The Nevada Democrat., 1859-12-28

should perish Win the nOWerbs
-
From the Burlington Iowa) Hawk.Eye, Nov. ~
Romance in Real Life-Reunion OF Man
and wife after Separation OF Over Forty
Seven Years.
Some time during the month OF February
last, Messrs. Shepard Il Overton, Attorneys ut
law, 10 this city, was applied to by asou 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 rccollect, embraces large
part of the western part of that State, and was
set apart by the United States. rs part compen-
sation to the soldiers of the war of 1872. That
her husband was soldier in that war, having
enlisted in the army while on q visit OF business
to the city Of Philadelphia, bis residence being
q few miles out Of the city, and in the State of
Pennsylvania. Since bis enlistment, Mrs. Crull
has heard nothing from him, except mere ru-
NOR that he was killed In an engagement with
the enemy, near Lake Champlain, aud as Mrs.
Crnll had never married again, she would as
his widow be entitled to at least dowry 10 any
lands her husband might be entitled to rs such
soldier. Messrs. g. u o. Immediately set them
selves to find the land to which her right Of
dowry would attach.
After long and thorough search among
government, state and county records, they
ascertained that the land, in question, was sit
uated in Hancock county, Illinois, aud that Il
had been entered with land warrant by Mr..
Crull himself, 10 the year 1918. thus plainly
showing that he was not killed as reported aud
that perhaps he might still be alive They
consequently set about finding the lost man.
This may be imagined was no small task. The
government records at Washington showed
that be had served bis country faithfully during
the war, and at its close had been honorably
discharged. A land warrant had been issued
to aud located by him, as before stated-that
during the same year he sold his certificate of
entry to man living 10 the northern part of
the State of New York. But no further trace of
him could they make out from government or
county records, as bis wife nor any other Of his
acquaintances 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. Il o., addressed letters to their numerous
correspondents in the States OF New York aud
Vermont, near where Crull's company would
be 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 Co., N. Y,
containing letter from the long lost man,
stating that be was yet alive aud In good health.
aud was surprised aud nearly oveecome with
joy to learn that his wife and children we're still
alive. This settled the question of the dover,
~ we'll as the receiving, by Messrs. S. d O., the
fees for obtaining 1t for Mrs. Crull.
Although disappointed in the, to the lawyer,
best part of good or bad case, the reception
of snug fee, they we're determined not to give
IL up, but went ct work in earnest to bring about
= .e~.. - H. IL l<s,.m LAT II.
for lost they really we're TO each other. This
was easily effected, as both parties had never
married again, although both supposed each
other long since dead II seems that soon after
the enlistment of Mr.. Cruli, Mrs. Crull finding
II dificuls to support herself aud her two small
children. one babe, removed to another part
of the State, and there hearing that her husband
was killed, made no further efforts TO learn of
him, And he after his discharge, returned to
the town where he had formerly resided, and
was there told that his wife aud children had
moved away and had since died. Believing
himself alone In the world, ne left forever his
old residence and associates, and took up his
abode In Jefferson county, N. Y. where he has
since resided ever cherishing 10 fond rememb-
rance, his then to him forever lost family. After
years of hard toll and successful effort, and
marriage of her only daughter, Mrs. Crull, iu
company With her son aud son-in-law, moved to
this Stale aud settled In Wapello, Louisa couu-
~, where she has since resided in the family of
her daughter
A few days since Mr.. Crull arrived in Wapel-
10, eager to see her who he had mourncd as
dead, and once again behold his 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
playthings, now looking almost as old as him-
self And when brought into each others pres
ence, the old man looked in vain for some
familiar mark or tone by which TO distinguish
the early partner Of his bosom, whose sacred
memory half . century had failed to extinguish.
A formal introduction Was needed to aequaint
those who should have spent their lives togeth-
er. Tines effacing finger 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 vel long years
ago.