Declarations of
Insanity

This page updated September 8, 2016





This is not a pleasant subject, but in looking for your ancestors, you cannot just sugar-coat the data, bad things happened.

Declarations of insanity were normally done through probate court and that is where the records are held.

As the older obituaries were much more informative then today's obituaries, they included much information about

when a person was declared or where they were sent. In some cases, it also mentions their siblings.

For the most part, the person's listed below were found in the obituaries and are mainly from Morgan County, but there are a few from Owen County as well.

I have no proof other then the sources listed here with the exception of a few in my own family lineage.

These are not in alphabetical order as I am still collecting them. So PLEASE, PLEASE look through the entire list. As well, the counties are NOT divided.

I have done my best to list just where these persons lived.

As with everything else on the website, these are listed as simply another avenue to locate your ancestor.





Ludricrous Reasons to be Judged Insane 1864-1889




 

Person Date Residence Details Source
         
Dennis Rodell HARRISON October 1892 Jackson twp, Owen County Father requests admission of son to state asylum Commissioner Book 13, p. 495
John WELCH January 8, 1880 Wallace Junction,Taylor twp, Owen County Declared insane and application made for his admission to the asylum. His malady is attributed to intemperance in the use of whisky and tobacco. Indianapolis Sentinel; January 8 1880
Willie Caldwell SPENSE March 1891 Owen County Father requests admission of son to state asylum Commissioner Book 13, p. 342
Early ORAN December 1892 Owen County Commissioners ordered that Early Oran, an insane person, be taken to the county asylum. Commissioner Book 13, p. 519
Milton BALDWIN 1870-1879 Owen County Was declared insane during this time and died prior to 1880 Family Data Files
Thomas Stockton LOCKHART January 1881 Morgan Twp, Owen County was admitted to Central State Hospital Insanity Affidavits
James HARDEN b. 1851 1870 Owen County XXXXXXXXX Asylum Records
Josiah HIXON b. 1845 1870 Owen County XXXXXXXXX Asylum Records
Sarah TABOR b. 1821 1870 Owen County XXXXXXXXX Asylum Records
Becky HILL b. 1830 1870 Owen County XXXXXXXXX Asylum Records
Catharine REDER b. 1838 1870 Owen County XXXXXXXXX Asylum Records
Susan SPANGLER b. 1843 1870 Owen County XXXXXXXXX Asylum Records
Sarah THOMPSON b. 1850 1870 Morgan County XXXXXXXXX Asylum Records
Roland CHILDS b. 1854 1870 Morgan County XXXXXXXXX Asylum Records
John MARTIN B. 1884 4/17/1919 Morgan County left asylum to live with parents-listed as feeble minded Asylum Records
Andy MURPHY b. 1868 2/29/1931 Morgan County admitted by Henry Thornberry-listed as feeble minded Asylum Records
Rebecca CROOKS b. 1840 1860 Putnam County listed as insane in the 1860 census Census Records
Lemuel RAGLE b. 1838 1860 Putnam County listed as idiot in the 1860 census Census Records
Joseph MILLER b. 1830 1860 Putnam County listed as insane in the 1860 census Census Records
Michael DIGGINS b. 1825 1860 Putnam County listed as insane in the 1860 census Census Records
Mary BLACK b. 1836 1860 Putnam County listed as insane in the 1860 census Census Records
Elizabeth PETTY b. 1835 1860 Putnam County listed as idiotic in the 1860 census Census Records
Lewis JONES b. 1830 1860 Putnam County listed as idiotic in the 1860 census Census Records
Margaret Landers b. 1846 1860 Putnam County listed as idiotic in the 1860 census Census Records
Samuel KIRKMAN b. 1846 1860 Putnam County listed as idiotic in the 1860 census Census Records
William JOHNSON b. 1842 1860 Putnam County listed as idiotic in the 1860 census Census Records
John A. ROGERS b. 1848 1860 Putnam County listed as idiotic in the 1860 census Census Records
Elizabeth WHITE b. 1830 1860 Putnam County listed as insane in the 1860 census Census Records
Crafford COOPER b. 1835 1870 Putnam County listed as insane in the 1870 census Census Records
Levy MORE b. 1840 1870 Putnam County listed as idiotic in the 1870 census Census Records
Joseph BALLINGER 1899 Morgan County listed as insane upon his suicide Obituary
John BASTIN 1892 Morgan County Died at Asylum in Indianapolis Martinsville Republican, May 5, 1892
Martha BODENHAMMER 1/26/1882 Morgan County From Monrovia -- Mrs. Martha Bodenhammer, respected lady of this place, has become insane Martinsville Republican for Jan. 26, 1882
Sarah BROWN 8/27/1904 Morgan County died at age 50 at Asylum in Indianapolis Martinsville Republican, Sept. 1, 1904
John CARDER 1883 Morgan County John Carder died at the hospital for the Insane, at Indianapolis, February 2nd. He was 87 years old Martinsville Republican, Feb. 15, 1883
John CHAMBERS 2/1890 Mooresville, Morgan County Martinsville Republican for Feb. 27, 1890: "John Chambers, a prominent, highly respected farmer near Mooresville, has become insane Martinsville Republican for Feb. 27, 1890
William CLODFELDER 1885 Morgan County William Clodfelder, age 28, son of George Clodfelder, died yesterday in the insane hospital in Indianapolis. He has been in the insane hospital for 5 years Martinsville Republican, Sept. 18, 1890
Lora DeWESS 1902 Morgan County From Mooresville -- Miss Lora DeWees died Monday at the residence of her aunt, Celeste DeWees. She had been brought home from the Insane Hospital in Indianapolis."(She was 20 years old) Martinsville Republican, Dec. 25, 1902
Elizabeth DOAN 8/7/1899 Morgan County Died at age 90"Betsey Doan died yesterday. She has been Insane for several years." Diary of Elam Harvey for Aug. 8, 1899
James "Edgar" FERGUSON 7/22/1901 Morgan County Age 39. "The remains of Ed Ferguson, who died at the Insane Hospital, were brought here Tuesday for burial." Martinsville Democrat, July 26 & Aug. 2, 1901
Edwin FISHBACK 6/21/1881 Near Hall, Morgan County Age 66 years and 13 days. "Edwin Fishback, a prominent citizen and well to do farmer of Gregg Township near Hall, was taken to the hospital for the insane Monday. Tuesday, while there, he jumped to his death. Martinsville Republican, June 23, 1881
Lon GREESON 1894 Morgan County From the Martinsville Republican for Jan. 18, 1894: "Lon Greeson of Indianapolis was taken to the insane hospital in Indianapolis." Martinsville Republican-1/18/1894
Reese GREESON 1893 & 1899 Centerton, Morgan County Sept. 21, 1893: "Sheriff Bert Smith went to Centerton Friday and brought back Reason E. Greeson, who was declared crazy. He had tried to commit suicide Tuesday by cutting his throat.From the Martinsville Republican for Dec. 21, 1899:Reason Greeson were taken to the Central Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment.Spent many years at Madison State Hospital for the insane. Martinsville Republican
Zola MURPHY 12/21/1899 Morgan County From the Martinsville Republican for Dec. 21, 1899: "Zola Murphy, age 15, from Herbemont, was taken to the Central Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment Martinsville Republican
Susan HARVEY 1886 Morgan County From Mooresville -- Mrs. Thompson Harvey was taken to the Insane Asylum last week Martinsville Republican for April 8, 1886
Samuel HAWK January 1899 Morgan County Sam Hawk was taken to the Asylum for the Insane Diary of Elam Harvey for Jan. 11, 1899
Nathan HEDRICK 1902 Morgan County "Nathan Hedrick, age 58, died at the insane hospital in Indianapolis Monday.(5-5-1902)" Martinsville Republican, May 8, 1902
Joseph Milton HOBSON b. 1876 1894 Brooklyn, Morgan County "Joseph M. Hobson, of near Brooklyn, was taken to the insane asylum Saturday." Martinsville Republican for May 3, 1894
John KELSO Oct. 15, 1891 Morgan County John J. Kelso, formerly a resident of Jackson Township near Morgantown, died at the Central Insane Asylum. He was about 57 years old... Martinsville Republican
Thomas KOONS Oct. 16, 1875 Morgan County From the Indianapolis News -- Thomas Kountz (sic), formerly a business man of Centerton, Morgan County, was found wandering about the streets last evening, insane from financial difficulties. He was taken to the Central Station and today went back...Thomas J. Koons of Centerton, insane, was taken to the Asylum Martinsville Republican
Nancy LEWALLEN May 5, 1892 Morgan County "Alonzo D. Lewallen vs Nancy Lewallen, of un-sound mind. She was declared insane." Martinsville Republican
William LEWIS Aug. 18, 1904 Morgan County Died at Central Insane Hospital, Indianapolis. Martinsville Republican








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