Extra Credit Questions
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03-10-2013, 06:54 PM
Post: #658
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RE: Extra Credit Questions
Linda's response to my question about Stanton's wife piqued my curiosity about the tragedies in his life, so I did a little searching. I did not know that Edwin Stanton was an asthmatic, with attacks so severe that he had seizures. He apprenticed himself to a book seller and spent every moment reading. He was eventually accepted to Kenyon College. The president of Kenyon at that time was Bishop Philander Chase, who took an interest in Stanton and worked him hard. The bishop was also the uncle of Salmon P. Chase.
Stanton left college after two years and returned to his job at the book store. In the summer of 1833, cholera swept eastern Ohio. Edwin had developed a close relationship with the daughter of the owner of the boardinghouse where he was living. Her name was Ann Howard. One day, Edwin came home at the dinner hour (what we call lunch), and Ann served him his meal. He returned to his job, and one hour later, Ann collapsed. She was dead within four hours. Fearing the contagion, she was buried immediately. Edwin had a premonition that she was still alive, and by lamplight, he and a young medical student dug up her body to make sure that she was really dead -- this while exposing themselves to the dreaded disease. As Linda reported above, Stanton married Mary Lamson in 1836. Their first child was born in 1837 and lived only four years. Wife Mary died in 1844, and then his brother, a doctor, committed suicide in 1846. The combination of asthma and continuing tragedy led to bouts of depression in Edwin Stanton. One of his friends that he turned to during these trying times was Salmon P. Chase. Mr. Chase understood tragedy very well. He lost two wives and three young children. Again, I preach, I think we need to understand what our ancestors' lives were like and what incidents, tragedies, and triumphs shaped their personalities and their roles in history. When I read of Ann Howard's friendship with Stanton and her sudden death, I immediately thought of Lincoln and Ann Rutledge. The death of his daughter, Lucy, would have given him even more reason for bonds with Mr. Lincoln. And, they were both subject to fits of depression -- for good reason. It's this human side of history that fascinates me more than the politics. |
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