Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-03-12

MARCH 10, 1SG
sin regiment was organized. PowelPs wife moi
having presented him with an heir to make home
doubly pleasant, he resolved to go to the war. he
sought, and through the influence Of friends, OBJ
tanned the appointment of State agent or wet
nurse" of the gallant 7th, then ordered to Wash
ington. Mrs. Powell being of tough and hardy
make, resolved to accompany her husband to the
front No objection being raised, she fitted herself
out and went to Washington. The regiment was
for time detained ut Washington, and Mrs. Pow
ell made herself happy by working up that moral
town. A few weeks after her arrival there, while
she was riding on horseback one day, her mascu-
line appearance attracted the attention Of Gov
ernment detective, who made up his mind that
Mrs. Powell was man and rebel spy. The de-
tectve followed her about the city and to her quar-
ters He dogged her steps for several days, until,
just before the regiment was ordered of, Mrs.
Powell took it into her head to return to Broad
head. She packed up her rig, took leave Of her
husband and the regiment, and started for home.
The detective accompanied her to Chicago on
the same train and at the Briggs House, where
the lady booked her name, he placed her under ar
rest as rebel in disguise. In vain she claimed to
be woman, and the wife of member Of the
Seventh regiment She called in the landlady,
who asserted that she had seen Mrs. Powell at the
house before Mrs. Powell finally induced the
detective to telegraph to Gov. Randall, Of this
State, and to her husband, at Washington. Gov.
Randall telegraphed back that there was such o
lady A similar telegram arrived from Washing.
ton and the detective released her and returned to
Washington. In few days Mr.. Powell reached
Chicago, and the unhappy couple made their way
home to this village. a.aal ...i
Language cannot describe the feelings of this
unhappy pair. Hardly over the first blush ofcon-
nubial felicity, and the wife had become an object
Of suspicion to strangers, and was in constant dan
ger of being arrested as man. They remained a
few days, when Mrs Powell informed her parents
that she was going to visit some relations east.
The fond parents, little dreaming of the arrest and
subsequent scenes at the Briggs House, urged hel
to remain and replenish her wardrobe. She read
lily answered that she could procure more becoming
and stylish garments at the East After her de-
parture, Mr.. Powell procured some cloth, andwent
to Mr.. Mooney, one of our tailors, and informed
him that he wished to present his brother with g
suit of clothes. He informed the tailor that his
garments fitted his brother, and a suit made to fit
himself would be just the thing. The clothes were
made and expressed to Chicago. Soon after Mr.
Powell informed DR.. Burnham that Ellen had
changed her dress, and was now wearing mems
attire and living in Chicago.
The doctor was thunderstruck, and the mother
half crazy The only satisfaction they could get ou
of Powell was, that his wife was not woman, anc
would not dress as woman any longer. The doc
tor requested Powell to accompany him, and i'm
mediately went to Chicago, where he found hi
daughter dressed in a suit of clothes which Mr.
Powell had had made for his brother. Mrs. P
informed him that. she was not woman, and woult
no longer try to act the part of one. The docto
insisted upon an examination. At length, to sat
iofy hor Eathar, aho consented Lat tho lato DR.
Brainard should examine her. DR.. Brainard die
so, and informed the father that his daughter wa!
not female, and had done the best thing to bt
done in changing her attire After much soliei
tation, Ellen permitted her father to examine hel
and satisfy himself that she was not woman
DR.. Burnham then procured a situation for her
under the name of Edgar Burnham, in the whole
sale drug house of J. H. Read & Co., in wnost
employ he remained about one year. During thi
time he roomed and slept with young man BY
the name of Andrews, now doing business in Cros
| by's Opera House block. He also became engaged
to young lady on State street, the daughter o
his landlady. ~
We frequently visited young Burnham at his
room on Washington street, being ourselves a
that time in the law Office of Mech & RedGeld
then officiating in Dearborn street. Young Burn
ham made up in appearance as man all the beau
ty and grace he lacked as woman. Chicago hat
few and better looking young men than the forme
Mrs. Powell He was portion Of this time or
ganist at the Plymouth Church, Rev. j. R. Shep
herd, pastor, and for time organist of one of tht
Baptist Churches. We were particularly amused
at bis hearty admiration Of the girls. He woulc
leave his piano or work any time to look at wo
man. In 1862 young Burnham returned to Broad
head, and went into the drug business with hi!
father. He was at this time engaged to the State
street lady, who was entirely ignorant Of the story
of her lover 8 life.
We have it from the best authority "A young
man who resided in the family-that Burnhan
was devoted lover, and even after be removed tt
Broadhead, corresponded regularly twice week
with his betrothed, and paid his visits oft Of
three days duration. After her removal to Broad
head, he was decided favorite in the society here
both on account of his good looks and his skill
musician. Men, women and children hocked tt
the drug store of Burnham & Son, to trade for the
sake of seeing the young man who was wife. Al
length DR.. Burnham sold out his property here il
1864, and removed to Waterloo Iowa, taking Ed
gar with him, and there opened drug store
Soon after the removal of the family, Edgar sough
and obtained in marriage, the hand of Miss Gerts
Everette, one of the prettiest girls in Spring Val
ley, Rock county, Wisconsin. The Chicago en-
gagement had been broken off.
| They have now been married about three years
and living at Waterloo. They have no children a:
yet all stories to the contrary, Notwithstanding
Should they ever have children, or either Of them
we shall make haste to inform our readers OF the
fact
It is simply ridiculous to suppose that Edgal
Burnham was ever mother, and quite as insane
to believe that he can be father.
From the best of authority, namely, from Mr.
Powell and the surgeon, who examined him, We
know that Edgar Burnham is an 1t, and will never
be anything else. 1t is due to the young lady tt
whom be was engaged in Chicago to say that she
| ~ ,,,, oP bor 1ovar from, fret tr