Sleeping Beauty

 

A beautiful little blue eyed blonde healthy baby girl was born on January 15, 1934  to Lloyd and Myrtle Yarrinton. They named her Vivian Maxine and called her by her middle name, Maxine.

March 4, 1936

Two and half old Maxine diagnosed with sleeping sickness remains unresponsive. She never cries and it is believed she feels neither pleasure nor pain since the frantic day her parents brought her to the hospital. She suffered an Encephalitis attack five months ago last September.

Since September 24 1935, the doctors have studied Maxine’s case to no avail.  Her mother calls weekly prayful for some sign of recognition. Four year old Maxine remains comatose after 26 months despite normal growth and temperature.

Maxine Turned five with unseeing eyes from the birthday cake her father Lloyd offered her. The child in her mother’s arms celebrated her birthday by taking the liquid diet she has received since 1935, sleeps through her birthday.

Her parents fear she may never awaken. The parents of the rosy-cheeked blonde child hope that someday she may return home to join her two brothers and sisters.

According to her death certificate, Maxine passed away on September 12, 1934 at 9:02 pm at the age of 7 years, 7 months and 28 days. One month prior to her death she acquired Pulmonary Tuberculosis. That along with her six years of Encephalitis contributed to her death, which left her in the state of mental deficiency – Idiot. 

She is buried I Hope Cemetery, Carnesville, PA.

 

 

 

 

Sweet Innocence - Laughter and Love

When Philip Roesch returned from the Civil War, he married his sweetheart, Helen J. Cardey on July 8, 1866. Seventeen years later, their family was complete with seven children. They were called Pa and Ma. The two youngest children were Clyde, born in 1881 and then two years later, Bertha in 1883.
 
 Playtime on the farm was at times exciting, and at times downright dangerous.  Bertha shares with us stories of her childhood and the mischief she and her brother Clyde experienced.  Here are three of those stories.


Left to right:  Penny, Clyde and Bertha



"While Clyde and I were playing in the hayloft one day, our little dog Penny climbed the 10-foot ladder trying to reach us.  Clyde laid down on his stomach and reached for our dog, pulling him the rest of way.  But, in our excitement, we leaned against the large sliding door and pushed it off the track.  It went down with a loud crash.  Our father couldn't see how we were able to push it off without falling with it for which he was very thankful."

"One day after a heavy rain Clyde and I thought it would be fun to go boat riding.  There was an old horse trough our father used to feed his horses when they were in the pasture.  It was about six feet long and 14 inches high, made of oak and heavy as lead.  It sat on top of a small hill, but, by tugging and pushing, we got it down to a small stream.  Clyde got in and I pushed him off, but the 'trough turned turtle with Clyde under it'.  Soon he came out and said, 'We'll have to stay down here until I get dried out so Ma won't know what happened.'  It was several days before our father discovered our boat."

 "Clyde, eight, decided to make a bicycle using two barrel heads for wheels.  He worked in the old shop all day and finally I decided to go out and see if it was all set to ride yet.  But, I fell down and started to cry.  Mother came hurrying along to see what was the matter and Clyde said, 'She was swearing, that's why she got hurt!'  I answered back, I was not!  I was singing Jesus Christ, the Son of God".

Bertha Mae Roesch was Valedictorian class of 1902 in Potosi High School, Potosi, Wisconsin.

Bertha Mae Roesch born 1883



Clyde Earl Roesch born 1881