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NOTE: To keep this screen from jerking around because of the different sized
photos included in the slide show above...go to the 'Stop -Play' button on top of the slide show and click on it
to stop the action...then scroll back on down here to read the text presented below...
Remembering Great Grandfather Whitehead...by his great grandson, H. Bruce Downey---drawn
largely from unpublished research done by Uncle Bill Black
Great Grandfather William Wilson Whitehead (xxxx-yyyy)--- married in 1878 in
Allegheny, PA to Maria McCullon (1854-1944) and father of Della Whitehead (1882), Ellen Susan Whitehead (1885), Alice
Whitehead (1887), Robert Whitehead (1889), and an unnamed infant boy who died at birth. Great Grandfather Whitehead
also had an extra-marital affair with Lilly Hope Humble from 1898 until her death from a miscarriage in 1902, which affair
produced one child, Bertha Whitehead (1900). While visiting Lilly's gravesite, Great Grandfather Whitehead met Elizabeth
Schultz who he then married in 1902. At the time of their marriage Elizabeth (later known by the family as Gramma Schultz)
did not know that Great Grandfather Whitehead was already married to Maria McCullom Whitehead whom William had committed
to Dunning State Hospital in that same year, 1902, nor did she know of the existence of either Robert Whitehead (William and
Maria's son born in 1889) nor Bertha Whitehead (William and Lilly's daughter born in 1900). Before Elizabeth Schultz
and Great Grandfather Whitehead's marriage in 1902, he conveniently had both Robert and Bertha put in a boarding house.
But when Elizabeth Schultz Whitehead subsequently found out about the existence and circumstances of Maria McCullom Whitehead
and the two children, Robert and Bertha Whitehead, Gramma Schultz kicked Great Grandfather Whitehead out and went and got
both Robert and Bertha Whitehead out of the boarding house. Gramma Schultz then raised Bertha Whitehead as her own child
and Bertha was never told the truth until after Gramma Schultz died in 1930. By then Bertha herself was 30 years old
and she was reportedly very upset---"The traumatic news affected Bertha deeply and the emotional shock she experienced
was manifested openly at the wake, the funeral, and for many years thereafter." ---as reported by Uncle Bill Black.
...H. Bruce Downey, September, 2003
Remembering Grandfather William Wilson Whitehead...by his grandaughter, Marilyn
Whitehead Blew
He lived with us for a while and I stayed away from him because he would always criticize what
I was wearing. Every skirt was too short, my hair was not right and he would accuse me of wearing lipstick when I didn't
at that time. He would evangelize every chance he had...probably out of guilt. I did not like him and he was a
trial for any family member that tried to help him. What a relief when he left. He died not too long after that.
He was hit on the head and robbed in Toledo one evening when he was returning to his room. A sad ending to a sad life.
His brothers and sisters in Pittsburgh were all educated and successful and they said he was always a problem to the family.
One of his sister's always wrote to Aunt Ellen. They felt sorry for his family and tried to stay in touch.
...Marilyn Whitehead Blew, September, 2003
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