Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-15
HOW HE FOUND HIS FATHER.
The Strange story That Comes From
BOurban County, Kan.
nee of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
TOPEKA, Kan, August II. 1894
A romance has just come to light i'm Bour-
bon county that is the talk of southeastern
Kansas. A son. twenty-eight years of age,
meets and Identifies his father. whom he
had never seen. The incidents of this
strange meeting are unusual and thrilling
and, in one sense. pathetic. The son finds
his father. who has never been divorced
from his mother. living with another wife
to whom he has been married for twenty
six years, and his mother the wife of an
other man.
The recognition was made on the faith
er's farm last Tuesday, FIVE miles northeast
of Fort Scott, through a wounded finger on
the left hand, which had been described to
the son by his mother many years ago. As
result of this meeting the fathers second
wife has left him. and the old man, sew
enty-four years Of age, with two living
wives and one son, is left on his lonely
farm uncontrolled
About twenty-eight years ago Stewart
Strevil and his wife were living on a farm
In Bates county, Missouri They were very
comfortably situated. and he was a great
devotee of race horses. He owned two
blooded animals but had not found them
profitable. One day he concluded to sell
them, and he left home IN the morning
taking them with him. He never returned
and since then he and his wife have not
known each others whereabouts until a
chance found his father. Mrs. Streyil
could not account for his disappearance
After several days she received a letter
from some unknown person in Kansas City,
informing her that the body Of a man. who
was doubtless her husband, had been found
murdered. there, and buried. She was
asked to accept his grave and care for
II, which she consented TO do. This was
Meanwhile the afflicted wife endured the
grief. which was assuaged only by time
Three months after Nj. Strevirs disap-
pearance a son was born to her. who was
named Noah. About ten years later Mrs
Strev1l was married TO James Bowling and
several years ago they moved to Bourbon
county and located on a farm, ten miles
from Stewart Strevil The son, now a man
twenty eight years of age with a wife and
three children, grew up with Them and is
still living with them.
Until few days ago he never heard that
man bearing exactly the same name as
his lived in Bourbon county, Last Tues
day he decided to investigate the matter
He called at Strevils house during the noon
hour, and was invited TO participate in the
meal. At the table young Strevil noticed
the crippled finger. as described by his
mother. The young man waited until dinner
was over and then he invited the old gem
tleman out Into the shade Of the house.
where he disclosed his suspicious
The father laughed at the statement but
when the young man gave him the name
his mother bore before marriage, as well
as the names of his brothers and sisters.
the old gentleman broke down in tears and
confessed. The decrepid old rlan was as
sisted into the house by his son. and his
aged wife was told of ;he recognition.
She was Frustrated. but she soon secoy-
cred, when she severely censured Streyil
Tor living a lie for twenty-six years She
then and there notified him that she would
not longer live with him. and Immediately
she packed up her belongings and went 10
friends in Kansas City.
Mr.. Strevil is living alone on his farm.
and is very mucn worried about a prosecu-
ton for bigamy, though IL Is understood
that proceedings will not be instituted The
Old gentleman denies the authorship
or knowledge of the letter written
from Kansas City when he left his
first wife. He believes the second
Mrs. Strevil will return and live with him.
The romance has CAUSED a great deal of
talk among the people. and the old gentle
man is very, much worried by the 'FRONT.'
nence that has been given 1t.