Clara Barton Family Papers Barton, Edward Aug. 1877-Mar. 1880Saratoga Springs N.Y.
August 12th 79.
Mr. E. Barton,
Dear Sir.
Yours duly recd. and
in reply will say. My Mother, 
Eunice Farrington was born in
Athens, Windham Co. Vt. May 16th
1800, was the sixth child of Elijah Farrington,
was married Feb. 15th 1826, to
Eli Barton who was born in Andover,
Windsor Co. Vt. March 26 1800.
They had four children, Eli Jr. was
born in Springfield, Windsor Co.
Vt. Aug. 22d. 1827. is now living
at Hoosick Falls N.Y. is night
watchman in Walter A Wood's
moving machine manufactory:
he has one son, nineteen yrs old.

The second child was Andrew, born
in Chester Windsor Co. Vt. Sept.
18th 1830.  When about fourteen
yrs. old he fell on a scythe as he
was going one morning to his work,
a terrible gash was cut in his knee, 
his brother Eli was with him, and
lifted him up, put him across his
own back and carried him that
way, to their home, where he was obliged
to keep his bed one hundred and
ten days, and ever after walked with
a cane, having a stiff knee.  He was
however particularly bright and
smart in every way.  Keen, sprightly,
and warm hearted, polished and
refined, he was a favorite everywhere;
he died in White Creek, Wash, Co.
N.Y. Sept. 25th 1853 of typhoid fever.
Hiland Hall was the third child
born in Chester Windsor Co. Vt.
July 3d 1835. died at Hoosick
Falls N.Y. of consumption,
Feby. 5th 1864. He as well as Andrew, was unmarried.
Susan Dennis, the writer of this, was
the fourth & youngest child, born in Graften
Windham Co. Vt. Feby 2d 1843.
My principal employment has been 
that of teaching, am at present
trying to make a home for my father
in his lonely old age.  My mother
died Sept. 26th 1876.
Before closing, I will say that if there
is any one of the Bartons that merits
special mention it is Mrs. A. W. 
Wright, with whom you have had some
correspondence.  She has done much good,
both by kind words, and charitable
deeds,--she is universally loved, admired,
and respected.  "None know her but to
love her, none name her but to praise."
Very truly your,
S.D. Barton
My father was married in Chester Vt.Susan D. Barton

Saratoga Springs Nov. 15th [1879?]
Mr. Edward Barton,
Dear Sir,
Yours duly recd,
and please accept our thanks for
the same.  I will copy the record
for Mrs. Wright.  She and her
family are nicely settled in their
beautiful home, apparently, with
everything for comfort and pleasure.
There are many things 
about which I should like to make
inquiries, concerning some of the
families in your record, but will
hope that we may some day see
you, and talk the subject over.
Eli Barton Jr. (my brother) was first
married in 1854 in White Creek, Wash. Co. N.Y.
to Charlotte Smith, who died in
April 1855. He married again
in Oct. 1858 Harriet E. Dewey
of Troy, N.Y. who died in Jan.
1877.  They had two sons, Harry
who died in infancy, and Frank
who will be twenty yrs. old next
Jany,--this I think makes
the record complete, and which
through some misunderstanding
I failed to explain in my
letter of last Aug.
I enclose a picture of
my father and mother, taken
several years ago, but a perfect
likeness of them at that time.
We shall hope to hear from you
occasionally--
Yours respectfully
Susan D. Barton

Willards Hotel
Washington D.C.
Jany 31st 1880
Edward Barton Esq.
Orange--Mass.
Dear Sir--
Yours
of the 26th inst, making inquiries
relative to the late Mr. Parley Barton
has been received.  Your letter was
erroneously addressed, in this, that
which I am called Genl. Frost
I am not an M. C., The latter
is my son, the youngest member
of the House.  Being accidently
in Washington your letter was
handed to me for whom it was
intended--and in response
I would say that I knew Mr.
Barton from my earliest infancy
and attended his school withnear the village of Mariaville
town of Duanesburg, Schenectady
Co. N.Y. from the age of four
years until fourteen and
met him frequently afterwards.
Mr. Barton was very highly 
esteemed by all who knew him
as a man of the purest morals
and highest intellectual powers.
He was justly regarded as
an extraordinary mathematician
whilst he had also acquired by
his unaided efforts, a very considerable
knowledge of the Greek
and other classics. He was
regarded in his earlier years
as somewhat eccentric, and
the idea prevailed that he had
suffered some disappointment
in which his affections were
concerned.  He was exceedingly
reticent as to his former
life about which nothing
seemed to be known, except that
he had come from Massachusetts.
He probably took charge
of the school referred to, about
the year 1820, and continued
to teach it with short intervals
until about 1844, when he suddenly
disappeared, as he had come,
no one knew where. After a time
he re-appeared with a wife, and
gossips inferred that she was
the object of his first affections.
A notable change took place
in his character after this
event.  He seemed now to have
thrown off his former shyness,
and misanthropy--conversed
freely and showed a preference
for the society of the better classes
which he had formerly rather avoidedBy better classes was meant 
only, the more wealthy.  His
preferences before, had been to
board with the poor and lonely.
His extraordinary capacity
as a mathematician, had become
known to schools & colleges, long
before his marriage, and positions
of competence and ease had been
offered to him; all of which he declined.
With the additional responsibilities, 
that marriage entailed,
he no longer felt himself at liberty
to disregard the affairs of this
life, and therefore he accepted a
position in some school or college
in western New York, which
I have been told, afforded him
a [competence?] to the end of his
days.  Taking him all in all,
I must say, that I have never
met a more interesting, and
I may say, beautiful character
than that of Iasley Barton.
Before closing this little tribute
to one that I loved and still love
I must relate that of him, which
will be received with incredulity
in these modern days.
When the school Directors
(of whom my father was one) impressed
with his great usefulness
and worth, raised his salary from
eight to ten dollars per month
he accepted it, because his necessities
required it, but when
subsequently they proposed
to further increase that munificent
compensation, he
sternly refused to receive it.
Where will you look, in
these days, for such an example
of self denial?  GloriousDear old Parley Barton-
We cannot doubt that he is now receiving the reward of his labors-
Truly Yours, 
D M Frost
P.S.
My home is in St Louis Mo where I shall be pleased to hear from you at anytime after April 1st until which time I shall be travelling in [?] South.
DMF

Marbledale, Conn Feb 4th 1871
Mr Edward Barton
Dear Sir
Agreeible [Agreeable] to your request I will give you a history of my self and family.  I was born in Leicester, N. J. Dec 25, 1817.  Married Calista J Millard Nov 14 1838.  She was born in Cornwall Conn in Aug 10, 1818.  My daughter Hannah M was born May 21th 1844 and died May 10th 1864.  Father was born in Leicester N J Oct 26, 1778 died in Marbledale Conn July 1864.  I do not know where my Mother was bornI Enclose my Photograph 
would like your in return
Yours truly
James D Barton

Marble Dale Conn March 7th 1880
Mr Edward Barton
Dear Sir
Yours of Feb has been received found enclosed your photograph which please accept thank[s].  The reason of my writing so late is that there is a family of Bartons here that claims some connection of ours.  I have been making some inquiries about them do not find out much.  His name is Edward P Barton he will mak[e] some inquiries of his Brother and sisters then I will write you his Father was Lewis Barton Grand Father Leonard Barton were both physicians, he claims that the first Bartons three Brothers came to Country together did not know the namesEx Lew 184 7015
You may know something of this, if you
 do please write me.

My Father was a good Mechanic
 his inventive power was great
 he was a well read man.  He
 all ways carried his Bible within
 him, a man of good habits
I will write you again soon

Yours truly

J.D. Barton