Correcting History

[Laurie Verge]

For years, I have thought that Henry and Clara Rathbone and their children moved to Germany in 1882, when he was given a post at the U.S. Consul in Hanover. I stated such in a recent issue of the Surratt Courier in announcing the death of their great-granddaughter.

I received the following e-mail and follow-ups from Society Life Member Seward Osborne that will have us correcting our history:

Hello,

Having just received the January, 2013 issue of The Surratt Courier, I read with regret the passing of Mrs. Bettina Rathbone Hartley Tierney.
It is mentioned that Henry Reed Rathbone served "as a U.S. Consul" in Germany. This is often in print but is entirely inaccurate. After Henry resigned from the United States Army, he never again held a US government position of any kind! He was never a Consul to any country.
It was Henry's brother Jared L. Rathbone, who was appointed Consul General of Paris on May 18, 1887.

Kind regards,
Seward R. Osborne

Mr. Osborne – Thank you so much for pointing this out. I believe that the original source of the information may have come from a Mr. Frank Rathbun, who in 1982 was editor of a quarterly newsletter published by the Rathbun Family Association. In July of that year, he supplied us with an article for our newsletter on the early connections between the Rathbones/Rathbuns in Kentucky and Indiana.

At the conclusion of the article, Mr. Rathbun stated that “The Rathbones had gone to live in Germany after the major had been appointed to a post in the U.S. Consul General’s office at Hanover by President Cleveland.” I know that many sources state the same thing. If you could supply us with a brief documentation of your information, I would like to add it to the files in the James O. Hall Research Center at the museum.

Thank you and best wishes for a wonderful New Year.



Dear Laurie,

Please call me Seward. I am a 100% disabled veteran and not one big on formalities.
In a letter from the General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D.C. dated April 11, 1961, from James B. Rhoads, Archivist in Charge, Foreign Affairs Branch, I quote: "Although several letters (62 pages) recommending Henry Rathbone for appointment to various consular posts are among the appointment records, 1877-85, there is no record of his having received any appointment under the Department of State."
Additionally, according to State Department records, Jared Lawrence Rathbone, Henry's brother, was appointed by President Cleveland, May 17, 1887, as Consul General to Paris. He held this position for four years, and later was decorated by the French government as officer of the Legion of Honor for special services rendered to France.
I think, in my last email I mistyped his date as May 18th.
It is my earnest hope that this, once and for all, will set the record straight regarding Henry Reed Rathbone.

Kindest regards,
Seward

[Laurie Verge]

I just realized that in both my e-mail to Mr. Osborne and my posting here, I failed to mention that the 1982 article by Frank Rathbun in the Surratt Courier pointed out several links between the Lincolns, the Hankses, and the Rathbones/Rathbuns in the very early years.

[Jim Garrett]

If I remember correctly, The above info is correct. Henry did not serve in the foreign service. I think he tried to get a job, but they wouldn't hire him. I kind of get the impression that Henry was always "strange". I think it's convenient for history to say that Henry went mad (possibly as a result of the mental anguish of April 14th), but he was probably always dealing with mental demons. He was independently wealthy, and well connected politically schooled in law, theatre guest, etc. You would think that his creditials were perfect for the foreign service, but they didn't want him. Crazy? Incompetent? who know?

[Seward]

The red headed Henry had always been, shall we say, peculiar. Although he did get along with his step father, Senator Ira Harris, he was also very independent. Ira had to pay several bills when Henry attended Union College, for roudy behavior. Henry was never the same man after the night of April, 14, 1865. Not long after his marriage to Clara, there were persistant rumors within the Rathbone and Harris families!

[Jim Garrett]

The red headed Henry had always been, shall we say, peculiar. Although he did get along with his step father, Senator Ira Harris, he was also very independent. Ira had to pay several bills when Henry attended Union College, for roudy behavior. Henry was never the same man after the night of April, 14, 1865. Not long after his marriage to Clara, there were persistant rumors within the Rathbone and Harris families!

Not that we want to spread rumors, but..........do tell. You can't hold back.

[Seward]

Henry was not stable. He would sometimes rant and rave over nothing! His bouts with depression became more frequent. That is the reason why, when the family went to Germany, Clara insisted that her sister go along! She felt her life might be in danger. Her instincts were indeed correct.

[Jim Garrett]

Great thread Laurie. Seward, welcome to the symposium. You are very knowledgeable on the Rathbones. It's my understanding that no family member went back and visited Henry after being institutionalized. He did have a doctor come from American to examine him. Do you know who sent him?

[Seward]

As far as my knowledge goes, you are correct. No family member ever visited him. Although an occasional reporter showed up. Henry did not trust anyone. I never came upon a doctor from the states just the reports of several German doctors.
Henry and Clara's three children went to stay with Clara's brother William Hamilton Harris in Cleveland. As you know the one boy, Henry Riggs Rathbone went on to become a US Congressman. He sponsored legislation to acquire the Petersen House.

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I forgot to say, thank you for the kind welcome. I stay very busy so I probably will not be posting often. And at the moment am deep into my next book [no questions about it please]. A Happy New Year to everyone.

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One last post for tonight. I don't think it helped Henry's mind too much, when his first child, the above named Henry Riggs Rathbone, shared the same birth date with the man whose assassination five years ealier, Henry had been unable to prevent!

[RJNorton]

Seward, welcome! How do you feel about the possible veracity of the following words of Rathbone in Thomas Mallon's book (right before Henry killed Clara):

*********************************************

I did not do everything I could, and I was not negligent either. I saw him open the door, Clara. I saw him stand there for a good five seconds. I never got up from my chair. I let him do what he did!"

"I let it happen. I wanted it to happen."

"Yes, Clara, I wanted it to happen. I wanted to avenge all the soldiers he'd sent to die. I wanted to hurt all the old men who'd made the war."

"I regretted it the moment the gun went off and then I leapt to stop Booth."

[Jim Garrett]

There was a Washington Post Sunday magazine article about 15 years ago about a doctor's visit to Rathbone at the asylum. Before he was allowed to examine the Major, the director of the asylum made it clear that two topics were off limits. No questions about the night of the assassination and no questions about murdering his wife. Rathbone was rather frail. He didn't quite live like the other inmates. Rathbone had an apartment within the asylum that included a dining room and a library. A special thanks to Sandra Walia from the Surratt Society's James O. Hall Research Library. She helped me dig through the files Mr. Hall had collected on anything and everything even remotely related to the Lincoln Assassination.

[RJNorton]

Thank you to Jim for sending this photo.

Jim writes, "These are on display at Ford's. The gloves Henry wore to the theatre. In the 1930s, a relative donated several items to the museum."

[J. Beckert]

I haven't read Mr. Mallon's book, Roger, but I think it has been discussed here and I believe the consensus was he took some liberties in describing Rathbone's feelings of guilt. His statement of May 15th., states -

"....while I was intently observing the proceedings upon the stage, with my back toward the door, I heard the discharge of a pistol behind me, and looking round, saw through the smoke a man between the door and the President."

From Rathbone's location on the sofa, while he was intently watching the play, I can't see how he saw Booth until after the shot was fired.

[RJNorton]

Also, if JWB entered the box through door 8, not door 7, there was no door to open...right? Wasn't the door to Box 8 left open?

[Seward]

One must remember that Mr. Mallon's book is a novel and many liberties were taken regarding historical accuracies.
I believe that Rathbone could not and did not see Booth until the shot was fired.
The ParK Service also has several coats and trousers that belonged to Henry.

[Gene C]

An interesting article form the 2009 Washington Post by Michael Ruane

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...01576.html