River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-25

The Strange Romance of an Hungarian
Refugee.
Davenp0rt Democrat

heIHgee.
Davenport Democrat.
There arrived from the east yester.
day morning mother and son WIN
have been long absent from Davennort
living in foreign lands, but whose re-
turn calls up memories of the nast--of
people VINO were once well known in
Davenport, and whose histories nave
received enhanced interest for this com.
nunity since their departure.
Many of our readers win recollec,
Joseph Majtheyni, who had farm on
Dusk creek, and was we'll known in
Davenport number of years since.
he WAS one of the Hungarian refugees
OF Louis Kossuth's time, having done
something in connection with his friend
kossuth in the rebellion of 1S4S, when
an effort was made to free Hungary
from Austrian dominion-Some.hin
that forfeited liberty, and life, too, per-
haps. MIR. Majtheyni escaped, leaving
his wife, countess in high life, and
two daughters and a son behind. HAY
ing written his wife that he was going
10 America, she took her son, Theodore,
then small boy, and FASTENED TO Bel.
GUM, where he was hiding. There
she told him If he was going 10 Ameri-
ca ne must take the boy along, too as
he would be too much trouble to her.
He came to Iowa, and first settled on
some wild land in Decatur county,
where he struggled to earn q scantv lv-
ing, having been all his life unused to
manual labor. He sometimes ask ed
his wife to send him means, and to
come herself, beth of which she prom
lshed to do, but never did.
Alter some years of single life lie took
wife i'll Iowa, and lived on farm on
Duck creek, near Davenport, rs we
have said. Time passed; the boy, The
odore. became one OF the we'll known
young men Of Davenport-was a prom
inent fireman, and then freight con-
ductor; and when the war broke out
went into the union army, and was in
the body-guard of Gen. Fremont in his
military exploits in Missouri. More
time passed, and changes took place in
Austria and Hungary, the old Quarrel
was settled, end Msjtheyni was re-elecs-
ed to his old position-that of director
or manager Of estates of the crown.
After some hesitation he thought TO re-
turn. But there was his wife. the
countess, in Hungary, and his other.
and more esteemed one, with him,
To go there and live with the countess
he was disinclined to entirely abandon
his American wife he would not: so
began negotiations which ended i'm an
agreement with the countess not TO
disturb her IN the possession of their
property, and she not to disturb him
with ANY blgamy suits if he should re-
turn. 80 1t was agreed, and he return.
ec TO his old position. Negotiations
were then made for bringing over the
American wife and daughter. 1t was
agreed to by the Interested families ~
arouzd, and the wife and child went |
their Hungarian home, where they
were warmly greeted by the fond hus-
band. Ii is SAID there was some feeling
al first, but the old gentleman was a
true MS steel--they who essayed TO
slight mis- second wife were promptly
reminded OF the danger of such proceed
ing, and there 1t ended. Both wives
are now dead. The daughter of the
second gre1;to womanhood, q beauti-
ful and talepted young lady, now hap
ply married. Mr.. NJ. lives now with
his third wife, the union being blessed
with two children.
As to the captain. When his father
returned to his former office. he left
Capt. Theodore in the states, preferrine
that he should live there and "grow up
with the country" Bat the captain
waa not of the same mind. He had
married q young woman in Davenport,
Miss Hart, who was a dining-room SER
want in the Scott House, where the
captain boarded, and person of good
traits Of character. lie failed to OBJ
tam his fathers consent to return, and
then went without it, taking his wife
and little son. Arriving, the father
would do the best he could. The cap
tain had good record in the United
States army, and the father was man
of mach influence So IT happened
the captain obtained--what is very un-
usual indeed for one without home rec,
ord.--tne position of major in the Aus.
trian army. Elated beyond measure
at MS good fortune, and little too
mAch given to stylish extravaganza, he
ersily squandered his ample salary and
much borrowed money be. les. His
debts becoming crying outrage, he
az dismissed from the service. Then
he went into forbidden paths, sought to
win fortune at the tigers mouth, wan
dered OFT to the gambling tables of
Monaco, and has been lost sight of for
several years. Despairing of her bus.
band, the wife took her son and return
Ell to America. And she it was who
arrived on Saturday mornings train to
visit relatives.