Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-08-26
RATHER UNEXPECTED.
How william Cannon of Ohio Came u
Visit HIs Old Home in Delaware.

How william Cannon of Ohio Came to
Visit Hir Old Home in Delaware.
Among the passengers on tho after
noon express down the Deaware rail-
road few days ago was William Can
non. Mr.. Cannon was born in Dela-
ware, but many years ago had wandered
West and had not touched foot upon
the soil of his native State for 80 years.
William Cannon was born in Sussex
county and lived near Georgetown. lie
followed the sea when young man,
hut soon gave it up only to find that
the change from the sea to the land
was injuring his health. When the
first passenger train coming nurth
over the RAILROAD left Georgetown
something over so years ago Cannon
was one of tue very few passengers.
He had decided to go West and as the
saying was to grow up with the coun-
try" His first stop was in Columbus,
o.. but he afterward pushed on to
California and rosmed through other
of the Western States. a lew months
Of this convinced him that tine smooth
and level farming lands Of Ohio suited
him better than any place he had seen
in his travels and he went back and
engaged in farming, in a small way.
he was successful and after few years
bought a farm about 10 miles from
Columbus. Later be married and set.
tied down to the regular routine Of
farm life. lie was progressive and
wien few years ago farming success
fully hecame difficult matter, owing
to the low price of grain he bought
herd of cattle and engaged in the dairy
business. lie was successful once more
and to-day the product of Cannon q
duiry is well known in the city OF
Columbus.
Thirty years is long time to remain
away from the scenes of one's child
hood and as years passed by Mr.. Can
non felt growing desire to CONS back
TO Delaware and renew old acqusint
ances. He planned to bring his wife
with him, hut his farm demanded his
constant attention and for first one
reason anl another he did not get
away.
Sometime about month ago three
Columbus surveyors went out to the
Cannon farm to Survey off few acres
of land which MIR. Cannon bad recently
purchased. Ono OF these surveyors
carried in his POCKET copy of a
Columbus newspaper and while looking
it over Mr.. Cannon read OF an eycur-
sion from the West TO Atlantic City.
The fare for the round trip from
Columbus was only sl1. He took the
paper in the house to his wife and
jokingly remarked that here was their
chance to come East at little cost. The
good wife saw the opportunity at a
glance. She told her husband that he
must CO. lie demurred. She insisted.
1t was then 10 o'clock and the special
train for the East left Columbus at
II. %. Mr.. Cannon said it was out of
the question for him to leave the farm
at that time; that when ne came East
he wanted TO bring her with him. Mrs.
Cannon could see no reason why he
could not come then and why they
cou!d not both come later. The. result
was that when the eScursiunl train
pulled out of Columbus that day Will
liam Cannon WIS among the passengers.
His good wife had carried the day.
This was how Mr.. Cannon came to visit
Delaware so unexpectedly after all these
years. lie went direct to Atlantic City,
hut only remained long enough to get
the next train TO Wilmington. Here
he visited brother and then left on
a visit TO relatives 10 the lower part of
the Stata. The Georgetown of to day
was not the Georgetown of 30 years ago
and there we're but very few familiar
faces to greet him as he passed up the
street. He found his relatives and
passed. aome very pleasant days with
theaL
Mr.. Cannon returned to Ohio greatly
pleased with the growth his State had
made, and as he said 'nrouder of Della
ware tnan ever" lie ia coming back
again before long TO stay longer time.
His next trip will not be go unexpected,
and he proposes to bring his wife with
him and show her what goud place
Delaware is.