The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-07-02
Death of am Old Hermit.-on slndl

evening last an o;d man named Daniel bonn |
gardner, who for many years had lived by |
himself in a little hut on the bank of the
Sandusky river, above Ballyille, departed |
this life. He was zwsll known to cur cilil |
zsas, aud esteemed ss 40 honest and upright
citizen; yet, while all knew how and where
he lived, few knew the reasons for his hermit
life. It was one of those singular cases,
now and then developed, which give zest to
the declaration oftentimes, that "truth is
stranger than fiction" From one who was.
near ueighBor We gather the following par
ticulars:
He was born on the 10Th of April, 1852,
near friedrich, Fredrick county, Maryland,
and was consequently in his s8th year at the
time of his death. He was the youngest SOP
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 wss induced to en-
dorse for son-in-law, who absconded, leav-
ing him to pay the debt, IN doing which
Daniel was left penniless His wife, whose
parents were wealthy, occasionally taunted
Daniel with his poverty; yet he, sensitive
and high-spirited though he was, bore it
until one day, some fifty years ego. He had
taken his horses and started 10 the field to
plow, but brOoding over the matter, tied them
to the fence in the field and determined to
quit the country. He turned his back upon
his home, wife, children and friends, and
never more was seen in Frederick. His ab-
sence occasiOned alarm and inquiry, but his
whereabouts were not known. Wandering
about the country for some years, he fually,
forty-three years ago, took UP his residence
in Ballville township. For nine yesrs be lived
in the family Of John G. Rideout, of Ballville,
and then he built for himself the little hut in
which be resided at the time of his death.
For thirty three years he lived there alone,
seeking no infofmation Of bis friends, nor ex-
tending to them any knowledge Of his where
abOuts. Nine or ten years ago, however,
one of our old citizens, who formerly had
lived in Maryland, was back there on a visit
and hearing some conversation, one day, in
relation 10 some one who had disappeared
from the neighboIhOOd So many years before,
and who had never been heard from, iu-
quired his name, and on being told it, recog-
uzed him as the hermit Bomgardner.-
Daniels Oldest daughter had married we'll
and upon learning that her father was still
living, wrote to him to induce his return,
and subsequently her husband, about eight
years ago, paid the old man visit, remain
ing with him several days, aad endeavOring
to get him to return with him, but all to no
purpose. Another eff,rt was made, about
five years ago, by grandson, who visited
him TO get him 10 return, but he was reso-
Lutte and would not. And so the years rolled
on; the old man grew older, and Inc once
herculean frame became tromulous and fra
gile, yet still he maintained his solitary and
secluded life. A few weeks ago, he grew
sick, but remained about his home until
week before his death, when he became SO
poorly that he had to take his bed. He was
then removed to the residence of Mr. John
Moore, where kind hands ministered to his
wants; and when the death damp gathered
on his brow, and the feeble pulse &C ased to
beat, stranger hands performed the sad of
fees that loving friends fain would have done.
He twas buried on Monday last, and after
"life's fitful fever" sleeps in peace.
Real Estate Transfers for the week
ending Saturday, June %, 1869, prepared
by W. W. STINE, Recorder:
Milo Grover to Darsey HartsOck, 35 acres
in sec y, Green Greek $4400.
James L. Glenn to Sard;s Birchard, lot No.
81, Glenn Springs, 23-lOO a.-..-. $500
George Reed to Ambrose Ochs, lot No
75o, ----l----- 800.
Samuel Meyer to John 9eter, 337 4O-l0O
acres 10 sec 2O, York. $40, 900
Samuel W. Reed to Norman D. Sharp, 81
1S acres in sec q, Green Greek $1,000.
Henry Lang 10 John P Carroll, in lots
No. rs, n and ~, Fremont. $4,000.
George Cooper to John Wightman, in lots
No 136 and 1877, Fremont. t....... $I3, 500
John Buchman to George Buchanan, so
acres in sec 26, Washington --....-. $1,000.
Eli Hansbarger to Trustees of Evangelical
Association, lot No. A, Washington Station
--.-------....------ $500.
William Herbster to Timothy H. Bush,
part of in lots N o. I37, 1873 and l39, Fremont
.---.-..-s. -...-- -------. $50 --..- S22OO.
2 James Manahan to Wm H. Brems, 80
acres in sec 30, WOodVille- $225O.
Seaman Smith to 7. J. Suter, 4S acres in
sec q, WOOdVille le.-.-.-......S2 S2SS0.
Caleb Olink to Henry Filling, 40 acres in
sec y, Madison -----------. > - $780, |
8 oliyet B, Hayden to John Rhapstock, 10
aeres in sec q, Green Greek 1856. |
Jacob and Michael Stoll TO John Hettinger |
Is acres in sec 2, Rice--. --.-4-@------ -$475. |
Thomas Hall 10 John Cowell, 8 acres in
sec IA, TOWnsend-- --.--...------ SIS. |
Ernst Ulhe to John X. Bellows, 50 scres
in sec "a, Gretn Greek $2500.
George Greensdale to William Vickery so |
acres in sec 80, York --.--.-- -----.- $4,000
John Eoff to Mary Ayers, Is acres in sec
81, Washington ------------ $5O0.
Benjamin D. Miller TO A. B. Lindsay, in
lot No. 54S, Fremont. $3.50.
James Moore to VIM A. and Alfred H.
Rice, parts Of iu lots No. 2I5, pa, 245 and
I4o, FREMONT ---- ---------- $4,000
George Weiker TO Adam B. GsrDs, 80 acres
n sec %, Madison --.s - - $4,000.
Charles Loose to Eli Hansbarger, 40 acres
n sec 26, Washington $500
Sheriff Russell to Daniel Snyder, in lot
No. 1888, Fremont. ut..---.-Sl $1,000.
John Washburn 10 0rrin R. Perish, in lot
No. 675, Fremont $2500.
Sheriff Russell to William Lukiu, Is
cres in sec 7, Sapdusky-.. 1867 so.
Anthony Bower TO Charles Lightner, 40
cres in sec 13, Madison $500.
NJ. D. Thirwechter to John Beery, 10 acres
u sec IL, SlndHsky. .....--$ -$l200
HOrlacher and Zeigler 10 John Oarley, 60
cres in sec IL, Riley ey-----------$S $500.
Z, s. Brian to George Miller, As acres in
&C Is, Green Creek $5000.
Margaret W. Carey to Luther WiDehell,
A 98-IO0 acres in sec 81, Scott SI7OO.
WASHINGTON STATION.