American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-01-16
Two Missouri Boys Found After an
Absence of Five Years.

II will be remembered by many that
five years ago the 18th day of next June
one Sunday afternoon-Henry Green,
better known as Henry Wilkerson, boy
of fourteen years, who had been adopted
by Ralph Wilkerson, and little Frank
Wardell, aged eleven years, son of Will
lam Wardell, who resides about mile
and a half southeast of this place. re-
ceived permission from Mrs. Wardell to
go into the woods from whence they
were 10 go after the cows. The COWS
came up at the usual time but the boys
did not return and from that time until
last Saturday evening not the least trace
of them could ever be found although
nearly everyone in the vicinity turned
out and most thorough search was
made in all directions, the woods being
secured and the streams closely eX
amined. Mr.. Wardell also searched
through Illinois and Canada, where he
had formerly lived, but could find no
trace of them whatever.
They finally gave them up as dead,
and have so mourned them for more than
four years but on Saturday evening last
Mr.. II. b. Fales, of this place, received
letter from young Wilkerson, dated at
Chillicothe, asking if his foster-father
still lived here. He mentioned young
Wardell but did not state whether he
was dead or alive. Mr.. Fales i'm
mediately showed the letter to Mr..
Wardell, who started for Chillicothe on
Monday morning, where he arrived in
due time, and after diligent inquiry
learned that Wilkerson was at work on a
farm about four miles from there. He
Immediately repaired to the place and
found Wilkerson, who informed him
that his own son, Frank, was alive and
well, living twelve or fourteen miles
from there. near Dawn. He set out and
after travelling on foot nearly all night
found him, and with him returned to this
place on Tuesday last, where his mother
and friends were anxiously waiting be-
tween hope and fear for his return.
Upon an interview with Frank he in
forms us that they started out with the
idea of being men and becoming rich.
They calmly and deliberately land their
plans before starting, and it is astonish-
ing with what success they met Two
poorly clothed (they having left all their
clothes at hOme), bare footed boys, aged
eleven and fourteen years, started out
five years ago, with very little money
eluded the most thorough search, and
have successfully taken care of them
selves ever since!
They at orce changed their names to
George and Charlie Mccartney, and
started easterly, keeping the Hannibal
& st. 10. Railroad in view. They
Travelled nearly all night, and rested near
Hamilton on Monday morning, where
they bought crackers and cheese, and,
resuming their journey, arrived at Utica,
about ten miles from ChillicOthe, on that
evening. They Immediately applied to
a Mr. Hiram Brown for work, telling
him they were brothers, and had no rela-
tives except q young sister in Minnesota,
living with an aunt. Upon being told
by Mr. b. that he did not want any help
the tears started from their eyes, and
that decided their fate, for Mr.: B. took
them in and kept them over night, and
next morning struck bargain with
them. They remained with him about ten
months, and have since worked at various
places in that section, going to school part
of the time, and have never been twenty
miles from their first stopping-place, or
over fifty miles from here.
They enjoyed good health all the time,
and often thought they would like to re-
turn to their homes but were determined
to wait until they could return men,
grown and wealthy.
Mr. Wilkerson, Henry's fOster-father,
moved from this place two or three years
ago, and has since died. Henry still re-
mains near Chillicothe.-Cdmeron (.No.)
Observer.