Thomas Poff
By Dusty Pilgrim,
kymyroots@yahoo.com
Thomas Bueford Poff Jr. born
in Knox Co. Kentucky on April 7, 1863 (date
confirmed from family Bible) was the
son of Thomas Bueford (Bluford?) Poff and wife Nancy Jane Kellems.
They lived several places then finally in Bell Co.
KY in the same area where Thomas Sr. grew up. Thomas
Poff Sr. joined the Union Army in 1861 and detached
to the KY 8th, released at the end of the War.
Thomas Jr. was conceived while his father was
stationed at nearby Barbourville KY.
1880 census Pineville, Bell,
Kentucky, District 6; Thomas PEUGH Self 55 KY Farmer
VA TN; Nancy J. PEUGH Wife 52 KY KY KY; Emily PEUGH
Dau 25 KY; Sarah M. PEUGH Dau 20 KY; Thomas PEUGH
Son 17 KY; Amanda PEUGH Dau 14 KY; Josephine PEUGH
Dau 10 KY
* took me forever to find them
with that spelling;
* (Josh) Bell Co. KY formed
from Knox Co. in 1867
Thomas Poff Jr. married Nancy
Evelyn Miracle on December 26, 1889 in Bell Co. KY,
she was the daughter of John Atts Miracle and Mary
Thompson. To that union nine children were born, all
in Bell Co. KY.
Thomas Poff (Jr.) & wife Nancy
can be found in the following census:
1900 census Cubage,
District 13, Bell Co. KY with children -
Samuel b. 1891; Mary Jane b. 1893; Cora b. 1896;
Lucinda b. 1898.
Thomas and Nancy's youngest
daughter Ellen born 1909 in Bell Co., shortly there
after they moved to Madison Co. KY because Thomas
Poff (Jr.) lost the family farm willed to him by his
mother.
Nancy's mother Mary didn't like Tom and made his
life miserable so he left to keep the peace as they
were caring for his wife & younger children when he
couldn't. The preacher threatened to "church" Mary
for her unchristian behavior towards Tom, but Tom
had already left the home ("Church" means to have
them thrown out of the church). Mary did change
her ways somewhat after that but it was to late
then. Mary Jane left because of her Grandmother too,
she would live with others & work for them for room
& board.
1910 Madison County
Kentucky, Blue Lick, District 74, Nancy and 7 of
her children are living in the home of her father
John Atts Miracle: Nancy age 39 (listed as widow
although Thomas was still living); Mary J. age 16;
Cora age 14; Lucinda age 12; John A. age 10; C M age
7; Sarah E. age 3; Nancy E. age 8 months.
1920 Madison County Kentucky, Yates District:
Nancy Poff & her two youngest are in census at her
fathers house (John Atts Miracle)
______________________________________
Court
Commitment-Circuit Court Madison County, Ky.
From Book 1, Page 140
August Term 1917
State of Kentucky
Commonwealth County of Madison versus Thomas Poff
This day E. H.
Crooke, Attorney for the Commonwealth, filed an
information as follows, to-witt: To J. C. Baxter
Judge of the Madison Court: I am reliably
informed that Thomas Poff is a person
of unsound mind and a Lunatic and therefore
ask that a Jury be impaneled to pass upon the
subject.
_________________________
County
Attorney Madison
Court
Ordered by the Court,
That G. Murry Smith Esq., an Attorney of this
Court be and he is appointed to defend for and on
behalf of the person under trial.
To inquire, etc.,
comes a Jury, to-wit: Lawson Reynolds, Jesse
Rhodus, Cruther Soper, Martin Babe, Sam Shearer,
Jas. Keene, Guy Bolton who being duly impaneled
and sworn according to law, after hearing the
evidence, returned the verdict viz: We of the jury
find from the evidence that Thos. Poff is a
person of unsound mind and a Lunatic: that he was
born in Belle County, Ky. And resides in
Madison County, and is 62 years of age;
that he was not brought into this State for the
purpose of becoming a charge upon the Commonwealth:
that he own no estate of any kind; that father is
dead and mother is dead and reside in ___
and ha__ not estate sufficient to support the person
under trial; and said Thomas Poff is not
capable of laboring either in whole or in part for
his support.
Signed: Phil Maynahan,
Foreman
______________________________________
Brief History of Case
by the Presiding Judge:
Age? 62;
Color? White; Sex? Male; Occupation? Laborer;
Occupation of Husband? __; Habits? Good;
Extent of Education? None; Number and date of
previous attacks? None; What relatives, if
any, have been insane, peculiar, or intemperate?
___; Duration of present attack? Two Months;
How exhibited and has changed in character? Worse;
Supposed cause? __; Any delusions or hallucinations,
and if so, what? __; Subject to fits __, if so, how
long and what cause? __; Natural temper and
disposition toward relatives Violent; Any
threat, attempt or tendency to injure self or
others? Yes; Violent? Yes;
Destructive? Yes, Cleanly? Yes;
Periodic frenzy and lucid intervals and duration of
each ___; What restraints have been imposed and what
treatments used ___; Any injury about the head ever
received? No; Any bodily disease from
suppression of evacuations, eruptions, sores,
injuries? Yes; What estate have the parents,
husband or wife of the person under trial? ___
“Together with
whatever else may be deemed material toward enabling
the superintendent of the asylum to understand the
case” ____________________
Wherefore it is
adjudged by the court that said Thos. Poff is
a person of unsound mind and a Lunatic; it is
ordered that __ he be committed to the asylum for
the insane at Lexington, Ky., and that the
superintendent of said asylum be immediately
notified and directed to send for said lunatic.
J. G. Baxter,
Judge Madison County
Attest: F. B. Terrell
Clerk Madison Court
Term Aug.,
Date Aug. 25, 1917
Book No. 1,
Page 140
Medical
Records
No.
13760
Thomas Poff
Madison
County
Admitted
Aug. 25, 1917
Address _______
Remarks ______
______________________________________
Mental Test of
Patient When Admitted
Name Thos. Poff;
Consecutive No.; Date
Aug 25,1917
I. Consciousness and
Orientation (Note: No answers were written to the
questions below.)
II. School Knowledge:
(Note: No answers were written to the questions
below.)
III.
Problem-Answer-Time-Remarks (Note: No answers were
written below.)
______________________________________
Instructions for
Attendants Sent for Patients
Do not take charge of
a patient until you receive commitment papers, duly
signed.
Be kind and
considerate toward the patient and do not use
restraints, if possible avoidable.
If possible, secure
answers to all the subjoined questions, from
relative or family physician. Have patient leave all
valuables and money at home.
Get name and address
of nearest or near relative as a correspondent.
History of Case
Obtained by Attendant.
Full name of Patient
Thos Poff, County Madison, town
Berea, Name and Address of Correspondent Mrs.
Wm. Burnell, Berea, Ky., Telegraph or
Telephone Same, Relationship of Correspondent
to Patient Daughter.
Age 62, Sex
Male, Color White, Married, Single,
Widowed, or Divorced-Widowed,
Occupation Farmer,
Number of Children Living 1, Number Dead _,
Age of Youngest Child _,
What relatives have
been insane-
yes brother
Habits of patient and
parents regarding use of intoxicants, opium,
morphine, chloral, etc-
not known
Has patient attempted
or threatened injury to self of others-
yes others
What education has
patient-
very little
Where was patient
born- Ky.
Ascertain what
disease the patient, has or has had, or serious
injury-
Sore leg
Delusion--Character
of think he
will be hurt
Habits of patient as
to cleanliness- yes, as to sleep __
What is thought to
have caused the insanity-
sickness
Is patient noisy,
violent, destructive, depressed-
violent at times
Did you use
restraints in conveying patient to the asylum-
only hold
him
L. A. Watkins,
Attendant
______________________
Ward Admission Record
Name Thos Poff,
County Madison, Ward 15,
Admitted Aug 25,
1917, at 12:15 PM, Bathed at 12:50
PM.
Condition of Person;
(General appearance as to Cleanliness, Vermin, and
Nutrition)-
Bad
Skin; (Marks,
Bruises, Scars, Skin Disease, Eruption and
locality)-
Eruption on left leg below knee
Physical Disorders;
(Deformities, Rupture, Fractures, Dislocation,
etc.)- None
Mental State,
Tendencies; Homicidal _, Suicidal _, Violent _,
Depressed _, Destructive _
Articles found on
person of Patient-
None
Quality and condition
of clothing-
Bad
Lee O. Bush,
Attendant
_____________________________________
Invoice of Clothing
Received With Patient
Male Articles
Hats
Overcoats
Vests
Pants, Pairs-
1
Shoes, Pairs-
1 (rubber
slippers)
Socks, Pairs-
1
Shirts-
1
Undershirts-
Drawers, Pairs-
1
Collars
Neckties
Suspenders, Pairs-
1
Cuffs, Pairs
Gloves, Pairs
__________________________________
Statistical Data,
Physical Condition, etc
Date: Aug 25,
1917
Name- Thos Poff,
Age- 62, Civil Condition, Married, Single,
Widowed, Divorced- Widowed, Number of times
married- _, Number of living Children-Male _ ,
Female- 1, Number of Children dead- _
Name of birthplace of
Father- _, Name of birthplace of Mother-_, Extent of
Education- _
Tendencies- Suicidal
_, Homicidal- yes, Criminal _, Epileptic- _,
Regular Church
Religion, Sect or Denomination- _
Occupation of Self or
Husband- _, Occupation of Father- _, Occupation of
Mother- _
What relatives have
been insane- _
Number and dates of
former attacks- _, Duration of each and result- _,
Duration of each present attack- Two Months,
Alleged Cause- _, Probable cause- _, Contributing
causes- _
Heredity,
Intemperance or Drug Addition, etc., parents,
Environmental, etc.- _
Diagnosis- Senile
Psychosis
Physical condition:
Pulse- _, Temperature- _, Respiration- _, Pupils- _,
Examination of Heart and Lungs- _, Condition of
Stomach and Bowels- _
Urinalysis: Color- _,
Re-action- _, Specific Gravity- _, Albumen- _,
Sugar- _, Urea- _, Sediment- _, Bile- _,
Microscopical Examination- _
Date of Discharge- _,
Condition: Restored- _, Much Improved- _, Improved-
_, Unimproved- _, Died-
Sept. 16, 1917
Cause of Death-
Pellagra
(learn
more about Pellagra)
E. L. Burley M. D.
~~~~~~~~
*I would have to
believe my Grandfather was not the only patient at
ESH with pellagra given his time frame. Meaning many
there could well have been many there physically ill
resulting in them being declared lunatics.
________________________________
Notes on History of Case
There is very little
"personal" information. It says he was violent at
times, that could have been as he was in the final
stages of pellagra or perhaps my Aunt knew he was
sick & knew this may be the only way to get medical
help for him so she lied a little? I'll never know,
my mother told us that her mother said he was a soft
spoken quiet man with a giving nature. So "violent"
& "homicidal" doesn't fit with the description of
his person. I know for a fact she lied on some
things as it says he's widowed & he wasn't, it says
she's the only child when in fact there were nine
children.
Correspondent Mrs. Wm
Burnell was Mary Jane Poff, daughter of Thomas Poff
Jr. who married William Burnell
Maybe Tom Poff
couldn't answer as to how old he was? maybe daughter
Mary Jane Burnell just didn't know? I don't know why
that information is incorrect.
I don't know why she
put widowed as he was not, he was separated from his
wife Nancy.
Mary Jane put that
she's the only living child, I don't know why as
there were 7 others still living. As I said maybe
she knew he needed medical help & thought this was
the only way to do it? If he had no means then the
state would take him? Maybe she was afraid of his
erratic behavior caused by the illness? I just don't
know...
"what relatives have
been insane?" it has brother
I don't know who's
brother? brother of Thomas? brother of Mary Jane?
Mary Jane had 3
brothers one died at a month old of a heart defect,
the other two lived long normal lives as I knew them
both.
Tom had 4 brothers -
one died at 4 years old; the other 3 married & had
children I'm in contact with descendants of two of
them & have never heard anything of insanity. one
brother committed suicide in 1918 because his son
was drafted into WW 1, as a result his son didn't
have to go. But his death was after Thomas Poff
died.
