Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, I - J

Janesville, Minn., Dec 12th 1901

Mrs. Jane L. Stanford San Francisco Cal

Dear Madam:

When I read of your grand Gift of 30 mil of Dollars to the Stanford University, it inspired me with the thought what a Noble Deed and how Blessed and fortunate those are who have known and also have the heart to make such donations for the welfare of so many. it all so inspired me with the Courage to write you and state my Circumstances I am a poor { ?} Collector out in this cold and { ?} my county ataking chanese [sic] on my life Eavry [sic] day working for a small salery [sic] , in order to keep my litte [sic] family alive and to give them an Education but I am not able to save of my small salery [sic] Enough to give them such education as I would like them to have being that you were blessed with means - I thought I would apeal [sic] to you for a small Loan or Donation to help me

Balto M'd Dec 13th 1901

Dear Mrs Stanford

I trust you will pardon me for thus addressing you, but knowing you to be a Charitable lady & a Christian, thought I would venture to do so, as I am poor & needy, I have been taking in dressmaking for some time, but owing to my suffering with kidney trouble had to give it up, & my husband has almost become an entire Invalid, caused by having Eczema, for the past 10 years, his hands are so sore he can scarcely do any thing, he is a paperhanger by trade, & his business makes against him, owing to the coloring on the paper being poisonous, now Mrs Stanford as you are a generous-hearted Lady & worth millions & I scarcely know some times, where my next meal is coming from, could you as a christian assist me a little, I would be only too grateful If you did, I would be willing to take anything you choose to send. If It is old clothing I would be only too glad to get It, for my husband or my-self, I hope you will not think me an Impostor, for I can give you reference If you wish It, for my family Physician has known me

medicine for my husband, there are some good remidies [sic] for his disease, but he doesn't take It long enough to do him any good, owing to not having the money to get It, trusting you will let me hear from you, & can assist me Just a little & make a poor womans heart glad I remain

Yours Very Respt

Mrs B. F. Johnson 1113 W. Lexington St Baltimore M'd

No 1509 Central Kansas City Mo. Dec 13 -01

Mrs Leland Stanford,

My dear Madam, no doubt you will be some what surprised at receiving a letter from this part of the country asking you for aid, and God knows that I do hope that it is not casting bread upon the Waters, now in the first place I will say that I am no imposter for I can give you the best reference in this state as to my honesty and integrity, I am temperate, in all things and am strictly a christian a member of the M. E. Church now I am poor, have quite a { ing?} adversity in some way has over taken me, I am not phisically [sic] strong, I and my wife make a home made candy that I sell on the street, but now that winter has come on us I can not get

out to sell any more, so that stops me getting bread and meat I can buy out a little business to which I can make a living at, if I only had the means I am craving for an humble little house that I can call my own I have 5 children 3 boys and two girls my oldest a boy, is bell boy at a big hotel here, I had to take him out of school to help me, children and young people can get employment here, but older ones can not, now my dear Mrs Stanford, God will make the Star in your crown a brighter one, by giving a helping hand to those in need, so please for my dear family's sake give me a little help, any thing would be a great help to me. Now dear Madam if I should hear from you right away which I do hope and pray I will, my wife and I will make you a piece box of our home made candy and send you for Christmas, I am afraid that Christmas will be a blank to us. so trusting to hear from you I am your most { ?} servant B. M. Johnson