The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-17
Billy" Baldwin Hears From
Friend of Long Ago.
Separated in Indiana Before the
Civil War.
OLD DAYS RECALLED
S. A. Byarlay of May Day Re-
calls Sassafras Tea.
Mrs. StansfieId's Birthday Brings
Her Many Greetings.

Publicity often reunites friends and
relatives who have been separated for
a number Of years and the publicity
given Mrs. Jane Standsheld, mother Of
w. J. Baldwin. is no exception. Mr..
Baldwin, through the publicity given
his mothers one hundredth birthday in
the State Journal has received a COM
munication from a boyhood friend
whom he has not seen since 1860. Mrs.
Standsheld has also received COM
munication from a greatgranddaughter
who lives IN Lawrencevile, ILL.,, who
is u years old
Mrs. Jane standsfeld makes her home
with her son. w. ]. Baldwin. at ia
Lawrence street, and celebrated her one
hundredth birthday December p. Dur
ing the time that has elapsed since the
announcement was made in the state
Journal Mrs. Standsheld has received
at least $50 communications which
bring the good wishes and congratula-
lions of that many persons. some are
communications from strangers ana
others friends and quite a few from rel
atives. Among the latter are letters
from members Of the family who have
not been heard from for years. some
of them had not communicated with Mrs.
Standsfield or her son since so long
ago that all traces OF address had been
lost one letter was received from a
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS who is II years old
and lives in LaWrenceNlle, Ill. Inc
families have not communicated with
each other for a number OF years.
An Old Playmate.
Among the others IS a letter from
s A Byarlay of May Day, Kan. This
is in Riley county. Mr.. Byarlay Is am
implement and hardware dealer and
was a playmate of BILLY Baldwin in
early years. The two men were boys
when they were separated in 1850 ana
had not heard Of each other since theh.
Mr.. Byarlay read the announcement
of the birth anniversary Of Mrs. stands
field in the Topeka State Journal and
wrote a letter to his former chum In
which he recalls many boyhood MEM
cries.
In the letter he says:
VERY well do / remember the pleas
ant visits to your place in Jackson
county, Ind While / do not call TO
memory all the members Of your fam
lily. I remember we'll your mother; your
stepfather; your brother George ana ~
seems to me that you had at least one
stepsister-the one who at one time
took some sugar water and sassafras
root and made a fine tea OF the COM
bination. Your folks had honey bees in
the orchard. My father got some money
from your folks which we used Up on
orr trip to Kansas territory in 1860. we
lived one-h half mile east Of Seymour,
along the line of the O. a. NJ r. k,
which was built along the north line OF
orr place when I was a little boy.
They had a big celebration when the
road was completed to Seymour which
was 81 miles from Cincinnati. The JET
fersonville &, Indianapolis railroad hau
been built "a few years previous.
Mr.. Byarlay then relates the where
abonts Of a number of the members
Of his family and the date OF the death
of his parents and number or others.
He also recalls the names or a NUMBER
of persons which were known by ootn
men during their boyhood days ana
some Of whom have been seen by nun
since coming to the kansas Territory
Il
Mr. Pyarlay is now 63 years old ana
takes pleasure in recalling his boyhood
experiences Mr.. Byarlay also remem-
hers Grandma Standsheld and refers
to her in the letter in part as follows
Il want to again refer to your motn-
or. In the picture her features are
something as / remember her, out IL
seems to me that SO or So years ago she
aDreared more slender than in this pic
tire am glad to know that she Is
living with you yet and that she is In
such apparent good health as the pa
per indicates / wonder whether she
remembers me or not.
Mr.. Baldwin received this letter with
surprise as he had a.
most forgotten this one boyhOod friend
This is only one Of a large number OF
similar letters that have been receiV-
ed. ,
pleased with the publicity given her on
tl,ss occasion and equally as well with
the letters she has received. More than
Az Of these communications were recely-
"a On the same day which was shortly
after the announcement was MADE