The Mysterious John Hale

John Hale, born c. 1838,  married Asenath Anna Shane in Nashville, TN on 17 Nov 1866.  We don't know where he was born, because the state seems to vary depending on the record.  Perhaps John himself didn't really know - or perhaps he didn't want anyone else to.   We don't have any idea who his parents might have been, other than the names he chose for his own children, names that hadn't originated in the Shane family.   He supposedly fought in the Union Army.  Was he still on active service in the occupied Confederacy when he met Anna?  

                Here is the little information we've been able to discover . . .  

17 Nov 1866: John Hale and Annah Shane were married in Nashville by C. D. Elliot, M.G.  They had obtained the license on 14 November.[1]

28 Jun 1870 Census, Lee Township, Brown County, IL (Mount Sterling P.O.): Shoemaker John Hale 30, born NY, no estimated real or personal property; Ann 26, born TN; Lulah 3, born TN; Walton 1, born IL.[2]  There are no Shanes or Guthries residing in the township.  There is another John Hale, age 35, born NY, listed on the following page by himself, a "farmer, renter", but he's married with children.  Annie's family also moved to IL, but were residing in neighboring Adams County.

24 Jun 1880 Census, Ray Village, Oakland Township, Schuyler County, IL: Shoemaker John Hale 43, Mass Mass Mass; Annie 36, TN TN TN; Lulu 12, TN Mass TN; Walter 10, IL MS TN; Frederick 6, IL MS TN, Daisey 4; Nellie 1.[3]  There are no surnames associated with the Hales or Shanes residing in Oakland Township.

According to family tradition, John worked for the Kansas City, Chicago & Northern Railroad in Brookfield, Linn County, MO.  On his daughter Grace's birth record, he was described as a "laborer", born in NY.[4]  Grace was born in Brookfield's 3rd Ward on 1 May 1884.

There is no John Hale in the Linn County Deed Index.

11 Aug 1885: John Hale "ex parte" successfuly petitioned the court for a writ of habeus corpus.[5]  This doesn't seem to be connected to the case before and after, which saw Jack Austin tried for burglary.

18 Nov 1887: The Linn County Probate Court ordered that "Josie Hale", a "poor child . . . whose father is worthless and a habitual drunkard and whose mother is not living" be bound to O. H. Case until 18 years of age, "the said Josie Hale being ___ six years of age last March" . . . for the purpose of learning and acquiring the occupation of a housemaid and the performance of such duties as are generally performed by white females on the farms of this county generally".   The indenture was furthered proved by E. W. Wilcox, certifying "the fact of the incompetency of the father on account of his worthless and drunken habits and the fact that the mother is not living".  The children's aunt, Elmira Shane Ausmus,  was residing in Linn County until at least May 1884.   Why would she not help poor Josie? 

                John reportedly went to Kansas City, but there's unfortunately no documentation.  He simply disappeared from the record, never to be heard from again.  Does he lie in a pauper's grave somewhere?  The mystery is both frustrating and challenging.

And even more intriguing, inn searching for John Hale before his marriage to Anna Shane, the only John Hale who seems to fit John's age and craft was . . .

2 Aug 1860 Census, Ipswich, Essex County, MA: Shoemaker John Hale, age 23, born Ireland, enumerated as an inmate in the "House of Corrections", on.  His crime was larceny.[6] 

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