T. H. Blizzard Walks Out... and Wanders the World

Thomas Henry Blizzard was born in 1871, the son of John and Mary Blizzard. In 1893 he married Susan Crabtree. By the time of the 1900 Federal Census, Tom and Susan had four sons: Beecher, Reed, Rawls, and Rouss. Tom was working as a farmer, but apparently he wanted more.

In 1904 The Clinch Valley News reported the founding of a newspaper in Dickenson County, at Clintwood, called the Clintwood Times; T. H. Blizzard as the "Editor Manager". The newspaper was reported to be Democratic in politics. The paper ran until at least 1908, when it was purchased by James W. Bausell, formerly the editor of the Lebanon News.

In 1905 and 1906 Tom is mentioned in the Clinch Valley News as a real estate man, after buying a lot and building a house in St. Paul. Unfortunately, the house, and two neighboring houses, were burned to the ground in a fire on April 21st, 1907.

At this point, Tom's life becomes strange. Apparently in 1909 he abandons his wife and children to run off with another woman. Sometime around 1910 he wrote a letter to his parents from Norfolk, so angering his father that Tom was disowned. The picture below appears, dated April, 1910:

At this point Tom disappears from the historical record. The only evidence of his life after 1910 comes from letters he periodically wrote to the Lebanon News and its editor, Henry F. Bausell, the son of James W. Bausell.

The first mention of Tom is in 1915, when he sends two photos to Henry Bausell. Unable to locate Tom's mother, the Editor puts a small notice in the News asking for her address.

A few years later, in 1919 he sends the following letter to Editor Bausell:

HOTEL LASALLE
Chicago, Ill., May 5, 1919
H. F. Bausell
Lebanon, Va.

Dear Editor:

Some one might care to know and might even be news to a few to say that I am still alive and in good health. I am living a correct life and getting on o.k., under an assumed name of course.

Yours with regards,
T. H. BLIZZARD.

Sadly, for the Blizzard family, Tom's mother, Mary, dies in November of 1924, still praying and longing for her prodigal son.

The next mention of Tom is in 1925, when Bausell mentions the receipt of a letter dated March 28th, from Winnipeg, Canada. Tom reports "that he was on his way to Alaska on a mining deal."

A few weeks later, editor Bausell writes a longer article about Tom's disappearance. He states that Tom was "prominent in school and politics" and calls him "a brilliant young man". Bausell goes on to state "We have reasons to believe that Tom is receiving this paper under an assumed name". Having complete access to the Lebanon News subscriber rolls, it is likely that Bausell knew the assumed name and location that Tom was using at that time.

The last mentions of Tom occur in November of 1927, when he writes a longer letter. Editor Bausell writes:

Written on the back side of a small bill of fare of a Mexican restaurant, Mexico Moderno, Zaragoza 511, Piedgras Negras, on which the menu is printed in both English and Spanish, and mailed in an envelope secured from the Hotel Eagle, Eagle Pass, Texas, the letter in brief saying:

"H. F. Bausell,
Editor Lebanon News,
Lebanon, Va,
"Dear Henry:

"Still I live. Had quail and toast, beer and a Scotch highball for supper at Piedgras Negras, old Mexico, this P. M. Go to Laredo tomorrow and down in the interior of the state to Tameleping, Mexico, this week. Somebody might care.
"Best wishes to you.
"T. H. Blizzard and aliases.
"P. S. Have seen lots of the earth since I saw you. Send your orders down, all kinds of wine with meals."

A few weeks later Tom's father, John Blizzard, died. Tom was never heard from again.