John Dorvil Schermerhorn Sr, 61, was the 4th son of 10 siblings and was the son of Isaac Schermerhorn (1771–1845) and Catharine Bogardus Schermerhorn (1776–1834)
John was born 02 Apr 1810 in Albany, New York. He married Mary E Summers of Connecticut.
Together they had 7 children, 4 son's and 2 daughter who all lived to adulthood except their youngest daughter who was burned to death in a fire.
John died Oct 22, 1871 at the Indianapolis, Indiana at the State Hospital, where he survived 21 days.
John was survived by his wife Mary, and son's John, Isaac, Leander, William H Schermerhorn, and a daughter Mrs. Catherine Vandolson. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Mary Francis Schermerhorn who died in 1852 at age 4.
John was a direct descendent of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn and is of The Schodack Branch.
Schermerhorn Genealogy & Family Chronicles:
John D Schermerhorn Sr, died at the Indiana State Asylum in 1871, since in 1871 you could be committed to an asylum for nearly anything; epilepsy, senility, depression or just being too old and unable to care for yourself. I was anxious to find out what happened. I wrote to the Indiana State Archives and they were very resourceful in helping me locating the admission records, commitment papers and doctors reports.
It appears that after the civil war the economy for many people was very depressed and at his age I'm sure life for John was not easy; nor would it be easy to run a farm by himself and make a profit of any kind. The documents I received said he was depressed due to "financial embarrassment" it didn't say what caused his financial ruin, but it's obvious that John was very distressed over it, probably owing money and not having the means to support him or his wife Mary.
It's interesting though, that in his admission records it states that he was brought there by friends and his clothing supplies and maintenance were paid for by friends, they must have been very good friends! It's no wonder John became so depressed over not being able to meet his obligations to what must have been money owed to friends. The feelings I concluded from these documents was that John must have been a honest and honorable man who felt deeply depressed over not being able to repay his debts. He must have had good friends, and to have good friends you must be a good friend yourself.
To me, this says a lot about who and what kind of man John was. I'm just saddened to know he spent his last days in an asylum, declared insane, and received no medical treatment. As the documents said, "Physical condition very bad, helpless & probably will not live long" Treatment: "None" He lived about 21 days after being admitted.
NOTE: For anyone interested the Central Indiana State Hospital history can be found on the Internet. Some of the treatments used in that era were just inhuman. The medical documents I received, state that John could read, write and could also speak German which was more likely Dutch he was speaking as he was of Dutch decent. That he was a farmer, married, a native of New York. He was excessive smoker, did not drink in excess and was of Presbyterian faith.
John was born 02 Apr 1810 in Albany, New York. He married Mary E Summers of Connecticut.
Together they had 7 children, 4 son's and 2 daughter who all lived to adulthood except their youngest daughter who was burned to death in a fire.
John died Oct 22, 1871 at the Indianapolis, Indiana at the State Hospital, where he survived 21 days.
John was survived by his wife Mary, and son's John, Isaac, Leander, William H Schermerhorn, and a daughter Mrs. Catherine Vandolson. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Mary Francis Schermerhorn who died in 1852 at age 4.
John was a direct descendent of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn and is of The Schodack Branch.
Schermerhorn Genealogy & Family Chronicles:
John D Schermerhorn Sr, died at the Indiana State Asylum in 1871, since in 1871 you could be committed to an asylum for nearly anything; epilepsy, senility, depression or just being too old and unable to care for yourself. I was anxious to find out what happened. I wrote to the Indiana State Archives and they were very resourceful in helping me locating the admission records, commitment papers and doctors reports.
It appears that after the civil war the economy for many people was very depressed and at his age I'm sure life for John was not easy; nor would it be easy to run a farm by himself and make a profit of any kind. The documents I received said he was depressed due to "financial embarrassment" it didn't say what caused his financial ruin, but it's obvious that John was very distressed over it, probably owing money and not having the means to support him or his wife Mary.
It's interesting though, that in his admission records it states that he was brought there by friends and his clothing supplies and maintenance were paid for by friends, they must have been very good friends! It's no wonder John became so depressed over not being able to meet his obligations to what must have been money owed to friends. The feelings I concluded from these documents was that John must have been a honest and honorable man who felt deeply depressed over not being able to repay his debts. He must have had good friends, and to have good friends you must be a good friend yourself.
To me, this says a lot about who and what kind of man John was. I'm just saddened to know he spent his last days in an asylum, declared insane, and received no medical treatment. As the documents said, "Physical condition very bad, helpless & probably will not live long" Treatment: "None" He lived about 21 days after being admitted.
NOTE: For anyone interested the Central Indiana State Hospital history can be found on the Internet. Some of the treatments used in that era were just inhuman. The medical documents I received, state that John could read, write and could also speak German which was more likely Dutch he was speaking as he was of Dutch decent. That he was a farmer, married, a native of New York. He was excessive smoker, did not drink in excess and was of Presbyterian faith.
John Dorvil Schermerhorn Sr, 61, was the 4th son of 10 siblings and was the son of Isaac Schermerhorn (1771–1845) and Catharine Bogardus Schermerhorn (1776–1834)
John was born 02 Apr 1810 in Albany, New York. He married Mary E Summers of Connecticut.
Together they had 7 children, 4 son's and 2 daughter who all lived to adulthood except their youngest daughter who was burned to death in a fire.
John died Oct 22, 1871 at the Indianapolis, Indiana at the State Hospital, where he survived 21 days.
John was survived by his wife Mary, and son's John, Isaac, Leander, William H Schermerhorn, and a daughter Mrs. Catherine Vandolson. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Mary Francis Schermerhorn who died in 1852 at age 4.
John was a direct descendent of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn and is of The Schodack Branch.
Schermerhorn Genealogy & Family Chronicles:
John D Schermerhorn Sr, died at the Indiana State Asylum in 1871, since in 1871 you could be committed to an asylum for nearly anything; epilepsy, senility, depression or just being too old and unable to care for yourself. I was anxious to find out what happened. I wrote to the Indiana State Archives and they were very resourceful in helping me locating the admission records, commitment papers and doctors reports.
It appears that after the civil war the economy for many people was very depressed and at his age I'm sure life for John was not easy; nor would it be easy to run a farm by himself and make a profit of any kind. The documents I received said he was depressed due to "financial embarrassment" it didn't say what caused his financial ruin, but it's obvious that John was very distressed over it, probably owing money and not having the means to support him or his wife Mary.
It's interesting though, that in his admission records it states that he was brought there by friends and his clothing supplies and maintenance were paid for by friends, they must have been very good friends! It's no wonder John became so depressed over not being able to meet his obligations to what must have been money owed to friends. The feelings I concluded from these documents was that John must have been a honest and honorable man who felt deeply depressed over not being able to repay his debts. He must have had good friends, and to have good friends you must be a good friend yourself.
To me, this says a lot about who and what kind of man John was. I'm just saddened to know he spent his last days in an asylum, declared insane, and received no medical treatment. As the documents said, "Physical condition very bad, helpless & probably will not live long" Treatment: "None" He lived about 21 days after being admitted.
NOTE: For anyone interested the Central Indiana State Hospital history can be found on the Internet. Some of the treatments used in that era were just inhuman. The medical documents I received, state that John could read, write and could also speak German which was more likely Dutch he was speaking as he was of Dutch decent. That he was a farmer, married, a native of New York. He was excessive smoker, did not drink in excess and was of Presbyterian faith.
John was born 02 Apr 1810 in Albany, New York. He married Mary E Summers of Connecticut.
Together they had 7 children, 4 son's and 2 daughter who all lived to adulthood except their youngest daughter who was burned to death in a fire.
John died Oct 22, 1871 at the Indianapolis, Indiana at the State Hospital, where he survived 21 days.
John was survived by his wife Mary, and son's John, Isaac, Leander, William H Schermerhorn, and a daughter Mrs. Catherine Vandolson. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Mary Francis Schermerhorn who died in 1852 at age 4.
John was a direct descendent of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn and is of The Schodack Branch.
Schermerhorn Genealogy & Family Chronicles:
John D Schermerhorn Sr, died at the Indiana State Asylum in 1871, since in 1871 you could be committed to an asylum for nearly anything; epilepsy, senility, depression or just being too old and unable to care for yourself. I was anxious to find out what happened. I wrote to the Indiana State Archives and they were very resourceful in helping me locating the admission records, commitment papers and doctors reports.
It appears that after the civil war the economy for many people was very depressed and at his age I'm sure life for John was not easy; nor would it be easy to run a farm by himself and make a profit of any kind. The documents I received said he was depressed due to "financial embarrassment" it didn't say what caused his financial ruin, but it's obvious that John was very distressed over it, probably owing money and not having the means to support him or his wife Mary.
It's interesting though, that in his admission records it states that he was brought there by friends and his clothing supplies and maintenance were paid for by friends, they must have been very good friends! It's no wonder John became so depressed over not being able to meet his obligations to what must have been money owed to friends. The feelings I concluded from these documents was that John must have been a honest and honorable man who felt deeply depressed over not being able to repay his debts. He must have had good friends, and to have good friends you must be a good friend yourself.
To me, this says a lot about who and what kind of man John was. I'm just saddened to know he spent his last days in an asylum, declared insane, and received no medical treatment. As the documents said, "Physical condition very bad, helpless & probably will not live long" Treatment: "None" He lived about 21 days after being admitted.
NOTE: For anyone interested the Central Indiana State Hospital history can be found on the Internet. Some of the treatments used in that era were just inhuman. The medical documents I received, state that John could read, write and could also speak German which was more likely Dutch he was speaking as he was of Dutch decent. That he was a farmer, married, a native of New York. He was excessive smoker, did not drink in excess and was of Presbyterian faith.
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