Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-11
Cedar Rapids Man and Relative
Reunited After Fifty Years
:. Of Separation
THE STORY is STRANGE ONE
Father and Little Son Suddenly Dis
appear from Home, Leaving ReIa-
tives and Wealth Behind = Search
Kept Up for Fifty Years Finally Re-
warded-Iowa News.
Special to rimes-Republl, san.

happy, golden days OF chlldnood 10 Sc
date, iconoclastic epoch of lifes de-
clining years, two brothers, James and
George Rose, were reunited last night,
clasping hands and calling one the
other by name for the first time since
they were parted one summer morning
some fifty years ago.
Mutual Recognition.
Willing away the leaden hours by
nervously pacing to and fro the length
of the union station waiting room.
James Rose, prosperous farmer and
man of affairs in Routt county, Colo
RADIO, awaited impatiently the arrival
from the north.
The very moment the vestibules had
been opened an excitable little man in
a gray travelling ulster alighted and
ran square into the arms of a by
stander, who had been eagerly scan
ming the faces of the hurrying crowd,
as If in search of some one expected
to arrive on this train.
"Jim!"
George!"
Ire recognition was intuitive and
mutual. The names alone were spok-
en-, but the expression conveyed a
whole world Of meaning.
Fifty Years Ago.
In picturesque valley along the
banks Of the Ohio river dwelt Abner
Rose, with his family. some fifty years
ago. An honest, hard working farmer,
he titled the soil, working early and
late cultivating his acres; fortune re-
warded his labors and the tidy sum
laid away in the bank in anticipation
Of the proverbial rainy day grew and
grew until one day Rose awoke to the
realization that he was wealthy and
that his dark days of struggle and
poverty were forever ended.
One day Abner Rose, accompanied
by his young son, George, went down
to the spring to get pail of water.
The spring was about a quarter OF
mile distant The old man and child
did not return.
The countryside was aroused and
thorough, systematic search instituted
but as the days passed by and no cleN
was developed, the aid of detectives
was invoked. Weeks rolled into
months and months were marked into
years, but Abner Rose and little George
had disappeared as completely as II
the earth had swallowed them. The
bucket found near the spring was the
only trace left of the husband and son
Az time went on til. funds in the
bank were exhausted by continuance
Of the search for some revelation that
might solve the mystery and return
the loved ones to the fold.
While she lived, Martha Rose never
abandoned the hope that some day
her husband and little baby would
come back to her. One day they laid
her at rest in the church yurd, and
Jim Rose, now a stalwart young chap
was left alone in the world.
"Promise me you will never give UP
looking for them, Jim," beseechad the
mother on her death bed. Keep the
lamp burning in the window, that they
may see the way HOME"
And when Jim promised she closed
her eyes and slept.
Solution Of the Mystery.
"Altho over fifty years have elaps-
ed since that fateful morning, Jim,
remember it as we'll as if it were yes
terday," remarked George Pose In rem
iniscent confidence to his brother.
"When, we -came to the spring father
suggested that we go play In the field
beyond. After a romp he said: George
I reckon we had better go on to town
seeing we are this far from home.
my infantile mind was impressed
with q sense that something was radi-
cally wrong and endeavored to dis
suade him from this decision. Prom
Uses Of candy and an early return nome
to mother won my acquiescence.
Choosing a devious route thru the
timber we skirted the edges OF the
village and hid from passing country
folks.
might found us near a railroad
crossing, and passing freight afforded
us transportation under concealment
from the train crew to New York.
Father began drinking and I was
thrown out on the streets to beg for
money to buy him whisky. When I
cried for home and mother, and Jim
he beat me with his fists, most cruelty
and brutally.
when cold and hungry I came one
night to the miserable attic we called
home, found him dead.
''Since that time l have been buff
fetted about, but by hard work and
economy have made name for myself
as an honorable man and earned a fair
competence And best Of all. Jim, I've
found you again, or rather you found
me-"
Search Rewarded.
Jim Rose remembered the promise
he made his mother and thru all
the years never relented in the search
for brother and father or for some
revelation that would solve the mys-
terry Of their disappearance. Discour-
agements led to redoubled efforts and
at last one day about a month ago, a
letter addressed to James Rose was
received In the postoffice at this county
seat town.
Trembling Jim opened the letter,
this message from one calling to him
fram the dim past, and the hope OF
ye rs was realized. the promise to his
mother had been fililled
George Rose merchant in a Mime
sofa town read personal in a city
daily asking information concerning a
party bearing his name. When he
noted the signature he knew that he
had found the brother from whom he
had been separated.
Correspondence that followed re-
suited in the brothers meeting here, for
George Rose has disposed of his inter-