The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-10-23
A RUVER'S FORTUNE.
homantfc story OF German Tramn-The
Adventures OF the Prince OF Middietown.n -
"A Remarkable Career,


Reading Correspondence Philadelphia Times.
A teW months ago, William Grossm an
was a tramp in Eastern Pennsy lvania.
Now ne is literally spending $4,000,
that sum beng the first installment of
hls inheritance from his fathers estate
IN Germany. Grossman has settled in
Longswamp Township, Berks County,
and already owns stable OF nine fast
horses. His first cash receipt from Ger
many, was $4,000 in gold; then he re-
cslVed $4,000 IN currency, and then a
draft for 5000, which he has deposl ted
IN bank tor safe keeping. In
few months more he expects another
large installment of solid cash
from over the sea, the result OF the sale
0t his dead father vine. clad hills along
| the Rhine. Grossman is now known as
the "Prince OF Middleto Rn,n tor in that
obscure village he has located for the
present. His marriage is ono Of the
most romantic on record, and the fact
that he spent $500 a day for kniek -knacks
for his blide has exercised the gossip of
all the country round. Eight or ten years
ago Grossman landed at Castle Garden.
lie had shipped at Bremen. He was a
wild, haram m-scarum young German, and
his desire was 70 escape siege OF years
Of University life. He wanted to come
to "tree Amerlcs" and partake Of some of
the joys of the New World.
Said he the other day, II came to this
country Tor experience and to see strange
sights. NV reml, ,tances from home came
right along. When | had money spent
i. like a lord with my friends OF the road,
and when | had none | put up with the ups
and downs Of tramp lite as we'll as the
rest OF them. didn't care, neither, be-
cause l was happy, and the lite agreed
with me. | had 3 soft bed at home, q
good table, plenty of wine and fruit and
good society. got tired of that. | pre-
tered the free open country OF Pennsyl-
vania, with Its fat barns and hospitable
people | never wronged any one but
myself, but ! got along hrst-rate. |
| loved the woods and springs and noun
tam scenery. A tramp has no cares.
He Is absolutely free 50 long as he can
keep out of jail. A smart tramp need
not get into trouble. All he has to do
is to keep out OF bad eomn.s, and dc
nothing wrong himself. iAas vas my
plan
Naen dressed and shaved, Grossman
II an intelligent looking German, WI Il
regular features aud dark hair, medium
IN height, compac.ly built, and he IS
quite talkatlve He purchased house
7 1bI
which he paid s., 200. His first horse
cost Inn 5000; then he boaghi trotter
anl light buggy Tor 500: from q gen.
tleman at Alburtia, he bought double
cam for 5000. His passion tor horses
soon became known, and III few days
about dozen stock dealers from Alien
town, Reading, KutztoHn and other
pIaces. yisl sd Middletovn with strings
NJ fine animals, and suddenly that here
totore quie, backswoods village became
an active, busy horse-market. drossmat
bought until at least twelve horses were
in hls stable, and he had to quit tor wan
of stable room. He WAS Jolly purchas
er. and didn't pretend TO know mucl
about horsefesh, nor did he seem TO care
The maiden name OF his wife was MIS-
Susan Hilbert. She is the daughter OF {
Lancaster County woodman. In the day
Of Grossman's poverty he first met her
her fathers home, where Grossman cam
one pleasant afternoon II Autumn. u
rested by well and very soon he saw
dark eyed maiden at the gate. lie en-
aaoed her in conversation, and finall
Che asked him whether he wanted
drink OF water. "No,' said he, with
reoulsh 9inkle, iii you have cider o
+ somethi stronger will suit me better
wafer ia 90 common. The young woman
.as charmed with his impudence, an
she soon ,roduced = pitcher OF hard q
der from the cellar. 4 plate OF apple
was then set before the eyes OF the good
looking Young German. lnls acqualr
tsnee soon ripened into love. Grossma
obtained work on nearby farm an
courted the pretty Susan as ofsen as u
could. Finally they were engaged Oh
q Grassmap never told his athaneed ths
be was the son of a wealthy Germa
lanaholaer across the sen. they wei
married by the village parsan and i've
u,th the brides parents. Grossmai
however soon learned that married III
nf that kind was not as he expected an
: hnnea 81 he determined to leave TN
! sear,on of the country. He was viii
) and lmpetuous, and he thought tt
n,ion was beneath his station. Still keel
) mo his secret, he suddenly dlsappeare
: and became q tramp again. tie coll :
! "a 4 number Of the jollicst tramps on y
! rasd that he could find, some Of the
= haa been students in the old country III
! himself. They knew him by his assume
: name. When his remittances came th'
:. had the olllest of reunions. he haa
), desire to return to Germany. u
node Of life had charm aoo
!. :. !, that he could not resist Finally Wo