In May 1886, a destructive flood engulfed parts of Xenia. Shawnee Run, a normally placid stream, became a raging torrent due to heavy rain. 28 people were killed, including nearly all of the Morris and Powell families. The affected area was mostly along Cincinnati Avenue and South Barrett and Maxwell (now Galloway and King) Streets, in an area known as “Barr’s Bottom,” named for former landowner David Barr. Among the deceased were Mrs Angeline Casey and her sister Mrs Mary Anderson. After the flood, money was found at Mrs Casey’s former home, which became a bone of contention between her heirs. Here is some newspaper coverage from the time.

Xenia Daily Gazette, 15 May 1886:

Mrs Florence Jackson, niece of Mrs Angeline Casey, who was drowned in the flood, yesterday appeared at the Probate Court as her heir, and asked that Calvin Peters be appointed as administrator of the estate. It will be remembered that some $225 was found and placed in the Citizens’ National Bank, supposed to be her property. The appointment was deferred for evidence in the case.

Xenia Daily Gazette, 28 May 1886:

Found Her Will.

And Certificates of Deposit Amounting to $410 – T. G. McCoy in Luck.

Mrs Angeline Casey, who lost her life in the flood, had some sisters and a niece who are claiming her property, consisting in all of about $1,000. On the day after the flood a man by the name of Ruster found a pocket-book, some $225 in money and some papers, which were turned over to Attorney Jas. Winans to put in the bank and take care of for Mayor Trader. Since then, until yesterday, no inspection of the papers had been made, Mr Winans having put them in a desk and locked them up. Yesterday he and Mayor Trader opened up the papers when they found certificates of deposit on the Second National bank for $410 and her will. The latter will be a surprise to her relatives who are laying claim to her property, they having already applied to the Probate Judge to have an administrator appointed.

The will was made in July, 1874, and provides that all her real and personal property shall go to one T. G. McCoy, a white man of this city, who formerly worked as a tailor. The will goes on to explain why she intended him to have her property. It states that from her brothers and sisters she never received any assistance, whatever, while she was under great obligations to Mr McCoy, as he had loaned her money to get a start in life with and had befriended her in many ways. The will was witnessed by ‘Squire Francis Harris, now deceased, and Rev M. J. Thurber, who we believe is still living.

Xenia Daily Gazette, 19 Jun 1886:

That Money.

The case of Lewis Buster against T. G. McCoy, executor and sole legatee under the late Angeline Casey, was tried before ‘Squire Buck and a jury yesterday and this morning, when a verdict was promptly rendered in favor of McCoy. The suit was to recover $235 found by Buster the morning after the flood, which was taken possession of by Mayor Trader and turned over to the estate of Mrs Casey as her property. After Buster gave up the money he wanted it back on the theory that as there was no claimant for it he was the rightful owner until someone proved the property. On this point there was testimony showing that none of the other persons drowned had any money and that it was found in the debris of Mrs Casey’s house. The case was vigorously fought by C. L. Maxwell for Buster, and James Winans for McCoy.

More information about the actors in this drama is below. Research, as always, continues.

• Mrs Angeline C. Casey (1816-1886) lost one sister in the flood, Mary Anderson (1814-1886). Their other siblings are unknown at this time. Both women were born in Virginia, both were widows at their deaths, and both are buried at Cherry Grove Cemetery [Mrs CASEY, lot owner B31, S ½]. Angeline Casey was a hotel cook in 1860, in Washington Court House, Fayette Co OH. In 1870 she is listed as Alice C. Casey, cook in the Wright House Hotel, which stood on the NW corner of Market and Detroit. Neither sister appears in the 1881 Xenia directory; however, in 1878 a Mrs Casey is living on Barrett St, now South Galloway.
• Attorney James Winans (1857-1893) was the son of Judge James January and Caroline Morris Winans. He lived at 82 E Second in 1881, with an office over Fleming’s drugstore on South Detroit.
• Thomas G. McCoy (ca 1827-1889), tailor, lived on W Main St in 1880 census and Charles St in 1887. He died aged 62 at home; had resided in Xenia about 20 years according to obit 26 Nov 1889. He is buried in Frankfort OH.
• Francis Harris (1796-1878) was a bookstore owner and justice of the peace. He was born in Norfolk, England, and is buried in Manchester, Adams Co OH.
• Mayor Wilbur F. Trader (1847-1927), son of Alfred & Lucinda Trader, was an attorney who lived on E Market St in 1887.
• “A man by the name of Ruster” was actually Lewis Buster (ca 1838-1918), who lived at 85 E Second in 1881. In 1887 he and his wife Sarah moved to Chicago, where she died in 1908. Buried in Cherry Grove. [Lewis Buster, lot owner F44]
• Campbell L. Maxwell (1850-1920) was an attorney, graduate of Wilberforce University, who served as city clerk as well as on several committees. He served as consul to Santo Domingo for 4 years, appointed by Pres. Benjamin Harrison. He lived on E Main St, with an office at the Courthouse in 1881 (afterward on N Monroe), and is buried at Cherry Grove with his wife Mary.
• Florence Jackson (1864-after 1900) appears to be Florence Wagner who married James Jackson 6 Jul 1881 in Greene Co OH, and Florence Wagoner Jackson who married Constant Waters 18 Jan 1887 in Greene Co OH. 1870 GRW4 census p331-32 has Jennie Waggener age 30, with Florence age 8, John age 12, Charles age 10, and Henry age 4, all mulatto. [see 1880 census GRXN p398: Constant Watters, age 15, b CA, with Edward and Octavia Watters; 1900 Dayton Ward 6 p199, 276 Baxter St: Constant Waters, barber, b Apr 1865 in CA, marr 14y, wife Florence b Oct 1864 in OH, 6 children/3 living, 3 sons, all black]
• H. Calvin Peters (1859-1918) was a laborer in 1887, and lived on the west side of Fair St, 3 houses north of Church. Later in life he worked in a grocery. He and wife Hattie are buried at Cherry Grove Cemetery.