Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1897 — A TEXAS HERMIT. [ARTICLE]

A TEXAS HERMIT.

The Peculiar Life Led by Jacob Tomlinson. Old Jacob Tomlinson, the hermit of Mission Valley, Texas, is looking for a wife. He has inserted the following In several country newspapers: “Wanted—To form the acquaintance of a young lady; object, matrimony. I am 78 years of age and will give the young lady wbo meets my approval $5,000 casli on our wedding day. She must be a brunette, handsome and not over 19 years of age. All applications must be accompanied by photograph. Address Jacob Tomlinson, San Antonio, Texas.” Tomlinson is a peculiar, character. ,He has one of the most beautiful homes in Mission Valley, a rich section of country northwest of San Antonio. He made his first appearance in Missouri Valley fifty years ago and settled upon 160 acres of land. He built a comfortable log cabin home and lived all alone. He had a number of single-handed encounters with Indians, and the slaughter which he invariably made on those occasions gave him a reputation for bravery in that neighborhood. He has continued to live the life of a recluse ever since. He makes occasional visits to San Antonio for his mall and supplies, but this is the farthest he has been from home since he began his herniit life, id the early days he was a hunter and trapper and made considerable money out of the sale of furs and hides. When the wild game became scarce he devoted himself to stock raising and agriculture. He laid up money each year and added to his landed possessions until be now has a farm of 6,000 acres, one-half of which is under cultivation. Several years ago he built a new house. It is situated on a hill In the center of his tract of land and is unique in construction and arrangement. It is built with bamboo rods, Intertwined so as to make many kinds of pretty figures. These rods are nailed to the framework of the house. The roof is thatched with reeds. It has seven large rooms, all handsomely furnished. The floors are of hard wood, stain, d and covered with furs and rugs of great vale. One of the rooms Is used as a library, and is filled with several hundred volumes of choice books and the latest magazines. “Uncle” Jacob Is a great reader and spends much of his time in his library. He always has performed all of his household duties, even cooking his own meals. There are few persons who ever crossed the threshold of his home. He keeps a number of men employed on his farm, but they occupy houses at the farther end of the large tract of land and are never permitted to visit their employer’s home. “Uncle” Jacob nas never told the secret of his early life. It is believed that he came from the New England States.—Chicago Chronicle.