Wabash County History and Genealogy, presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

On Tuesday evening, November 3, 1863, a bloody affray took place in the streets of Mt. Carmel, growing out of the political bitterness engendered by the war. During that great struggle there were many men in Southern Illinois, who intensely sympathized with the Southern Confederacy and did not hesitate to flaunt their disloyal sentiments in the faces of their loyal neighbors, and Union Soldiers were the especial object of their animadversion.

Wabash County, though particularly loyal, was unfortunate enough to have some of this class of citizens. The "Knights of the Golden Circle" also had some agressive members in the county. Consequently, it was impossible to suppress expressions of opinion calculated to cause bloodshed, and as a result of this hostile feeling and the bittnerness of partisan zeal, blood was shed in Wabash, as well as in many other counties in Southern Illinois.

Hiram Stanton, a staunch Union man, and a Deputy Provost Marshal, who had raised a company of hundred-days men to be mustered into the Union cause at the outbreak of the war was attacked by George W. Besore, an attorney of Mt. Carmel, and Zachariah Newkirk, a prominent farmer, as the result of an acrimonious political controversy. Stan was shot through the wrist and through the thigh, and though dreadfully wounded, drew his pistol with his left hand and fired at each of his assailents, who were cotinuing their fire, and inflicted mortal wounds upon each of them. The tragedy created profound excitement and intense partisan feeling, and of course, there were conflicting reports about the distressing affair. Newkirk and Besore lingered several days, but succumbed to their wounds. Stanton hovered between life and death for some time, but ultimately recovered. He was indicted but never brought to trial. The many friends of Newkirk and Besore greatly deplored their untimely taking off, and the friends of Stanton applauded him as a fearless and loyal man who would not apologize for his convictions or shrink from danger.

The program had been wisely planned and was so cunningly carried out that Mr. Groff had not the slightest warning of the intentions of the promoters until the guests had gained entrance and secured temporary charge of the affairs of his home for the day.

The participants of the event were confined wholly to the immediate relatives and according to actual coount, just fifty-four were present, as follows: J. Fred Groff, Lick Prairie; George H. Bigg and wife, Bone Gap; Mrs. E.F. Cowling and son Robert, of Mt. Carmel; Major Chapman, wife and daughter, Eva, of Asbury; P.A. Groff, wife and daughters , Mamie and Dolice; W. A. Groff, wife and sons, Herb and Guy and daughter, Irene; L.E. Groff, wife and sons, Raymond, Harrel and Hollen, and daughters, Bessie and Leona; J. R. Brines, wife and daughters; Mabel, and Pearl, and sons, Gilbert, Carroll, Everette and Virgil; Thompson Davis, of Bone Gap, and daughter May of Chicago; Eva Walters, Bone Gap: Will Davis, wife and son, Leo, and daughter Bonnie, of Browns; Ben P. Groff, wife, daughter, Gale, and son Frank, "B" French, Jr., wife and daughter, Fern.