Icie Myrtle (Parsons) Casto In May of 1986 was Honored for her many years (50 plus) of service as midwife and nursing the sick by receiving the Mama Kay and Papa Joe Manchin 35th star Award, given to West Virginians over the age of 80 who are considered pioneers.
During her life, Icie, a native Jackson Countian born in Gay, WV has delivered about 1,600 babies. She acted as nursemaid to the sick, and an undertaker when her neighbors passed away. About 22 or 23 years old when she delivered her first baby, Icie acted as midwife to women in Jackson, Roane, Kanawha, and Putnam Counties. In the 1930's and 1940's times and the roads were rough and when Icie was called to help a woman in labor, the mother of 10 children of her own, Icie's career as a midwife could be considered successful, with only one child mortality and considering the primitive circumstances, no women died giving birth under Icie's care. Although Icie's Grandfather was Dr. Hezekiah King Shumaker, her calling did not come from emergency trips with him, Instead, "It Just Came To Me".
Icie Myrtle Casto Was born 12-13-1892 and died 4-13-1999 at the age of 107. She was married to Henry Alonzo Casto married May 11, 1907. b. 10-22-1875 died. 5-5-1959.
Alonzo was the son of Jacob .H. Casto and Rutha (Siders) Casto.
Icie's parents are William Henderson "billo" Parsons b. 12-3-1858 d 10-18-1937 and Mary Margaret (Shumaker) Parsons b. 12-31-1869 d. 2-25-1921
---
Posted by Anita Miller Kimes, June 04, 2001 08:46PM
