Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-14
Mrs. Jennie Meloy, of Mason
City, Finds Daughter Stolen
From Her by an Aunt
WERE LIVING NEAR EACH OTHER
Friend of Both Parties Noted Resem-
bIance Of the Mother and Daughter
and Learning Something Of the His
tory Of Both Made Inquiries, Re-
suIting in Reunion.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Mason City, Dec 14.-After forty
two years of separation Mrs. Jennie
Meloy of this city, and her mother,
Mrs. Putney of Nashua, whom she had
never seen to remember, were united.
The event which occurred at Nashua
the first Of the week was made the
event of a family gathering Of the
happiest nature. The mother has now
grown to be an aged woman Of nearly
IS years while her daughter, Mrs.
Meloy, is "A. During all these years
they have lived close to each other
without finding their relationship out,
though constantly in each others
mind with an earnest longing for the
discovery The story of the separation
and the long delayed reunion as told
by Mrs. Meloy is an interesting chap
ter in human life.
When an infant of few months in
central Illinois her father died leaving
her mother in destitute circumstances.
1t was her mothers custom to go out
to the neighbors during the day to.
work for the necessities to care for
herself and child. One day while thus
away and having left her baby at
home, the infant was stolen by a
maiden aunt out Of revenge for some
ina ginary wrong. The mother discov-
cred the whereabouts of the child but
could not prevail upon her relative to
,Givo hny fsrShff7f3on
the home. Two years past when the
mother was forced to leave the neigh
borhood and 'f1rsally came west she re-
married living near Nashua. All trace
Of her baby was lost.
In the meantime it Is related that
this aunt wllen the child had reached
about It's third year, took it one might
to neighborhood building and there
left her charge. Three days later the
child was fourrd by Mr. Richie, now
Of Nora Springs, almost dead from
hunger. He took the baby home and
his wife nursed 1t back to health No
trace Of its relatives could be found
and the child remained i'm the Richie
home, moved TO Iowa with them when
she was II years of age and when %
years of age married q Mr.. Meloy who
twelve years later died.
Mrs. lMeloy lived since her husbands
death in Mason City, Sheffield, Rock
ford and Rockwell, but obtained in no
instance the location of her mothers
family living only a few miles distant.
1t remained, however, for Mr. Dean, a
resident of Floyd county to set> the
wheels in motion that resulted in final
munitimg the family. He CHANGED to
pay a visit to Nashua and the Put
ney home. In the course Of a long
conversation much Of the family his
tory of both were revealed and of
course Mrs. Putney related her sad
separation from her daughter and the
circumstances as she knew them.
Suddenly his Thoughts reverted to the
foster child of his friend Mr.. Richie
and he was slso struck with the strik-
ing resemblance Of this girl now
grown to wcrpanhood to his hostess.
He explained the likeness and assured
Mrs. Putney he would make inquiries
on his return home. The stories as re-
lated by both sides Of family partially
conceded ana meeting was arranged
which occurred in Nashua a few days
ago.
AT this meeting the mother and child
were united after a separation OF more
than forty years. Brothers and sis
tiers whom the elder daughter had
never seen tyr known of were intro
duced and a. happy reunion followed.
1t was further cemented with big
dinner ON Sunday, the 9th birthday
of the mother, when twenty members
OF the family were present to enjoy
their first and only family gathering