EDWIN M. STANTON AT KENYON
by WYMAN W. PARKER
Librarian, Kenyon College
Stanton, the secretary of war in
Lincoln's cabinet, is still a con-
troversial figure. Stanton, the
youthful school boy, is even more
elusive, but recently-located early
letters written in college and
in the years directly afterwards have
cast more light upon the
picture. The letters give an impression
slightly at variance with
the published reminiscences of his
contemporaries, but such were
tempered by time and the fact that
Stanton was already a public
figure when the anecdotes were printed.
The two sources together
give a consistent and reliable picture
of an engaging youth working
out his oats preparatory to settling
down to a great career.
The letters document Stanton's
residence at Kenyon to September
1832 and substantiate his deep regret
at not being able to continue
college. Thus these letters have
cleared up part of the chronology
of Stanton's early life, which has been
so variously reported by his
biographers. Opportunity is taken here
to restate from contemporary
sources what is authentically known
concerning his college days
in order to correct the misstatements
and inaccuracies of existing
Stanton biographies in the hope that
this will be of service to future
biographers. There is no good biography
of Stanton, and students
of history need a critical appraisal of
him not only because of his
position in history but also because of
his relationship to Lincoln
during the critical period of the Civil
War.
The years at Kenyon College came at an
impressionable period
in Stanton's life and exerted a
positive influence upon him in respect
to politics, religion, and marriage.
His political allegiance changed
at this time, and those views
especially important in regard to
secession and nullification which he
gained as a northern member
of the local debating society were
those to which he cleaved in his
administration of public office. The
acquaintance he made in Kenyon,
a sectarian college, with Episcopalian
doctrine was later to determine
his choice of a church. His first wife,
whom he loved so dearly,
233
234
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
had lived in Gambier, the village
supported by the college, and
it is likely that he first met her in
the college community. Surely
they shared an active interest in the
recently founded college and
village when they were courting in
Columbus at the home of a
Kenyon trustee. Later their son was to
graduate from this college,
and Stanton himself during the crowded
war years showed his
affection for it by returning to
Gambier, where he visited his
sister, who was then a village
resident.
When in Kenyon College, Stanton was
popular with both faculty
and students, being a student leader at
least in contending with
the established order. High-spirited
and original, he undoubtedly
was involved in more pranks than have
been recorded. His readiness
for fun was matched by a daring that
must have made him a campus
favorite. His sense of justice was not
intimidated by the restraints
of local laws which must have been
irksome if not unreasonable.
When too deeply involved, as in the
case quoted below1 of Bishop
Chase's "borrowed" horse, he
readily faced up to his duty, although
his tears before the bishop may be
suspect.
Stanton's interest in young ladies as
shown in these letters was
not unusual in a young man of his
spirit but was balanced by an
avid interest in books and in
omnivorously dispatching them. He
was evidently none too strong, for he
was frequently sick during
this period; but he obviously did not
favor himself, for the letters
show that he was as ready for a night
out courting or carousing as
he was to sit up with cholera victims
in the midst of a great epidemic.
His views of Columbus society reported
in the fourth letter were
naturally colored by his current
interest in girls and by finding few
boys in trade who could match his ready
intelligence. His first
business contacts in a large city
resulted understandably in some
disillusionment. This formative period
must have been a turbulent
one for Stanton with an ever-present
threat of cholera, the dis-
appointment of being unable to continue
college, and some frus-
tration in getting under way for his
professional law studies.
One must admire this lad's courage
while observing him in the
process of growing up. On his own at an
early age, he had no easy
planned life ahead. Passing through a
difficult adolescent period,
1 P. 236.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 235
he made a happy and profitable time of
his college years. His love
of fun and ready wit gained him many
lifelong friends from this
period. It took courage to write,
"Time and I against any two,"
as Stanton did on September 27, 1833,
in reporting that his guardian
bade him stay in Columbus rather than
return to Kenyon as he
desired. This fortitude was rewarded,
for in the next letter four
months later Stanton happily asserts
his guardian's wisdom in re-
quiring him to return to Steubenville
for the law training he wished.
His letters exhibit a racy attitude
which is distinctly modern and
not a little amazing in a day when most
students' letters were devout
and austerely moral. It appears from
lack of any evidence to the
contrary that Stanton did not take much
interest in the parochial
extracurricular activities at Kenyon.
However, the active part he
took in the debates at Gambier and
Steubenville exhibits a genuine
interest that is definitely directed
toward his subsequent career. The
last letter to his schoolmate
McClintock, although not improved in
schoolboy repartee, shows the distinct
purpose, lacking in the earlier
letters, of a man who has already found
his profession.
Stanton had but a year and a half of
formal college education.
Upon his father's death, when Stanton
was but thirteen, he was
apprenticed to James Turnbull, who
conducted a prosperous book-
store in Steubenville, Stanton's
birthplace. For his first year of work
he received $50 in addition to the
privilege of continuing his studies
at the Rev. George Buchanan's Latin
school. In 1831, after three
years in the bookshop, Stanton
expressed a desire to receive a
college education before deciding upon
a career, and Turnbull
evidently temporarily released him from
his contract. Daniel Collier,
Stanton's guardian, advanced the money
necessary for college. There-
fore at seventeen Stanton left for
Gambler, Ohio, to attend Kenyon,
one of the four colleges then in Ohio.
Tuition at that time at
Kenyon College was $70 for the full
forty weeks of the academic
year, but unlike today the sum included
board, tuition, room-rent,
fuel, and light. There were at this
time an estimated six hundred
students in the thirteen colleges west
of the Alleghenies.
Stanton arrived at Gambier for the
beginning of the summer
session, or second semester, on April
21, 1831. Beginning the fall
term as a sophomore, he attended the
full year from November 4,
236
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
1831, through September 5, 1832. These
were critical years in the
college, as Bishop Chase had returned
from his travels in behalf
of the diocese and the college to
administer an autocratic rule. The
faculty, accustomed to self-government
in his frequent absences,
understandably enough were rebellious,
and printed letters were
exchanged.2 At the time of
the Ohio diocesan convention held in
Gambler from September 7 to 10, 1831,
the bishop made an indig-
nant address to the convention
concerning "the rash act of these
gentlemen" who presented him with
"a threatening letter."3 As a
result of the trustees' attempt to
mediate and draw up bylaws
for the government of the faculty, the
bishop resigned, before the
convention adjourned, not only from the
college which he had
founded with funds collected in England
in 1824 but also from
his diocese. All of this furor could
not have been kept from the
students and must have furnished
exciting conversation.
Awe of the bishop did not prevent
Stanton, who was then de-
scribed as "young, bright, and
ever ready for fun and frolic,"4 from
borrowing without permission the
bishop's favorite horse, "Cincin-
natus," for a night's excursion
some miles into the countryside
to visit a young lady. It is related
that the freshman Stanton and
S. A. Bronson, a sophomore (later
theological professor, trustee,
and president of Kenyon), rode double
on the animal to visit the
Douglass sisters.5 The exhausted horse
was found next morning in
the stable by the bishop, who was irate
and promised the severest
punishment for whoever had abused his
beloved animal. Heman
Dyer, a theological student and
principal of the Kenyon Grammar
School, knew Stanton better than any of
the faculty and spoke in
his behalf when suspicion turned his
way. Dyer urged that Stanton
go to the bishop and make a clean
breast of it, which he did. Upon
asking Chase's forgiveness, he was
pardoned, but not until both
were reduced to tears in contemplation
of Stanton's plight: his
widowed mother and the lot that was
before him. Dyer does not
2 Circular, Gambier, July 14, 1831 (autograph signature: Phila
Chase); Letter
to Bishop Chase, Kenyon College, July 25, 1831 (printed signature: "The Professors
of Kenyon College").
3 Journal of the Proceedings of the
Fourteenth Annual Convention of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio (Gambier, 1831).
4 Heman Dyer, Records of an Active
Life (New York, 1886), 69.
5 Frank A. Flower, Edwin McMasters
Stanton (Akron, 1905), 28.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 237
mention that this expedition was
undertaken to visit a young lady,
but this omission may be explained by
the circumstance of the
Rev. Heman Dyer's marriage to Miss
Almira Douglass of Gambler
the following year. Certainly this
expedition was consistent with
Stanton's own interests as expressed in
his letters.6
The institution that Stanton attended
had slight resemblance to
the Kenyon College of a century later
with its many solid gothic
buildings. Old Kenyon, the first
American example of collegiate
gothic, was the only permanent building
standing in 1831. The
center section with walls four feet
thick at the base had been
erected by English stone masons brought
from England by Bishop
Chase. Its graceful spire had been
sketched by Charles Bulfinch,
an architect of the national capitol,
at the time Bishop Chase was in
Washington in 1828 attempting vainly to
secure additional lands
for the college from congress.7 There
was an overflow of students
from the dormitory's three-decker
built-in berths,8 resulting in a
statement on December 16, 1831, in the
weekly newspaper, the
Gambier Observer, that no more students were needed for the
college or the grammar school until
additional accommodations
had been completed. Rosse Chapel, the
other existing stone building
started by Chase, had only the basement
completed and roofed over
for the frequent use of religious
gatherings.9 There were also on
the hill ugly frame buildings for
farming and for housing college
students until Old Kenyon had been
prepared for occupancy. "Old
Seventy Four," named from its
unflattering resemblance to a ship
of the line, at this time was used by
the younger grammar school
students and was notorious for its many
discomforts. There were
still standing rude log cabins occupied
originally by the bishop's
family, the workmen, and the earliest
students when the plateau
6 Dyer, Records of an Active Life, 258,
relates that when Stanton introduced
him to President Lincoln and his
cabinet, Stanton said, "Mr. President, allow me
to introduce to you my friend, the Rev.
Dr. Dyer of New York. He was my early
friend in college, and stood by me when
I needed a friend."
7 Richard G. Salomon, "Philander
Chase, Norman Nash, and Charles Bulfinch,
A Study in the Origins of Old Kenyon," Historical
Magazine of the Episcopal
Church, XV (1946), 209-213.
8 George F. Smythe, Kenyon College,
Its First Century (New Haven, 1924),
Appendix II.
9 Both these earliest buildings have
been burned to the ground (Rosse in 1897,
Old Kenyon in 1949) and restored exactly
in exterior lines.
238
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
was but a wilderness in 1827.10 The
enthusiasm of the students
had been directed by means of a
"Horticultural Society" toward
making an extensive garden to supply
the commons table with fresh
vegetables. These gardens, just off the
college center path, were
protected by high board fences from the
many roving pigs of the
college farm. It was no doubt in these
gardens that a professor
observed Stanton procuring potatoes for
personal consumption. As
recalled by college-mate Bronson, the
professor called out, "Stanton,
those potatoes belong to the
college." "So do I," answered Stanton
and continued digging, which appeared
to settle the matter.11
The religious discipline of the college
was strict, and attendance
at daily morning and evening prayers in
the chapel was required
of all, in addition to "every
exercise of public worship" on Sunday.12
This discipline made an impression on
Stanton, for he came to
college a Methodist but subsequently
joined the Episcopal Church.
Kenyon, like many other colleges in
1831, experienced religious
"revivals" through the
spontaneous interest and increased seriousness
of the students, which led in midwinter
to additional services held
in the college halls. These meetings
were conducted by the older
theological students and were
responsible for inducing additional
men to go into the ministry. Dyer in
describing two of such periods
while he was in Gambier says the
interest was so great on one
occasion that all college exercises
were suspended for one or two
days.13
There were other worthy causes which
the earnest student could
embrace then. The Colonization Society
was celebrating its fourth
anniversary in 1832, the Missionary
Society had been founded the
previous year, but the older Temperance
Society of Kenyon College
and Vicinity was the strongest of all,
with one hundred and sixty-
seven members. Indeed, fifty members of
the latter formed a society
for total abstinence from tobacco,
having been so moved by the
Rev. James McElroy's closing remarks
before the Temperance
Society on February 22, 1832, which
were devoted to proving the
use of tobacco as little less injurious
than intemperance in drinking.14
10 Smythe, Kenyon College, Chapter XII.
11 Flower, E. M. Stanton, 28.
12 Kenyon
College Catalogue (Gambier, 1831-32).
13 Dyer, Records
of an Active Life, 56.
14 Gambier Observer, March 9, 1832.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 239
The local weekly paper is crammed with
moral tales of the fate
of drunkards, long reports of the
American Board of Missions, and
an occasional article on cholera, which
was beginning to assume
epidemic proportions in some of the
larger cities. It is not likely
that Stanton was concerned deeply with
groups devoted to such
specialized interests, although he
inquires later with affection about
many of the faculty leaders of these
societies. Cholera in less than
a year was of chief import to him.
The administration was not unsatisfied
as to the state of the
college, reporting, in public answer to
the late president's printed
accusations of disorder and
insubordination among the students,15
that some few instances of disobedience
such as happen in most
institutions had occurred in the four
or five months since the bishop's
departure, but "that at no
previous period has greater propriety of
deportment, or more rapid proficiency
in their studies been exhibited
by the students generally."16 The above
pranks probably included
the expulsion in midwinter by the
students of an unpopular tutor.
Stanton was the leader of a ruckus in
the dining hall by which the
poor tutor, upon being bombarded by all
sorts of breadstuffs, was
informed of his regard by the whole
student body and driven out
of the hall. He soon left the college
entirely and the faculty dropped
the matter as being too complicated to
solve. Dyer explains that
the tutor had betrayed the confidence
of the students, and Stanton
was determined that this two-faced
dealer should be punished,
law or not, and was willing to suffer
the consequences. Dyer goes
on to say, "This was a marked
trait in Mr. Stanton's character,
and no doubt had much to do in shaping
his future career. His
innate sense of justice made him
restive under the restraints of the
forms of law."17
Kenyon, like most other colleges of the
early nineteenth century,
had an active literary society. The
Philomathesian Society, founded
by the students in 1827 in Worthington,
Ohio, just before the
college moved to Gambier, was an active
society meeting weekly.
The society proudly maintained a
library and guarded jealously the
15 "Bishop Chase's Defense
of Himself Against the Late Conspiracy at Gambier,
Ohio, in a Series of Letters to His
Friends," a supplement to the Western Herald
and Steubenville Gazette (final letter dated February 9, 1832).
16 Gambier Observer, March 2, 1832.
17 Dyer, Records of an Active Life, 71-73.
240
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
rights to its use. Debates among
members at each meeting were
scheduled in advance and were
frequently open to the faculty.
Compositions, orations, and forensics
were also regularly scheduled
for each of these Friday evening
meetings. Nullification was being
hotly discussed throughout the nation,
and the opposing views must
have been presented often under various
guises at these forums.
Kenyon, an Episcopal school not far
from the Mason-Dixon line,
drew men from the South as well as the
North. During Stanton's
last year in Gambier twenty-seven out
of the sixty men in college,
were from southern states. In 1832,
because party spirit was running
so high, permission was secured from
the faculty to form two
societies from the Philomathesian to
resolve the society's difficulties.
Twelve men resigned, taking their
proportion of the library; but
losing the toss of a coin for the
society name, they became the Nu
Pi Kappa Society. These men were all
from Maryland and Virginia
except Charles Sigourney of Hartford,
Connecticut, a stepson of
Lydia Sigourney, the American Mrs.
Hemans.
Stanton was elected to the
Philomathesian Society on February 17,
1832, in the first semester of his
sophomore year.18 As the numbers
of northern and southern men were then
nearly equal within the
society, a system of pairing was
observed in the election of new
members to the society that semester.
No candidate who could not
"define his position" was admitted
in the struggle for predominance
between the factions.19 Stanton
was the last of the hotly contested
candidates who was voted membership. Of
nine students who
acquired Philomathesian status that
semester, five resigned before
the end of the next term when the split
occurred.20 That Stanton
appreciated the honor of election there
can be little doubt, for shortly
thereafter the secretary was directed
to present the thanks of the
society "voted to Mr. Stanton for
the handsome present made it of
a Record Book."21 The new book had
a gold-stamped red-leather
label bearing the legend
"Presented by E. M. Stanton," which may
have been supplied with the volume, for
the secretary was only
18 Philomathesian Society, Minute Book, 1827-1832. Kenyon College Library.
19 Peter Neff, History . . .
of the Philomathesian Society (Gambier, 1853), 6.
20 Philomathesian Society, Minute
Book, April 1832-1848 (leather label on cover:
"Presented by E. M. Stanton"). Kenyon College
Library.
21 Ibid., May 18,
1832.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 241
directed to record future proceedings
in the new book and to
preserve the old volume which was but
three-quarters filled.
Joining Philomathesian as a northern
supporter was an important
political decision in Stanton's career,
for his father had ardently
advocated Adams in the struggle with
Jackson in 1824, and Stanton
may be presumed to have been in accord
with his father's principles
in 1828. However, in 1832 he "went
over to Jackson," in the words
of a Whig squire of Steubenville.
Intervening were the years at
Kenyon and membership in the Philomathesian Society.
Bronson
remembers Stanton in his Columbus
office in 1833 introducing him
to a southern man by saying, "Here
is 'Father' Bronson. We fought
the South together at Kenyon, and
whipped."22 Always thereafter
Stanton was an enthusiastic supporter
of the cause of the Union
and the maintenance of its authority.
Stanton did his share in the society,
serving on several committees
in minor capacities. His two scheduled
debates, as one of two men
defending the affirmative in each case,
were evidently not dis-
tinguished performances, as the
negative was favored in both
decisions. His only other debate during
the short period he was
active in Philo was when he substituted
for an absent man on the
affirmative. This, interestingly
enough, was a typical wrangler's
question of the day, which several
years later would be of much
more intimate concern to him,
"Does the life of the agriculturalist
conduce more to happiness, than that of
the lawyer?" This must
have been a better performance, as the
society voted for the
affirmative.23 Stanton
acknowledged the value of his Philomathesian
membership by saying in an address
before the society some years
after the Civil War, that its exercises
with their free discussion of
public questions had helped him in
forming his opinions in after
years.24
Stanton was elected secretary in the
annual elections at the end
of the term, but as he left college
shortly afterwards, he never
22 George C. Gorham, Life and
Public Services of Edwin M. Stanton (New York,
1899), 16.
23 Philomathesian Society, Minutes, July
13, 1832. A. T. McClintock, later a
lawyer, to whom four of the Stanton
letters, hereafter quoted were written, was one
of the men who presented the negative
argument of the above question.
24 "Stanton
at Kenyon," The Kenyon Collegian (Stanton Number), XXXII, No.
14 (May 1906), 158.
242
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
served. A temporary secretary has added
a signature for Stanton
to the minutes of this meeting of
August 31, 1832. In November
Stanton was voted the impressive vellum
diploma of the society,
which must have graced his room in
Columbus shortly thereafter.
Stanton is known to have been an
omnivorous reader to the
detriment of his success as a clerk in
the book shop in Steubenville,
for Mr. Turnbull is reputed by his
son-in-law to have been somewhat
annoyed by Stanton's neglect of
customers because of his absorption
in a book. "He consumed every book
in the store."25 He undoubtedly
left his personal books to the
Philomathesian Society library upon
taking up business in Columbus. The Catalogue
of the Library, and
Names of Members of the
Philomathesian Society of Kenyon College
from Its Formation in 1827 to 1840 (Gambier, 1840) lists him as a
donor of four titles, but strangely
enough does not list him as a
member. This is only in part corrected
in the 1853 catalog, which
makes two errors in listing him as
"Edward M. Stanton, of Steuben-
ville; not heard from; was a member of
College about 1830; left
before graduating."26 Still
in use in the college library are the
former Philomathesian library copies of
the British Classics edition
(New York, 1809) of The Spectator in
ten volumes and Hale's
History of the United States (New York, 1827), with his signature
as well; as "Edwin M. Stanton,
No.______" on each title page.
At the end of his sophomore year in
September 1832 Stanton
left Gambier to return again only as a
visitor. He was bitterly
disappointed not to have been able to
complete his course in the
college which Bishop Chase had
romantically termed "the Star in
the West."27 From
Steubenville Stanton went to Columbus in mid-
October to take charge of a branch book
shop and stationery store
for Mr. Turnbull, in whose Steubenville
book shop he had spent
three years before college. His next
year, that of the great cholera
epidemic in the western states, was
spent in Columbus. There he
25 Flower,
E. M. Stanton, 23-24.
26Neff,
Philomathesian History, 50.
27 Philander
Chase, The Star in the West, or Kenyon College, in . . . 1828
(Columbus [?], 1828), in which Bishop
Chase relates his disappointment in the
house postponement of a bill passed by
the United States Senate March 28, 1828,
granting a township of free land to
Kenyon for private sale. He turned this pamphlet
into an appeal to the country at large
for each reader to send a contribution of one
dollar to the college. This enterprise,
which may have been one of the first mail
campaigns in America, was fairly
successful in bringing funds to Kenyon.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 243
attended sessions of the state
legislature and made Trinity Episcopal
Church his place of worship. The Rev.
William Preston, then a
trustee of Kenyon and rector of
Trinity, undoubtedly took Stanton
under his wing. Stanton fell in love
with Mary A. Lamson, an
orphan, who was living with her
brother-in-law, the Rev. Mr.
Preston, during this year. Mary's
father, the late William K. Lamson
of Columbus, had been head clerk in the
Gambier college store,
and it is probable that Stanton first
met Mary in Gambier. They soon
became engaged, but the couple waited
to marry until Stanton
completed his law studies. They were
married by the Rev. William
Preston in his house at Columbus on
December 31, 1836. Stanton
began the study of law in Steubenville
with his guardian, Daniel L.
Collier, in January 1834. He passed his
examinations in 1835 but
being under age was not formally
admitted to the bar until 1836,
when he commenced practice at Cadiz,
Ohio. After a term as
prosecuting attorney of Harrison
County, he returned to Steuben-
ville to become a partner of Judge
Benjamin Tappan in 1839.
The following letters written by
Stanton, with two exceptions,
are now in the manuscript collection of
the Kenyon College Library.
They were presented to the library by
Gilbert S. McClintock, a
grandson of Andrew T. McClintock, to
whom the letters are
addressed. A. T. McClintock, later a
prominent lawyer of Wilkes-
Barre, attended Kenyon for three years
from 1831 to 1834.
McClintock remained one more year at
Kenyon than did Stanton,
and it is chiefly during this period
that Stanton wrote for news of
the college. The originals of the two
letters to Stanton's guardian,
D. L. Collier, are in the possession of
Gideon T. Stanton of New
Orleans, E. M. Stanton's grandson, who
has graciously given per-
mission to publish all the letters
below.
Gambier July 21st 1832
Mr. Alexander J. Beatty28
Steubenville, Ohio
Dear Friend
Your letter of June 28th was duly
rec'd, but contrary to my usual custom
I have delayed answering it: yet as I
am generally punctual, you will of
28 Probably a fellow clerk in Turnbull's
Steubenville book shop. See letter of
September 14, 1833, below.
244 Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
course grant pardon for this single
neglect. The fact is, between ill health
and hard studies, not to mention a
little--of----ahem, I have scarce
breathing time.
I am really very sorry that you have
determined to withdraw from the
contest with Wilson, for Maria. There
may be some little selfishness, in
my sorrow, for though I disclaim
anything like particular feelings in that
quarter, yet I was certainly very much pleased,
and would rather see her
in the possession of one of my friends,
than such a paste-tub as Wilson.
I am in chase of a petticoat,29 what
success I may have, God only knows-
but if I fail, it shall not be from want
of exertion on my part.
I went to see her, a few evenings since,
and enjoyed myself so well, that
I took no note of time. About one
o'clock I started for the college which
was three miles from the girl's
house--but fortune which had hitherto been
favorable, deserted me-I lost my way,
and after tramping all around the
country, periling my neck in divers
ways, reached home about four in the
morning, cold, wet, and tired. The cold,
and fatigue, threw me into a fever,
which confined me several days. So much
for love-rather expensive, don't
you think so?
We spent our fourth,30 much
to my satisfaction, though we had no valiant
guard to parade the hill, shewing their
"thews and sinews," and choking
themselves with dust, for our amusement.
Your "admirable corps," doubt-
less played the devil with the Wheeling
ladies, and made themselves "very
sufficiently" ridiculous, by
traveling so far for an exhibition not of their
strength but weakness.
They had a splendid celebration, I am
told at Mt. Vernon,-no less
than three orations (all stolen from the
Columbian orator31) a dinner and
a ball, beside which, every man, woman
and child were drunk as a fidler's
[sic] bitch.
Our Faculty, through fear of Cholera,
have prohibited bathing, and
almost everything else but
studying-would to God they may prohibit that
shortly.
Miss Story, and Eliza Osborne are
married it seems, they had better
be so than wait until the Cholera comes.
"They may marry and be given
in marriage but the flood will
come" says Bishop Chase and the ladies
29 This might be one of the daughters of
Archibald Douglass of Gambier, a
Scotchman, then superintendent of the
general business affairs on the college domain.
Dyer, Records of an Active Life, 76.
30 Commemorated
in Gambier by a meeting of the Colonization Society. "After
divine service, an interesting address
was delivered by Professor J. Kendrick. The
Report of the Managers was read by Mr.
H. Dyer, the Secretary. The funds in the
Treasury amounted to $39.00, and a
considerable number of new subscribers were
obtained." Gambier Observer, July
6, 1832.
31 Caleb
Bingham, The Columbian Orator . . . (Boston, 1797). This book of
strongly patriotic and deeply religious
selections made by a pioneer textbook writer
was frequently reprinted. It was the
best-known book of its kind for a quarter of a
century and was especially popular in
district schools.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 245
had better kick the bucket, married
women, than maids, for having ex-
perienced both conditions in this
world, the'll [sic] know which to choose
when "born again" in the next.
You will please write soon, and inform
me how the fourth was spent
in Steub, whether you had an oration and
dinner, who prepared the one,
and delivered the other. If the oration
is printed please send me a copy.
Scott32 is well, he and I are still
rooming together, he sends you his
respects.
I must bid you good-bye ever praying
that "perfect tranquillity may be
the general tenor of your life, that you
may have good digestions[,]
serene weather" and whatever else
Heaven may please to bestow.
Yours affectionately
Edwin M. Stanton
P.S.
My respects to Maria.
EMS
Kenyon College Aug 18th, 1832
D. L. Collier Esq.
Steubenville, Ohio
Dear Sir
Knowing that your attention was
constantly occupied by your business,
I was unwilling to trouble you unless
absolutely necessary, and have there-
fore delayed writing until now.
The session has passed thus far very
pleasantly, but will close on the
fifth of next month when I shall want
some money to pay my bills, and
defray my expenses home.
If it is your intention that I should
continue here another session, I
might perhaps remain during vacation.33
But I think there would be no
advantage in so doing, as my boarding
would cost the same as in "term
time" & the Professors not
remaining on the hill I should be perfectly idle.
Besides, the college library would be
closed, and the students all gone.
My bills have been nearly the same this,
as in former sessions, to settle
which, with about ten dollars to bear my
expenses home, will be all the
funds necessary.
Should there be any probability of my
not continuing another session,
please let me know in order that I may
make the necessary arrangements.
Yours most respectfully
Edwin M. Stanton
32 William B. Scott of Wilkes-Barre, a sophomore and Philomathesian member.
33 Vacation extended for eight weeks after commencement, the first
Wednesday of
September.
246
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
Steubenville Oct. 10th, 1832
[Notation on cover: "E.M. Stanton,
answered, Oct 16, 1832"]
Mr. Andrew T. McClintock
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio
Dear McClintock
I reached home Wednesday about two
o'clock, after one of the most
fatiguing, wet, disagreeable, and altogether
damnable rides, that ever poor
fellow had. I never expect to pay, the
debt of gratitude I owe you, for
accompanying me to Millersburg;34 but
if I should have the good luck
to be an influential member of the Court
above, you may depend upon
my efforts for your salvation.
My hopes of returning to Gambier, were
very sanguine when I reached
home; especially as I know I could
obtain money on loan, for the mere
asking, which in fact I did; but I found
it so difficult to wring a release35
from Turnbull, and even when he had
granted a churlish assent, my well
beloved guardian made such a violent opposition,
that I abandoned all
hopes,--renewed my engagement, and shall
set out next Monday for
Columbus.36
This I consider an absolute sacrifice of
myself[:] soul, and body,--an
utter destruction, of all hopes and
expectation, which I one [sic] cherished,
for it has probably not escaped your
observation, that I had some "dreams
of future greatness"--but they are
gone,--dispersed, vanished, like the
"baseless fabric of a vision."
I shall henceforth be regardless of life, fortune,
character, everything, and shall
continue to live on, from day, to day,
objectless, hopeless, without end to be
reached, or design to be accomplished,
--being litterally [sic] "nipt
in the bud" I shall go on cursing and being
cursed.
The fact is McClintock I believe in the
maxim that says a short life
and a merry one is the better. In
consequence of which belief, I have com-
menced drinking, rowing and swearing,
and am rapidly approaching the
"kingdom to come," at least as
rapidly as such a course of life, will admit.
Yesterday was our election day, but it
went off altogether too quietly
without fight, or quarrel-a curse upon
such tameness of the "sovreign
[sic] people"! Part of
the Clay, & part of the Jackson37 ticket, carrier
so that the result was not decisive of
the strength of either party. I wonde
34 Forty miles northeast of Gambier en
route to Steubenville.
35 From his contract to work with
Turnbull, who had temporarily allowed him the
freedom to go to Kenyon.
36 To take charge of the Columbus
branch of Turnbull's book store and stationer??
shop. He received $250 per year and the
privilege of sleeping in the store.
37
The national election in which Jackson was reelected. Final results must has
pleased Stanton, for it was at Kenyon
that he "went over to Jackson."
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 247
how the Revd. Thos. Rigdan came out? I
want you to write me immediately
at Columbus so that I may receive your
letter on my arrival! The trunk
you need not forward, until you hear from me again. Give my love to
John Blackburn,38--my
respects to Dyer & wife,39 and my curse to Phelps
Hoey40 & Co.
You must excuse any incoherency in this
my epistle as I was up all
night and engaged in what has very
little tendency to arrange one's thoughts.
But dear McC I am your most humble
friend.
Edwin Stanton
Columbus Nov 2d 1832
[Notation on cover:
"Kindness of Mr. Matthews"]41
Andrew T. McClintock
Kenyon College
Ohio
Dearly Beloved
My trunk, thanks to your kindness,
reached here last evening, as also
what was more welcome,-your note.
I have now been in Columbus two weeks,
and during that time became
[sic] somewhat acquainted with the good folks,
"what" dwell therein.
Taking all things into consideration, I
like the place pretty well. It
affords advantages for forming
acquaintances among the great men of the
day,-of becoming acquainted with the
proper method of doing business;
learning how to cheat, and avoid being
cheated, besides the various usages
of the world.
So your perceive my dear friend, that
there is every facility for becoming
"quite, a clever sweet,
accomplished villian [sic]."
The business done here, though trifling
or even contemptible in com-
parison with some places, appears
immense, to one who has dwelt any
length of time at Kenyon, and whose
habits are so steady & feelings so
quiet, as mine.
The young society,42 is
large, though not exactly to my taste. The majority
of the young men, are impudent, ignorant
self sufficient counter-jumpers-
a class peculiarly obnoxious to me.
The females form rather a more
respectable body, those with whom I
38 John Blackburn of Cincinnati, a
junior.
39 Heman Dyer, principal of the grammar
school, married Almira Douglass of
Gambler September 12, 1832. Gambier
Observer, September 28, 1832.
40 Edward
M. Phelps of Woodbury, Connecticut, a senior and Philomathesian
member. William A. Hoey of Dublin,
Ireland, a junior and Philomathesian member.
41 Dorance
Matthews of Columbus, a sophomore.
42 Compare the famous opinion of
Cincinnati society of these years held by Mrs.
Trollope. Domestic Manners of the
Americans (New York, 1832).
248 Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
have become acquainted, appear modest
sensible & well informed, though
by no means remarkeable [sic] for
personal charms. You can readily imagine
with which I shall principally
associate.
My situation is very pleasant, I have a
great deal of time for reading, and
board in a family43 with which I am
highly pleased.
The Old folks, are intelligent,
hospitable, kind and in short just such folks
as you would like. Their daughters--they
have four--though not handsome
are very agreeable.
You have doubtless heard Minor44
speak of a Miss Kelley, in high terms
of commendation, I have become slightly
acquainted with her, and found
she was all he described her.
I was at a party, the other evening at
Espy's, a relation of Woods45 to
whom indeed I was indebted for the
invitation. I enjoyed myself pretty
well, but was somewhat disgusted with
the affectation of the ladies, and
bored by the dullness of the men. By the
way, at those small parties you
will discover the true characters of the
individuals who compose them.
I shall go to Kenyon the moment I learn
of the arrival of Sparrow &
Clarke or either.46
The enclosed note, you will hand Clarke immediately
on his arrival.
Write soon.
Yours affectionately,
E. M. Stanton.
P. S. Give my love to Blackburn.--should
Woods say any thing about the
party tell him I was charmed with it. My
respects to Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Kendrick do Denison do Fitch.47
Stanton
43 That of Dr. Howard, a "steam
doctor," whose daughter Anna died of a very
sudden attack of cholera at the turn of
the year. Stricken at 2 P.M. she was buried
before Stanton's return that evening. It
is reported that Stanton engaged the help of
two friends and proceeded to dig up her
grave to make certain that she was not
alive. This act was recognized and
commented upon at the time as showing heroic
courage and was evidently in line with
his good reputation in Columbus. Flower,
E. M. Stanton, 30.
44 Possibly John L. Minor of Columbus,
Kenyon 1832.
45 Henry
Woods of Columbus, a freshman (earlier a grammar school student).
46 Thomas
Sparrow of Gambier, then in the grammar school. His older brother,
William Sparrow, a professor of
divinity, was acting president of Kenyon from
Bishop Chase's departure in September
1831 until Bishop McIlvaine took up residence
in July 1833.
Robert D. Clarke of Brownsville,
Pennsylvania, a sophomore.
47 Professor
John Kendrick (philosophy), the Rev. George Denison (mathematics),
and the Rev. Chauncey W. Fitch
(language) had all been married during this last
(September-October) vacation period.
That three of the six men of the faculty
seized this first opportunity after the
Chases departed is probably a tribute to Mrs.
Philander Chase, who was known as a very
domineering person. The faculty was
notoriously ill-paid in Bishop Chase's time, so
bachelor status may have been the
result of family collusion. Professor
Sparrow had previously married Mrs. Chase's
sister, who was presumably acceptable.
The three newly married professors upon
petition were given increases in salary by the trustees
at this time.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 249
Columbus Sept 14th 1833
D. L. Collier Esq
Steubenville, Ohio
Dear Sir
As my engagement with Mr. Turnbull has
nearly expired, and I have made
no new arrangements, I should be pleased
to know in what manner you
think I can best dispose of myself for
this next year. I have always, as you
are aware, been looking to a Profession
for my future support, & the Law,
has had my preference. Previous to commencing
the study, however, I should
--with your approval--like to spend another year at
Kenyon. But it is not
only impossible for me to do so now, but
I am not able, even to commence
the study of a Profession. The salary
which I receive, is so inadequate,
that what shall remain over my expenses,
will be next to nothing.
The idea was held out, when I engaged
with Mr. Turnbull, that my
compensation was greater than that recd
by Beatty,48 and Mr. Turnbull,
was well aware, that my expenses must
not only be much greater than
Beattys, but as the whole charge of the
store devolved upon me, my duties
would be more arduous. Yet Beatty
receives $250 beside $36 for extra
services. From this, I think that the
advantage of me has unfairly been
taken. But as I've formed acquaintances
here, & the situation is in some
respects pleasant, if Mr. Turnbull will
make any thing like an equitable
bargain, I am willing to remain another
year. You will however please
make what arrangements you think best,
you are in all these things the
best judge, & to your opinion I
shall of course gladly submit.
About four weeks since, I had an attack,
of what is here called, malignant
fever. I had the night previous sat up
at Mr. Howards. It commenced with
diarrhea, which continued with cramps of
feet, legs, & hands, for about
six hours. I am now able to attend to
business, but my health is far from
being restored.
By a letter from my sister, I learned
that the house49 had been sold.
I know not what arrangement was made
with regard to Mother, but hope
that she will not be compelled to leave
until another house shall have been
procured, nor in any other wise put to
inconvenience by the sale. If it is
not too much trouble, I should like you
would see Mr. Turnbull, & make
immediately arrangements as to my
remaining. I wrote to him a short
time since; you will please ask him
whether he recd the letter as I've
had no reply.
Yrs.
E. M. Stanton
48 Probably
Alexander J. Beatty, to whom the first letter in this series is addressed.
49 The house was sold October 31,
1833, and Mrs. Stanton went to visit relatives
in Virginia. J. B. Doyle, In
Memoriam, Edwin McMasters Stanton (Steubenville,
1911), 21.
250 Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
Columbus Sept 27th 1833
[Notation on cover: "E. M.
Stanton ansd. Oct. 17, 1833"]
Mitchell50 & McClintock
Gambier, Ohio
Dearly Beloved:
I have delayed answering your kind &
sympathising [sic] epistle until
I should be able to give you more
cheering information, than in my last.
This, in some respects, I can now do. No
case of Cholera has occurred
since Saturday; the presumption is, that
it has now left us. Business is
improving, and the town has assumed a
much better appearance. John L.51
was recovering, but through imprudence
had a relapse, so that, even now,
he is barely able to move about his
room. His family are in a very afflicted
condition. Secretary Kirby52 (his
brother-in-law) has been very ill for some
time, and since Sunday his recovery has
been looked upon as extremely
doubtful. I have been busily engaged,
ever since my return, in attendance
upon John & Kirby, and am now most
thoroughly jaded. I watched all
last night with Kirby & left him
this morning somewhat better,--though
not materially so.
My own health has been good, saving that
I had nearly died a week
since in a debauch, but through the
vigorous exertions of my friends, escaped
with a slight fit. The following night,
I was attacked with very alarming
symptoms--of Cholera; from that also I escaped, by strong and timely
measures. From these circumstances, I
have been induced to "forswear
sack and live cleanly"--for the
present.
Soon after my return from Kenyon, I
wrote Mr. Collier; informing
him of my desires and feelings. The sum
and substance of his reply was:--
"remain where you are." For
this I was in some sort prepared and had taken
measures for acting independantly [sic]
of my much loved guardian, but
the death of Judge Campbell53 has
entirely disconcerted my plans. Thus you
see my dear friends, that with me,
"the time is out of joint"; I am never-
theless content,--and have merely to say
with Sir Walter, "time and I
against any two."54
Yrs truly
Edwin Stanton
50 Probably Joseph Mitchell of
Steubenville, a freshman (earlier a grammar school
student).
51 Probably John L. Minor of Columbus,
who had graduated from Kenyon in 1832.
See note 44 above.
52 Moses H. Kirby was the secretary of state of Ohio,
1831-33.
53 John
Wilson Campbell was a judge of the United States Court for the District
of Ohio from 1829 until his death in
Delaware, Ohio, September 24, 1833. A former
prosecuting attorney, he had been a
member of the state house of representatives in
1810, 1813, and 1815, and a
congressional representative (Democratic) from 1817 to
1827.
54 Variously attributed: Charles V of
France (c. 1380); a Spanish proverb,
Arbuthnot (1712).
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 251
Steubenville Jan 30 183355
[Notation on cover:
"E. M. Stanton answd"]
Mr. Andrew T. McClintock
Kenyon College
Gambler, Ohio
Friend McClintock:
Time and again I've determined to write
you but circumstances have
hitherto prevented my so doing.
Last November, I left Columbus and
returned home; after knocking about
for a month or six weeks doing nothing,
I set me down to read Law. My
desire was to study at Columbus, and I
strained every nerve to accomplish
that object. I failed, and thank God for
it. It was put into my head, that
to read with Swan,56 or Judge
Tappan57 (who expected to leave here) would
be much to my advantage; and having
fallen desperately in love with a young
lady of Columbus58 I thought my whole future success, nay my very
existence
depended on my going there. My guardian
was wiser than I: so here my
term of probation will be passed.
Both Swan and Tappan it is true are more
eminent than our Lawyers.
But their very eminence would be an
objection; for they are old and in-
dependent, and would have but little
time or attention to bestow on their
students. While our lawyers on the
contrary feel their reputation or at least
their interest concerned in the
improvement of their ["students" erased]
pupils. Steubenville besides, has other
great advantages for Law Students.
The Bar ('tho Goodenow and Wright59
have left it) is still respectable.
Living is cheaper than in any other town
of its size in the whole Western
Country. A great many young men have
already studied here, so that a
regular system of instruction has
been adopted. There are now five
persons
studying--one of whom is Cummings who used to room with Dav
Davis.60
55 This is obviously misdated.
McClintock's copy of his answer to this letter,
mentioning "your letter of Jany 30th"
and replying that the Philomathesian Society
was flourishing "tho not under the
'fostering care,' as you suppose, of Doct. Davis,"
is dated "Kenyon College Apl. 12,
1834."
56 Judge Joseph R. Swan of Columbus, a circuit judge.
57 Judge Benjamin Tappan of
Steubenville, United States District Judge of Ohio
in 1833. Stanton formed a partnership
with him in Steubenville in October 1838 just
before Tappan's election on the
Democratic ticket to the United States Senate, where
he served from 1839 to 1845.
58 Mary A. Lamson, whom he married.
59 John Milton Goodenow, a Steubenville
lawyer, resigned because of ill health
from the supreme court of Ohio in 1830.
He moved to Cincinnati in 1832, where
he was presiding judge of the court of
common pleas in 1833.
John Crafts Wright, a Steubenville
lawyer, served in the Ohio Supreme Court
from 1831 to 1835, when he moved to
Cincinnati.
60 John D. Cummings of Indiana County,
Pennsylvania, an irregular student
at Kenyon, 1831-32.
David Davis of Newark, Delaware,
graduated from Kenyon in 1832. Leader of the
Lincoln forces at the Chicago convention
of 1860, he was Lincoln's appointee to the
supreme court (1862-77) and the family's choice as
administrator of Lincoln's estate.
252
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
We have a "Lyceum" that meets
every Saturday night. The exercises are
Lectures on Chemistry and other branches
of science, Literature & History
with regular debates. Every
Monday evening the "Atheneum" meets. The
principal object of this society is debate--in
connection with it is a reading
room and library. Tuesday and
Friday evenings we have law examinations.
And it is probable next month we will
establish a Moot Court, (a sort of
sham court of justice conducted on the
principle of regular courts) in
which law points and supposed cases will
be argued. One of our Lawyers
has the best library west of the
mountains which is free to every student.
My own dearly beloved guardian is
admitted to be the most systematic and
business [sic] lawyer in the
state. He is now at Washington City attending
a case in which he has been retained.
Now not more than one fifth of these
advantages could possibly be had
in Columbus, and that attended with
three times the expense. Then my dear
Mc you will congratulate me on having
had others to think for me instead
of being left to my own whims and
fancies.
Did I not know your intention of
returning to study your profession in
Pennsylvania I would urge upon you the
propriety of coming here. I have
been in every principal town in the
state, and have conversed with many
well acquainted with the subject, and
their opinions confirm my own ob-
servation, that no place in the West
holds out half so many inducements
to the student at law.
It has been a long while since I heard
from Gambier--but saving yourself
and one or two others it has now no
longer any interest for me. You, I
suppose, are pursuing the "even
tenor of your way"; in other words studying
like the devil. The Philomathesian under
the "fostering care and benign in-
fluence" of Doctor Davis,61
is doubtless flourishing. The Doctor himself,
no doubt, already carries "fate and
physic in his eye" and looks ardently
forward to the time when he shall go
forth in his might, armed and equipped
with puke and clyster.62
61 Edwin H. Davis of Hillsboro, Ohio, in
college 1831-34, where he was also
known as "Ned, the Mound
Digger." A graduate of Cincinnati Medical College in
1837 or 1838, he practiced in
Chillicothe, Ohio, from 1838 to 1850 and then taught
at the New York Medical College until
1860. He was the author with E. G. Squier
of the first of the Smithsonian
Institution's Contributions to Knowledge, Ancient
Monuments of the Mississippi Valley (Washington, 1847). The Kenyon College
Library owns a handsomely bound copy of
this folio containing a gold-tooled leather
presentation label inscribed
"Philomathesian Society from E. H. Davis." This work
is still of summary value to American
archaeologists because of its accurate surveys
and descriptions of mounds now long
plowed under. A Swiss archaeologist, A.
Morlot, in the American Philosophical
Society Proceedings for 1862 (No. 68, p. 111),
declared it to be as "glorious a
monument of American Science, as Bunker's Hill
is of American bravery."
The oration Davis delivered on "The
Antiquities of Ohio" at the Kenyon Commence-
ment, September 4, 1833, interested Daniel Webster,
then traveling in the area, and
his encouragement stimulated Davis in
his determination to continue these researches.
Dictionary of American Biography.
62 Vomit and
enema.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 253
How are all the folks? Dyer and his
wife? Kendrick and ditto? You will
write to me my dear Mc and tell me all
about yourself your past deeds
your future plans and prospects; and
believe me ever my dear friend.
Yours most affectionately
Edwin M. Stanton
Many of Stanton's friends and
associates in later life were Kenyon
men. He is quoted, certainly not
exactly, as having said more than
once, "If I am anything I owe it
to Gambier College."63 His son,
Edwin Lamson Stanton, was valedictorian
of the class of 1863 at
Kenyon and was said to have graduated
with the highest honors
in the history of the college. After
graduation E. L. Stanton and
George T. Chapman, a Kenyon graduate
and professor (1860-63),
went into the war department as
secretaries. Earlier Secretary
Stanton had appointed his sister
Pamphyla's husband, Christopher
P. Wolcott of Akron, first assistant
secretary of war. Wolcott, a
Kenyon man, worked himself to death64
in this office, which he
served but a half year from July 1,
1862, to January 1, 1863.
During the war years, to rest from his
grueling daily schedule, the
secretary in laxer times came to the
quiet of Gambier. Here he
visited his widowed sister, Mrs. C. P.
Wolcott, so unobtrusively
that the neighbors did not know of his
presence.65 When his two
nephews, Darwin Stanton Wolcott and W.
Merwin Wolcott, were
in college after the war, Stanton
attended a Philomathesian Society
meeting and spoke most affectionately
of the college and of his
college days and companions.
Kenyon in 1866, then granting honorary
degrees in absentia,
voted the degree of Doctor of Laws upon
this distinguished son
whose name led all Kenyon honor rolls
of men serving their
country. The following gracious letter
is preserved in the library
files:
War Department
Washington City
July 23, 1866
63
Doyle, E. M. Stanton, 20.
64 Professor P. W. Timberlake of the present Kenyon College faculty, who as
a
youth attended his great aunt Pamphyla's funeral, has
kindly supplied this family
legend. See also, Flower, E. M. Stanton, 20,
367.
65
W. B. Bodine, The Kenyon Book (Columbus, 1890), 286.
254
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
Charles Short, Esq.
President of Kenyon College
Sir
I have the pleasure to acknowledge your
favor, informing me that the
faculty of Kenyon College has conferred
upon me the Honorary Degree of
Doctor of Laws.
Nothing could be more grateful to my
feelings than to receive such a
token of respect and distinction from
the Institution of Learning, from
which the most valuable part of my
education was received, and which,
appreciated with the happy remembrances
of youth, has always been the
object of my respect and veneration.
I pray you to communicate to the
Faculty and accept for yourself my
sincere thanks.
Your Obedient Servant,
Edwin M. Stanton
Two other communications preserved in
the college archives
came from Stanton and are entirely in
his hand. One, dated Sep.
tember 4, 1866, is to President Short
presenting to the library copies
of the Annual Report of the
Secretary of War for the years 1861-65.
These, still an integral part of the
library collection, together with
the report for 1860 are beautifully
bound in six volumes in green
morocco with elaborate gold tooling.
The final letter, dated March
11, 1868, in the midst of Johnson's
impeachment trial, says that he
finds it will be impossible to address
the alumni of Kenyon College
"by reason of indispensable
engagements" and closes by wishing
prosperity to the institution.
Andrew Carnegie in this century has
perpetuated Stanton's re-
lationship to Kenyon. In 1906 Carnegie
presented $25,000 for the
Carnegie Scholarship Fund, the income
to be used "to enable such
students as Stanton to continue their
studies. He was compelled to
leave before graduating for lack of
means. This fund is to enable
the College to provide what may be
needed for exceptional students
under similar conditions."66 Carnegie
related his pleasure as a
young telegraph messenger boy in
Pittsburgh in receiving a nod of
66 Andrew
Carnegie to President Peirce, May 11, 1906. Treasurer's Office, Kenyon
College.
Edwin M. Stanton at Kenyon 255
recognition from Stanton, whom he saw
frequently.67 Subsequently
Carnegie went to Washington as
right-hand man to Thomas A. Scott
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, who was
assistant secretary of war in
charge of military transportation.
Carnegie had earlier expressed his
admiration for Stanton to
Kenyon by a gift of $50,000 in 1904 to
endow "The Edwin M.
Stanton Professorship of
Economics." This came to the college
through the offices of the late Senator
Mark Hanna, who himself
had erected a dormitory at Kenyon,
accompanied by a letter of
explanation from Carnegie's private
secretary as follows: "When
Secretary Stanton, as Secretary of War
in Lincoln's Cabinet, or-
ganized victory, Mr. Carnegie was
assistant manager of all Govern-
ment Railroads and Telegraphs for some
time at the beginning of
the War, and had known Secretary
Stanton in Pittsburgh and saw
a great deal of him at
Washington."68
The festivities at Gambier on April 26,
1906, were overwhelming
when Carnegie came to deliver an
oration on the life of Stanton.
A special train came from Cleveland in
addition to Carnegie's. Mr.
Carnegie's own party included Richard
Watson Gilder, editor of the
Century Magazine, and Col. J. J. McCook, Kenyon 1866, who con-
cluded the public ceremonies by
presenting the college with an oil
painting of Stanton by C. P. Filson of
Steubenville that now hangs
in the college library. Three bishops
assisted at the ceremonies,
which were also attended by Lt. Edwin
M. Stanton, grandson of
the famous secretary. There was a
special "Stanton Ode" composed
by Canon Watson, a "Carnegie
Yell" by the assembled students,
and a glee club rendition of the
prowess of the attending celebrities
sung to "The Pope." An
inspection tour preceded the main cere-
monies in Rosse Hall, a reception by
Bishop and Mrs. Leonard was
held directly thereafter, and then
invited guests returned to Rosse
Hall, where banquet tables, decorated
with small silk American and
Scotch flags, had been prepared. Toasts
and speeches from all dis-
67 Andrew Carnegie, Edwin M. Stanton,
An Address . . . on Stanton Memorial Day
at Kenyon College (New York, 1906), 5
68 James Bartram to President Peirce,
March 14, 1904. Treasurer's Office, Kenyon
College.
256
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
tinguished guests plus glee club
selections managed to extend the
banquet from 3:00 P.M. to 5:30, when
Carnegie entrained for
Canada.69 Carnegie's own
speech reviewed Stanton's career and
lauded his stand for the Union, placing
his services to "rank in
value with those of the foremost early
fathers: Franklin, Hamilton,
Adams, Jefferson, Jackson and Lincoln.
No lower place can be
assigned him than in that circle.
Washington must ever stand alone
-father among these worthy sons."70
60 The Kenyon
Collegian (Stanton Number), XXXII, No.
14 (May 1906).
70 Carnegie, E. M. Stanton, 7.
EDWIN M. STANTON AT KENYON
by WYMAN W. PARKER
Librarian, Kenyon College
Stanton, the secretary of war in
Lincoln's cabinet, is still a con-
troversial figure. Stanton, the
youthful school boy, is even more
elusive, but recently-located early
letters written in college and
in the years directly afterwards have
cast more light upon the
picture. The letters give an impression
slightly at variance with
the published reminiscences of his
contemporaries, but such were
tempered by time and the fact that
Stanton was already a public
figure when the anecdotes were printed.
The two sources together
give a consistent and reliable picture
of an engaging youth working
out his oats preparatory to settling
down to a great career.
The letters document Stanton's
residence at Kenyon to September
1832 and substantiate his deep regret
at not being able to continue
college. Thus these letters have
cleared up part of the chronology
of Stanton's early life, which has been
so variously reported by his
biographers. Opportunity is taken here
to restate from contemporary
sources what is authentically known
concerning his college days
in order to correct the misstatements
and inaccuracies of existing
Stanton biographies in the hope that
this will be of service to future
biographers. There is no good biography
of Stanton, and students
of history need a critical appraisal of
him not only because of his
position in history but also because of
his relationship to Lincoln
during the critical period of the Civil
War.
The years at Kenyon College came at an
impressionable period
in Stanton's life and exerted a
positive influence upon him in respect
to politics, religion, and marriage.
His political allegiance changed
at this time, and those views
especially important in regard to
secession and nullification which he
gained as a northern member
of the local debating society were
those to which he cleaved in his
administration of public office. The
acquaintance he made in Kenyon,
a sectarian college, with Episcopalian
doctrine was later to determine
his choice of a church. His first wife,
whom he loved so dearly,
233