George Baptiste’s Heartbreak

April 18, 2016 Ken Zimmerman Jr. Professional Wrestling

During February 1901, St. Louis professional wrestler and local businessman George Baptiste reluctantly filed for divorce from his wife, Nellie May Baptiste, alleging desertion. It was actually the second time, Baptiste filed for divorce from Mrs. Baptiste.

During the summer of 1896, Baptiste was vacationing in Millford, Connecticut. The 31-year-old was a powerful swimmer and all-around athlete in addition to his career as a professional wrestler. Through out the years, he saved several St. Louisans from drowning.

George Baptiste, St. Louis Wrestler and All-Around Athlete

While swimming at the beach, Baptiste saw two teenagers taken out with the tide. When he realized the danger they were in, he immediately swam out to help them. Despite the distance, Baptiste grabbed the girl and brought her back to shore.

The crowd urged him not to try to swim the distance again to save the teenage boy but Baptiste plunged back into the water and swam to the boy. For a while, the crowd lost sight of Baptiste and the boy. The beach goers were amazed to see Baptiste emerge from the water with the young man. Due to his heroic actions, both teenagers survived this dangerous encounter.

One of the people on the beach that day was 14-year-old Nellie May Kyle, who was much impressed by Baptiste’s heroism. Nellie was the daughter of a wealthy family, who invited Baptiste to stay with them, when he visited Millford. Baptiste started visiting each summer and Nellie May would write to him during the rest of the year.

Baptiste didn’t think much of the correspondence until Nellie May was upset when he didn’t plan to visit in 1899. The 17-year-old Nellie May made her feelings for Baptiste known. After thinking about the situation, the 35-year-old Baptiste traveled to Millford, spoke with her father and wedding arrangements were made. The marriage would last only 10 days.

After a honeymoon weekend in Connecticut, the Baptistes traveled to St. Louis. It was on the trip to St. Louis that the trouble began. Nellie May began to experience severe homesickness. She told George Baptiste on the train ride that she did not know if she could live away from the ocean.

Baptiste thought the melancholy would pass once she was settled in her new house but the homesickness only seemed to intensify. She told Baptiste she wanted to stay with him but she couldn’t live away from the ocean. She asked him to take her back to Millford.

Baptiste told her it was impossible because of his business interests, primarily the family tent and awning business, in St. Louis. Nellie May told him that if he would not take her back home, he should divorce her. Baptiste hoped the feeling would pass but she left for Millford on October 26, 1899.

Baptiste filed for divorce in November 1899 but dropped the petition, when Nellie May wrote to him that she would move back to St. Louis. However, after 14 months of correspondence, Nellie May didn’t return. Baptiste filed his petition and was granted the divorce in 1901.

This heartbreaking episode likely led to Baptiste’s reluctance to remarry. Baptiste married his longtime companion Lillian five days before he died from the effects of stomach cancer. 39 years passed between his first and second marriages.

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