IAGenWeb Project - Allamakee co. Misc. Historical Items

"other history" Index

Persons incarcerated in a state penitentiary from Allamakee county

1879 - 1919

Additional information added for selected convicts.

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~source of convict prison data is from Ancestry database itled 'Consecutive Registers of Convicts'
~data extracted, researched and transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb (unless otherwise credited)

Researchers should verify all information for accuracy!

Name & prison number Crime Term Committed nstitution Age Nativity Commitments Date of Expiration of Sentence, Discharge or other
Wood, Charles - no. 3083 Ft. Madison Burglary & Attempt to Murder 16 yrs. 11/18/1879 Anamosa 18 Virginia First Pardoned 01/20/1890 [Additional info.]
McLoud, Daniel - no. 675 Incest 10 yrs. 05/28/1880 Anamosa 50 England First Expiration sentence 10/14/1888 [Additional info.]
Curtin, Hanorah - no. 1019 [female] Murder 1st Degree Life 06/23/1883 Anamosa 48 Wis. First Pardoned 05/26/1890 [Additional info.]
Walker, Wm. - no. 1382 Larceny 1½ yrs 12/08/1885 AnamoIsa 21 Michigan First Expiration of sentence 03/19/1887
Thompson, Edward - no. 1383 Larceny 1½ yrs 12/08/1885 Anamosa 20 Michigan First Expiration of sentence 03/24/1887
Fritz, H.A. - no. 1384 Larceny 2 yrs. 12/08/1885 Anamosa 30 German First Expiration of sentence 08/19/1887
Leonard, Frank - no. 1385 Larceny 2 yrs. 12/08/1885 Anamosa 23 Irish First Expiration of sentence 08/24/1887
Liskou / Liskow, J.C. - no. 1560 Burglary 2 yrs. 12/07/1886 Anamosa 30 Iowa First Expiration sentence 08/18/1888
Shuff, John - no. 1654 Larceny 2 yrs. 10/12/1887 Anamosa 19 Iowa First Expiration sentence 06/23/1889
McDonald, Friederick - no. 1793 Burglary 2½ yrs. 01/23/1889 Anamosa 19 Illinois First Escaped 05/23/1889
Kinney, Robert - no. 2165 Assault to murder 3 yrs. 11/21/1891 Anamosa 57 Ireland First Sentence suspended 04/23/1893
Smith, John - no. 2245 Burglary 20 mo. 09/20/1892 Anamosa 49 N.Y. Second [check mark, otherwise the entry is blank]
Jones, Sam - no. 2246 Burglary 20 mo. 09/20/1892 Anamosa 34 N.Y. Second [check mark, otherwise the entry is blank]
Beall, Charles - no. 2637 Forgery 90 dys 01/31/1894 Anamosa 20 Iowa First Expiration sentence 04/22/1894
Damer / Darmes / Darner, Gilbert no. 3411 Burglary 3 yrs. 09/21/1896 Anamosa 21 Wis. First Exp sentence 05/06/1899; Diminution 03/20/1899
Dairman / Daiman, William - no.3412 Burglary 3½ yrs 09/21/1896 Anamosa 21 Wis. First Exp sentence 08/19/1899; Diminution 07/20/1899
Beal, Irving - no. 3413 Rape 5 yrs. 09/21/1896 Anamosa 15 Iowa First Exp sentence 06/22/1900; Diminution 06/19/1900
Adams, Frank - no. 3524 Burglary 18 mo. 12/01/1896 Anamosa 32 Mass. First Expiration sentence 03/31/1898
Smith, George - no. 3525 Burglary 18 mo. 12/01/1896 Anamosa 27 D.C. Third Expiration sentence 04/02/1898
Darvill, Charles - no. 3532 Breaking & E. 3 yrs. 12/08/1896 Anamosa 21 Missouri First Expiration sentence 06/10/1899
Hunt, Charles - no. 3533 Breaking & E. 5 yrs. 12/08/1896 Anamosa 42 N.Y. First 09/07/1900 expiration of sentence
Fitzgerald, O. alias Jackson Smith & William Johnson - no. 3557 Robbery 20 mo. 01/20/1897 Anamosa 18 Illinois First 07/09/1898 expiration of sentence
Orr, John - no. 3558 Robbery 3 yrs. 01/20/1897 Anamosa 22 Illinois First 07/19/1899 Expiration w/dimmution; 08/04/1899 expiration of sentence
Olsland, Parker - no. 3772 Larceny 6 mo. 09/28/1897 Anamosa 19 Iowa First Expiration of sentence 03/12/1898
Boomer, B.F. - no. 3794 Receiving money on deposit while insolvent 5 yrs 10/13/1897 Anamosa 57 Illinois First 07/03/1901, expiration of sentence [Additional info.]
Crowthers / Crouthers, Eli - no. 3918 Adultry 6 mo. 01/28/1898 Anamosa 35 Wis. First Expiration of sentence 07/12/1898
Sullivan, Jas. - no. 4070 Incest 10 yrs. 09/26/1898 Anamosa 33 Iowa First 01/25/1905 Expiration w/dimmution
Maning, Sidney - no. 4648 Larceny 18 mo 04/13/1901 Anamosa 37 Penn. First 08/12/1902; 08/11/1902 expir. sentence
Jennings, Wm - no 4763 Assault with intent to murder 5 yrs 11/23/1901 Anamosa 23 Wis. First 08/22/1906; 08/21/1906 expir. of sentence
Hewett, Eugene - no 5597 Larceny from the [illegible] 2½ yrs 09/26/1906 Anamosa 57 N.Y. First 11/10/1908 expir. of sentence
Bandle, George - no. 5643 Larceny 1½ yrs 11/13/1906 Anamosa 17 Iowa First 10/25/1907 paroled; 07/01/1908 parole revoked; 03/12/1908 diminution; 06/16/1908 expir. of sentence
Clark, Robert - no. 5644 Robbery 3 yrs 11/17/1906 Anamosa 34 Iowa First 05/16/09 [additional info.]
Whaley, Richard - no. 5645 Injury to a dwelling house 1 yr 11/17/1906 Anamosa 34 Iowa First 10/16/1907; 10/18/1907 expir. sentence [additional info.]
Hemenway / Heminway, Charles - no. 5646 Robbery 2 yrs 11/17/1906 Anamosa 28 Iowa First 08/16/1908 expir. sentence [additional info.]
Johnson, August - no. 5647 Seduction 3½ yrs 11/17/1906 Anamosa 34 Canada First 09/16/1909 [note: has 2 entries different dates & institutions] [additional info.]
Johnson, Aug - no. 9406 Seduction 3½ yrs 11/17/1906 Fort Madison 34 Canada   08/04/1909 Parole; 09/06/1909 Expir. sentence [see note from entry above] [additional info.]
Hammenway / Heminway, Grant - no. 5691 Malicious mischief 2 yrs 01/22/1907 Anamosa 26 Iowa First 10/21/1908; 10/23/1908 expir. sentence
West, Frank - no. 7498 Forgery 10 yrs 10/27/1914 Anamosa 24 Illiinois First Died of 'flu' 10/28/1918
Wyatt, John - no. 11579 Larceny 5 yrs. 10/20/19 Fort Madison 31 Wis. First 07/22/1921 Paroled

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Additional Information

Charles Wood
..... from the 'History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties Iowa, 1882', by W. E. Alexander, Chapter 8:

Early on the morning of August 24, 1879, two burglars went through the office and safe of the mill company---Hemenway, Barclay & Co., at Lansing; first overpowering the night watchman, R. G. Edwards, whom they beat nearly to death and left bound and gagged, and in an insensible condition. They blew the safe open with powder, but for all their trouble obtained scarcely fifty dollars. They then joined their companion who was awaiting them with a skiff, and escaped. At first it was supposed there were four men in the transaction, and a party of that number were arrested below McGregor in a skiff the next day, but proved to be not the ones wanted. Two of the burglars, Charles Wood, alias "Pittsburg Kid", and Frank Lucas, were captured at LaCrosse two or three days later, with tools in their possession and checks of the firm. Wood owned up the crime, and tried to exonerate Lucas from any participation in the affair, further than rowing the burglars to the scene and away again, claiming that his companion was one James White, alias "Sandy", or "Red"; and this one was arrested at Lansing shortly after. They were all placed in the Decorah jail to await the next term of the district court, our county jail not being sufficiently secure. It was ascertained from Wood, or the "Kid" as he was generally called, that he was one of the parties who burglarized two or three stores in Waukon the previous spring; and it was evident he was a hardened criminal and skillful cracksman, besides being much older in years than his looks would imply. The three had been in the Decorah jail but a short time, when they one night made an unsuccessful attempt to overpower the Sheriff and escape. November 12th following, indictments were filed against them and the "Kid" at first plead guilty with the view of being sent to the reform school, but the law fixing the age of admission to that institution as under sixteen years, the plea was withdrawn. That night they endeavered to gopher out of the county jail, but were discovered and their plans frustrated. The "Kid" had his trial at this term, and received sixteen years in the penitentiary.

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Daniel McLoud
..... from the 'History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties Iowa, 1882' by W. E. Alexander, Chapter 8:

In March, 1880, Daniel McLoud, of Linton township, was arrested upon a charge of rape, the victim being his own daughter, only fourteen years of age. At the May term of court he was convicted, and sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary.

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Hanora Garvey Curtin

~Postville Review, December 17, 1881:
Poisoned
The last week's Waukon Standard has the following particulars of a case of poisoning which occurred near that town on Tuesday evening, of last week. We may add that Mrs. Curtin escaped from custody and as we write has not been retaken, though she probably will be in time for us to give additional particulars in this issue. The circumstantial evidence against her seems almost crushing:

"Such was the report on the street yesterday morning in regard to Mr. A.C. Johnson. It appears that he had lately come from western Iowa to dispose of some property and collect money due him, some of it owing him by Mrs. Curtin, better known as Mrss. Garvey, where he was temporarily staying. Night before last she gave him some chicken soup, of which he ate, and in a few hours was dead. Dr. Nitterauer was sent for, but did not arrive till after his death. He returned to Waukon, and Sheriff Hewit and Dr. Bowen, the Coroner, went out there and held an inquest. Mr. E.B. Jones, the principal witness, testified substantially as follows:

I was sent for. When I got here one of them told me to hurry, that Johnson wanted to talk to me. I came in and went up stairs. He spoke and told me to raise him up. I put my arm under his head. He took a fit or spasm, commenced to shake and straighten back in bed, and lay still for a few minutes. When he came to he said he was going to die, and wanted me to write to his boys. He said he had his money in his pocket, and wanted me to take it. I found [either $300 or $800] in one pocket,and $40 in another. He showed me his overcoat and other coat and told me to take care of them. He said he was poisoned. I asked him how. He said in chicken soup. I asked him how long ago. He said about two hours. In the mean time he would have these jerking spells. In about half an hour after I got to him he took one of these fits and died. Mrs. Garvey's little boy was present and asked me what was the matter with Johnson. I told him he was sick, and Johnson spoke and said "Your mother poisoned me." Had no conversation with Mrs. Garvey. Her last husband's name was Curtin.

The verdict of the inquest was in accordance with the apparent fact of death by strychine, and Mrs. Curtin was arrested and brought to town for further proceedings. Mr. Johnson's stomach was secured for examination to determine more fully the fact of strychine poisoning. We are told she bought half a drachm of strychine at Kennedy's drug store on Tuesday, the day of the poisoning. As our information now stands, it seems a heartless case of murder for money, but we hope it is not so. Mrs. Curtin has heretofore attained an unenviable notority in the community, and Mr. Curtin has warned the public not to trust her on his account as she has deserted him without just cause after fleecing him, as we stated some time since.

~'Past & Present of AllamakeeCounty, 1913', Chapter 17:
One of the coolest and most revolting cases of murder that must be chronicled here was that of one A. C. Johnson, by poison, at the home of Mrs. Hanora Curtin, better known by her former name of Mrs. Garvey, in the evening of December 6, 1881. It seems that Johnson had recently returned from western Iowa to dispose of some property in this vicinity and to make collection of some debts, and was stopping temporarily at Mrs. Curtin's , northwest of Waukon, she being one of his debtors. Mrs. Curtin prepared him a chicken soup, after partaking of which he become violently ill and dispatched a messenger for some neighbors, to whom he declared that Mrs. Curtin had poisoned him and he was going to die, and requesting them to take charge of his clothing, in which he had some three or four hundred dollars, and to write to his boys. His death followed in a few hours, and Sheriff Hewitt was summoned, together with the coroner, at that time Dr. D. H. Bowen. An inquest was held, resulting in a verdict of death by strychnine, and Mrs. Curtin was arrested and kept under guard at the old Central House in Waukon, for want of a suitable jail. The preliminary examination was set for the 9th, but during the night of the 8th Mrs. Curtin made her escape. Later she was apprehended and placed in the Decorah jail for better security, but nearly succeeded in getting away again. She was transferred to the new county jail at Waukon when completed that fall. Not until the May term, 1883, did the case come on for trial, when the testimony showed that she had on the day of Johnson's death purchased a half-drachm of strychnine at a drug store in Waukon, and other evidence was so positively incriminating (including an analysis of the stomach) that the jury promptly returned a verdict of murder in the first degree, and placed the punishment at imprisonment for life at hard labor in the Anamosa penitentiary. The testimony indicated that John Barleycorn had a hand in this murder, as in all the other cases, the murderess having nerved up with whisky and was intoxicated that night. She was eventually pardoned, and went to Dakota, where she died.

Note: A query & several replies, posted to the Allamakee Query board has even more additional information about the case - this will open in a new window.

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Benjamin Franklin Boomer

~Postville Review, December 14, 1895:
B.F. Boomer Guilty
An extra from the office of the Waukon Democrat, received last Saturday evening, contained the verdict of the jury in the long drawn out Boomer trial. The vertict was guilty; and on Saturday, Judge Hobson pronounced sentence upon the convicted man, which was five years in the penitentiary and a fine of $2,000 as costs of trial. The charge, which was sustained, was fraudulent banking.

By this sentence the dozens of men defrauded out of their money are not financially bnefitted, but the criminal is punished. There are other indictments hanging over him for the same offense, and hence there is not likely to be any clemency extended to him. So far as he is concerned there is no room for sympathy.

He has proven a dangerous man and his punishment is deserved. He was capable of better things, and yet there was something about him that created suspicion on the part of a fair student of human nature.. He has brought lasting disgrace upon himelf and family; and is liable to spend his remaining days in the penitentiary, as there seems to be no doubt [illegible word] the supreme court, if the case goes there, will affirm the action of the court below.

He had as able counsel as the state affords, and the proof was so positive that conviction was the only alternative.
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~Elkader Register, January 31, 1896:
Three more indictments have been returned against B.F Boomer and three against his son Allan, by the Allamakee county grand jury, for fraudulent banking.
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~Postville Review, May 2, 1896:
Cases disposed of this term [of court] ....
The judge has ordered creditors of B.F. Boomer to be paid from monies that have accumulated in the clerk's hands for rents of his several business blocks. It amounts to a considerable sum.

State of Iowa vs B.F. Boomer indictment; defendant appeared in court and pleads that he is not guilty of offense charged in the indictment. Cause continued by agreement of counsel. In case defendant elects to file motion for change of place of trial application and affidavits in support thereof to be filed in this court on or before July 1st, 1896. Application in this case to be used also in Nos. 5238 and 5239.
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~Postville Review, Friday, February 5, 1897:
B.F. Boomer and Amelia Mauch were married in Waukon last Tuesday.
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~Elkader Register, October 22, 1897:
B.F. Boomer of Waukon, convicted of fraudulent banking, was taken to the penitentiary last week Wednesday. The Democrat says, that "had he, as he faithfully promised at the outset of his financial difficulties, made every effort to reimburse his creditors from the sale of the large property interests here, there is every reason to believe the prison doors would never have closed upon him. Instead, himself and family, have resolutely attached themselves so far as within their power, to the $50,000 more or less of real and personal property in this city.
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~Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, Oct 26, 1897, Decorah, IA, Page: 2 ~contributed by Cheryl L. Moonen:
B. F. Boomer Sent to Prison
It is said that Governor Drake will be petitioned to pardon President B. F. Boomer, of the Bank of Waukon, convicted of receiving a deposit when he knew the bank was insolvent. The District Court sentenced him to imprisonment in Anamosa penitentiary for five years. The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment and Boomer was placed in prison. The sheriff took Boomer to the penitentiary as a visitor and the warden showed them through. Then the visitor’s returned to the hotel. The sheriff handed the commitment papers to Boomer and left for home. Boomer walked back to the prison alone, handed out the papers and, through a flood of tears, told the warden the story of his disgrace.
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~Elkader Argus, July 3, 1901:
B.F. Boomer, the Waukon bank wrecker, has returned to that city after three years and nine months in the Anamosa prison.
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~Elkader Register, May 8, 1902:
All the so-called 'Boomer cases' at Waukon were dismissed at the term of court just held. It is presumed a satisfactory settlement of money affairs has been reached between the parties interested, and the court record says B.F. Boomer has been sufficiently punished.
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Note:
B.F. Boomer (7/20/1842 - 3/20/1916) and his wife Amelia (7/16/1856 - 08/05/1940) are buried in Oakland Main cemetery.

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Robert Clark
Richard Whaley
Charles Heminway
August Johnson


~Postville Review, Friday, November 23, 1906:
District Court
There was considerable of an air of briskness on the adjournment of Judge Hobson's court last Thursday, when four criminals were arraigned for sentence.

August Johnson was found guilty by the jury on the charge of seduction and sentenced to the penitentiary at Anamosa for three years and six months.

Robert Clark and Chas. Hemenway were convicted of the crime of holding up of Elias Pettit, and each got a term in the penitentiary; Clark for three and Hemenway for two years.

Richard Whaley, who was indicted on the charge of throwing a stone into a residence in west Waukon plead guilty and was given one year.

All the sentences were at hard labor. Saturday, Deputy Swebakken,, with John Sweeney and H.R. Ludeking, accompanied the quartet to Anamosa. And this might be a good occasion to say that County Attorney Taylor made a ten strike in convicting the whole bunch. - Waukon Republican

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