Mrs. E. R. Wheaton.
Dear Sister:
I am in receipt of your card and am glad to hear of your good success. I enclose you a money order for eight dollars and seventy-five cents, of which fifty cents comes from the deputy warden, and the balance from prisoners. You will remember that I gave you one dollar and twenty-five cents, making a total of ten dollars.
Excuse me for being so particular, but money drawn from the prisoners goes on record, so would like your receipt to show for it.
Wife and children are well.
Fraternally, F. A. BRIGGS, Chaplain.
Kentucky Branch Penitentiary.
Eddyville, Ky., Nov. 13, 1897.
Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton.
Dear Sister:
I suppose you remember your visit to our prison; the boys often speak of you. We would be glad to have you visit us again whenever it would be convenient. I will soon have to submit my annual report and I write you that I may get a statement from you that I may embody in the report. I herewith enclose statement; if you will sign and return to me I will be very thankful. I have forgotten the lady"s name who was with you. If you could get a like statement from her for me I would be glad to embody it also.
In my report I will speak of your visit in a way that will introduce you into other parts of the United States.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I am,
Yours most respectfully, D. F. KERR, Chaplain.
Missouri State Penitentiary.
Office of Warden.
Jefferson City, Nov. 22, 1897.
Dear Mother Wheaton:
Your card duly received and we were all glad to hear from you, D.
especially. Enclosed you will find a letter from her which she is very anxious for you to answer. Mrs. Pike and I both ordered books from Mr. McKnight at Columbus and are perfectly delighted with them. Mrs. Spahr has ordered one too. We are all about as usual, some three or four sick. We have fifty-two women at present. Hope you are well and prospering in the Lord"s work.
Will be pleased to hear from you often. With much love,
I am sincerely yours, BELLE MAGEE, Matron State Penitentiary.
Pittsburg, Kan., April 18, 1898.
My Dear Mother Wheaton:
Your kind letter just received. G.o.d bless you for your kind, sympathetic heart. I have often thought of and prayed for you. I still feel that G.o.d will open the way for me to re-enter the prison work. I am trusting Him. He is my all and in all.
I hear occasionally from the boys at Fort Madison. G.o.d has used you marvelously. May you be spared long to tell to those around what a dear Saviour you have found.
Your son in the gospel, C. S. LASLETT, Former Chaplain Fort Madison, Iowa.
Eph. 3:18-21.
Anamosa Penitentiary.
Anamosa, Iowa, Oct. 5, 1899.
Dear Mother Wheaton:
At last we have your handkerchiefs finished, and can send to you.
The girls did not get those tiny slippers finished in time to have them at the turnkey"s office the evening before you went away, so will enclose them now. They are very small, but we know you will appreciate the motive rather than the result.
They are all doing nicely and I feel quite encouraged with the present outlook.
I trust that you are better and that your general health may remain good for years of usefulness yet in life.
With best wishes from myself and my father, the Deputy Warden,
I am sincerely yours, MRS. ANGIE M. WATERMAN, Matron.
Kansas State Penitentiary.
Lansing, Kan., Oct. 5, 1899.
Dear Mother Wheaton:
Your card of yesterday reached me today, but too late to attend your service at the Home, which I would have been pleased to do.
Accompanied by our daughter we went to Kansas City, Mo., Monday evening for a short visit and returned home yesterday noon. I examined eight new prisoners just before starting and upon my return found sixteen more. Then two more today. Twenty-six in all this week! So I have been very busy.
Your handkerchief was found in Chapel and my s.e.xton and night watch want you to know that you have found "two honest boys in the pen." I send it enclosed.
Are you going to remain here over another Sunday, and if so, will you be out again or do you go to the Military Prison?
The little book to Baby Esther, the poem and a tract, came this evening, for which please accept grateful thanks. May the blessed Lord greatly bless you in your n.o.ble work. May He comfort, strengthen and keep you.
Sincerely yours in Jesus, R. A. HOFFMAN, Chaplain.
Iowa Soldiers" Home.
Marshalltown, Iowa, July 18, 1901.