john reno
John Reno
John "Trick" Reno was born on July 23, 1838 in Rockford, Jackson County, Indiana. John's parents were Wilkison Reno and Julia Freyhafer. John was a member, and for a time, the leader of the Reno Gang.
John ran away from home around the age of sixteen, stole a horse, and travelled to Jeffersonville, Indiana. From Jeffersonville, John travelled to Louiseville Kentucky, Mobile Alabama, and then onto Mississippi. John found nothing but hard times in the South and soon returned to Jackson County, Indiana.
Around 1860, John is reported to have fathered an illegitimate son named John, Jr. Little John's mother was said to be Mollie Nagle of Rockford, Indiana. John soon left Mollie and enlisted within the Union Army.
John was mustered into the Army on April 22, 1861 and served with Company H, 6th Regiment, Jackson County Volunteers. Frank was mustered out of the Army on August 2, 1861. John also enlisted as a corporal in Company A, 13th Regiment on June 19, 1861. John deserted the Army on July 20, 1863.
In January 1868, John was arrested for his involvement in a robbery that occurred in Gallatin, Missouri. For this crime, John was sentenced to twenty-five years imprisonment within the Missouri State Prison. John was incarcerated when his brothers were lynched by the Southern Indiana Vigilance Committee on December 12, 1868. John's sentence was commuted in 1879 and he was released from the Missouri State Prison.
John wrote a autobiography in 1879 titled, "The Life of John Reno, the World's First Train Robber".
On August 5, 1880, John married Sarah Ford, whose father was a member of the Indiana State Legislature. Sarah's grandfather was Captain Lemuel Ford, Warden of the Indiana State Prison in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Sarah was John's brother Frank's widow.
In 1885, John was arrested for counterfeiting and was sentenced to three years imprisonment within the Indiana State Prison in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Sarah divorced John while he was in prison.
In 1890, John was released from prison and soon remarried Sarah Ford.
John passed away on January 31, 1895 in his home in Jackson County, Indiana. John is buried next to his brothers.