Oscar Merritt Wheelock

1877 - 1911  (33 years)  Submit Photo / Document

• Name	Oscar Merritt Wheelock
  Nickname	"The Boston Absconder" "The Dynamite Devil"
  Born	10 Jun 1877	Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts
  		Oscar Merritt Wheelock Birth. Oscar Merritt Wheelock Birth. Births registered in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, 1877.
  Gender	Male
  Census	1880
  		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.
  		mexican legion of honor medal. mexican legion of honor medal.
  Occupation	Rogue.
  		Rogue. Oscar Merritt Wheelock, a wanted man. El Paso Herald, El Paso Texas, April 26, 1911, first page.
  		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.
  		Rebel Devil Is Brother of Local Doctor. The Scranton (Pennsylvania) Republican, Saturday, April 22, 1911 page 1.
  Died	15 Apr 1911	Juarez, Mexico
  		Oscar Wheelock Death. Oscar Wheelock Death. El Paso Herald, El Paso, Texas, Friday, June 2, 1911, page 5
  Buried	Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts
  Siblings	1. Frank Robbins Wheelock,   b. 9 Feb 1879, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
  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
  		Oscar M Wheelock Marriage. Oscar M Wheelock Marriage. Marriages registered in the city of Somerville, Massachetussets, 1904.
  		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

  
  

  Family 2	Winifred Omalley
  Family ID	F3243	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 10 Jun 1877 - Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts Married - 1 Jun 1904 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Died - 15 Apr 1911 - Juarez, Mexico Buried - - Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Oscar Merritt Wheelock. Oscar Merritt Wheelock - A wanted man in the United States, a hero of the Mexican Revolution.