Daniel Wise (1812-1892) is my 4th great grandfather. We was born and lived in Western Pennsylvania. A few years ago, I found the Butler County Public Library had an online obituary index. You could then contact the library for the original newspaper article. I was surprised to find that Daniel Wise had multiple listings in the index. I was lucky that two references to a lunacy declaration was also included in the index.
The following articles relate to Daniel being judged a lunatic and his hospitalization at Dixmont. Dixmont was the first mental health hospital in Pennsylvania. It was a branch of the West Penn Hospital. Daniel passed away two years later in the hospital. I have sent some emails to try to locate the original court records regarding the lunacy case.
There are some discrepancies in Daniel’s date of death. The article below states it occurred 9 February 1892. His probate papers state he died 18 January 1892. I am hoping that a trip to the Pennsylvania State Archives might include records from Dixmont. Adding another genealogy trip to the list!
Butler Citizen Newspaper, 16 August 1889, page 3, col 4. Butler Area Public Library, Obituary Index, microfilm 14.
Butler Citizen, 24 January 1890, Page 3, column 6. Butler Area Public Library, Obituary Index, microfilm 015.
Butler Citizen, 19 February 1892, page 2. Butler Area Pulblic Library, Obituary Index, microfilm 015.
