Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-02
A FREAK OF FORTUNE.
D"ouque WOOd-Sawyer Falls Heir
10 al Estate Worth Five Millions.
From the Dubunne InunN Tina

AD""u4ue WOOd-SaWyer Falls Eefl
10 al Estate Worth Five Millions.
From the Dubuque Qowa) Times.
Three years ago there resided in
this city sun-burned, hard-fsted
industrious man, named Adolpb
Gull, who earned the food required
for himself, wife and family of seven
children, by saving wood from door
to door. But little was known of
his early history beyond the fact
that he was an exile from Poland,
Europe, an item Of information
which he impaired to one or two
personal friends, with the further
statement that he had relatives livs
ing there who were very wealthy,
and might place him above want, if
SO disposed. During the internal
feuds and tyrannical government
which oppressed that unhappy land,
he, with number of others, deter
mined to emigrate and seek reliefon
the shores of free America. After a
safe and prosperous voyage the
party landed in New York, from
which point Mr. Gull continued his
journey to the West until he came to
Dubuque, where he rented cheap
tenement on Washington street, and
settled down to the business we
have before stated. How long
Mr.. Gull would have remained in
this city following his humble en-
ployment, and congregating with
others of his class on Seventh street,
We do not know, had it not been for
the liberality manifested by Uncle
Sam. In 1866, Mr.. Cults intention
was turned TO the homesteads Of
fered by the general government to
all actual settlers in the western
frontier of our State. After revolv-
ing the matter over, he resolved to |
avail himself of the benefits of so |
humane a provision, and flinging |
his buck and saw to one side, he |
packed up mis- household goods,
babe adieu to his fellow comrades,
and with his family started for the
fields of promise. He was fortunate
in procuring a good location within
twelve miles of Fort Dodge, and
soon had a nice little patch of
ground under the pillow. Here he
worked and toiled month af-
ter month, and was gradually be-
coming independent in circum-
stances through his own exertions,
when all at once the tickle goddess
fortune came to his relief and made
lin a millionaire. On the 18th inst.
he was called to Fort Dodge on bust.
less, and, on inquiring at the post
,ffice, found a letter directed to his
address,, from the old country,
which had evidently been await
ne his order for some days. Mr..
1ull took it out, glanced at
he superscription intently, and re-
that at last some of the
olks had concluded to write to
i'm, opened the document and COM
nenced to read. He had not de-
CURED more than half a dozen lines
'efore he uttered q loud yell and
commenced to dance around in q
manner absolutely inexplicable to
he bystanders, who thought that the
nan had suddenly become insane.
after the first surprise was over Mr..
1ull became more rational and in
ormed the spectators that he was
10 longer poor plodding farmer,
tut a millionaire, by the decease of
n uncle in Poland, who had willed
o him his entire property, amount
NC to S5,000,000, which was now
waiting his disposal. All this, and
much more, theletter contained. To
make long story short, Mr. Gull
old his farm the next week, and is
.ow on his way to the old country
o take possession of his property,
assing through Dubuque last
IOnday evening. We have only to
id, we hope he will be successful
nd find everything all right. But
Tho would have supposed that a
Dubuque wOod-sawyer could have
yer turned out a millionaire c