Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-05-17
THEIR HISTORY.

THEIR HISTORY.
There were numerous visits by the
Baldknobbers to petty offenders, but
nothing occurred to attract especial at
tention until the Green Edens affair,
which terminated in the downfall of
Baldknobberism. The Green -Edeus
killing occurred on the night of March
IL, 1887. AT a point eight miles east of
Ozark, and near the Edens dwelling, one
John Evans was whipped by the Bald
knobbers for misbehaviug in church. Old
man Edens, who was a friend of Evans,
interfered, and received four blows
with the whip before Chief
Walker, too, could interfere. Edens
fearIessly denied Baldknobberism, and
on March IL the band met to consider
what punishment should be meted out to
the old man who dared to criticise the
methods of the Regulators. At the
meeting it was decided to punish every
member of Edens' family, which was
done, the old man being killed.
The outrage brought about a oulmina-
tiou of the public indignation, and Zach
Johnson, the fearless sheriff of Christian
county, with a picked posse, had the
murderers in custody within forty eight
hours time. The trials of the men we're
attended with many scenes of an exciting
character, but three of the prisoners
finally confessed TO secure immunity.
"Bul Creek Dave" Walker, the bald
knubber chief, according To his own
story, was born in Christian county, KY,
in June 1S43. His parents moved 10
Christian county, Mo, when he was four
years of age, ard settled near Sparta.
The section that they settled on was at
n
had hard time up to the war. Dave
enlisted in Company NJ Sixth Missouri
volunteers in 1862, but after few
months OF service was discharged, as he
was under age. He went
back homo, but had stronger
inclination for war than ever, and enlist
ed In Company IL, of the Sixteenth Mis-
souri. His age was not found out and
he went through the war. After the war
| he returned to Bull Greek and entered
forty acres of government land. This
| was his homestead. He joined the Bald
knobbers three years ago, when the first
| com pany was formed in Christian county
| Chen Bull Creek county, and was made
| chief. He claimed that beside pouring
out the liqour at the
| Chadwick saloon and whipping
John Evans for cutting up in church, his
company had not done any regulating.
| 1t was the shipping OF Evans which ex-
cited the hostility of Edens. William
| Walker is the oldest of the Bald
kuobber He was born March 5, 1870.
he liyed on the farm with his father all
his life, and joined the Badknobbers at
| the same time. He was wounded in the
right groin in the G-eeu len killing,
and that night WAS taken
| TO his uncle's hou5e in Dong
las county. He was captured later
| by the sheriff with the assistance OF j. D..
| Newton, brother of Walkers sweetheart.
John Matthews was born in Boil Greek
in Christian county, Mo-, five miles from
Chadwick, April 20, l84S. He WIS in the
Union army during he wsr, enlisting in
| the 46th Missouri. He took part in sew
eral engagements incident To General
Pryor's raid. He had nine chill
! dren. He was member of
the Baptist church and has been
a Bald dsnobbers but two months when tn e
shooting occurred. His son jimmie, IA
years old, was at the Eden house the
night of the killing, and was indicted with
his father, but was released by the court
after furnishing bonds of 81 900 On ac-
count of his youth.