Colonel Melvin STARNS

1904 - 1972  (68 years)

• Name	Colonel Melvin STARNS
  Birth	19 Mar 1904	Hobart, Kiowa County, OK   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	11 Aug 1972	Norman, Cleveland County, OK
  	Cause: Acute coronary occlusion
  Notes	(1) Melvin STARNES is listed in a household headed by his father, Colonel STARNES, in the 1910 census of Hobart, Kiowa County, OK at 230 Lowe Street. [The compiler believes that Colonel STARNES was Colonel Andrew STARNS.] According to the 1910 census, Melvin was then 6 years of age; therefore, according to the 1910 census, he was born in about 1904. According to the 1910 census, he was born in OK. [The compiler believes that Melvin was Colonel Melvin STARNS.] (2) Melvin STARNES is listed in a household headed by his father, Colonel O. STARNES, in the 1920 census of Hobart, Kiowa County, OK at 401 South Jefferson Street. [The compiler believes that Colonel O. STARNES was Colonel Andrew STARNS.] According to the 1920 census, Melvin was then 15 years of age; therefore, according to the 1920 census, he was born in about 1905. According to the 1920 census, he was born in OK. [The compiler believes that Melvin was Colonel Melvin STARNS.] (3) On September 3, 1930, Melvin STARNS was committed to Central State Hospital [now Oklahoma State Hospital], Norman, OK, on the petition of his father, C. A. STARNS. Melvin, who was diagnosed as suffering from dementia praecox [schizophrenia], spent the remaining 42 years of his life in this hospital. Following is a summary of some of the hospital records, many of which are illegible: Name: Starnes [sic], Melvin Number: 30054 Residence: Oklahoma City, Okla. County: Okla. Admitted By: Dr. Chas. A. Brake Time: 3:15 P.M. Ward: HHM2 Brought from Oklahoma City, Okla. By: Bill Raynor, R. G. Henry Petitioner: C. A. Stanrs [sic] of Okla. City, Okla. Medical Certificate: Dr. A. J. Coley of Okla. City, Okla. Made By: Dr. W. C. Cummings of Okla. City, Okla. Committed on the 3rd. day of Sept. 1930 Hon. C. C. Christison Judge of Oklahoma County . . . Correspondent: C. A. Starns (father) Address: 919 E. 8th St. Okla. City, Okla. . . . * * * NAME: Melvin Starns ADMITTED: Sept. 3, 1930 CONTINUED NOTES Melvin Starns was admitted to this hospital on Sept. 3 1930 from Okla. County. His father, C. A. Starnes [sic] was born in Tenn., living and well at the age of 56, mother, Ida Gross born in Tenn., living and well at the age of 46. One brother and five sisters, all apparently normal. Patient received a fairly good education, having completed the 10th grade and entered the 11th, and later taking part of a business course. It is stated that his health was good up until two years ago, at which time his mental systems became noticeable, manifested by silliness and [illegible] [some of the following language is a repetition of earlier language] his mental systems became noticeable, manifested by silliness and being foolish, his talk became more or less irresponsible, and somewhat chilling in his ideas. He worked part of the time for his father as a carpenter helper, but lately worked at odd jobs and just before coming to the hospital worked with a truck, and he states was doing very well, got $8[?].00 a day for his work and while he did not work everyday, the man kept his records of everything done so that he thinks everything is satisfactory and states that if he [illegible] at in connection with his employer he would [?] get his cut at once and would go back to work, does not realize that there is anything wrong with his mind in any respect. Patient is oversize, has an evasive, defective look, hard to explain although he received practically a high school education. His ideas are to some extent relevant but usually in reference to things distant from the subject, has no insight. Tells of two different motorcycle accidents, one in 1924 and the other in 1930 [?], in which his big toe and the other time his ankle was injured. There is marked fine tremor of tongue and [illegible] the left [illegible] reflex is considerably increased over the [illegible] of the tongue. Examiner is inclined to believe that there is an organic condition present because it seems incredible that in two years patient would show the deterioration present in this case from Simple Praecox which would be the other diagnosis suggested by the examiner. On account of his size, and asymmetry of his head one would be justified in thinking of endocrine disfunction probably of the pituitary gland. ---------- Staff Meeting September 5, 1930 Present: Drs. Gable, Steen [?] and Drake Dr. Steen [?] reported the admission of Mr. Starnes [sic] to this hospital, [much of the rest of this paragraph is illegible]. Dr. Gable said from the history, he is [illegible] patient is a simple praecox. Dr. Steen [?] [illegible] irrelevant, silly, silently punitive, one [illegible]. Dementia praecox, simple form, concurred in by [illegible]. * * * PROGRESS NOTE [much of this record is illegible] STARNS, Melvin 7-19-56 This patient was accidently seen by Dr. Kleinschmidt when conducting physical examinations for the patients on 19B prior to going swimming. It was noted that the patient seemed in good contact, and the physical examination was quite within normal limits despite his being about 52 years old. Judging from the very small clinical folder, this man had evidently made a very uneventful hospital adjustment here through the most part of his 26 years [of confinement]. On admission he was considered to be a Dementia Praecox or Schizophrenia, Simple Type. However, this undoubtedly is an error because he is not simple at the present time, has shown no regression, and in fact is in a very uneventful remission. His original admission [illegible] in 1930 suggested a hebephrenic like attack. In any event at the present time he is not seen as seen as psychotic. Unfortunately he has some "hospitalitis", and his original intelligence is [illegible] estimated at bright normal, and he is still functioning within the average range. He is fairly well read considering [illegible] culture for the last 26 years. [Nearly all of the rest of this record is illegible.] * * * PROGRESS NOTE STARNES [sic], MELVIN Reg. No. 30054 Age - 64 Ward - 34A ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL: First time 9-3-1930; and has been here ever since. ADMISSION TO WARD: 11-10-[illegible] - transferred from 39 A. [illegible] JOB ASSIGNMENT: Patient works on hospital grounds at yardwork and various jobs for [illegible] of the Doctors, etc. FAMILY CONTACT: Patient goes on home visits almost each week. He [illegible], but he shows no interest in leaving the hospital. WARD BEHAVIOR: Patient is not a very neat type person. He stays mostly [illegible] working. He doesn't talk very much - never gives any trouble. DIAGNOSIS: Schizophrenic, simple type, catatonic. . . . * * * CLINICAL RECORD SOCIAL DATA STARNS, MELVIN Reg. No. Ward 19B Jack Horner, Caseworker SS# 3853 3-29-57 - 6-7-57 IDENTIFICATION: Melvin Starns is a middle age single mental invalid who was admitted to Central State Hospital for the first time in Sept. of 1930. He has been hospitalized a major portion of this past 26?? years. He has no strong religious or fraternal ties. His only employment was as a carpenter's helper with his father. REFERRAL: This patient was referred by the ward psychiatrist for possible release planning after some interest in the patient was indicated by the patient's sister, Mrs. Wilma Lewis. REASON FOR HOSPITALIZATION: This patient had hebephrenic type of schizophrenia in 1930. COURSE IN THE HOSPITAL: In 1951 this patient was reported standing in front of the mirror changing the expressions on his face. In 1956 Dr. Kleinschmidt staff [illegible] him and at this time he seemed to be in good contact and to have maintained a good adjustment in the hospital. A ward report in Jan. of 1957 indicates that the patient talked sensibly at times but might be frightening to individuals who don't know him because he talks to himself on the grounds. He often comes to the ward personnel demanding to have a shoe back which "someone got." In a recent interview the patient thought that he might like to be a sheep herder, talked to himself, and has in times of the past, we understand, refused to come in off of his job if he thought he had company. Since the patient has been in the hospital he has found considerable comfort in routine work for Mr. Walker. He cleans the chicken yard every Monday at Mr. Walker's home on the grounds and has a reasonably close attachment to Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker has apparently given him occasional pay. The patient is suspicious that his mother-in-law [sic] wants him to come out of the hospital only to work on his tomatoes. When Mr. Burns offered him a job on the garbage truck in Norman, Okla., in the summer of 1956, the patient thought he might be interested, but could not follow through in accepting employment. The patient felt that he could not accept construction work outside the hospital because it was a "push up hill." Apparently at one time he had been a brick layers helper. It is quite obvious that the patient thought more of Mr. Walker than he did Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Lewis [sic]. Certainly he had more frequent contact with Mr. Walker than he did with Mrs. Lewis. Her interest has only been recent. The patient's sister showed some interest in obtaining teeth for the patient because he complained. A check with the dentist, however, indicates that partial plates could not be made which would be satisfactory for the patient, and that his teeth are so worn down at this point that false teeth cannot be made for him, on the other hand his teeth are sound at this point and no full set of dentures is recommended. (4) Melvin STARNS is listed as a patient in the 1940 census of Central Oklahoma State Hospital [now Oklahoma State Hospital], Norman, Cleveland County, OK. The official enumeration date of this institution is April 1, 1940; the actual enumeration date of this institution is April 15, 1940. Melvin is listed in the 1940 census as a person who was then 36 years of age; therefore, according to the 1940 census, he was born in about 1904. According to the 1940 census, he was born in OK. His residence as of April 1, 1935 is not listed in the 1940 census.
  Person ID	I2724	Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Colonel Andrew STARNS,   b. 11 Sep 1873, TN d. 18 Jan 1941, St. Anthony Hospital, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, OK (Age 67 years)
  Mother	Ida Lynda GROSS,   b. 7 Jan 1880, Birchwood, James [now Hamilton] County, TN d. 19 Oct 1956, Gainesville, Alachua County, FL (Age 76 years)
  Marriage	10 Oct 1897	Birchwood, James [now Hamilton] County, TN
  Divorce	9 Jul 1934	Norman, Cleveland County, OK
  Notes	(1) On June 11, 1934, Mrs. C. A. STARNS ("Ida"), as plaintiff, filed a petition for divorce from her husband, C. A. STARNS ("C. A."), as defendant, in the District Court of Cleveland County, OK, under case no. 12370. The law firm of Muldrow and Keller represented Ida, and C. A. represented himself, in the divorce proceeding. On June 11, 1934, the court entered a temporary restraining order against C. A., "restraining and enjoining the defendant from or in any manner interferring [sic] with the care and custory of the children or with the plaintiff, or from going to the house of the plaintiff and causing any annoyance or disturbance." On July 7, 1934, Ida filed an amended petition for divorce from C. A., in which she alleged: "That she is a resident in good faith of Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, and has been for more than one year next preceeding [sic] the filing of this petition. "That the plaintiff and the defendant wars duly and legally married at Birchwood, Tennesaee, on the 10th day of October, 1897, and have since continued to be husband and wife. "That of this marriage seven children have been born to the plaintiff and defendant, viz; Rena [sic], age thirty-one, Melvin, age twenty-eight, Wilma, age twenty-six, Maurine, age twenty-four, Byron, age twenty-two, Lucile, age twenty, and Jeanett [sic], age sixteen. That Jeanett is in the care and custody of the plaintiff. [Note by compiler: Two other children, Earl and Glennie, were born of the marriage but died young.] "That the defendant has been guilty of extreme cruelty toward the plaintiff in that he has continually nagged at and abused her; that he has continually found fault with her and with practically everything that she has done; that on one occasion the defendant slapped and choked the plaintiff. That by reason of the facts hereinbefore set forth, defendant has made the life of the plaintiff unbearable; that he has kept her in constant mental strain and worry; that her health has been endangered; that she cannot continue to live with him as his wife, "Plaintiff further states that she and the defendant have a limited amount of personal property accumulated during their married life; that said. property briefly described is as follows: "Household and kitchen furniture. "Plaintiff prays that the court make an order awarding her the said personal property as part of the relief prayed for in this petition. "That the plaintiff is a fit and proper person to have the care and custody of the said minor child of the parties hereto, and that the care and custody of the child should be awarded to the plaintiff; that the plaintiff is entitled to an order of this court restraining and enjoining said defendant from in any way interferring with her or molesting her, and from interferring with her custody of the said child. "Plaintiff further states that she has always conducted herself toward the defendant as a true and faithful wife, and has given him no just cause or provocation for his extreme cruelty toward her as above set forth." On July 9, 1934, the court entered a decree of divorce which provides in part as follows: "The court, having heard the oral testimony of witnesses, sworn and examined in open court, and being fully advised of the premises, and on consideration thereof, finds that all the material allegations alleged in the plaintiff's petition are true, and that the plaintiff is entitled to an absolute decree of divorce from the defendant, by reason of the extreme cruelty of the defendant toward the plaintiff. "And the court finds that the plaintiff is without fault and that by reason of the acts of the defendant, and the fault of the degendant, plaintiff is entitled to a decree of divorce as prayed for. It is therefore, Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed by the court that the plaintiff be and she is hereby granted an absolute decree of divorce from the defendant. "The court further finds that the plaintiff is a fit and proper person to have the custody end control of the minor child of the parties hereto, namely, Jeanett [sic] age 16 years. It is therefore Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed by the court that the plaintiff be and she is hereby granted the absolute care and custody of the said child during her minority, and that the defendant have the right to visit said child at the home of the plaintiff at reasonable times, such visitations to in no way interfere with the custody and control of said child by the plaintiff. "It is further Ordered, Adjudged and decreed that the said plaintiff have and possess as and for alimony the household furniture, and the kitchen furniture; and the defendant is hereby ordered to convey the said property to the plaintiff, and it is further ordered that upon the failure of said defendant to execute said conveyance within five days from the date hereof, that this decree shall operate as such conveyance. "It is further Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed by the court that this decree does not become erfective until the expiration of six months from this date."
  Family ID	F734	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Citation Text: (1) Starns family Bible.