Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-08-27
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
FOUND AFTER THIRTY YEARS.
A Former Rebel RevOkes Vow Against
a Loyal Son.

A Former Rebel RevOkes Vow Against
a Loyal Son.
Jack, the match peddler, has struck
IL rich" was the words passed through
almost every home in lower Allegheny
the other day. The Interpretation of
the expression was that Jack Ramsey
had been found and reclaimed by his
father. who thirty-one years ago. drove
his son from his home and branded him
traitor to the cause of sectional liber-
". The two had been separated as
completely as if by death since their
quarrel, and not until recently were
they brought together Jack is now SO
years old. He is badly crippled with
rheumatism. His father is five years past
the three-score years and ten allotted
to man, and the trouble he has borne is
plainly marked on his every feature.
Their home in ante-war times was in
Georgia, twenty-five miles from At
lanta. Mr.. Ramsey then owned
large plantation. He still lives on
the old place, and is now considered
wealthy. Before the war his son had
been sent north to get an education,
and was a student at Harvard. He was
a southerner in every thing but love for
the stars and stripes, and when the war
questions were discussed no one was
more anxious for peace than young
Jack Ramsey. His father on the other
hand, was filed with southern preju-
dice and considered his son untrue to
himself and his state. Early in 1861 he
called his son home. Their arguments
We're fiery, and when Fort Sumter was
fired on Mr. Ramsey told his son to en-
list in the southern cause or leave his
home. The latter alternative was pre-
ferred, and Jack left. Until yesterday
he had never heard from his father.
The latter had maintained his vow of
banishing his son from home until after
the war, and then relented He made
every possible effort to bring back the
young man, but could find no trace of
him. This search has been pushed now
and then for the last twentv-six years.
Last summer Mr. Ramsey determined
to find his son before he died. and came
north. He visited the New England
states and spent month in New York
city. Every public institution where
men are confined was thoroughly
searched, and all possible means for
finding the lost man were employed. A
few days ago Mr. Ramsey came to Pitts
burgh He started at once to the west
ern penitentiary, for he seemed to have
a belief that his son had gone astray.
When the old man stepped from
Woods Run car on Preble avenue,
Jack, the match peddler," came down
the pavement. Mr.. Ramsey carelessly
asked the uncouth peddler the way to
the penitentiary. As he did so he no.
ticed a small badge which had been the
mark of a college society devoted to the
northern cause On it was inscribed
1.-THE Union Forever" Mr.. Ramsey re-
mem bered it as one of the obnoxious
things that had caused the quarrel be-
tween himself and his son. A question
led to the match peddler's identity. A
word of explanation and father and son
We're locked in each others embrace.
They were seen that night in the ped.
dler's novel near the river bank The
next day they left for Georgia. The
younger man seemed most affected by
the meeting. 81 have been in Ale
enemy ten years, ne SAID. Slnce leaV-
ing home have had some terrible ex-
perience. l first went to Canada, for |
would not take up arms against my
former home, and l did not want to
hear my friends reviled By the northern
men. After the war | drifted to Penn
sylvania, and have drifted through all
the stages of Pennsylvania tramp. l
never had tie heart to work or the en-
ergy to be man. win go home now,
and am thankful for the chance. -
Pittsburgh Times