Biography: Andrew Jackson Nash - 1 Jan 1998 - Macoupin County Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives ©1997 Susan Peters Zmrzel Descendants of Andrew Jackson NASH Submitted by Susan Peters Zmrzel A “First Family of Macoupin County IL. ANDREW JACKSON NASH was born 1809 in TN, and died June 23, 1854 in Carlinville Macoupin Co IL. He married (1) Mary MISENHEIMER, born 1807 in NC, daughter of John MISENHEIMER and Mary FOGLEMAN; died 1848 in IL. He married (2) Pacify Tinsey (MRS) MANN. Children of Andrew NASH and Mary MISENHEIMER are: i. John M NASH, b. 1832, IL. ii. Robert Franklin NASH, b. 1835, IL; d. Abt 1901, Terrell TX; m. SARAH POTTS, September 29, 1859, Montgomery Co IL. iii. Andrew J NASH, b. February 23, 1840, Macoupin Co IL; d. February 04, 1923, Cumberland Co IL; m. SARAH TAYLOR, March 14, 1878. iv. William J NASH, b. September 24, 1842, Macoupin Co IL; d. July 30, 1884, Mattoon Coles Co IL; m. FRANCES JANE OWEN, January 10, 1867, Litchfield Montgomery Co IL. Child of Andrew NASH and Pacify MANN is: v. Francis "Frank" Marion NASH. Notes Andrew Jackson NASH might have been married before he married Mary MISENHEIMER as there was a Sarah NASH who married 10 Mar 1849 in Montgomery Co IL to Robert HILL. There was also a Martha NASH who married 11 Feb 1850 in Montgomery Co IL to James A OUTLAW. On the 1830 census of Montgomery Co IL, was listed Andrew NASH as male 20/30 yrs, 1 female under 5, one female 5/10 and one female 20/30. This is all the information I have collected on Andrew J. Nash and I would like to find out who is parents are. He said he was born in TN. Any help will be appreciated. Most of this information is from the original court records and copies of news papers. I, for one, don’t believe Andrew J. Nash was so afraid that someone from the town would kill him that he hung himself. If you read the newspaper article, let me know what you think. I think while the sheriff was busy at the front of the jail some people got in the back and hung Andrew J. Nash. This whole thing reads like a Novel but it really happened. In 1853, Andrew was indicted for the murder of Alexander LOCKERMAN. Andrew and LOCKERMAN were drunk at a fourth of July picnic and there was a fight. Andrew stabbed LOCKERMAN and left for two years. He was found in Arkansas and brought back to Illinois for the trial. He was found guilty and was suppose to hang. His sentences was commuted to life in prison but there was a riot and he was killed. ANDREW JACKSON NASH (1809 TN-1854 IL) AND MARY "POLLY" MISENHEIMER (1807 NC-1848 IL) BLACKWELDER & ALLIED FAMILIES OF N. C. & IL BY D. WILLIAMS Listed under children of John Misenheimer and Mary Fogleman page 111, "Polly" Mary, probably the first child, named for her mother, Mary Fogleman. She was born in N. C., (mar. ante)? 5-19-1840 Andrew J. Nash, for on that date they deeded their share of her father's estate to her brother, Mathias Misemheimer. According to the 1830 census for Montgomery Co., IL., they had two daughters born between 1820 and 1830. These must not have been Polly's children, but Nash's children by a former wife. Mr. Nash took his life in Carlinville, IL. HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILL. AND HISTORY OF COLES CO., ILL IN 1906 PG. 845 SON OF A. J. NASH & MARY MISENHIMER Andrew J. Nash assistant Postmaster and merchant, Fuller, Ill., was born in Macoupin Co., Ill., Feb. 23, 1840 the son of A. J. Nash and Mary (Misenhimer) Nash, the former a native of Tenn. and the latter of N. Carolina. Mr. Nash received his education in Montgomery Co., IL and spent his youth upon his father's farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, One hundred & Seventeenth Ill. Vol. Inf. serving for 3 years. Returning to Montgomery Co., Il. , after the war, he began farming, but later went to Texas. Next he worked on a railroad in Il., mercantile pursuits at this place ever since. He was appointed Assistant Postmaster in Feb. 1904. On March 14, 1878, Mr. Nash was united in marriage to Sarah Taylor of Cumberland Co., Il; and of this union four children were born; George who is a blacksmith; Mary, William, Oscar. In his political view Mr. Nash is a Democrat. He has been town clerk, assessor, Deputy, Collector, School Trustee and Director. He belongs to the Orders of Knights of Pythias, The Masons and the grand Army of the Republic. EARLY SETTLERS OF MONTGOMERY CO., IL. RESEARCHED BY WALTER R. SANDERS VOL. IV ANDREW NASH 1830 census 1M 20-30, 1F 0-5, 1F 5-10, 1F 20-30. 9 Aug 1830 to serve on grand jury next term. 4 March 1839 petit juror list. Andrew Jackson Nash married Pacify Tinsey Means on 4 March 1849 in Macoupin Co., IL. Mrs. P. T. Nash married William F. McDavid 24 Sept 1854 in Macoupin Co., IL. OTHER NASH MARRIAGES IN MONTGOMERY CO., ILL. Sarah Nash married Robert Hill 10 March 1849 Martha Jane Nash married James A. Outlaw 11 Feb. 1850 Robert Nash married Sarah Potts 29 Sept 1859 William J. Nash married Frances Jane Owen 10 Jan 1867 EARLY SETTLERS OF MONTGOMERY CO., ILL RESEARCHED BY WALTER R. SANDERS VOL. #III MEISENHEIMER John Meisenheimer, b. 1780/90; d. 1838; m. Sarah Fogleman (1st. wife was Mary Fogleman & second was a woman named Sarah) who was b. 1780/90. From Cabarrus County, N. Carolina to Montgomery Co., ILL., by 1821. (he states that her name is some times written Mary). Took up land in 8-4: 80 acres; E1/2SW, sec. #2, Hillsboro TWP., wagon maker, carpenter, farmer in Hillsboro. 1830 census 1M 0-5, 1M 10-15, 1M 20-30, 1M 40-50, 1F 10- 15, 1F 15-20, 1F 40-50. In settlement of estate (Box B-11) Enos Johnson was one of the appraisers on 17 Nov 1838; Sarah was the Widow. Andrew Nash and wife one of the heirs. There were infants or minors and grown up heirs as indicated by two documents; Nelson Cline and heir, Allen Carroker administrator. In file papers there was a survey for S1/4NW, section #2, 8-4 by A. M. Braley surveyor—note shows this not paid for. Early notes found in file: Jno L. Cowptore 1815 Elijaha Collins 1818 Daniel Stringer 1831 Peter Lytaker 1806 At the sale Tice and A. J. Nash bought (25 Dec 1838) LAND RECORDS MONTGOMERY COUNTY, ILL DEED BOOK "D" PGS 178 & 179 19 MAY 1840 Andrew J. Nash and wife Polly along with his sister-in-law, Leah Misehamer sold to Matthias Misenhamer their share being two ninths of E 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section #2 and the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section #2 and the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section #2 in TWP #8 North & Range 4 West of the 3rd. P.M. Signed Andrew J. Nash Polly X (her mark) Nash Leah X (her mark) Misehamer CARLINVILLE, ILL 25 MAY 1849 Andrew J. Nash of Macoupin Co., Ill for the sum of $276.99 purchased from John A. Chesnut TOWIT: The south west quarter of the north west quarter of section no. fourteen and the north east quarter of the south east quarter of section no fifteen in township no. ten north range no. six west of the third principal meridian in Macoupin County, Ill. MARRIAGE RECORD Macoupin County, Il. Book 3 page 6--#1552-1352 Recorded March 13, 1849 License $1.00, Receipt .12 1/2 This is to certify, that on the sixth day of March 1849, I joined in the Holy Band of Matrimony, Mr. Andrew J. Nash and Mrs. Pacify T. Mann according to the usual custom and the Laws of Illinois. Given under my hand and seal, this tenth day of March AD 1849. ILLINOIS JOURNAL, SPRINGFIELD, IL 18 JULY 1851 Gov. French has offered a reward of $200.00 for the apprehension of Andrew J. Nash, charged with the murder of Alexander Lockerman, and his delivery to the sheriff or jailer of Montgomery County, IL. Nash is about 50 yrs. old, about 6 feet in height, quite straight and spare, with marks of age strongly visible in deep wrinkles on his face. He has sparkling hazel blue eyes, black hair intermixed with gray, and a defect in one of his hands or wrist, and also a scar upon his side under his vest. INDICTMENT FOR MURDER STATE OF ILLINOIS MACOUPIN COUNTY Be it remembered, that on the thirteenth day of September A. D. (1853) one thousand eight hundred and fifty three, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County of Montgomery, State of Illinois, filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County of Macoupin, State of Illinois, a copy of the record in the cause above entitled. The People of the State of Illinois--Plaintiffs Indictment for Murder--Andrew J. Nash-- Defendant And now at this time comes the said defendant in custody of the Sheriff, and by his attorneys, and the States attorney for and on behalf of the People aforesaid, and the said defendant being arraigned upon the indictment herein, pleads NOT GUILTY to the c charges therein mentioned. State of Illinois Montgomery County Nicholas Lockerman comes, and on his oath says that a criminal offense has been committed at the County of Montgomery in the State of Illinois on the 4th day of July A. D. 1851 by willfully and maliciously committing the crime of Murder by taking away and destroying the life of one Alexander Lockerman has just and reasonable grounds to suspect that Andrew J. Nash has committed the same; and therefore, he the said Nicholas Lockerman, prays that a warrant my issue against the said Andrew J. Nash for the murder of the said Lockerman. Signed Nicholas Lockerman 20 July 1853 The Grand Jurors present that Andrew J. Nash on the 4th. July 1851 in Montgomery County, Illinois, unlawfully, feloniously, willfully, and of his malice aforethought, did kill and murder Alexander Lockerman with a deadly weapon towit: a certain knife with six inches in the blade Andrew J. Nash in his right hand did inter this knife upon the left side of Alexander Lockerman. With one mortal wound of the breadth of three inches and of the depth of six inches, Alexander Lockerman did languish and in languishing did live; on which said 5th. day of July 1851 Alexander Lockerman died of the said mortal wound. AFFIDAVIT FOR CONTINUANCE SEPTEMBER 15, 1853 The Affiant, Andrew J. Nash, being duly sworn, said, that on yesterday an Indictment for Murder, was presented against him, by the Grand Jury of this Count; that about two months since, he was arrested in Arkansas, and brought to this County, and committed to Jail, where he has been kept in confinement, until the present time; that he has not positively, as yet employed any counsel, to defend him; though he has been endeavoring to make arrangements, for that purpose; that he has had no opportunity since his arrest; to ascertain the number and names of the witnesses that he may need in his defense; that he expects, if allowed time to do so, to procure evidence that would be material to him, in his defense; that he cannot now detail the evidence of the witnesses he desires to have; but that he thinks that John Harp, and Thaddeus Barnett, the latter living in the County of Macoupin, and the first in the County of Montgomery, when he last heard of them; also Henry Snow, who lived in Macoupin, when he last heard of him; that he expects to be able to prove by said witnesses, or some of the, that the time of the affray, which resulted in the killing, the deceased said "that he would take out his knife, and cut affiant to pieces", and that deceased pulled off his coat, and threaten to whip affiant, and all this before affiant inflicted any stab on deceased, that he also expects to prove by Robert and David Hankins, that the deceased was an overbearing and dangerous man, and that they lived, at the time he last heard of the, in Macoupin County Illinois; that he knows of no other persons by whom he can so fully prove the same facts. PETITION FOR CHANGE OF VENUE Andrew J. Nash the defendant in this case by this his petition represents to the Honorable presiding Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, including said County of Montgomery, that he cannot as he verily believes have an impartial and fair trial in said County of Montgomery, for the reason that the minds of the inhabitants of said County are prejudiced against him. That the knowledge of this fact, and the existence of such prejudice, did not come to him until the morning of the 10th. day of the present month, and after the adjournment of the Circuit Court in and for said County of Montgomery; that he was at the same time that said fact was made known to him, informed that the States attorney for said Circuit had left said County, so that notice of this application could not then and there be given to him. He therefore prays that the venue of this case be changed to some County where the cause complained of does not exist. PETITION FOR CHANGE OF VENUE GRANTED It is hereby ordered and directed that the venue in the above cause be changed to the County of Macoupin. You are to remove Andrew J. Nash from the Jail of Montgomery County to the common jail of Macoupin County, Ill. Charles Emerson, Judge of the 17th. Judicial Circuit, IL. CONTEMPT FOR FAILING TO ATTEND AS WITNESSES Fifth day of April 1854, circuit Court of Macoupin County, in the town of Carlinville. Came the States attorney on behalf of the People aforesaid and on hi motion it is ordered by the Court, that attachment issue herein, returnable forthwith, for Daniel Waggoner and Thomas Bethel, requiring them to show cause if any they can, why they should not be fined for contempt for failing to attend as witnesses in this cause, in obedience to process duly served upon them. JURY SELECTION 27 APRIL 1854 Came the States attorney on behalf of the People, and the said defendant, Andrew J. Nash, being brought into Court in custody of the Sheriff and appearing also by his attorneys, and the said defendant having heretofore filed his plea of not Guilty, before the Circuit Court of the County of Montgomery from whence this cause was brought by change of venue. Now to try the issue came a Jury towit: James Harris, Michael Sell, Philip Sharp, Samuel Boggess, Francis G. Brown, Joseph Henderson, Jonathan R. Miles, William Edwards, Lewis Dalton, Samuel England, Sandy Wiggins and Jonathan W. Cummings. VERDICT 28 APRIL 1854 Came again the States attorney on behalf of the People, and the defendant being brought into Court in custody of the Sheriff, and appearing also by his attorneys, and the Jury having now heard all the evidence and arguments of Counsel, in charge of an officer duly sworn according to law, retired to consider of their verdict; and being returned into Court, upon their oaths do say, we of the Jury find the said defendant, Andrew J. Nash, GUILTY, in manner and form as in the indictment is alleged against him wherefrom the defendant by his attorney, moved the Court, to arrest the Judgment herein; and thereupon the said defendant was remanded to Jail. MOTION FOR ARREST OF JUDGMENT 29 APRIL 1854 Defendant filed in the office of the Clerk of Macoupin Circuit Court his reason for the motion for arrest of Judgment, which reasons are set forth towit: 1st It appears from the record that the defendant was arrested and in custody of the Sheriff of Montgomery County and was arraigned and required to plead, and did plead to the indictment in the cause, without being furnished by the People a copy of said indictment to which he was required to plea. 2nd It appears by the petition for change of venue, that the causes for said proposed change, were, that the People of the County were so prejudiced against said defendant, that he could not have a fair and impartial trial; yet the Judge of the Court in the 17th. Judicial Circuit, ordered the said cause to be changed out of said Circuit, to this Circuit, without the authority of law to do so—wherefore said defendant says, that the Circuit Court of Macoupin County, had no Jurisdiction to hear and try said cause. 3rd The record of the Circuit Court of Montgomery County certified to this Court, is not sufficient. It does not sufficiently appear that the venue in this cause was ever properly changed from the County of Montgomery. There is no order of said Court changing the venue, made by said Court, in term time, or is there any certified copy of the petition and order of the Judge, to change said venue in vacation. There is no indictment properly certified into this court. 4th There is no sufficient record or certificate or copy of the proper record, papers and proceedings in this cause had in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, certified to and filed in this Court, authorizing this Court to take cognizance of this cause. ARREST OF JUDGMENT OVERRULED 29 APRIL 1854 Came the States Attorney on behalf of the People, and the said defendant being brought into Court in custody of the Sheriff, and appearing also by his attorneys, and the Court having now heard the motion for arrest of Judgment herein, it is considered by the Court that said motion be overruled whereupon the said defendant was remanded to Jail. DEFENDANT MOVES FOR NEW TRIAL 5 MAY 1854 Defendant moves the Court for a new trial herein: 1. Because the verdict is contrary to evidence. 2. Because the verdict is contrary to law. 3. Because the verdict is contrary to law & evidence. The People of the State of Illinois VS Indictment for Murder--Andrew J. Nash Come the States attorney on behalf of the People, and the defendant being brought into Court in custody of the Sheriff, and appearing also by attorney, when the said defendant moved the Court for a new trial, which motion being heard, it is considered by the Court that said motion be overruled and the said defendant being now inquired of, whether or not, he had anything further to say or allege, why judgment should not now be pronounced against him upon the verdict of the Jury rendered and recorded herein, and answered that he had nothing further to allege or say in the premises, the Court doth order and adjudge, that the said Andrew J. Nash, be remanded to the Jail of Macoupin County, and there safely dept., until the 29th of May 1854 and on that day, between the hours of eight o'clock in the morning, and five o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, the said Andrew J. Nash be taken and conveyed to some convenient place, within one mile of the Courthouse in the Town of Carlinville, and then and there be hung by the neck until he be dead, for the offense of Murder, whereof he stands convicted by verdict of the Jury aforesaid; and the Court doth further order that the Sheriff of Macoupin County, by himself or deputy, execute this order. For good and sufficient cause shown to the Court, by the said defendant, it is ordered by the Court, that the execution of the sentence, the Court in this cause stayed, till the 23rd June 1854 The said defendant by his attorney had excepted to the opinion of the Court, in overruling the motions, for arrest of Judgment, and new trial here and presenting his bill of exceptions, the same was signed and sealed by the Court, and filed, and made part of the record in this cause. It is further ordered by the Court, that on the said 23rd June 1854,The Sheriff execute the sentence as above directed. It is further ordered by the Court, that the Sheriff be authorized to employ a guard of three men, to guard the Jail, whilst A. J. Nash my remain confined therein. ILLINOIS JOURNAL, SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS 9 MAY 1854 At Carlinville, on Friday last, Judge Woodson, of the Circuit Court, passed sentence of death on Andrew J. Nash, for the murder of Lockerman, at Zanesville, Montgomery County, some two years since. The court room was crowded and the spectators listened attentively to the emphatic address of the Judge. The execution will take place in Carlinville on the 23rd. of June 1854. PETITION TO COMMUTE SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON 19 JUNE 1854 My Dear Sir, I will inform you that the friends of Nash has got a petition which will be presented to you. I will inform you that they have got the biggest number that they can get. They have used every unfair means they can use. They have told some of them in some parts of the County that Lockerman had signed the petition. These persons said that if Lockerman had forgive him they could and this is the way they got a great many of them signers. Also they have tried there very best with the influence of there attorney who has a great influence in this County, to get the Jury men to sign the petition. I don't no but they have got some of them to sign it there reason for signing it is they don't believe that Capital punishment is right. They had a fair trial they had the best lawyers that was the witnesses was good men the jury was the best men they could get in the County. I thought it my duty to inform you the facts of the matter as my brother was a very ______________man and did not want any fuss with him at that time. I will not write more. Your benevolent servant, Nicholas Lockerman CARLINVILLE ILLINOIS 20 JUNE 1854 To his Excellency Joel Mattesen: Understanding that an application will be made to you to commute the punishment of one Andrew J. Nash, who stands convicted of Murder by the Circuit Court of Macoupin County, to confinement in the penitentiary for life. I would respectfully say that the trial was had before me as the presiding Judge of said Court and if your excellency shall be inclined to exercise the powers vested in you by the constitution perhaps no stronger case ever by presented for evidence than the case of Nash. I ____________ ______________ a commutation of his punishment as prayed for by him. Very respectfully, D. M. Woodson CARLINVILLE ILLINOIS 19 JUNE 1854 Excellency J. A. Matteson Springfield, IL Sir, At the instance of John M. Palmer Esq. we address you, touching our knowledge of Andrew J. Nash. We have known him for fourteen years last past, have always regarded him as a peaceable, good, citizen, except when under the influence of liquor, but when drinking excitable, and irritable, dangerous to his best friends. In our opinion, a commutation of his sentence, to imprisonment for life, would better serve the ends of public justice, then would his death. Resp. Your Obd. Serv. A. M. Kim Dubois ______McDaniel CARLINVILLE, ILLINOIS 19 JUNE 1854 His Excellency Gov. Matteson Dear Sir, At the request of John M. Palmer Esq. I state that I have known Andrew J. Nash for about fifteen years, and except for his unfortunate habits of intemperance, was a peaceable, honest man of kind feelings and general good conduct. He has a large and respectable family. Having been absent from the State at the time I heard nothing of the trial and give no opinion from the facts then disclosed as to the _________________of a commutation of his sentence. Very Respectfully Yours, Enoch Wall CARLINVILLE, ILLINOIS 19 JUNE 1854 To Hon. J. A. Matteson Springfield, Ill. Sir, At the request of John M. Palmer Esq. I state to you my knowledge of Andrew J. Nash for the commutation of whose sentence he proposes to present to you certain petitions. I have known Nash since 1843 intimately--have lived near neighbor to him for two years and knew him to be an honest peaceable man a good and kind neighbor and affectionate husband and father and I attribute the offense for which he was convicted to the fact that he was at the time under the influence of liquor. He is now about 55 years old and has a large and respectable family. I am of opinion having heard all the evidence on the trial that his is a proper case for Executive interference. L. F. Palmer CARLINVILLE, ILLINOIS 19 JUNE 1854 To His Excellency the Governor of Illinois I am requested to state in brief what I know of the general character of Andrew J. Nash, now in confinement in jail here and under sentence of death for the Murder of Lockerman. I lived neighbor to Nash for two years__________in this County, during that period in his intercourse with his neighbors so far as my observation, he conducted himself as a great, peaceable, kind and accommodating neighbor. When under the excitement of ardent spirits he was said to exhibit a vindictive and quarrelsome temper. In this however I cannot speak definitely______________more than once or twice but slightly intoxicated, under a great part of the time that he resided near me. I knew him a consistent member of the Temperance Society. Very Respectfully Robert W. Glass To His Excellency, Joel A. Matteson, Governor of The State of Illinois, your petitioners citizens of Macoupin County and Jurors & witnesses in the case of the People VS Nash tried at the last term of the Circuit Court of said County and convicted of Murder would respectfully pray your Excellency to commute the sentence of said A. J. Nash to imprisonment for life. From the age of said Nash and the circumstances of the case we believe the ends of justice would be better attained by his confinement than his death. ILLINOIS JOURNAL, SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS 23 JUNE 1854 We learn that the sentence of Nash, who was to be hung at Carlinville today, at two o'clock, has been commuted by the Governor to imprisonment for life. ILLINOIS JOURNAL, SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS 24 JUNE 1854 GREAT EXCITEMENT AT CARLINVILLE--Carlinville, June 23, 4:00 PM. The commutation of the sentence of death upon Andrew J. Nash to that of imprisonment for life has caused great sensation here. Thousands have flocked into our town. The enraged people have just made an attempt to drag him from prison to the place prepared for his execution. The jail is guarded by the sheriff and the jailer and citizens, who up to this time have maintained the law. The mob are making preparations to cut and pull down the jail,--many of them drunk. The utmost confusion prevails and business is entirely suspended. CARLINVILLE, 8:00 PM A. J. Nash, was found dead, having hung himself, it is supposed, during the time the mob threatened taking him. He has left a wife and family. ILLINOIS JOURNAL, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS WEDNESDAY EVENING, 28 JUNE 1854 THE CARLINVILLE TRAGEDY The Carlinville Statesman of Saturday has the following comments upon the hanging affair in that town last week. The storm is over, and we now have a moment of calmness to review the scenes of the last 24 hours; and may the citizens of Carlinville rejoice that a calm has come--for never, in the history of the town has a day passed that was filled up with scenes of more intense interest. Yesterday, our readers all know, was the day on which A. J. Nash was to have been executed for the murder of Alexander Lockerman; with the circumstances of this murder and his subsequent arrest and conviction, the public are already familiar. Early yesterday morning the streets of our town were thronged with wagons and horses, and by noon there were from 3,000 to 4,000 people here--men, women and children who had come here, not knowing that Nash's punishment had been commuted. Things passed off quietly until about 3 o'clock, although, there seemed to be an undercurrent that indicated not the most quite disposition. At 3 o'clock, Nicholas Lockerman, brother of the murdered man, placed himself up on an eminence in the street west of the court house, and began angering the crowd, in favor of tearing down the jail and hanging Nash, at all events. Very soon a mob of four to five hundred people had crowded around him, when they repaired to the jail. After arriving there, they were met by Major Burke, sheriff, D. McDaniel, Jailer and several others, who reasoned with them and desired that they should desist from any violence. Speeches were made by Mr. Chesnut, H. Fishback, and J. F. Cherry in favor of law and order; but they were all met by mad and fierce yells, such as, "bring him our! hang him!" and imprecations on the governor and the attorney who obtained the commutation. No demonstration was made, though the only thing that prevented it was the want of a leader. Lockerman was from time to time urging the mob to action, but refused to do anything himself. The crowd still lingered around the jail until 5, when H. Fishback and A. H. Cornman marched to the assistance of the sheriff with thirty men, armed with double-barrel guns, heavily loaded. These men were ordered to surround the jail and prevent any one coming inside, which was done, the mob giving back without any resistance. This put an end to all action, and nothing was heard but a few oaths of indignation from the crowd. Nothing more took place of interest, the crowd dispersed by degrees, and by 7 o'clock, on entering the jail, Nash was found dead, having hung himself with a bed-quilt, secured to a small cord around his neck, and at the other end attached to the ceiling of the jail. What a picture! There he was, dead, and yet by straightening himself might have had at least a boot of slack in the quilt that served as a rope. In order to produce death he had been compelled to raise his feet to keep them off the floor. A more deliberate and persevering suicide, a more determined, desperate purpose, perhaps, never entered the heart of man. There he had, in the mist of the yells of the mob around, made that awful expiration for his crime and buried their deafening shrills in expiring life, and doubtless, too, were many oaths uttered upon him, which he heeded not a power more potent than the strong arm of the law, more certain than the guard that surrounded the jail, had rescued him from the bloody design of the mob. Surely, yesterday, the 23rd day of June, 1854, will long be remembered in Macoupin County. Before closing, we have a word to say about the parties in this matter. As to Lockerman, we must say that he went too far; but it is mitigated, for it was all produced by a brother's love and a deep wound caused by the murder of a brother, which time of the fulfillment of a rigid penalty can only heal; but as to others, we must be allowed to say that an offended law and an out raged community hold them responsible. Many and we may say the prominent agitators of the mob, were from other counties, who came here to see a man hang, and seemed disposed to violate the law, and more, to commit murder in order that their brash curiosity might be gratified. This, assisted by a little, we are bold to say, prompted many to join the mob. There are some of our own citizens who occupy ranks of respectability, who were there, and if not to assist in violence, they at least aided by their advise. These men are marked, and will be remembered by law and order loving people. We are proud to say that Carlinville has clean hands in the matter. We have some people who thank that Nash's sentence ought not to have been commuted, but since it was done, they were bold to defend the sheriff in protecting the law. We believe not a half dozen of our town people had any hand in encouraging, even, the mob. But, on the other hand they turned out almost unanimously to protect the laws. We believe we have never said anything as an apology for Nash, heretofore, and in deprecating this, we do nothing more than the country demands of us as an advocate of the supremacy of its law. Much credit is due to Maj. Burke, McDaniel, O. W. Hall, J. W. Hickey, Mr. J. Renfro, and several other, for the cool determination displayed in defying the mob from beginning to end. In fact the citizens of the town, and a majority from the county, used all peaceable means in quieting the mob. Coolness seems to have characterized the whole proceedings of the opposes and his friends cannot complain at the commutation of this sentence, for the petitions for that purpose have been circulated boldly and above board by Nash's two sons for four weeks, and they had every chance to meet it with ____________. They did not do it, now they can't complain. But Nash is dead! Now we hope the fiendish desires of that disgraceful mob must be appeased. HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY 1879 PG. 48 FIRST JAIL Perhaps the most notable event connected with prison-life in this jail was the suicide of Andrew J. Nash, a murder and inmate. Nash, who was a man of family, killed with a knife a man names Lockerman. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. The dread day approached, and all preparations were in readiness for his execution. B. F. Burke, and energetic and efficient officer, was the sheriff. This distinguished citizen, whose portrait and biography will be found in this work, was first elected to this office in 1838, and discharged the duties of the position with such satisfaction to the citizens of the county, that he was never beaten for it, but held it continuously until 1848, when a change in the law made him ineligible; providing that a person could not hold that office for consecutive terms. The night before the day fixed for the hanging of Nash, his attorney arrived with the governor's reprieve, and the glad news was reported to the prisoner. Of course this fact was not known among the people. The next morning an immense crown gathered from all parts of the county to witness the execution. When they found it would not take place, they threatened vengeance against the murderer, and excited and agitated, they rushed for the jail, and gathered a howling, frenzied mob around the building, determined to take the prisoner out by force and lynch him. One of the murdered man's brothers was in the crowd. But the sheriff was a man of great personal bravery, and standing his ground manfully in defense of law and order, by appeals to the crowd and an exhibition of determined courage, held them at bay. By his side stood several fearless citizens who shared with him the danger, and among these was Dr. John Logan. Meanwhile a company of armed men was hastily formed among the citizens, who deprecated mob violence, and marched hastily to the scene and placed themselves under the command of the sheriff. When the crowd beheld the display of military force, they dispersed. After the restoration of order, it was discovered that Nash, hearing the cries of those who sought his life, had, during the excitement, hung himself in his cell. What must have been the agony of fear in his breast, when he sought death for relief, can only be imagined. HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY CO., ILL. EDITED BY ALEXANDER T. STRANGE VOL. #II 1918, PAGE 984, ZANESVILLE TWP Andrew J. Nash, a rather quite citizen, a son-in-law of Mr. Meisenheimer, who then lived on what is now known as the Cory place near Hillsboro, in connection with Alexander Lockerman, went to Zanesville to spend the Fourth of July about 1851 or 1852, and as grog shops were running wide open, they imbibed quite freely, and a horse race was proposed. Lockerman rode one of the horses, and fell off. Nash picked him up as an act of friendship, but Lockerman being of a quarrelsome deposition, picked a quarrel with Nash, and a fight ensued. Lockerman was stabbed to death with a knife by Nash. Nash escaped to Texas, but was eventually caught, and tried at Carlinville and condemned to be hung. When the time came for the hanging, the people of the county went about almost in mass to see the performance, hundreds going the day before and camping near the city to be on hand early and get within seeing distance of the scaffold. Fearing that something might prevent the hanging, the Lockerman family and friends showed signs of organizing a mob to take the reins of justice in their own hands. Just before the hour arrived for the hanging, a courier arrived from the governor commuting the penalty to imprisonment for life. Then the mob began to show some little signs of organizing, when Sheriff Burke of that county came out on the steps of the jail with his gun in his hand, and said in a commanding voice: "Whoever attempts to enter this jail or molest the prisoner, will be shot down, and only over my dead body will the order of the governor be interfered with." But the prisoner feeling that he was going to be mobbed, hung himself in the jail, and when this announcement was made the crowd quietly dispersed to their homes, and an impending threatened disgrace was averted. PAST & PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY CO., IL. BY JACOB L. TRAYLOR 1904 PAGE 747--ZANESVILLE TOWNSHIP Another record of murder belongs to Zanesville township. In 1853 Andrew Nash, in a drunken brawl, killed Peter Lockerman. Nash, escaping from the country, was afterward apprehended in Arkansas, brought back and placed in jail at Carlinville. He was tried and condemned to be hung. His friends circulated a petition to be presented to the governor to have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment, fearing that the governor might grant the petition, a mob of Lockerman's friends appeared before the jail in Carlinville at night and so frightened Nash that he committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell. HISTORY OF BOND & MONTGOMERY COUNTIES, ILL. EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN 1882 PAGE 867--ZANESVILLE TOWNSHIP In the year 1853, Andrew Nash and a man by the name of Lockerman had an altercation brought on by the too free use of whisky, during which the former stabbed the latter in a very brutal manner. Lockerman died immediately, and Nash, becoming alarmed, fled the country. Detectives were placed on his track, and sducceeded, after several weeks diligent search, in finding him in Arkansas, where he was arrested, brought back to Carlinville, tried and sentenced to be hanged. A petition was put in circulation by his friends, praying the Governor to commute the sentence to imprisonment for life, which was accordingly done, but before the prisoner was made aware of this step in his behalf, a mob, or rather the appearance of a mob, gathered about the jail one night, which so frightened the poor fellow, that, rather than fall into their hands, he hanged himself with a sheet, which had been twisted into a rope and made fast to a beam overhead. SOUTH CENTRAL SEARCHER, ILLINOIS VOL. #5 #4 APRIL 1985 Dear Readers, The July issue contained an article about the first jail in Macoupin County. The story about a man named Nash and a man named Lockerman was related in that article. I have since received permission from a descendant of Andrew J. Nash to print some of the story. It all started when Susan Zmrzel contacted me about her ancestor. All she knew was that he had committed suicide between the years of 1850 and 1854 in Macoupin County. A search of the 1879 history of Macoupin County turned up the barest story in the first jail entry. But there were no exact dates given! It was confusing because according to the story, you get the impression Nash couldn't have killed himself during the span of years Susan mentioned. According to the article, Sheriff Burke served from 1838 until 1848, "when a change of law made him ineligible; providing that a person could not hold office for consecutive terms". First, I checked for a probate record on Nash. There were none listed. Then, I took one of my 'long shots' and looked for a probate record on Lockerman. I found a listing for Alexander Lockerman, who died 4 July 1851. I found a doctor's bill and hoped for a cause of death. I found instead a bill for a coffin and lining thereof. DEAD END! Next, I asked in the Circuit Clerk's office for a court transcript. I was told all the records for that span of years had been stolen. (Hard to believe since no one bothered to look). I asked if they thought the state archives might have a copy. They doubted that duplicate records were kept back the. DEAD END! Next, I searched the land records and found that Mr. Nash had sold land as late as 1850. Now, what about the sheriff? Was he still in office? I went home that day with mixed emotions about my competence as a researcher. I decided to return to the county history and read the section on sheriffs of Macoupin County (p. 51). There I found : B. T. Burke elected in 1838 and filled the office by re-election until the year 1851. This was great! Now I could narrow the death date down to 2 years. But, I still wanted proof. (So did Susan). Time for another "long shot" I composed 2 letters-- 1 to the State Historical Society Library requesting an obituary on Alexander Lockerman. I knew they didn't have the Carlinville papers for years prior to 1856, but I told them I thought the murder of Lockerman could have made the Springfield paper. I told them I wasn't sure if this was the man Nash murdered. Second, I wrote to the State Archives requesting copies of court transcripts if they had them. I wrote to Susan telling her I believed Nash died after 4 July 1850 but no later than 1851, because of the sheriff's term. WRONG! Keep reading. It seemed an eternity before I got any answers to my letters, but it was worth every minute! By this time, I was as curious as Susan and felt like the answers to this puzzle had to be somewhere! Susan asked in one letter if I thought some of the mob got into the jail and hanged Nash, making it look like suicide. The first information I got back was a listing of newspaper articles from the index of the Springfield paper concerning Lockerman's murder in 1851. However, the other listings and their dates really shocked me. The listing read as follows: July 18, 1851 -Lockerman killed; May 9, 1854—Nash sentenced to hang; June 23, 1854--Sentence commuted; June 24, 1854 threatened lynching-suicide; June 28, 1854 Description of attempted lynching, etc. WOW! But what about Sheriff Burke? How could he still be in office? I went back to the 1879 history book. I read the biographical sketch of Sheriff Burke and discovered that he served 2 years in the state legislature between his terms as sheriff, and so by 1854, he was again sheriff of Macoupin County! Finally, all my "DEAD ENDS" were starting to open up. When I received a letter from the state archives, I was quite surprised! Here's the listing from their index cards (Notated by them: Although there is a variance in the middle initials, these 3 references probably relate to the same person): 1. NASH, Andrew J.--Montgomery Co.: Reward offered for the apprehension of (July 7, 1851); 2. NASH, Andrew I. --Montgomery Co.: The Governor of Illinois requisitioned the Governor of Arkansas to arrest and surrender the above (Nash) to be returned to Montgomery co. to answer charges (June 6, 1853); 3. NASH, Andrew A. The Governor issued a Writ of Commutation for the above (Nash) after he had been convicted of murder and sentenced to be hung; Sentence commuted to life imprisonment (June 22, 1854). GREAT! But if all the rioting happened in Macoupin County, WHY were all the papers issued from Montgomery Co.? The cost of a complete copy of this file was to be $10.00. I wrote Susan so she could order copies if she wanted to. I sent for copies of the newspaper stories. The newspaper stories gave details concerning the mob and suicide of Andrew J. Nash. The details concerning Nash's suicide were quite explicit and I won't repeat them here. What I was really looking for was the circumstances leading up to the murder. ALAS! The paper of June 28, 1854 had the following quote; "Yesterday, our readers all know, was the day on which A. J. Nash was to have been executed for the murder of Alexander Lockerman; with the circumstances of this murder and his subsequent arrest and conviction, the public are already familiar." (Not me and Not Susan, we weren't there). I copied the articles and sent the original to Susan. Susan sent copies of the court transcripts she got from the state archives. Finally the pieces all fit together. It was the 4th. of July 1851 and Nash traveled to Zanesville to celebrate. "As grog shops were open, they imbibed quite freely, and a horse race was proposed. Lockerman rode one of the horses and fell off. Nash picked him up as an act of friendliness but Lockerman being of quarrelsome disposition, picked and argument with Nash and a fight ensued. Lockerman was stabbed but did not die until the next day. Nash escaped to Texas, but was eventually captured in Arkansas and returned to Illinois. He was tried in Carlinville and condemned to be hung. The moral of this story is: Don't give up on your research! Take those "long shots" and don't assume all DEAD ENDS are really the end of your research! Keep trying!!!!! C. Leonard. Ed Trover Found on the Carlinville TWP, IL Web Page Submitted by Marilyn Trover Galvan from an article kept by my cousin Carolyn Metz of St. Louis, MO. She was the granddaughter of Ed and his wife Julia Morris Trover. Besides Carolyn's mother Bessie, the other children were Morris, Ed, and Sep Trover. Many of the readers will also remember Sep Trover who ran Trover's Wholesale which was a tobacco and candy store on the north east corner of the square in Carlinville. Marilyn's father Cullen Trover took over the wholesale business after Sep's death and continued the business until 1971 when it was sold. The following article was written on May 21, 1905 and published in the newspaper probably in Carlinville, Illinois. I hope you find it interesting and informative too. Ed Trover: I claim the distinction of being the oldest tinner in point of service rendered one firm in the state, having been in the employ of the S. S. Woodward Hardware Co. continuously since 1861. I will celebrate my 66th birthday tomorrow at my bench where I have been for forty years without cessation. I came to Carlinville from Shaw's Point (my parents being originally from Kentucky) and commenced to learn my trade under my brother John Trover, who I think, started one of the first repair shops in the village of Carlinville, as it was then. This was about 1854. I was about eight years old when I took up my residence here. I remained with my brother some six or seven years, when he sold out, went to California and joined the regular army. Then I went to work for S. S. Woodward and have been with the firm every since. There was not much of this town as I remember it first. My brother's shop was in a little, two-story building where the Sourmash building now stands, and I remember in my boyhood days the superstition that was prevalent about the shop, occasioned by a man named Aaron Todd, who was murdered. His body was said to have rested in the second story of that building after the murder was committed on the prairie, and a spot on the ceiling was said to have been his blood. However that may have been, there were few about the shop who would sleep in the second story. I remember well the Nash suicide in the old log jail which stood where the Weiss hardware store now stands. I was working for my brother, and John Drennan and I went to the jail to see Nash hung, and my brother gave me my first real good whipping for so doing. There was a great crowd in town to see the murderer hanged, but he committed suicide before the reprieve came, by hanging himself. I can go to the spot, where in the old courthouse, his body was laid after it was removed from the jail. It was near where the east gate of the park now is. Nash lived for some time in an old tree covered with grape vines in Shaw's Point township, known as the Giberson neighborhood. His home was in that neighborhood. He went to Tennessee finally, where he was arrested and brought back. I have seen his house many times. The murder was committed at Old Zanesville. He was a good man until he got drunk, in which state he was when he committed the murder. My brother John was back in his old home in 1877, having quit the army, but soon tired of civilian's life, went back, re-enlisted and died some five years ago. He had been in the soldier's home in Washington City for some time. I remember the C. & A. construction. John O'Niel and I, now deputy sheriff, and other boys used to borrow the hand car and ride up and down the road. John and I got into a scrap one time and he bit one of my fingers off. I remember him very distinctly. The first engines the C. & A. used were those old, big- topped smoke stacks, and burned wood. John O'Niel's father was the section foreman. In those days in early Carlinville horse racing, fights, drinking whisky and going to dances were not uncommon. The vast prairie was only dotted here and there by a log house. I have made much money in my life and saved little. I never spent any foolishly, but have been too liberal and gave it away. I was married 28 years ago, and if I had married sooner I would have been worth more money. I never called for a drink over a bar in my life and never purchased but two pints of whisky in my life and that was for medical purposes. Three sons, one daughter, my wife and I, compose the family. I could tell you much of the early history of men and measures in Carlinvillle. Sep Woodward was a good man and he and I always agreed, save as to little differences, which don't count. His son, Charles, is a chip off the old block and when he gets old it will be difficult to distinguish one from the other." Contact for this family: Susan Peters Zmrzel P.O. Box 10097 Ft. Mojave, AZ 86427 zana@ctaz.com NOTICE: This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities for educational and/or research purposes as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation without the permission of The Macoupin County Illinois USGenWeb Project. (c)1997 The Macoupin County ILGenWeb Project ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan Peters Zmrzel