History Mysteries

Four true stories of unexplained deaths and disappearances from Kentucky’s past.

Historians are like detectives—and some historical events are like cold cases that haven’t been solved yet. This concise, clearly written book presents the stories of four mysteries of Kentucky history:

• The disappearance of James Harrod, who told his wife he was going hunting in 1792 and never returned
• The unknown fate of “Honest Dick” Tate, the nineteenth-century Kentucky State Treasurer who ran off with a fortune in stolen funds
• The battlefield death of Indian chief Tecumseh
• The assassination of William Goebel, who died four days after being sworn in as governor

In this enjoyable trip through the past, Kentucky State Historian James Klotter offers clues—but leaves the solutions to the reader.