The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-07
UNrrED AFTER TWENTY e ms.
The oue-r Train OF circumstance thsa
kent "a Father Away from nls Family.

tfon the Cleveland Pidin Dedisr.
OprpLIN. May 2.-Ater a separation OF soma
twenty years, Mrs. Mary Sturtevauto OF this city
and her husband, Mr.. Wilbur Sturtevant Vt
sierra Mndrc, Cal, arc soon to be reunited.
The circumstances surrounding the separation
and reconciliation are very unusual. Mrs
Sturtevant and her two daughters have foI
years been residents OF Oberlin, and during all
this time II has been supposed by Mrs. Stuftc-
want and her friends that Mr.. sturtcvant was
dead. But 1t has recently been discovered THAI
the lJng-lost husband and father Is very much
alive. lie has sent for his wife and children.
aud soon all expect To again be happy IN each
Mr. and Mrs. sturtovant were about twenty
years ago residents OF cleveland; They not
along well together aud with their three chill.
dren made UP an exceptionally happy family.
About this time, however, MIR. sturterant be-.
severe financial losses. 1t therefore seemed
necessary that he 20 West FOR n time ia tho
To Colorado, ana for several years was In :
mining camp. During all this time lac CORES
spondGd with the members OF his family.
About 1881 his wife in Cleveland suddenly
ceased to receive any letters from, him. sho
whereabouis. All her labors were In win, howe
ever. She at last sent several detectives ~
aiy trace OF the lost husband. In ore OF ls
very last letters home MIR. Sturteyaht informed
has wife that he had sold some Valuable mii,lHg
property and that le would Immediately send
the money nome. When no more letters were
received from him and when the money ia.it1
to arrive Mrs. Sturtevant at once feared thai ha
had been murdered. Then followed the ions
and %fruitless search.
Finally, giving w the hope OF ever again soS.
ing or hearing of her husband. Mrs. Sturt,Nant
returned to her old home in Ghasrin Nam.
During the next eleven years Mrs. Sturtetans
supported her children by dresslnakIhs. IN
1883 she decided to move TO Obtrliii IN order
that her daughters might have tue advantages
OF "a good education. Accordingly she came
here with her two remaining. children, the odd
est daughter having died in Chagrih Fails. Mrs.
SlurteVant worked hard that her daughters
might 20 through college. The young indies
were faithful, and in June this year both VIII
graduate from Oberlin College. Miss Myra
Sturtevant, the younger; has lifted herself TO
Myrta Sturtevant, the older, has taken the
kindergarten training course.
A few months ago 1t became known t" them
for the nrst time that Mr.. Sturtevant was sti!L
alive. The circumstances are now very REMARK
able, but only AN outline can be given.
Last january a friend of Mrs. Sturtevant was
travelling in southern California, his friend
was Ia Los Angeles, and was one DAY making q
this friend became greatly interested IN the
face of her guide. Al last she remembered his
countenance and asked him IL his name was moo
Wilbur sturtevant., The astonished guide re-
piled that IL was. The facts were soon stated by
both astonished parties aud as a result the mys-
terry has been cleared up.
Mr.. sturtevant Informed the lady for whom
he was acting as a guide that the day before lie
intended to send his money home in 1881 he
was robbed. He does not know who robbed
his wife in Chagrin Falls that his money had
been stolen. but she never received the letter.
IL now appears Ina II leLLeT wa pIoudply Ia
tercepted by the robbers. He wrote several
times, but the letters were never received.
Now, In the mean time what was tranSplrln8
away back in ONO? Mrs. Sturtevant received
no letters from her husband, but continued to
write to him. He. however. never received any
more of her letters. Thus all COMMUNICATION
WAS stopped, and 1t now appears that all these
I hai,hsr b masd f hsxs the been otbe aptef GSpdaally MIS- Mrs.
Sturtevant formed the idea that her husband
was dead. In turn Mr.. Sturtevant gradually
came to the conclusion that his family had de-
serted him. He kept on writing, but got no
answer. He lived fifteen miles from the Post
Office. but for long months made the trip regu-
larly in the hope Of hearing from the loved ones
ger. Many times did he walk the whole DIS
lance through q binding blizzard. At last he
gave up all hope, and disheartened and dlscour-
aged made up his mind to 20 further west and
He at once started for California. Almost the
whole distance, he covered on foot He spens
much time on the way; Several years he spent
he get into southern California. After arriving
In California he went to keeping bees. He also
spent much time as q guide. and is now superin-
opened to Wilson Park. 1t was on this verv
trail that Mr.. Sturtevants identity first became
known to the traveller, who little thought OF
happiness to the bereaved family. Mr.. Sturte-
want is now doing well in California, and is very
highly respected. 1t may easily, be imagined
that his Joy was ineTpressible whom he found
ception still alive.
He at once wrote to his wife and children.
They made haste to reply. The whole mystery
daughters at once come to California The
proposition was quickly accepted. Consequently,
as soon as the girls receive their diplomas from
Oberlin College in June they, will hasten to
united after twenty years OF separation.