Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-20
AFTER MANY YEARS.
Mother and Daughter Each Though,
the Other Dead.

Centerville. March 17.-For twenty
eight years Mrs.W. K Worthen of this
city, who was reared as an adopted
daughter, believed that her own moth
er was dead. For the same length of
time that mother mourned for her
daughter, who she thought was in
spirit land. Both have just learned
that the other is alive and well and are
planning for joyful meeting.
To begin at the beginning of the
story. Years ago Mrs. M. E. Baldwin,
widow of Judge Baldwin of Leaven-
worth, kas., was left alone in the
world with two-yearo old son and a
two-months-old daughter, and also be-
reft recently of another child, came on
to visit with friend at Bonaparte and
while there was induced to allow Mrs.
Ira Brown of that city, now known as.
Mrs. Frances Callen, to adopt the lit
tie girl Mrs. Baldwin felt that Mrs,
Brown could do better by the little
one than she could herself, Z because
Mrs. Baldwin was without sufficient
means to raise and educate her daugh-
ter. Mrs. Brown promised that if at
any time the little girl, Frances Ada,
was seriously i'll, the mother should
be notified at once. Mrs. Baldwin also
hoped that some day she might again
join her daughter and lavish upon her
the evidences of mothers love.
Years ago when Mrs. Worthen was
a little girl she was taken very sick
and word was sent to her mother in
Kansas, but it seems that Mrs. Bald.
win had removed from where she had
hnnn LIVING nd fho Liza
reached her. What she finally heard
was that her daughter was dead. The
report came later to Bonaparte that
Mrs. Baldwin was dead So the cur.
tain of silence and ignorance was
drawn between the two.
Until Mrs. Worthen was quite a large
girl she never knew that her foster
mother was not her real mother. She
had been we'll treated and it had never
seemed necessary to tell her until the
report came of the natural mothers
death. But while yet little girl she
remembered some one with whom she
had played-a boy named Harry-her
brother, and she often asked about
him. She now learns that he is still
alive and residing in Chicago.
In fact, it was while trying to find
this brother that it was learned that
her mother was still living. Mr. Wor-
then ever since their marriage had de-
sired to aid his wife in finding her
brother. 1t was very problematical
where he might be or what name he
bore, as he. too. might have been
adopted. Mr.. Worthen often talked
with his wife about her family history
and unbeknown to her would lot down
all the facts he learned.
At last he thought he could extend
his investigations so he wrote a letter
to gentleman in Missouri who might
know something about the brother,
and asked him to forward the letter to
someone else who would be likely to
have the coveted information in case
he could shed no light on the case
simself This letter travelled about
until it reached Mrs. Worthen's aunt,
who at once sent the address, of her
sister, Mrs. Worthen's mother. to
whom Mrs. Worthen wrote letter and
from whom yesterday she received a
reply that told the whole story.
There are two peculiar condolences
connected with the case. Mr.. and
Mrs. Worthen are both members of the
Baptist church and take an active part
in church work. Mrs. Childers writes
that she is Baptist as well as the
wife of her son Berthe The other CO.
incident is the receipt of letter yes
terday in the same mail in which came
the letter from Mrs. Childers of an
other letter from Mrs. Worthen's
adopted mother who resides at Bona
parte. All rejoice that the family has
not been broken up by death. Mrs.
Callen. the foster mother. visited in
Centerville for several weeks this win
ter with Mrs. Worthen and many of