Eliza Ann Batson LaMunyon and 2^nd husband James Otis LaMunyon

Note: Read story below about “The Mad Stone”.

Eliza was the 8^th child of William Batson and Catherine [Powers] Batson born January 19^th, 1868 in Worth County, Missouri. Eliza first married John Thomas LaMunyon on January 24^th, 1892 in Pawnee, Nebraska. John was the 4^th child of William Otis LaMunyon and Martha Elizabeth [Riggs] LaMunyon. John was born August 4^th, 1864 in Worth County, Missouri. They were the parents of 4 (*possibly 5, see story below) children, Ethel Elizabeth, Edith Dale, James Troy and Fay L. LaMunyon

John Thomas LaMunyon died October 19^th, 1903 in Pawnee, Nebraska. (*See story below).

After John’s death Eliza married in 1905 John’s brother, James (Jim) Otis LaMunyon in Enid, Oklahoma. James was the 8^th child of the LaMunyon family, born about 1873 in Illinois.  James helped to raise his brother’s children and he and Eliza had at least one child of their union as well. James died in 1936 in Kansas and Eliza on February 24^th, 1955 in Latham Butler County, Kansas.

***Family history tells this story. I have been able to confirm several versions of the story with different family members from various branches of the tree. Here is the general consensus…

John Thomas LaMunyon brought a wagonload of grain into the millers for grinding. While waiting for payment he played with a dog in the yard. The workers asked him to take the dog home, as it was a stray. It seemed friendly enough, so he agreed. The dog apparently was rabid. A few days after he had brought the dog home the animal bit John, a son and Eliza on the heel of her foot. (This is part of the story there is some disagreement, no one can name the son) Eliza applied a poultice called a “Mad Stone” to all their wounds. John and the child died, Eliza did not.

Note** A “Mad Stone”, was a remedy used for many sorts of wounds or infections, but particularly for rabies. It is a hairball removed from the stomach of a large animal, (horse, cow, deer etc.) which was soaked in milk and then applied as a poultice. The only way I can figure it might have worked is by some sort of chemical reaction of the stomach acid from the animal and possibly the milk.  Whether the poultice worked for Eliza and saved her life or if the wound actually did not penetrate deep enough into her heel to infect her with rabies I don’t know, and most likely never will, though I do find it an interesting account of the medicinal practices of the era.

This picture was sent to me from my cousin, Janice Garrett, the daughter of Crystal Batson.  Thanks Janice!