The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1869-08-14
Death of u Hernsit--A Romantic
Story of q Mdrylander.

On Saturday evening last an old man named
Daniel Bomgardner, who for many years had
lived by himself in little hut on the banks OF
the Sandusky river, above Ballvillc, departed
this life He was we'll known by our citizens,
and esteemed as an honest and upright citizen
yet, while all knew how and where ne lived, few
knew the reasons for his hermit life. 1t was one
of those singular cases, now and then developed,
which gave zest TO the declaration oftentmes that
truth is stranger than fiction" From one who
was near neighbor, we gather the following
particulars
He was born on the 10th of April, 1882, near
Frederick, Frederick county, Maryland, and was
consequently in his eighty-eighth year at the
time of his death. He was the youngest son and
his father who had been quite wealthy, having
provided for the rest of the family, reserved the
home farm for the youngest son. He married,
and residing on the farm, had gathered around
him family of six children, when the father
was induced to indorse for son-in-law, who
absconded, leaving him pay the debt, in doing
which Daniel was left tpenniless. His wife, whose
parents were wealthy, occasionally taunted
Daniel with his poverty yet he, sensitive and
high-spirted though he was poor, bore it until
one day, some fifty years ago. He had taken his
horses and started to the field to plow, but
brooding over the matter, tied them to the fence
in the field and determined to quit the country.
and friends, and never more was seen in Frederick.
His absence occasioued alarm and inquiry, but
his whereabouts was not known. Wandering
about the country for some years. he finally,
forty-three years ago. took mp his residence in
Baliville township. For nine years he lived in
the family of John G. Rideout, of Ballville, and
then he built for himself the little hut in which
he resided at the time of his death. For thirty
three years he lived there alone, seeking no in.
| 81 fosa 10 mi
any knowledge of his whereabouts: Nine or ter
wears ago. however -one of our oldest citizens
who formerly had lived in Maryland, was bach
there on a visit, and hearing some conversation
one day in relation 10 some one who had disap
reared from the neighborhood 30 many year
before and who had never been heard from, in
ouired his name, and on being told it recognized
/ him ss the hermit Bomgsrdner. Daniels oldes
daughter had married we'll, and upon learning
that her father was still living, wrote to him t
induce his return, and subsequently her husband
about eight years ago, paid the old man a visit
remaining with him several days, and endeavore
70 oct him to return with him, but all to no pur
nose Another effort was made about five year
; AGO bv grandson, who visited him to get hir
to retnrn. but he was resolute and would no
And so the wears rolled on the old man gre'
, older and the once herculean frame becam
tremulous and fragile, yet still he maintained hi
solitary and secluded life. A few weeks ago b
f grew sick but remained about his home unit
about week before bis death, when he becam
8 so poorly that he had to take to his bed. he wf
; where kind hands ministered to his wants, an
! when hen the death-damp gathered on bis brow an
, the feeble pulse ceased to beat strange hant
nerformed the sad office that loving hands woul
fain have done. He was buried on Monday last:-
Fremont Ohio) Journal