Thomas William Wiseman’s cremated remains were not initially taken after his death and for many years were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2020 his ashes were claimed by a relative.
He was born in Missouri in January 1876. He went by various names including: Thomas, Tom, William and W.T. His father, James Riley Wiseman, was born in Missouri in 1847. His mother, Julia A. Gumm, was born in Missouri about 1850. Thomas’ full-siblings included: Nancy Jane (born in 1868), Clarinda (1870), twins Rosetta & Vernetta (1871), Sarah Florence (1874), John (1878), Albert (1880), and Melanie (1884).
In 1870 (before Thomas was born), his parents were farming in Auglaze, Miller County, Missouri. In the census of 1880, Thomas was 4 years old and living with his parents in Blackwater, Pettis County, Missouri where his father was a farmer. In 1882, Thomas, his parents and siblings headed off by wagon train for Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Thomas’ father was a captain of the wagon train. His mother died on 2/3/1891 and was buried at Crawfordsville Union Cemetery in Linn County, Oregon.
In 1894 his father married Martha (Walker) England who was born in 1863 in Oregon. Thomas’ half-siblings from that relationship were: Gilbert R. (born in 1896), Mary K. (1898), Wade (1901), and Walker (1906).
During the census of 1900, Thomas was 24 and living with his father, step-mother, and siblings in Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon. He was a farm laborer and his father was a farmer. In 1910 his father and step-mother moved to Idaho. At some point James Wiseman divorced his second wife and married Martha Gumm, the sister of Thomas’ mother.
In the census of 1920 Thomas was single and living in Lane County, Oregon where he was a farm laborer. His father died in Chico, California in 1927. In the 1930s Thomas was working the woods near Mabel, Lane County.
On 10/4/1938 he killed his employer, Herman Scott, by hitting him on the head with a crowbar. He was arrested the same day and charged with 2nd degree murder. Although he pleaded not guilty, he claimed to have killed his boss because they argued about the best way to sharpen a saw. Neighbors testified he always acted strangely. He claimed to pilot airplanes during the war and professed to see devils, lizards, and snakes as big as logs. He was found insane and was acquitted of murder.
On 11/11/1938 Thomas was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. Initially the state was charging Thomas’ relatives for his care at the asylum, but a court order in February 1939 relieved them of any responsibility to pay for Thomas’ keep. Thomas died of pneumonia on 5/8/1962 at the institution 23 years after entering the facility.
While he was institutionalized several of his siblings died: Nancy Warren in 1948, Rosetta Rice in 1943, and Vernetta Cox in 1944. He was survived by many of his siblings. Sarah Seely died in 1963, John Wiseman in 1967, Gilbert Wiseman in 1979, Melana Barber in 1981, and Mary Johnson in 1983. Thomas never married or had children so his closest living relatives are great nieces and nephews who are descendants of his siblings.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
He was born in Missouri in January 1876. He went by various names including: Thomas, Tom, William and W.T. His father, James Riley Wiseman, was born in Missouri in 1847. His mother, Julia A. Gumm, was born in Missouri about 1850. Thomas’ full-siblings included: Nancy Jane (born in 1868), Clarinda (1870), twins Rosetta & Vernetta (1871), Sarah Florence (1874), John (1878), Albert (1880), and Melanie (1884).
In 1870 (before Thomas was born), his parents were farming in Auglaze, Miller County, Missouri. In the census of 1880, Thomas was 4 years old and living with his parents in Blackwater, Pettis County, Missouri where his father was a farmer. In 1882, Thomas, his parents and siblings headed off by wagon train for Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Thomas’ father was a captain of the wagon train. His mother died on 2/3/1891 and was buried at Crawfordsville Union Cemetery in Linn County, Oregon.
In 1894 his father married Martha (Walker) England who was born in 1863 in Oregon. Thomas’ half-siblings from that relationship were: Gilbert R. (born in 1896), Mary K. (1898), Wade (1901), and Walker (1906).
During the census of 1900, Thomas was 24 and living with his father, step-mother, and siblings in Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon. He was a farm laborer and his father was a farmer. In 1910 his father and step-mother moved to Idaho. At some point James Wiseman divorced his second wife and married Martha Gumm, the sister of Thomas’ mother.
In the census of 1920 Thomas was single and living in Lane County, Oregon where he was a farm laborer. His father died in Chico, California in 1927. In the 1930s Thomas was working the woods near Mabel, Lane County.
On 10/4/1938 he killed his employer, Herman Scott, by hitting him on the head with a crowbar. He was arrested the same day and charged with 2nd degree murder. Although he pleaded not guilty, he claimed to have killed his boss because they argued about the best way to sharpen a saw. Neighbors testified he always acted strangely. He claimed to pilot airplanes during the war and professed to see devils, lizards, and snakes as big as logs. He was found insane and was acquitted of murder.
On 11/11/1938 Thomas was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. Initially the state was charging Thomas’ relatives for his care at the asylum, but a court order in February 1939 relieved them of any responsibility to pay for Thomas’ keep. Thomas died of pneumonia on 5/8/1962 at the institution 23 years after entering the facility.
While he was institutionalized several of his siblings died: Nancy Warren in 1948, Rosetta Rice in 1943, and Vernetta Cox in 1944. He was survived by many of his siblings. Sarah Seely died in 1963, John Wiseman in 1967, Gilbert Wiseman in 1979, Melana Barber in 1981, and Mary Johnson in 1983. Thomas never married or had children so his closest living relatives are great nieces and nephews who are descendants of his siblings.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Thomas William Wiseman’s cremated remains were not initially taken after his death and for many years were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2020 his ashes were claimed by a relative.
He was born in Missouri in January 1876. He went by various names including: Thomas, Tom, William and W.T. His father, James Riley Wiseman, was born in Missouri in 1847. His mother, Julia A. Gumm, was born in Missouri about 1850. Thomas’ full-siblings included: Nancy Jane (born in 1868), Clarinda (1870), twins Rosetta & Vernetta (1871), Sarah Florence (1874), John (1878), Albert (1880), and Melanie (1884).
In 1870 (before Thomas was born), his parents were farming in Auglaze, Miller County, Missouri. In the census of 1880, Thomas was 4 years old and living with his parents in Blackwater, Pettis County, Missouri where his father was a farmer. In 1882, Thomas, his parents and siblings headed off by wagon train for Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Thomas’ father was a captain of the wagon train. His mother died on 2/3/1891 and was buried at Crawfordsville Union Cemetery in Linn County, Oregon.
In 1894 his father married Martha (Walker) England who was born in 1863 in Oregon. Thomas’ half-siblings from that relationship were: Gilbert R. (born in 1896), Mary K. (1898), Wade (1901), and Walker (1906).
During the census of 1900, Thomas was 24 and living with his father, step-mother, and siblings in Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon. He was a farm laborer and his father was a farmer. In 1910 his father and step-mother moved to Idaho. At some point James Wiseman divorced his second wife and married Martha Gumm, the sister of Thomas’ mother.
In the census of 1920 Thomas was single and living in Lane County, Oregon where he was a farm laborer. His father died in Chico, California in 1927. In the 1930s Thomas was working the woods near Mabel, Lane County.
On 10/4/1938 he killed his employer, Herman Scott, by hitting him on the head with a crowbar. He was arrested the same day and charged with 2nd degree murder. Although he pleaded not guilty, he claimed to have killed his boss because they argued about the best way to sharpen a saw. Neighbors testified he always acted strangely. He claimed to pilot airplanes during the war and professed to see devils, lizards, and snakes as big as logs. He was found insane and was acquitted of murder.
On 11/11/1938 Thomas was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. Initially the state was charging Thomas’ relatives for his care at the asylum, but a court order in February 1939 relieved them of any responsibility to pay for Thomas’ keep. Thomas died of pneumonia on 5/8/1962 at the institution 23 years after entering the facility.
While he was institutionalized several of his siblings died: Nancy Warren in 1948, Rosetta Rice in 1943, and Vernetta Cox in 1944. He was survived by many of his siblings. Sarah Seely died in 1963, John Wiseman in 1967, Gilbert Wiseman in 1979, Melana Barber in 1981, and Mary Johnson in 1983. Thomas never married or had children so his closest living relatives are great nieces and nephews who are descendants of his siblings.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
He was born in Missouri in January 1876. He went by various names including: Thomas, Tom, William and W.T. His father, James Riley Wiseman, was born in Missouri in 1847. His mother, Julia A. Gumm, was born in Missouri about 1850. Thomas’ full-siblings included: Nancy Jane (born in 1868), Clarinda (1870), twins Rosetta & Vernetta (1871), Sarah Florence (1874), John (1878), Albert (1880), and Melanie (1884).
In 1870 (before Thomas was born), his parents were farming in Auglaze, Miller County, Missouri. In the census of 1880, Thomas was 4 years old and living with his parents in Blackwater, Pettis County, Missouri where his father was a farmer. In 1882, Thomas, his parents and siblings headed off by wagon train for Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Thomas’ father was a captain of the wagon train. His mother died on 2/3/1891 and was buried at Crawfordsville Union Cemetery in Linn County, Oregon.
In 1894 his father married Martha (Walker) England who was born in 1863 in Oregon. Thomas’ half-siblings from that relationship were: Gilbert R. (born in 1896), Mary K. (1898), Wade (1901), and Walker (1906).
During the census of 1900, Thomas was 24 and living with his father, step-mother, and siblings in Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon. He was a farm laborer and his father was a farmer. In 1910 his father and step-mother moved to Idaho. At some point James Wiseman divorced his second wife and married Martha Gumm, the sister of Thomas’ mother.
In the census of 1920 Thomas was single and living in Lane County, Oregon where he was a farm laborer. His father died in Chico, California in 1927. In the 1930s Thomas was working the woods near Mabel, Lane County.
On 10/4/1938 he killed his employer, Herman Scott, by hitting him on the head with a crowbar. He was arrested the same day and charged with 2nd degree murder. Although he pleaded not guilty, he claimed to have killed his boss because they argued about the best way to sharpen a saw. Neighbors testified he always acted strangely. He claimed to pilot airplanes during the war and professed to see devils, lizards, and snakes as big as logs. He was found insane and was acquitted of murder.
On 11/11/1938 Thomas was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. Initially the state was charging Thomas’ relatives for his care at the asylum, but a court order in February 1939 relieved them of any responsibility to pay for Thomas’ keep. Thomas died of pneumonia on 5/8/1962 at the institution 23 years after entering the facility.
While he was institutionalized several of his siblings died: Nancy Warren in 1948, Rosetta Rice in 1943, and Vernetta Cox in 1944. He was survived by many of his siblings. Sarah Seely died in 1963, John Wiseman in 1967, Gilbert Wiseman in 1979, Melana Barber in 1981, and Mary Johnson in 1983. Thomas never married or had children so his closest living relatives are great nieces and nephews who are descendants of his siblings.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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