Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-18
FOUND HER FdTHER.
Ida May Lawson, Stolen When a Rabv
Makes q Discovery,

Ida May Lawson, Stolen When a Babv.
Makes q Discovery,
MICHIGAN Cry, Ind, Dec. 14.-soms 95
years ago an old sailor OF the name OF G, W.
Lawson met and loved a pretty Englisb
girl. They were married in Detroit. Law,
SON continued his a~vocation OF sailing
before the mast, being absent from
his wife most of the time. The result
was that they were separated, but not
before a baby a born. When
they separated Mrs. Lawson took the child
with her. Shortly after the husband and
wife made up again for the sake OF their
child. About this time Lawson. who wss
mate OF the Morning Star, was taken down
with fever. He was sent to the Marine
hospital, and there he remained for several
weeks.
He recovered. but only to find his wife
had flown, and taken their little girl with
her. Lawson's heart was broken, BE bs.
gan to age, and a year or two afterwards
was compelled to give up sailing. Finding
himself incapacitated for any kind OF man.
ual labor, he accepted the hand OF friend.
ship extended to him by Allan Armstrong,
in whose family he has found a welcome
home for 16 years.
Mrs. Lawson, when she left Lawson with
their little girl Ida May, who was them
years old, went direct to Chicago. There
sic became the wife OF J. F. Drake, who
was well-to-do. Ida May grew up to bes
pretty girl and q beautiful woman. All
that she knew OF her father was that be
had been drowned. as she was told, in the
OF the Morning Star.
In looking over q Detroit paper recently
May saw an article in regard 10 one G.
W. Lawson, which set her to thinking. She
then sent the following letter from Michigan
City to him.
MICHIGAN Cry, Ind, Dec. l, 1SS9.-Mr.
!. w. Lawson: l hope you will pardon
ne for taking the liberty OF writing to you,
l happened to be looking over an
I'D paper and something attracted
ny attention, which l will send to you in
his strange letter. l hope you will excuS,
he awkwardness OF this composing, as it
] very hard to write to q strange person,
ut l will try to come to the point at once.
believe myself to be your daughter, and
rould like you to answer this letter and
ak for what proof you think necessary.
GU will see l address you as e.. W. Law
on. as my fathers name was George Wash
lgton Lawson.
He was sailor. Ihave not seen him since
was 2 years old, when my mother loft
etrOit and moved to Chicago, where she
Iarried J. F. Drake. l have your picture
that is if you are my father. My mother
I'VE it to me. Now, l will not write any
ore, but will wait patiently for an early
ply. State in your letter if you would like .
see me; if so will come as o as possible.
will now say goodbye, and hope that
IL not be disappointed in the expectation
finding my long lost father. l will slgn
yself for the present only,
IDA MAY LAWSON.
Mrs. Lettie Armstrong, proprietor Of the
jou where Lawson is douiciled, sent inc
lowing telegram in Responses: George ";
of this city is your long lost father.
The young lady will soon leave ior w
tit, where an affecting meeting will tako
Ida May Lawson has been pr
time a resident OF Michigan oHy'
ere she went by an assumed name.