The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-02-01
FINDS HIS FATHER
IN KANSAS CITY
&. FieHeR. RppvviLlM SKkcRER
~ AN IOWA gApHEr
HARMS STORY on MS LiFK
Adopted When an infant. Ascertain
HE Real Name 10 Arthur Ward
Win Three Brothers and
slater,

@a~aa~-=@
Kansas city. Mo-. Jan. no. Charles
Fisher. q teacher IN the public school
Of Eddyyille, Iowa, here met his faith.
er, whom he had never seen,and learn
ed that he had three brothers and
sister, Of whom he had never dreamed.
He had always supposed himself TO
he tho son Of NJ. M. Fisher, a carpen.
ter, who died in 1896 He learned
yesterday that his real name is Arthur
Ward and that his father is Mark
Ward, civil war veteran whose fam.
ily lives at 2s17 Euclid avenue but who
himself is an inmate OF the soldiers
home at Leavenworth
Fisher, or Ward, will be 2l years old
next June. The story or his life, as
revealed to him is strange one. His
mother lived only an hour after his
birth. Before she died she named the
baby Arthur and gave IL into the keep
ing Of Mrs. Fisher, VINO had been a
neighbor for several years, and was
herself childless. The father was in
poor circumstances and had already
a large family to support, SO when NJ.
M. Fisher, carpenter and carriage
maker, expressed wish to adopt the
child, the offer was accepted with the
understanding that the name given by
the dying mother should not be chang
ed.
Set Out to Find His Relatives.
Shortly afterward Fisher moved 70
the western part OF Nebraska. From
there ne went to Derby, Iowa, where
he died April ~, 1895. The widow
and her adopted son removed to Ed.
dyyille, Iowa, where they have since
lived. The boy was given good ed.
ucation' and grew up in the belief that
Mrs. Fisher was mis- mother Three
days ago he learned that his supposed
mother was contemplating a trip 70
Marshall, her former nome, on the
date OF his birthday next June, when
he would be n years old. From some
words she let fall he received the first
intlmatIon tfiat he was not her son.
When questioned his adopted mother
told him the story. II was her plan,
she said, 10 tell him the facts Of his
birth on the day when he came OF age.
The young man, having learned his
true history, could not walt until next
June to hunt up his relatives. Hastily
making the necessary arrangements he
and Mrs. Fisher went to Marshall
There they learned the address OF a
relative In Kansas City-Mrs. Maggie
Nickerson u 3226 East Eighteenth
street. The young man came to Kan,
sas City Thursday night leaving his
adopted mother in MarshaIl. He went
TO The home Of Mrs. Nickerson, who
then told him OF the whereabouts or
his father and his brothers and sis
ter, OF whose existence he mad never
dreamed.
Meeting Of Father and son.
Hy chance the father happened to
be in the city. He had married again
ten years ago and now has three chill
dren by his second wife. Mrs. Nieker-
son accompanied young Fisher TO the
home Of mis- father. The meeting be-
tween father and son was very affect
ing, The old man had lost all trace
Of the Fishers after they left Marshall
and had never expected to see his son
again. t
Young Fisher, or Ward, has three
Mothers Alya, railroad employe az
Toronto, Kansas; Charles, farmer or
oxford, Kansas; and Edward, sol,
der In the Philippines, A sister, Minf
ME, IL a trained nurse at Hutchinson,
Kas. Arthur is the youngest child.
IA Is his intention to visit all but the
soldier brother before returning TO Ed
dyville with his adopted mother.
f"I shall always regard Mrs. Fisher
ais my mother said the young man.
@The facts about my history ! have
+. learned IN the past few days win make
10 difference In my relations toward
her. shall always take care Of her
while she lives"
W. Yesterday at the Nickerson home
the long separated father and son
spent the day together and arranged
10 keep In touch with each other BY
correspondence. The old man is 90
years old and feeble. Last night the
son met his adopted mother at the
depot and together they went 70
hutchinson. Kaa, TO sees his sister.
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