Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1901 — A STRANGE STORY. [ARTICLE]

A STRANGE STORY.

Mourned as Dead for Forty Years E. B. Appleton is Discovered to be Alive. Forty years ago Edmond B. Appleton enlisted in the civil war. leaving his wife and children at home. One ;of the children, at that time four < years of age, is now Mrs. Aaron Hickman, of this, city. After two years’ service in the war, news came of the death of Mr. Appleton. Mrs. Appleton, being left in destitute circumstances, placed her children in an orphants’ home, from which institution they found homes in various fapilies, becoming separated and losing track of one another. A few years after receiving the news of her husband’s death, Mrs. Appleton died. Mrs. Hickman was adopted into the family of John W. Ogden, of Urbana, 0., where she remained until her marriage. After being parted from her brother for 30 years she discovered him in the person of Rev. L. B. Appleton, of Pennsylvania. Some months ago she applied for an orphan’s pension, for the time she was entitled to draw a pension. Later she was notified that a party bearing* the name of her father was drawing a pension at Locksburg, Ark. Writing to the person under her married ‘ name and not disclosing her identity, she was convinced beyond a doubt that she had found her long lost father, whom she had mourned as dead for forty years. Mrs. Hickman has received two [letters from her father, from the Esecond of which we make the followfcng extracts: , B Locksburg, Ark., Aug. 2, 1901. Daughter Lizzie—Your letter came to ■and yesterday»and you can’t tell what pleas■re it gave me to hear from you and to know Rha't some of my family are still living, as I | fried immediately after the war to find you, I but failed, and supposed you were all dead I and I married another woman by the name Jof Lucinda Covley. She died last winter, I and lam now living with her children and sc am being treated as well as I could wish. >Her children and grandchildren think as i much of me as though I was their own father. I must give you an account of my war rec--1 ord. I enlisted in the Mexican war, first in > Company B, first regiment of volunteers from . Ohio in *46 and ’47, and I drew a pension of eight dollars per month until 1892 from 1887, and from 1892 to the [Present time I have .been drawing sl2 per month from the war of ‘ the rebellion. I belonged to Co. M, 14th Illinois Cavalry. In January, 1863, was taken prisoner, and remained a prisoner until ; the close of the war, pr one year and 16 days. I have not been able to do any work at my trade since 1887, and I enlisted as blacksmith in the late war. I would like very much to come and see you, but it is impossible at .present. I will send you my picture in a rt Short time. I was eighty-four years old on the first day of last April and I am enjoying good health now. **•#•** Your affectionate father,

E. B. APPELTON .