Durand in Pepin County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Old Pepin County Courthouse
Photographed By Keith L, July 24, 2009
1. Old Pepin County Courthouse Marker
The courthouse lawn was the scene of a lynching that gained widespread attention. On November 19, 1881, an angry mob seized Ed Maxwell, who had been accused of killing two lawmen. Still in handcuffs and leg irons and with a noose around his neck, Maxwell was dragged down the steps to a tree in the yard where he was hanged.
Erected 2006 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 508.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Buildings • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 19, 1881.
Location. 44° 37.646′ N, 91° 58.079′ W. Marker is in Durand, Wisconsin, in Pepin County. Marker is on West Madison Street west of 3rd Avenue West, on the left when traveling west. Marker is at the Old Courthouse
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Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pepin County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Durand Memorial Park Bandshell (approx. 0.2 miles away); Eau Galle (approx. 5.2 miles away); Dunnville Sandstone (approx. 7 miles away); Caddie Woodlawn (approx. 7 miles away); Laura Ingalls Wilder (approx. 15.7 miles away); Anchor from the "Phil Scheckel" (approx. 15.7 miles away).
Also see . . . Old Courthouse Museum and Jail. "When built, it had no electricity or plumbing. As these technologies developed, they were added."
"Though many significant events occurred in the old courthouse, the most notorious by far occurred in November of 1881. A man accused in the shooting death of a local deputy sheriff the previous July was lynched. As the prisoner was brought down the winding stairs following the preliminary hearing held in the courtroom upstairs, law enforcement officers guarding the accused murderer were overwhelmed and subdued. A hangman's noose appeared seemingly from nowhere and was looped around the prisoner's neck. He was yanked by neck out the door, dragged across the porch, down the steps, over to a tree in the yard and pulled up into the air; still handcuffed
Photographed By Keith L, July 24, 2009
2. Old Pepin County Courthouse and Marker
Photographed By Keith L, July 24, 2009
3. Old Pepin County Courthouse
Photographed By Keith L, July 24, 2009
4. Nearby Civil War Memorial
Ladies of the G.A.R.
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1861
1865
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,072 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 8, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
