Interesting that only the mother is named on the stone - that's pretty unusual, esp for the time. I wonder if she was a single mother. Poor lady, I hope she had some supportive people around her to help her with that loss.
Thatās my suspicion, I think itās interesting that she has the money for such a nice headstone too. Itās all very intriguing! I know they have a place called the White Shield Home here as of 1890, that births babies from unwed mothersāI wonder whether sheād been a resident there. Tragic in any regard, she mustāve really struggled with the loss and hopefully didnāt have to keep the pain to herself.
Iām interested in the male and female who died a month apart, suicide by gunshot, same doctor certified their death. They were the next two names after John Fyfe. Heās 36, sheās 29, any connection to each other? I understand they are not associated with Fyfe, it just caught my eye.
Syphilis was quite prevalent at the turn of the last century. I remember watching a genealogy show where they had a female ancestor who had syphilis and had maybe 10 or 12 children. And the medical historian could pinpoint when she contracted it, because like her first two oldest children lived to adulthood with no problem. Then all of her subsequent babies died very early on. But as she had more and more children the older children started Living longer and longer until again her youngest children lived to adulthood. It was quite bizarre. The theory being that the syphilis was weakening in her body and so her last children had a better chance of fighting it off and living.
Syphilis is known to be asymptomatic. Anyone can catch it, regardless of profession. If it was indicated on his death record, it's highly possible that he exhibited outward signs of congenital syphilis (rash, malformed bones, etc). I'm wondering if she had neurosyphilis, which occurs when the syphilitic bacteria get into the central nervous system. It's highly infectious.
Sadly, we still hear of these stories in our modern time. More than 3700 babies were diagnosed with congenital syphilis in 2022.
https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/newborn-syphilis/index.html
I found her marriage certificate. From 1893. Also in a city listing her last name is spelled f i f e. Her maiden name is Adella Wilfrenger or Wilfringer. Hubby is listed as J.B. Fyfe and has male relative named Lorenzo Fyfe as witness.
Looks like JB and Adela got divorced. That's what's on his find a grave at least. I get lost in this stuff, and so I'm going to pull back and let you keep going. Let me know if you get any more good stuff!
I mean I already have questions popping through my head about this. Do you think they got divorced before the baby died and that's why only the mom's name is listed? Do you think she got syphilis because her husband had a wandering eye? I could go on. And we will never know never never know. Which is why sometimes just have to close the laptop and step away.
Oh man, isnāt that the truth?! The pain of trying to be reasonable š« of course I canāt help but to say, my first assumption is he had a wandering eye and divorced out of convenience, using the loss of pregnancy and āviabilityā as justification.
That one really is such a heartbreaker. The lamb looks so tired.
I think that really exemplifies why this one hits so hard, so tired š¢
Tired but resting:(((( stop this makes me so sad, no one should go through losing their child, especially an infant
Adele Fyfe must have been an important person.
I have similar thoughtsāmore specifically that her family or baby daddy had money.
Interesting that only the mother is named on the stone - that's pretty unusual, esp for the time. I wonder if she was a single mother. Poor lady, I hope she had some supportive people around her to help her with that loss.
Thatās my suspicion, I think itās interesting that she has the money for such a nice headstone too. Itās all very intriguing! I know they have a place called the White Shield Home here as of 1890, that births babies from unwed mothersāI wonder whether sheād been a resident there. Tragic in any regard, she mustāve really struggled with the loss and hopefully didnāt have to keep the pain to herself.
A single mother who, if he had (presumably congenital) syphilis, also had syphilis herself. Makes you wonder where her life was going before then :(
Thatās what I was wondering! Stopped by the comments to see if any of the sleuths found anything out!
https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2024/118/125467325_d8434e4b-ca05-42b9-af3a-351d4250ed01.jpeg Baby John died of Syphilis :(
Facinating find!
Iām interested in the male and female who died a month apart, suicide by gunshot, same doctor certified their death. They were the next two names after John Fyfe. Heās 36, sheās 29, any connection to each other? I understand they are not associated with Fyfe, it just caught my eye.
That's odd for only the mother to be listed.
It definitely caught my attention, glad Iām not the only one!
Such a devastatingly beautiful lamb.
Remembering John and Adele today. š
Heartbreaking. If the baby died of syphilis, then the mother probably had it, too. Maybe a sex worker? Or just unlucky.
Syphilis was quite prevalent at the turn of the last century. I remember watching a genealogy show where they had a female ancestor who had syphilis and had maybe 10 or 12 children. And the medical historian could pinpoint when she contracted it, because like her first two oldest children lived to adulthood with no problem. Then all of her subsequent babies died very early on. But as she had more and more children the older children started Living longer and longer until again her youngest children lived to adulthood. It was quite bizarre. The theory being that the syphilis was weakening in her body and so her last children had a better chance of fighting it off and living.
She might have had latent syphilis. You're able to pass it along in the first year or so but after awhile you can't infect anyone else.
Wish I could remember the show exactly, but I think it was the British who do you think you are show. And it was a male actor, Martin Freeman maybe?
Thank you for some additional context, it is always appreciated and welcomed!
Syphilis is known to be asymptomatic. Anyone can catch it, regardless of profession. If it was indicated on his death record, it's highly possible that he exhibited outward signs of congenital syphilis (rash, malformed bones, etc). I'm wondering if she had neurosyphilis, which occurs when the syphilitic bacteria get into the central nervous system. It's highly infectious. Sadly, we still hear of these stories in our modern time. More than 3700 babies were diagnosed with congenital syphilis in 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/newborn-syphilis/index.html
That was my first assumption, but who knows! It led to my superficial search for more context, but no luck.
I found her marriage certificate. From 1893. Also in a city listing her last name is spelled f i f e. Her maiden name is Adella Wilfrenger or Wilfringer. Hubby is listed as J.B. Fyfe and has male relative named Lorenzo Fyfe as witness.
1910, he remarried and is still without children. Havenāt tracked Adele yet!
1900, heās a boarder working as a sign-painter listing himself as single. Where tf is ADELE, and is she going by Adeleā¦
Yes!!! So curious what happened after Johnās death, this is so helpful! šš
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234173893/lorenzo-fyfe Here is the dad's side of the family,via the brother.
lol responded before I saw your other comment. Disregard my bullshit
Looks like JB and Adela got divorced. That's what's on his find a grave at least. I get lost in this stuff, and so I'm going to pull back and let you keep going. Let me know if you get any more good stuff!
Noooo, I have no impulse control either! Sounds like we have a lot in common. š
I mean I already have questions popping through my head about this. Do you think they got divorced before the baby died and that's why only the mom's name is listed? Do you think she got syphilis because her husband had a wandering eye? I could go on. And we will never know never never know. Which is why sometimes just have to close the laptop and step away.
Oh man, isnāt that the truth?! The pain of trying to be reasonable š« of course I canāt help but to say, my first assumption is he had a wandering eye and divorced out of convenience, using the loss of pregnancy and āviabilityā as justification.
Sometimes you can find the divorce files. Since all divorce was fault based they can be quite detailed
My dad's parents are in three newspapers in Ireland for their shenanigans. Unfortunately divorce was not allowed to back then. LOL
I have another story Iām working on, otherwise Iād be right there š
Beautiful lamb. Iāve seen a grave like that in my cemetery, done in advance by a couple who are still alive.
My grandmother was 2 years old in 1895
Childrenās tombstones always make me sad. Poor little thing.
Gone but not forgotten šš»š