Please Mister Postman

The demise of Saturday mail delivery is just another example of the changing times.  Old curmudgeon that I am, I enjoy receiving mail, whether it be a letter or a bill.  Though I can’t recall the last time someone wrote me a letter, I can say that I just recently sent a few.  

In the past week, I decided to write my aunts, uncles and parents and ask them to return in a SASE some basic family history questions.  While some of this has been told to me before, I wanted to take the opportunity to get them to write it down.  I plan to preserve their answers as part of the family history.  My plan is to send a few more letters like this throughout the year, asking general questions about family history that I wouldn’t know.  My memories of my grandparents for example, will be vastly different than that of my aunts and uncles. 

Perspective is everything in family history.

Black Sheep Sunday: Youth Who Robbed The Cook Store Is Captured

"Youth Who Robbed The Cook Store Is Captured  article, Greencastle Herald, Greencastle, Indiana, January 9, 1922, page 1.

YOUTH WHO ROBBED THE COOK STORE IS CAPTURED

Indianapolis Thief Shoots Man, Who Catches Him In Attempt To Steal Automobile - Revolvers Stolen Here Thursday Night Are Recovered

The thief who robbed John Cook & Son's Hardware store of eleven revolvers and automatic pistols Thursday night, was captured at Indianapolis, near 8:00 o'clock Saturday night when he shot Edward Devine a contractor on the Circle, who caught the thief in the act of stealing his car.  The man gave his name as Harry L. Pierpont, age 19 of Indianapolis.

Pierpont confessed to the Indianapolis police that on Thursday he stole a car from New Jersey and Michigan streets in Indianapolis, and drove to Greencastle.  After robbing the Cook & Sons Hardware store of the revolvers, he drove to Terre Haute and then returned to Indianapolis, Friday night.  Back in Indianapolis he abandoned the automobile.  He has been dismissed from an insane asylum but shows no signs of insanity now.

Mr. Devine saw Pierpont attempting to start his car when he came out of his office on the Circle Saturday night with his wife.  He jumped in the car and caught Pierpont's arm which held a revolver and was pointed at Devine's waist and deflected the shot which struck him in the flesh of the left leg.  His wife attacked the bandit and helped hold him until the police arrived.  When caught Pierpont had four revolvers on him and a check for a parcel in the Terminal station check rooms which accounted for three more.  Although eleven revolvers are missing from Cook's store Pierpont said he only took nine.

He is held for shooting with intent to kill and vehicle taking by Indianapolis police.  He will also have a charge against him for burglary.

The revolvers are valued at more than $200 by John Cook, Jr., who investigated the robbery.  Insurance covers the loss, which will be about $80 for the four that are missing.

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Cousin Harry Pierpont (1902-1934), later famous as the trigger man for the Dillinger gang, started his criminal career shortly after being struck on the head and suffering an injury.  This is the earliest mention I've found of his criminal career. I found this through the Depauw University archives.

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.

Marriage License & Return: Edward H. Baumgartner to Pearl M. Metzner, 1915

Source: Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage License, "Edward H. Baumgartner to Pearl M. Metzner, 1915"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.

MARRIAGE LICENSE

CEREMONY

State of Indiana, Jay County, ss:

To any Person Empowered by Law to Solemnize Marriages, Greeting:

You are hereby authorized to join together as Husband and Wife

Mr. Edward H. Baumgartner

and

Miss Pearl M. Metzner

according to the laws of the State of Indiana.

In Testimony Whereof, I, Frank Gillespie, Clerk of the Jay Circuit Court, hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, at my office in Portland, this 2" day of June A.D. 1915.

Frank Gillespie Clerk

Jay Circuit Court

State of Indiana, Jay County, ss:

This Certifies, That I joined in Marriage as Husband and Wife,

Rev. E.H. Baumgartner and Miss Pearl M. Metzner

on the third day of June 1915.

John W. Metzner, Minister

Source: Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage Return, "Edward H. Baumgartner to Pearl M. Metzner, 1915"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.

INDIANA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

Return of a Marriage to County Clerk

1. Full Name of GROOM Edward H. Baumgartner

2. Place of Residence Portland, Ind.

3. Occupation Minister of the Gospel

4. Age Next Birthday 47 years. Color White Race Caucasian

5. Place of Birth Linn Grove Ind. Nationality American

6. Father's Name John O. Baumgartner

7. Mother's Maiden Name Rosina Horn

8. Number of Groom's Marriage First

9. Full Name of BRIDE Pearl M. Metzner

10. Place of Residence Portland Occupation House keeper

11. Age Next Birthday 32 years.  Color White Race Caucasian

12. Place of Birth Portland Nationality American

13. Father's Name Wm. F. Metzner

14. Mother's Maiden Name Mary A. Haley

15. Number of Bride's Marriage First

16. Married at home of Bride's Parents near Portland in the County of Jay and State of Indiana, the 3rd day of June 1915.

17. Witnesses to Marriage Mr. & Mrs. Wm. F. Metzner, Mr. & Mrs. L.L. Baumgartner

Marriage solemnized by Rev. John W. Metzner

Elkhart, Ind.

Dated at Portland Ind. this 3rd day of June 1915.

This record of the marriage of Rev. Edward H. Baumgartner and Pearl M. Metzner was located at the Jay County Historical Society in Portland, Indiana.

Pearl was my paternal first cousin three times removed, the daughter of William F. Metzner and Mary F. Haley.  Before finding this return, I did not realize that her husband was a minister.  The minister who performed the ceremony was Pearl's older brother, John.