1 8 THE KALLIKAK FAMILY 



When Martin Sr., of the good family, was a boy of 

 fifteen, his father died, leaving him without parental 

 care or oversight. Just before attaining his majority, 

 the young man joined one of the numerous military 

 companies that were formed to protect the country at 

 the beginning of the Revolution. At one of the taverns 

 frequented by the militia he met a feeble-minded girl 

 by whom he became the father of a feeble-minded son. 

 This child was given, by its mother, the name of the 

 father in full, and thus has been handed down to pos- 

 terity the father's name and the mother's mental capac- 

 ity. This illegitimate boy was Martin Kallikak Jr., 

 the great-great-grandfather of our Deborah, and from 

 him have come four hundred and eighty descendants. 

 One hundred and forty-three of these, we have con- 

 clusive proof, were or are feeble-minded, while only forty- 

 six have been found normal. The rest are unknown or 

 doubtful. 



Among these four hundred and eighty descendants, 

 thirty-six have been illegitimate. 



There have been thirty-three sexually immoral per- 

 sons, mostly prostitutes. 



There have been twenty-four confirmed alcoholics. 



There have been three epileptics. 



Eighty-two died in infancy. 



