The Mystery of Samuel Sulouff & The 14 yr old girl he disappeared with

This research began with me finding an article about Samuel's brother John going missing in the woods, "disappeared like his brother Samuel".  Both of these boys were the sons of Lucian Hardin Sulouff, my great great grandfather. It appeared, from the article,that Samuel had run off with his 14 year old girlfriend. 

 When Samuel disappeared with 14 year old Helen, he was 29.     Samuel's wife had sued him for divorce prior to his disappearance, citing dalliances with young girls.

 Following the news reports, I don't know that Helen's parents ever found out what happened to her. Update - one of Helen's granddaughters contacted me and told me that there are articles referencing calls Helen made home to her father in later years, so the family did eventually find out where she was.  This grandaughter spoke with the daughter of Samuel & Beatrice, and that daughter said she knew of her fathers history, but to her he was a great father, great farmer, and attended church regularly.

  Samuel and Helen had 4 children together, Living under the names Frank E. & Helen Sthoeman.  But before the last daughter was born, he had run off with another young girl - this one age 16.   Samuel was 37 at the time.  He  married her (was he legally married to Helen at the time?  We don't know.) and went to Colorado, where he was arrested and then brought back to Kansas.  Amazingly to me, there is no mention of anyone realizing who he really is, or that him and Helen were missing from PA.

Samuel claims at trial to be married to the new abductee, showing proof, but even if he is not legally married to Helen, there are grounds for a common law marriage to her, so this is still bigamy.  He pleads guilty to the charge of "concubinism".

  In the midst of all of this, Helen wins an award at a PTA event.  Life goes on..  but look at the article, the roll call that night was "How I Met My Husband".  I so wish I knew what she answered to that question!

Samuel (AKA Frank) disappears for awhile (he was sentenced to 1-5 years) and then appears in 1941 in Garret Kansas. According to another researcher, Samuel, now using the name Frank Sulouff, married Beatrice in February of 1941.

 20 years later, in 1961 I find his new wife, Mrs Frank Sulouff, in her mothers obituary, thus learning that her maiden name was Beatrice Roberts.  

Then just 4 years later, Frank kills Beatrice in a car accident.  In 1966 Frank, the defendant, wins a $150,000 lawsuit against him stemming from the accident.

Frank lived to age 82 in 1982, but managed to stay out of the headlines, from what I can tell, the last 20 years of his life.

All of the news articles detailing this story are below, in order.  There are a lot of them.

Samuel Edward Sulouff

AKA Frank C. Sthoeman

Born February 27 1900

Died 1982

1900 - Samuel Born

1924 Samuel Married Susan Baumgardner
 December 24, 1924
Susan was 17, Samuel 24

Married December 24 1924

Susan Braumgardner

Born about 1907

Died

1926
Nov 19  - Son Samuel E. Sulouff Jr is born
21 days later, December, Samuel Jr Dies.

1929

Divorced in 1929 - after being caught in compromising position with 14 year old girl.

A week after his divorce, Samuel & 14 year old Helen Millheim go missing.

Samuel Sulouff  age 29, disappears, along with 14 year old Helen Millheim

"Married" 2nd, using the name  "Frank C. Sthoeman"

Helen Claire Milheim

Daughter of Stewart Curry & June Helen (Leo) Milheim

Born April 28 1915 in Cayuga NY

Died July 3 1983 in Kennewick, WA

A 1925 Star Coach, a vehicle like the one Sulouff & Milheim left in

May 2 1930

June 1930
Gloria Evelyn Sthoeman

was born June 22 1930
4 daughters were born to "Frank" & Helen, Gloria was the first.

April 30 1931

1932 - 

May 11 1932, 2nd daughter, Mildred, is born

1935 - 

3rd daughter is born to Helen

1937 - Helen & Samuel (Frank) Lived in Hutchinson Kansas under the name FE & Helen Sthoeman, at   603 N. Star Street, Hutchinson, Kansas

Google Street view of that location today

Then in August - He Takes ANOTHER young girl, while still married to Helen, who is pregnant with his 4th daughter. 

In September of 1937, he's being held in Colorado on charges of taking Alice Smith, age 16 - but apparently no one knows that F E Sthoeman is an alias, and that he took his wife Helen when she was 14.

1938 - 

4th daughter is born to Helen & Samuel/ "Frank"

In the midst of all of this, Helen wins a prize at a PTA event.

Do not miss the irony.  Roll call was "How I met my husband".

May 2 1938  - Back in Pa, the couple is still in the news as missing.  At the time this article is written, Frank is most likely serving time in jail in Kansas for abducting a second girl.

1940 

In 1940  census Helen is listed as a widow (But "Frank Sulouff" didn't die until 1982)

1940 United States Federal Census about Helen Sthoeman
Name: Helen Sthoeman
Respondent: Yes
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1916
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: New York
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Hutchinson, Reno, Kansas
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: Star Street
House Number: 603
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Hutchinson, Reno, Kansas
Residence in 1935: Hutchinson, Reno, Kansas
Resident on farm in 1935: Yes
Sheet Number: 15B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 298
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 12
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Helen Sthoeman 24
Gloria Sthoeman 9
Mildred Sthoeman 7
Marion Sthoeman 5
Donna Sthoeman 2

1941 - In 1941 I find mention of a "Frank Sulouff" in Garret, Kansas.

1957 - Mrs Frank Sulouff is selling Turkeys

In 1961 I find this obit that gives us insight on who Beatrice Sulouff is.  Beatrice is a year younger than Helen, if the date on her tombstone is correct.

1965 - Beatrice, age 48, dies in car accident, Frank is driving

Beatrice had a sister, Mrs. Melvin Dixon

1982 - Samuel/Frank/FE Sulouff/Sthoeman, dies

 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 about Frank Sulouff

Name: Frank Sulouff
SSN: 515-38-5494
Last Residence:
66006 Baldwin City, Douglas, Kansas, USA
BORN: 27 Feb 1900
Died: Oct 1982
State (Year) SSN issued:

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From an Ancestry.com Family Tree Comment - 

Helen Claire Milheim, married 4 times(questionable if actual ceremony occurred in some of these "marriages". Her first "Marriage" was to Frank C. Stoeman AKA Samuel Suloff, 4 children from this liason; second was to Rubin Base, with 3 children 2 boys and 1 girl were born, then Rubin divorced her in August 1955. When her son David R. Base got married in August of 1971, his mother Helen C. was listed as Mrs. Eugene Phillips. When she died in 1983 her death recorded her name as Helen C. Honeycutt. Her 1st 4 children with Mr Stoeman or more rightly Mr. Suloff resulted in 2 living Stoeman daughters, and 2 deceased daus: Gloria Evelyn Stoeman 1930-1990 and Mildred Marie Stoeman 1932-1984?. Helen is one of the branches on my tree through her grandmother Milheim. I believe above to be accurate, but must admit I feel I need to pursue Mr. Stoeman a bit more. Hope this will be helpfull to you......I do have a pic of Helen as a child of about 4 or 5 yrs. of age.

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Zacheus Pieresol (Pierce) Lytle 1811-1889

NOT the father of Sarah Lytle who married Alexander Aikey.  I do not know who the Sarah is in the census, but she is not listed in the will of Piersol Lytle.

Disclaimer - Relatives tell me that Pieresol was Sarah's father.  I find a Sarah in the 1860 census that is the correct age, living in his household.  But in 1870 the girl that is the right age is now listed as "Ann".  There is also an Ann in 1860, so there are two children, one named Ann, one named Sarah.  But either Sarah is listed as Ann by mistake (Ann should be 16 in 1870 - she is listed as 12 - the age we expect Sarah to be in 1870) or she is not listed at all.  Sarah's death & funeral notices do not list her parents, and I do not yet have her death certificate..  so I can't prove this lineage at this time.

Old Coaly with original owner Piersol Lytle in the late 1850s

Zaccheaus Pieresol Lytle

son of Isaac & Jane (Piersol) Lytle

Born Sept.13,1810 

Died March 23,1889 

married December 18, 1839

Lydia Johnstonbaugh

daughter of

Born 1815 (according to tombstone)

Died  Jan. 16, 1872

Children:

*Jane P. (1839-) m. WhippleIsaac (1841-1842) 

*Charlotte (1844-1845) 

*Susannah J. (1845-1846) m. Burcfield*Andrew Jackson (1846-1847) 

*John H. 1849-1910

*Mary C. (1851-1852)  m. J.B. Ard

*Moses Thompson (1853-1854) 

* Margaret Ella (1854-1855)  m. Dreese*Annie m. Kabella buried at Pine Grove
*named in his will
1839Brother Andrew Died(see notes below 1850 census - is Jane possibly the child of Andrew?)

1839 - MarriageDecember 18, 1839, Married Lydia Johnstonbough

18501850 United States Federal Census about Pursol LytleName: Pursol LytleAge: 40Birth Year: abt 1810Home in 1850: Harris, Centre, PennsylvaniaGender: MaleFamily Number: 1456Household Members: Name AgePursol Lytle 40Lydia Lytle 30 (if born in 1815, she's 35)Jane Lytle 11Isaac Lytle 9Charlotte Lytle 8Susannah Lytle 6Andrew Lytle 4John Lytle 3Mary Lytle 0
Note that Piersol & Jane were married in December of 1839, according to a marriage record ref. Sprangler Collection at Pattee Library,Penn State University.  Jane is 11 in 1850, & 21 in 1860.  That means she was born in 1839- or by the estimate of the 1870 census, even 1838.  Although that's certainly possible, finding her in 1870 with Keturah (Lytle) Watts makes me wonder if she is a relative, but not a daughter of Piersol?  I really need to go look up his will.

In 1859 son Issac died, age 18.  On Isaac's tombstone, it says "son of Zaccheus & Lydia Lytle".  Persol's grandfather was named Zaccheus Piersol, it looks like his full name was Zacheus Piersol Lytle, after his grandfather.
18601860 United States Federal Census about Pierce LytleName: Pierce LytleAge in 1860: 49Birth Year: abt 1811Birthplace: PennsylvaniaHome in 1860: Harris, Centre, PennsylvaniaGender: MalePost Office: Farmers High SchoolValue of real estate: View imageHousehold Members: Name AgePierce Lytle 49Lydia Lytle 40 (If born in 1815, 45)Jane Lytle 21Charlotte Lytle 18Susan Lytle 14Andrew Lytle 13John Lytle 11Mary Lytle 10Ellen Lytle 8Ann Lytle 6Moses Lytle 5Sarah Lytle 2John Murphy 21

1870In 1870 Piersol's son John H can be found living with his sister's family - Charlotte (Lytle) & WG Obryan.  Charlotte has a child named after her father, Piersol Obryan.

The 1870 census lists Anna age 12.  In 1860 Anna is listed as age 
6, and Sarah age 2.  So 10 years later, Sarah should be age 12 and Anna age 16.  
Margaret Ella - "Ellen" is listed as age 16 in 1870, in 1860 she was listed as age 8.  If Sarah is no longer in this household in 1870 - where did she go?  I had thought her name was listed incorrectly as Anna, until I found that there IS an Anna in 1860, as well as Sarah.




1880 United States Federal Census about Piersol Lytle
Name: Piersol Lytle
Age: 69
Birth Year: abt 1811
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1880: Pine Grove Mills, Centre, Pennsylvania
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Widower
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Neighbors: View others on page
View image
Household Members:
Name Age
Piersol Lytle 69
Mary C. Lytle 24

1889 - Wrote will

Web: Pennsylvania, Find A Grave Index, 1682-2012 about Piersol Lytle
Name: Piersol Lytle
Birth Date: 13 Aug 1810
Age at Death: 78
Death Date: 23 Mar 1889
Burial Place: Pine Grove Mills, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA

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Research:

_____________________________________________________________________ 

Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
_____________________________________________________________________ 

  SAMUEL FOSTER LYTLE, M.D., deceased October 9, 1896, occupied for a 
score of years a prominent position in his profession, and was 
recognized by his colleagues, far and near, as one of the leading 
physicians of Centre county.  He was a member of the County, State and 
National Medical Associations.  President of the Board of Health, and 
State Health Inspector for his District.  Esteemed as he was by the 
members of his profession, the people, whose good fortune it was to be 
subject to his ministrations, loved him for his sympathetic nature, and 
venerated him for his rare ability and skill.
  Possessing as an inheritance the qualities of an ancestry whose 
lineage was noble in the highest sense, not because of descent from 
progenitors of rank and title, but because of that intrinsic strain of 
valor, firmness and fineness of character, and integrity of purpose 
which is the measure of worth and constitutes true nobility and 
gentility.  He was also richly endowed by nature with a talent for the 
profession he loved and to which his life was devoted.  
  The remote history of Dr. Lytle's family goes-back to County Donegal, 
Ireland, where the name still adheres, honored and respected, and 
begins in this country with the settlement of a branch of the family in 
Lancaster county, Penn., more than a century ago, where they became-
distinguished for their patriotism during the period of the Revolution.  
Foremost in loyalty was Col. Andrew Lytle, who was commissioned  as 
colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment in the Revolutionary army, 
July 23, 1781, in command of which he served with distinction, 
receiving the personal commendation of Gen. Washington, and honorable 
mention in the Archives of the State.  He was a charter member of the 
Order of the Cincinnati, and died in 1784 of camp fever.  His son, 
Isaac Lytle, grandfather of Dr. Lytle, was born in Lampeter, Lancaster 
county, in 1772, and was married in 1802, to Jane, daughter of Zaccheus 
Piersol, of Pequa Valley, a descendant of an ancient and honorable 
Scotch family in direct line from Archibald Douglas.  He removed to 
Harris township, Centre county, in 1814, where he died September 30, 
1854.  His eldest son, Griffeth, father of Dr. Lytle, was born in 1806, 
coming with his father to Centre county in 1814, where he engaged in 
agriculture.  He married Susan Foster, born in Huntingdon county in 
1812, a woman of remarkable beauty of character and refinement of

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  289

manner.  Purchasing a farm near Lemont, which is still the home of his 
eldest son, William, he resided there until 1855, when he bought a farm 
in the vicinity of State College, where his death occurred in 1875, his 
wife, Susan, surviving him fifteen years.  Of their ten children, Dr. 
Lytle was the youngest son.
  Dr. Lytle was born March 14, 1851, and from early childhood evinced a 
decided trend of mind toward medicine and surgery, which increased with 
years until in early manhood it became his passion and determined his 
career.  Graduating from State College, he pursued the study of 
medicine under Dr. J. Y. Dale, of Lemont, with the eagerness and 
intensity of one whose aspiration was to master the science.  Entering 
Bellevue Hospital Medical College as the next step forward in his 
profession, he graduated honorably in 1875.  Still bent on the 
acquirement of learning, he pursued a post-graduate course at Columbia 
College before entering upon the active duties of a physician.  At this 
time he received an appointment as surgeon in the regular army, but the 
death of his father led him to decline the position.  In the autumn of 
1875 he came to Philipsburg, rapidly acquiring a practice.  Four years 
later he married Nannie, daughter of Thomas Crissman (deceased) and 
Margaret Crissman, whose family still occupy a position of high 
standing in the community.
  With the increase of his clientage as the Doctor's popularity 
increased, the demands upon him became so great that his health 
suffered from the strain; but through his deep sympathy with others and 
his great fortitude, he bore his own suffering silently and bravely, 
ministering to the sick when needing help himself, and struggling 
against physical disability that would have broken a less heroic 
spirit.  Gentle and generous to the last, courteous and brave, he died 
literally with harness on, coming from the bedside of a patient where 
with all his skill he was fighting for the life of another against the 
dread destroyer, to yield suddenly his own life up to that relentless 
hand.
  Dr. Lytle was a man of broad culture, studious habits, in touch with 
the most advanced movements in the science of medicine, and a type of 
the scholarly professional gentleman, beloved and mourned by the 
community which he served and healed.

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LYDIA² JOHNSTONBAUGH (JACOB¹)^143,144 was born 1815 in Pa.^145,146, and died January 16, 1872^147,148. She married PIERSOL LYTLE^149,150 December 18, 1839 in Rev.William Stewart. 

Notes for LYDIA JOHNSTONBAUGH:
Buried Pine Grove Mills, Centre Co.,Pa; Ref. will of Piersol Lytle, Bellefonte Court House #5593. History of Centre & Clinton Counties by John Blair Linn p.325. Piersol Lytle was constable of Howard Twp., 1837 -1842. Linn's History p.209 Ref. Biographical Records of Central Penna p.394. 1840 Census lists them in Harris Twp., Centre Co., Pa. Marriage record ref. Sprangler Collection at Pattee Library,Penn State University.[noland1.FTW]

[Noland.FTW]

Buried Pine Grove Mills, Centre Co.,Pa; Ref. will of Piersol Lytle, Bellefonte Court House #5593. History of Centre & Clinton Counties by John Blair Linn p.325. Piersol Lytle was constable of Howard Twp., 1837 -1842. Linn's History p.209 Ref. Biographical Records of Central Penna p.394. 1840 Census lists them in Harris Twp., Centre Co., Pa. Marriage record ref. Sprangler Collection at Pattee Library,Penn State University.

More About PIERSOL LYTLE:
cemetary: Pine Grove Cemetery^151,152
     
Children of LYDIA JOHNSTONBAUGH and PIERSOL LYTLE are: 

	i.		JANE P.3 LYTLE153,154, b. June 16, 1839155,156.
	ii.		ISAAC LYTLE157,158, b. 1841159,160.
	iii.		CHARLOTTE LYTLE161,162, b. May 26, 1844163,164.
	iv.		SUSANNAH J. LYTLE165,166, b. 1845167,168.
	v.		ANDREW JACKSON LYTLE169,170, b. 1846171,172.
	vi.		JOHN H. LYTLE173,174, b. 1847175,176.
	vii.		MARY C. LYTLE177,178, b. 1851179,180.
	viii.		MOSES THOMPSON LYTLE181,182, b. August 1853183,184.
	ix.		ELLA MARGARET LYTLE185,186, b. August 21, 1854187,188.

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In 1870 oldest daughter Jane is found here:

1870 United States Federal Census about Jane Sztee

Name: Jane Sztee

[Jane Lytle] 

Age in 1870: 32

Birth Year: abt 1838

Birthplace: Pennsylvania

Home in 1870: West Mahoning, Indiana, Pennsylvania

Race: White

Gender: Female

Post Office: Smicksburg

Value of real estate: View image

Household Members:

Name Age

Thomas Watt 46

Ketturah Watt 47

Johnston Neal 13

Isabella Neal 12

Jane Sztee 32

Keturah's maiden name was Lytle.  

Elias Mook 1788-1893

Elias Mook

Son of Henry & Sarah Mook

Born 1820

Died 28 February 1893

Married

Elizabeth Lytle

Daughter of Samuel & Catherine (Marshall) Lytle

Born  Oct 12 1830

Died March 5 1914

Children:

Sarah Catherine Mook 1854 – 1938

Rachel R. Mook 1860 – 1948

Susanna Mook 1862 – 1941

Caroline Mook 1864 – 1936

Elizabeth M. Mook 1866 – 1959

John G Mook 1867 – 1947

Samuel A Mook 1869 – 1942

Henry A. Mook 1872 – 

Elias E. Mook 1876 – 1958

Fanny Mook 1878 – 1963

Daniel Mook 1880 – 1966

1880 United States Federal Census about Elias Mook
Name: Elias Mook
Age: 60
Birth Year: abt 1820
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1880: West Buffalo, Union, Pennsylvania
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Mook
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Laborer
Cannot read/write:

Household Members:
Name Age
Elias Mook 60
Elizabeth Mook 50
Rachel R. Mook 20
Susanna Mook 18
Caroline Mook 16
Elizabeth M. Mook 14
John G. Mook 13
Samuel A. Mook 10
Henry A. Mook 7
Elias E. Mook 3
Fanny Mook 1
Catharine Leitle 90

Death - 

Research: