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Winneshiek County IAGenWeb
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The shotgun murders of Charles and Irene Van Brocklin, a young married couple, at their home south of Frankville on December 11, 1921, created quite a stir in Winneshiek county and all of Iowa. Elmer Van Brocklin, brother and brother-in-law of the victims, was first held and examined by a grand jury for two weeks, but was then released. Benjamin F. Kneeskern ( B. F. or "Frank" Kneeskern as he was known) was then arrested, tried once in Winneshiek county and once in Floyd county, found guilty of first degree murder at both trials and sentenced to life in prison. There would be many legal maneuvers and appeals to the supreme court over a period on many years, all of which failed. A young couple, an older married man, alleged infidelity, brotherly arguments, murder, all the elements of a very complicated situation for a jury to figure out the truth and render a judgment were involved. Below are a sampling of newspaper articles related to the event and some census information related to the principal persons involved. I suggest checking the Decorah and Charles City newspapers and courthouse records for a more complete account of the event, trial proceedings and to ascertain correct names.
Surnames: Van Brocklin, VanBrocklin, Kneeskern, Van Horn, VanHorn, Rice, Lang, Winger, Sphar, Bollman, Green, Fischer, McHoes |
Index
| Source | Day | Date |
| Elgin Echo, Elgin, Iowa | Thursday | Dec. 15, 1921 |
| Republican and Times, Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Sunday | Jan. 1, 1922 |
| Postville Herald, Postville, Iowa | Thursday | Mar. 16, 1922 |
| Janesville Daily Gazette, Janesville, Wisc. | Tuesday | Jan. 23, 1923 |
| Waterloo Evening courier, Waterloo, Iowa | Tuesday | Oct. 19, 1926 |
| Waterloo Evening courier, Waterloo, Iowa | Friday | Apr. 8, 1927 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa | Thursday | Nov. 27, 1930 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa | Thursday | Nov. 27, 1930 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa | Thursday | Nov. 27, 1930 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa | Thursday | Nov. 27, 1930 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa | Thursday | Nov. 27, 1930 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa | Thursday | Nov. 27, 1930 |
| Postville Herald, Postville, Iowa | Wednesday | Sept. 26, 1945 |
| Postville Herald, Postville, Iowa | Wednesday | Jan. 14, 1970 |
| Census information |
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Elgin Echo, Elgin, Iowa Thursday Dec. 15, 1921
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(That part of an article related to the Van Brocklin murder.)
Northeastern Iowa is aroused to a tense pitch of excitement over two vicious murder scenes in which three people were killed. In the first case Elmer Van Brocklin, who for the past several years has made his home with the George Moore family about four miles west of Clermont, is now in the Winneshiek county jail at Decorah, held as a suspect for murdering his brother Charles Van Brocklin and his wife. The murder, one of the most atrocious in northeastern Iowa in years, was committed on a farm south of Frankville some time Sunday when the Van Brocklins were shot down in cold blood. Frank Kneeskern, of Castalia, was hunting in the vicinity of the Van Brocklin home and upon hearing two shots fired in the direction of the house went to the home of Will Cook about a half mile away and the two went back to the house. Investigation revealed the body of Mr. Van Brocklin lying in the east room with a hat over his face and the body covered with an old quilt. He had been shot through the right breast with a shotgun and undoubtedly death had come instantaneously. The body of Mrs. Van Brocklin was found in another room in the west wing of the house, also shot through the right breast with a shotgun. Her body was covered with a sweater and other clothes. The sheriff at Decorah was at once notified and an investigation started. Suspicion pointed to the brother, Elmer, who had been in the neighborhood that morning, having driven over from Clermont Saturday afternoon and spent the night with a neighbor. We are informed that he admits that he had some words or argument with his brother when he visited the home Sunday afternoon, but denies anything further than a mere altercation took place and insists that both his brother and wife were all right when he left the farm. Elmer was arrested at the home of Ole Russet, a neighbor who lives near the Cook place about 10:00 Sunday night and is now in the county jail at Decorah. Charles Van Brocklin was about 22 years of age and his wife 18 or 19. |
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Republican and Times, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sunday Jan. 1, 1922
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Postville Herald, Postville, Iowa Thursday Mar. 16, 1922
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Janesville Daily Gazette, Janesville, Wisc. Tuesday Jan. 23, 1923
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Waterloo Evening courier, Waterloo, Iowa Tuesday Oct. 19, 1926
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Waterloo Evening courier, Waterloo, Iowa Friday Apr. 8, 1927
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Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa Thursday Nov. 27, 1930
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Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa Thursday Nov. 27, 1930
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Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa Thursday Nov. 27, 1930
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Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa Thursday Nov. 27, 1930
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Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa Thursday Nov. 27, 1930
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Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City Iowa Thursday Nov. 27, 1930
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Postville Herald, Postville, Iowa Wednesday Sept. 26, 1945
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Postville Herald, Postville, Iowa Wednesday Jan. 14, 1970
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Census information
1900 Federal Census, Frankville Township, Winneshiek county, Iowa.
| John Kneeskern | Born Feb. 1859, Married 22 years, Born Iowa, Parents born New York |
| Allie Kneeskern | Wife, Born Nov. 1860, Married 22 years, Born Iowa, Parents born New York |
| Frank Kneeskern | Son, Born Sept. 1882 |
| Ethel Kneeskern | Dau., Born Feb. 1887 |
| Fred Kneeskern | Son, Born Feb. 1888 |
| Pearl Kneeskern | Dau., Born Apr. 1891 |
| Mary Kneeskern | Dau., Born Apr. 1893 |
| Lelah Kneeskern | Dau., Born Apr. 1895 |
| Louise Kneeskern | Mother, Born Mar. 1824, Born New York, Parents born New York, 1 child born, 1 child living |
1910 Federal Census, Castalia, Bloomfield Township, Winneshiek county, Iowa.
| Frank B. Kneeskern | Born 1882, Age 28, Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa, Stock buyer. 0 years married |
| Alta L. Kneeskern | Wife, Born 1892, Age 18, 0 children born, Born Iowa, Father born Pennsylvania Mother born Indiana. 0 years married |
1920 Federal Census, Winneshiek county, Iowa.
| Frank Kneeskern | Head, Age 37, Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa, Stock buyer |
| Alta Kneeskern | Wife, Age 28, Born Iowa, Father born Pennsylvania, Mother born Illinois |
| John Henry Kneeskern | Son, Age 3 3/12, Born Iowa, parents born Iowa. |
| Also of note on this census: | Mother of Alta (Sphar) Kneeskern |
| Sarah Sphar | Head, Age 69, Widowed, Born Illinois, parents born Pennsylvania. |
1930 Federal Census, Iowa State Prison, Ft. Madison, Lee county, Iowa.
| Benjamin F. Kneeskern | Age 47, Divorced, Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa, Not a veteran |
1940 Federal Census, Iowa State Prison, Ft. Madison, Lee county, Iowa.
| Benjamin F. Kneeskern | Prisoner 12463, Age 57, (It appears he said he was married and the number 7 was in parenthesis.), Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa |
IGPP Kneeskern Gravestone Information
| John H. Kneeskern 1859 / 1931, Frank Kneeskern 1882 - 1945, and Fred Kneeskern 1888 - 1955, are listed on WPA records or gravestone photos can be seen on the IGPP, along with several other Kneeskern burials. They are buried in Pleasant View cemetery, Winneshiek county. |
1910 Federal Census, Hawkeye Town, Windsor Township, Fayette county, Iowa.
| Dan Van Brocklin | Head, Age 46, Married 23 years, Born Wisconsin, Father born Holland, Mother born Germany. |
| Lily Van Brocklin | Wife, Age 43,Married 23 years, 8 children born, 6 children living, Born Iowa Parents born United States |
| Fred Van Brocklin | Son, Age 21, Single, Born Iowa, Father born Wisconsin, Mother born Iowa |
| Eddie Van Brocklin | Son, Age 18, Single, Born Iowa, Father born Wisconsin, Mother born Iowa |
| Elmer Van Brocklin | Son, Age 15,Single, Born Iowa, Father born Wisconsin, Mother born Iowa |
| Walter Van Brocklin | Son, Age 13,Single, Born Iowa, Father born Wisconsin, Mother born Iowa |
| Charlie Van Brocklin | Son, Age 10,Single, Born Iowa, Father born Wisconsin, Mother born Iowa |
1920 Federal Census, Monroe Township, Linn county, Iowa.
| Dan Van Brocklin | Head, Rents, Age 55, Divorced, Born Wisconsin, Father born Holland, Mother born Germany. Wood Chopper |
| Walter Van Brocklin | Son, Age 22, Single, Born Iowa, Father born Wisconsin, Mother born Iowa, Wood Chopper |
| Elmer Van Brocklin | Son, Age 27, Single, Born Iowa, Father born Wisconsin, Mother born Iowa, Wood Chopper |
1920 Federal Census, Turtle or Turtte township, Rock county, Wisconsin.
| Fred G. Rice | Head, Age 56, Married, Born Wisconsin, Parents born New York |
| Josephine Rice | Wife, Age 35,Married, Born Missouri, Parents born France |
| Wanda L. Rice | Dau., Age 3 3/12, Single, Born Wisconsin, Parents born Wisconsin |
| Hazen F. Rice | Son, Age 17, Single, Born Wisconsin, Parents born Wisconsin |
| Irene C. Van Brocklin | Age 17, Married, Step daughter, Born Illinois, Parents born Illinois |
| Charles Van Brocklin | Age 20, Married, Step son-in-law, Born Iowa, Parents born unknown |
| Charles Van Brocklin | Jr., Age 2/12, Single, Step grandson, Born Wisconsin, Father born Illinois, Mother born Iowa. (Parents birthplaces should be reversed.) |
1930 Federal Census, Frankville, Winneshiek county, Iowa.
| Walter Van Brocklin | Head, Married, Rents, Not a farm, Age 32, Born Iowa, Father born Wisconsin, Mother born Iowa |
| Marie Van Brocklin | Wife , Age 25, Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa |
| Margaret Van Brocklin | Dau., Age 6, Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa |
| Dorothy Van Brocklin | Dau., Age 4, Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa |
| Donald Van Brocklin | Son, Age 3 1/12, Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa |
| Georgie Van Brocklin | Dau., Son, Age 11/12, Born Iowa, Parents born Iowa |
| Dan Van Brocklin | Father, Age 65, Married, Born Wisconsin, father born Holland, Mother born Germany |
| Lilly Van Brocklin | Mother, Age 62, Married, Born Iowa, Parents born Ohio |
IGPP Van Brocklin Gravestone Information
| Daniel J. Van Brocklin | 1864 - 1944 |
| Lillie Van Brocklin | 1863 - 1958 |
| Charlie J. Van Brocklin | 04-26-1900 / 12-11-1921 |
| Elmer H. Van Brocklin | 1895 - 1967 |
| Lucille Jeanette Van Brocklin | 1910 - 1994 |
| Dorothy Van Brocklin | 1924 - 1941 |
Notes by Reid Russell Johnson
| On the IGPP search both VanBrocklin and Van Brocklin.
No burial could be found for Irene Van Brocklin, her remains may have been taken to Wisconsin.
No further information could be found for the Charles Van Brocklin, Jr., shown on the 1920 census. I have attempted to show here the Van Brocklin and Kneeskern families relationships, but as no research can be infallible, especially from afar and by an unrelated person, it is suggested that a researcher use this information as a starting point to doing their own research. |
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Please, contact the County Coordinator to submit additions or corrections.
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