The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1892-02-11
THE BICKEL HOMESTEAD.

from Union Furnace, seven or
eight miles south of Logan. The
house is a one and 4 half story log
building, facing on the road, with
a porch extending the entire front.
There are two living rooms and a
kitchen in the rear.
The room iii which the killing
was done is about IS feet square.
A door leads in from the porch, and
a door opposite, ont into the kitch-
en-. In the centre of the dividing
partition is a CRATE. On the side
opposite, againt the wall, are two
beds. There is a window in front
and one at the end Of the room.
The furniture is scant and of the
commonest kind. There is an ar-
pearance of tidincss, but OF scanti-
ness in the room and general sur
roundings. The dead man lay on
the floor on his back, his limbs ex-
tended; his head toward the door.
A knife, open blade, lay on the
floor near his hand. The knife
is large sized pocket knife, a
kind commonly carried by team
sters and farmers. The pistol is a
six chamber 80 calibre, Smith d
Wcsson, long barrel. One cham
Der contained a cartridge. 1t is
told .us that three bullet marks
were found on the wall towards
the door.
The farm consists OF about 200
acres of fairly good farming land.
THE BICKEL PEOPLE.
Only that public attention has
been directed by reson of the TRACE
dy, would it be proper to publish
of the family what is known
and said of them. In this we
state only what has been told us
by men of unquestionable reliabili-
ty, and who have means of know
ing what they are talking about.
Louis Bickel was born in Ma
rion township or the farm now
owned by Lindsey, just on the
county line. The Oldham Bickel,
his father, was german, and when
he came to this county had ''a
good deal of money" for those
days. He was very stlngy, very
industrious, very dirty. He was
given to occasional sprees, and
then was very ugly He was large
and powerful, was the champion
at raisings and log rollings; was
honest, but not popular. He was
! called by his neighbors, ''Sow
Bickel'' for his greedlness, filth
ness and Loggishness. His son
Louis partook largely Of the old
mans character, strong healthy,
greedy and to degree brutal. He
was afforded no teaching at church
or school. He, like Topsy ''just
growed up" He married a Nc
I Cormick, who lived down in tie
Matheny country. He stole a
horse.in Kentucky, brought it here,
sold it to Isaac Bolts. He was
followed, the horse identified. He
was arrested, tried and sent to the
penitentiary. After he got out, he
came back, and for passing coun-
terfeIt money was again sent to
the penitentiary. All trace was
lost of him.
MRS. BICKEL,
His daughter, is very good wo-
man, and all hearts bleed for her
in the deep affection that has SO
clouded all her life. She is a wo
man of care and thrift; neat and
orderly; kind to neighbors, espe-
cially to those in distress, and for
thirty years has been the loving
devoted mother, guarding her
children from the ferocity of a
demon.
| Shortly nfter Beckel's marriage, he
moved to Fairfield county. here he got in
| to an alteration with u negro, and shot
and killed him, lie disappeared for q time
and nothing was done about the murder
of the negro, he next is down in Green
Township. living on fhe now Andy
Dresher farm fro m here he moved to n rear
Union Furnace, buying forty acres of land
to which he has added until he possessed
the present farm. He was man OF low
instincts, greedy, grinding, cgras ping. He
| worked hard at any thing there was to do,
and drove his children with . merciless
hand to work untitled 10 their under years
he would abuse with blows of his fist and
and club his children and the animals
even of the farm We're in terror at his ap-
proach. Why, it is asked did not the
neighbors interfere? Why did not the
! children and wife 60 away. This question,
good and gentle, and kindly disposed read
e1 in your happy home, may think about
you cannot answer, Only Him who knows
the heart ties and strains of home can uu-
derstand this.
As character OF the man, 1t said his oldest
boy has been m;de prematurely old by the
hard usage imposed on hi-u. He once
nearly drowned one of his hoys at the Fur
mace. because the boy did not do as much
,,,;l Ia a tad