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1877 - 1911 (33 years) Submit Photo / Document
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Name |
Oscar Merritt Wheelock |
Nickname |
"The Boston Absconder" "The Dynamite Devil" |
Born |
10 Jun 1877 |
Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts |
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Oscar Merritt Wheelock Birth. Oscar Merritt Wheelock Birth. Births registered in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, 1877. |
Gender |
Male |
Census |
1880 |
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1880 Wheelock 7. 1880 US census, Nickerson, Reno, Kansas, enumeration district 286, Family Number 69, Wheelock. |
Military Service |
While on the run from arrest warrants in the United States he served as an officer in the Mexican Revolution. On 15 November 1951 he was posthumously awarded the Mexican Legion of Honor medal. The U.S. Government denied his mother's request for military honors at his burial due to his criminal activity. |
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mexican legion of honor medal. mexican legion of honor medal. |
Occupation |
Rogue. |
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Rogue. Oscar Merritt Wheelock, a wanted man. El Paso Herald, El Paso Texas, April 26, 1911, first page. |
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Rogue 2. After a amassing a long criminal record and becoming the target of a nation-wide man-hunt he wrote a will leaving everything to his wife and fled to Mexico.
As a spectator of the Mexican Revolution he was apparently fearless of the bullets flying around him. Because of this he was offered and accepted a commission in the army. He assembled a band of American outlaw mercenaries and equipped them at his own expense, however they quickly abandoned him as they did not share his apparent death wish.
He became the man of choice when Mexican General Madero wanted something blown up. He destroyed hundreds of miles of railroad, telephone and telegraph lines, crippling transportation and communications. This earned him the nickname "The Dynamite Devil".
There are many, many newspaper articles about his exploits and bravery. At the start of the battle of Bauche his frightened, out-numbered troops were on the verge of deserting. He exposed himself on top of a hill, targeted and shot one of the advancing federal officers. He was immediately killed by the return fire but, he inspired his troops who fought and held the line until Pancho Villa arrived with reinforcements. The battle was a turning point that lead to the fall of the Mexican government.
At the end of the war his body was exhumed from it's hasty Mexican grave and marched through the streets with full military honors with the people celebrating him as a hero. His body was returned to his mother in Massachusetts. Military honors were requested but refused due to his criminal record. |
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Rebel Devil Is Brother of Local Doctor. The Scranton (Pennsylvania) Republican, Saturday, April 22, 1911 page 1. |
Died |
15 Apr 1911 |
Juarez, Mexico |
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Oscar Wheelock Death. Oscar Wheelock Death. El Paso Herald, El Paso, Texas, Friday, June 2, 1911, page 5 |
Buried |
Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts |
Siblings |
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Headstones |
Submit Headstone Photo |
Person ID |
I9784 |
Nagel |
Last Modified |
6 Nov 2015 |
Father |
Joseph Robbins Wheelock, Jr, b. 20 Sep 1854, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts , d. 2 Aug 1924, Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts (Age 69 years) |
Relationship |
Birth |
Mother |
Juliette C Dearing, b. Feb 1857, d. 1943 (Age ~ 85 years) |
Relationship |
Birth |
Married |
29 Apr 1876 |
Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts |
Family ID |
F3241 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family 1 |
Frances Gertrude Gately, d. 26 Jul 1909, Somerville, Middlesex, Massachusetts |
Married |
1 Jun 1904 |
Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts |
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Oscar M Wheelock Marriage. Oscar M Wheelock Marriage. Marriages registered in the city of Somerville, Massachetussets, 1904. |
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Oscar M Wheelock Marriage 2. Oscar M Wheelock Marriage 2. Marriages registered in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, 1904. |
Family ID |
F3242 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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Event Map |
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 | Born - 10 Jun 1877 - Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts |
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 | Married - 1 Jun 1904 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts |
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 | Died - 15 Apr 1911 - Juarez, Mexico |
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 | Buried - - Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts |
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Pin Legend |
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set |
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Photos |
 | Oscar Merritt Wheelock. Oscar Merritt Wheelock - A wanted man in the United States, a hero of the Mexican Revolution. |
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