Following is the exact passage from Mary Wilson's 'A History of Lake Mills' regarding the Addie Hoyt Fargo rumor.
"After some time Enoch married Adelaide Hoyt, known as Addie,
who lived only about 5 years. She had been very ill for several days, but
seemed to have passed the critical point in her recovery, and stepped out of
her bed at two o’clock one morning. But for only a moment because she screamed
and collapsed and was gone!
Dr. Oatway was
called, the funeral was held at ten o’clock the same morning. There was no
visitation because of the danger of contracting the disease – the service was
private and held at the graveside.
It was only within
the last two years that the only remaining descendent of E. J. Fargo was
informed by those who that she should or could be protected from that part of
history decided to contribute the information and let it fall wherever.
A number of persons
who knew Mr. Fargo will tell the same story – he shot Addie!"
In the books passage Mary makes it clear that she
first heard the rumor of Addie being shot about two years before the book was
published in 1983. Long after her mother died -1959.
Of particular note is that Mary refers to herself as
'that the only remaining descendent of E. J. Fargo'. Which of course was not
factual since Mary had four children. This passage referencing the rumor of Addies cause of death was added in after the book
was completed and ready to go to press. It clearly shows Mary's mind was
slipping as early as the 1980's, unfortunately. I can attest to her mental
state, as can any of her children.
Mary and I
had a rather heated argument about whether to include this reference in the
book - since the book was completed and ready for press anyway. I stood firmly
against including an idle rumor heard from a, possibly, unreliable source.
There were three of us in the room - Mary, her assistant (who prefers
anonymity) and me. Mary and her assistant argued no one would pay attention or
care while I
stood firm that it was irrelevant and could be inflammatory. I thought we
compromised on qualifying this as a rumor and that is what Mary is
saying.....even if the language could have been stronger. .
The
major point is that Rosemary has inappropriately exploited this passage by picking selective words and phrases. That practice subverts her claims that all she wants is truth and justice.
Yes, Mary Wilson had 4 children, 3 male and 1 female. The 3 male children never had children. The only daughter had 2, a boy and a girl. I know this because one of Mary's sons adopted my siblings and me in the late 60's.
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