 2 that could be with Sharon: 

                       Sierra and Jerry A. (Jr.?).

                       

13. Terry Tom

21 Mar 1935 Bakersfield

14. Charlotte May

15 Apr 1936 Bakersfield

15. Scotty Delroy

24 Jul 1937 Bakersfield

16. Sherrie Yvonne

14 Aug 1938 Bakersfield

10 Sep 1984 Bakersfield          age 46

                        Sherrie married Melvin Leroy Scherer

                        in 1957 and Donovan Hall Knowlton in

                        1979. I found 5 children for Sherrie 

                        & Melvin: Van, Larry, Gary, Veronica,

                        and Timmothy. 

17. Gary Don

14 Aug 1938 Bakersfield

30 Jun 2003 Bakersfield        age 64

18. Joanne Marie

14 Nov 1941 Bakersfield

19. Frances Lidwina

08 Jan 1943 Bakersfield

20. Monica Sandra

02 Jul 1946 Bakersfield

A couple things that bug me… the Story Family are not in the 1920 or 1930 United States Federal Census’ and then in the 1940 census, there is nothing listed for the father as an occupation… and nobody else in the family has a job. How in the world did they support so many kids unemployed? LOL

                  

52 Ancestors- Earl Dwight Mendenhall Biography

Earl Dwight Mendenhall- my Great-Grandfather

I have so loved this picture- it's hilarious. I can only guess that the one on the right is him.

Born: 21 Feb 1894, North Star, Darke, Ohio


Parents: Marion Richard "Mac" Mendenhall (1873-1948) & Louella Ida "Ella" Munn (1872-1958)

Siblings:

1. Treva Delight (1898-1981)
2. Rhea Marlene (1903-1987)


Earl married first to Edna Grace Niles (1894-1934) in 1915. They had 3 children:

1. Harold Earl (1916-1989) (my grandfather)
2. Robert Eugene (1919-1993)
3. Ruth Eileen (1926-2002)
       (couple of posts about Ruth- 1st, 2nd)


I have been told by family that he studied Chiropractic and that this is him:

Earl married second before 1940 to Olive Ruth Crowl (1900-1990), daughter of Edward Crowl and Pearl Edith Kaylor.



U.S. Census Records:

~1900- 23 Jun- Allen, Darke, Ohio- 6 year old Earl is living with his parents, 2 sisters, paternal grandparents and a boarder. His father works as a Hardware Manufacturer.

~1910- 16 Apr- Allen, Darke, Ohio- 16 year old Earl is living on Walnut Street with his parents and 2 sisters. Their home is owned. His father works as a silversmith.

~1920- 15 Feb- Randolph County, Indiana- 25 year old Earl is living at 502 Columbia Street with his wife, Edna and 2 sons, Harold and Robert. Their home is rented. Earl is a machinist at a garage.

~1930- 07 Apr- Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio- 36 year old Earl is living at 2260 Catalpa Drive with his wife, Edna and 3 children: Harold, Robert and Ruth. His home is rented for $45 a month. Earl is a Garage Manager.

~1940- 29 May- Harrison, Montgomery, Ohio- 46 year old Earl is living at 129 E. Orchard Springs with his second wife and his daughter Ruth. Their home is owned, valued at $4000. Earl works as a Garage Mechanic, owns his own business.


War Drafts:

Earl died on 26 Nov 1972 in Dayton, Ohio at the age of 78. I have been told by family it was because of throat cancer. He is buried in Harrison, Montgomery, Ohio at Shiloh Park Cemetery in Section 3, Lot 276.

52 Ancestors Biography- Myrtle May Hyman

Good Morning! Today's Biography- 

Myrtle May Hyman- my Great-Grandmother

Born: 28 Feb 1884, Indiana

Parents: James W. Hyman (1854-1926) & Mary Kime (1859-1917)

Siblings: 

1. James (1878-1920)

2. Elizabeth (b. 1880)

3. Joseph (1882-1910)                                                  I'm not sure why, but if you notice, 

4. Stella E. (1889-1920)                                               a lot of her siblings died fairly young! 

5. Lena (1892-1941)

6. John Huffman (1895-1967)

7. Katie B. (1897-1910)

8. Henry (1899-1920)

On 05 Mar 1902, Myrtle married Isaac Hendricks Jr. (1883-1942). 

They had 9 children: 

1. Harry Oliver (1903-1971)

2. Grace (1904-1917) (died of the flu & pneumonia)

3. Ida Pauline (1906-1975)

4. Mary Kathaleena (1908-1976)

5. Catherine Virginia (1913-1989)

6. Charles Woodrow (1917-1973)

7. Edna Viola (1919-1919)

8. Melvin Clifford (1922-2002)

9. Dorothy Jean (1926-2010) (my grandmother) 

There is a history written by Mary Kathaleena in the 60s that I recieved from family. I posted it a couple days back, you can read that Here. I really enjoy having it because it gives a peek of what kind of mother Myrtle. The way her daughter Mary talks about her- she was a very loving person. I so wish I had more pictures of her! 

Myrtle died on 18 Feb 1953 at the age of 68 in Dayton, Ohio. She is buried at the WillowView Cemetery in Dayton. 

Leg Lengthening

When thinking about writing a new genealogy blog post, I always scan my brain for which ancestor to write about. But, I haven't written about myself yet. I am important in my family tree, just as anyone else is! (RIGHT?)

So, this one is about me. And today, I want to talk about this:

NOTE- THIS IS NOT ME. I wish I had a clear amazing picture from my own surgeries, but I don't. I got this one courtesy of Google.com.

This is the Ilizarov Apparatus, named after the orthopedic surgeon who pioneered the technique- Gavrill Abramovich Ilizarov (1921-1992) of the Soviet Union. 

This device is used to lengthen a limb. I have had this done twice on my right leg and once on my right arm. The first device (1992) looked like the one above- the metal cage was round surrounding the leg, except it was on my femur. I don't remember how long it was on, but it was lengthened 4 inches. 

This is me! In a medical journal! Before and After 4 inches. Sorry for the blurry picture.

The second time (1997) I had it done on my leg was the same time I had it on my arm. The leg was lengthened another 4 inches and the arm lengthened 3 inches. I do not have any pictures unfortunately. 

There are a lot of great website and videos out there that shows how the device works, but the short version (no pun intended) is that the external fixator is fixed into the bone from the outside of the body (as shown in the picture) after the bone is broken in half. With either an automatic movement with a battery or a key, the two halves of the limb are pulled apart VERY SLOWLY inside and new bone grows in between the gap provided. 

  This is a good photo explaining how it can straighten a deformed bone. 


Here is a FABULOUS video: (I totally wish I had her attitude when I had this growing up- actually makes me wish I could go back)

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun- My Tombstone

Every Saturday, the blog Genea-Musings posts a segment titled "Saturday Night Genealogy Fun". I've done a few blog posts taking on his challenges, but I haven't done one in awhile...here we go! 

This one is from September 7, 2019; find his blog post Here.

The assignment:
1) Create your own tombstone at Tombstonebuilder.com
or create one for a relative who doesn't have one.
2) Share your creation in your own blog post, or on Facebook or Instagram. 

Here's Mine: 

Like Randy from Genea-Musings, I made myself 100 when I died.

I also made one for my 6th cousin, 5x removed- E.J. Mendenhall because he doesn't have a tombstone. You can read about E.J. in two separate blog posts: First Post & Second Post. 

Multiples: The Duggar Family

Today's post for my "Multiples" series: The Duggar Family

Anyone who watches television or celebrity entertainment probably knows about the Duggar family. But, just in case you're living in the dark, a bit about them: James Robert "Jim Bob" and Michelle Annette (nee' Ruark) Duggar have 19 children, including 2 sets of twins.

Father: Jim Bob Duggar, b. 18 Jul 1965

Mother: Michelle Duggar, b. 13 Sep 1966                

1. Joshua James "Josh", b. 03 Mar 1988

2. Jana Marie, b. 12 Jan 1990                

3. John-David, b. 12 Jan 1990

4. Jill Michelle, b. 17 May 1991

5. Jessa Lauren, b. 04 Nov 1992

6. Jinger Nicole, b. 21 Dec 1993

7. Joseph Garrett, b. 20 Jan 1995

8. Josiah Matthew, b. 28 Aug 1996

9. Joy-Anna, b. 28 Oct 1997

10. Jedidiah "Jed" Robert, b. 30 Dec 1998

11. Jeremiah Robert, b. 30 Dec 1998

12. Jason Michael, b. 21 Apr 2000

13. James Andrew, b. 07 Jul 2001

14. Justin Samuel, b. 15 Nov 2002

15. Jackson Levi, b. 23 May 2004

16. Johannah Faith, b. 11 Oct 2005

17. Jennifer Danielle, b. 02 Aug 2007

18. Jordyn-Grace, b. 18 Dec 2008

19. Josie Brooklyn, b.10 Dec 2009

Twin Set #1: Jana Marie & John-David 

Jana and John-David were born on 12 Jan 1990 in Tontitown, Arkansas. They have 1 older sibling and 16 younger.

Jana, although being the eldest daughter of the bunch at the age of 29, she has yet to be married and since being in the spotlight on television for years, has yet to have courted any gentlemen. She has co-written a book with her sisters titled "Growing up Duggar".

John-David married Abbie Grace Burnett on 03 Nov 2018. She was born on 16 Apr 1992. They have one child due in Jan 2020. 

Twin Set #2: Jedidiah Robert & Jeremiah Robert

Jedidiah "Jed" and Jeremiah were born on 30 Dec 1998 in Tontitown, Arkansas. They have 9 older siblings and 8 younger siblings, so I suppose they would be considered "the middle child". At 20, they both are single.