When John and Ida Harris didn’t answer their door in 1895, the visitor knew something was wrong. Cautiously they opened the door. The nightmare they saw inside would stay with them the rest of their lives. Come hear a tragic tale of the American West that your grandma didn’t want you to hear. Sources […]
Episode 133: Remastered: The Tragic Tale of John and Ida Harris Read More »
Keith County, Nebraska, January 1895 — The man had looked around the property but hadn’t seen any sign of John or Ida. He thought it was a little strange not to see them out doing something. There was always something to do on a homestead, regardless of the weather. Animals needed feeding, firewood needed to
Remastered: The Tragic Tale of John and Ida Harris Read More »
On the night of October 9, 1896, the town of Corning, Iowa was awakened by an alarm bell. A fire had broken out near the railroad tracks on the south side of town. As firemen and citizens fought the blaze, little did they know that an even bigger disaster was about to happen right behind
Episode 105: What Caused the Great Corning, Iowa Fire of 1896? Read More »
Fall had settled into the rolling hills of Adams County in southwest Iowa. Harvest had begun in the largely rural region, and farmers and their families toiled in the fields as the temperatures began to drop and the leaves slowly changed their color. In the city of Corning, the county seat, and the largest city
What caused the Great Corning, Iowa Fire of 1896? Read More »
Courthouses were a big boost for the economies of frontier towns, and they were willing to do nearly anything to get them. When a long-running courthouse feud started again in Clinton County, Iowa, in the mid-1800’s, a group of local citizens decided to not take these insults lying down.
Episode 69: The Missing Bell – The Clinton County, Iowa Courthouse War Read More »
Courthouses are, without a doubt, iconic structures within our civilized societies. However, many people would probably be shocked to discover the lengths – both legal and illegal – that pioneers would go to in order to get one To many people, courthouses represent justice. They promise us law and order, that we will be judged
The Missing Bell – The Clinton County, Iowa Courthouse War Read More »
Heartrending events in the life of Margaretha Nehlsen had brought her to the very depths of despair. No one knew that she was about to cause an even more horrific tragedy.
Episode 60: Poisoned Chocolate: The Nehlsen Murder/Suicide of 1910 Read More »
Starting in about 1820 and ending at the turn of the 20th Century, cultural norms in Western Europe began to shift. At the same time, things were also changing in the United States. America began to experience an enormous influx of immigrants from the western portion of the European continent and the United Kingdom.
Poisoned Chocolate: The Nehlsen Murder/Suicide of 1910 Read More »
I have always loved Adams County. Located in the southwestern portion of the state, Adams county is the least populous county in Iowa, containing just under 3700 people. It’s very rural, and is comprised of rolling hills and rich green fields. People still wave to you in the street, or raise an index finger in
The Devil You Know: The John Hoskins Murders Read More »
