The Hanging of Betsey Reed: A Wabash River Tragedy on the Illinois Frontier

by Rick Kelsheimer

In 1845 twenty thousand people gathered in Lawrenceville, Illinois, to witness the hanging of Betsey Reed for poisoning her husband. Considered a witch by some, a victim by others; this is her story.

258 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2007

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was she really a witch or did she have a gift? Some believed she was a witch and other believed she had the gift of healing, sometimes it depended on if you were sick and needed her services. It’s believed that her father passed onto Betsy his gift of blowing fire and with her knowledge of herbs and roots which she learned while he was alive; Betsy was taking on the role her father left behind. Doctors were in short demand in 1843 but the issue facing this community was that most individuals were not accepting Betsey. Betsey was a unique individual for she was vocal, determined and a competitive person who didn’t have very many friends. Betsey tries to manipulate other individuals in this novel and sometimes her antics work while other times people see right through her. There was never a dull moment in this novel beginning from the opening pages of the hanging of Will Davis to the closing pages of Betsey’s letter, the novel races forward. The novel follows the story of Betsey from a young child until her final days. Is she really guilty or is her past coming into play now and marking her future? I felt that Betsey was a relentless woman as she never quits, her brain must be running continuously to have done all that she had done and then to live a life where she has no one to really count on and she rejoices in that openly. How sad a life is that? Reflecting back in the reading, she affects the lives of many individuals positively and negatively and in her death, now what? What legacy has she left? Based on actual events, I recall some of these areas in Illinois as we travel but not as many as my sister-in-law Margaret who grew up and continues to live in Wabash County. Thanks Margaret for sharing your book with me. 4.5 stars

[Stay Fetters · Rating 2 out of 5]

"If you live around treachery and evil long enough, after a while it doesn't repel you with its stench."

Elizabeth "Betsey" Reed was the first and only woman to be executed by hanging in the state of Illinois. I wanted to do some more research before a coworker and I go to visit her haunted grave in Flat Rock, Illinois. Her story is quite interesting but this book was really dull.

The book is written like a movie based on true events. They created dialogue for scenarios that actually took place but it felt as if I was watching paint dry. It didn't start getting interesting until the last eighty or so pages. I think if you want to learn more about the accused witch, Betsey Reed, you should read news articles about the beginning and end of her life.

"Betsey Reed brewed some tea.
Leonard drank it happily.
When she saw that he was dead,
She clicked her heels,
and then she said
Arsenic...arsenic...
We all fall dead."

[Tiffany Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite what I expected, but still a solid read. This isn't really a book about Betsy Reed - the only woman executed in the state of Illinois - but rather the tale of a man whose path repeatedly crosses hers. Kelsheimer manages to work a lot of local history into this yarn, but it's all interesting. I just wish I had more knowledge, as I am still not always certain where fact and fiction overlapped. The editing could use some work, but I am ok with that, considering this isn't from a big publishing house. 3.5 to 4 stars

[Ramona Shambley]

loved it

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out enjoyable, but then I found myself skimming quite a bit. The 1st person narrative threw me off a bit. Still, it's somewhat local history, and found it interesting.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great work of historical fiction. Despite the many cliches, it's a fantastic combination of fact and fiction to make sense of the true story.