USA > Ohio > Portage County > Portage heritage; a history of Portage County, Ohio; its towns and townships and the men and women who have developed them; its life, institutions and biographies, facts and lore > Part 25
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In the preceding paragraph refer- ence was made to a meeting held in Ravenna to secure recruits. Older his- tories tell much of this meeting. A Windham delegation appeared bear- ing the Stars and Stripes, the Brim- field Volunteers had their band and the bands from Franklin Mills, Charlestown and Edinburg were on hand and althogether it was the larg- est concourse ever seen in Ravenna.
The assembly was addressed in a patriotic manner by Alphonso Hart, Luther Day, Rev. J. C. Hart, Senator Jas. A. Garfield and many others. A fine list of volunteers went forward and enrolled their names on recruit- ing papers held by Capt. H. H. Will- iard. Gen. John B. King was president of the day and Gen. David McIntosh, vice president. The quota of volun- teers was soon filled and left for Camp Taylor at once. H. Y. Beebe of the Ravenna Relief Committee, had
procured a sufficient number of blankets to give one to each man in the Tyler Guards and Ravenna Light Artillery and took them to Camp Tay- lor for the boys of those commands. Three trunks of flannel shirts, lint and bandages made by the women of Ravenna at the Town Hall on the Sat- urday and Sunday following the de- parture of the Volunteers were also forwarded to Camp Taylor.
Through the efforts of Mrs. John L. Ranney and a Mrs. Beckwith, the women raised a fund, purchased a flag for the Tyler Guards and sent it to the company. The citizens of Franklin Mills, headed by Marvin Kent, pledged $5,000, to be paid when needed for the benefit of members and families of the Franklin Mills Rifle Co., and each man was also pro- vided with a blanket and necessaries by their friends at home.
From this time forward, volunteer- ing and recruiting progressed and every township was soon represented in the Union army by a greater or less number of volunteers, most of whom received one or more useful articles presented by the good and generous people of the county.
HELP "SQUIRREL HUNTERS"
In addition to the men in the reg- ular forces, Portage County also furn- ished men for the famous "Squirrel Hunters" army, composed of untrain- ed citizens who had been hurriedly organized to oppose forces of the Con- federate general Morgan in his famous raid into the state of Ohio. The Port- age County contingent was under the command of Gen. John B. King. It advanced toward Cincinnati, the as- sembling point, but before arrival there, was sent home as being no long- er needed. Gen. King died soon after that but the home company was kept
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intact under command of his son, Capt. J. D. King, until the end of the war.
According to the military record book in the office of the County Aud- itor at Ravenna, the following num- ber of soldiers were furnished by the several townships for the Civil War: Atwater, 107; Aurora, 82; Brimfield, 88; Charlestown, 59; Deerfield, 113; Edinburg, 46; Franklin, 159; Free- dom, 55; Hiram, 120; Mantua, 85; Nelson, 118; Palmyra, 38; Paris, 79; Randolph, 210; Ravenna, 235; Roots- town, 61; Shalersville, 72; Streetsboro, 96; Suffield, 132; Windham, 115. Tot- al, 2070.
As far as we are able to learn, only a few townships of the county have a complete roster of men who saw serv- ice in the Civil War.
SPANISH WAR SHORT
Portage County responded gener- ously to the call for men in the Span- ish-American War. A complete roster of soldiers and sailors is not available but the following list is believed to be nearly correct; M. O. Austin, Ed- ward P. Barber, Royal Bigelow, Ed. Billner, Henry Bosgra, Cliff S. Brown, Birtley K. Canfield, John B. Cary, Chas. H. Caris, Eugene Clements, George Coleman, E. J. Coles, Thad A. Collins, A. Cook, Edward D. Cook, Charles R. Cope, Thomas Cull, James Dykes, Joe Eisele, Elmer M. French, Howard Gardner, Harry S. Goodrich, Clare Goodsell, Frank S. Gressard, Ed- ward Henderson, Harry Hodge, Grant Hall, Walter Knapp, Martin Knapp, Fred Laubert, Geo. B. Lawrence, F. Lind, James McDermott, V. A. Mel- lin, Nicodemus Warren, Percy Phil- pott, Geo. G. Pinney, Joseph A. Poots, Frank Price, Walter Price, F. J. Rey- nolds, Thomas J. Rooney, Seldon San- ford, Walter Sawyer, Herbert Snyder,
Col. Albert Hall Civil War Charlestown man
William Sperry, Geo. W. Starks, Dan- iel F. Stocker, Charles E. Stadler, Park Streator, Chas. P. Streator, Har- ry C. Thompson, Lewis C. Weckerly and Clarence Welty.
Two of the veterans listed above al- so saw service in World War I. They were Charles R. Cope and Frank A. Gressard. Sergeant Gressard was in continuous military service until 1922, when he retired from with the rank of Master Sergeant. The war with Spain was declared February 16, 1898, and terminated August 12, 1898.
World War I commenced April 6, 1917, and ended with the signing of the Armistice on Nov. 11, 1918. A total of nearly four million men and women entered the military and naval services during this conflict. Portage County furnished about 2400 of these in all branches of service. The young-
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est man to volunteer was said to have been Christopher S. Spade of Freedom Township. He was sixteen. The first Portage County man to be wounded in action was Clinton Allen, of Kent, June 4, 1918. The first county man to die from wounds received in action was Private Fred G. Young of the 47th Co., Fifth Regiment, U. S. Mar- ines, who was wounded June 25, 1918. The first man to die of other than battle injuries was George Mace of Kent at Camp Sherman, April 8, 1918.
SELECTIVE SERVICE
After the outbreak of World War I, selective service draft boards were created throughout the nation to clas- sify, examine and select men for mil- itary service from those who were obliged to register. On the Portage County draft board were Ira R. Marsh, Kent; W. J. Beckley, Ravenna; and Dr. Geo. J. Waggoner, Ravenna. Still remembered is how the young men scanned the draft lists issued from Washington at frequent inter- vals. When a name appeared, it meant an early visit to the draft board and unless disqualified or deferred, these boys would soon be in Uncle Sam's service. Still well remembered, too, as the war progressed, fathers, mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts watched the casualty lists of the newspapers, hoping that their soldiers' or sailors' names would not be on the list. Re- membered, also, is the way the won- derful people of the county sent let- ters, newspapers, candy, cigarettes and many other articles not only to their own boys, but also to the man from across the street.
Shortly after the outbreak of the war a great number of young men en- listed in Co. M., Tenth Ohio National Guard. The officers of the company were: Kingdon C. Siddall, Captain;
Charles R. Cope, Aaron L. Taylor, Harold L. Hubbell, Clyde J. Reese, first lieutenants; Frank C. Leroy, James L. Pease and Cyril H. Sother- land, second lieutenants.
After receiving preliminary train- ing in this area, the outfit embarked for Camp Sheridan, Alabama on Sept. 16, 1917. The men were soon trans- ferred to Co. C., 136th Machine Gun Battalion, 37th Division. On May 25, 1918, this group went to Camp Lee in Virginia and on June 23 that year, embarked for France.
This outfit served with honor and distinction throughout the war. It saw hard service in the Baccarat Sector in August and September, and in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the Pannes sector, St. Mihiel and in the Ypres Lye offensive in October, and other points. The batallion arrived home March 23, 1919, landing at New York City.
Many other young men either en- listed voluntarily in army or navy or air service, or after being drafted, were assigned to various army uits where needed. Many were in the 332nd and 333rd Regiments and Ed- gar Maurer was a lieutenant in this division.
Fifty-seven men who entered serv- ice from Portage County in World War I who were killed in action or who died from wounds and disease, are as follows: Fred Arighi, James Baker, Howard R. Bartholomew, Wil- liam C. Brandt, Albert Brooks, Hugh M. Brown, James W. Carlin, Ralph J. Carpenter, Sebastiano Conticalleno, Alfred W. Cones, Carl Coy, Austin B. Crane, Frank Curtiss, Paul W. Damon, Claude Davis, Frank G. Davis, Roland H. Dean, Clarence Douglass, Clair G. Dunning, Clare K. Eggleston, Donald W. Elwell, Park W. Etter, David B.
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Evans, Clyde W. Faylor, Frederick F. Fisher, Joseph Gannon, Albert H. Gir- ard, Joseph Grano, George H. Haw- ley, Robert I. Heighton, Raymond E. Hill, Emmett W. Hughes, George E. Hall, Herbert A. Kieffer, Peter King, George P. Knight, Joseph Koler, Ot- to M. Kunert, Hugh A. Ladow, Roy S. Lewis, George Mall, William H. Mann, Leo W. Miller, Leon S. Mosier, David N. Murphy, Forrest C. Pember- ton, Harry S. Puffer, Clayton H. Rhodes, Edgar N. Salisbury, Pasquale Santoro, Ivan W. Shanafelt, Albert H. Smith, Colonel Smith, Norman D. Tuller, Christ Vlacules, Glen A. Whaley, Fred C. Young.
IN WORLD WAR II
A total of 5565 men and women from Portage County entered military or naval or other service in World War II. The first casualty for Portage County, and also one of the first for the nation, was that of James H. Der- thick of Ravenna, who was in service at the war's outbreak and lost his life in the surprise bombing of Pearl Har- bor, Dec. 7, 1941.
A total of 137 young men and wo- men from Portage County paid the supreme sacrifice by giving their lives in this conflict. This total includes battle casualties or died from wounds or disease, as well as those reported missing in action, or prisoners of war, and of whom no further information has been received.
The roster follows: Wm. L. Ab- shire, Romie Alexoff, Wm. K. Ander- son, Lewis L. Austin, Francis Bacon, Melvin F. Bancroft, Geo. S. Barr, Joe Baumgartner, Guy L. Bebb, Wm. Bel- knap, Wm. H. Bettes, Jas. S. Bionlo, Wm. B. Bradford, Jas. S. Breedlove, Carl L. Buckley, Robt. S. Buckley, Donald E. Burkholder, Wm. U. Burt, Thos. J. Busher, Robt. G. Case, Jack
B. Corley, Arthur Chechak, Ann Clarke, Junior Neal Clause, Bernard M. Coburn, Harold Collins, Ray H. Conrad, Paul T. Cooper, Frank J. Corey, Claude H. Crafts, Geo. S. Crock, Carl R. Curtiss, Paul A. De- Gregio, Raymond E. DeLong, Jas. H. Derthick, Donald A. Dibble, Alex- ander Donaldson, Geo. L. Dover, Donald W. Ebersole, Chas. W. Ebie, Robt. E. Eichler, Willis J. Eldridge, Stanley E. Fields, Floyd F. Forte, Robt. E. Francisco, Thos. E. Geho, Bill A. Gembar, Clifford N. Gilham, Robt. G. Goebelbecker, Frank B. Goettge, Robt. L. Hahn, Thos. D. Hardesty, Donald E. Harper, Joseph P. Helt- man, Edwin P. Henderson, Robt. H. Hillard, Frederick G. Henderschied, Earl E. Hodgman, Vestal C. Hoover, Philip G. Howard, Edward J. Hoy, Ralph E. Hurd, Jr., Carl Jones, Ed- ward L. Jones, Anthony Kainard, La- Verne Keevert, Herbert L. King, Al- bert Kline, Peter Kolesal, Albert R. Koracky, Wm. Kubinic, Czeslaus G. Kurke, Frederick K. Kuss, Ellsworth N. Lacy, Robt. E. Lane, Robt. L. Lem- ons, Jack M. Leyland, Harry C. Long- coy, Jr., Martin G. Lovell, Norman Y. Mack, Edgar R. Manes, Ellis L. Marsh, Clyde Matthews, John Mikulin, Robt. S. Miller, Jesse Mittiga, Roger G. Monroe, Edward R. Moore, Ellis W. Moore, Ronald E. Morgan, Paul Mor- rison, Chas. H. Norton, Jr., Paul E. Parks, Paul A. Patton, Douglass W. Pennell, Steve Potisuk, Walter G. Prusak, Howard L. Pyle, George Ral- or, Chas. O. Reynard, Jr., Carmine V. Roberts, Gerald V. Rogers, Robt. D. Rossa, Donald U. Ruggles, Ernest C. Sapp, Paschal A. Sarocco, Robt. G. Schaff, Chas. W. Schofield, Stanley H. Shilliday, Ralph C. Shrigley, Donald J. Shull, Alfred L. Simpson, Vernon C. Sommers, John R. Specht, Charley
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B. Springer, Earl O. Stevens, Robt. E. Stewart, Frank Tabor, Harold I. Text- er, Wm. A. Thomas, Jos. F. Triscori, Eugene H. Veon, Wm. W. Wacker- man, Jr., Elmer E. Watters, Lowell L. Wetzel, Gerald E. Wheaton, Stephen L. White, Brunon J. Wieclaw, Jas. A. Wilson, Henry B. Wise, Norman E. Wool, Joseph W. Connor, Neal L. Curtiss, Robert A. Scott, Harry G. Shaffer, Frank H. Taylor and Richard M. Wilson.
Garfield's Army Career
The ability of James A. Garfield as a military man is often not understood or realized by citizens of his home county. When the Civil War broke out he was president of Hiram College (then the Elec- tic Institute) and also a state senator. He decided to enter military life and because of his attainments was in line for assign- ment as an officer, though he had no mil- itary training. However, he mastered the elements of military life very quickly and his grasp of tactics is said to have been marvelous. It is also said that he was candi- date for election as colonel of a regiment of volunteers at the Columbus training camp, but lost out to his rival. He then be- came a major in the Forty-Second Ohio Infantry, which regiment included a num- ber of his old Hiram friends and students. Garfield took part in the West Virginia campaign of 1861-1862 and soon showed great ability, being promoted to colonel and brigadier general.
The following summer found him on the staff of Gen. Buell and he commanded a brigade at the battle of Shiloh. He then be- came a member of the staff of Gen. Rose- crans in the Chickamaugua campaign. There he was highly regarded and was a confidential advisor to the commander-in- chief. When Garfield was elected to Con- gress in 1863, he left the army. In Congress his previous army experience was inval- uable in helping formulate policies and provide for the sinews of the war.
On Oct. 10, 1863, Gen. Rosecrans issued the following General Order:
"Brigadier Gen. J. A. Garfield has been chosen by his fellow citizens to represent them in the councils of the nation. His high intelligence, spotless integrity, busi- ness capacity and thorough acquaintance with the wants of the army will render his services more valuable, if possible, to the country in Congress, than with us. Reluc- tantly yielding to this consideration, the commanding general relieves him from duty as chief of staff. In doing so, he re- turns his thanks to Gen. Garfield for the invaluable assistance he has rendered him by wise councils and assiduous labors, as well as for his gallantry, good judgment and efficiency at the Battle of Chickama- ugua."
Army of the Cumberland.
Col. Frank Goettge
Col. Frank B. Goettge
In the person of Col. Frank B. Goettge, U. S. Marines, this county had not only an important military figure in two wars, but an outstanding athlete, possessed of a great fund of information on international af- fairs. Killed at Guadalcanal in World War II, he had earned both the Purple Heart and Legion of Merit medals. In his honor today stands the impressive Frank B. Goet- tge Field House at Camp Lejeune, S. C. A training field at Quantico also carries his name. In Marine circles today he is spoken of with high honor.
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Born at Port Washington, Ohio, in 1895, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Goet- tge who lived on Hudson Rd. out of Kent. Previously, he had attended Barberton High School and attended Kent High School in 1915. He then went to Ohio University, where he became known as a fine football player. World War I then broke out and he enlisted in the Marines Fifth Regiment, serving in France, Ger- many and China. He also later served on missions to Nicaraugua, Hawaii, Santo Do- mingo, Canal Zone, China and other places.
At the Marine Base at Quantico he played on the Marine Corps football team in 1921-22-23-24 and became so adept that many critics rated him the best back the country ever saw. His exploits attracted nation wide attention. He was six-foot two and was described as a real "thunderbolt" in play. Later he coached at Quantico.
When World War II broke out he was sent to Australia and the Solomons on special missions. He participated in the Tulagi landing in the Guadalcanal cam- paign. It was here that he met his death Aug. 12, 1942, while leading a detachment to relieve Japanese forces treacherously re- ported desiring to surrender, and was am- bushed by them.
Col. Goettge was regarded with admira- tion and affection by Gen. Vandergrift, Gen. Smedley Butler and other Marine high officers and this they publicly stated.
In 1930, he became military aide to President Hoover and in this capacity came in contact with many of the world's great statesmen, as well as American leaders. He remained with President Hoover until the end of his term. Possessed of a keen mind, he was a linguist, talking four foreign languages and being conversant with others.
Col. Goettge was married but had no children. A sister, Miss Helen Goettge, lives in Kent at this time. The V.F.W. post at Quantico bears his name. He was this county's highest ranking officer killed in this war.
There is little doubt that but for his un- timely death he would have risen higher in the ranks of military leaders since he was so highly regarded by his superiors.
Col. William Bower
Col. William E. Bower
A participant in one of the most famous, spectacular and dangerous actions of World War II was William E. Bower, then lieu- tenant, a native of Ravenna. In 1942 he flew with Gen. Doolittle in his famous air raid over Tokio with the 17th Bombing Group. For this he received the Distin- guished Flying Cross.
Col. Bower was born in Ravenna, son of Harold and Kathryn Bower, in 1917. After graduating from Ravenna High School he attended Hiram College and Kent State University, joining the National Guard at Ravenna in 1936. In 1940, he entered the Flying Cadets for training.
After the Tokio raid he was with the 310th Bombing Squadron and participated in numerous other actions, mainly in the Mediterranean theater of War. At the close of the war he remained with the Air Force and participated in the Reserve Pro- gram and the NEAC training and transport supply activities in Greenland and other far north regions. He was in the Far North three years. Here he was Group Command- er with the 6614th Transport, NEAC and was promoted to colonel in 1953. In 1955, he was sent to Morton Field, San Bernar- dino, Calif., to assist with the training pro- gram for special flight safety. He has the Air Medal and European Theater Ribbon and battle stars.
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He was married to Lorraine Ammon of Denver, Col., and the couple has three children.
Another Portage County soldier of note was Brigadier General Edwin B. Atwood. He was born in Garrettsville in 1842 and served through the Civil War, emerging with the rank of major. Later he served in the Philippines, becoming a brigadier general. He then became commanding of- ficer of the Chicago military district and died there in 1909. He is buried in Arling- ton National Cemetery.
Gen. E. B. Tyler
Of the six Portage County men who were generals in the Civil War, Gen. E. B. Tyler probably saw as much active service as any. A native of New York, he came to Ravenna and was known there as a hat maker with a shop on Cedar St. He was also a traveling salesman who toured the south for the American Fur Co. In this way he gathered much information that was of much value to Gen. McClelland later. Ty- ler was a militia general. When the war broke out he immediately opened a recruit- ing station and started training enlistees, and soon was made colonel of the Seventh Ohio Inftanry. He was in the West Vir- ginia campaign and was in action at Win- chester, Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Fredericksburg. His force held back the enemy at Monocacy, not far from Wash- ington. Of him President Lincoln said; "The country is more indebted to Gen. Tyler than any other man for the salva- tion of Washington.
He served through the war and then be- came a citizen of Baltimore where he was appointed postmaster.
Colonel Don Austin
Don Austin was born in Ravenna April 28, 1902. He received his education in Ra- venna schools and entered Washington & Jefferson College after graduating from high school. In 1920, prior to his gradua- tion, he enlisted in Co. F, 107th Cavalry, Ohio National Guard.
In 1941 he enlisted in the federal service at Camp Forrest, Ky. Graduating from of- ficers training school at Forts Riley and Leavenworth, Kans. he became a captain in 1942 and by 1945 had been made a full colonel. During World War II he served with honor but suffered from a heart con- dition that later resulted in his death at Redwood City, Calif., Feb. 15, 1954.
This veteran, of whom the county can be proud, spent 21 years of his life in the Ohio National Guard, and the remainder of his adult life in the military service of the United States. His name ranks high among the honored dead.
General Wm. B. Hazen
Major Gen. William B. Hazen was one of the ablest and highest ranking military men produced by Portage County. Born in Vermont in 1830, he came with his parents to Nelson when he was three years old. He entered Hiram Eclectic Institute and was a friend of Garfield.
While at Hiram he was appointed to West Point Military Academy where he was graduated in 1855. He was at once sent to the Pacific Coast to participate in Indian wars. From there he went to Texas and New Mexico, where he served several years in frontier wars with the rank of lieutenant. An Indian arrow wounded him so badly that he was not able to rejoin the army until 1862 when the Civil War was under way. He became a brigade com- mander in the Army of West Virginia and later fought at Corinth, Pittsburgh Land- ing and Murfreesboro. After the Chick- amaugua battle he was made a major general.
After the war ended he elected to re- main in army service many years until his retirement. His widow married Admiral George Dewey.
Commander Harry Brittain of Kent served through World War II and the Korean War and today commands a trans- port ship in navy service. Presently his headquarters are in Formosa.
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John Grate
John N. Grate
John N. Grate was born in Edinburg, Portage County, August 1, 1845 and he lived there until he was 18. On October 4, 1863, he drove to Newton Falls, Ohio, and enlisted in Troop F, Sixth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry for a period of three years. He participated in the battles of Boyton, Hampton Road, Hatchers Creek and Ap- pomattox. His discharge was received June 27, 1865, at Petersburg, Va., and he ar- rived home on July 4 that year.
On May 2, 1872, he was married to Laura Gilbert, who preceded him in death. Comrade Grate joined the G.A.R. early and on August 29, 1946, he was elected National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Previously he had been Ohio State Commander as well as Com- mander of the Alliance Post.
Mr. Grate died at Atwater, where he spent the latter years of life, June 9, 1949, at the ripe age of nearly 104 years. He was buried in the Atwater cemetery with mili- tary honors. A memorial at Atwater pays fitting tribute to this last Ohio survivor of the war between the states.
An account of the military and naval activity of Portage County's sons must also include the names of Admiral Calvin Bol- ster, who became an authority on aircraft construction in World War II.
Lieut. Richard Robinson, son of Judge Geo. F. Robinson, was an expert on the construction of warships early in the pres- ent century.
The Korean War is notable that it is the only war which was not officially declared by Congress, but by a "declaration" by the president. The actual date of beginning was April 26, 1950, with cessation of hos- tilities July 27, 1953.
Complete records of the total men en- rolled, killed, wounded or died in service, have up to this time not been compiled. A partia! list of men from Portage County who lost their lives in the Korean war, follows:
Robert C. Amick, Wilford T. Cook, Jr., John L. Dreese, Wm. B. Driesbaugh, Robt. H. Gilbert, Christopher H. Jacobs, Eugene Ricks, Wm. R. Starkey, Robert Lee Stone, Paul Kirkbride and James Walker.
A Portage County mother, who signs herself as a Gold Star Mother, World War II, has requested that we pay homage to those who lost their lives in this conflict, by ending the history of this war with the inclusion of the following:
"And when, after a life well spent on earth, they shall enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and cross the silent river to meet their loved ones gone before, may they meet there, their comrades, and their welcome plaudits, 'Well done, thou good and faithful comrades, enter thou into the joys of Thy Lord.' "
Assisting Mr. Watrous in compiling this chapter were Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Seward.
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Jesse Grant
The Wooing of Jesse Grant
Jesse Grant, father of Gen. U. S. Grant, who lived in Deerfield and in Ravenna, left behind him a story of love and business.
In 1819 he lived in Ravenna where he operated a tannery with a man named Wells. He decided that when he reached the age of 25, it was time for him to take a wife. He considered a list of prospects and decided that Clarissa Hall of Charles- town township was the girl for him.
According to the story in the book, "Captain From Ohio," (a life of U. S. Grant) young Jesse first wanted Clarissa Hall, But she was not impressed by him because he was a little to direct in approach. In a spirit of mischief she "played up" her cousin, Prudence Hall. Jesse fell for the trick, took the girl home and in time they became engaged. Soon after that young Grant fell ill with ague and was long an invalid. He lost his savings and this impelled him to release Prudence from her vows.
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