The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-24
FROM OUT The kLoNDIkE
Lathrop of 7
to Former Home.

Lathrop of This City, Returns
to Former Home.
Reading like a romance is the
return to his former home, Apple
ton, Mimi, OF j. E. Lathrop, the
father OF the Misses Hazel and
Berenice Lathrop, and the former
husband of Mrs. [. w. Seaman, of
this city, from whom however, she
was divorced some eleven or twelve
years ago, and his son Alfred
Lathrop. of Milwaukee.
About fourteen years ago Mr..
Lathrop, who was travelling for a
Touring mill, suddenly left his home
and departed, none of the family
knew whence. His habits were not
Il character, owing to his intense
love for drink, that enabled hi NJ
rem and the greater share OF the
time the wife was thrown on her
own resources for sustenance. With
her husband leaving her so uncere-
moniously the wife secured a di vorce
on just grounds and came out to
this country, making her home at
Ashton for a period and nine years
ago. to was married to |. w. Sea-
man, one of the prominent citizens
of Mitchell. Mrs. Seaman had given
10 her husband for dead years ago,
for during his absence be had always
Written home every week, and after
the long silence no other thought
had entered her mind.
Now after spending fourteen years
in the Klonlike country MIR. Lathrop
has returned to his former home at
Appleton, Mimi, extremely wealthy
in money, but to find Things some
what changed. Three or foUr weeks
ago he wrote his son. Alfred, at Mill
waukee of his return and that he
desired t. II eet his children. but if
they did not care to meet him that
he would return to bis home in the
klondike. The three children met
their father at Summit, S. d., on
Aug. IL. where he has a brother, 81.
A. Lathrop, the principal of the
city schools, and then accompanied
them back to Appleton, Mlnn.s the
former home. The past week has
been spent in renewing acqudint-
ances and in the course of which Mr..
Lathrop told his children some of
the incidents Of his life during the
fourteen years. The two daughters
returned from Appleton, Hazel
stopping at Ashton, where she is
teaching music and Berenice. reach
ing Mitchell this morning.
Mr.. Lathrop, fourteen years ago,
practically out of money, in company
with a panty OF friends started foe
the kIondiKe county, going 5000
miles into the interior, where be
remained about five years. He
secured possession OF q mine that he
sold for $40. 900. and with that the
started back east, reaching Ketchi-
kan, and was taken sick with the
scurvy. lie fingered for a year in
the hospital and at the end of that
time every cent of his money was
gone, and there was nothing to do
but to 60 back and start over again.
He met with better results the next
time and today he owns thirty gold
mines in the Klondike and is a very
wealthy man.
Two years ago prompted by the
love he still bore for his family and
being highly prosperous he decided
to return home. On reaching Seattle
he net a man. from this country and
making some inquiries he learned
OF his wife's divorce and her mar
riage to MIR. Seaman. Without
more ado Mr.. Lathrop returned
again to the Klondike and remained
there until the present time.
In the years that Mr.. Latllrop has
been away he has completely re-
formed from his old habits and has
devoted large sums of money to
church work in Seattle and other
places. He is a thoroughly Christian
man and is a benefactor in many
ways.
On reaching Appleton he learned
for the first time OF his mothers
and sisters death AMI to them and
his children he had brought back
many presents in gold.
The meeting of the father and
children was an affecting one. al
though the young ladies could
hardly remember their father, as
they we're hut very small children
when he left. Mr.. Lathrop ac.
companied his son, Alfred, back to
Milwaukee, and after purchasing a
large quantity OF machinery for his
mining plants in Alaska he will
return to that country to again
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