The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-07-23
KIDNAPPED TWENTY-FIVE
YEARS AGO.
Mrs. Philip Mech, of this City,
Stolen frunl Home when a
Little Girl.
She Never Found aEy Trace of
Friends or Relatives.

We clip from the Kenton Democrat the fol-
lowing account of a lady claiming to have
been stolen from this county twenty-five years
ago. Should there be any persons living here
now recognizing her from her story, and de-
sire to communicate with her, they can do so
by addressing the communication to Mrs.
Philip Neeb, Kenton, 0 :.
"There is a woman in this city living on
West Columbia street, by the name OF Mrs.
Emma Neeb, whose husband is an employe IN
the Champion Iron Fence Works. She claims
to have been kidnapped when a child and has
never since been able to find any trace of her
parents or any of her relatives. In the folr
lowing we give the story of her life in the hope
that it may be of some, assistance in finding
out the whereabouts of her parents or near
relatives. Her parents lived in Preble coun-
ty, near the Infrmary farm. About twenty
three years ago a little girl between five and
six years, she was playing alone in the yard
in front of her father's house in Preble coun-
ty. While amusing herself there with her
own sports a buggy drove by in which were
seated a man and woman and following was a
little dog that attracted the little girls atten-
ton. The, buggy stopped and its occupants
induced the light haired and blue eyed little
girl to get in the buggy and take a ride with
them, with promises of giving her the little
dog. Greatly intent on having the little dog
that csptivated her attention she acquisced to
their desires. and allowed them to assist her
in the buggy and start away with her. With
promises Of soon returning and the present of
the little dog kept her in good spirit for some
time: but at last becoming aware OF the de-
ception practiced upon her she burst out In
tears, from which she could refrain no longer.
The parties had no intention of returning their
little captive but drove rapidly away despite
her pleadings to be returned to her home and
mamma.
n, ..z C-.Ll.,- lraro
on to Marion, Ohio, where they lived for awhile
and then moved to Bellefontaine. The COnk-
ling family, with whom she lived, were a low,
pilfering set, and gained the little on which
they subsisted by stealing and compelling the
little girl todo the same. Nothing but cruel
treatment was received by the helpless and
friendless little child from their hands. At
Bellefontaine on account of cruel treatment
she ran away and went to a family by the name
of Chamberlain, with whom she lived about a
year, after which time she lived with a family
by the name of Ward in the same town for
about two years. Next, for about four months,
she lived with Jasper HemphiH's family, du-
ring which time she was badly burned. She
was then placed in the Logan County Imfrma-
ry, and, after remaining a short time, was
taken out by John C.. Young, of Bellefontaine,
with whom she lived for eleven years. She
afterwards lived with several other families
for a year OF so, after which she came to Ken
to- about six years ago. She has lived with
several families in this place. This little girl
who had undergone SO many hardships and
privations, had now passed into womanhood,
and in 1881 in this city she was married to a
young mar by the name of Philip Neeb, and
are at present living on West Franklin street,
and have two children. In conversation she
says she remembers that her fathers name
was Charles and her mothers Hannah; that
she had two brothers, Lamar and Charlie,
and a sister Anna. She thinks her folks were
living, when she was taken, on a farm.adjoin-
ing the In6rmary of Preble county. She can
also remember the Superintendent's name at
the time, whose name was Cook. She be-
lieves that some of her brothers or sister or
relatives are living either in Preble or adjoin-
ing counties, and hopes she will yet be able
to find some of them"