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Wicked Columbus, Indiana
A fascinating historical tour of this Midwestern city's crimes, scandals, and shady characters--includes photos.
Dubbed the "Athens of the Prairie" for its array of stunning modern architecture, Columbus, Indiana, nevertheless endured its share of unsavory citizens, crime-ridden neighborhoods, and tales of woe in its past. Many residents avoided the infamous slums of Smoky Row and Death Valley, while others gave in to the allure of Lillian "Todie" Tull's famed house of ill repute on North Jackson Street. Two different father-and-son hoodlum partnerships, the McKinneys and the Bells, terrorized the area in the 1800s. And a brutal fistfight between a newspaper editor and the mayor sparked a scandal in 1877.
In this book, enlivened by photos and illustrations, journalist Paul J. Hoffman guides you on a wild ride through the city's salacious side.
Dubbed the "Athens of the Prairie" for its array of stunning modern architecture, Columbus, Indiana, nevertheless endured its share of unsavory citizens, crime-ridden neighborhoods, and tales of woe in its past. Many residents avoided the infamous slums of Smoky Row and Death Valley, while others gave in to the allure of Lillian "Todie" Tull's famed house of ill repute on North Jackson Street. Two different father-and-son hoodlum partnerships, the McKinneys and the Bells, terrorized the area in the 1800s. And a brutal fistfight between a newspaper editor and the mayor sparked a scandal in 1877.
In this book, enlivened by photos and illustrations, journalist Paul J. Hoffman guides you on a wild ride through the city's salacious side.
- GenresNonfiction
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2011
15 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Paul J. Hoffman
4 books3 followersEver since Paul J. Hoffman was young, he’s been digging for answers to life’s questions. His fifth-grade teacher, Cynthia Chovanec, noted his enthusiasm for finding the truth, writing on his report card: “Paul knows the value of research materials. He knows where to find the information he seeks.”
Hoffman has been using that inquisitive nature and penchant for getting questions answered throughout his 34-year career as a journalist as well as with his three published books.
His first book, Murder in Wauwatosa: The Mysterious Death of Buddy Schumacher, was published in 2012 by The History Press. It is a true story of the disappearance of an 8-year-old boy in 1925 and the subsequent investigation into the boy’s murder. Wicked Columbus, Indiana, published in June 2017 by the same publisher, tells the true tales of some of that city’s more salacious stories. His most recent book is 200 Years of First Presbyterian Church Columbus, Indiana: Honoring Our Past, Building Our Legacy. Paul is a member of the church and has been involved in various committees there. The book details the interesting stories behind the congregations’ longevity as well as many of the programs that the church, or its members of their own volition, started that have brought needed services to the community.
Hoffman left journalism in 2019 and owns a book publishing company, PathBinder Publishing LLC, which has more than 40 titles available. His creative nature has also led to several roles in community theater, including a starring role in Kalamazoo at Willow Leaves of Hope in February 2023, and a supporting role in The Odd Couple there in July 2022.
His journalism experience includes: sportswriter, Milwaukee Sentinel; assistant sports editor, Pioneer Press newspapers in the Chicago area; sports editor and news editor, The Shelbyville (Ind.) News; news editor, The (Columbus) Republic; special publications editor, Daily Journal in Franklin; and group special publications editor, AIM Media Indiana, Columbus.
He is a graduate of Leadership Johnson County (2016) and former co-chair of LJC’s liaison committee. He enjoys walking and raising money for Huntington’s Disease research, and ran for a seat on the Bartholomew County Council in 2022.
Hoffman was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and was raised in Wauwatosa, a suburb of Milwaukee. He is a graduate of Wauwatosa East High School and attended both the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, graduating from the latter with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications (Radio/TV sequence) and a minor in English.
He is married to Kimberly Sue Hoffman. Between them, they have six grown children and a granddaughter.
He enjoys walking, photography, sports, and raising money for Huntington’s Disease research.
Hoffman has been using that inquisitive nature and penchant for getting questions answered throughout his 34-year career as a journalist as well as with his three published books.
His first book, Murder in Wauwatosa: The Mysterious Death of Buddy Schumacher, was published in 2012 by The History Press. It is a true story of the disappearance of an 8-year-old boy in 1925 and the subsequent investigation into the boy’s murder. Wicked Columbus, Indiana, published in June 2017 by the same publisher, tells the true tales of some of that city’s more salacious stories. His most recent book is 200 Years of First Presbyterian Church Columbus, Indiana: Honoring Our Past, Building Our Legacy. Paul is a member of the church and has been involved in various committees there. The book details the interesting stories behind the congregations’ longevity as well as many of the programs that the church, or its members of their own volition, started that have brought needed services to the community.
Hoffman left journalism in 2019 and owns a book publishing company, PathBinder Publishing LLC, which has more than 40 titles available. His creative nature has also led to several roles in community theater, including a starring role in Kalamazoo at Willow Leaves of Hope in February 2023, and a supporting role in The Odd Couple there in July 2022.
His journalism experience includes: sportswriter, Milwaukee Sentinel; assistant sports editor, Pioneer Press newspapers in the Chicago area; sports editor and news editor, The Shelbyville (Ind.) News; news editor, The (Columbus) Republic; special publications editor, Daily Journal in Franklin; and group special publications editor, AIM Media Indiana, Columbus.
He is a graduate of Leadership Johnson County (2016) and former co-chair of LJC’s liaison committee. He enjoys walking and raising money for Huntington’s Disease research, and ran for a seat on the Bartholomew County Council in 2022.
Hoffman was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and was raised in Wauwatosa, a suburb of Milwaukee. He is a graduate of Wauwatosa East High School and attended both the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, graduating from the latter with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications (Radio/TV sequence) and a minor in English.
He is married to Kimberly Sue Hoffman. Between them, they have six grown children and a granddaughter.
He enjoys walking, photography, sports, and raising money for Huntington’s Disease research.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 23, 2017
Stories of some of the seamier past residents of my hometown of Columbus, Indiana. Only one of the tales occurred during my lifetime and that was when I was nine, so I was not aware of most of these events and even some of the long gone neighborhoods they took place in. I enjoyed learning about "Smoky Row" and "Jug Row", etc. and some of their more colorful residents. I particularly enjoyed the account of the mayor and the editor of 'The Evening Republican' newspaper having a fistfight in downtown Columbus in 1874. Lillian Tull's house of ill repute and the drunken eleven year old who kept getting returned home after being found staggering drunk multiple times in the 1890s was a good one also. Ha!
January 4, 2020
It was ok. Drawn out stories. It was interesting to me because I lived in Columbus for many years. I worked in surgery at the time of the Gammell / Jacobs / Marr deal. I thought it got alot more attention than it deserved. I always thought the police had ovet active imaginations!
It was ok. Drawn out stories. I would not reccomend at current price. I lived in Columbus for many years , when I lived there it had the "good old boy " atmosphere. This book certainly points that out.
It was ok. Drawn out stories. I would not reccomend at current price. I lived in Columbus for many years , when I lived there it had the "good old boy " atmosphere. This book certainly points that out.
June 26, 2025
Probably only interesting to locals.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews