A portrait of Jonas Garman (1827-1908) that appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in March, 1899, included with a description of him as a missing person. Garman, who had been postmaster of Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, during the Civil War was a druggist and successful businessman there when he disappeared because he was confused with the state of his financial affairs and sought to start anew in a different location. His family hired private detectives who conducted a nationwide hunt, eventually locating him in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon coming home he agreed to submit his affairs to a Harrisburg attorney, who then proceeded to collect his debts and pay off his creditors.
The story of the disappearance of Jonas Garman and his discovery and return to his family, was reported in three articles that appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch during the week of March 13, 1899. More detail is provided in these articles concerning Garman’s activities and how he was found there.
Today’s post, is the third in a series of four.
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From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 14, 1899:
THROUGH A VALENTINE
JONAS GARMAN HAS BEEN TRACED TO ST. LOUIS
HE IS MISSING FROM HOME
In a Department Store Here He Suddenly Remembered His Little Daughter
A Valentine sent in playful attention to his little daughter in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, may be the means of restoring the aged Jonas Garman to his anxious family. Mr. Garman is thought to be lost in St. Louis. He has been missing from his home at Lykens, Dauphin County, since December 27 last. His family is almost distracted at his disappearance, and is sparing no expense to learn his whereabouts.
It is assured that Mr. Garman has been in St. Louis. His movements have been traced from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, since he was last seen there, late in the afternoon of the day he left home, and it was ascertained that he had started west. On February 11 last Mr. Garman had purchased a Valentine in one of the large department stores in St. Louis and had it addressed by one of the employees the firm of Miss Pauline M. Garman, his 13-year-old daughter. It was delivered on February 14, Its arrival was the first and only tidings received by the family since the old gentleman strangely disappeared.
A detective agency in Harrisburg was given the charge of finding Mr. Garman early last January. One of its operators ascertained that he had bought a ticket for Cincinnati, but as no trace of the aged man was found in that city, the agency applied to the Thiel Detective Bureau in St. Louis. In the circular furnished by the Harrisburg concern there was a photograph of Mr. Garman and the following description of him.
Age 71, about 5 feet 6 inches, 140 pounds, proportionately built, black eyes, medium long gray hair, full long gray beard, and mustache, bald spot on top of hear, hair thin in front, prominent cheek bones, sunken cheeks, fair complexion, a plate with three false teeth, slightly stooped, carry head slightly forward and downward; one eye is covered with a foreign growth similar to a cataract, cannot say which one, and is not perceptible, unless by very close scrutiny; right hand and side partially paralyzed, almost helpless, fingers rather thick, blunt at ends, a large mole on some part of body, arms and legs very thin, mostly skin and bones, He wears gold pincer eyeglasses when reading or writing, carrying them with a black silk cord around his neck; voice is weak and husky, a condition produced by paralysis, speaks slightly broken English, wore a gold watch, chain and charm. Charm contained the pictures of his two daughters. Dark suit with silver thread running through the goods; coat, pants and vest of same material; dark Chinchilla overcoat, velvet collar, black Italian lining, black derby hat, high square crown. He wore three shirts. Gauze next to the skin, next red flannel, next negligee or dress shirt, black lace shoes, and usually wore wool knit gloves. Mr. Garman is a member of the Lutheran Church, Wiconisco Lodge No. 533, I. O. O. F., and Camp No. 148, P. O. S. of A.
The circular expressly stipulates that Mr. Garman is not charged with any crime and that his family does not desire his arrest, requesting merely that if found he be kep tunder surveillance until some one can come to St. Louis and take charge of him.
Dr. Peterson of the Thiel agency had several copies of the circular struck off and given to State Secretary Sloan of the Missouri Odd Fellows with the suggestion that it might accomplish good if the various lodges which were German in their characteristics be notified of Mr. Garman’s plight. Tuesday morning Dr. Peterson received more information concerning Mr. Garman’s actions in St. Louis. The cash check from the salesman in St. Louis who sold the old gentleman the Valentine, and the wrapper addressed in the mailing department of the store, were also sent along.
To a Post-Dispatch representative who applied at the store it was said the young lady who sold the valentine was absent through illness. The gentleman who addressed the envelope identified Mr. Garman from the photograph which was shown him. He said it was his recollection that he had addressed two other envelopes for the purchaser, but he does not remember the names and cities.
If. Mr. Garman is found, as the detectives believe he is sure to be discovered, the cash slip left in the package he purchased will be the means of the restoration to his family.
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From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 16, 1899:
JONAS GARMAN FOUND
LOCATED BY HIS PICTURE IN THE POST-DISPATCH
HIS FAMILY IN SEARCH OF HIM
Old Gentleman Engaged in Peddling Teas and Spices From Door to Door
He Is Safe and Well
The venerable Jonas Garman, whose relatives in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, are deeply concerned over his recent eccentric actions and disappearance from Harrisburg, is here in St. Louis, living as serenely as though he had been a resident for years.
Detectives who have been trying to trace the old gentleman suspected he was in St. Louis, but were unable to lay hands upon him. Tuesday, the Post-Dispatch gave an account of Mr. Garman’s disappearance from home and reproduced the last photograph which he had taken. The published portrait led to the identification.
Mr. Garman is boarding in the house of Mrs. James Roche, at 1803 Olive Street. He has been there three weeks, but during that time he never spoke a word to intimate that he had left his children or that he was being sought by them. He has been in the habit of leaving the house each morning about 9 o’clock and not returning until late in the afternoon. Consequently, the family and other boarders had little opportunity to talk with the old gentleman. Mr. Garman had no baggage so to speak when he applied for board. He said he made his living selling tea and spices from door to door and it was assumed he was away on peddling tours when he was absent from the house. His eccentricities were so marked to all the other members of the household that no one attempted to draw him into conversation, and to try to find out why he had left. Certain actions, taken into account of his reticence to be left undisturbed left undisturbed, caused the Roche family to suspect he was mentally unbalances.
Mr. Garman is 71 years old. He has several children in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, to the youngest of whom, a 13-year old daughter, he sent a valentine from St. Louis, on February 11 last. The little memento was purchased at a down-town department store and addressed to child by one of its employees. The Valentine was indirectly the means of finding the old man, as the postmark on the envelope confirmed the suspicion he was in St. Louis, and warranted further search for him, an account of which was printed in the Post-Dispatch at the time the portrait appeared.
Mr. Garman is an Odd Fellow and the order which was appealed to here to help find him will probably take him in charge until some of his family arrive. The children declare their father had no cause to leave home, especially under the circumstances of his departure.
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From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 17, 1899:
JONAS GARMAN’S STORY
HE WAS ONCE A WEALTHY CITIZEN OF LYKENS, PENNSYLVANIA
HIS PATHETIC MISSION WEST
He Wanted to Retrieve His Fortunes and Be Independent of His Married Children
The story of old Jonas Garman’s mysterious departure from his family and friends in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and his journey to St. Louis where he was discovered by means of his picture printed in the Post-Dispatch Tuesday, does not lack pathetic features.
When Mr. Garman, which is past his three score and ten years, disappeared from home, his family consisting of a second wife, three daughters and a son, Jonas H. Garman Jr., placed his case in the hands of a detective bureau in Harrisburg. No reason for his departure could be imagined by his children. His domestic life was happy and he apparently wanted for nothing. It now turns out that he had a motive in coming West, a commendable motive, even though it was like following a Will of the Wisp.
Jonas Garman was once a wealthy man and was esteemed the most substantial citizen and a pillar in the little Pennsylvania town in which he liver. He was the leading druggist, the leading banker, the leading politician; he was, in short, the man who carried “Lykens” on his shoulders. Speculation and injudicious indorsing of –tes for friends blotted out his fortunes. He was not exactly left penniless, but he was practically made a dependent upon his children. The death of his eldest son added to his misfortunes and the old gentleman gradually developed eccentricities which were charged to his grief and advancing years.
Although he dis not confide his sorrows to any of his family, he has told friends in St. Louis that he could not stand a life of idleness at the expense of his married children. He left home to make back the fortune which had slipped away from him. His first efforts were in St. Louis taking orders for tea, going house to house in the residence districts, He selected St. Louis as his new home because here lives R. Austin O’Neill, the man to whom Garman declares he transferred all the love which he had for his dead son in life. But Mr. Garman is old and his mind ins not so active as it was 30 years ago when hew as accumulating his wealth in Pennsylvania. Mr. O’Neill’s last name escaped his memory after he had come to St. Louis. He could only think of Austin, and when he attempted to find “Mr. Austin” the effort was consequently in vain.
Had not Mr. O’Nelll, who is Secretary of the Kieselhorst Piano Company, at 914 Olive Street, read in the Post-Dispatch of Mr. Garman’s being found in a boarding house at 1803 Olive Street, the old gentleman might still be searching for “Austin.”
Mr. and Mrs. O’Neill called on Garman Friday morning, much to the energetic old man’s surprise. Mr. Garman does not know of the hub-bub his departure from home has created, and he could hardly understand how Mr. and Mrs. O’Neill had found him. All the newspapers containing accounts of the search for him have been kept from him, thanks to the thoughtfulness of his landlady, and he still believes that he will go on his way retrieving his fortune.
Mr. O’Neill, who learned the drug business under Mr. Garman , and for years was a member of his household, has wired the family in Pennsylvania of the discovery of the old gentleman, and will see that no harm befalls him ere the son arrives to take his father back home.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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