The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-05
FOUND HIS FATHER
O. P. H0CKLIN FINDS HIS PARENT
AFTER THIRTY-THREE YEARS,
At the Death of His Mother, the Well
Known Wichita Groceryman was
Adopted by Schoolmate of His Mother
and Until Twepty-One Years of Age, the
Boy was in Ignorance of His Birth-The
Father Re-Enlists but on His Return
from the Army Fails to Find the People
Who Adopted the Children.

from the Army Fails to Find the People
Who Adopted the Children.
O. P. Hfcklin, who has been engaged
for the past two years in the grocery
business at the Occidental grocery, was
a surprised man yesterday.
The cause Of his surprise was by re-
ceiving a letter from his father whom
he has no recollection Of ever seeing and
was not aware that he had a natural
parent living. The cause of this was
explained by Mr.. Hicklin as follows yes
'terday TO an Eagle reporter:
In August, 1861. my father, VINO was
named John Jones, enlisted in the 3Gth
Illinois regiment and went TO the army.
In July, 1862, my father returned home
$50 l am informed) and was there at the
time of my birth. Ny mother never
arose from her bed, but died n a few
days after my birth. Before her death
she requested Mrs. Hicklin, vino was
her school mate. to adopt me Father
and Mother Hicklin had no children OF
their own, and after securing a promise
from my father that he would not take
me away from them. legally adopted me.
Father and Mother Hicklin are now
living On their farm in Minneha town
ship, and although I know that the let
ter that hold in my hand was written
by my father, I can hardly realize the
fact. Mr.. and Mrs. Hicklin have been
a true father and mother TO me.
81 grew UP in perfect ignorance of the
fact that was anything else than their
own son. and was never made aware
of tine change until after i was q years
Of N a
often thought that she would tell me
the truth, but when it came to the task
of telling me that she and Father Hick-
lin We're not my father and mother she
would shrink from the task.
This was made easy from the fact
that in the fan of 1862 we moved to Col
orado, ard no one there knew anything
different concerning the family history.
''At the time of my mothers death
I had sister but she was adopted by
a family by the name of Carr. Never
did two children fall in better hands
than we did. My sister remaining near
the old home was made aware Of the
true state of affairs when about 13 years
of age, but she dearly loved Mr.. and
Mrs. Carr as though they were her real
father and mother.
ut seems that after my mothers
death, the family being broken up, that
Father Hunt re-enlisted in the army
and served until July, 1855. He had
made finn promise to both Mr.. Carr
and Mr.. Hicklin that he would not
claim us children after they had grown
attached to us.
after the war ii appears that Father
Hunt returned to the Old home but as
both Mr.. Carr and Mr.. Hicklin had NOV
ed away. he could learn nothing of us,
and finally driGted TO Texts.
81 was speaking of the matter one day
to an cd soldier and said that had a
right TO join the Sons OF Veterans, and
related him my story. He was more
than interested as he knew my father
wen, having served in the army with
him for over four years. He said that
there never was a Drawer of better sol
der than my father, and that he would
never rest until he had found him. if
living, or knew where he was buried.
He referred me to Ezra f. Beard,
who was in the postoffice, and we en-
gagged him TO work UP the case. He
wrote to the adjutant general OF Hi
nois and received in return a full war
record of Father Hunt. (You see 1
have two fathers and 1 distinguish them
by adding 1.-THE surname) He then wrote
TO the pension department and learned
that my father was drawing a pension
at Desdamonia, Eastland county, Tex.
He addressed a letter there and received
the following reply. which l would not
take a. good many dollars for. 1t IS tlhe
first letter a son over SO years OF age
received from his father. The letter
reads:
"'Desdamonfa. Eastland Co, Texas,
Nov. IS, 1895.
Ezra T. Beard-Dear sir and com
rade: Yours of Nov. to hand and
contents duly noted, and would say 1
am the man who enlisted i'm Co. X, 3Oth
Illinois regiment, August, 81, and serv-
ed TO July. '65, and when / came home
Mr. H3cklin had left the country and
I've been trying even since to find his
whereabouts This Hicklin left there
with child of mine, Oliver Perry Hunt.
An early reply is earnestly requested.
Yours very truly.
JOHN HUNT.
Address, John Hunt, Desdemonia,
EaStlamd Co, Texas.
Il have not received an answer yet
from the letter which / wrote father.
but when / do l viii show it TO you. l
expect his story VIII be more interesting
even than mine.
Two years ago I visited my sister
who is now married and has a nice fam
ily. She married a man named High
tower You cannot think what a Teun-
ron II was. Just think, Ne parted al
mothers grave over thirty years be-
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