Americus times-recorder., 1920-06-23
GONE 25 YEARS
COMES BACK TO
FAITHFUL Wife
J. w. Clarke Walks Into
Old Home Here Un-
announced

Unexpected and unannounced I
w. Clarke, who left Americus 25
years ago and had not been back nor
seen by any of them since, walked
INTO the same house and same room
last night where he found Mrs. Clarke
who had been hopefully awaiting his
return all these years. Although the
couple had not seen each other in
the quarter of century, recognition
was mutual and a joyful reunion fol-
lowed. A"i-
The story is most unusual ono
clark, who is known to many old
residents here, is said to have left
Amerlcus and his family because of
conditions IN the home, they making
[nelr nome with the parents of Mrs
C!arke: de had often communicated
with his wife since leaving here. urg-
ing her to come to him, but she re
manned faithful to her parents until
their death, the departure of the
last one of which Mr.. Clarke RECENTLY
heard of. A sad feature of the re-
union was the recollection of the
death OF both of the Clarke children
during his absence, of which he had
known. The Clarke home is near
the home of j. A. Hixon on South
Lee street.
Ihlrty-flve years ago Clarke mar
ried Miss Mary Hill, daughter of the
late Frank Hill, of Americus, and the
couple lived together with her parents
for eight years. During that time
TWO children, boy who died early
IN llte, and a daughter, Miss Celeste
hill Clarke, who grew to Young wo-
manhood and passed away several
years ago, having contracted tub
ercuIosis, were born. Miss Hill. who
was IN the employ of Judge Hixon
as a stenographer for several years
and later worked for James Fricker
and brother, went west shortly before
her death, but the body was brought
here and buried.
The death of his children was
known to their father, who from time
TO time communicated with Mrs Clark
When Clarke first left Americus he
went to Macon to reside. and for a
tllme communicated regularly WITH
MS wife, whom he urged to ioin hin,
IN his new home. Mr.. and Mrs H;u
with whom she then lived, were fee,
pie and old, however, and she nave.
joined him, and finally Clarke decided
to go west and drifted to Oklabonoa
wnere ne settled in Carracco coun.
" and staked a homestead ON 100
acres OF land, located near the pres
ent Oklahoma oil fields. This claim
Is said to be of large value now, ow-
ing to the rapid development of the
pelds IN which it is located.
a lew years ago, Clarke, it is said
wrote his wife from Oklahoma, sup-
gesting that she come there to live
with HIM, and proposing that in the
event she decline. to do this that she
secure divorce. This proposition
Mrs. Clark declined to consider, and
told friends here that she still cherish
ed her husband and would under no
circumstance consent to being divorc-
ed fom him. Mr.. Hill died several
years ago. Last year Mrs. Hill died,
and since her death Mr.. and Mrs. J.
b. Nicholson, formerly residents of
the Seventeenth district, have made
their home with Mrs. Clarke.
After living in the west number
of years Clarke moved to Florida,
where he was when he heard of Mrs.
Hills death and determined to re-
turn to Americus and his wife, who
during all the years that have passed
had remained faithful to him. Wheth-
er or not Mr.. and Mrs. Clarke will
continue to reside in Americus, the
| Times-Recorder is not informed, but
their many friends here will all be
glad to learn of the reunion.