Where is Stonewall's Arm?

Where Is General Stonewall Jackson's Arm Buried? - National Parks Traveler

The Curious Fate of Stonewall Jackson's Arm - NPR

 'He has lost his left arm; but I have lost my right arm.'
—General Robert E. Lee

General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson.

Although no doubt my great grand uncle, Private Lewis Simpson (click here for blog posts about Lewis and his brother Justus)), would have wanted to get a shot at Stonewall Jackson, it was actually the General's own troops that accidentally shot him in the arm.

Private Lewis Simpson, 89th New York Volunteers, Company K. Courtesy of the Frazier Farmstead Museum

  'He [Stonewall Jackson] will wake up some morning to find his stonewall all gone to thunder and his soul singing rebel anthems with the Devil and his Angels in Hell.'
—Private Lewis Simpson

From Eighty-Ninth Infantry
SIMPSON, LEWIS L.—Age, 19 years. Enlisted, September 17, 1861, at Unadilla, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. K, October 21, 1861; discharged for disability, February 5, 1863, at Frederick City, Md. —Rosters of the New York Infantry Regiments during the Civil War

Lewis was wounded in the left leg at the Battle of South Mountain. As with General Jackson and so many Civil War soldiers, amputation was at that time the best and most effective means of saving a life. Lewis' left leg was not amputated in a field hospital. Instead, the surgery took place three days after he was wounded and had been evacuated to the U.S. Military Hospital in Maryland. Hopefully conditions were at least somewhat more sterile. 

Tombstone for "Stonewall" Jackson's left arm.

The Civil War

Amputation Kit

How a Civil War amputation was performed.

Amputation of the leg 

Amputation of the arm 

"Preserving the stories behind Idaho law"

Copyright ILHS

A recent online article in the Idaho Statesman reminded me once again of the Idaho Legal History Society (ILHS). The ILHS was formed in 2005, the 100 year anniversary of the assassination of my great-grandfather, Governor Frank Steunenberg. Hence, I was very pleased with the design chosen for their logo. Although many important legal events and individuals are scattered throughout the state's history, it seemed appropriate that Idaho's crime and trial of the century would be the focal point of the societies inception. Their sponsorship of the stage play,  The Gate on 16th Avenue, and support and participation in Idaho Public Television's production of Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century, was a fitting start to the societies preservation efforts. I was fortunate to have attended both the play and and the premiere of "Assassination" and continue to enjoy a lifetime's worth of memories and historical interests connected to those events. By all means, yes, thank you ILHS for "preserving the stories behind Idaho law."

Preserving the stories behind Idaho law 
The Idaho Statesman

Idaho Legal Historical Society Website

Some Highlights from the ILHS website:
The Trial of Big Bill Haywood

ILHS Newsletter Winter 2012 (Sheep versus Cattle, "Stocky" Stockslager, "Diamondfield Jack" Davis, etc.)

Flashback Blog Posts:

Sunday, February 15, 2009

 The Idaho Legal History Socie

Sunday, February 15, 2009
A Legal History Lesson from 1901
 

Saturday, June 27, 2009
Visit to the The Idaho Pen - 11/8/2007
 

Friday, September 25, 2009 A Couple of Personal Notes I Received Regarding the Frank Steunenberg Assassination & Haywood Trial Historical Events/Projects of 2005-2007
 

Monday, June 29, 2009 of Premiere Night - Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century

FOLD3

www.footnote.com

Don't forget to check out my Fold3 pages now and then. I suggest clicking on "Spotlights." Those receiving this as an email update may not see the above image. Click instead on: Recent Spotlights.

For a good July 4th activity, explore the Revolutionary War Collection. Some aspects of navigation on Fold3 will be limited for non-subscribers.

Monday, July 4, 2011

In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 — and many years later a lawyer is born

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America

Have a safe and happy Independence Day.

Idaho Penitentiary

As you may know, I always have a fascination with the Idaho pen. Here is a different view on an old real photo postcard (RPPC) that I have not seen before.

John's Collection

Pinpointing where Harry Orchard's cabin outside of the pen walls was located seems to garner several different viewpoints. I do have a copy (obtained from the ISHS) of an old schematic diagram of the pen and grounds that purports to show the location. I will have to dig that out and see how it compares to an enlargement of this photo. I believe the small cabin was located on the nearest side of the pen shown above. Any ideas let me know.

Clearly visible in the back ground, when I enlarge the image and play with the contrast, is the Boise Natatorium (above).

John's Collection

Here we have an inside and outside view of the Natatorium. This card is postmarked December 19, 1905. Eleven days later Frank Steunenberg will be brutally assassinated by Harry Orchard.

John's Collection

And another recently acquired and more common RPPC view of the pen taken from I believe up toward Table Rock. Correction 7/2/12: Amber Beierle, Education Specialist at the pen, tells me this view is more north from Castle Rock. Thanks Amber.  Visit the Old Idaho Pen

Idaho boys in Spanish-American war.

Here is an interesting old stereoscopic photograph. I will continue to post a few old photographs, postcards, etc., without too much dialogue. Playing catchup with a few items I have had sitting here for awhile.

John Richards Collection

I am always interested in Idaho items and information from the Spanish-American War, be it to share or for sale. Someone out there has to have an old Krag-Jorgensen or Trapdoor rifle that belonged to the Idaho 1st. That looks like a Krag nearest the camera in this photograph.

Brief History of the 1st Idaho Volunteer Infantry

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Company A of the First Idaho Volunteers

Monday, May 19, 2008

Cover Addressed to Governor Steunenberg -1899

Saturday, December 20, 2008
1st Lt. George Steunenberg in the Spanish-American War

1st Lt. George Steunenberg
of the 1st Idaho Volunteer Infantry
Writes of the Trip from Hawaii to Manila

Roster of the 1st Idaho Volunteer Infantry

Gathering at the Golden Gate: Mobilizing for War in the Philippines, 1898

Freighting in Idaho

John Richards Collection

Here is a postcard and a photograph that I am moving up from the unarchived section at the bottom of the blog. I will be deleting those soon.

My grandfather Julian Steunenberg (click here for more about Julian, the Haywood trial, Walla Walla College, etc.), eldest son of Governor Steunenberg, reportedly ran a freighting business out of Caldwell for awhile that would have been similar to the one above. Most were probably taking supplies to the mines near Silver City.

John Richards Collection

And here we see the move from horse to steam power. "Best Steam Engine in Lumber Freighting Idaho 1905." This photograph is probably an old copy made on photographic paper from another photo and sold for use in news publications and periodicals (from the markings on the back).

Idaho Freight Wagons

Find-A-Grave...Whoops!

I noticed quite a bit of Steunenberg related activity recently on Find-A-Grave. A lot of deceased kinfolk have been posted by one of the Find-A-Grave participants. I can't say I have frequented the site to any great degree but it has come in handy when trying to locate a particular cemetery and/or grave-site. You can join in and sign up for free (you have to put up with all  the ads) and make your own corrections and changes to  the listings.

Below are a number of Steunenberg entries. I have not gone over them in detail but do see a few facts and figures that need to be corrected or added. However, the one that stood out immediately was a entry on Loreen Steunenberg Dinwiddie.

Wait a minute! Loreen is still with us! 

Loreen Steunenberg (1903 - 2012)

The above link doesn't go anywhere now but I printed out a copy before it was removed. I had contacted the creator and informed him that Loreen was alive and well at the ripe old age of 109. As far as anyone knows, she is the oldest woman in Oregon.

I sure appreciate all the work this gentleman is doing on Find-A-Grave. OK, so he made a mistake...but Loreen has continued to defy the odds and fool us all. 

Update: Monday, August 27, 2012 - In Memoriam

Loreen-Oregon Adventist Conference

More Find-A-Grave pages that I have randomly listed.

Frank Willis Steunenberg (1900 - 1990)

Grace "Jenny" Steunenberg Crookham (1875 - 1951)

Josephine "Josie" Steunenberg (1873 - )

Charles B "Pete" Steunenberg (1867 - 1948)

Carrie M Steunenberg (1865 - 1955)

Albert K Steunenberg (1863 - 1907)

John Steunenberg (1858 - 1923)

Bernardus Steunenberg (1824 - 1907)

William L Steunenberg (1857 - 1946)

Cornelia Steunenberg (1833 - 1876)

Bernardus Steunenberg (1824 - 1907)

Brenda Steunenberg Richards (1919 - )

Carroll Arthur "Cal" Steunenberg (1913 - 2009)

Jules Bernarr Steunenberg (1915 - 1946)

Frank "Bud" Steunenberg (1911 - 1980)

Violet Wood Steunenberg (1916 - 1985) 

Frances Beardsley Wood Steunenberg (1888 - 1976)

Julian Pope Steunenberg (1886 - 1966)

John Harold Steunenberg (1921 - )

Ballads of the Owyhee Country

If you haven't picked up your copy of the new and improved 2012 version of Ballads of the Owyhee Country—now is the time. It's a 47 page booklet with 22 songs on CD performed by "Banjo Man" Gary Eller, John Larsen and friends. Of course it includes some of my favorite desperado's such as Dynamite Harry (well not a favorite I guess but I do like Gary and John), Diamondfield Jack and Hey Ho Lyda (Southard). You can buy it through the Owyhee County Historical Society Bookstore (scroll down on the OCHS page and click on the photo next to "Other books for sale in our bookstore 1").

While you're on the OCHS website, check out some of the back issues of the Owhyee Outpost. I just picked up a couple with articles by Ned Williams (see: Did Steunenberg neighbor William 'Bill' Williams know about the bomb?) and another by Edith Steunenberg Ferrar (Delamar, Idaho). Only $10 bucks each and you are supporting the preservation of Idaho history.

For more information, you can contact Gary through his Idaho Songs Project website. You won't want to miss all the information and sample recordings of historical Idaho music and ballads. 

Memorial Day 2012

Home and Away: Remember the Fallen

Remembering Honor, Duty and Country

The Blue Star Service Flag

This one was in the possession of Julian & Francis Steunenberg, my grandparents. Uncle Cal and Uncle Jule served during WWII. Each star represents a family member serving in the war. Uncle Frank (Bud), the third son, served in the Marines prior to WWII.

A few related blog posts:

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Remembering D-Day

Friday, May 23, 2008

The Marines

Monday, May 25, 2009

"dits"and "dahs"

Monday, Nov. 10, 2008

Staff Sargent Jule Steunenberg

Sunday, May 29, 2011

In Memoriam: Private Lewis Simpson

Did Steunenberg neighbor William 'Bill' Williams know about the bomb?

Here is a great story from Carlin Otto (great-grand-daughter of William Williams, grand-daughter of M. Ned Williams) as told to her by M. Ned Williams. Carlin provided permission to share it here on the blog.

"In December of 1905, William Williams, his wife Mimsy Crosser Williams, and their 4 school-aged children (Perdix, Ky, Ned, and Clyde) lived in Caldwell across the street from Governor Steunenberg. William Williams was a very active member of the WFM. He had served as one of the original officers (along with Bill Haywood) for Local 66, Silver City, Idaho during a time when the Williams family lived full time in Silver City.

John Richards Collection

On the night of the assassination, Mimsey and the boys (but not William Williams) ate dinner, as usual, before 5pm and then they all passed out. They did not awaken until many hours later in the dead of night or wee hours of the next morning. None of them had been able to even dress for bed or go to their bedrooms. They just "fell asleep" in the living room. When they awoke, they felt drugged.  They dragged themselves off to their beds and did not find out about the assassination by "bomb" that occurred just across the street until the next morning. M. Ned Williams always suspected that his father had known about the plans for the assassination and had drugged his family in order to protect them from harm and perhaps had even allowed the assassins to use the Williams house for something related to the placing of the bomb."

Below from Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas, page 407.

ISHS Digital Collections
Big Bill Haywood
Bill Williams upper right corner

"In the weeks after Steunenberg's assassination, the search for conspirators was so thorough that even labor sympathizers in town for years found themselves under suspicion.  Bill Williams had been a close friend and union colleague of Haywood's while both were miners in Silver City. About 1900, with his wife and son, Williams moved to Caldwell, buying a home on Dearborn Street, catty-corner from the Steunenbergs. For five years, the Williamses lived in amicable concert with their neighbors. But once the bomb blew up the governor barely a 100 feet away, Williams found himself on a list of suspicious characters, although never formally a suspect. He reacted, his son recalled, by withdrawing from all organized activity—including the union—shunning intercourse with his neighbors for fear it would be hostile."  —Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas

I attached the photograph above from the ISHS showing Bill Haywood in his usual pose shielding his bad right eye from the camera. Bill Williams is listed in the description as being in the same photo. Perhaps Carlin can help us confirm which of these fellows is her great-grandfather. Click on ISHS Digital Collections to see the full version.

I know Carlin and I would sure be happy to hear from anyone that may know more about Bill Williams and his connection to Bill Haywood, Silver City, WFM's Local 66 and as a neighbor of Governor Steunenberg. We are looking for any documents that have been signed by William Williams as an officer of the WFM/Local 66 in Silver City. 

And about that bad eye of Haywood's

As we know, Bill Haywood lost his right eye as a youth while whittling. From Big Trouble, page 205:

John Richards Collection

"But the bloodiest encounter of his youth came at his own careless hand. At age nine, he was whittling the stock of a slingshot when his knife slipped and punctured his right eye, blinding him for life. Other children mocked him with epithets like Squint Eye and Deadeye Dick. Henceforth, in posing for photographs he always turned his head to offer the unimpaired left profile. But he never had a glass eye installed in place of that dead eye with it's milky glaze. Did he somehow enjoy the lopsided, even sinister cast it gave his face?" 

The information below comes once again from Carlin Otto as told to her by her grand-father M. Ned Williams:

"When my grandfather, M. Ned Williams, was about 6 or 7, he used to sit around Silver City, Idaho whittling with his knife. Whenever he saw Big Bill Haywood approaching he would switch the direction of his whittling so as to pull the knife towards himself instead of pushing it away. Big Bill would stop and pay him a nickel to change the direction of his whittling. The reason for this is that Big Bill lost the sight in one of his eyes when he was a boy due to an accident that involved unsafe use of a knife."

Thank you again Carlin for sharing these great stories from your grandfather and great-grandfather. 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day mom. We love you. Brenda Steunenberg Richards 8/26/1918 -  3/21/2010. Photo circa 1998 on or around mom's 80th birthday.

Caldwell, ID circa 1921

More Memories...
 
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Graduate-Class of 1936-Honorary Diploma September 2004 

Saturday, August 30, 2008
Four Score Ten Years and Counting...

Thursday, August 26, 2010 

Brenda Steunenberg Richards

Memories of Texas from Songs of a Soldier by George Steunenberg

"I remember, I remember it used to knock us flat

To think that Davey Crockett died for such a land as that;

And how one night we grabbed our guns and hit the southern track

To go to war with Mexico to make 'em take it back."

 

Previous blog entries of verse from Songs of a Soldier by George Steunenberg:

Sunday, April 15, 2012
The Riddle of the Sphinx

Monday, March 26, 2012
An Army Invitation

Sunday, March 18, 2012
Elimination

Saturday, March 10, 2012
The Feline Curse at Leavenworth

Saturday, March 3, 2012
Songs of a Soldier - The Canine Curse at Snelling

William Borah cross-examines William "Big Bill" Haywood on the witness stand

Here is an interesting old Associated Press news wire photograph I picked up of the Haywood trial (all right, which of you out bid me on that Harry Orchard photograph?). I will have to dig around in my archives as not sure if I have seen this particular view of Haywood on the witness stand. Unfortunately, the photos from that era, and particularly the news photos, are not very hi-resolution and faces in the crowd are often blurred. Sometime they even did a bit of "air brushing" but it wasn't to trim pounds or to make particular body parts look bigger or smaller.

I have enlarged the caption from the side of the photographs for easier reading. Click on each photo to enlarge further and/or go to the viewer/magnifier on my Fold3 account by clicking on the following links to take a even closer look.
Haywood on the witness stand

Caption from the photograph


The photograph is taken from up near and to the right side (as you face the gallery) of Judge Fremont Wood's bench. We see a glimpse of a couple of the jurors in rocking chairs in the left lower corner. We can see right away that the AP writer or photographer was not being real careful with his identification of the defense team members and made a rather glaring error.

Number one (#1) is clearly William Borah and it appears he is conducting the cross-examination of Big Bill Haywood (#3) on the witness stand. I can see the eye contact and feel the tension in the air. Number four (#4) does appear to be John E. Nevins of Scripps—McRae News Service. However, the AP writer or photographer really blows it when number three (#3) is identified as Clarence Darrow. That is definitely not Darrow and he would certainly not be sitting at the prosecution table immediately next to Borah. Come on AP! I believe that may instead be Owen Van Duyn, Attorney of Canyon County and a member of the prosecution team but I am not at all sure. Van Duyn has a mustache in photos I have seen but does not appear to have one here. Kind of looks like Calvin Cobb, Publisher of the Idaho Daily Statesman, too. 

Looking to the far right lower corner, that is definitely Edmund Richardson. We know that bald head quite well by now. One of the two men to his left would be Darrow. I am guessing the third from the left. Looks to be the shape of Darrow's head and the common body language; slouching one side or the other with arm on the back of the chair or on the table supporting his head.  He would have wanted to be siting as close as possible to the witness stand—but I could be completely wrong. What do you think?

In their usual position between the defense and prosecution tables are the two court reporters at their table. I have the names somewhere but not at the moment. I see John Murphy, WFM staff attorney sitting up front in the gallery just over and to the right and behind Haywood's right shoulder.

I will add more names as I find them. Feel free to chime in if you can identify anyone.

From Big Trouble.....
    "At midday on July 12, Darrow completed his questions and turned the witness over to Borah. Along with Richardson's cross-examination of Orchard, this would be the trial's crucial confrontation: the seasoned trial attorney and popular favorite pitted against the tough labor leader and shrewed man of the streets, two forces of nature in collision. The Socialist called it 'the Man of the Mines' versus the Man of the Mind.'"

    "It was partly a question of which man would intimidate the other. Haywood struck first. Scarcely had Borah begun his cross-examination than the witness interrupted. Gesturing toward the open window directly behind the judge's head, through which poured the radiance of a blistering Boise afternoon, Haywood said, 'If Your Honor please, may the shutters be closed on that window. While I will be talking most of the time to the jury [that is, straight ahead and into the window's glare] I cannot see the Senator's eyes with the shutters open.'"

    "Many western gunfighters looked not at their opponent's gun hand but in his eyes to see when he was going to draw. Haywood wanted to fix Borah with the terrible glare of his single right eye. Borah was stunned, telling an associate later, 'It doubled me up like a jack-knife.'"

    "Wood ordered the shutters drawn as Borah—with a wry smile—resumed his cross-examination. Reading Haywood some comments The Miners Magazine had made about Steunenberg over the years, he wanted to know whether these attacks represented Haywood's views." — Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas (pages 699-700). 

More....
Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century—Highlights

Photos — University of Minnesota — The Bill Haywood Trial

Bill Haywood Trial 1907

Monday, September 14, 2009: "6/14/(19)07 Big crowds here, on account of Haywood trial"

On the trail of Hannibal F. "Seven Devils" Johnson and Gary Eller

Here is an article sent to me by our friend and Idaho music aficionado Gary Eller. As mentioned previously on this blog, you will want to check out Gary and friends at The Idaho Songs Project.

Gary found this June 1906 Idaho Statesman article while doing research on Hannibal F. "Seven Devils" Johnson for his new CD/Booklet. The article is highly critical of the Socialist Newspaper Appeal to Reason and the Appeal's rants against the prosecution of Haywood, Pettibone and Moyer leading up to the trial and the possible end result should they be convicted.

For easier viewing and enlarging, I have posted this article on my Fold3 account. Browse my other "Spotlights" while you are there.

So what about Hannibal F. "Seven Devils" Johnson? You will have to wait and read Gary's booklet and listen to the CD to learn more about this colorful Idaho poet, politician and miner. For a sample, go to the Early Idaho Songs of the Month web page and click on Seven Devils Mine.  I have not done much of a search myself, but information on Hannibal seems a bit hard to come by. I found the following small description but the sources are unclear and the web page leads to nowhere and appears defunct. I will keep my eyes peeled but may just wait for Gary's CD/booklet.

JOHNSON, HANNIBAL F. "SEVEN DEVILS JOHNSON" One of the colorful characters who once inhabited the Council and Seven Devils areas was Hannibal F. Johnson.  He was a miner and poet, who acquired the title "Seven Devils Johnson"  from the local residents.  Johnson, born in Indiana in 1830, came west looking for gold, and was in the Boise area in the early 1850's.  He later located a mining claim in the Seven Devils about 1884.  In 1892, he ran for the office of Washington County Senator against T.C. Galloway.  During the campaign, Galloway called Johnson "Pine Tree Johnson", claiming that he had real no home and lived under a pine tree.  Johnson won the election and served one term.  * Pickett (p. 42-3 and Elsensohn p. 303) Johnson apparently never married, and did a great deal of traveling from place to place around the country, driving a two-wheeled cart.  In a time when doctors were few and far between, he was in demand as an authority on home remedies.  He was a good natured man with a keen sense of humor, and seemed to be liked by almost everyone.  *Cary, pp. 34-35.