The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-04-28
AFTER THIRTY YEARS.

The Romance I'm the Lives Of TIVE
south Caroiinians-An Eroch
Arden Case with n Happy Ending.
A correspondent of The Atlanta Con-
stitution has recently had the pleasure
of interv ewing a MIR. James II.
Whiten, who has just returned from
thirty years stay in the wild west HIS
experience in former frontier life, which
is full Of Indian skirmishes. bear hunts.
ETC., is quite interesting; but the separa-
ton from his wife for a period OF
thirty years, and what led to their
meeting. is the most interesting feature
of the story.
In January. 1857. Mr.. Whiten was
married to Miss Nancy Fowler, a
beautiful young lady who res ded near
Westm nster, S. c. Young Whiten
was very ambitious to prepare his wife
a commodions home, both being very
poor at the time of their marriage. He
made up his mind to try his fortune in
the west The gold fever was spread
ing through the west at that time like
a contagion. and Pixies peak was the
objective point. So in the following
spring, when winters winds had given
place to the brcezes of spring. and be-
fore the hone, moon had fairly waned.
vows of everlasting devotion and
fidelity were exchanged and Mr..
Written turned his face westward.
After roughing it five years among
desperadoes and Indians. and having
gathered considerable money. he decid-
ed TO return to his Nancy; but not so to
be. The civil war was then in full
blast, and while passing through the
state of Texas Mr.. Whiten was called
on for his services and had TO respond.
During his term many letters were
written to the precious one, but no an
swer ever came. Through an acquaint-
ance he was informed that his wife had
refuged to parts unknown. In the
soldiers camp. in the state OF Kansas,
the news of Lees surrender reached
him. Being destitute of means on
which TO travel. and having learned
through an effort to establish commu-
n cation that the one was dead for
whom il was his pleasure to live he re-
turned to Colorado. there to spend the
remainder of his DAYS in the solitude
of the west For TWENTY-FIVE years.
said Mr.. Written, II wandened over the
plains and prairies. my thoughts ever
| carrying me back to the place where
kissed her goodbye" 1t seems that
mis- grief instead OF relaxing grow more
poignant In the fall of 1887 he met an
old friend. Joe Steel, in Montana. Mr..
Steel told him that it was very likely
that his wife was stl living; that he
had faint recollection of marriage
in an adjoining county of Mr.. South
ern to Mrs. Written. who had long
since given up her former husband fol
dead, and that Southern was dead, sc
he was informed. and that the WIDOWS
| postoffice was Fort Madison, S. C.
Elated by these glad tidings. Mr.
Written directed three letters to For
Madison, one to Mrs Southern. one Il
Mrs. Whiten, and one to Mr.. -
Whiten. n supposed son of his. Eager
~ did he wait for reply, but non'
came.
The letters re NAMED in the Office
till one day the postm aster at tina
place was fixing to make a legal lis
position of them. when countrvman
Mr.. John Latham, CHANGED to step in
The postmaster casually asked
Latham if he knew anyone by tn
name of Nancy Southern or Name,
Written. Latham happened to be wei
acquainted with the widow. and. by
the request of the postmaster carried
The letters to Mrs. Southern. She an
swered him at once. explaining he
second marriage; that she mad heared
he was dead. and expressed grea
anxiety to see him. Mr. Whiten a
once took the train for Westminster
s. c.. having been. bv her letter, in
formed that she lived at the same oil
place. Arriving at Westminster. he pro
ceetled to the old country homestead
where the parting took place. Their
under the willow tree in the yard
where they parted thirty years before
they met again. Time and trouble had
of course, left its impression upol
both. Said Mr.. Whiten: Though the
black curls she once wore were streak
ed with gray. and the sparkling ey
was dimmed. and the tint of the ros
had left the cheek, yet she was q
dear to me rs ever. We are now Twin
together as happ ly as when we part
ed in the spring of 1857. My son cam
to see me last Christmas-the first tim
1 ever saw him-and we all had a joll
|