Details & Bibliography: Murder in Victorian Western Michigan

Introduction

Victorian Britain: A Brief History by Historical Association U.K. 2023

Victorian England by Clarice Swisher, Book Editor for Greenhaven Press Inc. 2000

‘Imagining the Internet: Personalities, Predictions, Perspectives’ by Janna Quitney Anderson published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2005 – excerpt on history of the telegraph

The Evening News Battle Creek January 1, 1916 telephone history article

A Brief History of Blood Groups – National Institute of Health January 1, 2013

Right on Track: A History of the Railroads in Eaton County, Michigan by The Eaton County Historical Commission 2019

Jacktown: History & Hard Times at Michigan’s First State Prison by Judy Gail Krasnow 2017 History Press

Victorian Southwest Michigan True Crime by Michael Delaware 2024 History Press

1 - Betrayal at the Leonidas Crossroads (1853)

History of St. Joseph County, LH Evarts & co 1877, pages 47 – 48

1858 St. Joseph County Atlas

Thomas Estabrook Birth Certificate 1812

U.S. Census Reading, Windsor County Vermont 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850 Estabrook family

U.S. Census St. Joseph County, Michigan 1860 Susan Wood

Michigan State Prison Numerical Convict Log (pg 1) (Circa 1855)

Michigan State Prison inmate cards (Amos White, Samuel Ulum & Giles Harding) Historical Archives of Michigan

Battle Creek Journal July 28, 1854

Boston Daily Globe January 5, 1876, March 15, 1883

Boston Evening Globe January 6, 1917

The Boston Globe February 25, 1876

The Chelsea Herald February 21, 1907

Democratic Expounder March 29, 1855

Detroit Free Press June 17, July 28, 1854, March 27, 1855, March 25, 1884

Fitchburg Sentinel March 28, 1883, July 5, 1916, January 6, 1917, March 2, 1917

Fitchburg Daily Sentinel July 5, 1916

Hanford Kings County Sentinel July 1, 1915

Herald and News Feb 21, 1907

Grand River Times April 4, 1855

Madison Dollar Weekly Star March 23, 1883

Marshall Statesman October 4, 1854

Rutland Daily Globe January 7, 1876

Rutland Daily Herald January 6, 1876

The Springfield Daily Republican November 24, 1855

St. Albans Daily Messenger March 7, 1907

The Cass County Republican March 27, 1855

The Hillsdale Standard June 27, 1854, March 27, 1855, May 4, 1858, May 13, 1858

The Lake County Star April 3, 1884, December 11, 1884

Black River Gazette November 12, 1875

Christian Repository January 15, 1857

The Vermont Tribune March 26, 1897, December 9, 1898, August 22, 1902

Vermont Standard March 30, 1855, March 25, 1897

Buchanan Record December 25, 1884

The Niles Democrat December 27, 1884

The Porter County Vidette – Valparaiso, IN - January 1, 1885

2 – Shots in the Dark: The Kalamazoo Jail Break (1867)

Kalamazoo County Atlas 1874

History of Kalamazoo County - Saumel W. Durant, Evarts & Abbott 1880 (pgs 280 – 282)

University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library – Milton Chase Collection

Michigan State Prison inmate card (Hugh Darragh) Historical Archives of Michigan

Battle Creek Enquirer July 27, 1905

Death Certificate Emily Orcutt - July 24, 1905

Detroit Free Press September 1, November 29, 1860, December 4 - 5, 18, 20, 27, 29 -30, 1867, January 3- 4, 9, 1868, February 3 & 5, 16, 25, March 9 & 14, April 21, 1869, May 28, 1872, October 15, 1933

Hillsdale Standard December 24 & 31, 1867, January 7, February 4, 1868, February 9, 1869

Lansing State Journal February 18, April 1, 1869, October 10, 1872

Marshall Democratic Expounder and Calhoun County Patriot January 16, 1868

The Niles Democrat November 16, 1876, January 4, 1868, February 20, 1869

The Niles Republican February 11, 1869, June 6, 1872

3 – Sunset on the Spirit of the Woods (1869)

History of Manistee County Michigan with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers - Chicago H.R. Page & Co 1882 (pgs 20-23, 31- 38)

Detroit Free Press February 16, October 25, November 16, 1870, March 26, 1871

Grand Traverse Herald September 16, 1869, March 17, May 19, 1870.

Hillsdale Standard March 15, November 22, 1870, January 10, May 30, August 15 & 22, September 19, October 10, 1871

Marshall Democratic Expounder and Calhoun County Patriot March 9- 10, 1870

Marshall Statesman February 9, 1870, January 25, 1871

St. Joseph Herald November 19, 1870

St. Joseph Herald Press November 19 & 26, 1870

The True Northerner September 29, 1871

Minneapolis Daily Tribune September 21, 1869

4 – Unfathomable Mystery: The Morris Murders (1879)

History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan (pgs 632-635)

1860 Atlas of Van Buren County

Niles Weekly Mirror October 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 1879

The Niles Democrat October 4, 11 & 18, 1879

Niles Republican October 2, 1879

South Bend Tribune October 13, 1879

The Times Herald October 3, 1879

Lake County Star January 15, October 9, December 25, 1879

Battle Creek Daily Journal September 29- 30, October 2 - 3, December 23, 1879

Hillsdale Standard October 7, 1879

South Haven Sentinel April 24, October 4 & 11, December 27, 1879

St. Joseph Herald Press October 4, 1879

The True Northerner March 24, 1871, January 17, December 26, 1879, March 12, October 3,10, 13 & 17, December 10 & 26, 1879, January 2, April 23, December 10, 1880, February 4, April 29, 1881

The Chicago Tribune January 27, 1879

Daily Register January 28, 1879

The Inter Ocean January 28, 1879

The Woodstock Sentinel January 30, 1879

Benton Harbor News Palladium April 6, 1940

Marshall Daily Chronicle December 19, 1879

5 – Down the Vintner’s Well (1887)

Our Native Grape: Grapes and Their Culture also a Descriptive List of Old and New Varieties Published by C. Mitzky & Co 1893 W.W. Morrison, Printer 95-99 East Main St, Rochester, N.Y.

Frank House Prisoner Card 2606/4486 Michigan Historical Archives

1873 Atlas of Calhoun County

1894 Atlas of Calhoun County

Battle Creek Daily Journal August 14-17, 20-23, 27, September 10, December 1, 5, 7, 10-15, 17, 22, 1888, January 3, 1889

The Battle Creek Moon February 2, 1901

Marshall Daily Chronicle August 17-18, 21, 27 1888

Marshall Statesman August 17, 31, December 21, 188, April 11, 1890

Harrison Clare County Cleaver January 8, 1932

South Haven Daily Tribune December 24, 1931

Alma Record September 7, December 21, 1888

Detroit Free Press September 10, 1880, March 30, May 6, 1881, August 15, 17, December 12, 1888

Livingston County Daily Press and Argus December 20, 1888

The Herald Palladium August 17, 1888

The Homer Index August 22, 1888

The Lake County Star September 16, 1880

The Times Herald August 15, 28 – 29, 1888

Weekly Expositor September 6, December 27, 1888

6 – Morning of Blood and Miracles (1889)

1860, 1870 & 1880 Census Vergennes Township, Kent County, Michigan

1889 Vergennes Township, Kent County, Michigan Death record – Haggai Westbrook

1871 Vergennes Township, Kent County, Michigan Death record – Emily Westbrook

Wexford Death Records 1871

Kent County Directory 1870

Findagrave.com notes on Haggai Wesbrook 1828 – 1889

1876 Atlas Vergennes Township, Kent County

The Battle Creek Daily Journal November 5, 1889

The Battle Creek Moon Journal April 7, 1932

Owosso Times November 22, December 20, 1889

Pinckney Dispatch November 14, 1889

St. Joseph Saturday Herald November 9, 1889

The Weekly Breeze November 7, 1889

The Times Herald November 5, 1889

The Weekly Palladium November 8, 1889

The Alma Record November 22, 1889

The True Northerner November 13, 1889

Weekly Expositor November 14 & 21, 1889

Grand Rapids Weekly Leader November 6, 1889

The Grand Rapids Press November 11, 1889, July 20, 1929

Grand Rapids Herald November 5-6, 1889

Grand Rapids Telegram Herald May 30, 1891, November 6, 1889

Benton Harbor Weekly Palladium November 8, 1889

Detroit Free Press November 5, 1889

Hillsdale Standard November 12, 1889

Lansing State Journal November 5, 1889, September 1, 1962

Livingston County Daily Press and Angus November 21, 1889

Niles Weekly Mirror November 13, 1889

The Times November 8, 1889

The Times Herald November 5, 1889

South Haven Messenger November 15, 1889

South Haven Sentinel November 9, 1889

7 – The Pensioners Money (1892)

Prisoner #5553 John Butcher, Michigan State Prison Card Michigan - Historical Archives

1903 Board of Pardons Transcripts concerning John Butcher (File No. 411) – Library of Michigan Archives

The Battle Creek Daily Moon November 17, 1892, April 12, 1893

The Battle Creek Daily Journal November 19, December 24, 1892

The Battle Creek Enquirer December 10 & 16, 1910

Detroit Free Press March 24, 1892, July 17, 1863, March 23 & 26, June 27-28, 30, July 3, 1907, December 14, 1910

Grand Rapids Herald November 20 & 23, 1892

Hillsdale Standard November 22, 1892

Ironwood News Record December 3, 1892

Lansing State Journal November 18-19, 22-23, 1892, April 21 & 28, May 5, 1893, March 23, 26, June 25, 27-28, July 3, 1907, December 8 & 14, 1910, April 8, 1948, December 19-20, 1955

Owosso Times May 5, 1893

South Haven Messenger November 25, 1892

The Times Herald November 19 & 22, 1892, June 25, 1907, December 14, 1910

The County Journal April 20, 2024

The Herald Press July 3, 1907

The Herald Palladium April 28, 1893

The Pigeon Press April 5, 1907

Charlevoix County Herald July 6, 1907

Marshall Daily Chronicle June 28, July 17, 1907

Marshall Daily News June 28, 1907

Traverse City Evening Record June 27, 1907

The Portland Observer 1907

Eaton County News 1934

8 – Dark Night in Niles (1892)

Prisoner #5558 G – George Taylor, Michigan State Prison card – Michigan Historical Archives

1850 & 1880 US Census Niles Michigan

1873 & 1887 Berrien County Atlases

History of Berrien & Van Buren counties page 153 – 1880

Berrien County Death Record – Ephriam Comley 1885, John Comley 1888, Mary Comley 1892

Niles Daily Sun February 3, December 8 & 31, 1892, January 7 & 16, March 23, 1893, March 2, 1912, April 29, May 28, June 4-5, 24, July 1, 1914, January 15, 1916, January 25, 1917

The Niles Daily Star February 22, April 22, 1887, June 21, 1888, January 26, March 12, 1889, October 25, November 15, 1890, September 24, 1891, February 4 & 18, 1892, March 22, April 5, May 3- 4 &26, June 21, August 11, 1893, January 20, April 23, May 3, June 1, 1894, July 16, 1903, March 12, 1904, November 6, 1905, December 12, 1911, December 7, 1912, May 28, June 4, July 1, 1914, January 13, 1916, December 15 & 18, 1952, February 11, 1957, April 18, 2009

The Niles Democrat February 18 & 25, June 23, August 4, 1888

The Niles Republican January 27, 1887, February 16, 1888, February 18, December 4 & 8, 1892, May 4, 1893, December 5, 1895, July 16, 1903

Niles Weekly Mirror February 2, 1887, February 22, 1888, February 24, 1892, March 15 & 29, May 3 & 10, July 19, 1893, December 4, 1895

The Times Herald December 9, 1892

Weekly Expositor December 16, 1892, January 20, 1893

Cassopolis Vigilant December 15, 1892

Detroit Free Press December 8, 1892, January 16, 1933

Grand Rapids Herald December 13 & 15, 1892, January 17, 1893

The Grand Rapids Press April 29, 1914

Oakland County Advertiser December 15, 1892

St. Joseph Saturday Herald February 6, December 10, 1892, January 3, 1903, June 13, 1914

St. Joseph Daily Press August 14, 1911, June 5, 1914, January 14, 1916

The Courier Northerner December 14, 1892

The Herald Palladium February 12, December 8, 1892, December 3 & 6, 1895

The Herald Republican December 15, 1892

The Herald Press June 5, 1914

Hillsdale Standard March 21, 1899

The Lansing Journal December 16, 1892, May 12, 1893

The Lansing State Journal May 5, 1893

Owosso Times March 31, May 13, 1893

Pinckney Dispatch January 26, 1893

The South Bend Tribune December 8-9, 13 & 20, 1892, January 13, 16-17, March 22 & 24, May 2 & 4, 1893, December 6, 1895, November 6 & 13, 1905, July 1-2, 1914

South Bend News Times July 2, 1914

Yale Expositor March 17, 1899

Berrien Springs Era December 4, 1895, January 1, 1903

Berrien County Record December 5, 1895

Boonville Standard October 20, 1893

The Semi Weekly Palladium December 3, 1895

Buchanan Record January 31, 1889

South Haven Sentinel December 14, 1895

Benton Harbor News Palladium November 13, 1905, May 2, 1914

Chronicle Tribune November 7 & 10, 1905

Goshen Daily Democrat November 7, 1905

Goshen Democrat November 11, 1905

Leader Tribune November 11, 1905

Marion News Tribune November 11, 1905

The Marion Leader March 31, 1905

The Saginaw News April 29, 1914

9 – Mad Minnie Herre (1894)

1874 Atlas – Meridian Township, Okemos, Michigan

1880 & 1900 US Census

Findagrave.com Bio on Dr. Robert Clark Kedzie

Detroit Free Press September 30, 1883, June 8, 16-17, 1893, May 4, October 8, 10 & 13, 1894

Grand Rapids Herald May 23, 1893

Lansing State Journal May 17-19, 22, 25-26, June 1, 12 & 17, October 17, 1893, September 26, October 8-10 & 12, 1894, September 7, 1907, July 26-27 & 29, 1916, June 4-5, 1917, March 25, April 3, 1924, February 13 & 17, 1928

The Lansing Journal June 16, 23, November 3, 1893, May 11 & 18, June 8, September 21 & 28, October 12 & 19, November 1 & 16, 1894, August 16, 1897

Weekly Expositor May 26, 1893

Crawford Avalanche November 15, 1894

Livingston County Daily Press and Argus November 8, 1894

Niles Weekly Mirror November 14, 1894

Owosso Times May 11, 1894

The Herald Palladium November 3, 1894

The Marshall Statesman October 12, 1894

10 – Unholy Love (1897)

1880 US Census Charlevoix County – Webster Family

1897 Clarion, Charlevoix County Death Records:

Hattie Lee 1897 - Michigan, Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995, FamilySearch.org

William Shain 1897 - Michigan, Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995, FamilySearch.org

H.C. Cooper Obituary (Findagrave.com)

A Pictorial History of the Boyne Valley Area – Centennial Book Committee

1822-1995 Vital Records – Michigan Marriages, 1889 George Freeman Lee & Hattie Webster

The Belding Banner October 14, 1897

Berrien Springs Era October 13, 1897

Crawford Avalanche October 21, 1897

Detroit Free Press October 8, 1897

Lansing State Journal October 7, 1897

Livingston County Daily Press and Argus October 13, 1897

Owosso Times October 15, 1897

The Daily Star October 9, 1897

The Niles Daily Star October 9, 1897

The True Northerner October 12, 1897

The Courier Northerner October 12, 1897

The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel 1897

The Grand Rapids Press October 7, 1897

The Marshall Statesman October 15, 1897

The Saginaw Courier Herald October 14, 1897

The Saginaw News October 7, 1897

Traverse City Record Eagle October 8, 1897

Yale Expositor October 15, 1897

11 – A Mysterious Dream and a Missing Boy (1898)

1873, 1894 & 1916 Atlas Calhoun County

MI Department of State Division of Vital Statistics - Certificate and Record of Death, Richard Miller 1899

State of Michigan Calhoun County Death Records 1899 page 327

The Battle Creek Moon October 10 – 15 & 29, November 3, 5, 8-9, 1898, January 6 & 8, March 20, 1900, December 25, 1906, December 11 & 18, 1907

The Battle Creek Daily Journal September 9, 1893, November 25-26, 1898, March 24, May 2, 6, 12-13, 26 &31, July 3 & 31, 1899, July 9, September 14 & 27, October 18, 1900, October 21, 1912

Battle Creek Enquirer September 22, 1911, June 3-4, 1923

Battle Creek Enquirer & the Evening News December 26, 1924

The Sunday Record October 30, November 6 & 20, 27, December 18, 1898

The Evening News March 8, 1916, April 3, 1917

The Morning Enquirer August 28, 1906

Belding Banner June 29, 1899

Crawford Avalanche May 25, 1899

Detroit Free Press May 9, 13 & 17, 1899

Marshall Expounder May 12, 19 & 30, 1899

Marshall News May 5 & 12, July 7, 1899, January 12, 1900

Michigan Marshall Daily News January 11 & 23, 1900

Owosso Times October 14, 1898

Pinckney Dispatch July 6, 1899

South Haven Daily Tribune May 10, 1899

South Haven Sentinel July 15, 1899

St. Joseph Saturday Herald May 13, 1899

The Homer Index May 10, July 12, August 2, 1899

The Weekly Palladium May 12, 1899

Traverse City Morning Record June 27, 1899

12 – Dark Waters and Whiskey George (1899)

1887 Birds Eye View Map Benton Harbor, Michigan

1889 Map of Benton Harbor Michigan by CJ Pauli & Co

Sanborn Fire Map of Benton Harbor, Berrien County Michigan August 1892

Benton Harbor Daily Palladium August 21-22 & 28, November 1, 6-7, 1899

Benton Harbor Evening News September 2 & 4, November 6, 1899

Benton Harbor Weekly Palladium August 25, September 1, November 10, 1899

Bessemer Herald October 7, November 25, 1899

Buchanan Record October 5, November 9, 1899

Cassopolis Vigilant November 16, 1899

Crawford Avalanche September 28, November 16, 1899

Dowagiac Times September 6, 1899

Lansing State Journal September 1, 1899

Marshall Expounder November 17, 1899

The Niles Daily Star April 28, June 2, August 21-23-25 & 31, September 1, October 4, November 6-7, 1899, December 21, 1901, March 31, 1914, March 21, 1916, October 15, 1918, February 14, 1940

Niles Weekly Mirror July 12, 1899, September 6, November 22, 1899

Niles Daily Sun October 26, 1911, March 18, 1916

The Oaks November 17, 1899

Owosso Times August 25, 1899

Pinckney Dispatch August 31, 1899

South Haven Daily Tribune September 1, 1899

St. Joseph Saturday Herald August 26, 1899, April 4, 1914, March 25, 1916

St. Joseph Daily Press October 25, 1911, March 30-31, April 1, 1914

The Herald Press April 29, May 1, 1902, March 18, 1916, October 14-15, 1918, February 23, 1922, March 14, 1924, September 27, 1928, July 14, 1931, January 13 & 16, 1940, May 31, 1950

The Evening News August 22 & 28, September 2, 7, October 10, November 11, 1899, January 1, 1900

The Herald Palladium April 15, August 22 &24, September 2 & 7, October 31, November 1 & 4, 1899, April 1, 1914, October 14-15, 17 & 19, November 26, 1918, February 23, 1922, May 2, 1924, May 5 & 20-21, July 14 & 17, August 1, 1931, October 13-14 & 27, 1932, June 9, 1939, January 13, 1940

The News Palladium March 16, 1911

The Daily News Democrat September 11, 1899

The Pigeon Progress September 1, 1899

The Weekly Palladium August 25, September 1, October 20, 1899

The Weekly Journal April 14 & 21, 1899

Yale Expositor September 1, 1899

The Chicago Tribune October 17, 1918

Detroit Evening Times March 31, 1914

Detroit Free Press March 31, April 1-2, 1914

The Grand Rapids Press March 31, April 1, 1914

The South Bend Tribune February 22, 1897, November 7, 1899

Evansville Courier and Press October 27, 1899

Lafayette Weekly Call April 22, 1899

Lafayette Weekly Courier June 6, 1899

The Lafayette Journal April 13, 1899

The Call April 13, June 10, 1899

The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel September 20, 1899