Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-12-05
A STRANGE CASE RECALLED.

| 90 ERIE, Nov. 17-Remarkable as is the
case of the Dubois female husband of
which the papers have contained so
much of late, the story is far from being
as remarkable as that of Charles Fear,
a young farmer residing at Ripley, about
forty minutes journey from this city At
this moment all the parties i'll this most
wonderful place are living and can be
seen and questioned by interviewers.
Farmer Charles Fear is a young man
about 80 years old, and in addition to
farming he follows the profession of
school teacher He is a handsome, man.
ly looking fellow, and is regarded as one
of the best citizons in the township of
Ripley. twenty years ago Charles Fear
was the brightest and prettiest little girl
in the village school, and his name was
then Rosa Fear The child is well re-
membered by many citizens Of this city
who lived there and knew her. So apt a
pupil was she that she carried off the
bulk of the prizes at the village school
examination, and her family thought of
haying her educated for a teacher, but
family misfortunes occurred to prevent
this, and at the age of IA Rosa Fear en-
tered the home of Farmer William p.
Baxter as domestic. She proved to be
as good girl in the household duties az
in her studies, and the Baxter treated her
asaone of their own family. At the age
of 18 the hand Of Miss Rosa Fear was
sought by farmer from Westfeld, but
the young lady declined the offer and
gave no reason for her refusal beyond
that she had no desire to leave the home
of her kind friends.
During the succeeding year it was no
ticed that Rosa was growing morose, and
that her features were losing their femi-
nine softness. In time quite masculine
appearance was noticeable, and the girl
became less soCiable than ever. She re-
fused to go out and no longer attended
the village dances and parties, at which
she had hitherto reigned as belle. One
morning she was missing, and letter in
her bed room threw the Baxter family
into a state Of the widest excitement.
Mrs. Baxter was informed that the writer
had fled forever. That she was the vic
tim of some unnatural phenomenon, and
that a physical metamorphosis made it
necessary for her to change her home and
raiment. They though her mad and
every effort was exerted to find Miss Fear,
but to no purpose.
When Miss Rosa fled from the Baxter
farm she went in male attire taken from
the room of a physician and friend ofthe
family, who was visiting at the time.
This was DR.. A. A Freeman, now of
Erie, and present Alderman of the First
ward, in the city of Erie. Two years
later burned young man, with a
1ne silky mustache and a flowing beard,
presented himself at the Fear homestead
and extended his arms to Miss Mary
Fear, younger sister of the missing
Rosa. Miss Mary resented the familiari.
ty, but the young man bent over her
and whispered something that caused the
girl to draw back and regard him with
amazement 1t was Rosa Fear. II am
no longer Rosa said the young man af-
ter his explanation, "but am Charles
Fear, come home to work the farm
The wonderful story was village Cos
sip for the regulation nine days, and
then Rosa Fear settled down as Charles
Fear and went about the pursuits of life
without obtrusive questioning. As
Charles Fear the little Rosa ofthe village
school lives in Ripley to-day, managing
the farm with skill and industry, and
possessing the esteem of his fellow citi-
zens. Twice has he been appointed to
teach by the local school board, and he
has turned out some of the best scholars
in the village. Mr.. Fear is mystery.
All the foregoing facts can be verified Oh
the spot; the metamorphosis, the fight
from home, return and recognition in
society as gentleman being well known
to the citizens sot Ripley. DR.. Silliman,
one of the leading physicians of Erie, is
also we'll acquainted with the renarka-
BILE history of Rosa. now Charles Fear.