Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-09
A
When Fortune Smiled He Sought Out
His Family and Fixed Each IN Comfort
Now Searching for a Lost sister.


His Family and Fixed Each IN Comfort
Now Searching for a Lost sister.
DELPHI, IND, October s.-The state
ment going around to the effect that
John Condor, the %well-Known Chicago
sporting man. has been badly crippled
financially has attracted general atten-
ton in the Valley Of the Wabash.
where Condor was born and where he
passed many OF she most active years OF
his life.
There is a pathetic story in connec-
ton with John Condon's life. he was
the Oldest boy 10 q large family Of chill
dren. left orphans over in Fulton
ty when John was 13 or IA years OF age.
Bereft OF parents, the children were
''bound out" scattered here aud there
among the farmers Of the neighoor-
hood. Johns lines did not fall in pleas
ant places. His guardian was an aus
tere man, who compelled him TO do all
sorts Of hard labor and bear q burden
that would have been hard indeed for
one OF more mature years. In the sum
mer months he did 3 mans work In the
fields, and in the fall, alter the corn
was shocked, he was permitted to go TO
school, provided always that he arose
before daylight and attended TO the
chores about the farm, such as feeding
the cattle and horses, milking the cows,
chopplng wood for three or four stoves
and attending to the manifold duties
about the house and barn.
Smarting under this treatment for
several years, young Condor decided TO
escape and strike out 10 the broad
world. After recess March day the
teacher noticed that Johnnie Condon's
seat was vacant, and, upon inquiry OF
his companions, a~scertained that the
last seen of the lad he was striking
across the fields towards the south.
He never returned to his guardian.
He went direct TO Ft. Wayne, where
his quick wit, bright mind and hand
some face attracted the attention OF the
men about town. They became inter
ested In him. He profted by their lib
erality and patronage, and In a few
years found himself fairly well fixed
financially. The moment he found
himself possessed Of more money
than he needed for his
own individual use be went
back TO Fulton county and set about
gathering up the threads that woulq
lead TO locating his brothers and sisterss
from whom he had not heard since he
fed that March day. Years had passed
and cruel fate had scattered them, and
he found Ii q difficult task to trace
them. But he permitted nothing to
discourage him, and In a few months he
had located every member OF the family
save one, and in every instance he
found them in need Of assistance. The
contents of his purse were poured out
to them. and he became their guardian
aud protector. The Oldest sister, who
had married a poor man and become the
mother OF a large family OF little ones,
was given q farm aud fixed for life.
| This farm overlooks the Wabash river,
is situated one mile east Of L%ogansport
and Is one OF the most valuable pieces
| of property in Cass county. Another
| sister was sent away TO s~chooland tnor-
oughly educated, developing into q pol
ished and refined woman. The broth
ers were likewise provided for.
Before the orphans separated b pct
OF the family was q little girl, the baby,
scarce 2 years old. John Condor is
hunting for her to this day. he has
| spent thousands OF dollars hunting
| down clues and following faint traces.
He has advertised In hundreds OF pa
pers and offered large rewards for In
formation that would lead to her iden-
titication, but all in vain. He learned
| that he was given into the care and
keeping of a farmer, who soon after
moved away. taking the child with him,
but nothing more. The other
brothers and sisters are living
In comfort but the little girl, the
idol Of those orphan c~hildren-she Is
sought hopelessly. Condor has stated
that he will never give up the search for
this sister. He has said he would will
ingly start again at the bottom OF the
ladder II he could only find the baby OF
the family.
A number Of the years OF Condon's
life were spent in Lafayette, Logans-
port and Fit. Wayne. He was a gam
bier, never pretended to be anything
else, and vet those who knew him knew
that a warmer-heaIted man never lived.
He spent hundreds OF dollars In charity
In those cities. Recalling his generous
deeds and his love aud affection for his
orphan brothers and sisters, hundreds
Of good people would regret TO know
that the report Is true that John Con-
| don has met with reyerses.