Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-05
LARGEST CITY CIRCULATION.


A Hubbard Returns After rvsnty-sls
Ysars' Absenos-finds His Wife Married
claims and Receives Her at the Ago Of
sixty-Eight.
From the New Albany undJ Commercial
Thursday morning the subjects Of this
sketch passed through this city, on their
way from Putnam county, Indiana. to
their home in Lincoln county, keniueky'
and from q gentleman who talked with
them we have obtained the following
romantic story:
In l8i5 John Elliott left bis home and
wife. who had borne him eleven children,
In Putnam county, this State, suddenly
and in passion, Mt some slight misunder-
standing that had occurred between them.
He gave his family no intimation OF his
departure previous TO leaving, and they
never heard Of him sgain until after the
lapse Of twenty six years.
The wife believed her husband dead,
and after two years waiting she gave
him up as lost to her forever. and mar
ried a respectable citizen Of the county,
named Bsllou, and has resided happily
enough with him near Cloverdale, ever
since, until last week. 1t was then that
the first tidings Of her supposed deceased
husband were received by her.
Ii was in this wise that these tidings
reached her. A letter came TO her
through the hands Of person who was
stranger. This letter set forth that If she
would visit little town several miles
distant from Cloverdale she would meet
an old and very dear friend, and urged
her not TO omit making the visit at GER
tain time. The letter impressed her
strangely, and she concluded to visit the
town named at the designated time, and
did 80.
What was her surprise on entering the
house where the meeting was appointed,
10 meet her first husband. Twenty-six
wears had passed, and time had left its
impress upon the man, yet she recognized
him at once, and threw herself into his
arms: for, Notwithstanding she was now
hixty-sight years OF age, the sight OF her
frat choice warmed the loving pulses OF
her heart and broke open the fountain OF
her affections that had been so long sealed
up. She threw her arms about bis neck,
kissed his wrinkled cheek, and wept like
a girl, the tears Of JOY. :. !,
The husbands heart was also melted
into tenderness, and be embraced bis
aged but long deserted wife with all the
feryor of young and ardent lover. The
mast was talked over, the sudden dissp-
pearance, long absence, and continued
silence Of the husband explained, and
then and there it was agreed that they
would spend the remnant OF their lives
together tt w
The woman returned to her home in
CIoyerdale. She explained to her second
husband ell that had happened, and told
him that she felt it her duty to go with
the first husband, from whom she had
been so long separated. The second hus-
hand. Ballou, was 10th to consent, but the
woman was Interchangeable in her deter
mination, and he was compelled to &C
ouiesce. Their worldly effects were
divided, and on Monday last the old lady
left Cloyerdale to rejoin her husband IN
the little village where the meeting took
place, and Thursday they passed through
this city on their way to Kentucky.
When the husband left home he wan
dered off to Kentucky, where be remain
ed until the California gold discoveries
created such excitement in l849 DE
was seized with the gold fever and lett
for the pIacers on the Pacific coast.
There be worked and saved his earnings
until he had accumulated some forty
thousand dollars. With this he returned
TO Kentucky, purchased and stocked
farm in Lincoln county, and has been
living nnon IL ever since 1859. Having
accumulated considerable wealth he Is
now prepared to comfortably care for her
whom he so cruelty deserted twenty
six years ago, and to give "a good start
in the world" to the children she bore
him-four of whom are yet living and
have families.