The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-17
"TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Author of the Poers I've Wandered
to the Village, Tom Is Dead.

Clinton, Ia, Feb. IA. J. Cauit. who
resided Ter many years a Wheatland.
+ this county. the author Of that beautiful
and popular poem. Twenty Years Ago.
or I've Wandered to the Village, Tom.
is dead The poem was written many
years ago. and the fact that 1t was
founded on facts has made il interest
ing. aside from its literary value
Twenty Years Ago" Is poetic gem
yet Mr. Gault wrote other verses pro
nounced by critics 70 be equally as good.
However. he owes his reputation to
Twenty Years Ago" poem which
vividly calls to mind scenes Of child
hood. places the reader in g reminiscent
mood. d poem which has been read By
nearly every man. woman and child IL
America known to them and impressed
upon their minds 50 vividly that many
can recite verses of it. Still, until re-
Gently, the authors name remained in
obscurity- the poem appearing over the
meaningless Anonymous. And now
comes the interesting life Of A. J. Gaulz
and the origin of his beautiful poem.
The story IS best told BY A. w Gault.
son of the deceased. who IS the editor
Of the Calamus Record.
a J. Gault was born in Jackson.
Washington county. New York. October
I. 1878 When he was two years old his
parents moved to Arlington, Vt. where
rs resided until ne was - years of age
Here he attended school I'D to his six
tenth year When not occupied with
Els studies he spent his leisure time
catching speckled trout. roaming over
the green-capped mountains in search o.
game and communing with nature ia
Nermont's green hills. Here iii the
midst Of nature. ideas came to him
which. IN after years he worked into
some excellent pOetIcaI Productions As
thoughts came to him. he would write
them down on chip. piece Of bark or
anything that came handy. utterly oh
lVlous to everything else until his task
was finished.
NJ. CAN'T was of <a--51--
nine children Tom. who was addressed
ia the poem, being his youngest brother.
who was living at Otsego N X at
the time the poem was written. Tom
was careless about writing home All
wished TO hear from him. and wonder
ed why he did not write Ny father at
last decided 70 write him a touching
letter, appealing to the heart. md see
if that would not bring an answer.
Twenty Years Ago was that letter.
In some manner the letter found its
way into print. and this fact was un-
known TO my father for many years
Several years ago. when Tom died. the
letter was given 70 = sister residing in
Kansas. as a keepsake. and she still
retains possession OF the manuscript
The poem contains no fiction The
old grapevine swing the beech tree.
on which their sweethearts' names
were cut the benches their jacknives
had defaced.' the speckied trout. the
sprinE.au the incidents of the poem and
names are realities
The author of Twenty Years Ago
lived 4 varied life. IN mis- early wears
ne worked at the sh0euaker-s trade
later taklne up stone cutting. ard still
later farming During tha war he
drifted into newspaper work and fol-
lowed this business until about two
yeas ago. when he sold his paper the
Wheatland Spectator. to his son. who
moved the plant to Calamus. where he
asta bIished the Record.
Mr.. Gault had a wide circle Of friends
in this section OF the state. and his
funeral which was held this afternoon,
was attended by many men Of prom
inence from q distance
he lived in obscurity in the little
village OF Wheatland and was buried
in an obscure grave in the little town.
However. his poem will continue to be
read from generation to generation,
and thousands viii sing unknowing
the praises OF the author.