This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: bozlen3 Surnames: Castner Classification: death Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.casner/127/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I have noted numerous questions about the deaths of some of the members of this notorious family.Have tried to contact Liz Freeman but neither of her email addresses I've found are good. At any rate, this information is from the book about Jasper County, Iowa published in 1912, when so many county histories were being published: FROM: CHAPTER V EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 http://iagenweb.org/jasper/history/1912/history/chapter5.htm "THE FIRST BAD CHARACTERS IN THIS COUNTY The two Castner boys, the fifth persons to come in for the supposed purpose of taking up lands, proved anything but good citizens. While Adam Tool, the first settler, was down in Jefferson County with his family, after having made his improvements, preparatory to bringing the family here, Benjamin and Jonas Castner came in from Missouri. Finding Mr. Tool's cabin unoccupied, they at once moved into it. When the good pioneer returned, rather than have trouble, he gave the boys fifteen dollars to vacate. They then claimed lands near by and built themselves a cabin. It was not long before it was noticed that Jonas was making frequent visits to his old home in Missouri to see his father, and it was also observed that whenever he went south that some of the friendly Indians lost several ponies, as they would come along and inquiry was made by them for stray ponies. These Castners committed all kinds of depredations, at one time robbing a poor Indian's tent during the absence of the squaw, of all the blankets, buffalo robes, camp kettles, and in fact everything that was worth carrying. That night when the Indian returned and discovered his loss, he started for Castner with a gun and butcher knife. Arriving at Frost's the latter persuaded him to stay all night, fearing he might get killed if he went there in the night alone. The following morning he went to Castner's and found his goods, but while there parleying about them, one of the boys came running in, saying to the Indian, "There is a turkey out here; let me take your gun," which the Indian did; but the young man forgot to return and while the Indian was in search of the young man to get his gun the goods disappeared and he never saw them afterwards. During the trouble that followed the Indian got his hand shot and claimed that it was done by Jonas Castner. In the fall of 1845 Jona! s finally got his just deserts at the hands of a mob near old Fort Des Moines. It was government payday at the fort and when Jonas was discovered hanging around, a party painted like Indians, but probably all whites, seized Jonas and ran him to the woods and gave him an unmerciful flogging. There was no trial and no questions asked. They said his curses were frightful. That fall the family went to Missouri, but afterwards returned to Iowa, bringing a large amount of stock with them, which mostly died during the following winter. Typhoid fever soon broke out in the family; the old man, his eldest son, Henry, and several younger ones died. The balance of the family scattered, some going in 1862 across the plains. The Castners were Virginians by birth and several of their near relatives had served time in the penitentiary of that state." Beth Ostlund-Wood [email protected] Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>