Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-01-09
A LOST Boys STORY.
Charles Lispenard Finds the Mother
From Whom He WAS Stolen in
1868.


There is one happy mother in Brook
Ign. She is Mrs. Martha Lispenard,
and she reioices in the fact that son
whom she had mourned as dead for more
than twenty five years has turned up
alive and well and is now on visit TO
her.
This son is Charles Lispenard. He
reached Brooklyn last Friday night, and
his striking resemblance to his brother,
George Lispenard, bore out his state
ment that he was really the person
whom many Brooklynites had believed
found watery grave quarter OF cen
tury ago.
Until three months ago Charles Lis
penard had always known his name to
be Charles Allen and under that name
he married an estimable Indiana lady.
He knew nothing of his parents, but had
q faint recollection that relatives lived
somewhere in the vicinity of New York.
He could recall incidents of his child
hood that he was positive had not taken
place in the West. In Logansport, Ind,
where he had settled and where q happy
wife and children are now anxiously
awaiting his return, there We're many
people remembered him when he came
there as lad. But they knew nothing
OF his previous history. So when james
L. Wooten, a Benton county farmer,
visited Logansport last September and
astonished "Charles Allen with the ex-
clamation that Charles Aliens real name
was Charles Lispenard, the latter be-
lieyed that he was being made the vic
tim of n practical joke. But Farmer
Wooten was not joking and soon con-
WINGED his young friend that he said was
true.
Little by little Mr.. Lispenard learned
something of his previous history.
While very young boy he was put to
work on the farm Of man named Allen,
in Benton county. This man treated
him so badly that he ran away. But
Allen followed and caught him and then
brought the unfortunate back to the
farm, where lie treated him more shame
lessly than before, and finally hanged
him in barn until nearly dead. Neigh
bors rescued him and the farmer and his
two sons were arrested. They were con-
victed and sentenced 10 long term of
mt. 1t was some time after
this that tho boy wandered to Loeansport,
where he obtained good position, and
where eventually he settled down. In
this place he studied for the ministry as
Mr.. Allen, and people knew him by no
other name.
As soon rs he was convinced that his
nnme was Lispenard, he consulted n
lawyer in his own town, and not many
days after this the lawyer opened a cor
with Mr. George Ryall,
lawyer who has an office in Broadway,
this city. Mr.. Ryall consulted the
school records OF Brooklyn, and found
that the names of George Lispenard and
his brother, Charles Lispenard were
luly entered there. He continued his
further, and learned that
while George Lispenard still lived in
Brooklyn his brother Charles had mys
d sarpeared years ago. He
these two links, and after
many weeks he learned, TO his own salts |
action and to that OF Mr.. George Lis
,ennrd that the Charles Allen, of Logan
port, Ind, was none other than Charles |
Of Brooklyn, who one even
ng in the fall of 1864, while he was on |
MS way homo through First street, then
Williamsburg, with an armful OF chips |
hat he had collected in a shipyard, was
isked by man who was being driven
iIowly along in a cab to stop in.
Charles did so, and from that day I'M
il last Friday night he never set foot in
Brooklyn again. He was driven across
lie ferry 10 this city and thence, with
everal other boys, was transported to
he Wes., where be was hired out to !
Farmer Allen.
Tho poor mother waited patiently for
Ter sons return on that eventful night,
nd spent every dollar she possessed in
IN unsuccessful search for him. In the
nd she believed that her missing boy
lad fallen overheard and was drowned
md that his body was carried out to
en-.
When / called at Mrs. Iispenard's
esidence, / was told that she with her
ong lost boy and other sou, George, had
eft early in the evening to visit friends
n another section of Brooklyn. 4 lady
living in tho house who answered my
queries, smiled pleasantly ms she related
low the mother clasped her long lost
10Y to her bosom when he reached his
lative city few nights since. She said
hat from what she had heard Mr.. Lis
,enard would remain in Brooklyn many
laws " y Jfyolf