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The Jukes in 1915

Creator: Arthur H. Estabrook (author)
Date: 1916
Publisher: Carnegie Institution of Washington
Source: Available at selected libraries

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244  

Isabella, V 97, a sister of Simon and Mary Eliza, cohabited young and had two children. At the age of 24, deserted by her man, she went to the almshouse with them. The two children were placed in an Orphans' Home, where one died, while the other ran away and has disappeared. Isabella left the almshouse soon after the children had been disposed of. She then cohabited with another man and had two illegitimate girls, who in turn have become harlots. She then married her cousin, VI 611, but had no children by him. She died poor and neglected in 1910.

245  

Imogen, V 98, next younger than Isabella, married her cousin, Levan, V 253, a descendant of Bell and Clara Juke. She was of good repute at that time. The family was poor, as Levan was a semi-industrious laborer and saved no money. In his later years he has committed rape on several young girls. He and his wife had three children. The eldest, VI 287, is ignorant, mentally slow, licentious, indolent, and has little ambition; she married a man of poor mentality, but who had the redeeming trait of being industrious, and they had three boys. These were incapable of learning in school and will grow up unskilled and unlettered, and consequently unable to get along well in life.

246  

The second child of Imogen, VI 288, was sent to the county jail for a term of 6 months for burglary in the third degree. He escaped from jail and upon being apprehended was sent to State prison for one year. He is a laborer, unlettered, with little schooling, is married, and has two small children.

247  

The third child of Imogen, VI 290, much like her older sister, is inefficient and a prostitute. She cohabited with VI 291 and they had seven children. This man is industrious, has some schooling, and, with a real helpmeet, "would be quite a man." As it is, the family lives in filth and squalor and the children are underfed and half-clothed.

248  

Pius, V 100, a brother of Imogen and Isabella, has always borne a good reputation, is a laborer, and has always worked steadily, although he never had any schooling. He is married and has two children - a son, VI 293, industrious and "steady," and a daughter, VI 294, who seems always to have been reputable, is now married, and has three children.

249  

Hulda Ann, V 103, sister of Pius, was born in 1860. She married Shy, V 102, when she was young, but left her husband in order to cohabit with Valentine, V 104. This man is a hack driver in a small town and his earnings are small and somewhat irregular. He is a big brute of a fellow and has quite a temper. Hulda Ann has been obliged to do plain nursing to help the family financially. She has fair intelligence, though little education. They had one illegitimate child, VI 296, who was quite capable in school and during her first year in high school did average work. She soon dropped out, however, went to work in a factory, and is now a harlot.

250  

Augusta, IV 17, a sister of Ann and daughter of Abe and Cora, was an ignorant but hard-working woman. She married Hezekiah, IV 16. These two were helped by the town for 3 years just previous to the time Hezekiah went to the poorhouse, where he died at the age of 40 of tuberculosis. They had four children, two dying in infancy.

251  

The oldest, a boy, Hannibal, V 106, was born in 1844 and was placed while yet young in a good family in the Juke region. He learned the blacksmith trade, and, meeting with many people who came to his master's shop, he soon learned to "dicker" and became quite adept at striking a bargain. He enlisted in the army at the outbreak of the Civil War and served through the whole war. He became an actor and was very successful; then he entered the theatrical business, in which in the course of ten years he cleared $100,000. This he invested in a stock farm and became the owner of two famous stallions of that time. The plays he produced were mostly western dramas. The scene of one of his best-known plays was laid in the town of Y, in the heart of the Juke country. Hannibal's stage name was on the tongues' end of the whole theater-going public of 20 and 30 years ago. He became financially embarassed -sic- in his later years, grew despondent over a broken wrist which refused to heal, and, fearing an operation which was deemed necessary, he committed suicide at the age of 64. He was married but had no children. He had a kind, generous disposition, and disliked to see want and suffering. At one time while the play laid in the Juke region was being enacted in Z, he sent out 100 passes to many of his old friends of this place, mostly Jukes.

252  

Hannibal's sister Nanchia, V 108, was a waitress and worked in a hotel. She was a harlot and thus acquired syphilis. She cohabited with a man, and had two illegitimate children, both of whom died. Nanchia is now dead.

253  

To return to Augusta: After Hezekiah, her husband, died, she charged bastardy on her cousin, Barney, IV 75, and he married her. He was, however, impotent. After they had lived together five years he died of consumption, and she lived then with Herbert, IV 17a, who later deserted her. She had by Herbert one daughter, Lavinia, V 112, and two bastard boys who died in infancy. Dugdale's record of Lavinia follows: "At 7, misdemeanor, county jail; harlot before marriage; 18, poorhouse, mulatto child born; tried suicide twice; 19, married; in service; syphilis." Two of her children died of syphilis. She was mentally defective and is now dead.

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