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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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194  

Before leaving this immediate branch it is interesting to note the early marriage of 4 of these boys and 1 girl and the sexual precocity of the two young girls. Is this a remnant of the hypereroticism which produced a short lapse of virtue in the grandmother and the prostitution for which the other Jukes are noted?

195  

To return to our story. The second child of Althea died in infancy. The third, VI 191, was born in 1871. She was a bookkeeper, was chaste, and finally married. The marriage was not happy and she left her husband for another man. She died from the effects of an abortion.

196  

VI 193, the next in this family, was indolent and seemed to be continually in trouble. He left the Juke region and went to Minnesota, where he is reported to have been arrested, but no State prison record of him could be found. There is no further information in regard to him. The next, VI 195, born 1876, was always reputable, makes a good appearance, but, I am told, "has been silly with the boys when younger." She married well, and has one boy, who is in the seventh grade at the age of 13 and doing well. The youngest member of this family, VI 197, is a neat, refined woman with a quiet disposition, who has recently married. Although slow in school, she has become a good member of society.

197  

As one studies the Jukes and finds here and there a family such as the one described above, one sees a solution to the problem of the mental defective by out-marriage into stocks entirely different from that of the deficient strain. Here an industrious foreigner was mated to an "old-time" Juke and produced a progeny of whom the greater part has been distinctly social.

198  

The next two children of Albert died in infancy. The next, Kitty, V 60, died a young girl. The last in this family was Andrew, V 61, who is still living. He was born in 1854 and is described by Dugdale as "a handsome boy; a loafer who cares only for shooting and fishing, and lives with parents on the town." As he grew older he became more industrious and worked during the season in the cement mines. He has been in two serious mine accidents. In one he was given up as dead, as pieces of the cement rock had been embedded deeply in the flesh in various parts of the body. He recovered and to-day shows with a great deal of pride large pieces of rock, some as large as a hen's egg, which can be felt under the skin. He still hunts and fishes. He married Sylvia, V 62, an energetic, orderly woman who has saved money, so that now the family is comfortable. They have three children.

199  

The first, VI 200, is a hunter and fisher, mentally slow, having reached only the fourth grade during his eight years of school life. He is one of the "old-type Jukes" and lives in a shack near his father in the old Juke country. He married a reputable but ignorant woman, VI 199, who comes from a mentally defective family. They have three young children.

200  

The second child of Andrew is an industrious but intemperate fellow, who is married but has no children.

201  

The last, VI 203, was spoken of as "a bright girl in school," and was always of good repute. She married some years ago, but had no children.

202  

The fourth child of the cousin-mating of Alexander and Beatrice was Amanda, IV 9, a harlot, a recipient of poor relief and, as an old woman, nearly blind. She cohabited for many years with Lucien, IV 10. This man was described by Dugdale as follows: "Mason; excellent workman; idle; in middle life an habitual drunkard; deserted wife and children, and took up with Amanda; thief, though never caught; trained his children to crime; -his- father -of- good family and well off; his brother swindled him out of his property; 1850, outdoor relief, 2 years; 1852, died; town burial." He was reported to me as being a "thief, liar, and a man of no principles." This pair had four children: Anthony, Antonio, Abigail, and Alpha.

203  

Anthony, V 64, born 1828, was arrested at the age of 10 for stealing wood. At 26 he was arrested for burglary, but acquitted. At 42, although he had committed a murder, he was acquitted by the court. At 44 he was in the county jail for a short period. He has received pauper relief. He cohabited with a harlot, Vida, V 63, and had a bastard child. About 40 years ago, while under suspicion for a crime, he and his family left the State and have never been heard of since. No doubt the criminal career of this man continued. He probably changed his name upon leaving the Juke region. Although search was made for him by me in different parts of the country, no trace could be found.

204  

Antonio, V 66, brother of Anthony, who has previously been described, was a criminal of the worst type. He was born in 1830 and has the following story in the Juke book: "Laborer; at 30, burglary, third degree, Sing Sing, 3 years; 33, soldier; 40, outdoor relief, 1 year; 41, attempt at rape, Albany penitentiary, 1 year; 42, outdoor relief, 1 year; attempt at rape, Albany penitentiary, 1 year; 43, outdoor relief, 2 years; 44, burglary in the first degree, Sing Sing, 20 years; syphilis." By his "wife," Ivilla, V 65, who was ignorant, inefficient, and a harlot, he had four illegitimate children.

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