Death of Anton Koewler

I am going to let the newspaper articles tell the rest of the story.  For all of this to have happened over money and watermelons is just shameful.  

News Democrat - Georgetown, Ohio

March 29, 1900

"Anthony Koewler died at his home near town at 10 a. m., Monday, as the result of a shot fired by Wm. Sidwell on September 3, 1899.  His body was paralyzed from the waist down and it is almost a miracle that he lingered so long.  He was born in Germany 60 years ago, but has lived here many years.  He leaves a wife, two boys and three girls, besides many friends, to mourn his demise.  The funeral will take place from St. Michael's Church on Thursday morning at ten o'clock; interment in Maplewood.  His family have the sympathy of all.  Sidwell was re-arrested and taken to Georgetown and lodged in jail where he awaits the action of the grand jury."

Marietta Daily Leader - Marietta, Ohio

April 1, 1900

page 4

"Quarreled Over Melons

Ripley, O.,  March 31. - Anthony Koewler, a prominent farmer who was shot on the 3d of last September by Wm. Sidwell in a dispute over a crop of melons, was buried here on Thursday.  Koewler's death was due to the effects of the wound.  Sidwell was tried on the charge of shooting with intent to kill, but the jury disagreed.  He has been rearrested and jailed, the charge now being murder in the second degree."

Daily Public Ledger - Maysville, Kentucky

15 February 1901

page 1

"At Ripley a verdict of manslaughter was returned against William Sidwell, charged with the killing of Anthony Koewler last September.  Application for a new trial was made."

Daily Public Ledger - Maysville, Kentucky

28 February 1901

page 1

"William Sidwell, for the killing of Tony Koewler near Ripley over a year ago, has been denied a new trial, and was sentenced by Judge Markley to four and one-half years in the Ohio Penitentiary."

Bill Becker Fichter

For the past month, each Sunday evening, my husband and I have been watching the HBO mini-series, The Pacific.  It is a very interesting and well done show.   Except for the invasion of Pearl Harbor, I did not have that much knowledge of WWII in the Pacific, but watching all the things that those brave men endured makes me respect them all the more.  It has also made me think of ancestors that served in the military, one in particular, my grandmother's first cousin, Bill Becker Fichter.

Billy, as my grandmother always called him, was born in 1923 in either Ripley or Georgetown, Ohio.  His mother was Edith Bekcer Fichter and his father was Nickolas Kramer Fichter.  Bill began his  service in the Navy in 1943 and was a Pharmacist's Mate, Second Class.  I searched the Internet to see if I could discover the details of his service, but was not successful.  I did learn that a pharmacist's mate would have administered medical aid, treatment, and service to naval personnel.  They would have served on a hospital ship, naval ground hospital, or possibly in battled if accompanying a Marine unit.  I will keep looking to see if I can find out exactly what Bill did in the war.  

Bill lived to be 75 years old having died in 1998.  He is buried in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.