May 11, 1915: Home Abortion Leaves 8 Children Motherless

Grok AI imagining of the family

Homemaker May Johnson, age 36, of Melrose Street in Chicago died on May 11, 1915 from a self-induced abortion "after advice from quack."

According to public records, May (also spelled Mae) and her husband, Frank, had 8 children:

• Perlie, age 2
• Helen, age 4
• Mabel, age 6
• Lillian, age 9
• Erma, age 11
• Leslie, age 14
• Aletha, age 16
• Fern, age 18

According to the 1910 Federal census, Frank was a laborer who did odd jobs. 

Sources:

• "Just Five Month's Abortion Toll," Chicago Daily Tribune, May 29, 1915
• Cook County death index
• Find-a-Grave