CLARA BARTON GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE "V" miscellany Dr. A.Van Derveer, 28 Eagle St. cor. State Office Hours 8 to 9 A.M. 2 to 3 P.M. 7 to 8 P.M. Albany N.Y. June 2 1882 My dear Madam, I regret that I have not been able to reply to your communica - tion of Mch 23d until now. I shall always be glad to cooperate in the good work of your society. I would suggest that some one who has more time than I be designated to bring the matter before the people of this city.Dr. H. VanDerveer Albany, N.Y. sent check for $25 Ansd July 18, 1882 Enclosed please find my check for twenty five dol- lars ($25). Respectfully yours H. Van Derveer Governer, Mch. 22 1882. Miss Clara Barton, Washington, D.C. Dear Mll'e: Your favor of the 18th inst: was duly received and I have taken steps to make known to our members and to the public thee importantfacts that you mention. The Red Cross Society in this city is well organ- ized & thoroughly prepared for work. We have little to do now, but are ready to act when any emergency comes. Very truly yours, [Thos?] [E?] Vann. ________________________________________________________________________________ 257/[?]? Glen Echo, Md. March 30, 1904 Reverend John Van Schaick, Washington, D.C. Dear friend and pastor:- The mite that I enclose for the Easter Offering is too small to be mentioned; still may I send it as with the wish that it were a thousand times more. I have directed some literature to be sent to you in the hope that however firmly the bands of falsehood may have bound, that I may hopefully say-"Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Fraternally and affectionately,[*Received March 28- sent $5.00 March 30, 1904*] First Universalist Church Murray Universalist Society Washington, D.C., March 22, 1904 To the Members of the Church and Congregation. Dear Friends: The Pastor and Trustees desire to congratulate the Parish on the good work done during the official year now closing and the favorable outlook for the future. The membership of the Church has increased and the services, despite the inclement weather, have been well attended. The Sunday School is in a very hopeful and flourishing condition. The Mission Circle has had a successful season, both in attendance and finances. The Ladies Aid Association is in a prosperous state, the receipts from its fair held last fall having been the largest of any in its history. The other auxiliary organizations, the Young People's Christian Union, the Optimist Club, and the Men's Society have had interesting and profitable meetings, and are valuable factors in the activities of the Church and Parish. The Trustees hope and expect to close the year with- out a financial deficit, but the receipts during the summer season are always below the current expenses, and we shall have this summer a tri-yearly insurance premium of about $200 to pay, which contingencies, amounting probably to $500, we look to the Easter offering to provide for. Let us all, therefore, as an expression of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for his goodness to us as Church and as individuals, make our Easter gift as generous a one as our means will allow. John Van Schaick, Jr., Pastor. For the Trustees: H.E. Williams, Moderator. J.W. Webb, Secretary. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Rochester, N.Y. October 10th, 1883. Miss Clara Barton Dear Madam. I have your note enclosed with Mr. Vassall's letter. I have answered him by to-day's mail. I am both glad and sorry that you are in prison--glad on account of the public interests that you have in charge, and sorry on account of your personal convenience, and on account of the success of the Red Cross. However, should occasion require, the Red Cross society of this city will try and do its duty in the premises. I hope your health and strength will hold out. So what you may be able to perform the arduous duties, of the position you occupy, to the satisfaction of yourself, and of the friends of the institution, of which you are the head. If you have any printed prospectus or statement of the institution, I would be much obliged to you if you can send me a spare copy. Cordially yours, John Van VoorhisArie Van Wie. [*Andersonville*] Shipper and dealer in Baled Hay and Straw, Grain and Potatoes, Anthracite and Smithing Coal, Lime, Brick, Plaster, &C. Bloods, N.Y. July 16th 1885 Miss Clara Barton Dannsville NY My Dear Friend I see by the National Tribune of July 16th that you ar near us. second RR Station will you come and see me and my wife. we could make you quite comfortable for a Day or two I would like to talk with you about Andersonville. Do you or did you know Charles Calvin who kept the list of the Dead in the winter or towards Spring. He went to Vicksburg? in same train load about the time of the colaps? I hapen to think of him and others? after reading of you I am your obedient Arie Van Wie surviver of Andersonville I have a horse and carrage which would be at your service [*Isabella Whitley 4*] Manlius N.Y. Sept 23rd 1883 Miss Barton I have seen your name in print many times and I think you must be the school teacher I loved so well and have never forgotten, if so perhaps you can recall to your mind a little lame girl living in Bordentown New Jersey about thirty years ago I went to Ohio with my Parents to live, and you made me promise I would write to you and after so manyyears I have just found courage to write hoping you may remember me Please acknowledge this and tell me if you are my Miss Barton. I forgot to write my name; when a child it was Issie Whitley. I have been married a long time. I have so many things to tell you, if you ever come to Syracuse again please let me know, I live ten miles from there, it would give me an untold pleasure to see you Pardon my boldness if you are a stranger to me. Respectfully yours Mrs. O. A. Vedder Manlius Onondaga Co. N.Y. 4 Manlius Oct 8th 1883 My dear friend I know if you could have seen me when I received your most kind letter you would have felt as though you had received your reward in bestowing your kind favor upon me Mr. Vedder brought it to me from the office when I saw the Red Cross I said O! it is from Miss Barton I could only read a few words (to where you acknowledged you were my Miss Barton) until I had a cry over it for joy and when I had finished reading it and learned you would always be my sincere friend I thought my Heavenly Father had answered my prayer I have been beging for a true lady friend and advisor for three years (which is the length of time we2 have been living in this state) The same night I received your letter you came to me in my dreams and offered me a dark colored liquid and said take this and drink I drank a portion of it and told you it was good you said yes and took the cap and drank the rest, could it be our hearts were cemented in the communion cup? I have been earnestly asking for some time the right way to do the Masters work in my humble station in life perhaps you are the one to point it out to my satisfaction. I can't see it in the church I may be blind but I fell as Anna Dickinson says too many are looked out of the church because they are poor in purse. I am told in this place an humble christian is locked out of existence I can be nothing but an humble christian if any because I feel I must be humble in the sight of God if I want to be lifted up, and my nature is inclined to be humble if you remember if I could only see you and talk with you I know you would understand me because you did when I was a child and I feel you are as much my superior in knowledge now as you where then if I had always been near you I think you could have made more out of me and perhaps you don't remember how much trouble I gave you how I would beg off doing anything unpleasant and you would say no I Issie you must do it and I don't remember feeling cross at you, you had a way of making your scholars love you and in the strife there was with the girls to take your seen in walking home from school I always had more than any position I fancy now I can feel the touch of your arm it seems almost as4 Though you had risen from the dead in talking to you with the pen my lameness is the same as when you saw me last my health I have always considered good when I don't work beyond my strength I married when I was nineteen my husband has always loved me and been kind to me his health has never been the best (we came here thinking the change might be a benefit to him) so we haven't been able to accumulate much money for our old days but we have many comforts we have had no children I am so pleased to learn you have a home in this state I feel in hopes we may see you sometime [if you] I had no idea you had so much work to do until you told me if you could only bring some of it here to do and stay with me awhile so I could feast my eyes upon you I could wish for no better Heaven on earth You are photographed in my mind [but] I know time must have changed your looks somewhat as well as mine but our hearts don't grow old I was pleased to learn your health is good I think that is the principal thing anything you would be pleased to tell me of your life I would only be too happy to know I would like to know all about your order of the Red Cross how I would love to work with those women in your prison to elevate them to do right and appraise a good character (in that I feel on equal terms with anyone I mean in having a good character and the same with my husband he has always had a good name) that is the kind of Mission work I have thought and expressed any thoughts to some of my Western friends I would like to do if I only had the gifts and opportunity to work I am so dissatisfied with my life I feel as though I haven't accomplished anything in particular but we don'tget all of our first in one month of the season I sometimes think I may be like the grape bear fruit in October on late in life I feel more like the vine than the oak if you could only see me and tell me what I am good for and make me more contented I am tired of society in general has I am devoted to my friends. I feel I am taxing your time and patience too long but you said I should write of my life in general will you adopt me as a child in your affections? and may I write you of all my joys and sorrows? I feel so lonely living here with strangers and a mile from the village at that on a little farm Please write to me as soon as you can find time my dear Miss Barton Yours as lovingly as ever Issie Vedderpleased to confer any favor that was reasonable upon myself or my children; but all I want is a chance to werk I am willing to abide the result. Very Truly Yours, [? ? Fesburgh] 49 Court St. Rochester After July 1st my address will be Lyons, New York. Miss Clara Barton.[* 40 for position*] Rochester N.Y. May 23d, 1883. Miss Barton; You will I trust excuse the liberty I take by addressing you, but one woman can better tell to another women her wants and desires than to a man. My husband was the late Surgeon Wm Vesburgh, went out with the 111th N.Y.V. in 1862. he served in the field until the close of the war, in the capacity of Regimental, Brigade, and Division Surgeon, he became greatly attached to the Officers and men with whom he was so closely united, so neversought an easier position but on his return to his home in Ly?ns Wayne Co. New York in 1865 I saw at once that his vitality was all gone, but for five years he practiced his profession, under protest alway, and died suddenly with a slight disease leaving me with two young children to educate and in a measure provide for, I have finished the work comitted to my hands, my youngest daughter will graduate at our Lee Academy in June and has already secured a good situation to teach. My training and studies during my married life would lead me into the practice of medicine but I cannot overcome a foolish weakness that I have and which would unfit me to be with women in their hour of peril and of trial. But I have thought that as Assistant in a Reformatory, a Hospital or some institution where a woman understands the needs of the weak and the erring better far than most men, I could work with zeal and I know with success. Do you know of any place I could fill? I cannot ask a man and yet, Dr. Hoyt? one of our State Commishioners of ?ub Charities was for three years intimately associated with Dr. Yesbaugh? and I know would beMacon, Ga., Feb. 15, 1910. Dear Miss Barton,- Our class at school has been studying your life for literature. Weren't you scared to go out in a battle-field, and to go over in Turkey where they were killing every Christian there? We are all writing letters to you, and the best one is to be sent to you and possibly you will answer it. I wish I could go to Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Cuba and all the places where you have been, but not when they were having a war. If you will send our class a picture of yourself, we will be glad to have it. Didn't you have bad dreams after seeing so many dead soldiers, and people, where you have been? Do you like your work in the Red Cross Society? In Atlanta at one of the places of amusement, Ponce de Leon Park, I saw a little show, showing the flood of Johnstown. They had toy houses and a lake painted on the background of the scene. After awhile they showed a very bad storm and finally they made the flood which swept away the houses and everything. It was fine, I tell you. In the real flood was the water over a man's head in height, and could you go in swimming in it? I hope you are feeling well, I must now close, I remain, (2) Your friend and admirer, (Signed) Ralph Villee, P.S. My address is, if you want to use it - 369 First St., Macon, Ga. P.S. I would be very glad if you would write a letter to me. [*39*] Glen Echo, Md. November 10th 1902. Mrs. Harriet L. Vinning, 933 Rhode Island Ave., Washington, D. C. My dear Sister:- I am in receipt of your card inviting to the anniversary banquet on November 18th. If in the city I shall endeavor to be there, but there is a possibility that I may be away from home at the time named. In either case the best wishes of my heart are with the sisters of the Legion. Sincerely Clara Barton. Dear Sister: Your attention is called to the celebration of our tenth anniversary with a banquet at the Legion Hall, November 18, 1902, at which time we hope to see every member. Please notify the chairman of executive committee, Mrs. Harriet L. Vinning, 933 Rhode Island Ave., of your intention to be present. " 'Tis better to laugh than be sighing, 'Tis better to smile than to frown." [*Ansd Oct 6. 1904*] [*31*] Oxford, Mass. September 5-1904 Dear Miss Barton, the ladies of the Universalist Church of Oxford are trying to raise money to have the church re-frescoed and carpeted and repaired generally inside. It is going to cost nearly four hundred dollars of which we have now almost one hundred dollars. This is the oldest Universalist Church in America having been built in 1791. Hosea Ballou the great apostle of Universalism was ordain here, and has the first conversion Conversion was held in 1848. Because of all these historical events connected with the church I thought you might be interested in its renovation and preservation, especially as you are a native of Oxford and one of the faith also, and so write to ask you if you will favor us with a contribution? Mr. Minsch of Worcester is doing the work and assures us that it will be completed in two weeks. We hope to begin our services again September 18th when our pastor Rev. W. G. Schoppe D.D. of Webster will return from his vacation. I understand you may be in Oxford and if so hope you may be able to attend service in the old church. Yours truly (Mrs) Jennie S. M. Vinton Oxford Mass.[*Mrs Jennie S. M. Vinton Oct 5 1904 church matters*] Oxford, Mass. September 15- 1904 Dear Miss Barton The date of the re-dedication of the church at Oxford has been changed from Sept 15 to Sept 25 because of the inability of some of the ministers to be present until the 25th. We shall be pleased and honored to have you with us. Yours truly Jennie S. M. Vinton. Dedication of church Oxford- Sept-1904 Berlin Aug. 5th 1893 Dear Miss Clara Barton May I introduce by this letter and recommend to your kindness a very distinguished German lady Her Excellency Frau van Helenhaltz who is going to America with her husband, one of our greatestscientific authorities. She may happen to meet you and as she herself is active in many works promoting the welfare of women and the training of nurses she will be interested in your red cross work and the great development the organization has taken in America under your guidance. I am very glad to avail myself of this opportunity in sending you my sincerest regards and the assurance of my constant remembrances. Believe me, dear Miss Clara Barton to remain Yours very sincerely, [B. von den Swesebach?] Chamberlain in waiting on H. M. the German EmpressMadam Anna von Helenholtz 26.W.40th St. N.Y. City c/o Dr. H. Kuappn? Chicago 141 Astor Street 24th August [*1893?*} Dear Madam, As I am quite uncertain of our movements, and not sure of being able to deliver this letter personally to you, I beg to be allowed to send it beforehand. I very much wish to be able to go to Washington for 1 or 2 days in? the course of September, perhaps you will bekind enough to let me know if I have the chance of finding you at home. In New York We shall stay at 26.W 40th St at Dr. H. Kuapp's?, almost the whole of September. Besides Baron Kniseberks? letter The Grand duchess of Baden sends her best remembrances to you- I am to tell her about everything I see and hear in her line?. Hoping to have the pleasure of seeing you I am yours most sincerly Anna von HelenholtzKarlsruhe 4th July 1902 Dear Miss Barton! The Royal Highness the Grandduchess wishes me to tell you that She intends spending here in Karlsruhe Tuesday next week. She hopes to find you still here & will be very glad once more to see you. If you will give me the pleasure of seeing you I may mention that I am always at home from 4 to 6 in the afternoon, but if you prefer coming between 12 an 1 o'clock, pray let me know it before Yours truly A. v Holzing [*copy 1*] Karlsruke 5, July 1902 Dear Excellency Permit me to thank for your esteemed letter expressing the intentions of Her Royal Highness our dear Grandduchess, and to say that nothing could exceed the pleasure of seeing her once more on Tuesday next Again I pray you accept my thanks for the pleasure of calling upon your excellency, and would say that if agreeable I will be happy to call this afternoon at 5 oclock With great respect Very truly yours Clara Barton Her? Excellenz Freifrau von Holzing Stefancenstrasse Karlsruhe Baden[*33gaB*] Voris & [*Gen.*] Vorris, Lawyers Akron, Ohio January 9, 1889 My Dear Miss? Barton I am reminded of you the night of your complements? under sign of the Red Cross- Mr Voris and I tried to see you in Washington City last May, but a telegram called me away from the city before I had hardly got my boots blacked- The next time I go to the city if you are in it will see to it that you are promptly visited- I hoped was? it assumed that you would visit the Great? Soldier Reunion at Columbus O. last Sept. 13th was disappointed- that would have given an opportunity to have had you at our home- Son? Elash? sparing you the last time I saw him- Poor man he has had great affliction in his family- Mrs E- being so much why health is to keep him at home most all of the time- If you ever think of coming west you must let us know of it and we will see that you are cared for on its that hospitality that any comrades? extend to each other- You surely are an old Army Amr??- I am getting old and somewhat stout- almost 200 lbs- If you remember the first times you saw me as I do [*you will never forget the awful injury? July 18, 1863- That I did not die from that wound is wonderful- That I did not die from the surgical operation I endured 10 years afterward is equally wonderful- ?But I am ? a pretty fair? in old very ? you and old and comrade ? A.C. Voris*] Answered Jan. 30 1904 Press Book B. [*33 Gen Voris*] Akron O January 25th 1903 Miss Clara Barton Glenn Echo Wa My dear not forgotten Friend A Revd Mr I Mason called on me saturday, having a letter from you, saying to that you had a good friend in Akron- Gen Voris- and commended him to my kindly consideration- This reassured me greatly for when I first learned of the raid the medlesome women were making on you and you Rev kamk? I sat right down and wrote a good long comforting letter to you and begging of you to come to our home and visit a while and for the once get out of the atmosphere of those who never dreamed of or cared for the life of devotion and self sacrifice you had given to your fellow creatures I also told you of the dicease of one mutual good friend Gen Ellwell. My wife was at his bedside when he died and attended his funeral- I was so ill that I did not dare to go to Cleveland - He was so glad of our throughful???? and died easily as a good man should. Sadly my letter to your home in NY City on the ? ? but I never used any thing from it. It would do me much good to hear from you and much more to see you here- I am old and plaged ? in body but am blessed with the usual frailties of old age. Have led a life of much suffering and at times great suffering from my Ft. Nag?? wound. No day for more than a 1/3 of a century have been free from pain But I thank God it was my lot to do and suffer for the good of country I inclose a little interview had with me which may please you Mrs Voris joins me in kind regards hoping to see you before long at our house Very truly your friend A.G. Voris-[*Genl Voris - Akron*] Akron Ohio February 4th 1903 My Dear Friend After reading the inclosed article I felt prompted to write you an encouraging letter thereby hoping to lift, in part at least, a burden that I know sinks deep in your heart and must cause you much personal embarrassment. Please remember that my acquaintance with you was formed when heartaches too frequently fell to our lot. These experiences have begotten in me a kindly feeling for those in distress, a feeling that I hope has grown in me as I call up in review the awful tradgedes of 61-65 My dear friend I now want to say to you first of all that for so may years you have taken to yourself the active burden of mitigating the sufferings of humanity amid the greatest dangers and awful hardships that at your age in life you are most certainly entitled, till you go to your final rest, to lay aside the cares and worry of your life's work. I most emphatically say rest! rest! rest! I do not recollect whether I am your senior or not, but I am old enough to make my advice just given, to be worthy of consideration I very much regret that you indulge the thought of spending your remaining days abroad. You are too intensely American and so devotedly patriotic to do this. I cannot bear the thought of your voluntary expatriation; I beg of you to die where you have devoted so much of your life with such heroism and voluntary devotion.2 For many years I have been compelled consider myself counted out of any active participation in the active affairs of this age I am compelled to admit that I am a played out old man whith hardly any one in the world in touch with me. I am counted out when anything must be done, will be 76 April next. Now please think that you ought to be honorably placid when you may not feel that you must yet try to move the world. I know that your heart is right, but what can you say of your weary, worn body-especially you zealous? brain. All the world will say that you have done all that you are able to do, and that you can fairly resign the world's work to those able to take on themselves the responsibilities of this age. There are great hearts and earnest workers who will not shirk from the duties of the hour and who can bear the work. I know the jealousy? of my race, have frequently been hurt by it, but I have aimed to bear its shafts in the fortitude and with malice toward none. I know your great charitable heart feels just that way. I wish I could carry part of your heart's burden. I do not know whether it is possible to give you any practical assistance, but I would like to do it. If it would be of any comfort to you to write me explaining the situation I might be able to kindly? advise something that might help you. If you will come out to this, when it got pleasant in the spring, and stay a while with us Mrs Voris and my daughter Mrs Baird? will take great pleasure in making your stay here pleasant and restful to you, and you may be assured that I have lots of good cheer left in me yet- My wife went to the bed side of Gen. Elwell and comforted his expiring moments and attended his funeral. I was unable to go an account of my Ft Wagner wound. For years we frequently visited him at his home and it gave him great pleasure to visit us at Akron. He was a good man. He very often spoke of you. I am proud, very proud of your life's work. I hope I appreciate your worth to the world and for that reason feel like urging you to be content to rest for your few remaining years and go to Heaven directly from the best county on earth and from among the best people who ever lived, of whom you are the chief of them all. I have read this over to see if I had made any mistakes and after the second sober thought do not care to take a word back. Mrs. Voris joins with me in kindest regards Your old Comrade A.C. Voris Miss Clara Barton [Antionette?] 43. E. [Street?] Dansville N.Y. November 25, 1888 My dear Miss Barton, I thought you might perhaps be interested enough in the Coterie anniversary to care to see a program of the exercises. It was so kind of you to write that lovely letter for us, and I am sure you would have been pleasedif you could have heard the very enthusiastic reception with which it met. Please consider this a very faint echo of it which reaches you in Washington, and believe me, Cordially Yours, Anne D. Van DerlipCELEBRATING THE FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COTERIE, DANSVILLE, AT THE HOME OF MRS. BRAYTON MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 12th, 1888.1873 1888 Programme A. O. Bunnell, Presiding. 1 : Vocal Solo : When Life Hath Sorrow Found Dudley Buck Miss Kenney. 2 : History Miss Shepard. 3 : Piano Solo : Concertwaltzer (op. 17) Constantin Corpus Miss Endress. 4 : Poem Mrs. Gilbert. 5 : Vocal Solo : Good-bye Paolo Tosti Miss Stephan. 6 : Prophecy Mrs. Jones Read by Miss LeFebvre. "The Table's Full." "Ho! give them at your board such place As best their presences may grace, And bid them welcome free." Sentiments And Responses. 1 : The Coterie Miss Adams 2 : The First Roll-Call Miss Bunnell 3 : After Fifteen Years Frank Fielder 4 : Our Honorary Members J. E. Crisfield 5 : The Absent Mrs. A. Sweet 6 : Our Literati H. W. DeLong 7 : Coterieans In The Professions J. M. McNair 8: Our Active Members W. S. Oberdorf Present Officers: President Mrs. A. Sweet Vice-President F. P. Magee Secretary Miss Fowler Anniversary Committees: Miss VanDerlip, Miss Endress, Mrs. Sweet Miss Bissell, Miss Fowler, Miss Smith Advertiser Print, Dansville