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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 53
- petitioner 47
- respondent 39
- responding party 37
- holding party 34
- petitioner attorney 12
- interested party 9
- respondent attorney 9
- judge 1
Birth Place
- Unknown 138
- United States 11
- Nebraska 7
- Oregon 3
- Creek, Nebraska 1
- Japan 1
- Missouri 1
- New York 1
- Ohio 1
- Pennsylvania 1
- Sweden 1
Age Category
- Adult 90
- Unindicated 39
- Minor 20
- Unclear 4
Relationships
- presumed relative of 157
- judged by 100
- attorney for 62
- attorney against 59
- in the disputed interpersonal custody of 43
- parent of 38
- jailed by 17
- sibling of 15
- attorney with 12
- married to 11
- opposing attorney to 11
- child of 9
- an institutional ward of 6
- detained by 6
- inlaw of 6
- in the temporary custody of 5
- agent of 4
- relative of 4
- enslaved by 3
- formerly enslaved by 3
- kidnapper of 3
- represented by 3
- foster parent of 2
- guardian of 2
- next friend of 2
- cohabitating with 1
- court-appointed guardian of 1
- former inlaw of 1
- formerly married to 1
- grandparent of 1
- under the military command of 1
Cases
- Peter, a free man of color vs. James Walton, George Walton 9
- Frank Councilman, and Isabelle Councilman, Petitioners and Plaintiffs vs. The State Institution for the Feeble Minded, and J. N. Smith, Superintendent of said Institution 6
- State of Nebraska ex rel Ellen Kinnison, Relator, vs Henry Kinnison and Iva Kinnison, his wife, George Kinnison and Ruby Kinnison, his wife, Respondents 6
- State of Nebraska ex rel Richard Seward by Kittie F. Noonan, his next friend, etc. vs. Agnes Donohue, et al. 6
- Habeas Corpus of George Hanson for Florence Hansen against Louis Hansen et al 5
- In the matter of the application of Eddy Cramer, Willie Cramer, and Clarence Cramer, by George H. A. Cramer, for a writ of Habeas Corpus 5
- In the matter of the application of Helen Ruth Kelley for a writ of Habeas Corpus 5
- In the Matter of the Application of Leta Eshom, formerly Leta Bassett, for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Wilber Bassett, age 11 years, and Alma May Bassett, age 8 years 5
- In the Matter of the Application of Annie Davis, Clarence W. Davis, and Carrie B. Davis for a writ of Habeas Corpus 4
- In the Matter of the Application of Marie Allen, next friend of Walter H. Pilger Allen, a minor, for a writ of habeas corpus 4
- 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 4
- In the Matter of the Application of Robert Volwiler and Lillian Volwiler Minors, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 4
- In the matter of the application of Thomas Francis Smiley, for a writ of Habeas Corpus 4
- Vincent Duncan vs. James Duncan 4
- Habeas Corpus of Asakichi Yamagami for wife against I. Hyashi et al 3
- In Re Application of Russell and Nettie Watson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In re-application of Frank B. Moore, for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Clayton Musser, by John Musser, parent 3
- In the Matter of Application of Anna Rosa Day for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Arthur Adolph William Borchert for a writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the Application of B. C. McCormick for Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Lavinia R. Heron for writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Mamie S Gipson and Cora Mafall for a writ of habeas corpus 3
- In the Matter of the Application of Nicholas Dick for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- In the matter of the application of Peter Wurtz for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Robert Wurtz, a minor 3
- In the matter of the application of Robert Ashburn for writ of Habeas Corpus 3
- Patrick Holland vs. Dr. R. E. Lee Steiner 3
- Bertha Crader vs. F. W. Durbin and State of Oregon 2
- By the Habeas Corpus Act in the matter of Horatio Napoleon Marsden 2
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Eleck Loan 2
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of James Harvey Davis 2
- Habeas Corpus in the Matter of Michael O'Donnell 2
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of William Omara & Margaret Omara 2
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Wm S. Watkins 2
- In Re Application of Jane M. Williams for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In re Application of Morris Yost on Behalf of Emma Yost alias Emma Urlas for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of Application of Edgar Bunnell and Arthur Bunnell for Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application and Petition of Charles T. Altis for Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application and petition of George Schriner for Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application and Petition of Jesse Cain for Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application for a writ of Habeas Corpus by Katie Broderick on the behalf of Thomas Broderick 2
- In the matter of the application for a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Delia Batten 2
- In the matter of the application of A. B. Burks for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of A. Leonard Mossberger, ex rel, Leslie Mossberger, a minor, for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Allen Vincent Grammer for a 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 Bonnie Manion for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Lera Manion and Howard Manion 2
- In the matter of the application of Cleveland Roy Williams for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Cora Schaffer, for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Dot Herne for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Edward B. Fuller for a Writ of Habeas Corpus to Discharge Him from the Illegal Restraint by William Billings at the Jail of said County 2
- In the matter of the application of Etta Fritcher for writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Jessie Fritcher 2
- In the matter of the application of Frank McCartney for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of George W. Smith, Guardian of Arthur P. Smith, Incompetent, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- 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 2
- In the matter of the application of Jacob H. Blessing for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the Application of John Wilken for a Writ of Habeas Corpus` 2
- 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 2
- In the Matter of the Application of L. S. LeWald for Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Leroy Allison for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Lucile Dawson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus by Lulu Dawson 2
- In the matter of the Application of Mina Evans for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Oscar E. Olson for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Patrick Kennedy for the Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Richard A. Saunders for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Samuel Ford for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Scott Brainard for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Simon B. Swab for Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Thomas Walton for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of William H. H. Moore for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of William Herne for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Petition of David Brown for Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the petition of James Oswald on behalf of Bill Oswald for a Writ of Habeas Corpus and the Answer of E. M. Croisan Sheriff of Marion County, Oregon to said Writ 2
- In the Re-Application of Minnie Smith for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- Roy Stearns vs. R. R. Lee Steiner, Superintendent of the Oregon State Hospital 2
- State of Nebraska ex rel Agnes Donohue, et al. vs. Kittie F. Noonan, et al. 2
- State of Nebraska on the relation of Lille Walton, Cora Walton, Ernest Glenn Walton, Ledonia Walton, and Bessie Walton and Petition of Hiatt Elmer Walton, father of said children, for habeas corpus 2
- Ellis M. Harrison vs. Eillen M. Harrison 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Adam Riley 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Henry Freeman 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Henry Ideker 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Jacob Dahr 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of John Meierco 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Joseph Adams 1
- Habeas Corpus in the Matter of Mary Wilson 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Michael Lortz 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Rupert Jaeger 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Sarah Haycraft 1
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of Taylor Clarke 1
- Habeas Corpus of Lawrence Holland by Margaret Holland against Edward Cudihee 1
- In Re: Application of Frank Thompson for a writ of habeas corpus 1
- In re Application of James C. Morrisey for a writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In Re: Application of Joseph Walton for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In Re application of Rosie Nichols for a Writ of Habeas Corpus vs. Addassa F. Maxson 1
- In re Application of T. H. Busboom, for writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In re application of Virginia May LaVonne, by Grace LaVonne, her mother and next friend, for a writ of habeas corpus 1
- In re Hazel Allsman, Habeas Corpus 1
- In re-application of Edna Lambert for Writ of Habeas Corpus vs. W. G. Seeley and Mrs. W. G. Seeley, his wife 1
- In the matter of George W. Turley upon a writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In the Matter of Julia alias Mary Ann on Habeas Corpus 1
157 results
Download JSON Download CSVDavis, James Harvey
- Birth date: January 19, 1835
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Noonan, Fannie
- Birth date: January 1, 1848
- Birth place: New York
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White, Irish
- Case role(s): Holding party, respondent, responding party
Morning, William McClellen
- Birth date: June 23, 1863
- Birth place: Pennsylvania, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Judge, petitioner attorney, respondent attorney
Greene, Robert J.
- Birth date: January 1, 1864
- Birth place: Ohio, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner attorney, respondent attorney
McNary, John Hugh
- Birth date: January 31, 1867
- Birth place: Oregon, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent attorney, petitioner attorney
Cramer, Emma
- Birth date: January 1, 1868
- Birth place: Sweden
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Martin, Carey F.
- Birth date: January 1, 1870
- Birth place: Unknown, Oregon
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner attorney
Manion, John J.
- Birth date: January 1, 1871
- Birth place: Missouri, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Quinnett, Minnie
- Birth date: January 1, 1874
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
McNary, Charles Linza
- Birth date: June 12, 1874
- Birth place: Oregon, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent attorney, petitioner attorney
Manion, Bonnie
- Birth date: January 1, 1882
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Graham, Gertrude
- Birth date: January 1, 1892
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Cramer, Eddy
- Birth date: January 1, 1895
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
McCormick, Irma A. (McCormack)
- Birth date: January 1, 1895
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Cramer, Willie
- Birth date: January 1, 1897
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Volwiler, Robert
- Birth date: January 1, 1899
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Allsman, Hazel (Smith-Allsman)
- Birth date: January 1, 1899
- Birth place: Creek, Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
Heron, Clifford
- Birth date: January 1, 1900
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Cramer, Clarence
- Birth date: January 1, 1900
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Volwiler, Lillian
- Birth date: January 1, 1901
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Bassett, Wilber
- Birth date: January 1, 1904
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Seward, Bernard
- Birth date: January 1, 1904
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Bassett, Alma May
- Birth date: January 1, 1907
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Kinnison, Verne
- Birth date: January 1, 1913
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Quinnett, Robert
- Birth date: January 1, 1914
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Musser, John
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Smith, Arthur M.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Loan, Joseph W.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Hansen, Florence
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Fritcher, Jessie
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Batten, Delia
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Ashburn, Nannie
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Walton, James Jr.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Danaher, Con
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Unknown
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party
Kinnison, Henry
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Councilman, George
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Swab, Simon B.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Brown, S.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Unknown
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Morning, Charles A.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner attorney
O'Mara, William
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
Grammer, Allen Vincent
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Walton, Rebecca
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Interested party
Allen, J. B.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Unknown
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner attorney
Moore, Marguerite
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Walton, Joseph
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Interested party
Hill, Britton A.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent attorney
Walton, John
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Interested party
Bassett, Olive
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, holding party
Towle, Maxwell G.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent attorney, petitioner attorney
Greene, Philip F.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner attorney, respondent attorney
