Hide Article Text (OCR)
firee*IT HAS BAFFLED THE\cu*M0.D-1.*PENSION DEPARTMENTf _ai*,t1•11lt;)ii'•r.(1nnn1}Officials Trying to Solve a Mys terioiis Disappearance Casein Nebraska.CI*Xe(IW. T. EATON MISSING SEVEN YEARSWife Applies for a Pension, ami tho l‘eusion Bureau Seeks Proof of Ucatii'-Wos art Iowa Soldier in Civil War.The “mysterious disappearance” department of t he I'nitod States*pension Mwviee is a 1 work upon the ease of aman once well known in Nebraska*railroad and business circles who hasapparently dropped out of existencewithout leaving a record of his death, says the Omaha Bee.in is'J.s Mrs. Alice Knton, of Platts-month, Neb., applied for a position as wiflow of William T. Knton, who was a member of Company 11, Sixteenth I own light artillery, instead of furnishing proofs of death .Mrs. Katon submitted an affidavit setting forth that her husband had been absent from his home and friends for a space of mure than seven years, which under federal regulations establishes a pre-( sumption of death. As usual in these presumptive death” eases the department put the ease in the hands of pension agents and so’far they have been unable to find proof of the death or present life of the missing huband.Thcdo” Katon came to Nebraska, shortly after the war, a beardless boy, and it will surprise some, of his intimate friends to know that he over saw army service. He married at Platts-mouth in the early ’70s and until his mysterious disappearance was accounted one of the reliable young men of the community. Some time in the \ VOs Katon was appointed as the pur- j chasing agent for tin*. Burlington and ;Missouri railroad and in the work of j«his department was away from home a Jarge portion of the time, ilis work kept him in southern Missouri most of 1 lit; time and he made Poplar Bluilis j his headquarters.In October, IHh'T lie wrote a letter from St. bouis to his wife staling that he would be at home at Christ mas and would bring presents homo to their children. The letter was of an all'ee-tionate tone. This is tlie last that is known of “Thede” Knton. When the pension officers started on the case they began at Poplar Id tiffs. He was traced to St. Louis anil lost. Then they started to work on tho Nebraska end. inquiry at the Burlington and j Missouri headquarters showed that he had severed his connection with tho road some months before Ids disappearance and that his accounts were in perfect shape. Different Omaha acquaintances were examined and every theory for disappearance investigated with no result.Katon was a member of the Masonic lodge at Plnttsinouth and the inenv hers oil that lodge interested themselves. A. W. White, secretary of the lodge, sent inquiries among the lodges of the west. No definite word was received from Katon, but from California came a story through Masonic sources that man supposed to be him had been seen in that state. The j name of the town where he1* was seen jei-fue(ssInsCwas not given.A Plattsmouth woman, who was visiting Denver, Colo., later told the government oltieials that slic had seen Knton in that city; and he attempted to avoid her and pulled Ids hat over his ryes, but that she was certain that it was her Plattsmouth acquaintance. rnvestigation at Denver failed to locate him. Still later reports ioeatec him at St. Louis, but Katon cannot be found there.During all the* years from 3SS9 Mrs. Katon has resided at Plattsmouth and has educated her family in a manner commended by all of her acquaintances. The government is anxious to lind proof of Knton’s death, as all of the nilieers connected with Die ease believe that -Mrs. Katon should receive i* pension.untA/ rnoDcc oornnDcn »
Newspaper Details
Spencer Clay County News
Spencer, Iowa, US
Thu, Jun 07, 1900
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Sonja B.
USA 07 Oct 2022
Other Publications Near Spencer, Iowa
Spencer Daily Reporter
Spencer Reporter
Spencer News
Spencer Clay County News
Atlas of Clay County Iowa
