J. H. Nonemaker of Cumberland Co., PA
Does anyone want to claim this guy??
"...(excerpts from a 1985 neswpaper clipping)"Halloween is the one
time of year when people tend to dwell on thoughts of death, and 100
years ago a Salida (CO) physician was contemplating the murder of his
wife and his own suicide.Dr. J. H. Nonamaker had enough practice in
murder.The former Claretta DeAngeles of Holland Patent, NY would be
the third wife he disposed of in such a manner. The Nonamaker's were
citizens of Maysville and Salida (both CO), and at the time of their
deaths were residing in a rented house in Salida owned by Al
Wilson....Whether Mrs. Nonamaker III was aware of her mate's previous
wives is not known.In fact, Clareta was actually the fourth Mrs.
Nonamaker.After her murder, it was learned the doctor was not yet
divorced from this third wife.Wife #3, fortunately, was still among
the living and had no knowledge of his whereabouts... Tuesday, November
3, 1885 was election day in Salida (CO) and most citizen's thoughts were
on politics.Nonamaker, 44 was making plans for his and his wife's end.
He planned the murder and suicide for the stroke of midnight the
following day [wonder how they knew that?].. Clareta Nonamaker, 37, was
perhaps typical of most wives of the day.....
The doctor, it was learned, had two previous wives, both of whom died
under suspicious circumstances, indicative of poisoning.The first wife
died in Middletown, Dauphin County, PA.He then married his second wife
and went to Mechanicsburg, PA where he had a drug business.He
apparently had an eye for money and when an old widow in town died,
leaving her wealth to a servant girl, Nonamaker and his second wife
moved into the widow's home, retaining the girl in their employ....
Wife #2 died shortly after, and the doctor married the girl.Her mother
came to live with them and after he secured most of her and her mother's
money, she filed suit against him.His plans, at that time, were to go
to North Carolina and she refused to go.The couple were never divorce,
and wife#3 became aware that Nonamaker had gone west only when she heard
of the murder/suicide in the newspapers.....
The bodies of J. H. and Clareta Nonamaker were turned over to coroner A.
J. Overholt who contracted the Knights of Pythias, according to
Nonamaker's instructions.The Knights conducted the funeral service
held the afternoon of Friday, November 6th, 1885.The couple were
buried at Cleora Cemetery (just south of Salida, CO) in unmarked
graves...
Not long after, relatives of Clareta Nonamaker learned of her demise.
On December 4th they had her body exhumed an brought 'back east'
probably to Utica, NY for reburial.A letter from J.T. Thomas, Utica,
a friend of the DeAngeles family, was among the inquiries received in
Salida about the deaths."
time of year when people tend to dwell on thoughts of death, and 100
years ago a Salida (CO) physician was contemplating the murder of his
wife and his own suicide.Dr. J. H. Nonamaker had enough practice in
murder.The former Claretta DeAngeles of Holland Patent, NY would be
the third wife he disposed of in such a manner. The Nonamaker's were
citizens of Maysville and Salida (both CO), and at the time of their
deaths were residing in a rented house in Salida owned by Al
Wilson....Whether Mrs. Nonamaker III was aware of her mate's previous
wives is not known.In fact, Clareta was actually the fourth Mrs.
Nonamaker.After her murder, it was learned the doctor was not yet
divorced from this third wife.Wife #3, fortunately, was still among
the living and had no knowledge of his whereabouts... Tuesday, November
3, 1885 was election day in Salida (CO) and most citizen's thoughts were
on politics.Nonamaker, 44 was making plans for his and his wife's end.
He planned the murder and suicide for the stroke of midnight the
following day [wonder how they knew that?].. Clareta Nonamaker, 37, was
perhaps typical of most wives of the day.....
The doctor, it was learned, had two previous wives, both of whom died
under suspicious circumstances, indicative of poisoning.The first wife
died in Middletown, Dauphin County, PA.He then married his second wife
and went to Mechanicsburg, PA where he had a drug business.He
apparently had an eye for money and when an old widow in town died,
leaving her wealth to a servant girl, Nonamaker and his second wife
moved into the widow's home, retaining the girl in their employ....
Wife #2 died shortly after, and the doctor married the girl.Her mother
came to live with them and after he secured most of her and her mother's
money, she filed suit against him.His plans, at that time, were to go
to North Carolina and she refused to go.The couple were never divorce,
and wife#3 became aware that Nonamaker had gone west only when she heard
of the murder/suicide in the newspapers.....
The bodies of J. H. and Clareta Nonamaker were turned over to coroner A.
J. Overholt who contracted the Knights of Pythias, according to
Nonamaker's instructions.The Knights conducted the funeral service
held the afternoon of Friday, November 6th, 1885.The couple were
buried at Cleora Cemetery (just south of Salida, CO) in unmarked
graves...
Not long after, relatives of Clareta Nonamaker learned of her demise.
On December 4th they had her body exhumed an brought 'back east'
probably to Utica, NY for reburial.A letter from J.T. Thomas, Utica,
a friend of the DeAngeles family, was among the inquiries received in
Salida about the deaths."
In an article which appeared in a book authored by local historian (now
dead) titled "The Angel of Shavano', "...Letters came from Pennsylvania
from persons who had read in newspapers of the Nonamaker tragedy.."
dead) titled "The Angel of Shavano', "...Letters came from Pennsylvania
from persons who had read in newspapers of the Nonamaker tragedy.."
"The present wife, that is , the woman who was murdered in Salida, was
Clara DeAngeles who had taught music in Monument, Colorado.He was 45,
she about 35.She was from a respected family in central New York...
Her remains were returned to New York."
Clara DeAngeles who had taught music in Monument, Colorado.He was 45,
she about 35.She was from a respected family in central New York...
Her remains were returned to New York."
The Mountain Mail here in Salida, rec'd an article from a Mrs. E. P.
Buck who had seen an article in the Detroit Free Press asking if the
newspaper had any more information.A Joseph Leas also wrote to the
newspaper claiming he was from Flint, Michigan and that "Nonamaker's
third wife lives her.She is a very fine woman and if he has left any
estate she would be entitled to it...""
Buck who had seen an article in the Detroit Free Press asking if the
newspaper had any more information.A Joseph Leas also wrote to the
newspaper claiming he was from Flint, Michigan and that "Nonamaker's
third wife lives her.She is a very fine woman and if he has left any
estate she would be entitled to it...""
Have since found out (credit to Keith Nonemaker) that J. H.
(1st) married December 30, 1852 Martha Magdalena HORTON of W. Hanover, Lebanon Co., PA.;
(2nd) Mercy L. _________b 1833 in NY, d 1871 Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., PA;
(3rd)Martha WHARTON m 14 Nov 1872 Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co.,PA; and of course
(4th) Claretta DeAngelo (see article)
(1st) married December 30, 1852 Martha Magdalena HORTON of W. Hanover, Lebanon Co., PA.;
(2nd) Mercy L. _________b 1833 in NY, d 1871 Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., PA;
(3rd)Martha WHARTON m 14 Nov 1872 Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co.,PA; and of course
(4th) Claretta DeAngelo (see article)
Hope you all enjoy this mystery.I tend to get caught up in things that
require some detective work.
Hope you all enjoy this mystery.I tend to get caught up in things that
require some detective work.
More Replies:
-
Re: J. H. Nonemaker of Cumberland Co., PA
Keith Nonemaker 3/17/03