George Isaac Maledon (1830 - 1911)

Born 10 Jun 1830 in Insheim, Landau, Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany

Husband of Marion M. (Robertson) Maledon — married 4 Oct 1853 (to 29 Jan 1875) in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Husband of Mary Jane (Tumblin) Maledon — married about 30 May 1877 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, United States

Died 30 May 1911 at age 80 in Johnson City, Washington, Tennessee, United States

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History of the Western District Court

Biography

Private George Maledon served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Mar 4, 1863
Mustered out: 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 1st Battery, Arkansas Light Artillery (Union)

George Maledon lived in Germany.

George Maledon was an immigrant to Michigan.

George Maledon was an Arkansan.

George Maledon was a Tennessean.

George Isaac Maledon was born on June 10, 1830 in Insheim, Pfalz, Bavaria.^[1] His parents emigrated to America when he was less than a year old, settling in Detroit, Michigan in a German Catholic community.^[2] He spent his youth growing up in Detroit, Michigan, and was educated there as an engineer and machinist by trade.^[3]

George married his first wife Marion M. Robertson on October 4, 1853 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan.^[4] After his marriage, he lived in Ottawa, Ottawa County, Michigan where he worked as a machinist.^[5] It is around this time before the start of the Civil War that he moved his family to Arkansas. When war broke out, he enlisted in the Union Army as a private on March 4, 1863 in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas. He was assigned to the 1st Arkansas Light Artillery Battery.^[6]

After the war, he settled in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he became a policeman for the city.^[7] Shortly after this, he became a United States Deputy Marshal for the Western District Court of Arkansas in Fort Smith. He served in this capacity for only a short time, before becoming the turn key jailer for the prison. After that, he was appointed a Special Deputy and responsible for all executions. As Judge Isaac Parker's chief executioner, he became known as "The Prince of the Hangmen." He took the job seriously, and was one of the few to regard his trade as a craft. He went to great lengths to ensure everyone hung died instantaneously, rather than be strangled. It was his belief that a good execution was the humane way to hang a man, so that his neck was broken and he did not suffer strangulation. As he talked to people about his craft, he would say "the big knot is the secret of a good execution" so that he is unconscious the instant his neck breaks and he hangs motionless. This in his mine was a painless death, and as instantaneous as any death can be. You botch this process, and it is not a sight many can forget, as you see a man strangling for a long time as he kicks about until his death. For all his executions, he used Kentucky hemp, and kept it at his home. He oiled it himself and stretched it with sandbags to thin it down to a single sturdy inch in diameter to ensure it made a nice knot. For his service, he was paid $100 for each man he executed a handsome sum at the time. Apart from his skill as an executioner, he was as handy with a colt 45. During his time, he shot five prisoners trying to escape, killing at least two of them. Until 1891, all executions were public, making him well known across the country. As the crowds that would gather to watch, they were printed in every newspaper in the country. He became known to everyone as "The Prince of the Hangmen" and served as the chief executioner for the next 20 years. The number of men executed by him is unclear, it has been reported to be as high as 88. He also has the record for hanging the most men simultaneously.^[8]

While he served at the hangman for Judge Parker, he continued to work as a Machinist. In 1880, he lived on Monroe Street in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. He had been sick for several months with carbuncle (red, swollen, painful, and pus filled boils).^[9]

His wife Marion died of pneumonia on January 29, 1875 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She died shortly after giving birth a few days ago, and the child died soon thereafter.^[10] He married his second wife, Mary Jane Tumblin, in Fort Smith, Arkansas around 1877.^[9]

In 1894, he retired as the chief executioner and bought a farm. He continued to live in Fort Smith, South R Street.^[11] He also, began traveling the area with a tent display showing gallows relics, including nooses and photographs of men who died in the gallows.^[8]

In 1905^[12], he lived in a National Soldiers retirement home^[13] in Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee where he died of paralysis on May 30, 1911.^[14]

He was buried at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Mountain Home, Washington County, Tennessee.^[15][16]

TimeLine

Birth 1830

George Isaac Maledon was born on June 10, 1830 in Insheim, Pfalz, Bavaria.^[1]

Residence 1831

George Isaac Maledon lived in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan.^[2]

Marriage 1853

George Isaac Maledon married Marion M. Robertson on October 4, 1853 in Wayne County, Michigan.^[4]

Residence 1860

George Isaac Maledon lived in Ottawa, Ottawa County, Michigan.^[5]

Residence 1870

George Isaac Maledon lived in Upper Township, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[7]

Death of Wife 1875

George Isaac Maledon's wife Marion M. Maledon (Robertson) died on January 29, 1875 in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[10]

Marriage 1877

George Isaac Maledon married his second wife Mary Ann Tumblin in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas around 1877.^[9]

Residence 1880

George Isaac Maledon lived on Monroe Street in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[9]

Residence 1900

George Isaac Maledon lived on South R Street in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[11]

Residence 1905

George Isaac Maledon lived in Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee.^[12]

Residence 1910

George Isaac Maledon lived in Johnson City, Tennessee.^[13][14]

Death 1911

George Isaac Maledon died on May 30, 1911 in Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee.^[14]

Burial

George Isaac Maledon was buried at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Mountain Home, Washington County, Tennessee.^[15][16]

Research Notes

1. Conflicting dates for George's death. Find a grave, list it as June 5, 1911, and Veteran gravesite, list it as May 6, 1911. His tombstone does not list any dates. I found cited a newspaper article printed on May 31, 1911 that said he died the day before. This is the date I used for his death date. Jimmy Honey

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898: Ancestry.com. Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. Ancestry Record 9866 #20028112
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} National Park Service, Fort Smith National Historic Sites. "George Maledon Prince of Hangmen." Accessed 9 Aug 2022
3. ↑ Missoula Weekly Gazette, Missoula, Montana, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1892, Page 10. "He's Killed Many Men - Record of the Public Executioner at Fort Smith." Accessed 9 Aug 2022
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Michigan, U.S., Compiled Marriages for Select Counties, 1851-1875: Ancestry.com. Michigan, U.S., Compiled Marriages for Select Counties, 1851-1875 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp. Michigan Marriages, 1851-1875. See Description for original data sources listed by county. Ancestry Record 5299 #21037
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 1860 United States Federal Census: Year: 1860; Census Place: Ottawa, Ottawa, Michigan; Roll: M653_557; Page: 424; Family History Library Film: 803557 Ancestry Record 7667 #45278572
6. ↑ U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865: Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, MA 02331; American Civil War Research Database Ancestry Record 1555 #137394
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} 1870 United States Federal Census: Year: 1870; Census Place: Upper, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: M593_64; Page: 192B Ancestry Record 7163 #12234870
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Johnson City Press, Johnson City, Tennessee, Sunday, Feb. 16, 1975, Page 33. "As a Hangmen, he was the best...." Accessed 9 Aug 2022
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} 1880 United States Federal Census: Year: 1880; Census Place: Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: 56; Page: 539D; Enumeration District: 178 Ancestry Record 6742 #5541253
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Fort Smith Public Library, Microfilm of Newspaper Weekly New Era dated Feb. 3, 1875, Wednesday
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} 1900 United States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: Upper, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: 77; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0122; FHL microfilm: 1240077 Ancestry Record 7602 #14869204
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} U.S., National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938: The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938; Series: M1749 Ancestry Record 1200 #171353
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: National Soldiers Home, Washington, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1524; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 0198; FHL microfilm: 1375537 Ancestry Record 7884 #27574543
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} The Butte Daily Post, Butte, Montana, Wednesday, May 31, 1911, Page 10. "Hangman Who Did the Job for 88 Men Dies at 88." Accessed 9 Aug 2022
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8588218/george-isaac-maledon: accessed 9 August 2022), memorial page for George Isaac Maledon (10 Jun 1830–5 Jun 1911), Find A Grave: Memorial #8588218, citing Mountain Home National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Washington County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019: National Cemetery Administration; U.S. Veterans' Gravesites Ancestry Record 8750 #5243480