The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-05
BROTHERS STRANGELY UNITED.
The Circumstances of Their Meeting
After 43 Years Separation.


From the st. Louis Republic.
CHAMPAIGN. ILL. June 25-Elisha Pen
nington OF this city and his brother Robert
were reunited a few days ago after forty
three years separation, and their meeting
was a strange and affecting one.
When the gold excitement broke out in
1s49 Robert 81. Pennington left his old
home in Franklin county, Ohio, to join a
caravan to GROSS the plains for the gold
fields. When the caravan was within 200
miles of Sacramento it was attacked by In
dions and the complete outfit was piled up
and burned. A number of the party
escaped. among whom was Mr.. Pennington,
and after wandering two days without
food or water was finally picked up by
another wagon train. Among the COM
pany were an old man and his son. The
old man took a fancy to young Pennington.
and took him into his wagon. After pro-
ceeding a short distance the old man took
sick, soon after died and was buried by the
wsyside.
Pennington drove the team until he, too,
became sick. A warm friendship had
sprung up between him and the son and
Pennington was left IN the care of trap
per to be brought to Sacramento when he
recovered, the son promising to defray all
expenses. In three months the journey was
made on mule back, but he lay there sick
for a year. Finally he and his new-found
friend began mining, but were not success
full; then they started a stock ranch and In
this they prospered and grew rich. Later
the friend married and they divided their
property.
During ell these years Pennington had
carried on a correspondence with his fam
lily in Ohio. Finally letter was received
saying he was coming home. This was
pnFC hn cfo fnA he
" as again taken i'll, and while in delirium
his ph ysician took him to Idaho, where he
recovered The man who was on Penning
toms ranch reported him as dead to his
family, and sent them papers containing
the obituary notice His object was to get
hold of The property, but in this he failed.
About the time of his illness his family
moved from Ohio to this city. After his
recovery Robert wrote to his home In Ohio,
but his letters, and those of years after
ward. we're returned unclaimed. He trav-
eled in the gulf states for bis health, and
continued to look after his mines in Idaho,
giving up all hope OF ever seeing his family
again.
A little more than two weeks ago he had
a dream 10 which he saw his brother Elisha
and talked to him. 1t so weighed upon his
mind that in few days he boarded train
for tue east, expecting to go TO his old Ohio
home and See il he could find any trace OF
his family. When near Bloomington A. K.
Kearns, Champaign drummer, boarded the
car. and soon struck an acquaintance with
the old forty-niner. In the course Of con-
yersation Pennington learned through
Kearns that a family by that name resided
here. so he decided to stop off
and investigate. he found bis
brother Elisha, bat was not
recognized at first A sister was summoned.
who also refused to believe that her brother
was not dead. Elisha Pennington's wife,
however, recognised the wanderer at first
glance. The recognition was mutual, and
resemblance at first, they received their
long lost brother to their hearts.
Robert has remained bachelor and is
rich. He has purchased property in this
CITY and will make home for his widowed
sister, who has been dependent upon herself
for a living.