The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-29
ELOPED WITH A WIDOW.
Henry Roddis, Who Deserted His Family
Thirty Years Ago, Hos Been Found with
Another Wife.


Milwaukee. Nov. 2s.-On the eveniiis
| of October 25. 1865. Henry w. Roddis
| kissed his wife and two children good
| by and started, as 1t was supposed, Tor
the south to invest a large sum OF
money for his uncle, Edward Roddis,
who was a pork packer In this city.
From that time until a year ago he was
mourned by his wife and daughter, who
survive. as dead. Then rumors as TO
| Roddis' existence in another part Of the
| country sprung up n in m were
verified as facts, and O story starting
in interest developed.
The main fact ascertained was that
for twenty years Roddis had been Nv
I ing at Cherokee, Iowa, a prominent n
respected citizen, where he q a wire
and eight children. Collateral to TINS
main fact, were others, even more start
ling. At the time Roddis disappeared,
1t was common to send agents to Iowa
and southwestern points to buy hogs
and cattle for shipment to Milwaukee.
On these trips the buyers carried with
them considerable money. On this trip
Roddis is believed to have carried more
mone- than usual. as 1t was understood
his uncle wished him to invest In south
ern lands, which could then be bought
cheaply. 1t was stated that he had
with him $4,000 in currency. When
nothing was heard of him, 1t was sup
posed he had been killed for his money.
There We're those who hinted that his
disappearance could be accounted for in
another way. This select few remem
bered that Roddis had been very much
impressed by a pretty widow named
Mrs. Wilmington, whose husband had
been killed in the war, n h lived
with her parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Michael
S%chlinger, on a farm at North Green
field.
Thefact that about the time Roddis
went away Mrs. Millington and her
daughter disappeared tended to confirm
the skeptics in their belief. Blu to Rod.
dis wife and daughter he was dead.
MOI "a their faith shaken until about
a year ago., when Rev. James Slidell, of
st. Johns Episcopal church, had occa-
sion to visit friends In Cherokee, Iowa.
Mr.. Slidell knew Mrs. Roddis' story n
was convinced the Cherokee Roddis was
the man who mad disappeared from
Milwaukee nearly thirty. years ago The
matter vas placed In an attorneys
hands by the Milwaukee wife on charge
of bigamy, with a view Of making Rod
dis settle something on his Milwaukee
family.
During the investigation the registers
Of h old St. Charles 4tOtei were ex-
amined and 1t was found that a few
hours after he kissed his wife and chill
dren good-by Roddis appeared at the
motel with MRS. Wilmington anu ner
daughter and registered as Edward Mil
lington, wife and daughter.
In 1874 they came to Cherokee and
purchased a farm eight miles from the
place, where they lived in great seclu-
sion for several years. Then gradually
they began to make their way until
Roddis was regarded as one Of the solid
citizens Of the town. His eldest daugh-
ter married f. A. Kerger. superintend-
ent of Dublic schools, and the family was
on the top social shelf.
When Roddis found that his identity
could be clearly established he began
negotiations for a settlement. His MIL
waukee wife wanted nothing to do with
him beyond such a sum as would tend
to make her life easier han It had beer
all these long, weary years. In the
meantime Roddis began putting his
property out Of his hands and arranging
matters so his Cherokee family would
be taken care of. Then he disappeared
for the second time. He was traced to
South Dakota and Minnesota, but the
searchers were always just a little too
late. 1t is believed that he Is nov In
hiding somewhere In Minnesota.