Topic information:
This is a good time to highlight the kind, helpful souls in the family tree. Another way you could interpret this is an ancestor who was helped by a nurturing, encouraging person, like a teacher.
I believe where Amy is going with the next few posts is Nature versus Nurture debate for your ancestors. I guess the best way to start these posts is to define the word and move on from there.
Nurture defined as "to take care of, feed, and protect someone or something, especially young children or plants, and help him, her, or it to develop or to help a plan or a person to develop and be successful." (credit)
The Nature versus Nurture debate is defined as "The nature versus nurture debate involves whether human behavior is determined by the environment, either prenatal or during a person's life, or by a person's genes." (credit)
As you can see, to nurture is different than the nature versus nurture. In this post, I will give a great example of an ancestor who I can only imagine was the nurturing type of person - my great grandmother Anna Catherina Larsen.
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| Annie Gauquie's picture from her naturalization papers in 1924. Credit |
| Bisons in Aarup, Denmark. Credit |
I found a census in 1880 which had her with her family. I was able to track this due to the small community (according to the information page of the area 3,014 in 1 January 2011 and it wasn't made a town until 1860, so there were very few people living there, which narrowed the information on her.
Further, in her passport application, she put her father's name and he was deceased.
Due to having her father's name, I was able to match her year of birth, area to the information in the area. However, by the time the 1890 census was taken, she had moved out and was a servant along with her brother, Lars in the transcription I was able to get.
The next time someone found her it was in 1891 and she was going to the US indirectly (meaning she had a stop) to St Paul, Minnesota.
Then I have her in St Paul, marrying my great grandfather, Jules.
Then they travel back to New York and set up a house, where they have children. They have 7 children - 3 girls and 4 boys and they have a prospering dairy farm.
She works the dairy, takes care of her husband and children.
However, in January 1911, tragedy strikes the family. Her 5th child, Charles, dies in a horrible accident. From what my cousin has told me, her father William and Charles were walking on their land. Charles falls into the small brook on the property, and William can't reach him and is screaming. However, he ran to get help and came back. However, by the time that happened, it was too late.
As you can see, Annie was there according the newspaper article as a caring mother should be.
On top of this, their second oldest daughter Mary, comes down with Polio or poliomyelitis. I believe I've narrowed the time down to between 1910-1914.
Many people think of polio as the iron lungs, but it is much more than that due to after the initial bout of poliomyelitis, some people suffer from further symptoms also known as post-polio syndrome. Some of the things she could have had would be decreasing strength and endurance, breathing, swallowing or speaking difficulties, pain in muscles and joints, or fatigue and an inability to stay alert. The polio virus attacks specific neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord. This meant when she contracted the virus, it attacked the area where it wouldn't allow her to mental go beyond a certain age.
There was an outbreak around the area and from family reports she never grew, mentally, beyond a 10-14 year old and as she was born in 1899, this time frame fits as by 1907 approximately 2,500 cases of poliomyelitis were reported in New York City which was about 66 miles. However, with it being a dairy farm, chances are high of it coming from there due to the exposure to trucks and people from this area. There was a out break in polio in 1916, but this would be years after Mary would be infected so this wouldn't be where Mary's was infected.
As further proof, Mary did have an accident where she hurt herself, highlighted in yellow below, which goes to show they had to be careful with everything she did.
However, it didn't matter to the family, as they loved her and kept visiting her just as her mother kept her with her, took care of her and loved her no matter what.
The vaccine would not be introduced for Polio until 1955, which would be years later.
Then in 1933, Annie gets sick from not having a proper coat during the winter. From my cousins, they were told she didn't have a winter coat, and her daughters bought her one just before she got sick because they were worried about her. However, having only wore the coat 1 or 2 times, she gets pneumonia and ends up in St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh, NY.
She dies on January 18, 1933. She is only 60 years old.
However, Mary is still at home on the farm and its noted in Annie's will and probate she is listed as incompetent and a guardian is appointed for her by the state.
I believe Annie thought that if something had happened to her, Jules, her husband would step in and take care of their daughter, Mary. As you can see from the documents above, this didn't happen. In fact, the story is much worse.
Annie's probate was reported to be finished on October 17, 1933. It wasn't until this point I believe the next steps for Mary happened.
The family story is Jules shopped around to find the cheapest and most out of the way place to send Mary once the Probate was finalized. Based upon a doctor's input, it was recommended for her to be sent to the The Willard Asylum for the Insane (Willard State Hospital) in Sonyea, NY.
I can hear you say "Huh? Where is that?"
Sonyea, NY is near Groveland, New York in which the Town of Groveland is centrally located in the county, South of Geneseo in the State of New York. However, some people sometimes claim the name Sonyea is an acronym for "State of New York Epileptic Asylum".
The land was settled by the Shakers who wanted to be away from the mainstream of people and lived a simple life. However, they felt people were starting to affect their ways, and gave the land to become a hospital to help others, but then it was sold to become Groveland Correctional Facility.
It was still in the state of New York, but far enough from any kind of main settlements, where family could not visit Mary as you can see by the map above. This made the family very upset because up until she was sent away, she had always been included in the family.
Jules doesn't stop there though. In April 1933, they get a new phone installed, and by May, Jules has put ads in the newspaper for female help in the house. By October 1933, Jules actually leaves to go to visit his family in Belgium for 3 months. By October 1934, he's sold their home to newlyweds and is engaged to be married. On October 20, 1934 Jules marries for a second time.
By December 1934, his daughter Mary dies at The Willard Asylum for the Insane (Willard State Hospital) in Sonyea, NY.
Jules does bring Mary back home and buries her within feet of her mother, Annie.
Annie's Proud Achievements
Even with having this type of husband, Annie still manages to do a great job with her 7 children. Two died without having reach adulthood either by accident or by disease.
Out of the remaining 5 children, she has one that goes on to marry and have a child, Florence, which they loose in World War 2.
Another, Alice, becomes a nurse, at St. Luke's Hospital, which I believe is due to her sister Mary's polio. She goes on to marry and have a son who becomes a reverend.
James becomes a farmer like his father. Eventually himself and brother, William, buy their father's farm from him. James' daughters go on to start the Gauquie Sisters School of Dance in Washingtonville, NY.
Louis worked for the railway on and off for years before starting his own business of cleaning chimneys and furnaces.
I would say Annie didn't do too badly from what she had to work with!
Nature Versus Nurture
By reading the above, gives a great sense of what is nature against what is nurture.
The formal definition is "a debate involving whether human behavior is determined by the environment, either prenatal or during a person's life, or by a person's genes." (Credit)
Annie demonstrated just what its like to be a caring person and have this type of environment. However, with Jules, his behavior any kind of caring, would have to be shared by genes as I believe a normal person does not do what he had done to Mary.
Unfortunately, Mary's story is just one of the a group of stories about Jules and how he did things. If it would show him in a good light, he did it full steam ahead, but when it came to the door closing and keeping the people with the house, the stories got more terrifying.
This reminds me of Pink's song "Family Portrait" in this area:
Below is the video with the lyrics.
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| The Danish 1880 Census with Annie and her family highlighted in Red above. Credit was done when this page was active. Dfsimage.danishfamilysearch.com/data/folketaelling/ft1880/11938925.jpg |
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| Annie's Passport application which shows her date of birth, where born and her father's name. Credit |
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| The 2nd to last and last are my family, I believe. This was the 1890 Denmark Census. Thanks Rick for helping. Credit Denmark Archives. |
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| This is from Denmark's Archives in 1891. Thanks Rick for helping. |
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| Jules and Annie's marriage certificate in 1896. Credit |
She works the dairy, takes care of her husband and children.
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| Jules is Annie's husband and from above, you can see she was actively working the farm even with children. Credit |
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| The newspaper misprints the name of Jules when it should be Charles. Jules is his father. Credit |
On top of this, their second oldest daughter Mary, comes down with Polio or poliomyelitis. I believe I've narrowed the time down to between 1910-1914.
Many people think of polio as the iron lungs, but it is much more than that due to after the initial bout of poliomyelitis, some people suffer from further symptoms also known as post-polio syndrome. Some of the things she could have had would be decreasing strength and endurance, breathing, swallowing or speaking difficulties, pain in muscles and joints, or fatigue and an inability to stay alert. The polio virus attacks specific neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord. This meant when she contracted the virus, it attacked the area where it wouldn't allow her to mental go beyond a certain age.
There was an outbreak around the area and from family reports she never grew, mentally, beyond a 10-14 year old and as she was born in 1899, this time frame fits as by 1907 approximately 2,500 cases of poliomyelitis were reported in New York City which was about 66 miles. However, with it being a dairy farm, chances are high of it coming from there due to the exposure to trucks and people from this area. There was a out break in polio in 1916, but this would be years after Mary would be infected so this wouldn't be where Mary's was infected.
As further proof, Mary did have an accident where she hurt herself, highlighted in yellow below, which goes to show they had to be careful with everything she did.
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| Mary, highlighted above, gets a burn on her arm and hand in 1918 due to her polio. Credit |
The vaccine would not be introduced for Polio until 1955, which would be years later.
Then in 1933, Annie gets sick from not having a proper coat during the winter. From my cousins, they were told she didn't have a winter coat, and her daughters bought her one just before she got sick because they were worried about her. However, having only wore the coat 1 or 2 times, she gets pneumonia and ends up in St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh, NY.
She dies on January 18, 1933. She is only 60 years old.
However, Mary is still at home on the farm and its noted in Annie's will and probate she is listed as incompetent and a guardian is appointed for her by the state.
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| As you can see by the second box at the top, Mary is declared incompetent when Annie's will is filed in mid January 1933. Credit |
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| By the end of January 1933, Mary has been declared of having no general guardian. Credit |
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| February 1, 1933 it was given noticed for the probate of Annie, that on the 7th, Mary will be starting service of her guardian being the State of New York. Credit |
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| February 14th, 1933 Mary has a guardian appointed for Mary. |
Annie's probate was reported to be finished on October 17, 1933. It wasn't until this point I believe the next steps for Mary happened.
The family story is Jules shopped around to find the cheapest and most out of the way place to send Mary once the Probate was finalized. Based upon a doctor's input, it was recommended for her to be sent to the The Willard Asylum for the Insane (Willard State Hospital) in Sonyea, NY.
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| Willard State Hospital, Main Building, circa 1898. Credit |
I can hear you say "Huh? Where is that?"
Sonyea, NY is near Groveland, New York in which the Town of Groveland is centrally located in the county, South of Geneseo in the State of New York. However, some people sometimes claim the name Sonyea is an acronym for "State of New York Epileptic Asylum".
 |
| Sonyea and Groveland, NY on a map showing the distance from Blooming Grove to there. Map credit: Googlemaps |
It was still in the state of New York, but far enough from any kind of main settlements, where family could not visit Mary as you can see by the map above. This made the family very upset because up until she was sent away, she had always been included in the family.
Jules doesn't stop there though. In April 1933, they get a new phone installed, and by May, Jules has put ads in the newspaper for female help in the house. By October 1933, Jules actually leaves to go to visit his family in Belgium for 3 months. By October 1934, he's sold their home to newlyweds and is engaged to be married. On October 20, 1934 Jules marries for a second time.
By December 1934, his daughter Mary dies at The Willard Asylum for the Insane (Willard State Hospital) in Sonyea, NY.
Jules does bring Mary back home and buries her within feet of her mother, Annie.
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| Me visiting Annie and Jules (to the right of me) and Mary (in the front) January 31 2019 at St Mary's, Washingtonville, NY |
Annie's Proud Achievements
Even with having this type of husband, Annie still manages to do a great job with her 7 children. Two died without having reach adulthood either by accident or by disease.
Out of the remaining 5 children, she has one that goes on to marry and have a child, Florence, which they loose in World War 2.
Another, Alice, becomes a nurse, at St. Luke's Hospital, which I believe is due to her sister Mary's polio. She goes on to marry and have a son who becomes a reverend.
James becomes a farmer like his father. Eventually himself and brother, William, buy their father's farm from him. James' daughters go on to start the Gauquie Sisters School of Dance in Washingtonville, NY.
Louis worked for the railway on and off for years before starting his own business of cleaning chimneys and furnaces.
I would say Annie didn't do too badly from what she had to work with!
Nature Versus Nurture
By reading the above, gives a great sense of what is nature against what is nurture.
The formal definition is "a debate involving whether human behavior is determined by the environment, either prenatal or during a person's life, or by a person's genes." (Credit)
Annie demonstrated just what its like to be a caring person and have this type of environment. However, with Jules, his behavior any kind of caring, would have to be shared by genes as I believe a normal person does not do what he had done to Mary.
Unfortunately, Mary's story is just one of the a group of stories about Jules and how he did things. If it would show him in a good light, he did it full steam ahead, but when it came to the door closing and keeping the people with the house, the stories got more terrifying.
This reminds me of Pink's song "Family Portrait" in this area:
"In our family portrait we look pretty happy
We look pretty normal, let's go back to that
In our family portrait we look pretty happy
Let's play pretend, act like it goes naturally"
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