Did you read Ben Welter's "Yesterday's News" column in the Saturday, October 5 issue of the Minneapolis Star Tribune? Here's the story in a nutshell: In September 1909, Mrs. R.D. Ousley enlisted the help of a Tribune reporter to adopt a baby from the Jean Martin Brown orphanage. She wanted to find "a baby for adoption that very day, so she might surprise her husband on his birthday. In just four hours and five minutes, she was holding in her arms a dear little baby boy."

How times have changed! I thought about the story all day and was curious enough to make a few routine online inquiries. Here's what I quickly discovered:  Richard Earl Ousley was born 18 February 1909 and died 29 August 1978. His parents were Richard D. Ousley (born in Illinois about 1864) and his wife, Elizabeth (born in Germany about 1866).  They lived at 1619 Girard, and Richard (senior) worked as a waiter at the West Hotel. Adopted son Richard served in WWII and married a woman named Elsie (born 1910). When I went to the Star Tribune website a little later, I found Welter had anticipated readers' interest in the rest of the Ousley story. Welter wrote this epilogue:

EPILOGUE: What happened to little Richard? Research suggests that Richard Earl Ousley, born in Ramsey County on Feb. 18, 1909, led a full life. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, married a woman named Elsie, had a stepson and lived in Las Vegas for a time. He died in the Twin Cities on Aug. 29, 1978, and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. That leaves so many questions: Where did he go to school? What did he do for a living? Did he know about the circumstances of his birth and adoption? So far I have been unable to find a living blood relative who can fill in the details. "They're all gone," a step-granddaughter told me last month. Still, there must be someone alive who knew him well. I will keep looking.