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Archiver > ARIZARD > 2003-09 > 1064271846


From: Don Ott <>
Subject: Re: [ARIZARD-L] AR State Insane Asylum...........Melton, Griffin, Hollabaugh and Shipman? - Michael?
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 18:04:06 -0500
In-Reply-To: <006d01c3812e$040c4ea0$6401a8c0@D388LL11>


Looks like Thomas Lafayette Shipman must have been called "Frank"
for the census. He was born 2 Aug 1888 and did not marry until 29 Sep 1912.
He married Leslie Capitola Cubijane Wright b. 25 Feb 1897. (Don't know the
history of that name.)
Don


At 10:21 AM 22-09-03 -0700, you wrote:
>Michael
>
>I saw a post to the Searcy Co. List that I think that you might find
>interesting. Appears there is a gentleman that is subscibed to that List,
>that has a list of those that were commited to the Insane Asylum in Little
>Rock for a certain period of years.
>
>There was a short discussion on insanity and how it was dealt with in the
>early years in Arkansas and a woman that I have corresponded with in the
>past; Beth Walker Shipman posted updated information on a Martha Jane
>Melton; who apparently spent forty years in the state's asylum for
>treatment of what we now know to be postpartum depression from childbirth.
>
>Kind of sad, isn't it?
>
>But, she says that Martha Jane Melton; wife of James Alexander Shipman was
>placed in the asylum ran by the state after the birth of her son;
>Thomas. She had thrown the infant down some stairs evidently and thinks
>this was circa 1888 - which would put Martha Melton Shipman's death at
>circa 1928.
>
>Shipman was able to have her legally declared insane, so that he could
>remarry. I found him in the 1910 census; with new wife; Sarah?
>
>27 April 1910 Searcy Co., Arkansas census, Leslie Town:
>SHIPMAN, James A. head M W 58 md/2 16 yrs AR TN TN
>#289/358 Sarah R. wife 55 md/2 16 yrs 10/9 AR GA TN
> Frank son M W 21 single AR AR AR
> Bertha M. daughter F W 15 single AR AR AR
> Albert son M W 12 single AR AR AR
> Dallas son M W 11 single AR AR AR
>
>Note: Where is the infant; Thomas? He was thought to have been blinded
>by the throw from the staircase, but Beth found that the blindness was
>later to be determined that cause was from a different affliction. Sort
>of compounds the sadness of the whole affair, doesn't it? But, am
>wondering who cared for and raised the blind Thomas?
>
>Now, I have in a note from past communications with Beth, that this second
>wife was a Griffin - at that time, not sure if she was by birth or
>marriage. This 1910 census reflects the Shipman marriage as being her second.
>
>Martha Jane Melton's sister was married to a Green Boyd Griffin. The
>Melton sisters were daughters of Leonard R. "John" Melton and Mary
>Catherine Hollabaugh.
>
>So, just in case this was a Melton that you research - now, you know (if
>you did not already) what happened to poor, unfortunate Martha Jane Melton.
>
>
>
>
> Bernie Moore-Knowles
>Phoenix, Arizona - Papa'aloa, Hawai'i
>
>
>"I have Indian blood in me. I have just enough White blood for you to
>question my honesty." ........Will Rogers
>
>
>
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