Mesa free press., 1898-02-11
AN eNocH ARDEN STORY.
Forty-Six Years Husband and Vie
Thought Each Other Dead.

80 9th a. 0ulAud, Ill AOlO OOhAtJ,
Of Peter Rhoads, veteran of both the
Mexican and civil wars, has brought
to light a remarkable and pathetic ro-
nance such as Is seldom. found else
where than in the pages of fiction.
Fifty years ago Rhoads went to
the army, leaving behind young wife.
During his absence a soldier of the
same company in which Rhoads had
enlisted returned and reported that
Rhoads had been killed. Mrs. Rhoads
immediately went to live with her fam
lily IN another State, and witch them re-
moved from place to place until she
married again several years subse-
quently. AT the end Of the war Rhoads
returned only to find that his wife had
disappeared, and report was current
In the community that she had died.
For forty-six years neither of the
two was aware that the other was liy-
Ing. Five years ago they found each.
otner In Capay Canyon, in this county.
Each had been remarked in the interim
and each had been bereaved second
time. But for some reason which they
have chosen to keep to themselves they
did not again live together. So that
Rhoads passed away in his own home.
only as near neighbor to the woman
who In reality had never ceased to be
his wife. Mrs. Rhoads was the chief
mOurner at the old mans bier.
The deceased was soldier as mere
boy, leaving home first to join the
American forces in the Black Hawk
war. In 1916 he enlisted for the Mexi-
can war, and in 1861 was one Of the
Lincoln volunteers against the Confed-
eracy.
He had his wounds and his war ILL.,
nesses, but nothing could make him SUI,
fer so much as the romances of his af-
lection. He married in Texas before
the outbreak Of the war with Mexico,
and only left his wife to take up arms
because the impulse Of patriotism was
Irresistible. He fought all through the
long campaign with faith that he would
return and find her waiting for him.
The grief of her disappearance he en-
dured only because he had learned how
to suffer. The neighbors said that she
had moved away to her family in ILL
nois, and that she had been gone but a
short time when she was taken i'll and
died.
1t was two or three years before
Rhoads married again, but after be
fo i, - no
his second wife. That took place a.
about the time Of the firing on Sumter
Rhoads, once more stricken with grief
took advantage of the opportunity to
divert his mind by again enlisting. He
served until the battle of Shiloh and
then was compelled to retire to the hos
pital with some chronic illness. He
was honorably discharged and returned
to his former home at st. Joseph, Mo.
There he might have lived and lied
without ever knowing that his first
wife was still living, but for the fact
that a former resident of the Missouri
county in which Rhoads made his home
drifted out to California aud became a
postmaster at Guinda.
While acting in this. capacity he was
amazed to discover among the frequent
callers at the office a, woman whom be
soon identified as the. former Mrs.
Rhoads. Upon making inquiry he
learned that she was living with a
daughter, the same who had been born
to her not long after Rhoads' depart.
ure for the Mexican war, but Of whose
existence Rhoads had never been made
aware.
Postmaster Black at once apprscd
the daughter, who is Mrs. r.. s. Arnold,
of Capay, Of her fathers probable ex.
istence in Missouri. Mrs. Arnold adj
yertised in the Missouri papers, and
was gladdened within short time by
word Of his exact whereabouts. Rhoads
was easily induced to start for Califor-
mia. He arrived in Capay on the 10th
of September, five years ago.
The meeting Of the old couple, who In
all the years Of separation had never
ceased to cherish loving memories Of
each other, was too strange and pathet-
ic for description. What passed be-
tween them they have never revealed.
The public knows only that within a
few days Rhoads was installed In 4
permanent home not far from that oc-
cupied by Mrs. Arnold. They had de-
cided not to reunite by legal bonds.
That they had ever been married was
known only to members Of the family,
Postmaster Black and few trusted
friends. They passed as two old
friends.
Rhoads filed homestead claim In
the valley two years ago, and endeav-
ored to take good care Of 1t. But some
time in July a fire broke out in the un-
derbrush, and in trying to check it he
was almost fatally suffocated. From
that time he gradually lost strength I'm.
til he died.
Two sons Of RhOadS nv tha second