It would be easier to not write about bad things. It would be easier to just forget about those unpleasant events in family history. But I think it is important that we know what happened in the past - both good and bad. We need to know that when we are faced with difficulties in our lives, that our ancestors got through it, and we can too.
It is with that in mind that I write the history of George Stephenson, son of Jonathan and Lillian Stephenson, of Paradise township, Crawford county, Iowa.
George was born October 18, 1881 near Dunlap. The name George came from his father's father, a common practice for the first male child. George was the firstborn of five boys and three girls. In what should have been a normal childhood and early adulthood for him, things went very badly.
George died July 3, 1921, at age 39, in the state mental hospital in Clarinda. I received some of his file from the hospital and thought it time to share some of this.
George was admitted to Clarinda at age 22. He was 5 ft. 6 in., 150 pounds, gray eyes, and dark brown hair. He had gone to school as a child, but was described as forgetful and dull. It was said that his trouble started showing up at age 11 and progressively got worse. He could talk, but would not make sense. He did understand others. He liked to go to town. But eventually he became uncontrollable.
His mother, Lillian, reported on the admission forms that her father (William Davis) was addicted to strong drink. Jonathan reported that he had a maternal uncle who was insane. I guess they were probing for a cause of George's illness. The family doctor reported that George had lung fever when he was three, and believed this was the root cause of the problem. Lung fever is an old term for pneumonia. Pneumonia can cause low enough oxygen levels to damage the brain.
George stayed in the Clarinda hospital for 17 years. He was described as untidy and careless in appearance, and required assistance with his personal hygiene. He did some work around the hospital in the early part of his stay, under close supervision, but in 1920 he was in bed with tuberculosis. He died from it July 3, 1921.
It is with that in mind that I write the history of George Stephenson, son of Jonathan and Lillian Stephenson, of Paradise township, Crawford county, Iowa.
George was born October 18, 1881 near Dunlap. The name George came from his father's father, a common practice for the first male child. George was the firstborn of five boys and three girls. In what should have been a normal childhood and early adulthood for him, things went very badly.
George died July 3, 1921, at age 39, in the state mental hospital in Clarinda. I received some of his file from the hospital and thought it time to share some of this.
George was admitted to Clarinda at age 22. He was 5 ft. 6 in., 150 pounds, gray eyes, and dark brown hair. He had gone to school as a child, but was described as forgetful and dull. It was said that his trouble started showing up at age 11 and progressively got worse. He could talk, but would not make sense. He did understand others. He liked to go to town. But eventually he became uncontrollable.
His mother, Lillian, reported on the admission forms that her father (William Davis) was addicted to strong drink. Jonathan reported that he had a maternal uncle who was insane. I guess they were probing for a cause of George's illness. The family doctor reported that George had lung fever when he was three, and believed this was the root cause of the problem. Lung fever is an old term for pneumonia. Pneumonia can cause low enough oxygen levels to damage the brain.
George stayed in the Clarinda hospital for 17 years. He was described as untidy and careless in appearance, and required assistance with his personal hygiene. He did some work around the hospital in the early part of his stay, under close supervision, but in 1920 he was in bed with tuberculosis. He died from it July 3, 1921.
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| Denison Bulletin and Herald, July 13, 1921, Page 4, Arion News |
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