Raynor HCA 2014-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2014
Letter written by an attorney working at the Law Offices of John Foster, Salina, Kansas, to his father, pertaining to the shooting of President Garfield. John Foster studied under Garfield at Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later named Hiram College) in Hiram, Ohio. While at Eclectic, he was most interested in the study of Greek and Latin, and he was also engaged to teach. He developed a regular preaching circuit at neighboring churches, in some cases earning a gold dollar per service. The letter, being 1 ½ pgs., with original cover, dated July 2, 1881, the day Garfield was shot. The letter has excellent content, and reads in part "The news of the assassination of President Garfield has cast a gloom over our town. We have six dispatches up to the present time. The next we expect will announce his death. Mr. Foster feels terribly for he studied under him. Mrs. Foster when a young lady heard him preach many times and knew him"…."Mr. Hamilton was also a student and intimate friend with him when younger, he is not an old man now - he can't help but weep over the death of his old friend. He tells me he knew Mrs. Garfield before she was married. Used to see them every day. He says he thinks this will kill her"…."I cast my first vote for Garfield - Oh isn't it awful to have our President shot down at such a time as this. There are crowds at the telegraph office now. I must go over and hear the latest….". The first news was Garfield was killed immediately. Little did many Americans know that he had survived the shooting, only to die two and half months later on September 19th. An excellent content letter.
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