Clark County Indiana News
RATHBUN TAKEN TO INDIANA FOR MURDER
Louisville,
Ky. Nov. I5, 1901
New features today in the case of Newell C. Rathbun, held here on a
charge of desertion from the United States array and suspected of the
murder of Charles Goodman, who
was found dead last Thursday night in a Jeffersonville, Ind., hotel,
were the decision to have the corpse of the supposed Goodman returned
to Jeffersonville, for an autopsy and identification; the autopsy and
identification; . the announcement of Washington that the war
department had decided to send Rathbun to Jeffersonville and turn him
over to the Indiana authorities and the refusal of the local
authorities to send Rathbun to Little Rock to testify at the coroner's
inuqest over the corpse that was shipped there. They say Rathbun will
go nowhere, except to Jeffersonville, where he is to be tried on the
charge of murdering Charles Goodman. A telegram was sent to Little Rock
today, asking that the corpse be returned to Jeffersonville.
A telegram has been received from the chief, of
police of Evansville, Ind., stating that Goodman was a resident
of Cripple Creek, Colo., where he was brass worker. When asked
for his opinion as to the claim made by Mrs. Rathbun that the corpse
shipped to Little Rock was that of her husband, Rathbun laughed and
remarked: "May be it is his corpse." This is all he would say on
the subject.Dr. Benson Doolittle of Jeffersonville, who was
present at the autopsy upon Goodman's body, says he will swear that
laudanum was in Goodman's stomach in, large quantities. The Louisville
police today began sending all over the United States photographs and a
description of Rathbun, in an effort to positively identify him.
Rathbun was tonight taken across the river to Jeffersonville, Ind., and
placed in jail, charged with murder.
Double
Crime Jan. 23 1898
An Indiana Woman Poisons her Child and Commits Suicide
Mrs. Seth Coffman, who lived in Greenville Township, Clark County, Indiana, near New Albany, committed suicide this morning by cutting her throat with a kitchen knife. Before committing the rash deed she attempted to end the life of her infant child who slept in it's cradle, in the adjoining room. She poired a large dose of laudanum down it's throat and left ot to it's fate. The child will die. No cause is assigned for the suicide.
An Indiana Woman Poisons her Child and Commits Suicide
Mrs. Seth Coffman, who lived in Greenville Township, Clark County, Indiana, near New Albany, committed suicide this morning by cutting her throat with a kitchen knife. Before committing the rash deed she attempted to end the life of her infant child who slept in it's cradle, in the adjoining room. She poired a large dose of laudanum down it's throat and left ot to it's fate. The child will die. No cause is assigned for the suicide.
New
Albany Ledger Standard 18 Nov 1872
p4 c3: Another Pioneer Gone. Asa
Abbott, an old and highly esteemed citizen of Bethlehem, Clark
county, Ind., died at 4 o'clock this morning, of typhoid fever, after a
short illness. He was in attendance at the Clark Criminal Circuit Court
last week, as foreman of the grand jury. Mr. Abbott was born in Clark
county, in 1807, was at one time City Commissioner and had filled many
important positions. He was a man of great energy of character, and had
accumulated a handsome fortune. He
leaves a very large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
leaves a very large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger 17 Jan 1872 p4 c1: Isaac
Ackley, engineer of the train
on the Ohio and Mississippi Railway, which run over and killed Louis Varvel, near Marysville, Clark
county, on Monday, is in trouble. The Coroner's jury yesterday returned
a verdict, charging Ackley with Manslaughter.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 29 Aug 1879
p4 c1: One of the men, Charles
Baumgartner, injured in the explosion of a boiler at the Hahn
cement mill, in Clark county, died of his injuries. Hutchinson, the other wounded man is
rapidly recovering. See NALS 28 Aug 1879 p4 c2
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 1 Apr 1876 p4
c5: Mr. James Beggs died last
evening at 7 o'clock, of that fell disease, consumption. He had been
ill for a long time, and for several weeks past his death has been
hourly expected. The deceased was a native of Clark county, where he
has a large circle of relatives, but for some fifteen years past he had
made his home in New Albany. A wife and one child are left to mourn the
loss of a husband and father.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 1 Apr 1876 p4
c6: Died. Beggs In this city, March 31, 1876, Mr. James Beggs, aged 41 years. The
funeral will take place from Wesley M. E. Church, tomorrow, Sunday,
afternoon at 2 o'clock. The friends and acquaintances of the family are
invited to attend without further notice.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 3 Apr 1876 p4
c5: Obituary Death of James R.
Beggs - The death of James R. Beggs occurred at his residence
on Upper Third street, between Main and Market, at 6 1/2 o'clock Friday
afternoon. Deceased was born at Charlestown, Clark county, Indiana, in
1835, and came of a family distinguished in the pioneer days of Indiana
as men and women of great force of character and more than ordinary
intellectual cultivation. His grandfather was a member of the
Convention that formed the first Constitution of Indiana, and was one
of the most outspoken and influential opponents of the introduction of
the slavery into the State (at that time proposed), and upon this issue
was elected. His father was a Senator from Clark county, and made an
honorable record in the history of the State's legislation. Deceased
had resided in New Albany for sixteen years. He was at one time a
partner in the firm of Lyndall & Beggs, dry goods, and for the past
ten years has been engaged mainly as a dry goods clerk. Honest,
courteous, genial, he won many friends. Tender and affectionate as a
husband and father, he was endeared in his family; while his bereaved
wife and daughter mourn his death, they have yet a well founded hope in
his future, for he died trusting in the redemption provided by Christ.
And now that life's fitful fever is ended, he sleeps well, and while
his many friends feel the sad blow his death has inflicted, they have
the consolatory hope that, though dead, he shall live again -- A Friend
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger 28 Feb 1888 p4
c2: Mrs. Matilda Beggs, one of
the pioneers of Clark county, and an aunt of Mr. John S. Beggs, of this
city, died at her home in Charlestown on the 27th inst.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 24 Dec 1872
p4 c3: Railroad Accident, A Train of Thirteen Cars Thrown Down an
Embankment.The Engineer, Fireman and Brakeman Instantly Killed. We
understand that a train was thrown off the track on the Jeffersonville,
Madison and Indianapolis railroad, near Henryville, Clark county, this
morning and three men killed. We were unable to learn the names, or
additional particulars. Since the above was in type we learn that Mr. J. Belch, the engineer of the
train, and the fireman and a brakeman were the parties killed. The
accident was caused by a misplaced switch. The train was made up of hog
cars and was bound south with a load of hogs. The following dispatch
has just been received: Jeffersonville, Dec. 24.The South bound
freight train on the Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad,
jumped the track at Henryville at 3 o'clock a.m., plunging thirteen
cars over a steep embankment, making a total wreck of the train. John Blach, engineer, George Coulter, fireman, and Henry Koons, were instantly killed.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 21 Feb 1879p4
c6: Death of an Aged Lady. Mrs. Rhoda
Bortoff, a resident of New Washington, Clark county, died
Tuesday, at the advanced age of 100 years and 19 days. Her death was
attributed to the giving away of the system from old age. At 80 she was
active and very industrious. She was a member of the Methodist church
for 89 years, a close attendant, and a very devout christian. Her
mother attained the great age of 99 years. In 1830 one of her sons lost
his life on the steamer Macgregor, which blew up while ascending the
Mississippi river. Twenty-eight of her descendants are still living --
four children, 16 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 11 Feb 1876
p4 c3: Death of a Former Citizen of Clark County. News has been
received in Charlestown of the death of Mrs. Phillip Boyer, formerly Mrs. Hattie Winter. The family went
to Kansas some months ago, from their home near Charlestown, and a few
days since Mrs. B. fell a victim to that scourge of the Southwest,
consumption. She had many warm friends in Jeffersonville, where she was
born and reared, who will mourn her loss.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Daily Ledger 13 Jun 1863 p2
c1: Death of an Old CitizenWe are pained to hear of the death, oat
Greenville last (Friday) night, of Cyrus
Bradford, Esq., an old and highly esteemed citizen of this
county. The deceased was in our office on Tuesday last, apparently in
the enjoyment of his usual health. Esquire Bradford moved from New
England to the West about the year 1818, and first settled in Clark
county, and a few years afterwards removed to Greenville, where he has
ever since resided. He was a most estimable citizen, a thoroughly
honest man, and his death will be lamented by hundreds who have long
known him.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Daily Ledger 28 Sep 1865 p 2
c 3: Died, on the 27th inst., at ½ before 10 o
clock, a.m., at the residence of Peter
Mann, Mrs. Adjail Brown, aged 95 years 4 months and 13 days. She
was born in Culpepper county, Va., May 18, 1776, and was the daughter
of John LaFever, a native of
France. She moved to Kentucky in 1780; was married in 1789 to Walter P. Brown, who died in 1830,
aged 61 years. She moved to Clark county, Ind., in 1811, and resided
there until the past four years, when she came to Peter Mann
s residence on a visit. She was a member of the Baptist Church in good
standing over 60 years, and died in full faith of a blessed
immortality. Louisville Democrat copy and send bill to this office.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Weekly Ledger 29 Apr 1891 p4?
c2: At Jeffersonville, on the afternoon of the 22d Justice Ware held John Martin and Louis Becht without bail to answer
in the Clark Circuit Court the charges of murdering Frank Faske. The three young men
resided in Lafayette township, Floyd county, in which township their
victim also resided. The fatal blow was given in Clark county, at a
dance at Mrs. Hollaran
s, on the night of March 30th, the victim dying on April 12th. A
large number of witnesses from the neighborhood were examined, and it
was manifest that there was considerable feeling against the Becht
boys. They are aged 17, 19 and 22 years. Their aged mother was present
at the preliminary trial and was deeply affected by the results.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger 26 Jan 1883 p4 c3: The
following deaths have occurred in Clark county in a few days: John Smith, near Six Mile Switch; M. Steifelgel, near Bennettsville; John Honeer, Mrs. McDaniel and Mrs. Warman, near Five Mile Switch; Hannah Warman, near Bridgeport; John Wright, near Jeffersonville.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard Tuesday 10
Dec 1872 p1 c1: Willie Clingman,
aged twelve years, left his home October 1st. He had on when he left a
velvet cap, short water-proof sack coat, high goat leather shoes,;
complexion dark, large blue eyes, very reticent in speech. Any
information of his whereabouts will be thankfully received by his
sorrowing and grief-stricken parents. Address either Henry Clingman or the undersigned, Frank Lee, Otto post-office, Clark
county, Indiana.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 29 Sep 1873
p1 c1: Clark County Items. Mr. Eden Combs, of Union township, aged
about 60 years, died about nine o'clock last night. He had been in
feeble health for some time, and his death was not unexpected. His
family were [sic] among the earliest settlers of the county, and the
relationship is probably as extensive as any family in the county.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Daily Ledger Standard 1 Apr
1880 p4 c1: The estimable wife of Dr.
D. H. Coombs, of Charlestown, Clark county, died suddenly on
Monday, of pneumonia. She was a sister of Mr. Isaac and Columbus Goodwin, and of Mrs. T. W. Gibson, and was well and
favorably known throughout the county.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 11 May 1876
p4 c3: Death of the Wife of an Army Officer. A private telegram was
received in the city on the 10th instant announcing the death of Mrs. Angie Davis, wife of Lieut. Wm. Davis, U. S. A., which
sad event occurred yesterday, at Fort Coneho, Texas. Lieut. Davis is a
brother of Gen. Jeff. C. Davis,
and his wife was the daughter of Mr.
Alex Tucker, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Clark
county. The parties had only been married a short time, and the bride
had left the home of her father to join her husband on the frontier,
some two or three months ago. Her father was in this city the day of
her death, and spoke of having recently received a letter from his
daughter, and that she was well and happy, and before he reached home
the telegraph bore to the family the intelligence of her death. The
remains will be brought home and interred with those of her friends and
kindred who have gone before.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger Standard 24 Mar 1879
p4 c3: William Davis, at one
o'clock Saturday afternoon, Mr.
William Davis died at his home in Union township, Clark county,
Indiana, in the 80th year of his age. He leaves a family of five grown
children, Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, Capt.
Wm. Davis and Surgeon Thomas
Davis, of the United States Army, and Mr. James Davis, of Jeffersonville, and one
daughter. . . .
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Daily Ledger 30 May 1863 p2
c1: Lieut. DietzAmong those killed in the battle of Raymond was
Lieutenant Henry C. Dietz of
Company I, 23d Indiana. Lieut. D. was from Clark county, and a more
estimable young man we never knew. He started out as Orderly Sergeant
of his company, and was but recently promoted to a Second Lieutenancy.
Many of our city readers will remember him as having been on recruiting
service here about a year ago. Modest, faithful, brave, strictly moral
in all his habits, he was a model soldier. None knew him but to love.
He was a universal favorite in his company. Hundreds will hear of the
death of this excellent young man with deepest sorrow and shed a tear
to his memory. And yet it is such as he that this dreadful war is daily
carrying to premature graves by the hundred.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Ledger 8 Dec 1862 p 2 c 1;
Death of Col. Dewey.-Col. William
Dewey, of the 23d Iowa volunteers, died at Patterson, Mo., on
the 30th ult. The cause of his death is not stated. Col. Dewey was the
eldest son of the late Judge Dewey of Charlestown, Clark county, and at
the time of his decease was about fifty-four years of age. He was bred
to the law, but afterwards studied medicine and practiced that
profession. He was an excellent soldier and popular officer.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
New
Albany Daily Ledger 19 Jun 1863 p2
c3: Died, at the residence of his mother in Bennettsville, Clark
county, on the 18th inst., of consumption., Edward Fitzgerald, in the 22d year
of his age. The deceased served his apprenticeship to the book binding
business in this office, and a better young man we never knew. Peace to
poor Eddy's ashes.
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
(Contributed by Sue Carpenter SIGS)
Jeffersonville,
IN. Oct.
6,1897, Near new Washington, this county, typhoid
fever is becoming epidemic, and a number of deaths reported. In this
city a number of cases of scarlet fever have developed and caused quite
a scare, but the physicians are taking active steps to prevent any
spread of the disease.
Jeffersonville, IN. Dec.10,1898. George E. Conrad and Mary Rose, of Indianapolis, were married here today. There were accompanied by the brides brother-in-law. They all had the appearance of well-to-do people, and took this means of being married just for the novelty of the thing.
10-15-1888 HE WAS HAUNTED
A Young Murder Dies a Horrible Death in Prison.
John Skaggs, aged 26, a life convict in the penitentiary at Jeffersonville for murder, died today after a brief illness, says a dispatch from New Albany, IN.
Hid death was a horrible one, his stricken conscience torturing him into the wildest ravings, during which he constantly fought the imaginary ghosts of his victims, shrieking wildly to be delivered from the apparitions.
Young Skaggs belonged to a good family in Perry County, In. near his father’s farm resided john Williams & his wife, and aged couple, who were believed to have a large sum of money.
A brother of Skaggs, after the 2 had taken several drinks, proposed one night, eight yrs ago, to rob Williams, which plan was agreed to.
Meeting with some resistance, they crushed in the skulls of Williams and his wife, and then cut their throats.
After tinding less that $100, the murders set fire to the house. The fire was extinguished by the neighbors before reaching the room in which the murdered couple lay. The Skaggs boys were arrested and lodged in jail in Connelton. A mob which was organized to lynch them broke the jail, an d found that the murderers had been taken out by the sheriff, and started to Rockport. The mob pursued, and after a running fight, captured the elder brother and hanged him. The sheriff escaped with the younger, who was given a life sentence.
Jeffersonville, IN.
Dec. 27,1898. Sarah A. Potter, acting in behalf of Charles Potter and his child, Maud Potter, filed a petition in court today asking that Laurant A. Douglas, a prominent lawyer, of this city be removed as guardian of Charles Potter, who is unsound in mind, and also to be compelled to make true report of the funds received as such guardian. The petition sets forth that he has received $300 from Hope Lodge, # 13, K. of P. and the golden Cross, and that only $241.98 has been accounted for. The petition further claims that he has failed to make a report to the court, as the law provides.
Jeffersonville, IN.
Feb. 4,1898. Governor and Mrs. Mount arrived in this city at noon today and were driven to Superintendent Hert’s residence. This afternoon the governor made an inspection of the Reformatory and expressed himself as being highly pleased with the institution, with the exception of its crowded condition, which makes it necessary for several hundred men to sleep on cots in the corridor. This afternoon Mrs. Hert entertained in honor of Mrs. Mount. The managers of the Reformatory returned from Frankfort, KY, today, where they went to visit the Kentucky prison. They were in session this afternoon, but transacted nothing but routine business.
Jeffersonville, IN.
Feb.25,1898. Last night, at its drill meeting in Jeffersonville Division Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, passed resolutions tendering the service of the entire company, consisting of 60 men, to the secretary of war, and a telegram to that effect was sent to Washington. W.,M. Guernsey, telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania at Henryville, has organized a company of 40 men who are willing to fight for uncle Sam, and has notified the authorities at Washington.
Jeffersonville, IN. Dec.10,1898. George E. Conrad and Mary Rose, of Indianapolis, were married here today. There were accompanied by the brides brother-in-law. They all had the appearance of well-to-do people, and took this means of being married just for the novelty of the thing.
10-15-1888 HE WAS HAUNTED
A Young Murder Dies a Horrible Death in Prison.
John Skaggs, aged 26, a life convict in the penitentiary at Jeffersonville for murder, died today after a brief illness, says a dispatch from New Albany, IN.
Hid death was a horrible one, his stricken conscience torturing him into the wildest ravings, during which he constantly fought the imaginary ghosts of his victims, shrieking wildly to be delivered from the apparitions.
Young Skaggs belonged to a good family in Perry County, In. near his father’s farm resided john Williams & his wife, and aged couple, who were believed to have a large sum of money.
A brother of Skaggs, after the 2 had taken several drinks, proposed one night, eight yrs ago, to rob Williams, which plan was agreed to.
Meeting with some resistance, they crushed in the skulls of Williams and his wife, and then cut their throats.
After tinding less that $100, the murders set fire to the house. The fire was extinguished by the neighbors before reaching the room in which the murdered couple lay. The Skaggs boys were arrested and lodged in jail in Connelton. A mob which was organized to lynch them broke the jail, an d found that the murderers had been taken out by the sheriff, and started to Rockport. The mob pursued, and after a running fight, captured the elder brother and hanged him. The sheriff escaped with the younger, who was given a life sentence.
Jeffersonville, IN.
Dec. 27,1898. Sarah A. Potter, acting in behalf of Charles Potter and his child, Maud Potter, filed a petition in court today asking that Laurant A. Douglas, a prominent lawyer, of this city be removed as guardian of Charles Potter, who is unsound in mind, and also to be compelled to make true report of the funds received as such guardian. The petition sets forth that he has received $300 from Hope Lodge, # 13, K. of P. and the golden Cross, and that only $241.98 has been accounted for. The petition further claims that he has failed to make a report to the court, as the law provides.
Jeffersonville, IN.
Feb. 4,1898. Governor and Mrs. Mount arrived in this city at noon today and were driven to Superintendent Hert’s residence. This afternoon the governor made an inspection of the Reformatory and expressed himself as being highly pleased with the institution, with the exception of its crowded condition, which makes it necessary for several hundred men to sleep on cots in the corridor. This afternoon Mrs. Hert entertained in honor of Mrs. Mount. The managers of the Reformatory returned from Frankfort, KY, today, where they went to visit the Kentucky prison. They were in session this afternoon, but transacted nothing but routine business.
Jeffersonville, IN.
Feb.25,1898. Last night, at its drill meeting in Jeffersonville Division Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, passed resolutions tendering the service of the entire company, consisting of 60 men, to the secretary of war, and a telegram to that effect was sent to Washington. W.,M. Guernsey, telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania at Henryville, has organized a company of 40 men who are willing to fight for uncle Sam, and has notified the authorities at Washington.
Jeffersonville,
IN.
Aug. 11, 1897. The many marked improvements at the In, Reformatory were made the subject of much favorable comment by the Board of State Charities today. Without exception the members of the board speak in the highest terms of the efficiency of the management under Suoerintendent Hert. It is claimed the Indiana reformatory ranks next to the noted Elmira Reformatory of New York, the pioneer and foremost penal institution of the country. So rapidly has the standing of the institution progressed under its present superintendent that it is predicted the Indiana Reformatory, within the next few years, will even out rank the Elmira institution. The rules provided for its government are said to be superior to any in the United States.
Jeffersonville, IN. June 26,1898.
James Harris, of New Albany, has been pardoned from the Frankfort, KY. Penitentiary, where he was serving a term for burglary. He was sentenced 14 years ago and after serving 3 years escaped. he went to New Albany and married and had 3 children. He lived there for 11 years before being arrested. He has been in prison but 2 months. His wife secured his release.
Jeffersonville, IN. Dec.1,1898.
George Green was arrested tonight at Cementville for shooting his wife, whose dying statement, taken by prosecutor Montgomery, accuses her husband of firing the fatal shot. About 8 o’clock Saturday night, Nov. 19, Mrs. Green was called to her door and fired on. The mystery surrounding the affair cleared away by the woman’s statement tonight. The woman has lingered at the point of death ever since, and at 7 o’clock this evening the physician stated that she could not live 2 hours longer. The shooting is supposed to have been caused by jealousy.
THROUGH AN ADVERTISEMENT.
Mrs. Stella Fonts Will Marry Will Brown. Jeffersonville Ind., July 24
It has become known that Miss Stella Fouts, daughter of Col. and Mrs. John Cal Fouts, of New Washington, and Will Brown, of Manson, Iowa are soon to be married. They became acquainted through the medium of an advertisement Inserted by Mr. Brown and answered by Miss Fouts.The ceremony will be performed In about three weeks. The parents of the bride are wealthy and related to the most prominent people In southern Indiana. At Anderson and other points they also have relatives. The groom is a commission merchant at Manson.
Date: July 26, 1899 Location: Indiana Paper: Indiana State Journal
Jeffersonville, Ind. Dec 4
R. Pitcher Woodward, of the Writers' Club, Brooklyn, passed through here last midnight on a diminutive donkey on his way from New York to San Francisco. His trip is the result of an election bet. In case of McKinley's success Woodward agreed to ride a donkey from New York to San Francisco, reaching the latter place In six months. By the terms of the bet he was to stop at Canton and see the major, and at Lincoln and see Bryan. He says that he stopped at Canton and saw the major from a distance. He is so disgusted with himself and worn out that he avoids publicity. Had Bryan won. Benjamin Lilhord. a publisher, of 108 Fulton street. New York would have had to make the trip.
Source: Indiana State Journal December 9, 1896
Jeffersonville, Ind., Dec. 1
Girrard Senate, Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order one of the oldest senates in the State, has about decided to disband unless financial aid is secured on account of .their costly paraphernalia having been stolen recently In Louisville. The
supreme president, Dr, Weatherby, organized this senate. and considered it the most creditable lodge he had organized since his connection with the order. It was composed the most aristocratic and wealthy citizen, and Dr. Weatherby cleared about $600 on it. Everything went along smoothly. Costly paraphernalia was seemed and the robe worn by the officers were the most costly in the country. So elegant were they that when the Supreme Senate met recently in Louisville, the supreme officials borrowed the robes to wear in the street parade As a result they mysteriously disappeared, having been stolen by. some one.
Source: Indiana State Journal December 9, 1896
Jeffersonville, Ind, July 8, 1897
In addition to the resignations of Clerk Pate and Deputy Clerk Healy, of the Reformatory, Dr. J. H. Kurtner, hospital steward, and J. H. Gosnell, a guard, have also resigned. Kurtner Is from Dubois county, and Gosnell from Terra Haute. Clerk Pate does not retire till Aug. 1. The position of deputy clerk has been abolished by the board of managers., and no one will be appointed to succeed Healy.
News Of the Week Current Events (News Article) Date: 1897-07-14; Paper: Indiana State Journal
Fort Wayne News January 15, 1896
Jeffersonville, Ind. Jan. 10.
The case of Attorney General Ketcham on behalf of the State against the Patton Manufacturing Company, lessees of convict labor, has been venued to Floyd county. The suit is to recover $20.00 Claimed to be due the State for the use of convict labor.
Jeffersonville Ind, Jan. 11 Clark county
Warden Hert, of the Prison South, when seen to-day in regard to a statement published in an Indianapolis newspaper to the effect that he was interested in a combine by which Secretary of State Owen was to be the nominee for Governor. W. R. McKeen, Senator, and the warden Secretary of State, stated that the report was ridiculous. The warden further said that he had his time occupied with the affairs of the Prison South and the newspaper statement was entirely unfounded.
Jeffersonville, lnd. April 7.—Hon. Harry Poindexter, one of the most extensive fruit raisers In this district, states today that the warm days, followed by the cold nights had nipped the peach buds so that not more than a fourth crop would be
picked. The berry vines are also withered to such an extent by the cold that not more than a half crop will be secured.
Indiana Journal April 14, 1897
Jeffersonville, Ind., Apr. 10—County Attorney Stradley in looking over the laws passed by the late Legislature discovered an act repealing Sections 217, 218 and 219 of the acts of 1891. providing for the filing of tax liens by prosecuting attorneys. This means the loss of thousands of dollars to the county. Prosecutor Montgomery has In the last, month filed a large- number: of suits foreclosing tax liens, and these are all void. Local attorneys almost without exception did not know such an act was passed, and all express themselves greatly surprised.
Indiana Journal April 14, 1897
Jeffersonville, Ind., April 7.—The Board of County Commissoniers met yesterday for the first time under the new law as the board of control to audit the accounts of the various township trustees, and another appeal to the Supreme Court
to test the laws of the late Legislature will result. Several of the trustees held the law contemplated only that the board should examine those accounts of the .trustees for which warrants .were Issued, claiming that where cash was paid for any cause the board was not required to audit the same. The whole controversy hinges on the construction to be placed on the term "warrants".The board itself is divided on the question. The matter has been appealed to the attorney general, and it will be taken to the Supreme Court for final adjudication by one of the parties.
Indiana Journal April 14, 1897
Jeffersonville
A Female Burglar Shot and Dangerously Wounded
Jeffersonville, Ind., April 26 - Engene Muir, a clerk in George R. Thompson's grocery, missed sundry articles belonging to the store, which led him to believe the grocery was being robbed. Acting on instructions from Mr.Thompson, Muir last night procured a shotgun, locked himself inside the store and stood watch until 1 o'clock this morning, when he heard a slight noise at the rear door, which was unlocked by the intruder, who boldly walked in. After advancing several feet Muir fired. An unearthly scream from a woman followed, which aroused several parties in the neighborhood, who with the police gathered at the store. Lights were brought, when it was discovered that the robber was a woman named Mrs. Bell, a near neighbor. A physician was called, and had her conveyed home, where an examination was made, and it was found that she was badly wounded in the lower part of the abdomen. A number of the shot is believed to have penetrated the cavity and the womb. Her suffering in intense, and her recovery doubtful. She carried, as she entered the store, a tin pan in her hand In front of her, and a number of the shot passed entirely through both sides of the pan. Bell, her husband, arrived at the store, and became so enraged that he tried to shoot Mulr and would have done so bad not Officer Stor caught his arm as he raised the weapon, and disarmed him. Bell was then arrested, locked up, and this morning held in the sum of $900 to answer to a charge of robbery and attempt to kill.
Indiana Journal April 28, 1879
Released from the Penitentiary
Don McLaughlin, Monroe County; George Eringer, Shelby County, and Frank Valentine, Knox county, were discharged from the penitentiary this morning by expiration of sentence
Indiana Journal April 28, 1879
Indiana General News Items from the Indianapolis News 15 December. 1890 Page 6 Column 5 and 6
Submitted by Barb Z.
Heavy Robbery- A citizen of Clark county, Mr. John P. Lutz was robbed on last Sunday morning of 675 in money, on board of the steamer D?e Vernon, lying at St. Louis, and two land warrants made out in favor of J.P. Lutz for 80 acres each, and a certificate of entry for 160 acres of land The pocket-book which contained them was taken from under the pillow of his berth during his absence at the wash-room.
5/12/1854 New Albany Daily Ledger
THE PARK FAMILY MURDER
The Latest and Wildest Reports Concerning the Murder of the Park Family in Clark County, Indiana.
[From the Louisville Ledger, Feburary 6.]
The interest and excitement in relation to the atrocious murder of the Park family in Clark County, Indiana, last November continues unabated in that county, and many very wild and improbable rumors are almost daily put into circulation concerning the horrible butchery. We referred briefly yesterday to the reports circulated implicating Marion Park, son and brother of the murdered family, in the awful crime. This is one of the most cruel of the many cruel rumors set atloat by heartless and interested parties to, if possible, relieve the bloody negro butchers of their crime, and manufacture political capital for the Radical party in the next canvas. When the insinuations circulated againist him were communitcate to young Park, he was continued to his bed by illnes near Vincennes, whither he had gone to seek a location: but he at once left his bed, returned to his desolated home in Clark County, demanded an investigation of the charges, and has ever since remained there, so that the Grand Jury might have no excuse for not throughly investigating them. It is proper to say that not a single man can be found who is willing to say that he believes young Park either directly or remotely guilty of the crime, or in any mannrt cognizart of it otherwise that as the facts were developed after it had occured The Grand Jury are now sifting the charges to the bottom, and we have no hesitation in saying in advance that their action will be the triumphant vindication of young Park's innocence
Another rumor afloat is to the effect that the eldest of the Park girls, who has recovered from the fearful wounds indicted upon her head, states that two strangers stayed all night at ther father's house the night of the murder. We are informed by a gentleman who lives near the scene of the murder, and who coversed with Miss Park on Sunday, the murder being the principal topic of conversation, that she stated to him that when she raised up in the bed, just as she received the first frightful blow upon her head from the ax, she saw two men, one holding a light and the other weilding the ax; but she can not remeber to have seen their faces. The blow rendered her insensible, and this is absolutely all she knew of the murder Now, this statement exactly corresponds with the one made by the negro Johnson in his confession. He swore before the Grand Jury of Clark County that old man Daivs held the light, and that Squire Taylor dealt the blows with the ax. This effectually disposes of the story that the Miss Park had stated that two strangers stayed at her father's house on the night of the murder. Four or five night ago two persons, it is reported, were seen prowling around the Park residence and at about nine o'clock at night tried to effect an entrance to the house. The men in the house took a couple of guns and started to that park of the house at which entrance was trying to be effected; but they were heard by the parties outside, who led and were lost to sight in the darkness when the door was opened. About two o'clock in the morning they returned to the house but when they stepped upon the porch they were heard by the persons in the house, and the lamp was turned up so as to afford a bright light. This again frightend the men (?) and they did not afterward return
The relatives of the Park family who reside in the house with the recovered daughter assert very postively that the house was visited by two men as stated in the preceding paragraph; but the general opnion in the neighborhood seems to be that they were misled by a hallucination produced by nervous excitement consequent upon their residence in the house where four numan beings had been so savagely cut to pieces. It is not believed that any one visited the house: but that the noise upon the porch and sround the building was caused by some of the domestic animals on the farm
The Grand Jury of the Clark Criminal Court is now in session, and Judge Danham has instructed them to again investigate the Park family murder, as well as the hanging by the mob of the three negroes who commited the murder, Taylor, Davis and Johnson. There is no doubt in the public mind as to the guilt of these three wretchers who expiated their crime upon the gallows at the hands of the Clark County Vigilance Committee.
2/8/1872 Cincinnati Daily Enquirer
Transcribed by your host Erica Beatty
Clark County Giants. some Tall and Strong Men Famous in Southern Indiana
Date: 1897-06-23;
Paper: Indiana State Journal
Jeffersonville, Ind. June 15.---
Southern Indiana, and Clark county in particular, can boast of more giants than any other part of the state. One of the youthful gians is Fred Heinz, of near Charlestown, this county. He is twenty years old and tips the beam at 260 pounds. He is six feet ten inches tall and wears a No. 13 shoe. His strength is something to marvel at. He was born and raised in the clay hill near his native village. Another giant who could command a salary in a museum is "Big John" Williams, in Washington county, near the dividing line, twenty-five miles from here. Williams is seven feet seven inches tall and tips the beam at 280 pounds. For some time he was employed in the car works at this place, and his feats of strength were the wonder of all. Showmen have made him tempting offers, but he always refuses, and is now engaged in making a living on his farm.
Two youthful gigantic brothers are Clyde and Eddie Thompson, who lived in a suburb of his city a number of years, but are now traveling with a show. Eddie, the older, is six years of age and weighs 150 pounds and Clyde, three years old, weighs 95 pounds.
Another remarkable man physically is the Hon. M.E. Pangburn Clark county treasurer, and he has an interesting history he is six feet seven inches in his stocking feet. and is possessed of remarkable strength. This was shown last Sunday. The Knights of Pythias of which Pangburn is a member, went to Charlestown to decorate the graves of their dead Capt. Thomas Radar, commander of the Uniformed Rank while riding a bicycle fell and injured his foot in such a way that he was unable to walk. he was placed on the train and on arrival here Pangburn who was on the train, refused to allow a carriage to be called, but picking up the gallant captain as though he was an infant carried him to his residence, a number of blocks away. Pangburn was elected treasurer of this county last fall on the Republican ticket. This county is Democratic by a large majority, and the politicians laughed at the nominations of Pangburn. He was without the means of making a canvas, but started in to win. He tramped from township to township and made friends by the hundreds. No farmer could refuse to vote for a man this kind. He kissed the babies lent a hand in the fields and in one instance, as Pangburn was walking by, and old Democrtic farmer said "Come in and give us a lift of this barn we are raising and I will give you a vote" The candidate smilingly responded and was worth three men at the "raising" A few days ago this old farmer remarked that "Pangburn made two votes that day but by gosh there wasn't another dang'd Republican in the county he'd vote for."
It was such work as this that elected him, and it is believed will re-elect him by an overwhelming majority. His friends predict that he will climb still higher in political life, as he has a fine education, acquired by work and sacrifice, and he is a man of the Abe Lincoln type
6/23/1897 Indiana State Journal
Transcribed by your host Erica Beatty
Indiana White Caps
A Jefferson County Woman Tarred and Feathered
Called from her bed at Midnight, Tarred and Rolled in Feathers
Other Offenders Againist Morality Warned
The White Caps of Southern Indiana have not been rooted oout by the recent prosectutions of members of the order at isolated points. Last Tuesday night Mrs. Willard Davis, residing in Jefferson County, was called from bed at midnight, stripped, tarred, feathered and warned to leave the county. Other offenders againist the White Cap code have received attention and warnings
Special to the Republic
Cincinnati, O. Feb 24 The White Caps have again broken out in Southern Indiana and their maltrustments are more infamous than ever They have taken to tarring and feathering woamn in order to purify the morals of the town.
Hard Scrabble, a hamlet about five miles from Madison, Ind. in the roughest part of Jefferson County, is the last place visitined by them. The inhabitants most interested in the visit of the midnight raiders were Willard Davis, his wife Tillie and a sister of te latter name Emile Davis the divorced wife of Milo Davis, a brother of Willard. Both women have been leading improper lives and have created much scandal About 1 o'clock Tuesday morning a body of horsemen wearing white caps rode to the Davis home. They burst open the door, and before Davis could spring up, four White Caps grabbed him and ordered him to throw up his hands, He was then taken outside and stood on the icy ground in his bare feet. Agonized screams of Tillie, his wife joined with those of Eddie, a 13 year old son of Davis by his first marriage. The boy was sick with measles and was in bed. The visitors had seized the woman and dragged her to the centre of the room, tearing her only garment into shreds. A stick a foot long one end made into a swab, was thrust into a bucket containing warm tar One man grabbed the poor woman's long hair and spread it out while another rubbed well into the scalp Half a bucketful of the tar was then poured over her body. When her body was plastered with as much tar as would stick they ripped up one of her pillows and rolled her into the feathers. In her struggles to escape the woman made things worse, and the floor and the scanty furniture were plentiful bespattered. The sick boy was frightned into unconsciousness. After throwing the woman from them the raiders demanded to know the whereabouts of Emelie Before they received an answer and without waiting to search the house, the White Caps rode away, first however warning Davis that his wife and Emelie must be out of the county within 24 hours, and that he too, must leave as soon as the sick boy could be moved. The penalty of disobedience was signified by a wave of twenty revolvers. When the raiders entered the housethe other woman, Emelie was asleep in the loft over Davis' bed room. Realizing what the uproar meant the woman leaped from her bed and run down the stairs in the inclosed space between the houses All the White Caps were on the opposite side of the house and she was unseen as she nearly sped nearly naked over the frosted ground to the deverted cabin. Her sister screams for mercy which was refused she could hear then fear and cold had overcome her and when found she was nearly dead The next morning the entire Davis crowd left the county The tarring of Mrs Davis is not the only White Cap visit that is causing much comment in Jefferson County A few night ago John Bladen had an experience that he will not soon forgot. Bladen moved to the Ridge about a year ago from Kentucky. Whit him came his wife and a 2 year old boy Soon rumors that the child was fearfully abused reached the town and some persons took it upon themselves to investigate. The report seemed to be well founded, and in a few nights notice came to Bladen. One cold night last week Bladen was called to his door and taken in his night clothes up the road. Then after receiving a taste of White Cap switches he was made to run around in a circle on the frozen ground and to crawl and perform other unpleasant things After kicking and switching him back to his house he was allowed to go.
Thomas B. Rayton lived over the ridge to the northeast of Boe Camp. He has been neglecting his family and for that reason is a victim of the White Caps he was taken from his cabin tied to a tree and severely whipped
2/25/1889 St. Louis Republic
Transcribed by your host Erica Beatty
Indiana legend challenges Columbus discovery
Charlestown, Ind. (AP)--- On a rugged bluff overlooking the Ohio River, a site known locally as the "Devil's Backbone," natrual debris accumulated over the centuries shrouds a historical mystery. Popular legend says that there lie the remains of a large stone fort and a lost colony of Welshmen who sailed to America three centuries before Christopher Columbus. In 1799, early settlers found six skeltons wearing breastplates with a Welsh coat of arms. Indian legends told of "yellow haired giants" who settled in Kentucky, southern Indiana southern Ohio and Tennessee- a region they knew as "the Dark and Forbidden Land" Archaeologists, debunking the legend, say better evidence indicates native American Indians once conducted a vigorous trading network nearby and buried their dead on the bluff. The site and its shadowy history has lain virtually undisturbed since 19040 when the U.S. Army purchased 10,000 acres to build a munitions (ammunitions) plant. The Department of Defense is expected to relinquish almost 900 acres as oart of a cost cutting plan The state of Indiana will have the first option to buy. Both the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce and the state Department of Natural Resources have called for a state park on the land, which includes the peninsula 3 miles east of Charlestown. "The older folks told children to scale its walls that the devil had put a curse on the place" wrote Margaret Sweeney in her 1967 book, Fact, Fiction and Folklore of Southern Indiana." "In spite of the warning, many youngsters invaded the stronghold and came away with broken bones, bruises, cuts or even completely bewitched for investigating "Old Scratch's quarters." Fourteen miles upstream from Louisville Ky., the craggy hill rises abruptly from the Indiana shoreline. Fourteen Mile Creek runs behind the hill, creating a narrow strip of land where it flows along the larger river.
The peninsula is less than 20 feet wide at the top and falls off abruptly on either side to the Ohio River and the creek. The resulting pear shape bluff has a flat tip of 5 to 7 acres that almost inaccessible. The earliest survey of the area by state geologist E.T. Cox and his assistant, William Borden, in 1873 revealed a prehistoric fortification on the hilltop. An artificial limestone wall, 150 feet long and 75 feet high in some places, stood along the front and one side of the hill where the cliffs could be scaled, Cox said in his report. The walls no longer exist, the area's early settlers having carried the huge, unmortared stones away to build foundations, bridges and fences seen throughout the county's roling countryside. Local legend says the walls were built by followers of Prince Madoc, who led an expedition away from his native Wales in the late 12th century and was never seen again. Oral tradition says they landed in America, settling briefly in Tennessee before moving on to Kentucky and southern Indiana. In my opnion you couldn't find a better legend tha this." says Dana Olson of Jeffersonville, an amateur historian and author of Prince Madoc: Founder of Clark County, Indiana." "You've got princes and kinds and gold and silver, and wars. It would make a great movie."Olson's book says Madoc was a son of Welsh King Owain Gwymedd and one of his brightest naval commanders. Madoc's skills and curiosity took him to France, Spain, Venice, and other Mediterranean ports - and on at least two trips to the Americas in the period from Ll65-1169. When Gwynedd died in 1169, his sons began to feud over the throne. A disgusted Madoc, looking ofr more tranquil surroundings, sailed from Lundy Island south of Wales with the three of his brothers and 10 ships. They are listed as missing in Britian's ancient maritime logs. Legend says they landed in Mobile Bay in 1170 and traveled up the Alabama Rive to where it meets the Coosa River, close to Alabama's borders with Georgia and Tennessee.
According to Cherokee tradition, they settled there and intermarried with native Indians, building five stone forts in Chattanooga area Treasure hunters have found Roman coins, European oil lamps and goblets among the forts, Olson says. However, excavations conducted by the anthropology department and the University of Tennessee concluded one of the structures, known as Old Stone Fort, was built in the third century A.D. by an Indian culture that would have predated Madoc. No Welsh artifacts were found to substantiate the persistent Madoc legend. "In professional archaeological circles, it's kind of pooh-poohed," says Steve Cox, curator of the Tennessee State Museum. There's no archaeological evidence. That's really all that we have to go on in the prehistoric period" The legend says the Welsh Indians were forced out of Tennessee by the Cherokee Indians. Three seperate northerly routes took them into Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley.
American Indians apparently first spread the tale of a race of White Indians who lived in the Falls of the Ohio area, where Madoc's followers may have established their largest settlement.
George Rogers Clark, the founder of Clarksville, Ind., first heard the story from Tobacco, a chief of the Plankeshaws He told of a great battle between the Red Indians and White Indians on the Ohio River's Sand Island where all the White Indians were slain. Maj. John Harrison, among others has told of an extensive graveyard in that area, where thousands of human bones were buried in such confusion as to suggest a battle. The graveyards if it existed., has been washed away . Some of Clark County's earliest settlers reportedly found ancient coins and European armor, some bearing the Welsh coat of arms All of that armor has disappeared.
Clark found some skeltons adorned in armor that he thought were ancient Welshmen and jotted down his findings in his personal memoirs, Olson says. A copy of this book, in Clark's own hand, was stolen years ago from the Jeffersonville public library. "Baird's History of Clark County" says that a tombstone with the date 1186 was found in Jeffersonville in the 1800's. Early pioneers reportedly found native Indians throughout the interior who could converse in the Welsh language. A skull taken from Sand Island in the 1800's was pronounced by a Dr. Beckwith as "not that of an Indian" Beckwith's qualifications are not known. None of the evidence has been scientifically examined or confirmed. In fact, virtually all of it has mysteriously disappeared. " I wish I could reproduce everything that's been found or that it had been put in a museum, "Olson says, "There are no museums here" Without such proof, archaeologists and other experts have their doubts. Where you find prehistoric or human occupation you normally find a range of evidence, such as refuse, garbage, settlements, villiages, sites, artifacts," says Gary Ellis, senior archaeologist for the state of Indiana. "There just isn't any. Most of it is rumor." More likely, Indian scholars say, the stone fort was built by native American Indians. "A lot of people don't like to believe the Indians could have stacked rocks that size, but there's evidence around the country they did things like that "says Donna Calhoun of rural Scottsburg who is writing a history of Indians in southern Indiana. Ray White tribal chairman of the Miami Indian nation suggested the coins, lamps armor and other artifacts could easily have traveled inland via the Indian trading network A diary Calhoun uncovered during her research locates an Indian trading post 1 1/2 miles east of Charlestown.
Yet Olson says the evidence supporting the legend is overwhelming. "What something like this does is alter the apple cart of history," Olson says, "Anytime you get all this and put it before all these people who've got degrees in anthropology, it really turns the table. They don't know how to combat it, so they say, No, this is a myth
Unknown Newspaper Article
Transcribed by Erica Beatty
An aged widow, who spent her last penny in crossing the ferry from Louisville to Jeffersonville and was utterly destitute, received notice that she had been granted a pension on account of her late husband, who was killed while serving during the war with the Fourth Ohio, Cavalry. The pension carries with it $3,670 arrearages.
Date: 1891-09-05; Paper: Elkhart Daily Review
Transcribed by Friends for Free Genealogy
Date: 1891-09-05; Paper: Elkhart Daily Review
Farmer Held As Sister, 2 Men Beaten
Oscar Tollison, Father of Fire Victim, Says Mind Went Blank.
Accused of hitting his sister and two men, one of whom suffered a broken nose and ribs, a man docketed as Oscar Tollison, 25, Scott County farmer, was in the Clark County jail Friday. He was charged with housebreaking with intent to commit violence, on an affidavit sworn by Arnie Clapp, Nabb, Ind.
Deputy Sheriff Hallie Hughes said Tollison, after asking for a drink of water at Clapp's house about noon Thursday, entered, knocked Clapp down, overturned a bed and threw a chair through a window. He walked toward his car and attacked Fleming Ross, Wabb, who had just alighted from an automobile in front of the house, Hughes added. Ross suffered a broken nose and three
fractured ribs.
Tollison then drove to New Washington, Ind., entered the home of Fred Wilkerson where his sister was staying and knocked her down, the deputy continued. A doctor was called and administered an opiate.
Tollison's 2-year-old baby died at a Scottsburg hospital Tuesday of burns suffered when his home near the Clark-Scott County line caught fire. Sheriff Claud Conner said Tollison told him he became weak as he drove past his home Thursday and remembered nothing after he asked for a drink of water at Clapp's house.
Southern Indiana News March 10 1939
SUIT ALLEGES CRUELTY.
Mrs. Lizzie Pemberton, Jeffersonville Township, sued Joseph Pemberton for divorce in Clark Circuit Court, alleging cruelty and abandonment. The complaint avers they married October 31, 1938, and separated ten days later.
Southern Indiana News March 10 1939
From the Louisville Ledger, 13th
Wholesale Murder in Indiana
A man his wife and son murdered in Clark County
The daughter fatally wounded
Robbery the object of the murder
We are called upon today to record the particulars as far as they have yet been developed, of one of the most horrible crime that was ever commited in Clark County, Indiana, and only equaled in enormity by the murder of the Woodward familyin Orange County, in 1867. Most of the details of this fearful crime are yet shrouded in mystery; but enough is known to satisfy the people in the neighborhood that robbery was the object.
Captin Cyrus M. Park, an excellent man, resided with his family two miles from Henryville. Wood Township, Clark County, Indiana. on the road leading to Charlestown. No citizen of the county stood higher in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens that Captin Park.
He and his family were members of the Presbyterian Church, and were not known to have an enemy in the county. He kept the keys of the Presbyterian Church whcih was near his residence and acted as janitor for the church. He was well known at Jeffersonville and in Louisville, where in the business of a marketman or huckster he did a great deal of trading in selling produce and buying goods.
Yesterday (Sunday) morning the children of the neighborhood gathered at the Presbyterian Church to attend Sunday school. But up to 9 o'clock in the morning the chuch remained locked and no one had seen Mr. Park during the morning. It was determined by a couple of gentleman to go to the residence of Mr. P. for the keys and when they entered the house the first object that met their sight was a daughter of Mr. Park, aged about thriteen or fourteen years, her face and head covered with blood and she attempting to wash herself from a basin that contained no water. She presented a most frightful appearance. The men inquired of her as to how she had been hurt and the whereabouts of her father, She replied that she had been stuck upon the head with a hammer by someone and that her father, mother, and brother were in bed, and she could not awaken them at the same time begging her interrogator to go and wake them up. The girl then fainted and on being resusciated was delirious and could give no further intelligable account of what had transpired. The gentlemen the went to the bed-room or Mr. and Mrs. Park, and found both lying in bed the pillows and bed clothing covered with blood and both Park and wife dead their brains beaten out of a hatchet. From this horrible scene of death they repaired to the room occupied by the son of Mr. Park, aged twelve years. He lay in hs bed as if asleep, but stiff and stark in death. his skull crushed in with apparently the same weapon that had been used to dispatch into eternity his sleeping father and mother. His pillow and bed were covered with blood but there was no appearance of a struggle either by the boy of his parents. While asleep they had received the fatal blows that ushered their souls into the presence of God and were never conscious of the tragic manner of there taking The house bore the evidence of having been throughly ransacked by the murderers in their search for money. Mr. Park's pocketbook was taken, but it is not known how much money it contained. His watch however was left untouched where he had placed it upon the mantel-piece on Saturday night before retiring. It is not known that anything else than his pocket-book was taken from the house. This it is thought contained but a small sum of money, as Park was by no means a weathy man only what is known as a man of moderate means.
The daughter, it is believed from the terrible nature of her injuries can not possibly survive. We trust however she may recover for she alone can give a clue that will lead to arrest of the murders The bodies of the three murdered persons were left where found, and the Coroner of the county seat for to hold an inquest upon them The result of the inquistion will be announced to-day or to-morrow. The scene of the horrible tragedy is some nineteen miles from Jeffersonville, and it was too late at the hours we heard of the murder to visit the place and gather further details. Those we have given were brought by gentleman who left the scene at ten o' clock Sunday.
The most intense excitement prevails in the neighborhood. Many persons believe the murders were commited by negroes there being a large negro settlement only there being a large negro settlement only a few miles distant among whom are a number of very bad persons. We learn the best detectives of New Albany will visit the scene of the murder to-day with a view, if possible, of gaining a clue to the criminals. If arrested there is no doubt that the citizens will take the law into their own hands and hang everyone of them.
This triple murder added to the three others that have lately been commited in Clark County, has created the greatest uneasiness among the people. No man who is even suspected of having money feels him self safe from the gang of outlaws that of late years have operated in that section of Indiana, and none of whom have been legally punished for their crimes, except the notorious Bower. We do not therefore, wonder that the organization of a Vigilance Comittee is deemed necessary to the protection of the lives and property of the people in the upper part of that county
Source: 11/14/1871 Cincinnati Daily Enquirer
Transcrbed by Erica Beatty
Aug. 11, 1897. The many marked improvements at the In, Reformatory were made the subject of much favorable comment by the Board of State Charities today. Without exception the members of the board speak in the highest terms of the efficiency of the management under Suoerintendent Hert. It is claimed the Indiana reformatory ranks next to the noted Elmira Reformatory of New York, the pioneer and foremost penal institution of the country. So rapidly has the standing of the institution progressed under its present superintendent that it is predicted the Indiana Reformatory, within the next few years, will even out rank the Elmira institution. The rules provided for its government are said to be superior to any in the United States.
Jeffersonville, IN. June 26,1898.
James Harris, of New Albany, has been pardoned from the Frankfort, KY. Penitentiary, where he was serving a term for burglary. He was sentenced 14 years ago and after serving 3 years escaped. he went to New Albany and married and had 3 children. He lived there for 11 years before being arrested. He has been in prison but 2 months. His wife secured his release.
Jeffersonville, IN. Dec.1,1898.
George Green was arrested tonight at Cementville for shooting his wife, whose dying statement, taken by prosecutor Montgomery, accuses her husband of firing the fatal shot. About 8 o’clock Saturday night, Nov. 19, Mrs. Green was called to her door and fired on. The mystery surrounding the affair cleared away by the woman’s statement tonight. The woman has lingered at the point of death ever since, and at 7 o’clock this evening the physician stated that she could not live 2 hours longer. The shooting is supposed to have been caused by jealousy.
THROUGH AN ADVERTISEMENT.
Mrs. Stella Fonts Will Marry Will Brown. Jeffersonville Ind., July 24
It has become known that Miss Stella Fouts, daughter of Col. and Mrs. John Cal Fouts, of New Washington, and Will Brown, of Manson, Iowa are soon to be married. They became acquainted through the medium of an advertisement Inserted by Mr. Brown and answered by Miss Fouts.The ceremony will be performed In about three weeks. The parents of the bride are wealthy and related to the most prominent people In southern Indiana. At Anderson and other points they also have relatives. The groom is a commission merchant at Manson.
Date: July 26, 1899 Location: Indiana Paper: Indiana State Journal
Jeffersonville, Ind. Dec 4
R. Pitcher Woodward, of the Writers' Club, Brooklyn, passed through here last midnight on a diminutive donkey on his way from New York to San Francisco. His trip is the result of an election bet. In case of McKinley's success Woodward agreed to ride a donkey from New York to San Francisco, reaching the latter place In six months. By the terms of the bet he was to stop at Canton and see the major, and at Lincoln and see Bryan. He says that he stopped at Canton and saw the major from a distance. He is so disgusted with himself and worn out that he avoids publicity. Had Bryan won. Benjamin Lilhord. a publisher, of 108 Fulton street. New York would have had to make the trip.
Source: Indiana State Journal December 9, 1896
Jeffersonville, Ind., Dec. 1
Girrard Senate, Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order one of the oldest senates in the State, has about decided to disband unless financial aid is secured on account of .their costly paraphernalia having been stolen recently In Louisville. The
supreme president, Dr, Weatherby, organized this senate. and considered it the most creditable lodge he had organized since his connection with the order. It was composed the most aristocratic and wealthy citizen, and Dr. Weatherby cleared about $600 on it. Everything went along smoothly. Costly paraphernalia was seemed and the robe worn by the officers were the most costly in the country. So elegant were they that when the Supreme Senate met recently in Louisville, the supreme officials borrowed the robes to wear in the street parade As a result they mysteriously disappeared, having been stolen by. some one.
Source: Indiana State Journal December 9, 1896
Jeffersonville, Ind, July 8, 1897
In addition to the resignations of Clerk Pate and Deputy Clerk Healy, of the Reformatory, Dr. J. H. Kurtner, hospital steward, and J. H. Gosnell, a guard, have also resigned. Kurtner Is from Dubois county, and Gosnell from Terra Haute. Clerk Pate does not retire till Aug. 1. The position of deputy clerk has been abolished by the board of managers., and no one will be appointed to succeed Healy.
News Of the Week Current Events (News Article) Date: 1897-07-14; Paper: Indiana State Journal
Fort Wayne News January 15, 1896
Jeffersonville, Ind. Jan. 10.
The case of Attorney General Ketcham on behalf of the State against the Patton Manufacturing Company, lessees of convict labor, has been venued to Floyd county. The suit is to recover $20.00 Claimed to be due the State for the use of convict labor.
Jeffersonville Ind, Jan. 11 Clark county
Warden Hert, of the Prison South, when seen to-day in regard to a statement published in an Indianapolis newspaper to the effect that he was interested in a combine by which Secretary of State Owen was to be the nominee for Governor. W. R. McKeen, Senator, and the warden Secretary of State, stated that the report was ridiculous. The warden further said that he had his time occupied with the affairs of the Prison South and the newspaper statement was entirely unfounded.
Jeffersonville, lnd. April 7.—Hon. Harry Poindexter, one of the most extensive fruit raisers In this district, states today that the warm days, followed by the cold nights had nipped the peach buds so that not more than a fourth crop would be
picked. The berry vines are also withered to such an extent by the cold that not more than a half crop will be secured.
Indiana Journal April 14, 1897
Jeffersonville, Ind., Apr. 10—County Attorney Stradley in looking over the laws passed by the late Legislature discovered an act repealing Sections 217, 218 and 219 of the acts of 1891. providing for the filing of tax liens by prosecuting attorneys. This means the loss of thousands of dollars to the county. Prosecutor Montgomery has In the last, month filed a large- number: of suits foreclosing tax liens, and these are all void. Local attorneys almost without exception did not know such an act was passed, and all express themselves greatly surprised.
Indiana Journal April 14, 1897
Jeffersonville, Ind., April 7.—The Board of County Commissoniers met yesterday for the first time under the new law as the board of control to audit the accounts of the various township trustees, and another appeal to the Supreme Court
to test the laws of the late Legislature will result. Several of the trustees held the law contemplated only that the board should examine those accounts of the .trustees for which warrants .were Issued, claiming that where cash was paid for any cause the board was not required to audit the same. The whole controversy hinges on the construction to be placed on the term "warrants".The board itself is divided on the question. The matter has been appealed to the attorney general, and it will be taken to the Supreme Court for final adjudication by one of the parties.
Indiana Journal April 14, 1897
Jeffersonville
A Female Burglar Shot and Dangerously Wounded
Jeffersonville, Ind., April 26 - Engene Muir, a clerk in George R. Thompson's grocery, missed sundry articles belonging to the store, which led him to believe the grocery was being robbed. Acting on instructions from Mr.Thompson, Muir last night procured a shotgun, locked himself inside the store and stood watch until 1 o'clock this morning, when he heard a slight noise at the rear door, which was unlocked by the intruder, who boldly walked in. After advancing several feet Muir fired. An unearthly scream from a woman followed, which aroused several parties in the neighborhood, who with the police gathered at the store. Lights were brought, when it was discovered that the robber was a woman named Mrs. Bell, a near neighbor. A physician was called, and had her conveyed home, where an examination was made, and it was found that she was badly wounded in the lower part of the abdomen. A number of the shot is believed to have penetrated the cavity and the womb. Her suffering in intense, and her recovery doubtful. She carried, as she entered the store, a tin pan in her hand In front of her, and a number of the shot passed entirely through both sides of the pan. Bell, her husband, arrived at the store, and became so enraged that he tried to shoot Mulr and would have done so bad not Officer Stor caught his arm as he raised the weapon, and disarmed him. Bell was then arrested, locked up, and this morning held in the sum of $900 to answer to a charge of robbery and attempt to kill.
Indiana Journal April 28, 1879
Released from the Penitentiary
Don McLaughlin, Monroe County; George Eringer, Shelby County, and Frank Valentine, Knox county, were discharged from the penitentiary this morning by expiration of sentence
Indiana Journal April 28, 1879
New Albany Ledger
Standard Friday 19 May
1876 p4 c2:
The citizens of Jeffersonville have made complete arrangements for the
decoration of the graves of the fallen patriots who sleep in the
National
cemetery in this city, and New Albany has as yet taken no steps toward
it.
Submitted
by Sue Carpenter
New Albany Daily
Ledger 15 Jul 1876 p4 c1:
A Plucky
Child — Little Sadie Barnett,
a six year old child, arrived here yesterday from
Topeka, Kansas, having come all the way alone. Her parents were dead,
and she
was in search of her grandfather, Mr. Barnett, who lives at
Cementville. Tommy
Wilt took the child to the Commercial House, where she was given a
dinner.
After which she was sent out to Centerville. She was a plucky little
girl, and
had come through all right, saying to everybody, "I want to go to
Indiana,
to New Albany, to see my grandpa, Mr. Barnett."
Submitted
by Sue Carpenter
Indiana General News Items from the Indianapolis News 15 December. 1890 Page 6 Column 5 and 6
Submitted by Barb Z.
Heavy Robbery- A citizen of Clark county, Mr. John P. Lutz was robbed on last Sunday morning of 675 in money, on board of the steamer D?e Vernon, lying at St. Louis, and two land warrants made out in favor of J.P. Lutz for 80 acres each, and a certificate of entry for 160 acres of land The pocket-book which contained them was taken from under the pillow of his berth during his absence at the wash-room.
5/12/1854 New Albany Daily Ledger
THE PARK FAMILY MURDER
The Latest and Wildest Reports Concerning the Murder of the Park Family in Clark County, Indiana.
[From the Louisville Ledger, Feburary 6.]
The interest and excitement in relation to the atrocious murder of the Park family in Clark County, Indiana, last November continues unabated in that county, and many very wild and improbable rumors are almost daily put into circulation concerning the horrible butchery. We referred briefly yesterday to the reports circulated implicating Marion Park, son and brother of the murdered family, in the awful crime. This is one of the most cruel of the many cruel rumors set atloat by heartless and interested parties to, if possible, relieve the bloody negro butchers of their crime, and manufacture political capital for the Radical party in the next canvas. When the insinuations circulated againist him were communitcate to young Park, he was continued to his bed by illnes near Vincennes, whither he had gone to seek a location: but he at once left his bed, returned to his desolated home in Clark County, demanded an investigation of the charges, and has ever since remained there, so that the Grand Jury might have no excuse for not throughly investigating them. It is proper to say that not a single man can be found who is willing to say that he believes young Park either directly or remotely guilty of the crime, or in any mannrt cognizart of it otherwise that as the facts were developed after it had occured The Grand Jury are now sifting the charges to the bottom, and we have no hesitation in saying in advance that their action will be the triumphant vindication of young Park's innocence
Another rumor afloat is to the effect that the eldest of the Park girls, who has recovered from the fearful wounds indicted upon her head, states that two strangers stayed all night at ther father's house the night of the murder. We are informed by a gentleman who lives near the scene of the murder, and who coversed with Miss Park on Sunday, the murder being the principal topic of conversation, that she stated to him that when she raised up in the bed, just as she received the first frightful blow upon her head from the ax, she saw two men, one holding a light and the other weilding the ax; but she can not remeber to have seen their faces. The blow rendered her insensible, and this is absolutely all she knew of the murder Now, this statement exactly corresponds with the one made by the negro Johnson in his confession. He swore before the Grand Jury of Clark County that old man Daivs held the light, and that Squire Taylor dealt the blows with the ax. This effectually disposes of the story that the Miss Park had stated that two strangers stayed at her father's house on the night of the murder. Four or five night ago two persons, it is reported, were seen prowling around the Park residence and at about nine o'clock at night tried to effect an entrance to the house. The men in the house took a couple of guns and started to that park of the house at which entrance was trying to be effected; but they were heard by the parties outside, who led and were lost to sight in the darkness when the door was opened. About two o'clock in the morning they returned to the house but when they stepped upon the porch they were heard by the persons in the house, and the lamp was turned up so as to afford a bright light. This again frightend the men (?) and they did not afterward return
The relatives of the Park family who reside in the house with the recovered daughter assert very postively that the house was visited by two men as stated in the preceding paragraph; but the general opnion in the neighborhood seems to be that they were misled by a hallucination produced by nervous excitement consequent upon their residence in the house where four numan beings had been so savagely cut to pieces. It is not believed that any one visited the house: but that the noise upon the porch and sround the building was caused by some of the domestic animals on the farm
The Grand Jury of the Clark Criminal Court is now in session, and Judge Danham has instructed them to again investigate the Park family murder, as well as the hanging by the mob of the three negroes who commited the murder, Taylor, Davis and Johnson. There is no doubt in the public mind as to the guilt of these three wretchers who expiated their crime upon the gallows at the hands of the Clark County Vigilance Committee.
2/8/1872 Cincinnati Daily Enquirer
Transcribed by your host Erica Beatty
Clark County Giants. some Tall and Strong Men Famous in Southern Indiana
Date: 1897-06-23;
Paper: Indiana State Journal
Jeffersonville, Ind. June 15.---
Southern Indiana, and Clark county in particular, can boast of more giants than any other part of the state. One of the youthful gians is Fred Heinz, of near Charlestown, this county. He is twenty years old and tips the beam at 260 pounds. He is six feet ten inches tall and wears a No. 13 shoe. His strength is something to marvel at. He was born and raised in the clay hill near his native village. Another giant who could command a salary in a museum is "Big John" Williams, in Washington county, near the dividing line, twenty-five miles from here. Williams is seven feet seven inches tall and tips the beam at 280 pounds. For some time he was employed in the car works at this place, and his feats of strength were the wonder of all. Showmen have made him tempting offers, but he always refuses, and is now engaged in making a living on his farm.
Two youthful gigantic brothers are Clyde and Eddie Thompson, who lived in a suburb of his city a number of years, but are now traveling with a show. Eddie, the older, is six years of age and weighs 150 pounds and Clyde, three years old, weighs 95 pounds.
Another remarkable man physically is the Hon. M.E. Pangburn Clark county treasurer, and he has an interesting history he is six feet seven inches in his stocking feet. and is possessed of remarkable strength. This was shown last Sunday. The Knights of Pythias of which Pangburn is a member, went to Charlestown to decorate the graves of their dead Capt. Thomas Radar, commander of the Uniformed Rank while riding a bicycle fell and injured his foot in such a way that he was unable to walk. he was placed on the train and on arrival here Pangburn who was on the train, refused to allow a carriage to be called, but picking up the gallant captain as though he was an infant carried him to his residence, a number of blocks away. Pangburn was elected treasurer of this county last fall on the Republican ticket. This county is Democratic by a large majority, and the politicians laughed at the nominations of Pangburn. He was without the means of making a canvas, but started in to win. He tramped from township to township and made friends by the hundreds. No farmer could refuse to vote for a man this kind. He kissed the babies lent a hand in the fields and in one instance, as Pangburn was walking by, and old Democrtic farmer said "Come in and give us a lift of this barn we are raising and I will give you a vote" The candidate smilingly responded and was worth three men at the "raising" A few days ago this old farmer remarked that "Pangburn made two votes that day but by gosh there wasn't another dang'd Republican in the county he'd vote for."
It was such work as this that elected him, and it is believed will re-elect him by an overwhelming majority. His friends predict that he will climb still higher in political life, as he has a fine education, acquired by work and sacrifice, and he is a man of the Abe Lincoln type
6/23/1897 Indiana State Journal
Transcribed by your host Erica Beatty
Indiana White Caps
A Jefferson County Woman Tarred and Feathered
Called from her bed at Midnight, Tarred and Rolled in Feathers
Other Offenders Againist Morality Warned
The White Caps of Southern Indiana have not been rooted oout by the recent prosectutions of members of the order at isolated points. Last Tuesday night Mrs. Willard Davis, residing in Jefferson County, was called from bed at midnight, stripped, tarred, feathered and warned to leave the county. Other offenders againist the White Cap code have received attention and warnings
Special to the Republic
Cincinnati, O. Feb 24 The White Caps have again broken out in Southern Indiana and their maltrustments are more infamous than ever They have taken to tarring and feathering woamn in order to purify the morals of the town.
Hard Scrabble, a hamlet about five miles from Madison, Ind. in the roughest part of Jefferson County, is the last place visitined by them. The inhabitants most interested in the visit of the midnight raiders were Willard Davis, his wife Tillie and a sister of te latter name Emile Davis the divorced wife of Milo Davis, a brother of Willard. Both women have been leading improper lives and have created much scandal About 1 o'clock Tuesday morning a body of horsemen wearing white caps rode to the Davis home. They burst open the door, and before Davis could spring up, four White Caps grabbed him and ordered him to throw up his hands, He was then taken outside and stood on the icy ground in his bare feet. Agonized screams of Tillie, his wife joined with those of Eddie, a 13 year old son of Davis by his first marriage. The boy was sick with measles and was in bed. The visitors had seized the woman and dragged her to the centre of the room, tearing her only garment into shreds. A stick a foot long one end made into a swab, was thrust into a bucket containing warm tar One man grabbed the poor woman's long hair and spread it out while another rubbed well into the scalp Half a bucketful of the tar was then poured over her body. When her body was plastered with as much tar as would stick they ripped up one of her pillows and rolled her into the feathers. In her struggles to escape the woman made things worse, and the floor and the scanty furniture were plentiful bespattered. The sick boy was frightned into unconsciousness. After throwing the woman from them the raiders demanded to know the whereabouts of Emelie Before they received an answer and without waiting to search the house, the White Caps rode away, first however warning Davis that his wife and Emelie must be out of the county within 24 hours, and that he too, must leave as soon as the sick boy could be moved. The penalty of disobedience was signified by a wave of twenty revolvers. When the raiders entered the housethe other woman, Emelie was asleep in the loft over Davis' bed room. Realizing what the uproar meant the woman leaped from her bed and run down the stairs in the inclosed space between the houses All the White Caps were on the opposite side of the house and she was unseen as she nearly sped nearly naked over the frosted ground to the deverted cabin. Her sister screams for mercy which was refused she could hear then fear and cold had overcome her and when found she was nearly dead The next morning the entire Davis crowd left the county The tarring of Mrs Davis is not the only White Cap visit that is causing much comment in Jefferson County A few night ago John Bladen had an experience that he will not soon forgot. Bladen moved to the Ridge about a year ago from Kentucky. Whit him came his wife and a 2 year old boy Soon rumors that the child was fearfully abused reached the town and some persons took it upon themselves to investigate. The report seemed to be well founded, and in a few nights notice came to Bladen. One cold night last week Bladen was called to his door and taken in his night clothes up the road. Then after receiving a taste of White Cap switches he was made to run around in a circle on the frozen ground and to crawl and perform other unpleasant things After kicking and switching him back to his house he was allowed to go.
Thomas B. Rayton lived over the ridge to the northeast of Boe Camp. He has been neglecting his family and for that reason is a victim of the White Caps he was taken from his cabin tied to a tree and severely whipped
2/25/1889 St. Louis Republic
Transcribed by your host Erica Beatty
Indiana legend challenges Columbus discovery
Charlestown, Ind. (AP)--- On a rugged bluff overlooking the Ohio River, a site known locally as the "Devil's Backbone," natrual debris accumulated over the centuries shrouds a historical mystery. Popular legend says that there lie the remains of a large stone fort and a lost colony of Welshmen who sailed to America three centuries before Christopher Columbus. In 1799, early settlers found six skeltons wearing breastplates with a Welsh coat of arms. Indian legends told of "yellow haired giants" who settled in Kentucky, southern Indiana southern Ohio and Tennessee- a region they knew as "the Dark and Forbidden Land" Archaeologists, debunking the legend, say better evidence indicates native American Indians once conducted a vigorous trading network nearby and buried their dead on the bluff. The site and its shadowy history has lain virtually undisturbed since 19040 when the U.S. Army purchased 10,000 acres to build a munitions (ammunitions) plant. The Department of Defense is expected to relinquish almost 900 acres as oart of a cost cutting plan The state of Indiana will have the first option to buy. Both the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce and the state Department of Natural Resources have called for a state park on the land, which includes the peninsula 3 miles east of Charlestown. "The older folks told children to scale its walls that the devil had put a curse on the place" wrote Margaret Sweeney in her 1967 book, Fact, Fiction and Folklore of Southern Indiana." "In spite of the warning, many youngsters invaded the stronghold and came away with broken bones, bruises, cuts or even completely bewitched for investigating "Old Scratch's quarters." Fourteen miles upstream from Louisville Ky., the craggy hill rises abruptly from the Indiana shoreline. Fourteen Mile Creek runs behind the hill, creating a narrow strip of land where it flows along the larger river.
The peninsula is less than 20 feet wide at the top and falls off abruptly on either side to the Ohio River and the creek. The resulting pear shape bluff has a flat tip of 5 to 7 acres that almost inaccessible. The earliest survey of the area by state geologist E.T. Cox and his assistant, William Borden, in 1873 revealed a prehistoric fortification on the hilltop. An artificial limestone wall, 150 feet long and 75 feet high in some places, stood along the front and one side of the hill where the cliffs could be scaled, Cox said in his report. The walls no longer exist, the area's early settlers having carried the huge, unmortared stones away to build foundations, bridges and fences seen throughout the county's roling countryside. Local legend says the walls were built by followers of Prince Madoc, who led an expedition away from his native Wales in the late 12th century and was never seen again. Oral tradition says they landed in America, settling briefly in Tennessee before moving on to Kentucky and southern Indiana. In my opnion you couldn't find a better legend tha this." says Dana Olson of Jeffersonville, an amateur historian and author of Prince Madoc: Founder of Clark County, Indiana." "You've got princes and kinds and gold and silver, and wars. It would make a great movie."Olson's book says Madoc was a son of Welsh King Owain Gwymedd and one of his brightest naval commanders. Madoc's skills and curiosity took him to France, Spain, Venice, and other Mediterranean ports - and on at least two trips to the Americas in the period from Ll65-1169. When Gwynedd died in 1169, his sons began to feud over the throne. A disgusted Madoc, looking ofr more tranquil surroundings, sailed from Lundy Island south of Wales with the three of his brothers and 10 ships. They are listed as missing in Britian's ancient maritime logs. Legend says they landed in Mobile Bay in 1170 and traveled up the Alabama Rive to where it meets the Coosa River, close to Alabama's borders with Georgia and Tennessee.
According to Cherokee tradition, they settled there and intermarried with native Indians, building five stone forts in Chattanooga area Treasure hunters have found Roman coins, European oil lamps and goblets among the forts, Olson says. However, excavations conducted by the anthropology department and the University of Tennessee concluded one of the structures, known as Old Stone Fort, was built in the third century A.D. by an Indian culture that would have predated Madoc. No Welsh artifacts were found to substantiate the persistent Madoc legend. "In professional archaeological circles, it's kind of pooh-poohed," says Steve Cox, curator of the Tennessee State Museum. There's no archaeological evidence. That's really all that we have to go on in the prehistoric period" The legend says the Welsh Indians were forced out of Tennessee by the Cherokee Indians. Three seperate northerly routes took them into Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley.
American Indians apparently first spread the tale of a race of White Indians who lived in the Falls of the Ohio area, where Madoc's followers may have established their largest settlement.
George Rogers Clark, the founder of Clarksville, Ind., first heard the story from Tobacco, a chief of the Plankeshaws He told of a great battle between the Red Indians and White Indians on the Ohio River's Sand Island where all the White Indians were slain. Maj. John Harrison, among others has told of an extensive graveyard in that area, where thousands of human bones were buried in such confusion as to suggest a battle. The graveyards if it existed., has been washed away . Some of Clark County's earliest settlers reportedly found ancient coins and European armor, some bearing the Welsh coat of arms All of that armor has disappeared.
Clark found some skeltons adorned in armor that he thought were ancient Welshmen and jotted down his findings in his personal memoirs, Olson says. A copy of this book, in Clark's own hand, was stolen years ago from the Jeffersonville public library. "Baird's History of Clark County" says that a tombstone with the date 1186 was found in Jeffersonville in the 1800's. Early pioneers reportedly found native Indians throughout the interior who could converse in the Welsh language. A skull taken from Sand Island in the 1800's was pronounced by a Dr. Beckwith as "not that of an Indian" Beckwith's qualifications are not known. None of the evidence has been scientifically examined or confirmed. In fact, virtually all of it has mysteriously disappeared. " I wish I could reproduce everything that's been found or that it had been put in a museum, "Olson says, "There are no museums here" Without such proof, archaeologists and other experts have their doubts. Where you find prehistoric or human occupation you normally find a range of evidence, such as refuse, garbage, settlements, villiages, sites, artifacts," says Gary Ellis, senior archaeologist for the state of Indiana. "There just isn't any. Most of it is rumor." More likely, Indian scholars say, the stone fort was built by native American Indians. "A lot of people don't like to believe the Indians could have stacked rocks that size, but there's evidence around the country they did things like that "says Donna Calhoun of rural Scottsburg who is writing a history of Indians in southern Indiana. Ray White tribal chairman of the Miami Indian nation suggested the coins, lamps armor and other artifacts could easily have traveled inland via the Indian trading network A diary Calhoun uncovered during her research locates an Indian trading post 1 1/2 miles east of Charlestown.
Yet Olson says the evidence supporting the legend is overwhelming. "What something like this does is alter the apple cart of history," Olson says, "Anytime you get all this and put it before all these people who've got degrees in anthropology, it really turns the table. They don't know how to combat it, so they say, No, this is a myth
Unknown Newspaper Article
Transcribed by Erica Beatty
An aged widow, who spent her last penny in crossing the ferry from Louisville to Jeffersonville and was utterly destitute, received notice that she had been granted a pension on account of her late husband, who was killed while serving during the war with the Fourth Ohio, Cavalry. The pension carries with it $3,670 arrearages.
Date: 1891-09-05; Paper: Elkhart Daily Review
Transcribed by Friends for Free Genealogy
Date: 1891-09-05; Paper: Elkhart Daily Review
A strange negro went out in Clark county to a
colored settlement, hired about fifty negros at $1.75 per day to work
on the new Ohio bridge. When the negros arrived he met them and
demanded half a dollar apiece, which they paid only to find the work on
the bridge suspended.
Transcribed by Friends for Free Genealogy
Clark CountyTranscribed by Friends for Free Genealogy
JEFFERSON DEPOT.
This reservation is located in Jeffersonville , Clark County and contains an area of 17.40 acres.
Title. – Deed from the city of Jeffersonville, dated December 2, 1870 conveying the 17.40 acres above mentioned, being all of blocks 120, 121, 124, and Jefferson Square, in said city of Jeffersonville together with the parts of streets dividing said blocks and squares. Recorded in the recorder’s office in book No. 61, pages 183, 184, and 185 of the deed records of Clark County .
Jurisdiction. – Ceded to the United States by joint resolution No. 2 of 1871, which is as follows:
Whereas the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana, has granted and conveyed to the United States the premises hereinafter described for military purposes; and whereas under existing laws, no permanent buildings can be erected thereon by the General Government until the State of Indiana shall have ceded to the United States her jurisdiction over the same: Now, thereforeBe it Resolved, That the State of Indiana hereby relinquishes and cedes to the United States all the rights and jurisdiction which she now possesses over the following described premises so long as said premises shall continue to be used by the United States for military purposes. (Premises described by courses and distances and as “containing seventeen and four-tenths (17.4) acres, more or less.”)
(Source: United States Military
Reservations, National Cemeteries and Military Parks .
Prepared by the Office of the Judge Advocate General, U S. Army, Pub.
1916 Transcribed by: Eleanor Heacock)
Farmer Held As Sister, 2 Men Beaten
Oscar Tollison, Father of Fire Victim, Says Mind Went Blank.
Accused of hitting his sister and two men, one of whom suffered a broken nose and ribs, a man docketed as Oscar Tollison, 25, Scott County farmer, was in the Clark County jail Friday. He was charged with housebreaking with intent to commit violence, on an affidavit sworn by Arnie Clapp, Nabb, Ind.
Deputy Sheriff Hallie Hughes said Tollison, after asking for a drink of water at Clapp's house about noon Thursday, entered, knocked Clapp down, overturned a bed and threw a chair through a window. He walked toward his car and attacked Fleming Ross, Wabb, who had just alighted from an automobile in front of the house, Hughes added. Ross suffered a broken nose and three
fractured ribs.
Tollison then drove to New Washington, Ind., entered the home of Fred Wilkerson where his sister was staying and knocked her down, the deputy continued. A doctor was called and administered an opiate.
Tollison's 2-year-old baby died at a Scottsburg hospital Tuesday of burns suffered when his home near the Clark-Scott County line caught fire. Sheriff Claud Conner said Tollison told him he became weak as he drove past his home Thursday and remembered nothing after he asked for a drink of water at Clapp's house.
Southern Indiana News March 10 1939
SUIT ALLEGES CRUELTY.
Mrs. Lizzie Pemberton, Jeffersonville Township, sued Joseph Pemberton for divorce in Clark Circuit Court, alleging cruelty and abandonment. The complaint avers they married October 31, 1938, and separated ten days later.
Southern Indiana News March 10 1939
THREE ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS DIE IN RECTORY FIRE IN INDIANA
STARLIGHT,
Ind. - Three Roman
Catholic priests died
yesterday when a fire roared through a rectory and chased back
firefighters who attempted to rescue the victims.Killed in the rectory
of St.
John the Baptist Church were
the pastor, the Rev. Richard
Smith, 57, and two visiting priests from Beech Grove near Indianapolis,
the Rev. William
Fisher, 60, of St. Francis Hospital Center and the Rev.
Kenneth Smith, 56, of St. Paul's Hermitage. Authorities said the
Smiths were unrelated.The men all died of smoke inhalation and burns, Clark
County Coroner Edwin
M. Coots Jr. said.The blaze was spotted by a newspaper carrier about 5
a.m. EDT and appeared to have started in a first-floor office in the
64-year-old building.People at the scene told firefighters that they
had attempted to enter the rectory to rescue the priests, but that the
doors and windows were locked.Firefighters were not able to enter the
building to retrieve the bodies until 6 a.m.Local arson
investigators said
they had no clues to the cause of the fire. Officer Michael Becher of
theClark County Sheriff's Department said foul play was not
suspected.Becher said the priests apparently tried to escape and that
one had a telephone in his hand when firefighters found his body.The
nearby church, built in 1914, was untouched by the blaze, which was
extinguished at 6:45 a.m.Kenneth
Smith was an
"invalid, although he could get around somewhat" walking with a cane,
said Ned Bulais, the director of pastoral care at St. Francis
Hospital. He said Fisher had been a chaplain at the hospital
since 1965."Bill (Fisher) went down there to visit frequently. They
were all friends," Bulais said. "He took Kenny with him, as kind of a
favor, because he wasn't able to get around hims
Lexington Herald Sept 1 1985
Transcribed by Erica Beatty
The Recent Murders in Clark County, Indiana
The Indianapolis Journal publishes a letter concerning the recent hanging of the three negros in Clark County, Indiana who were charged with the murder of the PARK family. The letter says that the negroes were innocent of the crime and that they were hung because of the prejudice existing againist them and their race in that neighborhood, which is strongly democratic The letter infers that the some of the members of the mob are not only responsible for the death of the negroes but are really the ones guilty of the Park murder The correspondent promises more developments soon.
The New York Times
Published Dec 8 1871
Contributed by Friends of Free Genealogy
Lexington Herald Sept 1 1985
Transcribed by Erica Beatty
The Recent Murders in Clark County, Indiana
The Indianapolis Journal publishes a letter concerning the recent hanging of the three negros in Clark County, Indiana who were charged with the murder of the PARK family. The letter says that the negroes were innocent of the crime and that they were hung because of the prejudice existing againist them and their race in that neighborhood, which is strongly democratic The letter infers that the some of the members of the mob are not only responsible for the death of the negroes but are really the ones guilty of the Park murder The correspondent promises more developments soon.
The New York Times
Published Dec 8 1871
Contributed by Friends of Free Genealogy
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., Sept.
2.—Probably the youngest volunteer in the United States army is
Job Norton, of this city. Private Norton, of Company C,
One-hundred-and-fifty-ninth Regiment, is the son of Capt. Joseph
Norton, superintendent of the New
Albany forge
works, He is but fifteen years old but makes up in physique what he
lacks in years. The consent of his parents was, of course, necessary to
secure his enlistment, but as they were as patriotic as their son this
was readily given, it was a source of great disappointment to Private
Norton that he had no opportunity of seeing active service. He is said
to be one of the crack shots of the regiment.
Date: 1898-09-07; Paper: Indiana
State Journal
Transcribed by Barb Z.
Transcribed by Barb Z.
Wholesale Murder in Indiana
A man his wife and son murdered in Clark County
The daughter fatally wounded
Robbery the object of the murder
We are called upon today to record the particulars as far as they have yet been developed, of one of the most horrible crime that was ever commited in Clark County, Indiana, and only equaled in enormity by the murder of the Woodward familyin Orange County, in 1867. Most of the details of this fearful crime are yet shrouded in mystery; but enough is known to satisfy the people in the neighborhood that robbery was the object.
Captin Cyrus M. Park, an excellent man, resided with his family two miles from Henryville. Wood Township, Clark County, Indiana. on the road leading to Charlestown. No citizen of the county stood higher in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens that Captin Park.
He and his family were members of the Presbyterian Church, and were not known to have an enemy in the county. He kept the keys of the Presbyterian Church whcih was near his residence and acted as janitor for the church. He was well known at Jeffersonville and in Louisville, where in the business of a marketman or huckster he did a great deal of trading in selling produce and buying goods.
Yesterday (Sunday) morning the children of the neighborhood gathered at the Presbyterian Church to attend Sunday school. But up to 9 o'clock in the morning the chuch remained locked and no one had seen Mr. Park during the morning. It was determined by a couple of gentleman to go to the residence of Mr. P. for the keys and when they entered the house the first object that met their sight was a daughter of Mr. Park, aged about thriteen or fourteen years, her face and head covered with blood and she attempting to wash herself from a basin that contained no water. She presented a most frightful appearance. The men inquired of her as to how she had been hurt and the whereabouts of her father, She replied that she had been stuck upon the head with a hammer by someone and that her father, mother, and brother were in bed, and she could not awaken them at the same time begging her interrogator to go and wake them up. The girl then fainted and on being resusciated was delirious and could give no further intelligable account of what had transpired. The gentlemen the went to the bed-room or Mr. and Mrs. Park, and found both lying in bed the pillows and bed clothing covered with blood and both Park and wife dead their brains beaten out of a hatchet. From this horrible scene of death they repaired to the room occupied by the son of Mr. Park, aged twelve years. He lay in hs bed as if asleep, but stiff and stark in death. his skull crushed in with apparently the same weapon that had been used to dispatch into eternity his sleeping father and mother. His pillow and bed were covered with blood but there was no appearance of a struggle either by the boy of his parents. While asleep they had received the fatal blows that ushered their souls into the presence of God and were never conscious of the tragic manner of there taking The house bore the evidence of having been throughly ransacked by the murderers in their search for money. Mr. Park's pocketbook was taken, but it is not known how much money it contained. His watch however was left untouched where he had placed it upon the mantel-piece on Saturday night before retiring. It is not known that anything else than his pocket-book was taken from the house. This it is thought contained but a small sum of money, as Park was by no means a weathy man only what is known as a man of moderate means.
The daughter, it is believed from the terrible nature of her injuries can not possibly survive. We trust however she may recover for she alone can give a clue that will lead to arrest of the murders The bodies of the three murdered persons were left where found, and the Coroner of the county seat for to hold an inquest upon them The result of the inquistion will be announced to-day or to-morrow. The scene of the horrible tragedy is some nineteen miles from Jeffersonville, and it was too late at the hours we heard of the murder to visit the place and gather further details. Those we have given were brought by gentleman who left the scene at ten o' clock Sunday.
The most intense excitement prevails in the neighborhood. Many persons believe the murders were commited by negroes there being a large negro settlement only there being a large negro settlement only a few miles distant among whom are a number of very bad persons. We learn the best detectives of New Albany will visit the scene of the murder to-day with a view, if possible, of gaining a clue to the criminals. If arrested there is no doubt that the citizens will take the law into their own hands and hang everyone of them.
This triple murder added to the three others that have lately been commited in Clark County, has created the greatest uneasiness among the people. No man who is even suspected of having money feels him self safe from the gang of outlaws that of late years have operated in that section of Indiana, and none of whom have been legally punished for their crimes, except the notorious Bower. We do not therefore, wonder that the organization of a Vigilance Comittee is deemed necessary to the protection of the lives and property of the people in the upper part of that county
Source: 11/14/1871 Cincinnati Daily Enquirer
Transcrbed by Erica Beatty
New Albany Daily Ledger 21 Nov
1903 page 4, col 2: Local Gatherings—Scarlet fever is so prevalent at
Utica, Clark county, that the public school will be ordered closed by
the County Board of Health.
Submitted by Sue Carpenter
It is an encouraging sign that the good citizens of Charlestown, Clark county, have entered an indignant protest againist the mistaken rumors of lawless violence impending over Reynolds in that town They feel disgraced and slandered by the reports which indicates a healthy sentiment. It will be a happy day for Indiana, when within all her borders there shall be no lawless ruffian to counsel and participate in acts of violence even to avenge undoubted guilt. The citizens of Charlestown show that they deprecate unlawful punishments and repudiate mobs. And they take occasion while vindicating on sensational paragraphs, which will be gratefully accepted if they shall continue to denounce vigilants and their crimes. By some means in this case, it appears that a journal was misinformed and led to the belief that imminent danger existed in Charleston of a mob and violence. The fact was published with displayed lines and sensational heads, which gave the reports a rapid propagation by the press in general. A highly respectable meeting of citizens was held at Charlestown, on Tuesday which adopted resolutions and sentiments suitable to the occasion. In extenuation of the Courier - Journal it must be borne in mind, however, that a dispatch was sent to the Governor asking help, and that there as a scare of two or three individuals, which was wholly unfounded. But if out of all this evil, the good shall come of a better sentiment againist the peculiar crime of southern Indiana, it may be well that it happened.
8/29/1873 Indianapolis Sentinel
Transcribed by Erica Beatty
It is an encouraging sign that the good citizens of Charlestown, Clark county, have entered an indignant protest againist the mistaken rumors of lawless violence impending over Reynolds in that town They feel disgraced and slandered by the reports which indicates a healthy sentiment. It will be a happy day for Indiana, when within all her borders there shall be no lawless ruffian to counsel and participate in acts of violence even to avenge undoubted guilt. The citizens of Charlestown show that they deprecate unlawful punishments and repudiate mobs. And they take occasion while vindicating on sensational paragraphs, which will be gratefully accepted if they shall continue to denounce vigilants and their crimes. By some means in this case, it appears that a journal was misinformed and led to the belief that imminent danger existed in Charleston of a mob and violence. The fact was published with displayed lines and sensational heads, which gave the reports a rapid propagation by the press in general. A highly respectable meeting of citizens was held at Charlestown, on Tuesday which adopted resolutions and sentiments suitable to the occasion. In extenuation of the Courier - Journal it must be borne in mind, however, that a dispatch was sent to the Governor asking help, and that there as a scare of two or three individuals, which was wholly unfounded. But if out of all this evil, the good shall come of a better sentiment againist the peculiar crime of southern Indiana, it may be well that it happened.
8/29/1873 Indianapolis Sentinel
Transcribed by Erica Beatty
Organized Against Outlaws.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., March 21.—
Owen
township, this county, is becoming a formidable rival of Ripley county for out-lawry. For months
past barns have been burned, houses and stables robbed, insulting
letters sent to prominent people and depredations of every description
committed. The residents became desperate, meetings were held and steps
taken to discover the perpetrators. Today articles of incorporation of
the Eastern Clark County. Indiana, Detective Association were filed.
The articles set forth that the association is formed for the purpose
of apprehending horse thieves, incendiaries, persons guilty of other
felonies, and for the mutual protection and indemnity against all acts.
The names of twenty-eight of the most prominent farmers of the county
are given as incorporators.
A petition was filed and allowed by
the County Commissioners, fixing a reward of $100 for the arrest and
conviction of horse thieves, incendiaries and other felons operating in
Owen township. Constables W. L. Moss and W. R. Shrader were appointed
detectives by the commissioners.
Date: 1898-03-23; Paper: Indiana State Journal
Jeffersonville IN- September 14- The statement in an Indianapolis paper that an ex-convict had appeared in ndianapolis dressed in rags, and accused the Reformatory authorities of sending him out in that condtion, isregarded as ridiculous here. Every day men can be seen leaving the institution dressed much better than when they arrived. Snyder, who made the charge, i thoguht by the people here to have disposed of his clothes before reaching Indianapolis.
Trascribed by Desiree Rodcay
William Stricker, one of the wealthiest men in Clark county, Indiana has deeded a farm to each of his six children. The smallest farm is valued at $11,000 and the largest at $20,000. He does not want his will contested after death, and desires to see all of his children satisfiend before he dies.
Columbus Daily Enquirer 6/16/1883
Frightful Outrage in Clark County, Indiana
The New Albany Ledger says that a gang of three scoundrels entered the house of Fletcher Willis, near Union Chapel, one and a half miles from Utica, Clark county, Ind. They did not knock at the door, but entered the house without ceremony, and seizing Mr. Willis in the presence of his wife, demanded his money, threatening to take his life unless it was instantly forthcoming.
Willis at first refused to tell the villians where the money was secred when they took off his shoes and stockings, carried him to the fire, and held his feet to the coals and flames until they were terribly burned. Half frantic under the pain of this cruel torture.
Willis finally pointed out to the robbers where his money was and they immediately secured it and then decamped, The amount stolen by these worse than savages was two hundred and fifty dollars
Cincinnati Daily Gazette 1/19/1867
Jeffersonville IN- September 14- The statement in an Indianapolis paper that an ex-convict had appeared in ndianapolis dressed in rags, and accused the Reformatory authorities of sending him out in that condtion, isregarded as ridiculous here. Every day men can be seen leaving the institution dressed much better than when they arrived. Snyder, who made the charge, i thoguht by the people here to have disposed of his clothes before reaching Indianapolis.
Trascribed by Desiree Rodcay
William Stricker, one of the wealthiest men in Clark county, Indiana has deeded a farm to each of his six children. The smallest farm is valued at $11,000 and the largest at $20,000. He does not want his will contested after death, and desires to see all of his children satisfiend before he dies.
Columbus Daily Enquirer 6/16/1883
Frightful Outrage in Clark County, Indiana
The New Albany Ledger says that a gang of three scoundrels entered the house of Fletcher Willis, near Union Chapel, one and a half miles from Utica, Clark county, Ind. They did not knock at the door, but entered the house without ceremony, and seizing Mr. Willis in the presence of his wife, demanded his money, threatening to take his life unless it was instantly forthcoming.
Willis at first refused to tell the villians where the money was secred when they took off his shoes and stockings, carried him to the fire, and held his feet to the coals and flames until they were terribly burned. Half frantic under the pain of this cruel torture.
Willis finally pointed out to the robbers where his money was and they immediately secured it and then decamped, The amount stolen by these worse than savages was two hundred and fifty dollars
Cincinnati Daily Gazette 1/19/1867