Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-07-30
BOY AND Mother ARE
UNITED AFTER BEING
Separated IS Years
State Newspapers Means OF
Bringing Them Together

Through the efforts of three
newspapers of the Western part Of
the state, Ellsworth Walls, youth
separated from his mother thirteen
years ago at the mine explosion at
Monongah, has found his parents he
thought dead. She is Mrs. Wesley
Knicely, and lives with her husband
at a mining camp Just outside Of
Morgantown. Mother and son are
together again. They met some time
late Wednesday night Or early on
Thursday morning.
Less than five hours after a
Clarksburg paper was off press on
Wednesday with the story concern
ing Walls separation from his mo-
ther, Garfield Watkins, Of Fairmont
his brother-in-law. drove up to Wal
ter Duvalls home near Bridgeport,
in an automobile.
as Ellsworth Walls here?" Wat
kins asked in substance, as he lost
no time in inquiring for the young
man. Mr.. and Mrs. Duvall told the
inquirer that Walls was at their
home, and in less time than it takes
to tell it, the youth was on the
scene.
T have found your mother"
Watkins told Walls whose eyes
beamed with delight. Il read in the
pa you were looking for her
:. Immediately got busy and got
Communication with her. She's
with joy--she can hardly be-
eve It Is true that you are living
Credits Newspapers
Walls prepared for the Journey
hurriedly. He left the Duvall home
Wednesday night in the automobile
with Watkins. The two first drove
to Fairmont and then started on
their jo.,rney to the mining camp
out of "crgantown.
1t wc5nt possible for the Clarks
burg paper to get into communica-
ton with Mrs. Knicely, the mother
or her son, but the Duvalls are
quite sure they were united late
wednesday night or early Thursday
morning.
Duyall told the newspaper over
the telephone Thursday that the
newspapers were responsible for
finding the woman. "My wife wrote
to Walls sister at Fairmont. She
thought the woman's name was
Mrs. Bertha Baker, but has since
learned that she has married again
and that her husbands name is
Garfield Watkins. Anyway Mrs,
Watkins got Mrs. Duvalps letter
and it was through her that we
learned that Bllsworth's mother IS
living. Then the stories came out IN
the papers that Ellsworth was try
ing to learn his mothers address II
was not long until we learned she
resided near Morgantown.
Stepfather Killed
Mrs. Watkins and Walls were 10,
gether when they got separated
from their mother at Monogah, De-
cember 6, 1907 the time of the big
mine disaster Their steptather'
John Santie. was killed in the ex'
plosion, and at the time their mo-
Their was critically i'll Of typhoid fe-
yer.
According TO the story told by
Duvall, neighbors took Walls and
his sister and cared for them. 1t
was some time, Duvall says, before
the daughter found her parents, and
both mother and daughter were un'
der the impression that their son
and brother, Ellsworth. had died.
The news that he was living came
as a complete surprise to Mrs Wat
kins and Mrs. Knicely, according to
Information furnished Duvall.
Taken To State Home
Walls was only six or seven years
Of age when the explosion occur
red. Soon after the disaster, ne
says. he was taken to a children S
Nome near Elkins where he was Ia
ken care Of for several years. Lat
or he was taken to the West VIZ
einia Industrial School for Boys a,
Prunvtown, where he remained unit!
about a week ago when Mr.. ana
Mrs. Duvall took him into their
nome on a farm near Bridge
port. The Duvalls say that
Walls was not placed IN
eorribility. He had an excellent rec,
ord, according to Superintendent
Flescher in charge of the school.