In October 1953, James Ferguson kidnapped his estranged wife, sparking a 50-mile police chase that ended tragically. 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 findContinue reading ““I May As Well Give Up”: The Final Hours of James Ferguson”
Tag Archives: dover ohio
Midnight at the Dover Hotel: The Unsolved Slaying of Harry Snyder
An unsolved 1940 slaying left Tuscarawas County questioning if a “total stranger” or hidden secrets killed Harry “Hetz” Snyder. The town of Dover, Ohio, was shaken in early May of 1940 by a fatal confrontation that ended the life of well-known Harry “Hetz” Snyder (1901-1940), a 39-year-old divorced Wooster Avenue gas station owner. Snyder spentContinue reading “Midnight at the Dover Hotel: The Unsolved Slaying of Harry Snyder”
The Disappearance of George E. Reed
A rural mail carrier vanished one November night in 1909 and left the Tuscarawas County community searching for answers. 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 resourcesContinue reading “The Disappearance of George E. Reed”
Intent to Kill: The 1946 Joseph McClain Shooting Spree
The path of Joseph McClain led from his rural Tennessee roots to a dramatic shooting spree in the heart of Dover, Ohio. Joseph L. McClain (1909-1969) was born in Tennessee in late 1909 or early 1910, the son of farmer Charles McClain and his wife, Laura (Skillern) McClain. Recorded as four months old in theContinue reading “Intent to Kill: The 1946 Joseph McClain Shooting Spree”
One House’s Story: The Brucks Family
Ferdinand Brucks (1830-1915) was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States when he was 22 years old. He arrived in Tuscarawas County shortly after his immigration and, in 1854, he married German-born Catherine Wegele (1837-1914). It is likely that Ferdinand chose Tuscarawas County as his home because of other family members who hadContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Brucks Family”
A Daughter’s Testimony: The Killing of Ella Lenarz
Ella Lenarz’s life ended in violence, her family torn apart, and justice proved painfully short-lived. Oella “Ella” Kelley (1900-1936) was born in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, to James Kelley (1880-1930) and Catherine Brannan (1881-1968). She grew up in a working-class family that endured both hardship and loss. Her early years were marked by the birthContinue reading “A Daughter’s Testimony: The Killing of Ella Lenarz”
The Fatal Obsession of Harvey Colvin
Jealousy erupted into violence when Harvey Colvin attacked Maud Shaffer with a hatchet in a New Philadelphia home. Content warning: This post contains references to suicide and domestic assault. 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 hereContinue reading “The Fatal Obsession of Harvey Colvin”
A Mile of Fury: The Tappan Cyclone of 1940
In 1940, an unusual storm tore through Tuscarawas and Harrison Counties, leaving a trail of splinters where covered bridges and barns once stood. Strong storms and a tornado struck Tuscarawas and Harrison counties in early April 1940, bringing with it an unusual combination of hail and electrical storms. The tornado left a path of destructionContinue reading “A Mile of Fury: The Tappan Cyclone of 1940”
Adam Lantzer and The Newlywed Killing of 1913
A moment of joy between a Dover couple was shattered by a drunken driver on Wooster Road. Verna C. Dawson (1892–1923) was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, the daughter of Robert E. Dawson (1862–1916) and Etta Little Dawson (1874–1949). Her father, once employed at a pipe works in Newcomerstown, later returned to farming as theContinue reading “Adam Lantzer and The Newlywed Killing of 1913”
The Mysterious Death of Florence Weber
In the fall of 1909, twenty-year old Florence Weber vanished after a phone call. Two days later, her body was found beneath a Dover bridge. John W. Weber (1854-1927) was the son of German immigrants who settled in Ohio in the early 1850s. The Webers found themselves in Tuscarawas County, Ohio by the time theContinue reading “The Mysterious Death of Florence Weber”
Tuscarawas County Stories 