Person Page - 1574

     Lottie Minerva McKinley was born on 5 February 1879 at Colfax County, Nebraska.¹ She was the daughter of William Paul McKinley and Mary Rose Chandler.¹ Lottie Minerva McKinley married Henry Sprague Corley before 1894 at Kansas.² It could have been called a family fight or a neighborhood feud or perhaps it was a combination of both. It happened in the rural country about eighteen miles north of Sharon Springs, the county seat of Wallace County. It took place years after the country had supposedly progressed beyond feuds. The McKinleys had a daughter, Lottie, who fell in love with a neighbor boy, Sprague Corley. The two wanted to get married. The Corleys were in favor of the marriage and Mrs. McKinley agreed. But Mr. McKinley said that his daughter was too young and he didn't like Sprague Corley, anyway. He further alienated his daughter by suggesting that he should at least get a new wagon from Corley. She thought that was the same as selling her. Sprague Corley and his new bride settled on a farm not far from the homes of their parents. In addition to Lottie, Bill McKinley had two sons, Louis, grown, and Fred, just seventeen. Bill's hatred of Corley spread to his offspring. They agreed that they would get rid of Corley the first chance they got. The days passed peacefully and spring work got under way. Then came the day when Fred McKinley went to Corley and offered to help him with his farm work. Corley believed it was a move toward reconciliation between him and the McKinleys, so he quickly agreed to hire Fred to help him. Sprague Corley had a hotbed a ways from the house where he was getting some plants started for this early garden. Lottie had gone to Sharon Springs with one of the McKinleys to get some things. It was while the men were at the hotbed and Corley was stooped over, working with the plants, that Fred spotted a grubbing hoe near the end of the hotbed. He grabbed it and brought the heavy blade down with a mighty stroke on the top of Corley's head. The blow killed him instantly. Fred dragged the body to some soft dirt and buried it. From evidence found later, Fred apparently was frightened away before he had completed the job because the body was not completely covered. The hands and part of the head were left exposed. Fred disappeared, taking Corley's gun, horse and saddle. He went to Kit Carson, Colorado and stayed with some people he knew there who owned a sheep ranch. When Lottie got home from Sharon Springs that evening, Sprague wasn't there. He hadn't come in yet the next morning and she was worried. Mrs. Corley, Sprague's mother, was there and she shared Lottie's worry. It was Mrs. Corley who found Sprague late in the afternoon. She saw some hogs feeding on something down by the garden and she discovered that they were eating on the head and hands of her dead son. The shock was almost more than she could endure. Mrs. Corley's screams brought a neighbor, Mr. Paxton, who happened to be passing by. When he saw the situation, he jumped on his horse and rode wildly to a place where he knew several people were having a party. Among those at the party was Sheriff Fleming. The celebration ended abruptly and everyone came back with Mr. Paxton. The grubbing hoe and the tracks around the body told the story. Everyone, including Sheriff Fleming, knew how Bill McKinley felt about Sprague Corley. They all agreed that Bill McKinley had probably committed the murder. Bill McKinley and his older son, Louis, had actually been out searching for Sprague Corley. The shefiff immediately placed the two McKinleys under arrest for the murder. They, of course, denied it. The sheriff was convinced that, if they hadn't done the killing themselves, they had hired or coaxed someone to do it. They were taken to Sharon Springs and put in the jail there. A man was put on the trail of young Fred since he was missing and could be involved. The deputy found Fred McKinley down in Colorado and brought him back to Sharon Springs and lodged him, under guard, in the hotel. Feelings ran very high among the people, especially the friends of Corley. A Grizzly murder of a friend couldn't be tolerated. No one seemed particularly concerned about the positive identity of the actual killer. They were absolutely sure that Bill McKinley and his son were behind the murder, regardless of who had swung the grubbing hoe. It was an impromptu mob. They had seen with their own eyes what had happened to Sprague Corley. They could not wait for the slow grinding wheels of the law to determine the fate of the McKinleys. So they dragged McKinley and his son, Louis, out of the Sharon Springs jail and down to the railroad bridge at the southwest corner of town. They lynched them both in spite of their pleas that they were not guilty of killing Sprague Corley. Fred McKinley asked for a change of venue for his trial. Feeling was far too high in Wallace County for him to get a fair trial. So his trial was moved to Wakeeney. There, to the surprise of many people, Fred McKinley was found not guilty.³ Lottie Minerva McKinley died on 26 January 1955 at Clearlake Highlands, Lake County, California, at age 75.¹

     Ethel B. McKinley was born circa 1888 at Kansas.¹ She was the daughter of William Paul McKinley and Mary Rose Chandler.¹

     Archibald Dene Christie was born on 21 March 1857 at Canada.¹ He died on 20 October 1916 at Iowa at age 59.¹

     Della Ann Carpenter was born on 17 March 1862 at Minnesota.¹ She died on 30 May 1949 at age 87.¹

     James Sumner Trumbell was born on 11 April 1894 at Avery Township, Hancock County, Iowa.² He was the son of James Abiah Trumbell and Caroline Kelly Elder.² James Sumner Trumbell married Frances Fern Christie, daughter of Archibald Dene Christie and Della Ann Carpenter, on 8 March 1916 at Hancock County, Iowa.¹ James Sumner Trumbell died on 30 June 1975 at Klemme, Hancock County, Iowa, at age 81.^2,1

     William Francis Smolder was born on 23 November 1881 at Sharpsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.¹ He died on 8 March 1961 at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, at age 79.¹

     Ida M. Seiler was born on 12 May 1886 at Pennsylvania.¹ She died on 13 May 1975 at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, at age 89.¹

     Anna Sarah McCurdy was born in December 1868 at Indiana County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of John McCurdy and Catharine Rager.² Anna Sarah McCurdy married Dempsey Baker Snow, son of Stephen V. Snow and Elizabeth McNutt, on 17 April 1888 at Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ Anna Sarah McCurdy died on 23 July 1945 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 76.¹

     William Arthur Snow was born on 11 June 1889 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy.¹ William Arthur Snow married Nora Lydia Gloor, daughter of Arnved Gloor and Cecile Mojon, before 1930.² William Arthur Snow died on 22 November 1956 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 67.¹

     John Morley Snow was born on 19 June 1893 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy.¹ John Morley Snow married Ethel May Smith on 16 March 1918 at Petersburg, Fauquier County, Virginia.¹ John Morley Snow died on 27 March 1977 at Southern Pines, Moore County, North Carolina, at age 83.¹

     Geneva E. Snow was born on 22 April 1896 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy.¹ Geneva E. Snow married Charles Theadore Frischauf, son of Gustave Adolph Frischauf and Helene Heiser.¹ Geneva E. Snow died on 2 November 1989 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 93.¹

     Carrie Hazel Snow was born on 26 April 1899 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy.¹ Carrie Hazel Snow married Edward Gustav Karl, son of Joseph Karl and Rosina Ernst, in 1918.¹ Carrie Hazel Snow died on 12 April 1964 at age 64.¹

     Anna Mae Snow was born in 1907 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy.¹ Anna Mae Snow died on 9 December 1908 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹

     Dempsey Baker Snow Jr. was born circa 1908 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy.¹ Dempsey Baker Snow Jr. married Jane Wilson Stombaugh, daughter of Morgan Lewis Stombaugh and Myrtle Lenora Wilson.² Dempsey Baker Snow Jr. died on 30 September 1949 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹

     Ethel May Smith was born on 2 June 1893 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.² She married John Morley Snow, son of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy, on 16 March 1918 at Petersburg, Fauquier County, Virginia.¹ Ethel May Smith died on 29 March 1981 at Pinehurst, Moore County, North Carolina, at age 87.²

     Emma Snow was born circa 1919 at Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of John Morley Snow and Ethel May Smith.¹

     Edward Gustav Karl was born on 13 February 1894 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Joseph Karl and Rosina Ernst.¹ Edward Gustav Karl married Carrie Hazel Snow, daughter of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy, in 1918.¹ Edward Gustav Karl died on 21 March 1944 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 50.¹

     Edward Dempsey Karl was born on 31 May 1920 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Edward Gustav Karl and Carrie Hazel Snow.¹ Edward Dempsey Karl died on 27 September 1979 at Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, at age 59.¹

     Joseph Karl was born in December 1862 at Karlsruh, Bavaria, Germany.¹ He died on 8 March 1939 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 76.¹

     Rosina Ernst was born on 6 October 1864 at Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany.¹ She died on 5 June 1930 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 65.¹

     John McCurdy was born on 15 January 1829 at Lockport, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.¹ He died on 18 July 1905 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 76.¹

     Catharine Rager was born on 28 February 1830 at Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ She died on 9 May 1908 at Lower Yoder Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 78.¹

     Nora Lydia Gloor was born on 5 June 1890 at Switzerland.² She was the daughter of Arnved Gloor and Cecile Mojon.¹ Nora Lydia Gloor married Thomas Oldt Gutelius on 23 December 1908 at Pennsylvania.³ Nora Lydia Gloor married William Arthur Snow, son of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy, before 1930.⁴ Nora Lydia Gloor died on 7 September 1974 at Whittier, Los Angeles County, California, at age 84.²

     Arnved Gloor was born on 7 October 1853 at Switzerland.² He died on 9 July 1928 at Pennsylvania at age 74.²

     Cecile Mojon was born on 19 July 1850 at Switzerland.² She died on 24 April 1934 at Pennsylvania at age 83.²

     Thomas Oldt Gutelius was born on 4 April 1885 at Pennsylvania.¹ He married Nora Lydia Gloor, daughter of Arnved Gloor and Cecile Mojon, on 23 December 1908 at Pennsylvania.¹ Thomas Oldt Gutelius died on 5 October 1943 at Missouri at age 58.¹

     Jane Wilson Stombaugh was born on 30 June 1913 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of Morgan Lewis Stombaugh and Myrtle Lenora Wilson.¹ Jane Wilson Stombaugh married Dempsey Baker Snow Jr., son of Dempsey Baker Snow and Anna Sarah McCurdy.¹ Jane Wilson Stombaugh died on 6 November 1993 at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at age 80.¹

     Morgan Lewis Stombaugh was born on 19 August 1875 at Pennsylvania.¹ He died on 27 February 1958 at Pennsylvania at age 82.¹