The November 2015 meeting of the
Madison County Genealogical Society was held at the Alton Museum
of History and Art, 2809 College Avenue,
Alton, Illinois, on Thursday, November 12, at 7:00 pm.
The following is the Treasurer's report for the month of October:
Do you have a family member that
is interested in (or even obsessed with) genealogy? A membership
in the Madison County Genealogical Society would be a very thoughtful
gift. A gift card will be sent to the recipient of any gift membership.
The following memberships are available:
Individual/Family Annual Membership $20.00
Patron Annual Membership $30.00
Life Membership $250.00
Contact our Secretary, Petie Hunter, at [email protected],
about a gift membership.
On Thursday, November 12, 2015, thirteen
members of the Madison County Genealogical Society met at the
Alton Museum of History and Art for An Evening with Robert
Wadlow, Alton's Gentle Giant. Starting at 7:00 pm, we
browsed through the museum, concentrating on the many displays
of items owned or used by Robert Wadlow, photos of Robert, from
age 3 months to 22 years of age, and other information about the
young man.
After sufficient time for all those in attendance to examine all
the Wadlow displays, we gathered in the auditorium to watch a
video about the life of this amazing individual.
Robert Pershing Wadlow was born February 22, 1918, in Alton, Illinois.
The doctor assured his parents that they had a perfectly normal
eight and one-half pound baby boy. By the age of six months, Robert
weighed 30 pounds; and 62 pounds at the age of 18 months. At the
age of five years, he was examined for life insurance and passed
with no problems. The insurance company, however, returned the
application-there must be an error either in age or size. Only
on the testimony of the examining physician that there had been
no mistake was the policy finally granted.
Many times there were problems when Robert was traveling with
his parents on a train or bus-the conductor or driver would not
believe that Robert was young enough to travel for no cost. As
Robert was growing up, his playmates were his age but much smaller
than he and his toys were always too small for him.
In September 1923, when Robert started school, he was just a bit
over five and a half years of age, but wore a suit made for a
boy of seventeen years! The chairs, tables, and desks were too
small for him, but he became accustomed to school. He made rapid
progress and his teachers considered him very intelligent. When
Robert entered the third grade, he was six feet tall. At his tenth
birthday, he was six feet, five inches tall and weighed two hundred
ten pounds.
Clothing became a problem. Robert had outgrown stock sizes for
men and everything had to be tailored for him. The problem was
made worse because of the fact that his clothes needed altering
before the new was worn off. His shoes had to be specially made
and many times by the time the shoes were completed, Robert had
outgrown them. His maximum shoe size was reached when he was 20
years of age - 37AA.
Shortly before Robert's twelfth birthday, a doctor was able to
explain his phenomenal growth as a malfunction of his pituitary
gland. However, the doctor recommended that the Wadlow family
not try to have the defect corrected, as it was a dangerous operation
and could prove fatal.
When Robert joined the Boy Scouts in 1931, he became the largest
Boy Scout in the world-seven feet three inches tall and two hundred
and sixty pounds. When Robert graduated from high school in 1936,
his gown contained fourteen yards of material and his cap was
size eight and a half-Robert was eight feet three inches tall.
Robert entered Shurtleff College but only attended one semester.
The icy walks made travel between buildings too difficult and
dangerous for Robert.
Robert began traveling more for the Peters Shoe Company. The company
had been furnishing Robert with shoes in return for him doing
promotional tours for them. In June of 1940, Robert and his father
set out on another promotional tour for Peters Shoe Company. Their
destination was Manistee, Michigan, where Robert was scheduled
at the Lumberman's Festival on the Fourth of July. After the brief
appearance, they went to their hotel for lunch and to rest until
time for a parade in which Robert was to ride. Robert complained
to his father of not feeling well and did not eat his lunch. However,
Robert insisted he felt well enough to appear in the parade. By
the time the parade was only half over, Robert was hardly able
to sit upright.
After the parade, they drove back to the hotel and Robert was
put to bed and the house physician was called. Robert soon had
a high temperature as a result of a badly infected ankle. The
infection was caused by a poorly fitting brace on a weak ankle.
Robert's mother and younger brother came to Manistee on July 6.
Robert's temperature climbed to as high as 106 degrees. About
1:30 in the morning of July 15, 1940, Robert quietly passed away.
At the time of his death, Robert stood 8 feet, 11.9 inches tall
and weighed nearly 500 pounds-and was still growing!
This presentation was very well received and provoked many questions
and comments.