Divorce Papers: William Clifford LeMaster

From the Colorado State Archives, I was able to obtain copies of the divorce papers of my paternal great-granduncle, William Clifford LeMASTER, who married Lella Edith LEWIS on August 20, 1892 in Jay County, Indiana.  After living in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio for a number of years, they moved west to Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado before 1910.  William filed for divorce in Teller County, Colorado in August 21 1917 - and papers were served to Lella in Los Angeles, California on September 5, 1917.

STATE OF COLORADO

County of Teller; SS

IN THE COUNTY COURT

No. 3359

WILLIAM C. LEMASTER, Plaintiff

vs.

LELLA E. LEMASTER, Defendant

ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICE

I hereby accept service in the above entitled cause and acknowledge receipt of a true copy of the summons and complaint.  I also waive all right to a trial by jury and consent that the case may go to trial at any time the plaintiff may elect without any notice to me.

Lella E. LeMaster

copy of Lella's signature

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5 day of September A.D. 1917.

Earl ????

Notary Public

STATE OF COLORADO

County of Teller; SS

IN THE COUNTY COURT

No. 3359

William C. LeMaster, Plaintiff

vs.

Lella E. LeMaster, Defendant     

SUMMONS

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO,

To Lella E. LeMaster the defendant named, GREETING:

You are hereby required to appear in an action brought against you by the above named plaintiff, in the County Court of Teller County, State of Colorado; or, if served out of the State of Colorado, or by publication, within fifty days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of service; or said action may be regularly set for trial the same as though such appearance had been made and issue had been joined on such complaint.

The said action is brought by plaintiff to obtain a decree of divorce, dissolving the bonds of matrimony now existing between plaintiff and defendant, on the ground of desertion as will more fully appear from the complaint in said action to which reference is hereby made and a copy of which is hereto attached.

And you are hereby notified that if you fail to appear, and plead to said complaint as above required, the said plaintiff will apply to the Court for the relief therein demanded.

Given under my hand and the seal of said Court, this 21st day of August A.D. 1917

K.C. Gustin, Clerk

STATE OF COLORADO
County of Teller; SS


IN THE COUNTY COURT
No. 3359


William C. LeMaster, Plaintiff


vs.


Lella E. LeMaster, Defendant


COMPLAINT


Comes now the above named plaintiff, by Alvin S. Frank, his attorney, and complains of the defendant and for cause of action alleges:

1.

That plaintiff is and for more than one year last past has been a bona fide resident of the state of Colorado and of the county of Teller.

2.

That plaintiff and defendant were married at Salamonia, Indiana, on the 21st of August, 1892, ever since have been and now are husband and wife.  That there were born to plaintiff and defendant as a result of the aforesaid marriage the following minor children, Ralph M. LeMaster, of the age of fifteen years, at present residing with the plaintiff, and William C. LeMaster, Jr., of the age of thirteen years, at present residing with the defendant.

3.

That the defendant deserted plaintiff on the tenth day of July, 1916, and in spite of frequent requests of plaintiff that she return to him and live with him she has continually refused to live with plaintiff as his wife.

4.

That the amount involved in this action does not exceed the sum of two thousand dollars.

Wherefore plaintiff prays that the bonds of matrimony heretofore and now existing between him and defendant be totally and forever dissolved at his costs; that he be given the custody of his minor son, Ralph M. LeMaster and that the defendant be given custody of William C. LeMaster, Jr., and for such other and further orders as to the Court may seem proper in the premises.

Alvin S. Franks [signature]

Attorney for Plaintiff

State of Colorado,

County of Teller, SS.

WILLIAM C. LEMASTER, being first duly sworn upon his oath deposes and says: that he is the plaintiff in the above entitled cause; that he has read the above and foregoing complaint and knows the contents thereof and that the same is true of his own knowledge.

Wm. C. LeMaster

Signature of William C. LeMaster

STATE OF COLORADO

County of Teller

In the County Court

No. 3559

William C. LeMaster, Plaintiff

vs.

Lella E. LeMaster, Defendant

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

This cause having been brought on to be tried on the 24th day of September A.D. 1917, the plaintiff appearing by Alvin S. Frank, his attorney, and the defendant not appearing, either in person or by attorney, the case not being contested, the cause being tried to the Court without a jury, and the evidence having been duly presented and submitted,

THE COURT DOTH FIND: That the Summons was regularly issued in this cause and served up the defendant by acceptance of service by defendant acknowledged before Earl Newmire, notary public within and for Los Angeles County at Los Angeles, California.

That more than thirty days elapsed after the filing of the complaint herein before the trial of this cause;

That the plaintiff resides in Teller County in the State of Colorado;

That the plaintiff was personally present at the trial;

That at the date of the commencement of this action the plaintiff had been a bona fide resident and citizen of the State of Colorado during the one year next prior to the commencement thereof;

That the plaintiff and defendant were lawfully married on or about the 21st day of August, A.D. 1892 and ever since have been and now are husband and wife;

That the plaintiff and defendant have two minor children as the issue of said marriage; to-wit: Ralph E. LeMaster and William C. LeMaster, Jr.

That the said Ralph M. LeMaster is of the age of fifteen years and is residing with the plaintiff, and that the said William C. LeMaster, Junior, is of the age of thirteen years and is residing with the defendant.

That the said plaintiff, William C. LeMaster, is a fit and proper person to have the care and custody of the said Ralph M. LeMaster, and that the said defendant, Lella E. LeMaster, is a fit and proper person to have the care and custody of the said William C. LeMaster, Junior, and it is so ordered by the Court, and it is further ordered that the plaintiff may have the privilege of visiting with the said William C. LeMaster, Jr., for a period of not to exceed three weeks in each year and that the defendant shall have the privilege of visiting with the said Ralph M. LeMaster for a period not to exceed three weeks in each year.

That by competent evidence it has been established that defendant deserted plaintiff more than one year prior to the filing of the complaint in the above entitled cause and has failed and refused ever since to live with plaintiff as his wife.  That plaintiff is entitled to a decree of divorce.

That the plaintiff shall, at the expiration of six months from the date of filing hereof by the Clerk of this Court, be entitled to a Decree of Divorce, provided these Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law have not been set aside and no motion to set them aside remains unheard and undecided.

Done and signed this 24th day of September, A.D. 1917.

By the Court, Karl W. Farr, Judge.

STATE OF COLORADO,

County of Teller, SS.

In the County Court

No. 3359

William C. LeMaster, Plaintiff

vs.

Lella E. LeMaster, Defendant

DECREE

This cause this day having been brought on to be heard and more than six months having elapsed since the day on which the findings of fact and conclusions of law were filed herein and said findings of fact and conclusions of law having not been set aside and no motion to set them aside remaining unheard and undecided, and upon motion of A.S. Frank, Esq., attorney, for the said William C. LeMaster, the plaintiff herein and accordance with said findings of fact and conclusions of law,

IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED by the Court that the bonds of matrimony heretofore and now existing between the said plaintiff William C. LeMaster and the said defendant Lella E. LeMaster be and the same are hereby dissolved and that said parties are, and each of them is, freed and absolutely released therefrom.

AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED by the Court that the sole care, custody and control of the minor child Ralph LeMaster, be and the same hereby is granted to William C. LeMaster, plaintiff herein; and that the sole care, custody and control of the minor child, William C. LeMaster, Jr., be, and the same hereby is granted and given to Lella E. LeMaster, the defendant herein, until the further order of this Court in the premises.  And it is further ordered by the Court that said plaintiff have the privilege of visiting with the said William C. LeMaster, Jr., for a period of not to exceed three weeks in each year, and that the defendant shall have the privilege of visiting with the said Ralph LeMaster for a period of not to exceed three weeks in each year.

That the plaintiff have judgment for his costs herein expended to be taxed and execution may issue therefor.

Done and signed in open court this Third day of April A.D. 1918.

By the Court, Karl W. Farr, Judge

Black Sheep Sunday: Alleged Bank Bandit Leader Held

Source: Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, April 3, 1925, page 1 & 15

ALLEGED BANK BANDIT LEADER HELD

H. PIERPONT IS ARRESTED

He Is Said to Have Led in the Robbing of Two Grant County Banks

Held in Kokomo Case

Bonds Taken From the Bank There Recovered by Detroit Police

--

Harry Pierpont, 24 years old who it was alleged was the leader in the robbing of the South Marion State bank and the Upland State bank last fall, was arrested yesterday at Detroit, Michigan, as a suspect in the robbing of the South Side Bank at Kokomo on Friday, March 27.   Thaddeus R. Skeer, 23, known as “Sudy” Skeer of Fort Wayne, was also arrested, as was Miss Louise Brunner, also of Fort Wayne, who is being held as a witness.

It was reported that a third man said to me, Everett Bridgewater, also a member of the gang  which robbed the Grant county banks, had also been arrested for having taken part in the Kokomo robbery, but this could not be verified last night.

Woman is in Prison

Bridgewater’s wife, Mary, is now serving a term in the women’s prison at Indianapolis for having taken part in the robberies in this county.

The three prisoners have waived extradition and will be brought back to Kokomo, probably today, where the men face charges of bank robbery and petit larceny, warrants of which have already been issued by City Judge Joseph Cripe of Kokomo.

A.E. Garton, cashier of the Kokomo bank, from which more than $10,000 in cash was stolen, went to Detroit yesterday afternoon and identified bonds, amounting to $ 7,000 which were also taken by the robbers.  A part of the cash stolen has also been recovered.

Vernon Shaw, a customer who stopped into the Kokomo bank at the time the robbery took place and who was held up and “Chic” Nelson, who was in a drug store across the street from the bank at the time of the robbery, left last evening for Detroit, where they will attempt to identify the prisoners as those who took part in the robbery.

Gives False Name

Pierpont, when arrested at first gave his name as Frank Mason, but later in the day admitted that his name was Pierpont.  Detectives from the Pinkerton agency trailed the Brunner woman from Fort Wayne to Detroit, and a short time later the woman and Skeer were arrested, when they met in that city.  Pierpont’s arrest followed a short time later.

Deputy Sheriff Woody Smith, who has been working on the case on the supposition that Pierpont and Bridgewater were implicated in the Kokomo robbery, gave a description of Bridgewater to the Detroit police yesterday afternoon, and was told that Mason had admitted that his right name was Pierpont.  Deputy Sheriff Smith stated last night that he would go to Kokomo with a warrant for Pierpont and Bridgewater and would try and get the Kokomo authorities to turn them over to him for trial in this county for robbing the Grant county banks.

With the arrest of Pierpont and possibly Bridgewater, the entire gang of robbers who are alleged to have robbed the Grant county banks will have been rounded up, the other five now serving sentences in prison.  Mrs. Bridgewater was arrested at her home in Indianapolis and brought back to this city, where she was given a sentence of from two to fourteen years.  The other members of the gang, who admitted to being implemented in the robbing of the Upland and South Marion banks, were James Robbins, arrested at Lebanon, the first member of the gang to be arrested; William Behrens, who was arrested at Monticello; Marion (Red) Smith, alias “Springfield Red,” who was arrested at Indianapolis,  upon his return from Springfield; George Frazier of Kokomo, who came to Marion and was turned over to the police by his father and Robert Morris of Indianapolis, arrested in that city, all of whom entered pleas of guilty in the circuit court and were given sentences of from ten to twenty years in prison and Mrs. Emily Morris, arrested at Indianapolis with her husband, who also “plead guilty” and was given a sentence of from two to fourteen years.

---

This article from the Marion, Indiana newspaper gives a little different perspective on the arrest of my cousin Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934) for the Kokomo robbery and ties him to bank jobs in Grant County that need further research.

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.

Surname Saturday: Grimes

The GRIMES surname is in Eileen's maternal line.  The origins of the surname are unknown at this time.


Stories and history:


Ahnentafel # 61: Mary Grimes (1809-1903).  Mary was born April 19, 1809 in Middleton, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.  She married February 16, 1832 in Champaign County, Ohio to George Sills (1809-1880).  George was born December 1, 1809 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.  They raised 6 children in Champaign County, Ohio and Wabash County, Indiana.  George died June 9, 1880 in Dora, Wabash County, Indiana.  Mary died August 21, 1903 in Huntington County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 122: Benjamin Grimes (bet1770-80-abt1868).  Benjamin was born between 1770 and 1780 in Pennsylvania.  He married Catherine Haynes (c1780-aft1864).  Catherine was born circa 1780 in Pennsylvania.  They had 6 children and lived in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Champaign County, Ohio.  Catherine died after August 1864 in Champaign County, Ohio.  Benjamin died about 1868 in Champaign County, Ohio.


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.

A Little Wiki Today

Took a little time today to learn how to update information on Wikipedia about my distant relative, Harry Pierpont.  Harry has been one of my favorite research subjects of late.


As I've blogged about before, it was Harry's page on Wikipedia that first led me to realize we may have a genealogical connection.   Since then I've enjoyed researching articles about his robberies and life of crime.  Just this week I managed to locate a few new articles for future Black Sheep Sunday posts.


Because his page was lacking documentation, I decided to add sections on his Execution and Burial.  Using information such as his death certificate from FamilySearch site and his tombstone photo at FindAGrave, I added source citations to these sections. 


Though I've had an account at Wikipedia for several years, I had never used the account to add information to a page or to create on of my own.  The process was relatively easy to do, and I hope to add sections in the future to Harry's page and update information about his Indiana bank robberies.


Update (6/17): Had so much fun that before bed, continued to update Harry's page and added information about three of his early robberies.

Sunday's Obituary: Rachel (Lemasters) Cunningham (1838-1913)

Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, March 12, 1913, page 1

DIED AT HOME OF HER SON


Mrs Rachel Cunningham Died At Home Of Her Son John Cunningham


Funeral Friday


The Service Will Be Held At The Methodist Church at Salamonia at 2 P.M.


Mrs. Rachel Cunningham passed away at the home of her son John W. Cunningham West Water street at 2 o'clock Wednesday morning.  Mrs. Cunningham has been in failing health for some time but was able to come Sunday from Salamonia, to the home of her son in this city.  She was born in Shelby County, Ohio July 16, 1837 and was the daughter of Leuman and Mary Young LeMasters. Her husband William Cunningham died June 4th 1911.  She is survived by eight brothers and sisters and the following children: Mrs. David Rants, of Salamonia, Phillip Cunningham of Y--- Nebraska, John Cunningham of this city, Mrs. Lorinda Pauling of Cincinati, Ohio and Mrs. C.E. Beard Dayton Ohio.  Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church at Salamonia Friday afternoon at two o'clock.  Rev. Pfifer will officiate, the funeral party will leave the residence at twelve o'clock Friday.


---
Rachel was my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, the daughter of Rev. Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS.  She married William E. CUNNINGHAM on March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana.  She is buried in the Salamonia Cemetery.


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.

Tour of First National Bank of Fort Collins

Found this great historical archive of photos of the bank where my paternal great-granduncle, William Clifford LeMASTER, was cashier back in the early 1910s.  This is an online reproduction of the original 1908 brochure.  It is a great view of what the bank looked like at the time.


There is even a photograph that may show W.C. LeMASTER at work.  It is the photograph of the "Cashier's Room."


I found it interesting that the bank featured a "Ladies' Waiting Room", complete with amenities to appeal to female customers.


Here is the bank's listing in the United States Congressional serial set of 1907 listing the bank and W.C. LeMaster as cashier on Google books:

A Bit About Starling Medical College

My paternal great-granduncle, Ord Otterbein LeMASTER, graduated from Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio in 1902.  Searching the net for more information about the school, I discovered the following website, which gave a bit of information about Starling and medicinal practices of the early 20th century.

Starling was the first medical teaching college in the United States. Most aspiring physicians just a few years earlier had “read medicine” under the tutelage of a respected physician, much as future lawyers then “read the law.”

Makes you wonder how anyone survived being treated by earlier physicians, doesn't it?  

Will of William Clifford LeMaster (1871-1922)

Record of the Last Will and Testament of W.C. LeMaster, Deceased


Victor, Colorado, July 10, 1922


I, W.C. LeMaster being of sound mind declare this my last will;


I give to my sons Ralph M. and W.C. LeMaster Jr. and my daughter Lella E. LeMaster the sum of one dollar each.


To my wife Pannel Brown LeMaster I will 25 shares of New Isis Theatre stock and M.W. Kersey notes of 600 - interest one half of stock in Foster Oil Co., and one half in J.W. Carruthers Oil stock.


To my daughter Gladys A. Moser all stocks, bonds & property of every description not mentioned above, including Chevrolet car - and, I request all funeral expenses, be paid jointly by my wife and daughter Gladys - as well as hospital bill, first exhausting any money I may have in bank toward same -


I ask the Court to appoint my wife Pannel B. LeMaster & daughter Gladys A. Moser joint executrixs without bond.


Witness my hand & seal this 10 day of July, 1922


W.C. LeMaster


Witnesses: Robert E. Roberts, Chris Larsen


Presented for filing and probate by Pannel B. LeMaster this fifth day of September, A.D. 1922


K.C. Gustin, clerk


---
This transcription is of the last will and testament of my paternal great-granduncle, William Clifford LeMASTER (1871-1922).  There is much of interest in this will, not the least of which is that he remarried after divorcing his first wife, Lella Edith LEWIS.


In the 1920 census of Victor, Teller County, Colorado, William and his son Ralph were living in the household of Francis Hall, the proprietor of a restaurant.  William's occupation was listed as the proprietor of a theatre.  Also living in the household was 34 year old Pannill W. BROWN, born in Texas, an organist in the theatre.  

Sometime between 1920 and 1922, William and Pannill must have married.  I wrote to the clerk's office in Teller County, but was unsuccessful in obtaining a record.

The Importance of Staying Connected

In going through my inbox, I re-discovered an email from Jill at Adventures of Grandma Honey, my cousin through the LEMASTER side.  Jill and I are third cousins, her great-grandfather William Clifford and my great-grandfather, Luman Cooper LeMASTER(s) were brothers.


Her ancestor "went west" to Colorado and our families have not been in contact for many years.  Thank you internet for allow us to reconnect and learn more about each other.  I enjoy reading her blog and hope she does the same with mine.


The importance of staying connected hit home when I re-read her initial email to me where she quoted her uncle Don, who knew a bit about the family and after being directed to my blog discovered things he didn't know about the family.  One of the most interesting quotes about his knowledge of the family history was this:

"By the time I was born in 1925, both of my grandfathers were dead. My father's father expired in 1901, my mother's father in 1922. I did not learn until many years later that a great-grandfather survived until I was 6! Here he was a Civil War hero and my mother never mentioned him! If my memory is correct, he had 12 children."

 Here, just a few generations removed, the fact that a great-grandfather had served in the Civil War was lost to that branch of the family!  That is why we do this research - so that other generations do not lose their history.


Later in the email, Jill's uncle Don mentioned Dr. Ord Otterbein LeMASTER, a younger brother of our great-grandfathers:

"I noted in that genealogy website a man named Ord LeMaster, who was a physician from Sidney, Ohio.

When he retired — it could have been the late '40s — he came to California and my mother and I went to Los Angeles to meet him at a family reunion."

Dr. Ord died in 1937, so it must have been in the mid-1930s when he visited.  So at least 70 years had gone by since our families have reconnected again via the Internet.


If you get a chance, take a visit over to the Adventures of Grandma Honey and say "hello" to cousin Jill.

Civil War Pensioners: Jay County, Indiana

While scrolling through Google books on Memorial Day weekend, I came across the Congressional Set list of Civil War pensioners of Jay County, Indiana published in 1883.





Scrolling through the names I discovered several familiar ones, including the following relatives:

• William F. METZNER, of Bryant, wounded in the right thigh, receiving $ 6.00 per month, on roll since October 1867.  [William was the son of John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER; he served in Company E, 89th Indiana Infantry; after the war he married Mary Ann HALEY, daughter of Sebastian and Lydia (RADER) HALEY.]

Cousin Bait: Opening Dialogue

Fellow GeneaBlogger Jennifer Wilhelmi of The Erudite Genealogist began following my blog a while back and wrote me regarding the LEMASTER surname to see if we have a connection.  She was looking for more information regarding Phebe LEMASTER and Johann JUDY (TSCHUDI) and was hoping I could help.

Above are pages 227-228 from the Lemasters U.S.A. 1639-1965 genealogy compiled by Howard Marshall Lemaster and Margaret Herberger, published at Carlinville, Illinois, 1965.  The work does not connect Phoebe to other Lemaster lines, though later works by Ralph Smith place her in the family of Richard Lemaster, son of Isaac and Catherine (Ward) Lemaster.


Though I don't yet have a connection with Jennifer, it is nice to know that the "cousin bait" you create when blogging about your family history can lead to further discussion.  Perhaps our dialogue will ultimately end up with a definitive connection.

Black Sheep Sunday: One Bandit Is Removed To Pendleton

Kokomo Daily Tribune, undated

ONE BANDIT IS REMOVED TO PENDLETON

Harry Pierpont Taken to the State Reformatory for Safe Keeping

GOES UNDER HEAVY GUARD

Step Taken Because Developments Showed Precautions Necessary.

An air of dense mystery surrounded the Howard county jail today.  It began to surround the antiquated bastille at an early hour and grew denser as the day proceeded.

The mystery deepened about 9 o'clock when a side door was opened and a party of eight or ten men emerged and walked hurriedly down to the alley that bounds the jail yard on the south side.

Here the party was quickly disposed in two automobiles, one of them being Willie Dye's Apperson sedan and the other the Ford sedan belonging to Sherriff Joe Lindley.

In the first car, driven by Mr. Dye, was Harry Pierpont, charged with participating in the robbery of the South Kokomo bank on March 27.  Pierpont was heavily manacled and guarded by Deputy Sheriff Ward Cooper and Officers Cherry and Jackson of the Kokomo police department.

Sheriff Lindley and Chief of Police A.E. Underwood rode in the former's car, which followed the Apperson as it drove away, headed south.

Ostensibly the destination of the party was Pendleton, but - There are so many contingenise [sic] and unexplained circumstances that follow, naturally after that word "but," that it is hard to make a beginning and keep them in proper sequence.

That Ted Skeer, also charged with participation in the robbery, was not spirited away at the same time caused considerable comment.  In fact, nothing definite could be ascertained touching Skeer's whereabouts.

Has he been similarly smuggled out of the jail and immured elsewhere?  Is he still in the jail?  Why wasn't he taken away at the same time Pierpont was removed?

There was no answer forthcoming to any of these questions.  All inquiries regarding Skeer were met with reticence.  Questioning led to a blank wall of silence.

Perhaps the finding of a number of saws in the jail Monday and the discovery that a window bar had been sawed half in two had something to do with the hurried disposal of Pierpont.

Sheriff Lindley declared positively Monday morning that his two notorious prisoners would not be taken to Pendleton or elsewhere for safe keeping; that he was capable of safeguarding them himself with the strong force of helpers he had pressed into service, and that when the law required them of him he would deliver them to the court.

The mysterious trip this morning indicates a reversal of this decision.  The finding of the saws in the jail was the result of forethought on the part of C.F. Huntington, operative of the Pinkerton detective agency who bethought him that a search of the cells occupied by the two prisoners, while they were in court Monday afternoon, would not be amiss.  That his forethought was justified was proved when no less than twelve saw blades were brought to light by the search - five of them were concealed in the cell occupied by Pierpont and six were hidden in various places around the jail to all of which Pierpont had access.  One blade was later found in Skeer's cell.

In addition the legs were found broken from a number of cots, as thought they had been got in readiness to be used as cudgels.  The mattresses of all the cots might yet be sprinkled with hacksaw blades, Huntington said today, adding that it was impracticable to search them all thoroughly.

That both Pierpont and Skeer had been working with saws on bars in the windows of their cells was manifest to the most cursory inspection, and if the saws had not been discovered when they were there might have been a jail delivery during the night.

How the saws were smuggled to the prisoners, considering the fact that they have been so closely guarded and no one allowed to come into contact with them, seems to be another mystery of the case.

Sheriff Lindley, Chief of Police Underwood and the other officers returned at 1:10 o'clock this afternoon, four hours being consumed in making the round trip, one of which was spent in looking over the new reformatory at Pendleton.  The trip both ways was uneventful.

A warden who met the party at the reformatory singled out Pierpont as the cars stopped.

"Hello, Pierpont!" the warden greeted him.  "You back again?"

"My name is not Pierpont," the prisoner returned.

"You certainly are." the warden insisted, but the prisoner continued to deny his identity.

What Pierpont hoped to gain by the denial is not manifest, in view of the fact that he has not only been repeatedly identified as Harry Pierpont, but his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Pierpont of Brazil, Ind., came to Kokomo Sunday and engaged attorneys to defend their son.

Inside the reformatory Pierpont told the sheriff: "Well, I guess I'll be riding back again soon," meaning to the preliminary hearing on Thursday.

The sheriff assured him that he was mistaken in the guess; that the hearing would not be held for two or three weeks at least.

The decision to remove the bandits to the reformatory was reached Monday night, after discovery a few hours before of eleven hack saws in the cells of the prisoners.  One cell bar had been sawed half in two when the fact that the prisoners had tools came to light.  A search of their cells while they were in city court Monday afternoon revealed they were in possession of saws.

  About twenty-five men attended this meeting, all the banks being represented by two or three members of their official staffs.  The bankers talked the situation over very frankly with Sheriff Lindley.  They told him they had the utmost confidence that he would exert every care to prevent the escape of the prisoners, but pointed out that the county jail is woefully inadequate as a place of detention for desperate men, such as Pierpont and Skeers undoubtedly are, and urged the sheriff to take them to the reformatory at Pendleton for temporary safe-keeping.  The bankers said that now that the local authorities have the two bandits, no chances whatever should be taken with them.  All should work, the bankers said, to the end that the prisoners be tried and disposed of in a way that will put them permanently where they will have no opportunity to be a further menace to society.

Sheriff Lindley was impressed by this argument, and it, taken in connection with the discovery of the saws, led him to decide not to keep them prisoners in the county jail another day unless it should be found absolutely necessary.  He telephoned Governor Ed Jackson for permission to place the two men in the reformatory.  The governor gave his consent immediately and sent word to the reformatory to prepare to receive them.

Miss Louise Brunner, 21, attractive and modishly garbed in a tan tailored suit with silk hose and pumps to match, was an interested spectator in all the proceedings about the jail today, in the residence portion of which she is awaiting the arrival of friends from Ft. Wayne who have signified their willingness to provide the $500 bond required to hold her as a material witness in the robbery case.  The girl is tall, browned eyed an possess a thick mane of wavy brown hair, bobbed, but giving evidence of careful attention.

Her loyalty to Thaddeus Skeer, the bandit suspect whom she expected to marry the Friday following the robbery here, is quite plain.  This morning she discussed their interrupted matrimonial plans, stating that she intended to wed Skeer, if possible, before he is sent to prison, in case he is convicted and sentenced.

She was expecting to return to Ft. Wayne today and resume her employment at the Wayne Knitting company's mill.


---
This undated article from the Kokomo Daily Tribune was found in the vertical file at the Kokomo-Howard County Library for my cousin Harry Pierpont (1902-1934).  Will need to verify, but would guess it was April 7, 1925 and a follow up to earlier article about the robbery of the South Kokomo bank.  

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: Una Maude (LeMaster) Phillips (1884-1968)

Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, September 16, 1968, page 8.

Maude Phillips


Funeral services for former Jay County resident Mrs. Una Maude Phillips, 84, were conducted today in David City, Neb.


Mrs. Phillips, wife of Dr. S.W. Phillips, died Friday evening at her home in David City.  She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.W. LeMaster, west of Salamonia.  She was a school teacher at Bryant and Madison Township Schools in Jay County.  Mrs. Phillips was a member of the Methodist Church in David City.


Surviving are her husband, one daughter, a brother, Arthur LeMaster, RR 6, Portland, and several nieces and nephews in Jay County.

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: Rinehart

The RINEHART surname is in Eileen's maternal line.  The origins of the surname are Swiss.  Spelling variations of the surname include: Reinhart, Reinhard, etc.




Stories and history:


Ahentafel # 57 : Margaret Rinehart (1822-1895).  Margaret was born July 6, 1822 in Henry County, Indiana.  She married January 31, 1841 in Henry County, Indiana to Solomon Lewis (1820-1895).  Solomon was born January 9, 1820 in Montgomery County, Ohio.  They raised 7 children in Wayne and Huntington Counties, Indiana.  Solomon died December 18, 1895 in Lancaster, Huntington County, Indiana.  Margaret died October 28, 1895 in Lancaster, Huntington County, Indiana. 


Ahnentafel # 114: Jacob Rinehart (1796-1847).  Jacob was December 9, 1796 in Virginia.  He married January 29, 1821 in Preble County, Ohio to Mary "Polly" Adney (1800-1877).  Mary was born December 6, 1800.  They had 3 children.  Mary died December 7, 1877 in Henry County, Indiana.  Jacob died August 4, 1847 in Henry County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Chicago Corner Cemetery, Henry County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 228: Peter Rinehart (1764-1850).  Peter was born in 1764 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He married Margaret Minga (1772-1855).  Margaret was born January 25, 1772 in Pennsylvania.  They raised 9 children in Botetourt County, Virginia and Preble County, Ohio.  Margaret died October 5, 1855 in Chester Township, Wabash County, Indiana.  Peter died October 4, 1850 in Preble County, Ohio.


Ahnentafel # 456: Ulrich Rinehart (1745-1828).  Ulrich was born 1745 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He married Margaret ________.  They had at least one son.  Ulrich died 1828 in Preble County, Ohio.


Ahnentafel # 912: Ulrich Rinehart (1704-1787).  Ulrich was born August 12, 1704 in Sumiswald, Canton Bern Switzerland.  He married Barbara Sauer (c1710-bet1743-7).  Barbara was born circa 1710 in Barlenburg.  They had at least one son.  Barbara died between 1743 and 1747 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Ulrich died February 12, 1787.


Related blog posts:

• Adney - Rinehart Connections

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.

Photo: Robert & Blanche Pierce

This photo of Robert and Blanche PIERCE comes from the 1985 directory of the First United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.

Robert F. PIERCE was the son of William Francis and Vida (MADDOX) PIERCE, and the half-brother of my maternal great-grandmother.

Bad Boys Bring Out The Best

Writing this blog has been beneficial to my research for a number of reasons, the least of which is all of the contacts with fellow researchers and relatives.  It's so nice to know that someone actually reads this blog, and even better when they have information to share.


Recently, my articles on my bad-boy cousin Harry PIERPONT have proven to be successful in eliciting responses.  I've been contacted by a cousin researching the ORCUTT line (Harry's maternal line) as well as a relative of a member of the jury during Harry's trial for the Kokomo, Indiana bank robbery.  This person even provided me with a scan of a letter that Harry wrote his great-grandfather when he was seeking parole. How cool is that?


As I digest this information, I fully intend to write more posts about my ne'er do well cousin and his connection to my family.

FindAGrave Success: Senator & Una Maude (LeMaster) Phillips

Glad to report another FindAGrave success story!  Volunteer Zoann was kind enough to fulfill three requests for me from the David City, Nebraska Cemetery.  She was able to photograph the tombstones of my paternal great-grandaunt, Una Maude (LeMASTER) PHILLIPS, her husband, Dr. Senator Winfield PHILLIPS, and also their daughter, Mary Louise (PHILLIPS) WILSON.


Una Maude was the daughter of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (CHEW) LEMASTERS.  Her husband was the son of Winfield S. and Mary Jane (BATES) PHILLIPS.


I've already added an obituary for Maude, and have requested that the owners of the memorials link to other family members.


I'm always amazed by the kindness of strangers and am glad when I'm able to help someone else myself.  If you're not already doing so, you should consider becoming a volunteer today!