Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-05-18
The Truth of an Old Story.
A BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT THAT MADE
MAN DISAPPEAR FROM STANTON.

A BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT THAT MADE
A MAN DISAPPEAR FROM STANTON.
A correspondent furnishes the following
facts about the disappearance from the
town of Stanton. about thirty years ago,
of church sexton who was never seen
afterwards. The story has in that time
become the centre of many legends found
ed on the village rumors of that day, but
stripped of them all, the facts are these:
In February. 1856. citizen of Staunton
disappeared in a mysterious manner. This
was homely little German called Martin
Wygand. He was a native of Bavaria.
and had been servant in the household
of Ohio, King of Greece. When he first
came to Staunton he could scarcely speak
word of English. He obtained employ
ment as gardener, and soon proved him
self an industrious and thrifty man.
at the same time, and for many years
previous, an old woman called Katy Wool
wine, and her daughter named Harriet.
lived in log hut in the part of Stanton
called Gallowstown. Harriet was an old
maid, very deaf, and by no means hand
some, but withal fond Of talking about
getting married. Both mother and daugh
ter we're members of the Presbyterian
church, and the latter, at least, was per-
son of unexceptionable character. She was
a seamstress, and went from house to
house to do sewing for many families.
In the course of nature the mother died,
and Harriet was left alone in the world.
But the time had come for her to find a
husband. Martin Wygand, attracted by
her virtues, if not her beauty-or by two
hundred dollars she was said to have laid
up-proposed marriage to her and was &C
whether Harriet ever knew her husbands
name. She never referred to him except as
she" or 'him." Martin was originally
Roman Catholic. but after a few years Re
professed the Protestant religion and
joined the Presbyterian church. Before
this, however, he had become sexton OF the
church. the duties of which Office he dis
charged with great efficiency for many
years. He prospered in his worldly affairs:
the products of his garden and his salary
support and some surplus; so that he
purchased lot of several acres and built
a house upon it. His wife. however. died,
and then Martins troubles began in good
earnest. Being considered an eligible
match, several German females aspired to
a dover interest in his estate. One buxom
widow came all the way from Richmond
to cheer up his loneliness and obtain a
home for herself. He had probably en-
couraged her addresses through mutual
friend. but when she arrived did not like
her person or manners. She went to his
house, and finding him memorable, retired
in rage, declaring in broken English, II
make you marry me-" A suit for breach
of marriage contract was instituted
Poor Martin was grievously afaict-
ed. He had several times exhibited symp-
toms of arrangement, and now he was
little better than lunatic. At length he
disappeared from his accustomed walks.
aud the doors and windows of his house
remained closed all day. Some friend went
upon the premises and found his COWS and
pig in neglected and suffering condition.
From that time he has not been seen in
and his fate is unknown. He
was heard of in Winchester, and there all
trace of him was lost. His property was
to have escheated to the Com
and was sold; but finally some
distant relatives of his wife established
their legal right to the proceeds and OBJ
tanned them.