Isa Musetta Heavilin’s young life, shaped by deep county roots and new beginnings, ended in a Christmas mystery. Isa Musetta Heavlin (1874-1895) was born in Stock Township, Harrison County, Ohio in February 1874. She was the second child born to farmer William Heavilin (1848-1916) and his wife Mary Ann Layport (1849-1929) who were married inContinue reading “Isa Musetta Heavilin: A Christmas Mystery from 1895”
Tag Archives: dennison
A Night Gone Wrong: The Fatal Shooting of Caesar White
What began as a lively winter gathering in Dennison ended in a shocking fatal shooting. Caesar White (1913-1933) was born in Dennison, Ohio, the son of Italian immigrants Frank (1882-1922) and Antoinette White (1882-1944), who both came to the United States in the 1890s. The Whites married in 1899 and settled in Tuscarawas County byContinue reading “A Night Gone Wrong: The Fatal Shooting of Caesar White”
Arson and Aftermath: The 1912 Shooting of Ella Tyler
A lifetime of trouble followed Price Tyler, including a botched arrest in 1912 that forever changed his young family. Arnold Price Tyler (1878-1941), commonly referred to as Price, was born in Westchester in Perry Township, Tuscarawas County. His father died when Price was fairly young, which left him to be raised by his mother NancyContinue reading “Arson and Aftermath: The 1912 Shooting of Ella Tyler”
Indicted but Never Convicted: The Murder of Antonio Di Simone
In 1919, Italian immigrant Antonio Di Simone was murdered near Dennison, Ohio—two suspects were arrested, but justice never came. I have chosen to use the surname Di Simone as opposed to the others that appear in the historical record. It was the surname under which Antonio Di Simone was buried by his friends and itContinue reading “Indicted but Never Convicted: The Murder of Antonio Di Simone”
The Crucifix Oath: The Sinibaldi Murder of 1913
In 1913 Dennison, Ohio, jealousy, violence, and a desperate struggle turned a marriage deal into murder. Antonio “Tony” Sinibaldi (1873-1913) was born in L’Aquila, San Benedetto dei Marsi, Italy, to Antonio Sinibaldi and Maria Ficcadehli. He grew up in Italy but as a young man decided to seek opportunities in America. Antonio immigrated to theContinue reading “The Crucifix Oath: The Sinibaldi Murder of 1913”
In the Line of Duty: The Murder of Deputy Myers
A tense standoff between a veteran sheriff’s deputy and an unstable Tuscarawas County farmer ended in deadly tragedy. Martin L. Myers (1890-1940) was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Victor E. Myers (?-1892) and Ella McBarnes Myers (1872-1943). After his father’s death in 1892, young Martin grew up in Dennison, Ohio, where he livedContinue reading “In the Line of Duty: The Murder of Deputy Myers”
The Unsolved Murder of Salvatore Favazzo
Over a century later, the brutal murder of Salvatore Favazzo remains one of Tuscarawas County’s most haunting unsolved crimes. In the summer of 1917, Salvatore “Sam” Favazzo (c. 1887-1917) was a familiar face in the Italian neighborhoods of Dennison, Ohio. A man in his early forties, he lived in a local boarding house and ownedContinue reading “The Unsolved Murder of Salvatore Favazzo”
Jealous and Armed: The Murder of Ruth Moore
Ruth Moore’s life ended in violence after suspicion and jealousy turned her husband into a murderer. Content warning: This post contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Click here for resources to find helpContinue reading “Jealous and Armed: The Murder of Ruth Moore”
Unindicted: The 1935 Death of Clarence Garabrandt
A Dennison man’s life ends in mystery after a fatal punch. Was it murder or a tragic twist of fate? Clarence Garabrandt (1902-1935) was born in the village of Barnhill, nestled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The son of Ezra Garabrandt (1868-1923) and Lydia Smitely (1871-1951), Clarence grew up in a family familiar with hard labor.Continue reading “Unindicted: The 1935 Death of Clarence Garabrandt”
A Killing in Dennison: The Story of Minnie Adkins
Minnie Adkins—a young Black mother and domestic worker—sparked a rare wave of public sympathy after she shot and killed a white man who threatened her. Minnie Williamson (1884-aft. 1950) was born in 1884 in North Carolina to Bedford Williamson and Della Willis. One of nine siblings, Minnie came of age in the post-Reconstruction South asContinue reading “A Killing in Dennison: The Story of Minnie Adkins”
Tuscarawas County Stories 