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Archiver > INHENDRI > 1999-10 > 0940603200


From: Jim Barlow <>
Subject: Re: George Matlock, Hendricks Co., IN died 1826.
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 09:40:00 -0500


Wanda,

I believe there is some information on the Matlocks in the 1885
history book of the county. I have a copy and will try to look up the
Matlock's this weekend.

While your note doesn't ask for more information about the incident
you mention, the so-called murder of George Matlock, I like telling
what I've learned. First, the killer, Samuel Kimbrough Barlow, from
all I can gather, was not a brother in law -- at least I've yet to
find proof.

His conviction for manslaughter (the first murder trial in Hendricks
County) was later pardoned by the governor. Samuel's friends, and
apparently some of Matlock's own family, claimed he acted in self
defense or in a manner that prevented additional violence. Samuel
left Hendricks County after his pardon, and later became famous for
opening the Barlow Pass in Oregon, where his name still is famous;
several schools are named after him!!

I had pursued this story to see if my Barlows (Hendricks County
pioneers/Washington Township) were related to Sam's, but found by
tracing family histories that my Enoch and this Sam were NOT
connected. I started this to see if I had a "link" to the Oregon
Pass; finding out about the killing and that he actually had lived in
Hendricks County were simply bonuses.

From a web site about Samuel Kimbrough Barlow: "In August 1827 Samuel
Kimbrough Barlow was convicted of manslaughter in Indiana. According
to the records on file, he struck with an axe and killed one George
Matlock on October 16, 1826. Scores of citizens, members of the jury,
and the dead man's brother, joined in pleading for Barlow's pardon
and remission of his sentence of one year of hard labor on the ground
that he struck Matlock in an attempt to prevent him from harming his
own wife and children. On December 6, 1827, Governor Ray pardoned
him [Indiana Executive Proceedings, Pardons and Remissions].

If anyone wishes to see the entry from the 1885 history book, go
here: http://www.genweb.net/~barlow/SKB.html


Jim Barlow
Champaign, IL

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