Reported by Arthur Hoopingarner that John Hoopingarner was tried for murder and sentenced to be hung. He was believed to be in the right as many though[t] the man he had stabbed needed to be killed.

John was broke out of jail by his brothers and rode off on the Sheriff's horse, probably John's friend. As I (Glenn Watts) find no later records of this man, this story could be true and he changed his name.

A John Milton 27 lives with Sarah Hoopingarner, James Patterson and other family members in Greene Co. Illinois 1850 census, correct age, birth place listed as Ky.