Constance
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- Sep 27, 2011
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In October of 1919, a Mr. and Mrs. WH Robbins of Dysart, IA lost their infant daughter to death. The baby was laid to rest in a proper burial. About 8 months later, their farmhand's wife, a spiritualist, brought "their" baby "back to life" for them after traveling to Chicago and returning with a female child.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=VaBbNeojGYwC&dat=19220305&printsec=frontpage&hl=en (You have to scroll over to what Google counts as Page 7 of 19; article is headed: "GETS JUDGEMENT ON SPIRITUALIST WHO BROUGHT BACK BABY")
The article states that the Robbins no longer believed this infant was their baby resurrected and wished to find the baby's real parents, although it doesn't say what they intended to do if they were found, as they seemed to love and cherish the child in any case.
I can't find any mention of this being accomplished, however. I've looked about & cannot find anything further beyond this 1924 mention of 4 year old "Vivian Constance Robbins" being rescued after climbing up a windmill on her father's farm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16022coll2/id/33842
I believe this is the first baby Vivian Constance's grave (very little info): http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=45333037
and the mother's (info on this case included in link): http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=95568888
So it appears that Mrs. Robbins died only six years after being "reunited" with "her" baby girl. I'm unable to find whatever became of the second Vivian Constance, and whether or not the mystery of her origins was ever solved, but it appears as if she were raised by Mr. and Mrs. Robbins as their own despite their doubts.
I suppose the place to start would be to check and see if there were any missing female infants reported in or around the Chicago area in 1920. I thought I'd bring this case over here and see if any of you fine folks would like to dig into it with me. I can't possibly open any more tabs!
The players' info that I have, so far:
The Robbins Family
The Farmhands
I'm fascinated by this tale and want to know more. Anyone feel like delving into it with me?
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=VaBbNeojGYwC&dat=19220305&printsec=frontpage&hl=en (You have to scroll over to what Google counts as Page 7 of 19; article is headed: "GETS JUDGEMENT ON SPIRITUALIST WHO BROUGHT BACK BABY")
The article states that the Robbins no longer believed this infant was their baby resurrected and wished to find the baby's real parents, although it doesn't say what they intended to do if they were found, as they seemed to love and cherish the child in any case.
I can't find any mention of this being accomplished, however. I've looked about & cannot find anything further beyond this 1924 mention of 4 year old "Vivian Constance Robbins" being rescued after climbing up a windmill on her father's farm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16022coll2/id/33842
I believe this is the first baby Vivian Constance's grave (very little info): http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=45333037
and the mother's (info on this case included in link): http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=95568888
So it appears that Mrs. Robbins died only six years after being "reunited" with "her" baby girl. I'm unable to find whatever became of the second Vivian Constance, and whether or not the mystery of her origins was ever solved, but it appears as if she were raised by Mr. and Mrs. Robbins as their own despite their doubts.
I suppose the place to start would be to check and see if there were any missing female infants reported in or around the Chicago area in 1920. I thought I'd bring this case over here and see if any of you fine folks would like to dig into it with me. I can't possibly open any more tabs!
The players' info that I have, so far:
The Robbins Family
- Mr. William Howard (W.H.) Robbins, father, farmer
- Mrs. Ada Baker Robbins, mother, farmer's wife, b. 1896, d. 1926
- Harold Robbins, son, b. 1916
- Vivian Constance Robbins, dau. b. 1919 d. 1919
- Vivian Constance Robbins, "Miracle baby of Dysart" (brought to family in 1920 at approximately 8 mos old)
The Farmhands
- Mr. S.W. Wheeler, Robbins' farmhand
- Mrs. S. W. Wheeler, farmhand's wife/spiritualist
I'm fascinated by this tale and want to know more. Anyone feel like delving into it with me?