Ezra Guard

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      Sex: M

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Individual Information

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     Birth Date: Abt 1849 - Indiana, USA
    Christening: 
          Death: 
         Burial: 
 Cause of Death: 

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Parents

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         Father: James B. Guard
         Mother: Lucy Hayes

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Spouses and Children

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1. *Abigail McElfresh
       Marriage: 7 Feb 1871 - Hardinsburg, Dearborn, Indiana, United States
       Children:
                1. James Guard

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Notes

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General:

Had three children. All died.

Per 1850 US Census: 8/15/1850, Lawrenceburg Township, Dearborn County, Indiana
This document has is very hard to read. Perhaps some digits did not scan well. Lucy should be 28 instead of 8]
James Guard, 29, farmer, born in Indiana
Lucy Guard, 8 born in Indiana
Mary Guard, 8, born in Indiana, attends school, illegible disability
Rachael Guard, 5, born in Indiana
Ezra Guard, 1, born in Indiana
Martha Samister, 20, born in Kentucky
Mary J. WIlls, 25, born in Indiana
Robert Bennett, 40, born in Indiana

Per 1860 US Census: 6/28/1860, Lawrenceburg Township, Dearborn County, Indiana
James Guard, 40 year old white male farmer from Ohio. Owns real estate valued at $25,000, and personal estate valued at $3,500.
Lucy Guard, 39 year old female from Ohio.
Mary Guard, 18 year old female from Indiana.
Rachel Guard, 16 year old female from Indiana.
Ezra Guard, 11 year old male from Indiana.
Rebecca Guard, 9 year old female from Indiana.
Angeline Guard, 6 year old female from Indiana.
Silas Guard, 3 year old male from Indiana.
Lucy Guard, 3 month old female from Indiana.
Rachel Vansickler, 18 year old female from Indiana.
Henry Ingliking, 21 year old male from Hanover.
Chas Himing, 30 year old male from Prussia.
Calahan McClarty, 30 year old male from Ireland.
Moses Crusenbery, 15 year old male from Ohio.
James Johnson, 23 year old male from Ohio.

Per 1870 US Census: 7/5/1870, Lawrenceburg Township, Dearborn County, Indiana
James Guard is a 50 year old white male farmer, born in Indiana, estate value $25,000, personal estate $4,500.
Lucy Guard, 49 year old female from Ohio.
Ezra Guard, 21 year old male from Indiana.
Rachel Guard, 26 year old female from Indiana.
Rebecca Guard, 18 year old female from Indiana.
Angeline Guard, 16 year old female from Indiana.
Silas Guard, 13 year old male from Indiana.
Abier Guard, 7 year old male from Indiana.
Flora Guard, 17 year old female from Indiana.
Mary Guard, 35 year old female from Indiana.
Noctar Swoler, 28 year old male laborer from Indiana.
Vactar Walters, 25 year old male laborer from Indiana.
Sarah Hayes, 77 year old female from Kentucky.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette (Cincinnati, Ohio) State and Suburban News, Amelia 6/24/1878
Lawrenceburg
The funeral of Mrs. Abbie Guard, the lady who was killed by her divorced husband, took place Sunday at 2:30 p. m., in the Bellview Church, Rev. M. L. Wells, of Lawrenceburg, preached the funeral discourse.
Mr. Ezra Guard, who shot and killed his divorced wife on last friday and then shot himself, was brought before the Mayor on Saturday. He waived an examination, and was returned to jail to await the action of the Grand Jury. In extracting the bullet from his forehead, it was found to be lodged and flattened between the outer and inner bones. The wound is not regarded as in any way dangerous. He doubtless still intends to commit suicide, as a razor was found concealed in some clothes sent to him in the jail. His trial will not take place for several weeks.

Per Cincinnati Commercial Tribune (Cincinnati, OH) 6/24/1878 Page 284
LAWRENCEBURG --- FUNERAL OF MRS. GUARD
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.
LAWRENCEBURG, IND, June 23.-The funeral of Mrs. Abbie Guard took place to-day, from the residence of her mother, in Hardentown. We counted one hundred and ten vehicles in the procession, and not less than five hundred people were around the vault in Greendale Cemetery when the body was deposited there. The services were conducted by the Rev. Wells, of Lawrenceburg, and whenever the reverand gentleman mady any allusion to the manner of her taking off the feeling was most intense; and if her murderer's wish to attend had been complied with, we don't think a jail would have been necessary to hold his carcass.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette 9/9/1878 Page 3
The case of Ezra Guard, who shot his wife last June, will be called in court to-day. But it is probable that the trial will not take place until next week.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette 9/26/1878 Page 3
In the trial of Ezra Guard, which has been in progress for nearly two weeks, the examination of witnesses closed yesterday moring. The pleadings in the case will begin this morning, and probably close to-morrow. The main defense set up is that of insanity.

Per Cincinnati Commercial Tribune 9/26/1878 Page14
LAWRENCEBURG, IND, September 25 - In the Guard murder trial the defense closed their testimony this evening, and the arguments of counsel will begin at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette 9/28/1878 Page 3
LAWRENCEBURG
The argument in the Guard murder trial closed yesterday evening. Thursday was occupied by Bromdlay and Swartz for the State and Thompson for the defense. Yesterday Judge Haynes, for the defense, spoke seven hours, and Judge Holman, for the State, closed the argument in a three hours' speech. This morning Judge Roberts will deliver his charge and the case will be given to the jury. The penalty can not be less than a life term in the penitentiary.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette 9/30/1878 Page 9
THE GUARD MURDER TRIAL
The Prisoner Convicted of Murder in the First Degree and Sentenced to Imprisonment for Life
Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette
LAWRENCEBURG, Sept. 29.
The Guard murder trial closed yesterday afternoon. Judge Roberts read a very clear and explicit charge to the jury in the morning, after which the jury retired and deliberated upon the case until 3 o'clock in the afternoon, at which time they brought in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, and fixed the penalty at imprisonment for life. All who were acquainted with the circumstances thought that the penalty should have been no less than life imprisonment, and many favored the death penalty. There are some threats of lynching, but that is not very probable. There never was a more brutal murder, but it was claimed that by a long life of drunkenness the defendant's mind was affected, so that he should be regarded as of unsound mind. This is all that saved him from the gallows. He will be sent to the Prison South some time this week.

Research:

Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920 about Ezra Guard
Name:Ezra Guard
Date:5 Feb 1890
Location:Jeffersonville
Age:42 Yr
Gender:Male
Race:White
Source Location:County Health Office, M Varble
Source notes:The source of this record is the book H-22 on page 3 within the series produced by the Indiana Works Progress Administration

Marriage Notes (Abigail McElfresh)

Listing in http://virtuallibrary.cincinnatilibrary.org
Per Democratic Register Feb. 17, 1871
Ezra G. Guard to Anna or (Abby) McElfresh
and
Per Lawrenceburg Press February 9, 1871
Ezra Guard to Abby McElfresh

Per Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959
Name: Ezra Guard
Event Type: Marriage
Registration Place: , Dearborn, Indiana, United States
Marriage License Date: 07 Feb 1871
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name:Abby Mcelfresh
Spouse's Residence Place: , Dearborn,
Spouse's Gender: Female
GS Film number:001313307
Digital Folder Number:004476593
Image Number: 00169
Number of Images: 1