The Hillbrook Family (Timeline)

Markway Norden Hillbrook was born on August 20, 1875, to Swedish immigrants Eirik and Åsa Hillbäcken (anglicized to “Hillbrook”) in Danvers, Essex County, MA, US. Eirik (aged 37) was a pharmacist and pharmacologist, and Åsa (aged 33) was a nurse. Both Eirik and Åsa’s jobs played an important role in the mental healthcare field. Markway would become intrigued by his father’s knowledge and do further research on related subjects. Eirik would also frequently take his curious young son to his workplace at the local pharmacy in Danvers. On their route, they would always pass by The Danvers State Asylum. There, Markway would witness the disabled patients being abused by orderlies out in the courtyard, and even some pleading for help through the barred windows. These sights and sounds haunted Markway for years, furthering his interest in treating the mentally ill. At the Pharmacy, Eirik would show Markway the process of concocting and mixing new medicines to treat certain ailments. Markway absorbed all this information like a sponge and was able to impress others, even the supposed “experts,” with his vast knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical history.

### Markway Hillbrook's College Years

In June of 1894, Markway Hillbrook (aged 18) prepared to move to Ebony City, MA (formerly Ebony Town prior to its architectural and technological advancements), where he would enroll in Ivory University to pursue degrees in Psychiatry and Psychology. Although his parents Eirik (aged 56) and Åsa (aged 52) didn’t move into Ebony City with him, they did move into an area just outside the city, so they could be closer for holiday visits. In August of that year, the Fall Semester began, and Markway (aged 19) entered Ivory University. His vast knowledge and quick wit made him instantly popular among both his professors and his peers on the campus. After completing his Associate’s Degree, in August of 1897, Markway (aged 22) met medical student Urith Grice (aged 18) an Ebony native who was very knowledgeable in the city’s history, even all the way back to The Blackburn Disaster of 1859. Being one of the few female students at Ivory University, she sticks out among the other students, especially to Markway. Her appearance reminded him of one of his personal icons and role models, Nellie Bly. At first, Markway and Urith were just passersby to each other, occasionally making casual conversation, but as time went by, they got closer and started talking more frequently. The more they talked, the more common interests they uncovered. They discovered that they were both mental healthcare advocates who had been inspired by similar people (Dorothea Dix, Philippe Pinel, William Tuke and The Quakers, and the 1st mental healthcare reformist Dr. Vincenzo Chiarugi) In June 1899, Urith Grice (aged 20) completed her Associate’s Degree in Nursing.

### Recap: Markway's College Course (1894-1902)

August 1894 – June 1895

* Markway (aged 19) completed his 1st year

August 1895 – June 1896

* Markway (aged 20) completed his 2nd year, getting an Associate’s Degree

August 1896 – June 1897

* Markway (aged 21) completed his 3rd year

August 1897 – June 1898

* Markway (aged 22) completed his 4th year, getting a Bachelor’s Degree

August 1898 – June 1899

* Markway (aged 23) completed his 5th year

August 1899 – June 1900

* Markway (aged 24) completed his 6th year, getting a Master’s Degree

August 1900 – June 1901

* Markway (aged 25) completed his 7th year

August 1901 – June 1902

* Markway (aged 26) completed his 8th year, getting a Doctoral Degree

### Markway's Move to Beverly

After graduating in June 1902, Markway Hillbrook (aged 26) went to his parents’ home in Beverly, just outside the city limits. During that time, Markway and Urith still kept in touch through the telephone and by sending letters. Markway’s father Eirik (aged 64) got struck down with bouts of confusion and memory loss, as a result of some mysterious illness (what would be diagnosed as dementia post-1906). It was clear that Eirik’s declining mental health and Åsa’s struggle to care for him on her own would keep Markway from being able to move to Ebony City for job opportunities. Now, his main job was to help his mother, who also showed signs of deteriorating mental health, take care of his increasingly ill father. By this point, Urith Grice (aged 23) was a registered nurse in Ebony, having completed her Bachelor’s Degree after 4 years of study. Markway sought her out via telephone, asking her to take a look at Eirik. She said she would be willing to help aid them as long as they gave her a place to stay. Åsa, happy to hear from Markway that some more help was on the way, promptly got the guest bedroom ready.

The next day, Urith arrived and made herself at home. Although Markway and Urith had been corresponding with each other daily for the past 3 months, this was their first time reuniting in person. Åsa (aged 60) became very fond of Urith due to their common interest in Health and Healing. Åsa would frequently recount her experiences nursing back in Northern Europe to Urith. Throughout that Summer, Urith seemed to have no problem blending in as part of the family, although sometimes a delirious Eirik would ask why there was a complete stranger in his home. As time went by, Eirik’s mental state got worse. He started calling his son Marcus and forgetting parts of his past, like his job at the Pharmacy and how he met Åsa in medical school. He even started struggling with basic functions like walking, talking, eating, drinking, sleeping, and even breathing. It had started as sleep apnea, but then it started occurring in the daytime. Now, he would frequently fall unconscious due to not inhaling enough oxygen. No one in the household knew what to do. They did not want him sent to a hospital, as doctors did not treat the mentally disturbed too kindly, so they figured their best option was to just continue making use of the skilled nurse among them.

On the night of August 1, 1902, lying in his bed and not knowing that the strangers surrounding him were the ones closest in his life, Eirik Hillbrook finally passed away at the age of 64. Markway was distraught over the fact his father died not even knowing his own son’s name, referring to him instead as Marcus, Marco, Martin, or one of several other names, none of which actually being his. This only hardened Markway’s resolve to find answers to the unsolved mysteries of the mind and to find cures for them, especially with signs of Åsa’s mental state catching up with her husband’s.

Markway and Urith's Move to Ebony

Almost immediately after the grieving period, and on the day after his 27th birthday, Markway Hillbrook made plans to move into Ebony City permanently and become a citizen there. His relationship with Urith had grown much stronger over the last few months, seeing each other at their most vulnerable, so they agreed to accompany each other on the trip. Markway sent an application for a job at The Shadow Mountain Asylum, which he had no problem getting due to his countywide recognition.

On August 24, Markway Hillbrook (aged 27) and Urith Grice (aged 23) got married at The Cathedral of St. Judas in Ebony City. The only member of the Hillbrook family present was Markway's mother Åsa, who was overjoyed for her young son and now daughter-in-law. With the money they had accumulated between the two of them, Markway from inheritance and auctioning valuable heirlooms, and Urith from her earnings at the hospital in Ebony, the couple bought a two-story house on the end of Cosmic Cove. They vowed to never have any children, due to how awful and cruel the world was, and instead decide to devote their time caring for those already in need. The next day, on August 25, Markway entered his 1st day on the job at Shadow Mountain, meeting a fellow graduate from Ivory University named Dr. George Dicer (aged 35)