The Blue-Eyed Six was the story of six men, who took out life insurance policies on Joseph Raber, and then planned to kill him for the insurance money.  He was reportedly pushed into the Indiantown Creek and was held under the water by two of the six on December 7, 1878.  The name "The Blue-Eyed Six" was given to them by an un-named newspaper reporter.  He noticed at the trial that all six of the accused had blue eyes.  After they were convicted of conspiracy in the murder of Joseph Raber, they were incarcerated in the Lebanon County Prison.  Five of the six were hanged in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Story Two

The Victim:  Joseph Raber
 

Born: Jan. 14, 1819 - possibly in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
 
Died: Dec. 7, 1878 at Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Drowned by one or more of the Blue-Eyed Six.
 
Buried: Moonshine Cemetery, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

Occupation: Harvest hand and/or Road   worker and general laborer at various times.

Common-Law Marriage: Polly Kreiser (sister of Sabina).  Joseph and Polly resided in a previously deserted one room charcoal burner's shack in the mountain in the northern section of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

George Zechman

 
 
Born: Aug. 15, 1849 in Berks County, Pennsylvania
Died: Mar. 19, 1887 in Union Township., Lebanon
         County, Pennsylvania
Buried: Sattazahn's Lutheran Cemetery, Lebanon County,
             Pennsylvania
Occupation: Miner - Farmer - Teamster
Wife: Annie M. nee Ditzler
         -Parents of 6 children (1880 Census Info)
         -Residents of Fishing Creek Valley

The only one of the six who was found not guilty

Charles Drews

 
 
Born: Jul. 9, 1820 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Died: Nov. 14, 1879 - Hanged in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Buried: Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Military: Served a term in the German Army. Was also a
               Civil War Vet:  93rd. Reg. - PA Vols. 1861-1865
Occupations: Served as a butcher, carpenter, mason, and
                      iron worker
Wife: Sabina Talva Kreiser (sister of Polly)
         -Parents of 12 children (1880 Census Info)
         -Resided near St. Joseph's Spring, Lebanon County,
          Pennsylvania

Israel Brandt

 
 
Born: May 27, 1834 in North Lebanon Township, Lebanon
          County, Pennsylvania
Died: May 13, 1880 - Hanged in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Buried: Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Occupations: Tailor, farmer, tavern mgr. - Cold Spring
                       Hotel and Half-Way House Hotel, owner of
                       hotel at St. Joseph's Spring (all hotels were in
                       Lebanon County)
               -Lost left arm in threshing accident in Illinois
Married: 1857 - first wife died 1867 of consumption.
                Remarried in 1868
                -Parent of 2 children from first marriage, 4
                children from second marriage

Franklin Stichler

 
 
Born: Oct. 16, 1859 in Union Township, Lebanon County,
          Pennsylvania
Died: Nov. 14, 1879 - Hanged in Lebanon County
Buried: Family plot a short distance from St. Joseph's Spring
Occupations: Miner/laborer

Josiah Hummel

Henry F. Wise