News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-11-16
JOHN DONOVAN,S DAUGHTER.
A Romantic Story of Her Loss and
How He has Found her Again.

Ohio, local paper says, in the finding,
by MIR. John Donovan, of New York, of
his daughter, after separation of 20
years. Abouttwenty years ago number
of young children from the Children's
Home on RandalPs Island, near New
York City, were brought West, and
homes found for the friendless ones
Among the number was Mrs. Charles
s. Mcclure, residing at No. 1873 Carol,
street, who says she was the youngest
of the party, being between five and
six years of age. Some of the children
were provided with homes in Akron, but
it fell to the lot of Mrs. Mcclure to be
taken to Medina, where she was given
home with Mr.. and Mrs. G. r. Sillett
with whom she lived until her marriage,
several years ago. Her foster parents
were quite aged, MIR. Sillett now being
about 80.
Mrs. Mcclure says she has but little
recollection of her childhood life. She
remembers that in going TO school in
New York City one day, about two
weeks after her father had entered the
Army, she made a mistake and took the |
wrong street. This was not strange at
that time, for it was at the opening of |
the rebellion, and as soldiers were con-
stantly passing through New York City,
she was undoubtedly attracted by the |
sight OF the troops, and unconsciously
strolled on the wrong street. After
wandering about in her childish efforts |
to find her home she was discovered by
policeman and taken to grocery. She
also remembers that she was crying,
and to pacify her the officer bought her
some candy. She has no recollection
of being taken to the Ch1ldren's Home
and as her foster parents and friends in
Medina seldom alluded to her early
history, the incidents of her childhood
have faded from her memory. She had
no knowledge whatever of her parents
did not know whether they we're living
or dead.
In regard to the meeting with her
supposed father, Mrs. Mcclure says that
one afternoon, soon after dinner, a
gentleman came to her house and raped
at the door. She opened the door, but
the gentleman said not a word, but ap
peared to be lntently studying her
features. After moments pause she
said, " How do you do?" He responded,
"Don't you know me?" She replied
she did not. Her father handed her
daguerrotype, the picture of his
daughter, taken when she was between
two and three years old, and asked If
she knew who it was. She said she did
not. He then said that it was picture
of her, and that he was her father. Mrs.
Mcclure was for a moment dazed, and
then called to Mrs. Briggs, who occupied
portion of the house, exclaiming,
So This man says he is my father" The
newly found father was invited in, and
he further sought to establish his
identity and claim.
In an interview with Mr.. Donovan
your correspondent learned that he en-
tered the army in 1862, his daughter
then being between four and five years
old. He was twenty-three years of age
when he enlisted. He served in the
army three years and ten months. Dur
ing his term of service his wife and child
were in New York City, as he supposed,
for he had not heard of them during that
time. At the close of the war he re-
turned home and found his wife. He
then learned that his daughter was lest
on her way to school two weeks after his
enlistment. He had always supposed,
until recently, that she was stolen.
Since the war Mr.. Donovan has searched
for his daughter, visiting Chicago, st.
Paul, Mimi; Detroit and Milwaukee,
He went to these places thinking that
his daughter might have been left at
some one of the charitable institutions
and that he might IN some way get a
clue of her. A few weeks ago, at the
suggestion of friend, he went to the
Commissioner of Charities, and there he
found the name of his daughter, her
age, the way she had gone, and with
whom she was living. The entry was
Ann Frances Donovan, aged five to six
years, G. A. Sillett, Medina, Medina
County, Ohio. He left New York and
went directly to Medina. He went to
Sillett's and made himself known re-
NAMED there over night and went to
Akron, where he found his daughter.
Mr.. Donovan further stated that he had
spent considerable money in looking
for his lost child. Not being man of
much means, he was obliged to work
for year or so at a time, accumulate
what he could, and then start out on a
searching tour. He averaged a trip
once in every two years. Whenever he
met any one from the West ne would
make inquiries about his daughter. He
had always thought that his daughter
was stolen, and consequently never
thought of making inquiries at the
charitable institutions in New York IN
til the suggestion was made by a friend.