My Abernathy Connection: Gladys Marie Campbell (1903-1941)

My connection to the Abernathy family comes from a 2nd great-aunt, Gladys Marie Campbell. She was born on 15 September 1903 in Scott County, Missouri, the first of twelve children, to Hattie Ann Lancaster (b. 1883) and George M. Campbell (1883-1974). Her siblings include Jessie Mae (b. & d. 1904); Chester Wesley (1906-1994); Marvin (1907-1974); Raymond S. (1909-1997); Arlen M. (1911-2004); Elmer Lloyd (b. & d. 1913); Pearl Olivia (1914-2000); Ovie (1916-1946); Veda Inez (1917-1918); and Roy L. (1920-1995).

On 7 September 1925 in Benton, Scott County, Gladys married Harry Joseph Abernathy, third son of Marry Elizabeth Kirn (1877-1950) and Joseph Noah Abernathy (1875-1957). Harry was born on 23 October 1901 at Shrum, Bollinger County, Missouri. His siblings include Henry William (1896-1969); Walla Brazzal (1899-1947); Lydia Margaret (1904-1996); Lona Loretta (1907-1980); Olga Mary (1909-1913); Bertha Mae (1913-1995); Sadie S. (1915-2003); Cora Irene (1918-2012); and Hersel Harold (1921-1928).

Over the course of thirteen years, Gladys and Harry had six children, including Raymond Winston (1926-2001); Lentice Melvin (1929-2010); Loudean Olleva (1932-2021); Willard Ervin (1935-1948); and Hersel Eugene (1940-2022).

Gladys's mother Hattie died on 8 June 1933, at the age of 49. Gladys was 29 at the time and had given birth to her fourth child just six months prior.

In April 1940, Gladys and family were listed in the Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, U.S. Federal census. At the time, she was a little more than three months away from giving birth to her final son, Hersel Eugene. She was also just nine months away from her own death.

Gladys was just 37 years old when she died of a coronary occlusion. A couple items on her death certificate provide clues to what might've been going on in this still-very-young woman's life.

First, Gladys died in Farmington, St. Francois County, Missouri at State Hospital No. 4. This hospital housed and treated the mentally ill. The death certificate does not provide the length of Gladys's stay, however.

Second, handwritten under "Other contributory causes of importance," is Manic Depressive Psychosis, Manic type. The date of onset is given as 6 January 1941. I suppose it's possible Gladys had been at the hospital for less than a month.

My definitely-not-an-expert / uneducated guess regarding Gladys's life circumstances at the time of her death involves postpartum psychosis. From the National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine:

Childbirth is considered a major physical, emotional, and social stressor in a woman’s life. Following days to weeks after childbirth, most women experience some mental disturbance like mood swings and mild depression (also known as post-baby blues), but a few can also suffer from PTSD, major depression, or even full-blown psychosis. This change in maternal behavior and thought process is due to several bio-psycho-social factors...Postpartum psychosis is the severest form of mental illness in that category characterized by extreme confusion, loss of touch with reality, paranoia, delusions, disorganized thought process, and hallucinations. 

I imagine this was a scary time for Gladys and her family.

Noted in the Missouri Department of Mental Health's history of State Hospital No. 4 (now called Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center), are popular treatments during the times surrounding Gladys's stay: "In 1924 one of the favored treatments was hydrotherapy, followed by lobotomies in 1940 and electro-shock therapy in 1942." At least Gladys and her family were spared that madness.

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Next up: more about the life of Harry Joseph Abernathy.

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Note: the census record and death certificate highlighted above and used to tell part of the life story of Gladys Marie Campbell Abernathy were found with an Ancestry membership. Interested in learning more about your family history? Try a 14-day free trial today with Ancestry® (affiliate link).