IT WAS A PLEASANT REUNION - Mrs. E. Hesen 1901

HESEN, PARTIN, BANKS

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/12/2016 at 18:20:46

Dubuque Daily Telegraph – March 2, 1901

A QUEER INCIDENT
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AN IOWA WOMAN MEETS HER
FATHER FOR THE FIRST
TIME
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IT WAS A PLEASANT REUNION
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She Was Supposed to be Dead- Interesting
Story of the Parents and Child
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Davenport, Iowa, March 2 – Mrs. E. Hesen, a Davenport milliner, is entertaining her father, Martin Partin of Missouri, and through a married woman with a family, this is the first time she ever had the opportunity of conversing with him.

Thirty years ago, when Mrs. Hesen was about 6 months of age, the family lived at Decatur City, Iowa. Her father’s interest called him to California about that time and while he was in the far west was sent to him that his little daughter was dangerously ill with a disease of the throat and nose and that an operation would have to be performed to save her life. The next word was that the operation would had been performed and as a result the child had died. This being the last link that connected him with Iowa, he did not come back, but went to another part of the country and left no address behind him.

The infant did indeed seem to be dead, and was laid out and prepared for burial. For a day and a half the child laid in her coffin then, in amazement, it was discovered that a spark of life still lingered. Loving friends fanned the tiny sparks into a flame. With watchful care the little one was brought back from the very brink of the grave. She lived, and it was decided to send the joyful news to her father. But the father could not be found. Thus, at the age of six months the child was left in the care of strangers. She was adopted into a family and grew up without even knowing the name of her father. It was not until few years ago that she learned the story of her life and since then she has been very active and earnest in the search that has just been rewarded with success.

But the search was a long and seemly fruit less for months. Mrs. Hesen went back to the beginning and sought to learn from the people of Decatur City what they knew of the case. She finally learned enough to be convinced that her father’s name was Martin Partin and that he had been in the grocery business in Decatur City about the time of her birth.
Now, it appears there were three brothers by that name and the question was, which one to write to. Mrs. Hesen delegated the task of writing to her daughter, being sick herself. “Which one should I address the letter to?” Asked the girl. “I don’t know.” The mother replied. “Send to either one you choose.”

So the letter was addressed to Samuel Banks, Omaha, Neb. Here providence seemed to be taking a hand, when it developed that Samuel Banks was the only one of the three brothers living, and also the only one who knew of the whereabouts of Mr. Partin. But, Mr. Banks was skeptical. He seemed to think it was a scheme to extort money and refused to give up the desired information. It required several letters to convince him that the search was genuine and that Mrs. Hesen was really looking for her father. Finally, for a cash consideration, Mr. Banks agreed to give the desired information and the daughter was placed in communication with the man she sought.

It all seemed so strange when the first letter came from Mr. Partin that the truth could hardly be realized. The mother and daughter read and re-read the letter and cried and laughed by turns. She sent a photograph of herself, and when he and his family saw it there was not the slightest doubt as to the relationship. Mr. Partin had married again and his children immediately recognized in Mrs. Hesen a sister.

Of course, Mrs. Hesen wanted her father to come and see her, but he was suffering from rheumatism and did not feel like making the trip. Mrs. Hesen is ill, and has been dangerously so, it being feared she was going into consumption. She felt that if she did not see her father soon, she would not see him at all, and was worried over the matter until her condition was precarious. Then the daughter took the matter into her own hands and unbeknown to her mother wrote a letter to her grandfather that had the desired effect. An answer soon came saying he would come to visit Davenport. Early this week another letter arrived saying he was coming, but did not state any time. Then came a telegram asking that he be met at the train and last evening he arrived. The joy of the meeting between father and daughter can better be imagined then described.