CLARA BARTON GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Boomer, James M. and Alice, Oct. 1890-July 1911 J.M. Boomer, [*Pupil*] Proprietor of Spring Creek Stock Farm, Fairview, Brown County, Kansas. Oct, 19, 1890 Miss Clara Barton, My Dear School Marm I, have seen your name in print occasionally & promised myself to write to you & report where one of your scholars are. This heading give my address & business. I thought that if I wrote to you now I should do it as I was just reading the first of a [series?] of sketches of your life by Mr Blackhall in a [J.J.? proper] I often think of the the real good visit that we enjoyed at the Sta at Bristol (Ill?), while waiting for the train after your visit with us there. You certainly have had a veried experience in life since then. I feel that you must have had God [sustaining?] grace to have carried you through & may He continue to bless you is the prayer of your scholar. I will report ourselves & some of our friends that are on this side of eternity. We have lived where we now are 17 years and have had our ups & downs. We had when you visited us I think two children (we lost one born after that time). They have both graduated from college and are teaching in (?). The oldest (Alice?) graduated 2 years ago and has commenced her 3rd year as teacher & is giving excellent satisfaction& she is a excellent Christian girl Merrill our youngest graduated last June & commenced teaching in Sept & is getting along very well. He to is a noble Christian man, Mrs. B & self are older than when you saw us the gray predominates otherwise we do not feel old only a little stiffer We are trying to do a little for the chapter Last week we attended our Baptist Slate, Convention, at Topeka & enjoyed an excellent meeting We are living in one of the best [sections] to be found in the Mississippi Valley Wm. Boomer lives near us but has not been as successful as some in obtaining & retaining the material things of this world. He has buried his 1st & 2nd wife & he & his 3rd have parted Aaron and Solon, Boomer are living where they did when you were in [Ill?] & are prosperous farmers & have families growing up Sister Susan (Mrs Gale) where they did when you were in, (Ill?), My younger sister Cornelia lives in [Ill?] is married & has a lovely family Uncle [Wm?] Aunt Lolly & Uncle Martin Boomer have [?oved] [p???d] over the river Aunt Lydia is living quite well but so lame that she cannot walk Uncle [Wm?]'s daughter Susan (Mrs Tacker) died a little over a year ago This may intrude upon your time but I thought you might like to know that one of your former pupils often thought of you & has watched you course & tried to pray for you & would be glad to hear from you if you have time to spare but knowing that you must be very busy With love from your pupil In w[??????] joining me B J. M Boomer [* Mrs B says that my mother was living when you were there last & mother & father a few years later were called home J. M. B.*] [*Boomer*] AMERICAN NATIONAL ANSWERED MAR 30 1899 RED CROSS. Fairview, Kan, Feb. 17th 1899. Mrs. Clara Barton. Dear Friend & Teacher, Mrs. B. & myself are very fashionable as we are entertaining the grip in a mild form, but would rather be relieved of the entertaining & hope to be within a few days. From what I can learn should think that you had not so much special working at some other times so will write you. We are not living on the farm but in the village near it Mrs. B. & self constitute the family. Alice is Preceptress & teacher in a Baptist college at Grand Island, Neb, & is do good work. I know that she would wished to be remembered to you. She often speaks of how much she enjoyed her visit with you & how pleasant you made it. The Pres. of the college was one of her teachers when she graduated2 A young man who lived with since he was 7 years graduated from college last June is teaching in a college at St. Charles, Mo. So you see it leaves us alone as to our family but we find enough to do. Our general health is good. We had our cold spell 2 days before you did 29 below 0 was our coldest here but we did not have as much snow as you did; but we had snow earlier Aunt Lydia Boomer is living with her son Solon. We visited there last winter & her mind was clear & bright as when you knew her & if there is a saint on earth (& I think that there are many) she is one. She has not been able to walk for 10 or 12 year on Acct. of rheumatism in her knee but she has not suffered much pain in them for several years. But she could get round the house in a chair & when Solon would help her out to the dining room he would say make room for the Queen. But this winter she has been very poorly, [both?] from rheumatism and [catarrh?] They thought 3 at one time that she could last but a short time but the last that we heard that she was easier though confined to her bed; but we have not heard from them for three weeks so conclude that she is better. She was 91 last June Aaron and Solon Boomers families are beginning to scatter away from home & Sister Delia also. Delia looks very much as mother did at her age only a little heavier weighing 200 lbs & is a very fine capable Christian woman has [?] a nice family of 5 children. There are only 5 of us cousins left Henry, Hammond, died the 20th of last Oct. We visited there when in [Mea??] & had a very pleasant visit indeed. I have not heard anything from Worcester friend for a long time. I took dinner with Maj. Morrill & family some two month or more ago. They said that they got acquainted with you when they were in Washington & that you did some business in relation to securing pensions. Mrs. M health has been very poor but she was better but she had grown old and I think4 any faster than he has. We got so used to calling him Maj that we never think of saying Gov & he prefers Maj. They told me that you was writing a book. What is it about and how extensive a book is it to be. Is your cousin Miss Elvira Stone living & if living is she Post Mistress. She told me that it took only a few months of 40 years that she had had charge of that P.O. The longest of at that time of any woman holding the office My Dear Friend, as we look back how few are this side of the river that were living when you were teacher & I scholar & their mounds are scattered all over the country but that matters little if we only live so as to meet around the everlasting Throne to sing praise to Him who has redeemed us. Mrs B joins me and we wish to be remembered to you with love and [???] would if here. Please remember us to Mr. Pullman From one of your little [boy?] and friend, P. M. Boomer 5 Will start again We have watched your work with interest the past year & think that you must have had some new experiences; yet such is life. We glad that you & your Society were able to do so much good. I am thankful that we were permitted to visit you at your own home to renew old acquaintances & form new ones. We enjoyed it very much then & have ever since. I went to Idaho last fall & bought a lot of sheep was gone a month. Went via Denver, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Salt Lake City, to Boise City, then across the country 130 miles. When Alice went back to her school her mother went with her. They first went to Omaha & attended the Exposition a few days then Alice went on to Grand Island; her mother stoped off to visit a sister then went to G.I. & stopped several day with Alice. J.M.B.[*Boomer*] AMERICAN NATIONAL ANSWERED APR 15 1899 RED CROSS Fairview, Kan, Apr., 5th 1899. Miss Clara Barton Dear Friend & Teacher, Yours came to hand the 3d & we were glad to hear from you & that you were well, for you must be so to keep so busy. To keep your confidence I will write a short letter. Mar. 17th Thomas Owen died he was cousin Lydia Boomers oldest son. He lived with us after his mothers death when he was 7 years until he was 22 years old. He was not married. Mar. 24th Aunt Lydia Boomer passed over the river The closing of a long & useful life: honored revered & loved years by all who knew her. She was aunt to all in her [?]. We recd an account of Aunt Sallie [Tower?] death the day before yours came sent to us by Solon Boomer.So our older friends are passing over before us until it leaves us in the front ranks. Aunt Lydia was the last of my parents, uncles & Aunts. Winter still lingers with us but is warmer today but there is a great deal of snow upon the ground; while some years we are planting corn at this time of the season I shall not be able to send you any thing for your work this time as I have just been contributing to [division?] work on that same field I knew that you would be anxious to hear about Aunt L so write as soon as I had your address & knew that you were in Washington. Alice is well & [busy?] as usual & would send love if here but I will send it for her & Mrs B joins me & we send love & pray that you may be (?tained) in the work. Sincerely yours J.M. Boomer [Page 2] Glen Echo,, Md' July 24, 1901. Mr. James M. Boomer, Fairview, Kansas. My Dear Friend and Pupil:- I have just this moment opened the paper which tells me of your great loss. There is nothing to be said, but to speak the sympathy that one heart feels for another, in a moment of affliction. Nothing can ever restore your loss, your world can never be quite the same again, but no one better than yourself knows where to turn for strength, and the reliance that cannot fail. I am glad that Alice was with you and with her mother at the last. You will perhaps need her with you now, beautiful as her work is in another quarter, useful as her life is, she may now feel that the lonely home has the greater demand upon her. I shall doubtless hear from you later, when the heavier clouds have cleared away. Till then, my dear friend, God be your strength and shield. Your affectionate friend and teacher, Ansd Aug. 15 1907 [*a pupil*] Fairview, Kan July 31, 1901 Miss Clara Barton My Dear Friend & Teacher Your kind loving & sympathetic letter came duly to hand. Thank you. I recd one the day before from another of your pupels (?) Addie Tower I knew that those two would come though we have recd a great many. I know that you are a busy person but as you expressed a desire to hear more from us you will please excuse me if this is longer than you [al?] I was quite unwell twice last year my head kind gave out so that my mind did not work as clear as it used to especially if I did a little to much, either physically or mentally so we thought it best to get my affair in such a shape that if I were entirelydisabled or taken away that they should be in a good shape as they could be so we sold the farm & made what we thought the best investment, that we could & built up a new tidy comfortable house in which Alice was interested. One of Mr Boomers neices moved out here her husband having gone into business here Mr Hobb was very on intimate cousin of Alice. I bought some property a house & about an acre of land & fixed the house for Mr Hobbs & rented it to him & have built on the same block so the two houses are near together & the only one on the block. We noticed 6 or 8 weeks before (?) died that Mr B had an enlargement in the abdomen & conculled the Dr he did not make a very though examination but as he had know her for several years, thought that there was nothing serious about 3 weeks before she died we called him & he made a more thorough examination & told us that our worst fears we to true she had a tumor & that if it was not removed she could not expect to live more than a year at the longest & that she stood 60 percent of surviving an operation he examined her again later & was much more hopeful from an operation. So we decided to have an operation & have it in the new house & left one room without carpet or paper as the Dr said that we could not get a better room in any hospital but said that the quicker that it could be done the better so we crowded everything as fast as we could to get the house done & into it. It was a fearful shock to us & to me it was as bad as when she left us I could not but be fearful of the result so we worked on keeping it to ourselves as Mary did not want it talked about but she was the bravest one for she kept so hopeful & cherry it did not pain her much only it was so uncomfortable & unpleasant & she gave up doing work that she had to be on her feet & she ate & slept as well as usual we did not have to give up the house right away that we were living in we took up the& put them down in the new house & when we did left her alone & when we would get back she would meet us so cheerful & pleasant Friday the 12th we moved the things in I took her over in the morning to Mrs Hobbs (we called her Eva) & she came over to the new house once in forenoon to see how we were getting along (The operation was to be performed the Wednes following the 17th) after dinner Eva sat down & said that she had the best visit that she had with Aunt Mary since she had been here (a year) then she laid down & slept for two hours, then she walked over to the new hours took supper with as & sat down & took our things out of an old bureau & put them into a new one sat with us on the porch Eva & her children came over & sat with us & she enjoyed it very much & she slept & rested well that night got up first in the morning & was around driving out the filed as cheerful happy as could be She ate quite hearty at breakfast She appeared so well Alice & I left her & went to our other house to pick up a load of good to take over while we were gone Eva came over & had quite a visit with her the a lady came & staid an hour or more & said that she had a real good visit after she was gone Mary swept off a small back porch when we came but a very short time after the lady left Alice came (fint?) & found her not feeling well & perspiring very freely she laid down a short time then got up & walked around some we unloaded our things she had sat down in her chair & through up some phlem & said to me that she felt better we had two lamps to get she said to me you had better take the buggy & stop at the store & get a broom & lamp chimney as you go over & have Mrs Hobbs go with I went & got the things into another store to one thing & I came out Mrs Hobbs youngest boy came all out of breath & said Aunt Mary is very bad come quick6 right after I left as Alice sat by her mother she said you had better then Alice said send for the Dr? she said yes. Alice said I will go over to Eva's. she said had you better? so she stepped on to the porch & called Eva who heard her & stepped out A. told her to phone to the Dr she steped in & phoned to the store & they to the Dr & he was in his office & started immediately & had to go 1/2 round a block as soon as Eva phoned she rushed over & was with Alice when her mother passed away She was unconcious when Alice got in from the porch & was gone before any of the rest of us got here I was not gone 10 minutes Suppose that the effort in sweeping the porch caused the tumor to break which was the immediate cause of her death But we are thankful for something if she had to go she went before they operated upon her for we do not think that she could have recovered it & if she had it does not seem possible that she could have survived 7 The terrible hot weather that followed 100 to 108 in the shade Our friends here were as kind thoughtful & helpful as could be lo to do every service required & you see by the paper which we sent you the relatives from distance that were with us So we go one by one & how few are left of 60 years ago and at the longest we to shall be called & may it be to receive the blessed reward of those that have been faithful to the end is the prayer of your humble friend. Please excuse this long letter but I could not tell you as I wanted to with less I shall not try it but a very few time more if any it is to much of a tax. from your pupil & friend J M Boomer overAlice is away this afternoon or she would send love will leave it open She will stay with me She is a dear good girl J M B Later, This is so long that it won't hurt to add to it Mr. Hobb came here a year ago last spring & went into the mercantile business we have known him & wife from babies up they are 44 years old we have not lived in same part of the town that they have Mary was anticipating a great deal of pleasure living so near each other & also did enjoy planning the new home & seeing it being built But she staid only one night with us in it. Alice has not got back but I will much love for her James Faireview, Kan. Aug. 1, 1901. My dear Miss Barton, I want to put in a word of thanks for the kind letter of sympathy you sent us. It was so rich in feeling that evidently came from experience that it brought comfort. We shall be very lonely, yet we have very much to be thankful for. in dear friends with loving thoughtfulness.We certainly appreciate your kind remembrance of us for we know that your hands and thoughts are very busy. We think of you lovingly, and the influence you had over me has been an inspiration to me. Father will be lonely indeed, but so far we have had company all of the time. I trust that you keep well and that many happy years may still be yours. Lovingly and gratefully, Alice Boomer. Glen Echo, Md. January 12, [1902] Mr. James M. Boomer, Fairview, Kansas. My beloved friend and pupil, I need not say with what interest I have read your letter, also the letter of Addie enclosed, which I will return to you. These letters took me back a great many years, and I am glad to hear from all the friends you tell me of. I am glad so many still live to visit you, and that you have that lovely daughter so full of living interest. Will she always remain away from you? Do you not want her with you sometimes? longer than her little vacations? I wish Addie's letter had told something more of the Towers -- they were such a precious family to me. I wonder how many and who of them are left? Albert was a noble man and so was his father before him. I am gladm your health has been so good and I am also glad to tell you that the great illness of mine that you heard of in Galveston, was largely newspaper talk. I lost no time in Galveston, did nearer two day's work in one than anything else all the two months I was there, and have been able to do the same since I came home. I have excellent clerical help and we are very busy. My correspondence is very large most of the time, and I sometimes [?] letters of my friends more than [?][*Ans'd -- Aug 13 - 1902.*] James Boomer [*Russian conf 24 1902*] Fairview, Kan, Apr. 16, 1902 Dear Friend & Teacher, I know that you are very busiy but it does seem to me that we ought to report to each other occasionally if for nothing more than to tell that we are not forgotten. I wrote to you last summer & [got] read a kind & sympathising ans. Thank you. I do find it as you said everything seems changed. Alice resigned her position & came to live with me & she does nobly; but so different from her mother We had lived together over 40 years but such is life we meet & we have to part; may we so live that we shall meet beyond the river where there is no parting is my prayer. It was so that I could & I spent most of the winter in Ill most of the time with mysister Nelia & Solon & Aaron, "They & self are all of the Boomer cousins that are left ex one a Mrs. Stone who lives in New York. Nelia, Solon and Aarons families are getting scattered & we are all looking older I am about most of the time & take care of the house & garden my head troubles me like my mothers but do hope that I shall not get as bad as she did. How do you do & do you keep strong & hearty You must have had as long time from your last campaign to now as you ever had between campaigns. Alice sent me your book a year ago last winter but you had sent me the first 400 pages before at different times How few of your little boys & girls of the stone school house are left & Mr Geo Glower has gone since you wrote last. Alice has just told me of a Christmas present recd from you Thank you for remembering us. It came when I was in Ill. Will read it when she finds it. You always send your reports to me as though I was a trustee or an officer. Am always glad to receive them I have been a trustee of Ottawa University our Baptist college of 20 years. I am 15 years a director of our Baptist State Convention & 10 years a trustee of Hiawatha Academy & have got to give them all up this year because I cannot do the duties it is to much for me others will have to do that work. Alice wishes to be remembered to you with love. Please accept this with love from one of your little boys. Sincerely yours, J. M. BoomerAug 13 1902 Glen Echo, Md., August 13, 1902. Mr. James Boomer, Fairview, Kansas. My dear friend and pupil: Your good letter of April 16th came to me just as I was preparing for a long journey and has not been answered. Let me thank you for it and for all the news it brings. You tell me in it of your winter in Illinois, of the cousins, Nellie, Solon and Aaron, and speak of the going away of our respected and beloved friend, George Tower. I saw him a few days before he left, and felt that there were not too many like him to be either left or taken. George was a good man and, in many ways, a great man. If to be wise and right and good is great, he was certainly that. I spoke to you of my journey. You perhaps have known of it through the papers or possibly not. I was appointed by the government to represent it in the International Conference of the Red Cross at St. Petersburg, Russia, commencing the last of May. There were three or four other delegates; the journey was made by sea to Havre, France, then by rail through Berlin and across into Russia to St. Petersburg, where the conference was held, lasting a week and to Moscow, a visit of four days, then home by way of Germany, Switzerland and France, arriving here about a week ago. It was a very pleasant journey, with no bad luck to any delegate, not a days illness for anyone, and probably one of the most charming conferences ever held; fifty nations were represented there by delegates from their governments. The subjects were all humanitarian, all trying to advise the best means for doing the humanitarian work of the world and securing its best so far as possible. In all the assembly of such various nationalities, languages, politics and religions, there was not one word of discord, all were looking for the best methods of securing the greatest good to the world and carrying out, so far as possible, the designs of the great Creator. The great powers of Europe were all represented there through delegates very near to them. Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain and Russia all sitting side by side, giving their views and describing their work for the last five years. The Russian government, from the Czar to its most active officers, left nothing undone to promote the good of the convention or the comfort or pleasure of its delegates. The ladies interested in the Red Cross work were amongst the most gracious women one could ever expect to meet. Alice will help you to recall who they are, that the High Patroness of the Red Cross of Russia is the Empress Dowager, the mother of the Czar and sister to the Queen of England; the reigning Empress of Russia, and wife of the Czar, is the daughter of Alice of England and Holland, the daughter of Queen Victoria, a sister of the present Kind of England and who died of diphtheria whenher children were small. She was a most lovely woman. She has a sister who is grand Duchess of Moscow, also High Patroness of the Red Cross, and said by everyone to be the handsomest woman in Russia. I think that is probably true, but she is as kind and as good as she is beautiful. Both of these ladies are full of benevolence and kindly thought and action. They are a living honor to their mother and their grandmother, Queen Victoria. The Czar himself is a young man, very fine looking, with as kind a face as one ever saw on man. I cannot better convey my idea of that than by telling you that his face is as kind as Mr. McKinley's and as fine. He is affable in manner, highly intelligent and interested in all the work of the world. We found Russia to be a beautiful country, progressing very rapidly and coming up to be one of the greatest powers of the world. You will be glad to know that I have returned in even better health than when I left home, if possible, and am very glad the journey was made. I hope this will find you as well and with great love to Alice, I am, as always, Yours affectionately, Clara Barton [*4 Old scholar*] [*Ansd March. 26 1903 Bordentown*] Serena, Ill. Mar. 3d, 1903 Miss. Clara Barton My Dear Friend & Teacher, I am afraid that you will think that you are not going to get your anual letter. I have been visiting this winter; kind of boarding round. I read your written soon after your return from your trip also a report of your Conference. Thank you. I left home Dec 2nd went to Minn & visited a brother & sister-in-law. Then went over into Wis & met Mrs Albert Tower, the playmate of childhood days. we met as Addie & James. & I assure you that we had a very pleasant visit we had met but once before in 37 years. She is a lovable woman beloved & respected by all where she has lived so long; she is passed 70 years. Then came to Ill where we used to live & visited with sister Cornelia cousins Aaron & Solon & family & my wifes folks & some old friends & have been in Chicago. All seem to try to make it pleasant for me & succeed admirably for which I feel thankful & enjoy my visit. My health is very good if I do not do much am feeling very well; much better than last year. Solon & wife are in [Cal?] they started Jan 21st will return the last of this month [part?] of their children are away from home Aaron & family are well mostof his children are away from home. I am at Mrs. Putneys. My sisters all of their 5 children are gone from home. So you see that your little children & some younger ones have families & theirs are taking up the active duties of life. Since I visited Addie her only sister Hattie who lived in Spencer, Mass. has passed over the River so we are going one by one & so few of us [teacherscholars?] & friend are left on this side. May God bless & sustain us is my prayer. Alice is teaching again in the Acadamy in our County where she taught 8 years. They reorganize the faculty at the commencement of this year. The principle did not not prove a success & he & one of the teachers left so they came for Alice to help them out this year. She did not agree to stay longer than this year but may. Addie F. says that she has not heard from the [Towers?] in Worcester since George died she has written 3 time but recd no answer. I suppose that you are about as usual for I saw in the paper a peice a copy of a communication to the Pres with your name signed to it so you are like the rest of us; do not have fair sailing all of the time. I expect to get round home within 2 or 3 weeks. Sister Delia wishes to be remembered with [king] regards. I know that Alice will wish to be remembered with love so will do it for her. I will close with love from one of your little boys Your sincere friend J. M. Boomer Fairview Kan Answered March. 5. 1903 Fairview, Kan. Jan, 23, 1904, My Dear Friend & Teacher Will write to you again & report to teacher. Am at my own home my neice; sister Delia's oldest daughter is with me My daughter Alice is teaching in the Hiawatha Acadamy 11 miles away. She taught there 8 years & they persuaded her last year to go back again & she is there now. My health was very good last year. I went to Ill. the 1st of Dec to visit my sister & family & other friends expecting to stay until the middle of Feb or longer but caught cold the first day after I got there & fought it all the time that I was there & the last week in Dec got down sick so that I had to go to bed then concluded that home was the best place to be so started for it the 8th [in?t] & arrived here all right my neice came with2 with me & we are keeping house as cosily as can be. Her health is not very good she intended to go west for a change as she has friends in Lincoln Neb. My sister Delia you hardly knew but she has brought up a nice family & they are all a way from home, the oldest with with me the 2d daughter is teaching in a highschool at Byron Ill. The oldest boy is foreman & has full charge of a printing plant at [Holbridge?] Neb. the 2nd is at work in a hardware store at Lincoln Neb. & the youngest is attending the Illinois University. So you see their chicks are scattered Delia looks more like mother but is some heavier is a grand good woman one of the salt of the earth; her husband is still practicing medicine. Aaron Boomer is not as well this winter as he was last he buried his 2d daughter in Sept a bright young woman of 22 was sick several months & suffered fearfully part of the time heart trouble. She was to have been married last summer. His son came home & helped take of his sister & is at home this winter relieving his father of the 4 a lot of sunshine with her. Sunday afternoon Alice has gone back on the train as she has to be at her school at 8.15" in the morning Addie Tower says that she never attended school where you taught but you knew her or of her & does it not sound queer to her called an old lady & your little boy an old man We do not feel old; while we cannot do as much as we have in past years yet we are respectively 71 & 72 years old & almost white headed. This is the 5th, day of a heavy sleet & you the bright cold splendor when the sun shines upon it. The paper report you occasionally so we [kind?] keep track of you & [their?] recd, which you sent Thank you, Alice sent me your book giving an account of the Red Cross but I read 450 pages before I got anything new for you had sent copies of your reports to me for which I again thank you Keep on with your good work & God will bless you in it. Aaron B. told me of some changes in Charlton. They have had an [electic?] road from Worcester to Southbridge3 the care of things. Ruth his oldest daughter is home also recruiting also as she & there step mother were about worn out taking care of Ethel. Ruth is a trained nurse but she goes away next Mon. She is a fine lovely looking woman & if one way such I should think that her presence would be a good tonic. The other two girls are attending high school Marreon graduates in June & Susan has two years more [Solon?] B. & family are well the oldest daughter has been down with nervous prostration but is improving she is a lovely woman [shed?] the youngest daughter are at home Henry & Mable are in Chicago & have good positions. My niece is boarding with a Mr. Fisher who taught the first school in the stone school house 66 years ago. I hear from Addie Gower frequently she is well & enjoying her two home the contention there is who shall have mother most. Her children make it very pleasant for her. She as bright & sunshiny a pleasant old lady as I ever knew. Alice has just come in we did not expect her but she has brought 5 for a year or two. From Southbridge it goes to Charlton City & then east it came to Charlton at the north end of the common & by the Gen Gower residence from there vie the County road to Worcester: little did those who built that road 68 years ago think of the use that would be made of it within the life time of us that were children then I can remember when the road was built some circumstances about it I remember as clear as trans actions of yesterday. Freeland Converse & a Mr. Stockwell did the work upon it past our house & boarded at our house I can describe their oxen. I presume that Mr. Converse discussed the merits of his & our oxen with me as I was about 3 1/2 years old I could go now within two rods of where Wm Gowers dog kill my kitten right before my eyes. Aaron told me that a Co have built an immense Hotel on the Frank Farnam place about [20?] mile west of the Gen [Gowne?] place A dollar a meal house & everything in that style but it was in the hand of a receiver. Addie Tower in her last letter enclosed some clippings from a Worcester paper6 of Charlton itims it spoke it being 149 year old as an incorperated town & were talking of having a celebration next year it spoke of Oxford as being a part the the town then incorperated & it also spoke of the improvements made within two years & said since the electic road had been built it made it a subburb of W. & spoke the Overlook hotel. What changes we have seen The R.R, Telegraph the telephone & electric cars in place of the stage to carry the weary & transport passengers & all on that road built 69 years ago except the R.R. & that was built parilel to it a few miles from it & in this great west 54 years ago last June my father & family came to Ill. Chicago claimed 17000 inhabitants & there had not a locomotive run in or out of it then but one had been shipped the fall before & a R.R. was built to St. Charles 40 miles west to Fox Bower that Len run with old strap rails taken from the N.Y. Central R.R. The only R.R. in opperation then west of the west line of Mich. Indiana was a R.R. from Meridosia on the Illinois river to Jacksonville 11 to 25 miles long laid with strap rail. 7 Now what a net work of R.R., Electic roads telegraphs & telephones. Our little town with 400 inhabitants has a R.R. Telegraph a Teliphone Co with over two hundred patrons & two rural mail routes. On what was put on our maps when we called you teacher The great owners can desert & we have been factors in all of these achievments. How few are with that were living 70 years ago or even 60 yeares ago. Addie T & self are all that we know that are living of our immediate associates & the places that now know us will soon know us no more. Teacher & friends may we so live that when called that it may be said to us well done good & faithful servent enter into the joy of thy Lord is my prayer. This is a rambling kind of a letter but it will be a change different from yours of business routine I had not8 mentioned the celebration which will cost more than the origonal Louisana Purchase 100 years ago. I will close with love & I know that Alice send love were she here so will send it for her & I will wish you many pleasant years in your work of doing so much good from one of your little boys. From your pupels & friend J.M. Boomer Fairview, Kan Jan 25 1904 My dear Friend I was 12 below 0 at 10 o'clock & snowing with a strong N. W. wind. Have read the report of your anual meeting of the Red Cross society. I did not mean to refer to any business in my letter which I mailed this morning but will now refer to it. I congratulate you upon your clear vindication of your conduct of affairs & the honer confered upon you. I never would believe that it could be other wise You had told me before of opposition at the time of the South Cen. Plands disaster & supposed it might be that or something similar. Did not feel that it would be right to trouble you by writing to you about it & here it all comes to me. Thank you for remembering me not only in sendingthis report but many others if we gone on in doing the right it will come out all right in the end although we may have to be patient sometimes. Have had a little experiance along that line. May God bless & sustain you is my prayer When I mailed your letter this morning I got a Spencer May paper announcing the death of Daniel H Tucker, the 16th ind of Charlton Mass aged 89 years; he leave a wife 88 years old 10 children & 25 grandchildren. I felt that I wanted to say a word of cheer to my dear friend & have written this it may not be expressed just as it aught to be; but you know that comes from the From your loving friend, J M Boomer Glen Echo, Md March 5, 1904 My dear friend and pupil:- Ever since I received your letter of January 12, I have felt that I knew all the old-time friends, which no one but you ever tells me. As I read they all stood before me some in childhood - some boys and girls - and some middleaged men and women, as we knew them together. It is very beautiful that you keep such close watch of them all, and that even old Charlton is fresh in your mind. I sometimes get a few bits of information from that vicinity, which I should never name to any one about me, as no one could understand it as you would. I wonder if you remember the Miss Willard, who taught the school the Summer before I did, in the Mill ward: she is living, and her son, Fred L. Ward (for she is Mrs. Ward) was my agent in Galveston, a very fine man. He is a bookkeeper in Springfield. He had a charming wife, and two beautiful little girls. A few months ago both himself and his wife took typhoid fever, she died and he barely escaped, through long weeks in hospital. The motherless little daughters are left. I had not heard until a few days ago that Daniel Tucker was dead. Died at 89, I think, leaving a great number ofchildren and grand-children. I think I must have written you about Mrs. Jacob Rich, who you know was the daughter of Josiah Moulton, of Charlton and Oxford, and who married Jacob Rich, the grandson of old Mr. Jacob Rich, of Charlton. I think you must remember their son, Stearns Rich, for his badness if nothing more. About ten years ago Jacob died, Stearns got hold of his Mother's property - somewhere from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars, spent every cent of it, and turned her out of her house, penniless and homeless. About three years ago, I was so happy as to have her come to me for a home; where she remained, comfortable and happy, without sickness or sorrow, until about Thanksgiving time, when she quietly fell asleep, and we laid her away in a little cemetery near us - free from all trouble and care. I think the Tower family miss "uncle George" - he had been always such a good angel to them all. I happened to be in Worcester a day or two before his death, and received his last "Good bye Clara" from lips almost too weak to speak it. I do Fairview, Kan July 2, 1911. Dear Friend & Teacher, Teacher please do not scold your little blue eyed boy; for I read what was on your circular; but want to send a few words to my teacher with the understanding that you cannot be as strong as before your sickness. Your nephew sent me a short letter in answer to mine. I will report for Addie and the boys, Addie Tower and her son Will and family went to ((Bedland, La Calif)) last fall to spend the winter with friends. She was struck by an auto after getting off of a street car and waiting for the car to go on was not seriously injured but it was quite a shock to her but she soon recovered. Then Will wife was taken sick so they had disappointments. as well as pleasures. They returned the 1st of May they had to send Will wife to a sanitorium. I think it was a change of life the the last that I heard she was improving; about a month ago Addie was up in the night without a light and lost her way and fell down the stairs, did not break any bones, but got several bruses. I heard from her a week ago she was getting better so that she could go downstairs with help. She is one of those little dried up women that get a little smaller each year. Yet a beautiful cheery christian character always doing something to help others. Will be 79 within three months. Aaron and Solon are quite well but their families are getting scattered. A will be 75 in Sept and S 74 in Nov your blue eyed boy was 89 years old last Mon; many of my friend remembered me with post cards and letters; have recd 200 to day think a few more will come in. It is pleasant to be so remembered. I sent out a 2d edition of that little booklet revised and a few added pages. The first edition did not go halfway round If you were well enough I would ask Teacher to make a contribution to the pile. I have read many letters of thanks, and commendation of that little booklet; have sent them to 21 states and four foreign countries to wit, Canada two provinces Chile, S, A, China and Japan. My health was the best this winter up to the middle of Feb that it had been for five winters since then have had two short spells of sickness; then about April 1st had the worst attach of heart trouble that I have had. I am much better now am not sick, but have to be careful; can putter around and do some light work in morning & a little in the evening; have been to G.G. and taught a class of men today and stayed to the preaching services. shall not go out tonight. Alice is well and wishes to be remembered to youNow Teacher I have written much more than I intended when I started, hope that it will not tire to read it. And that you are comfortably wells, and ever feel that your little boy thinks of you often and prays that the richest of Gods blessing may be yours. From your friend and pupil, J.M. Boomer Fairview Kan I sent your circular to Addie James M Boomer Not to be ((Amsed?)) Recd July 5, 1911 Miss Clara Barton Glen Echo, MD. GLEN ECHO JUL 5 P.M. 1911 MD