AN IDEAL WOMAN AND MODEL WIFE - Mattie M. May

Probably the most well-known monument in Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery is that of Frances Pearce Stone and her infant daughter:

I have written about it for this blog:

https://undereverytombstone.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-most-photographed-monument-in.html

As I have said before, everywhere you look around Rosehill Cemetery you see history and magnificent examples of Victorian funerary art.  One monument I am fond of, while not as striking as the Stone monument, is the monument in Section R that Harry May erected for his wife Mattie M. May:

The monument shows Mattie relaxing on a couch.  Under that, Harry May had this inscribed:

In Sweet and Loving Remembrance of My Wife

Mattie M. May, Born Sept. 5, 1873 - Died July 13, 1893.

She Was An Ideal Woman and Model Wife.

What a beautiful testimonial to his wife who died at the age of twenty.  Let's see what we can "dig up" about the "Idea Woman and Model Wife":

Mattie Swanson was born September 5, 1873 in Adrian, Michigan to John Swanson (1841-1873) and his wife Mathilda Skoglund (1848-1909).  It is not known if Mattie's parents had married in their native Sweden, or in the U.S.  Since all of their children were born in the United States, they emigrated prior to 1867 when their first child was born.  

John and Matilda were blessed with four children:  William J. (1867-1944), Charlotte "Lettie"/Mrs. William H. Newman (1870-1909), Mathilda Augusta/Mrs. William Swanson (1872-1955), and Mattie/Mrs. Harry A. May (1873-1893).  John worked for the Star Brewery in Adrian.

Mattie's father, John Swanson died in Adrian, Michigan on April 7, 1873.  He was thirty-two years old.  The Cause of Death was listed as "Congestion and chills." 

As mentioned above, Mattie Swanson was born September 5, 1873, five months after the death of her father.  She makes her first appearance in the 1880 US Census.  The Swanson family was living at #8 Erie Street in Adrian.  That number no longer exists on Erie.

The family consisted of Mathilda (38 years old), son William (13), and daughters Lotha (10), Mathilda (8), and Matha (6).  Also living with them was Mathilda's father-in-law Benjamin Swanson (62).  Mathilda reported that she was a widow and her occupation was "Housekeeping."  William and Lotha were "at school."  Benjamin Swanson was unemployed due to "Rheumatism."

Mattie Swanson married Harry A. May in Chicago on May 13, 1889.  

Harry A. May was born March 14, 1862 in Kentucky (some sources say 1864, others 1866).  Harry's likely parents were  James (1811-1890) and Elizabeth "Lizzia" Powers (1818-1889).  Harry had two brothers:  Leander Cox May (1857-1937) and Harmon (1859-1940) and one sister, Prusilla/Mrs. Felix O. Craft (1855-1901).  James May was a farmer by trade.

Harry makes his first appearance in the 1870 US Census.  The family was living in Salyersville, Magoffin, Kentucky and consisted of:  James May (59 years old), wife Elizabeth (59), daughter Prusilla (16), and sons Leander (14), Harmon (11), and Harris (9).  James was a Farmer, Elizabeth was Keeping House, no occupation is listed for Prusilla, and the boys were Attending School.  James may reports Real Estate valued at $2,000.00 ($50,000.00 in today's funds) and Personalty valued at $550.00 ($13,500.00 in today's funds). 

The 1880 US Census finds the May Family still living in Salyersville, Magoffin, Kentucky.  The family consisted of:  James (68 years old), Lizzie (62), Leander (23), Harmon (20), and Harry (18).  James was still a Farmer, Lizzie was still Keeping House, and the three boys were Labourers.  Neither James nor Lizzie could read or write - all three boys could. 

At some point Harry May decided to come north, to the "big city" of Chicago.  History does not record where or when he met Mattie May, but we do know they were married in Chicago on May 13, 1889.  Their Marriage Record said that the groom was twenty-five; the bride was sixteen.   The groom was actually twenty-three; the bride was fifteen.

The 1890 US Census for this area is of course, lost.

Mattie Swanson May died July 13, 1893 in Chicago.  She was nineteen years old.  Here is her Death Notice from the Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper of July 16, 1893:

The Death Notice reported that Mattie and Harry May were living at 834 Rebecca Street in Chicago.  

According to William Martin's comprehensive list of Chicago Street Name Changes, Rebecca Street became 15th Place.  The  Renumbering Table showing new and old house numbers does not list a new number for 834 Rebecca Street - the building must have been gone prior to the 1909 renumbering.

Upon Mattie's death, Harry May bought a plot in Section R of Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery and commissioned a monument befitting his dear wife.  History does not record how long after Mattie's death the monument was erected, nor does it tell us who created it.  Unlike the monument to Frances Pearce Stone, Mattie's monument is not enclosed in any kind of protective covering and has been subjected to Chicago's brutal winters and torrid summers for over 100 years.  Today it looks somewhat the worse for wear.  Here are recent photos:

I did not place the flowers on the monument but visitors often leave flowers for Mattie as well as for other noteworthy residents of Rosehill.

Mattie Swanson May - An Ideal Woman and Model Wife - may she rest in peace.

The Rest of the Story:

Harry May's name does not appear in any newspapers until the Melrose Flats fire which took place December 21, 1898.  A six-story apartment building at Thirty-Eighth and Ellis was completely consumed by fire in thirty minutes.  

Chicago Tribune - 22 Dec 1898

The building was owned by Dr. E. M. Rosenkrans and was constructed one year before the 1892-1893 World's Columbian Exposition, to accommodate visitors from abroad.

Miraculously, only one person, Annie Hansen, lost their life in the fire.  Miss Hansen was born in Norway and was sixty-three years old.  She worked as a domestic. 

While arson was originally suspected, further investigation determined that the cause of the fire was caused by an explosion of natural gas.  Sixty families were left homeless by the blaze.

What does this have to do with Harry May?  The Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper reported on August 26, 1899 that "Harry A. May, a bicycle dealer at 3747 Cottage Grove Avenue, which is just back of the site of the Melrose Flats." was called to testify at the Inquest about the Melrose Flats fire.  Here is what was reported:

Chicago Inter Ocean - 26 Aug 1899

A parking lot for the Mercy Family Health Center occupies that plot today.

The Cedar Rapids (IA) Evening Gazette has some interesting news about Harry May on August 4, 1900:

Apparently Harry's desire to move to Iowa did not come to fruition because the 1910 Census shows him still in Chicago.  

The 1910 US Census shows that Harry A. May would try anything once.  He was a Boarder living at 3517 N. Clark Street and reported his occupation as an "Actor in Vaudeville." A UFC Gym occupies that plot today.  Harry May was not working at the time of the 1910 Census (April 20, 1910) and reported that he had not worked the previous 52 weeks.  It was not easy to find work in vaudeville.  

Harry A. May died August 6, 1914 in Chicago.  He was buried next to his wife Mattie at Rosehill on August 11, 1914.  He was forty-eight years old.

Even though Mattie and Harry May are long forgotten, we have the beautiful testimony to his wife that Harry left us to mark their graves at Rosehill Cemetery.

May they both rest in peace.

EX-MAYOR OF EVANSTON HAS WIFE ARRESTED - Part Two - Harry Putnam Pearsons

Former Mayor Harry Putnam Pearsons

Last month I told the first part of the story of Harry Putnam Pearsons.  Born in Evanston, Illinois in 1873, he was an alumnus of Northwestern University, an attorney, and Mayor of Evanston from 1915-1925.  I ended last month's story with this comment:

Starting in 1929 (Pearsons') name appeared in the newspapers on an almost daily basis.  His good name and reputation were rocked by a scandal from which he never fully recovered.  That's it for this month, but come back on August 1 when I will tell you "the rest of the story" of Harry Putnam Pearsons.

Believe it or not, quiet, sedate Evanston, Illinois would be home to a protracted series of lawsuits that would be more appropriate to the Kardashians than to a former mayor of Evanston.  The first indication of the matter that would cause Pearsons such distress, came in the Chicago Tribune of March 2, 1929:

Pearsons had been married from 1900-1922 to Frances Keyes Pearsons (1878-1959).  They had one daughter, also named Frances (1901-1992) and divorced in 1922.  It was not unusual for a divorced man to remarry, even an ex-mayor, but it is unusual for the groom to refuse to name the bride.  Furthermore, the groom said he and the "mystery bride" had already been married for six months when the news broke.

As it is said, "There is nothing older than yesterday's news," and so Harry Pearsons and his second wife faded into the background until November 5, 1929:

After this incident, the second Mrs. Pearsons was put under a $400.00 Peace Bond and given instructions not to disturb or talk to her husband.

In the midst of all this drama, it was time for the 1930 US Census.  The enumerator (Alice S. Neilson) came to the Harry Pearsons home on April 24, 1930.  Pearsons was still living in his home at 1816 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.  The family now consisted of Harry P. (57 years old), and a man-servant, Rufus Moody (33).  Pearsons said he owned the house and that it was worth $50,000.00 ($962,000.00 in today's funds).  Surprisingly, he said he did not own a radio.  Pearsons said he was single (he was not).  He said he was a Lawyer in General Practice, and Rufus Moody said he was a Servant for a Private Family.  Harry Pearsons said he was not a Veteran; Rufus Moody was a Veteran of World War I.

What about Elizabeth Pearsons and her three children from her first marriage?  Did they answer the door for the census enumerator?  No.  There is no Elizabeth Schmitt or Elizabeth Pearsons listed in Evanston or anywhere else, in the 1930 US Census.  

On July 13, 1930 Elizabeth Pearsons sued for separate maintenance after alleging that her husband was having an affair with an unnamed woman who lived at 489 Briar Place, Chicago.  She admitted that shortly after their marriage, her husband moved her into a house he owned at 2752 Garrison in Evanston:

2752 Garrison, Evanston, Illinois

But she reported that in 1930 Pearsons was trying to have her evicted by allowing a foreclosure of the mortgage on the house to proceed.  She said that her three children from her previous marriage were now living with her in the Garrison house.  She asked that a Receiver be appointed for the property so that she would not be evicted.  For more details of the sordid story, here is the Tribune article from July 13, 1930:

Chicago Tribune - July 13, 1930

Former Mayor Pearsons responded that the "marriage" was only a business deal, and that he allowed his wife and her children to live in the house while she acted as his agent to try to sell the house for him.  He also said that he could not afford any alimony due to recent business problems.  

Mrs. Pearsons pointed out that her husband had enough money to be a member of the University Clubs of Chicago and Evanston, the Glenview Country Club and the Vista del Lago club.  More details in the Tribune article from September 25, 1930:

Chicago Tribune - September 25, 1930

When Harry Pearsons agreed to marry Elizabeth Schmitt both parties signed a pre-nuptial agreement.  Under the terms of the agreement, Elizabeth forfeited any dower rights she had in exchange for $30,000 that would be paid to her when Harry Pearsons died.

Despite their pre-nuptial agreement, Judge Harry A. Lewis decreed that Harry Pearsons must pay Mrs. Pearsons alimony in the amount of $40.00 per week ($770.00 in today's funds).  There was no child support because Mrs. Pearsons three children were from her previous marriage.

Chicago Tribune - October 11, 1930

On December 19, 1930, Harry Pearsons made good on his threat to have his wife evicted from the house he owned on Garrison Avenue:

Chicago Tribune - December 20, 1930

When she moved in, Elizabeth Pearsons knew that her occupancy of the house on Garrison was only temporary.  When Harry Pearsons allowed Elizabeth and her three children to move into the house it was up for sale, and Elizabeth agreed to act as his agent by showing the house to prospective buyers, etc.  

Based on everything I have read, said and unsaid, here's what I think happened.  I think that there are three possible explanations for the Pearsons' marital mess.  

1.  At some point the widow Schmitt found out that she was pregnant - but not by Harry Pearsons.  All-around good guy Harry Pearsons stepped in and offered to marry her so that the baby would be legitimate.  Hence the reason for back-dating the marriage, and Pearsons' unwillingness to name the woman.  After the baby was born, Pearsons would quietly file for divorce and get on with his life.  There is no record of Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons having any children other than her three with her first husband, so Elizabeth either lost the baby or had an abortion.  Abortions were not easy to obtain in 1930 especially in a place like Evanston.  

2.  Another possibility was that Schmitt was pregnant and Harry Pearsons was the father.  Harry Pearsons had a reputation to protect in Evanston and there is no way it could come out that he had fathered a child out of wedlock.

3.  Yet another possibility (suggested by a friend) is that she made the whole pregnancy story up so she and her children could have a free place to live for a while.  

After Elizabeth was no longer pregnant, there was no reason to continue the "Business Arrangement" as Harry called it.  But when Elizabeth filed for divorce, she also sued for separate maintenance (alimony).  According to the agreement both had signed before the marriage, Elizabeth forfeited any dower rights she had in exchange for $30,000 that would be paid to her when Harry Pearsons died. 

Elizabeth must have decided that she liked the life and house that Harry had provided for her and decided that if she had to go, she would not go quietly.  When Harry objected, Elizabeth probably threatened to make the whole matter public.  Yes, her reputation (such as it was) would have been tarnished, but nothing like the way the North Shore society types would turn on Harry Pearsons after this charade was revealed.

We may never know the true story. 

On May 24, 1931 the Chicago Tribune reported that various individuals in Evanston would make the land they owned available for locals to grow their own vegetables.  It was the Great Depression and many Evanstonians were out of work.  Harry P. Pearsons, too poor to pay $40.00/week alimony, made ten acres of property he owned at Church Street and Hartrey Avenue available to be farmed by local residents at no cost to them.

Both Harry Pearsons and Mrs. Pearsons managed to keep their names out of the newspapers for the remainder of 1931, but this changed on January 29, 1932 when Mrs. Pearsons decided it was time for her to tell her side of the whole story.  The $40/week alimony was only temporary until their case could be heard.  Here's the Chicago Tribune's account of Elizabeth Pearsons' day in court:

Chicago Tribune - January 29, 1932

Chicago Tribune - January 29, 1932

As if the whole sordid mess was not bad enough, the Tribune reported on February 16, 1932 that Mrs. Pearsons had a former Notre Dame football tackle and former Royal Canadian Mountie available to testify on her behalf:

Chicago Tribune - February 16, 1932

Chicago Tribune - February 16, 1932

The very next day, February 17, 1932 it was former Mayor Pearson's turn:

Only Harry Pearsons would think it a good idea to wear spats when he was testifying.

For the first time it was reported that the pregnant Mrs. Pearsons needed to have an "operation."  Could this have been the abortion I referred to above?  Remember, there is no record of Mrs. Pearsons every having any other children than the three she had with her husband who had passed away.

Here's more from the Belleville (IL) Daily News-Democrat from February 17, 1932:

The judge was not impressed by either Pearsons or his spats, and ruled in favor of Mrs. Pearsons, despite the terms of their prenuptial agreement:

Chicago Tribune - March 23, 1932

Buried in the middle of the article above is the following:

"She told him she was expecting a child shortly before they were married in June, 1928 and that she intended to undergo an operation to prevent the birth." .  

The Pantagraph - March 23, 1932

I am not an attorney but I do not understand why the Courts ruled that Mrs. Pearsons was entitled to alimony since she signed the rights away in the pre-nuptial agreement.  Was the entire agreement null and void?  Would Pearson's estate still have to pay Elizabeth the $30,000 provided for in the agreement?  Enquiring minds want to know.

Chicago Tribune - June 17, 1932

The petition was denied.

Harry Putnam Pearsons' father Henry Alonzo Pearsons died in Evanston on December 23, 1932.  He was eighty-nine years old.  The Evanston Review published a comprehensive obituary for him on December 29, 1932:

He was buried in the family plot at Rosehill Cemetery:

Believe it or not both Harry Pearsons and Elizabeth Pearsons managed to keep their names out of the newspapers for almost two and 1/2 years.  But they were back on November 24, 1934 because Harry Pearsons would not pay Elizabeth Pearsons the money the courts said he owed her.

Chicago Tribune - November 24, 1934

Chicago Tribune - December 06, 1934

Chicago Tribune - August 03, 1935

Chicago Tribune - August 09, 1935

Chicago Tribune - October 08, 1935

Chicago Tribune - October 19, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 06, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 06, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 07, 1935

Chicago Tribune - February 22, 1936

Chicago Tribune - April 28, 1936

This lawsuit was also unsuccessful for Harry Pearsons.

The 1940 US Census finds Harry Pearsons living at the University Club, 1704 Hinman Avenue, Evanston.  He is a Club Member/Lodger, 67 years old and Divorced.  He is a Lawyer in Private Practice and had been living in the same place in 1935.

University Club of Evanston

Believe it or not, Harry Pearsons managed to keep his name out of the papers until January 12, 1947 when he was pictured at the dedication of the new Evanston City Hall:

In 1951 it was announced that Harry P. Pearsons had been elected Vice President of the Chicago Law Institute (even though they misspelled his name):

Harry Putnam Pearsons died February 2, 1952 at the University Club.  He was seventy-nine years old.  Here is his Obituary and Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of February 3, 1952:

The Evanston Review from February 07, 1952 published a long obituary for the former mayor listing his many accomplishments.  There was no mention of his ill-fated second marriage and subsequent divorce.

Harry Pearsons was cremated in the Graceland Cemetery Crematorium.  He was laid to rest in the family plot at Rosehill Cemetery:

After extensive research I was unable to find out whether Harry Pearsons' estate ever paid out the $30,000 called for in the pre-nuptial agreement or not. 

Harry Putnam Pearsons - the first half of his life was one of privilege, prestige and service.  The second half of his life was not.  May he rest in peace.

THE REST OF THE STORY

It took extensive digging but based on clues woven into the newspaper stories about her I was able to "dig up" quite a bit of information on Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons.

Elizabeth Bonaventura Harris was born September 24, 1885 in Michigan.  In about 1912 she married George Adolph Schmitt (1881-1924), a dry goods manager.   They had three children:  Dorothy Elizabeth/Mrs. Michael DeBartelo (1913-2004), Margaret Jane/Mrs. Robert Troke (1914-1996), and Robert George (1918-1993).  George Schmitt died in 1924 leaving her free to enter into an undefined relationship with Harry Putnam Pearsons.  She and Pearsons were quietly married in 1928 and divorced with much fanfare in 1932.

After the divorce, Elizabeth managed to remove all traces of Harry Pearsons from her life.  She reverted to using the name Schmitt and official records referred to her as Elizabeth Harris Schmitt.   I could only find one reference to Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons and that was when Dorothy Schmitt announced the marriage of her sister Margaret in the Kenosha News from December 12, 1934:

In the US Census she reported herself as "Widowed" rather than Divorced, and even her obituary made no mention of her ill-fated marriage to Harry Pearsons.

In 1935 Elizabeth moved back to Kenosha, Wisconsin.  By the time of the 1940 US Census she was living in Los Angeles, California with her "brother-in-law" John J. Lennon.

In the 1950 Census she was still living in Los Angeles, but with her son Robert, his wife Iris and their son Jerry.

Elizabeth Bonaventura Harris Schmitt Pearsons Schmitt died April 13, 1959 in Los Angeles.  She was seventy-three years old.  She is buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City, California, in Section S - Row 45, Grave 76. 

                                                                            Photo courtesy Find a Grave volunteer Kim Jenkins