Notes |
- 1860 United States Federal Census
Name: John F Hess Prosser
Age: 5
Birth Year: abt 1855
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Tennessee
Home in 1860: District 5, Lincoln, Tennessee
Post Office: Chestnut Ridge
Dwelling Number: 390
Family Number: 378
John W Moore 26
Martha Moore 20
Louisa Moore 1
Meridith Moore 1/12
P G Prosser 32
America Prosser 26
John F Hess Prosser 5
M A Prosser 21
Louisa Prosser 19
Thomas Prosser 5/12
1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Jno F Wess []
Age in 1870: 15
Birth Year: abt 1855
Birthplace: Tennessee
Dwelling Number: 74
Home in 1870: District 5, Lincoln, Tennessee
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Boonshill
Attended School: Y
P G Prosser 42
America Prosser 33
Jno F Wess 15
1880 United States Federal Census
Name: John Hess
Age: 25
Birth Date: Abt 1855
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1880: Charity, Moore, Tennessee, USA
Dwelling Number: 15
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Nephew
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Occupation: Teacher Of Penmanship
P. G. Frasser 52 Self
America Frasser 48 Wife
John Hess 25 Nephew
Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780-2002
Name: Miss Fannie Russ
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 7 May 1877
Marriage Place: Moore, Tennessee, USA
Spouse: John F Hess
Mt. Echo Newspaper on Tuesday, November 27, 1891, Marion Co., AR
DROWNED IN WHITE RIVER - Last Thursday about dark, John F. Hess, of Charity, Tenn., was drowned at Denton's Ferry. Mr. Hess was a soap peddler and traveled around over Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and other states selling recipts(sic) to make soap. He had just about finished his season's work and had started back to Tennessee. Somewhere about the western portion of the county he met up with Thos. Higgs and accompanied him down to his home in Flippin Barrens, staying all night with him at Rev. J. H. Parmer's near Powell, and taking dinner with him at C. C. Poynter's at Yellville. It was nearly night when they reached Mr. Higgs' place in the barrens and the latter tried to get him to stay all night. He concluded to go on, however, and when about three miles from the river hired James Tucker to go down to the river with him. When they reached the river it was getting quite dark, and after calling up the boat, which was on the opposite side, Mr. Tucker left him and started home. Before the ferryman got very far, he saw the horse and buggy start into the water. He yelled at the driver to not drive in and pulled across with all his might. When he got to the side he saw the bulk of something down below and yelled at it but got no reply. He then ran up to Thos. Barb's and got a lantern and as he went back to the river he met the horse with buggy still to it. It was evident that the horse had not been in deep water as the lap rug in the buggy was still dry. Nothing could be done that night but early next morning about a half dozen men went down to the river and found Hess dead and drifted up against a bar about 75 yards from the shore. They waded out to him but concluded to let him lie as he was till a coroner's jury could be summoned. One of their number went out in the country for that purpose and while he was gone the others who were to watch him let him float out into the current and his body has not been found since, although parties have been out searching for it every day. Mr. Tucker, the last man who saw Hess alive, says he was either very drunk or deranged. Dr. Wilson, who fed his horse that day, thinks he was drinking about noon. The water was not over four feet deep where he was drowned. Mr. Higgs said he had a gold watch and considerable money in his pocketbook and that he said he had $1,000 tied up in a handkerchief and tied around his body. In the little box in which he made soap was found a bundle of letters, some of which were written by his mother from Charity, Moore County, Tennessee in 1889. He was between 25 and 30 years of age. His mother has been notified of the sad ending of her son. Thos. Barb is taking care of the horse and buggy awaiting word from the dead man's relatives. Later: James Tucker, James Walker and George McCarroll were arrested last Tuesday on suspicion of having murdered Hess. There were no evidence against the parties further than that they were the last parties who saw Hess and that McCarroll suddenly pulled up stakes and started to leave the country between two days. He satisfied the authorities that he was leaving for another reason and all the parties were released.
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