RSS 1.0Barton Family fonds, 1864-1911, n.d. RG 831
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Fonds consists mostly of correspondence written by and to Stephen Emory Barton. Much of the correspondence are letters written to his sister Ida as well as some other family members. There are also letters to Stephen from his friend George Ellsworth and daughter Ida Myrtis. Some of the letters from George Ellsworth mention the Fenian invasion in Canada in June 1866. Ellsworth was sent as a special correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer to report on the event. Some of Barton’s early correspondence to his sister was written during his career as a telegraph operator during the American Civil War. A few letters by his well-known aunt Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, are also included, as well as commentary by Stephen about his famous aunt. Material was mostly kept in its original order. As a result, some letters may appear out-of-place. Letters that clearly belonged in a different series of correspondence were moved.
Click here to view the Barton Family fonds finding aidPlease note: This fonds contains language that reflects the time when it was created and the view of its creator(s). This can include offensive and negative language, references, and stereotypes that are no longer used or appropriate today. The item(s) retain their original content to ensure that attitudes and viewpoints are not erased from the historical record. The Archives & Special Collections are actively working on including more respectful and representative language in our descriptions now and into the future.
Current copyright applies. In some instances, researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the Brock University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the Library’s usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
Recent Submissions
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Letters to Stevie E. Barton from George Ellsworth, 5th and 6th of June 1866Letters to Stevie E. Barton from George Ellsworth, [1866]. The envelope contains two letters. The first letter is dated at Buffalo, N.Y., June 5 and is four pages. He arrived Saturday night. He met a gentleman and his two daughters at Spencer House and this morning he left and they all travelled together. He accompanied them to the falls 23 miles below here. They took a carriage and went over the bridge to Canada. They had a glorious time. He left the Falls for Buffalo and they went to N.Y. Since he has been there he has met the special correspondents of the New York, Chicago, Boston and Cincinnati papers. They fear the Fenian War will not last long enough to give them a good spree. He met a company of British troops in Canada yesterday from his old stomping ground, Whitby, C.W. They are eager for the fray. The Fenians swear the war has not begun yet. There is no doubt but thousands of Fenians are moving to the Canada frontier and “this scrape don’t draw the U.S. and England into a war”. The Canadians are bitter on the U.S. authorities. The second letter is dated at Rochester, N.Y., June 6. Ellsworth writes that as he predicted, he leaves Buffalo today for the supposed seat of war in Ogdensburg & the Vermont border. A company of Volunteers left on a pleasure excursion for Albany this evening. He will try to go to N.O. to see your good people. There is great excitement in the country[?]. Everybody is sympathetic with the Fenians but from Gen. Meade’s present policy it will block[?] them from getting into Canada[?]. The envelope is addressed to Stevie E. Barton, Western Union Telegraph Office, Cincinnati, Ohio, postmarked Buffalo Jun 5.
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Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Port Hood, August 26, 1867Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Port Hood, August 26, 1867. The letter is four pages. Barton writes about a piece written in the New York Independent. He notes that anyone who knew the Judge would know the thing to be false in parts and that it was not right to put such a thing before the public. He expects they will go to Plaister Cove next week. He went out with Collins at 11 p.m. and got to bed at 4 this morning. An envelope of the New York, New Foundland and London Telegraph Co. is included.
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Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Port Hood, 4 August 1867Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Port Hood, C.B, August 4, 1867. The letter is two pages. Barton comments on the different lengths of time it takes to receive mail depending on how and when it is sent. They just got a large stack of books from Boston including “Tom Paines” works and the “Age of Reason”. He plans to go fishing in the morning if it is fair.
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Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Port Hood, 28 July 1867Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Port Hood, C.B., July 28, 1867. The letter is four pages. Barton writes that the weather is nice and Uncle Cyrus Field has been there. Plans are underway for a new office and he will send the address when he knows more. He writes that he has such easy times here to what he would there, so much less time to work & can save more money too.
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Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Port Hood, 14 July 1867Letter to Ida from S.E.B., Port Hood, C.B., July 14, 1867. The letter is four pages. Barton writes that he has been getting up at 3 o’clock to go after codfish with Isaac. He brings in about 20 to 30 every other morning. His Superintendent Mr. Mackay will be here in a day or two from Pictou, N.S. He does not want the office moved to Plaister Cove but to Sydney.
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Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Port Hood, 30 June 1867Letter to Ida from S.E.B., Port Hood, C.B, June 30, 1867. The letter is three pages. Barton writes that a school of blackfish went through the Strait of Canso yesterday that was “three miles long” and about 150 of them came into Port Hood Harbour. They are a species of whale. Everyone on shore went in the boats and frightened the fish and ran them on the sand. They then jumped into the water with axes and harpoons and killed them. He writes that they got one school of 64 and that “the water was as red with blood as clear blood itself”. The Port Hood office will be moved to Plaister Cove but probably not for a month or two. An envelope from the New York, New Foundland and London Telegraph Co. is included with Port Hood postmark.
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Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Spencer House, Cincinnati, 10 June 1866Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, Spencer House, Cincinnati, June 10, 1866. The letter is four pages. The weather has been very hot. Mr. Ellsworth was in N.Y. and will probably call on Ida before long. Ellsworth left telegrams [?] June 2 when the Finigans [Fenians / Irish] first commenced raising the ruse[?] at Buffalo, NY. Ellsworth went as a special correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer and expected to go to Ogdensburg N.Y. and stay somewhere near there but Barton does not know where he is now. Today Ellsworth was in the telegraph office and asking for him but he was out at the time and did not get a chance to speak to him. Some of the messages from the Railroad fellows are 200 or 300 words long and he has got his share of them since he works the Buffalo line where all the railroad business is done. He is looking for other work he is not making much, only $60. He mentions Belle and asks Ida to ask her to answer his letter.
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Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton at Cincinnati, January 23, 18661866-01-23Letter to Ida from Stephen Barton, dated at Cincinnati, January 23, 1866. The letter is four pages and is written on letterhead of the United States Telegraph Company. Barton writes of a recent snowstorm but says it is too warm for good skating. There is no ice in the river and navigation is in full bloom. He concludes “now you have all the news—oh no, the Fenians and all quiet makes it all”. An envelope from the United States Telegr[aph], Spencer House, Cincinnati, is included with a Cincinnati postmark.
