Chasing Memory...

The Murder of Sheriff Thomas Cranmer - Part 2

In this second episode of Chasing Memory we detail the events that followed the June 1890 shooting of Cooper County Sheriff Thomas Clinton Cranmer. We'll be introduced to a variety of new individuals who became a part of this tragic story and learn the fate of John Turlington, the murderer. There's a lot of material here, so this will be the second podcast of three covering this topic. The background and soundeffects came from the website Envato Elements. The sound was recorded through an open source program called Audacity while the final material was put together using Open Shot Video Editor. Please follow me on Facebook at the following: Mid-Missouri History Associates | Boonville MO | Facebook Due to a recent hack, I am starting the facebook account over. If you like my content, please like, follow, and share my posts to help me rebuild my audience. Thank you! Eric

The Murder of Sheriff Thomas Cranmer - Part 1

In this episode we take a look at a prominent Cooper County figure of the late 19th century named Thomas Clinton Cranmer. We examine his life and the major events that shaped him. We'll look at the rough frontier of his childhood in southwestern Cooper County, his trips through the western frontier, his wartime service, and his post war life. We'll also take a look at the life of his assassin, John Oscar Turlington, and the short and turbulent flings with lawlessness that lead to his encounter with Sheriff Cranmer in June 1890. The research and script are my own original works. For my research, the following websites were instrumental: ancestry.com, newspapers.com, and archives.org. The 1876 History of Cooper County by Levens and Drake was also important as was the county history written by William Foreman Johnson. I am also indebted to Lynne Erickson, a descendant of Sheriff Cranmer for sharing information and stories, including pictures of Cranmer himself and his .38 Caliber Smith & Wesson revolver that he carried on the night of his murder. This episode is the first in a two part series. The next episode will feature the pursuit of John Turlington, his trials, and his numerous attempts to evade the hangman's noose. The events will take nearly a year before justice is served. The goal is to have it up in the next two weeks. As always, thanks for listening and I hope you have fun with me while chasing memory.

Chasing Memory - An Introduction to the Podcast

Chasing Memory is a podcast that sheds a new light on history. Rather than simply digging into and regurgitating big history facts - this podcast will instead focus on the local history, tying in big history where it fits in the lives of those everyday people who made up the communities of central Missouri. By treating history as more of a stream of memory, the podcast intends to make history palatable, entertaining - and show that history is not simply made up of the big names; but the small or unknown as well - and that these lives were just as full of passion, suffering, tragedy, joys, and triumphs as those in the big history about which we know so much. This is not a political podcast. It will at times, however, touch on topics that are unflattering or uncomfortable. I approach it from the standpoint that history is just that - history. The memories and perceptions of one individual of history will not match those of another. They may even conflict. In this way we find that history mirrors are modern world in a way that should comfort us greatly - the struggles of the past are still with us, and our struggles are not so new as we might think. Our triumphs are similar to those of yesterday though the means, methods, and subjects perhaps are different. Chasing Memory is the product of Mid-Missouri History Associates which is owned by Eric McNeal. The Facebook page can be found by following the link. All stories are original research belonging to the author.

Chasing Memory... (Trailer)