RICH, Jo - A few weeks ago a disturbance occurred at Prairie Grove between the marshal and some drunken boys whom he was trying to arrest. During the row the marshal’s son, J o Rich, who was assisting in making the arrest, received a knife thrust from which he died Sunday, September 21. The parties implicated in the murder were Mack and D. Rollins, Wm. Mitchell, Jr. and James Shofner. They had their examining trial before ’Squire Scott of Prairie Grove Tuesday and Wednesday of last week and were bound over to await the action of the grand jury. [The Springdale News 10/3/1890] RICH, Joe - The worst fears were realized from that unfortunate affair at Prairie Grove when at 5 o’clock Sunday morning the spirit of Joe Rich took its flight from this world. Death resulted from the cut he received in the side on the Monday night previous while assisting his father in making an arrest. After his death D. and Mack Rollins, Wm. Mitchell and James Shofner, who were under bond but had not had their preliminary examination, were re-arrested and were tried before ’Squire W.N. Scott on Tuesday and Wednesday and were bound over to await the action of the grand jury on the charge of murder in the second degree. B.R. Davidson and J.N. Tillman represented the State and J.D., J.V. and J.W. Walker the defendants. [Fayetteville Democrat 9/26/90] ai summary July 14, 2026 Archival Reconstruction: Death of Joseph “Jo” Rich Prairie Grove, Washington County, Arkansas - September 1890 The man previously identified only as “Jo Rich” was Joseph V. Rich, born September 7, 1860, and fatally wounded during an attempted arrest at Prairie Grove in September 1890. He died on Sunday morning, September 21, 1890, thirteen days after his thirtieth birthday. Reconstructed sequence of events Monday night, September 15, 1890 A disturbance occurred in Prairie Grove involving several young men who were reportedly intoxicated. The town marshal attempted to arrest them. Joseph Rich was the marshal’s son and assisted his father in making the arrest. During the struggle, Joseph received a severe knife wound-described as a cut or thrust in his side. The newspaper wording indicates that the marshal’s efforts may initially have been directed against a group rather than one individual. The men later accused were: Mack Rollins D. Rollins William Mitchell Jr. James Shofner The available reports do not identify which man allegedly wielded the knife. All four were treated as participants in the fatal affray. September 15-20 Joseph survived for nearly six days after the stabbing. The Fayetteville Democrat later described the community as having feared that the wound would prove fatal. The suspects were apparently placed under bond before Joseph died, likely while the matter was still considered an assault rather than homicide. Sunday, September 21 Joseph died at approximately five o’clock Sunday morning from the wound in his side. The Fayetteville Democrat reported that his death resulted directly from the injury received while helping his father make the arrest. Re-arrests and preliminary hearing After Joseph’s death, the four men were re-arrested. Their examining trial was held before Justice of the Peace W. N. Scott at Prairie Grove on Tuesday and Wednesday following the death-probably September 23-24, 1890. All four were bound over to await action by the Washington County grand jury on a charge of second-degree murder. The attorneys named in the contemporary report were: B. R. Davidson and J. N. Tillman for the State J. D. Walker, J. V. Walker, and J. W. Walker for the defendants Contemporary newspaper accounts Fayetteville Democrat, September 26, 1890 This is the most detailed surviving account located: “The worst fears were realized from that unfortunate affair at Prairie Grove when at 5 o’clock Sunday morning the spirit of Joe Rich took its flight from this world.” The article said he died from a cut received in the side the previous Monday night while helping his father make an arrest. It named D. and Mack Rollins, William Mitchell and James Shofner as the defendants and reported that they were held for the grand jury on second-degree murder charges. Springdale News, October 3, 1890 A second account summarized the case: “A few weeks ago a disturbance occurred at Prairie Grove between the marshal and some drunken boys whom he was trying to arrest.” It stated that the marshal’s son, Jo Rich, was stabbed while assisting and died on September 21. It likewise named Mack and D. Rollins, William Mitchell Jr. and James Shofner and reported that they were bound over for grand-jury action. The two reports agree on every essential point: the trouble began as an attempted arrest; Joseph was assisting his father; he suffered a knife wound; he died September 21; and four men were charged collectively. Identity and family of Joseph Rich Joseph V. Rich was born in Washington County on September 7, 1860. His parents were: Augustus Berry “A. B.” or “Bud” Rich, born May 7, 1836 Artema or Artimina Mayberry Rich, born about 1843 Joseph’s known siblings included: David Lee Rich Marilda J. Rich Marcus B. Rich Pearly Mable Rich Henry Edward Rich Sarah Elizabeth Rich Rector J. Rich The family genealogy identifies Joseph’s place of death as Prairie Grove. Augustus Berry Rich later became locally known as “Uncle Bud.” His obituary said that he and Artimina Mayberry married on May 15, 1859, and had four sons and four daughters. He was a Confederate veteran, Mason and Methodist. Joseph was evidently their oldest child, born approximately sixteen months after their marriage. Was Augustus Berry Rich the marshal? The newspaper calls the victim “the marshal’s son,” and Joseph’s identified father was Augustus Berry Rich. This makes it highly probable that A. B. Rich was serving as Prairie Grove town marshal in September 1890. However, I have not yet located a formal municipal record, election notice or officer roster explicitly naming Augustus as marshal. Therefore, the identification is compelling but should presently be described as an evidence-based conclusion rather than a fully documented municipal appointment. Census reconstruction A major limitation is that nearly all of the 1890 United States population census was destroyed. Only small fragments survive, and Washington County, Arkansas, is not represented among the useful surviving schedules. The 1890 census therefore cannot be used to list every Rich household near Prairie Grove. The appropriate reconstruction must instead use: the 1880 federal census; the 1890 veterans schedule, where applicable; county tax lists; deed indexes; the 1900 federal census; cemetery records; newspapers; marriage records; and probate files. The Rich family identified in the surviving genealogy is consistent across those substitute sources: Augustus and Artema Rich, Joseph and the younger children formed the household central to this case. Prairie Grove itself had approximately 412 residents in 1890, increasing to 551 by 1900. Other Rich families around Prairie Grove The reconstructed family of Joseph belongs to a much larger Washington County Rich kinship group. Augustus Berry Rich was a son of: James Joseph Rich, 1804-1850 Rebecca Barker Rich, 1805-1892 Augustus’s identified siblings included: James Calvin Rich Mary Leannah Rich William Jackson “Jack” Rich Absalom M. Rich These relatives created several potentially separate Rich households in Washington County and adjoining areas. A definitive “every Rich household” list cannot be produced from the missing 1890 census. It must be created by comparing the 1880 and 1900 censuses and then placing each adult male in the 1890 tax books. Cemetery evidence Augustus Berry Rich was buried in Prairie Grove Cemetery after his death in 1923. Joseph’s genealogical entry gives an exact death date but does not identify his burial place. No verified, indexed grave record for Joseph was located in the publicly searchable results examined. The strongest possibilities are: Prairie Grove Cemetery; a Rich family burial ground; a Mayberry family cemetery; an unmarked grave; or a stone whose inscription was lost before modern surveys. The absence of Joseph from a modern cemetery index is not evidence that he was buried elsewhere. Many graves from this period were marked with fieldstones, wooden markers or monuments that later disappeared. Probate and estate records Joseph appears to have been unmarried in the available family reconstruction, although this has not yet been proved from marriage books. A probate estate may not have been opened if he owned little property, lived with his parents or left no dependents. Nevertheless, the probate indexes should be searched under: Joseph Rich Joseph V. Rich Joe Rich Jo Rich J. V. Rich Rich, deceased and A. B. Rich as administrator Washington County’s surviving court records begin in 1829 and include criminal proceedings and estate disputes. Coroner’s records Because Joseph survived the original injury for several days and the responsible parties were already known, officials may have proceeded directly through a justice-of-the-peace examination and grand-jury process rather than conducting a formal coroner’s jury. No digitized coroner’s inquest for Joseph Rich was located. Possible surviving records include: a coroner’s docket; a justice’s examination transcript; witness recognizances; medical testimony; the original arrest warrants; bonds; or a clerk’s summary entered in the circuit court record. Criminal court records and unresolved questions The greatest remaining gap is the final disposition of the case against Rollins, Rollins, Mitchell and Shofner. The newspaper proves that the men were held for grand-jury action, but I have not found a publicly indexed report establishing whether: the grand jury indicted all four; only one man was identified as the stabber; charges were reduced; the defendants were acquitted; the indictment was dismissed; a plea was entered; or the case was moved or continued. Modern online Arkansas court databases generally do not contain usable nineteenth-century case files. The original Washington County Circuit Court materials are held or administered through the county’s archival and court-record system. The county confirms that its historic holdings include both civil and criminal records beginning in 1829. The necessary volumes likely include: Circuit Court criminal docket, fall 1890 through 1892; Circuit Court record books; grand-jury indictment books; appearance and continuance dockets; fee books; sheriff’s return books; witness claim records; and State of Arkansas v. Rollins et al. Prairie Grove newspaper coverage The Prairie Grove Banner was founded in April 1887 by H. Milton Butler and was operating when Joseph was killed. However, a complete searchable digital run of its 1890 issues was not located. Consequently, I cannot honestly claim to have examined every physical issue. The paper almost certainly carried fuller local coverage, possibly including: the original disturbance; Joseph’s medical condition; funeral arrangements; witness testimony; grand-jury proceedings; and later court appearances. The Fayetteville Republican likewise lacks a complete, readily searchable online 1890 run in the sources available to me. What is firmly established The archival evidence presently supports the following reconstruction: Joseph V. “Jo” Rich, age thirty, was fatally stabbed at Prairie Grove on Monday night, September 15, 1890, while helping his father-the town marshal-arrest a group of intoxicated young men. He survived until about 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 21. Mack Rollins, D. Rollins, William Mitchell Jr. and James Shofner were arrested and examined before Justice W. N. Scott. All four were held for the Washington County grand jury on second-degree murder charges. Research status Record group Result Fayetteville Democrat Fatality and preliminary hearing located Springdale News Independent corroborating account located Prairie Grove Banner Publication verified; complete 1890 run not digitally accessible Fayetteville Republican No indexed account yet located 1890 federal census Unavailable because Washington County schedules did not survive Family identification Joseph V. Rich, son of Augustus and Artema Rich Cemetery Exact burial location not yet verified Probate No indexed estate located Coroner No digitized inquest located Criminal court Preliminary charge confirmed; final disposition not yet found Tax records Requires examination of original 1889-1891 county tax books The surviving newspapers establish the homicide beyond question, but the identity of the actual knife wielder and the final court outcome remain unresolved until the original circuit-court and grand-jury volumes are examined.