1939-11-21 — Page 15

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 21, 1939

TO-DAY'S STRANGE STORY OF REAL PEOPLE

NO. 109- STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF J. D. ROCKEFELLER'S FATHER

By JOEL C. MATHEWS

A peddler gesticulating in the deaf- and-dumb language surprised busy Richford housewives who opened their doors to his vigorous knocks. And be- cause he was so young, so tall, so virile, so handsome his affliction readi- ly struck enough pity to make them buy whatever he might dangle before their eyes.

It was in the year 1833. Richford was a modest New York village that lay up near Cayuga Lake. This peddler appearing suddenly at its doors was destined to cloak himself in a black secret that for a half century cast gloom over what is perhaps the most famous family in America.

That fascinating, itinerant pack- bearer who thus appealed to the pity of Richford housewives had lately ap- peared with his family at a farm on the outskirts of town. He had just turned 23, was keen of eye and joy- ful of heart, without fear or con- science - the dashing kind of ad- venturer that women love and men suspect. His name was William Avery Rockefeller. He was not a jot deaf, neither was he mute, although for months he made his new neighbours converse with him by pencil, upon a slate which he carried. He disappear- ed for long periods at a time, pre- sumably to peddle his wares through- out the neighbouring country. Then after a while, his role changed. He suddenly outgrew his affliction and became "Doctor" Rockefeller, inven-. tor and dispenser of a wondrous cure for cancer. Thereafter he generally returned home with plethoric purse. Indeed, he was soon buying fine clothes, expensive shotguns, fast horses. He became a fearless whip, a dashing equestrian, a fine shot, a beau among women. In short, he was the chief sporting character of the com- munity. Yet he was a strict abstainer from alcohol. He would have been quite the fine- gentleman in appear- ance but for the eccentricity of leav- ing off his necktie, the better to dis- play a big diamond stud in the bosom of his shirt.

Mystery always shrouded his long absences and his plenteous supply of ready money. It was while on one of his prolonged trips, that he met Eliza Davison, daughter of a prosperous farmer of Moravia, N.Y., whom he brought home to Richford as his wife, One of the several children born to them was John D. Rockefeller, later to be heralded as "the king of America multimillionaires." About four years after the birth of this child of destiny the family commenced a long and tedious period of moving to Moravia, N.Y., Oswego, N.Y., Strongsville, Ohio, and Parma, Ohio. During this period, the cancer doctor was home but little; yet while there he always improved his property by indulging a fad that seemed weirdly inconsistent with his lack of domesticity. This was a pen- chant for planting trees. Grove after grove still stand as monuments to his memory. Finally, in 1857, he move his wife and children to a snug brick house in Cleveland. Soon afterward, he took his hat from its peg, stepped forth into the night and, to his wife, became a hazy memory. His son, John D., was then 18.

During the next 32 years the deser- ler's patient wife waited vainly for his return. When, in 1889, she died in utter ignorance of the fate that had overtaken him she was listed in her burial certificate as a "Widow," Lucki- ly, her sons had a passion for money making. The wolf did not lurk long at her door.

The mystery of William

Avery Ruckefeller's disappearance continued, oddly enough, to be overlooked by press and public. alike until a long time after his son, John D., had flashed into the financial Armantent as a luminary of the first magnitude. Then some chance writer sounded the alarm, and scribes and detectives, professional and amateur, sallied forth to boat

bush

for' the of America's

every father

lost

most

A Peddler Genticulating In the Deaf and Dumb Language.

conspicuous citizen. In the years that have since followed Our and Canada have both been scoured country and a fortune has been spent in hurt- ing down false clues as to his where abouts. The late editor, Joseph Pulit- zer, put a big price on the lost man's head and is said to have lavished $8,000 on the mystery. At one time rival newspaper sleuths assigned to the case waged an exciting war of

wits, necessitating the employment of

by great military forces in the field. telegraphic codes such as those used

Page: 15

might reveal the secret back of his dia- appearance.

The most persistent theories as to William Avery Rockefeller's career after he left his wife, locate him, variously, as a wealthy lumber magn- nate of Canada, as a ranchman of Northwestern United States, as "Dr. Lavering" of Madison, Wisconsin and as "Dr. Levingston" of Freeport, Illi- nois. The first two theories were but vague from the outset. The Madison address at which he was said to re- side was found to be non-existent and the sleuth who hunted "Dr. Leving- ston" to his lair in Freeport arrived there 、 some time after ithat gentleman had died.

John K. Winkler, in a biography of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., states that in September 1902 at his estate, Forest Hill, East Cleveland, he received a visit from his father, then immensely stout. Asked where he had been those 45 years, he gave evasive replies, then "passed into the mist" again, no member of his family ever hearing from him since.

Skeletons rattle louder in the full closets of the rich than in the empty

closets of the poor.

By a distinguished biographer, the elder John D. Rockefeller was called "the world's most tragic figure."

In the exciting hunt for the missing man detectives employed by the Rockefeller family crossed the paths of the newspaper sleuths. The apparent secrecy cloaking operations of the family's agents aroused suspicion that the vanished man's sons dreaded his discovery by outside interests that pitiless public?

Was his deep melancholy due to the riddle of his father's fate or to fear that some tragedy connected there- with might one day be revealed to a

Your First Line of Defence STRONG NERVES

N°

O matter what part you are called upon to take in the present situation, protection of the nervous system is necessary for your outlook and well-being. It is of vital importance, therefore, that you should adopt the best means to build up and fortify yourself.

Practical experience has proved the supreme value of 'Ovaltine' for nourishing the nervous system and maintain- ing it in the highest state of efficiency.

The unique nerve-restoring properties of 'Ovaltine' are largely due to the fact that new-laid eggs are used in its manufacture. And eggs are the richest source of lecithin-a valuable nerve- building element. No tonic food beverage would be complete without this vital ingredient.

Keep a supply of 'Ovaltine' always at hand for use in every Drink emergency. Have a supply available in your shelter. "Ovaltine' every night to soothe nerves and induce natural and restorative sleep. And remember that 'Ovaltine' is a complete and perfect food which, by itself, will sustain life. If can be eaten dry if necessary.

Furthermore, Ovaltine' is most economical. 24 cupfuls can be made from the small tin, and the larger sizes are even more economical.

Fortify your Nervous System with

OVALTINE

"The Supreme Tonic Food Beverage

Distributors: Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd,

38C151

Page 15Page 16