Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-11-18
From the Burlington Qowa) Hawkeye, Nov, l.
Re-Union of a Man and Wife after Separat1o
OF over Forty-Seven Years

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Reunion of a Man and Wife after Separation
OF over Forty-Seven Years.
Some time during the month of February
last Messrs. Shepard & Overton, Attorneys at
Law in this city, were applied to by a son of
Mrs. Crull, OF Louisa county, in this state to,
IT possible, obtain for her dowry in certain
lands, supposed to be part of the Military
Tract OF the state of Illinois This tract of
land the reader will recollect, embraces large
portion OF the western part of the state, and
was set apart by the United States, as part
compensation to the soldiers of the war Of
1917 That her husband was a soldier in that
war, having enlisted in the army while on
visit OF business to the city of Philadelphia, his
residence being few miles out of the city,
and in the state of Pennsylvania Since his
enlistment, Mrs. Crull has heard nothing from
him except mere rumor that he was killed
III an engagement with the enemy near Lake
ChampaIn and as Mrs. Cru had never mar
ried again, she would as his widow be entitled
to at least dowry to any lands her husband
might be entitled to as such soldier
Messrs. S. & o. Immediately set themselves
to find the land to which her right of dowry
would attach. After a long and thorough
search among government, state and county
records, they ascertained that the land in
question was situated in Hancock county, ILL.,,
and that it had been entered with land war
rant by Mr.. Crull himself in the year 1918,
thus plainly showing that he was not killed,
as reported, and that perhaps he might still be
alive They consequently set about finding the
lost man; but no further trace of him could
they make out from Government or county
records, as his wife nor any other of his ac-
quaintances had ever heard from him, further
than the records showed, it seemed pretty
clear that he was not alive. But his death
was not sufficiently established for their pur-
pose. MeSsrs. S. & o. addressed letters to
their correspondents in the state of New York
and Vermont, near where Crull's company
would likely to have been stationed during the
war, making inquiries for him. Among the
many answers received by them was one from
Irwin w. Near, Esq, Of Clayton. jefferson
county, n. Y, containing a letter from the
long-lost man, stating that he was yet alive and
in good health and was surprised and nearly
overcome with joy to learn that his wife and
children were still alive. This settled the
question OF the dover, as well as the receiving
by Messrs. Shepard & Oyerton the fees for OBJ
tanning it for Mrs. CrulI
Although disappointed in the--to a lawyer
best part of good or bad case, the reception
of snug fee, they were determined not to
give it up, but went to work in earnest, to
bring about a reunion of the ancient and long
lost couple-tor lost they really were to each
other. This was easily effected, as neither of
the parties had married again, although both
supposed each other long since dead. 1t seems
that soon after the enlistment of Mr.. Crull,
Mrs. Crul finding it difficult to support herself
and her two small children, one babe, remov-
ed to another part of the state, and there, hear
ing that her husband was killed, made no fur
ther efforts to learn of him and he, after his
discharge, returned to the town where he
formerly resided, and was there told that his
wife and children had moved away, and since
died. Believing himself alone in the world,
he left forever his old residence and associates,
and took up his abode in Jefferson county,
N. Y, where he has since resided, ever cher
ishing in fond remembrance his now to him,
foreverlost family. After many years of hard
and successful effort, and the marriage of her
only daughter, Mrs. Crull, in company with
her son and son-in-law, moved to this state,
and settled in Wappello, Louisa county, where
she has since resided in the family of her
daughter.
A few days since Mr.. Crull arrived in Wap.
pello, eager to see her whom he had mourned
as dead, and once again behold his children.
But what a change forty-seyen years had
brought about. A formal introduction was
needed to acquaint those who should have
spent their lives together