Hi list, First, where is St. Croix, Indiana? This is long but it has to be for clarity.; I need 3 obit's, or any articles concerning the death's of; # 1, John Henry Knight (His widow, referred to John Henry Knight as "John". I guess records could also show J.H.Knight. I have found out that this John Henry Knight also had an uncle with the exact name.) born Feb. 3, 1869 in Indiana died Dec. 24, 1908 (I think in Mitchell, Indiana since that is where the family lived) There may be a news article about him because the family story handed down was; "The Catholics killed him." I never got an explanation as to why Catholics would have killed him. A neice of the widow said John Henry Knight was killed at a "turkey shoot". "It was pretty easy to murder someone at one of these and call it an accident." is what the neice told me. #2,Robert Knight born 1881 died Feb. 4, 1914 I have a photograph of 2 men and one has an arrow pointing to him with the note; #3,Charles Hickman killed Dec. 24, 1908 (Same death date as John Henry Knight) Killed at the Leheigh Quarries, Mitchell, Indiana. Any articles about an accident or mysterious killing/death? An obit anyhwhere? Any articles about the Lehigh Quarries? Who ownes them? Any labor problems written about in the newspapers? I find it very unusual that John Henry Knight is killed on the same day as Charles Hickman, a friend of his. The other item having to do with death of John Henry Knight, Re: socialism in Indiana; I have another item that no one seems to know anything about and I am getting the feeling no one wants to talk about this! Strange no one on the lists knows anything about socialism in Indiana during this time. I had to call Colorado to get info. In reference to the death of John Henry Knight this organization sent a condolence letter to John Henry Knight's brother, Robert Knight; Here it is; The letterhead reads; Centered on paper; "Appeal to Reason" Girard, Kansas A SOCIALIST PAPER J.A. Wayland Fred D. Warren, Managing Editor The top left of the letterhead reads; "For the Common Ownership of All the Means of Produc- tion and Distribution of the Wealth of the World" just under the above is a seal that reads; "UNION LABEL" with "Girard" under the words "Union Label" and _ _ POGRAPHICAL (2 spaces, I can't make out the 2 letters) above the words Union label Top right of letterhead reads; Coming Nation Established April 30, 1893 Appeal to Reason Established August 31. 1895 Total Number "Appeals" Printed- 1901---------8,175,388 copies 1906--------17,814,681 copies 1907--------24,016,100 copies Total papers printed by the Appeal since 1895 Over 100,000,000 copies [my note, these numbers seem to me to be awfully inflated for the times! All of the above #'s were millions!] The letter reads; Feb. 20, 1909 Robert Knight St. Croix, Ind. Dear Comrade:-- Your favor of the 12th inst., with accompanying resolutions passed by your local on the death of your brother Henry has been received and carefully read. The death of your brother was most brutal and shocking and all the more lamentable because of his earnestness and activity in the Socialist movement. It is difficult to offer advice in such tragic situation. I can imagine your grief and horror and with all my heart I sympathize with you, but no advice, however well intended or fittingly expressed, can avail against your lacerated feelings. I confess that I am not prepared to say what I might do in a similar situation. You suggest that a reward should be offered for the apprehension of the murderer, whom you say is an ex-convict. I can see no good in such a course, even if successful. You say the local authorities connived at the murderer's escape. In that case it is quite probable that they would also assist him to escape punishment and that his trial would be a farce and add mockery to tragedy. If the authorities favored him once they will most likely do so again. Besides, the imprisonment, or even the hanging of this ex-convict, the most that could be hoped for, would not bring back your brother and even as vengeance would afford little if any satisfaction. Many men have been marked and have paid the penalty of their lives for their convictions. Such men do not require their deaths to be avenged nor their memories to be vindicated. The cause they died to serve is made more sacred by their consecration, and its progress and ultimate victory is their vindication and glory. With full appreciation of your brother's fidelity to the cause and a heart full of sympathy with you and your family in your great bereavement, I am, Yours fraternally, The signature looks like; E. T. Dibss (The surname doesn't look right to me when typed) "The cause they died to serve" that gives me a clue that John Henry Knight was murdered and his death has something to do with the socialist party movement. I called The Colorado Archives because when I found the condolence letter I tried to research Wayland and where he fled to in Colorado because John Henry Knight's brother, Robert Knight, went to Colorado after John Henry Knight's murder! I was trying to find out what had become of Robert Knight. An article on Julius Wayland on the web that tells he was born in Versailles, Indiana on 26 April 1854. It tells his early history of poverty. He apprenticed at newspapers as a printer and typesetter. By 1872 Wayland had saved enough money to become a part owner of the "Versailles Gazette. Two years later he became its sole proprietor and eventually turned it into a highly profitable newspaper. He converted to socialism after reading books such as "The Cooperative Commonwealth" by Laurence Gronlund and "Looking Backward" by Edward Bellamy. When J.A. (Julius) Wayland expressed these views in his newspaper he so upset the conservatives in the town that a mob put a rope around his neck and talked about lynching him. After this incident Wayland decided to move to Pueblo, Colorado. The web article goes on and on. I got to the site by using "Google" it took me to; http://web311.pavilion.net/USAwaylandJ.htm I called Colorado Archives and had quite a conversation with the librarian there about the Soialist movement there in the early 1900s. He said there was a strong socialist movement in Colorado at that time. There was a labor incident, I have forgotten what the librarian called it but it was "The ------- Massacre". He said hundreds of women and children were killed in the confrontation. I called Colorado because Wayland left Indiana to go there AND John Henry Knight's brother, Robert Knight left Indiana and went to Colorado also! I have notes from Robert Knight's sister-in-law (the widow) that Robert Knight returned to Indiana a few years later and he died in Indiana. Robert Knight born 1881 and died Feb. 4, 1914 (after 1914 there is a note "July" so it may mean he was born in July). Widow of John Henry Knight clearly wrote the death date as Feb. 4, 1914 for Robert Knight. Can anyone tell me anything about this organization that would have had to do with the town of Mitchell, Indiana or St. Croix, Indiana? Who were officers? Where were their meetings held? Were the meetings secret? Probably since the people were so against socialism. I would like to have any names associated with this group locally if they are available or any other details. Any info is appreciated. If you can't come up with any articles or info, could you give me a tip of where to look for the information? I have sent a very similar but more detailed query to Charlotte Sellers at the Jackson County Public Library at the suggestion of a list subscriber. Thanks so much, Theresa Weddell [email protected] Austin, Texas