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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
- respondent 37
- holding party 33
- responding party 31
- petitioner 27
- bound party 10
- interested party 3
Birth Place
- Unknown 51
- Nebraska 8
- Iowa 3
- Germany 2
- United States 2
- Clay County, Nebraska 1
- Denmark 1
- Hemme, Germany 1
- Illinois 1
- Minnesota 1
- Missouri 1
- Ohio 1
- Pennsylvania 1
- Virginia 1
Age Category
- Adult 64
- Unindicated 5
- Minor 4
Relationships
- inlaw of 75
- judged by 63
- attorney against 31
- parent of 31
- in the disputed interpersonal custody of 30
- married to 28
- attorney for 24
- grandparent of 17
- relative of 8
- child of 6
- presumed relative of 6
- sibling of 5
- an institutional ward of 4
- adoptive parent of 2
- half sibling of 2
- in the temporary custody of 2
- court-appointed guardian of 1
- enslaved by 1
- formerly enslaved by 1
- jailed by 1
- next friend of 1
- self-appointed guardian of 1
- stepchild of 1
- stepparent of 1
Cases
- In the matter of the application of Charles W. Gerrish for a writ of Habeas Corpus 4
- In the matter of the application of George Craig, Olie Williamson and Mabel Williamson 4
- State of Nebraska ex rel Ellen Kinnison, Relator, vs Henry Kinnison and Iva Kinnison, his wife, George Kinnison and Ruby Kinnison, his wife, Respondents 4
- Habeas Corpus of Louisa Tubbs for Samuel Tubbs against Charles and Caroline Spink 3
- In re application for George W. Hahne and Elsie M. Hahne for writ of Habeas Corpus vs. Fred E. Sawtell and Mary A. Sawtell 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 Fred O. Lane for a writ of Habeas Corpus 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 John W. McDaniel for a writ of Habeas Corpus for William C. McDaniel 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 Martin D. Reilly and Christy Reilly for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the petition of Stella Williams for a writ of habeas corpus for Howard Edward Godden 3
- Peter, a free man of color vs. James Walton, George Walton 3
- Anna, a woman of color vs. Thomas Higginbotham 2
- By the Habeas Corpus Act in the matter of Horatio Napoleon Marsden 2
- Catharine L. Martin v. Jesse Martin 2
- Habeas Corpus in the Matter of William Blackburn 2
- In the matter of application of Wade Gregory and Clarence J. Burress for writ of Habeas Corpus 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 Fred Evers by Christ Evers, his father and next friend, 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 Rasmus for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of J. J. Blevins for writ a [sic 2
- In the matter of the application of James B. Graham for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Joseph Edward Ohlson 2
- In the Matter of the application of James Murray for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the Petition of Ardula M. Porter on behalf of Clara Barnes for writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Petition of John S. Burnell for Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the petition of M. Bartlett for a writ of Habeas Corpus for L. Bartlett 2
- In re application of Stella Williams for Habeas Corpus 1
- In re-application of Grace Baker for writ of habeas corpus 1
- In the matter of the application of Edgar I. Fuller for a writ of Habeas Corpus 1
75 results
Download JSON Download CSVGoodhard, 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
Marsden, Horatio Napoleon
- Birth date: January 1, 1837
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
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
Tharpe, Irena
- Birth date: May 1, 1845
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Sawtell, Fred E.
- Birth date: January 1, 1854
- Birth place: Illinois
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent
Rasmus, Henry
- Birth date: August 8, 1856
- Birth place: Germany
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White, German
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Evers, Christ (Christian Evers)
- Birth date: August 1, 1859
- Birth place: Germany
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White, German
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Sawtell, Mary A.
- Birth date: January 1, 1861
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent
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
Reilly, Elizabeth
- Birth date: January 1, 1862
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding 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
Carter, May
- Birth date: January 1, 1868
- Birth place: Pennsylvania
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Pollard, Frances
- Birth date: January 1, 1873
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Hahne, George W.
- Birth date: January 1, 1873
- Birth place: Minnesota
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Pollard, Charles
- Birth date: January 1, 1874
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Whitney, John P. (John B. Whitney)
- Birth date: January 1, 1877
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Lane, Fred O.
- Birth date: January 1, 1888
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Burress, Clarence J. (Buris)
- Birth date: January 1, 1890
- Birth place: United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Finley, Belden
- Birth date: January 1, 1890
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Brothers, Andrew R.
- Birth date: January 1, 1891
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Reilly, Christy
- Birth date: January 1, 1892
- Birth place: Missouri
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Brothers, Hattie
- Birth date: January 1, 1892
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Fuller, Edgar I.
- Birth date: January 1, 1895
- Birth place: Virginia
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Pearce, Clara May
- Birth date: January 1, 1898
- Birth place: Clay County, Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Gregory, Wade
- Birth date: January 1, 1907
- Birth place: United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Leaper, Albert
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party, responding party
Gerrish, Charles
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Blevins, James J.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Kinnison, Henry
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Williamson, Mabel
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Bartlett, Ida
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
Krummack, Katharine
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Bishop, Robert N.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Holding party, respondent, responding party
Broadwater, Sarah
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Spink, Charles
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Williams, Stella
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Denny, Stephen Theodore
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Desch, H. Ray
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Martin, Jesse Jr.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Williamson, Olie
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Porter, Ardula M.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Zeek, Fred (Fred Zeke)
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, holding party, responding party
Bishop, Florence
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Holding party, respondent, responding party
McDaniel, John W.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Kinnison, Iva
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Kinnison, George
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Higginbotham, Thomas
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Williams, Joseph Lafayette
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Fabley, Thelma Baker
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Walton, William
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Interested party
