Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-18
VETERAN FROM CALIFORNIA
COMES 70 IOWA TO FIND
GRAVE OF SWEETHEART.
SUCCEEDS IN QUEST.
oEcoRATEs BURIAL PLACE
Sweetheart of Iowa Veteran Sacrificed
Life in Caring For Soldier III With
Smallpox - Arranges to Have Grave
Cared For in Future-Pathetic IN
cident Told at Reunion

Washington, Iowa, Sept. lS.--At the
closing session of the tri-county veter-
ans reunion 2 r Ransfnrd. OF fo-
mona. Cal, a veteran of the Fourteenth
Iowa, gave a sentimental touch to the
meeting and aroused the interest OF the
audience by telling of his coming 70
Washington at this time to find the
grave Of a former sweetheart who died
during the war, offering her life to a V
thai OF a soldier stricken with small
pox
The circumstances were something
like this: Mr.. Ransford, who's home
was at Erie, ILL.,, came to Iowa 10 en-
list, leaving at his home town his
sweetheart, Julia Henry. daughter of a
United Brethren minister. located al
Erie. For some time after he went
south with the army he received regu-
lar letters from Miss Julia. until fin
ally came one On black edged paper.
written by her sister, telling of Julia's
death. The letter was dated at Wash
ington. the family having removed to
this city.
\ soldier had come HON from the
army on sick leave, and after his ar
rival in Washington broke out with
smallpox. No one could be found to
nurse him, until Julia Henry volun-
teered. She nursed the soldier back TO
life, but was herself stricken with the
disease, and she and her two brothers
died This the sister told Mr.. Rams
ford in tie letter he received following
the girls death.
First Visit Since War Closed.
He married later and recently cele-
brated his forty-ninth wedding ami
versary. When, after fitiy-two years,
he learned that his brigade reunion
was TO be heid in Washington, Iowa,
he determined to attend and If pos
sihle 10 discover the grave of his
youthful sweetheart. His search for
a lime was unavailing. 10 one seem
ing TO remember the Henry family
or the circumstances Of the girls
death. Mr.. Ransford told the story at
the meeting and later secured the as
sistance of WILDER Miller. who took Mr..
Ransford 10 Wooclawn cemetery, where
a systematic search was made.
The old Slider was o%verjoyed at asst
to find Z stone marking the grave OF
Miss Henry. Today he placed a flag
a tribute Of flowers on her grave
and arranged with the Washington
Improvement league to have the grave
cared foT. d work ii which he viii be
assisted by the only surviving sister.
Mrs. Kate Henry Meredith. of Cali
fornia, with whom Mr.. Ransford be-
came acquainted by accident not lonG
ago.
Several people here remember the
Henry family. Washington has not had
a United Brethren church for man.
years, but at the time OF the war there
was a congregation here and Mr.. Henry
was its pastor.
Mr.. Ransford will always have a
warm spot in his heart for Washing
ton, altho he never visited his city
until day before yesterday. In addi-
ton 70 the incidents narrated above
there is another that will make him re-
member Washington. He had a chum,
Joe Gillette, now OF Greenfield, Iowa,
WHO enlisted with him in the Four
teenth Iowa. In a certain engagement,
htty-two years ago Gillette was cap
tured and Ransford was not. The two
men had not met in all that time until
Thursday of last week. when they had
a reunion hat neither will ever for
get.