Lunice Teel (1883 - 1905) - Tragic Death

The Boston Store

Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.), 04 Nov. 1900. 

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020558/1900-11-04/ed-1/seq-6/

Lunice, nicknamed "Linnie", was born in McFall, Gentry County, Missouri, in April 1883 to Thomas Ross Teel and Rebecca Ann Graham.  She was the second of eight children, of whom Chloe, Linnie, Elizabeth ("Lizzie") and Alfred were born in Missouri.  Sometime between 1891 and 1893, the family moved to Phoenix where Edith, Mabel, Sadie and Ross Graham were born. 

It's unclear whether this Teel family was related to the Peter Teel family that migrated from Texas to Arizona in the 1870s, although census records show that some of them had also been in Illinois and Missouri before settling in Texas. 

In Missouri, Thomas R. Teel's family had been farmers  and owned a flour mill.  Later, in Arizona census records, Thomas was listed as a farm laborer and his death certificate describes him as a "miller". 

Lunice E. Teel, just 3 months short of her 22nd birthday, died of pneumonia on January 13, 1905, at her parents' home at 507 North 4th Street, Phoenix, Arizona.  She was buried in Rosedale Cemetery. 

Linnie's obituary noted she was employed at the Boston Store and that she was "an estimable young woman" and "well-known and respected by a large circle of acquaintances". - Story by Sue Wilcox

Willie Meade (1894 - 1900) - Tragic Death

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
//hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b19075

William “Willie” Meade began life in 1894 as the son of William “Billy” Meade and Laura Dawson.  His father was known as a genius at the roulette table.  

His mother worked as a waitress at the Louvre Garden Café that by 1895 was owned by Rose Gregory, a well-known Madam in Phoenix. 

The following facts are what we know about Willie.

Willie developed scarlet fever shortly after his birth and the disease eventually destroyed his hearing and vocal cords.

When Willie was six, his mother was living with her parents.

Willie’s grandparents lived near the railroad tracks in Phoenix.

On Feb 17, 1900, Willie was playing with other children near the tracks at Jackson St - between 3^rd and 4^th St.

As he started to run across the track in pursuit of his dog, a train engine began to move, startling Willie.  Willie tried to jump up onto the front of the train.

The engineer did not see Willie as he started the engine and when he began to move the train car, Willie was thrown underneath, killing him instantly.

Willie’s father belonged to the Improved Order of RedMen and the Independent Order of Foresters.

Willie is buried close to the railroad tracks in Rosedale Cemetery where the train is still heard in the background.

Mysteries of the Cemetery - Mary Hackney

"Woman in Black Evening Dress", 
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

Mary was born in Missouri about 1871 to Newton Hackney and Elizabeth Silver.  Her parents were living in North Fork Township, Jasper County Missouri in 1870 where her father worked as a nurseryman.

Mary’s parents moved to Leadville, Colorado prior to the 1880 census.  There, her father worked as a miner during a time when Leadville was becoming a silver boomtown.  By 1885 Mary was the oldest of four children and had three siblings: Hattie, Martin and Fred.

Mary’s father moved again and in 1890 the family was homesteading 10 miles south of Mesa (the area is located near Pecos and Cooper Roads in Chandler, Arizona today).  Mary’s father decided to farm in the desert area.  His crops did not fare well because of lack of available water.  In order to support his family and maintain his land, Newton turned to mining again and went to Globe to find work. 

Neighbors were far and few surrounding the Hackney’s property.  Hattie had married Prentice Phillips in 1891 and moved into Phoenix.  Mary would go to Phoenix to visit Hattie and attend meetings of the Independent Order of Good Templars. 

Mary’s father had several disturbing dreams in early October 1892 that caused him to return home from Globe.  He had dreams for three consecutive days that there was some danger to one of his family members.  Newton saw his wife in mourning clothing in one dream and decided he needed to return home.  He found his wife and Mary at a neighbors’ house and all was fine.

The next day, Newton and his wife left to visit a neighbor a mile from their house.  Mary stayed home.  When her parents returned, Mary was in severe pain and dying.  She told them she had taken poison.  It turned out to be strychnine.

Speculation was that Mary had put the poison in a bowl of bread and milk that was nearby on a table. 

Mary had complained of loneliness with no close friends nearby, but no one thought it was enough that she would commit suicide.  She had friends in Phoenix and seemed in good spirits.  Her father’s premonition had come true.  

Was it an accident or did Mary really end her life?  No one knows....