Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, A

430 East Heron St. Chicago Ill Jan 2 1902 Mrs J L Stanford Dear Madam I trust you will pardon the liberty I take in writing to you but haveing seen your large doenation to the University wich was in the daily news of Dec 10th, I thought as I am so badly in need a little healp with regard to money and you such a very kind lady that perhaps you whould not object to give me a small sum of money if you please madam to help me along in charity for I am in great need

Westerville O. Dec 31st 1901 Mrs Jane L. Stanford. Sanfrancisco, Cal. Kind Lady, may I ask your atention to a short communication. I will be brief. I am a superannuated minister of the Ohio Conf. M. E. Church. Have preached the gospel to the poor ofr 30 years and of course have been compelled to remain poor myself. Now I am not going to ask you for a gift much as I need it for I know you are burdened with appeals of that kind. But if I send you letters of recommendation, from such men as Genl [ ?] government men, members of Congress and who was well acquainted with your husband. Judge Wm Cherington

and Rev. Willis [ Sick ? ] presiding elder of the Columbus S.C. If I send letters from these men as to character and ministerial standing. Can you not let me have eight hundred or a thousand dollars with which to purchase a small home for myself and wife. and take a mortgage on the property. We would locate in this place; it is a college town, and property here never decrease in value. [ ?] keep up insurance and tax. I know this would be a very humble charity and cary with it no great notoriety, but it [ ?] meet with the approval of the Great Master I am sure, Very Prayerfully yours H. Berkstresser

The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Co. [ pencil writing Indianapolis paper, December the 10] Dear Madam Mrs Stanford Jane L is advertised i thought i would ask you kindly a litle bit of charity as i am a poor orphan i am all alone i am poor and needy i will be too glad to recevie a small portion if you will be so kind as too send me a charity gift i will thank you a thousand times i bin sick a very huge doctor bill to pay no money to pay the doctor Will you be so kind to give me a helping hand up so pleas send it in private letter so pleas rite me will you not when you rite derect to Bob Beary Indianapolis Ind Columbia [ ?] for an offering thank you 1312 a Merry Chrismas and happy new yer to you

Kansas City Kan Dec 11/ 1901 Mrs Jane L. Stanford. San Frisco Cal. Kind Lady - I see by the Papers you are a generous woman. and have more money than you have use for, and donating it in large quantities, I do not want to beg. but donate me enough to make my widowed mother a visit. I am a christian girl and my health is poor, after paying my board I have scarcely enough to cloth my self and havent seen my mother in four years. I trust fortune will be in my path just this once