The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-04
HELPS Them OUT.
Sam Radges a General InfOrma.
ton Bureau.
His File Of City Directories
Proves of Value.
LONG LOST RELATIVES
They Are frequently Located
by Mr.. Radges' Help.
He Doesn't Mind, for 1t X eep
Him Busy.
LONG LOST RELATIVES

Sam Radges receives more inquiries
for long lost relatives, probably, than
any other man in Topeka. And not
only long lost relatives are sought.
There are the friends who have been
lost for years, information as to old
soldiers who have applied for pensions,
witnesses in court cases and sometimes
the residence of criminals all bring in
cuiries to him. And all because Mr..
Radges has published a city directory
since Topeka was a mere village and
is known to have a complete file of
his directory.
By far the largest percentage of in
quiries are concerning long lost rela-
tiyes and strange as it may seem, not
one inquirer in fifty encloses two
cent stamp for postage on the answer
t. his inquiry. But every letter is an
swered and if it is possible the infor-
nation asked is given. And Mr.. Radges'
bureau of information usually fur-
nishes the information sought
Often times the search for missing
loved ones leads to the cemetery and
the tidings sent back are not such as
produce joy. Many times, it is, of
course, impossible to give further in
formation than to say that the person
sought resided in Topeka at A certain
time and left with his present where
ebouts unknown. In most cases, how
ever, neighbors are found who knew
the man or family of whom inquiry is
made and thus is some trace of them
found. And although it is done with
out the least recOmpenSe Mr.. RadgeS
makes every possible effort to obtain
The information sought.
Used by Pension Board.
The local board of pension exa min
ers make good use of Mr.. Radges'
directory. Day after day they call at
his apartments in the Office block and
search through early volumes of the
directory for trace of some old soldier
who has applied for a pension. If
his name is in the directory it is taken
for proof that he resided here at the
time the directory was issued. And
the fact that his name is found in the
directory has assisted more than one
veteran in securing pension
promptly.
Lawyers make good use of Mr..
Radges directory. Only recently two
attorneys from out Of town were here
irving to find the president of a firm
which had gone out of existence years
ago. 1t was found that this man was
dead but by searching through the
directories the names of other officers
oi the corporation were learned and
now lawsuit in Salt Lake City is the
result Names of witnesses and the
neighborhood in which they lived are
found by attorneys who want them
and by calling on people who resided in
The same neighborhood at the same
l.me frequently an important witness
is found.
Only last month man was arrested
in San Francisco on a felony charge.
1t was learned that at one time he had
lived in Topeka. Two detectives called
on Mr.. RadgeS. went through the di-
rectories issued at the time of his
residence here and found names of
persons living in the same locality One
of these persons proved a valuable wit
ness and gave a deposition which will
assist materially in sending the rogue
to the penitentiary.
Doesn't Mind Answering Questions
at have no idea how many calls for
information I have had" said Mr..
Radges. "All are from people who
are interested and I try to answer
them. havs the time and don't mind
doing it. People seem to expect it.
end they usually get the best 1 can
do for them. They come to me because
.hey know I have a complete set of
the directory There are other sets
IN Topeka but not many people know
where they are located. And so 1 get
the letters
For years Mr. Radges was the sole
proprietor of the directory and he put
cut the most unique one in the coun-
try. Whether it paid was a secondary
consideration Mr. Radges wanted to
issue the best directory issued and he
old It. 1t contained information which
no other directory contained But fail
ing eyesight compelled him to give up
the work and now he has turned the
business over to company formed a
few years ago. although he still re-
tains an interest.
But the calls for information are all
addressed to him and he spends much
Of his spare time seeking out persons
whose sorrowing friends and relatives
lave lost trace of them. He is the
bureau of information concerning for
xner Topekans.