You're listening to American Shadows, a production of I Heart Radio and Grimm & Mild from

Aaron Manky.

Pudgy and short, he was far from handsome.

If he had one good feature, it might have been his striking pale blue eyes.

Some thought he was charming though, and he knew it.

Herman Drenth had immigrated from the Netherlands with his father in 1892, and they settled

into American life as farmers in Iowa.

But the rural existence wasn't his thing, he had big plans, and the open roads and growing

cities had much to offer.

As soon as he was able, Herman enlisted and ended up serving in World War I.

After the war, he used his charm for a profession far more lucrative than farming.

He became an Oklahoma oil stock promoter, while a funny one anyway.

And a bogus career required a new identity to match, so Herman Drenth soon became Harry

Powers, and also AR Weaver, and Cornelie's Pearson.

We'll just stick with Harry Powers.

Maybe the work was too difficult, or there just weren't enough people to con, especially

in 1929 during the Great Depression.

Whatever the reason, he switched to a more attractive con job.

Matrimony

Some would say that love and personal connection are the fires of the soul.

People will do anything to find it, and even more to keep it.

For most of us, love is a fundamental basic need.

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