Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-02-01
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
STRANGER THAN FICTION.


STRANGER THAN FICTION.
An Old Soldier FINDS Ills WIN Ane
Twenty Eight Years.
A real romance, not ipclosetl IN Gov
ors, camegto light testordaS which
again proves the wisdom OF the saying
that truth Is stranger than fiction
Frank Hall, a veteran OF munS battles
who was in the city yesterday, Is the
hero OF the story, and his experience
OF tho past week were such as rarely
happen outside the confines OF the play
house or the pages Of ahoVel. ''t
In the year 1860, Hall, then com
parativoly young man, lived in Wauke-
sha, whore he was employed in n -four
mill. In his association with tho young
people of the village, ho became nc
quainted swith pretty Annie Rivers,
then bonnie lassie OF twenty, and a
mutual attachment sprang up. He
wooed and won, and on sunny day the
church bells rang merrily for the union
of two hearts, Shortly after came the
breaking out OF the war and its conso-
quent excitement, and among the first
to volunteer for tho defense of tho M
tion was Frank Hall, The last moment
arrived, and having bade an affection
ate farewell to his weeping bride, he
entered the cars and was taken to an
Illinois regiment, to which he had ask.
ed to be assigned. in the Forty-second
Illinois Volunteers he went to the front
and none were more frequent in writing
home at pll possible opportunities than
he. The letters from his wife came
regularly at first one informing him OF
the birth OF son; then they began to
drop off, Finally there was long ST.
lence, although he continued TO send
home his pay. One day when the SOL
diers' mail was handed out there was n
letter for Frank Hall which brought
sad news 1t was from a friend in Wis
consin who, in n scarcely lcgiblo hand,
wrote TO acquaint him with the death of
his wife. W
In 1868 Hall was disabled and re-
ceived a.discharge at Atlanta, going to
n hospital for time. On mending he
re-enlisted, this time in the Thirteenth
Ohio md served until the close of the
war He determined 10 continue in his
country's service, and enlisted In the
Sixth Cavalry OF the regular service,
being sent to Texas. In 1869 he left
the service and settled in Kansas, after
ward going to Washington Territory,
thence 10 Michigan, and later to Iowa,
where he has lately resided at Fort
Madison.
A few weeks ago he left Fort Mad
ison to visit relatives in Illinois and
Wisconsin, and arrived in Milwaukee
about a week ago. with the intention of
looking over familiar ground at Wau-
kesha, and learning the story OF his
wife's death and the whereabouts of the
son he had never seen. On Monday he
alightcd from the cars at the Western
Saratoga, and, although scarcely recog-
nizing the town, managed to see ia
miliar sign. 1t bore the name OF one
of the old mill proprietors. The man
was not in, but he was informed as to
where Joe Gaudy, relative of his vile,
could be found, and thithcr he went,
having hired a livery rig. Mr.. Gaudy
was espied in front of the house desig-
mated, and he called out to him:
"HellosJoelir "a. #. * ~..---.--
"Wh9.are you'' asked the astonished
Joe.
Hall made himself known, and in
vited Gaudy toaa seat in the buggy
The conversationturnedt to the subject
of the Rivers family, and Hall asked
where his wife was buried. y7s. sVa1ls-...
"Bnried-dcad!n exclaimed fGaudy,
she's no more dead than you are. She's
down to the poor-house.
moro surprised man than Frank
Hall neverbreathedi Explanations fol-
lowed riind they started of toward tho
institution in question. It seemed that
n brother OF Halls wife had died at
about the time he had heard OF her
death, and that must have accustomed
the mistake. His own letters in some
way had failed 10 reach their destina-
tion, and il was generally thought that
he had been killed, and his wife hal
mourned him for dead. She had be-
come reduced in circumstances, and for
ten years had been an inmate OF the
Nlms-house. When they arrived at their
destination. Hall and his friend were
ushereds In. and the mttron being ac-
quainted with the nature of their visit
called Annie into their presence.
"Annie, do you know this man?"
nskoi Gaudy.
She shook her head. Hall, who re-
cognized her instantly in spite OF her
added years. called to her with out
stretched arms asking II she did not
know his face. She started at thesound
OF his voice. but did not seem TO place
him.
Don't you. know Frank, your hus-
band?n cried Hall.
The woman stood n. moment in sur
prise and then rushed into the arms of
her husband. During the affecting
scene that followed Hall told her that
betterjtimcs were coming. and m hour
later took his leave TO make necessary
arrangements for her release, returning
to this city. To-day he goes to claim
his wife, and the happy reunited couple
will shortly leave for Iowa, there to re-
new the tireside so rudely broken by
war. The story is most unusual one,
and is strictly true as 10 d above. The
son lives at Lisbon, Wis, is in his
twenty-cighth year. and was recently
married. Milwaukee Sentinel.
col nIEPC I'M RATTi