“Another of Scioto county’s native sons, John M Slavens, answered the final summons today, deathing coming about six o’clock this morning in the County Infirmary on the West Side, where he had been making his home for about three months.”
“Complications developed from infirmities and following a long illness, due to locomotor ataxia. Mr. Slavens went to the County Home from Hempstead Hospital, where he received treatment for some time.”
“Friends believe that shock caused by the sudden death of his wife hastened the end. Mrs. Beatrice Slavens2 died Sunday, June 24, of a fractured skull sustained two days before, or on Friday, June 22, when she leaped from the second story window of the Eagles’ building, Second and Court streets, where Mr. and Mrs. Slavens had been residing for some time. After her death and burial in Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Slavens declined rapidly.”
“John M Slavens was 75 years of age, and was born in Madison township, not far from Stockdale, Pike county, a son of Stuart and Clarissa Schoonover Slavens. The father born in Virginia, came to Scioto county with his parents on pack horses. The mother was a native of New York state.”
“For forty years Mr. Slaves worked as a traveling salesman for firms selling school supplies. Later he engaged in the work of selling insurance, coming to Portsmouth from Louisville, where Mr. and Mrs. Slavens lived for a long time. He had been living in Portsmouth about fifteen years. For several years his illness had prevented him from doing work of any kind.”
“A brother, Charles Slavens, was twice elected county treasurer in Scioto county.”
“The closest surviving relatives are nephews and nieces in Pike county and northern Ohio. Friends of Mr. Slavens sent relatives word of his death today.”3
Certificate of Death for John M. Slavens4
- H.A.Lorberg, Publisher, made in U.S.A., “Eagle Building, River City Aerie of Eagles, Portsmouth, Ohio,” Local History Digital Collection, accessed February 1, 2023, https://www.yourppl.org/history/items/show/17193.
- Bridget Agnes “Beatrice” Murphy Slavens
- Death Calls John M. Slavens. (1923, November 28). Portsmouth Daily Times, p. 13.
- “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPJ1-QJ7V?cc=1307272&wc=MD9X-JWL%3A287600101%2C294444501 : 21 May 2014), 1918 > 29241-32290 > image 2175 of 3317.
