Re: JAMES HOUSE NY 1820

Alta was born Sept 1896 to Asa and Delia House Bolster.They lived in North Constantia, Oswego Co NY.Delia was the daughter of Henry and Melvina House, the ones Alta lived with in 1900.Asa was the son of John and Martha Brotherton Bolster.
This next part is oh so sad, and although I try to remember that the times were different...well, you'll see.In 1889, Henry was arrested for incest, Melvina was the principal witness, but never showed for court, as far as I could find.By 1900, when Alta lived with them, Delia was working in Richland, having left her husband, reason unknown.They had 6 children, 4 died before this time, daughter Martha lived with Asa's parents.1902, Delia went into the County Poorhouse in Mexico NY, her certificate says that she was intemperate, (along with her father) that her 2 children were with husband's parents, that she was somewhat demented.In 1904, at the time her mother died, she petitioned the courts to be released and it was denied.But at some point she did leave, and whether she was divorced from Asa or just went on, I don't know.Asa said he's widowed in the 1920 census, but Delia was remarried to Garrett Widrick by then and living in Albion, Oswego NY.In 1913, Alta Bolster entered the poorhouse, her cert says she is able bodied, self supporting, tho she had been on assistance in the past.She was 16.There is a notation on there that they didn't expect her to be there long, that she would be placed in a home soon.Unfortunately, that didn't happen.For whatever reason, she was moved to Wayne Co to an institution there, and was labeled feebleminded.She stayed in institutions apparently for a long time, or til she died, also unknown, but she died in the 1980s.Her sister Martha married and moved to Camden Oneida NY. She died in 1974, Henry House died in 1909 I think.Maybe 1908.In Oswego Co the poorhouse and the insane asylum (their words) were connected.It also functioned as a hospital for those who had no money.I'm heartsick wondering what happened to Alta that she changed so.I don't know when Delia or Asa died, but I saw a Garrett Widrick married in the 1930s, whether it's the same one I don't know, but it's the same town, so I assume she had died by then.I have copies of the poorhouse certificates if you want me to scan them to you. The rest I found thru Fultonhistory.com and various other web places.
Brenda