The first place I traveled to in search of John Cronin was the town of Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky based an a newspaper article I had discovered in the Kentuckiana Digital Library. A visit to the Paris-Bourbon Co. library revealed a second article that gave several more clues as to the "real" John Cronin.
Here is a transcription:
True Kentuckian, Paris, Kentucky, April 5, 1882
John Cronin, who committed suicide at Mt. Sterling last Saturday night by morphine, was buried in the Catholic cemetery here on Monday. His father owns a lot in the cemetery, but it being contrary to rules of that church to inter a suicide in consecrated ground, he was buried in the strangers' lot. He was born and raised in Cynthiana, having been here three or four years ago exhibiting the two Elam children, or "Scaly Brothers," human curiosities from one of the mountain counties. Three or four weeks ago, while acting as Marshal of Mt. Sterling, he shot and wounded a Mr. Conner, for which he was under bond. He left a wife and 5 small children. His widow is a daughter of Thomas Probert, deceased, formerly of this city, she being the offspring of Mr. Proberts first marriage, Mr. P.'s second wife being a sister of Thomas Richardson, Sr., of this place.
Finally, the Mt. Sterling Sentinel Democrat, 4-14-1882, p. 2 reports the following:
"The body was buried and reburied until Father Barry told Mr. Cronin, the brother, that he could either take the body from the cemetery or leave it where it lay, in unconsecrated ground, or take all the bodies from the Cronin lot and the money that was paid for it would be refunded. Cronin cursed the entire congregation, and defied any man to step from the crowd, numbering 80 or 90 men, to stand before him, which polite invitation was, as a matter of course, declined. It was thought that the body will be brought here (Mt. Sterling)".
I've yet to find out where he is buried -- if moved again, it would mean four burials for poor John Cronin.
John Cronin was the husband of my great-grandmother, Lucy Probert Cronin. Lucy later had one more child, my grandmother, with William Dailey of Mt. Sterling. All six children were eventually raised in orphanages. I can't even imagine the difficult life Lucy had, nor can I imagine having to give up all six children. I wish Lucy could have been blessed with an easier life, but it is testimony to Roman Catholic nuns that all six children went on to lead productive lives.
