Parke County, Indiana
Biographies Births Cemeteries Census Churches Deaths Families
History Home Land Links Lookups Maps Marriages
Miscellaneous Military Neighbors Newspapers Obituaries Photos Queries
Schools S O S Tombstones Townships Vitals What's New Wills & Probates
Copyright © 2021  James D. VanDerMark   - All Rights Reserved  -  Remember to quote your source. 

1865 Parke County Indiana Newspaper Items


These extracted items from various newspapers from Parke and surrounding counties.  Most of these have been contributed by volunteers.  If you have access to an old newspaper and would like to share something, please contact James D. VanDerMark


The Parke County Republican, February 15, 1865, Page 2 

ATROCIOUS MURDER 

“It is our painful duty to record one of the most heart-rending tragedies ever enacted in this country.  On Friday last, 10th inst., about 2 o’clock P.M., Milton WINELAND murdered his father Frederick WINELAND, and his cousin Benjamin VANCLEVE, by shooting them down while engaged in gathering corn in the field.  Mr. Wineland resided in Montgomery county, about four miles northwest of Waveland, but was murdered in this county, the county line running between his house and the field in which he was at work.  The cause of this unfortunate affair, so far as we have been able to learn, is in substance as follows:  Milton Wineland was the only heir to his father’s estate, worth about twenty thousand dollars, and had been under the impression for three or four years that his father had willed his estate to this cousin Benjamin Vancleve.  It is not positively known however that this was the cause. – The son, however, seemed to act on the assumption that it was true, and had at three or four different times attempted personal violence on the person of his father.  He was foiled in each attempt, until Friday last, he came to his father’s house, armed with a double-barreled shotgun, and inquired of his almost helpless mother where his father was.  She told him that his father and cousin were in the field gathering corn. – He left the house at once for the field, and in a few moments two reports of the gun were heard. The old lady ran to the door and heard some one exclaim, “oh, God,” as if in great agony. Upon reaching the door she saw the son running across the field, and the horses, which were being employed in gathering corn, running with wagon toward the barn.  As soon as the neighbors could be informed, it was found that he had shot them both within eight feet of each other by concealing himself in the fence corner.  Young Wineland is still running at large.  He is about 33 years of age, six feet two inches high, light hair, heavy sandy whiskers, grey eyes, and weighs about 220 pounds. A reward of one thousand dollars is offered by his mother for his apprehension.” 


 The Parke County Republican, February 22, 1865, Page 2 

WINELAND, the murderer of his father and cousin near Waveland, noticed our last issue, it is generally believed, made his way direct for Canada.  A man answering his description passed through Delphi, Carroll County, on Saturday last, en route North.  Wineland doubtless imagines that a murderer will be safe within the realms of the Queen’s domains, inasmuch as deserters, bounty jumpers, and Copperheads fleeing the draft, there find a place of safety. In this, however, he will find himself mistaken.” 


The Parke County Republican, April 5, 1865, Page 2 

ARREST OF BURGLARS 

            James McKEE and James CATTERSON, of Sugar Creek Township, in this county, were arrested on Tuesday of last week, on a charge of robbing the house of Mrs. WINELAND, near Waveland.  Mrs. Wineland is the widow of Frederick Wineland, who it will be remembered was murdered, together with Benjamin Vancleve, by Milton Wineland, a short time since.  The examination of McKee and Catterson was held before Esquire Baker in this place on Friday last. The goods stolen were identified by Mrs. Wineland, and proved to be in part, the clothing of her husband and young Vancleve. – The prisoners were recognized to the Circuit Court in bonds of $600 each.  McKee gave the required bond. – Catterson failing to comply with the requirement of the court, was committed to prison to await his trial. – McKee, judging from appearance, is a man of about thirty-five years. Catterson, we judge, is not to exceed nineteen or twenty years of age. 


The Parke County Republican, May 17, 1865, Page 2 

A MAN SHOT 

            “From a gentleman acquainted with the facts we learn the following particulars in regard to the shooting of a man by the name of BRIDGEWATERS, which occurred in Florida township, in this county, on Thursday morning last. Bridgewaters, it appears, started out on a foraging expedition at a very early hour on the morning above stated, and at about three o’clock was discovered at or near the corn crib of a neighbor by the name of Cabbage, some three miles distant from his place of residence.  CABBAGE ordered him to halt and demanded an explanation for his appearance there at that hour in the night.  At this Bridgewaters beat a retreat.

Being provided with a gun Cabbage fired upon Bridgewaters, the ball taking effect in the back, near the shoulder blade, and passing so nearly through the body that it has since been removed by the attending Physician.  Bridgewaters it was at first thought could not possibly live, but is now said to be improving.  Cabbage our informant states makes no secret of the matter and manifests but little interest on the subject.”


The Parke County Republican, July 5, 1865, Page 2 

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY 

“On Friday night of last week, an attempt was made to rob Mr. J. W. Campbell, living on the Waveland road, about three miles north-east of this place, which, to our mind exhibits as much of cool, systematic and studied villainy as anything we ever remember to have recorded. – The villains, three in number, approached the house at a late hour at night, and gently knocked at the door.  Upon being asked what was wanted, the response was light a candle and open the door or we will break it in, in half a minute.  Their demands were acceded to as quick as possible, when two of the number, with revolvers drawn, entered the house and demanded of Mr. C. his money.  Being completely in their power Mr. C. quietly handed over his pocket-book, and his wife handed them a small box containing some silver change.  But this did not render satisfaction.  They told Mr. C. that he must give up all his money; that they had been informed that he had in his house two thousand dollars, and that they must have it.  Foiled thus far in their expectations they next demanded the keys to all the drawers in the house.  The keys were furnished, when they instituted a diligent search, which lasted for near half an hour, but without being able to discover the coveted two thousand.  Failing in this they handed to Mr. C. his pocket-book and to Mrs. C. her box containing the silver, remarking at the same time that the sum was too small to take.  They then informed Mr. C. that they belonged to a band of robbers and followed it as a business when they quietly withdrew.”


The Parke County Republican, July 19, 1865, Page 2 

ANOTHER AFFRAY 

“From a gentleman acquainted with the facts we learn that an affray occurred at the residence of Geo. Griffin, near Clinton Lock, in this county, on Monday night last, in which a man by the name of Robert Griffin was stabbed, though not dangerously, by a man named Duval.  The difficulty occurred at a dance, and the probabilities are that the main cause in this as well as the more serious affray of which we give an account to-day, was attributable to that most prolific of all sources of trouble, bad whiskey.” 


The Parke County Republican, August 16, 1865, Page 2 

BURGLARS ABOUT 

            “On Sunday night last the residence of our fellow townsman, Capt. W. W. McCune was entered and robbed of a Gold Watch and wearing apparel to the value of about three hundred dollars.  An entrance was effected through a small window in the cellar, after which the villain or villains ascended a stairway and gained free access to all parts of the house. The watch, we are informed, was taken from the room occupied by the family as a sleeping apartment, where upon retiring to rest it had been placed by the Captain upon a nail in the wall, within a few feet of his bedside. – This, to our mind, exhibits a degree of daring seldom displayed by other than the most self-reliant and experienced burglars.  In view of this, and of the rapid increase of crime all over the land, it is well for our people to exercise more than the usual caution, and to prepare to repel any attempt that may be made for like purposes. Our advice is, “trust in the Lord and keep your powder dry.”