The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-08

Of a recent date viii prove interesting read
ing to many Of the HERAEp's older suhscrib-
ers. who sill be glad 10 learn Of the good
fortune that has ALLEN to an old friend
some months ago c $ Fettermzn Esq,
received letter faom lawyer in Wilkes
barre. asking for information As TO the
whereabouts of the sidos Of certain Jas.
D. Alexander, who formerly lived in Pitts
burga. and intimating that something Of
importance was awaiting the lady. il alive.
The judge being otherwise engaged placed
the letter in the hands Of VIM. u. Price.
Esq. who corrupted the same rooms with
the judge. Mr.. Price Al once went 10 work.
and after almost unlimited searching and in
euiry. found that James d. Alexander re-
moved. when quite yoang, from his home
/ in Santieoke. Luxerne county. TO this city
about 1874. and secured i situation as clerk
in the Old Bank Exchange restaurant. on
| Third avenue He wzs oaly there 4 short
time until he purchased the business from
is then Owner, Mr.. Hawkins, who is still
living In 1876 be married Mss Anthony
mosf e-fimable and beautiful girl from
Somerset county. Pa, by wlon he had two
fast, as his restaurant was then the naost
popular resort in the city for dinners lunch
Is etc, and was patronized by many Of the
leading citizens. He was also a popular
member Of The Figslanr Hose Company. as
well as other organizations in the city. In
ISL while working AT large fire he cut his
foot in knocking in a window either TO rescue
a party ia the r0om or get better position
10 fight the fire, il is not certain which. He
lid not pay much attention to the wound
for few days when il developed into a bad
ease OF lock jaw. which soon terminated his
life s: Mrs Alexander was thus left early IN
life a widow. and soon thereafter lost both
her children and all her property, and was
more than deualy bersavesl She then dis
appeared aud nothing farther eould be found
Of her whereabouts the Disf,nbacher direc.
tory of I,5a giving her residence as Reserve
township Here Mr. Price lost trace of her.
bai fully realizing the value and importance
Of the daily newspaper as the ns:liiest means
Of reaching the people and opening up mys-
teries. he inserted a notice in the Louder ask
ing for information concerning Mr. Alex
ander
The fruit Of Mr. Price wisdom followed
for on the next day he received postal card
from Charles F. Sheib, with J. r Reed &
Co. jewelers. informing him that the person
he wanted was on Ceiar avenue. Allegheny
City Mr. Price al once fastened 10 the
point indicated and found the house 10 be a
neat frame house with the sign Bread and
Cakes. displayed in the frpnt window, indi-
eating THAI il was bakery. Upon going in /
he was met by a tall, fair, pleasant-iaced
lady OF about sixty years of age, whose 1
hair was white n SNOW. and who had lines I
of care on her face. aud every movement
showing she had seen better times and had (.
preserved her quiet, ladylike manners
through all her life. whatever II Lad been
He asked for Mrs. James D. Alexander, and
was at once told be was speaking 10 her.
She then gave him her history, which cor 4
responded with what lie had already found I
out fnona IS5. She said she had struggled .
along A. best she could until 1865. when she i
married a man named Sanders. and lived
with him for awhile she had 40 children /
by him. and be treated her 50 badly that she 4
was unable to bear his brutality, especially 1
when he was drunk aud that she started
out again in the world, alone and friendless, /
comparatively. and poor. to make her own I
living. In 1855 sanders died. She struggled
on until about sJur years ago, when she got
a situation in the bakery where she then
was al s. yer week. oul of this she paid
h..r room rent and BEARDED herself and man
AGED TO save a liIfle money. which she laid
by 10 be used in burying her with The fact
uf her identity was beyond question She
bad copies OF the old TeiegraPh Of this city
of 1915 containing notice of her marriage.
and OF 1851 containing notice of her hus
find her was very soon developed when it
was found that her fafher-in-law silas Alex
ander. of Wiikesbarre mad died in March
last. leaving large fortune to his heirs;
that before his death be had insisted on
making a will ia order to provide for his
son James widow, As he was convinced she
was sill living. although all the other heirs
believed she was dead He left her one
twentieth of an estate. varioasly estimated
to be worth from s300.eoo 10 s5o0,ooa- The
heirs when notified that she was alive al
once took steps 10 dispute her identity. and
the ease came befhre the orphans court Of
Luzerne Co. Judge Rbone presiding, on the
9Th Of this month, VIXEN Ar. Price and Mrs.
Alexander appeared there. and afser quite
warm contest the court decided that she was
the lost heir and decreed that she should be
allowed the full amount devised to her, and
directed the executors 10 pay her part OF 1
her frs; distribution then, 80 she mi ght en-
jov it. which was done, she coming home
81 90 better of than size went away The
balance viii be paid As fast as realized from
the assets. She has enough and more than
will keep her the balance Of her days, and
after working for ever fifty year, early and
late. she feels she can now ret the remain
.l.r af b.- fifa