The Falkenberg Story
Is she (the widow), the sister of Broer, Anders & Jan thus being the child of SINNICK BROER?
Although the FALKENBERG family line is not our (your Editors') direct line we are also interested in each and every collateral line. After all, they were the siblings of our direct line and related to us.
This particular FALKENBERG line, to me at least, was so very, very fascinating as I had heard the story of the young bride, Penelope VanPrincis, who later married into the STOUT line. It was also very, very interesting because of information I had received indicating it was this FALKENBERG who married the sister of Broer, Anders and Jan and they in turn were the children of our SINNICK BROER, the progenitor of the SINEX and SINNICKSON lines.
What more could I ask for - this was the greatest lead of all.
The following information was gathered at Salt Lake City from various books of New Jersey.
Tradition says that Henry Jacobs Falkinburg was a native of Holland, and that when he settled at Little Egg Harbor he came from Swedesboro, New Jersey. After Falkinburg had concluded his treaty with the natives, he dug a cave on his Down shore tract, on that portion which was later known as the Joseph Parker farm. About thirty years* ago the site of his cave was discernible by a deep indentation in the ground. The cave was situated on the easterly side of a little stream that runs through the Parker farm.
After completing his habitation he furnished it with a few really necessary articles of the rudest description. His table was a rude structure, yet it was loaded with fat venison, wild fowl, fish and oysters, the cooking of which he did himself. For a time he followed the varied occupations of hunter, fowler, fisherman, oysterman and housekeeper -- the latter being a branch of the business he became disgusted, and resolved on quitting the service, and going to look for one more competent for the housekeeping department. He was "Monarch of all he surveyed", and he sighed for "society, friendship and love", and one morning ere the sun had gilded the top of his cave, he arose from his rude couch, arrayed himself in his best home-made suit, partook of a hastily prepared breakfast, shouldered his musket, and set out on foot and alone for Swedesboro, N.J. this was a somewhat tedious and dangerous tramp through the wilderness infested with panthers, bears, wolves and wildcats, yet the pleasing reflection that he was about to meet with "society, friendship and love" served to keep up the courage of the solitary traveler.
Now we must recollect that FALKINBURG was a widower bound on a courting expedition, and also that widowers do not fancy long and tedious courtships.
On his return to Egg Harbor he brought his intended wife with him, and soon after arriving at his primitive habitation, he set about making preparations for his wedding, and invitations were given to all his Indian acquaintances on Monhunk (Osborn's Island), Minicunk (Wills' Island), and in other sections of Egg Harbor, and when the guests had assembled he and his fair bride married themselves (according to Friends' ceremony) in the presence of the Indian Kings, queens, ancient warriors and young braves, venerable squaws and back-eyed Indian maidens.
The first white child born in the township of Little Egg Harbor was Henry Jacobs Falkinburg, Jr. He was born in the cave where his father first set up housekeeping, and where he celebrated the first Quaker wedding that took place in that wilderness land. This young and first native Egg Harborman is said to have been the only child of his parents and the inheritor of all of his father's estate.
During most of his married life, Henry Jacobs Falkinburg, Jr. resided on Wills' Island farm. In the year 1731 Henry Jacobs Falkinburg, Jr. married PENELOPE STOUT of Shrewsbury, N. J. This Penelope Stout was a descendant and likewise namesake of the first PENELOPE STOUT who was maltreated by the Indians, but in spite of her murderous treatment, live to see one hundred and eleven years.
Henry Jacobs Falkinburg, Jr's children were John, David, Jacob, Henry, Hannah and Mary. He resided on the farm called Wills' Island, where he died about the close of the revolutionary war, his wife outliving him and reaching the age of one hundred and two years. This island farm had always been designated by the name of its proprietors. While the Falkinburgs possessed it, it was called Falkinburg's Island. The Indians called it Miniconk. The island was the principal Indian settlement in Little Egg Harbor.
John, son of Henry Jacobs Falkinburg Jr married Mary Somers. Their children were Samuel, John, Joseph, Somers, Hannah, Tabitha, Judith and Susanna.
David, son of Henry Jacobs Falkinburg Jr married Faith Cook.
Hannah, daughter of Henry Jacobs Falkinburg Jr in the year 1769 married Richard Buffin.
Hannah & Mary were married at the same place, same time, in the old Friends' meetinghouse at Tuckerton.
Jacob, son of Henry Jacobs Falkinburg Jr. married Phebe Southwick. Only two of Jacobs children have been accounted for, Charles and Caleb.
Henry, son of Henry Jacobs Falkinburg Jr was an idiot, and as he was not capable of making a judicious use of his property, his father did not leave him any of his landed estate, yet he left him a legacy sufficient for his support.
All of the ancient Falkinburgs left Egg Harbor except Samuel, son of Samuel, who was a first son of the first John Falkinburg. there is none of the Falkinburg posterity left in Egg Harbor, except the descendants of the above named Samuel Falkinburg. Captain Samuel Falkinburg was the son of Samuel Falkinburg and Alice Mathis, daughter of Nehemiah Mathis, Sr.
In the year 1715, when the Friends' Monthly Meeting was established at Little Egg Harbor, there was a resident female minister by the name of Mary Jacobs, and the Author of this story felt strongly in the belief that she was the wife of Henry Jacobs Falkinburg, who at that time was usually called Henry Jacobs.
*The book this article was taken from was Copyright 1963 and no other date at this time is available to the thirty years noted above.
THE PENELOPE STOUT STORY in part as follows:
She (Penelope Stout) was born at Amsterdam, her father's name was Vanprincis. She and her first husband, whose name is not known, sailed for New York (then New Amsterdam), the vessel was stranded at Sandy Hook, the crew got ashore, and marched towards said New York; but Penelope's husband being hurt in the wreck could not march with them, therefore, he and the wife tarried in the woods.
"They had not been long in the place before the Indians killed them both, as they tho't, and stripped them to the skinn: however, Penelope came to, tho' her skull was fractured, and her left shoulder so hacked that she could never use that arm like the other; she was also cut across the abdomen so that her bowels appeared; these she kept in her hand; she continued in this situation for seven days, taking shelter in a hollow tree, and eating the escrescense of it.
"the seventh day she saw a deer passing by with arrows sticking in it, and soon after two Indians appeared, who she was glad to see, in hope they would put her out of her misery; accordingly, one made towards her to knock her on the head; but the other, who was an elderman, prevented him; and throwing his match-coat about her, carried her to his wigwam, and cured her of her wounds and bruises; after that he took her to New York, and made a present of her to her countrymen, viz. an Indian present, expecting ten times the value in return . . .
It was in New York, that one Richard Stout, married her; he was a native of Old England, and of a good family; she was now in her 22nd year; and he in his 40th; she bore him seven sons and three daughters.
Regarding the often told story of Penelope and Richard Stout, alleged to be the first English residents in New Jersey as early as 1648,there are these facts. On the same page as the entry of Thomas
Whitlock in the Jersey Deed Books where he claims residence from 1664 there is this entry regarding the claim of Richard Stout: "Richard Stout of Midleton brings for his Rights from the yeare 1665 for himselfe, and his wife his two sons John and Richard 120 acres Each . . . Is . . . 480 acres."
In Gravesend, Long island, Town Records regarding richard Stout, these additional facts are revealed: Richard Stout was in Gravesend, as early as 1643. He received an allotment of land in Gravesend in 1646. In 1649 he sold his Gravesend crop for 210 Dutch guilders. By 1657 he had 17 of his 20 acres at Gravesend under cultivation. In 1661 he bought an adjoining farm. In 1663 he was plaintiff in a slander suit in Gravesend and won his case.
Notwithstanding that Richard Stout may not have come to live in Monmouth until 1665, as the record suggests, the Penelope Stout story is an exciting one and deserves a place in the history of the bay area, for it is on these shores that the scene is laid.
Of the many versions of the story, one in particular can be reconciled with most of the known facts. It is the story as told in 1792 by Morgan Edwards, in his book "Materials Towards a History of the Baptists in New Jersey." Morgan Edwards received his information from Rev. Olvier Hart, pastor of the Baptist Church in Hopewell, New Jersey, which Richard and Penelope Stout's son Jonathan, organized in 1715. Mr. Hart, in turn, got his data from "the mouths of her (Penelope) posterity", probably great grandchildren in 1780 or later.
REFERENCE: The History of Elizabeth, New Jersey, Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, New York, 1868; Material Towards a History of the Baptists in New Jersey, Morgan Edwards 1792; AND AMERICAN MARRIAGE RECORDS BEFORE 1699 Edited and Compiled by William Montgomery Clemens it shows the following on page 205
STOUT, Richard and Penelope Kent or Lent (widow of Von Printzen), 1634-5
Gravesend, L. I., N.Y.
NOTE: With reference to "widow of" this might have been meant to state "daughter of" per the article above stating her father was Van Princis.
NOTE: At the time I was researching this, I became so fascinated and absorbed in this story, that I missed checking the records that would indicate which son of Richard and Penelope Stout was the father of the Penelope Stout who married Henry Jacobs Falkinburg, Jr.
THE MYSTERY OF ROME WAUGHTEL
a/k/a JOHN J. BROWN
As a child and then as a young adult, I always enjoyed puzzles and mysteries. I have been told this is a beginning, or the makings, of a family genealogist or family historian. But there is a puzzle, a mystery, that I have not been able to complete or solve. The mystery of my grandfather Rome Waughtel and the using of the name John J. Brown for many years. What was the truth behind his using an alias? Was he a deserter from the Spanish American
Insurrection? Had he been married, and possibly still married, when he married the divorcee, Antoinette A. Roberts? Or did he think, or believe, the stepmother may have died and he and another brother might be blamed for her death, thus being a murderer? What was the real reason behind this alias of my grandfather? And will I ever know?
To go back in time, my grandfather, Rome, was the first child of John & Eliza Ann (Keith) Waughtel. He was born in Scipio, Jennings County, Indiana on the 14th day of February 1875. He was the eldest of 7 children. His mother died January 25, 1889 approximately 2 weeks before he turned 14. In July 1889 John Waughtel remarried. John Waughtel was always spoke of, by his children in their latter years, as a "no-good" who would take their money and spend the way he wanted to. The children oft-times went without shoes while working or attending school. The stepmother was, in the words of my grandfather & his brothers, a mean person. But then, how often have we heard this of a step-parent. One day, according to my grandfather, he and one of the brothers were "roughhousing" and throwing rocks and various other things at one another. One of whatever they were throwing, hit the stepmother and when the boys saw the blood coming from near her eye, they thought they had killed her, and ran. My grandfather often stated he never returned until 1932 (and this was in 1889 when they had left), and found his father had died that week. He had taken his wife, their son & daughter-in-law with their 2-week old son to meet his family, only to find it was too late. The stepmother was still living but I don't know what words may have passed between them. At the time I was told this story, I sat and listened, never asking.
Was this a reason? I don't think likely, since he enlisted in the military under his true name. Although this was 9 years later in December 1898 when he & his brother Clem enlisted in the military.
THEN another story goes that my grandfather deserted the army. I have a copy of his discharge papers although it states "Issued in lieu of lost" or words fairly similar. I remember him telling Bev & I that coming back on the ship (he was discharged at sea) they thought he was dead and had him ready to throw overboard and someone noticed his eye-lids flutter and brought him back to sickbed where he recovered. He then sometime later re-enlisted and was stationed at Fort McKenzie, near Sheridan, Wyoming. During this tenure of his service he again was in the hospital there and was told when he was released that he could leave, so he did. I am assuming that this was near the time for the second enlistment to terminate when he just "left". There was never another discharge for this 3 years service, at least none has been sent to me, but then I never asked if there was further information other than what they sent me. So I really don't know for sure which story, if either, is true. But he did receive a pension, he did live on land allotted to the Military, he did have use of the Military facilities at the Old Soldiers Home and he did have a Military funeral. I had the flag from his casket, and have given it to my oldest son. BUT they refuse to give him a headstone.
So where did this mystery begin? Will it be solved? Or can it be solved?
He is out of the Military in 1905. Sometime, between 1905 and 1907 he meets Antoinette A. Roberts, a woman who had just been granted a divorce after an 8 year marriage to a man who did not support her and was abusive to her. They were married May 24, 1907 under the names John J. Brown and Antoinette A. Roberts. They had my father, their only child, February 10, 1910 in Gillette, Wyoming. In 1916 still using the Brown alias, they sell their homestead in Wyoming and moved to Montana. How long did this alias continue? Letters in the Military file indicate in the 1930s they were using the Waughtel name. There is no birth record for my father under either Brown or Waughtel. My father married his first wife in 1929 under Waughtel. Somewhere between 1916 and 1929 they began using the Waughtel surname. Somewhere, sometime, the marriage record was changed from John J. Brown to Rome Waughtel. Same color ink, although it looked to have been erased and written over.
The mystery remains. Was he a deserter? Did he have a wife "back home" who might have passed on prior to their 1932 return to his home town and he felt safe in taking his wife and their family home. Or will we ever know the thoughts and actions behind this part of his life?
They may have been known as John J. Brown and Antoinette A. Roberts Brown but to me they were my grandparents, Rome and Antoinette Waughtel.
The Adoption of Antionette Ponsler
CIRCUIT COURT RECORD, in CHANCERY, COUNTY OF SHELBY, STATE OF ILLINOIS 12th MAY, A.D. 1875 Circuit Court Record Bk M - pg 119
At a term of the Circuit Court held in and for the County of Shelby and State of Illinois, at the Court House in Shelbyville, on the 12th day of May, A.D., 1875:
Present: the Hon. H. M. Vandeveer, Judge oc. In the matter of the petition of Daniel F. Augenstine and Frances Augenstine, his wife, for the adoption of a minor child known as Antoinette Ponsler.
This cause coming on to be heard upon the petition of the said Daniel F. Augenstine and Frances Augenstine, and it appearing to the Court that the said Antoinette Ponsler is a minor child and has no parents nor guardian, and that the nearest of kin to said child is its grandfather, Solomon Ponsler, and it appearing to the Court that the said Solomon Ponsler gave his full and free consent that the prayer of the petitioners may be granted, and that said Antoinette should be adopted by the said Daniel F. Augenstine and Frances Augenstine.
And it further appearing to the Court that the petitioners have sufficient ability to bring up said child and furnish suitable nurture and education for the same.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that from and after the date of this decree, the name of said child shall be changed from that of Antoinette Ponsler to that of Antoinette Augenstine, and that from henceforth said child shall become to all legal intents and purposes the child of Daniel F. Augenstine and Frances Augenstine.
John F. Aldrich )
et al. ) Specific Performance
ex parte ) Continued generally oc.
Thomas Burns Et al ) vs ) Partition
Antonius Veruier Et al) Continued generally
NOTE:
The above noted Antoinette Ponsler, (born to Caroline Ponsler, 17 year old unwed daughter of said Solomon Ponsler, who died in childbirth) and father unknown was my grandmother. It was only this year that I was able to find any adoption papers and had always thought my grandmother was raised by the Augenstine family, not legally adopted by them. I had written Shelby County courts for over 30 years trying to get some sort of adoption acknowledgement but to no avail. I would like to thank Eileen M. Bridges of Windsor, IL who saw my query online and went to
Shelbyville and found the record for me. Thank you so much, Eileen. Antoinette
Through this adoption, my grandmother had a step-sister Lottie Augenstine who married Harry Leitzell and they resided in Altamont, Illinois having a Photography Studio there; and a step-brother John Clyde Augenstine whom we called Uncle Clyde, but I have no further information on him.
Antoinette
AN ADOPTION
We accept you sweet little one,
We know there is nothing that you have done.
To bring about to you this fate,
But we're glad we're here 'fore it was too late.
Your life 'till now has been so sad,
And we hope in time that you'll be glad.
We've come to take you with us now,
So, come along and we'll show you how.
We have for you a real nice house,
We cleaned so clean you won't find a mouse.
We have a room just specially for you,
And a brother and sister to play with too.
There are lots of clothes and toys aplenty,
And many cupboards that are never empty.
There are cookies and breads you'll love to munch,
And lots of dollies you'll love a whole bunch.
But the best thing we have is for you too,
And that's our promise that we'll always love you.
So, dry your tears and let's get a start,
We've got lots to do to fill your heart.
Welcome to our family little one,
We really hope when all is said and done,
That you'll be pleased we chose you to be,
The newest member of our family.
by D. Kilroy for Antoinette
Richmond Jeffersonian
Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana
November 1, 1855
Wayne Co. Agricultural Steam Works
--
Messrs. Beard & Sinex
It will be seen by the list of Premiums, awarded
to citizens of Wayne county, published in another column, list our
fellow-townsmen, Messrs. Beard & Sinex, received six first class premiums on
agricultural implements, of their manufacture. Their "Great Western Plow",
received the first premium as the best Plow for Indiana. This Plow is an
improvement on their celebrated "Empire Plow", which has been so popular with
western farmers. The following were the rules adopted for governing the
committee in deciding upon the merits of Plows:
1st. The manner of
construction, materials, workmanship, durability, and price to be considered.
2d. Its capacity for lifting and turning over in the most perfect manner,
the greatest quantity of soil, with the least resistance, and leaving a proper
surface for seed sod after culture.
3d. Its peculiar adaptation to the
different soils of Indiana, and the most predictable to the farmer for general
use in plowing from six to ten inches deep in sod, stubble , clover and corn
stalk ground.
4th. To be the best adapted to either two or three bores
abreast.
On this ground their Great Western Plow was pronounced the best
by the committee.
They also received 1st premium on Corn Sheller, Straw
Cutter, and best lot Farming Tools. Their Straw Cutter is just the thing for
farmers -- it is easily kept in order, and works smoothly and rapidly.
The establishment of Messrs. Beard & Sinex, has recently been remodeled and
fitted up with new and additional machinery, and they are now prepared to fill
all orders in their line without delay. Their manufactures are a credit to
Indiana and are worth the attention of the farming community. Here farmers can
find superior Tools, of almost every description, adapted to their wants, as
Beard & Sinex, are far ahead of all others in their line, as will be seen by
reference to the State Fair Premium test.
Descendants of Early Plowmakers
Richmond Jeffersonian
Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana
November 1, 1855
Wayne Co. Agricultural Steam Works
-- Messrs. Beard & Sinex
It will be seen by the list of Premiums, awarded to citizens of Wayne county, published in another column, list our fellow-townsmen, Messrs. Beard & Sinex, received six first class premiums on agricultural implements, of their manufacture. Their "Great Western Plow", received the first premium as the best Plow for Indiana. This Plow is an improvement on their celebrated "Empire Plow", which has been so popular with western farmers. The following were the rules adopted for governing the committee in deciding upon the merits of Plows:
1st. The manner of construction, materials, workmanship, durability, and price to be considered.
2d. Its capacity for lifting and turning over in the most perfect manner, the greatest quantity of soil, with the least resistance, and leaving a proper surface for seed sod after culture.
3d. Its peculiar adaptation to the different soils of Indiana, and the most predictable to the farmer for general use in plowing from six to ten inches deep in sod, stubble , clover and corn stalk ground.
4th. To be the best adapted to either two or three bores abreast.
On this ground their Great Western Plow was pronounced the best by the committee.
They also received 1st premium on Corn Sheller, Straw Cutter, and best lot Farming Tools. Their Straw Cutter is just the thing for farmers -- it is easily kept in order, and works smoothly and rapidly.
The establishment of Messrs. Beard & Sinex, has recently been remodeled and fitted up with new and additional machinery, and they are now prepared to fill all orders in their line without delay. Their manufactures are a credit to Indiana and are worth the attention of the farming community. Here farmers can find superior Tools, of almost every description, adapted to their wants, as Beard & Sinex, are far ahead of all others in their line, as will be seen by reference to the State Fair Premium test.
The Palladium-Item
Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana
April 3, 1958
Descendants of Early Plowmakers Here First Time Since Childhood
Through an odd chain of events, an 80-year old Missouri widow whose father and grandfather were plow manufacturers in Richmond many years ago, Thursday obtained additional information about them through The Palladium-Item.
She is Mrs. Wayne McConnell of Hume, Mo., the former Jessie Sinex. Her father was Charles Sinex. Her grandfather was William Sinex.
The firm of plowmakers in the mid-1800s was known originally as Beard & Sinex (Solomon Beard and William Sinex).
Later it became the Sinex Plow company with William Sinex as president and his sons, John B. and Charles as vice-presidents.
In the early 1880's, their place of business was at 174-176 Fort Wayne avenue.
Mrs. McConnell is traveling with her daughter, Mrs. David Williams, enroute from Missouri to the Williams home in Cleveland.
"We have driven back and forth many times over the years but never came through Richmond, my birthplace", Mrs. McConnell said. "I have never been back since leaving as a very small child".
This time they decided to go through Richmond. Wednesday night they checked in at the Richmond motel, at the east edge of Centerville. They thought the town was Richmond.
Learned Of Mistake
"When we learned of our mistake, we checked out and explained to the motel operator why we particularly wanted to stay in Richmond.
"When we told him about my mother's father, he said he remembered reading something about him in your newspaper," Mrs. Williams told a newsman at the Palladium-Item office.
They were shown an article in the History Scrapbook column of Apr. 17, 1957, which contained a picture of a plow made by the old Beard & Sinex plowmaking firm, which won a top prize in the 1856 State fair. It was the new steel plow, "The Great Western".
Later the firm, then the Sinex Plow company, made the old Empire steel plow.
The two were given a copy of the paper.
Among mementos which the family has at Hume, Mo., are some bills of sale of the old Sinex Plow company.
Mrs. McConnell said her father died when she was three and her mother when she was only four. She was taken to rear by a maternal grandmother, Mrs. Eliza Sebring, of Hume, Mo.
Mrs. Sebring at one time lived at Greenville, Ohio. She was originally Eliza Anderson Martin and was married twice.
"It was their home which was ordered condemned to make space for the Darke county courthouse", Mrs. McConnell said.
The two went from Richmond to Greenville for a look around there.
Mrs. McConnell's husband who died 20 years ago, was a Missouri hardware and implement dealer. Mrs. Williams' husband is an engineer for a Cleveland crankshaft concern.
There are two sons of Mrs. McConnell, Willard of Lebanon, Mo., and Merle of Ottumwa, Iowa, in addition to another daughter, Mrs. Walter Northcott of Bakersfield, Calif.
"Father carved a wooden plow for me, about three inches long," Mrs. McConnell said. "My daughter, Mrs. Northcutt, has it now."
__________________________________
Billy Walker's Old Mill
An Old Mill
written by Wilbur Ashabramer
8th grade Hickory Grove School, Pekin, Indiana
January 18, 1916
The old mill I am going to describe was owned by Old Billy Walker and his son Thomas.
It was about one half of a mile south of the Charleston road, and about three quarter or a mile west of Hickory Grove school house.
It was on the place which is now owned by Winnie McCoskey which he purchased from T. J. Walker, the son of Thomas Walker.
Our school Christmas tree last year came off the spot where the mill did stand. It has grown up since the mill has burned down.
The building which was about thirty feet wide and about fifty feet long was about one hundred yards south of the public road [which] passes here such as driving east [ ] west. The mill was located just east of a large and very steep hill it was on a small strip of land at the foot of the hill between the hill and a large branch which furnished water to fill up a large pond under the mill which furnished a water supply for the engine.
The engine was old fashioned with a large boiler in one place and the engine in another connected with a large pipe.
The burs was old fashioned and very tall and some four or five feet across. The burs were of course they were of stone which Old Mr. Walker put in about one half a day in every week picking so they would grind faster and finer.
There were also a saw mill run by the same engine and under the same shed or building.
The saw was an old fashioned sash saw almost like our cross cut saw. It was run by an iron rod or pitman like a pitman on a mowing machine.
The saw was run much like the sicle of a mowing machine and the teeth was turned up so the logs had to be taken upstairs or up in the loft and let down end ways and drawn back up by the machinery.
The saw wouldn't cut to the end of the log so when it got about two or three inches of the end someone would pull on it and split it on off. There are some plank at my home yet that has been sawed off by the old mill.
I was up to Nancy Walkers the daughter of Old Mr. Walker when she was having her house covered and I noticed the sheeting and rafters had been sawed on it.
I nosed around a little and soon saw that most all the out building was built of the same. The lumber was all poplar and from one to three feet across. This mill was built somewhere between 1800 and 1860 and it burned down between 1896 and 1900. After the [------] the log carriage was invented people didn't think it would work for they thought the logs had to be took up in the loft and let down.
The engine was sold for old iron and the boiler was took to Borden and is there yet in a mill.
The burs and old saw mill was destroyed someway I know not how.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was sent to me when I wrote for some information on William S. Walker, the above mentioned Old Billy Walker. "Old Billy Walker" is my 3rd great grandfather. Thomas Walker and his son T. J. Walker were my 2nd great uncle and 1st cousin three times removed, respectively. I thought this was a "cute" story written by an 8th grade student of the times, and gave me insight to my ancestor through the eyes of someone who may not have known him personally, but knew members of his family, and the story of "The Old Mill". It gave "life" to the times.
I have typed it verbatim and there were areas that I could not make out a word, or in one instance a piece of paper was torn completely away.
Antoinette Waughtel Sorensen.
Dr. John Doy
Dr. John Doy, who had been imprisoned on the charge of kidnapping slaves from Missouri into Kansas. The party reached Lawrence in safety, and there the picture, of which is a copy, was taken, amid the plaudits of the populace. No effort was made for the re-imprisonment of Doctor Doy, nor were his rescuers molested.
1859
|
January 25 |
Dr. John Doy and his son Charles arrested in Kansas with thirteen fugitives and taken to Weston, Missouri, for trial. |
|
March 4 |
Trial of Dr. John Doy of Lawrence. Although the first jury cannot agree on a verdict, he is convicted of ?negro stealing? at a second trial in June and sentenced to five years in prison. |
|
July 23 |
Doy is ?rescued? from a St. Joseph jail by a group of Kansas men. |
Kansas City Times,
May 3, 1954
A Sensational Jail Delivery in St. Joseph
Freed Dr. John Doy, An Abolitionist
Dr. Doy was the first party sent out by the New England Emigrant Aid Society in Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence quickly became the best-advertised anti-slavery town in the world, and a gathering place for slaves and freeborn Negroes. Many slaves were kidnapped and returned to their owners for $100 or were sold to others for half the market price.
Because of this activity the Underground Railroad was organized to hide and transport fugitive slaves north to freedom.
Dr. Doy was assigned to take thirteen Negroes as far as Holton. He used two wagons, one driven by his son Charles, the other by a young farmer named Clough.
Their plans were discovered and they were captured by pro-slavery men and taken to Weston, Missouri. Young Clough was released. Dr. Doy and his son were charged with kidnapping slaves and kept in a cell of boiler iron, eight feet square, for four months, then transferred to Platte City. They were put in a cell with other prisoners, among them a drunken Irishman, who when released carried a note to the Leavenworth Times. That was the first news the Doys' friends in Kansas had of them.
Kansans went into action. The new territorial Legislature appropriated $1,000 and sent lawyers to defend Dr. Doy. These lawyers asked for a change of venue. To their surprise the request was granted. The prisoners were transferred to St. Joseph.
The trial at St. Joseph was a farce. Charles Doy was released, but his father was held for $5,000 bond which none of the Kansas friends dared go to Missouri to furnish. In June he was tried again, and sentenced to five years in the penitentiary in Jefferson City.
To his friends in Lawrence that meant he must be rescued before being committed. A rescue party was organized, led by Maj. James Abbott. In absolute secrecy, he picked nine men on whom he could rely (including Joseph Gardner). On July 20, 1859, he (Gardner) and Silas Soule, one of the nine, mounted their horses and rode quietly out of Lawrence. The others were to follow in two "Pike's Peak" wagons and meet them at Elwood, just across the Missouri River from St. Joseph. They were to pose as disappointed gold seekers, back from the West, trying to sell their teams and wagons.
The meeting at Elwood was effected early on a Friday morning. To their keen disappointment W. D. Wilder, for whom Major Abbott had a letter, was out of town. They knew no one else in Elwood in whom they could confide, so they crossed to the Missouri side and Major Abbott took S. J. Willis and made a call on Dr. Grant, publisher of a free-state newspaper. After the necessary sparring to learn how Dr. Grant stood, Major Abbott disclosed his purpose. Dr. Grant immediately offered his help.
The rest of Friday they milled around St. Joseph, the sale of the wagons giving an excuse for them to apparently dicker together. The original plan had been to take one of their number to the jail around midnight and represent him as a captured horse thief, thus gaining entrance. Dr. Grant upset that plan, saying that he understood that prisoners captured after dark were taken to the city calaboose instead of the jail. So they sent Silas Soule to the jail on Saturday morning, carrying a suitcase. He was to say he was passing through and Mrs. Doy begged him to try to deliver a message to her husband.
The jailer obligingly led Soule to the cell where Dr. Doy was confined with other prisoners. Soule stretched out the message as long as possible, to give him time to size up the situation. Finally, managed to slip Dr. Doy some twine and a (piece of) paper which read: "Tonight, at midnight."
But the report he carried back was very discouraging. The Kansans were mulling over the gloomy prospect when Dr. Grant appeared with good news. He told them he had learned that prisoners taken outside the city after dark would be admitted to the jail. He also, advised them to change the hour from midnight to 11 o'clock - city lights would go out then and they could mingle with the crowds from the theaters and more easily escape detection.
They went back to the original plan. Thomas Simmons was chosen for the horse-thief. Hands bound, he was taken by his captors, S. W. Willis and Joseph Gardner, to the jail at 10:45.
At their loud knocking the jailer stuck his head out from an upstairs window. He came down, but was reluctant to accept the prisoner without a warrant. They finally convinced him that they had had no time to get a warrant. They had taken out after the prisoner at once when they discovered the theft, and had captured him six miles outside the city.
Simmons put on a good act, and the jailor took him to the common cell and ordered him to go in. There was a drawing of a skeleton on the far wall of his cell and Simmons put on another good act, refusing to enter. While this argument was going on Gardner asked, casually: "Is that nigger stealer, Daw, or Day, or something like that, here?"
Dr. Doy came forward at that, his few belongings tied with the twin that had been given him. Immediately the "horse thief" drew his hands free. The three men presented pistols, Willis told the jailer:
"We came to take Dr. Doy away. Let him out and open the front door for us. As soon as we are outside, lock the doors, put out all the lights, and keep quiet 'til morning. We are leaving a strong guard and any violation of these instructions will be punished."
Actually the only guard was the jailer's fears. He protested violently, but complied.
The others in the rescue party were outside. Grant had seen to it that two boats were waiting for them at the Missouri River. They crossed quickly and found their wagons, again thanks to Dr. Grant. Soon they were on the way to Lawrence, covering quite a distance before stopping for breakfast at a place John Stewart, one of the nine, had arranged for.
About 10 that morning (Sunday) they found that they were being followed by six or seven armed men, who kept a steady half-mile behind. When they stopped at noon to eat, this posse stopped also. Then one of the group started walking toward them. He tried, by his questions, to find out if Dr. Doy was with them, and what their strength was. When they started up again they "persuaded" their visitor to ride along with them. Late in the afternoon, they set him down by the side of the road with instructions to advise his fellows not to follow. That was the last they saw of the posse.
That, however, did not wholly free them of uneasiness. About 10 o'clock that night they found their way to a farmhouse a bit off the road, near what was then Grasshopper Falls. They spent the night there quite comfortably. Fearing that the men who had followed them might get reinforcements at Lecompton, they sent a rider to Capt. Jesse Newell at Osawatomie, asking that he provide an escort from his rifle company. This he did.
Reaching Lawrence about 6 p.m., they found the streets lined with excited citizens. A St. Joseph paper had reached them an hour before carrying the news.
The jailer had argued, when forced to free Dr. Doy, that he would be charged with connivance. He was told that as soon as they got back to Lawrence they would send in their story, completely exonerating him. That was done.
Even the boats commandeered to take the party across after the rescue, were returned to their rightful owners.
Kreb
Murder Trial
Atchison Daily Globe
Atchison, Kansas
December 17. 1898
Kills Her Husband's Housekeeper.
Junction City, Kas., Dec. 17. -
Mrs. Lizzie Craig, housekeeper for John Krebs, who lives six miles north of
here, was found last evening with her throat cut. Suspicion is directed to
Krebs' wife from whom he was parted and who visited the farm that day.
___________________________
The Emporia Daily Gazette,
(Emporia, KS)
December 19, 1898; col G
A KANSAS WOMAN MURDERED.
The Body of Mrs. Craig Found in Her Home Near Junction City.
Junction City, Kan., Dec. 19. -
Mrs. Lizzie Craig, who was keeping house for John Krebs on a farm six miles
north of this place was found in the house with her head nearly severed from her
body last night by Krebs when he came in from husking corn. The sheriff was
notified and a coroner's jury is now investigating the matter. No arrests have
yet been made. Two or three persons are suspected of the murder.
___________________________
Salt Lake Semi-Weekly Tribune
(Salt Lake City, UT)
December 20, 1898
pg. 14; Issue 83; col G
HEAD ALMOST SEVERED.
HORRIBLE MURDER OF A WOMAN IN KANSAS.
Found in a Farm House with Her Throat Cut --Tragedy is Shrouded in Mystery
Junction City, Kan., Dec. 17. -
Mrs. George Craig, a married woman, about 30 years of age, who has been keeping
house for John Krebs, a farmer, has been murdered at the farmhouse. Her throat
was cut from ear to ear, and then her neck cut around, leaving the bone only to
support the head. Her hands showed that there had been a struggle. The
butcher-knife had been drawn through her hands, cutting the palms.
The tragedy is shrouded in mystery. Krebs is said to have been living with the
woman, and the wife of Krebs is said to have been very jealous of the Craig
woman.
Mrs. Krebs walked out to the farm, stayed there with the murdered woman from
2:30 to 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and then walked back to town. Krebs was in
the field husking corn, and at 5 o'clock came in and found the Craig woman dead.
No arrests have been made as yet.
___________________________
Atchison Daily Globe
January 18, 1899
Mrs. John Krebs' trial for the murder of Mrs. Lizzie Craig began at Junction
City yesterday. Mrs. Krebs went home from a hospital in the fall, and during the
absence of the husband in the fields, Mrs. Craig, who had been his housekeeper
during his wife's absence, was killed. Mrs. Krebs is accused of the crime . . .
.
___________________________
Denver Evening Post
Friday, January 20, 1899
page 3
PUBLIC SENTIMENT FAVORS AN ALLEGED MURDERESS
Junction City, Kan., Jan. 20 --
Public sentiment is beginning to favor Mrs. Agatha Krebs, who is on trial here
on a charge of murdering Mrs. Craig, who was housekeeper for Krebs during the
absence of his wife. No damaging testimony has yet been adduced against the
woman.
___________________________
Denver Evening Post
Saturday January 28, 1899
page 10
MURDER IN SECOND DEGREE
Kansas Jury Declares That Mrs. Krebs Killed Mrs. Craig.
Junction City, Kan., Jan. 28. -
The jury in the case of Mrs. Agatha Krebs, charged with the murder of Mrs.
Craig, after being out twelve hours, this afternoon brought in a verdict of
murder in the second degree. Mrs. Krebs was in poor health and was away from
home under a physician's care. During her absence her husband engaged Mrs. Craig
as housekeeper. Mrs. Krebs visited her husband's home, and he left the two women
alone together. Some time later Mrs. Craig was found.
___________________________
The Butte Weekly Miner,
(Butte, MT)
February 02, 1899
pg. 2; Issue 4; col D
Ten Years for Murder
Junction City, Kan., Feb. 1.
Mrs. John Krebs, who was convicted of murdering Mrs. Lizzie Craig Dec. 18, was
sentenced today by Judge O. L. Moore to hard labor in the state penitentiary for
10 years. In reply to the court's question whether she had anything to say why
the sentence of the court should not be pronounced upon her, she replied that
she had not and received sentence without the slightest trace of emotion.
___________________________
The Emporia Daily Gazette,
(Emporia, KS)
February 9, 1899; col E
Now It Is John Krebs
Junction City, Kan., Feb. 9. -
Yesterday afternoon John Krebs, husband of the woman who was last week sent to
the penitentiary for murdering her husband's housekeeper, was arrested on a
charge of adultery. The murdered woman, Mrs. Lizzie Craig, kept house for Krebs
at the farm, and the state charged that it was jealousy that induced Mrs. Krebs
to commit the murder.
___________________________
Emporia, Kansas Daily Gazette
Wednesday February 15, 1899
page 1
John Krebs Fined $50.
Junction City, Kan., Feb. 15. -
John Krebs, husband of the woman who was convicted of murdering his
housekeeper, and whose hearing on the charge of adultery was set for yesterday,
pleaded guilty and was fined $50, which he paid.
___________________________
Name: Theresa (Mrs.) Krebs
Print Date: Oct. 23, 1902
Event: Pardon
Place: Leavenworth
Notes: pardoned by governor for murder of "Lizzie" Craig Dec. 16, 1896 in
Junction City
___________________________
