Baby Josie: delivered by train rather than a midwife

Little Josie Whaling, raised in Osceola by doting parents Isaac and Ellen, was about a year old when delivered during July of 1883 --- not by a stork, midwife or physician, but by train at the C.B.&Q. Depot in Chariton.

Here's a little story from The Chariton Democrat of Aug. 1, 1883, reporting upon her arrival:

About six o'clock Tuesday evening, a telegram was delivered to Mr. Isaac Whaling, a prominent citizen and businessman of Osceola, requesting him to board the first train for Chariton. Mr. Whaling did so, and on alighting from the train at Chariton was surprised to have placed in his arms a beautiful girl babe with sparkling blue eyes and black hair --- just what Mr. and Mrs. Whaling desired most of all things on earth.

Mr. Whaling did not learn the name of the fine looking man who gave him the child. The gentleman hurriedly explained that he hoped Mr. and Mrs. Whaling would rear and educate the little girl and that her name was Josie. He said the child would receive $100 per year for five years.

He then handed Mr. Whaling $50 and a satchel containing garments for the child. Mr. and Mrs. Whaling are very proud of the little cherub who came to them like a gift from Heaven. Josie is believed to be just a year old and will in future years celebrate the 25th day of July as her birthday.

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Isaac Whaling, born during 1834 in Pennsylvania, had married Ellen Hunt during 1855. The couple arrived in Osceola during 1878 where Isaac, previously a blacksmith, formed a partnership with J.O. McAuley in the lumber business and prospered. He also became a community leader, serving both on the City Council and School Board.

The Whalings, unable to have children of their own, adopted twice --- first Edward and then Josie.

Josie seems to have had a happy childhood and during 1902, when she was 20, married Charles Talbott and they had two daughters.

But then her health began to fail --- a heart condition that was believed to be related to a bout with rheumatic fever. Her father died in Osceola on March 6, 1912, at the age of 81. Then five months later, Josie suffered a fatal heart attack and died at her home in Laclede, Missouri, age about 30. 

Here's Josie's obituary from The Osceola Democrat of Sept. 5, 1912. The birth date in her obituary --- and on her tombstone at Osceola's Maple Hill Cemetery --- is Aug. 24, 1882. So if there really were plans to observe the date of her arrival in Chariton as her birth date, these had been abandoned. Had more been learned about her birth parents as the years passed? I don't know.

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Josie Whaling was born Aug. 24, 1882, and died Aug. 26, 1912, aged 30 years and 2 days.

She was united in marriage to C. B. Talbott Sept. 27, 1902, and their union was blessed with two daughters, Frances and Marian. She spent most of her lifetime in Osceola, leaving here with her husband and children about two years ago for Leon where they remained about a year when they removed to Laclede, Mo., where they were living at the time of her death.

Mrs. Talbot had been having considerable trouble with her heart the past few years, following an attack of the rheumatism, but the end came Monday morning very suddenly and in a way unexpectedly. She was an attendant at the services of the M.E. church when able to go, and kept her children in that Sabbath school. She was a loving wife and mother, a true friend and a kind neighbor. She leaves many friends besides her relatives to mourn her early death and the sympathy of all goes out to them in their sad bereavement.

Funeral services were held from the home of her mother, Mrs. Isaac Whaling, Wednesday afternoon in charge of Rev. S.A. Soxe. Interment was in Maple Hill cemetery. Six of Mrs. Talbott's girl friends acted as pall bearers.