The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-05-06
THE TRIBUNE.
A STRANGE STORY.
The AFFECT Poverty Of a Wealthy Man
Heirs Wanted for his Estate.

engrossing topic throughout Green Co.,
and which at present has no immediate
prospect of being unravelled. To obtain
the clew to it a search is being made in
Nova Scotia for people who, if living,
may not only clear up the matter, but,
if they prove their identity, may come
to the lions share Of an inheritance of
over 100000, which has been found,
with a viii directing it's disposal, in the
effects of a man who has for years been
an object of charity in the Catskil
Mountains. So far as known the follow
ing are the details of the case Six or
seven years since, to supply want long
felt in thinly populated part of the
mountains, of which the village of Ash
land is the center, the Episcopal Board
of Home Missions detailed as mission
ary to the section a minister named
Clark. He was man of middle age,
evidently gentleman and scholar of
the old school, but bearing outward evil
dence of extreme poverty. While not
strictly misanthropic in his nature, there
was about him something that seemed
to indicate disgust or disliking for the
outward world, and he carried himself,
when not engaged in the duties of his
calling, aloof from society. 1t was his
duty to preach whenever and wherever
his services were needed, and for these
services he received from the Missionary
Society salary of $3.50 year. This
sum was somewhat increased by dona-
tons from his parishioners, who despite
of his manner were not little attached
to him. He was a man of no family,
and he was never known to refer to his
past life or to any friend o. relative. It
was known that he came from Halifax,
and that was all any one ever knew of
the missionary personal history. When
he came to his field of labor he hired a
room in the house of poor, besotted
shoemaker in Ashland, and there he
lived, occasionally acceding to the request
of a parishioner to share his hospitality
for day or SO, alone with his books.
He received no visitors, but enough was
known that he lived In a pinched and
wretched manner. Two weeks ago he
was taken sick with fever. The shoe
maker notified some of the missionary's !
Pensioners, and he was given the best |
of care and medical aid. Rev. Mr.. |
Weeks, of Catskill, visited him frequent
~, and the lone preacher lacked for
nothing. Despite all this care, the lat
ter part of last week he died. He died |
as he had lived, without throwing any
light upon his life, or requesting any
friend from home to be summoned, His |
remains were inferred in beautiful spot |
IN the mountains, the expenses being |
betrayed by the villagers. Before Mr..
Weeks, who conducted the funeral ser
vices, had left for Catskill, it was sug-
gested that it would be well to gather |
up what effects the missionary had and
have them laid away and given to any
friend who might apply for them. A
number of persons went with Mr.. Weeks |
to the room that had been occupied by
Clark, and collected together his books
and the little else he had. In one cor
ner of the room was wooden chest. It
was at first concluded not to open this,
but thinking that it might contain some
instruction OF direction that might lead
to the finding of the friends of the de-
ceased, it was finally thought best to
open 1t. This was accordingly done
The chest contained paper parcel, a
small pass-book and large envelope
The package was opened, and to the in
describable amazement of the party was
found to contain a large number of q.
S. bonds, glance showing that some
of them, at least, were of 81 900 denom-f
lnation. The pass-book was a bank
book. and the envelope enclosed the
last will and testament of the missionary.
When the discoveries Of this wealth
could recover sufficiently from their
establishment to discuss the subject,
they decided not to make full eSami-
nation of it then. The effects were
placed in the hands of Rev. Mr.. Weeks.
and he brought the bonds, handbook
and will to this city and deposited them
in the Tanners National Bank. There
they remained until "Wednesday .rbo,
an examination OF them was made in
presence of the officers of the bank
The package contained $94, 900 in q. S.
bonds and securities, and the bank book
showed deposit of $4,000 in New
York city bank, the name of which has
not been disclosed The will directed
that, after some $40. 900 were paid to the
st. Luke Hospital and some small be-