Beginning March 2nd, 2020 the Mailing Lists functionality on RootsWeb will be discontinued. Users will no longer be able to send outgoing emails or accept incoming emails. Additionally, administration tools will no longer be available to list administrators and mailing lists will be put into an archival state.
Administrators may save the emails in their list prior to March 2nd. After that, mailing list archives will remain available and searchable on RootsWeb
Edward,
So many of the names are ones that run through several generations: David,
Jacob, John, Martin. The other names do not look familiar. Wish we could
make the connection. I do not know where my Martin Coffman was born, nor am
I certain about Jacob, although I think he was born in VA and died in
Rockingham Co, VA. Do you know what religion your Coffmans were? Mine
were believed to be Mennonites before joining the Church of United Brethren.
Margie R. Pearce
genealogy: www.angelfire.com/la/ancestors
gymnastics: www.MnMgym.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Jones <toolmaker(a)global2000.net>
To: Margie Pearce <fungymm(a)i-55.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: [COFFMAN-L] David Coffman Darke County 1850 Census
> I found an image of the actual census at
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/oh/darke/census/1850/
> The following information is listed on image 0309a.gif
> 102 David Coffman 47 m farmer Virginia
> Eliza Ann Coffman 39 f ?
> Sarah Ann Coffman 16 f Ohio
> Hannah ? Coffman 14? ? Ohio
> Mary E Coffman 12 f Ohio
> Fidelia? Coffman 10? ? Ohio
> Jacob Coffman 8 m Ohio
> David Coffman ? m Ohio
> Lucinia? Coffman ? ? Ohio
> John A Coffman ? m Ohio
> Diona? Coffman ? f Ohio
>
> Does this fit in anyone's information?
>
> Edward Jones
> toolmaker(a)global2000.net
>
> At 11:25 PM 9/28/99 -0500, you wrote:
> >Edward,
> >
> >I have a David L. Coffman (1811, OH-1871, IN) m. to Rebecca HUGHES in
1831.
> >I do not know where they were living in 1850, but came from Fairfield Co,
OH
> >to Adams Co, IN at some point.
> >
> >Does any of this ring a bell?
> >
> >Margie R. Pearce
> >genealogy: www.angelfire.com/la/ancestors
> >gymnastics: www.MnMgym.com
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Edward Jones <toolmaker(a)global2000.net>
> >To: <COFFMAN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> >Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 5:58 PM
> >Subject: [COFFMAN-L] David Coffman Darke County 1850 Census
> >
> >
> > > I found the following posted for the 1850 census records for Darke
County
> > > Ohio:
> > > Coffman, David 1850 309 Wayne
> > >
> > > Wayne is the township where David lived at the time of the census.
Anyone
> > > have any other information on David? (My grandfather was Aaron
Coffman -
> > > reportedly from DCO - thought this might relate to him.)
> > >
> > > Tks
> > > Edward Jones
> > > toolmaker(a)global2000.net
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
Edward,
I have a David L. Coffman (1811, OH-1871, IN) m. to Rebecca HUGHES in 1831.
I do not know where they were living in 1850, but came from Fairfield Co, OH
to Adams Co, IN at some point.
Does any of this ring a bell?
Margie R. Pearce
genealogy: www.angelfire.com/la/ancestors
gymnastics: www.MnMgym.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Jones <toolmaker(a)global2000.net>
To: <COFFMAN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 5:58 PM
Subject: [COFFMAN-L] David Coffman Darke County 1850 Census
> I found the following posted for the 1850 census records for Darke County
> Ohio:
> Coffman, David 1850 309 Wayne
>
> Wayne is the township where David lived at the time of the census. Anyone
> have any other information on David? (My grandfather was Aaron Coffman -
> reportedly from DCO - thought this might relate to him.)
>
> Tks
> Edward Jones
> toolmaker(a)global2000.net
>
>
I found the following posted for the 1850 census records for Darke County
Ohio:
Coffman, David 1850 309 Wayne
Wayne is the township where David lived at the time of the census. Anyone
have any other information on David? (My grandfather was Aaron Coffman -
reportedly from DCO - thought this might relate to him.)
Tks
Edward Jones
toolmaker(a)global2000.net
Sorry Billy, mine were in Texas at that time. Carl in Wichita. Am forwarding
to Coffman-L list, maybe someone there will know
>From: "Billy Covey" <BILLCOVEY(a)worldnet.att.net>
>To: <zellacoffman(a)hotmail.com>
>Subject: Coffman
>Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 08:03:26 -0500
>
>I don't know if you have heard of these Coffmans or not. I went to
>school, about 1950 to 1951 with a boy by the name of L. W. Coffman. I
>went to Watson High School, Watson, Arkansas.
>
>I graduated in 1952 and went into the army. L.W. had left, along with
>his family, a year or two before. I have no telling where they went
>but they lived a mile or so from Watson, Desha County, Arkansas.
>
>Bill Covey
>Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer
>Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz
>http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Hello Everyone,
I did enjoy the Slicker War that was sent out to the List.
Thank You!
Tony Williams
Researching Coffman, Sterling, Ulrich, and Williams
Hello List,
Can anyone recognize any of the Coffman family listed below?
Chester Ben Coffman b. 12-3-2898 Kentucky, d. 1-25-1937 Hopkins County, KY
married Cannie Maee Kirkwood 5-1-1919 Evansville, Ind.
Robert L. Coffman b. 8-8-1864, KY d. 9-9-1934 Webster County, KY married
Grace Harris 9-7-1887 Hopkins County, KY
Isaac Shelby Coffman b. 1817,KY d.10-23-1896 married Elizabeth Lynn
1-31-1843 Hopkins County, KY
Isaac Coffman, Jr. b. 1788 KY, d. abt. 1865 Hopkins county,KY married Merab
"Mary" Harbour 7-22-1813 Hopkins County, KY
Isaac Coffman, Sr. b. 1755 Germany, d. 1832 Hopkins County, KY married Ann
Frence abt. 1755 in PA
Looking forward to hearing from someone.
Nancy
Hello List,
I joined the list this week and missed the first five chapters of the Slicker
War. Would someone be so kind to repost them or send them to me.
Thanks
Nancy
JNTSCHAF1(a)aol.com
Sorry I thought the fields were already set up.
Here it is again,
Kathy
Descendants of John Kauffman
1 John Kauffman b: 1807 d: 1882 in Maquokota, Iowa
. +Elizabeth Phillips
........ 2 Charles Phillips Kauffman b: 1832 in Pennsylvania d: 1900 in
Cedar Falls, Iowa
............ +Catherine Edelman
................... 3 Mary Kauffman b: 1853
....................... +Thomas Stanbro
.............................. 4 Riley Stanbro b: 1876 d: 1908
.............................. 4 Charles Stanbro b: 1881
.................................. +Laura Reese d: 1938
......................................... 5 Jerry Stanbro
........ 2 James Kauffman b: 1854 d: 1934 in Wallace ,Idaho
........ 2 Tamson Kauffman (twin ) b: 1856
............ +Walter Mcintosh
................... 3 Blanche McIntosh b: Abt. 1885
....................... +Charles Geeseman
.............................. 4 Edith Geeseman b: 1911
.............................. 4 Walter Geeseman b: 1912
................... 3 Grace McIntosh b: 1887
....................... +Harry Gant
................... 3 Martha McIntosh b: 1891
....................... +Clay Toney
.............................. 4 Robert Toney b: Abt. 1924
........ 2 John Kauffman ( twin ) b: 1856 d: 1856
........ 2 Sarah Agnes Kauffman b: 1858 d: 1938
............ +Edwin Forest
................... 3 Mabel Forest b: 1881
........ 2 Elizabeth Kauffman b: 1860
............ +Frank Unknown
................... 3 Gertrude Unknown b: 1890
................... 3 Harold Unknown b: 1898
....................... +Hazel b: Abt. 1900
.............................. 4 Jack Unknown b: Abt. 1930
.............................. 4 Harold Unknown b: Abt. 1932
........ 2 Milton Kauffman b: 1862
............ +Mattie Forney b: Abt. 1864
................... 3 Charles Kauffman b: Abt. 1881
................... 3 Myrta Kauffman b: Abt. 1886
........ 2 Emma Ada Kauffman b: 1864 in Cedar Falls, Iowa d: 1947 in Cedar
Falls, Iowa
............ +Edward McIntosh
................... 3 Alice Irene McIntosh b: August 22, 1887 in Iowa d:
July 1960 in Castro Valley, Alameda, California
....................... +Stephen Grover Cleveland, Sr b: Abt. 1885 in
Earlville,DeKalb, Illinios d: 1941 in Kern County, California
.............................. 4 Stephen Grover Cleveland, Jr b: May 11,
1911
.................................. +Eleanor Pitsey b: Abt. 1915
......................................... 5 [1] Carole Bea Cleveland b:
1941
......................................... 5 [2] Eleanor Alice Cleveland b:
1943
.............................. *2nd Wife of Stephen Grover Cleveland, Jr:
.................................. +Juanita Nadine McIntire b: February 28,
1918 in Oklahoma d: November 19, 1989 in Castro Valley, Alameda, California
......................................... 5 [1] Carole Bea Cleveland b:
1941
......................................... 5 [2] Eleanor Alice Cleveland b:
1943
......................................... 5 Rita McIntire Cleveland b:
Abt. 1945
.............................. 4 Kathryn Frances Cleveland b: August 19,
1912 d: February 09, 1991 in Fountain Hills, Arizona
.................................. +George Edward Johnson b: 1903 d: Abt.
1965 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
......................................... 5 Betty Alice Johnson b: 1932
............................................. +Windel Adkins
.................................................... 6 Judith Roxie Adkins
b: 1950 in Chicago, Illinios
......................................... 5 Wesley Earl Johnson b: 1934
......................................... 5 William Roland Johnson b: 1940
.............................. 4 Harry J. Cleveland b: July 28, 1914 in
Herbert, Illinios d: February 06, 1921 in Fort Bragg, California
.............................. 4 Burton Conmeyer Cleveland b: December 01,
1917 d: March 17, 1992 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
.................................. +Virginia Dillon
.............................. *2nd Wife of Burton Conmeyer Cleveland:
.................................. +Ella Margaret Bougher b: September 24,
1922 in Iowa d: April 01, 1996 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
......................................... 5 LaVonne Dillon b: August 16,
1942 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California
............................................. +Unknown
.................................................... 6 Perry Dean Dillon
b: March 27, 1967 in Napa, California
......................................... 5 Fred Harry Dillon, Jr b: April
22, 1944 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California d: August 16, 1986 in
Concord, Contra Costa, California
............................................. +Elaine Plante b: Abt. 1946
.................................................... 6 Dawn Marie Dillon
b: July 1968 in Fremont, Alameda, California
.................................................... 6 Michelle Dillon b:
November 1969 in Fremont, Alameda, California
......................................... 5 Richard Wallace Cleveland b:
February 20, 1948 in Oakland, Alameda, California
............................................. +Kathleen Margaret Graham b:
February 17, 1950 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.................................................... 6 Ronald Lee Graham
Cleveland b: October 23, 1963 in Oakland, Alameda, California
........................................................ +Julie E. Farmer
b: April 08, 1967 Father: Unknown Farmer Mother: Marilyn Ortega
.............................................................. 7 [3] Laura
Ashley Cleveland b: April 17, 1989 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.............................................................. 7 [4] David
Benjaman Cleveland b: September 01, 1990 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.................................................... *Partner of Ronald Lee
Graham Cleveland:
........................................................ +Leona Marie Kagee
b: August 13, 1974 in San Diego, California
.............................................................. 7 [3] Laura
Ashley Cleveland b: April 17, 1989 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.............................................................. 7 [4] David
Benjaman Cleveland b: September 01, 1990 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.............................................................. 7 Melissa
Lee Cleveland b: June 23, 1996 in Monterey, Monterey, California d: June 25,
1996 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California
.................................................... 6 Stephen Grover
Cleveland b: August 14, 1970 in Oakland, Alameda, California
........................................................ +Cynthia Simone
Hunt b: March 23, 1965
.............................................................. 7 Kyle
Cameron Adams b: February 28, 1990
.............................................................. 7 Matthew
Thomas Kingsberry b: May 21, 1986
.............................................................. 7 Tori Ella
Simone Cleveland b: September 02, 1995 in Auburn, Placer, California
.................................................... 6 Dennis Richard
Cleveland, Sr b: September 30, 1972 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
........................................................ +Nancy Rose
Ashlock b: November 04, 1975 in Santa Clara, California
.............................................................. 7 Alicia
Rose Cleveland b: December 21, 1991 in Auburn, Placer, California
.............................................................. 7 Dennis
Richard Cleveland, Jr b: June 24, 1994 in Auburn, Placer, California
.................................................... 6 Brandon John
Cleveland b: June 25, 1974 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
........................................................ +Shannon Diane
Palmer b: December 27, 1975 in Auburn, Placer, California
.............................................................. 7 Johne
Christopher Michael Cleveland b: August 29, 1993 in Carmichael, Sacramento,
California
.................................................... *Partner of Brandon
John Cleveland:
........................................................ +Abra Scarlette
Barnes b: July 22, 1976 in Watsonville, California
.............................................................. 7 Meagan
Elizabeth Cleveland b: April 01, 1998 in Auburn, Placer, California
................... 3 Frank Edgar McIntosh b: 1889
................... 3 Kathryn Agnes McIntosh b: 1892
....................... +Cecil Thompson
.............................. 4 Donald Thompson
.................................. +Harriet Unknown d: in 2 children
.............................. 4 Elizabeth Thompson
.................................. +Charles Brooks
Sorry thought I had it set up with the information,
KathyDescendants of John Kauffman
1 John Kauffman b: 1807 d: 1882 in Maquokota, Iowa
. +Elizabeth Phillips
........ 2 Charles Phillips Kauffman b: 1832 in Pennsylvania d: 1900 in
Cedar Falls, Iowa
............ +Catherine Edelman
................... 3 Mary Kauffman b: 1853
....................... +Thomas Stanbro
.............................. 4 Riley Stanbro b: 1876 d: 1908
.............................. 4 Charles Stanbro b: 1881
.................................. +Laura Reese d: 1938
......................................... 5 Jerry Stanbro
........ 2 James Kauffman b: 1854 d: 1934 in Wallace ,Idaho
........ 2 Tamson Kauffman (twin ) b: 1856
............ +Walter Mcintosh
................... 3 Blanche McIntosh b: Abt. 1885
....................... +Charles Geeseman
.............................. 4 Edith Geeseman b: 1911
.............................. 4 Walter Geeseman b: 1912
................... 3 Grace McIntosh b: 1887
....................... +Harry Gant
................... 3 Martha McIntosh b: 1891
....................... +Clay Toney
.............................. 4 Robert Toney b: Abt. 1924
........ 2 John Kauffman ( twin ) b: 1856 d: 1856
........ 2 Sarah Agnes Kauffman b: 1858 d: 1938
............ +Edwin Forest
................... 3 Mabel Forest b: 1881
........ 2 Elizabeth Kauffman b: 1860
............ +Frank Unknown
................... 3 Gertrude Unknown b: 1890
................... 3 Harold Unknown b: 1898
....................... +Hazel b: Abt. 1900
.............................. 4 Jack Unknown b: Abt. 1930
.............................. 4 Harold Unknown b: Abt. 1932
........ 2 Milton Kauffman b: 1862
............ +Mattie Forney b: Abt. 1864
................... 3 Charles Kauffman b: Abt. 1881
................... 3 Myrta Kauffman b: Abt. 1886
........ 2 Emma Ada Kauffman b: 1864 in Cedar Falls, Iowa d: 1947 in Cedar
Falls, Iowa
............ +Edward McIntosh
................... 3 Alice Irene McIntosh b: August 22, 1887 in Iowa d:
July 1960 in Castro Valley, Alameda, California
....................... +Stephen Grover Cleveland, Sr b: Abt. 1885 in
Earlville,DeKalb, Illinios d: 1941 in Kern County, California
.............................. 4 Stephen Grover Cleveland, Jr b: May 11,
1911
.................................. +Eleanor Pitsey b: Abt. 1915
......................................... 5 [1] Carole Bea Cleveland b:
1941
......................................... 5 [2] Eleanor Alice Cleveland b:
1943
.............................. *2nd Wife of Stephen Grover Cleveland, Jr:
.................................. +Juanita Nadine McIntire b: February 28,
1918 in Oklahoma d: November 19, 1989 in Castro Valley, Alameda, California
......................................... 5 [1] Carole Bea Cleveland b:
1941
......................................... 5 [2] Eleanor Alice Cleveland b:
1943
......................................... 5 Rita McIntire Cleveland b:
Abt. 1945
.............................. 4 Kathryn Frances Cleveland b: August 19,
1912 d: February 09, 1991 in Fountain Hills, Arizona
.................................. +George Edward Johnson b: 1903 d: Abt.
1965 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
......................................... 5 Betty Alice Johnson b: 1932
............................................. +Windel Adkins
.................................................... 6 Judith Roxie Adkins
b: 1950 in Chicago, Illinios
......................................... 5 Wesley Earl Johnson b: 1934
......................................... 5 William Roland Johnson b: 1940
.............................. 4 Harry J. Cleveland b: July 28, 1914 in
Herbert, Illinios d: February 06, 1921 in Fort Bragg, California
.............................. 4 Burton Conmeyer Cleveland b: December 01,
1917 d: March 17, 1992 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
.................................. +Virginia Dillon
.............................. *2nd Wife of Burton Conmeyer Cleveland:
.................................. +Ella Margaret Bougher b: September 24,
1922 in Iowa d: April 01, 1996 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
......................................... 5 LaVonne Dillon b: August 16,
1942 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California
............................................. +Unknown
.................................................... 6 Perry Dean Dillon
b: March 27, 1967 in Napa, California
......................................... 5 Fred Harry Dillon, Jr b: April
22, 1944 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California d: August 16, 1986 in
Concord, Contra Costa, California
............................................. +Elaine Plante b: Abt. 1946
.................................................... 6 Dawn Marie Dillon
b: July 1968 in Fremont, Alameda, California
.................................................... 6 Michelle Dillon b:
November 1969 in Fremont, Alameda, California
......................................... 5 Richard Wallace Cleveland b:
February 20, 1948 in Oakland, Alameda, California
............................................. +Kathleen Margaret Graham b:
February 17, 1950 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.................................................... 6 Ronald Lee Graham
Cleveland b: October 23, 1963 in Oakland, Alameda, California
........................................................ +Julie E. Farmer
b: April 08, 1967 Father: Unknown Farmer Mother: Marilyn Ortega
.............................................................. 7 [3] Laura
Ashley Cleveland b: April 17, 1989 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.............................................................. 7 [4] David
Benjaman Cleveland b: September 01, 1990 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.................................................... *Partner of Ronald Lee
Graham Cleveland:
........................................................ +Leona Marie Kagee
b: August 13, 1974 in San Diego, California
.............................................................. 7 [3] Laura
Ashley Cleveland b: April 17, 1989 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.............................................................. 7 [4] David
Benjaman Cleveland b: September 01, 1990 in Oakland, Alameda, California
.............................................................. 7 Melissa
Lee Cleveland b: June 23, 1996 in Monterey, Monterey, California d: June 25,
1996 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California
.................................................... 6 Stephen Grover
Cleveland b: August 14, 1970 in Oakland, Alameda, California
........................................................ +Cynthia Simone
Hunt b: March 23, 1965
.............................................................. 7 Kyle
Cameron Adams b: February 28, 1990
.............................................................. 7 Matthew
Thomas Kingsberry b: May 21, 1986
.............................................................. 7 Tori Ella
Simone Cleveland b: September 02, 1995 in Auburn, Placer, California
.................................................... 6 Dennis Richard
Cleveland, Sr b: September 30, 1972 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
........................................................ +Nancy Rose
Ashlock b: November 04, 1975 in Santa Clara, California
.............................................................. 7 Alicia
Rose Cleveland b: December 21, 1991 in Auburn, Placer, California
.............................................................. 7 Dennis
Richard Cleveland, Jr b: June 24, 1994 in Auburn, Placer, California
.................................................... 6 Brandon John
Cleveland b: June 25, 1974 in San Leandro, Alameda, California
........................................................ +Shannon Diane
Palmer b: December 27, 1975 in Auburn, Placer, California
.............................................................. 7 Johne
Christopher Michael Cleveland b: August 29, 1993 in Carmichael, Sacramento,
California
.................................................... *Partner of Brandon
John Cleveland:
........................................................ +Abra Scarlette
Barnes b: July 22, 1976 in Watsonville, California
.............................................................. 7 Meagan
Elizabeth Cleveland b: April 01, 1998 in Auburn, Placer, California
................... 3 Frank Edgar McIntosh b: 1889
................... 3 Kathryn Agnes McIntosh b: 1892
....................... +Cecil Thompson
.............................. 4 Donald Thompson
.................................. +Harriet Unknown d: in 2 children
.............................. 4 Elizabeth Thompson
.................................. +Charles Brooks
Wonderful reading!
--
Patricia
patricia(a)lj.net
---------------
http://www.lj.net/~patricia/
- --------------------------
"Politeness is the art of choosing among one's real thoughts."
MMe. De Stael (1766-1817)
While I'm not directly descended from any of the people mentioned in the
book, I am very distantly connected with some of them. That didn't lead to
my interest in purchasing the book, however. My husband, children and I
lived in Hickory County, Missouri for three years over twenty years ago. We
moved to Colorado in 1980; however, we continued subscribing to the
"Hermitage Index" for at least five years or more after our departure. When
I saw an advertisement concerning the book in that newspaper, I decided to
order a copy.
I read the book after receiving it, and then I stuffed it between books on
my bookshelf and forgot that it even existed until one day last week during
fall cleaning time. The book fell onto the floor, and I became reacquainted
with it all over again. I wasn't really interested in genealogy when I
first read the book. That's a different story at the moment, and I began
placing "what I know now" into "what I was rediscovering" from the book. My
"new insight" took me to the library in search of Turk ancestry. This is
what I found.
There were Finish Turks; there were German Turks; there were English Turks.
However, the Turks from the Slicker War were Scotch-Irish; their origins lay
in Roxburgh, Scotland, where they met and intermarried with my ancestors,
the Kerrs. And then they moved to Northern Ireland.
The earliest Turk ancestor I could find in that line was Robert Turk, who
was born about 1690 in Antrim, Ulster, Ireland. His wife was Margaret Kerr,
who was either the daughter or granddaughter of Henry Kerr, b. ca. 1641 in
Scotland. Henry Kerr was my direct ancestor.
The Turks left Ireland and it appears that they came to America with the
Kerrs and were probably in Pennsylvania before Virginia. Robert and
Margaret Kerr Turk had a rather large family; their children were:
1. Thomas Turk, b. March 1718, Ireland; d. in 1809 in Augusta County, VA,
where is will was probated 24 July 1809.
2. Jane Turk, b. 1712, in Ireland.
3. John Turk, b. 1714, Ireland; d. 22 Nov. 1755, Augusta County, VA.
4. Ann Turk, b. 1716, Ireland.
5. James Turk, b. 1720, Ireland.
6. William Turk, b. 1722, Ireland.
7. Samuel Turk, who was born ca. 1724, Ireland.
Hiram Turk's ancestor among these sons was No. 1, Thomas Turk. Thomas
married Margaret Woolman Grove, daughter of Matthew Grove and Esther Woolman
ca. 1745 in Orange County, VA. His second marriage was to Mary Gleaves,
daughter of Matthew Gleaves and Esther Mitchell of Augusta County, VA.
Thomas Turk died in 1809 (see above) in Augusta County, and his wife died
ca. April 1758. The children of Thomas Turk and Margaret Wooman Grove were:
1. Elizabeth Turk, b. ca. 1752, Augusta, VA; d. ca. 1820, Wythe VA;
2. Thomas Turk, b. ca. 1755, Augusta, VA; d. Jan. 1833, Blount County, TN
3. Jane Turk, b. February 1748, Augusta, VA (she was christened 9 April
1749 in Augusta); d. 18 March 1845, Cumberland, KY
4. Margaret Turk; b. ca. 1747, Augusta, VA; d. ca. 1809 in VA.
His children by Mary Gleaves were:
a. Esther Thurk, b. ca. 1770, Augusta Co., VA, d. ca. 1845, Augusta Co. Va.
b. Elizabeth Turk, b. June 1781, Augusta VA; d. (year unknown), Mercer
County, KY.
c. Rebecca Turk, b. ca. 1783, Augusta, VA; d. 1830 (place unknown)
d. James Gleaves Turk, b. 13 May 1780, Augusta, VA; d. 8 April 1862,
Augusta, VA.
e. Mary Turk, b. ca. 1784, Augusta, VA; d. ca. 1808.
No. 2 (Thomas Turk--1755-1833--was the father of Hiram Kerr Turk.)
Thomas Turk (1755-1833), married Ann Rhea, daughter of Robert Rhea and Sarah
Bingham. One gedcom file I stumbled upon shows that Robert Rhea was the son
of Archibald Rhea; that Archibald was the son of Matthew Campbell Rhea and
Janet Barten Baxter; that Matthew Campbell Rhea was the son of Walter
Campbell and Jean Campbell. Walter Campell's father was Matthew Campbell,
Captain of Skipness and Elspeth Campbell. That line extends back to Walter
Campbell of Skipnish and Jane, Heiress of Campbell of Skipnish. Thomas Turk
and Ann Rhea were married in 1777. Their children were:
1. James Turk, b. 1778, Jackson, AL; d. 1835, Jackson, AL
2. Robert Turk, b. 7 June 1780, Augusta, VA; d. 6 Feb. 1864, Wellsville,
Montgomery County, MO
3. Margaret Turk, b. 1781, Augusta VA
4. Sarah (Sally Turk) b. 1783, Augusta VA
5. Elizabeth Turk, b. 1784, Augusta VA
6. Archibald Turk, b. ca. 1785, Augusta, VA; d. 25 Dec. 1843, McMinn, TN
7. HIRAM KERR TURK, b. ca. 1786, Augusta VA; d. 10 Aug. 1841, Warsaw, MO
8. William Woolman Turk, b. 1788, Augusta, VA
9. Thomas Turk, 15 Mar 1782, Augusta, VA, d. 27 Jan 1826 Adair, KY. (He is
buried on the Turk Farm Cemetery in Adair County, KY)
Now, it gets really interesting: Turks, Kerrs, and Robertsons all started
intermarrying.
1. Elick Robertson married Margaret Turk 16 Mar 1800. Margaret was Hiram's
sister.
2. Thomas Harris married Elizabeth Turk 20 June 1814. Thomas was Hiram's
brother-in-law and Elizabeth was Hiram's sister.
3. Hiram Kerr Turk married Martha Woolman Harris (date unknown). Hiram was
Hiram, of course, and Martha was Thomas Harris' sister.
4. William Woolman Turk married Sarah Harris 14 Oct. 1813. William was
another of Hiram's brothers and Sarah was Martha Harris Turk's sister.
5. Hiram KERR (that is no typo) married Mary Ann Robertson, date unknown.
Mary Ann Robertson was Elick Robertson and Margaret Turk's daughter. And
Margaret Turk was Hiram's sister (see above).
I'm not finished yet. Hiram Kerr was born in 1808 in Augusta County, VA to
John Kerr (1765, Augusta County, 1830, buried on Kerr Homestead, Augusta
County) and Elizabeth Hogshead (1769-1843). He was named for Hiram Kerr
Turk. John Kerr's parents were James Kerr, who was born in 1725 in
Pennsylvania, and who died 5 January 1812, Augusta County, VA, and Jane
Robertson, b. 1739, Augusta County, VA; d. 11 Feb. 1824; buried on the Kerr
Homestead, Augusta County, VA. Jane Robertson's father was James Robertson,
b. ca. 1713, who m. Elizabeth Crawford before 1740, Augusta County, VA. And
these Robertsons/Crawfords were the grandparents of Mary Ann Robertson, wife
of Hiram Kerr. (I'm dizzy)
...and I'm still not finished.
I did some research on Kerrs who were living in Missouri at the time of the
Slicker War, and I found some Kerrs living there. My special interest falls
upon an Alexander P. Kerr family. Alexander was born 26 April 1813 in
Tennessee and he died before August 1855. He was married 31 December 1835
in Talladega, Alabama, and he was the son of William Kerr and Anne Nancy
Hubbert. Alexander married Margaret Hubbert in Talladega, who was the
daughter of Benjamin Hubbert and Rebecca Calvert. What I find so
interesting about this Kerr family is that after Talladega, Alabama, they
relocated to Greene County, MO--the place where Hiram Kerr Turk's widow
resettled in the mid 1840s! The children of Alexander P. Kerr and Margaret
Hubbert--and notice the names--were:
1. William Kerr, b. 13 Nov. 1836, Talladega, AL; d. 2 Dec, 1855
2. Benjamin Kerr, b. 22 Sept. 1838, Talladega; d. 1909
3. Andrew Jackson Kerr, b. 28 Aug 1840, Talladega
4. Matthew Thomas Kerr, b. 16 Dec. 1843, Greene Co. MO
5. Nancy Jane Kerr, b. 6 Nov. 1845; Greene County, MO; d. ca. 1905
6. Martha Elizabeth Kerr, b. 16 April 1848, Greene County, MO/ d. March
1876
7. Rebecca Ann Amanda Kerr, b. 22 Jan 1850, Greene County. MO; d. ca. 1910.
Hiram Kerr Turk's widow, Martha, relocated to Greene County in 1848. This
Kerr family was well entrenched in Greene County by that time.
William Kerr, father of Alexander P. Kerr, was born 22 March 1791 in Sevier,
TN and died 27 Mar 1875 in Greene County, MO. He was the son of Robert
Kerr, b. 15 May 1758, VA; d. 6 May 1819, TN; and Amy George, daughter of
Edward George and Martha Woolaston. I was looking through a family group
record for Robert Kerr and Amy George and discovered that their second
child, a daughter named Margaret, was born in Rhea Tennessee (where the
Turks "ruled" for a while". This Kerr family could well be the reason why
the Turks left VA for TN. I also discovered that another of their
daughters--Amy Kerr, who was born 20 Sept 1810 in TN, died 17 Nov 1888 in
Lawrence County, MO. One of Alexander P. Kerr's brothers, Matthew H. Kerr,
died in Missouri in 1895. And there is another interesting little twist to
this story: KAUFMAN COUNTY, TEXAS.
Notes from the Chapter on Texas Justice state:
:Apparently trying to seem less involved, Ray told his captors that on his
way to texas he had become acquainted with Jones, white, and Reed and they
persuaded him to embark on a life of crime. He said Jones and White had
told him that they had killed a man named Moss in southern Missouri or
Arkansas, having been paid to do so by a man named Peevey.
[My Note: Several families of Mosses from IN and NC lived in Jasper County,
MO, where my Spence/Spencer ancestors lived]
"Reed, Harris, Mitchell and Bob Jones may have been from benton Co., too.
Lay, p. 61, hints at this, and the names are common in the area. There is a
possibility that Bob Jones was a relative of Andrew (son? nephew?) and was
forced to help hang him. When Texas was admitted as a state a census was
taken. It showed a family in Kaufman County Texas that included Isaac,
Samuel, John and Robert Jones in one neighborhood. Kaufman County only two
counties from where Andy was hanged."
Now back to this family group record. Margaret Kerr (mentioned above) b. 5
June 1796 Rhea, TN, d. 10 Sept. 1877, White Creek, Rhea TN, buried Yellow
Creek, Rhea TN, Clack Cemetery, married Micajah Clack 28 Sept. 1820. One of
their sons was Francis Marion Clack, b. 17 aug. 1823, Rhea County, TN, d. 6
Oct. Scurry, Kaufman, Texas. Is this a coincidence? Or did the Kerrs have
something to do with bringing Andy Jones to justice????
William Kerr had a second marriage to Mary steele, b. 5 Oct. 1811,
Williamson, TN, d. 15 Nov. 1893 Lafayette, MO. She is buried in Greene
County. Her parents were Richard Steele and Margarette Graham. And
Margarette Graham (b. 9 June 1783, Rowan, NC; d. 19 June 1851, Greene
County, MO, was the daughter of Richard Graham, Jr., b. 17 Mar. 1753, Rowan
County, NC; d. 21 Nov. 1832, Williamson County, TN.
[Note: for information on the NC Grahams, please look at my website
http://twigs-of-inman-spence.rootsweb.com/
I have their background there.
I have a number of questions about all of this:
1. the connection of these Turks with my Spencers. They resided in the
Orange/Augusta County area. Some of them went to TN and to AL--they were
bound to know one another.
2. The connection of these Turks with my Hoods. My 4 g grandfather, Thomas
Hood, died in Monroe County, TN in 1820, where Hiram Kerr Turk owned 300
acres of land. I wonder whether Hiram had something to do with his demise,
or whether Thomas died of natural causes.
3. The connection of these Turks with the Bunches, who intermarried with my
Spence line in Missouri, and who had previously intermarried with the
Spencers. Samuel H. Bunch was the sheriff of Polk County.
4. The notes to Chapter 12, Court Action & Loose talk identify the
witnesses in the trial as Samuel Tillery, Richard, Owings, Nathaniel
Holland, Francis yoast, J. M. Richardson, Archibald Blue, William B. Senter,
Larkin Williams, Thomas Holland, Leander Wilson, James Batten, Robert H.
McCracken, John Starkey, William J. Ross, ARCH HOPPER, Samuel McCracken,
william Owings, Perry Ross Jackson Richardson, Elliott Bland, James Rentfro,
William L. King, Clayton richardosn, Amos Richardson, John Bond and Joseph
Bond.
I am interested in Archibald Hopper and want to know whether he is in some
way connected with my Grandmother's Ohio Hoppers who went to Missouri about
this period of time.
5. The connection of the Andy Jones family with the Davidson County, TN
Joneses, who intermarried with my Spences.
6. Alton Gregory's connection with the Gregorys of North and South
Carolina, who intermarried with the Spencers.
Since this is being posted on the Coffman list--I should throw in a Coffman
connection. My grandfather Spence's mother was a Kessler (Josephine
Virginia Kessler). Her father was Benjamin Franklin Kessler (b. 1832,
Shenandoah, VA; d. Jasper County, MO, 1919). His parents were John Kesler,
b. 1810, PA; d. 1872, Shenandoah, VA) and Lydia Kitty Coffman, b. ca. 1810,
PA; d. bef. 1850, Shenandoah, VA). Lydia's parents were John George
Coffman, d. 1833, Shenandoah, VA, and Christina Dellinger. And John George
Coffman's parents were Augustine (Augustus) Kauffman, b. ca. 1720, Germany;
d. 1818, Shenandoah, VA) and Chatharina (last name unknown).
That is the end of this long posting. If anyone has any questions or
comments, send me an e-mail at
BIBeall(a)email.msn.com
Thanks for being a captive audience.
Dr. Barbara Inman Beall
Gladis Nowell, exhausted and out of money, died in 1846. She was buried
next to abraham near Hogle's creek. In recent times their remains were
moved to the Mt. Zion Cemetery, just north of Quincy. This is very close to
the long vanished Turk tavern, where their terrible problems began. On
Abraham's grave is a brass plaque that reads:
"ABRAHAM CLARK NOWELL. A Charter member of the Bethel Baptist Church, was
born in Virginia in 1801, adn was assassinated Oct. 18, 1842, due to his
involvement in the Slicker War. He was a peaceful man, who believed in law
and order, and lost his life as a result."
Mrs. Turk and Robert remained in Greene county until 1847,a nd efforts to
trace them further have been unsuccessful.
During the Mexican War Nathan Rains joined the Third Regiment, Missouri
Mounted Volunteers as a private and, no doubt to his dismay, found that
Jeremiah Black had joined a week earlier and was in the same company. The
company saw no fighting in the war, but on Christmas eve 1848, while the
company was stationed in Taos, New Mexico, rains was ambushed and killed by
persons unknown.
Jeremiah Black returned to Hickory County were he was ambushed and kiled
during the Civil War.
Judge George Alexander died a rich man in 1875. The Allexander family
experienced a great deal of bad luck over the years. Three of the Judge's
sons died early. James Madison (Mat) died from the effects of measles
contracted during the service in the Mexican War, George Thomas (Tom) was
executed by a vicious Union officer after he surrendered during the
Jayhawker raid on Osceola, Missouri, and David Franklin (Frank) was wounded
early in the war and usffered a gret deal of pain before dying in 1868.
Archibald Cock prospered. In his later years he moved to Osceola, St. Clair
County, Missouri where he had a large farm. In 1883 he was living with his
son in Henry County, Missouri. The son had served in the Missouri
Legislature and a grandson was a prominent local doctor.
John Hobbs, the third Hobbs among the slickers, had an arm amputated after
an injury incurred in a fight in Hermitage. he was murdered during the
Civil War.
Alexander Blue continued to live in Elkton for a few more years. In 1850 he
killed a man named Clark Brown he was attempting to ambush him. As Blue was
driving along the road in a buggy, Brown stepped out of the brush with a
pistol. Alexander, forewarned about brown's intentions, killed him with a
laod of buckshot from a shotgun he was holding on his lap. Franklin Blue
had traveled to California with the Brown family and had not paid his fair
share of the costs, according to brown. brown returned to Missouri and
apparently was too foreceful in trying to colelct from Alexander. In 1855
someone took a shot at Blue. When he accused a man named James Carter,
Carter sued him for slander. The suit was finally dismissed in 1858. At
the start of the Civil War, Blue moved to Carlinsville, ILL, where he died
in 1875.
The sides taken during the slicker troubles did not necessarily correspond
to those taken during the Civil War. The Alexander family was Confederate,
as were many of the citizens of Warsaw. Judge Human supported the 1856
efforts to make Kansas a slave state (along with Andrew Turk) but his son
William was a Union officer. The unfortunate Nowell family split, with one
member serving in the Union Army and two others serving in the Confederate
Army.
[To be concluded with "My Own Comments and a follow-up of Turk Ancestry.
The book ends here]
Shortly after Tom's funeral, his mother and young Robert moved to greene
County, but by the last week in August, Robert was back in northern Polk
County. At the funeral he had learned that the most damaging evidence
against him for Dobkin's murder was being given by Thomas Jefferson "Jeff"
Hobbs, one of the original slickers, and brother of Isom. Robert stayed at
the home of the parents of Jeremiah black for two days and, avoiding both
the Nowell-Yates search party and the Hobbs family, he moved on tot the
Alexander Blue home on August 29th. There he learned that Jeff, his father
Henry, and a younger brother had gone to Warsaw and would be returning the
next day.
The next day, August 30th, 1844, Robert walked through the fields to a point
three miles north of the Blue place, where he constructed a blind similar to
the one Isom Hobbs used when he murdered Tom Turk. Just at sundown, as Jeff
and the younger brother approached, Robert turk shot Jeff Hobbs. The scene
was described touchingly by Jeff's father in later testimony:
"The first timber we came to after we passed Judy's Gap I heard a gunfire.
I think I was about a quarter behind and I heard the little boy cry out "Oh
pap, Jeff is shot," and ran meeting me. When I got up to him, he was down.
I asked him if he was badly shot. Said, he, "Yes, father, I have a deadly
shot, I never shall get home." I asked him if he saw any person. He said
not, but he saw the smoke. I suppose it was a quarter or a half mile from
where he was shot to William Holland's. I taken him to William Hollds and I
then left him and did not see him any more."
Jeff lay in pain at the Holland home for two days before dying. He never
knew who shot him or why he was shot.
Robert left an easily traceable trail of witnesses as he moved to and from
the crime. He was arrested on September 1st, and charged with the murders
of both Jeff Hobbs and Jacob Dobkins. He was still in jail awaiting trial
when Hickory County was organized, in early 1845, from those portions of
Polk and benton counties where most of the slicker troubles occurred. A
grand jury wa simpaneled and, after long and serious consideration, decided
no benefit could come from further legal actions. In addition, the citizens
were impoverished from previous trials. The jury returned no indictments.
One loose end remained. Isom Hobbs was still at large. But he was captured
that fall in southeast Missouri. A new grand jury quickly returned an
indictment against the infamous Isom. He was returned to Hickory County and
kept chained in a tanyard while awaiting trial (the new county didn't have a
jail). He got a change of venue to Polk County and during his trial in
February of 1846, Isom escaped again. With his usual flair, he wrote back
to tell the sheriff where he hid the key to the jail. Isom Hobbs went to
Holly Springs, Mississippi, where, true to his nature, he was again involved
in some sort of violence. A posse capture him but as they tried to take him
back to town, he resisted. They riddled him with bullets.
The slicker war was over.
(To be continued with Postscripts)
During 1843 and the first half of 1844, Tom Turk had little to do with the
activities in the field. he was involved ins everal court cases, some in
other counties because of venue changes. He planted crops that year. it
appears he made an effort not to become involved in new situations. He is
not mentioned as being present during any of the activities surrounding the
march of the militia. Indicted for the Yates whipping, he proved he was in
Kansas at the time. But Tom did not have to go searching for trouble, it
came to him.
during the grain harvest of 1844, Tom Turk and Isom Hobbs finally confrotned
one another. They were working in the same field when Isom objected to a
remark Tom made about some young woman of the neighborhood. Tempers flared
and Isom challenged Tom to a duel. They removed the large blades from their
scythes and prepared to fight, but the giant Tom backed down and retreated
fromt he field. The chance remark by Tom had brought out the festering
resentment that had been growing in both since the killing of Abraham
Nowell.
The embarrassing encounter in the field demoralized Tom. He and Hobbs were
going about armed and constantly faced the possibility of a deadly
encounter. The strain was too much for Tom. He let it be known that he was
going to leave the country and started making preparations to do so.
On the afternoon of August 9th, 1844, Isom Hobbs killed his ex-friend Tom
Turk. Tom was killed as he returned from a blacksmith shop. The following
description of the killing, given fifty years later by a neighbor (and made
more dramatic by a newspaper reporter), contains details that could have
been known only to Hobbs and told to the neighbor:
"While Turk was at the shop Hobbs watched from an elevation on the prairie,
and planned a scheme of death. He had cut a "blind" near the McCracken
spring, a short distance from the path which his enemy would travel in going
home. When he saw the big black horse which Tom Turk rode leave the shop,
the assassin went to his ambush with "Old Abram" loaded for another deadly
shot. The big man rode rapidly toward home carrying his gun before him and
using the wooden ramrod for a switch. He passed the McCracken place about
sundown. Galloping down the hill toward the spring the rider was soon out
of sight. The hollow through which the little rivulet flows was then
covered with a thick growth of young willows. As Turk entered the shadows
of the valley a blaze of fire shot out from the fatal "blind" and the
assassin's bullet struck the rider under the arm. A hole in a homemade
flast coat had guided the aim of the murderer, and the shot was almost
instantly fatal. The giant of the "slickers" dropped his gun and fell
lifeless to the ground."
The body was taken to a nearby house. In an atttempt to allay suspicion or
in a macabre attempt at humor, Isom Hobbs came to view the body, rubbed the
head of the dead man, and said, "You have been a brave fellow, Tom, but they
got you at last."
Tom's death was the final stra for Alexander Blue. His brother Archibald
was gone and safe from prosecution for his part in the murder of Dobkins.
And Alexander could not longer protect Robert Turk from being charged for
the same crime, because the younger Hobbses were implicating Robert.
On August 17th, one week after Tom's funeral, Blue went before a Benton
Cuonty magistrate and swore out a complaint against Isom Hobbs for the
murder of Abraham Nowell. Considering Isom's record, this required no small
amount of courage,, (although from Blue's point of view, an Isom Hobbs being
sought by the authorities or under arrest probably seemed better than an
Isom Hobbs free to roam about). Blue's resolve may have been strengthened
by the discovery, by the Turks, of the body of one of the original slickers,
Thomas Draffin. draffin had been in contact with Mrs. Nowell and had been
ready to testify against Isom. He had been shot through the mouth.
Acting on a warrant sent from benton County, the sheriff of Polk County
arrested the unsuspecting Isom. he was taken to a house near the county
line and turned over to a benton County official. The official wa sAlex D.
Cox, another original slicker. That night Isom escaped.
Gladis Nowell and Samuel Yates, together with an armed band of about fifteen
men, began searching the countryside for Isom. He was not to be found.
Mrs. Nowell and Alexander Blue joined forced. Tehy arranged for a reward
notice to be published in a Springfield, Missouri newspaper offering 4500
($300 from Blue and 4200 from Gladis) for the capture of Isom.
Robert Turk approached the Hobbs problem in a different way.
(To be continued with Chapter 15)
Andy Jones and his family left Missouri in 1842. Their whereabouts in 1843
and early 1844 are uncertain but in mid 1844 Andy made the news again.
Andy, Loud Ray, Harvey White and some other men robbed and killed some
Indians near present-day Bonham, Texas. Pretending to be friendly, Jones
and the others approached the campsite of five Indians and attacked them.
Tehy killed three of them, but the other two escaped, although one was
wounded. One of the dead Indians was a small boy. He pleaded with the men
for his life, but was held at arms length by a man named Reed, while a man
named Mitchell killed him with a knife. For their efforts the raiders got
twelve horses, four guns and some furs. Mitchell lived seven miles to the
south. He must have been recognized because he was soon arrested at his
home. Acting on information supplied by Mitchell or because he, too, had
been recognized, a posse soon captured Loud Ray. He was captured on his way
back from Shreveport, Louisiana, where he had gone to dispose of some stolen
goods. He was riding a stolen mare, with a foal by her side, that he had
stolen on his trip back. Loud Ray talked.
Andy Jones and Harvey White were captured by a posse of twenty men. White
and Jones were asleep, after drinking heavily, in a nearby place called Fort
Houston. They had shotguns across their chests and bowie knives by their
sides. The members of the posse surprised them and they were disarmed
before they could use their weapons. As he awakened, Andy screamed and
dodged about as if avoiding knife thrusts. Later, when asked about his
strange actions, he told the posse he thought the Turks had him, and related
some of the happenings in Missouri. Three other men, a Bob Jones, a man
named Jowland, and a man named Harris, had been captured, also. Reed had
escaped. The captives were taken to the nearby town of South sulphur,
Fannin County, Texas, where a trial, of sorts, was held. From a crowd of
about two hundred persons, four (or six) were selected to pick a jury. The
accused men were given the right to object to any jury member selected. A
jury o twelve men was selected, sworn in by a magistrate, and the evidence
was heard. Loud Ray had confessed, and the property taken from the Indians
had been recovered, so there was little doubt about the outcome. Andy
Jones, Loud Ray, Harvey White and Mitchell were found guilty of murder and
sentenced to hang. Bob Jones, Jowland and Harris were found guilty of theft
and their sentence was that they were to hang the others and get out of the
country within ten days.
The sentences were carried out. Prior to the hanging, Loud Ray broke down,
Harvey White was somewhat undone, and Mitchell was hardened and indifferent
to his fate. Andy Jones went calmly. An eyewitness account carried in a
Texas newspaper describes his last hours well:
"Andrew Jones told his wife, who was present, that he had expected this for
the last six years, and that he considered his arrest a providential event,
by which he has been saved more crime, and men's lives had been saved, as
had they been awake [he and Harvey White], at least four men would have been
killed. He commenced praying and preparing for death, and said, finally,
that he believed he was going to a better world. The tenor of his, and his
wife's conversation, was an admission of long and continued guilt, without
specification of acts committed."
In the reports that reached Missouri, Nathan Turk was rumored to have had
some hand int he capture of Jones and the others, but he is not mentioned in
the Texas account. However, he is never again mentioned as being in
Missouri. within a short time, Nathan was killed in a knife fight after an
argument over a card game. He was killed in Shreveport, Louisiana, not far
from where Andy died. The least flamoyant of the Turk brothers died far
from home and only indirectly as a result of the slicker war.
(To be continued with Chapter 14)
After the militia was disbanded, the prisoners were held for a day or two in
a nearby school house and then turned over to the sheriff of Polk County.
He escorted them to Bolivar, accompanied by a group of armed people which
included Gladis Nowell. Isom Hobbs was held on an old assault charge, but
the others were released immediately since there was no evidence against
them. After twenty days, Isom was released on bond. even while he was in
jail, the impudent Isom was making charges. He filed suit against Judge
Human adn others for istreating him while he was a prisoner, and swore out a
complaint of conspiracy against the benton County men and the Baptists,
naming twenty two persons. Andrew Turk sued Judge humana and others for
false arrest. Alexander Blue sued Major Rains for trespass and damaging his
fences.
During this same period, Gladis Nowell, Hugh Dobkins and two other men
encountered Archibald Blue and Jeremiah black. Archibald was assaulted, but
not killed, by Dobkins. Blue, of course, filed suit.
The most damaging legal action during this time was against Major Nathan
Rains. He was accused of misconduct in office. A court of Inquiry was
held, then a Court Martial. Mostly because of the testimony of Isom Hobbs,
Jeremiah Black, Michael Holland, Andrew Turk, and Nathan Turk, he was
cashiered form the service. The circumstances of the trial are peculiar.
The brigadier General of the militia, Samuel H. Bunch, was the sheriff of
the county and was a political antagonist of Judge Human. So were two of
the other officers present. But one colonel of the battalion was a
brother-in-law of one of the anti-slickers. He simply avoided all the
proceedings. Another officer, Pleasant M. Wear, served throughout the Court
of Inquiry and most of the Court Martial and then refused to participate any
further. His refusal was noted in the minutes and the trial was finished
without him. Later, different minutes were made which did not mention his
name. Someone failed to destroy the original minutes, so the story is still
visible in the records.
All of this would have been familiar to the officials in benton County; a
bit of action in the field followed by a lot of action in the courts.
Except for the cashiering of Major Rains, not much would come of the various
suits. But Isom Hobbs would continue to behave normally. He was acquitted
of the old assault charge and assaulted another man the same day. He was
arrested again, and made bail again.
Hobbs behaved normally in another fashion; he talked too much. In may of
1843, to a room full of people and without naming names, he described how he
imagined Nowell had been killed. His message came through clearly, everyone
in the room felt he was describing what actually happened. In August,
piqued at something Tom Turk had said, he told Alexander Blue's teen-age son
that he had killed Nowell and repeated his belief that Tom was a coward. In
October, he told the story to another man, but went back later and tried
pretending he had been joking. He told another man "Tom Turk will not do
which gunpowder starts to burn."
Isom's rifle had been made by a man named Abraham C. Hart and had a silver
plate inscribed with that name on the barrel. Isom had always called the
rifle "old Abram", but when he did it now, people understood him to mean
that it was the gun used to kill Abraham Nowell. He made a point of saying
the rifle was accurate at ninety six yards (the distance from which Nowell
was shot).
Because of Isom's loose talk, a rift developed between Isom and the other
slickers. Shrtly after his harsh remarks to young Franklin Blue, Isom
assaulted the hapless Archibald Blue, the bachelor brother of Alexander.
Blue charged him with assault with intent to kill.
Alexander Blue was in a touchy position. He knew Isom had killed Nowell,
but he could not implicate Hobbs without incriminating his friend, Tom Turk.
He had another reason to keep quiet. Robert Turk, in the manner of young
men everywhere, had been bragging to the young Hobbs girls. He called his
rifle "Dobkins" apparently imitating Isom. Robert was subject to
convulsions, and started calling the seizures "Dobkins fits." if Alexander
Blue made any move against Isom Hobbs, the story about his brother Archibald
and Robert Turk killing Dobkins would come out. For the time being,
Alexander chose to remain silent about both incidents.
In September there was a curious episode near Warsaw. On the pretense of
searching for Andy Jones, a large group of Warsaw men searched the homes of
two local anti-slicker politicians, and then rode to the Samuel Yates home.
They tied him to a tree and whipped him with a leather strap. Yates filed
charges against thirty eight men. A trial was held and all but one of the
men were acquitted. The only man found guilty by the jury was one that
stayed behind to help free Yates from his bonds. One member of the jury, a
colossal liar, would later say the jury feared taking sides so they settled
on convicting just the one man.
This episode seems to have been mostly a political maneuver, a residue of
the hard feelings generated in Warsaw during the troubles. There is no
evidence that Andy Jones every returned to the area after April, 1842.
Jones was busy in Arkansas and Texas. Too busy, as it turned out.
(To be continued with Chapter 13).
Somehow I lost the letter someone sent on the Coffman Kessler line. I'm
curious as to where your Kessler line lived. I have an obit on a Kessler
in my Coffman family bible, but I think its just a coincidence. My bible
information came from Robert E. Coffman and Caroline Young Coffman. The
Kessler, was actually Carolines sister. This was in Fort Recovery, Mercer
Co. Ohio. Do you show any Young's in your line? Just curious. Sue
Funkhouser