Black Sheep Sunday: Harry Pierpont

Mug shot of Harry Pierpont

Last week, after watching Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, I turned to Wikipedia and began reading about the lives of John Dillinger and other members of his gang.


When I read the entry for Harry Pierpont, I can across this line which made me stop in my tracks:

"Born in Muncie, Indiana, to J. Gilbert and Lena Orcutt Pierpont..."

Orcutt....Orcutt...why did that name sound so familiar?  Turning to my database, I quickly found my answer.  My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Samantha E. METZNER had married James ORCUTT on May 12, 1878 in Jay County, Indiana.  Jay County is just north of Muncie.  Could there be a connection?


Thus began my search of Google and other sources.  I quickly found the website OutlawHistory.com which had a lot of information on Harry's criminal history and his family tree.  Turns out his mother, Lena, was the daughter of James and Samantha!  Harry was my paternal 2nd cousin 2 times removed.  Harry's grandmother, Samantha, had died when his mother, Lena, was only 7.  James ORCUTT remarried and moved to Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana.


My grandmother would have been Harry's 2nd cousin, and I wonder if she knew they were related when she read about his exploits in the headlines.


The Dillinger era in Indiana was a wild and tumultuous time.  Reading the activities of the "Terror Gang" is fascinating.  The times were much as they are today - the populace not trusting the banks, etc.  The fact that Harry robbed banks in my neck of the woods makes me want to dig deeper into the history of this time period in the midwest.


I've spent much of the last week scouring the newspaper articles at Ancestry.com and surfing the web reading about the criminal acts of my cousin and other members of his gang.  Though the portrayals in the movie Public Enemies took liberties with history - Harry Pierpont did break out of the Indiana State Prison at Michigan City and then busted his pal John Dillinger out of the Allen County, Ohio jail in Lima.  It was during this breakout that Harry shot and killed the sheriff.  It was this crime that he was ultimately executed for by the State of Ohio.


Harry died October 17, 1934 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio by legal electrocution.  A copy of his death certificate was found at the FamilySearch website:

Harry was buried at the Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, next to his older sister, Fern.  Later his mother, Lena, was buried there as well.

As I piece together the rest of the story, I hope to connect with others who may be related to this family and may have more stories to tell.


Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Sunday's Obituary : Catherine Elizabeth (Lemasters) Wehrly (1840-1911)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, December 26, 1911, page 1.

PNEUMONIA IS AGAIN FATAL

Short Illness Ends The Life of Mrs. Catherine Wehrly At Home Of Son

Funeral Services Wednesday

Last Rites for Pioneer Resident of Jay County Will Be At Salamonia

Catherine Elizabeth Wehrly, 71, is dead at the home of her son, Lon Wehrly, west of Boundary, after a short illness of pneumonia.  She had gone from her home in South Portland for a visit with her son and family, and was taken ill while there.

Mrs. Wehrly, who was the daughter of Luman and Nancy (Young) Leemaster, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, June 26, 1840.  Early in life, she came with her parents to Jay county, and has since been a continuous resident.  Her husband, the late John P. Wehrly, died several years ago.  Three daughters and two sons survive, they being Mrs. John Boyd, of Oregon, Belle, wife of John Marlin, of Ft. Recovery; Alice Stump and Lewis W. Wehrly, of Ft. Recovery, and Lon Wehrly of near Boundary, at whose home she died.

The funeral services will be held at the Methodist church in Salamonia Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Surname Saturday : KING

The KING surname is in my maternal line.  The origins of the surname are unknown at this time.


Stories and history:


Ahnentafel # 25: Ellen King (1868-1913).  Ellen was born August 24, 1868 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  She married May 13, 1888 in Madison County, Indiana to John William Wright (1860-1945).  John was born February 21, 1860 in Brown County, Ohio.  They lived in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  According to the 1910 census, Ellen was the mother of 4 children, with only 2 living.  John died June 5, 1945 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Ellen died December 24, 1913 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 50: Daniel King (1820-1876).  Daniel was born September 3, 1820 in Ohio, possibly Butler County.  Daniel married December 5, 1847 in Madison County, Indiana to Elizabeth Shaw (1827-1900).  Elizabeth was born October 1827 in Ohio.  They raised 10 children in Jackson and Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Elizabeth died October 10, 1900 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  Daniel died February 24, 1876 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Howard Cemetery, Pipe Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 100: William King (c1790-1869).  William was born circa 1790 in North Carolina.  He married before 1816 to Sarah Sullivan (1777-1872).  Sarah was born May 19, 1777 in Taneytown, Caroll County, Maryland. They were the parents of 8 children. They were divorced August 1833 in Wayne County, Indiana.  William remarried March 12, 1834 in Wayne County, Indiana to Nancy Ann Owings (1817-1887).  Nancy was born November 17, 1817 in North Carolina.  They had 8 children and lived in Madison and Wabash Counties, Indiana.  Nancy died July 13, 1887 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Sarah died January 14, 1872 in Madison County, Indiana.  William died May 7, 1869 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Sarah is buried in the Howard Cemetery, Pipe Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana.  William and Nancy are buried in the Dora Cemetery, Wabash County, Indiana.


Related blog posts:

• Daniel King (1820-1876)

• John Wright Cemetery Plot: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Alexandria, IN

• What Happened To Grandma's Babies?

• Ellen (King) Wright (1868-1913)

• Tombstone Tuesday: Daniel and Elizabeth (Shaw) King

• Tombstone Tuesday: John and Ellen (King) Wright

• Daniel King Family - Madison Co

• Notice of Final Settlement - Daniel King

Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.