The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-17
WHERE'S WOODFORD GOLD
Two of the Eccentric Old Bachelors
Nephews
RETURN TO THEIR HOME In OHIO,


sylvania, and Charles Woodford of Wood
county, Ohio, nephews of Luther Wood
ford. the eccentric bachelor who is sup
posed to have left an enormous fortune
buried on his farm, left yesterday after
noon for their homes.
Charles Woodford, who was the favor
tie relative. has little hope that the
money will ever be found and his cous-
ms presence here is not necessary
thought they will be the old mans heirs
in case no will was left, aud it is thought
there is none.
There was a conference before the
men left with the administrator and he
was authorized to continue the search.
Administrators Bolmar is very hopeful.
He thinks that the money will yet be
found and he has the utmost confidence
in the theory that the fortune accumu-
lated by the hermit is buried somewhere
near the house on his farm.
One time several years ago when his
nephew, Charles Woodford, was visiting
him the old man took pick and led his
relative through the woods west of the
house. Stopping on the bank of a stream
he said to him: "Some one will get
fortune here" but as some one came up
the subject was dropped. He afterward
what he meant. Those who knew him
well say that Woodford thought there
was coal in the bank of this creek and
this may be what he intended to say.
The searching party found traces of dig
ging at this place but it is said to have
been done bv coal prospectOrs working
under the direction of Woodford.
For years after Woodford opened up
his farm, he had an iron box about three
feet long and one foot wide and about
six inches in depth. When he came to
Topeka he carried this box with him in
the wagon and if he was compelled TO
leave it he left it in charge of some one
he could trust.
About eight years ago Woodford went
back TO visit his old home in Mercer
county, Pennsylvania. While there he
was very sick and after he recovered he
said that if he had died no one would
have found his money. A man named
Edwards says that when Woodford re-
! turned he dug up pc; of gold in one
corner Of tho barn yard and he points
out the spot where the gold was buried.
After WoodfOrd returned from his
visit the iron box was never seen. jeff
Banks a colored man who lived at the
house says he knows nothing about the
! box, but Porter Cook, who has a livery
stall bic on West Sixth street says that
one or two occasions Woodford left the
box with him. Others also saw it but no
one knew what it contained.
In habits the man was like others of
his kind who live alone. He was always
very dirty and he lived almost upon
nothing OF recent years his diet has
| been popcorn and milk. He slept in d
bed of filthy blankets and always had a
big stone at his feet which he would
warm in the fire before bed time. When
his colored friend, JEFF Banks spent the
night with him the two occupied the
hAd nIyc hat han hor
with him, Woodford would buy anything
he ordered. even to evaporated apricots
and California raisins
Recently an old colored man named
Green Coleman has been living with
Woodford, On February 25th Wood
ford and Coleman spent the day huskiug
corn. That night the old man was taken
sick. The colored man did what he
could for him, but he grew worse. On
the following Friday, February 2Sth,
Woodford was taken to Christ
hospital, but nothing could be
done for him, and on the following Sun
day he died.
When the old man died, Mrs. Joseph
Cofran, wife of a brother of ex- Mayor
Cofran, was with him. He had been as
friendly with AIR. and Mrs. Cofran as he
ever got with any one. Mr.. Cofran fire.
quently went to Woodford's place on
hunting expeditions, and the old man
talk to Mrs. Cofran about his money
when he was sick, and during his visits
he never allowed the Cofrans to talk
about his wealth.
Luther Woodford came to Kansas in
1865. He pre- empted the quarter sec
ton six miles east of Highland Park,
where he has since lived. Before he
came to Kansas he worked in the Cali
fornia gold fields, with the best of sue
GEES, and he had in money and govern
ment BONDS when he squatted on the
farm $4,000. This is vouched for by
his favorite nephew, Charles Woedford.
Things went well with bachelor Wood
ford. He made few friends, but he at
tended to his own business and made
money. He first lived in a little board
shanty, which still stands on the place,
and is now used as a chicken house. He
afterward built a log house, and about
ten years ago moved into a stone house,
to which he has since built an addition.
He had one Intimate friend, and that
was a colored man by the name of JEFF
Banks. Banks has been a companion of
the old man for twenty years, but he did
not spend ali the time with him. Every
year Woodford would sell cattle and the
products of his farm, but even JEFF Banks
never knew what he did with the money
or where he kept the $4,000 he brought
to Kansas with him.
Woodford seldom paid Banks any
money. Some times he would give him
a few cents, and when he had been es-
pecially solicitous of the welfare of the
stock or farm of the hermit he would pat
his head like father and say, "Pll re-
member this, my boy, and some day I
will put a feather in your cap" Banks
feels sighted because Woodford died
without making good his promise.
jeff Banks knew his friend had money
but he says that he never made an at
times when Woodford needed little
monev tn nurchase a horse or a COW he