Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-11-14
Truth Stranger than Fiction"


Thirty years ago, when Jackson was a lit
tie hamlet of two or three hundred persons
Il young woman might have been seen, one
sultry day in August, accompanied by lit
tie boy five years old, vending her way to-
ward grove III the nelghborlng town OF
Blackman, tor the purpose OF engaging In
the then common pastime of picking berries
The young woman, after toillng away for
awhile, became annoyed with the ceaseless
opportunities of the child, and sent him
home. She thought nothing more OF the
matter till, upon her return i'll the evening,
she was surprised to find that the boy had
not returned In reply TO the queries OF
the anxious parents, the girl related the cir
cumstances narrated above, and added that
she knew nothing of the whereabouts OF the
child Day after day passed, and still the
missing member of that distracted family
did uot return, nor could any tldings OF HIM
be heard by his agonlzed parents. Finally
after every searching party who went, out TO
find the missing one had returned and re-
ported their mission trultlesS, and after ali
lore of ever seeing their darling boy again
had vanished from the minds OF the afflicted
parents. suspicion began to tastcn upon the
young woman, who was servant In the
fanny. She again asserted her innocence,
and stated that she knew nothing or the
missing boy from the time she had sent n III
homeward In spite OF her protestatlons,
however, she was arrested tor the murder
OF the boy, aud incarcerated III the rude
lock up which had been erected by tn early
settlers Here she was kept for time. till
it became apparent that no evidence against
her could be obtained, when she was dis
charged from custody, still asserting her IN
noceuce to the parents OF the child, who
louged for some tldingS that would dlspe
the uncertainty which hung over them like d
| cloud. Their hopes were doomed TO dIsap-
pointnent, however, as nothing could be
/ heard of the missing one, and he was finally
| numbered with the dead, the parents giving
up all hopes OF e:er hearing from the los
/ boy again.
Years passed, and the little hamlet be
came large and tourshing city. The soil
tude which formerly reigned on the bank
OF the Grand River was broken by th'
mechanic and the artizan, and the air re
sounded with the busy hum of industry
Nearly all the old. settlers had passed away
and another generation succeeded them
! Among the many new corners was son-ln
| law OF the afflicted family, Mr.. j. u. Bal
| lard, our fellow townsman, who was greatly
surprised. few days since, to learn that tht
| boy who had long been numbered with thu
dead had arrived in the southern part OF TIN
State and was making inquiries after hi
family. The boy had grown to be stal
wart man of 35. His counienance had be
come bronzed by continuous exposure t
the elements, and his snewy frame harden
ed by repeatcd adventures in the w ester'
wilds. He stated that he had bat dln
recollection of his former home, but vivid
remembered the time when two stalwar
forms with red viSages crossed his pain
snatehed him M in their arms. and carrie
him off amidst his piteOus cries for his lov
ing mother. Since that time he has bee
constantly with the Indians-jolned thel
in their haunting expeditions, and followe
their trail as they journeyed toward the sci
ting sun. He learned to speak the iansuag
of the Pottawatamies-for that was tn
name of the tribe with whom the create
part of his lite had been spent-and IN an
swer to his repeated inquiries, his captol
toll him they had stolen him from Jackso
county, and that his name was Wiley. Ih
Indians confounded this name with Fllly
which is the real name of his tathe
MIR. Ballard went in quest of the mlssln
| one and upon arriving at the place whel
he had been making inquiries, was told th'
; he had gone away, but would return IN
, few days, when be will proceed to the hon
e of his aged parents, to make glad the hear
of an afflicted father and mother. Irul.
Truth is stranger than 6ctien.
|