The Rest of the Story — The Sad Tale of John Harmon’s Murder
With information provided by Sue O’Hair, Russ Patterson and Ray (Red) Gilbert*
“Searching for photos and information on Catherine [ROOSE) COLE, her husband, Peter D. COLE, daughter, Alta [COLE] BINGLE and the family who lived next door to them in Deshler, OH, John HARMON-who was shot and killed by Peter Cole in 1881-and his wife Sara(h) A. [RODDY] HARMON.”
One never quite knows what will turn up when you begin genealogical or historical research. In response to a query from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the March-April newsletter, the editor began to look for information on the Cole Harmon families and their tragic story.
The first newspaper headlines read, “A Terrible Tragedy-john Harmon, a Highly Respected Citizen, Shot and Killed by Peter D. Cole. The End of a Family Feud.” Lurid details soon followed, showing that John Harmon and Kate Cole were not such upstanding citizens after all. According to the account Peter Cole gave at his trial in early 1882,’ he had simply set out just before 7:30 on a warm August evening to bring in his cow which was pastured south of his home. He stopped in the W. T. MARVIN grocery store on East Main Street of Deshler.
As he was leaving, he came face to face with his neighbor and former friend, John Harmon. Bertie Harmon, John’s son, had just handed his father some money and John was reaching to put it in his “pocketbook.” There was never a claim that Cole thought Harmon was armed, but all accounts say that Cole drew a pistol and shot Harmon in the doorway of the store. Harmon ran down the street. Cole fired twice more and hit Harmon at least once, amazingly missing many shoppers on the street. Harmon then ran inside the VOGT store and down the aisle with his attacker following.
Harmon spotted Marshal Burt CLIPPINGER, who was off duty and serving as a salesman. He ran around the dry goods counter and into the Marshal’s arms .. That did not deter Cole, who fired again. By now fatally wounded, Harmon reeled to the front of the store and fell. Cole, not yet satisfied, “discharged his deadly revolver” one more time. Subsequent medical examination showed that Harmon had been killed by two bullets passing through his heart and he also had a wound in his arm. Cole immediately surrendered to Marshal Clippinger and Deputy Sheriff WALTMIRE.
At his trial on charges of first and second degree murder and manslaughter, Cole freely described his reason for shooting Harmon. The morning of the incident, Kate Cole had confessed to her husband numerous details of a 2-year affair with John Harmon. They included the initial seduction by Harmon, many clandestine meetings, Kate’s abortion of Harmon’s baby, and Kate’s refusal to sleep at her husband’s home while ostensibly caring for Sara Harmon
during a period of confinement or illness.
Cole had become suspicious of his wife and former friend and had confronted Harmon months earlier. Then he began to carry a weapon with him at all times. After his wife confirmed his suspicions that day, he took the first opportunity to shoot the man he felt had wronged him. Cole’s testimony swayed the jury and they found him guilty only of manslaughter. The judge, in obvious disagreement, stated: “To say that the virtue of women requires protection by the use of the revolver, is an insult to the pure and virtuous wives and mothers of our land. Virtue is its own best protection.” He sentenced Cole to 15 years of hard labor in prison, noting that he could have imposed 20 years instead.
Following the sensational trial, over 10,000 people petitioned the Governor, who eventually pardoned the “poor, disconsolate, heart-broken husband, whose domestic peace had been ruthlessly crushed by the insidious machinations of a professed friend [who led] a poor wife to wrong.” The press obviously catered to public opinion.
Kate, the disgraced wife, moved to Tiffin, OH, and eventually found work as a cook on the Great Lakes schooner M. F. Merrick. Her life took one more tragic turn in May of 1889 when the 138-foot shallow-draft ship was struck in the fog of Lake Huron by the cargo steamer Rufus P. Ranney, nearly twice its size and carrying a heavy load of iron ore. A 12-foot hole was punched in the Merrick. It sank quickly and five of the seven crewmen were lost, including Kate.
More than 120 years later a group of Saginaw high school students working on a project began ship hunting using modern pinging SONAR technology in the Thunder Bay area and discovered the wreck. Now NOAH is searching for information on Peter and Kate Cole, their daughter, Alta, who married George BINGLE and moved to Colorado, and John and Sara Harmon and family.
Little information has been obtained concerning the Harmon family. John Harmon had been proprietor a local livery stable and owned several properties. He had also served as Marshall for two years and was a Commissioner and Constable. Sara evidently raised their five “bright, intelligent” children, as they were described in the newspaper, and did not remarry after his death.
Sara was buried beside John in the Gilson (Union Chapel) Cemetery in Napoleon Twp., Henry County. He was 41 years old when he was killed. Sara(h) died in 1935 at the age of 92. A son, ironically named Romeo, is buried with them having died at the age of one in 1872. Anyone with further information is urged to contact Karen Sunderman at 419-278-3751 or wendypen@wcnet.org. All information will be forwarded to NOAA.
