John Jehu Akers

"There is an old story about Jehu, which says that his first wife was down in bed when he was wrongfully accused of stealing a sack of meal. The sheriff came to search the house and Jehu told him angrily that he was welcome to search but that if he touched his sick wife's bed, "he would kill him". Thinking that meant the meal was hidden there, the sheriff began to search the bed, and Jehu shot him! (Probably did not kill him, for he only had to pay court cost, assisted by his father, as old paper shows - see below). A Second story of the records reads:

"Who's Your Hoosier Ancestors" - column in the Indianapolis Times, - Jehu Akers' Indictment Read:

John Emmons owns water-powered gristmill in Floyd County. A bag of "meal" containing about a half a bushel was brought to the mill to be ground Nov. 27, 1834. It was missed the next morning when Alfred Sigler came to the mill and Jehu Akers was suspected as the culprit. Emmons and Sigler went to Greenville, where they found Thomas J McIntire a J.P. Together with Jacob O. Fredrick, at McDonald's Grocery. A search warrant was secured and delivered to Frederick who was a Constable. Emmons, Sigler, Frederick, Samuel Clipper, who was a constable, Eli Erwin and Nicholas Dillinger went out to the Akers cabin. They found the bag of meal, hidden under the floor of the cabin - Frederick told Akers that he must come back to town with them. they all started from house when one of Akers' children came to the door and said her mother wished to speak with him. Akers returned inside and "when he came out he had a gun, called a Yager, directed it toward said Frederick. Akers commanded the rascals to leave his premises. Frederick turned toward him and called out "Oh don't". Akers fired - striking Frederick on the left side about the lower ribs. He died a few hours after that. Clipper, Emmons, Dillinger, Irwin, and said Sigler were all standing near Frederick with faces turned from the door. Akers was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. Akers' family consisting of several children and a wife in bed, having been confined by childbirth only some days previously.

Conviction: After Jehu was convicted, it was learned that he was telling the truth. He did not steal the meal, but a man named Sigler did. Sigler disappeared after he stole money from a relative of Jehu's.

Pardoned by Indiana Governor Noble: "Through the efforts of Miss Pierson, the State Archivist, the Indianapolis Times confirmed that Jehu Akers was pardoned by Gov. Noble. The partition to the governor is a singular document: I Henry Soribner, Clerk of the Floyd Circuit Court, do certify that after the Jurors in the above entitled cause had rendered their verdict therein, they atain retired to their room, on a suggestion being made that they had the right to recommend the said Akers to the clemency of the Governor, and returned the following recommendation endorsed on the back of the indictment; to wit, We the Jury, whose names are here unto subscribed, do recommend the prisoner to the clemency of the Governor. I further certify that in reply to my inquiry the Court informed me that the same was no part of the record in the Cause.

Thomas and Jehu Akers payment for Jehu's troubles in 1834: Receipt from Jehu Akers amoung papers of Joseph Akers, in possession of Mrs. Dawn Condra, proving Jehu to be the son of Joseph. "Received of Joseph Akers a note on Jesse Charley & Jacob O Frederick and James Mills for $92.12 1/2 or thereabouts - and nineteen dollars in cash which is in full of my fee in the case of his son Jehu Akers and for the fee for the record in said case - Witness my hand at New Albany this 30th day of April, 1836. H.P. Thorton. Note: Jacob O Frederick paid in this note appears to be the same person that Jehu Akers is reported as killing in the indictment. Jehu Akers moved to Jefferson County, Kentucky sometime after 1834, most likely to Johsontown Road area. Amanda met and married Lewis C. Smith who appears to have been living in the neighborhood.

In 1845, Jehu was named in the marriage bond for William Akers in Shelby County, Ky. This was the last information found on Jehu Akers. -- "The Descendants of Charles Henry Bailey & Eudora Belle Watkins and Their Ancestors" by Robert Lee Bailey, July 2004