Today in Wheeling History: June 29--Joseph Eisele, "The Parkersburg Murderer," brutally killed Aloys Ulrich along the Hempfield Railroad in Wheeling, an act that would later become associated with local ghost stories about Tunnel Green (1867).
Joseph Eisele, born around 1834 in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, emigrated to the United States around 1864. He settled in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where he worked as a carpenter and woodworker. Eisele's life took a dark turn in 1867 when he began a series of brutal murders. His first known victim was Joseph Lillenthal, a fellow German immigrant, whom he killed in Parkersburg. Eisele then moved to Wheeling, where he murdered Aloys Ulrich on June 29, 1867. Eisele lured Ulrich to a secluded area along the Hempfield Railroad, where he attacked him with a hatchet, decapitating him and stealing his money and watch. This murder, along with two others, earned Eisele the moniker "The Parkersburg Murderer." Eisele was eventually apprehended and confessed to his crimes. He was executed by hanging on March 6, 1868, in Parkersburg. Eisele's gruesome acts left a lasting impact on the Wheeling community, and his story is often associated with the haunted Tunnel Green, where Ulrich's ghost is said to linger.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/qpggJ), Weelunk (https://shorturl.at/noNTG), The Trumpet (https://shorturl.at/ILJfs)
Photo credits: Wheeling Intelligencer, Wheeling Register, Weelunk, Cincinnati Enquirer, Pittsburgh Commercial, Philadelphia Inquirer, Detroit Free Press
Joseph Eisele, born around 1834 in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, emigrated to the United States around 1864. He settled in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where he worked as a carpenter and woodworker. Eisele's life took a dark turn in 1867 when he began a series of brutal murders. His first known victim was Joseph Lillenthal, a fellow German immigrant, whom he killed in Parkersburg. Eisele then moved to Wheeling, where he murdered Aloys Ulrich on June 29, 1867. Eisele lured Ulrich to a secluded area along the Hempfield Railroad, where he attacked him with a hatchet, decapitating him and stealing his money and watch. This murder, along with two others, earned Eisele the moniker "The Parkersburg Murderer." Eisele was eventually apprehended and confessed to his crimes. He was executed by hanging on March 6, 1868, in Parkersburg. Eisele's gruesome acts left a lasting impact on the Wheeling community, and his story is often associated with the haunted Tunnel Green, where Ulrich's ghost is said to linger.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/qpggJ), Weelunk (https://shorturl.at/noNTG), The Trumpet (https://shorturl.at/ILJfs)
Photo credits: Wheeling Intelligencer, Wheeling Register, Weelunk, Cincinnati Enquirer, Pittsburgh Commercial, Philadelphia Inquirer, Detroit Free Press
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