The O'Neal Genealogy Association Newsletter

Jump to Page Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Go Back to Web Site

TOGA NEWS Volume III, Issue 11, November, 2003

Recently we've come to learn that Rose's sister Eleanor Elizabeth O'Neale Cutts and her daughter Adele Cutts Douglas also volunteered their services in DC hospitals. Below is the story of how we came across the information and how a simple act of kindness on the part of one of our ancestors has reunited us with her and given us a glimpse into her life. It's an insight I want to share. It's shown me that in the midst of a war ridden country just how far a simple act of compassion can go....How it can touch our lives and cause us to shed a tear and beam with pride almost a hundred and fifty years later.

On September 29th, 2003 I received an email from Bev Crowe saying she had read an article which mentioned a woman in Pennsylvania who had been going through her Great Grandfather's papers and had found a letter from Eleanor O'Neal's daughter, Adele. The letter was addressed to a Union Soldiers wife and it explained that the soldier would be coming home soon.

I thought it would be nice to see what the letter looked like and how Adele wrote and what her signature might look like, etc. so I wrote a letter to the author of the article and asked if he could put me in touch with the lady who had the letter. Upon reading my request, he phoned her and gave her my email address. The next day I got an email from her. Within a week I had photocopies of the letter and even the envelope it was mailed in. To respect her privacy I will not mention her name here, but will thank her publicly for sending me the copies. She is preparing her ancestor's papers for publication and when they are published I will place a notice in the newsletter. Below I will reprint the text of the letter and some images from the scanned letter. Enjoy!