Week #9: Gone Too Soon

As you all can see I am really behind in my prompts. I will do the best I can to catch up as I am getting use to a new job, which of course translates into a new normal. Now…. onto the next topic in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge. This week we celebrate someone who has gone too soon, and of course I think of the little ones who never really had much of an opportunity to spread their wings and fly and leave the imprint on the world that we are able to do as adults.

Marshall James Edmonson

Marshall James Edmonson was born on 19 October 1896 in Pennsylvania to James Coleman Edmonson and his wife, Phoebe Anna Blair. Marshall was the second child born to the couple, after older sister Frances Jane “Fannie” Edmonson.

Marshall sadly didn’t die of any heartbreaking illness right after being born like so many other children (I have many that have barely made it a day). Marshall survived infancy and lived to be 3-years-old, dying on 20 November 1899.

I was fortunate through social media to find out when and how Marshall passed away. Using the Facebook group “Old Bedford County PA Genealogy (Includes Huntingdon, Fulton & Blair Co)” I asked the following question:

Good Evening Everyone! I have a number of relatives from Bedford County – I know death certificates weren’t mandatory until 1906 – but is it possible that death certificates were done in Bedford County before then? I just found a first cousin twice removed that was born in 1896 and died in 1899 and was just curious if there was more to be found besides his gravestone I came across on Find a Grave. Thank you in advance (if this has been asked before I apologize).

I was very fortunate and received an answer to my inquiry with my first response. A nice gentleman responded with:

There were a few sporadic deaths recorded between 1852 and 1854, and then again from 1894-1906. Since it was voluntary to report deaths the registers are not complete however. I happen to have a copy of the Register of Deaths 1894-1906 Vol 2, D-G by James Boor and fortunately for you Marshall is listed! I’ll give you the data here: Date of record February 22 1900; Name of deceased Edmondson Marshall J; Color White; Sex Male; Age 3 years; Single; Place of birth Kearney; Date of death November 20 1899; Place of death Hopewell; Cause of death Drank dye; Duration of last illness 14 months; Place & date of interment Hopewell November 20 1899; Name of father and mother James and Phoebe Edmondson.

What’s more interesting is that I either forgot that the duration of his illness was 14 months or it never really sank into my little brain until just now. How horrible to have had your almost 2-year-old child accidentally drink dye and then be sick from it for over a year.

Little Marshall definitely died too soon, but it also shows how sometimes you can use social media to ask a question and get the answer you seek.