Here is an in-depth look at the death certificate for Patrick Bohannon, my 2nd great uncle.
Block 1. Place of death: Marshall, Searcy County, Arkansas.
Block 2. Full name: Patrick L. Bohannon.
The only official record I’ve seen with Patrick’s full name was his daughter Sylvania’s delayed birth certificate, which recorded his name as Patrick Leonard Bohannon.
Block 3. Sex: Male.
Block 4. Color or race: White.
Block 5. Single, married, widowed, or divorced: Married.
Block 5a. Husband of (or) Wife of: Molly Bohannon.
She was Mary Francis Graham, daughter of Jesse Graham and Sarah Scott. She was Patrick’s third wife.
Block 6. Date of birth: 20 July 1866.
That’s consistent with all the censuses in which Patrick was enumerated.
Block 7. Age: 69 years, 11 months, 21 days. It had initially been written 9 days, but struck out and changed to 21.
Blocks 8-11, related to occupation: Blank, save for a checkmark.
Block 12. Birthplace: Bear Creek.
This is a populated place in modern Mount Pleasant Township. At the time of Patrick’s birth, it was in the old Sulphur Springs Township, where Patrick’s parents were enumerated in 1870.
Block 13. Name of father: Ellie Bohannon.
Patrick’s father was actually named Alexander Bohannon.
Block 14. Birthplace of father: Tennessee.
The censuses that enumerated Alexander all reported his birthplace as Alabama. His U. S. Army service record specified Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Block 15. Maiden name of mother: Not known.
Patrick’s mother was Mary Minerva Cotton.
Block 16. Birthplace of mother: Not known.
Mary was born in Tennessee, according to census records.
Block 17. Informant: Loy Bohannon.
Loy was the son of Patrick and his second wife Mary Wilbanks.
Block 18. Burial, Cremation, or Removal: Bear Creek Cemetery, 13 July 1936.
Block 19. Undertaker: Coffman Funeral Home, Marshall, Arkansas.
Block 20. Filed: 13 July 1936, A. J. Parks, Registrar.
His full name was Andrew Jackson Parks.
Block 21. Date of death: 11 July 1936.
Patrick’s grave marker has the wrong date of 13 July, which as we see in Block 18 was the date of his burial.
Block 22. Doctor’s Affidavit: Patrick was attended by his doctor from 7 July to 11 July, when the doctor last saw him alive. His death was said to have occurred at 11 p. m.
The cause of death was “nephritis chronic with acute exacerbation.” Nephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys. Chronic indicates that it persisted for a while, and the date of onset was 1933. Acute exacerbation means that it suddenly got significantly worse, and the doctor noted that Patrick died while in a coma.
In the section for “other contributory causes of importance,” the number 131 was written. In the International List of Causes of Death, Revision 4 (1929), number 131 was chronic nephritis.
What test confirmed diagnosis? Clinical.
Was there an autopsy? No.
Block 23. If death was due to external causes, fill in the following: All blank.
Block 24. Was disease or injury in any way related to occupation of deceased? No.
The certificate was signed by E. A. Bing, M. D. of Marshall, Arkansas. That was Dr. Elbert Amsden Bing.
Bibliography
Ancestry.com, Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969 (Lehi, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2019), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Death Certificates; Year: 1936; Roll: 3. Record for Patrick L Bohannon. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=61777&h=383358&indiv=try.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 01 October 2020), memorial page for Patrick Lyons Bohannon (20 Jul 1866–13 Jul 1936), Find a Grave Memorial no. 40841287, citing Bear Creek Cemetery, Marshall, Searcy County, Arkansas, USA ; Maintained by nancy weaver (contributor 46992548) .
Ancestry.com. U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Servic Records, 1861-1865 provided by Fold3. Name: Alexander Bohannan; Age:42; Birth Date: abt 1822; Enlistment Date: 5 Feb 1864; Enlistment Place: Little Rock; Rank: Private; Military Unit: Third Cavalry
Wolfbane Cybernetic Home Page. “International List of Causes of Death, Revision 4 (1929),” May 8, 2001. http://www.wolfbane.com/icd/icd4h.htm.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 01 October 2020), memorial page for Andrew Jackson Parks (17 Nov 1875–20 Mar 1965), Find a Grave Memorial no. 37316814, citing Canaan Cemetery, Marshall, Searcy County, Arkansas, USA ; Maintained by nancy weaver (contributor 46992548) .
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 01 October 2020), memorial page for Dr Elbert Amsden Bing (10 Dec 1876–2 Feb 1944), Find a Grave Memorial no. 41181529, citing East Lawn Cemetery, Marshall, Searcy County, Arkansas, USA ; Maintained by Airrow (contributor 46629499) .
Graham Ancestry 