Eastern Pennsylvania State Penitentiary

https://www.easternstate.org/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary

The link above states that Eastern Pennsylvania State Penitentiary was once the most expensive and famous prison in the world.   Al Capone and a few other notorious criminals spent some time there.  Check out the excellent virtual tour of the prison on their site.

According to smithsonianmag, the penitentiary opened in 1829 and was a "technological marvel" with central heat, flush-able toilets and shower baths in each cell.

I am going to quote directly from the Smithsonian site about the first prisoner, Charles Williams:

"Charles Williams, a farmer sentenced to two years for theft, would be inmate number one. On October 23, 1829, Williams was escorted into the new prison with an eyeless hood placed over his head. This was done to secure his anonymity and eventual integration into society upon release, as no one would recognize his face from the prison. But it also served another purpose: to ensure that there would be no chance at escape, as Williams would never see the prison beyond his private cell. Communication with guards was done through a small feeding hole. The inmates lived in complete isolation, with a Bible their only possession, and chores like shoe-making and weaving to occupy their time."  (Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/eastern-state-penitentiary-a-prison-with-a-past-14274660/)

Supposedly Charles Dickens visited the prison in 1842 (smithsonianmag.com) and wasn't impressed with the solitary confinement.  In 1913, due to population growth and a change of philosophy, prisoners started sharing cells and more group activities were permitted.

James Stark Hay's (my gg-grandfather) experience there was more than likely like Charles Williams-meaning he spent a year in solitary confinement for theft (larceny.)

Source: https://www.easternstate.org

James Stark Hay, Part 1

James Stark Hay was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to Samuel Hay and Julia Mock (I am attempting to confirm this with better documentation than I currently have.)  He was born February 22, 1850 in Wilksbarrel, Luzerne Co, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Hay died around 1850, so James would not have known his father.  James's mother Julia never remarried after the death of her husband (as far as I can tell) and she died prior 1870 (see below.)

The 1860 census states that James was 12 years old.  This would be incorrect if he was born in 1850.  I believe the information is incorrect, since the ages of others in this family are also incorrect when compared to the 1850 census.

According to Pennsylvania, Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829-1971 (ancestry), on September 7, 1867 James was convicted of Larceny and sent to Pennsylvania's Eastern State prison for a year.   James' parents were both deceased by the time he was sent to prison.

Pennsylvania, Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829-1971

The record states that James was "occasionally intemperate."  I imagine prison life in 1867 was tough and his "intemperate" behavior was not unusual.  See my post on Eastern Pennsylvania State Prison.

John W. Peterson-Scoundrel?

UPDATE:  6/6/2019  See the end of this post for an update.

Several years back I was researching my Jones ancestry and I came across some information that my 2nd great-grandfather George W. Jones was not really a Jones.  He was in fact a Peterson.  This particular Peterson is not related to my paternal Peterson side but is on my Mother's side.

Supposedly, a John Peterson was going to marry the widow Catherine DeWesse Jones (my 3rd great-grandmother) in 1859 but backed out the last second.

Catherine DeWesse was first married to James Jones in 1834 in Ohio and had at least seven children with him.  James Jones died in 1848 leaving Catherine a widow with all seven minor children.  Ten years later in 1860 Catherine DeWesse Jones was the head of the household with three of her sons and a small boy named George W. Jones, age 1.  My first thought was that this George Jones was a grandson, but I learned later on that he was in fact Catherine's boy, born when she was 39 years old.

I was able to make contact with other Jones researchers who confirmed that George W. Jones was in fact Catherine's son and that the father was a John W. Peterson.  It wasn't until recently that I was able to confirm this story through a court document.

John Peterson and Catherine Jones had planned on getting married in 1859 and even applied for a license (see pic.)  For some reason the marriage never happened.  George W. Jones was born in April of 1859.   Clearly, John Peterson and Catherine Jones were more than just friendly neighbors-According to the Adams Co., IN 1860 census, they lived close to each other.

So the question is:  Why didn't the marriage happen?  It seems natural to think that John Peterson didn't want to follow through since Catherine would have had a lot of pressure to marry the man who got her pregnant.

Is John W. Peterson a scoundrel?  It would be hard to pin that label on him without more information.  It is possible that he wasn't the father and decided to not marry her when he found out she was pregnant or maybe Catherine didn't want the marriage and refused.  I will probably never know.

I have wondered what life was like for Catherine and George.  Considering the time (1860s) children born to women who were not married were often mistreated by society and family.  Yet, it seems that George's half brothers and sisters embraced him and he grew up in a healthy environment and love.  That is good.

In the meantime, I am hoping that through DNA I will be able to see if John W. Peterson is in fact my 3rd great-grandfather.

______________________________________________________________________________

Recent DNA results from ancestry says that John W. Peterson is in my family tree.  Hopefully more links will be established so I can be more confident in these results.

A Ruined lady

I've often imagined a world where in the past people were more honest, trustworthy and moral.  In my research, I've learned that my ancestors were probably just good at concealing their true nature.  Of course, societal norms made it difficult to "act" a certain way in public and people had to put on a facade to conceal their hidden selves.  Today, we don't have such a burden.  Just tap into any part of social media and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Life was different in the 1800's.  People were not suppose to have sexual intercourse outside of marriage.  Women were not supposed to be pregnant if they were not married.  If a women became pregnant, she was considered "ruined."

Here is an interesting article from November 10, 1893 from The Cincinnati Enquirer regarding Kitty O'Brien who was "ruined" and became pregnant.  There is more to this story that is worth looking at, but for this post, I want to focus on the perception that Kitty had about having sex with a man she wasn't married to.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

When I started on this journey of seeking my family history in 1993, I had no idea how much fun, effort and time it would take to get to the point where I am today.  It should be every genealogist goal, no matter their skill level to go back as far as possible. I've loved the journey so far, but the real fun is learning about what your family did or who they were as people.

In my case, most lived a quiet existence, struggling to make a living and at times dealing with tragedy.  Some would call it a ho-hum life.  I understand that existence, but I've also tasted some of the grandeur of life and what is available for those who have the courage to work for it.

Then there are those scoundrels or Low-life abusers and cheaters.  These add flavor to our history.  Some we can laugh at and some we find disgusting.  But in the end, we have to say they are ours and try and make sense of their world.

My maternal and paternal lines have a slightly different story to tell.  Most of my maternal ancestors lived in the Northern half of the United States and my Paternal ancestors hailed from the southern states.  

In the posts to come, I will tell some of their stories.

When Bertha met Harry

Last updated on 2/24/19

Bertha Jones was the daughter of George W. Jones and Rhuama Alzina Morehead.  She was born 14 Feb. 1887 in Van Wert Co., Ohio.

On the 28th of May 1907, she married Harry Samuel Hay in Portland, Indiana.  Harry Samuel Hay was a local baseball celebrity.  I imagine he had a few groupies-he wasn't a bad looking guy.

Bertha and Harry had six children:  Orville (1908), Harry (1910), Katherine (1913), Aletha (1917), Helen (1918) and Margaret (1920.)

The notice of their marriage made the rounds through area papers and some said that Bertha Jones was "one of the best-known young ladies of the Crown City."

"Crown City" sounds like a casino or maybe a large hotel where there is a lot of entertainment, but Crown City is what local newspapers referred to the City of Dunkirk.

The Indianapolis New, 29 May 1907

Great Umpire calls Sammy Hay "Out!"

Harry Hay's last couple of years were tragic.  His wife, Bertha Jones Hay died the year before from an accident at work (see newspaper clip at bottom of this post.) Family tradition says that Harry Samuel Hay had Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)-A nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function.  His obituary says that he was suffering from paralysis prior to his death, so it was possible that he did have ALS.

The Indianapolis Star, 24 Jan. 1924

The Submarine

According to baseball reference (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pitches#Pitching_motions), The submarine pitching style comes from an arm angle even lower than sidearm. Before releasing the ball, the pitcher drops his shoulder towards the earth and whips his arm, much like a softball pitcher. Depending on the pitch used, the ball might have little to a lot of movement. Submarine pitchers are most effective against same-handed batters because the ball looks like it is rising or running in on the hands. Submarine pitching can still be effective on opposite-handed batters because of the tailing action which makes the ball run away from the batter.


Harry Hay apparently was pretty good at it. According to The San Antonio Light, he won 50 of 54 games in one season.  The Indianapolis News reports this same news under the title, Pitcher Hay's Record Good and adds an extra line that says (in bold) "...pitched fifty-four games last season and won all but four of them, according to the records as kept by himself."

San Antonio Light, 26 December 1907 

The Muncie Evening Press (Indiana) said that Harry Hay's "raise ball is known and feared all over Indiana" (2 June 1907.)  The "raise ball" or the upshoot was a pitch thrown by "....submarine-style pitchers...it is essentially an inverted sinker" according to Peter Morris, author of A game of Inches: The Story Behind The Innovations That Shaped Baseball.

I don't really know if Harry Hay was ever given a tryout with the Cincinnati Reds, but he must have been good enough to at least generate the rumors.  Check out this article from the Palladium-Item (Richmond, Indiana) from October 18, 1907 that thought it might happen.

When Harry Hay's death was reported, several different newspapers reported that he did play big lead baseball.  I contacted someone from the Reds organization and they said they had no record of a Harry Hay playing for them.  My personal opinion is that he didn't play for the Reds-he just pitched against them and won.  

Alton Evening telegraph, 6 May 1924

Other newspapers that reported that Harry Hay played ball for the Cincinnati Reds were Des Moines (IA), Oakland Tribune (CA), Casper Star-Tribune (WY), Chicago Tribune and several other Indiana & Illinois newspapers.  My assumption is that the original source was just repated over and over and never verified.  An early example of fake news?

Harry Hay-The Underhand Wonder

I figure it's time for me to delve into my mother's side of the family tree.  My mother's side has a cast of interesting characters that is worthy of some time here.

First up?  Harry Samuel Hay (see Orville Cedrick Hay's Family Tree)

Harry Samuel Hay was son of James Stark Hay and Lutisha Eller.  He was born 24 Nov. 1878 in La Porte County, Indiana.  He married Bertha Jones (daughter of George W. Jones and Rhuama Alzine Morehead.)

Harry Hay's life would be unremarkable except for one thing...He was an underhand minor league pitcher who beat the Cincinnati Reds twice.

The Indianapolis News, 27 Feb. 1908

Here is a short blurb that gives a tease before the first meeting between the Reds and Harry's team:

Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 June 1907

The first game, Dunkirk (Harry's team) won 12-7.  The second game seemed to be more of a pitcher's duel.  Of course, we don't know if the reds played their regulars in these games, but it looks good in the paper.

The Indianapolis News, 10 Oct. 1907

Lawson Murder Trial-The Defense

Good Lawyers, for those accused of murder are probably difficult to come by since those you are defending are not always innocent.  Defending someone who may be guilty of murder, especially murder of a child would require someone who is dedicated to the "fair trial" concept and to the idea that the burden is on the prosecution to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In case of the Lawson trial-in which they all were acquitted the defense was made up of some interesting characters who had their own issues.  I'm posting some articles about each and letting these articles speak for themselves,

First up is...

Next up is 

Finally, The Ugly man William C. Kelly

Place Names

Last updated on 2/12/2019

Arkansas

Thompson:  Thompson was a small community that consisted of a store, a post office, a railroad stop, a tie yard, and a full community center.  It was located near a ford on the White River in Northwest Arkansas.  The White River was probably a creek at this location.  Supposedly the town got it's name from Lewis W. Thompson who built the store in 1884.  The town no longer existed after the Second World War.

Sources:  History of the Thompson Townsite, Madison County Musings, Winter 1998 & Boston Mountains Still Echo Sounds of Vanished Hamlets, Northwest Arkansas Times, 26 Oct. 1975.

Missouri

Nevada: Nevada is the county seat of Vernon County, on the main line of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway and on the Lexington Southern and the Nevada & Minden divisions of the Missouri Pacific Railway, 107 miles south of Kansas City and 280 miles west of St. Louis.  It lies in the heart of an exceedingly rich agricultural, stock and fruit region, and overlies extensive beds of bituminous coal.   Source:  The Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, Vol. IV, 1901

Vada: Roy Peterson lived in Vada, Missouri when he met Bertha Lawson.  Vada is a small community in Texas County, Missouri.  According to Texas County Place Names, 1928-1945, a post office was located there from 1918 to 1929 and Vada is a shortened form of Nevada Jackson, the postmaster's daughter. 

Lawson Murder Trial-1896

My grandfather, Roy Peterson married Bertha Ellen Lawson in Texas County, Missouri.  Bertha

Lawson was the daughter of JOHN FRANKLIN LAWSON and Nora Mezo.  The Lawson family wasn't originally from Texas County, Missouri, but were from the neighboring counties of Phelps and Pulaski.

In late 1896 to early 1897, John Lawson (mentioned above) was in the middle of a murder trial where his mother and uncles were accused of murdering one of John's playmates.

To help follow the names mentioned in the tale, refer to the family on the right.

• William Hamilton Lawson (called "Hamilton" or "Ham" Lawson)
• Martha Alexander Lawson
• Jacob Lawson (called Jake)
• Andrew Lawson (called Andy)
• Rack Lawson (son of Andrew Lawson)

The details of the murder and trial was reported by the Rolla Herald (Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri) over a two year period.

1896

6 Aug. 1896:  A Brutal Murder:  An 11-year-old Boy's Throat Cut and His Body Thrown in a Pond.

     The neighborhood about midway between Relfe and Spring Creek, in the southwestern part of Phelps county was greatly excited last Tuesday when the body of little 11-year-old Frank Wade, son of William Wade, was found in a small pond about 250 yards from the home of Hamilton Lawson, a neighbor, lacerated, nude and cold in death.  The throat was cut from ear to ear.
     Frank Wade and an older brother went to Ham. Lawson's on the Sunday before to play with the Lawson boys.  Frank then went to Andy Lawson's to get his son Rack, aged about 10 years, to come over and play with them.  This was in the morning.  Rack and Frank after a time left the other boys and went into an old thrown-out pasture.  When called to dinner all put in an appearance but Frank Wade.  Rack Lawson, on being questioned, said Frank had gone up the ravine singing and laughing.

     After Rack had eaten his dinner he stayed around Hamilton Lawson's until about 4 o'clock, when he went home with his father.  Frank Wade was never again seen alive.
     When Rack returned home to supper he still claimed that Frank had gone up the ravine singing and laughing, or at least his mother says he did.
     Frank's older brother on reaching home that evening was surprised in not finding him there and the parents became greatly worried and gave the alarm.
     Searching parties were formed among the neighbors-and everybody volunteered to search but

Missouri County Plat Maps, 1930
Source: Missouri Digital Heritage

Andy Lawson, father of Rack.  Rack did not take much interest in the matter one way or the other.  On Tuesday evening the body was found as above stated.
     A coroner's inquest was held by Squire J. N. Vance, assisted by Prosecuting Attorney Thos. M. Jones, of Rolla.  The details were closely inquired into, and the jury returned a verdict holding Andrew Lawson and his son, Rack, responsible for the murder.
     The prisoners were brought in Thursday night by deputy sheriff John McMasters, constable John Brown and a posse of eight men, and placed in the jail in this city.  The feelings against the accused were at a high tension, and for a time all that was needed for a lynching was a hot-headed leader.  The rope was already on the ground, but better judgment prevailed.
     A report has reached here that very early Monday morning Andrew Lawson borrowed a saddle from a neighbor and rode over into Pulaski county and bought a pair of pants and shoes for himself, when he could get the same things at Pillman's store or at Relfe, only a mile or two away.
    The clothing belonging to the murdered boy have not as yet been found.


My Personal thoughts about the report given above:  It looks like the paper reported the facts (that were known) but also added a little flavor.  For example, "Rack did not take much interest in the matter one way or the other."  This sounds like something someone voiced and the paper ran with it.  The paragraph about Andrew Lawson riding over to Pulaski County didn't seem relevant.  The neighborhood borders Pulaski County to the West-Spring Creek is actually closer to the Pulaski County border than it is to Relfe (see map.)

11 Nov. 1896:  Jail Cost

The following piece of information comes from the Rolla Herald (Phelps Co., MO.)  Andy and Rack Lawson were arrested back in August of 1896 for the murder of Frank Wade.  I am trying to imagine what jail might have been like for a 10 year old boy in 1896.

26 Nov. 1896 (Rolla Herald):  Indictment for Father & Son

10 Dec. 1896:  Trial Time

The State had four months to prepare the case to this point.

19 Dec. 1896 (Rolla New Era):  A close call?

26 Dec. 1896, (Rolla New Era):  Off to St. Louis

This article gives us some details that we didn't have before.  Andy Lawson is being charged with concealing the body and Rack Lawson (age 10) is being charged with murder.

Here are a couple of images of the Phelps County Jail.  https://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/90000766.pdf gives a lot of details about the history of the Phelps County Jail (application for National Register of Historical Places.)

Phelps County Jail,
https://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/90000766.pdf

Reform School

Here’s an article about Oregon State's Reform School from 1903. Royal Howard Campbell was sent here in 1902.  I'm guessing that Roy H. Campbell learned the painter's trade while in school here.  A trade that contributed to his untimely death.

Statesman Journal (Salem, Marion, Oregon, United States of America) · 1 Jan 1903

Here is an updated article about the reform school Roy Howard Campbell was admitted to.  I tried to find access to the log books but have not been successful as of yet.

19 April 2015, Statesman Journal (Salem, OR)

Cousin Royal

My grandfather shared his name Royal with a cousin he never met. Royal Howard Campbell was the son of Nancy Peterson and William Campbell.  Oddly enough, this Royal’s life is also an open book for all to read through newspapers and other docs.

Here is some snippets of his life:

Weekly Oregon Statesman, 18 Nov. 1902

Actual Court documents explaining where the newspaper got its information.  The first page is not complete-there seems to be a missing page.

Court Documents from Marion County, Oregon Clerk

4 Feb. 1940, Bellingham Herald