This is the obituary of Nicholas J. Codori. He is the Codori that ran off for 50 years, leaving his wife with four children to raise, and not return for 50 years.  To the right is the readable full text of the Obiturary.

Thanks to Janet Darrington of Colorado for sending the artical.

Wandered Home To Die

Nicholas I. Codori lives less than two months.

His death recalls that of his father a few weeks home from a rebel prison.

Nicholas I. Codori, the wonderer, better known as “Sonny” Codori, and “Devil Nick” Codori, passed away at the home of a relative in Cumberland Township in less than two months after having wandered back to the home of his youth. The closing days of his life present a pathetic picture. After serving his country during the Civil War, in the 165^th, 210^th and the 2^nd Pennsylvania Regiments, he became a wanderer. He does not return to his home, wife and children, he drops out of sight and is not heard of for over 50 years. He lives at a number of places, his last residence being at Salem, Oregon. Before Christmas, when in his 81^st year, the desire to see the old home place possesses him and he returns to Gettysburg Dec. 23^rd, and is a stranger in a strange place. All the people he had known well with a few exceptions had passed on. For days he could be seen going up and down the street, apparently hunting the places he had once known, and then having lived to wander home he passes away. Nicholas Codori was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Codori, highly esteemed citizen living on the first square of West Middle Street and their death was most pathetic. George was one of the peaceful citizens of this place taken prisoner by the Confederates at the time of the battle and after long imprisonment came home to be taken ill within three weeks afterwards and was nursed by his wife. He died and soon after the wife sickened and died. The body of Nicholas I. Codori was taken to the home of his niece, Mrs. W.D. McSherry, and funeral was held Friday  morning from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, with interment in the Catholic Cemetery. He leaves his wife Mrs. Susan M. Codori, of Wilmington, Del. And three sons, George of Wilmington, Del., Frank Codori of Philadelphia, John Codori of San Bernardino, Cal.

It should be noted that the obituary mentions each time the letter “I” for Nicholas’s middle initial, it should be “J” for John.

Warrant for Nick's arrest 1867

Image below courtesy of the Erik L. Dorr collection, Gettysburg Museum of History.

Receipt for warrant above.

Nick posing as the owner of the farm.