The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-27
Death Of a Hermit.
A ROMANTIC STORY.


Fro M tic Fremont (Ohio) Journal
On Sunday evening last, an old man named
Daniel Bomgardner, who for many years had
lived by himself in little hut on the bank of
the Sandusky river, above Ballville, departed
this life. He was well known by our citizens,
and esteemed as an honest and upright citizen;
yet, while all knew how and where he lived,
few knew the reasons for his hermit life. 1t
was one of those singular cases, now and then
developed which give zest to the declaration
oftentimes that truth is stranger than ic-
ton" From one who was a 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
wear 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 endorse for a son-in-law, who absconded,
leaving 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 poor, bore 1t
until one day some fifty years ago.
He had taken his horses and started to the
field to plough but, brooding over the mat
ter. 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 absence occasioned alarm and
inquiry, but his whereabouts were not known.
Wandering about the country for some years,
he finally, forty-three years ago, took up his
residence in Ballville township. For nine
years he lived in the family of John G.. Ride
out, of Ballville, and then he built for him
| self the little hut in which he resided at the
time of his death. For thirty-three years he
lived there alone, seeking no information of
his friends nor extending to them any
knowledge of his whereabouts. 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 con-
versation one day in relation to some one
! who had disappeared from the neighborhood
so many years before, and who had never
been heard from, inquired his name, and
on being told it, recognized him as the
hermit BOmgardner. Daniels oldest daugh-
ter had married well, 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 a visit, remaining with him several
days, and endeavored to get him to return
with him, but all to no purpose. Another
effort was made about five years ago by
grandson, who visited him to get him to re-
turn, but he was resolute and would not. And
so the years rolled on; the old man grew
older, and the once herculean frame became
tremulous and fragile, yet still he maintained
his solitary and secluded life. A few weeks
ago he grew sick, but remained about his
home until a week before his DEATH when he
became so poorly that he had to take to his
bed. He was then removed to the residence
of Mr.. John Moore, where kind hands minis
tered to his wants, and when the death-damp
gathered on his brow, and the feeble pulse
ceased to beat, stranger hands performed the
sad office that loving hands fain would have
done. He was buried on Monday last