Ike Vail: Confidence Man

on
Ike was born Isaac S Vail on 20 Sep 1835 in Fishkill, New York. His parents were Joseph Vail (1806-1877) and Sarah Ann Simmons (1808-1882), they were wealthy farmers.

He left home because his father wouldn't pay for him to go to school. At age 20 he was at a place called Table Rock House in New York, with a friend of his Asa Hostler, when an argument occurred and he kills his companion. He was acquitted and it was called self defense.

As a brakeman he met "Old John King" the founder of modern swindling, and king became his tutor of the criminal world of conning people.

He was married to Anne McGrath 10 Sep 1877 in Boston, MA. He brutally assaulted her with a pitchfork and served a little over a year in prison for it.

He was in and out of prison & Jail so many times from California, Boston, Chicago, Portland and New York.

Here are some of his New York Prison records I found 2 in Sing Sing. 


Name: Isaac Vail
Gender: Male
Prison Location: Cayuga, New York, USA
Prison Name: Auburn Prison
Conviction or Sentence Place: Erie, New York, USA
Conviction or Sentence Date: 16 May 1862

Volume: 2

Name: Isaac S. Vail
Gender: Male
Prison Location: Westchester, New York, USA
Prison Name: Sing Sing Prison
Conviction or Sentence Place: New York, New York, USA
Conviction or Sentence Date: 26 Feb 1880
Received Date: 1880

Volume: 6


Name: Isaac S Vail
Age: 45
Birth Year: abt 1835
Birth Place: Fishkill
Admission Date: 27 Feb 1880
Admission Place: Ossining, Westchester, New York, USA
Sentence Date: 26 Feb 1880

Place Received From: New York, New York, USA



Name: Isaac Vail
Prison Name: New York Penitentiary
Prison Location: New York City, New York, USA
Sentence Date: 6 Aug 1895
Sentence Location: New York, New York, USA
Discharge Date: 6 Jun 1896
Volume: Volume 12 (1895 Dec - 1896 Nov)





Name: Isaac Vail
Gender: Male
Prison Location: Erie, New York, USA
Prison Name: Erie County Prison
Conviction or Sentence Place: Erie, New York, USA
Conviction or Sentence Date: 14 Jun 1897
Received Date: 14 Jun 1897
Volume: 22



Name: Ike Vail
Gender: Male
Prison Location: New York, New York, USA
Prison Name: New York Penitentiary, Blackwell's Island
Conviction or Sentence Place: New York, New York, USA
Conviction or Sentence Date: 2 Dec 1903
Received Date: 3 Dec 1903
Volume: 28


He participated in the Civil War and I found two records.


Name: Isaac Vail

Birth Year: abt 1840
Place of birth: New York
Age on 1 July 1863: 23
Race: White
Marital status: Unmarried (Single)
Residence: Washington, New York
Congressional District: 12th
Class: 1

Name: Isaac Vail
Residence Date: 30 Sep 1871
Station or Residence Place: Dutchess, New York, USA
Year: 1871
Title: Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval in the Service of the United States
Volume: Volume 1


I found many newspaper articles on Ike:



Boston 1883







Boston 1902



Ike's siblings:


Stephen S Vail

1830–
Elizabeth Ann Vail
1832–1916
Isaac "Ike" S Vail
1835–1905
Sarah Jane Vail
1838–1918
Mary Lucretia Vail
1840–1921
Harriet Marie Vail
1842–1916
Debrah Vail
1844–1920
Melissa Vail
1846–1916
Willett Vail
1848–1919

Ike went back home, old and penniless to die at his brother's place on 15 Jan 1905, he was buried with his parents and a sister in Fishkill on the Hudson Cemetery, Now called Fishkill Rural Cemetery.

He was 6'2" tall in his stocking feet, and it was said he was very intellectual to talk with. He could talk a man out his money with ease. Yet he died with nothing. What a sad lonely life he must of had at times, and at times he saw so much of this country, he must of marvalled in it. 

Here is is memorial on Find a Grave, I attached his photo and left him a virtual flower, which is a convict symbol he will know and understand.


His wife Annie died 19 July 1905 in Brooklyn, NY. I did not find any children.


Comments

Post a Comment