The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-23
IS REUNITED
WITH SISTER
Strange Story Of George and
Ellen DOwner.
SEPARATED WHEN LITTLE
Mr.. Downsr Says They Have
Been Kept Apart for
Forty Years.

After search that has continued
through the long years OF wandering
life George Downer OF North Benning.
ton has discovered the home OF sister,
from whom he was separated when the
two we're children, and he has sold his
comfortable home In that village that
he may hereafter reside near the lorg'
lost relative. The sister Is In comfor.
able circumstances ADD resides In wor.
cester, Mass, with her husband TO
whom she was married about Is years
ago. lie is Charles Slbley, who con.
ducts a shoe store In that city aud who
resides at Ill Austin avenue.
IL Is only about three weeks ago that
Downer returned from Worcester. The
brother and sister, who we're born 10
SALISBURY, have each been searching
for the other for years. Each has been
writing letters 10 relatives and acquain
tances for information and IL was
through one OF these inquiries that the
man learned where Mrs SIbley resided.
He went TO Worcester at once. The
meeting was a joyful one. After years
Of anticipation, with but little encour.
agement that they would ever locate
each other the brother and sister we're
united, and having found each other
Mrs Siblry was particularly anxious
that her brother come 10 Worcester 10
reside. Mr sibley also urged Downer
10 make his home In that city and OF.
cred 10 6nd az opening for him. BE.
fore Downer returned TO North Ben
nIngton IL was arranged that he should
take steps to dispose Of his property
there and be 10 readiness 10 move 10
Worcester az soon a. he should hear
from the Sibleys.
George DoWner and Ellen Downer,
Eho Is now Mrs Charles sibley, are
the children OF David Dosner, who
vas at one time al inmate OF the
Soldiers home here but rho Is nov In
the retreat at Rrattleboro. At the
time the children were born the father
va, residing In Mlddleiown OF Shafts
bury. George Downer Is now ~ years
old and his sister about year young.
~. The father, David Downer, enlist.
ed 10 the civil war and went TO the
front The mothers health was feeble
and while her husband was in the ser
vice she died. The homeless children
were cared for as vel as possible by
the neigh ors. The boy was taken 10.
20 "a family Of John n. Dyer AZ Waits
River and the little girl vent 10 live at
the home Of Abner Davis 10 Arlington.
According TO George Downer's story
his father married In Brattleboro soon
after being mustered out Of the service.
10 would appear that the e'der Downer
must have taken his second wife wiihou
informing her that he already had two
children living In this county. Mr. and
Mrs Downcr cam, from Braitleboro
soon after their marriage To Shafts.
bury 20 move quantity Of household
goods 10 their new home on the other
side Of The state. When Mrs Downer
learned Of the existence Of the two chill
dren there was trouble aud the little
people naturally came 10 for 4 large
share Of the woman's resentment The
girl went from oue family TO another
where the asslstaaee that she was able
TO give 10 the care Of the house was
received In pa ment for her livIog.
Her life could not have been = par
ticu.arly happy one but her lot was
more comfortable than tina, OF the boy
Who vas bound out by his father hrs,
to different farmers and later 10 men
ia charge Of lumber JOBS In the noun
talns. lie was too small for the heavy
work and was accordingly KEEP, large
part 81 the tim. with the horses. A.
long a. he was able 10 do 30 the elder
Downer collected the boys earnings
and kept hir, at work 10 that George
never had an opportunity 10 secure an
education. The girl Ellen driited
across the state 10 Bra,lleboro and
later into Massachusetts.
A. brsi the boy heard from her oc'
easlonally 10 az indirect way but Il
was not long before he lost all trace
Of her. The slepmoiber never reeov'
cred from her aversion for her hus'
bands children by the Grst wife and
once the two wallis became lost 10 each
other she aud the other members OF
the family gave no Information that
would bring them together.
Daring the years that followed the
war the elder Downer had accumulated
considerable property In Brattleboro,