What do you think?
Rate this book
Remembering Ella: A 1912 Murder and Mystery in the Arkansas Ozarks
In November 1912, popular and pretty eighteen-year-old Ella Barham was raped, murdered, and dismembered in broad daylight near her home in rural Boone County, Arkansas. The brutal crime sent shockwaves through the Ozarks and made national news. Authorities swiftly charged a neighbor, Odus Davidson, with the crime. Locals were determined that he be convicted, and threats of mob violence ran so high that he had to be jailed in another county to ensure his safety. But was there enough evidence to prove his guilt? If so, had he acted alone? What was his motive?
Author Nita Gould weaves local history and short biographies into her narrative and draws on the official case files, early twentieth-century criminal law, original newspaper accounts, Ozarks beliefs and customs, Barham family documents, and more. Remembering Ella reveals the truth behind an event that has been a staple of local folklore for more than a century and still intrigues people from around the country.
This examination of the murder of Ella Barham and the trial of her alleged killer opens a window into the meaning of community and due process during a time when politicians and judges sought to professionalize justice, by moving from local hangings to state-run executions. Davidson's appeal has been cited as a precedent in numerous court cases and his brief was reviewed by the lawyers in Georgia who prepared Leo Frank's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1915.
Author Nita Gould weaves local history and short biographies into her narrative and draws on the official case files, early twentieth-century criminal law, original newspaper accounts, Ozarks beliefs and customs, Barham family documents, and more. Remembering Ella reveals the truth behind an event that has been a staple of local folklore for more than a century and still intrigues people from around the country.
This examination of the murder of Ella Barham and the trial of her alleged killer opens a window into the meaning of community and due process during a time when politicians and judges sought to professionalize justice, by moving from local hangings to state-run executions. Davidson's appeal has been cited as a precedent in numerous court cases and his brief was reviewed by the lawyers in Georgia who prepared Leo Frank's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1915.
- GenresNonfiction
452 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2018
42 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 26, 2018
This book is a "must read" if you have heard stories and rumors surrounding the infamous murder of Ella Barham from the early 1900s. Ms. Gould presents a thorough and detailed research of the facts leading to the arrest and conviction of the alleged murderer. She lays out a map of the area and gives information regarding the family histories of the involved families, which brings you back to the time era in which this horrific event took place. Ms. Gould gives an unbiased opinion on the evidence presented, the court proceedings, and even the political ambitions that would have influenced the outcome of the trial.
May 14, 2019
As a child, a picture of one particular young woman in my grandmother's photo album drew my attention. She said, “That’s my friend Ella Barham. She was murdered, and many people thought they hung the wrong man.”
Because of that photo, I was drawn to the book cover of Remembering Ella: A 1912 Murder and Mystery in the Arkansas Ozarks. It is the true account of the brutal rape and murder of Ella Barham, committed in broad daylight in the small, rural community of Pleasant Ridge, Ark. The crime was so heinous that it drew national attention.
Once I started reading the book, I found it hard to put down. In the more than 100 years that have passed since the crime was committed, many versions of the story have been told, making it difficult to distinguish fact from legend. Author Nita Gould, a cousin of Ella Barham, spent nearly 15 years researching newspaper accounts, court case files, and family documents to uncover the truth about what actually happened on that fateful day in November 1912. Her book is filled with extensive narrative about the events and proceedings, as well as pictures of the people involved.
She tells about Ella’s life leading up to the day she went missing, the search and gruesome discovery of her dismembered body, as well as the events leading up to the trial and subsequent hanging of Odus Davidson.
Nita Gould has eloquently and thoroughly answered many of the questions I have about Ella Barham’s death, but one question remains – did they hang the wrong man for the crime?
Because of that photo, I was drawn to the book cover of Remembering Ella: A 1912 Murder and Mystery in the Arkansas Ozarks. It is the true account of the brutal rape and murder of Ella Barham, committed in broad daylight in the small, rural community of Pleasant Ridge, Ark. The crime was so heinous that it drew national attention.
Once I started reading the book, I found it hard to put down. In the more than 100 years that have passed since the crime was committed, many versions of the story have been told, making it difficult to distinguish fact from legend. Author Nita Gould, a cousin of Ella Barham, spent nearly 15 years researching newspaper accounts, court case files, and family documents to uncover the truth about what actually happened on that fateful day in November 1912. Her book is filled with extensive narrative about the events and proceedings, as well as pictures of the people involved.
She tells about Ella’s life leading up to the day she went missing, the search and gruesome discovery of her dismembered body, as well as the events leading up to the trial and subsequent hanging of Odus Davidson.
Nita Gould has eloquently and thoroughly answered many of the questions I have about Ella Barham’s death, but one question remains – did they hang the wrong man for the crime?
May 19, 2019
More like 2.5 stars.
It's an interesting story about a very gruesome crime--and is actually set in the general area where I live. My town pops up quite a bit as one of the jails the suspect was held in, which was intriguing. Also fascinating was the look at rural 1912 crime-solving techniques, some of which was more sophisticated than I expected, and Ozark life at the time.
The author has family ties to the case and did a remarkable job of being even-handed, especially considering her own family history.
The narration was competently written but large sections often seemed dry and tedious to me. There's a lot of minutia that may have worked better confined to endnotes or footnotes.
There's a big focus on the trials connected to the case, which is fine--something I usually enjoy. But it is much more detailed than the average court procedural. One pet peeve is that there is a dearth of evidence on some aspects of the case.
The author usually handled this well and clarified when she was speculating and made reasonable suppositions, but during the courtroom scenes, she often inserted what were obviously her own questions into the jury's minds and never once clarified this was supposition. It was distracting and happened way too many times.
It's an interesting story about a very gruesome crime--and is actually set in the general area where I live. My town pops up quite a bit as one of the jails the suspect was held in, which was intriguing. Also fascinating was the look at rural 1912 crime-solving techniques, some of which was more sophisticated than I expected, and Ozark life at the time.
The author has family ties to the case and did a remarkable job of being even-handed, especially considering her own family history.
The narration was competently written but large sections often seemed dry and tedious to me. There's a lot of minutia that may have worked better confined to endnotes or footnotes.
There's a big focus on the trials connected to the case, which is fine--something I usually enjoy. But it is much more detailed than the average court procedural. One pet peeve is that there is a dearth of evidence on some aspects of the case.
The author usually handled this well and clarified when she was speculating and made reasonable suppositions, but during the courtroom scenes, she often inserted what were obviously her own questions into the jury's minds and never once clarified this was supposition. It was distracting and happened way too many times.
March 4, 2019
Remembering Ella is a very well written, and extremely well researched account of the murder of 18-year-old Ella Braham. When I’d initially read that the author took 15 years to do her research I was a little puzzled as to why it took so long. Upon completion of the book it was obvious; the detail is incredible, taken from numerous sources and organized in a fashion that puts the story together with incredible clarity. The author effectively puts you in the front row of the courthouse which allows the reader to hear all the testimony and draw a conclusion based on the circumstantial evidence (much of it conflicting) provided by the witnesses. The story of the appeals process was even more fascinating to me, as the defense team did everything they could to try to save the life of their client, in a “race against the clock” scenario during a time when communication over long distances was difficult and very time consuming. I highly recommend Remembering Ella to anyone interested in the history of the Ozarks and/or interested in suspenseful criminal drama set in the early 20th century.
April 30, 2021
I highly recommend this book. How could an 18 year old girl riding home on horseback in broad daylight be raped and murdered?
I first heard about the murder of Ella Barham from a family member in 2006. There was very little information on the internet to research. My daughter recently called to say there is now a book written on what happened to Ella.
This book answers questions about a case that for years has left so many in the dark about one of the most horrendous murders in Ozark history.
It is an excellent read for those who follow criminal law. With the author setting the scene well, you feel like you are sitting in the Harrison courtroom in 1913.
Thank you Nita Gould for the years you spent researching the court files and archives and presenting the story so well. History will now remember Ella. Hopefully we will be seeing a Netflix movie on this story.
March 14, 2022
Ella was the focus on YouTube Channel Faces of the Forgotten. While telling Ella's story, Ron mentioned this book written by her ancestor.
This is narrated as written, and reads like academic text. The story is lost in all the details, paragraphs of names, etc.
I have respect for Mrs. Gould. She did her work and that cannot be questioned. Ella was murdered brutally in 1912.
Personally, I would like for someone to take the research and publish a story, with a really heavy heart and respect I make the suggestion. There are Channels such as Out of the Past and Well, I Never, and maybe even History Hunters where Ella's story could be told from the heart and not encyclopedic. Mrs. Gould did not make an impact statement. She wrote and documented the truth.
I did flip back and forth between the audio and the E-book.
Ella may she rest in peace and not forgotten.
This is narrated as written, and reads like academic text. The story is lost in all the details, paragraphs of names, etc.
I have respect for Mrs. Gould. She did her work and that cannot be questioned. Ella was murdered brutally in 1912.
Personally, I would like for someone to take the research and publish a story, with a really heavy heart and respect I make the suggestion. There are Channels such as Out of the Past and Well, I Never, and maybe even History Hunters where Ella's story could be told from the heart and not encyclopedic. Mrs. Gould did not make an impact statement. She wrote and documented the truth.
I did flip back and forth between the audio and the E-book.
Ella may she rest in peace and not forgotten.
February 7, 2019
Remembering Ella is very well-written account of a tragic event in the Arkansas Ozarks in 1912. The author writes of the murder in a clear, concise, and interesting way. Her attention to the details of the case shows an extreme dedication to researching the known facts and presenting them in a way that's very fair and impartial. This is especially impressive considering the victim is a relative of the author. It's a gripping read and one I have recommended to other history lovers. The only downside is that the account is so detailed that I occasionally found myself skimming through portions of the legal discussions that didn't interest me as much. However, it's still a powerful read and a fitting memorial for a life stolen too early.
March 29, 2019
I think it was an incredible amount of research the author did to write this book. I also think the story was very compelling. I am such a slow reader and the story still did not read enough like a narrative for me to follow it well enough. I think once it got to the court testimonials, I had a hard time following because there were many different people to keep track of and inconsistent testimonials on the part of the witnesses. I would love to see this in a video documentary format! Like I mentioned before, I am just such a slow reader who has a hard time concentrating for long periods of time, that I think I found it challenging to keep on track with reading. In my mind, I don't think Odus killed her.
November 6, 2018
I just finished the book, this is a book that holds your attention from start to finish. The book offers no conclusions but supplies the reader with many factual details of the gruesome crime and so much history of the area and it's people. The book tells the tragic story of how this book affected not only the Barham family but the family of Odus Davidson who was convicted and hung for the brutal murder of Ella Barham. The book offers a look into the local customs, transportation, entertainment and communications of the Ozarks during the early twentieth century.
April 19, 2023
I just finished reading this book. I could barely put it down. The research and details that went into this book is overwhelming. A true family history. Takes one back to the day's when times are different. Things were not handled like they are today. As you read though the story. One question's "Why wasn't this done or that should have been done this way." It does make you question the outcome. The pain and suffering for all involved. The tragedy of a young woman loss of life on an afternoon.
This writer takes you back in time. Excellent written book. Thank you Nita Gould.
This writer takes you back in time. Excellent written book. Thank you Nita Gould.
October 28, 2019
Want a riveting read for the cold days coming? Remembering Ella is what you are looking for. I have read it twice and will read it again. Nita Gould, the author is related to the lovely Ella Barham who was raped, murdered, and dismembered in November 1912. Ms Gould has done an incredible amount of research, no small feat for a crime that took place so long ago. The everyday life, the justice system, all make this a fascinating book. It haunts me like nothing I’ve read before.
March 6, 2025
This book is AMAZING! The author has done her research and also effectively weaves in a great story setting the scene and making you feel like you are right in room in the early 1800’s! This book has it all: history, mystery, young love, and so much more. This is a true story and the author does an amazing job of presenting the facts and turns folklore into reality. Step into the past and Remember Ella. Was justice served? You be the judge.
December 18, 2018
I loved this book. I enjoyed getting to know the parties involved both directly and indirectly. Learning about the culture that existed 100+ years ago. This is a must read. It does leave you asking a lot of questions that there just aren't answers for. Was it premeditated, spur of moment. How many truly were involved. Very intriguing.
December 31, 2018
Nita Gould did a fantastic job in collecting and deciphering an enormous amount of information, especially making a tremendous amount of 105-year-old court documents understandable and enjoyable to read. Such a tragic story, but an extremely interesting read. I couldn't put it down until it was complete!
November 23, 2024
If you love history, you will need to read this book.
It gives insights into the ways of life at the time of the incident.
This book is written to give us the opportunity to learn about an unthinkable tragedy that happened in a community that was made up of hard working farmers and their families.
Pleasant Ridge was a wonderful little place surrounding crooked creek in the Ozark hills.
Ella was a beautiful young woman whose life was cut short by who or whom? And why?
This book is a must read!
It gives insights into the ways of life at the time of the incident.
This book is written to give us the opportunity to learn about an unthinkable tragedy that happened in a community that was made up of hard working farmers and their families.
Pleasant Ridge was a wonderful little place surrounding crooked creek in the Ozark hills.
Ella was a beautiful young woman whose life was cut short by who or whom? And why?
This book is a must read!
February 10, 2019
Phenomenal book! Excellently written. I have connected so much to the characters. It is a real documentary and the amount of factual detail and research that went into this real life mystery is exceptional...yet it’s the best mystery I’ve ever read before. Highly recommended.
July 12, 2019
Riveting read. The 1912 murder took place just a few miles from where I grew up (and still live). I had never heard of this story until recently when I had the opportunity to hear the author speak. I bought her book that day and, literally, could not put it down.
December 6, 2024
Detailed, well-researched account (including the somewhat graphic details of the murder and autopsy). Most of the happenings in this book happened in our county/city, so it's especially interesting for me.
March 4, 2019
Great book! I loved the detail. History teaches us so much and this book has many lessons. We are planning a history tour of the area this Spring.
June 13, 2019
Amazing!!!
December 16, 2019
Great book, although I did get bogged down at times with all the information. Tragic ending.
January 13, 2024
Subject matter: 5
Writing: 2
Writing: 2
January 8, 2019
I love local history and I'm happy to read anything that can help me have a better understanding of the place where I live, grew up and raise my children. I picked up Remembering Ella hoping to add to my understanding of the history here. I got quite a bit more than I bargained for. This is a beautifully written, faithfully and thoroughly researched and above all else a great story. Nita Gould has honored Ella's memory and has also given Odus Davidson the dispassionate hearing he was denied. Wonderful book.
October 17, 2024
Very interesting history of the area. Well researched.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews