Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-03-05
NoyE.A CO.'S Il In e; G ]; g e
CHE Republican.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5. 1868.
HE, SHE, OR 1T
A Correct Account OF the Mysterioui
Femslc. Man-Truth Stranger.
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1q71 arUr Than Fictton3T T-
[rron the Brodhead Swl'.) Independent Feb, IL
About the year 1855 there moved
to this vicinity a family by the name
of Burnham, consisting of DIR. NJ. L.
Burnham, his wife and two children,
a daughter aged sixteen and son
three or four years younger. DR..
Burnham was a man of some prop
erty and of the highest respectable
ty. The family soon became active
members of our village society, the
doctor being an active member and
one of the deacons of the Congrega-
tional church. DIR. Burnham was a
well-read physician, and did some
practice i'm addition to keeping a drug
store, in which his daughter Ellen
assisted him as clerk for the first
two years of the doctors residence
here, Miss Ellen Burnham was by
no means a beautiful girl. Her hair
and eyes were dark; features regular.
but rather coarse and masculine;
form tall, square shouldered and
wanting in that grace of outline that
inspires admiration. If stranger
were tempted to look at her the sec
ond time, it would be from surprise
at the strong, masculine appearance
unnatural to y woman, especially one
so young Miss Burnham was not a
favorite with our young men, nor
did she seem anxious to be. Her
time, outside Of her domestic duties,
was devoted to instrumental music
and horseback riding, in both of
which she was decidedly accomplish
ed. Her life for the four years sub
segment to 1855 was not unlike that
of other young ladies of the place.
She had. large class, mostly of
young girls, whom she instructed in
instrumental music. In the fall of
1858 young man by the name of
Powell came here, and was employed
as principal Of the village school
Powell resigned the leadership of the
school in the spring of 1859, AMI
started the Reporter, the first paper
published in our village During
the summer he became intimate with
the family Of DIR. Burnham, and be-
came engaged TO Miss Burnham in
the fall of 1859. The engagement
soon became known outside of the
family. The only surprise excited
on account Of it was surprise at the
taste of Mr.. Powell in selecting a girl
of such masculine appearance. Miss
Burnham's parents seemed particu-
larly pleased at the prospective mar
riage of their daughter, whom they
believed would make good wife for
an editor. In February. 1860, L.
w. Powell ana Hiss Ellen Burnham
were married by Rev. Mr.. Cochran,
the Congregational minister.
The happy couple took short
bridal tour, preparatory to settling
pown for life After an absence of a
week, they returned to the residence
Of the brides parents who, in honor
of their daughters marriage, sent
out invitations to large numbers of
our citizens to welcome the bride and
groom. We were present at the
wedding party, aud could not but
think that both the bride and groom
appeared remarkably solemn. We
did not kiss the bride, although that
was the fashion. Our objection to
the kissing part of the programme
was dislike to come in contact with
an unusually heavy and black nous
tachewhictr married the upper lip of
the bride.
Mrs. Powell became more and
more masculine in her appearance as
she grew older. She took case in
the Reporter office, and learned the
printers trade rapidly, and in short
time she proved to be the best jour
in the Office. She also took to smo-
king. in the cultivation ofwhich hab-
it she proved herself printer.
In the spring of 1861, when Pow
ell had been married about year
and half, the Seventh Wisconsin
regiment was organized. Powell's
wife not having presented him with
an heir to make home doubly pleas
ant, he resolved to go to the wars.
He sought, and through the infiu-
ence of friends, obtained the appoint
ment of State agent, or "wet nurse,
for the gallant Seventh, then ordered
to Washington Mrs. Powell, being
of a cough and hardy make, resolved
to accompany Ter husband to the
front. No objection being raised
she fitted herself ont and went to
Washington. The regiment was fol
a time detained at Washington. and
Mrs. Powell made herself happy by
working up that moral town. Afev
weeks after her arrival there. while
she was riding on horseback one day,
her masculine appearance attracted
| the attention Of the Government de
tective, who made up his mind tina