An often over-looked source of genealogical information is newspapers. There are many places to find historic newspapers - libraries, universities, Google, historical societies, etc. One of my favorites, and the best/most complete, is Chronicling America from the Library of Congress. From the website:
Chronicling America is a Website providing access to information about historic newspapers and select digitized newspaper pages, and is produced by the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP). NDNP, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Library of Congress (LC), is a long-term effort to develop an Internet-based, searchable database of U.S. newspapers with descriptive information and select digitization of historic pages. Supported by NEH, this rich digital resource will be developed and permanently maintained at the Library of Congress. An NEH award program will fund the contribution of content from, eventually, all U.S. states and territories.1
Upon searching said site for the keyword "Ladd," I stumbled upon this:
- The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.), 20 June 1882. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026913/1882-06-20/ed-1/seq-2/>
Here's the full story:
D. F. BRADLEY, Editor
PICKENS C. H., S. C.:
Thursday, June 13, 1878
Murder by Revenue Officials - A Man
Shot Down in Cold Blood
On last Sunday, the 9th instant, about 1
o'clock, four Revenue officials by the name
of Mouse (or Moose,) Durham, Kane and
Scruggs, (we do not know their initials), went
to the house of Mrs. Ladd, a widow lady,
living in the mountainous section of this
county, and brutally murdered her son Amos
Ladd, a young man, aged about 21 years.--
We have not the full particulars of this most
atrocious and fiendish murder, but will give
briefly, only what has come to us, as we con-
sider it, well authenticated, and reserve fil-
ler particulars for a future time, when all the
o'clock, four Revenue officials by the name
of Mouse (or Moose,) Durham, Kane and
Scruggs, (we do not know their initials), went
to the house of Mrs. Ladd, a widow lady,
living in the mountainous section of this
county, and brutally murdered her son Amos
Ladd, a young man, aged about 21 years.--
We have not the full particulars of this most
atrocious and fiendish murder, but will give
briefly, only what has come to us, as we con-
sider it, well authenticated, and reserve fil-
ler particulars for a future time, when all the
facts can be properly brought out. It ap-
pears that the young man was standing, or
rather leaning, against the door facing, when
the Revenue officials rode up, or walked up,
(we believe they were walking,) and delib-
erately shot him dead on the spot without a
moments warning or an intimation of their
designs. The young man fell out of the door
lifeless, when the officials said to his brother,
"who have we shot!" The reply was, "you
have shot my brother." The officers then
turned and left the house, but concealed
themselves on a small hill near the house in
the brush, and remained there for some time,
for what purpose it is not known. They then
went to the store of Mr. King, some four mills
off, where they endeavored to hire a convey-
ance to Easley Station. Mr. King told them
that he could not carry them that evening,
but if they would wait until morning, he
would carry them. This they said, they
could not do, as they had business of impor-
tance to attend to and must go that night.
They then hired one mule from him, and
Kane rode rapidly for the Station, passing
through this place by a back way, about
dusk, and arriving at Easley, just in time
to take the 9 o'clock train going North. He
gave a negro ten cents to carry the mule to
the livery stable, with instructions to send
it back to Mr. Baylis Hendricks, at this place,
where the officials had told Mr. King they
desired the mule to ride to.
It appears that two shots were fired at
Ladd, the first taking effect and killing him,
while the second missed. From this fact,
and the fact that Kane rode off Mr. King's
mule, and left immediately on the train, it is
supposed he did the killing. The other three
went across the country towards Greenville
on foot, and at this writing we know not
where they are.
Mr. John L. Gravley came to town Sunday
night and informed Trial Justice Taylor of
the murder, who at once issued a warrant
and placed it in the hands of the Sheriff, and
that officer at once started in pursuit of the
murderers. Mr. Gravely had been informed
that Hoffman was one of the party, and was
the only one known by the parties giving him
the information, but from Mr. King's state-
ment, who knows the men, it is possible that
a mistake was made, and that Hoffman was
not with the party; if he was, he did not go
to King's store. When the Sheriff arrived at
Easley he learned of the flight of Kane and
on Monday morning as soon as the telegraph
offices were opened, sent off the following
message:
EASLEY, PICKENS Co., S.C., June 10, 1878
To the Chief of Police of Greenville, Spar-
tanburg, Charlotte, and Columbia. A man
by the name of Ladd, was brutally murdered
in this County yesterday by five Revenue
officers, named Hoffman, Cain, Scruggs,
Durham, and Mouse. The have fled. Look
out for them. JOAB MAUDLIN. S.P.C
As above stated, it is probable that there is
a mistake as to Hoffman being with the party,
but as to the others, there is no mistake, for
Mr. King and others know them well.-
It is likely, if Kane kept on he had left
Charlotte before the Sheriff's telegram reach-
ed that place, and may succeed in making
good his escape for the time being. The
others, we think, will be captured.
From all the facts gathered by us, we
pronounce this one of the most fiendish,
cold blooded murders ever committed in this
County. But we will refrain from further
comments until the case has been properly
investigated.
Since the above was put in type, Sheriff
Mauldin has received the following telegram:
"Kane, Scruggs, Durham, and Mouse, sur-
rendered to the Sheriff of Greenville."
rendered to the Sheriff of Greenville."
JNO. G. Greer, Chief Police.
The Greenville News speaking of this, the
surrender of the parties says: Why they did
not go to Pickens C. H. and surrender to the
Sheriff of that County, we are not informed.
The reason may be, that they suppose at
Greenville they may, like Deputy Marshal
Springs did a few day s ago, for a similar
outrage, give a bond, with negro sureties,
for their appearance at Court.
- The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.), 13 June 1878. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026913/1878-06-13/ed-1/seq-2/>
The follow up to the case, which took place four years later (the poor mother!), which I have included at the bottom of this post, includes names such as Salathiel (the brother to the murdered), Adeline Redmond (the sister to the murdered and wife of noted moonshiner Redmond) and Milly (the mother of the murdered). Given that Amos and Salathiel are both family names in my ancestry, and the this takes place in Pickens, South Carolina, where my family is from, poor Amos Ladd has to be related.
Let's figure out how.
From the newspaper articles, this is what I know:
Mother - Milly Ladd
Children - Amos, Salathiel Ladd and Adeline Ladd Redmond
The murder happened in 1878, when Amos was about 21. So he was born in 1857 or so.
My 3x great-grandfather Joseph Balanger Ladd was born in 1845, so Amos, Salathiel and Adeline are all in his generation.
You remember that post when I was talking about my ancestor Salathiel/Thile/Thyer/Theo/etc.? He was the brother of my 4x great-grandfather Pleasant Easley Ladd. That makes him my 4x great-uncle. He was married to Millie. A few of his children, according to the censuses2: Salathiel (Thail M. in the 1850 census; Martin in the 1860 and 1870 censuses), Adeline (Malinda A in the 1860 census, Adeline in the 1870 census) and our poor Amos (Amos in both the 1960 and 1870 censuses).
So Amos and I are related through my 5x great-grandfather, John Ladd, who was Amos's grandfather. So we are 1st cousins, 5x removed.
Moonshining in the mountains of Appalachia. Real southern folk, y'all.
Further reading: In doing research, I found there are actually books written about this! Once Upon A Time in Pickens County - The Amos Ladd and Lewis Redmond Story is an .Old Pendleton District Publication. And King of the Moonshiners: Lewis Redmond in Fact and Fiction is all about Adeline's notorious moonshiner husband, Lewis Redmond. Apparently he was an "archetypal moonshiner," a "national celebrity," a household name, and had the reputation of the most dangerous man in southern Appalachia.
You remember that post when I was talking about my ancestor Salathiel/Thile/Thyer/Theo/etc.? He was the brother of my 4x great-grandfather Pleasant Easley Ladd. That makes him my 4x great-uncle. He was married to Millie. A few of his children, according to the censuses2: Salathiel (Thail M. in the 1850 census; Martin in the 1860 and 1870 censuses), Adeline (Malinda A in the 1860 census, Adeline in the 1870 census) and our poor Amos (Amos in both the 1960 and 1870 censuses).
So Amos and I are related through my 5x great-grandfather, John Ladd, who was Amos's grandfather. So we are 1st cousins, 5x removed.
Moonshining in the mountains of Appalachia. Real southern folk, y'all.
Further reading: In doing research, I found there are actually books written about this! Once Upon A Time in Pickens County - The Amos Ladd and Lewis Redmond Story is an .Old Pendleton District Publication. And King of the Moonshiners: Lewis Redmond in Fact and Fiction is all about Adeline's notorious moonshiner husband, Lewis Redmond. Apparently he was an "archetypal moonshiner," a "national celebrity," a household name, and had the reputation of the most dangerous man in southern Appalachia.
Here's how the story wrapped up:
- The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.), 13 April 1882. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026913/1882-04-13/ed-1/seq-2/>
TLDR: The murderers were found not guilty. :( Poor Amos.
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