The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-18
Romance in Real Life.
RE UNION OF A MAN AND WIFE AFTER SEPE.
RATION OF FORTY-sEyEN YEARS.
From the Bloomington II wkeye.

RE UNION OF A MAN AND WIFE AFTER sErE.
RATION OF FORTY-SEyEN YEARS.
From the Bloomington II wkeye.
Some time during the month of February
last, Messrs. Shepard & Overton, Attorneys
at Law in this city, were applied to by
son of Mrs. Crull, OF Louisa county, in this
State, to, if 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 recoect, en-
braces large part OF the western part of
that State, and was set apart by the United
States as part compensation for the soldiers
of the war of 1912. That her husband was
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 bis enlistment, Mrs.
Crull has heard nothing of him except a
mere rumor that he was killed in an en-
gagement with the enemy, near Lake Cham
plain, and as Mrs. Crull had never married
again, she would as his widow be entitled to
at least dowry in any lands her husband
might be entitled to as such soldier. Messrs.
O. Il S. Immediately set themselves to find
the land to which her right of dowry would
attach. After long and thorough search
among Government, State and county rec
ords, they ascertained that the land in
question was situated in Hancock county IL
linois, and that it had been entered with a
land warrant 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. This may
be imagined was no small task. The Gov
eminent records at Washington showed that
he had served his country faithfully during
the war, and at its close had been hODorably
discharged. A land warrant had been is
sued to and located by him, as before stated
that during the same year he sold his GER
tifcate of entry to man living in the north
ern part of the State of New York, But
no further trace of him could they make
out from the Government or county records,
as his wife MOI any other Of his acquaintance
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 purpose.
Messrs. S. & 0. addressed letters to their
numerous correspondents in the States of
New York and Vermont, uear where Crull's
company would be likely to have been sta
toned during the war, making enquiries for
him. Among the many answers received by
them was one from Ira w. Near, ESQ, of
Clayton, Jefferson Co., n. Y, containing a
letter from the long lost man. stating that be
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.
S. & 0. the tees for obta lining it for Mrs.
Crull. Although disappointed in the, Ito a
lawyer) best part of good or bad case, the
reception of snug fee, they were deter
mined not to give it up, but went at work
in earnest to bring about u reunion of the
now ancient and long lost couple, fer lost
they really were to each other. This was
easily effected, as both parties had never
married again, although both supposed each
other long since dead. 1t seems that soon
after the enlistment of Mr.. Grail Mrs Crul
finding it difficult to support herself and her
two small children, one a babe, removed to
|
that her husband was killed, made no further
efforts to learn of him. And he, after his
discharge, returned 10 the town where be
formerly resided, and was there told that
his wife end children had moved away and
since died. Believing himself alone in the
world, he left forever his old residence aud
associates, and took up his residence in JEFF
ferson county, n. Y, where he has since
resided, ever cherishiDg in fond remembrance
his now, to him, forever lost family. After
years of hard toll and successful effort, and
marriage of her only daughter, Mrs. Crull,
in company with Ler son and son-in law,
moved to this State and settled in Wapello,
Louisa county, whele she has since resided
in the family of her daughter.
A few days since Mr.. Crull arrived in
Wapello, eager to see her, whom be had
mourned as dead, and once again behold bis
children. But what change forty seven
years had brought about. Himself and
wife then young, now old, his children,
whom he only recollected as mere play
things, now looking almost as old as himself.
And when brought into each others pres
ence the old man looked in vain for some
familiar mark or tone by which to distin-
guish the early pioneer of his bosom, whose
sacred memory hall century had failed to
extinguish. A formal introduction was
needed to acquaint those who should have
spent their lives together. Times effacing
fingers had pressed less heavily upon the old
man, and the dim eyes of his wife could
family discern some traces of the manly
bearing of him she wed long years ago.