Isabella ("Isabelle", "Belle") McCormick was born on March 10, 1875 (according to her headstone) or in March, 1874 (according to Census data) in Gallatin County,Illinois, the second child of Martha Bruce McCormick and Leroy McCormick. Her mother, Martha, was illiterate. In 1878, Leroy McCormick died leaving Martha to care for four children (Benjamin Pierce McCormick, Isabella, Francis Edgar McCormick, and James Franklin McCormick-born after Leroy's death). Subsequent information indicated that Isabella was mildly to moderately mentally retarded.
The family spent much of the following 20 years in and out of the local alms house. Martha had another child during this time ... Ellen McCormick. Because of Isabella's mental status, she spent most of her life in the alms house. As a result of these factors, she had three illegitimate children: Iva Gertrude McCormick (April 11, 1901); Theodore Roosevelt McCormick (August 20, 1904); and Roy Cecil McCormick (May 5, 1910).
Teddy was removed from his mother when he was a year old. Because of Isabella's repeated pregnancies, she was deemed unfit to reside in the local alms house. Isabella's family did not, or would not, take her in. On January 16, 1911, Isabella was a defendant in a Court Action in the Circuit Court of Gallatin County. On that day, Judge H.P. Bozarth found her to be "destitute, depraved, and unable to care for her dependant children."
Isabella voluntarily relinquished custody of Roy and Iva. Iva and Roy were taken to a CHASI orphanage in Chicago on January 26, 1911. Isabella McCormick "voluntarily" committed herself to the Anna State Hospital for the Insane on January 27, 1911. On March 6, 1911, 9 year old Ivey (Iva) Gertrude McCormick was placed in the foster care of the widow, Elizabeth VanDoren in Flanagan, Illinois
Isabella spent the rest of her life in the Anna State Hospital. She died there on June 26, 1942 of "Chronic Myocarditis" at age 67 years.
Her stone is the 14th stone from the south end of row 5 from the road in the hospital cemetery. It reads:
ISABEL MCCORMICK
MAR 10 1875
JUNE 26 1942
I-58 G-14
The family spent much of the following 20 years in and out of the local alms house. Martha had another child during this time ... Ellen McCormick. Because of Isabella's mental status, she spent most of her life in the alms house. As a result of these factors, she had three illegitimate children: Iva Gertrude McCormick (April 11, 1901); Theodore Roosevelt McCormick (August 20, 1904); and Roy Cecil McCormick (May 5, 1910).
Teddy was removed from his mother when he was a year old. Because of Isabella's repeated pregnancies, she was deemed unfit to reside in the local alms house. Isabella's family did not, or would not, take her in. On January 16, 1911, Isabella was a defendant in a Court Action in the Circuit Court of Gallatin County. On that day, Judge H.P. Bozarth found her to be "destitute, depraved, and unable to care for her dependant children."
Isabella voluntarily relinquished custody of Roy and Iva. Iva and Roy were taken to a CHASI orphanage in Chicago on January 26, 1911. Isabella McCormick "voluntarily" committed herself to the Anna State Hospital for the Insane on January 27, 1911. On March 6, 1911, 9 year old Ivey (Iva) Gertrude McCormick was placed in the foster care of the widow, Elizabeth VanDoren in Flanagan, Illinois
Isabella spent the rest of her life in the Anna State Hospital. She died there on June 26, 1942 of "Chronic Myocarditis" at age 67 years.
Her stone is the 14th stone from the south end of row 5 from the road in the hospital cemetery. It reads:
ISABEL MCCORMICK
MAR 10 1875
JUNE 26 1942
I-58 G-14
Isabella ("Isabelle", "Belle") McCormick was born on March 10, 1875 (according to her headstone) or in March, 1874 (according to Census data) in Gallatin County,Illinois, the second child of Martha Bruce McCormick and Leroy McCormick. Her mother, Martha, was illiterate. In 1878, Leroy McCormick died leaving Martha to care for four children (Benjamin Pierce McCormick, Isabella, Francis Edgar McCormick, and James Franklin McCormick-born after Leroy's death). Subsequent information indicated that Isabella was mildly to moderately mentally retarded.
The family spent much of the following 20 years in and out of the local alms house. Martha had another child during this time ... Ellen McCormick. Because of Isabella's mental status, she spent most of her life in the alms house. As a result of these factors, she had three illegitimate children: Iva Gertrude McCormick (April 11, 1901); Theodore Roosevelt McCormick (August 20, 1904); and Roy Cecil McCormick (May 5, 1910).
Teddy was removed from his mother when he was a year old. Because of Isabella's repeated pregnancies, she was deemed unfit to reside in the local alms house. Isabella's family did not, or would not, take her in. On January 16, 1911, Isabella was a defendant in a Court Action in the Circuit Court of Gallatin County. On that day, Judge H.P. Bozarth found her to be "destitute, depraved, and unable to care for her dependant children."
Isabella voluntarily relinquished custody of Roy and Iva. Iva and Roy were taken to a CHASI orphanage in Chicago on January 26, 1911. Isabella McCormick "voluntarily" committed herself to the Anna State Hospital for the Insane on January 27, 1911. On March 6, 1911, 9 year old Ivey (Iva) Gertrude McCormick was placed in the foster care of the widow, Elizabeth VanDoren in Flanagan, Illinois
Isabella spent the rest of her life in the Anna State Hospital. She died there on June 26, 1942 of "Chronic Myocarditis" at age 67 years.
Her stone is the 14th stone from the south end of row 5 from the road in the hospital cemetery. It reads:
ISABEL MCCORMICK
MAR 10 1875
JUNE 26 1942
I-58 G-14
The family spent much of the following 20 years in and out of the local alms house. Martha had another child during this time ... Ellen McCormick. Because of Isabella's mental status, she spent most of her life in the alms house. As a result of these factors, she had three illegitimate children: Iva Gertrude McCormick (April 11, 1901); Theodore Roosevelt McCormick (August 20, 1904); and Roy Cecil McCormick (May 5, 1910).
Teddy was removed from his mother when he was a year old. Because of Isabella's repeated pregnancies, she was deemed unfit to reside in the local alms house. Isabella's family did not, or would not, take her in. On January 16, 1911, Isabella was a defendant in a Court Action in the Circuit Court of Gallatin County. On that day, Judge H.P. Bozarth found her to be "destitute, depraved, and unable to care for her dependant children."
Isabella voluntarily relinquished custody of Roy and Iva. Iva and Roy were taken to a CHASI orphanage in Chicago on January 26, 1911. Isabella McCormick "voluntarily" committed herself to the Anna State Hospital for the Insane on January 27, 1911. On March 6, 1911, 9 year old Ivey (Iva) Gertrude McCormick was placed in the foster care of the widow, Elizabeth VanDoren in Flanagan, Illinois
Isabella spent the rest of her life in the Anna State Hospital. She died there on June 26, 1942 of "Chronic Myocarditis" at age 67 years.
Her stone is the 14th stone from the south end of row 5 from the road in the hospital cemetery. It reads:
ISABEL MCCORMICK
MAR 10 1875
JUNE 26 1942
I-58 G-14
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