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People
Meet the many people who argued for and against carceral, institutional, and interpersonal confinement in the petitions filed in County and District Courts throughout the American West over the long nineteenth century. Browse or search people by name, demographic characteristics, case role, and/or relationships described in each petition. Our encoding practice for people features data pulled from the available case files and in some instances additional data from supplemental sources is also included. Only people with case roles are indexed here, while all persons named in a case are listed on the case page. The Glossary defines the attributes used to structure data from the habeas petitions. The Code Book explains the relational structure of the data and functionality of the database website.
Featured story: Lucía Martínez: Yaqui Arizona, 1854-1900
Basic Search
Simply enter the word you wish to find and the search engine will search for every instance of the word in the journals. For example: Fight. All instances of the use of the word fight will show up on the results page.
Wildcard Searches
Using an asterisk (*) will increase the odds of finding the results you are seeking. For example: Fight*. The search results will display every instance of fight, fights, fighting, etc. More than one wildcard may be used. For example: *ricar*. This search will return most references to the Aricara tribe, including Ricara, Ricares, Aricaris, Ricaries, Ricaree, Ricareis, and Ricarra. Using a question mark (?) instead of an asterisk (*) will allow you to search for a single character. For example, r?n will find all instances of ran and run, but will not find rain or ruin.
Capitalization
Searches are not case sensitive. For example: george will come up with the same results as George.
Phrase Search
Searching for a specific phrase may help narrow down the results. Rather long phrases are no problem. For example: "This white pudding we all esteem".
Subsequent Searches
Because of the creative spellings used by the journalists, it may be necessary to try your search multiple times. For example: P?ro*. This search brings up numerous variant spellings of the French word pirogue, "a large dugout canoe or open boat." Searching for P?*r*og?* will bring up other variant spellings. Searching for canoe or boat also may be helpful.
Filter by:
Case Roles
- bound party 84
- petitioner 73
- holding party 33
- respondent 31
- responding party 27
- interested party 19
Birth Place
- Unknown 150
- Nebraska 8
- Kentucky 4
- Mississippi 4
- New Mexico 4
- Washington 4
- Iowa 3
- Astoria, Washington 2
- Bohemia 2
- California 2
- England 2
- Germany 2
- Italy 2
- Virginia 2
- Washington Territory 2
- Alaska 1
- Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana 1
- Kansas 1
- Ohio 1
- Oklahoma 1
- Springfield, Nebraska 1
- Tennessee 1
- United States 1
Birth Year
- 1896 4
- 1888 3
- 1897 3
- 1898 3
- 1900 3
- 1872 2
- 1874 2
- 1877 2
- 1880 2
- 1881 2
- 1883 2
- 1884 2
- 1892 2
- 1903 2
- 1905 2
- 1908 2
- 1912 2
- 1827 1
- 1830 1
- 1832 1
- 1841 1
- 1852 1
- 1854 1
- 1858 1
- 1860 1
- 1861 1
- 1862 1
- 1863 1
- 1865 1
- 1866 1
- 1870 1
- 1871 1
- 1873 1
- 1878 1
- 1879 1
- 1885 1
- 1887 1
- 1889 1
- 1890 1
- 1893 1
- 1895 1
- 1902 1
- 1904 1
- 1906 1
- 1907 1
- 1911 1
- 1915 1
- 1917 1
- 1957 1
Age Category
- Adult 84
- Minor 77
- Unindicated 38
- Unclear 4
Relationships
- child of 212
- parent of 130
- judged by 103
- in the disputed interpersonal custody of 57
- attorney for 53
- married to 51
- attorney against 35
- sibling of 27
- formerly married to 25
- grandparent of 13
- kidnapper of 9
- presumed relative of 9
- adoptive parent of 6
- inlaw of 6
- formerly enslaved by 5
- next friend of 5
- stepparent of 5
- an institutional ward of 3
- detained by 3
- enslaved by 3
- relative of 3
- stepchild of 3
- alleged parent of 2
- cohabitating with 2
- former inlaw of 2
- jailed by 2
- parent-appointed guardian of 2
- represented by 2
- superintendent of 2
- court-appointed guardian of 1
- cousin of 1
- disputed spouse of 1
- guardian of 1
- in legal custody of 1
- in parent- appointed custody of 1
- legal representative of (power of attorney) 1
Cases
- Catharine L. Martin v. Jesse Martin 5
- Habeas Corpus of Louisa Tubbs for Samuel Tubbs against Charles and Caroline Spink 5
- In the matter of the application of Frederick Jacobsen for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Helen Jacobsen 5
- In the Matter of the Application of Maria L. Peterson for Writ of Habeas Corpus 5
- Mary Charlotte, woman of color v. Gabriel S. Choteau 5
- Habeas Corpus of Alex Petosky against Edward Cudihee Shf. 4
- In Re the Petition of Juan Rey Abeita for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 4
- In the Matter of the Application of Katie Christner Writ of habeas Corpus 4
- In the Matter of the Application of W. M. McPhay for Writ of Habeas Corpus 4
- Maria Whitten vs. Garland Rucker 4
- Samuel Montgomery v. Edwina Montgomery 4
- State of Nebraska on the relation of Samuel J. Coffman vs. India A. Coffman 4
- In the Matter of the Application for Writ Habeas Corpus W. B. Cowing Jr. 3
- In the matter of the Application of Anna Berg et al for Writ of Habeas Corpus, Wasgreu 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Mabelle S. Keller for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In Re: Petition of Ham Hung Wah by Tom Sing for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on Behalf of Thomas Nelson Overnell, a small child about 14 months old in Island County 3
- In the matter of Application of Myrtle Benson for Writ of Habeas Corpus for her minor Daughter Georgia Benson 3
- In the Matter of Application of Rose Dodson for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Aurello Coliginna for writ of Habeas Corpus for the person of Vincenzzina Coliginna 3
- In the matter of the application of Claude H. Goldsborough on relation of his mother Izora I. Goldsborough for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Elnora Cline, an Infant, by B.M. Cline, Her Father, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Gertie D. Folden for writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the Application of Gideon W. Morley for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of H. J. Mann on Behalf of His Infant Daughter for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Hallie Winslow et al Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of James Nesladek and Anna Nesladek for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of John H. Allen for writ of Habeas Corpus for J. C. Allen Jr. 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Lillian Butler for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Mand Schwingler for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Mary Cowing for a writ of habeas corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Mary Ellen Lyts for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Mary LeFebvre for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Nelson Davis for the Custody of Maggie M. Davis, a Minor Child 3
- In the matter of the application of Pearl Alma Bentley for writ of Habeas Corpus for minor son Richard Lloyd Green 3
- In the Matter of the application of the petition of Emma E. Howard for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Willis R. Kelly, on behalf of Phillip Kelly, a minor child, for writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Wong Yuen for a writ of habeas corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Petition for Habeas Corpus of Mazie Zeigler 3
- In the Matter of the Petition of Bertha Kuzek for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- Patrick Henry vs. Garland Rucker 3
- Peter, a free man of color vs. James Walton, George Walton 3
- Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Anna Vine vs. Sheldon Jackson 3
- Samuel O'Brien v. Nancy O'Brien 3
- Vincent Duncan vs. James Duncan 3
- Andrew H. Derrick v. Mary J. Whitesides 2
- Charles Gahres and Martha J. Gahres v. Isabella Sutton and W. H. Barrett 2
- Habeas Corpus of Oscar Ralph against John J. Golliet 2
- In the matter of due application of Ellen Kingsley for writ of Habeas Corpus for Infant Child 2
- In the matter of the app of Josie Celestine et ux for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application for Kathleen L. Williams for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Roger H. Williams 2
- In the matter of the application of Agnes Smith for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the application of Anna Elizabeth Krim for Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of B. O. Graham for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Carl O. Nelson for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Georgia Catherine Nelson 2
- In the matter of the application of Charles N. Replogle, Superintendent of the Mission, upon Douglas Island, Alaska, of "Kansas Yearly Meeting of of Orthodox Friends" on behalf of Nu-Shukk, a minor Indian child, for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Chin Wah Hing, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Chin Doe Tung 2
- In the matter of the application of Eddie Toman by Anna Cohen, his mother and next friend, for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Edson Sturgeon of Seattle Washington for Writ of H. Corpus 2
- In the matter of the Application of Frances Anzalone by Sebastino Anzalone (her husband) and Joe Valendi (her father) for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Harry L. Hunsaker for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Genevieve Hunsaker 2
- In the matter of the application of Henry Cherritt (Harry Cherrett) for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the Application of Henry Combs for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Thomas Combs and Charles Ross 2
- In the matter of the application of James B. Palmer for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of John Lovell and Kate Lovell for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of John W. McMenemy for and on behalf of John W. McMenemy Jr., otherwise known as "Dot" McMenemy for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Katherine M. Hauser for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Lavinia R. Heron for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the Application of Loran L. Paine for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Nellie E. Hurt for writ of Habeas Corpus for June Lucile Hurt 2
- In the matter of the application of Otilla Brinkman for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Samuel Goldsmith for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Michael Goldsmith 2
- In the matter of the application of Sarah D. Bassett for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Willie Vangart for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Petition of Celia I. Dougherty for Habeas Corpus 2
- J. H. Sheffler and Josephine Sheffler v. John B. Montague 2
- John vs. William Campbell 2
- Joseph Wells v. William A Church & Martha Church 2
212 results
Download JSON Download CSVDavis, Nelson
- Birth date: January 1, 1827
- Birth place: Tennessee
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Hamilton, Leuvica O.
- Birth date: January 1, 1830
- Birth place: Kentucky
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party, responding party
Davis, Sarah M.
- Birth date: January 1, 1832
- Birth place: Kentucky
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party, responding party
Church, Martha (Martha Wright)
- Birth date: January 1, 1841
- Birth place: Ohio
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Derrick, Louisa Jane
- Birth date: January 1, 1852
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Cline, Moses Brown (BM, Moses)
- Birth date: January 1, 1854
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Coffman, Samuel J.
- Birth date: March 1, 1858
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Hume, Leuvica
- Birth date: January 1, 1860
- Birth place: Washington Territory
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party, responding party
Overnell, Thomas Nelson
- Birth date: August 1, 1861
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Cline, Ella (Ella Dickey)
- Birth date: January 1, 1862
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Responding party
Wells, Martha (Maty, Matty, Mattie)
- Birth date: January 1, 1863
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Martin, Martha M. (Mary)
- Birth date: January 1, 1865
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Martin, George
- Birth date: September 1, 1866
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Interested party
Coffman, India A.
- Birth date: September 1, 1870
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Montgomery, George Clarence
- Birth date: January 1, 1871
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Interested party
McPhay, William (William Richards, Homer Walker)
- Birth date: January 1, 1872
- Birth place: Mississippi
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Nesladek, James
- Birth date: January 1, 1872
- Birth place: Bohemia
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Montgomery, Myra Bell
- Birth date: April 1, 1873
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Petosky, Alex (Petoskey)
- Birth date: January 1, 1874
- Birth place: Germany
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Green, Edgar B.
- Birth date: January 1, 1874
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Nesladek, Anna
- Birth date: January 1, 1877
- Birth place: Bohemia
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Davis, Maggie M.
- Birth date: January 1, 1877
- Birth place: Washington Territory
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Abeita, Louis
- Birth date: January 1, 1878
- Birth place: New Mexico
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Indigenous
- Case role(s): Bound party
Lundvall, Ida
- Birth date: January 1, 1879
- Birth place: Astoria, Washington
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
McPhay, Perla
- Birth date: January 1, 1880
- Birth place: Mississippi
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Interested party
Abeita, Vicente
- Birth date: January 1, 1880
- Birth place: New Mexico
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Indigenous
- Case role(s): Bound party
Lundvall, Hilma
- Birth date: January 1, 1881
- Birth place: Astoria, Washington
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Lovell, Maggie (Maggie McGee)
- Birth date: December 25, 1881
- Birth place: England
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Petosky, (Anna)
- Birth date: January 1, 1883
- Birth place: Germany
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Interested party
Cline, Elnora
- Birth date: January 1, 1883
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Bentley, Pearl Alma
- Birth date: January 1, 1884
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Mann, Bessie
- Birth date: January 1, 1884
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Abeita, Antonio
- Birth date: January 1, 1885
- Birth place: New Mexico
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Indigenous
- Case role(s): Bound party
Sturgeon, Zeta Myrtle
- Birth date: January 1, 1887
- Birth place: Washington
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Morley, Edith
- Birth date: January 1, 1888
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Mitchell, Florence May
- Birth date: February 19, 1888
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Coffman, Blanche A.
- Birth date: May 1, 1888
- Birth place: California
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Goldsborough, Claude
- Birth date: March 10, 1889
- Birth place: Springfield, Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Coffman, Olive W.
- Birth date: January 1, 1890
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Graham, Gertrude
- Birth date: January 1, 1892
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Paine, Katie
- Birth date: January 1, 1892
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Yuen, Ah
- Birth date: March 1, 1893
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Chinese
- Case role(s): Bound party
Tubbs, Nellie
- Birth date: January 1, 1895
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Interested party
Nelson, Carl O.
- Birth date: January 1, 1896
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White, Danish
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Oswald, Richard
- Birth date: January 1, 1896
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Richards, Rosalie
- Birth date: January 1, 1896
- Birth place: Mississippi
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Interested party
Christner, Loy Willmer
- Birth date: January 1, 1896
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Keller, Evangeline
- Birth date: January 1, 1897
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Tubbs, Beatrice
- Birth date: January 1, 1897
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Interested party
Sing, Ah
- Birth date: January 1, 1897
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Chinese
- Case role(s): Bound party
