The following appeared in an Aberdeen, South Dakota, newspaper, January 14, 1891.
Jefferson City, Mo., Jan. 13--A double murder occurred at Tuscumbia, Miller county, Missouri. Mrs. Freeman, proprietress of the Tuscumbia hotel; became enraged in a quarrel with a photographer named Fulkerson. She seized a shot-gun and fired at Fulkerson, the charge striking him in the chest, but not producing instant death. Fulkerson snatched the gun from the woman's hands and shot her in the head killing her instantly. Soon after he himself expired from the effect of his wound.
Monday, September 14, 2009
John Wilson's Whiskey
The following appeared in a Kansas City, Missouri newspaper, June 30, 1892.
The New York Sun publishes a story which appeared several years ago in the Jefferson City Tribune to the effect that, in 1822 John Wilson went from Ireland to Missouri and took up his abode in Miller county of this state where he lived in a large cave; and that on his death he was buried in a smaller cave close by, with a demijohn of the best liquor to be had, where he still reposes.
The story as now told in the hills and hollows of the Osage river country in the above, "with variations." The local annalist relates that Wilson was a remarkably tough citizen, who traded with the Indians, and was known to everybody, white and red, throughout a wide and wild region. He entertained all travelers who passed through the country, making it a point, however, never to ask a man his name, where he was going or whence he came. When Wilson was about to die, so the story goes, he directed that his abdominal cavity should (after his death, of course) be filled with salt--that being his idea of embalming; that his body should be placed in the little cave, with two jugs of whisky, one at his head and the other at his feet; and that the cave should then be sealed up with masonry. He further directed that at the expiration of a certain number of years the seplucher was to be opened by certain jolly good fellows and the jugs removed and the contents thereof drank and then the jugs, after being refilled, should be placed in the former positions; then the cave was to be sealed up again, and to so remain till the expiration of the second term of years. The story ran that these provisions were complied with at the expiration of the first period, but the arrival of the second anniversary found the Osage country all torn up by the civil war, and the pall bearers, mourners and friends of the late lamented so scattered that a reunion was impossible; so that, since then, the salted remains of the old pioneer have remained with the attendant jugs in the narrow resting place in the wild hills of the Osage.
To settle the truth of history in regard to old Wilson and his queer funeral an expedition might well be set on foot. If Wilson and his whisky should not be discovered, the explorers would still be repaid by the scenery of the most picturesque region in the state of Missouri.
The New York Sun publishes a story which appeared several years ago in the Jefferson City Tribune to the effect that, in 1822 John Wilson went from Ireland to Missouri and took up his abode in Miller county of this state where he lived in a large cave; and that on his death he was buried in a smaller cave close by, with a demijohn of the best liquor to be had, where he still reposes.
The story as now told in the hills and hollows of the Osage river country in the above, "with variations." The local annalist relates that Wilson was a remarkably tough citizen, who traded with the Indians, and was known to everybody, white and red, throughout a wide and wild region. He entertained all travelers who passed through the country, making it a point, however, never to ask a man his name, where he was going or whence he came. When Wilson was about to die, so the story goes, he directed that his abdominal cavity should (after his death, of course) be filled with salt--that being his idea of embalming; that his body should be placed in the little cave, with two jugs of whisky, one at his head and the other at his feet; and that the cave should then be sealed up with masonry. He further directed that at the expiration of a certain number of years the seplucher was to be opened by certain jolly good fellows and the jugs removed and the contents thereof drank and then the jugs, after being refilled, should be placed in the former positions; then the cave was to be sealed up again, and to so remain till the expiration of the second term of years. The story ran that these provisions were complied with at the expiration of the first period, but the arrival of the second anniversary found the Osage country all torn up by the civil war, and the pall bearers, mourners and friends of the late lamented so scattered that a reunion was impossible; so that, since then, the salted remains of the old pioneer have remained with the attendant jugs in the narrow resting place in the wild hills of the Osage.
To settle the truth of history in regard to old Wilson and his queer funeral an expedition might well be set on foot. If Wilson and his whisky should not be discovered, the explorers would still be repaid by the scenery of the most picturesque region in the state of Missouri.
A Miller County Bushwhacker Tale
The following appeared in a Columbus, Georgia newspaper, March 7, 1866.
Bushwhackers are very troublesome in upper Missouri. A few days ago the house of Mrs. Berry in Miller county, occupied by herself, two sons and a widowed daughter, was entered by two of these miscreants, who, after a few moments of friendly conversation, began firing on the party with their revolvers. Instantly killing the daughter and one of the sons. The other son and Mrs. Berry fled from the house and although fired at repeatedly, they contrived to escape unharmed. The fiends then set fire to the house, which burned to the ground, consuming the dead bodies within it.
Bushwhackers are very troublesome in upper Missouri. A few days ago the house of Mrs. Berry in Miller county, occupied by herself, two sons and a widowed daughter, was entered by two of these miscreants, who, after a few moments of friendly conversation, began firing on the party with their revolvers. Instantly killing the daughter and one of the sons. The other son and Mrs. Berry fled from the house and although fired at repeatedly, they contrived to escape unharmed. The fiends then set fire to the house, which burned to the ground, consuming the dead bodies within it.
The 1907 Houston Hatchet Murder
The following was published in a Kansas City, Missouri newspaper, May 7, 1907.
Aurora, Mo., May 7--John Barkoff is on trial in Texas county, Missouri, on a charge of murdering his father, and the case is attracting much attention in the southern part of the state. The crime was a brutal one and aroused much indignation.
George Barkoff, who was 70 years old, was found dead January 17 in his store in the little town of Huston. He had considerable property, including the store. He lived with his son, who is married. The two are known to have quarreled repeatedly, but so far as is known they always adjusted their differences amiably. It is not known that they had quarreled just previous to the death of the father.
The elder Barkoff was found dead in his store one morning. His head had been crushed with a hatchet and his throat cut. Apparently the store had been pillaged. Suspicion at once centered on the son, due in part to the fact that he declared his father had committed suicide. Physicians declared that this would have been an impossibility and the hatchet and the knife or razor with which the old man's throat was cut were not found. In spite of these things the son insists on the suicide theory.
A Son Accused of Murder
Aurora, Mo., May 7--John Barkoff is on trial in Texas county, Missouri, on a charge of murdering his father, and the case is attracting much attention in the southern part of the state. The crime was a brutal one and aroused much indignation.
George Barkoff, who was 70 years old, was found dead January 17 in his store in the little town of Huston. He had considerable property, including the store. He lived with his son, who is married. The two are known to have quarreled repeatedly, but so far as is known they always adjusted their differences amiably. It is not known that they had quarreled just previous to the death of the father.
The elder Barkoff was found dead in his store one morning. His head had been crushed with a hatchet and his throat cut. Apparently the store had been pillaged. Suspicion at once centered on the son, due in part to the fact that he declared his father had committed suicide. Physicians declared that this would have been an impossibility and the hatchet and the knife or razor with which the old man's throat was cut were not found. In spite of these things the son insists on the suicide theory.
The Siamese Twins of Texas County
The following was published in a Columbus, Ohio newspaper, March 3, 1849.
The Missouri Twins
These wonderful children are now being exhibited in St. Louis. They are the children of Mr. Benj. Ross, Texas county, Missouri, and were born on the 16th of December 1847. They are connected from the breast bone and abdomen, measure 20 inches in height, and weigh 20 pounds. Their connection is such that they stand face to face, heads coated over with fine black hair, and in all other respects perfect in form and features.--Missouri Statesman.
The Unfortunate Lot of Gertie Trost
The following account appeared in a newspaper in Olympia, Washington, April 14, 1904.
Washington, Iowa, April 14.--Clad in dresses scarcely clearing her knees, and with her dark brown hair falling in long curls over her shoulders, Gertie Trost, 11 years old, today filed a petition before Judge Scott for the annulment of her marriage with John Leeper, 60 years old, a resident of Brighton, Iowa, whom, she declared, she had been forced to wed when she was 9 years old.
The girl's story is a shocking revelation of the primitive theory of life that is followed by the scarcely civilized dwellers in the wild mountainous districts of Missouri. Two years ago, according to her story, she lived with her mother in one of the most inaccessible regions of the Ozark mountains, near Lebanon, Mo. She was then scarcely 9 years old. It was there she first met Leeper. He made a contract, of the details of which she is ignorant, with her mother. Leeper stayed in their cabin. Then a traveling preacher--Buck was his name, so far as the child could remember--came to the cabin. There was a ceremony, the nature of which she did not understand, and she was told that she was Leeper's wife. More than that, her mother told her, she said, that she was Leeper's slave and must obey him in all things so long as he lived.
Leeper was bent and crippled with age. He had already been married three times, the girl said, and she hated him, but did not disobey. Some months after their marriage Leeper returned to his home in Iowa. The girl put off the long dresses her mother had forced her to wear for the ceremony and was a child again.
About a month ago the old man sent for his child bride, and her mother sent her to him. Since then she has lived with a family near his home in Brighton. She begged the people with whom she lived to keep her from the man whom she detested. When they heard her story they refused to let her live with him. Angered, the old man threatened to send his child wife to a reform school unless she lived with him. Neighbors, indignant at the fate that had been forced upon the little girl, told her story to the authorities. County Attorney Balley refused to believe until he heard the story from the girl's lips. He brought the matter to the attention of Judge Scott, who today ordered the police to bring Leeper before him.
A Baby Bride Seeks Divorce. Child From Ozark Mountains in Missouri Tells Shocking Story in Iowa Court--Her Husband an Iowan Aged 60 Years.
Washington, Iowa, April 14.--Clad in dresses scarcely clearing her knees, and with her dark brown hair falling in long curls over her shoulders, Gertie Trost, 11 years old, today filed a petition before Judge Scott for the annulment of her marriage with John Leeper, 60 years old, a resident of Brighton, Iowa, whom, she declared, she had been forced to wed when she was 9 years old.
The girl's story is a shocking revelation of the primitive theory of life that is followed by the scarcely civilized dwellers in the wild mountainous districts of Missouri. Two years ago, according to her story, she lived with her mother in one of the most inaccessible regions of the Ozark mountains, near Lebanon, Mo. She was then scarcely 9 years old. It was there she first met Leeper. He made a contract, of the details of which she is ignorant, with her mother. Leeper stayed in their cabin. Then a traveling preacher--Buck was his name, so far as the child could remember--came to the cabin. There was a ceremony, the nature of which she did not understand, and she was told that she was Leeper's wife. More than that, her mother told her, she said, that she was Leeper's slave and must obey him in all things so long as he lived.
Leeper was bent and crippled with age. He had already been married three times, the girl said, and she hated him, but did not disobey. Some months after their marriage Leeper returned to his home in Iowa. The girl put off the long dresses her mother had forced her to wear for the ceremony and was a child again.
About a month ago the old man sent for his child bride, and her mother sent her to him. Since then she has lived with a family near his home in Brighton. She begged the people with whom she lived to keep her from the man whom she detested. When they heard her story they refused to let her live with him. Angered, the old man threatened to send his child wife to a reform school unless she lived with him. Neighbors, indignant at the fate that had been forced upon the little girl, told her story to the authorities. County Attorney Balley refused to believe until he heard the story from the girl's lips. He brought the matter to the attention of Judge Scott, who today ordered the police to bring Leeper before him.
Laclede County's First Woman Sherriff
The following was published in a Kansas City newspaper, January 27, 1912. I have not researched this further, but at this time, I believe that there is a good chance that Nancy Williams may be Laclede County's ONLY woman sherriff. If anyone knows different, please comment below, or email me at snoopdorkydork71@gmail.com.
Springfield, Mo., Jan. 27--Mrs. Nancy Hays Williams of Lebanon occupies the unique position of being the only woman sheriff in Missouri. The Laclede County Court held a special meeting today and appointed her to the place until a special election is held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husbnad, Sheriff W. J. Williams. Sheriff Williams died in a hospital here last week. Mrs. Williams will attend to the duties of sheriff for only a few weeks, however, as the special election will be held February 17. A lengthy petition was sent to the county court asking that Mrs. Williams be named until a successor is elected.
A Missouri Woman Sheriff. Until an Election is Held Mrs. Nancy Williams Will Serve in Laclede County
Springfield, Mo., Jan. 27--Mrs. Nancy Hays Williams of Lebanon occupies the unique position of being the only woman sheriff in Missouri. The Laclede County Court held a special meeting today and appointed her to the place until a special election is held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husbnad, Sheriff W. J. Williams. Sheriff Williams died in a hospital here last week. Mrs. Williams will attend to the duties of sheriff for only a few weeks, however, as the special election will be held February 17. A lengthy petition was sent to the county court asking that Mrs. Williams be named until a successor is elected.
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