The times., 1898-04-04
LINCOLNS WAR SECRETARY.
The Late Elise Herndon sfantoa's
CInim of E<in-hip Disputed.

To The Editor Of The Times:
In recent issue of the Evening Star
appeared. under the caption Dies as a
Pauper." an account OF the death. in the
Homeopathic Hospital of this city. OF one
Elise Herndon Stanton. who represented
that she was a daughter OF James Stan
ton, OF Virginia and half sister OF the
late Hon Edwin NJ stanton. who was
Secretary of War under President Lin
coin. She claimed that her mo.her was
Miss COlyin, of Virginia. and that after
she died. her father removed 10 Steuben-
Vile. Ohio. where he again married
and was the father of the late secretary
by that marriage. and that she never
again knew her father after his removal
to Ohio. that he left her in the care OF
one of his brothers, who kept her with
him until she reached womanhood. and
that she continued TO live with one of
her uncles until some time during TN,
civil war. when. because of her intense
loyalty 20 the Union she was arrested
and imprisoned by the Confederates. and
| hnaily after she had promised not To
reveal to the United States authorities
information she possessed concerning
their armies and Notifications, was sent
through the lines and came to Washing
ton with an aunt. and after reaching
here, called upon Secretary Stanton and
he refused To procure her an appointments
under the Government. although he offer
ed her a home with him. and sac then
personally appealed to President Lincoln.
who directed that she be appointed in the
Treasury Department
As IL would be unjust TO the Immediate
family and other near relatives OF Secre-
tary Stanton to allow the belief 10 pre-
vail that they would permit one so
nearly related to him as the unfortunate
lady in question claimed to be 70 suffer
from want and neglect. and to die as a
pauDer in hospital. / would request
that you be so kind as to grant me space
in your columns to state that il il not
susceptible of demonstration that the
lady referred to was in any way related
to Mr.. Stanton The father Of the latter
was DIR. David Stanton. a native of the
State of Pennsylvania. who removed TO
Steubenville. Ohio, where he was prae-
ticins medicine when he became ac-
| auainted with young lady from Virginia
| named Lucy Norman. who was visiting
| friends in that place. and afterwards
/ married her, and as a result of their
| union they had four children-EdWin NJ
| Stanton, the late secretary; Dr. Darwin
/ Stanton. deceased, and two girls both Of
1
| Ohio The wife of DR.. Stanton. the father
| of Edwin VI. Stanton. was a daughter OF
/ the late Thomas Norman. an extensive
| farmer of the neighborhOOd Of Stevans-
| burg. CulDeper County. Va He was a
soldier in the war for independence and
| lived and died in the neighborhOOd in
| which his daughter Lucy was born his
| old homestead being now owned by his
| youngest son. Joseph T. Norman.
1 DR.. Stanton, the father of Edwin NJ
| never at any time resided in Virginia and
| he had no relatives near or remote in
/ that State that anyone knew of Lucy
/ Norman, the mother of the late Secre-
/ tary. was his first and only wife
| If the lady who died here in the hospital
| called 10 see Secretary Stanton during tne
war. as she claimed, il is not likely that
/ her story made any impression upon his
mind as he knew the antecedents Of both
/ his fathers and his mothers family.
| and besides that his mother was then
| alive. and did not die until some time
| subsequent to the war. He never men
| toned the incident TO any of his Virginia
| relatives after the war. IL is evident
/ from that fact that he gave the matter
| no consideration and had no thought OF
| the lady being near relative TO him.
! Instead Of having been intensely loyal
i to the Union. as the lady who died in the
] hospital claimed herself to be during the
/ late war. the Virginia relatives of Seere-
/ tary Stanton were true TO their native
i State. and exceedingly devoted to tho
/ cause of the Southern COnfederaey
JOSEPH S. VOWLES