The Florence tribune., 1897-07-10
leTTER FROM aev WHITTEMoRE.
Record Of Pleasant Visit to Noble
 Woman.
HAMILTON. N. V, June 12, 1897


 you about my visit at Auburn. Here I was student at the Theological Semi nary in 1858 and 1854, and in the fall of '53 the noted Universalist preacher from New York City, Rev. E. II. Chapin, delivered splendid classical lecture on temperance on the campus in the morning and Henry Ward Beecher in the afternoon. ". H. Seward and family sat in my room in the second story and listened to both-the only time ever met the noted Senator, Gov ernor and purchaser of Alaska.
 here was another charm that brought me to that beautiful city at thisl time. It was woman, a dupli- eat of England's glorious queen, and one might well be taken for the. other, so close the resemblance. Shall tell you her name? She is too modest to give it to the public in her aims deeds. Ghere are only five months difference between her age and that of Queen Victoria. It is the 4ueenly Mrs. E. T. Martin and she resides two miles ssnth of this city, at Willow Brook, on Lake orrosco-a charming sheet Of vs ter-aud the mansion has been in the possession of the family since 1877. Her father was Governor of New York in 1882 and 1883. She had three i daughters who married U. S. officers, Gen. A. J. Alexander, Gen. Upton and Lieut.. Wilder, now an officer at West Point. One daughter, Mrs. Tremain, was married to the noted lawyer in Albany. Gen. Alexander was stationed at Fort Mcdowell in 1866 and 1867 and Lieut.. l Wilder was under Gen. Miles hunting down and capturing Geronimo, and his band in 1888, and subsequently was at Fort Lowell Generals Alexander and Upton and Mir. Tremain are gone, and the. widow of the first and of the last are with their mother. as also an un. married daughter. But why, perhaps you ask, was so anxious to see that grand woman, Mrs. Martin? For her goodness and greatness and generosity. When I began work in Florence she took an interest in it from the start as she had in Bro. Cooks, as she had a hand in starting his work among the Pimas from 1870, when he began. Though not possessed of large means l herself, she influenced others to help me in building the parsonage in 1889. When began to build the church edi- fee she wrote me that if I would give 2 brief history of Florence and vicinity and of the Casa Grande ruins, she would nave it published, and the pro ceeds. at 25 cents per copy, should go towards the building. This is the history of "A Brick for the Church at Florence Arizona, and there was raised from it's sale $709-every cent of which went into that building Not satisfied with that, sac influenced others, so that in, all there was. raised from 5000 to $120o, directly or indi- rectly, by that noble womanl l can not. see how that work could have been done had not the Lord raised up that grand helper and encourager in the dark days of the construction of that edifice. Do you wonder now that I wanted to see her and extend in per son, and for our citizens and myself our deep gratitude for her indispensable , aid, when so much needed2 She ii feeble, having had a shock of paralysis nearly two years ago, and though she ) has rallied somewhat, but few friends are permitted audience. Mine was 2 rare privilege, and count it "ret letter dayn in my history that I wal ! permitted an interview with her ani her noble daughters. She retains hel faculties remarkably for one of T
 years. Her life, now drawing to { l close, has been fraught with nobles f deeds, such as but few except God ant s the recipients know. She is as modes f as she is great, and when she is gone
 earth will be poorer and heaven fal
 richer. Her noble daughters count i their highest privilege to minister t her very tenderly and lovingly as onl. the daughters of such woman can. PAssos. f