Richland County Ghost Stories

In October many people come into the Sherman Room looking for information on The Ohio State Reformatory, the Bissman Building, or the Ceely Rose House.  These, among others, are ghost stories and haunted locations which many of us who live in the area are familiar.  This interest in the paranormal isn’t a new phenomenon; ghost stories have circulated in the community since settlers first planted roots in the rich soil in which Richland County got its name.

After the War of 1812, Native-Americans returned to Mansfield and attempted to live with the growing population of settlers in Mansfield.  It was reported that one night two Native-Americans, Seneca John and Quilipetoxe, came into town and began drinking at Williams Tavern, located of the south-east corner of Central Park, where the Southern Hotel once stood.  The account was that they became drunk, increasingly agitated and, as they left the tavern, swore “vengeance against the whites.”  Five men reportedly followed them east towards Ashland Hill and a battle ensued.  The two Native-Americans were killed and buried in a ravine which became known as “Spooks Hollow.”  It was reported that one could see two apparitions of the murdered men lurking in the shadows at night.

Throughout the 1800’s, reports of apparitions taking the form of big black dogs were seen near Zeiter’s Cemetery north of the city.  It was reported in 1911, in The Mansfield News, that the cemetery which was located on the Joseph Flora farm, and later owned by Perry Kohler, was the site of a murder by the Flora Family.  It was rumored a peddler who had been stopping at the farm was killed and buried in an unmarked grave.  The story was never proven or disproven, but was the source for many of these stories throughout the years.  The author of the article in 1911 claimed to have stayed there alone one night and never saw the dog, nor heard its growl.

In June of 1881, The Ohio Liberal reported a ghost being seen near the Gold Mine in Bellville.  It was told a doctor and his wife was returning home when their horse stopped in the road and refused to proceed.  The doctor got down from the buggy to see if a tree had fallen, but found nothing.  On his way back to the buggy his wife screamed and, upon looking up the gully, about fifty yards from the road stood the outline of a figure.  The figure became more visible and the doctor said it was a man of about 35 years of age, moderate build with dark hair and whiskers.  Upon looking closer the man appeared to have blood on his hands and looking down towards its feet lay another man with a gaping wound on his head, who had clearly been murdered.  Mr. Z, as the paper referred to the man recounting the doctor’s story, said the doctor was unable to move until the apparition faded away.

There were also ghostly encounters reported in the city.  In 1905 it was reported that the house at 258-260 North Main Street, next to Schwier’s Saloon, was haunted.  Allegedly the sprawling home, that a Mrs. White was currently running as a boarding house, had been the site of at least three tragedies.  In the late 1870’s, a man living in the house fell from the porch and was killed.  Later, his wife hung herself from the stair banister and, a few years prior to 1905, a man was burned to death by gas in the front parlor.  Mrs. White claimed she heard a door being opened, which she was sure was locked, knocking and the swish sound of a lady’s dress as if she was walking across the floor.

Finally, in 1907, in The Mansfield Daily Shied, it was reported that John W. Soule heard footsteps in the downstairs hallway of his East Sixth Street home.  The family that lived in the home before the Soule’s also reported strange happenings and said a woman dressed in white would pace the hallway.  Rumors began to circulate that this woman was murdered and she was seeking to clear up the mystery of her untimely death.  It was suggested by the Shield that “several brave ones spend the night in the haunted hallway and endeavor to see if there is any truth to the strange tales.  A party of iron nerved young men would be most acceptable and the question of spirits could be solved once and for all.”

This question may never be solved, and as long as people search for answers to the unknown, new stories will emerge and replace the one’s we know today.

A Romantic Marriage, Mysterious “Death” and Continued Absence

A strange and mysterious event happened in Bellville, Ohio almost 120 years ago.  The marriage of Ida B. Thrailkill and George C. Rundelle was believed by many in the community to be a happy affair.  The couple had reputably met through an advertisement in the Cincinnati Enquirer, but accounts vary on whether Ida placed the ad or answered it.  It was reported in The Mansfield News that they agreed to meet in Mansfield, Ida wearing a sweet pea dress and George was to have a carnation in his buttonhole in order to be recognized.  They attended a performance at the casino and their brief courtship followed.   Ida’s foster parents, B. Frank and Sarah Thrailkill, consented to the early marriage.  Records show that on September 1, 1898, Ida Bowser Thrailkill and George Courtney Rundelle were married in Richland County, Ohio.

The Richland Shield and Banner, 02 SEP 1898

The Bellville Messenger, 08 SEP 1898 (article says 1897, most likely typo, as article was published in 1898)

According to The Mansfield News “a great many handsome presents were received, among them some silver.”  The couple was to go on their honeymoon in the east and return to their new home in Cleveland.  They weren’t in Cleveland more than a week when, according to Ida, George was called to Chicago on business indefinitely and Ida returned to Bellville to live with her parents.  The Daily Shield reports that a week later Ida received word that her husband was dying in a Cleveland boarding house.

When Ida arrived in Cleveland, she was rushed into a room where her husband was said to be dying.  The room was dark and she could hardly see the face of the man lying in the bed.  The man said her name, but according to Ida it did not sound like the voice of her husband.  She ran from the room screaming, more in fear then in sorrow.  Sometime later she was told her husband had died, but was denied a request to see the man’s face again.  The next morning she was told the body had been shipped to his parents in New Jersey.

Ida, feeling that she was the victim of some kind of fraud, returned home, stayed in Bellville for three or four days and left never to be seen again.  By 1901, when this story was reported, her parents had feared she had killed herself.   The Mansfield Evening News reported that sometime in 1901 a George C. Rundell had been imprisoned in Columbus for having multiple wives, but no further information was found on his life.

Tombstone in Bellville Cemetery

This may have been the last time anyone in Bellville had seen or heard from Ida and her foster parents, B. Frank and Sarah Thrailkill, passed away in 1912 and 1920 respectively.  They are buried in Bellville Cemetery in Bellville, Ohio.  Thanks to sites like Ancestry and FamilySearch.com, we are able to add one more piece to the puzzle.  On November 11, 1907 Ida turns up in Porter County, Indiana getting married to a R. William Hall.  On the marriage license application, she is calling herself Ida M. J. Rundle, stating she was born in Richland County, Ohio on September 21, 1876 and her parents are Benjamin Thrailkill and Elizabeth Bailey.  She also indicates that she was married before and that her husband passed away September 28, 1898.

Marriage Application for Ida M. J.  Rundle and R. William Hall

Did George C. Rundelle die that night in Cleveland? Was he taking advantage of a young woman looking for love, or was Ida involved in the nefarious deed as well?  Finally, are Benjamin Thrailkill and Elizabeth Bailey Ida’s biological parents, or are this simply names she put on the application, not knowing the identity of her parents? Like many genealogical questions we are left with more questions than answers.

_{Sources:
The Peculiar Story of a Bellville Young Woman. The Mansfield Evening News. 18 Sep 1901.
Mock Death: Strange Story Told by Bellville Woman of Husband. The Mansfield Dailey Shield. 26 Sep 1901.}

The Mystery of Charles Albert Leonard

On September 9, 1881, a young 19-year old Charles Albert Leonard left work at M. V. B. Finfrock’s Drug Store located at 66 N. Main St. and headed to supper as normal.  It was noted that he ate very little and had been complaining about his stomach for about two weeks.    Charles had, “expressed intention of calling upon his brother, J. C. Leonard, a cadet engineer, who had been visiting his brothers in the city.”  Around 9 o’clock Charles had a brief conservation with his roommate, A. P. Remy, at H. L. Harrington’s hardware store where Remy was a clerk.   Charles informed Remy he would be out unusually late because of the visit with his brother.  After this he walked further up Third Street and then, sometime later, was seen walking back.  This was the last time Charles Albert Leonard was seen alive.

Finfrock & Walters c. 1870

From The Herald’s Directory to Mansfield, 1883-1884

Leonard’s brothers began contacting any place that they believed he would have gone to, including “the young man’s guardian at Mason, near Cincinnati.”  No one had seen nor heard from him.  Charles had an excellent reputation and always got along well with others.   He “was a quite gentlemanly fellow who paid strict attention to his business and was fully trusted by his employers.  He had no bad habits, whatsoever, and was generally respected as an upright young man.”  Charles had no reason to leave and, based on the items he left behind, was expected to return home that evening.

On September 18, 1881, Walter Brashear, the ten year old son of James Brashear, was walking through Sherman’s Woods, better know today as Middle Park, a short distance from his father’s farm, with his dog.  Walter’s dog became excited and began growling.  When young Walter investigated the cause of the animal’s behavior, he came upon a bloated corpse lying at the foot of a tree.  Walter ran to the homes of Mr. Claflin and Oliver Wise and told them of his discovery.  According to The Herald the grisly site was visited by “thousands” that day.

From the 22 SEP 1881 Mansfield Herald

Charles’s brother, W. L. Leonard, confirmed that the body was that of his brother.  Though The Herald states that confirmation was made based on the clothes and style of hat worn, as “to recognize the dead man by his features was an impossibility, the skin of the face having, by exposure to the sun and rain, turned a deep black, while eyes, nose and mouth had become the abiding place of worms and flies.  The body and limbs were bloated until the skin seemed ready to burst, and altogether the remains were a horrible sight to behold.”

Charles’s brother, William c. 1896

When Dr. H. L. Hall, the coroner, arrived the pockets of the man were searched.  The only items of value found were the keys to the door and safe of Finfrock’s and twenty-five cents.  About 1 p. m. that day the undertaker, James A. Niman, arrived with the hearse and a coffin.  The body was examined by the coroner, brought to the cemetery, and placed in the receiving vault.  Family and friends reportedly requested a more thorough examination, but this was denied by the coroner and the body was buried.  Coroner Hall suggested the young man committed suicide, but this opinion was not shared by the community and they felt the coroner fell short of preforming his duties.

A short time later the body was exhumed and a post-mortem examination was performed by Dr. A. J. Erwin.  During the examination, a hole was found in the back of Leonard, entering between the sixth and seventh ribs, about two inches left of the spine and entering the right lung.  It was determined by Dr. A J. Erwin that the injury was sufficient to cause death and the wound was a result of foul play.

Some residents nearby reported hearing screams and shrieks around the time of Leonard’s disappearance.  Mrs. Wise reported she saw, around dusk one evening, a horse and carriage coming out of the woods and traveling up the lane.  She could not recall the exact day, but, as the lane was rarely traveled during the day, the sight was rather peculiar, especially considering the death of young Leonard.   A reward of $800 dollars was offered by the County Commissioners for the arrest and conviction of the murderer.  The murder weapon was never found and any hopes of discovering the identity of the murderer died that night with Charles Albert Leonard.

Sources:

_{The Ohio Liberal, 14 SEP 1881, p. 3 “Leonard Left”
The Mansfield Herald, 15 SEP 1881, p. 3 “Charles A Leonard”
The Mansfield Herald, 22 SEP 1881, p. 3 “Chas. A. Leonard”
The Richland Shield and Banner, 24 SEP 1881, p. 3 “The dead decaying body of Chas. A. Leonard”
The Ohio Liberal, 28 SEP 1881, p. 7 “Exhumed and Examined”
The Mansfield Herald, 29 SEP 1881, p. 6 “Murder or Suicide?”
The Richland Shield and Banner, 01 OCT 1881 p. 3 “Charles Albert Leonard”}

The “Woman in Black”

During the end of 1906, there was a sensation in the area known as the “Woman in Black.”  She would appear to people, peaking through windows or by standing in front of them as they walked the streets in the early morning or late evening and then dart away out of sight.  Was this simply a prankster trying to frighten people, an individual with a more sinister agenda, or something that cannot be explained?

Victorian era Woman in Black

The first sighting happened October of 1906, in Plymouth, about a week before Halloween.  Mrs. Ruby, the wife of a veterinary surgeon, came face to face with the stranger.  The stranger was standing at the top of the Ruby’s cellar when Mrs. Ruby spotted the figure.  She screamed and her husband pursued the unwelcomed visitor until he lost the stranger down an alleyway.   Shortly after this, Chub Nimmons became the next victim.  Nimmons was walking home one evening and the “woman in black” obstructed his view, but made no attempt to do harm to him.  Nimmons decided to go around the woman, but he was again headed off.  Finally, Nimmons drew his gun and the woman darted down an alley and out of sight.  These and other sightings caused the men of Plymouth to form a watching committee and stand guard, but the figure failed to show.

A week later, in late October, she was spotted in Mansfield in the North End.  The first report was on Woodland Avenue, where the “Woman in Black” had entered a home through a door that had been left slightly ajar.  The stranger began talking to another woman who was working in the kitchen of the home, stating she was cold and needed to warm up.  The worker claimed the stranger’s voice sounded somewhat like a man’s and left to go to her neighbor’s house.  Upon returning the “woman in black” was gone.  Another woman reported a woman in black stepping out in front of her on North Bowman Street while on her way home from work.  The following night, the “woman in black” was seen on both East Second Street and Marion Avenue.

The only mention of this being other worldly came in December of 1906.  Mrs. S. E. Bird on West Third Street encountered the woman, while she was standing with her back to the door and, upon turning around, came face to face with the figure.  This caused her to scream and Mrs. William Porter, who was visiting from Pittsburgh, rushed to the kitchen just in time to see the figure “vanishing through the door.”

While the newspapers mention that this is a disturbance of local business, as many people didn’t want to venture out at night for fear of what they might see, at least one business tried to capitalize on the event.  The Cash Store ran an ad suggesting they could show customers how the “Woman in Black” should dress and that they had a splendid assortment of “handsome black garments.”

8 NOV 1906 

Mansfield is not alone in this sensation.  During this time, many took on the appearance of a “Woman in Black” for nefarious deeds.  Many of the witnesses in other towns mention the voice of a man and, when spoken to, often asked about various aspects of the building, including exits and windows.  This is true of the cases in Mansfield also.  While it is easy to get swept away in the excitement, it’s far more likely this was someone trying to find locations to vandalize or rob, or even simply a person getting kicks by frightening local citizens.

_{http://hauntedohiobooks.com/news/10250/
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/159185?rpp=30&pg=1&ft=mourning+ensemble&pos=1}