Probable Sad Fate of Sister Wilcox.
The Clam Lake (Mich.) News, in its last issue, publishes the following:— “Our neighbors in Missaukee County have now a sensation in the shape of the mysterious disappearance of a lady who has been missing for two weeks. The unfortunate woman’s name is Wilcox; she is a widow and resides on a homestead in 23-7. The day on which she was supposed to have been lost, Friday, two weeks ago yesterday, she went to visit her nearest neighbor, Mr. Richardson, who resides in 24-7 on the Houghton Lake road. She went for the mail and to obtain some meal, and left there about three o’clock P. M. This is the last that was seen of her. Parties passing her residence Sunday night saw no signs of life except a little dog she had left at home. These persons informed Mr. Richardson, and suspicion was at once aroused that the woman had missed her way home. It was also remembered that she had stated that she left some water on the stove boiling when she went away and must do some washing on her return. Monday a party of the neighbors visited her house and found everything as she had reported. This confirmed the belief that the poor woman was lost in the interminable forests of Northern Michigan. Parties were dispatched to Lake City, and a search was organized, about twenty men being on the expedition. These efforts were, at our latest information, unavailing, and they had about given up.” “The fate of the poor woman is pretty well settled. The weather since she was lost has been inclement, and even if starvation had not claimed her as a victim she could hardly have survived two weeks in the woods without shelter at this season of the year. The lady is reported to have been absent-minded and to have been lost before. She has a brother-in-law who resides in Missaukee County, and two daughters who are at present at some point east.” “For these facts we are indebted to Daniel Reeder, of Lake City.” R. C. D., of Monroe Center, Grand Traverse Co., Mich., writes us as follows concerning this sad occurrence:— “The lady spoken of as lost was a Seventh-day Adventist. She heard of our little company of Sabbath-keepers here about one year ago, and started on foot and alone to find us; praying God to direct and help her, which he evidently did. She tarried several weeks with us, and then returned to her lonely home. It seems from her own statement that she had been called on by a brother-in-law to come to Missaukee to take care of her mother-in-law. She heeded the call, and took care of this relative nearly a year, until her death. Sister Wilcox then came to this place. She said her brother-in-law persuaded her to take a homestead; and to remunerate her for her services he promised to build a house, and make some improvements on the land, but he could pay her in no other way. She was living on her homestead lonely and alone when she wrote me last.” “Her maiden name was Dorcas Moody. She was well acquainted with Bro. and Sr. White, Bro. Joseph Bates, and many others. She told me that she had been in the truth many years, and that her love for it increased. She seemed to be an earnest Christian. She told me her history, which is sad; and her fate is, oh, how sad!” “I submit these lines for your disposal, hoping thereby to give intelligence to many of this lady’s friends, relatives, and acquaintances, which they might not otherwise receive.”