History Mysteries: The Cases of James Harrod, Tecumseh, Honest Dick Tate & William Goebel

New Books for New Readers

by James C. Klotter

The reader gets to play detective in four mysteries from Kentucky's past—the disappearances of James Harrod and "Honest Dick" Tate, the battlefield death of Indian chief Tecumseh, and the assassination of William Goebel. James Klotter offers clues but leaves the solution to the reader.

James Klotter is Kentucky State Historian and professor of History at Georgetown University and is the author of A New History of Kentucky, History Mysteries, Our Kentucky, Kentucky: Land of Tomorrow, Kentucky: Portrait in Paradox, Kentucky: Decades of Discord, William Goebbel, and Faces of Kentucky.

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

James C. Klotter is Professor of History at Georgetown College and State Historian of Kentucky.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to this title as James Klotter is a well known Kentucky historian. This easily read 65 pages features five mysteries about five men connected to Kentucky. I was interested in two people James Harrod and this text did not settle the reason he disappeared, just the assumptions. So I also read the Tecumseh chapter which I wasn’t too interested in, however, there was a section on Richard Johnson from Scott County, who later became U. S. Vice President and the claim that he killed Tecumseh in a battle. The eye witnesses evidence presented for that seemed credible. Now to read more about James Harrod and Richard Johnson.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the County Attorney told me about this book, I was expecting something more substantial. This is definitely a book for beginning readers and one for introducing children to older Kentucky history. It’s interesting, but basic.

[Fran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Designed for beginning readers. Doesn't really shed any new light on the cases it covers.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

History is not all just a bunch of dull and dry facts to be memorized and regurgitated on tests. There are many fascinating stories and sometimes a touch of mystery since there is no actual record of what eventually happened in certain cases. James Harrod, the founder of the first permanent settlement in Kentucky, Fort Harrod now known as Harrodsburg, just disappeared. Did he run off, was he killed, or did he die in some accident? Tecumesh, the chief of the Shawnees, was killed in the Battle of the Thames, but exactly who killed him? There are several claims and possibilities. James William Tate, known as “Honest Dick,” was elected Kentucky state treasurer. After twenty years in office, he simply left the state, and later it was found that he had taken some $247,000 of the state’s money. Where did he go, and what was his fate? And who assassinated Kentucky state senator William Goebel?

I picked this book up last year in the gift shop of Rough River Dam State Resort Park near Falls of Rough, KY, while there for a family reunion. The reader gets to play detective in these four mysteries from Kentucky's past. Author James Klotter, who is the Kentucky State Historian and a professor of History at Georgetown College, gives all the clues based on what is known for sure but leaves the final solution to the reader. The book is part of a series, “New Books for New Readers” sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Kentucky Humanities Council, and The Kentucky Post, that appears to be intended for people like those who have become literate later in life or are learning English as a second language, but it would also be suitable for younger readers, especially those who like mysteries from the past or are studying Kentucky history. Klotter is also the author of A New History of Kentucky, Our Kentucky, Kentucky: Land of Tomorrow, Kentucky: Portrait in Paradox, Kentucky: Decades of Discord, William Goebel, and Faces of Kentucky.