Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-07-26
NO. 42--I307
Reads Like Romance.

Miss Nellie A. Bride, formerly Jane lP.
! Uoen Of North Natick, Mass, is in Imperi-
/ al, Chase county, Nebraska, looking after
her interests in the estate Of her father the
late Thos. p. Coen, who Was killed by the
falling OF roof the 10th OF April last
Soon after the birth Of Mary Catherine
and Jane Patience Coen, back In the early
eighties, trouble arose between their par
ents over religious matters, the mother
| being a Protestant and the father a Roman
Catholic. The mother and children left
sutton, Neb., and came East, where the
children we're placed in the Protestant or
phans' home in Worcester, Mass. The
mother never returned to inquire about
them and has not been heard from for
many years
Along in 1854, Jane (now Nelliel was
adopted by MIR. and Mrs. Chas. A. Bride of
North Natick, Mass, formerly OF Roehes-
ter. The sister, Mary, was adopted by
MIR. Wallace OF Morristown, VT, aud they
we're separated for a number of years,
not knowing each others whereab bouts un-
til 1895, when Nellie again found her sis
ter at the Home where she had been taken
back after the death OF her foster parents
in 1856. She was then holding the position
Of an assistant matron OF the Home. Nell
lie found her uncle Edman by writing
to the city clerk OF Sutton, Neb., to find
uut II she had the correct date OF her birth.
Her letter was handed to a man OF the
same name of her own, who proved to be
her uncle. The girls have grown to re-
spectacle and beautiful womanhood and
are loved by all where they are known.
Another cruel act in this sad drama of
life is the fact that after Edman Coen OF
sutton, Neb., had found where the girls
were he would never let them know where
their father was. He told them this much
that be lived, but that 1t would take a
year for a letter to reach htm, and they
never would have known of their fathers
untimety death bad Ii not been for letter
written by MIR. Bride to EdmHn Coen,
who, after blotting out the writer's name
and address, forwarded Ii to his brother,
Thomas, the father OF the girls, who lived
in Vernaugo, Chase county, Neb., in the
south vest part Of the state on the line Of
the state OF Colorado. 1t appears that this
letter was written on paper with the busi-
ness heading OF Mrs Bride, Who is a por-
trait artist. This he neglected TO tear or
blot out. After the funeral a party was
left at the house while the body was taken
to the grave, and the letter was found and
a correspondence with Mrs. Bride brought
out the facts and the lost father was at last
found, but he had gone over that great
river OF death, from whence no traveller
has ever returned. After the burial OF
Thos. Coen, his brother Edman went be-
fore Judge Bendee OF Chase county and
declared that the children were dead and
claimeo ne was the only helr TO MS Droth-
er's estate. He now finds to his sorrow,
however, that they are very much in evil
dence, and Miss Nellie will meet him face
to face at the hearing Aug. 18th, which Is
the date set at the court house in Imperi-
al Neb. The estate consists OF $40 acres of
'Prairie land with II miles of wire fence,
cottage house and sheds;h also several
hundred head OF stock, consisting of cat
tie, horses and hogs, the personal proper
ty having already been sold by the admin
istrator. Miss Nellie will return home
about Sept. 30th and will stop at Bethel
and visit her cousin, DIR. II. M. Chase, and
very likely go TO Rochester, where she has
also at Barnard, where she has
an uncle, Mr.. r.. Il. Bride.