Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-06-30
CHARLIE ROSS FOUND
AGAIN.
A MICHIGAN LADY WHO THINKS SHE HAS
SEEN HIM-wHAT Mr.. ROSS SAYS.

found again-this time out in Michigan
| The story of the discovery is told in O
letter received by Chief Of Police
Givin, Of Philadelphia, from Mrs A. B
Page, of Mendon, 81. Joseph county
Michigan. The letter is dated June
9th, and in il Mrs. Page says;
81 have for nearly a year past had
strong belief that | had seen the
missing Charlie Ross, and having
again come across the same person
and a boy bearing strong resemblance
to photograph | saw Of Charlie Ross
at the time he was first abducted, |
will make the statement and give my
reasons for thinking the boy might be
Charlie Ross. About the last Of Au-
gust or first of September, 1879, a man
came to Northport, Michigan, and,
seeming anxious to avoid public places,
engaged board Tor himself and son (as
he said) with brother Of mine. The
man, should think, was about forty
years Of age, wore his hair quite long
and Burnside whlskers. His hair and
whiskers are are very black he looked
like an Italian, while the boy was
quite light, being little freckled
hair light brown and rather curly.
The man styled himself Professor
Schoonover, and was engaged while
there in teaching vocal music; taught
children, took them as young as seven
years old and not over fourteen, and
gave concert with his class after the
term closed. He was very tyrannical
to his own child when alone, but very
ahectionate to him before folks, often
scolding him severely at night; was
overheard telling him how much be
was doing to give him a musical edu.
cation and how little progress he was
making. The child seemed very sensi.
tive and often cried and sobbed him.
self to sleep attcr the father had so
scolded and often threatened TO kill
him If he did not learn faster. After
the term Of lessons at Northport he
went around to country school houses
and gave evening entertainments with
the boy, singing comic, sentimental and
secred songs. The boy sang second,
the father played on any instrument he
could borrow for the evening. They
invariably Travelled on foot whenever
they could. They were at my house
several times called to see some In
dian relics we had collected and asked
if we would sell them and wished me
to give them a copy Of an Indian song
! sang for them said they would be
glad to get some Indian costumes and
sing Indian at their entertainments !;
told us they lived near Grand Rapids,
Michigan.
June 6, 1880, again met the parties
here at Meadow, Mich, a small coun.
try town of about fifteen hundred in
habitants, The father came here look
ing for chance for a boy thirteen
years old to deliver a temperance lee.
ture, which we attended, and recog-
nized the same boy who had spent
about three months on Grand Travers
Bay that Summer and Fall, and the
child resembles Charlie Ross more than
ever, wearing his hair long and combed
behind his ears (his hair is quite curly,)
and | was so impressed with the like
ness to the photograph | had seen !
could not keep the thought from my
mind it might be the lost child They
came to this place on foot and went
the same way. They told us they
were going to Yicksburg, nine miles
north from here, but did not 20 there,
and | have not yet been able to learn
exactly where they went | have been
minute in detail, 30 you might judge
whether il is worth investigating.
For the reliabeness OF my statement
or responsibility of my word | can
give you as reference or reoommonda-
tion many Of the first people of the
State Of Michigan, and will only say
my husband has been Postmaster at
Omena, Mich, fourteen years We are
now residing at Mendon. have been
employed by the Government as teach
er among the Indians for six years,
and have been employed as special in.
terpreter and witness at their annual
payments for ten years, and held the
position until their annuities were ex-
hausted and the schools were disoon-
tinued.
My reason for writing to you are
the strong resemblance the boy bears
to the photograph which was sent to
my brother, who was Sheriff of Lee
lanan county, Michigan, at the time
Charlie Ross was abducted, and the
equlvocal and strange life of Professor
Schoonover and son (2).
II you think there is enough grounds
to warrant an investigation and it
should be necessary, | will make
affidavit to this statement. Will you
at least send me an answer, giving
your opinion, for if it is not possible
that tho child is Charlie Ross there is
still some mystery about him"
The lost boys father, Christ X. Ross,
when questioned in regard TO the mat
ter in his office, of Master Warden, with
regard to the above letter said he
thought little Of it. There was posi-
bility, of course, that il might be the
boy, but il was not probable. He had
never heard Of this case before. He
believed that IL was not hia child