Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-03-06
A STRANGE STORY.
How q Man Lost His Health,
His Wife and Children by
Going to the War in 1862.

In 1854 q laDOrer named Isaac Devoe,
an industrious man employed about the
wharves, left Kingston, n. Y, and went
to Poughkeepsie, in the same State. In
1852 he enlisted in the regular service
and went to the war. He was married
and had several children. His regi-
ment was in many hard engagements,
and in the early days of the siege of
Petersburg he was taken prisoner by
the Confederates. Previous to that
time he written regularly to his wife
and sent her money. After falling into
hands Of the rebels all communication
with his friends was cut off. During
fhis captivity he was transferred, with
other Union prisoners, from place to
place, until the cessation of hostilities.
When released he was broken down in
health. He went to New Orleans and
entered a hospital, writing to his wife
to inform her that he. Was still in the
land of the living.
He remained in the hospital some
months, during which time he had re-
ceiyed no reply to his letters. Partially
restored to health, he found light en-
ployment on Mississippi steamboat,
and worked his way to Cairo, Ill. He
was again prostrated and sent to hos
pital. 1t was nearly year before he
was able to get about again. He wrote
several times during that period to his
wife and brother, but, receiving no re-
plies, he concluded that they were dead
or had discarded him. Becoming con-
valeseent, he again engaged as hand
on steamboat and ran between Cairo
and New Orleans until the 18th OF last
month. He then could no longer resist
a longing to return to the scene of his
former life, and arrived in Poughkeep-
sic few days since.
After he went to the war his wife re-
ceived letters from him regularly and
wrote to him In return. In the publish
ed accounts of the siege of Petersburg,
she read the name of her husband
among those who were missing. Sew
eral months passing by without any
tidings being received from Rim, Mrs.
Deyoe mourned for ner husband as one
dead. The support of her caildren fell
upon her, and to l.eep the wolf
from the door, she sold What furniture
she had, and placing ker children with
a brother of hers, in the vicinity of
Kingstown, proceeded to Cohoes, where
she became an operative in factory.
For some years her life was strug-
gle with poverty. In 1868 she returned
to Poughkeepsie and visited her chill
dren at Kingstown. While stopping at
the house of friend at the former place
she became acquainted with man
named Barney Devlin, plasterer by
trade, living ia New York, but working
IN Poughkeepsie. He was sober and
Industrious m&n, and a warm attach
ment sprang up between him and Mrs.
Devoe, who vas supposed by all to be
widow. The result was that the two
were engaged to be married before she
returned to Cohoes, he offering her
good home for herself and children.
rhe following fall Devlin and Mrs. De-
roe were married. They went to New
York, where they lived very happily
ogether until the spring of 1870, when
hey removed to Chicago, since which
ime their friends in Kingstown have
lad no account of them.
When Isaac Devoe arrived in Pough-
,eepsie few days since, after an alb
ence of nearly twelve years, and after
very one who had known him had long
ooked upon him Is being dead, the as
onishment OF his friends may readily
e imagined. The first place he called
vas at famii Us named Harrington, on
'hurch street. 1t was some time be-
ore he could assure them that he was
eally Isaec I'eyoe. Inquiry as to what
lad become of his wife and family:elic-
cd the above facts. Devoe received
he singular intelligence very philoso-
'hically, and said if his wife was living
apply with her new partner he would
ot interfere with them; bur he will
lsist on having his children placed in
is charge He remained in Pough-
eepsie only over night, and then start
q in search of his children. The af-
air has created no little sensation in
ingston.
Indians do not feather their skull in