Playing: Desperado (s)

The following biographical information on the Blue Eyed Six, is derived and compiled from the blue book published by C.M. Bowman, circa 1880.  The book "The Blue Eyed Six", by Edna J. Carmean, published in 1974, and the Lebanon County Book of History.

     Israel Brandt was born in Northern Lebanon Township, Lebanon County, PA, on the 27th of May, 1833. His father first saw the light of day at the same place, and is still living as is his mother. His father had a small tract of land, which he worked, and also did considerable business at house carpentering and was always looked upon by the neighbors as a handy man, who could turn in and work at almost anything. He was also appointed steward at the almshouse, which position he occupied for six years. The subject of this sketch, as the sequel will show, did not possess the stability of his disposition, desire for change, etc.

     Young Israel went to school at the age of eight years, continuing until he was fifteen years old, when his father sent him to a tailor to learn his trade, where he remained till his eighteenth year. He then moved to South Lebanon Township, still engaged in the meritorious occupation of tailoring the measure of the community and furnishing suitable apparel to the public at large. Here he remained for five years, when, sighing for a change, he packed his knapsack and wound his way toward the Hoosier State, arriving eventually in Madison County, Indiana. At this place, it seems, he got tired of playing the ninth part of a man, and started to work on a farm, continuing to gather in the fruits of the earth for a few years. Again the demon of discontent wrestled with him and he started back for the old hunting grounds of Northern Lebanon Township, where he remained two years, working at his trade. This brings the reader to the year 1857, at which time he got married to the wife of his choice, when he moved to Myerstown and commenced keeping house.

     At this time he seemed to be inspired with military ardor, and got himself enrolled in the Myerstown Dragoons, under Captain Donges. Through Brandt's soldiery qualities and usefulness generally, he was elected corporal of the squad, which title he still retains. He gives many glowing descriptions of this crack company, their fine military bearing, and grand and imposing presence, and speaks in high terms of their military band, whose sweet chords of music were heard on all prominent and special occasions, on such holidays as the Fourth of July, 22d of February, etc. When the presence of his fine body of stalwart warriors was required, the populace would flock around in countless numbers, admire the prancing steeds and gaudy uniforms of the dauntless heroes, who were ready at the first note of alarm to charge to the cannon's mouth, or like "six hundred at Balaklava," were only waiting for the sound of the bugle to dash on the enemy and conquer or die. Brandt also mentions how the ladies were willing to forfeit their next buggy ride for a smile from this heroic company of "curled darlings" but, alas, how weak are the resolutions of the sons of Adam! How much we are inclined to favor the Falstaffian doctrine, and pile up our courage to the sticking point when danger is afar off, but when the tug of war actually comes our wonted bravery is apt to ooze out at our finger ends! Such, kind reader, was the sad fate of these Myerstown invincible, for when the first gun thundered on Fort Sumpter, and the small cloud of war loomed up in the bloody horizon, this crack company of Light Dragoons assembled in their quarters and voted by a large majority to stay at home. Corporal Brandt voted for war and had his views prevailed might have covered himself with glory and been numbered amongst the heroes of the great rebellion.

     After the commencement of the war Brandt moved to Lebanon and kept the Washington House for two years, without any incident of note. He then sold his hotel business and moved to Stephenson County, Illinois, where he worked on a farm. At this time, while tending a threshing machine, he lost his left arm. He remained in Illinois eighteen months, when he journeyed to Iowa, and remained a short time looking around for some business suited to his maimed condition. Being unsuccessful, however, he came back to Lebanon and stayed three weeks with his father.

     He then moved to Cold Spring Township and went into business, keeping the Cold Spring Hotel, and remained there two years, when his wife died of consumption, in 1867, by whom he had two children. Brandt relates a most extraordinary story. About the time his wife was sick some person recommended that she should eat rattlesnakes, cooked it some peculiar way and caught in a certain manner. So he started out with a forked stick and finally caught two of the snakes, cut off their heads, took the fat off, and cooked them, but when ready his wife refused to touch them except he eat some first, which he did, and says they are not bad eating. His wife also ate some, but whether it helped her consumption is a matter of conjecture. At all events, it is a new cure for the medical faculty to investigate.

     The next place that Brandt turns up is at East Hanover Township, where he again enters the hotel business. This time he is enacting the role of landlord at the Half-Way House. At this place he tied the connubial knot for the second time, which occurred in 1868. He kept hotel at this place for some years, during which time his career has been void of any incident of note otherwise than that of the every day routine of a country tavern keeper. He still retained his old penchant for the canines, and seldom without some remarkable description of dog. He also reserved his fondness for hunting, and when the season was favorable Brandt could be found on the mountain with his gun and dog, and notwithstanding the loss of his left arm, he is said to have been as good a shot with the rifle or fowling piece as could be found in that section. Another remarkable feat he could perform was that of cutting down a tree with his one arm as speedily as another man could with two. This fact is vouched for by many of his intimate associates. Another peculiarity in the subject of our sketch was, he was a good hotel keeper for the public at large, but a poor one for himself, for, being extremely good hearted, if a man came to him out of money and wanted a meal or lodging he could never refuse him, and during his hotel experience credited out over $1,000, for which he received little or no return. Brandt has always been identified with the Republican party in politics since he first exercised the right of citizenship, casting his first vote during the administration of President Buchanan. From his frank manners and the great facility he possessed of getting easily acquainted, he has always taken an active part at elections and was so successful as electioneer that his services were always in active demand during the strife of politicians for place and power. Although he never took the stump, he is said to have been a good wire puller and organizer in that he was always the loser financially by his participation in politics, as, being generally occupied in selling liquor and keeping hotel, his partisans would presume on his good nature and solicit favors which they never repaid. Like the "Wandering Jew," we find him still on his travels, and this time we find him catering to the appetites of his customers in the hotel at Joseph's Springs, Union Township, Lebanon County, and had been keeping there about seven years at the time of the Raber tragedy. There is nothing worthy of note in this man's history during his residence at Joseph's Springs, where he dealt out beer and whisky to the thirsty public, and seems to have been a pretty good customer himself, earning for himself among his boon companions the title of a "jolly good fellow." He is well known as a man of great personal courage. On one occasion, when keeping hotel at the Half-Way House, a notorious character called Bill Brown, colored, outraged a woman and made his escape to the mountains. The desperate character of the man, Brown was so well known that the constable of the district was afraid to execute the warrant, and cast about for some man of bravery to capture the villain. He ran across Brandt and asked him to execute the warrant, which he did, and handed the villain over to justice single-handed. From this item and many others in the life of this man the reader will perceive that whatever actions he may have committed through life we can not couple with his character the name of coward.

     On another occasion, before he got married, he lived a short time at Sinking Springs, and went to a camp meeting there, and it seems the roughs from Reading make it a business, or did so at that time, of invariably attempting to break up or disturb such gatherings. They came on this occasion as usual, but this time they were "barking up the wrong tree," for Israel was there, and putting himself at the head of few sturdy fellows, gave the roughs such a warm reception that they never attempted to disturb a camp meeting in that vicinity since.

     Brandt was arrested once for selling liquor to minors and served twenty-eight days in Lebanon jail during the time of Sheriff Matthews' term of office. He had been acquainted with Stichler about ten years, had known Wise five or six years, Drews, nine or ten years, Zechman, between two or three years, and Hummel three or four years. He had given employment to old Joseph Raber since 1864, who used to work for him cutting wood and doing chores generally around the house, and helped him along from motives of charity. He says Raber was a quiet old man, not much given to strong drink but a great lover of tobacco, was about sixty five years old at the time he was drowned, weighed about 160 pounds, and for a number of years was in rather destitutecircumstances, and Brandt used to employ him simply to help him along. Brandt had four children by his second wife and two by his first, a family of six, all now living.

     In personal appearance the subject of our sketch is rather tall, measuring 5 feet 11 inches in his bare feet, stands erect, and but for the loss of his arm, which somewhat detracts from his appearance, would be called what is generally known as a stalwart looking man. He tips the scale at 185 pounds. His frame is well knit and no doubt he would be a formidable antagonist in a personal encounter, notwithstanding the loss of his arm. When his features at once assume a fierce cast and present to the beholder a man with whom it would not be well to trifle. When his risible faculties are operated on his face assumes a most comical expression, which coincides with his character for practical joking, of which he is intensely fond. He wears a mustache and is somewhat bald. Brandt has the faculty of telling a story as to bring out the most ludicrous points, and in this regard somewhat resembles Abraham Lincoln, whose well known reputation for relating funny anecdotes is universal throughout the land. Brandt is buried at the Lebanon Lutheran Church Cemetery.

     Charles Drews was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany in 1820. He was Brandt's neighbor and a man that did not practice his trade. After a good common school education in his native Germany, he had five years of training in his father's trade as a butcher. But after his Army service he lost intrest in butchering and decided to come to America.

     His father was reluctant to lose his only son, but finally gave his blessing and eight hundred dollars with which to make a start in the new country. His passage to New York cost thirty-four dollars and the rest of his money was stolen, so he arrived penniless. He was a guillible young man and had similar bad luck in America. When he finally arrived in Lebanon County Pennsylvania, he was a ragged tramp and penniless once more. He worked at a succession of jobs---as a mason, carpender, farm hand, wood cutter, iron worker. It was while he was working at an iron furnace in Pine Grove that he was married to Sabina Kreiser, whose parents lived near Indiantown Gap. She bore him eleven children, eight of whom were still alive in 1878. They ranged from twenty-three down to one year in age.

     When the Civil War began, Drews enlisted in the 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteers and served four years, from 1861 to 65. Perhaps his rigorous training in the German army surfaced at this time, for he was an excellent soldier. He was elected color- bearer for his regiment and was notable for his bravery under fire. In one battle the colors were riddled with bullets, but he held them fast and came through unscathed. After the war, back in Lebanon County again, he slipped into his old groove of day laborer, occasional farm, road work or wood cutting. There is no record of his employment as a butcher, the field of his trade. Drews has been a staunch supporter of the Republican party since excercising the right to vote on American soil.

     The Drews house was only a stone's throw from Brandt's. A frame structure of two rooms and an attic, it was inhabited by Drews and his wife, seven of their own children, and two illegitimate offspring of their daughter, Mollie. Drews is buried at the Lebanon Tutheran Church Cemetery next to Brandt in the Soldiers Lot.

     Franklin Stichler was born in the Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania., on 16 October 1859. He lived just one half mile from St Joseph's Spring in his parents house, where he was born. His father was a charcoal burner, a hard line of work in those days to which Frank was introduced before he could walk, when his father carried him to the pits on his back.

     When he was nine years old he started school and continued off and on for two winters. He was a trial to the teacher, for he spent most of the time engaging in pranks. He had barely learned to read and write by the time he was eleven and quit school to do a man's job with his father at the charcoal burners. Except for a short time in the coal mines, this continued to be his only occupation.

     Frank grew up to be a handsome young man, with large blue eyes, square chin, thick black hair and mustache. The bushy black eyebrows that grew in a straight line across his forehead gave him a fierce appearance which belied his youth. He was short and stocky, with a strong build and erect gait. Bold and aggressive in nature, he had a quick temper and a reputation for wild behavior. He was also known for his generosity and free-spending when he had money. And he was noted as a woman-chaser, one who cut a romantic swath with the girls at Indiantown Gap, while managing to remain unmarried.

     Frank moved into the Brandt home and some neighbors wondered why Frank had moved to a place only a half mile from his family, especially from his mother, who was very devoted to her son. But he was not one to consider public opinion. He had congenial companionship in Israel Brandt and his so0n, Miles, and soon made himself a regular member of the Brandt household.

     Frank began having an affair with Lena, the second daughter of the Drews', who came home for a long visit. Lena was blond and pretty and just nineteen years old. She had not seen much of her family since she was eight years old, when she was sent away to live in what turned out to be a succession of households, serving as a hired girl. She was now married, but her husband, Joseph Peters, had joined the army. It was soon noticed that there was a strong attraction between Frank and the new girl next door. Frank was in and out of the Drews home as if it were his own, and he and Lena were seen together enough for the neighborhood gossip to start. They were seen together often. Frank being the youngest of the six, never had been married and had no children. Stichler was buried on his parents land which is located alone McLean Road about a quarter miles west of the intersection leading to Cold Springs, which are now a part of Indiantown Gap Military Reservation.

     Henry F Wise. This man forms one of the most important factors in the terrible tragedy for which he was convicted and suffered an ignominious death on the gallows. And while he was not the orignnator of the plot in the crime against Joe Raber, nor did the actual killing, nor in fact, according to his confession, knew of the murder at the time it was committed, yet the ingenious part he played in effecting the insurance on the life of old man Raber, his startling confession shortly after conviction, and his subsequent testimony in the trial of Zechman, stamped him as the most remarkable personage of this confederacy of criminals.

     Henry was born in Monroe Valley near Greenpoint on 4 June 1845, and lived with his parents until he was ten years old, when the family moved to Fishing Creek Valley, a distance of 6 miles from the Brandt's house where he was a regular visitor. Henry's parents were poor, honest, hard working people. They imigrated to America from Germany. He married Nancy Hauer when he was nineteen, and she but a mere sixteen, years old. Nancy proved to be a faithful and devoted mother, and to whom he was fondly and deeply attached. She bore him eight children. Henry's house was located just northwest of his parents home, along the road leading from Greenpoint to Indiantown Gap, a distance of approximately 7 miles.

     Henry worked at several jobs, when he was fourteen years of age he began cutting railroad ties for his father at the Gold Mine Gap, in fact he was quite skilled at his trade and could split out a railroad tie faster than the rest. He prided himself and would often wage bets as to his skill. When he was seventeen he worked in the Rousch Creek coal-mines, he was equally talented there but, the coal mines required long ardous hours and meant being away from his family. Henry was a dreamer and would often talk of moving west to his friends and anyone else that would listen, however an anticipated move would cost money and that was the one thing Henry did not have, it took all the resources he could to provide for his large family.

     Wise related to many incidents of his experiences and hair breadth escapes from death, and how he was an instrument in the hands of God at saving several human lives. Once when working in the mines at Lincoln with William Fake, he heard a slight noise, and shouted to Fake to get out of the way, which Fake did, when a terrible crash was heard and a mass of slate and rock weighing from three to five tons came crashing down in the same exact spot Fake had been standing. On another occasion, when working in the Brookside mines with John H. Miller, Wise saved him from a similar catastrophe. He also is said to have saved Amos Fake's life under like circumstances.

     Once when working with Curin Knapp at Brookside, a large piece of coal fell on Knapp's back. causing his death in a matter of a few hours. This was a sad blow to Wise as he loved this young man very much, and immediately began collecting money to give Knapp a decent funeral, tombstone, etc. In fact the amount he is said to have collected was, over sixty dollars. Wise's mining boss, William Elliott, exculpated Wise from all blame in the matter, stating publicly that Wise's department was in perfect order and the accident was one liable to occur under most careful management.

     It was Henry and not Brandt that probably formulated the idea about the insurance policy on old Joe Raber, since earlier, for some strange reason, his house burned to the ground, however the house was void of essential furniture at the time but, none the less, Henry collected a tidy insurance premium as a result and built another home nearby with money to spare. It was Henry who initially went to Schweinhard's office in Lebanon and delivered a note to meet with the others. Schweinhart was not in his office, but later drove to St Joseph's Spring and met with the others at Brandt's Tavern.

     The personality of Henry Wise was more volatile than that of his partners. His appearance is rather prepossessing, bearing a slight resemblance to Schuyler Colax, ex Vice President. His features are regular, forehead well developed and high dark hair and blue eyes, front teeth wanting, which mars his appearance. His expression is mild and rather benevolent, appearing to wear a continual smile. He weighs, when attending to his ordinary duties, about 180 pounds, but since his incarceration, has fallen away greatly, tipping the scales now at 160 pounds. He measures about 5 feet, 8 inches in height, is well built and stocky in appearance. He is the only one of the prisoners who does not use tobacco and never has been drunk in his lifetime. In politics he has been identified with the Democratic party.

     Wise had a tendency to neglect present duties for thoughts of grandeous ideas similar to some Eldorado "Out West", where he thought he'd strike it rich. Some of his neighbors found him quarrelsome and avoided him, some tolerated him on account of his family. His manner tended to be ingratiating, and he was not noted for his friendliness. Both he and his wife "got religion" several times, but always backslid after a few months. After his house burned down in June, Wise moved his family and his pregnant wife and seven children to his father's home and seemed to be making no plans for independence except for the vague future out west. Henry was one of Brandt's regular customers and frequented the tavern more than the others did. It was at one of these visits that the plan was concocted to insure old Joe Raber and kill him for the insurance premium.

     Henry Wise, Geroge Zechman and Josiah Hummel were all close neighbors, there father's were farmers and in fact George and Henry were cousins. All three came from large famlies in the Swatara Gap region. Henry's schooling had been sketchy; like other farm boys, he attended school only in the winter months. Henry could read and write, but he had spent little time in school. He quit entirely when he was fourteen and went to work for his father, who had a contract for making ties on the Dauphin and Susquehanna Railroad. He soon established a rhythm. Wise is buried at the Greenpoint Meeting House across the road from where his parents once lived.

     Josiah Hummel was born in Lebanon County on 19 March 1849. His parents were descendants of Teutonic pioneers who came to this country nearly a century and a half before the crime in which Josiah was involved Josiah, like other boys also went to school only in the winter time, he had quite a reputation as a slow learner; in his teacher's words, he was "careless and indolent" in his studies. He grew tired of farming when he was twenty-one and started to learn the trade of boiler-making, but soon tired of that too and turned to working in the Brookside, Calmary and Lincoln coal mines.

     He was a member of Jacob's Lutheran Church, about three miles south of Pinesgrove, and was confirmed in the faith of that church. However, he was a Christian only in name. In 1877 he went to Wooster, Ohio, in quest of work, but not succeeding he returned to the mountains. He knew Brandt from the time the latter kept the Cold Springs Hotel. Josiah was the tallest of the six and measured nearly six feet in height.

     Josiah was thought to have a quite, inoffensive disposition; he was a loner, a heavy drinker, and a lover of hunting. He did not seem to be a religious man, although his family belonged to the Lutheran church. Josiah had very few friends being the loner that he was, but he was a very handsome man and did fancy the ladies in the surrounding area. He was easily talked into things by neighbors wanting him to do something for them, and obviously was easily convinced to do what turned out to be his downfall.

     During the time Hummel was confined to the Lebanon County jail, his girlfriend visited him on ocassions, she carried a baby that was said to be his. Hummel is buried at Sattazahn's Meeting House.

     Geogre Zechman was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania on 15 August 1849. George, also like his two neighbors, Henry and Josiah, also only went to school in the winter time. He left school at the age of seventeen for a brief fling at boating on the Susquehanna river, then, like Hummel, he came back home and started to work in the mines, continuing there for several years. When his partner was killed in a mine accident George gave up that line of work and started teaming horses in Fishing Creek Valley.

     Unlike the others, George had a pleasant disposition. He was known as a user of liquor but a heavy user of tobacco and enjoyed the chewing thereof. George was twenty-two years old when he married. Before his marriage, he had been fond of dancing, but now he led a more sedate life. He and his wife were active members of the Lutheran church in Fishing Creek Valley, where he taught a Sunday School class. Mrs Zechman was a frail woman and was often ailing; this was not surprising, since she had borne her husband six children in seven years of their marriage. George, also like the others, was a frequent visitor at Brandt's tavern, either singly or in the company of the others.

     George Zechman was the only one of the Blue Eyed Six to receive a re-trial, he was found not guilty of the crimes he was charged with and was subsequently released, although many have questioned that decission. He and his wife quickly departed the court and returned to Fishing Creek Valley, in the mountains. George has always voted the Republican ticket since he was old enough to exercise that privilege as a citizen.

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