- [S675] U.S. Census Kentucky 1880, William Bohannon, Shelby County, Christiansburg, ED 184, June 2, 1880, Page 4, Dwelling 26, Family 37, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
Bohannon, William, white, male, age 57, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky, farmer
Bohannon, Rebecca, white, female, age 56, wife, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky, fever
Bohannon, John W, white, male, age 25, son, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky, farm hand
Hawkins, Jennie, white, female, age 16, daughter, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Hawkins, James, white, male, age 22, son-in-law, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky. 
- [S687] U.S. Census Kentucky 1880, Hiram Bohannon, Shelby Co, Christiansburg, ED 184, June 18, 1880, Page 25, Dwelling 199, Family 228, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
Bohannon, Hiram, white, male, age 66, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky, farmer
Bohannon, Sarah A, white, female, age 52, wife, born Indiana, father born Virginia, mother born Indiana
Cain, David, white, male, age 75, father-in-law, born Virginia, father born Virginia, mother born Virginia, farm hand. - [S733] U.S. Census Kentucky 1900, Hiram Bohannon, Shelby County, Christiansburg, ED 73, June 4, 1900, Sheet 5A, Dwelling 107, Family 107, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
Bohannon, Hiram, male, born Feb, 1820, age 80, married 9 years, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Bohannon, Louisa, wife, born Jan, 1850, age 50, married 9 years, 0 children, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Cole, Ines, grand-child, born April, 1884, age 16, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky. - [S741] U.S. Census Kentucky 1900, William Bohannon, Shelby County, Christiansburg, ED 73, June 9, 1900, Sheet 9B, Dwelling 195, Family 196, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
Bohannon, William, born Apr, 1820, age 80, widowed, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky, farmer, own
Hall, William L, son-in-law, born Dec, 1871, age 28, married 6 years, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Hall, Billie, daughter, born Jan, 1875, age 25, married 6 years, 0 children, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky. - [S1341] Hiram Bohannon, Will Book 48, Page 49, 1998 Extract taken by Garril Kueber August 17, Shelby Co, Kentucky Courthouse,
Abstract: Will of Hiram Bohannon written 1 Jan 1903. Heirs: wife Louisa Bohannon and friend Inez Cole. Recorded 14 Dec 1903. - [S1377] Vital Records-Newspaper Index Card File, Kentucky Library Shelby County, Death of Hiram Bohannon sr, Shelby County Library,
Hiram Bohannon, sr., 1 Dec 1903, age 84, Bagdad, wife, Bagdad Cemetery. Shelby record 4 Dec 1903, Shelby news 3 Dec 1903. - [S1950] D Shinnick, Some Old time History of Shelbyville and Shelby County (Shelby County Historical Society, Shelbyville, KY, 1984),
November 23, 1917
In 1870 and 1871 there was an organized band of lawless men in this county, who operated principally in the northern and northeastern part of the county. The organization was known as the Ku Klux Klan, and members of it whose homes were in the vicinity of Bagdad, Consolation and Jacksonville, were suspected of being the parties who assaulted and beat a colored mail agent, in the early part of 1871, while in his mail car, that was then standing on the railroad track near Benson Station. The local authorities were helpless, for the reason that the people of the vicinity where the outrages occurred were afraid to give information that would lead to the arrest of the guilty parties, knowing that if they did so that the vengeance of the Ku Klux Klan would fall heavily upon them.
After the assault had been made on the negro mail agent, the Government officials took the matter in hand and a company of U.S. soldiers was sent to Bagdad in the spring of 1871. This company was Troop 1 of the Seventh Cavalry, Capt. Miles W. Keogh, commanding. The company was stationed at Bagdad for several months, when it moved to Shelbyville, into quarters in a brick livery stable that stood then, at 8th and Main streets, owned by Mr. James L. Long. By the way, this company remained in Shelbyville a couple of years and went from here to Lebanon, and from there out West. Out there it was a part of General Custer's command, that was massacred by the Indians, Capt. Keogh and all of his men, as well as Gen. Custer, and many others, being killed.
It was while the soldiers were at Bagdad that a tragedy occurred within a half-mile of that town, and the trial of the defendant, on a charge of murder, was one of the most interesting and hard-fought in the history of the county. The defendant in the case was Hiram Bohannon, a reputable citizen, and the man whom he killed was Addison Cook, a reckless dare-devil, and the alleged leader of the Ku Klux Klan. There had been hard feelings between the men for some time, for the reason that some one had told Cook that Bohannon had said that he (Cook) had proposed to the Government to give the Klan away for $20,000, and Cook had threatened to kill Bohannon, on numerous occasions. On the morning of August 15th, 1871, Bohannon went to a point about half-way between Bagdad and Consolation, with his shotgun, loaded with buckshot, and waited for Cook, whom he knew would go that morning from Consolation to Bagdad. There were no eye-witnesses to the killing, but the circumstantial evidence that Bohannon had killed Cook was strong, and he never denied it at any time. Both loads of buck-shot were fired and Cook was killed instantly, his head being nearly shot off. It is doubtful if he knew who shot him, as his death was instantaneous.
Mr. James White, who was less than a half-mile from the scene of the tragedy, heard the gunshots and a few minutes later met Bohannon, who told him he had just shot "a d--n thief." Mr. White went to where Cook's body was lying, beside the railroad track, with his head in the water of a ditch. Cook was dead, and a loaded revolver was in his pocket. Willie Connell, a small boy living in the neighborhood, saw Bohannon get out of his father's cornfield, with a gun, and a few minutes later, heard the gun-shots. He ran over to the place where the killing occurred, arriving there nearly as soon as Mr. White. They and a section hand who came along a few minutes later, took the body of the man out of the ditch and laid it on the bank, and then gave information of the tragedy. (The Willie Connell here mentioned is the well-known Shelbyville stock dealer.)
Squire G. W. Demaree, who lived at Christiansburg, about three miles away, was called, and after holding the inquest issued a warrant for the arrest of Hiram Bohannon. The warrant was given to Deputy Sheriff H. T. Montfort, who arrested Bohannon and took him to his (Montfort's) home that night. During the night a crowd of men went to Montfort's house, to mob Bohannon, but they were frightened away before they could accomplish their purpose. The next day, fearing trouble for his prisoner, he took him to the soldiers' camp, where he was kept that night in safety from the gang of Ku Klux, who wanted to get hold of the man who had killed their leader. The next day, accompanied by a detail of soldiers, Montfort brought Bohannon to Shelbyville and turned him over to County Judge Erasmus Frazier. On August 17th, the examining trial was held before Judge Frazier, and Bohannon was committed to the custody of Jailer I. A. Payne, to be held until the following term of Circuit Court.
Bohannon was indicted on a charge of murder, by the grand jury, on the first day of the term, and his trial was set for a few days later, at that term. Five days were taken up by the trial, and all during it there was a fight for legal points by Robinson, Foree and Major, for the defendant, and Phil Lee, the Commonwealth's Attorney. On the fifth day (Oct. 12th) after hearing the evidence and arguments and devoting nearly two days to a consideration of the case the jury brought in a verdict of "guilty as charged in the indictment."
On the following day a motion for a new trial was made, but the motion was overruled, and an appeal to the Court of Appeals was asked and granted. On the following day Hon. H. W. Bruce, then the Circuit Judge of this district, in open court, asked Mr. Bohannon if he had anything to say as to why he should not be punished in accordance with the law and the verdict of the jury. The writer, who was present, remembers distinctly the appearance of the venerable looking, bearded old man, as he stood up to answer Judge Bruce. He did not seem to be the least excited and simply said: 'Judge, I have nothing to say, except there have been many lies told in this trial, and if I had not killed Addison Cook that day, he would have killed me before this.' He then sat down and Judge Bruce sentenced him "to be hanged until he is dead" on Friday, Dec. 29th, 1871.
Bohannon's attorneys got busy immediately, and prepared an appeal to the Court of Appeals. On Dec. 23rd the higher court rendered a decision reversing the lower court and remanded the case for retrial. A copy of the decision was taken by Bohannon's attorneys to Judge Bruce, in Louisville, and an order was made that the defendant, who had been in jail four months, might be liberated from custody upon his giving a good and sufficient bond in the sum of $10,000 for his appearance at the next succeeding term of the Shelby Circuit Court. The bond was given with N. Flood, Leroy Kestler (sic) and Benjamin Scroggins as sureties, and Bohannon reached his own home in time to celebrate Christmas with his relatives and friends.
At the March term, 1872, the decision of the Court of Appeals was ordered to record, and the case of the Commonwealth vs. Bohannon was continued to the September term. At that time, upon a motion of the Commonwealth's Attorney, the case was dismissed. Mr. Bohannon lived many years, a respected and highly esteemed citizen. After the death of Addison Cook there was evidently an end to Ku Kluxism, for no more trouble came to the people of that vicinity. At the trial of several young men charged with the assault of the negro mail agent it was demonstrated that Addison Cook, then dead, was the guilty party and nothing further was done about it.
During the troubulous times, good citizens of that vicinity suffered much by mistreatment at the hands of the Ku Klux and from threats that were made. Addison Cook, upon one occasion, ran a man by the name of "Chick" Johnson out of the town of Bagdad, threatening to kill him. His action did not meet with the approval of good citizens, and some of them did not hesitate to express their indignation at such proceedings. Among these was Mr. W. C. Baskett, a farmer who lived near Bagdad. A few days before Cook was killed, Mr. Baskett received a note which read as follows:
Headquarters K. K. K.
General Order No. 5
Mr. W. C. Baskett:
If it appears on examination that you and "Jim" White are connected with W. C. Johnson, in any shape, manner or form, whatever, you had better prepare for leaving this country forever.
Respectfully
KU KLUX KLAN
P. S. - Contempt of this notice is death.
Respectfully,
ETC.
The death of Cook and the disorganization of the Ku Klux Klan was a great relief to many, who felt that their lives and property were in danger. - [S2124] Eula Richardson Hasskarl, Shelby County Kentucky Marriages Vol II (1834-1878) Page 87, Marriage of William Bohannon and Rebecca Maddox, Garril Louis Kueber.
William Bohannon and Rebecca Maddox, widow of William M Maddox, married February 10, 1853, bondsman - Abram Lewis. - [S2446] U.S. Census Kentucky 1880, John L Wilcoxson, Hart County, Horse Cave, ED 80, June 5, 1880, Page 12, Dwelling 72, Family 75, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives Washington DC,
John L Wilcoxson, white, male, age 56, farmer, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born North Carolina
Eliza J Wilcoxson, wife, white, female, age 52, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky. - [S2449] U.S. Census Kentucky 1880, Newton Wilcoxson, Green County, Grove, ED 55, June 22, 1880, Page 28 & 29, Dwellling & Family not numbered, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives Washington DC,
Newton Wilcoxen, white, male, age 52, farming, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Margret, wife, white, female, age 45, born Kentucky, father born Virginia, mother born Virginia
Craig Wilcoxen, son, white, male, age 22, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Ann Wilcoxen, daughter, white, female, age 19, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Kate Wilcoxen, daughter, white, female, age 17, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Bell Wilcoxen, daughter, white, female, age 12, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Duglas, son, white, male, age 10, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Marsella Wilcoxen, daughter, white, female, age 7, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Samuel J Wilcoxen, son, white, male, age 4, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Catharine Squires, mother-in-law, white, female, age 85, born Virginia, father born Virginia, mother born Virginia. - [S2582] U.S. Census Kentucky 1880, George F Wilcoxson, Barren County, Hiseville, June 3, 1880, Page 5 & 6, Dwelling 41, Family 44, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives Washington DC,
G F Wilcoxen, male, white, age 58, married, farmer, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Martha A Wilcoxen, wife, female, white, age 44, married, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Daniel L Wilcoxen, son, male, white, age 23, single, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Rachel A Wilcoxen, daughter, female, white, age 21, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Hawkins C Wilcoxen, son, male, white, age 19, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Dora E Wilcoxen, daughter, female, white, age 16, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
George L Wilcoxen, son, male, white, age 12, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Sarah Wilcoxen, daughter, female, white, age 14, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Jessie R Wilcoxen, son, male, white, age 8, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Martha Wilcoxen, daughter, female, white, age 6, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky. - [S2630] U.S. Census Kentucky 1880, Nancy Dearing, Barren Co, Glasgow Junction, June 3, 1880, Page 10, Dwelling 89, Family 92, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives Washington DC,
Nancy Dearing, female, white, age 53, widowed, milliner, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
John W Dearing, son, male, white, age 24, single, fire insurance agent, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Wilis T Dearing, son, male, white, age 21, single, traveling salesman, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Narcissa Dearing, daughter, female, white, age 20, single, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
D Morgan Dearing, son, male, white, age 18, single, works in carriage shop, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Alice Witty, adopted child, female, white, age 10, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky. - [S2824] U.S. Census Kentucky 1860, William Bohannon, Shelby Co, District 2, Christiansburg, June 20, 1860, Page 46, Dwelling 346, Family 319, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
Wm Bohannon, age 40, male, born Kentucky, farmer, real estate 7000, pers prop 3600
Rebecca Bohannon, age 31, female, born Kentucky
Mary E Bohannon, age 6, female, born Kentucky
Sarah Bohannon, age 3, female, born Kentucky
Jessee Maddox, age 13, male, born Kentucky. - [S3607] U.S. Census Kentucky 1850, John W Dearing, Barren County, Second Division, August 14, 1850, Page 438B, Dwelling 498, Family 509, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives Washington DC,
Dearing, John W, age 39, male, tavern keeper, born Kentucky
Dearing, Nancy, age 24, female, born Kentucky
Dearing, George H, age 5, male, born Kentucky
Dearomg, William A, age 4, male, born Kentucky
Dearing, Angelina, age 2, female, born Kentucky
Dearing, Sarah M, age 4/12, female, born Kentucky. - [S3608] U.S. Census Kentucky 1850, John L Wilcoxson, Barren County, Second Division, August 14, 1850, Page 438B, Dwelling 494, Family 505, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives Washington DC,
Wilcoxson, John L, age 26, male, merchant, real estate 700, born Kentucky
Wilcoxson, Eliza J, age 21, female, born Kentucky
Minton, Clarissa, age 50, female, born Kentucky
Minton, Margaret A, age 16, female, born Kentucky
Minton, Sarah A, age 13, female, born Kentucky
Minton, Narcissa, age 7, female, born Kentucky. - [S3861] U.S. Census Kentucky 1860, George F Wilcoxson, Green County, District 2, June 18, 1860, Page 38, Dwelling 279, Family 274, Ancestry.com census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
Wilcoxson, George F, age 26, male, miller, real estate 1200, pers prop 1900, born Kentucky
Wilcoxson, Emily, age 19, female, born Missouri
Wilcoxson, Isaac N, age 2, male, born Kentucky
Masters, Pottsfield, age 22, male, miller, born Kentucky. - [S3868] U.S. Census Kentucky 1900, Nancy Dearing, Barren County, Glasgow Precinct, June 2, 1900, Sheet 3A, Dwelling 42, Family 50, Ancestry.com Census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
Dearing, Nancy, head, white, female, born Nov 1826, age 73, widowed, millenary, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born North Carolina
Dearing, Willice, son, white, male, born May 1858, age 42, single, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Dearing, Mildred, daughter, white, female, born Nov 1855, age 54, dressmaking, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Dearing, John, son, white, male, born Jan 1857, age 42, fire ins agent, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky. - [S3871] U.S. Census Kentucky 1900, Newton J Wilcoxsen, Green County, Exie Precinct, June 12, 1900, Sheet 8A, Dwelling 152, Family 152, Ancestry.com Census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
Wilcoxen, Newton J, head, white, male, born May 1826, age 74, widowed 5 years, farmer, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Wilcoxen, Tilden, son, white, male, born Jul 1876, age 23, married 3 years, farmer, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Wilcoxen, Hattie B, daughter-in-law, white, female, born Jun 1881, age 18, married 3 years, one child, one living, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Wilcoxen, Myrtie, grand-daughter, white, female, born Oct 1898, age 1, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky. - [S3872] U.S. Census Kentucky 1900, Sallie McInteer, Hart County, Hardyville, June 2, 1900, Sheet 1B, Dwelling 18, Family 19, Ancestry.com Census images, National Archives, Washington DC,
McInteer, Sallie, head, white, female, born Jul 1831, age 69, widowed, eight children, six living, farmer, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born North Carolina
McInteer, Leeander, son, white, male, born Jun 1864, age 35, widowed, farmer, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
McInteer, John W, grand-son, white, male, born Nov 1891, age 8, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
McInteer, Sallie W, grand-daughter, white, female, born May 1894, age 6, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
Cassaday, Cora, niece, white, female, born Nov 1875, age 24, single, servant, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky
plus servant. - [S5509] Sallie Wilcoxson McInteer, Kentucky Death Certificate 19588, died June 28, 1917, Monroe, Hart County, Kentucky, Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1953, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com World Wide Web site.