Henry County, Illinois News
1865
Wesley, the Rev. Joseph, a Methodist clergyman formerly a Captain with the 112th Ill. Volunteers has run away from Geneseo, Henry Co., with Mrs. Beers, the wife of a Geneseo butcher, who also took along her three children. (RI Evening Argus, Monday, 16 Jan. 1865)
1866
Williams, Richard, a house painter, was married last 7 Dec. to Mrs. Snyder of this place (Geneseo, Henry Co.), a widow. Recently she filed for divorce. Martin Snyder is her son from her previous marriage. Mr. Williams has now been accused of murdering Martin Snyder of 22 Feb. 1866. (RI Weekly Union, Wednesday, 28, 1866)
Snyder, Martin. The case of the People vs. Richard Williams who has been indicted for killing his stepson Martin Snyder, in Geneseo, Henry Co., on 22 Feb. 1866, came up for trial last week. Verdict was manslaughter. (RI Argus, Friday, 29 Nov. 1867)
Taylor, Wm., of Green River, Henry Co., for many years guardian of the railroad woodyards there, was arraigned in court on the charge of bigamy at the insistence of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Wood, of Geneseo, Henry Co. He was found innocent. (RI Weekly Union, Wednesday, 14 Feb. 1866)
Showers, Caleb, who left Cambridge, Henry Co., three years ago was killed in Iowa at that time by his cousin, Kirk Vincent, who has since been arrested at this home in Cambridge. (RI Weekly Union, Wednesday, 27 June 1866) Kirk Vincent is charged with murdering his cousin, Claiborn Showers of Cambridge, Henry Co., while the two men were traveling west to California about three years ago in Poweshiek Co. Iowa. (RI Evening Argus, Tuesday, 18 Dec. 1866)
Piatt, Wm. Of Colona, Henry Co., has removed to Odell, Dallas Co., Iowa. (RI Evening Argus, Tuesday, 27 Mar. 1866)
Beardslee, Martin Van Buren. Information is wanted on this son of Mrs. Martha Beardslee, widow, who left home on 1 Mar. 1866, and has not been heard from. (From the Geneseo, Henry Co., Republic, as reported in the RI Weekly Union, Wednesday, 28 Nov. 1866)
1867
Turner, Lucinda. NOTICE: My wife, Lucinda Turner, has left my bed and board. Also, my daughter Sarah, has in my absence robbed my house of valuable articles. Signed: Joshua Turner of Colona, Henry Co. (RI Argus, Wednesday, 25 Sept. 1867)
The trial of Kirk Vincent, for the murder of his cousin, Claiborne Showers, formerly of Cambridge, Henry Co., Ill., is now going on at Montezuma, Poweshiek Co., Iowa. (RI Argus, Tuesday, 23 Apr. 1867) The mothers of the two young men were sisters. Mrs. Showers testified at the trial, as did Vincent's mother. Mrs. Vincent was married a few weeks before his arrest. (RI Argus, Wednesday, 1 May 1867) The remains of Claiborne Showers, after being buried for some time in Iowa, were reburied in Cambridge, Henry Co., Ill., last week. (RI Evening Argus, Friday, 21 May 1869)
1868
Hancock, George W., of Henry Co. is ordered to care for his elderly, destitute parents, who are currently living in Hampton, Rock Island Co. (RI Daily Union, Tuesday, 10 Mar. 1868)
Chamberlin, Mr. and Mrs., Ad. F., of Geneseo, Henry Co., had a boy born to them on 14 June 1868. (RI Evening Argus, Friday, 19 June 1868)
Clark, Richard, a young man from Geneseo, Henry Co., is here looking for his wife and little son who ran away with a man named Williams. They were married in Scotland. The woman is aged ca 22y. (RI Evening Argus, Monday, 20 Jan. 1868)
1870Born at Kewanee, Dec. 8, a son to John More, and grandson to Nehemiah Merritt Henry News Republican, Henry, IL January 6, 1870 [Contributed by Nancy Piper]
Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. John, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Geneseo, Henry Co., on 9 Mar. 1870) Fifty-two children and grandchildren were present at the celebration; 6 were absent. (RI Daily Union, Friday, 15 Apr. 1870)
Mumford, A.B. (or A.K.), a farmer who had just sold his farm near Orion, Henry Co., was robbed and killed on 5 Apr. 1870. Also killed was his wife. His little son was badly injured. All this was reported in the Chicago papers recently, but officials in Cambridge and Geneseo, Henry Co., know nothing about such a murder and the story is believed to be a hoax. (RI Evening Argus, Saturday, 9 Apr. 1870)
Hammond, Mr., of Geneseo, Henry Co., is believed to be the oldest Mason in Illinois. He is aged 94 y and was born in Newton, Mass., in April 1776. (From Geneseo Republic as reported in the RI Daily Union, Friday, 18 Feb. 1870)
(NEW!) PARDONED CRIMINALS
Something Concerning the Exercise of Executive Clemency in Illinois.
A List of Pardons Issued to Prisoners Under Sentence for Manslaughter and Murder.
Michael Murphy, October 1867, murder: Henry County; life; pardoned May 19, 1875; served
8 years. The papers in this case show that Murphy was not the leader in the crime, but was led into it.
The Hon. John B. Hawley McCandless, the employer of Murphy, the officers of his late regiment, and
others recommended it, and the Warden reports his conduct good. [Inter-Ocean Springfield, January 17 1876, submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]
September 19, 1878
The editorship of the Kewanee Courier has undergone a change. The spicy paragraphist E. H. Phelps retires, and the senior Dr. C. N. Whitney takes entire supervision. As to where Mr. Phelps goes does not appear. The doctor is an old editor and brilliant writer, but and so long as he owns a paper he must look in some degree after its interests. It is to be hoped however that he will not abandon the lecture field, and the good work in which he has met with such signal success the past year. Henry News Republican, Henry, IL [Contributed by Nancy Piper]
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