State Hospital at Chattahoochee - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: The reason most people committed

DaubGloria — 2013-04-28 01:14:42Z

My cousin, Gloria Ann Gunter spent most of her life there because she had epilepsy and the family was poor.

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

gosborne27 — 2013-03-06 00:33:37Z

ty so much - bummer about your computer

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

mikeortagus — 2013-03-05 00:52:47Z

I found it on ancestory.com using the Search tool on the top tab of the site . You can also use the Census Search tool on the right side of the ancestory.com home page. Sorry it took so long to answer but my computer crashed. Good luck.

Census records for Florida Hospital for the Mentally Insane

gosborne27 — 2013-02-07 20:53:36Z

How does one find the census records for this hospital for the early 1900's (1910-20).

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

gosborne27 — 2013-02-07 20:50:35Z

how did u get census information on the hospital? I'd like to check to see if my grand-mother was there. Mom was told she died but i just don't believe it.

Re: Charles Byrd

frankie191 — 2013-01-26 17:35:02Z

Hi, I was looking at photographs on ebay and was curious about the guy depicted. Here is a link to a pic of Charles Calhoun

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1952-Charles-Calhoun-Kills-Reclus...

Re: GPW

stonecosvs2 — 2013-01-04 20:33:42Z

My grandmother, Lela Ola Stone, on my father's side was a patient at G.P.W in the '60's would there be ANY information on her at all?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Kevin

Re: STATE HOSPITAL CHATTAHOOCHEE FL

Jmmumbauer — 2012-12-18 17:10:57Z

Try

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~chattahooc...

I was just there.

Re: Charles Byrd

mongkei — 2012-12-08 03:58:46Z

Charles Byrd was the son of James Norman Byrd and Thelma R. Burdette. James Norman Byrd and Thelma married in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida on 3 September 1934 and divorced in Polk County, Florida in 1937. They had one son, Charles Byrd, born on 5 June 1936. Thelma next married James Garrett Calhoun on 9 December 1937 in Tampa, Florida. Charles Byrd was raised as Charles Garrett Calhoun. I believe you are referring to the murder of Harold F. Whidden by Charles Calhoun, 15, which occurred in El Portal (North Miami). A 4-page illustrated article on this case was printed in the June 1952 issue of "Inside Detective", pp. 28, 29, 47, and 48. Charles died in Leon county, Florida on July 11, 1968 and is buried in Roselawn Cemetery, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

Re: Pre-1930 Death Index & Cemetery Listing Available

annehuffman1 — 2012-10-22 01:19:59Z

I have "Pre- 1930" and you need 1937. Good news is that the Florida State Archives officer on Bronough Street has records through the 1960s.

Google them and give a call, I dont know if they do "look ups" but they might.

Good Luck,
Anne

Re: Pre-1930 Death Index & Cemetery Listing Available

ida209 — 2012-10-22 01:15:43Z

I am interested in finding out how to locate where my grandmother is buried. She was in the state hospital and died in 1937. She was African American. Her name was Ruth Scarborough. The family was told that they could not ship her body to family when she died.

Re: Hospital Records for Viola Doswell Williams

billeymiller — 2012-10-20 04:15:20Z

Hi Glen, My mother was a Doswell and I am working on the Doswell ancestry. I read your inquiry and you think your grandmother's grave is in Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. That is an African-American cemetery. I found Viola's brother and son buried in the Cypress Community Cemetery in Cypress, Jackson Co., FL. Even her husband's parents are buried there. Numerous other Williams are buried there. There are 42 unmarked graves in that cemetery. It is highly likely that one is Viola's. Billey Miller

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

mikeortagus — 2012-08-13 01:57:26Z

I received my husband's grandfather's records from Florida State Hospital. They provided his admission dates, discharge dates, guardian information, diagnosis information and cause of death. He was in and out from January 1930 through June 1942. Beyond the most recent 7 years, they only keep old admission ledgers and Master Resident Index Cards. So, you will not get in deep level of detail. It was well worth our time to receive the information. Remember, you will have to provide a chain of birth and death certificates to prove you are the next of kin plus other documentation. Just contact Medical Records for details. Hope this helps you.

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

mikeortagus — 2012-07-28 15:34:43Z

Wanted to update you. I spoke to FL State Hospital Friday, (7/27) regarding my husband's grandfather's file. He was in the hospital from 1930 - 1942. He died there. The hospital's Medical Records Dept. received our request (including the entire family line of birth certificates & death certificates) on May 11, 2012. They finished researching it and sent it to a Supervisor for review. The hospital has been being accredited again so the Supervisor has been busy & not gotten to it yet. They said they will try to get it out in the next week or two but no promises. So, we know they will do it for us. It just takes a long time and you do have to send a lot of documentation to get the medical records. I will let everyone know how much they send us and when we get it.

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

doreen893 — 2012-07-28 12:32:48Z

This thread is for the Florida State Mental Hospital that was in Chattahoochie. I think you are looking for just hospitals in Florida.

Florida is terrible for giving any adoption information out. I have been searching for years for my sisters baby that was adopted in Florida. They are known for changing birth dates, names etc. Adoption records in Florida are still sealed.

Good luck with your search!
Doreen

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

mandybaker83 — 2012-07-28 06:04:24Z

will they give out birth records for my grandmother who was adopted? I have her full name and her adopted name as well. Would my grandmother have to call or could my dad or auntie.

Cemetery Records?

paigefrank77 — 2012-07-26 23:58:47Z

If someone was buried on the hospital grounds, would it ever be possible to find that location. Looking to place a headstone

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

mikeortagus — 2012-07-14 13:03:43Z

Wanted to update you. The research on my husband's Grandfather has finally been completed by FL State Hospital. His file is now on the Supervisor's desk for review. Once the review is completed, they tell me it will be mailed to us. Just as an FYI, they did call us for an additional death certificate to establish next of kin so there was a good deal of documentation required. I will continue to keep you posted.

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

Shepard_Samantha — 2012-07-14 05:50:11Z

My mother used to be in charge of records at the hospital. It is true that the patients (the calm ones, obviously) were allowed to roam the grounds. They even had their own softball team, and my mom was the catcher. Scary to think the man holding the bat killed his whole family right? But not all crazy people are out of control. The gave the patients jobs. Some worked as plumbing assistants, or gardeners. Not everything the man said was bull.

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

Shepard_Samantha — 2012-07-14 05:46:41Z

I would just call the hospital. My mom used to work there and was in charge of the records. You wouldnt be violating HIPPA or anything, because I dont think that was law until the 90s. Just call. I'm sure whoever has taken over would be more than happy to help, especially if you tell them your story. Good Luck!

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

lutzprincess — 2012-05-24 19:16:03Z

Keep us posted as all I have found out that two of my fathers' people were there before 1939 and one uncle died there. My grandfather was there over a year. I will collect that info and try too to get more on them if you get some results.

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

mikeortagus — 2012-05-23 23:54:17Z

I called the hospital regarding my husband's grandfater. They required my husband's driver's license, my husband's birth certificate and my husband's father's death certificate all to prove next of kin. They also required a notarized letter from my husband with as much information as we would provide about his grandfather (name, date of birth, circumstances we might have heard about about). They told us their legal dept would approve before they would research and respond. We sent all of that by certified mail along with a copy of the 1930 census showing he was there and the FL Death Index showing he died there. They received it 5/11/12. Now, we are waiting.

Re: Clara Acuff died 1918 in Chattahoochee State Mental Hospital, Heep Needed please

keyesperry — 2012-05-19 19:25:54Z

I am one of the researchers who contribute to Acuff.org. You will want to look at that site, if you haven't done that already. (It is all free, but you have to register to see the Family Tree.)
We think you are right that Clara is a daughter of William S. and Mary (Talley) Acuff. One of her nieces told me that she had heard that Fannie Clara Acuff had a nervous breakdown after being raped and was sent to the mental hospital.
I am not sure exactly when William and Mary were divorced, but Mary remarried before 1910. In the 1910 census, Clara and her 5 living siblings were listed with her mother and stepfather -- and their surname was misspelled as ACKUS or ACKERS.
1910 federal census of Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida
Roll: T624_163; sheet 12A; Enumeration District: 79, Prec. 4, page 140A
231-232
John A. Mayfield Head MW 48 married for the 2nd time, 5 years TN-TN-TN House carpenter. Literate.
Mary M. Mayfield Wife FW 41 married for the 2nd time, 5 years 7 children, 6 living MO-TN-TN. Spaces for indicating literacy are blank.
Elbert F. Ackus stepson MW 21 single TX-TN-MO. Fisherman, general, on his own account. Literate.
Roy Ackus stepson MW 16 single TX-TN-MO. Captain, launch, on his own account. Literate.
Rupert Ackus stepson MW 13 single TX-TN-MO. Literate; attending school.
Eustace Ackus stepson MW 11 single TX-TN-MO. Literate; attending school.
Arthur Ackus stepson MW 9 [? - overwritten; could be 7 or 8] single FL-TN-MO Not marked as literate or attending school
Clara [sic] F. Ackus stepdaughter FW 17 single TX-TN-MO. Literate
Clara is listed last, out of age order, which probably means that she was living in the hospital then, as the census entry you found shows.

Gilmore,Herron

deborahmashore — 2012-05-09 00:51:00Z

Martha Mattie Mary Gilmore is my Great Great Grandmother she was married to Francis Caleb Herron.
Mattie died 1912, did she stay married to Francis or remarry? I understand Francis Herron Left the family when Martha Marjory (McKnight) was 8 years old.
I can not find any info on Francis C's father who I was told died in the Civil War and that Francis Caleb had been wounded.
I have a full story pretty much on francis its pubic record.
But I can not find the three Herron Brotherswho came over from Ireland. A Gilmore was with them.

Re: Allen Bert Kersey

carlacravens1 — 2012-04-09 02:34:31Z

Hi, do a web serach on Graveyard, headstone state projects. Look up the states that you are interested in. I have found that there is Kersey headstones listed. My Kersey side is from Iowa, but don't know where Great Grandfather Ulysses Grant Kersey came from, but know he served in the Civil War.
Happy hunting, Carla kersey cravens

Re: Dumas (1963) / Thios (1923) buried at FSH. Have you been there?

djjohnengland — 2012-04-03 12:34:29Z

Thank you for your reply. I will have to go there myself eventually. My great grandmother was buried there in 1923 and my grandfather was in 1963. I already have their death certificates.

Re: Florida State Hospital - Photo Records??

attocat — 2012-02-27 22:28:37Z

This APPEARS to be the man you're looking for:

09/12/1918 World War I Draft Registration
Georgia - Terrell County - Dawson

RUSSELL, Clarence Lee - white, native born on 06/26/1882
Living at Route 2, Dawson - Farmer

Nearest Relative: Lurlie Ethel RUSSELL

He was tall, slender, with grey eyes and (brown?) hair. No disabilities listed.

(Draft Registration cards often have the birth year off by one year.)

1920 Federal Census - Georgia - Terrell County - Georgia Militia District 909

RUSSELL Family (white)
Clarence L., head, 35, farmer
Lurlie E., wife, 31
Renan V., son, 6 (not sure about this name)

Clarence and his parents were born in Georgia; Lurlie and her parents were born in Kentucky; Renan was born in Georgia.

Not sure where the family was in 1930.

Florida State Hospital - Photo Records??

stephenjblack — 2012-02-26 21:30:01Z

Does anyone know if Florida State Hospital kept photos of patients. I know it was really the Mental Asylum & Prison Hospital & you would think most had some kind of patient id system. Or does any one know if there are pictures of the staff who worked there. There is a website (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~chattahooc...) about the Hospital Cemetery but most of the links on the page are inactive now.

I'm looking for a Clarance Lee Russell(6/26/1883-4/2/1958) who according to his death certificate died there in the late 1950s(1956-1958).

I was looking for pictures because for all intent and purpose this man may be apart of my family. The problem is I'm Black & he's White according to his Death Certificate. Im thinking maybe Mr. Russell (or his parents) could have been an assimilated Native American who passed for white. Its a stretch but anyone who studies history knows things can happen.

If anyone has any leads please let me know and I shall do the same if I get any.

Re: Florida State Mental Hospitals

gigilew — 2011-11-18 20:07:19Z

The name of the movie was Chattahoochee.

Re: Dumas (1963) / Thios (1923) buried at FSH. Have you been there?

drobi1966 — 2011-10-08 18:41:46Z

I visited the hospital about six months ago to find out where my grandmother is buried. They actually took me to her grave and answered any questions I had. The office personal were pleasant and courteous. They said I could obtain a death certificate by proving I am a relative.

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

BillAlonzo — 2011-09-28 13:17:36Z

How does one gain access to hospital records from 1920-1932?
Bryan6339@windstream.net

Sallie Thomas

Lexie1285 — 2011-09-21 02:35:20Z

My maternal Great Grand Mother Was Sallie Burkett born in Alabama in 1898, she lived in Holmes County Florida, parents were W.J. and Milly or Nellie Burket.

In 1916 she married William Jefferson Thomas, children were Fred, Lois and Ruby Thomas,when they married they lived in Jackson County Florida, she supposedly passed away in 1928, does anyone know where she may be buried?

Thanks!

Veltri sharon skolnik

Kimnewyear20101 — 2011-09-15 05:31:57Z

In brevard county florida sharon skolnik married to veltri fbi florida if your names richmond your under arrest for my wife sharon skolnik our agency will murd er you all if thats your name our agency will rape and murd er you all last christmas is the last 1 your children will ever have i had your children digging in their crotch at the fbi in their crotch for my wife sharon skolnik her name ill rape and murd er you all it will be so nice to never hear your ch ildren laug hing in our community world trade center new york isnt skolniks whores your agencies

John Gibney

Carolinaancestor — 2011-09-06 03:54:31Z

I'm looking for information on John Gibney. He died on April 5, 1901, and is buried in Cemetery #2. Any information would be of great help to me.

GEORGIANN MAE HAYES

c4f1e4694f — 2011-05-31 14:44:17Z

my grandmother was committed to the chattahoochee mental hospital around 1930 she had bi-polar syndrome I think even though it was undiagnosed back then she went in around 1935 and my family says she was still alive up to or around 1950 she died and was buried at the institution but i am unable to find her grave or record of her at any of the cemeterys there if any one can tell me how I could further check into this or if anyone knows anything that would help me I would appreaciate it thank you donald hayes

Re: Looking for Death Record for John Herbert Watling

attocat — 2011-04-07 01:18:10Z

At this site:

http://vitalrec.com/fl.html#State

you can order a copy of his Florida death certificate. These usually have a wealth of medical and genealogical information. May be the best $5/couple of weeks you'll spend!

Re: Looking for Death Record for John Herbert Watling

marielleassad — 2011-04-07 00:52:01Z

Thanks for this!
What do you mean when you say $5 and a couple of weeks? Do you have access to more detailed records?
Thanks!

Re: Looking for Death Record for John Herbert Watling

attocat — 2011-03-29 21:36:18Z

$5 and a couple of weeks:

Florida Death Index, 1877-1998

Name: Mr. J.H. Watling
Death Date: 1941
County of Death: Gadsden
State of Death: Florida
Gender: Male

Source Information:

Ancestry.com. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
Original data: State of Florida. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998. Florida: Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, 1998.

Description:
This index covers the death records in the State of Florida, USA, from 1877 to 1998. Most records contain a name, race, death date, death place, gender, birth date, volume number, and certificate number.

© 2011, The Generations Network, Inc.
<< Return to Results Screen

At that time, I suspect that it was far better for a woman to be "widowed" than to be divorced or abandoned, or to have a husband in the FSH.

Looking for Death Record for John Herbert Watling

marielleassad — 2011-03-29 13:46:38Z

I am looking for a record of the death of John Herbert Watling, a distant cousin of mine. He was an "inmate" in the FSH at the time of the 1930 Census. Strangely, in the same census his wife was listed as a widow.
Are records for the FSH accessible. Or would it be possible to find out why he was in there?
Thanks!

Dumas (1963) / Thios (1923) buried at FSH. Have you been there?

djjohnengland — 2011-03-18 02:00:38Z

Has anyone been to the cemetery itself? My Grandfather was Charles Dumas and he died at FSH in May 1963. His death certificate shows he was buried at FSH. My Great Grandmother was Kaliopi Thios (although FSH records show her as Thoris) and she died in June of 1923 and is buried there also.

Would appreciate any info in dealing with the hospital in obtaining info. Thanks.

Re: GEORGIANN MAE HAYES

sagegroup2 — 2011-02-16 15:36:37Z

Donald,
You may want to check out the Find A Grave website. The database is quite large and does include prison and other institutional cemeteries. Hope this helps.

Pre-1930 Death Index & Cemetery Listing Available

annehuffman1 — 2010-09-13 00:31:38Z

Please contact:
Mrs. Jinnie Hancock - President
Suwannee Valley Genealogy Society (Live Oak, FL)
386-330-0110
jinniesvgs@windstream.net

I was just there on Sat and copied all of the African American listings from a large binder.

Anne Huffman
"What you do for others is the only thing that counts"

Trace Your Family Roots (Click here to join)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/piecesofthequilt/join

"Pieces of the Family Quilt"

Leslie Fryer patient late 1920's-30's

van1121loen — 2010-07-31 13:02:59Z

Still looking for patient info on my Grandfather Leslie Fryer who was at Fl. State Hospital twice in the late 20's and 30's. 2 weeks after being relased from the hospital he hung himself in an orange grove in Zolfo Springs, FL. Looking for patient records, treatments etc.

Re: Florida State Hospital Early Records

van1121loen — 2010-07-31 12:58:44Z

Hi there,
My Grandfather was at the FL. State Hospital in the early 1930's. I contacted the director of the hospital back in the 80's looking for information. He was less than obliging and told me that all records prior to the 60's had burned in a fire. Very convenient I thought. He went on to paint a very rosy picture of how the hospital was run during the time my Grandfather was there and told me the patients gardened, listened to music and enjoyed outdoor activities. I didn't believe a word of it. 2 weeks after my Grandfather was released from the hospital he hung himself.

I keep searching for answers but keep coming up with nothing. Good luck on your search!
Doreen

Re: Burial

jdhknoxtn — 2010-07-27 13:53:23Z

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I would encourage you to take advantage of this free offer before joining the Ramsey DNA Family because your line of Ramsey may already be DNA tested! Please pass along this correspondence to your Ramsey family.

Drop me an email and I'll be glad to answer your questions.

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You can view our latest Ramsey DNA results or a free heritage evaluation at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ramsey/indexDNA.htm...
Genealogical Research combined with DNA results bring families together.

Re: Letter to the State Board 1878 Dickison vs. Oversheet

annehuffman1 — 2010-07-09 00:11:13Z

I would like a copy of this document, please email to me at annehuffman1@aol.com or fax to 407-264-6141.

There are several of my family members that may be on the list; Rainey, Henderson, Foster, etc.

Thanks for sharing,
Anne

Family Mystery Patient Records Josephine Whitehurst Patterson

cwardy300 — 2010-07-08 14:01:29Z

Can anyone help me find out if my great, great grandmother was a patient at this hospital? I've been told she had a brain bleed while giving birth to her son Arthur Patterson and apparently had some brain damage so the family had her committed. The sad thing was that the family led Arthur to believe that his mother just died during childbirth and his father remarried. Josephine would have been sent there around 1911. I believe she had the option to leave there at some point but opted not to. I'm not sure where she was buried but she must have passed away some time between 1947-1952 because that was the timeframe when her son Arthur Patterson was informed that his birthmother had passed away. Obviously, this was a huge shock to him since he had thought for over 30 years that his mother was dead.
Any suggestions on how I can get more information about her would be so greatly appreciated.

WILSON'S from KEY WEST

judyace — 2010-05-01 04:44:58Z

I am looking for info on the following 3 Wilson Boys:

George born 1895

Louis born 1920

Reynold Born 1905

These brothers it is said were sent to this mental hospital.
Their mother died at Carville, LA at the Leprosy Clinic and on her medical records, she states that she had 3 boys here.

Re: Letter to the State Board 1878 Dickison vs. Oversheet

Dor2Tyme — 2010-01-09 03:03:11Z

Would you please take a close look at the document and see if the name is actually OversTREET and not Oversheet?
If so, Silas Overstreet (father of George) was a physician in Suwannee county at that time.

I would be very interested in seeing a copy of the document.

Letter to the State Board 1878 Dickison vs. Oversheet

dancingmommy — 2010-01-07 20:27:44Z

Yesterday my parents gave an old chest to me that belonged to my grandmother. It contained many treasures including a letter dated 1878 to the Board of State Institutions by Genl (I think) Dickinson charging the phasition in charg - Dr. Oversheet with misconduct. This is a 4 page, double sidded letter with detailed discriptions of varrious greavences. The interesting part is that I have no idea who the people listed in the letter are! I have no knowledge of any of my ancesters being in Florida. Nor do I know why or how this letter would have come into my grandmother's posession. I would think that it would be on file with the Hospital. If anyone has any information reguarding Drs. Dickision or Oversheet or if anyone would like more information on the letter, please let me know.