Jonas James Carsner 
M, #10747, b. Sep 24, 1827, d. Dec 12, 1864
Family | Sarah Anna Parkinson b. Feb 26, 1828, d. Nov 29, 1909 | |
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Chronological Events | ||
| Birth* | Sep 24, 1827 | Jonas James Carsner was born on Sep 24, 1827 at Missouri, United States .1 |
| Marriage* | Mar 7, 1847 | He married Sarah Anna Parkinson on Mar 7, 1847 at Polk County, Iowa, United States. |
| Death* | Dec 12, 1864 | Jonas James Carsner died on Dec 12, 1864, at age 37 at Grant County, Oregon, United States.1 |
| Burial* | Dec 14, 1864 | He was buried on Dec 14, 1864 at Moon Creek Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon, United States, Find A Grave Memorial# 21717445.2 |
| Researcher's Note* | Among the disreputable characters who at an early time infested the settlements of central Iowa, whose name appears among the first upon the criminal records of Poweshiek county, was Jonas Carsner. Although he was frequently arrested, he could not be convicted, and although the people were morally certain of his guilt, he could always bring into court a cloud of witnesses who would swear that he had been elsewhere at the certain time when a crime had been committed. In 1845, when the whole region of country west of this was Indian territory, and Des Moines was still a military post, Jonas Carsner plied his trade in various parts of the country. The Indians in and around the Fort at times had some money and very good horse, and Jonas operated with very good success among these savages. The Indians complained to Capt. Allen, who dispatched a squadron of dragoons in quest of the offender. The dragoons, who seldom went anywhere without accomplishing their purpose, returned, bearing with them the offender. He was tried by military court, and, the evidence not being conclusive, Captain Allen let him off with a flagellation, which was administered by the Indians. A few days after Jonas was released, a teamster who was conveying supplies from Keokuk to the garrison at Fort Des Moines, encamped some distance east of the Fort, and during the night one of his horses was stolen. Not being able to proceed without the horse, he visited a band of Indians near by and from them borrowed a horse to ride while searching for his missing animal. After following the trail for quite a distance, he came to a dense thicket, and just as he was about to enter the thicket Jonas Carsner came riding up to him, mounted on the stolen horse. The teamster, whose name was Fish, was for an instant completely dumfounded and did not know what to do, but he was soon released from any doubts, as Jonas rode right up to him and coming along side, drew a huge knife with which he cut the girth of the saddle upon which Fish was mounted, and giving the latter a quick wrench threw him to the ground, and grasping the reins of the now disencumbered steed, galloped away, taking both horses with him. Poor Fish was now like a fish out of water, and was compelled to return to the Indians and relate the result of his sad adventure. Carsner was again arrested and placed under five hundred dollar bonds to await his trial. A friend appeared with the money which was placed on the justice's table; while the justice was preparing some papers, Jonas walked out of the building and his friend grasping the money leaped from a window; both disappeared, leaving the magistrate without prisoner, money, or bondsman. Jonas Carsner has the honor of occupying with his name the first two pages of the Poweshiek county court record. What finally became of him no one knows, but certain it is he was not convicted in any legally constituted court of this county. THE ADVENTURES OF JONAS CARSNER Pg 452-3.3 | |
Citations
- [S802] Site - Ancestry.com, online at http://www.ancestry.com
- [S58] Gravestones - Death Cert, Find-A-Grave, BillionGraves.
- [S805] Site - One World Tree (SM), online at http://www.ancestry.com