DEGENERACY. 2CX) 



"We start at some unknown date with 30 families. These came 

 mostly from Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Of the 

 first generation of 62 individuals we know certainly of only 

 three. In the second generation we have the history of 84. In the 

 third generation we have the history of 283. In the fourth genera- 

 tion 1840-1860 we have the history of 644. In the fifth gen- 

 eration 18601880 we have the history of 179. In the sixth 

 generation 1880-1890 we have the history of 57. Here is a total 

 of 1,750 individuals. Before the fourth generation from 1840 to 

 1860 we have but scant records. Our most complete data begin 

 with the fourth generation, and the following are valuable. We 

 know of 121 prostitutes. The criminal record is very large petty 

 thieving, larcenies chiefly. There have been a number of murders. 

 The first murder committed in this city was in this family. A long 

 and celebrated murder case, known as the "Clem" murder, costing 

 the state immense amounts of money, is located here. Between 

 1868 and 1888 not less than $5,000 has been paid for 'passing' 

 these people from place to place, each township officer trying to 

 throw off the responsibility. The records of the city hospital show 

 that taking out surgical cases, acute general cases, and cases out- 

 side the city seventy-five per cent of the cases treated are from 

 this class. The number of illegitimacies is very great. The Board 

 of Health reports that the number of stillborn children found in 

 sinks, etc., would not be less than six per week. Deaths are fre- 

 quent and chiefly among children. The suffering of the children 

 must be great. The people have no occupation. They gather swill 

 or ashes; the women beg, and send the children around to beg; 

 they make their eyes sore with vitriol. In my own experience I 

 have seen three generations of beggars among them. I have not 

 time here to go into details, some loathsome, all pitiable. One 



