The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-29

DEATH OF 4 HERMIT On Sunday evening
last an old man named Daniel Bomgardncr,
who for many years had lived by himself in
n 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;
vet 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 zcst 10 the de-
claration oftcntimcs that "truth is stranger
than fiction" From one who was Il near
ncighbor We gather the following particu-
lars:
He was born on the 10th of April, 1872,
near Frederick, Frederick county, Md,
and WAS consequently in his eighty-cighth
year at the time of his death. lie 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 indorsc for Il son-in-law, who abscondcd,
leaving him to pay the debt in doing which
Daniel was left pcnnilcss. His wife, whose
parents we're wealthy, occasionally tauntcd
Daniel with his poverty yet he, sensitive
and high spirited, though he WAS poor,
bore it until one day some fifty years ago.
lie had taken his horses and started to the
field to plow, but, hrootlinS over the matter,
lied them TO the fence in tho field, and de-
tcrmincd to quit the country. He turned
his back upon his home, wife, children, and
friends, and never more was seen in Frcdc-
rick. His absence occasioned alarm and in
ouiry, hut his whereabouts were not known.
Wandering about the country for some years,
he finally. forty-thrcc years ago, took up
his residence in BallvilIc township. For
nine years lie lived in the family of John
G. Ridcout, of Ballyillc, and then he built
for himself the little hut in which he re-
sided at the time of his death. For thirty
three years he lived there alone, seeking
no information of his friends nor extend
ing 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 OIL q
visit, and hearing some conversation 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 her
nit Bomgardner. Daniels oldest daughter
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 visit, remaining with him seye-
raj days, and endcayored to get him to
return with him, but all to no purpose.
Another effort was matte about five
years ago by grandson, who visited
him to get him 10 return, but he
was resolute aid 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 main
tanned 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 ministercd 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 faiQ would have done. He
was buried On Monday last.-Frcmont
| (OhiO) Journal.