The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-07
ABSENT TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
Return After Quarter Century's Absence in
California.

A quarter of u century ago, one New
Years morning, Minor NJ. Brown, far.
mef, who lived near Rome Centre, in
this county, called mis- wife and three
sons about him to bid them good-by. He
was going ON long journey, going
where hundreds Of others were rus him
at that time in their mad excitement fol
wealth-going to California, where he
would build up for himself and family a
fortune. So he left his farm OF eighty
acres in charge Of three young boys aud
his wife. For four or five years be due
away with pick and spade and blasted
the rocks with powder. During this time
he wrote letters to his wife and family
and declared that his Thoughts roam ed
often back to Rome. Finally his letters
ceased, and the wife, Walling, waited in
vain. She wrote and wrote, but there
came back no answering note. The
years rolled on and were buried with the
past, and the Brown family came tC
think that the paternal Brown was
buried, too. Osmer Z. Brown, one Of the
sons, remained at home and worked the
farm; another, Ross, went out into the
world to become all architect of his own
fortune. A third, Oscar, went to thar
sunny Southern cline we read so much
about. The war came and Oscar Brown
changed his name to "Walter Hardy. -
and, forgetting that he was a Roma n
donned the gray and fought for "Stars
and Bars"
Seven years after Mrs. Brown received
the last letter from her absent lord, the
law, of course, considered him dead.
Fourteen years passed, and finally
tWenty-one, when, OF course, Minor M
Brown, OF Rome, LeuaWee County
Mich, was dead, dead, dead. Last
November, the widow, Mrs. Julia A,
Brown, came before the Probate Court.
applying for letters Of administration
upon the estate of Minor NJ. Brown. de-
ceased. 1t was then that she made the
statement, the substance OF which We
have recorded above. That her husband
left Her in January, 1852, and that for
over tWenty-one years she had heard
nothing whatever from him, although
she had MADE diligent effort to discover
his whereabouts. A day was appointed
Tor hearing, and finally Petit Seelye,
OF Rome, was appointed administrator.
A part OF the properly had been sold of
when last week the dead Brown, Minol
Brown, the minor, turned up alive, and
walked in Judge Beaman's office, where
the records showed that he was dead
Browu insisted that he was alive. and
the Judge, after becoming convinced
that Brown, although dead in law was
alive, advised the returned Californian
to 20 and see some fawyeE and devise
some means to reconcile the matter.
Now, here is neat little question TO,
the court to decide. Browns estate has
been partially administered upon, bul
as soon as Brown returned to Michigan,
ne went directly to the house or his son
Ross Brown, in Clinton County, this
State, to whom he has sold out lie old
Il me homestead. Meantime, during
these years, OsInar. q. Brown, who re.
manned at home ana worked the farm
married, ana alterward dled, when let
ters VI administration were granted
upon his estate, his estate being his in
terest in his iuthei's estate. Thus j,
twill be seen tue easc!is somewhat com.
plicated.
Minor M. Brown is now Gn old man
with gray beard, and is somewhef,
about seventy years of age. In equity
ana law his claim to the farm may Dt
good, but in justice and right he ou M
not to have dollar of The property