The Mysteries of Family History: Naming Names

My friends and family -- and anyone else who's been within ten feet of me for the last couple years -- know that my father and I have been researching events in our family history that happened in 1874-76 in Warren and Fountain counties, Indiana.  

Here's an abridged version of what we know so far: In August of 1874, near Independence/Attica, Tade Layden got into an altercation with another farmer named Daniel Driscoll, whose pigs had eaten some of Layden’s wheat. When Driscoll refused to pay what was owed, the men fought, and Layden, acting in self-defense, stabbed and killed Driscoll. Layden was tried in Covington in July 1875 and convicted of second-degree manslaughter. 

Less than a year into his prison sentence, in 1876, Governor Hendricks pardoned Layden: the defendent’s lawyer, Daniel Voorhees (who went on to become a U.S. Senator from 1877-1897), wrote a letter of support, and so did the prosecutor from the state of Indiana. 

Daniel Voorhees

 

Gov. Thomas Hendricks

The pardon packet also includes signatures from nine of the twelve jurors and the judge, along with a letter signed by community members, all supporting Layden’s pardon. 

Why the change of heart? That’s what we’re trying to learn. 

We’ve consulted libraries, newspapers, archives, genealogy societies, parish records, books, family stories, local historians, and more. Now we’re searching for people who might have had this story passed down to them somehow: either by oral tradition/storytelling, or in the form of documents like diaries, letters, notes, or clippings.

This list of names below shows people who signed in support of Tade Layden’s pardon. (He is also referred to by his full name, Timothy, and sometimes in the documents Layden is spelled Layton or Laydon.) 

Are you related to anyone on the list? (My son's kindergarten teacher is!) Have you heard anything about this event or story? We’d love to know about it. Please write, email, or call: Sarah Layden, IUPUI English Department, 425 University Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46202, 317-274-0089. My email is salayden (at) gmail (dot) com. 


Jurors who signed in support of the pardon

Zacariah Ferguson (Foreman of jurors)

Gaton Suttles

G W Glover (George W. Glover)

Nashville Adkins

Henry Cade

Frederick Hunt

John Bodine

H.H. Connelly

William Reichard

(Judge Thomas Davidson also signed)

Jurors who didn’t sign the letter: 

Amariah Elwell

William Werts

William Patton

Signatures of support from Fountain County citizens (a few guesses on the handwriting)

GW Boyd

E.N. Bowman, Clerk, F.C.

E.M. McDonald

S.F. Miller, Deputy Clerk, F.C.

William Yount, Recorder, F.C.

Sewell

E. Nebeker (Enos H. Nebeker)

(illegible)

James McMannon

G.B. Brown

John G. Brown

Samuel F. Moore

Peter McMahon

D. Rawles (David Rawles)

D. Neff

William Lamb

John R. Miles

Chas. Lamb (Charles Lamb)

Ben Bilsland

Oliver Shelby

H.R. Claypool

Lewis Hanes, Auditor

Isaac Haupt, Deputy Treasurer

John W. Gopner

Salem Cemetery, Attica, Indiana

 

Salem Cemetery

A shop on Attica's Main Street

                                                      

Sixish lines in sixish minutes

1. Enjoyed my 25th high school reunion earlier this month (Go Wildcats!), though it was sparsely attended and many of my local peeps opted out. "We already see who we want to see. Plus there's Facebook." Have since taken a deep dive into my yearbook and high school journal. OMG. Burn that business. Or post on Instagram with witty remarks. SuperLatergram. Also am celebrating the 25+ anniversary of my hot pink wide-toothed comb, which I have been using since ninth grade. What is that thing made of, anyway? What am I made of, to not replace a comb after 25+ years?*

2. Related: all the little plastic bristle ball ends on my (far more recent) brush are gone. But where have they gone? They're bright orange. I'm imagining them falling out of my hair throughout the day, like sprinkles.

3. Sick kid is home with a cold the day after Thanksgiving break, and handily scammed a Coke and a muffin topper after the doctor's. (Me: "A small Coke." Him: "How about a medium?") That's my kid. Glad he's finally eating something. 

4. Line from an unnamed and beloved friend, quoted in my high school journal: "I'm tired of masturbation. It doesn't solve any of my problems."

5. Three weeks left in my first semester as a tenure-track faculty member. (Eight years as an adjunct at two schools, four years as a lecturer at one school.) Putting so much time and energy into my own writing feels GOOD.

6. Possibly about #5: Waiting to hear about something I am not at liberty to disclose. Oh really? Yes, really. You're just gonna have to wait, too, robots who read this blog. Pincers crossed, and when I have news to share, feel free to wave your metal claws in the air in that cute way you do.


*Cheapness and grit, obvs. Plus: it ain't broke. Wear it out! Use it up! The siren song of the Midwest.