This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: kelleythompson69 Surnames: Russell Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6128/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Looking for an obituary for Albert Earl Russell born 1920 and died July 19, 1965 in Sonoma County, CA. Thanks, Kelley Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jeremy5848 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6127.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: This [confirming all information] is especially true of institutions like the Feeble-minded Home at Glen Ellen. Because some people were embarrassed to have a relative in any kind of mental institution, the State of California [and other states] imposed severe privacy restrictions on information. At Glen Ellen they went so far as to remove all of the tombstones from the cemetery. If there is a burial list for that cemetery, it has never been released to the public. When people need information and can't get it, they tend to make guesses or estimates, which are unfortunately taken as fact by others. The Internet has caused this process to go faster and farther. This is why caution is advised. Since the state has rarely (if ever) released information about the patients at state hospitals, you must question any information you see. The three sources I know of to be usually accurate are the US Censuses (and possibly the individual state censuses, the county death records, and the local newspapers. Access to death records has been restricted in recent years and the census is only every ten years. Newspaper records mentioning people in state institutions are relatively rare and most newspapers are not indexed. Jeremy Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PMax47 Surnames: Ohlendorf Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6127.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I've been researching my family lines since 2007 and I know that when you get info, don't take it as gospel until you get documented proof and even then you should get more proof. Thank You very much for helping me out. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: OreoBird Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6054.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Just now read your reply to my post. Thank you. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: gdusa Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/1064.1.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I think one of my Henderson clan is buried there. Maria Louisa Gordon's mother was a Henderson. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Comanchesnooty Surnames: Carson, Griffin, Chandler, Ray, Osborne Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/1064.1.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Plan to go to Lampsses this weekend as we don't live that far from there. Going to look around and see if there are any other familiar names. My intentions are to post new pictures to my Family Tree this weekend. The only Carson's I have will be Lucinda Jane Carson and her daughter Emma Frances Griffin. I am also in the process of typing relevant pages of Emma Frances Diary to the Ancestry page of Emma Frances Griffin Chandler. Comanchesnooty@Yahoo.com (Frances M. Hitch Flynn Barnard) 2190 HWY 3381 Comanche, TX 76442 254-879-4295 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Yes, that is me and my book. No apologies necessary, I sometimes misquote myself! Even though they were located in the same county, there was and is no official connection, then or now, between the Sonoma County Hospital and the Sonoma State Home (formerly Feeble-minded Home, now Sonoma Developmental Center). Because the two institutions are in the same county, they often get confused. However, if you wish to perform an act of penance for your transgression, please consider writing a history of the Sonoma Developmental Center going all the way back to its beginnings in Santa Clara and its move to Sonoma County in 1891. Like my Potter's Field book, you could include a list of all the people buried there, which would involve a fight to the death (so to speak) with the State of California, because the State is afraid of offending someone (anyone) by admitting that their family member was "feeble-minded." Nevertheless, this is a project that badly needs doing and I don't have time. Jeremy Nichols Santa Rosa On 9/4/2011 12:00 AM, casonoma-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Glen Ellen Hospital (Blondie Mock) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 03 Sep 2011 16:03:59 GMT > From: Blondie Mock<ZooKeeperss@webtv.net> > Subject: Re: [CASONOMA] Glen Ellen Hospital > To: casonoma@rootsweb.com > Message-ID:<COL118-DS12B9B1301CB7EAEAD6BDB2AF1B0@phx.gbl> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > Hi, > Sorry if I had quoted the wrong information. > My source was a article titled: Potter's field, by Jeremy Dwight > Nichols, published by Heritage Books, 2009. > Are you this person? Did I misquote your published article. I am truly > sorry if I did. > > ~ Linda ~ > Willow Creek,CA. > >

Hi, Sorry if I had quoted the wrong information. My source was a article titled: Potter's field, by Jeremy Dwight Nichols, published by Heritage Books, 2009. Are you this person? Did I misquote your published article. I am truly sorry if I did. ~ Linda ~ Willow Creek,CA.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jeremy5848 Surnames: KIRKPATRICK, SHURR, SPIRR, SPURR, STURR Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6127.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Caution is advised in blindly accepting information posted here or on the related mail list. For example, the story of Leonora SPURR, as recently reported, describes her as an inmate of the "Feeble-minded Home" or the "Sonoma State Home," today's "Sonoma Developmental Center" (often called simply "Eldridge" historically or "SDC" in modern times). To the best of my knowledge, this is not true - Nora was never at Eldridge, much less for 50 years. Nora was indeed a "longest-term inmate" but at the nearby "Sonoma County Hospital" near Santa Rosa. I have no information to suggest she was ever at Eldridge. [Note the difference: the Sonoma County Hospital was a county institution while Eldridge was run by the State of California.] Nora SPURR, fourth child and first daughter (and possibly a twin of Daniel, Jr.) of Daniel SPURR and his first wife, the former Sarah A. KIRKPATRICK, was born 1-22-1855 in Bellvue, Jackson, Iowa. Sarah SPURR died in December 1865, possibly from complications associated with the birth of her 9th child. Daniel SPURR immediately remarried. He and his new wife apparently did not want to care for these eight children [Nora's possible twin seems to have died in Iowa], for they farmed out each one to a different Sonoma County family, with Nora going to the MULGREW family of Healdsburg. As an attorney, Daniel SPURR no doubt knew how to get around the law; in fact there is nothing about these children in the probate records (the Probate Court handled matters relating to orphans). It is clear from US Census records that Nora was diagnosed as developmentally disabled by or before her 14th birthday: the 1870 US Census for Healdsburg, Sonoma, California enumerates her as "SHURR [sic], Leonora, living with the MULGREW family, age 14, born Iowa, 'kept,' and 'idiotic.'" According to the "DDD" [Defective, Delinquent, and Dependent] schedule attached to the 1880 US Census, on September 1, 1878, Nora SPURR, aged 22, was admitted to the Sonoma County Hospital with the diagnosis "idiotic." In every Census thereafter she appears at the County Hospital. She is never enumerated at Eldridge. [I grant the possibility that she could have been occasionally taken to Eldridge for treatment but she was always returned to the County Hospital.] My conclusion is that Nora was not moved to Eldridge when it opened in 1891 because she was comfortably settled at the Sonoma County Hospital and because it was cheaper to keep her there than move her to Eldridge, for which the county would have to pay. It is also possible (I have no information on the degree of Nora's disability) that the operators of the hospital were able to find some little job that Nora could do. This would help both her and the hospital. In any case, Nora SPURR lived her entire remaining life in the Sonoma County Hospital and seems to have been "buried" and forgotten by her siblings, several of whom remained in the area. After 50 years, when Nora died in 1928, so little was remembered of her that her obituary in the [Santa Rosa] Press Democrat is almost entirely untrue. Nora SPURR was buried in the County Cemetery, one of over 1,500 pauper burials in that old graveyard, which I have been restoring since 2003. This is covered in much greater detail in my book "Potter's Field" [Heritage Books, 2009], a history of the old Sonoma County Cemetery and those buried in it. Also see http://www.chanatecemetery.org/. For a fictional account of Eldridge and its inmates (no doubt written from first-person encounters), read "Told in the Drooling Ward," (1914) by Jack London, whose "Beauty Ranch" adjoined the Feeble-minded Home. My apologies for running off at the keyboard. Jeremy Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

The Ca. home for the handicap'ed was created in 1885. Orginally located in the town of Santa Clara, the facilities proved inadequate. In 1889 the Farm of William McPHERSON, comprising of 1660 acres, located near the town of Glen Ellen, Sonoma, CO., was purchased for $50,000. On 24, Nov. 1891, the physical move was made to Glen Ellen site. The name was changed to "Sonoma State" Hospital in 1915. Its under the control of the State Commission in Lunacy (1897). In 1921 the agency name was changed to Dept. of Institutions as manager of State mental institutions. It was then superseded by the Dept. of Mental Hygiene, which still curently is known by. The dubous title of longest confinement went to this hospital for the developmentaly-disabled persons, in the name of LEONORA { Nora } SPURR. born 1855, died 1928. Her parents were Daniel and Sarah SPURR, he was a lawyer. Many criminal history's are of the insane's person's doing, and its written into the judgements of the time. TO my knowledge , it took a court order to have a handicap person- insane peerson committed to an institution. Good hunting. ~ Linda ~ Willow Creek,CA.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PMax47 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6127.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thank You Jeremy for answering my query. In Genealogy when one question is answered, another pops up. I Googled Sonoma Developmental Center and I will try to get the records for my relative. At least my relative was not an actual inmate but now the question I have is what was his ailment?? I know in 1942 he enlisted in the Army. Again, Thank You for your help. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: melanimays Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6051.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: As Ron indicated earlier, Emmett did die in Napa County. He could have been in an accident while in Napa Co, or transported to Napa Co and died. He was right near the border. Have you ordered a copy of his death certificate? Also, have you looked him up in all of the census records? The 1920 seems to indicate Emmett's mother's maiden name was MOCK. In 1905 he is in Cass Co, MN, with his father and siblings: Clynch Peter Male 44 abt 1861 Ireland Clynch Margret E Female 17 abt 1888 North Dakota Clynch Bernard P Male 13 abt 1892 North Dakota Clynch Anna L Female 11 abt 1894 North Dakota Clynch Frances M Female 9 abt 1896 North Dakota Clynch Cecelia K Female 6 abt 1899 North Dakota Clynch Emmet V Male 4 abt 1901 Minnesota So you know that Emmett's mother likely died (or div) between his birth and 1905. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ValerieHeiserman81 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6051.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Emmett V. Clynch was my grandfather and Hazel was my grandmother (Katie was my step-grandmother). They (Emmett & Hazel) had 3 children, one son and two daughters; the son is now deceased My mother is one of the daughters. We believe that he died in Petaluma, CA, which would be in Sonoma County, and yes, he did live in El Verano, CA. I'm trying to research the Cllynth line, but, since he's from Ireland, that's been difficult. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jeremy5848 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6127.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The "California Home for the Care and Training of Feeble-minded Children," later the "Sonoma State Home," now the "Sonoma Developmental Center," was created in the early 1890s for what we in more politically-correct time call the "developmentally disadvantaged." The Home had its own facilities and even a cemetery, which still exists. The location was sometimes called "Eldridge" for Captain Eldridge who, with a Mr. Gibbs, chose the location for the state although the post office was in Glen Ellen. Most of the "inmates" (residents) were young but not all. Early deaths were common due to a variety of medical problems treatable today. The inmates of the Home were not criminals or juvenile delinquents. The Salvation Army school you mention was an orphanage located north of Santa Rosa, near Geyserville. It no longer exists. Jeremy Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PMax47 Surnames: Ohlendorf Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6127/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello. I am seeking info about a Juvenile Facility in Glen Ellen in 1930. In the 1930 Census my relative, George Edward Ohlendorf, was listed as "Inmate" at Glen Ellen, Sonoma County . I am assuming it was what was called back then, a Reform School since I saw boys as young as 10 years old listed. George was 16 at the time. I tried the Search Engines but all I could come up with was Salvation Army Technical School for Boys and Girls. That could be the name today but I would like to know what it was actually called back when the 1930 Census was taken. Can anyone help me. Thank You Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PMax47 Surnames: Ohlendorf Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6126/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello. I would like to know if there was some kind of Juvenile Facility in Glen Ellen in 1930. In the 1930 Census there was a relative of mine named George Edward Ohlendorf aged 16 listed as Inmate at Glen Ellen (Sonoma County) The boys ages ranged from 10-23 so I am assuming this was what they would call back then, a Reform School. I tried the Search Engines but all I got was it is now part of the Salvation Army Technical School for Boys and Girls. Does anyone have info about what kind of building this was back in 1930?? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Hello Everyone, Please contact me if you knew Vallejo, CA resident, Helen Cloud born 1906 LA and died 1990 Vallejo, CA. She was formerly a resident of Sonoma, CA. Thank you, Shirley Burks _HappeeNotes@aol.com_ (mailto:HappeeNotes@aol.com)

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Nick_Hagen Surnames: Retallick, Vivian Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6093.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thx for replying. The common names seem more than just coincidental. I have not yet investigated who were the parents of Richard Godfrey Retallick's mother, Nellie Vivian. Maybe they are the link. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: 1_caseys Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6093.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I was looking at some old books today and saw the name Godfrey Retallick in "Stories by English Authors." I was curious as to who he was and did a search and found your post. Dr. Godfrey Vivian was his grandfather (Minnesota) Dr. Vivian had a son named Fredrick Godfrey Vivan. Fred moved to CA in the late 1800s and to King City,CA in 1901. He was my husband's great grandfather. Seems like a relative, but not a descendant. What do you think? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: scwbcm Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6021.3.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The Genweb site is great. You may also want to look at ancestry for California Voter Registers, California Voter Registration, California State Census which is for 1852. Also, go to the card catalog on ancestry and type in Sonoma for some book references. There is also a set of maps for the area for the years 1877 and 1898. Some of these are for a later time period but may be interesting. There is also a Civil War Registration for the area, also a bit later. Most of the newspapers for the area are not found online although there are a few tidbits at Newspaper abstracts. The newspapers may be found at the Healdsburg Museum or library or at the Sonoma county library which also has a website. Some of the newspapers are the Russian River Flag, Sotoyme Scimitar, Healdsburg Enterprise and Healdsburg Tribune. Good luck. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.