-65-

The Wayne County area lost one o~ its mORt oolor£ul Bnd controversialrigures about three months ago when Charles Bryan HARRIS died in the homeor a niece in Elkhart, Kansas, at the age or 91. The death was notannounced publicly until this week when the Wayne County Presa carried thestory.HARRIS was B farroer, and his earlier involvement 1n some extra curricu-lar activities brought him instant attention in the Fairfield area, alongwith several brushes with the law.

HARRIS was known in hi. early years as Charles (Blackie) HARRIS andserved with the old SHELTON gang which goes baok to the late 1920's andearly 1930's when he WBS arrested in Detroit, where !ederal authoritiesaccused hiM of booze running and distribution of counterfeit money. Follow-ing his arrest, HARRIS spent nine years In Leavenworth Prison In Kansas.

In the following years, HARRIS split up with the SHELTON brothers,and one by one, three of the brothers were shot and killed, and, althoughaccusations were roads against HARRIS In the shootings, he denied any con-nection, and WBS neVer tried or convicted In any of the incidents.

The deaths included Carl SHELTON, who was gunned down in an ambush inan area southeast of Fairfield in 1947; Bernie SHELTON, who was .lain out-side his tavern in Peoria in 1946; and Roy SHELTON, who was gunned down ina rield southeast of Fairfield in 1950.

The last shooting incident involving the SHELTONs occurred in the we.t-ern part or Fairfield in July 1951, when Lulu SHELTON PENNINGTON, a sisterof the SHELTON brothers, and her husband Guy were shot. The two recoveredrrom their wounds, and moved to Florida, as did Big Earl SHELTON and anotherbrother, Delta, 'Wholater died of natural cauees , HARRISwas accused ofshooting the PElIllINGTOlls,but was not convicted.

In January 196), H.S. TAYLOR, the unorficial mayor or the Pond Creekcommunity, was slain on a rural road southeast of Fairfield. HARRIS waschar~ed and tried for that shooting, but was later found innocent by aWayne County jury.

In 1965, HARRIS was tried and convicted for the murder or Jerry MERRITTand Betty NEWTON of Fairfield, and spent 15 years in the Illinois prisonsystem for that crime, and was released from the Vienna correctional centerin 1960.

HARRIS had made his home since his release from prison on propertyowned by a niece, residing in a small trailar he owned, but usually eatingwith the family.

On the even inK or June 20, HARRIS had sat down at the supper table inthe nIece's home, when he was stricken by 8. heart attack, and fell to thefloor. He was transported to the Martin County Hospital where he was pro-nounced dead on arrival.

Grave. ide services for HARRIS were held in Elkhart on June 2), and hewaB buried next to his wife, Rena, who passed away 1n 1968.

HARRIS had owned farm properties in southeast Wayne County and hadfarmed them for a number of years. He had visited the area several timessince being released from prison in 1960, and made his Isst visit to thearea la8t 8pring when he passed through the Fairfield area.

And so, the question remains - Who carried out the vendetta against tne SHELTONa?One .omehow has the feeling that somewhere in the great beyond (either up or down),Charlie BIRGER is quietly laughing at the systematic extermination or his arch-enemies, the SHELTON brothers.

-A-Adams 12,14,16,)5,

66,68Adamson 6)Arrlack 15Albert 12,67Albright 9Alderson 6)Alexander 26,67Allen 1),)9Alvis 55Ames 5),61Andereck 64Anderson )5,39,69,

84

######fI#############

SURI1AME INDEX

AndrewsAnglinArmourArnoldArrowsm.ithArthurAshbyAshtonAthertonAtkinsAustinAveryAwaltAyre

25,26,8062,68

221767125462I)79

16,491940)7

_B_Bailey 15Baillet 17Baird 21~22,2),24,

25,)2,)tl,42.49,50Baisinger 52Baker 9,1),29,40,67Baldridge 1),17,21,

22,2),24,25,26,)2,)6,49,50

Baldwin 67Ballard 46Bandy )Banta 5Barksdale 67

BarmoreBarnettBarr

.BartlettBasdenBassBetem.anBatesBealBeanBeardBeaverBeekhamBell

-86-Fetp,atter 66Finch 40,51,70Finn 13,14,53Fischer 18Fisher 15,16Fihgerald 46Flenagan ~~,66,67,Flanigan 66,67Flannap,an 67Fletcher 12Forehand 444ForrestFosgate 12Foster 67Foutch 67Pr-a he 68Francis 66Francois 12Freant 12French 6,8,12,66,83Frost . 37FUller 62Fulton 22,23.24,25,

27,28,29,30,31,32,45,47,50,51,60

Funkhouser 56Fyke 3,16,66

-G-

Cameron 15,47,50Campbell 19Carlson 70Carnahan 60Carnell 68Cerpenter 38,70Carr 66Carrigan 18(31,45,

46,47,41J,50,51Carroll 55Carson 43,11.4-Carter 45,66,84Case 17,56Casey 35Cathcart 21,41Caudle 63Chamberlain 67,70ChamnaS8 10Champion 61Chapman 63,66Charles 431I!harlton 7,28Chew 54Childs 31Chitwood 67Christie 83Church 31,59,61,63Clark 8,18,22,23,

29,30,l~4,67666714

Cockrell 59,60,61,62,63,64,67

Coleman 62,63Collins 31,37Colwell 37Compton 62Connaway 8Conner 60Cook 54Coonst 55Cooper 46,47,68Copple 33Correll 68Cottman 66Cottner 8Couch 21,22,23,24,

36,38,39,41,49,56

Coulter 48Courtney 61Cover 45Cox 13,41Cozad 83Crebtree 14,32Craig 37,39,59,60,

61,62,63(67Crain 31J,72Crene 38,66,67,68Crewford 8Creal 19Creed 50Creel 36Crocker 16Crosby 6Crouch 83Crow 23Cruse 68Crutchfield 68Cruzen 13,82Cummings 9Cunningham 18,21,

23,24,25,26,30,36,39,53,69

18,466716

124416154510,16153730

23,2483

67,8384,85

604.15,28,67,83,84

B1air 37t61Blake 1J,9Blanchard 12Blankenship 83Bodine 15Boggs 5,6,21,22,23,

24,25,26,37,41

BeltBennettBerryBertgesBesoreBetzBibbsBighamBll1.BingamanBinnionBirdBirgerBishopBlack

CurranCurrensCutching

-D-Dabney 15Dahersh 60Daniel 35Daniels 66Darnell 18,40Davenport 31,50Davidson 18,31,38,

45,46.47,48,49,50,51,73

Davis 12,15,66,67,84

Day 18,66Deadmond 13,14,18,

68,80Decker 66,67,68Deering 9Dennison 18Depriest 34Dial 15,35Dick 60Dickens 66Dickinson 65Dillman 67D1l1mann 68Ditamore 61Dodson 12,13Do1sen 17,45,47Donoho 10,41Dunbar 68,83Duncan 45,46,47,66,

67,68Dunn 67,71,83Durall 18Durbin 54Durkin 18Dwight 49

166782836

67,68,8384

654

2,19,7313,16

7315

~b15,37,67,

55719

2,1945,4768

503,1;6

1),16,18,37,66,70,83

Brownfield 66Bruce 68,70,71,80Bryan 50Bryant 68Buchanan 10,19Buckelew 40Bue1a 53Buffington 34,35,36Bullard 8Bumgardner 79Bundy 3,14,16,66Burdick 66Burge 6,11;,68,71Burkett 3,52,53,54Burling 16Burnett 68Burns 68Bushong 72Bussard 67Byars 12,14

Bole9BoltonBondBoringBosBoswellBowerBoydBoyleBoylesBoyntonBradyBradleyBranch

ClayClayburnC10w Gabbert 52

Gain 15,16,53Gall 16Galleg1y 39Ganther 46Gardner 69Garrett 60Gaskill 8,49Gaston 3,16,21,22,

23,24,25,28,29,30,31,34,35,)6,37,38,39,41,43,44,48,49,56,68,70

Gates 51Gehrig 16Gerald 37Gerling 14Gett. 68Gibbs 18Gibson 38,63Gifford 83Gillett 60Gilley 31Glick 8Goodner 18Goott 66Gordon 9Gore 32Goree 21,23,25,36,

37GramlichGrarlwickGrayGreearGreenGreeneGreenwoodGregoryGrider

12 Gum68 Gunthorp17 Guyman

Guymon

BraselBrawleyBreezeBrinkerhoffBrinkleyBrodBrokawBrooksBrown

-E-37

7,12,15,16,54,67

EaganEasleyEblinEddingsEdellEdmistonEggerElkinsElliottEmmettEppersonErvinErwinEthridgeEvans .Ewing

413,15

461715

37,4139198384

15,49,8443,4453,67

37-F-

Fackler 84Faridee 51Faris 21,l~2Farlow 83Farmer 9,37Farris 66,68Farthing 14,15,17,

19,66,67,68,69,70

33802

33,69,816766

34,36,728316686837

-0-Caldwell 66,67,68Calhoon 38Calloway 14

FauverFearingFernald

-H-Hadwick 69Hale 38Halfacre 68Hall 15.68Hamburg 14Hanes 81Hanks 60.62Harley 15Harmon 6,53,54.19Harnishfeges 71Harper 8.32.33Harrington 1Harris 67.84.85Harrison 13.54Harriss 56Hartman 83ilsrvey 35Harvil 9.Hatfield 67.68Hathaway 83Haussler 49Hawkins 10.16.45.

47.66Hawley 19.69Hays 13.54.55.68Headley 12Heape 71Hediger 68.1Ieflin 55Helm 3.52.53.54.55.

56.60.62.63.64Helms 60.62.63.64Henderson 39Hendricks 83Heninger 68Henley 55Henry 51.68Henson 37.69Heppert 80Hershberger 66Hester 10.13.15Heyduck 66Hicklin 24.25.26.38Hickox 68Hill 9t17,28.36.54.. 6tl.83Hilleary 40Hillhouse 23.24.38.

48.51.52Hiltibidal 34Hinderer 15Hines 54Hise 41Hodge 37Hodges 9.13.33Hogue 23.24Holeman 66Holenshead 66Hollenshead 66Holliday 36Holloway 12Holman 67Holmes 46Holstlaw 14.15.16.

18,6819

31.70.1269.72

1429164818

H61struDlHoltHolwickHootsHooverHordHoskinsHouchin

-87-15.45 Krutsinger

6767h4

Hudson 49Huey 45.47Huff 14.17.28.31.

41.45.46.47.50.51Hughey 8.39Hughson 50.51Hultz 14Hunt 31Huser 82Huston 48Hutchinson 8

HoughHoweHowsllHubble

-I-ImbodenIngramIrvinIrvineIrwin

-J-JackJackson

14~~15,19.50.

1867

738.45.49,50

JaneJarvisJeffriesJenningsJensen 14Johnson 14,15,32.39JoliU 71Jolliff 17Jones 2.4,13.15,18,

30,41,50,66Jordan 49Joy 4June 67Justice 52.53.54,

55.72-K-

8.17721

7,8.6622.24.25.26,31

Kell 5,1.9,13,21,22.23.24.25,26,28.29.32,36,31.38.41.42.49,65.66.67.68.82

Keller 67Kelley 14Kelso 61Kemp 13Kennedy 19Kent 14.67Kilday 6Kimbrough 40King 49Kinney 54Kirby 33Kirgan 54Klein 68Klenke 68Kleystuber 61.68Koons 69Kreft 11Krodell 67

KagyKaneKeelKeeleKeeney

-L-LaceyLadLeuLakels.rsonLasleyLaswellLawrence

30.6118181011

6.68551340683954

9,21.22.23.24.25.26

Lewis 31.63Lian 19Lichty 84Linehan 11Linton 83Little 22.23,24.25Littrell 14Lively 39Livesay 13Locy 50Logan 31,41,48.49Lonnon 54Lordan 56Lovingfoss 12Lowe 68Lowey 54Ludwig 66Lusch 66Lutey 21.22.23.24Luttrell 53,84Lybarger 2Lydick 61Lynch 19Lyons 9.14.84

I.ewBonLaymanLaymonLeasureLeckroneLaeLeeperLemenLemonLeonhardLeslieLesterLeuty

-Mc-McAListerMcBrideMcCartenMcC8s1eeMcCastleMcClelland

1236.3919

2424

15,18,68,84

5t43.44.4tl,49

McConnohay 54McCord 40McCormack 83McCracken 25.29McCrary 39I1cCreary 42McCullough 61McDonald 19.36.54McFarland 11,83McField 69McGaillard 40McGee 16,13McGraw 54.68McGuire 60McIntosh 45

McClure

66 !lcKeeMcKellerMcKenzieMcKinleyMcKinneyMcLaughlinMcMasterMcMillanMcNallyMcNeil

6639,46

-M-Macifield 69Macksfield 69Maddox 71Magness 66Malcolm 34Malcom 66Mallory 35Mann 38·Mannen 19Mansfield 69March 16Marlow 54Marquard 67Marsh 56Marshall 49,50Martin 8.19.29135,

49,66.67,6tl,69Martz 52Hasterson 8Matheny 83Mathis 15,66Matthews 9Maxfield 38.56.69,

10t71,72Haxwell Itl.70.12!-\Byfield 69Mead 52Meeker 66.67Meeks 66Hepler 80Mercer 13,16,61Meredith 18.19Merritt 85Merten 67Meskimons 60Metcalf 29Metzger 55.66Heyers 13Michael 36Middleton 4.16.29,

53Milano 2Hilburn 22.23,24Miller 9.14,68,83!Iillican 82Millson 50lUnton 68Misenheimer 68Mitchell 7.13Modlin 66.61.68·Ilonken 12Moore 5.9.17.29,33,

53.66Moreland 39Morgan 62,68Mornin 54Morrison 13.68,71Morton 21,22,23.24,

25.26.83,84Mosier 84Mount 5.6.7.8,42

Mulvaney 64Murdock 39Myers 21,22,25,26,

84

-N-NattierNealNeedelsNeelNearNelmsNewmanNewtonNicholsNickelNiriderNixonNolemanNorfleetNorris

-0-O'BriantO'Brien

OestrichOgdenOliver01190nOlson0'Me1venyOswaldOuthouseOwens

-P-

1964,83

515514133785

45,6619

70.7162,6318,4966.6819,56

6814,59,61,64,65

1144

2,10,19,465

151715

18,45,46,83

29,41

Pace 46Parker 64Parkinson 23,24.25,

26.29,)~,)9Parrill 66,67.68Psrsley 19Parsons 79Patrick )2,37Patterson 14,22,33Patton )2,33Paul 25,26Paxton 48,49Peacock 8)Peckypile 51Peiffer 71Pelletier 6Pennington 85Pentecuff 54Perkins 44,68Perry 48Peters 67Phenix 44Pickle 60Piflg 26,68Piles 34Piont-Kowski' 18Piper ))Pittenger 15Pitts 54pitts dale 67poole 13Porter 9,21,22,5),

55PoseyPotterPotts

1662,6716,43

PowellPrahlPre therPribblePriceProctorPughPurcellPurduePyles

-88-

8446

)2,)77983508)68

5),5434

-Q-15

3,55QuandtQuick

-R-Radcliff 83Ragan 66Haggan 67Rainey '5,21,22,2),

24,25,26,41,81Randle 12Ray 16,66Razor 45Read 46Reed 9,1),62Reeves 68Reid 12.38,72Reinhardt 14,84Reno 18Rexford 82Rial 67Rice 14Richardson 3.12.13,

66,67,6~,70Rlechman 45,46Rightnower 40Riley 2,1)Ripley 63Rippy 19Ritchey 54Robb 15Robertson 60,66Robinette 5Robinson 49Roddy 67Ro~er. 6,41.54,67Rohrer . 66Ronaymn 19Root 82Roper )Rose 8Ross 10,12,16.10,

45,78,79,81136715

38,56,72

RotanRothRuddickRyan

-5-Salee 12Sample 45,47,50,51Sanders 9Sandlin 52Sarr,ent 12Sattley 9Schaef 71Schlau 12Schnake 12.18Schneider 8Schuman 11Schwartz 10Scott 8.19,22,36,40Searcy 6),68

Seaton 19See 31,45,47,50!'leely 17Sellers 14Sevege 45Shaffer 67Shanafelt 18,19,66,

67 84Shaw 15,)~,41,49Shawler 84Shelton 3.l2,)9,5),

59,60,61,64,65,84,85

Shock )Simer 8Simmons 12Simpson 66Sims 61,63Siple 66Skesick 14Skeef 41Slagley 66Sla ter $2 -U-Sligar 11,12,68 UnderwoodSloan 24Smith 5.18,21,22.

26,28.39,4),61,62,6),.64,6$,67,68,69

Sneed 45,47Snuthers )1Soger 68Sonfler 67 -~l-Soper 19 Hade 7,23,24Soulon 19 Halker )8,42Sou t hvar-d 67 Wallis 18Spearman 40 Valters 18Specker 66 Walton 12Spencer 44 . ~ra1trip $4Spilman 46 Hantland 67Spitler 64,66 Ward 6,17Springer 60 Warlick 5,6,37Sprowl 42 Warner 55Stanley 45 Warren 29,)7.68Stark 51,$2 Waters 49,50stater 67 "atkins 14Stein 67 Watson 7,16,)3Stevenson 19 ~Iatts 16Stewart 8,15,61 Heathers 49stipp 60,61,6) Webb 5,6Stites 50 Vlebber 18Stoddard 56 ~Iebster 45,47Stone )2 Helch 84Storment 5.6. 7,8, ~/elsch 67

21,22,23,24,2$, Wendell 4626,29,)6,40,41, Weyant 2642,65 Wham 5,6.9,1),21,

Stormont 42 22,24,25,26,41,Stout" )4 42,53,6$Stover )8,49,66 Wheeler 49Strand 6 Whisnant 6Stretter 19 White 70,8),84Stroud 8 Whitehead 44Stroup 19 Hhitman 66,67Sugg 19,44,66,68,7) Wilkereon 6)Sullivan 9 Wilkins 29,52,54,55Sundermeyer 68 Williams 5,6,8,18,Sweet $2,62 31,42,45,47,50,Swinford 34,35 67,68

~lill1sW11lsW11sonWindesWinegarner

Taylor 85Telford 9,10,16t23,

25,26,)),6~,70Temple 46Thomes 1),50Thompson 38,59Thorne 32Thorp 68Thorpe 83Thurston 16Tilford 70Tinker 80Tinkler 68Tipton 80Tolbert 13Touve 79Traylor 14Traynor 15Tucker 66Turner 4,17,72Tyson 13

72

-V_Van AntwerpVanskikeVAnZandtVernorVoight

505

707

72

-T-)868

15,41,70,825

69

TalbottTate

)26.13.66•67,6tl.69

-89-WinegartenWinnWisehartWolreWoodWoodwardWoodworthWooldridge

~~66

29.66,67,68,69

Worley 66Wormer 2,3,21,27,57Worrell 6

WrightWyattWynn

-Z-WooleyWoolleyWootenWooters

ZappZogg 13

52-Y-

YardleyYoung

177,54

################P###

CIVIL WAR VIGNETTESSince we have a rew pages to spare, following 1s another p,roup of vignettes In aseries started 8 few issues ago. These are simply little stories collected andwritten during many years of r-ea dLng and stUdying Civil ~Iar history. MFl{

MUD TURTLES Aim POLLTIIOGSFederal planners, judging correctly that the war in the West might well hinge

on control of the rivers, decided by May of 1861 to build a fleet or warships thatwould be specially adapted to navigating those tricky rivers. They sent U.S.NavyCommander John Rodgers to the West to orp,Rnize a river fleet.

Anxious to deploy gunboats on the rivers A~ quickly A8 possible, Rodgers pur-chased three flat-bottomed side-wheelers In Cincinnati, Bnd In June commissionedtheir conversion into tlmberclad gunboats - the Lexington, the Tyler and theConestoga.

Rodgers had the steamers' upper works stripped away end their frames and decksstrengthened with heavy timbers to accomodate the weight of four to eight heavyguns. These cannon, 32-pounder Amooth-bores and R-inch ritled guns, would givethe ships a great edge over any Confederate vessel then on the rivers. Finally,he had the three ships sheathed with oak planks four inches thick.

These timberclads were completed by the end of the SUMmer of 1861. Althoughthey could not withstand heavy cannon fire, they proved invaluable in the recon-noitering and raiding of Confederate bases well up~tream. The Lexington took partin the first action of the ,Iestern Flotilla by capturing a Confederate steamer onAugust 22. on September 14, alonB with the Tyler, she attacked Confederate batter-ies along the Mississippi. All three of the timberclads supported Gen. Grant'sattack on Belmont, Mo. on November 7.

While Commander Rodgers was putting together these makeshift gunboats, planswere underway for 8 more substantial river fleet. The man who won the contract toproduce the ships was James B. Eada, a veteran riverman and salvage expert as well08 a h8rd-drlvin~ taskmaster.

Eads faced enormous technical difficulties. Tho ships had to be strongly pro-tected to withstand bombardment from the Confederate forts scattered along thebanks of the rivers, and they had to mount cannon at least as heavy 8S the fixedConfederste artillery. Yet, despite the greet weight of their guns and protectivegear, they had to be so shollow of draft that they could navigate in less than tenfeet of water.

As a first step, Eads used his experience as a Aalvager and improvised freelyon Rodgers' work. He purchased and converted two river boats into ironclad gun-boats. The first, a five-year-old ferry named New Era, was quickly rebuilt andput into action ss the Essex, carrying 8 crew of 124.

The second took longer, but was Eads' pride and joy hAcBuBe of its size andstability. It was a snag boat, a peculiarly "'estern vessel used to raise sunkenships and submerged trees, and was an enormoUs vessel, 200 feet long end 72 feet1n the beam. The bow and sides were covered with iron, three and a half inchesthick, and pierced with gunports for 16 cannon. The fini_hed ship, rensmed theBenton, carried B crew of 176 men and was the most effective gunboat in the WesternFlotilla. The ponderous Benton moved slo,"Ily,driven by two hle;h-pressure engines,and when the commander of the \,festernFlotilla, Flag Officer Ann.rew Foote, com-plained about her slowness, Eeds replied that she was Itplenty fast enough to fightwith.1t

While all t~is conversion was Boing on, Eads was also planning and buildingseven new ironclads. Starting in Aup,u~t of 1861, work crews laid thle keels - fourof them at Carondelet on the Mississippi near St. LoUis, Rnd three at the MoundCity, Ill. naval station, five or six miles north of r,airo, on the Ohio River.These vessels, adapted from the plans of Samuel Pook and often called "Pook t sTurtles,1I were built expressly to fight Gonf' e d er-a t e shore batteries 0

Each of the seven ironclads was 175 feet long end 51.2 feet in the beam. Thecasemate, its wal18 slanted at ahout 35 degrees to deflect enemy fire, was pro-tected with two and 8 half inches of iron plate on the bow and sides. Each vesselwas armed with 13 cannon and powered by two high-compre.sion steam engines thatcould propel the ship upstream at rive miles per hour and downstream at nine miles