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George H. Mickelberry

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George H. Mickelberry

Birth	:	17 Jul 1792 Tennessee, USA
Death	:	17 Jul 1840 Vigo County, Indiana, USA
Burial	:	Olivewood Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate	:	33.9528008, -117.3780975
Inscription	:	Born in Tenn.
Description	:	aka Mickleberry MURDERED on 48th birthday over dispute about stolen wool Son of Robert Mickelberry and Elizabeth Sutherlin m1: Elizabeth Sellers Feb 19 1815 ch: -James 1815- -Delilah Jane -Robert W. (died between Jul 1840-Aug 1842) (notes from 1842 murder trial stated that George's son Robert "is now dead".) m: Mary Calhoon -aka Calhoun- Apr 22 1827, Harris Co IN ch: -Martha Jun 3 1828-1864/IN M: Hay -Elizabeth Ann Jan 10 1832-Jan 25 1834/IN -John H. Mickelberry Mar 21 1835/IN-1916/MT -William C. Mickelberry (1839-1882 m: Mary Catherine Greaver, both bur: Hendricks Cem.); -George Sutherland... Read More	aka Mickleberry MURDERED on 48th birthday over dispute about stolen wool Son of Robert Mickelberry and Elizabeth Sutherlin m1: Elizabeth Sellers Feb 19 1815 ch: -James 1815- -Delilah Jane -Robert W. (died between Jul 1840-Aug 1842) (notes from 1842 murder trial stated that George's son Robert "is now dead".) m: Mary Calhoon -aka Calhoun- Apr 22 1827, Harris Co IN ch: -Martha Jun 3 1828-1864/IN M: Hay -Elizabeth Ann Jan 10 1832-Jan 25 1834/IN -John H. Mickelberry Mar 21 1835/IN-1916/MT -William C. Mickelberry (1839-1882 m: Mary Catherine Greaver, both bur: Hendricks Cem.); -George Sutherland Mickelberry (Dec 31 1840-Apr 28 1928/Ellis OK m1:: Martha Basham? ch: Arthur, Elizabeth, Florence and Emory R. m2: Hulda Mildred Thoroughman ch: Mertie, Jessie, Linnie and five unknown. Hulda {1856-1902} and their daughter Linnie {1891-1908} are buried in Tebo Cem, Henry Co MO). RE: Murder of George -- Beauchamp's Crime.-- The first murder in Vigo county for which the death penalty was inflicted was the killing of George Mickleberry by Noah Beauchamp near St. Mary's, in Sugar creek township, in May, 1840. The murderer was hanged at Rockville in the winter of 1842, having gone to Parke county on a change of venue, and there convicted. Noah Beauchamp and George Mickleberry were the owners of adjoining farms in Sugar Creek township, and were in those days considered well-to-do farmers. The men were members of the same church, were friends of long standing, and each of their families consisted of a wife and several daughters. On the dividing line between the two farms was a fine natural spring, which was used for watering stock. In the spring of the year a temporary dam was built in the little stream formed by the spring, and the latter backed up for the purpose of washing the sheep of the two farmers, preparatory to the annual shearing. Each of the men, when the shearing had been completed, spread his wool out to dry on the hillocks on either side of the spring. A short time after the annual shearing had been completed in May, 1840, and the wool spread out to dry, a report was current in the neighborhood that the daughters of Beauchamp had been stealing wool from the Mickleberry's collection, while the owners were absent. This report, which was said to have been orignated by the daughters of Mickleberry, of course came to the ears of the parties accused of the theft. On the day the story was first heard the Beauchamps, the husband and father was absent. On his return, about noon, his daughters informed him of the story, which had been started derogatorty to them, and without stopping to eat his dinner, Beauchamp set out to the home of the Midkleberrys. The Mickleberry family was seated at the dinner table when Beauchamp arrived. The latter appeared at the door, and repeating the story he had heard, asked if it wer true that the daughters of Mickleberry had said this. Mickleberry responded that it was so, and that he supported every word they may have said. This brought in a quarrel, in the course of whick Mickleberry lifted a chair to strike Beauchamp, but his wife prevented him from doing this. At this juncture Beauchamp drew the kinfe with which he has provided himself, and Mickleberry, who was unable to defend himself from the weapon, was killed in his own yard, and in the presence of his wife and daguthers. Another story is that it was Mrs. Micklebery who had said this, and that the murdered man only spoke when Beauchamp commenced to abuse his wife, and then Beauchamp struck him to the heart with the knife. The latter gave an alarm, Beauchamp having fled immediately after the commission of the dee. The first man to reach the scene of the killing was Rice McCormick, the vereran carpenter and boatman. Beauchamp made his way to the Wabash, which he swam several miles above here. Search was instituted for him as soon as the news of the crime had been spread, but the murderer succeeded in making his escape, and nothing was heard of him for seveal months. Handbills were struck off, giving a description of the murderer, and offering a reward of $500 for his arrest. These handbills were sent to all parts of the country, and a person going from this county to Texas, took one of them with him, and to this chance occurrence the capture of the murderer was due. The bill was posted in a rude country hotel, in a little place near the Rio Grande border, in Texas. A couple of young men visiting the hotel read the description and the offer of reward, and knowing a man employed in a blacksmith's shop in that vacinity who answered completely to that description charged him with being the culprit. It was Beauchamp, who had escaped to that far-away and seemingly secure place of refuge, and when confronted with the offer of a reward for his capture, confessed that he was the man. The young men took charge of him, and set out on horseback to return the criminal to the scene of his crime. The great soutwestern system of railroads had not been dreamed of in those days, and a journey from the wild Mexican province to the distant Hoosier State, on horseback, over unfrequented and strange roads, fording rivers, with the accompanying perils to life and property, was the work of weeks and months. It was completed in safety, however, and the men turned Beauchamp over to the authorities here, receiving the reward offered for him, and for which, rather than any desire to see justice administered, they had made their long journey. Beauchamp had a hearing before the Vigo court, and applied for a change of venue to Parke county, on the ground that there was such a public feeling and sentiment against him in this county that he could not recieve justice. But this did not save him, and after a long and tedious trial before the Parke county court, at Rockville, he was convicted of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to be hanged. The death penalty was inflicted at Rockville in the winter of 1842, nearly two years after the perpetration of the crime, the execution being public, and witnessed by a large crowd of spectators. There was great interest in this county in the crime and penalty, and great numbers of persons went to Rockville on horseback and in wagons to witness the last scene in the tragedy. This was the first murder ever committed in Vigo county for which the death penalty was inflicted, and the first and only hanging that ever occurred at Rockville. This article is from book called History of Vigo County, pages 561-563, chapter XXXI-Notable Crimes. Author was H. C. Bradsby, 1891. Thanks toKorina/Kbeaniefz for sharing the article. NOTE: This story indicates the event happened May 1840; tombstone engraved as July. The story was written over 50 years after the event and appears to have the wrong date. Family notes have shown that George was murdered in 1840 on his 48th birthday, but no month was included in the note. Thanks to Michael Sellers (#47025178), a descendent, for providing information regarding the first marriage and children Delilah and Robert. Michael also provided the following version of the murder, as passed down through the family and is undoubtedly more accurate than the above version: "However, its {Notable Crimes story} not quite accurate. George was not coming to the defense of his wife after she was supposedly accosted by Beauchamp, Sr. It was George's daughter, Delilah, who got into a heated, verbal argument with Beauchamp from the living room adjoining where the men confronted one another. After Beauchamp threatened Delilah by saying, "If you was a man, I'd cut you into laces," George stepped in and was subsequently stabbed by Beauchamp. George's widow, Mary (Calhoun) Mickelberry unfairly stated that if it hadn't been for George's daughter, Delilah, the murder might never have taken place." Michael also provided the following observation: "...the Beauchamp girls were probably guilty of swiping wool from the Mickelberry side of the stream, I think it was Delilah Jane that spread the word and then angered Beauchamp when he came to confront George about what was being said. Several prominent citizens apparently tried to come to Beauchamp's defense, however, the deed had been done and nothing really could spare him. There were accusations at the time that George's widow, Mary (Calhoun) Mickelberry, had afterwards changed her account of what happened to put more blame on Beauchamp. If memory serves me correctly, Mary was quite livid with her step-daughter, Delilah, and felt she was the cause of it all and had said so early on. However, Mary seems to change her story and put the blame squarely on Beauchamp when the trial got underway. Regardless of the reasons behind doing it, Beauchamp was clearly at fault. The irony is Beauchamp's cousin, Jereboam O. Beauchamp, had done the very same thing in November 1825. Jereboam fatally stabbed Col. Solomon P. Sharp in Frankfort, Kentucky, while in defense of statements against his (Jereboam's) wife. Jereboam had gone to Sharp's home, confronted him, stabbed and killed him in his doorway and then fled. A huge manhunt ensued and Jereboam was captured. He tried to kill himself but was stopped and saved at the last minute. He was then tried and sentenced to hang, which he was. "

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is George H. Mickelberry's memorial?
George H. Mickelberry's memorial is located at: Olivewood Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, USA.
When did George H. Mickelberry death?
George H. Mickelberry death on 17 Jul 1840 in Vigo County, Indiana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the George H. Mickelberry's memorial?
Latitude: 33.9528008
Longitude: -117.3780975

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Martha Mickelberry Hay

(1828 - 1864)

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Nearby Cemetories:

1. Olivewood Cemetery
Riverside, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.9528008, -117.3780975

2. Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery - EMHC
Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.9795506, -117.3858123

3. Evergreen Memorial Park and Mausoleum
Riverside, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.9802017, -117.3868103

4. Van Thu Temple Columbarium
Riverside, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.9480100, -117.4401000

5. Green Acres Memorial Park and Mortuary
Bloomington, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0408287, -117.3855591

6. Agua Mansa Cemetery
Colton, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0419006, -117.3630981

7. Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.8875008, -117.2800980

8. Crestlawn Memorial Park
Riverside, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.9494019, -117.5160980

9. March Field Air Museum
March Field, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.8832245, -117.2668686

10. Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery
Colton, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0502800, -117.2847900

11. Hermosa Gardens Cemetery
Colton, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0746956, -117.3473663

12. Montecito Memorial Park
Colton, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0466995, -117.2767029

13. Sherman Institute Cemetery
Riverside, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.8788880, -117.5040270

14. Rancho San Bernardino Cemetery
Colton, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0849859, -117.3139884

15. Rialto Park Cemetery
Rialto, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1021614, -117.3758926

16. Tradition Cremation Center and Cemetery
San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0914610, -117.3040620

17. Corona Sunnyslope Cemetery
Corona, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.8686981, -117.5475998

18. Pioneer Memorial Cemetery
San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1133003, -117.2830963

19. Home of Eternity Cemetery
San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1138992, -117.2838974

20. Hillside Memorial Park
Redlands, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0250015, -117.1789017

21. Trinity Memorial Garden
Redlands, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0495600, -117.1795400

22. Campo Santo Memorial
San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1399994, -117.2910004

23. Perris Valley Cemetery
Perris, Riverside County, USA
Coordinate: 33.7947006, -117.2228012

24. Mountain View Cemetery
San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1391983, -117.2750015