TODD, Brothers Birthdays - Putnam

Hi everyone,

Angie here (Angela Frances Todd). For those who may be confused about the birthdates of the following three Todd, brothers, here is an interesting article, which I will transcribe, to clarify matters.

The following article is obtainable from the Indiana State Library. It's about my Grampa, John Henry Todd and two of his brothers, Noah Preston Todd and Jacob ("Jake") E. Todd and appeared in, "The Pharos-Tribune" newspaper in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana on Friday evening, March 13, 1953 on page one, column 4.

Over the photo of the three, which shows them sitting at Grampa John Henry's big, round oak table, with a pretty tablecloth; big, white cake; and the plates all set in front of them, was the following headline, in capital letters: "THREE BROTHERS CELEBRATE FRIDAY THE 13th BIRTHDAY!"

What are the odds that all three brothers would be born on the same March 13th Birthday, but of different years?

Here's the story under the photo:

"Three brothers, all born on March 13, gathered at the home of John H. Todd, route 3 city, Friday for a joint birthday celebration, and to prove that they weren't superstitious about their Friday, the thirteenth, birthday anniversary they had 13 adults at their birthday dinner. (Hmm. . . I don't know about that part. )

The brothers, shown above left to right, are: Noah Todd, 67, route 2, city, born in 1886; John H. Todd, 69, born in 1884; and J. E. Todd, 80, of Darlington, born in 1873.

All three of the men were born in Monroe county near Bloomington, Ind., sons of John S. and Mariah Jane Hawkins Todd, who had a total of 15 children. John came to Cass county after World War I because opportunities were greater here, and Noah followed shortly afterward. John, a Watkins dealer for the past 12 years, is a former furniture repairman. Noah is an attendant at the Logansport state hospital, and J. E. Todd is a retired farmer.

John's children also were scheduled to attend the dinner. They are Allen, Forrest, Ralph, and Frank all of this city; and Paul, route 3, city. The three brothers have one brother. Frank, near Martinsville, and a sister, south of Bloomington, still living. Some of the family died in infancy. "

Their father was John STARNS Todd. The FULL name of the brother, Frank, near Martinsville, was Oscar Francis Todd, a retired barber, known as "Frank. " His middle name is often incorrectly printed as, "Franklin. " My Dad, named after him, was also known as Frank Todd.

The FULL names of the children of John Henry Todd and wife, Flora Etta Reynolds Todd, were Harvey ALLEN Todd, Senior; FORREST Edward Todd; RALPH Preston Todd (of "Todd's Appliances"); my father, Francis ("FRANK") Leverett Todd; and PAUL Raymond Todd, Senior. They had another brother, who died in World War II, with the same exact name as his grandfather, John Starns Todd.

Another clarification. I once saw that someone wrote to the Montgomery County, Indiana GenWeb site to say that Noah Todd once worked at the Logansport state home, which is incorrect. The correct fact is seen in the article above. . . The Logansport State Hospital, which is a short jaunt down the highway from where he resided on Rural Route 2 on the edge of Logansport, Cass County, Indiana. This very old mental hospital was built in the 1800's and was once known as "Longcliff. Several Todds worked there, including myself, in the late 1960's.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Grampa, Uncle Jake, and Uncle Noah!