John Hill Beal
19 YOA
Cherokee, IA
Cherokee County
November 17, 1893
In the autumn of 1893, 19-year-old John Hill Beal was working the harvest for a Cherokee County farmer near Quimby, a busy point of exchange on the Sioux Falls and Onawa Branch of the Illinois Central Railroad known for shipping butter, eggs, and produce.
Beal was recently paid his wages of 35 dollars — in gold.
On Friday November 17, John Beal caught the Illinois Central train that came from Onawa and went northeast to Cherokee; he planned to continue on to Fort Dodge and then west to Waterloo, where his family lived.
However, two miles south of Cherokee, Beal was attacked and thrown off the train. His body was found about 20 feet from the tracks, along which his grip and belongings were scattered. His pockets were empty and his wages stolen.
Beal was slashed on the face with a knife and his skull severely beaten; nearby was a 30-pound rock smeared in blood.
Cherokee County Sheriff Dan Unger headed up the investigation. Unger first assumed Beal was attacked by tramps on the train and killed when he refused to give up his money.
However, a description emerged of a man seen near the crime scene around the time of the murder. Sheriff Unger traveled to Waterloo a few days after the murder to check out a suspect held there who matched the description, although wearing “different pantaloons and shoes.”
According to The Waterloo Daily Courier, the suspect — who stood out by appearing “highly nervous” — was spotted on a train by a deputy of a neighboring county who was escorting an insane man to Independence.
In searching the suspect in Waterloo, Sheriff Unger found 30 dollars. However, because the money was in bills and Beal’s wages were in gold, the man was released.
When Unger returned to Cherokee, he learned the man in Waterloo was likely the suspect being searched for; he had exchanged the gold for bills and bought new trousers and shoes, accounting for the missing five dollars. He also lived in Waterloo and knew John Beal was coming home and would have money on his person.
Unger traveled to Chicago, where the suspect was believed to be, but was unable to locate the man.
A report circulated in early December that two other men were arrested in Waterloo; they had reportedly stopped at a farm house near the scene a short time before the murder. One man was from Waterloo (near where John Beal’s family lived) and the other from Dubuque. This report — later denied as rumor — started speculation that Beal recognized one of the people who robbed him and was killed because of that.
Iowa Governor Horace Boies offered a 500 dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of Beal’s killer.
Drawn by the large amount of money, a man came to Cherokee County alleging to be a “detective,” although his only proof of that was a pair of handcuffs and a revolver. Sheriff Unger allowed the man to work the case, hoping he could do some good, and gave him money for his “investigation” expenses. The “detective” arrested a man near Duncombe who later escaped.
Despite the reward, the work of Sheriff Unger, and the investigation by the private “detective,” no one was brought to justice for Beal’s murder.
John Hill Beal was born October 5, 1874 in Iowa to Anna Hill and Willard Washington Beal, Sr. He had two siblings — Arabella “Belle” Beal and Willard Washington Beal, Jr.
Courtesy photo Kelly BurdickBeal was buried in Harlington Cemetery near Waverly in Bremer County.
Willard Beal, Jr. named his son “John Hill Beal” in honor of his brother; sadly, like his uncle, the boy died young, at the age of seven.
Questions and information about the unsolved 1893 murder of John Hill Beal should be directed to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 712-225-6737 or to Iowa Cold Cases through the Contact form.
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