Hampton Mize

Hampton Mize was born on 20 October 1875 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Hamp married Alice Jones on 19 October 1899 in the same county. The 21 year old Mize is listed on the 1900 census of Rockcastle County as a prisoner in the county jail. He had shot and killed Elisha Whitaker and was subsequently charged with murder. On 28 September 1900, Hamp was charged with carrying concealed weapons. He was released to Pate McClure and fined $25 and 10 days in jail for carrying concealed and deadly weapons.The London Sentinel states that on 1 June 1900, Hamp was fined $29 for gaming. On the 1910 census, Hamp’s father James Mize is listed as living in the same household and he is stated as being 73 years old. Hamp died on 16 March 1949 and Alice died on 16 October 1971. They are both buried in the Martha A. Mize Cemetery
Elisha Whitaker was killed on 27 April 1901 or 1907. The year is in question. He is buried in the Old Buffalo Church Cemetery in Rockcastle County. The photos of Elisha Whitaker were (retrieved on 5 May 2008 from http://www.jeffrenner.net/genealogy/ photos_elishawhitaker.htm)

"He was shot in the back by a Mize while he was tryin' to cross the river." - my grandfather, Elisha's grandson 26 April 1901 issue of the Mount Vernon Signal recounts the incident: "Jim Mize shot and killed "Little" Elishua [sic] Whitaker Wednesday. Whitaker was in a boat on Rockcastle river and Mize was hid behind a tree on the Laurel county side." According to this we can place the date of his death at 24 April 1901. Elisha was not killed by Hampton Mize, unless Jim Mize and Hamp Mize are the same person. However I think more likely it's confusion, because Hampton Mize shot and killed a Robert "Bob" Whitaker later that same year. Reported in the Mt. Vernon Signal 30 Aug 1901 issue: "KILLING--Hamp Mize killed Bob Whitaker, yesterday, near Jack Norton's store on Big Skaggs creek." On 20 Sept, 1901 the Mt. Vernon Signal reported: "Hamp Mize charged with murder for killing Robert Whitaker, was allowed bail in the sum of $1,000 which he failed to give and was placed in the custody of the jailer." Possibly the Robert "Bob" Whitaker killed by Hamp was the Robert J. Whitaker listed as living two households down from Hamp and his family on the 1900 Census in Rockcastle County. SPECULATION, NOT TO BE REPRESENTED ELSEWHERE AS FACT: (((((As for who "Jim Mize" might be? Well, Hampton's father was named James Mize. Was this the man who shot Elisha? Was there a Whitaker-Mize feud going on? To also be taken into consideration: John Crawford Mize, brother of Hamp Mize, had a son named James William Mize who married Hillie Ann Whitaker, daughter of Elisha and Emeline Whitaker, around year 1900. Is it possible that the marriage was not approved by one or both families, and was a contributing factor behind, at least, the murder of Elisha?)))))) Elisha and his wife Emeline are both buried at the Old Buffalo Church Cemetery. The Old Buffalo Church Cemetery is on a small hill on the east side of Highway 1249 opposite the Buffalo Baptist Church. (image and narrative retrieved from www.ancestry.com on 10 Aug 2011)

Hamp Mize tombstone located at the Martha Mize Cemetery, Rockcastle County, Kentucky (photo was taken during summer of 2011) photo on right is Hamp Mize and Alice Mize (contributed by Tanya Robbins, Thanks!)

Hamp and Alice Mize sitting on their front porch in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Photo on right: top left is Howard Reece, bottom left is Lucy Mize and bottom right is Emmett Mize (photos contributed by Tanya Robbins, Thanks!)