Some news briefs from 1903 tell the story of a father who went west to seek his fortune, made it well, and then died. In settling the estate, the attorney had to find the lost son, who had a different surname. It turned out that the son was William A. Hoffman, the Chief Burgess of Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
First, from the Elizabethville Echo, July 21, 1903:
HOFFMAN GOES FOR FORTUNE
The Harrisburg Telegraph says that William A. Hoffman of Millersburg, until recently baggage master of Day’s train, on the Lykens Valley Railroad, has gone to Newmire, Colorado, to lay claim to a vast fortune accumulated during the life of his father, one Emanuel Kicher and grandson of a man named Huffman, at one time warden of the dauphin County Prison. Mr. Hoffman was attracted by the article, started an investigation and learned the Kicher was his father, the names being changed by subsequent marriages of Mr. Hoffman’s mother.
Emanuel Kicher was a former resident of this community, but left years ago for the West. He struck it rich and before long had amassed a considerable fortune, allowing him to retire ten years prior to his death. The man Huffman referred to was Col. H. B. Hoffman, who was a jailer at one time of the county prison and was active in politics.
The Lykens Standard of June 26, 1903, had previously told the story thus:
A Fortune Awaits Him?
Tuesday’s Harrisburg Telegraph said that information is wanted in regard to William Kicher, a son of Emanuel Kircher, and a grandson of a man named Hoffman, who was at one time a jailer of Dauphin County Prison. C. P. Blackwell of Newmire, Colorado, is trying to locate the heirs at law of Emanuel Kicher.
Emanuel Kicher resided here many years ago with this brother b, a well-known butcher, and was married to a daughter of the late Henry B. Hoffman of Millersburg, who was warden of the Dauphin County Prison about 25 years ago. The William Kircher mentioned above is William A. Hoffman, chief burgess of Millersburg, formerly brakeman on Conductor David day’s train, but recently transferred a run between Harrisburg and Renovo. It is rumored that a large fortune awaits him, and his many friends here hope it may prove correct.
The Lykens Standard also reposted an item from the Millersburg Herald, July 17, 1903:
William A. Hoffman has received a favorable reply concerning his fortune left him by his father, Emanuel Kicher, who died in Colorado on the 20th of May. He had been engaged in mining operations from which he is informed by his attorney a snug little fortune will be realized. Mr. Hoffman will shortly take a trip to Colorado to look up his interests. No trace of Mr. Kicher’s whereabouts was left to his friends in the east since he left Lykens many years ago, and he was supposed to be dead long ago, so that recent development came like a great surprise — Millersburg Herald.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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