Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1877 — Who Knows Valentine Greer? [ARTICLE]

Who Knows Valentine Greer?

Yesterday afternoon a policeman found a lad, about thirteen years of age, who gave his name as Valentine Greer, wandering along Second Avenue. On being questioned he said he came to the city from Indiana in search of his mother, Mrs. Acker, residing at No. 830 East Eighty-first street The officer brought the lad to the Central office, where he was caret! for by Mrs. Webb, the matron. He said that iu 1874 his mother, at that time a widow and very poor, placed him in ttie Juvenile Asylum, whence he was subsequently sent west, and found a home with Simeon Dowell, a farmer liviug at Hoopeston, 111. He was kindly treated, nut was required to work very hard for a boy of his tender years. Dowell removed to Jasper county, Indiana, taking Valentine with him. Dowel! then commenced to treat the boy so harshly that he determined to run away. In September last he made his wav to Francesville, secreted himself in a freight car and rode to Lafayette. He was entirely penniless, but he fared well on his travels until he reached Alleghany, where, at his own request, spent one mouth in the poor-house. After being discharged he continued his travels, steallug rides on railroad trains and sleeping In police stations, and stopping at Altoona, Harrisburg and Philadelphia. At Philadelphia Mayor Btokley supplied him with a pass, and he arrived in this city on Thursday afternoon. The police are in search of his mother.— U. Y. Timed