USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
545
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
as he threw the stone, Crenshaw turned his head enough to catch the lick on his cheek bone, instead of the vital spot at which it was aimed. The lick, though not dangerous, was enough to knock Crenshaw to the ground. O'Neal then endeavored to plunge a bowie knife into his victim, but Crenshaw had arisen and proved to powerful for him. O'Neal then effected his escape and was never more seen in the town of Henderson. At the June term of the Circuit Court, O'Neal was indicted for maliciously, and with malice aforethought, throw- ing a rock and striking Thomas Crenshaw, with the intent to kill. A bench warrant was ordered out and placed in the hands of the Sheriff, but the would-be murderer could not be found. His home was now in the State of Illinois. Several times after this, he came to the county and most generally sent word to the Sheriff that he was here, and to come and take him. He traveled with a shot-gun, and was"known to be a man who would use it whenever the occasion demanded, therefore, lie was greatly feared.
On the second day of June, 1846, William D. Nunn, acting Sheriff of the county, received a message from him stating that he was in the county, and to come out and take him. Sheriff Nunn, contrary to O'Neal's expectation, summoned a posse of men to discover his where- abouts, and on the evening of June 1st, 1846, left Henderson for the residence of Mr. Crenshaw, in the neighborhood of the farm on which it was believed O'Neal was staying. He arrived at Crenshaw's in the night, and his posse now consisted of Thomas F. Cheaney, William Crenshaw, Joe. Crenshaw, David Stone and Marshall Tillotson. It was believed that O'Neal was at one of two places, and for the pur- pose of securing his capture, provided this was true, the Sheriff divided the squad, sending Cheaney and William Crenshaw to the house of Claiborn Collier, whose daughter O'Neal had married, while he with the others went to the other house in the neighborhood. Cheaney and Crenshaw arrived at the Collier homestead about daylight, and took position behind a smoke house standing in front of the house, and only a few feet off in the yard. The house was a log building with two rooms and a hallway, with doors leading into the hall, and a door from each end of the building into the yard. Mr. Cheaney was sta- tioned at a corner of the smoke house commanding one window and the end door, while William Crenshaw was stationed so as to com- mand the hallway. There was no rear window, so escape was impos- sible. A short time after the arrival of the guard, Cheaney saw O'Neal through the window, and looked him full in the face. He then
35
546
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY,
went around to where Crenshaw was standing and told him he had seen the gentleman, and that he was dressing himself. Cheaney had nothing but a single-barreled pistol, while Crenshaw had a double- barreled shot-gun and two pistols. Thinking it best to notify Sheriff Nunn of the discovery, Cheaney took one of Crenshaw's pistols and fired it into the air. This report Nunn and his party heard, and know- ing its meaning hurried forward and were soon on the ground. Nunn, at the head of two or three men approached the house and went to the door of the room O'Neal was in. He was called to open the door and surrender, but refused to answer to his name, or to answer to a single question. Cheaney insisted upon breaking the door in and bring- ing him out, but from his knowledge of the man Sheriff Nunn declined. Finding that O'Neal was surrounded, with no possible means of es- cape, the Sheriff concluded to come to Henderson and get instruction from Judge Shackelford, who was then holding the regular term of the Circuit Court. He had left his horse at William Crenshaw's, and while enroute to that place found David Fowlkes hunting in the woods, and immediately summoned him to reinforce the guard then at Col- lier's. Fowlkes went to the house and took position with Cheaney. About that time friends of O'Neal began to come up, and whisperings overheard, led the guard to believe that bloody work was contem- plated. Finally Thomas Risley, a brother-in-law by marriage of O'Neal's, came out of the end door of the house leading into the gar- den, and endeavored to aid O'Neal's escape, by keeping his body be- tween O'Neal and the guard. The command halt and surrender, was re- peatedly given, but to no purpose. O'Neal saw the two Crenshaw's, and at a certain signal Risley stepped to one side in order that he might fire. He took deliberate aim and pulled trigger, but his gun snapped; at this David Fowlkes, who was in the back yard, raised his gun to fire upon O'Neal, but one of the Collier's interfered by seiz- ing the muzzle of his gun ; no sooner had he done this than Cheaney leveled his pistol on Collier and commanded him to let go, which he did and skipped the fence. Fowlkes then fired,his whole load of squir- rel shot taking effect in O'Neal's hip and thigh. Fowlkes' gun had hardly gone off, when the two Crenshaw's fired, and both O'Neal and Risley, who was endeavoring to shield him, fell to the ground mor- tally wounded, and died in a few minutes. At this, O'Neal's friends retired from the premises, and the scene which followed was heart- rending indeed. It was not the object of any man to shoot Risley, and no one knows who did shoot him. He was unfortunately situa- ted when O'Neal was fired upon, and caught some of the shot in-
547
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
tended for O'Neal. Mrs. Risley, who was in the house, rushed to her dying husband, and wept bitterly. Her screams and lamentations were more than the guards could bear up under, but they consoled them- selves with the consciousness of having done a duty, even though the finale was so unfortunate and distressing. Mounting their horses, the guard returned to the town about noon of the same day, when it was found out that some of O'Neal's friends had arrived with the news, and the Coroner was about ready to proceed with a jury to the fatal spot. They were given time to take their dinner, and then directed to return with the Coroner, which they did the same afternoon, After hearing the evidence, the guards were exhonorated from any blame, and there the matter rested until brought before the Grand Jury. The Sheriff and his posse reported to Judge Shackelford, who publicly endorsed their actions. No indictments were found, and there the matter rested from that day to this.
MURDER OF JAMES E. RANKIN.
Of all the horrors of the war, there was no one occurence more terrible, more frightful, or more atrocious than the history of the one to follow : On the eleventh day of July, 1864, a beautiful Monday afternoon, while the sun was shining in all its glory, and a rainfall, as gentle and brilliant as the sparkling dewdrops, was gladdening the parched earth, a company of desperate outlaws, as if with wings, flew into the city and soon claimed control of every principal street. The grand entree was made in First Street, and in the twinkling of an eye, the instrument of the Henderson & Evansville Telegraph Company, located in the second story of the old South Kentuckian' building, then standing on the corner of Main and First Streets, was com- pletely battered to pieces. After this had been done, a system of thievery was indulged, and never before or since that time has such a reign of terror been witnessed in the city. Desperadoes, most fiendish and horridly uniformed, to add to their natural repulsive appearance, galloped over the streets with pistols in hand and commanded men as they chose, at the mouth of five-shooters cocked and of easy trigger. These devils came unauthorized, for they belonged to neither army. They were robbers and murderers and cared not whose house they entered or whose carcass they punctured with leaden messengers of death. Near on to twilight, four or five of them, headed, as it was said at the time, by one Edmunds, of Hopkins County, who had for years prior to the war, been engaged in hauling tobacco from that county to this city, entered the storehouse of Mr. James E. Rankin,
548
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
on the corner of Main and Second Streets, and immediately com- menced robbing the shelves of silks, ribbons, velvets and many other valuable goods. Not satisfied with this, they took from his cash drawer what small change there was in it. The iron safe was in the office at the rear end of the second story, and this was securely locked and could only be opened by the use of a combination key. This key, as was the custom of Mr. Rankin after locking his safe for the night had been taken to pieces and the parts placed in a box kept in the cash drawer down stairs in the storeroom. In robbing the drawer, the rings of the key were also taken by the robbers. About this time, a villain, who claimed to exercise command, came into the store and peremptorily ordered the men out, and without a murmur, they left the house, mounted their horses and rode away.
Mr. Rankin, thinking perhaps they might return, and not wishing to hold any further communication with them, went to a room in the rear end of the third story. Hardly had he succeeded in shutting the door before the same scoundrel, who had a few minutes before or- dered the men out of the storeroom, returned with three or four men -Edmunds one of the number-and called for Mr Rankin. Mr. John Allin, who was clerking for him at the time, protested his ignor- ance of his whereabouts, but this was of no avail. One of the gang said, " I know where he is ; follow me." He then started to the sec- ond story and from that he ascended the third flight of steps, and soon found his way to the door of the room in which Mr. Rankin was sitting. Finding him, he was ordered forthwith to proceed below. This he did, of course, and when arriving at his office was ordered to unlock the safe .. This he declared impossible unless he could regain the key which he had left in his cash drawer below, but which had been taken away by the first squad who had robbed his house. He then proposed to go down to the drawer and see if the key could be found, and as he started and had descended not more than three steps, one of the men without a word of warning fired, the ball striking him in the back of the neck and ranging down in the region of the throat. Not satisfied with this, he followed him and several times hit him over the head and shoulders with the butt of his pistol. Mr. Rankin ran as fast as he could out of the front of his house and into an adjoining store of Holloway & Hopkins, still pursued by this man and his com- rade. He halted at the showcase and was leaning with his arm upon it, when the two murderers entered with pistols cocked and pointed at him. At this juncture, William H. Lewis, who was clerking for Holloway & Hopkins and was the only person in charge, rushed be-
549
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
tween the men and Mr. Rankin, and knocking the pistol aside, begged them for God's sake, if they were Confederate soldiers and valiant men, not to shoot a man who was then dying from the effects of the first shot. At this, both pistols were lowered and the two men walked out. A physician was summoned, and in as short time as possible Mr. Rankin was removed to the storehouse of B. B. Williams, where he remained until the murderers left town, when he was taken to his own residence on Upper Main Street.
In the safe was a large amount of money belonging to Hugh Tate, and of this the guerrillas knew, for they mentioned the fact. They secured Mr. Rankin's watch and what money there was in the cash drawer, but failed to get into the safe. After the shooting, the robbers plied their avocation with a reckless indifference, loading their horses with beaver cloths, silks, velvets, ribbons, boots, shoes, blankets, and any other articles attracting their attention. While this squad was robbing Mr. Rankin, others were taking horses and other items of value, and having abundantly supplied themselves, all left the town.
A short time after their departure, a United States gunboat patrolled the river front and threw several shells in the direction taken by the guerrillas, but without doing any damage.
No man then felt safe, for if as pure, noble and good man as James E Rankin was shot down in cold blood, others felt that they were in greater danger. Excitement became intense, and nothing but the want of a few guns (which could not be had) saved the lives of that squad of inhuman outlaws. To add additional lustre to the memory of Hon. R. T. Glass, be it said that he, of all the men stand- ing around on the streets, was the only one to openly denounce the outlaws. This he did to two of them in person and unhesitatingly announced his willingness to lead or assist in shooting the last one of them from their horses before escape could be possible.
A SAD RETRIBUTION.
From the News, November 24, 1864 :- " On Wednesday night, the twentieth inst., Lieutenant Headington, in command of one hundred and fifty troops, (134th Indiana Infantry, one hundred-day men), landed in our city, from Louisville, and immediately threw out pickets around the town, who permitted no one to leave the place without a pass.
"¿These troops brought with them, four Confederate soldiers, two of whom had ventured on their steamer (the Palestine) at Rock Haven and were secured ; the other two, Thompson and Powell, by
550
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
name, had been captured. On the twelfth day of July, 1864, five miles from Owensboro on what was known as the plank road, their company being in Daviess County recruiting, and had that morning met some regular soldiers, ( Federal ) and some one hundred home guards on Ruff Creek, killing eleven and routing the balance. They were returning when Thompson and Powell were cut off from the main body and captured. Thompson and Powell belonged to the com- mand of Captain Dick Yates, a commissioned Confederate officer, who was recently killed in a skirmish near that town. Lieut. Headington had received orders to publicly execute these last two prisoners in our city in retaliation for the atrocious attempt of a gang of guerrilla scoundrels and marauders (but a short time since) to murder in cold blood, Mr. Jas. E. Rankin, one of our most estimable citizens, and for other outrages perpetrated of late in Henderson and vicinity. These two men were selected by Gen. Burbridge to be shot at twelve o'clock on last Thursday, but through the urgent solicitations of many of our prominent Union citizens, the execution was delayed until three o'clock, in order to give time to send to Evansville for a Catholic priest, who could administer religious consolation, both of the doomed ones being Catholics. Mr. John Pernet, of our city, went for and re- turned with the priest. Hon. Archibald Dixon and Mayor Banks also hastened to Evansville and telegraphed to Gen. Ewing, at Louisville, representing that the act of shooting these two men threatened to ultimate in the destruction of the City of Henderson by bands of guerrillas who now swarm in our vicinity, and urging a request from the leading Union citizens of the town, not to enforce said execution, as it was furthermore averred by some that the two condemned men were regular sworn Confederate soldiers. Whereupon Gen. Ewing promptly telegraphed to Evansville, ordering a suspension of the execution until he could hear from General Burbridge. A military courier was instantly dispatched from Evansville to our city with these instructions. This was a cheering respite for the doomed young men, who had made every preparation to meet their bitter fate. They had called in an artist and had their portraits taken to send to their rela- tives. One of them (John P. Powell, aged 23), bore up like a man of nerve, but the younger (Wm. Thompson, aged 18), shed many tears over the near approach of death, both persistently contending that they were no robbers or marauders, but regularly sworn Confed- erate soldiers.
" Lieutenant Headington had further written instructions to as- certain the several amounts robbed from our merchants and others in
-
551
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
the recent guerrilla or robber raids into Henderson, and to assess the full amount pro rata from reputed secession sympathizers among us. In conformity to these orders, he held an interview with Mr. C. M. Pennel, the U S. Deputy Assessor of our city, and asked his assist- ance. Mr. P. truthfully informed Lieut. H. that the citizens of all politi- cal parties in Henderson were living in friendly, social intercourse and harmony,and had no disposition to harass or defraud one another-that all, irrespective of their political convictions, condemned the villainies recently committed by outlaws, without authority from either belliger- ent force, and that he ( P.) being merely a civil officer, would prefer not to assess his neighbors who happened to entertain different poli- tics from himself, as to the best course to be pursued in our national calamities. In short, that he would not point out men to be assessed for the committal of robberies which they could not avoid, and did not countenance. Lieut. H. said his orders were imperative, yet, from what he saw and heard, the people of Henderson had been most grievously maligned by ignorant, designing, or unscrupulous individ- uals, wherein it had gone forth that they had aided and abetted the inroads and plunderings of the various marauding bands, who have infested this vicinity. But he was an officer of the army, and had no discretionary power in the case-his orders were explicit and must be obeyed. Another Union man was then called in consultation, and it was agreed to select three fair representative Southern Rights men, who should themselves make the assessment on certain citizens, whom they should designate, after computing the amount necessary to cover all the losses incurred by our merchants. On inquiry it was found that $2,700 included all losses, and the assessment was made out, and the parties called upon very promptly gave their checks for the money. These checks were then paid over to those who had been robbed, who, to their honor be it said, universally to a man refunded the sums to their neighbors and friends, whom they knew to be inno- cent of any complicity with the robbers. The deceased Mr. Rankin, in this way promptly returned (through one of his sons) $1,000, which had been assessed in his favor.
" In connection with the name of an amiable gentleman and true Christian, and in order to preclude any suspicion that that lamented citizen had a hand in, or desired, " retaliation " on innocent men, we herewith append a note written by his son and signed by himself, which he forwarded to the commander of the Federal force in our city :
552
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY KY.
"Lieut. Headington, Commanding U. S. Forces, Henderson, Ky. :
"DEAR SIR :- I have just heard that two guerrillas were to be shot here to-day (Friday), in retaliation for outrages committed by guerrilla bands in this place. It has pained me greatly to learn this fact, and I would earnestly plead with you to spare the lives of these men. If what the guerrillas have done to me has had any influence in causing this order to be made. I pray you, if possible, to abandon your intention and permit them to live
J. E. RANKIN.
" HENDERSON, KY., July 21st, 1864.
" But now to take up the thread of events.
" Shortly of three o'clock the pickets stationed at the lower end of the city were heard to fire their pieces, and soon they came hurrying to headquarters (the Court House), with intelligence that a force of guerrillas were advancing upon the city. Orders were hurriedly issued for every soldier to get into the Court House, and all the . stragglers and pickets collected in the building. After a brief sus- pense a flag of truce advanced from the rebels. and the bearer de- livered a note, which demanded a surrender of our troops to a Confederate force under Col. Sypert. Lieut. Headington declined the demand. The flag of truce again returned ; the terms proposed were again rejected, and a fight seemed imminent. In a short time, however, the rebel leader, Col. Sypert, himself advanced with the flag and had a personal interview with Lieut. H., to whom he exhibited his commission, and said that he wished to avoid the useless shedding of blood, that he had a force sufficient to capture our men, and demanded a quiet surrender-which, of course, was firmly refused. Col. S. then stated that two Confederate soldiers were now held here to be shot in retaliation for crimes committed by an unauthorized party of rascals ; that he now held some half-dozen Federal prisoners, and if the proposed execution cane off, he would bitterly retaliate by shooting all six of his prisoners, but he hoped for the cause of humanity, that this course would not be persisted in by the Federal officers. In response, Lieut. H. said that he was a soldier, bound to obey the orders of his superiors, and could not of his own will alter the decrees of those above him, but for the present, the execution had been delayed. ('ol. S. then requested that the citizens be notified to leave the city, agreeing to suspend his contemplated attack one hour for that purpose.
" The conference between the two commanders was characterized by a tone of gentlemanly deportment, the parties acting with de- corum and dignity, and socially taking a "wee drap " together from
553
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
the proffered flask of Lieutenant Headington. At the same time they were firm and inveterate opponents.
" In the meantime, much excitement prevailed. Squads of men, women and children were striking for the country. Every place of business had been closed on the first intimation of the proximity of the rebels, and our heretofore lively city presented an aspect of the Sabbath. Many stores had been packing up their goods for removal to Evansville and Louisville for several days, and numerous private families had also made their exodus and removed their household effects.
" All this was consequent upon the recent irruptions made upon us by guerillas, and which were about culminating in a public mili- tary execution in our city, which would, it was feared, endanger the lives and property of Union citizens.
" Time passed on, and the threatened attack was not made. A courier had been early dispatched to Evansville for reinforcements, or for the presence of a gunboat. Two of the latter arrived late in the evening, one of which threw several shells at a point at the back of the city, where it was surmised the rebel force was located, said to be near Alves' Springs. At one o'clock that night the little steamer Lou Eaves arrived from Evansville with two hundred of the invalid corps, who patrolled our streets and arrested our 'night police, but subse- quently released them, on finding who they were. These men, find- ing there was no fight on hand, returned to Evansville before morn- ing.
" On Friday it was ascertained that a force of about three hun- dred rebels were encamped near the city. Our pickets were again put out and passes required to go through the lines. In the morning of this day three civilians were arrested and confined. Having brought no military stores with him, Lieutenant H. was compelled to quarter his troops on our citizens, who fed all assigned them.
" On Friday afternoon, about five o'clock, eight mounted scouts were sent out to scour the suburbs of the city, to ascertain if any force of rebels hovered near. Frequent communication was held be- tween the land force and gunboat. A force of the Home Guard from Indiana, opposite our city, were called over, and evidently there was some secret movement contemplated. About dusk, when most of our citizens had retired to their homes, the body of troops, fully ac- coutred, with knapsacks on shoulders, and fixed bayonets, issued from the Court House, having five prisoners in charge, viz .: Powell and Thompson, the two Confederates captured at Rock Haven, and Pear-
554
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
man, a citizen of our town (who had talked foolishly when on a drunken spree). They proceeded down First Street and halted within one hundred yards of our office. A small squad then escorted the prison- ers to the river bank, and awaited till a skiff put off from the gun- boat and communicated with them. While here on the beach, Powell asked the officer in command of his guard, if it was the design to shoot Thompson and himself that evening. (The prisoners having been told before they left the Court House that an attack was ex- pected from the rebels, and that all the prisoners were to be placed under cover of the gunboat.) The officer said he did not know, but that some new orders had been received that evening, the nature of which he was ignorant. "If we are to be shot," said Powell, " we would like to see our Catholic friend, Miss Mary Henderson, and re- ceive a cross from her." The officer answered that of course such a request would be acceded to.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.