James Garman, who had been postmaster of Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, during the Civil War was a druggist and successful businessman there went missing in 1899 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.
Today’s post, second in a series of four, describes how he was found and brought back to Lykens.
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From the Lykens Register, March 23, 1899:
JONAS GARMAN FOUND
Brought Back From St. Louis Last Night.
Jonas Garman, the long missing Lykens merchant, has been found at last.
Last Wednesday night Detective Samuel J. Anderson, who has been working on the cases for the past six weeks, returned from St. Louis, Missouri, in company with Mr. Garman.
They remained in Harrisburg, and Mr. Garman will be brought to his home this morning.
Mr. Garman left his house about two months ago. He started for Harrisburg on a business trip and had considerable money on his person. This was the last seen of him.
He disappeared so suddenly and as mysteriously as if the earth had opened and swallowed him.
His friends were nearly distracted, as they were positive that he had been foully dealt with. jhe police authorities were notified and a description of the missing man was sent all over the country.
Several days ago, Detective Anderson received information that a man answering to Mr. Garman’s description had been located in St. Louis. He left for that city immediately and identified Mr. Garman as soon as he saw him.
Mr. Garman appears to be perfectly rational, but gives no reason why he left home. It is supposed his mind suddenly became affected when he left home, and he wandered aimlessly around the country. His friends are very happy over his safe return home.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, March 23, 1899:
A MYSTERY NO MORE
Aged Jonas Garman of Lykens Located in St. Louis
WAS BOARDING IN THAT CITY
Whither He Went Direct From Harrisburg on the day of His Disappearance
HE APPOINTS ASSIGNEES
One mysterious disappearance was cleared up when Jonas Garman, the aged Lykens storekeeper, who suddenly disappeared from this city on the evening of December 27th last, was located alive and well in a St. Louis boarding house and brought back to Harrisburg last evening. It will be remembered that Mr. Garman came to Harrisburg to transact come business and late in the afternoon sent a telegram home to his wife that he had missed the train. That was the last heard of him until his location in St. Louis. Mr. Garman is apparently in good health and will return to Lykens this evening. At the time of his disappearance he had about $140 and a gold watch upon his person, and by many it weas believed that he had been foully dealt with.
The mystery was cleared up by the Anderson Detective Agency, of this city, with the assistance of Thiel Detective Service of St. Louis. Mr. Garman had gone straight to St. Louis from this city on St. Louis Express on the evening of December 27th and settled down to a life of retirement in a boarding house in that city. He made no objection to his return to Lykens — in fact seemed to be glad that he had been found. He stated that worriment over supposed business entanglements had taken him away from his home. He was brought home by his son-in-law, Neff Musser, who went to St. Louis last Friday.
Mr. Garman, who is 71 years of age and quite patriarchal in appearance, made an assignment of all his property in Lykens and the Lykens Valley today to B. M. Nead, Esq., of this city, his wife, Sarah A. Garman, joining in the act. His property is valued at about eight thousand dollars. He is one of the most prominent and most respected residents of Lykens and his many friends in the upper end of the county are much rejoiced over his safe return.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, March 23, 1899:
Detective Anderson Locates Him in St. Louis –
Last Evening He Came to Harrisburg and Today Went Back to Lykens
Jonas Garman, who suddenly disappeared from Lykens on December 27, 1898, was located in St. Louis on March 15 and brought back to Harrisburg last night by Detective Samuel J. Anderson, who has been looking for him in all parts of the country. It was only after following out many clues that Mr. Garman was finally located in St. Louis, he was engaged in selling spices, teas, coffee, etc.
When Mr. Garman left home he started ostensibly for Harrisburg on a business trip and had considerable money on his person. He disappeared suddenly and as mysteriously as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up. His friends were nearly distracted, as they were positive he had been foully dealt with. The police authorities were notified and a description of the missing man was sent all over the country.
Mr. Garman left his home under a misapprehension on account of his financial affairs being in somewhat of a tangled condition. His son met him in St. Louis and returned with his father to Harrisburg. At Pittsburgh they were met by Detective Anderson, who accompanied the gentleman to Harrisburg. A conference was held last evening with their attorney, and to properly square up his financial affairs Mr. Garman made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors, naming B. M. Nead, Esq., as assignee.
In an interview with Mr. Nead today he told a Star-Independent reporter that Mr. Garman’s creditors would be paid. “It is merely a case in which the old gentleman imagined he was financially embarrassed because his affairs are somewhat tangled,” said Mr. Need. “He will come out all right.”
Mr. Garman seemed to feel much better today when his son took him back to Lykens. He is very much relieved and glad he is back among his friends.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, March 23, 1899:
Garman Comes Home
Jonas Garman, of Lykens, was located at St. Louis, this week by the detectives, and was taken to Lykens this evening on Harrisburg Accommodation. He is in his usual health. Full particulars next week.
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From the Altoona Tribune, March 24, 1899; also from the Scranton Tribune, March 24, 1899 as well as other newspapers:
A Lost Man Finally Located
HARRISBURG, March 23 — Jonas Garman, who suddenly disappeared from Lykens in December, 1898, was located in St. Louis recently and brought back to Harrisburg last night by a private detective. When Mr. Garman left home he started for Harrisburg on a business trip and had considerable money. He disappeared so suddenly and as mysteriously as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up. Mr. Garman left home under a misapprehension on account of his financial affairs being somewhat of a tangled condition. A conference was held with his attorney and to properly square up his financial affairs, Mr. Garman has made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors.
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From the Monongahela Daily Republican, March 29, 1899:
Jonas Garman, who suddenly disappeared from Lykens, in December, 1898, was located in St. Louis recently and brought back to Harrisburg Wednesday by a private detective. Garman left home under a misapprehension, on account of his financial affairs being tangled. he has made an assignment.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald (Tower City), March 30, 1899:
Great excitement was aroused last Thursday evening when it was made known that Mr. Jonas Garman, who has been away from town since December 27th would return that evening. Mr. Garman left home about twelve weeks ago and no one knew of his whereabouts. Every effort was made to find him and all attempts seemed fruitless but on St. Valentine’s day his daughter Pauline Garman received a valentine dated at St. Louis. This aroused suspicion and detectives were put out and Mr. Garman was discovered in St. Louis selling groceries from door to door. His return is very pleasant news to all his townsmen. Dame Rumor give many reasons for his disappearance but we trust his years of residence here and his old age may spare unnecessary remarks.
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From the Millersburg Herald as reported in the Snyder County Tribune, March 31, 1899:
Jonas Garman Found
Detective Samuel J. Anderson returned from St. Louis on Wednesday evening, with Jonas Garman of Lykens, who left home mysteriously last December. He is reported to be perfectly rational, but seems that he can give no account of his aimless wanderings over the country. He was taken to his home at Lykens yesterday. — Millersburg Herald
Mr. Garman is a brother of our old friend Peter M. Garman of Fremont.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.