Ida Estella Barrows

Great-great-grandparent – 1 of 16 in this generation

(1867-1952)

Ida was born in Middletown, CT in 1867, the youngest of three children born to Martin Barrows and Louisa Gordon Shepard.

Ida was a Mayflower descendant several times over. Her father was a descendant of Mayflower passengers, Patience Brewster and her father, William Brewster; and Richard Warren. Her mother was a descendant of William Bradford; Edward Fuller and his wife; Stephen Hopkins and his daughter, Constance.

Ida’s father died when she was 10 years old. Her brother, Samuel Chester Barrows, died in 1888 at the age of 35 when Ida was 21. Samuel was tragically killed while blasting stumps on Rappallo Avenue in Middletown. (see note #1, below)

Ida married Frank Jared Wentworth of Mansfield in August 1890 in Chaplin, Windham, Connecticut. Ida gave birth to a daughter, Ethel M. Wentworth, three months later in Nov 1890. [Ethel married Frank Korten of Meriden January 1, 1912 (see note #2, below)]. Frank Wentworth was not Ethel’s biological father. There was a sensationalized story in the newspapers about a Wesleyan student by the name of Frank Ray Heath who had carelessly “seduced” Ida. Charges were brought against him, but were dropped because Ida was not a minor. Supposedly an “arrangement” was made for Heath, who did not intend to marry, to provide financially for Ida and the baby; however, there was nothing in place at the time to enforce the arrangement. According to the Middletown Press, Wentworth, an invalid who was “well to do,” had offered to marry Ida to save her from public shame. (see note #3, below) He died on March 10, 1891, apparently of natural causes, less than a year after their marriage.

Ida remarried, on Valentine’s Day, 1894, to Eugene Dudley Kelsey.

Upon her death on 18 June 1952, at the age of 68, she had 22 grandchildren (12 by her daughter, Mildred). She was buried in Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown, Connecticut.

Obituary: The Middletown (Conn.) Press, Thursday Evening, June 19, 1952 Mrs. Eugene Kelsey

Mrs. Ida Barrows Kelsey, 84, of 40 Fountain Avenue, widow of Eugene Kelsey, died late Wednesday evening at the Chesterfield House in Chester. Surviving are three sons, Clinton E. Kelsey of Rocky Hill, Howard H. and Ellis Kelsey, both of this city; two daughters, Mrs. Frank Gaylord of Higganum, and Mrs. Warren Rogers of this city; several nieces and nephews; 22 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. Kelsey was a member of the First Baptist Church and of the Ladies’ Aid society of the church. The funeral will be held from the Robers Funeral Home, 16 Broad Street, Saturday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Alvin Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be in the family plot in the Indian Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday evening from 7 to 9 o’clock.

Note #1: undated. Middletown Press. Explosion the Cause – While Blasting Stumps a Piece Strikes Him in the Head. A shocking accident occurred on Rapello Avenue at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, which terminated the the death of Mr. Samuel C. Barrows, the carpenter, at an early hour this morning.

Mr. Barrows, with two of his men, were engaged blasting stumps on what is known as the Rapello property. It was not the first day Mr. Barrows had been at the dangerous work, for during the past month he has in blasting destroyed several huge blocks. He started in his work yesterday morning about 9 o’clock, and on his way up street stopped in at the office of Mr. George M. Southmayd, who is agent for the property. Mr. Southmayd was not in and he left word that he was going to blast the remainder of the stumps on the avenue. Someone in the office remarked to him, “be careful,” whereupon Mr. Barrows replied, saying he was an old hand at blasting. Reports from the blasts could be heard all the morning, and the excitement naturally drew a large crowd of spectators who loitered around to see the mammoth stumps fly high in the air. Mr. Barrows used a long two inch auger to drill the stumps with, when a charge of powder was placed in and the fuse touched off. The work was carried on successfully the greater part of the day and the stumps were being demolished rapidly. Shortly before four o’clock a charge was placed in an exceedingly large stump and Mr. Barrows took refuge behind another stump some thirty feet away. The fuse did not ignite as quickly as it might and Mr. Barrows raised up to see the cause. Hardly had he raised his head above the stump when the blast exploded with terrific force and a large piece of wood glanced off striking him directly on the forehead. The shock was so quick and without warning that the numerous spectators in the vicinity were at first startled and could hardly realize what had taken place. Willing hands soon carried the injured man to the office of Mr. A. Campbell, the stone cutter, where Dr. Edgerton soon arrived. It was discovered that his forehead was caved in, his skull cracked and his head badly disfigured. He was unconscious and remained in that condition until death relieved him of his suffering at 3 o’clock this morning.

Mr. Barrows was a man about 30 years of age and of late years has carried on a snug little carpenter business on East Court street. Starting himself he gradually worked until he employed several men. He resided with his widowed mother and sister on Center street. Mr. Barrows was a brother-in-law of Mr. D.M. Fuller, the carpenter, who it was announced yesterday was to leave for Florida. Mr. Fuller was about departing for the south when the news of the sad accident reached him and he remained home.

Mr. Barrows was a member of the YMCA and of the Carpenters’ Union. Arrangements for the funeral have been decided upon , and the ceremony will occur at his late home Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock, and will consist of a short prayer at the house and service in the chapel at Indian Hill Cemetery.

Note #2: Middletown Press 1/1/1912 Married at the Parsonage. The marriage of Miss Ethel May Kelsey, of Washington street to Frank Korton, of Meriden, was solemnized at the parsonage of the First Baptist Church today. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Edgar R. Hyde.

Note #3. undated. Miss Ida E. Barrows Wedded to a Mansfield Resident. Took Pity on the Girl and Fortune Favors Her – The Announcement of Her Marriage. The following notice appeared in the Norwich Bulletin of a few days back: –

Wentworth-Barrows – In Chaplin, August 25, by the Rev. Francis Williams, Frank Jared Wentworth, of Mansfield, and Miss Ida Estelle Barrows, of Middletown.

The notice explains itself, but possibly will be interesting for the general public to know facts pertaining to the culmination of a scandal of a few months back. It will be remembered that one Frank Ray Heath, a student of Wesleyan, was arrested on a charge of seduction and locked up in this city, but the charge had been preferred by an over officious clergyman, and when the court came to sift the facts pertaining to the case found that the young lady was of age and the charge could not be pushed. The result of the scandal at the time was the release of Heath on bonds, which terminated in his settling the case for $100 and he has since departed to pastures green and gone far enough west to escape the notoriety that was occasioned by his escapade. As far as the facts pertaining to the marriage of the young lady are concerned, they go thusly: The notoriety gained in the papers about the case attracted the attention of a lady in Mansfield, who wrote to Miss Barrows and informed her that she knew of a gentleman who desired to wed; that he was an invalid but would heir the estate of a rich uncle and was at present quite well to do. Miss Barrows, it appears, corresponded with the lady, and upon an invitation went to Mansfield to see now her husband. It is unnecessary to state that it was a case of love and affection at first sight, for the young lady did not advise her friends of the condition affairs had taken, until they were informed by the paper containing the marriage notice. Thus the scandal of a few months back is hushed and tongues of a gossiping public sealed.  May the newly wedded be happy.