Monday, November 21, 2011

Pierpont Family in Indianapolis, 1919

Polk's 1919 City Directory, Indianapolis, Indiana


Continuing my research into the PIERPONT family in Indianapolis, the 1919 Polk's Directory at Archive.org listed the following PIERPONTS [h=house, b=boarder].  I have been hoping to find out more about the early days of Harry Pierpont.


Pierpont Clarence M mach h1150 Spruce
Pierpont Cora F clk CCC&StLRy r1150 Spruce
Pierpont Edw L lab h1462 S Harding
Pierpont Ezra M mach h206 N Chester av
Pierpont Fern M bkpr Fidelity Trust Co r54th and Keystone av
Pierpont Frank (USA) r1742 W Morris
Pierpont Jno E (USA) r1742 W Morris
Pierpont Jno T woodwkr r1742 W Morris
Pierpont Macel lndrs r967 King av
Pierpont Wm E mech h967 King av
Pierpont Wm R finisher h2812 Schofield av

Harry's  sister Fern is working as a bookkeeper for Fidelity Trust Co., same as she was in the 1918 directory.  In that directory, her residence was 1107 Blaine.


The unidentified Clarence PIERPONT appears to have moved between 1918-1919, in the 1918 directory he was living at 1819 Southeastern avenue.  The Cora listed at the same address as Clarence could be his wife.


The Edward L. PIERPONT may be the same as the one found in earlier directories, who I believe was the son of John T. and Hester PIERPONT.   In the 1918 directory, he was living at 1747 Blain avenue.  Edward was a younger brother of Harry's father, Joseph Gilbert.


The Ezra M PIERPONT, the machinst, is I believe the brother of Edward L, also another son of John T. and Hester PIERPONT.  In the 1918 directory, he was living at 1036 Blain avenue.


The Frank and John E PIERPONT, listed as serving in the U.S. Army, are the sons of John T. and Hester PIERPONT.


The John T. PIERPONT, woodworker, is the patriarch of most of the Indianapolis Pierpont families.  He is living at the same household he was living in the 1918 directory.


The remaining Pierponts are unidentified into this family group at this time.


The listing for the 1918 directory can be found here.


Again, where was Harry's father, Joseph Gilbert and the rest of the family living at this time?  Why are they found in the 1920 census in Indianapolis, but not in any directories between 1912-1920 period?

Greeting For Thanksgiving



Miss Vera Haley
Portland Ind.
R.F.D. 9

Dear Friend -

How are you? I am feeling fine.  I had Rosa to phone to Wm. Haley to see how Ruth was and I was pleased to hear she was improved.   I wish you a merry Thanksgiving.

I remain,

Clarence

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This postcard, postmarked Fort Recovery, Ohio, November 23, 1911, was sent to my paternal great-aunt, Vera Haley, by her future husband, Clarence Stuber.

The Ruth mentioned was Vera's younger sister (and my grandmother), only 6 months old at the time.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Black Sheep Sunday: Saws Are Found In Cells Of Alleged Bandits At Kokomo

Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, April 7, 1925, p. 1.


SAWS ARE FOUND IN CELLS OF ALLEGED BANDITS AT KOKOMO


Kokomo, Ind., April 6. - Escape of Harry Pierpont and Thaddeus Skeer, charged with bank banditry in connection with the South Kokomo bank robbery, is believed to have been frustrated this afternoon when search was made of their cells at the Howard county jail where they are being confined.


Bar Partially Severed.


Ten saws, of which four had been used, were found concealed in the jail, and a bar was found partially severed.  The prisoners had been held but two days before the alleged plot to escape was discovered.


Prosecuting Attorney Homer H. Miller has ordered an investigation of the escape attempt.  Sheriff Joseph M. Lindley asserts that no visitors have been allowed in the cell house.  A heavy guard is being maintained at the jail, day and night, by local authorities, who fear friends may attempt a delivery.


Miss Louise Brunner of Ft. Wayne, who is held as a witness, was released under bond tonight and allowed to return with her mother.  Skeer and Pierpont were taken into city court today ad the date fore their preliminary hearing set for Thursday.  Attorneys have been engaged to fight the charges against the prisoners.


Pierpont's parents arrived in Kokomo yesterday.  Pierpont's attorneys do not yet admit his name is any other than Frank mason, the name he gave in Detroit.


E.L. Bright, cashier of the Laketon State Bank, which was robbed Monday of $1,968, and Violet Odgen, assistant cashier, saw Skeer, Pierpont and Hayes in Detroit, but were unable to identify them as the Laketon bandits.


A hardware dealer from Lebanon, who sought to identify the suspects as bandits who held him up several weeks ago and took a number of pistols and firearms, was unable to identify them yesterday.


Fort Wayne police, investigating the activities of "Ted" Skeer, Pierpont and "Whitey" Hayes, have strong evidence that the trio was involved in the holdup of the A & P store there March 21, according to Associated Press dispatches from that city.


------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the South Kokomo State Bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934).  Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger.  These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.