Reuben Hemingray declared dead

[Newspaper]

Publication: The Courier-Journal

Louisville, KY, United States
vol. 104, no. 13,344, p. 12, col. 4


FOR YEARS


Mrs. Hemingway [sic] Hemingray Sought

Her Husband In Vain.


SHE NOW SECURES DIVORCE


HE WENT TO CHICAGO AND

DIS­APPEARED.


LOUIS SIGMUND IS INSANE


Mrs. Lida Hemingray, a teacher in the city schools, was yesterday granted all the rights of a single woman in an order handed down by Judge Kirby.

Behind this announcement lies a story which has puzzled the police and detective departments of Louisville and Chicago for nearly ten years, and it is no nearer solution now than it was the day the police and detectives were as­signed to it.

In September, 1895, Reuben P. Hemin­gray, a well-to-do tobacconist of this city, kissed his wife good-by and boarded a train for Chicago, to spend a few days on a business trip. On his arrival in Chicago the following morn­ing he telegraphed his wife of his safe arrival, and from that day to this not a single word has been received from him, and his friends and relatives do not know whether he is alive or dead.

When he did not return after a rea­sonable length of time Mrs, Hemingray endeavored to establish communica­tions with him, but receiving no re­sponse to her inquiries she visited Chi­cago and held a consultation with the heads of the police and detective de­partments. An alarm was sent out for the missing man, and detectives visited places where it was likely he might be found In the event he was an unwill­ing prisoner. The Chicago river was dragged, as was Lake Michigan, but the search availed nothing and Mrs. Hemingray returned home convinced that her husband had met foul play, and so far nothing has occurred to change her belief. The Louisville Police Department continued the search for years, but was never able to get any clew. It is the theory of Hemingray’s friends that he was enticed to some resort in Chicago and murdered for his money, as he was known to have had a considerable sum when he left home.

Mr. and Mrs. Hemingray were mar­ried June 21, 1894, and the marital rela­tions were extremely pleasant. Mrs. Hemingray has not given up hope that some day he will appear and explain his long absence, as it is believed by some that he was drugged by some crook and, after recovering his mind, was left in such a state that the past was a mystery to him.


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Keywords:Hemingray
Researcher notes: 
Supplemental information: 
Researcher:Bob Stahr
Date completed:August 20, 2025 by: Bob Stahr;