Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-06-04
4 PENNSYLVANIA ROMANCE
An Unpleasant Sensation Caused by the Reap
peSranee of Runaway Husband.

An Unpleasant Sensation Caused by the Reap.
peSranee of a Runaway Husband.
\ Towanda, Pa. correspondent of the
/ Slnclnuau IlmeS-Star writes: In the
/ spring of 1882 William Hamilton. farm
! er hvlng In the northern oil field. was in
/ dUced TO invest $1,000 in oil land in the
| then booming Cherry Grove district in
/ Warren county. His investment was a re-
muneratlve one, for in a few days he dis
I posed of his interest in the land for SIS.-
/ 600. This was Hamilton'S first transac-
I ton IN the petroleum business. and the
making in less than week a sum which
he could scarcely have hoped TO accumu-
late in lifetime on his farm turned his
| head, and he invested all the money he
had and mortgaged his farm to obtain
! more on pipeline certificates.
He was caught, with hundreds of others
hike him, in the great fall of petroleum
values in the summer of 1882, caused bv
the sudden failure of the great spoutipg
wells in the Cherry Grove field. and ruin
ed. His farm was sold for him, and in
less than three months he died, phvsi-
cal and moral wreck, having become a
heavy drlnker. He WAS widower. with
one child, a handsome girl 20 years old.
She was left penuiless and almost friend
less by her fathers death.
Henry Gage, well-to-do farmer, was a
nelghbor of Hamilton's, and years ago
they became bitter enemies over some
land dispute.
A year before Hamilton died Cages
son Lyman, good looking bat shiftless
young man, began paying attention to
Hamllton's daughter Mary. She cncour-
aged him, but both her father and Young
Cages father opposed the attachment.
After Hamilton death and for some time
before 1t his daughter supported herself
as seamstreSs. Shortly after Hamilton
died Gage quarreled with his father and
disappeared. For some time Miss Ham
nton received letters from him from diff
fcrent places in the west. but they finally
ceased.
In May, 1888, Farmer Gage received
letter signed by George Gray. and dated
Chicago. notifying him that his son l.y-
man had been drowned in Lake Michigan
by the capsiZing of boat in which he
was out fishing, and that his body had not
been recovered. Gage went to Chicago,
but could find out nothing further in re
latlon TO his sons alleged death He re-
turned home, however, satisfied that the
young man was dead He was astoniShed
on arriving home to learn that Miss Ham
ilton claimed to be his sons widow, and
she produced unqurstionable proofs that
they had been married in July, 1882.
This fact being established, her father
in-law at once provided her with home
and contributed to her support. 4 young
man named Bedlow Utter, n well contract
or and drIller. formed the acquaintance of
the young widow soon afterward. and
hA, /
day was set for last Christmas Tnd prep
arations were made for Il grand marriage.
The Sunday before Christmas a great SEN
Satlon was made i'll the community by the
appearance of Lyman Gage, the supposed
dead husband of Mary Hamilton.
He refused to give any explanation i'll
regard to his alleged death. He said he
had come back To take his wife TO Chi
cago with him. She refused to receive or
recognize him, in which refusal she was
heartily supported by her fathcr-inIaw.
Gage. Young Gage remained at his faith
er's for Il week, when he again disappear
ed The Utter Gage wedding was neces-
sarily indefinitely postponed. At Farmer
Cages suggestion his daughter -in-aw
began proceedings against her husband
for divorce. This was granted to her
last week, and on the evening of the day
the decree was made she was quietly mar
ried To Mr.. Utter.
In Il local paper printed in one of the
northern counties of this state appeared
on Thursday the following announce
ment:
Mrs. Mary Gage obtained divorce
from her husband, Lyman Gage, on Mon
day, on the ground of desertiOn and non
support. On Monday evening Rev. Wm.
Pellet married Mrs. Gage to Bedlow Utter,
the young railroad contractor"