Dime Novel Desperadoes: The Notorious Maxwell Brothers

Copyright

First Illinois paperback 2011© 2008 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 C P 5 4 3 2 1 ∞ This book is printed on acid-free paper. The Library of Congress cataloged the cloth edition as follows: Hallwas, John E. Dime novel desperadoes : the notorious Maxwell brothers / John E. Hallwas. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-252-03352-0 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Maxwell family. 2. Outlaws—Illinois—Biography. 3. Outlaws—Wisconsin—Biography. 4. Brothers—Illinois—Biography. 5. Brothers—Wisconsin—Biography. 6. Illinois—Biography. 7. Wisconsin—Biography. 8. Illinois—History—19th century. 9. Wisconsin—History—19th century. I. Title. F546.M39H35   2008 977.3'0410922—dc22 [B]   2008002174 Paperback ISBN 978-0-252-07804-0 i-xvi_1-408_Hall.indd 4 3/22/11 1:59:41 PM Dime Novel Desperadoes is dedicated to the following archivists, genealogists, and local historians who responded to many inquiries during a period of several years, generously shared their knowledge and their accumulated records, and helped to bring this long-forgotten story to the modern public: Walter Brieshke, Illinois Department of Corrections (retired) Catherine Dodson, Davee Library, University of Wisconsin–River Falls Gary L. Jacobsen, Maxwell family genealogist, Colorado Marion C. Johnson, Fulton County (Illinois) Historical Society Terry Mesch, Pepin County (Wisconsin) Historical Society Stanley N. Miller, Cumberland County (Pennsylvania) Historical Society Kathy Nichols, Archives, Malpass Library, Western Illinois University Brent T. Peterson, Washington County (Minnesota) Historical Society Catherine Renschler, Adams County (Nebraska) Historical Society Kevin Thorie, Library Learning Center, University of Wisconsin–Stout Donna (Maxwell) Tivener, genealogical researcher, Ohio Stephanie J. Zeman, Davee Library, University of Wisconsin–River Falls i-xvi_1-408_Hall.indd 5 3/22/11 1:59:41 PM It is very easy to blame a wrongdoer; it is very difficult to understand him. —attributed to novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky dUD By the time we reach an age at which we can critically reflect on who we are, we are already somebody we did not choose to be. —Douglas V. Porpora, Landscapes of the Soul dUD None of us enjoys the thought that what we do depends on processes we do not know; we prefer to attribute our choices to volition, will, or self-control. . . . Perhaps it would be more honest to say, “My decision [or act] was determined by internal forces I do not understand.” —Marvin Minsky, The Society of Mind dUD For men who have lived . . . on a diet of contempt and disdain, the temptation to gain instant respect [with a gun] can be worth far more than the cost of going to prison, or even of dying. —James Gilligan, Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic i-xvi_1-408_Hall.indd 6 3/22/11 1:59:41 PM Criminals are made by environment and circumstance. . . . The worst thing you can do to a criminal is to put him in a class by himself, to treat him as if he were a creature set apart. He is just an average man who has gone wrong. . . . —bandit Henry Starr, in George D. Hendricks, The Bad Man of the West dUD “The facts are, Lon, we seem born to be unfortunate,” [said Ed]. “We have been wronged, and when we retaliate . . . the world turns against us. We are branded as outlaws and hunted as if we were wolves.” “We seem likely to never get justice here,” said Lon. —the Maxwell brothers, in a dime novel, December 31, 1881 i-xvi_1-408_Hall.indd 7 3/22/11 1:59:41 PM i-xvi_1-408_Hall.indd 8 3/22/11 1:59:41 PM ...