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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 49
- holding party 44
- respondent 44
- responding party 34
- petitioner 15
- interested party 4
Birth Place
- Unknown 63
- Nebraska 17
- United States 13
- Illinois 7
- Iowa 6
- Denmark 2
- Germany 2
- Ireland 2
- Kansas 2
- Missouri 2
- Ohio 2
- California 1
- Hemme, Germany 1
- Hungary 1
- New York 1
- Norway 1
- Oregon 1
- Pennsylvania 1
- Santa Fe, New Mexico 1
- Springfield, Nebraska 1
Birth Year
- 1902 5
- 1861 4
- 1862 3
- 1865 3
- 1912 3
- 1918 3
- 1847 2
- 1854 2
- 1860 2
- 1889 2
- 1897 2
- 1900 2
- 1910 2
- 1914 2
- 1822 1
- 1823 1
- 1830 1
- 1842 1
- 1843 1
- 1845 1
- 1849 1
- 1851 1
- 1856 1
- 1857 1
- 1863 1
- 1866 1
- 1868 1
- 1870 1
- 1881 1
- 1882 1
- 1883 1
- 1886 1
- 1895 1
- 1896 1
- 1898 1
- 1899 1
- 1901 1
- 1904 1
- 1905 1
- 1906 1
- 1907 1
- 1908 1
- 1911 1
- 1913 1
- 1915 1
- 1917 1
- 1921 1
Age Category
- Adult 59
- Minor 50
- Unindicated 9
Relationships
- grandparent of 118
- parent of 74
- judged by 58
- in the disputed interpersonal custody of 53
- attorney against 26
- married to 26
- attorney for 25
- inlaw of 17
- child of 13
- relative of 13
- former inlaw of 10
- sibling of 10
- next friend of 4
- self-appointed guardian of 4
- jailed by 3
- kidnapper of 3
- presumed inlaw of 3
- court-appointed guardian of 2
- in the temporary custody of 2
- adoptive parent of 1
- enslaved by 1
- foster parent of 1
- presumed relative of 1
- represented by 1
- stepchild of 1
- stepparent of 1
Cases
- In re application for George W. Hahne and Elsie M. Hahne for writ of Habeas Corpus vs. Fred E. Sawtell and Mary A. Sawtell 4
- In the matter of the application of J. J. Blevins for writ a [sic 4
- Catharine L. Martin v. Jesse Martin 3
- Dennis Griffin v. Julia Sullivan and John Sullivan in a petition for writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- Habeas Corpus of Louisa Tubbs for Samuel Tubbs against Charles and Caroline Spink 3
- In re Application of Olive Anderson, for writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In re-application of Edna Lambert for Writ of Habeas Corpus vs. W. G. Seeley and Mrs. W. G. Seeley, his wife 3
- In the matter of the application of Alma Zerbst for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Belden Finley for writ of Habeas Corpus for Verne A. Finley 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 Frederick C. Test for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Frederick Jacobsen for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Helen Jacobsen 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Ina Anderson, Plaintiff, vs. William Anderson and Nancy Anderson his wife and D. L. Anderson, Defendants, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Jennie Miller Powers for a writ of Habeas Corpus vs Mary Elizabeth Miller and R.J. Miller her husband 3
- In the Matter of the Application of John P. Whitney for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Joseph Thomas Williams, by Joseph Lafayette Williams, his father and next friend for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Katherine M. Hauser for writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Lorimer Ells for Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Louis A. Borsheim and Helen A. Borsheim for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of the application of Nora Leon Gantz, for a writ of Habeas Corpus to obtain the custody of her minor son, Lester William Teter 3
- In the matter of the Proceedings in Habeas Corpus in behalf of Evelyn E Miller, on Petition and Application of Louis B. Millerburrb 3
- Jennie Miller Powers v. Mary Elizabeth Miller and R. J. Miller 3
- Matter of the Application by Henry Burman for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for May Burman 3
- Anson and Michael, persons of color, by and through their next friend, William Clark v. Elijah Mitchel 2
- In Re Application of Edward Sprouse for Habeas Corpus 2
- In re application of Estella Lyell for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In re-application of Grace Baker for 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 Annie Davis, Clarence W. Davis, and Carrie B. Davis 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 Clara May Pearce, next friend and natural guardian of George Taylor for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Edgar I. Fuller father of Helen Dorothy Fuller for Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of George McBride for and on behalf of Margarie McBride for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of H. Ray Desch for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Henry LaVerne Risch, a minor, for Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Henry Rasmus for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of J. T. Brown for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of John H. Allen for writ of Habeas Corpus for J. C. Allen Jr. 2
- In the matter of the application of Martin D. Reilly and Christy Reilly for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Mary A. Thomas, for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Molly M. Martin in behalf of her minor son Earl S. Martin for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Ray Rickard for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Russell G. Watson for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Sadie Millett and Harry D. Ryan, for the writ of Habeas Corpus for the custody of Constance Cheshire 2
- In the matter of the application of Virginia Donermeyer, a minor by her next friend, Mathias Donermeyer for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Petition of Aubrey Pickard for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Leonard Pickards 2
- In the Matter of the Petition of John S. Burnell for Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- Anson, a boy of color v. Henry G. Mitchel and Henry C. Russel 1
- Habeas Corpus of Rose Baker against Chief of Police of Seattle 1
- In Re Petition of Rose Baker for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In the matter of the application of Ernest Hutchinson a writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In the matter of the application of George E. Daniel for writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In the Matter of the Application of Johnathan Anthasso for Writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In the matter of the application of Lee Fong for a writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In the matter of the petition of Fritz Lee for a writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- Marianne, a person of color vs. Elijah Mitchel, Alexander J. Fields 1
- Michael, a boy of color vs. Henry G. Mitchel and Henry C. Russel 1
118 results
Download JSON Download CSVSullivan, John M.
- Birth date: May 1, 1822
- Birth place: Ireland
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White, Irish
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Goodhard, Elsaba (Emma Guthard)
- Birth date: November 19, 1823
- Birth place: Hemme, Germany
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White, German
- Case role(s): Holding party, respondent, responding party
Sullivan, Julia
- Birth date: September 1, 1830
- Birth place: Ireland
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party
Tharpe, Nathan D.
- Birth date: May 1, 1842
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Prey, Martha J.
- Birth date: January 1, 1843
- Birth place: Ohio
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Tharpe, Irena
- Birth date: May 1, 1845
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Gieselman, William
- Birth date: January 1, 1847
- Birth place: Germany
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: German, White
- Case role(s): Responding party, holding party
Donermeyer, Mathias (Donnermeyer)
- Birth date: January 1, 1847
- Birth place: Hungary
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Borsheim, Louis A.
- Birth date: January 1, 1849
- Birth place: Norway
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Norwegian, White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Gieselman, Dora
- Birth date: January 1, 1851
- Birth place: Germany
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: German
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party
Sawtell, Fred E.
- Birth date: January 1, 1854
- Birth place: Illinois
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent
Davis, Annie
- Birth date: January 1, 1854
- Birth place: New York
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Seeley, William G.
- Birth date: January 1, 1856
- Birth place: Illinois, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Teter, Harvey (Howard)
- Birth date: January 1, 1857
- Birth place: Illinois
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Teter, Laura
- Birth date: January 1, 1860
- Birth place: Illinois
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Birby, F.A. (F.A. Bixby)
- Birth date: January 1, 1860
- Birth place: Illinois
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party
Blevins, Henry C.
- Birth date: January 1, 1861
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Birby, Lou (Lucy Jane Bixby)
- Birth date: January 1, 1861
- Birth place: Illinois
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Holding party, respondent
Sawtell, Mary A.
- Birth date: January 1, 1861
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent
Seeley, Della (Mrs. W. G. Seeley)
- Birth date: January 1, 1861
- Birth place: Iowa, United States
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Sorensen, Mrs. Stina (Steine Sorensen)
- Birth date: January 1, 1862
- Birth place: Denmark
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White, Danish
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party
Blevins, John A.
- Birth date: January 1, 1862
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Reilly, Elizabeth
- Birth date: January 1, 1862
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party
Blevins, Thomas H. S.
- Birth date: January 1, 1863
- Birth place: Oregon, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Carter, Jesse
- Birth date: January 1, 1865
- Birth place: Ohio
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Williams, Elisabeth S. (Elizabeth)
- Birth date: January 1, 1865
- Birth place: Missouri
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White, German, Swiss
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding 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
Carter, May
- Birth date: January 1, 1868
- Birth place: Pennsylvania
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Nelson, Pearl
- Birth date: January 1, 1870
- Birth place: Denmark
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White, Danish
- Case role(s): Responding party, holding party
Miller, Evelyn Estelle
- Birth date: October 7, 1881
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Stewart, May L.
- Birth date: January 1, 1882
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Powers, Mary Alice
- Birth date: January 1, 1883
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Rasmus, Ella
- Birth date: January 1, 1886
- Birth place: Nebraska
- 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
Griffin, Julia
- Birth date: October 31, 1889
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- 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
Gross, Walter
- Birth date: January 1, 1896
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- 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
McBride, Margarie
- Birth date: January 1, 1897
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Watson, Russell G.
- Birth date: February 1, 1898
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Borsheim, Helen Fanning
- Birth date: January 1, 1899
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Gross, Edna
- Birth date: January 1, 1900
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Allen, Jr., Jay Cooke
- Birth date: July 7, 1900
- Birth place: United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Whitney, Mary Irene
- Birth date: January 1, 1901
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Donermeyer, Virginia (Donnermeyer)
- Birth date: January 1, 1902
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Prey, Samuel T.
- Birth date: January 1, 1902
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Hahne, Gordon W.
- Birth date: January 1, 1902
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Martin, Earl S.
- Birth date: January 1, 1902
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Cheshire, Constance
- Birth date: August 1, 1902
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
