The New York herald., 1874-09-07
Mary Grover, Of No. &C Cherry Street, Stolen
Fourteen Years Ago.
A MOTHERS LONG SEARCH.
Where the Girl Has Lived and Where All Fur
ther Trace Stops-Hope Of Her
Early Discovery.

daughter OF William and Margaret Grover, resd
ing at &c Cherry street. Mary was very pretty,
attractive child, well grown for her age with high
forehead, bright blue-gray eyes, and long, rich.
auburn hair that fell down even to her waist. The
mothers pride in her beautiful daughter ever was
careful in having her dressed to the best advan-
tage their means and station In life would allow
and at that time the Growers were in comfortable
circumstances. When last seen Mary was returning
homeward from school. The matter excited the
greatest interest throughout the city at the time.
and for days the newspapers dwelt upon the sub
ject OF the disappearance. Every effort was made
for the chd's discovery, search was Instituted in
all possible quarters, advertisements published
and rewards offered, but all to avail. Years
rolled without the slntest trace OF the missing
one. Momentous events intervened, and the sub.
ject dropped into oblivion with all except the sor-
rowing household that had lost its rairest joy,
Mrs. Grover clung ever to the hope, even against
hope, that her child was still alive and would again
return to her arms Though other children were
born, the sorrow Of the bereavement, the loss of
the bright darling, her eldest and best beloved,
would still recur with undiminished grief
HoPE AT LAST.
One evening in June, 1874. she was sitting alone
and in tears thinking about her Mary, and weav-
ing sad iancles as to her fate when an old frieEd
OF the family, one Peter O'Donnell, came in, and
after while said he had some news for her. He
then broke to her the astounding information that
Mary Grover was alive and well, living with a
family at belle Plain Iowa. She was at first
wholly incredulous; but on his repeated and ear
nest assertions of the truth of his tale, willingly
yet doubtingly believed. O'Donnell also stated
that after Mary was stolen she was kept in this
city until January. 1862, when the girl was taken
to Chicago and left there. Nothing wonld. how
ever, induce HIM to reveal the source whence
he had obtained this information. The cir
BY this time much @ for the worse. on 1HevH How
ever the fond and now anXiously hopeful mother
raked together every available means for her jour.
ney and set out for Belle Plain. She there found
O'Donnel's story substantially correct. GIRL
answering to Mary's appearance, had lived there
recognized. Mary had, however, left some years
before and gone TO Chicago. Having stayed some
time In Iowa, the mother returned without the
sgntest shade OF doubt in her mind as to the
identity OF the Mary E. Grover VINO had lived
there with her own long-lost daughter. On her
to Chicago to pursue the search after his sister.
His inquiries met with little or no success and he
LETT the matter IN the hands of the police, who
He arrived IN town on Saturday night.
MRS GROWERS STORY.
Early IN the afternoon yesterday q HERALD re-
porter called at No. 66 Cherry street, where the
Growers still reside George, on whom the main
support OF the iamily now rests was not at home,
having taken younger brother and sister out Tor
q walk, and was not expected back till late. Mrs.
Grover, however, cheerlully and unaaectedly re-
her eyes at several stages OF her narrative espe-
cially when mentioning the absent girls frequent
sOrrowful recollection Of her mother, as the lolks
out in Iowa told her.
81 was born in Ireland, but reared in Lancashire
England. came to this country about thrty-fve
years ago and married William Grover sea.
faring man. Mary was our frst girl, and though
now nave other children, my heart always goes
back to her, as l suppose every mothers will,
no matter now they try, TO their drst. Wnen my
husband was far away, at Calcutta, may be, or
Australia, used to work hard that my little girl
might look as well as the best, and so she used,
l0r she was real pretty. thought my heart was
broken when she was missed and no tidings day
August the year before the war; She lett school
to come home ana that was the last seen of her.
newspapers. and advertisements describing her
were all over the country. But no good came
OF it. Every night for months and years l have
morning would bring me news OF her, and OF late
years, having lost the hope, could only, think OF
time last June when Peter O'Donnell told me she
was heard OF out IN place called Belle Plains in
Iowa. said to him. Go away for could not
telling the truth and AN that IA' she e. WAS WAS
living with family named Toogood, or
one named Dysart and INC go tnat Mary had
was then brought to Chicago, and that it was from
the Home there the Toogoods took her. Poor as
out to Belle Plains. When there I learned that
Mr.. Toogood had sold of and he and his wife had
gone to California, but the widow OF his brother
was living in the neighborhoOd. She told me THAT
her brother-lu-aw and his vile had many years
ago broueht back from Chicago little girl called
to do work, so she passed her tIme in going from
one brothers. house to the others until my in
forpants husband died and her brother-in-law
able to take Mary with them or to adopt
her, for there were no papers. Mary cried
bitterly, for she was great favorte and was
iran IN
child was sad and depressed-that there was
on ner mind; that she never could be
people lived in New YORK but she did not know in
what part. Mr.. Toogcod, before going to Califor-
nla placed her in the care OF hon. James Dysart,
who lives in Dysart, but there Mary had an un-
happy time,
coMrLAINING THAT MRS pYsAET BEAT HER
and made her DO hard work In the fields, and at
last tu rned her out OF doors the cold with very
scanty clothing, so that when the girl reached u
friends house they had to put her arms into warm
to stay with Mrs. Fulkin, OF Benton county. who
was very fond OF her. She used then to keep
since Mary went to Chicago, mas married Mrs.
Fukns daughter. After hearing this rom Mrs.
Ioogood went to Dysart and saw Mr.. Dysart, and
oand / was Maryy's mother. wen went @ out '1d Of
the way He said he'd do his best 10 get her for
ne. When called at Mrs. Fulkin's she said, Il
lynx know that face and when asked, Did |
'hc huVW d ehl HoheH Naiy uLo'eiF' sHc tnrcW 4
ler arms about my neck saying che was sure
must be the poor girls mother. She then showed
ne two lkenesses. and said at once,
THAT IS MY CHILD
John Young gave ME q letter ne had from Nary
liter the great fire, and she SAYS she escaped with
barely her clothes and was then working in o
Hatch factory In EgI. Electra Connolly, Mary's
yreat friend, said she had later letter, in which
t was stated she was working with a Mr.. Sher-
nan In Galesburg, Knox county. They were all
ilnd 10 me, and came home as soon as / could,
md George went on TO Chicago
Later in the day the reporter saw George
irOver, who stated that he had tried every way
or her In Elgin, Galesburg and Chicago but got no
dings, except that girl IL the American Hotel,
iaiesburg recognized the likeness. He there
ore left the letters and copies OF the two ike
lesses with Detective DIXON OF Chicago, who
promised 10 do all he could for them.
BURGLARY IN AUyURN