The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-11-08


the the Regiacr, a special telegram
from Scdalia, Mo, to the Cincinnati
Commercial, entitled, ga Madison
county Romance" in which was given
an outline Of romantic affair con.
corning the late Leroy Mitchell, of
this county. To crafty the interest
aroused by that article, Capt. J. j.
Faris, an intelligent neighbor Of the
deceased, and who is thoroughly con.
versant with the facts in the case, fur.
nishes us with the following informn.
ton:
Leroy Mitchell, the principal char
acter in the Madison County Ro-
nance" was my neighbor. knew
him well for forty.fve years. lie was
the youngest son of John Mitchell,
whose wife was Miss Margaret Mitch
ell mo kin to her husband. } and who
died, the former in 1887, and the lat.
ter in 1857. lie was born in 1901,
on the farm adjoining the one where
he kved and died. He lived with his
mother during her twenty years Of
widowhood, and oui Of the l75 acres
Of land, the stock and negroes held
by her, he made enough money to buy
out the other heirs, except one, and
to buy 1913 acres more, making 3O3
acres IN all. lie vas an unusually
robust man. of fine physique, and pos.
sesse'l strong mini and remarkable
memory. lie was a fine wit aud an
snimiiablo mimic. Ills habits were
sober, his economy rigid, and his par
simony unbranded. lie was never
known to give or subscribe in stock,
any thing to a dirt road, turnpike,
railroad, schoolhousc or college; and
never gave toa preacher or church.
He never bought book or subscrib-
ed for a newspaper; yet, he kept with
the greatest care all such things given
him, even to almanacs, which are filed
away as far back as 1908. He al.
ways kept well posted in the local
news, and had in his possession hand
bills and circulars ofall the campaigns
since the campaigns of Clay, Jack
son. Crawford and Adams. lie was
never married; but about the year
1915 or 'l6, became too familiar with |
an orphan niece, and child was the |
result Of their intimacy. The niece
was then rejected by her relatives, in
GLIDING the subject of this sketch, and
became a poverty-stricken outcast.
How the poor child was raised it is
difficult TO tell. In course Of time she
grew up to he handsome, yet Of
course an uneducated woman. She met
md married a widower, an ex.Feder.
u soldier, James Num-. They were
poor. The removed to Missouri, but
poverty followed them. Several chill
lren were born and times grew hard
II. All this while Leroy Mitchell
vas growing richer. In fact, he had
low amassed the snug sum of s25,.
100 But various diseases had sot in
lpOn him and he saw that his last'days !
N earth were not far in the distance.
\ radical change seemed to come over
him. He had always been an uncom-
promising Democrat, and could not
ook upon a Wing, Know Nothing
" Republican but with distrust.
But now he summoned Republican
physicians; his servants we're Repub-
leans; his assistants were Republi- ,
ans; he turned from his old friends ,
md looked TO comparative strangers.
He made will and provided for dis
ant and unknown relatives against ,
nearer ones. He sent for his long-lost ,
md disowned daughter. and had her
md her family brought hack, and $
ave them l6S acres Of land, worth !
bout 5000. He gave them house. .
Iold and kitchen furniture besides. |
these are the facts in this singular ,
ase, to which his relatives and neigh {
'Ors will Attest Richmond Register. !