Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1896-08-27
MIssoURrs QUEER HERMIT.
Tax Collectors Discover Recluse in
the Wilds of Macon County.

hASo4St ts1hOst mug AZ w INV ~ 49,
Arthur and Joseph Gooding, tax col
lectors, were out in sparsely settled
district in Russell township, Macon
county, recently, they ran across not
the ssoldest inhabitant," but undoubt-
edly the queerest and most eccentric
inhabitant of that locality. They carried
with them back tax bill for s16. 20
against one John Il. Jones, who had
81, ,125 in the bank at New Cambria.
The amount was more than the av-
erage bank account of the farmers in
that township and they naturally ex-
pected to find John G.. Jones presiding
over a farm of more than ordinary
pretentions. Nearly a day was spent
in quest of Mr.. Jones' home; no one
seemed to know him, but many said
that an old man named Ballard had
been seen occasionally in the vicinity,
though but few were aware of the
location of his residence.
One afternoon while on their horses
the collectors noticed a peculiarly
shaped hay stack on the bleak stretch
of uncultivated ground. They ap-
preached it and saw ditch running
under it. One of the men got down
on his hands and knees and crawled
into the ditch and under the hay stack.
He disappeared from sight but soon
returned with his face pale with
fright. He said that the hay stack
was human habitation, and that as
soon as he got in some one yelled out
to him, ssYi! Yi!" While they stood
there waiting for developments a
queer looking person came from the
hole in the ground and approached
the collectors, who hastily retreated a
few feet.
| APPEARANCE OF THE HERMIT.
There was no hat on his head, but a
dark colored rag was bound closely
around his temples and knotted be-
hind. His clothing, if such it could be
called, was picturesque and contained
many holes. His arms were long and
thin and his fingers terminated in
nails which were so long they resem-
bled claws. His snow white beard fell
down to his waist.
One of the tax gatherers tried to ex-
plain to this queer looking being his
mission, but evoked no response that
was Ineligible. He then showed the
tax bill under the old mans nose.
/ he f,N h oftor a lnro
examination retreated to his home,
motioning to the men to follow him,
They looked doubtfully at each other
a moment and then screwed Their
courage to the sticking point and fol-
lowed him. The recluse took box
from a shelf, went to corner in the
dirt floor and found an old key, insert
ed it in the lock and drew forth whai
looked like a bandanna handkerchief
After unwinding this until he seemed
to have a small sized bed spread, he
drew out another rag in which was
collection of dimes and nickles. He
counted out the S16.2O and paid the
bill.
| INTERIOR OF THE STACK.
| While waiting for him to do this the
visitors examined the peculiar place
of abode. In the dirt walls were
driven, horizontally, four or five
, sticks and across these were lait
boards. Hay and rags on top of thii
indicated that it was the hermit's bed
Everything was of the most primitive
design and indicated that the tenan
had broken away from the conven'
! tionalities of civilization many year.
before.
!; When he paid the collectors ant
took their receipt he pointed to thu
, opening and they lost little time il
: getting out and back to their horses
!, Since their visit one of the tax col
i lectors has made inquiry concerning
the old man. He learned that tn
|, recluse had but one or two friend
I and no confidents. One of them toll
: Mr.. Arthur that Jones was Welsh
q man, bachelor, who had renounce
', social ties on account of an unfortun
r ate love affair which had blighted hi
. youthful affections. He came to Amer
;. lea and secured forty acre tract
), ground in what was then "howlin
9 wilderness" He Immediately SHIT
" himself in and held intercourse wit
9 no one.
ell Of late years, however, he has bee
d devoting himself to the care OF a sma
garden. He raises potatoes prime
is pally and trades them around occi
: sionally for anything the people car
9. to trade for. He has not an animal I
in any sort on his place; not even dc
,s to cheer his solitude. Those who kno
r him regard him as an inoffensive o
pr fellow and they never seek to pry IL
~ to his affairs. His age no one know
but from his appearance he might
anywhere from 60 to 100 years old.
81 Messrs. Schwager & Raef are pro
ID pecting for coal for Ed. Lawder, ,abo
&c 75 yards north of the Davis coal sha
g. At % feet a vein of four feet W