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."

Anton Koewler's Story - Part 2

Daily Public Ledger 

Maysville, Kentucky

September 5, 1899 

The canteloupe and watermelon crop in West Kentucky this season has been exceedingly large, the product of many patches being allowed to rot in the fields, as prices will not pay for hauling them to market.

This was the state of things that late summer of 1899.  Anton Koewler had recently purchased the old James Stephenson farm just east of the town of Ripley.  Early in the season, Anton rented a small patch of land on the bank of the Ohio River to Daniel Sidwell and his sons to raise watermelons.  As the crop grew, Anton had concerns about the amount of money that would be realized from it, however, fearing the melons would be stolen during the night, Anton had lent the Sidwell boys his gun to protect themselves.  

On Sunday, September 3, Anton decided he wanted his gun back and went to retrieve it from the Sidwells who were tending the watermelon patch. Angry words were spoken and William Sidwell resented Anton's demeanor.  Anton turned and pointed his gun at Sidwell, "pulling it off".  Sidwell ran to his house,  returned with a revolver, and shot Anton three times.  Two of the bullets did little harm, however, one entered his left breast and came to rest upon his spine.

Anton was taken home, and the Doctors Prine and Francis were called.  Anton was soon partially paralyzed and, fearing the worst, the priest was summoned to administer the Holy Sacrament of the Church.  Meanwhile, William Sidwell had started to town to turn himself in when he met Sheriff Miller to whom he surrendered.  On Tuesday, September 4, he was released on $2000 bail.   One week later, Anton's condition remained the same.

This story is taken from newspaper articles in the September 7 and 14, 1899 issues of Georgetown, Ohio's News Democrat.   I want to sincerely thank Alison at the Union Township Public Library in Ripley, Ohio for taking the time to hunt for the articles in the unindexed newspaper microfilm.  I am sure she had better and much more important things to do.  If you are wondering why the story is not taken from the Ripley Bee, it is because that newspaper microfilm is not available for the year 1899.  I am just so thankful that the library does have access to the News Democrat!  You may have also noticed that the Hamilton, Ohio newspaper in which I first found my clue for this story named the shooter as William Tidwell, instead of Sidwell, so I am doubly glad that I was able to read it from a newspaper closer to the actual location.

I cannot imagine how the Koewler family felt that September day.  I found it very interesting and sad that the article's author described Anton as having a reputation of being quarrelsome, yet standing well in the community.  I can't help but wonder what sort of man he was that he would be thought of in this way.

In case you are wondering, Anton's injuries did turn out to be deadly and in my next posting you will be able to read his obituary and all about the fate of William Sidwell.

 

Uncovering the Death of Anton Koewler

The death of my great - great grandfather, Anton Koewler, has driven me mad for years!  His daughter was Henrietta, wife of Joseph Haitz.   She and Joseph were the parents of sixteen children, the ninth being my grandfather, George Henry Haitz.

From census data, I knew Anton had immigrated from Germany to Ripley, Ohio sometime around 1866 with his wife, Henrietta Fischer, and their daughter, Catherine.  Henry their second child was born in Ohio around 1867.  Anton and Henrietta would go on to have 12 children, eight of whom I have at least some information.  

Also from the census, I had an approximate birth year, 1840, for Anton, however, his death remained a mystery.   When Anton was not found with his family in the 1900 census and Henrietta is listed as a widow, the first thing that obviously popped into my head was that Anton was dead.  I entered his death into Reunion as "before June 1900" keeping in mind that the death date is nothing until proven. 

Then, along came, my Newspaper Archive subscription!  I entered KOEWLER into the search engine and several prospects appeared.  I looked at each, making notes, sometimes printing, when a small front page article in the September 5th issue of the Hamilton Daily Republican News caught my eye.  Now Hamilton, Ohio is quite a distance from Ripley, but not wanting to miss anything, I clicked on the link.  A small five sentence paragraph with the dateline "Ripley, O., Sept. 5" became a clue that would send me on the journey of discovering Anton's story.

The article was titled, "Farmer Shot While In His Melon Patch".  It read, 

"Tony Koewler, aged 62, a farmer, was shot while in a watermelon patch by William Tidwell.  The two met and had hot words.  The result of the wound can not yet be determined.  He is apparently paralyzed.  Tidwell gave himself up."

Could Tony be my Anton?  The age/birth year calculation was pretty close and I had found him sometimes listed as Anthony.  I immediately e-mailed the most helpful librarian at Union Township Public Library in Ripley to see if the town newspaper, the Ripley Bee, was available on microfilm for 1899.  She quickly responded that unfortunately, it was not, but that she would check the News-Democrat, the paper for the nearby town of Georgetown.  I couldn't wait to hear from her!  You'll have to stay tuned for the rest of the story!  It's an interesting one!