Hide Article Text (OCR)
IT HAS BAFFLED THEPENSION DEPARTMENTf _aOfficials Trying to Solve a Mysterious Disappearance Case in Nebraska.W. T. EATON MISSING SEVEN YEARSWife Applies for it Pension, xwnl tho Pension Bureau Seeks Proof of Dcutfi—- Was an Iowa Sold* ier in Civil War.The “mysterious disappearance department of the Cnitcd States*pension service is at work upon the ease of a man unee well known in .Nebraska railroad and business circles who has apparently dropped out of existencewithout leaving1 a record of his death, says the Omaha JSee.In is'js Mrs. Alice Knton, of Platts-i mouth, Neb., applied for a position as widow of William T. Katon, who was a member of (nmpiiuy 11, Sixteenth Iowa 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, winch under federal regulations establishes a presumption of death. As usual in these presumptive death cases the department put. the case 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.Tliede” 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. Jfe married at IMcttts-imrnth in the early ’70s and until his mysterious disappearance was accounted one of tho reliable young men of tin* eummunitv. Some? time in the VOs Katon was appointed as the purchasing agent for the Ihirliriglon and Missouri railroad and in the work of bis department was away from home a large portion of the time. His work kept him in southern Missouri most of ihe time and he made Poplar J.Uuflls his headquarters.In October, issu, lie wrote a letter from St. Louis to his wife staling that he would be at home at Christmas and would bring presents home to their children. The letter was of an affectionate tone. This is tlie last that is known of “Thcde” Katon. When the pension officers started on the case t hey began at Poplar UhilTs. He was traced to St. Louis and lost. Then they started to work on tho Nebraska end. Inquiry at tho Burlington and Missouri headquarters showed tlmt he j had severed his connection with tho road some months before Ids disappearance anti that ids accounts were in perfect shape. Different Omaha acquaintances were examined ami every theory for disappearance investigated with no result.Katon was a member of the Masonic lodge at Plnttsmouth and the incur hers of that lodge interested themselves. A. W. White, secretary of the lodge, sent inquiries among the Judges :)f tin* west. No definite word was received from Katon, but from California came a story through Masonic ■iourees that mail supposed to be him !iad been seen in that state. The j . mine of the town where he1' was seen j k3 3IIIsIitivas not. given.A Plnttsmouth woman, who was vis-ting Denver, Colo., later told the gov-MMiment olfieials that she hud seen Katon in that city; and he attempted :o avoid her and pulled Ids hat over Ids •yes, but that she was certain that it .vas her Plaitsmou111 acquaintance, 'nvestigntion at. Denver failed to ionite him. Still later reports loeatec dm at St. Louis, but Katon cannot be ■ound there.T^niMMtr nil Min Frmn 1 RSCI Afpft.:1n1PLaa:I
Newspaper Details
Spencer Clay County News
Spencer, Iowa, US
Thu, Jun 07, 1900
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
DC, USA 04 Oct 2022
Other Publications Near Spencer, Iowa
Spencer Daily Reporter
Spencer Reporter
Spencer News
Spencer Clay County News
Atlas of Clay County Iowa
