Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 25

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 25

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"Charlie was fettered by a chain about his ankles, fastened to a large iron ball, which made a noise like thunder whenever he walked about the large, bare-floored room. He was never alone, for either the sheriff or his deputy was

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

always in the room. They treated him with great kindness and leniency, however, for he was a pleasant and engaging boy, a red-headed Irishman, only twenty-one years old. He was full of the fun of his race, and continually teased his jailers and joked with them. It was under the influence of liquor that he had given way to anger and committed the crime for which he was required to forfeit his life.

"On the day of the execution, long before sunrise, we heard the rumble of heavy farm wagons rolling into town from all directions. By sunrise the little town was thronged with men, women and children, afoot, on horseback and in wagons. Some came fifty miles, a few even a hundred, to witness the gruesome sight. School dismissed for the day. At our home the morning hours dragged slowly by. Everyone ,was too wrought up to work according to the usual ritual; Anne said she felt choked. In order, I suppose, to relieve the nervous excite- ment, the teacher, who was boarding at our house at the time,-Mr. French of the uncertain temper-proposed that we have some music. Lowell Mason's 'Book of Sacred Music' was brought out, and we all joined in singing a num- ber of hymns. Among others, we sang 'Ariel'- 'Oh, could I sing the matchless worth.' Our voices rose high and sweet, blending melodiously with the tones of the flute. The rhythm of the stately music, and the ecstatic nature of the words almost lifted me out of myself.

I'd soar to touch the heavenly strings And vie with Gabriel while he sings In notes almost divine.

Well, the delightful day will come When my dear Lord will bring me home.

I wondered if, after they had taken poor Charlie Frame's life, he too would 'soar' and call this ‘delightful day.' It was quite sure my baby brother and Sister Alice were in that 'home,' but I did not know whether poor Charlie's kind- ness to us children would make him good enough to be taken to be with them.

"After dinner, Father and my brothers sad- dled horses and made ready to go. I asked them to take me, but they all said, 'Do you suppose we'd take a girl to a hanging? No, sir-ee; you stay at home with Mother like a good girl.' However, soon after they left, Mother, Anne and Mr. French decided to walk into town. To comfort me, they took me along.

Mother and I went to call on a friend living on the north side of the square, and Anne and Mr. French went on a block or two farther to see some other friends.

"While Mother and her friend talked I strolled out on the deserted street. Presently a man who frequently came to our house on business drove by. Seeing me alone, he stopped his horse and asked, 'Sis, would you like to ride out and see the hanging?'

"'Why, yes,' I hesitated. 'Would you take me?'

""'Of course,' he replied. 'Jump in.'

"Before I had time to think of what I was doing, he had taken me by the hand, lifted me to a seat by his side and was driving rapidly on the well-beaten way. The place of execution was less than a mile away, southeast of town, and we soon reached the edge of the crowd. From there, by slow degrees, he edged his light buggy through the press of people and the jam of vehicles, to the very heart of it all, to the piteous spectacle that had drawn together the vast throng. Fortunately for my peace of mind, we were only in time to see a perfectly still figure, whose face was covered by a black cap, and whose body was attired in a blue jacket and white trousers. For, at one time in his short life, poor Charlie had been a sailor. What a sight to take a seven-year-old girl to see! But in justice to my escort, I must say that he was an ex-sheriff and probably so inured to executions that he considered it no harm to gratify a child's curiosity.

"We remained but a moment, then again forced a way through the throng. Driving rap- idly back to town, my companion set me down where he had found me, and I went timidly into the house. My absence had not been noted ; Mother and her friend were still talking. Neither Father nor my brothers had seen me, so no one knew of my escapade. But I was un- happy, weighed down by the remembrance of poor Charlie's limp body and ashamed that I had gone without Mother's consent. After a time the burden grew too heavy to bear, so I told Mother the whole story. Much to my sur- prise, she was less vexed with me than with the man who took me. She was so shocked and grieved that my childish eyes should have looked upon such a sight that I assured her over and over again that 'I would never do it again'-a promise that has never proved diffi- cult to keep.

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"Some years after, Dick told me that the gal- lows was erected in a natural amphitheater, that all comers might view the spectacle. The prisoner, in the course of a short speech, spoke directly to the women present, telling them that if they would stay at home more and attend to the welfare of their households, there would be less crime and trouble in the world. Just as the black cap was about to be adjusted, he held up his hand, and took one long, lingering look at the breathless throng, the sunlit fields, and the distant horizon. Then, lifting his eyes to the blue sky and stretching out his arms, he cried, 'Oh, eternity, eternity, I dread thee !' "

THE KILLING OF DR. SAMUEL MARSHALL, COUNTY CLERK, BY GENERAL MINER R. DEMING, SHERIFF (June 24, 1845, at the Court-house.)

The account of this homicide is thus given in Mr. Greeg's history :

"On Tuesday, June 24, 1845, an altercation occurred between Dr. Samuel Marshall, county clerk, and the sheriff of the county, General Deming which resulted in the death of the former at the hands of the latter. The diffi- culty arose in regard to some mistake in official business. Doctor Marshall was a very exact and punctual man in all his affairs and he ex- pected others to be equally so, and the General's apparent carelessness in the matter in dispute irritated him. A scuffle ensued, in the midst of which General Deming drew a pistol and shot. his antagonist. The affair was a very unfor- tunate one, as it resulted in the death of a most estimable citizen and public officer, and added to the excitement already existing in the county. (This excitement related to the Mormon diffi- culties, and particularly the recent trial and acquittal of men indicted for the murder of Joseph Smith.) A little self-control and mod- eration on the part of both, and the conflict might have been avoided. Doctor Marshall was a strong Anti-Mormon in his feelings and principles, and had the full confidence of the party ; yet he resolutely refused to sanction any of their unlawful proceedings. He was one of that small number who believed it better to suffer all the ills of Mormonism, rather than resort to illegal and violent measures for re- dress.

"General Deming was at once taken into cus- tody by the coroner, and a jury of inquest sum- moned. The jury returned a verdict of "Murder without sufficient cause or provocation." This

occurred on the day set for the special term of court for the trial of the persons charged with the murder of Hyrum Smith. The court opened about five in the afternoon, and two hours after the tragedy Deming was brought into court, and stated that he was desirous to have a grand jury impaneled for the investigation of this case. The court ordered the coroner to summon a grand jury by the next morning. The accused then inquired if there was no process by which he might be admitted to bail during the pen- dency of the investigation, to which the court gave a negative answer. On Wednesday morn- ing a jury was impaneled, and charged by the court, and at three in the afternoon brought into court a bill for murder, with counts for man- slaughter. It was stated that the vote stood in the jury room sixteen to three.

"A motion was made by Deming's counsel to admit him to bail, and, after hearing, he was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000. Bail was given and he was discharged from custody.

"Mr. Deming resigned the office of sheriff, and an election was ordered to fill the vacancy, to take place August 11th, resulting in the elec- tion of J. B. Backenstos by the following vote : Backenstos, 2,334; John Scott, 750; scattering, 11.

"Mr. Deming was never brought to trial. He was stricken with congestive fever, no doubt brought on or aggravated by excitement, and died on the 10th of September, and was buried in Quincy by his brother's side."

THE ISAAC B. RITTER TRAGEDY (June 29, 1863.)

The persons involved in this tragic event were Isaac B. Ritter, Armstead M. Ossman, Robert Inghram, John Sample, and the witnesses who pursued Ritter, sometimes called the "posse," and sometimes the "mob." Isaac B. Ritter died on June 29, 1863, aged thirty-two years, and was buried, first, in Barnes' Cemetery northwest of Carthage, and was after reinterred in the the old Carthage Cemetery in the southeast part of the city.

Armstead M. Ossman was a Kentuckian, who had been in partnership with Jesse C. Williams in merchandising, in Carthage, and was in that business when he was shot by Mr. Ritter. Mr. Ossman died on July 9, 1863, at the age of a little less than thirty-five years. (The name has been variously spelled, "Osmon," "Ossmon," and "Osman," but his name, as he wrote it him-

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self in certain court papers, and as given on his tombstone is "Ossman.")

Robert Inghram was sheriff of this county at the time of the shooting and was seriously wounded by Mr. Ritter, at the time when Mr. Ossman was mortally wounded by him, but Mr. Inghram recovered, and served out his term as sheriff. (This name has been spelled, "Ingram" and "Ingraham," but the name as signed by the sheriff to executions on file at the Court-house is "Inghram.")

John Sample was born on August 28, 1828, and died on September 25, 1920. He was the last survivor of the thirteen children of Robert S. and Jane Hawthorne Sample, and came to Car- thage with his parents when a young man. He held certain municipal offices, among them that of police magistrate, having served in that ca- pacity for many years prior to his death.

It is impossible to give a list of the men who pursued Mr. Ritter, as such list has not been made a matter of public or private record. It is not certainly known who fired the shots which killed Mr. Ritter. There have been contra- dictory suppositions expressed on this subject. The facts relating to the tragedy are set forth in the extracts from newspapers given below, and in the statement made by Mr. Sample to the editor, on June 21, 1919. It will appear from these newspaper statements that there was a marked difference of opinion among the people as to responsibility for the killiing of Mr. Oss- man and of Mr. Ritter, some of the people re- garding Mr. Ritter as a murderer, and others regarding him as a patriot and martyr. The editor expresses no opinion on this question, but gives the facts as shown by the newspaper clip- pings and Mr. Sample's statement, and leaves it for the reader to form his own judgment as to the question of the guilt or innocence of the parties involved.

Soon afterwards soldiers were sent to Car- thage to preserve peace, and these soldiers were stationed for some months at the old fair- grounds southeast of Carthage, but there was no further difficulty or breach of the peace. No one was ever prosecuted for the killing of Mr. Ritter. While this tragedy did not develop into a criminal prosecution, or "circuit court case," yet it is given a place in this connection, in view of the fact that it was the only serious disturbance in Carthage or vicinity during the Civil War, and caused much excitement and much comment at the time, and is an historical matter of considerable interest.

The monument of Isaac B. Ritter in the Car- thage (East) Cemetery bears the G. A. R. em- blem at its top, immediately beneath the emblem of the Odd Fellows, and beneath that the fol- lowing inscription :

"Isaac B. Ritter Died June 29, 1863, Aged 32 Yrs. 5 Mos. 8 Days. A member of Co. 'G' and 2nd III. Cav."

From the adjutant-general's report we learn that Isaac Ritter was a private in Company G of the Second Illinois Cavalry, that his resi- dence was Carthage, that he enlisted July 20, 1861, was mustered in August 12, 1861, and was killed by a mob June 29, 1863.

In Moss Ridge is a stone bearing the follow- ing :

"He is not dead but sleeps." A. M. Ossman Died July 9, 1863 Aged 34 Yrs. 11 Ms. 3Ds."

Statement of John Sample made to the editor June 21, 1919.

John Sample came to Carthage in 1850. He was a Republican in 1858 when Lincoln spoke here, and was a marshal of the day. He was a Republican when the war broke out in 1861. Afterwards, when it seemed to him that certain leading Republicans were using the party, and taking advantage of the war, to make money, he resented it, and to rebuke this spirit he voted the Democratic ticket once during the war, not having any idea that he would do so again. This brought him under condemnation of cer- tain Republicans, and he was reproached as a Democrat by some of them, and that, not in mild or uncertain terms.

Isaac B. Ritter had come here before the war. He had lived at Jacobys. He went into the army. He was a bachelor, perhaps thirty, per- haps older. He and Mr. Sample were good friends. Ritter was not very companionable, but he and Mr. Sample had had no trouble or differences until he came back from the army on a furlough. He seemed to be rather violent in speech against Democrats, saying that he was hired to kill Democrats, therevy classing Dem- ocrats with the confederates or rebels.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

Mr. Sample was ailing. Dr. George W. Hall called at his home to see him professionally. They sat out in the yard. Doctor Hall told Mr. Sample that he should avoid Ritter when he went "down town," for he understood Ritter had said he was hired to kill Democrats, and he might do him an injury. (Sample, being re- garded as an apostate from the Republican faith, was under greater disfavor than a life- long Democrat. )

When Mr. Sample became able to go "down town," he carried a little cane or stick to help himself along, not being very strong as yet, and stopped at the store of Jesse C. Williams, then in the Sholl building, and rested for a time, and then went to the postoffice, then kept by George F. Hunsaker in an old frame building which stood where the Strader Building now is, near the northwest corner of the public square.

Ritter was sitting in front of the post-office. Mr. Sample undertook to greet him, having no feeling against him, and extended his hand. Ritter refused to shake hands, and said some- thing to the effect that he was employed to kill Democrats (or Copperheads), and threat- ened Mr. Sample and struck him in the face. Mr. Sample said that if he were not sick, he would beat him till he would not be easily recog- nized. Ritter said he would shoot Sample. Sample said, "You are too big a coward to kill anybody." Sample went into the postoffice, ex- pecting to hear a shot. He looked around and saw Ritter putting a pistol into his pocket.

Ritter had a horse and buggy on the north side of the square. He got into the buggy with the intention of leaving town. Sample came out of the postoffice, met Doctor Hall and Bry- ant T. Scofield, told them what had occurred, and the three of them went to the courthouse and procured a warrant from Dennis Smith for the arrest of Ritter. The warrant was placed in Sheriff Inghram's hands. He met Ossman, a partner of Jesse C. Williams in the dry goods business, at the west door of the courthouse, and summoned him to help arrest Ritter. They procured horses and started in pursuit. They overtook Ritter west of where the Wabash Railroad crosses the wagon road just a little ways outside of the city limits.

Inghram began reading the warrant, and Rit- ter shot both, mortally wounding Ossman and severely wounding Inghram. As soon as the news reached the people, there was great ex- citement. A posse gathered for pursuit. Ritter

started supposedly for Keokuk, where there were many soldiers, evidently thinking he would be thus protected; just about that time a freight train passed west on the Wabash and many of the pursuers boarded the train so as to head Ritter off at Hamilton. Evidently Rit- ter became aware of this fact, for he turned toward the southwest part of the county, where the land bordering on the Mississippi was heav- ily wooded, with the manifest intention of es- caping and getting back to the army. The posse followed. Ritter abandoned his horse and buggy and endeavored to conceal himself in the woods and brush. He was shot. His body was brought back to Carthage and was laid in the sheriff's room in the old courthouse. He was buried in Barnes' Cemetery northwest of Carthage. John Sample was the undertaker. Mr. Sample does not know who shot Ritter. The people generally never knew. There were no arrests.

Afterwards a company of German soldiers was sent here and kept here for some months to quell any disturbance that might arise, but there was no disturbance of consequence, and the soldiers were finally recalled.

(The editor : I was a little fellow at school in the old schoolhouse which stood where the grade schoolhouse now stands, when the shoot- ing of the sheriff and Ossman occurred. The school was closed for the day and the pupils were sent home. Serious trouble was feared. We, boys, "hit the trail" for home at a lively pace.) A few days after the attempted arrest of Mr. Ritter the Carthage Republican published an account of what had occurred, which is here inserted.

"On last Monday, the 29th inst., our quiet little village was the scene of an unusual ex- citement, growing out of the shooting of Robert Inghram the sheriff of this county, and A. M. Ossman, who was called upon to assist the sheriff in the execution of a warrant for the apprehension of Isaac B. Ritter, formerly of this place but now said to belong to the Second Illinois Cavalry. The following is a true state- ment of the facts connected with the unfortu- nate affair from the time of Mr. Ritter's return until his death and burial. On Saturday, June 27th, Ritter came to Carthage on a furlough from his regiment. When met by his former acquaintances he would refuse to shake hands with them until he had asked them if they were Copperheads, stating that if they were he would

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

rather shoot such persons. This was continued through the day and he made so many threats that many of his friends and respectable Repub- licans told him that he was making a fool of himself, and that his course was calculated to get himself and his friends into trouble; and we have been informed by them that he refused their well-meant advice and declared that he was in the employ of the government, and would rather shoot a Copperhead in the north than a rebel over the breastworks. He also stated pub- licly that he came back to shoot Copperheads and would not return until he had. Many treated his threats as idle braggadocio, and none thought he was so reckless as to come back and carry such threats into execution among his former friends and neighbors. So matters went on till on last Monday morning when in the postoffice he met . Mr. John Sample, for- merly one of his friends, at the door, who reached his hand to him and said, "Ritter, how are you?" He replied, "I understand you have got to be a Copperhead, I'll be - (oath omitted) if I will shake hands with one. I'm not in that business-my business is to shoot Copperheads." Mr. Sample said, "Well, Ritter, it is right, I suppose, but you are the best speci- men of a fool I ever saw." Ritter replied, he didn't care. "I'll be - if I don't do it." Sample said, "I think you are a pretty speci- men to come here to manufacture public opin- ion." On this Ritter kicked Sample, which staggered him back on the sidewalk. He (Sam- ple) then stepped in and told him (Ritter) he was sick, but if he was well he could whip him, when he (Ritter) struck Sample in the face and drew his revolver, a large six-shooter, about a ten-inch barrel.

Sample made complaint before Judge Smith, and had a warrant issued and placed in the hands of the sheriff for Ritter to answer for an assault and battery. When he learned that a writ was being issued he got into a buggy and started on the Warsaw and Keokuk road. Mr. Inghram summoned Mr. A. M. Ossman to assist him in the arrest and followed and overtook him about a half mile beyond the railroad depot. The sheriff stopped him and told him he had a warrant for him. Ritter said he would not be arrested-that he was a military man. The sheriff told him he had to perform his duty, and began reading the writ, and while he was read- ing Ritter drew his revolver and shot Ossman, and before the sheriff could put up the paper

or draw his revolver, Ritter also shot him and then turned and fired again at Ossman, who was reeling in his saddle. Ossman then tried to shoot at him, but he could not get his arm up and shot twice in the ground, and fell back from his horse to the ground, and was for a time senseless. The sheriff fainted and was taken from his horse as he was about falling. Ritter put whip to his horse and was soon out of sight. This was about nine o'clock in the morning. Mr. Inghram was by the side of Rit- ter's buggy and only a few feet from it. Ossman was a little farther off and rather behind the buggy and Inghram. The first shot struck Oss- man in the left breast, was turned partially by the bone or rib, and passed through a portion of the lungs and lodged behind against the shoulder blade, a portion of which was broken. He was supposed at first during his swoon to be dead or dying. The second shot struck In- ghram on the left thigh several inches below the hip, was turned by the bone and went up- ward and behind and lodged, after passing about ten inches in the flesh. Both balls have been cut out.

"The news was brought to town that Ossman was killed and the sheriff badly wounded; and as soon as possible some six or eight men started in pursuit, but were from one-half to an hour behind Ritter. As they pursued they learned the following facts. Some distance fur- ther on the Warsaw road Ritter met Sam Wal- lace and got him to fasten the halter of his horse, and took Wallace's hat, stating that he had got into a bad scrape. He then continued west past Wells' Hotel, and at the forks of the road took the road to Hamilton, but before he reached Elvaston he turned south across a strip of prairie toward the Warsaw road, and by this means threw several of his pursuers off his track, who went on to Oakwood. He next left the Warsaw road and turned south past Rohr- bough's to the Bear Creek timber, and then turned west toward Warsaw, and finally reached the Marcelline and Quincy road and made in the direction of Quincy. He watered his horse once on this road and here discovered that he was pursued. He put whip to his horse and con- tinued to go south till he came to the N. E. 27, in Wythe Township, at the schoolhouse, where he turned west,-went past the schoolhouse till he came to a small run over which is a bridge. Here he was so closely pursued that he got out of the buggy and unhitched the traces and broke

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

for the woods, called the Oak Grove. Here the neighborhood was aroused and generally turned out in pursuit. The woods were sur- rounded and after the neighbors collected, the woods were searched, commencing at the north part and going south. At about four o'clock in the afternoon he was found on the lands of Mr. Huse in a very dense undergrowth, just expir- ing from. the effects of two balls, one of which entered the breast just below the collar bone and extended downwards, and another in the left shoulder. From the position in which he was found and the direction of the balls, he is sup- posed to have been partly lying down resting upon his arm, watching the only opening to the place of his concealment with his pistol in his hand. A large knife was found lying beside him. His coat was off, and when shot he had thrown his revolver several feet from him. He is supposed to have lived ten to fifteen minutes after being shot. No one heard him speak, as he was expiring when reached. An inquest was hield over the body and verdict returned that he came to his death by a ball shot by the hands of some person unknown to the jury. His body was then brought to Carthage, where, on the day following, it was decently and properly buried."

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 25

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174