Edward N. Kirk to Richard Yates

Sterling Whiteside Co. Ills

July 5th 1865

Hon Richard Yates

Dear Sir

Will you grant me an

intrusion for a few moments upon your

time. Me, a stranger wish no claim whatever

upon your generosity and yet coming to you

for a boon, and wish a sort of blind faith

that you will not turn me away unsatisfied

I venture to approach you through the

name of my noble Husband. Genl E. N. Kirk

You knew him, knew something of his lofty

character of his [Service?] services, and have many

times been pleased to make acknowledgements

of him to my Husband's friends, for these

I have held you in grateful remembrance

and would thank you for them, and I have

felt that to one so generous and kind I

might make my strange request

I have sold my beautiful home in the

West, have paid or received the payt of all claims

against my Husband's estate. Thus newly

closing my business as Admin, [Nep

ank?] I intend returning with my only son

to my old home in Philadelphia, where,

(for reasons which I will not trouble you with)

I design opening a "young ladies seminary"

What I desire of you is the privilege of using

your honored name as reference. You

will understand the full value of it to

me for such a purpose,'tis more to be desired

than gold," I am hardly able to suggest

to you the means by which you are to

give such elasticity to your conscience

this endorsing one whom you have never

known for such a responsible position.

Unless you could act upon the belief that

a Husband capable, gifted and good as mine

was, could not change a wife wholly un

worthy of him. I do not say this of myself

all I can say is, that I had nor have no

higher aim in this life for myself and

my boy than to be entirely worthy of my

[Earth?] treasured Husband

Should you feel at liberty to grant the

request which I have made bold to ask

I shall be careful that my efforts to

make my darkened life useful shall

in no wise reflect discredit upon

you With the hope that I may

hear from you at your earliest convenience

I am with highest Admiration

And Respect Yours Tr

Mrs Edwd N Kirk

No 231 North 12th St

Philadelphia

Pa

Mrs Kirk

July 5 1865

June 22, 1865 Wrote

her authorizing

full use of

my name

as reference