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Klinck Arrests Counterfeiters

On 24Aug1860, Officer Hayne Klinck arrested Dr. H.D. Farmer on a charge of counterfeiting. Although the article says Farmer was working with “noted counterfeiter” Forrest, I was unable to find anything about Forrest’s exploits. Likewise, a search of the Shelby County police blotters, criminal court minutes, and city court dockets turned up empty for both men. However, I was able to find a lot of information on counterfeiting in the United States before the Civil War. I had no idea it was so rampant! Because paper notes were issued from states, banks, insurance companies, and more, the market was flooded with hundreds of different bills that almost no one could keep up with. It was an environment ripe for counterfeit. According to Stephen Mihm, In the 1880s, “observers believed that counterfeits and other kinds of fraudulent bills accounted for as much as half of the paper money in circulation.” “Though only a few banks issued notes in the 1790s, close to 200 did by 1815, and by 1830 the number had climbed to 321. Ten years later, the number of banks jumped again, to 711, and after dipping in the early 1840s, skyrocketed upward. To complicate matters further, other state-chartered corporations – insurance companies, railroads, import and export firms, and canal companies – also issued notes at this time, as did numerous unchartered bankers and merchants operation in defiance of the law. By the 1850s, with so many entities commissioning bank notes of their own design (and in denominations, sizes, and colors of their choosing), the money supply became and great confluence of more than ten thousand different kinds of paper that continually changed hands, baffled and uninitiated, and fluctuated in value according to the whims of the market.” Stephen Mihm,  A Nation of Counterfeiters: Capitalists, Con Men, and the Making of the United States Copyright 2007 Language Note: Did you know that the term “queer” has been used to describe counterfeit money since the seventeenth century?! It’s use as a term for “funny money” persisted well into the mid 19th century, as in our article. “{Farmer’s} house was a regular rendezvous for a number of dealers in the “queer.” This usage also explains the phrase, “Queer as a three dollar bill.”(Queer Money / Will Fisher / ELH / Vol. 66, No. 1, 1999)	Memphis Daily Appeal, 24August1860
	Transcription: Another Haul of Counterfeit Money Evening before last, officer H.I.Klinck arrested a counterfeiter named Dr. H.D. Farmer, at his residence on the line of the Memphis and Ohio railroad, about one mile from the city. Several weeks since, Mr. Klinck received information that Farmer was dealing largely in counterfeit money, and that his house was a regular rendezvous for a number of dealers in the "queer." Keeping a close watch on Farmer's operations, the arresting officer has gather proof of his guest sufficient to warrant him in making the arrest. Yesterday two letters addressed to Farmer were taken out of the post office, one of them dated Wheeling, Va., August 10, and containing $50 in counterfeit money, mostly fives on the Lafayette bank, Bloomington, Illinois. The other purported to have been written on board the St. Louis and Vicksburg packet Skylar, and was dated August 18. The letter bears the post mark of this city, and in it was included one hundred dollars of curious money, consisting of tens on the Canal Bank of New Orleans. A circumstance connected with the arrest of Farmer and which in addition to the testimony to be brought against him when put on trial, is the fact of his entertaining Forrest, a noted counterfeiter, arrested through the instrumentality of office Klinck, a few evenings since, and in whose possession at the time was found over $400 in bogus money. Forrest has been boarding at Farmer's house for some time past, and has no doubt been furnished with the counterfeit money by him. The accused will have an examination to-day, when the facts in the case will be brought to light.
Recently sold for $225

What's Your Name?

What I know: This is another from cousin Mel Ferrer's collection; some readers may remember it from Facebook.  We know that the gent in the shadows is Olin Ferrer. His son Owie (Robert Olin Ferrer) is in white on the left of the man; son Hame (Powell Raymond Ferrer) is on the far right. I believe the young boy to the man's immediate right is Joseph Grace. Do you know who this is?

Reconnecting on Veteran's Day

In honor of the countless ancestors who have served our country, I’ve invited my cousin, Mel Ferrer (1st maternal cousin, once removed), to pen a guest column today. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mel! For this great column and the countless other things you’ve done to help me with this “little” hobby of mine!  Here’s Mel’s stoy: This June, I drove to my late mother-in-law Elizabeth Haas's home in southern Iowa to help the family with the big cleanup-and-organization project that had been underway since her passing last year. In addition to the standard stuff everyone amasses during their lifetime, Elizabeth also had an impressive collection of antiques and historical artifacts. She acted as the unofficial genealogist for her home town and enjoyed finding unique or significant items, whether they pertained to her own family or not. While digging through boxes, I found two WWII dog tags that did not belong to the family. With her children's permission I sought to find and return the tags to their owners or families. I found Lisa Davolt, daughter of John William Davolt (US Navy) on a WWII website.  Her father died when she was young and she was searching for information about his service that she could share with her son.  She was shocked and grateful to have an actual artifact that was with him during the war that could be passed down to future generations! I found Gary Shreve, son of Howard R. Shreve, through searches of Shereves in Ohio (see address of St.Clairsville, Ohio on tag). Although Gary had one of the two tags issued, his brother, who misses his dad greatly, was without. Gary was very grateful for the tag, which he plans to surprise his brother with this Christmas. As an interesting aside, Gary is an Elvis "tribute artist." Veteran Howard Shreve's son, Gary Shreve I encourage buying tags (frequently found at antique sales or flea markets) and trying to return them to the families of these service people who have served our country. It’s the least we can do to say thank you!

John William Davolt, US Navy (note rounded shape)

Howard R. Shreve, US Army

Officer Klinck Arrests Murphy

Today’s 1860 clipping shows officer Klinck arresting another ruffian. This time, it’s Murphy, an accomplice to the “notorious” James Reed, AKA Russell, AKA Red. Although I was able to find a James Reed in Kentucky with an impressive criminal record, I’m not sure that it’s the same man referenced in this article. It’s also possible that Reed’s notoriety wasn’t documented well in the Daily Appeal. Personally, I enjoyed reading that in addition to the standard items Murphy also absconded with “mathematical instruments.” I wonder what a hot abacus went for one the streets of Memphis in 1860! Note: The article below details the number of arrests made during the month of October; the greatest number came from Ward 4. In 1860, Hayne was living at 153 Adams Avenue in Ward 8. Also in residence that year: John G. Klinck, Sarah Klinck, Clint Klinck, Mary & George Grader, Ann and Emma Grader.

7November1860, Memphis Daily Appeal