The process to adopt children in Kentucky is now far different than when Helen Davis’ (1934 – 2018) was adopted in about 1939. I was a personal friend of Helen Davis Gamble, and I was aware she had been adopted by Curt Davis (1903 – 1981) and Merle Sexton Davis (1912 – 1981), but only recently discovered the intrigue of the mechanics of that adoption.
The fundamental information for the article comes from interviewing Helen’s sister, Charlotte Marie Davis Queen (b 1946). Charlotte is also a personal friend. Charlotte’s info was supplemented by some of my own basic web genealogy research.
Curt and Merle were married in about 1926, when Merle was 14 and Curt was 23. They had always wanted children but by 1939 they were still childless. In 1939 Curt and Merle lived in a New Row house in Rush KY. The New Row houses were former coal mining company houses that in the late 1930’s were being rented to Rush locals by the Eastern Kentucky Lumber and Development Company (EKLD). A few years later these houses were sold by EKLD to individuals.
A neighbor living just across the street, Glen Bradford (1909 – 1972), told Curt and Merle of a woman in Greenup KY, about 30 miles away, giving children away. Curt and Merle drove to this woman’s house in Greenup. The house was located beside the Ohio River and the woman was Clementine Louise Johnson West (1905 – 1963). Ms West was widowed, her husband, James Harvey West (1868 – 1937), 37 years older, had died in 1937 leaving Ms West with about 5 or so children to provide for. When Curt and Merle arrived there was only one child left, the youngest, Helen, at about 5 years old. Some of the other children had been accepted at church based orphanages in other parts of Kentucky, and possibly others had been accommodated by local or regional families.
When Curt and Merle approached Ms West and asked about a child, Ms West indicated Helen was playing under the porch and she hollered for her to come out. Curt and Merle decided to take Helen, then about 5 years old. Ms West was said to declare if someone did not take Helen she was going to end up in the nearby Ohio River. So Curt and Merle drove back to Rush with Helen.
Charlotte indicated that sometime later some sort of adoption paperwork was notarized by Rush local Cecil Rigsby (1896 – 1962). Charlotte was unaware of the nature of these adoption papers.
Finally in 1946 Curt and Merle had their first child, Charlotte Marie Davis, 7 years after Helen was adopted. In 1948 Sharon Gail Davis was born, and in 1957 Jennifer Lou Davis was born.
Charlotte was reasonably sure Helen only saw her birth Mother two other times. The first was shortly after Helen’s first child, Roger Daniels (aka Darrell Davis 1951 – 2015), was born and Ms West visited in Rush. The second when Ms West was destitute and dying of cancer in 1963. Helen procured a hospital bed and cared for her birth mother, Ms West, in the living room of her home near Summit KY for the last couple of months of her life.
As an interesting add on fact, one of Helen Davis Gamble’s natural brothers, was Congressional Medal Of Honor recipient, Ernest Edison “Ernie” West (1931 – 2021)Ernest E. West. Ernest West grew up in a Methodist Church based orphanage in Versailles KY.
I would like to thank Charlotte Davis Queen for her kind and focused help.
Enjoy! Lon
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