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| 1900 census in Upton, Summit, Utah showing Randall family |
She married James Humphrey Nelson Jr on the 11th of July, 1908 in Kemmerer, Uinta, Wyoming. It was her first marriage but his second. His first wife, Sarah Emily Nowland had died 7 months previously. She left behind 2 children, James Humphrey Nelson III and Pearl Nelson.
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| 1910 census in Coalville, Summit, Utah showing Nelson family. |
Ida May and James had three kids together, Opal (1911), Oscar (1913) and Fay (1916). The family story is that James accused her of cheating on him when she said she was pregnant with Fay and said it was not his child. (Of course she grew up to look just like her father!)
In April 1918, Ida May disappeared. The family story was her clothes were found on the river bank, to give the impression she went swimming and drowned. But it was rumored she ran away with a traveling peddler man. Above is a letter from her mother to her sister after Ida disappeared.
Many people in the family have searched for her for the past almost 100 years, but no one has found out where she went or what happened for sure. It is a family mystery.
Recently my mother in law found several fascinating newspaper clippings from the Deseret Evening News about the disappearance, dated April 11, 12 and 15 of 1918.
Transcription of Newspaper articles:
Deseret Evening News
Thursday, April 11, 1918
Mother Disappears Leaving Children; Search Instituted
Juvenile Court Officers Seek Mrs. James Nelson of Coalville
Officers of the Juvenile court have instituted a state-wide search for Mrs. James Nelson, who mysteriously disappeared from her home in this city last night, leaving two small children. While it appears that the woman has deserted the little ones, there is, of course a possibility of foul play, the officers say.
The two children were turned over to the juvenile court by a man named Shadduck, of 241 East First South Street, with whom Mrs. Nelson left them last night, explaining that she was going to the post office to get some mail. That was the last seen of her. If she is apprehended and the matter warrants such action, the mother will be prosecuted, it is announced.
The children, a boy of 6 years and a girl of 12 months, are attractive and juvenile court officers say that several have expressed a willingness to adopt them. A third child the woman is reported to have left with her mother.
The mother and the two children came to this city from Coalville, where it is reported they had been deserted by the father.
Shadduck said the woman had attempted to induce her sister to take the children. The father is said to be in California at the present time. The children are affectionate and make themselves quite at home with officers of the court.
Deseret Evening News
Friday, April 12, 1918
Woman Leaves Note Saying She Has Gone to Drown Herself
Police Inclined to Believe She has Run Away - Search is On
Mrs. J.H. Nelson, who disappeared mysteriously from her home in the city Wednesday night, left two letters containing threats of suicide. Existence of the letters was discovered after the police and juvenile court authorities had begun a search.
One letter was addressed to C.J. Shadduck, 241 East First South Street, at which place Mrs. Nelson and the two of her chidlren had lived. It was with Mr. Shadduck that the woman left the two children Wednesday night, explaining that she was going to the post office. The other letter was addressed to Mrs. Fred Clark, and read:
"Dear Nora - Please take care of the children until mother comes, as I have gone to drown myself in the Jordan. I can't stand this alone. Phone Eva and get her to tell mother. Tell her to phone June and tell her to come settle this business down her. Well, I ask you to be good to the kids until they come. I ask it as a dying favor. IDA"
The letter to Shadduck, the officers say was rambling in its context, but near the end it said: "I am going to the Jordan River, where no one can follow."
Making Investigation
The police are making an investigation of the matter. Mrs. Randall, of Coalville, Utah, mother of Mrs. Nelson was mortified. Opal, Mrs. Nelson's third child, has been living with the grandmother. The other two children, Oscar and Violet, who were left with Mr. Shadduck, are temporarily being cared for by officers of the juvenile court.
The police doubt the theory of suicide in view of the fact that the woman took all of her clothing with her. They also state that she is known to have been intently interested in a soldier who recently left the city, and she is believed by them to have followed with the idea of rejoining him.
Deseret Evening News
Monday, April 15, 1918
Missing Woman Bought Clothes Before Leaving
Fears of juvenile court and police officers that Mrs. Ida Nelson of Coalville may have taken her own life were partially dispelled Saturday when it developed last Tuesday, the day before the disappearance she offered a check for $20.49 in payment for a new suit of clothes. The check was returned Saturday marked no funds.
If the woman had contemplated jumping into the Jordan River as she indicated in two letters left by her, she would hardly have obtained the new clothes. The officers say in light of the evidence it is not probable that a search will be made of the river. Nothing concerning the woman's whereabouts has been found.
Joseph Henry Randall, brother of Mrs. Nelson arrived in the city Saturday from Logan, Tooele county, after seeing newspaper accounts of his sister's disappearance. He was met by Mrs. Hannah Randall, of Coalville, mother of himself and Mrs. Nelson, and by Mrs. Romaine Follick, of Montpelier, Idaho who Mrs. Nelso in one of her letters referred to as "Jennie". Mrs. Follick will take back to Montpelier with her the two children deserted by Mrs. Nelson, Oscar aged 6 years and Fay, aged 12 months.
Sources: 1900 census, 1910 census, Western States Marriage Record Index, letter dated April 11, 1918 from Hannah Mary Jackson Randall to Mary Jane Randall Follick, Deseret Evening Newspaper, personal family photographs of my mother-in-law, personal communication with my mother-in-law and other family relatives.
Last Updated February 18, 2012
The key to solving this mystery is to find the name of the man whom she is said to have left with. If you can trace his history, you might find him.
ReplyDeleteOr at least a state where he is. It is likely she did not change her name.