This image is the cover for the book Murder & Mayhem in Rockford, Illinois

Murder & Mayhem in Rockford, Illinois

The shocking true crimes of Rockford, Illinois, come to light in this fascinating account of a midwestern city’s sordid history of murder and corruption.

Rockford, Illinois, rightly prizes its prosperous heritage, built on manufacturing concerns like the Rockford Watch Factory and the Manny Reaper Company. But the town formerly known as Midway also harbors a history of crime and calamity . . .

Gunfire broke out in the streets when networks of Prohibition informants decided to go rogue. In 1893, John Hart forced his own sisters to drink poison. Three years later, James French shot down his wife in the street. Over the years, a courthouse collapsed, a factory exploded and trains collided . . .

Join local historian Kathi Kresol as she explores Rockford, Illinois’s scandalous past in this gripping book of small-town true crime stories.

Kathi Kresol

Kathi Kresol has been researching Rockford’s history for the past ten years. She shares the fascinating stories she uncovers through her website at www.hauntedrockford.com, her “Voices from the Grave” column in the Rock River Times weekly newspaper and through her Haunted Rockford tours. Kresol is a member of Rockford Historical Society and has worked at the Rockford Public Library for years and loves sharing her enthusiasm for history and reading in any way possible.

The History Press