PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
OLIVER PIKE FOUND DEAD IN A TRUNK … Bean Creek Valley History Center president and historian Colleen Rufenacht (above) speaks to the audience gathered at West Franklin Cemetery about Fayette resident Oliver Pike in the Walktober Fayette “Walkin’ thru History” event on Saturday, October 11.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Twenty people attended the Bean Creek Valley History Center presentation of Oliver Pike of Fayette Found Dead in a Trunk on Saturday, October 11 at West Franklin Cemetery as part of the second annual Walktober Fayette event.
This year’s theme, “Walkin’ Thru History”, featured nine historical walks depicting Fayette’s past through various storytellers, demonstrations and community gatherings.
Colleen Rufenacht gave a presentation on the mystery death of Oliver Pike whose corpse was found in a packing case in Chicago, Illinois and had mysteriously disappeared from Seattle, Washington in 1892 after residing in the Fayette area before moving westward.
“What on earth is that story,” said Rufenacht in referring to the mysterious disappearance and death of Oliver Pike.
About 12 years ago, she met with Carolyn Feaster of Bryan, who was a good history friend of hers, who had visited the Lenawee County Historical Society to go through the archives.
Feaster came back and gave Rufenacht this little piece of paper that was a newspaper clipping that said; Oliver Pike found dead in a trunk in Fayette, Ohio.
After putting the newspaper clipping aside at the time, it was two years later that Rufenacht had rediscovered it.
“Then I went, so where did he live and is he buried in Fayette,” said Rufenacht. “No, he wasn’t buried in Fayette. I’m looking all around and trying to find where Oliver Pike is buried in West Franklin Cemetery.”
The local historian said Pike was born on County Road L in Fulton County.
In a Washington Post news article on Wednesday, April 1, 1986, the headline had read, “Chicago’s Murder Mystery”, with the subtitle, “The Body In the Trunk Is Identified.”
The news article would go on to say, The corpse of the man found in the packing case a week ago is that of Oliver Pike, who mysteriously disappeared from Seattle in July, 1892. He went from his home in Fayette, Ohio to Washington six years ago.”
It also mentioned that W.M. Doriot, who is also buried in West Franklin Cemetery, testified before the coroner’s jury that the body is that of his nephew, Oliver Pike.
Rufenacht said Oliver Pike had resided in Redwoods, California where he owned a laundry and was involved in the community. He was also a Mason and got married and had one daughter.
Later in the afternoon, Tom Franks presented “Civil Defense in Fayette”, and Dean Richardson and Christine Rupp discussed “Mr. Green Dean’s Greenhouse” Brick & Thistle Farm.
On Sunday, October 12, Bill Seneca spoke about “Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight” in regard to firebugs in Fayette and Teresa Osborne who is a storyteller talked about “Stories From the Cooke Jar.” wrapping up this year’s Walktober Fayette event.
Free will donations collected during the event supported the Bean Creek Valley History Center of Fayette.