Addie has left Lake Mills, and will not be returning.

12 years ago

Yesterday was the day she was disinterred. One week ago, we obtained a court order for the exhumation. It happened yesterday.

I encountered much resistance. Some people left comments at my website, stating that I was no relation to Addie Hoyt. Unbelievable.

The judge in a circuit court in Jefferson saw it differently - thank God - and he granted a court order to disinter. God bless him - truly.

On the plus side, there were a dozen helpers along the way, who helped me, put their necks out on the line, and supported me 110%.

And on the other plus side, I discovered *another* photo album of Addie from her youth. It was in my brother's house in Illinois.

Addie and Annie (my great grandmother).

Addie now has a voice, and the secret of her mysterious demise will now become well known.

Read below for details.

Here is a link that might be useful: Addie's disinterment

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Comments (39)

juellie1962
12 years ago
WOW! What a story! What makes it so much real for me is that I recognize some of the names you mention. The funeral home is the one that took care of my grandmother's service! I go through Jefferson every time I go to my mom's house!

Is that you in the picture? I will be anxious to hear what the results of the autopsy are!
Rudebekia
12 years ago
I too look forward to your evolving story, because I know the Lake Mills area and love a good mystery. A question: are there Oatway (the doctor's) relatives still living? Or are there any relatives left of other major players in the story who might be concerned with the investigation? What strikes me as so sad about the story is that no one at the time seemed to know or care enough about Addie to question her "quick" death and burial.
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jennmonkey
12 years ago
Wow Rosemary! I've been following this story from the beginning and am anxious to hear what else you find out. What a fascinating story! I completely understand why you are doing this. If I was murdered and the whole thing was covered up, I would hope someone would eventually discover the truth too.
bigbaby
12 years ago
Rosemary, this is the first I'm reading of this story. Do you have a link to what's behind this?
Adella Bedella
12 years ago
Wow! This story has progressed rather quickly. Should be interesting to find out more later. How long until you get a report?
sleeperblues
12 years ago
I can't wait to hear the findings.
Rudebekia
12 years ago
bigbaby, click on the link rosemary included in her post which goes to her website. You'll find the story there.
petaloid
12 years ago
Rosemary, thanks so much for caring, and for your dedication to solving this mystery.
wanda_va
12 years ago
This is so fascinating, and I hope you are able to solve the mystery surrounding her death. You have my utmost respect for caring so much!
renee_b
12 years ago
Rosemary, I have been following this fascinating story since your first wrote about it. I think I'm going to put down my Michael Connelly book because this is way to interesting, LOL! I salute you, Rosemary, for taking the time, energy and love to find out the real story on Addie's life and death. I see a movie deal in the near future.
phyllis__mn
12 years ago
I have also been following Addie's story. Congratulations, Rosemary, on following your instincts, and having others who shared your questions.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
12 years ago
Wow no kidding she was buried in a very shallow grave, that is evident from the picture of the empty grave. I have never seen or heard of such a shallow burial.

I am so hooked on this story and I am so hopeful you can find out the truth and put poor Addie to rest and let the truth be known.

About the glass I wonder if she could have been pushed through an upper story window and fell to her death and the glass was put in with her to hide all the evidence.

I know that some very early caskets did have some areas of glass but they were not thin glass they were made to withstand the weight of the dirt.

Waiting for more!!!!
schoolhouse_gw
12 years ago
By "will not be returning", do you mean you will be burying her in some other cemetery and not at the original grave site?
Maybe I missed that somewhere.
Jodi_SoCal
12 years ago
I know nothing of the long-term condition of buried caskets so I need to ask. Was there any evidence of a casket at all or was it simply bones, shoes and glass?

Jodi-
pam_25f
12 years ago
So much to take in: the continuing story (in installments!), great pictures and oh wow! Look at that jacket on Annie. Thank you for sharing all this.
matti5
12 years ago
What an amazing story! I always look forward to your updates. I'm wondering the same thing as Jodi, was there a casket?

Rosemary, thank you for being Addie's angel!
bigbaby
12 years ago
Thanks Marita. I dug around and found the rest of the story. Interesting! Can't wait to see the results of the exumation!
rosemaryt
Original Author
12 years ago
Addie will *NOT* be reinterred there at the Lake Mills cemetery. I spent about $5,000+ of my own money and 18 days of my life in Lake Mills to go through all the legal hoops required for this disinterment.

Had I known how difficult this would be, I would not have embarked on this journey - I think.

Then again, this is not a good time to make that judgment. I'm exhausted - in every way imaginable - through and through.

I'm on the road tonight, headed home soon, and I can't wait to get there.

Last night, I slept soundly for the first time in many days, and I'm still kinda worn out.

Exhuming a family member is not for the weak-kneed, let me tell you. When they found that first bone (found by SURPRISE because it was so near the surface), tears came to my eyes and I started shaking.

Addie - this woman I'd thought about and dreamt about and read about and researched for so long - was in this grave, and now I'd finally reached that place where I could find out what happened to her.

Addie - forced into silence for 110 years - was finally being given a voice, and an audience, and an opportunity to be granted justice.

It was a very emotional experience.

And it was 35 degrees yesterday morning at the cemetery and the wind was blowing and it was very damp. I was frozen solid.

I was out in that cold from 7:15 am to 11:55 am, when the hearse drove away with Addie's remains, bound for the Milwaukee Medical Examiner's office. That's when I went back to my room in Lake Mills and just sat on the bed and thought for a time.

She is NOT going back to Lake Mills. She will be cremated and her ashes will come back to Norfolk, Virginia and Addie's remains will be with me - HER FAMILY.

Having seen that shallow grave (bones found at 34") and having seen the remnants of her little shoes, and having seen new evidence (which I've not posted yet), I am now fairly well convinced that Addie's life did not end naturally.

It would be WRONG to re-intomb my aunt beside her husband under these circumstances.

Here's a picture of the TYPE of shoes that were found on Addie's feet. So, is this what the well-dressed wore in 1901 when they were sick in bed with diphtheria?

Addie's grave, as of this morning. The city has informed me that the footstone is to remain in place and I'm not sure why, but that's their wish. Addie is not there, and won't be returning.

Rose
sheesh
12 years ago
It really is not unusual to be buried fully clothed and shod. In fact, people are often buried or cremated wearing all their jewelry and personal possessions like mink coats and diaries. My uncle is a funeral director. He says it is amazing and ridiculous to see what gets buried. No wonder there are grave robbers!

Did you find anything of value, Rosemary?
rosemaryt
Original Author
12 years ago
The fact that she's wearing shoes is very odd in this case. Very, very odd.

She died at 2:00 am and was IN THE GROUND before 10:00 am. That's eight hours. She was sick in bed, perished from diphtheria (allegedly) and then was buried eight hours later due to contagion fears.

So, they're afraid of contagion, but they're going to stop to put on these shoes and then lace them UP, knowing that there'll be no viewing and no one will ever see her body?

Nope.

Doesn't work for me.
Marilyn Sue McClintock
12 years ago
Thank you so much Rosemary for doing all of this and keeping us posted.

Sue
Chi
12 years ago
How do you think she died? I think you mentioned you think she was shot or beaten badly. Do you think she had her shoes on during it?

If she were wearing them, wouldn't there be at least a little bit of blood on them? I understand blood is organic and it was a long time ago but I would think there would at least be some stains. They look very white to me. It's hard to imagine someone who is shot to death or beaten to death then dragged and buried not dripping at least a little bit of blood.

I suppose it's possible to kill someone without blood but it seems a little unlikely, especially with the weapons back then. Those shoes look a little too clean to be involved in some violent death so I'm interested in what your current theory is.
Chi
12 years ago
Oh, never mind. I just reread it and saw that those aren't her actual shoes! I'm still interested in your current theories though. It's really interesting.
jennmonkey
12 years ago
Those are not the actual shoes, chi...they are just similar. I imagine Addie's shoes would not be that intact after being buried so long.

If bones were found near the surface, it would seem as though she wasn't in a coffin? That is strange too. If she was murdered perhaps they didn't want to spend the money on a coffin?
Chi
12 years ago
Haha yeah I thought they seemed really well preserved. :P Too much CSI watching for me I think.

I think Rosemary mentioned on another thread that there were so many inconsistencies that she wasn't even confident it was Addie in the grave? Do you think it's her now?
rosemaryt
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes, I think it's her in that grave because it's so shallow, and because it was a very petite person, about 5'0" tall.

The burial permit thing threw me off, but now I'm understanding it better.

In Wisconsin, in the late 1890s and early 1900s, the burial permit was a state document, given more weight than a death certificate. Not sure why, but that's the way it was structured then.

Physicians were required to report on birth certificates and burial permits when sending in reports to the state board of health.

The physician who allegedly falsified the death certificate was not willing to falsify a state document (burial permit), so he just *claimed* that he had obtained a burial permit for Addie, when in fact he did not.

That way, he was not lying to the state.

Interestingly, when this physician filed his official report with the state of Wisconsin in the year ending 1901, he stated that there had been ZERO cases of diphtheria in Lake Mills in 1901.

Yup.

No diphtheria in Lake Mills in 1901.

As I said, the evidence is mounting.

Rose

Here is a link that might be useful: the evidence
pattico_gw
12 years ago
you need to write a book after this is all settled...I would buy one.

Maybe you shouldn't tell the ending...make us buy they book to find out....lol...just kidding...I want to know NOW...
brightonborn
12 years ago
I am so in awe of what you have accomplished Rose in such a relatively short amount of time. I believe like many others that Addie was smiling down at you and thanking you for giving her death the recognition it never got before.What an amazing story and thanks from the bottom of my heart for sharing .
Granlan_TX
12 years ago
I want to add another sincere thank you for all you've done and shared with us.

Wishing some much needed and deserved peaceful rest for you and your dear Aunt Addie.
jannie
12 years ago
This story is fascinating. I love all the photos.
Adella Bedella
12 years ago
Why are you cremating her? What if more testing needs to be done in the future?
coffeemom
12 years ago
Your continuing story about Addie keeps me coming back to the KT forum. I'm very much interested in genealogy and history and this is a good mystery.I can't wait for the next installment.
I would not only read the book but would pay to see the movie!
rosemaryt
Original Author
12 years ago
As to the question of cremation, what else could I do? Bury her again next to the man who allegedly murdered her? Or bury her in a new grave, and let someone else dig her back up in another 20 years?

There'll be nothing left by then.

Addie is now in the hands of a nationally known medical examiner and his staff, and he'll be working with a professor of anthropology from a nationally acclaimed university and they will be in charge of determining what happened to young Addie Hoyt Fargo.

The ME's office is one of the best equipped in the country, and they'll be doing a lot of tests on Addie and the work will span several weeks.

The final evidence from all this testing will be the last word.

No one cared what happened to Addie for 110 years. If she'd been exhumed five years, 10 years, 20 years or even 30 years after death, this would have been a lot easier.

That being said, the technology that will be applied to Addie's remains is just almost unbelievable. Maybe - I tell myself- the timing of this is divinely inspired, because they have all kinds of computer-enhanced imagery available that was not around just 20 years ago.

Rose
trishaw
12 years ago
I have been following all of this on Facebook and I can tell you, I have never been so interested in an event in my life. I feel as if Addie is one of my own family! I know you are tired of writing but I think this would make an amazing book. I would be first in line to buy it. Maybe consider a ghost writer? Bad pun, but you get where I am going.

Trish
jae_tn2
12 years ago
university of tennessee "bone yard"........not sure who the man is that runs this but it is supposed to be tops in the field of forensics. the man who runs the operation has a last name that begins with "B". i bet he would be interested in this!
Chi
12 years ago
What will happen if it turns out she did die from disease? Will you still keep her remains or return them?
hale_bopp
12 years ago
Amazing story! I remember when you first started on this journey. :D I would LOVE to read a book written from Addie's point of view as to her life and death. But then again what you are going through to discover Addie's true demise is equally fascinating! Maybe a book from her POV, then an afterward from you? In any case, I can't wait to find out what happens!!!

Blessings,
Haley
Kathsgrdn
12 years ago
Very interesting. I hope you find out what really happened to her. Not sure if that's possible after so many years.
Jodi_SoCal
12 years ago
Rose, still curious, was there any remains of a casket in the grave?

Jodi-

Addie has left Lake Mills, and will not be returning.

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