The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-02
Information.
a Remarkable Case.

There passed through this city yesterday, en-
route to Chicago, lady whose history i: one OF
the most remarkable ever brought 20 public mo-
flee II ma. been well said that truth is stranger
than fictien, and the details of this ladys histo-
~ abundantly verify the adage. For reasons
which we all will see the prOpriety OF, we with
hold her name, merely relating the facts ~ they
were communicated to our reporter BY one who
had heard her strange, true story from her
own lips.
In 1888 her parents emigrated to this country
from England, leaving behind them an only son
some ten years of age, who had engaged a. . cab
in bow ON a merchant vessel in the East India
trade. They landed in New York, when . few
months later, the subject of this sketch was born
While she was yet helpless infant, both her
parents died, and she was sent toths FoSndlings'
Home, whore she remained some time, when she
was finally adopted by lady and gentleman,
who then resided at Elmira, N. Y. OF course she
knew nothing of her sailor brother, and she grew
ND in the belief that she was really the child OF
her foster parents. At the age of Is she married
m industrious young mechanic, and set out LOT
the far west After travelling in various states
they finally settled in Missouri, where they con.
tinued prosperous and happy until the storm OF
war burst upon the country Then her husband,
in common with the thousands OF his misguided
countrymen, enlisted in the service OF the rebel
lion, and was assigned to Gen. Prices army. he
served faithfully during the first eighteen
months of the war; but was finally killed In one
of the Southwestern engagements. From the
breaking cut of the war, the lady OF whom we
write had lost all trace of her foster parents ow-
ing to the disturbed condition of the country IN
which she resided, and after her husbands death
she removed to St Louis, where she sought to
maintain herself by sewing.
In 1863 she again married, and her husband
embarked in business in st. Louis. This last
marriage was thoroughly happy one, and in
the course of time two children were born unto
them. The husband gradually extended his
business operations, 80 that much of his time was
necessarily spent in travelling about the country,
and during one of his business tours he visited
Chicago, where he became acquainted with Ia
DIV and gentleman who, by fortunate chain of
circumstances, he ascertainsd were the long-lost
foster parents of his wife. Delighted at the dis
covery he had made, and pleased, no doubt, with
anticipations of the joyful surprise he should
give his wife, the husband at once concluded his
business, with the intention Of returning to st.
Louis, and bringing her to Chicago, for the pur-
pose of reuniting her with her friends, without
having first prepared either party for such an
event. r13
On the night before his contemplated depart
urs for home, while conversing with Mr. and Mrs.
-, it happened that he was led into = recital
OF his adventures about the world, and before
the narrative was finished his listeners know that
their adopted daughter had married her own
brother, who, before she was born, had sailed for
the East Indies Horrfed beyond expression
the wretched man fled from the house, and from
that hour ne tidings of him have ever reached
his friends. This was in March last and few
weeks later the wretchsd sstsr-wife was rendered
comparatively poor, by the destruction of large
portion Of the property that was left in her
hands, by fire.
Although written to by her stricken friends,
their letters never reached her, and few weeks
since she started for Elmira, her early home.
Upon her arrival there she learned the address
of her foster-parents, with whom she at once
communicated, giving them full details of her
experience since she had first babe them farewell,
upon setting out for her western home. Their
answer to her letter contained a statement of the
terrible discovery of the identity of her husband
and brother, together with an atfectionate invi-
tation to come to them with her children and
share their home.
Heart-brOken and nearly crazed by the strange
denosement of her happy married life, tho
wretched woman hastened to accept the offer,
and this morning will doubtless see her reunited
with her earlisst and dearest friends.-Detrot
Free Press.