In 1901, much was attention was given to a missing man from Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. On February 8, 1901, the Lykens Standard reported that he had been found in Lebanon County, and gave an explanation of his disappearance and described what occurred during that time.
REILLY O. SCHEIB FOUND
Reilly O. Scheib, the deaf mute of Millersburg, who left home some time ago saying that he intended to commit suicide, and whom the police have been looking for since, was found at Reinoehlsville, Lebanon County, Tuesday, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Mary Hower. He is believed to be insane and will be taken to the asylum if possible. Mr. Scheib is well known here [Lykens], having resided in the Burger block, Main Street, about three years ago. He was at that time engaged in the canvassing for books, and from here moved to Millersburg. Since then he has on several occasions acted very strangely, once attempting to jump from a passenger train on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, east of Tower City, and it was only by the united efforts of the conductor and several passenger that he was prevented from accomplishing his purpose. Evidently he is periodically insane. His wife and child are living with her parents in Schuylkill County.
The story about finding Scheib in Lebanon County even made it into the Philadelphia newspapers, as this note from the Philadelphia Inquirer, February 6, 1901, shows:
LEBANON — Reilly Scheib, a deaf mute, who disappeared from his home at Millersburg, Dauphin County, was yesterday found by his father, Henry Scheib, of Higgins [Hegins], Schuylkill County, at the home of a relative at Reinoehlsville, near Lebanon. Scheib’s mind has become deranged.
The Millersburg Sentinel version of the story was repeated on February 23, 1901, in the West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald:
Reilly O. Scheib, aged 29, a mute, who lived in town for a number of years, and who disappeared from his home last month, was found on Tuesday by his father, Mr. Henry Scheib, at the home of Mrs. Harry Hauer, at Reinoehlsville, a sister of the runaway. Before he left home Reilly gave his wife all his savings — $102. His mind is somewhat weak on religious matters.
Some additional information about how the father found his missing son was presented in an article on February 4, 1901, in the Lebanon Daily News:
ANOTHER MAN MISSING
HENRY SCHEIB, OF HEGINS TOWNSHIP, SEARCHING FOR HIS SON
Today Henry Scheib, a citizen of Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, came to this city in search of his married son, Reilly Scheib, aged 29 years, who suddenly disappeared from his home sometime in January, taking with him only $1 in money. Before leaving home he went to [the] bank and secured money to the amount of $102, which he gave to his wife. Nothing was heard of the missing man until last Saturday, when he was seen at Reiner City, Pennsylvania. He is deaf and dumb and some are of the opinion that he met with foul play. The father arrived here on the 8:30 train over the Lebanon and Tremont Railroad and went to city hall, where he related the son’s disappearance to John Zimmerman, acting chief of police. He also desired to have the fact published and said he would be very thankful if any person could give him information on the subject.
Reilly O. Scheib died March 19, 1949 in Pottsville. His obituary appeared in the Elizabethville Echo at the time of his death:
RILEY SCHEIB
Riley Scheib, age 78 years, of Muir, died in a Pottsville hospital, Saturday evening.
Mr. Scheib was a son of Henry and Catherine [Wolfgang] Scheib and was a native of Gratz.
Survivors are one daughter, Mrs. George Brensinger, Schuylkill Haven; two sons, Harry Scheib, of Tremont and Arthur Scheib, of Tower City; and five grandchildren.
He is also survived by the following brothers and sisters, George Scheib, of Valley View and Frank Scheib of Good Spring; Mrs. Pauline Bensinger of Danville; Mrs. Calvin Fredericks, of Cleona; Mrs. Maude Stutzman, of New Washington, Ohio; and Mrs. Nora Heim, Schuylkill Haven.
Services were held from the Dreisigacker Funeral Home, Tower City, Wednesday morning. Rev. Ray Potteiger officiated and interment was made in the Schuylkill Memorial Cemetery.
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Engraved portrait of Reilly O. Scheib from public tree on Ancestry.com. News articles from family collection and from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.