Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-25
REUNITED WITH SISTER AFTER
ABSENCE or NINETEEN
YEARS.
BECOMES A WANDERER
WHEN SISTER mARRIEs
Prosperous Farmer Leaves Farm When
Housekssper 10 Weddsd-After Years
Of Separation Sister II Learns Of
Brothers Presence at Mason City
Reunion Follows.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Mason City, Feb. 25.-Many people
Yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock,
witnessed scene which they are not
likely to witness again should they live
to be a thousand years old.
In the little town of Plainville, MIMI.
lived John Liebel and mis- unmarried
sister who was his housekeeper. This
was nineteen years ago. John owned
small farm, lived in a fairly COM
Portable house, had plenty of personal
property about him with the prospects
Of an abundant harvest. One day his
sister notified him that she was en-
gagged to marry Chris EngeldinEer.
This notification seemed to strike John
in very tender place, and he could
not think Of such thing or give coun-
tenance to 1t at all. He finally told his
sister that II she did anything of the
kind he would simply get up and leave
and she would never again hear from,
him. While she well understood that
her brother objected to the marriage
she never for moment thought that
he would carry out threat of this
house for him and they got along
beautifully together. Her thoughts
were for his comfort and his thoughts
were for his sister. They were very
closely attached. Miss Liebel went
on in the preparation for her mar
riage.
Lisbsl Drops From Sight.
On June II. 1905, Miss Liebel became
Mrs. Chris Engeldinger. All the work
on the farm had been DONE. and the
crops looked even more promising than
on previous years. Mr.. Liebel said
little after the marriage. He kept his
own counsel. In early July Of the same
year, he failed to put in appearance at
home. For day or SO not much was
thought about it. The farm was his
and it had not been sold. There was
stock to the value Of between $500
and $4,000. but not a hoof had been
sold. The wheat and the corn looked
fine but that remained in the field un-
touched. Soon the sister and other
relatives commenced to search for
him but he could not be located. They
finally gave up in despair thinking
that possibly he might have taken his
own life or had been killed. There
was hardly a city or a town in the
middle west where inquiries were not
made for John Liebel.
Finds Brother at Mason City.
But John was not dead. For six
years he roamed around over the
country. trying to bury his grief over
the marriage Of his. sister. Two and
a half years ago he came to this city
and commenced work with the Vulcan
Iron Works and has continued faith
fully on the job. Meantime his sister
had moved to Plum City. Wis. Mr..
Liebel never wrote home and none Of
the family had any Information what
ever from him. In January, Mrs En-
geldinger in a roundabout way learned
that man answering the description
Of her long lost brother was in Mason
City. The next mail out Of Plum City
carried letter to CHIEF OF Police Lock.
with photographs. This official with
the assistance Of Officer Spaight, went
to work on the case and finally locat-
ed man who admitted that his name
was John Liebel, at the Vulcan Iron
Works. Mrs. Engeldinger was notified