James fugate was not given a middle name but later changed his name to james c fugate to be more distinguished from the other james fugates. Cawein and nurse pendergrass revealed the truth about the blue people of kentucky. In 1960, he decided to move near troublesome creek in the hopes to meet one of them some day. The last known blue fugate family member, benjy stacy, was born in 1975. After suffering embarrassment for generations, they could finally enjoy a natural life without being stared at and laughed.
A year ago i awoke to a surprise email from douglas fugate, a former librarian and a descendant of the blueskinned people of kentucky. They were strong men, and women who rose to any type of challenge, and gave all that they had. It began when martin fugate, a french orphan, settled on the banks of eastern kentucky s troublesome creek to claim a land grant in the early 19th century. Although blue, she was entirely healthy, and had children in her 84 year span of life. Whereas, another story asserts that there were three persons named martin fugate in the fugates family tree. As such, their children were constrained to marry their own relatives, as well as from other nearby families such as the smiths and the stacys who also had the same recessive gene. Troublesome creek clayhole, kentucky atlas obscura. The fugates lived in a rural part of kentucky with no accessible roads or rail tracks. Caril ann fugate born july 30, 1943 is the youngest female in united states history to date to have been tried for firstdegree murder. Though today benjamin and most of the fugate family descendants have lost their blue colouring, the tint still comes out in their skin when they are cold or. The last descendent to be born with blue skin was benjy stacy in lexington, kentucky. Thereby causing the blue people begin to disappearing. The fugates, a family that lived in the hills of kentucky, commonly known as the blue fugates or the blue people of kentucky, are notable for having been carriers of a genetic trait that led to the disease methemoglobinemia, which gives sufferers bluetinged skin.
The fugates are of french huguenot descent, with the original immigrant ancestor coming over from france in about 1820. Sep 22, 2016 the fugates had 10 to 20 percent in this form. The blue people of kentucky are still discussed, but less is known about methemoglobinemia, an extremely rare genetic trait that caused the blue color of their skin. Givesmehope gmh, social pro daily, jose estrada, hersheys, kentucky wildcats football on sds, village life boutique and gifts, bee kind bakery, proverbs 31 ministries, the sapling center wolfe county youth dropin center, jackson iga, kentucky board of dentistry, a ticket to brooklyn, fpu paws and friends, frogs and frills, lisas younique. Several fugate family members were interviewed in a medical book called traits and fates, and all of them eventually came to accept the color of their skin to. Martin fugate and his wife, elizabeth smith, started a life for themselves in a remote part of the appalachian region called troublesome creek. The fugates and the meth gene they passed for generations can teach us a valuable lesson about genetics and understanding disease. The lonely young appalachian woman joins the historical pack horse library project of kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and. In this book, we meet cussy mary carter, known to others as bluet. List of heirs a deed in russell co, va deed book 10, dated 21 nov 1833, identifies the heirs of john fugit, of russell co, va, when they sold his land as.
The fugates, a family that lived in the hills of kentucky, commonly known as the blue fugates descendants with the disease gene continued to live in the areas around troublesome creek and ball creek into the 20th century, eventually. Blue fugates of troublesome creek pictures kim michele. The fugate family of kentucky has had blue skin for. The fugates, a family that lived in the hills of kentucky, commonly known as the blue fugates or the blue people of kentucky, are notable for having been carriers of a genetic trait that led to the disease methemoglobinemia, which gives sufferers bluetinged skin ancestry. Her latest novel, the book woman of troublesome creek, is about the. In an unusual story that involves both genetics and geography, an entire family from isolated appalachia was tinged blue. Usually, when we think blue people in kentucky, the first thing that comes to mind is university of kentucky wildcat fans as they are known to dress in. For nearly 200 years, the fugate family of kentucky remained largely sealed off from the outside world as they passed their blue skin from generation to generation. In 1820, martin fugate, a french orphan, came to kentucky to claim a.
Benjamin stacy is the last known descendant of the fugates who was born in 1975 with this blue characteristic of the blue family of kentucky and lost his blue skin tone as he grew older. It was the strongest validation i could ever receive for. Mar, 2019 all blue fugates were stigmatized due to their unusual appearance. They were like any other 1800s family except they liked inbreeding. The fugates were finally able to marry outside of their family, and the defective gene receded. This is my list of kentucky authors and my list of books for each author. Cawein, in researching the family lines in perry county, kentucky and with the help of fugate family bibles, found in fact, that the fugates had married fugates, had married first cousins, and had intermarried with families whose surnames were. In the 1900s, the fugates were no longer forced to intermarry in their community, and would find partners at work and school. Skin bluer than lake louise by benjamin benjy stacy so frightened maternity doctors with the color of his skin as blue as lake louise that he was rushed just hours after his birth in 1975 to university of kentucky medical center.
In 1975, luna fugate s grandson benjamin benjy stacy was born. I had to limit myself to no more than 4 books per author at least until i read from most every author on my list. The best known inbred family in eastern kentucky is the fugate family, also known as the kentucky smurf family, who lived among the combses, smiths, ritchies, and stacys, all kin to one another. Six generations after a french orphan named martin fugate settled on the banks of eastern kentucky s troublesome creek with his redheaded american bride, his greatgreatgreat great grandson was born in a modern hospital not far from where. Original source unknown, via abc news the blue fugates are shown in. He passed away on 26 may 1920 in knott, kentucky, usa. This simple question by a knowing grandmother solved a riddle for a little boy born blue. The pack horse library project, just one of these programs, delivered books to remote regions in the appalachian mountains between 1935 and 1943. Books set in kentucky score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Virginia lost many wonderful people when they chose to leave virginia, and move on to other new states, and territories. The fugates of kentucky are a family that have blue skin. Genealogy kentucky department for libraries and archives.
Orie left, 10 years old, and william fugate, 12 years old, hedges station, kentucky, august 7, 1916. The fugate family of kentucky had blue skin for generations. It began when martin fugate, a french orphan, settled on the banks of eastern kentuckys troublesome creek to claim a land grant in the early 19th century. Luna fugate, little benjys greatgrandmother, was one of the bluest fugates known to the appalachian region. Methaemoglobinaemia is a recessive gene shown by the small r, so rarely. That is how i found out my whole family did not exist since my grandfather, wallace wallis marvin wyte fugate b. See more ideas about books, kentucky, book worth reading. Katrina front pagesthis is the most absurd picturethe american govt should be. The book woman of troublesome creek kim michele richardson. Sarahs maiden name is unproven,but mccarty is quite possible.
Neighbors laughed at the familys blue coloring and most avoided the fugates. James fugate spent time in the kentucky prisions in the 1930s. Facts you need to know about blue fugates of kentucky. Origin of the blueskinned fugates of eastern kentucky. The good news for the blue fugates of kentucky was that disease got cured. Fugate had just finished reading an advance copy of the book woman of troublesome creek, and he gave the work glowing praise and his highest rating. Known as the blue fugates, the eastern kentucky family was said to have retained a genetic trait that led to a disease which made their skin color blue. Fugate descendants married other fugate descendants, concentrating the blue gene over generations.
Willie, 12 years old and ora, 10 years old will go to schoolsville school, clark co. Doctors begin to study the blue fugates in the late 1950s, a hematologist named martin cawein from the university of kentucky was fascinated by the stories of the blue fugate family. His wife, mary, is thought to have been a carrier for a rare disease known as hereditary. The true story of the fugate family with blue skin. The fugate family of kentucky has been known for their blue skin color for generations. Inspired by the true blueskinned people of kentucky and the brave and dedicated kentucky pack horse library service of the 1930s, the book woman of troublesome creek is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one womans belief that books can carry us anywhereeven back home. She was the adolescent girlfriend of spree killer charles starkweather, being just 14 years old when his murders took place in 1958. He married a woman named elizabeth smith, who was said to be as pale and white as the mountain laurel that blooms every spring around the creek hollows. Courtesy kerry greenseattle born in 1964, kerry green of tulsa, okla. The fugate family first settled in eastern kentucky in 1820. In this webinar, we will discuss important dates surrounding the.
Cawein prescribed them daily methylene blue tablets, and the blue color from the skin got vanished in a few years. This book is about a family of hearty settlers, who fought for the freedom of this country. The fugates, a family that lived in the hills of kentucky, are the most famous example of this hereditary genetic condition. Fugate family, hedges station, kentucky mornings on maple.
The blue fugates of kentucky had an extremely rare skin condition called methemoglobinemia, which literally turned their skin blue. If you are between 1 percent and 10 percent, no one knows you have an abnormal level and this might be the. Most of blue fugates never suffered any health effects and lived into their 80s and 90s. Aug 11, 2018 fugate descendants married other fugate descendants, concentrating the blue gene over generations. They subsequently lived between 1700 and 1850, and the first blue skinned person was the second one who lived during the late eighteenth century or 1750 afterwards. Born in france in 1783, martin pettis fugate was an orphan who married and settled down in the hazard area of perry county in kentucky sometime in the beginning of the nineteenth century. In fact an entire family from isolated appalachia were blue. The blue skin disappeared in the future generations of the fugate family. Settling in the remote hills of kentucky, there werent a lot of other people nearby, and marrying people who were closely related became common among the fugates. Some fugate descendants may still carry the methemoglobinemia gene. Blue people of kentucky and their unusual genetic condition. The legend of the kentucky blue people is oddly fascinating.
The science behind the mysterious blue people of kentucky. Apparently, their ancestral line began six generations earlier with a french orphan, martin fugate. The first fugate in the united states was a french orphan named martin fugate, who settled in troublesome creek in the hills of eastern kentucky in 1820. Blue people look for genetic connection to kentucky fugates. A blue book woman brings the transformative power of. Werent a single soul whod ever breathed words like. Want to know more about the blue fugates and what caused their blue skin color, then read on. Troublesome creek, ky home to blueskinned fugate family and christian katrina front pagesthis is the most absurd picturethe american govt should be. Shame, psychological trauma, and discrimination resulted in that the blue people of kentucky isolated themselves from the rest of society. Finding the famous painting of the blue people of kentucky. Once young people began leaving the hollows of kentucky, disease incidence there plummeted. The fugates, a family that lived in the hills of kentucky, commonly known as the blue fugates. Henley fugate married sarah sally johnson and had 2 children.
The story of an appalachian malady, an inquisitive doctor, and a paradoxical cure. Like his greatgrandmother, the baby was born with a. The blue people of kentucky actually existed and lived in troublesome creek, kentucky near hazard. A young outcast braves the hardships of kentuckys great depression and brings truly magical objects to her people books in the book. The blue fugates of kentucky was a reallife family who had blue colored skin. There may still be blue people in the troublesome and ball creek areas, but if so, they keep to themselves. The condition is called methemoglobinemia, which is a disorder that reduces the amount of. She was a sister to one of the fugate women, pendergrass recalled. Genetics and inbreeding played a role in the blue fugates of troublesome creek in kentucky. Old color photographs of the family clearly show about half of the members to have a distinct cobalt blue skin color, while the other have regular white skin color. Thats the lesson of kim michele richardsons latest novel, the book woman of troublesome creek, a fascinating slice of historical fiction inspired by two littleknown stories from americas past.
Methemoglobinemia is also seen in alaska and algeria, and among navajo indians. In the late 1950s, a hematologist named martin cawein from the university of kentucky was fascinated by the stories of the blue fugate family. I have my retirement years ahead to read them all, and more. Born in france and orphaned as a child, martin fugate arrived in the appalachian mountains near hazard, kentucky, in the early 1800s. The year is 1820 and a french orphan called martin fugate has just arrived in troublesome creek, a remote and sleepy settlement in eastern kentucky. Whether you believe this story of the legend of the blue people of kentucky or not, it truly is fascinating. His wife died in the 1930s and he had 2 sons and a daughter that were raised by foster parents. Nov 01, 2012 apparently the arrival of coal mining in kentucky in 1912 led to the fugates moving away from troublesome creek. Feb 21, 2012 most of blue fugates never suffered any health effects and lived into their 80s and 90s. The legend of kentuckys blue people is truly bizarre people come in all types of colors and shades of colors, but they are normally red, brown, yellows, browns, pinks, black, and white. The bean trees by barbara kingsolver, that book woman by heather henson, all the water in the world by george ella lyon.
The bizarre story of the blue fugates, the family who. In most members of the fugate family, blueness was the only symptom. The bizarre story of the blue fugates, the family who was. People with the inherited condition who have more than 20 percent methemoglobin may suffer seizures, heart failure, and even death. Hello, we are dedicated to traditional christian music and old fashioned christianity. She is the last living female of the rare blue people ancestry of kentucky. He married a redhaired american named elizabeth smith who had a very pale complexion and their union formed a genetic mutation that resulted in their descendants being born with. Inbreeding turns appalachians blue weekly world news. Methemoglobinemia is also seen in alaska and algeria, and among navajo. One of her relatives described luna as, the bluest woman i ever saw.
The mystery behind the astonishing picture of the fugates, which has been baffling people for years, appears to have finally been solved. Fugate family, hedges station, kentucky mornings on. The gene found in the fugate family is from a line of french huguenots, whose descendants settled in kentucky, ireland, and finland. French orphan martin fugate traveled to the united states in the early 1800s to obtain a land grant and improve his life. List two other contributions to medicine made by madison cawein. The patriarch of the clan was martin fugate, who settled along the banks of troublesome creek near hazard, kentucky, sometime after 1800. The blue fugates werent a race but rather an excessively tightknit family living in the appalachian mountains. The fugate family of kentucky once lived in the isolated community of troublesome creek. What, if any, serious illnesses were associated with the blue skin coloring. Luna was described as being blue all over, with lips the color of a dark bruise.
Have you ever heard of the fugates of troublesome creek. Known as the blue fugates, the easternkentucky family was said to have retained a genetic trait that led to a disease which made their skin color blue. Fugates from harlan kentucky by susan premo february 02, 2005 at 01. Born in perry, kentucky on 1 may 1854 to martin noble big mart fugate blue french orphan and elizabeth betsy smith h.
The blue people of the appalachian mountains appalachian. The book woman of troublesome creek by kim michele richardson. See more ideas about kentucky, blue and appalachian people. She was convicted as his accomplice and sentenced to life imprisonment, and was paroled after 17 years in 1976. The fugate family of russell county, virginia 1986. Martin and his wife elizabeth smith both suffered from methemoglobinemia. Martin fugate and elizabeth smith who had married and settled near hazard, kentucky around 1800, were both carriers. In a clear case of kentuckians keeping things interesting again, it seems there was a woman in kentucky, luna fugate who was blue all over. Read more about the blue fugates of troublesome creek its a must read. The fugates, a family that lived in the hills of kentucky, commonly known as the blue fugates descendants with the disease gene continued to live in the areas around troublesome. Man with blue skin looks for genetic connection to kentuckys. The blue people of kentucky arent limited to benjy and luna. Additional praise for the book woman of troublesome creek.
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