Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-24
SINGULAR FAMILY HISTORY.
Another Japhetb I'm search of HIS
Father,

4 search IA
| Father.
About seven months ago, lette
directed to Mr.. DeBose, in care o
the Chief of Police, was received a
police headquarters, and the ther
occupant Of the Office, not being ae.
quainted with the gentleman, placed
it on the mantle.
AS weeks passed, and it still re-
manned unealled for, the missiye
gradually became an object of re-
mark, and inquiries were set on foot
to ascertain the whereabouts of its
owner. The search proved fruit
less, and finally it became custom,
when persons well known to the
office called for communications to
ask: I" Is your name DeBose ?"
Yesterday Superintendent Cain
concluded to open it, and in the pc
rusal of its contents, discovered
family history, which, if not as ro-
mantle, is certainly as remarkable
one as has come under our observa-
ton in weeks. 4. 80 ~. .--..-
1t appears, at the outbreak. of the
war, Mr.. DeBose and his wife and
sixchildren, resided in this city. Sc
curing a commission in the Confed-
crate army, he started for the war,
and after an absence of two or three
years, was reported killed. His
wife and FIVE children died, leaving
a little boy, Willie, an orphan
among strangers and entirely desti-
tute.
A colOred man, formerly a slave
of the father, took the little fellow
under his protection, and after re-
naming some time in the city, start
ed with his wife and the boy to st.
Louis.
There they lived as best they could
for years, the little fellow daily grow
ing stronger, until year ago his
colored guardian procured him stu
alton as messenger in store. The
boy after remaining in the employ
ment for some time, suddenly con-
concluded TO leave for New Orleans,
and lost no time in getting On board
a steamer, His colored friend heard
Of the flight and started after him,
finally found the runaway in a little
village in Illinois, the search costing
him ninety dollars. He was brought
back to St. Louis, and is living there
now.
The father, it appears, instead of
being killed was wounded and taken
prisoner. After many weary months
ofcaptivity, he was at length released |
and came to New Orleans to join his
family. Here, for the first time, he
learned their unhappy fate. A
knowledge that one of his children
was yet alive, of course, concentra-
ted every energy to search him out.
The Chief of Police was applied
to and kilograms were sent to the |
principal cities, among others, one |
to the police authori ties of st
Louis.
A mention was made of the cir
in the local columns
of the Republican, and this attract
ed the attention of the lady by whom |
the letter was written. 1t was in the |
store of her husband the boy was
employed, and being Interested in
him, she had at odd times, learned
scraps of his history.
Convinced that he was the boy for
whom the search was instituted, she |
addressed the father in the hope that |
her communication would speedily
reunite them. In the meantime. Mr.
DeBose is nowhere to be found, and
there is no one now connected with |
the police who remembers him. 1t
is hoped this narration will meet the
eye of some one acquainted with the
family, and that the long separation
will be happily ended.-Neec Or
leans Times, Dec. Is.