Family Obituaries Through the Years...
The Elopement and Death of Mrs. Dimmie Monnett McClinton
In 1891, the Marion Star, owned and operated by future United States President Warren G. Harding, played a part in the unhappy ending of Oliver Monnett's daughter Dimmie (some sources list as "Dimma") when they announced "without comment" the marriage of Miss Monnett to Judson McClinton of Marion. Who knows what would have happened had the publisher of the Star had not "blowviated" the news of the newlyweds.
The two stories listed to the right ran three days apart.
Judson McClinton remarried around 1900 and later relocated to Texas. Dimmie is buried at Marion Cemetery, her stone does not mention McClinton in her name.
For more information on Aconite click here and a pop-up window will appear with a image and description.
STORY # 1
Marion Star
Saturday February 7th, 1891
MARRIED IN KENTUCKY
Two Marion County Young People Wedded on Blue Grass Soil.
"The Cincinnati Enquirer of today contains the announcement of the marriage of two Marion County young people , which we give give without comment:
"J.L. McClinton of Marion, Ohio and Miss Dimmie Monnett of Kirkpatrick, Ohio were married in Covington Ky., by Judge Shine.'"
Story #2
Marion Star
Monday, February 9th, 1891
FROM ALTER TO BIER
A Bride of But Two Days Commits Suicide with Poison
Mrs. Dimmie Monnett-McClinton Takes a Dose of Aconite and Is Soon Struggling in the Throes of Death – She Repents but Too Late and the Sad Ending of a Bright Life Follows.
“Saturday’s STAR contained an announcement from the Cincinnati Enquirer of the marriage of J.L. McClinton of this city to Miss Dimmie Monnett of Kirkpatrick, which occurred at Covington Ky. Friday. The bride of that day is now a corpse by her own hand.
“There is but a brief story to tell – of love, rashness and regret. A short time before last Christmas, Miss Dimmie Monnett, the daughter of Oliver Monnett, a well known and wealthy farmer residing about nine miles north of this city, just over the line in Crawford County, met Judson L. McClinton of this city. The meeting, which occurred at a dance in the country was of mutual pleasure to the young people and correspondence soon followed and friendship grew and ripened into love. Through willing tongues the parents of the young lady soon heard the story and at once admonished her against the attentions she was receiving from her lover and protested. It was the old story of love laughing at locksmiths and objectors. Miss Monnett came to this city about four weeks ago and was taking painting lessons at the home of T.O. Sharpless. Mr. McClinton was also denied the privileges of the Sharpless home, but the lovers found occasions for meeting. On Thursday evening, February 5th, they were out calling, the young lady leaving her friends with the ostensible purpose of going to her home. At this time, the young man states to the STAR that he told Miss Monnett of his intention of leaving town, when she concluded to accompany him. They accordingly started for the Erie Depot with the intention of going to Chicago, but the train was pulling out of the station before they reached there and they decided to take the train to Cincinnati which was ready also ready to leave.
“Arriving at Cincinnati, the couple proceeded to Covington Kentucky, where they were married by Judge Shine. They immediately took a train to return to this city arriving here Friday night. The lady then went to the home of Mr. Sharpless and the young man returned home of his parents, both expecting to keep the matter secret for a time. But the officiating Judge at Cincinnati broke with the faith, gave out the marriage to the newspapers and upon the arrival of the Enquirer here, the secret was out. The couple then met at 3 o’clock Saturday and it was decided that that the wife was to go home with her father, who was expected to come for her and that she would intercede for the husband. That was the last meeting of the two. The daughter accompanied her father home, the parents did not relent, and in the state of excitement that followed these events the young lady decided upon the course that proved her death. About 9 o'clock Sunday “morning, securing a vial of aconite that her father kept in the house, she swallowed it and about soon was taken with violent spasms. It was after this that she told what she had done, repented, and plead for the parents to save her life.
“A message was immediately sent to this city for
Drs. A. B. and J. A. McMurray and the two physicians hastened to the
afflicted home. But they were too late, the messenger of death had
preceded them, and the vivacious young life, once so full of hope and
happiness, had gone out, and a home was desolated with grief and
consternation.
"Mr. McClinton started to the Monnett home Sunday afternoon to see his bride, with the hope he would be favorably received but was met by the returning physicians, who warned him not to go near, that the lady was dead, and that the enmity of the father was against him.
“(The) Deceased was 21 years of. age, the oldest daughter, a pretty and accomplished young lady. She had many friends in this city, to whom; the shock of her sad death is great. She had a desirable home, surrounded by all the comforts of life, with every attention to make existence bright and cheerful. There is no doubt 'but that., a night spent in brooding over the- -step she had taken and the . disappointment caused prepared her mind for the desperate ending. She repented, but too late, and wit her parents' forgiveness as a last farewell she died.
“The funeral services will occur at the house Tuesday at 10 o'clock. The remains will be brought to this city and placed in the cemetery vault to await burial.”