Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
A YOUTHFUL CRGSUS.
The Story Of Ten-Year-Old Eugene
PomerOy, Now a Millionaire.
EDWIN COWLES HIS GRANDFATHER
His Daughters Conversion to the Faith He
Fought all His Life.
MARRIAGE TO A DISINHERITED SON

thl
CLEVELAND, Jan. 9.-The decision OF
Judge Tuley in Chicago the other day by
which the will of George P. Pomeroy was
sustained and his property, consisting OF
about 81. 900, 600, was bequeathed to his son,
| Eugene Pomeroy, boy of 10 years residing
with his grandmother in this city, fur
| nishes another chapter in one of the most
interesting stories that ever has been
enacted in real life in this or any other
country.
The points in this story are both romantic
and tragic and involve the famous Cowles
family of this city.
Hon. Edwin Cowles was founder and edi-
tor of the daily Leader of this city. He was
a man of very strong personality and strik-
ing ability in certain directions. Mr..
Cowles years ago conceived a most violent
dislike to the Roman Catholic Church. He
believed that its tendencies were dangerous
and that it would eventually overturn the
republic unless it were checked.
Bitter Fight Against the Church.
He devoted his paper in season and out to
fighting this great religious organization.
He talked of the subject at home and
abroad. He organized secret society
known as the "Order of the American
Union," with the avowed purpose of keep
ing Roman Catholics out of Office. This
organization grew very rapidly for some
months, and at first seemed likely to
rival the great Know Nothing party of 35
years ago.
Mr. Cowles had a favorite daughter Helen,
Ia Low, eff L.
devoted much time and expense to giving
her liberal education. At the close of her
educational career in this country Helen
was sent to Europe to round out her accom-
plishments by travel, observation and for
eign study.
Bright, handsome, vivacious, Helen at
tracted attention anywhere and everywhere
she went. In Paris she became acquainted
with young man of noble birth-elegant
in dress, handsome and intelligent. 1t was
a case of mutual attraction and soon ripened
into genuine love on the part of both.
Loves Triumph Over Religion.
But the young man had been born and
bred q. Roman Catholic He cared very
little for the hereditary religion of his fam
lily but he recognized it simply as great
and ancient custom. Helen Cowles, born
and bred into hatred of the Church of
Rome, forgot it all in her love of the young
Frenchman who filled her girlish soul with
all that was gallant, true and noble in this
life. An engagement to be married was en-
tered into.
When Mr.. Cow1es learned that his favor
ite daughter was engaged to Roman Cath
olic, he was well nigh crazed with grief and
anger. He Immediately went to Europe
and pleaded with and threatened his daugh-
ter. Helen was taken from France. A
long course of travel was marked out for
her and finally the engagement was broken
off
From that time Helen Cow1es was diff |
ferent person. She had much of the dispo- |
sitIon of her father. She was very strong in
her affections and equally strong in her dis
likes.
Converted to the Roman Faith.
While in this frame of mind she became |
acquainted with young Jesuit who, it is |
said began to present to her mind the |
claims of the Roman Catholic Church. The |
skill and patience displayed in this matter
were characteristic of the order to which ne
Gradually Helen's prejudices were over
come She was led forward into an under
standing of the claims of the church. She
was induced to make trip to Rome, where
she was shown marked attention and the
historical claims aud evidences were pre-
,ented.
In her disappointed and heartbroken
condition it seemed to her that there would
De consolation for her in the bosom of the
Mother Church. At any rate she was con-
yerted and baptized into the Catholic church
n the historical city of Rome.
This was of course terrible blow to her
ather. He could scarcely believe it possible.
He would not accept its truth until he had
lad the declaration from Helen's own
mouth. At first Miss Cowles was mucn
with the idea of entering a
onvent. But she was prevented from doing
his through the intervention of friends.
Welded to a Disinherited Son.
Subsequently she met Mr.. George P.
'omeroy, who was an attache of the
american legation in Paris Mr.. Pomeroy
elonged to a wealthy New Jersey family.
lie had been practically disinherited and
he property that had been in the family
7as in the hands of his brothers and sisters.
.