- Note: Ruth Caroline Westerman Trollinger was murdered in 1885 near Edgehill, MO. She was staying with James and Mary Hartzell, parents of Stacy Lucinda's second husband, U.S. Grant Hartzell
In 1885 Ruth Caroline Trollinger was brutally killed by, apparently, some person or persons living in the neighborhood. A motive was never established and a minimum effort was undertaken to determine the assailants. The Iron County Register carried the story. Last Saturday morning Mrs Trollinger, widow of Absolum, whose home was in the west end of the county, about three miles from Edge Hill was found in the woods beaten into insensibility. She was taken to the widow Hartzell's where she had been staying but in spite of all that could be done for her she died at 2 o'clock Sunday morning. Mrs Trollinger had disappeared on Thursday evening and consequently had lain out for two days and nights before she was found. When she was found she was in her stocking feet, but her stocking were unsoiled. This denotes her shoes were taken from her feet after she was beaten insensible. She was about 65 years old and we trust the brutes who murdered her may yet be found out and their full punishment meted unto them.
(I got that information from James E Bell's book "The History and Genealogy of Ottery Creek, Iron and Reynolds Counties, Mo." 1992. I knew Mr. Bell and helped with the Harbison portion of his book. Mr. Bell was a descendant of Ruth Westerman Trollinger.
My 2nd great grand aunt Elizabeth Harbison married Charles Westerman, Wm. Bedford's son. I have a letter written in 1865 from Wm. Bedford Jr. to his mother Margaret Trollinger Westerman. I also have two letters from Ruth Trollinger Morgan's husband Jacob, written to Margaret Trollinger Westerman on his wife's behalf (dated 1871). I don't have Mr. Bell's sources, but I rather trust his work. I don't know if he is still living, but if he is, he would be quite elderly. If there's anything else I could help you with, please don't hesitate to ask.
Pamela Pierce [to Gordon L. Drollinger]
From:
Subject: [KIMMEL-L] Hartzell's moved to Mo.
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 22:33:01 EDT
I sent this email to this site last October, but was hoping there might be
some new Hartzell's out there, that might know of these names.
I live in Mo. and in Iron Co. library I found this article in Iron Co. book.
HARTZELL
"Ottery Creek" Iron and Reynolds Co., Mo. James E. Bell
This family lived in Ottery Creek (Belleview) for many years, but somehow
they managed to flout (?) our research for the most part. The 1870 census
shows this family in Iron Co., and they have moved from Pa to Mo. in 1863-64.
the census reveals the following:
James Hartzell age 37, born in Pa around 1833
Julia A. Hartzell 38, born in Pa around 1834
George A. Hartzell 12, born in Pa around 1858
Mary M. Hartzell 11, born in Pa around 1859
Howard W. Hartzell 7, born in Pa around 1863
Annie M. Hartzell 6, born in Mo around 1864
Ulysses S. Hartzell 5, born in Mo around 1865
Clara Hartzell 3, born in Mo around 1867
Dolly Hartzell born Oct 1869
When the 1880 census was taken, Julia is shown as a widow, but 3 or 4
children had been born since the 1870 census.
Lillian Hartzell age 9, called Dolly in 1870 census
Zenas Hartzell 7
Rosella Hartzell 5
James Hartzell 3
are new additions since 1870.
We can be certain about one thing, they were Pro North in their belief, as
they named their son, who was born in 1865, Ulysses S. Grand Hartzell.
The author's great grandmother, Ruth Caroline Trollinger, was staying in this
household when she was murdered in 1865. I have been told they lived in the
hollow where John R. Smith lives now.
In Nelson Cemetary, located in Banner, Mo. Hwy 32, Twp 35n, Range 2E, Sec 33
in Iron County, Mo. Memories, by Jeanette Henson McClure on page 65
Hartzell, Geo. A. 26 March 1860-13 July 1924
Hartzell, James 18 Sept 1837-18 Sept 1879
Hartzell, Ella 7 May 1885-19 Nov 1940
Hartzell, James M. 31 Oct 1876-14 June 1949
Does anyone recognize any of these names.?
My ggggrandfather, Nicholas Hartzell moved to Ste. Genevieve, Mo. in 1814
from Raystown, Somerset Co., Pa. with the help of Peter Kimmel who funded
Nicholas with hides, supplies, money to set up a tanyard in Ste. Genevieve.
I'm not for sure of Nicholas's parents, but have been told it was Nicholas
and Dorcas Settle Hartzell in Somerset Co., Pa. My Nicholas died around
1822, and Peter Kimmel sued the estate. Nicholas married Mary Goza, perhaps
of Ste. Genevieve, as there was a Goza family living there. I couldn't find
a marriage record in Ste. Gen. They had at least one son, Silas N. After
Nicholas died, Mary remarried Samuel Staples. Samuel and Mary Goza Hartzell
Staples moved to Washington Co.
Nicholas and Mary had at least one son, Silas N. Hartzell who married Sarah
Marsh in Washington Co. in 1820.
Sure hope these names sound familiar to someone. Would love to hear from you.
Thanks for any responses.
Sharon (Hartzell) Smit
|
1824 - 1885 (60 years)
