Coroner's Inquest Book A

Coroner's Inquest Book A - Starting 1869

Florence Hutchison's notes: This poorly written Coroner's Record Book found in the basement of the courthouse by Florence Hutchison and Robert Dalton contains some valuable information on deaths that occurred prior to the filing of death certificates in 1878.

Bob has spent several hours of numerous days over a long period of time to laboriously copy vital information on each deceased person. The book is too big and heavy to make photocopies of its index, or individual pages. Many of the names are not spelled the way a family historian might think it should be.

Her notes go on to say that "Coroner's Inquests were being conducted at least as early as August 2, 1863. the week before that, a young man named Joseph Bentley was accidentally shot while hunting squirrels, but the coroner was not notified, and no inquest was held. Our 1878 Morgan County History says that the first Coroner was James Deaton, commissioned April 2, 1823. How I wish we could find that record book! Bob Dalton and I used to have the use of the 1863 book, also listed as Book A. However, it eventually disappeared from the attic storage place where we used to go to research names for one reason or another."

Name of Decedent	Inquest Date	Page	Verdict/Comments

Anderson, Patrick	30 Oct 1870	4

Baker, William "Dutch"	15 Apr 1878	29	[Also shot by Tobin Hanners - going home from church.]
Baker, William	7 Sep 1877	27	"Came to his death by an over dose of Laddmum" {Note
			the poor handwriting in the Coroner's Book A has the name
			spelled as "Backer"}
Batty, Richard	21/21 Jul 1871		Bur @ Rogers Cem.
Buchen, Paul	27 May 1871	6

Camron, H. H.	28 Apr 1877	27
Carter, Mary Jane	28 Jan 1875	19	[inquest held at Waverly]
Coker, Claborn	25 Dec 1874	19	came to his death by a wound on the breast made by a
			dirk knife in the hand of Julius Elmore
Coker, Dennis	16 Aug 1876	24	His tombstone in Hebron Cemetery: Dennis Coker, died
			Aug. 15, 1876 aged 85 yr 9 mo 13 da. Sallid died 25 Feb
			1869 aged 74 yrs. [Dennis Coker's father was Abraham
			Coker who died in 1841 in Fayette Co., Ga., as proved by
			Abraham Coker's will. {There were three Morgan County
			men with this same name.}
Conroy, Joseph	25 Mar 1874	17
Cooney, Patrick	25 Oct 1871	9

Daniels, Child of John	31 Sep 1871	8
Daniels, John	18 Sep 1871	8
Darlington, John	18 Jan 1878	28	"came to his dath by hart decece"
Davis, Andrew	26 Feb 1880	36	"came to his death by paralysis induced by excessive use
			of whiskey."
DeFrates, Antonia	17 Jul 1880	38	[Another train accident. Richard Yates was the Clerk
			copying this record. He later became Governor of Illinois
			as was his father, Richard Yates.] Please be reminded
			ther was an Antonia DeFrates who died in 1879, and Antonia
			DeFreitas who died 13 Sep 1882.
DeFratis, Antonio	8 Mar 1879	34	"came to his death by a gunshot wound in the hands of
			Albert DeFratis while out hunting."
Deresona, Cora	25 Mar 1871	5
Donahue, Thomas	31 Oct 1876	25	"came to his deth by being struck by lightning."

Edmunson, Robert	11 Jan 1872	11
Elliott, Edward Rumsey	11 Dec 1878	33	"death from injuries received in connection with a fall from
			the hay mow of his barn."
England, Alvilda	3 Aug 1875	22	came to her death by corosive poison received into stomach
			buried at Franklin at county expense.

Flinn, Edmund M.	10 Jun 1878	30	"came to death by strangulation by his own hands, in the
			Oak Lawn Retreat Hospital for Insane." He had long been a
			farmer and stock dealer living near Prentice. Two weeks
			before he had been adjudged insane."
Foley, Patrick	20 Sep 1878	32	Inquest held at Sulphur Springs precinct. Cause of death:
			"Kick from a horse on the left temporal bone, producing
			concussion of the brain. Died instantly. He had just taken
			out a marriage license #1431. The groom was killed the day
			before his marriage.
Fre_____, _____		16	at Alexander - cam to death by Strychnine administered
			by his own hand. Buried Allingrove Sametery. ??

Hammel, Isaac R./C.	28 Jul 1878	31	"Came to his death by a Musket shot in the hands of
			Theodore Angelo. Buried in Louis Cemetery." [Lewis Cem.,
			also known as Angelo Cem. and Buckhorn Cem.] It seems
			11 year old Theodore was urged by blind John Angelo to
			ambush and kill Isaac Hammill.]
Hand, John	7 Feb 1880	36	"came to his death by a blow of a chamber in the hands of
			Martin Kane a patient at the Hospital for Insane. Buried in
			Hospital Section of Diamond Grove.
Harper, Mary	2 Dec 1871	10
Harris, Edward M.	26 Feb 1880	37	"Accidental drowning in the Insane reservoir about 4 p.m."
Harvey, Heber/Herber	17 Aug 1869	2
Hayden, Peter	13 Jul 1870	3
Henderson, John W.	11 Oct 1875	22	Inquest at Sandy. Fallin from wagon
Hensell, Isaac W.		37
Henson, Mary	20 Jul 1874	17	[Another railroad accident]
Henrich, Herman	29 Oct 1874	18	Buried in Concord burying ground
Holley, Anna	1 Nov 1871	10	Died by her own hands caused by her great anxiety to return
			to Germany, her native Country.
Hubbert, Clarence	14 Apr 1878	28	[Death Cert. Clarence Habbert. Shot by Tobin Hanners -
			going home from church.]

Jones, Thomas	2 Sep 1873	13	Verdict: Injuries received by being thrown from the track on
			which he was walking by an Engine called the Waverly.
Justice, J. J.	8 Jul 1880	37	"death by taking morphine with intent to kill. Remains
			handed to his daughter, Mrs. Wheeler. Taken to Noblesville,
			Ind., for interment."

Kackman, Claus C/F.	21 May 1878	29	"Came to his death by drowning in Mouvastory Crek"
Kery, Michael	16 Jul 1869	1
Keys, Edmond	11 Jun 1877
Kimball, Ira	21 Feb 1880	36	"came to his death by pistol wound fired wilfully by Charles
			Van Way with intent to kill. Would received in right side
			between 10 and 11th ribs." Burial in Jordan Cem., now
			named Chapin Cem.

Lanham, Pleasant	12 Apr 1879	34	[He was killed in train accident, and buried at Literberry. A
			different Pleasant Lanham is buried in the Hebron Cem. at
			Sinclair.]
Lawton, James	9 Oct 1879	35	"came to his death by hanging himself in Frank Einstman's
			Corn Crib in Meredosia." No death cert. filed. From burial
			records of Trinity Episcopal Church in Jacksonville: Oct. __
			1879, James Lawton, age 27 years. Suicide under insanity.
			Buried Diamond Grove Cem., by Rev. John D. Easter,
			Sec. K Lot 177.

Malone, Margaret	7 Dec 1876	26	"Run over by Engine No. 4 on C & A R.R."
Martin, Paul	7 Dec 1871	11
Mathews, Richard	20 May 1878	29	[note: He was killed by Samuel W. Mathews.]
Mays, Mary	7,8 Jun 1876	23	Blows recd on the head by a club or some other hard
			instrument [This probably led to someone being in a murder
			trial.]
McCoy, Nelley	14 Jul 1872	13	Verdict: by over Weate and old age
McCrusker, Mary M.	2 Mar 1878	28	[Her death cert. shows her name as Margaret Mary
			McCracken, age 44 yr, born in Pa., in IL 16 yrs.
McCullough, Dennis	14 Jul 1878	30	"Came to death by over head"!! The actual cause of death
			was sun-struck. Buried Catholic Cemetery, Jacksonville.
McInurry, Patrick	23 Aug 1880	38	"came to his death by being crushed between a railroad car
			and a pile of lumber…Remains wre taken charge of by his
			friends and buried in Franklin".
McIver, D. B.	10 Jan 1873	13	He was listed as a "male lecturer"
Moore, Joshua	29 Sep 1871	9
Morris, Jonathan	13 Nov 1871	10	Buried by his friends on Sugger (sic) Creek - another record
			says Lick Creek Cemetery
Morrissey, Cornelius	9 Jan 1871	5
Mosby, William R/B	6 Aug 1869	2
Mullen, Timothy O.	23 Jul 1872	13

Ornellas, John D.	16-18 Sep 1876	25
Ousley, child	5 Jun 1871	7

Pollard, Wm. O.	14 Feb 1877	26	"Came to his death by a Pistol shot inflicted by himself."
			[He was an apothecary at Central Illinois Hospital for the
			Insane. his mind had been unsettled by recent study into
			such metaphysical writings as those of Darwin, Huxley,
			Spencer and the materialistic school.

Rannells, Mrs. Mary R.	19 Sep 1873	15	Came to her death by reason of passenger train #61 ..
			Striking the buggy while crossing the railroad at Vandalia
Reynolds, James E.	16 Jan 1872	12	by accidental discharge of his own Gun about one mile from
			his own house ….friends took charge of diseased, and buried
			in Dimon Grove Cemetery.
Richardson, Joseph	3 Nov 1869	3
Rimbile, Edward	10 Aug 1879	35	Killed by a train. "Remains taken charge of by parents and
			buried in the Catholic Cem., Jacksonville." He is not listed
			on their records, and no death certificate in County Clerk's
			office. Name is probably mis-spelled, probably Ramble.
Rogers, Zephamiah	16 Aug 1869	2
Rose, William H.	19 Apr 1875	21	Inquest at Meredosia. Drowned in Illinois River or Lake
Roweder, Frederick	12 Dec 1878	33	"Inmate of Deaf & Dumb Asylum. Sent to Chicago to his
			mother for burial."
Rutter, Jacob	29 Oct 1871	9

Sage, Sarah M.	10 Jul 1876	24	[Her tombstone in Berea Cemetery. "A letter from the young
			lady who committed suicide near Prentice, Miss Sarah Sage,
			to her father, was only a "farewell", the other one to her
			friend discloses that she was deceived and seduced by a
			young man; fearing the shame of discovery more than death,
			she chose the latter."
Simpson, John, Dr.	9 Jun 1878	30	[There is a probate File #2659, with Will. Exec. A. Russell]
Sing, George	17 Jul 1878	31	[born in Bavaria, Germany. Again, the cause of death was
			"Sunstroke". this must have been an unusually hot summer]
Smith, Benjamin F.	18 May 1876	23	Accidental drowning in Indian Creek
Smith, John	12 Dec 1871	11	came to his death by accidently fall of a brick while
			deapening (sic) a well at the residents of D. Tendick on
			South West St. in Jacksonville.
Smith, John X.	15 Jul 1878	31	"Came to his death by sunstruck. Had been drinking.
			Duration of illness 2 hours." His grave site in Jacksonville
			East Cemetery is unknown.
Snowe, A. A.	20 May 1871	6
Sparks, Lemuel	3 Dec 1878	33	"death by acute inflammation of the brain"
Stevens, J.	1 Jul 1879	35	"death by acute jaundice. Remains sent by Express to
			Belleville, OH in care of Miss Blanche."
Stevenson, Charles	4 Apr 1871	6
Stout, Frank M.	12 Jun 1875	21
Summers, Mary	16 Sep 1869	3	Bur @ Sulphur Spgs Cem
Sweeney, John	Nov 1875	22

Thomas, John	__ ____ 1874	16	Taken by friends to Peoria
Thompson, Edie Mahaler	26 Aug 1878	32	"Came to death of Hard deseses (heart)"
Tobin, Maurice	20 Jul 1869	1
True, Willis J.	24 May 1872	13	by a blow of a Hoe in the hands of John Douglass…buried
			in Jourdenville church yard. He was a Civil War vet

Vieira, Joseph	2 Mar 1875	20	strangulation by an insain patient in the Illinois Hospital for
			Insain. Buried in Springfield. He was Capt. Joseph Vieira,
			and employee of the hospital at the time.

Wahlman, Edwin	12 Mar 1877	26	"Came to his death by being nocked from the track of C &
			A R.R."
Walker, James	22 Feb 1873	14
Williams, Infant of Jane	8 Apr 1879	34
Willison, William	26 ___ 1874	16

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