Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-03-31
OLD SOLDIERS PLIGHT.
Unable to Bear Separation from His
Wife He Goes in Search
of Her.

OEITlenuS, Lieut.. blrQSall cornell, VET
eran of the civil war, 81 years old, is
now In the county almshouse, near
this city, says the Morristown IN J.)
correspondent of the st. Paul Globe,
hoping that some one will soon come
to his rescue and relieve him from a
situation so humiliating that the old
man can scarce speak of 1t with dry
eyes.
Il was commissioned officer in the
First New Jersey cavalry" he said,
sadly, "a participant in 80 battles and
a man who had made and lost two for
tunes, and now have only this home,
and that only through the generosity
of member of the board of freehold
ers of Morris county. 1 am thankful
to John M. Mills, who has been kind
enough to provide me with this shelter
until l can get relief. Only for this
kindness l must have perished.
For the last six months have been
living at the soldiers home in Dan
Vile, III. Previous to going there 1
lived in the little town of Homewood
near Chicago, and there | was police
magistrate for eight years. Growing
old and feeble, my wife and l decided
that it would be best for me to go to
a soldiers home, where | could be
properly cared for. | thought also that
this step would relieve my children of
any idea that we were a burden on
them. My wife thought she would
visit one of our sons and some of her
relatives in Philadelphia for awhile.
And so last spring l was admitted to
the -oldiers' home in Danville.
N"Well, now, even though the SOL
'diers' home in Danville is splendidly
conducted institution, you can mag
ine that after having lived together for
60 years the separation from my wife
was not easy. We thought at first
we might not mind it. but it nearly
broke her heart. and became so lone
ly for her that l concluded at last
would not be able to remain in a SOL
diers' home without her. So, on Oc-
tober 20, having received my pension
money, $36, | concluded to go to the
soldiers home at Waupaca, Wis,
where they receive soldiers with their
wives.
when 1 got to Waupaca they told
me could not be admitted until
had been a resident of the state six
months. At that time | had but one
idea in my mind, and that was to get
where l could be with my wife. So
boarded the first train for the east,
knowing that there was a soldiers
home in Vineland, n. j.. where they
took old soldiers with their wives.
81 arrived at Newark ten days ago,
and, feeling very much fatigued
thought l would stop over for a day
or two at the soldiers home at Kear-
ny. The major in command there
said:
We got to stop you old soldiers
from running all over the country.
You can't stay here. I'll give you iodg-
ing and breakfast and then you must
get out
Il was thunderstruck, but too tired
to make protest, so l took MY lodg-
ing and breakfast and then was forced
to leave. 1 walked over to Newark
and stopped at a hotel there for "a
hours. and then my money was nearly
gone. | got a train that came along
and when the conductor came through
gave him what money had left. That
took me to Summit. Getting off al
Summit, I asked where the poorhouse
was located, and was told that they
had no poorhouse In Union county
Well, was pretty nearly struck dumb
asked some one where the nearest
poorhouse was They told me at Par
gippany, in Morris county. So l start
ed to walk from Summit to Parsippany
distance of IS miles. 1t was then ter
O'Clock in the morning and l had nc
breakfast. 1t was a long. hard walk
but | arrived at Parsippany about foui
O'Clock in the afternoon, only to find
the poorhouse had been removed tC
Norris Plains. seven miles away AL
though rather tired and hungry, saw
there was nothing for me to do bu
continue the journey.
"As | walked along inquiring my
way they told me to continue on pas
the asylum up over the hill, and tha
could not miss the house, which was
"a big building on the top of the hill
I passed the asylum, but by that tim,
1t had grown dark. and I could scarce
w see my way. However, l followed
the road as best could and at las
arrived at the top of the hill and be
gan descending on the other side
"After walking a long distance ant
seeing no trace of building, alst
finding that the road was very rougl
and little used, concluded | had mad,
a mistake and started back. 1t was 81
dark that could not see anything
Presently | stumbled and fell into tn,
gutter at the roadside. How long
lay there | do not know, but | knew
that to lie down meant death, for |
was very cold night, so | gathered
my nerve force and descended the hill
and after weary long march foun,