Text: James H. Whitty, “Literary Reputation Made in Richmond,” Times Dispatch (Richmond), January 17, 1909 (special Sunday section), pp. 1 and 4

[page 1, column 1:]

The life story of American's imaginative author, Edgar Allan Poe, always will be closely linked with his associations with Richmond, Virginia and the Southern Literary Messenger of that city. Here was the very cradle of Poe's literary life, and in Richmond he made his last public appearance in both lecture and recitation. Poe framed his first lines of poetry in Richmond, and also published here for the last time his best known verses.

Edgar A. Poe was born in Boston, Mass., January 19, 1809. His parents belonged to the theatrical profession. His mother died in Richmond, Va., in December, 1811. Her burial place is unknown. David Poe, his father, must have died prior to the summer of 1811, but when, how and where is uncertain. After the death of Poe's mother, the wife of John Allan took charge of him, while his sister, Rosalie, went to the home of the Richmond MacKenzies. Another brother, who afterwards visited Richmond, named William Henry Leonard, already had a home with his relatives, the well known Poe family of Baltimore, Md. at that time the Allan family resided in a house on Fourteenth Street, near Franklin. About the year 1815 the Allans went to London, England, and took young Poe with them, where he attended the “Bransby School,” so well portrayed in his sketch of “William Wilson.”

While in England the business affairs of the firm of Ellis & Allan did not proper. Mr. Allan appears to have become heavily in debt and the family returned to Richmond, after an absence of five years abroad, taking a residence on Clay Street, near Fifth. The court records of this period show Mr. Allan in great financial straits, and still later on under other peculiar difficulties. If the same publicity were given to all the domestic affairs of many of those who figure so prominently in connection with Poe's life as has been given to his, the opinion of some who make charges against the poet might be softened.

Poe had faults, admitted them, and no doubt was well aware of those of his guardian. With the death of a relation Mr. Allan inherited a wealth and soon purchased and moved to the old mansion, so well known in former years, at the southeast corner of Main and Fifth Streets. In the meantime Poe went to school in Richmond to Joseph H. Clarke. A bill in the hand of Clarke shows that he kept French, music and writing assistants, and charged for same per half-year £2 2 shillings, £1 3 shillings, and £1 3 shillings, respectively.

Early Quarrels.

I have an early French school grammar from one of the Randolph libraries used by Poe, with possibly his earliest known signature. That he frequented or was made use of in those early days at his guardian's place of business is evident from his signature as a witness when fourteen years of age to a power of attorney given by Ellis & Allan, November 17, 1823, to Joseph W. Dickenson. Later he went to the University of Virginia, and further researches are likely to show that his money allowances there were very meagre. He candidly admitted himself going into debt and some dissipation during college life. This was the cause for the first serious break with his guardian, although he absented himself from the Allan house more than once in the early days on account of dissensions with his guardian. The picture of Poe's early home life as drawn by most Poe biographers seems highly idealized or overdrawn.

He returned from college at the end of the session of 1826. To make his cup of bitterness fuller upon his return, he found that his sweetheart — Sarah he called her then; later “Elmira” — had married a Mr. Shelton. She was a Miss Sarah Elmira Royster, who lived near the Allans. Mrs. Shelton, who is well remembered by many Richmond residents, gave her recollections of Poe to a prominent Richmond gentleman with whom I recently conversed. She said that they were both very young, and that her father had intercepted Poe's letters written to her, Poe's intimate Richmond associate in these days was Ebenezer Berling, who lived with a widowed mother on Bank Street, in the same house in which Poe afterwards lived when he came back to Richmond to edit the Messenger. Upon Poe's return from the university, Mr. Allan is said to have put him to work with the firm of Ellis & Allan. In a mater of fact story, written later by Poe, and quite unknown, which I have, he says he went down to his guardian's country place after leaving college and also dipped some in the study of law. He also mentioned his swim in the James River from Mayo's Bridge to Warwick Wharf. Mr. Allan had a country place in Goochland county called the Lower Byrd Plantation.

Judge Hughes's Notes.

Poe's whereabouts from his return in this period to the summer of 1827 has heretofore been a hiatus in his published life. The late Judge R. W. Hughes, of Virginia, was the best posted authority on the life of E. A. Poe I ever conversed with, and I have met and corresponded with very many from the time of Wilmer in Baltimore. He had a personal acquaintance with Poe himself, and had taken notes from Poe's own statements, and, in addition, had the important sketch of Poe's close associate, F. W. Thomas, who was with the Richmond newspapers about 1850. Judge Hughes stated that John R. Thompson's lecture on Poe was largely made up from his data. The last I heard of the Hughes notes was that he had loaned them to a Washington newspaper friend. Possibly they are now among his family papers. I was most fortunate in having access to them. There I found the following and only account for this period. Poe, upon his return to Richmond from college, became very [column 2:] restive, and soon made up his mind to start out in the world for himself.

Goes to Europe.

He had talked with the owner of a vessel trading with Ellis & Allan's firm, and determined to work his way to the Old World in same. His idea was that when he reached London he would soon get literary work and succeed. He boldly stated his intentions to Mr. Allan, who did not raise any objections at first. Poe's attempt, however, to take leave of Mrs. Allan with tears in his eyes changed matters. She showed the most violent opposition to the project, and would not give her consent. Poe had been away from the Allan home a few nights, and was stopping with a companion, presumed to have been Ebenezer Berling. Upon Mrs. Allan's entreaties his guardian attempted to stop Poe from going away. Judge Hughes had the statement of the vessel owner in which Poe originally intended to sail, but who, upon the demands of Mr. Allan, later on refused to take him. Poe and his companion, who had been drinking, succeeded, however, in getting away shortly afterwards on another vessel. When they sobered up his companion relented, deserted at the first place the vessel reached and returned to Richmond. Poe continued, and finally reached an English port, when to London, to France, and back again to London, in quick succession. His efforts for literary work being unsuccessful, his thoughts turned quickly to his native land. Without means he again obtained a place on a vessel bound for some port about Boston, where he arrived in the summer of 1827. In Boston he looked for his parent's friends, and finally fell in with C. F. S. Thomas, the printer who undertook to print his first volume of poems, “Tamerlane.” The relatives of both Thomas and Poe were said to have been associated in some way years before this, and something about this old connection was not pleasant to Thomas. This was very likely his reason for keeping his knowledge of Poe a secret up to his death in 1876.

Enlists in Army.

Poe, finding his literary venture at Boston another failure, determined to try the army, and, as discovered by Prof. G. E. Woodbury [[Woodberry]], enlisted at once under the name of Edgar A. Perry. He was assigned to Charleston, S. C., and one year later was transferred to Fortress Monroe, Va., whence he was appointed sergeant-major. While there his identity was discovered by a friend of the Allans, who communicated the information to Mrs. Allan. During efforts for his return to Richmond Mrs. Allan died. Poe, however, left the army, came to Richmond, and then went to Baltimore, where he published, in 1829, his second volume of verses, “Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems.” Some verses of his had also appeared in the September, 1829, “Yankee,” of Boston. Literature, like he said of his poetry later on, was a passion with him at this time. His thoughts were far from a soldier's life.

The death of Mrs. Allan had, however, changed many of his recent dreams. Judge Hughes was aware of the Allan letters now in the Valentine Museum. One of these, written by Poe, speaks of Mrs. Allan in most affectionate terms, and states the opinion that matters would have taken a different course if she had lived. Some of these letters, soon to be published, must throw a good deal of light upon this period. While about Richmond at this time Poe evidently made certain of what the court records afterwards disclosed. The many in whom his guardian “took an active interest,” as stated in his letter to the Secretary of War in Poe's behalf, may have given him the cue. He entered West Point in July, 1830. At this time, or at least prior to the second marriage of Mr. Allan, he had evidently determined that his chances as an heir to any Richmond estate were slender.

Dismissed From West Point.

He was soon at work on another literary venture. He made his fourth known publication in October of his sonnet, “To Science,” which seems unknown to his biographers. A copy is in my library. He obtained his dismissal from West Point by giving offense against discipline, and in 1831 published his third book of poems. Shortly after this he again made another, his third, trip by vessel abroad, and returning found a home with relatives in Baltimore. There was little if any feeling between Poe and the second Mrs. Allan, and the so-called family difficulties of this period appear overdrawn. If there was any resentment in Poe's bosom, it was against his guardian for differences that were of long duration.

In 1833 he obtained a prize in Baltimore for one of his writings, and afterwards came to Richmond, where he edited the Southern Literary Messenger. While in Richmond he was married to his cousin, Virginia Eliza Clemm. He acquired a high reputation on the Messenger as a writer. T. W. White, the proprietor, was not willing to advance Poe's money interests, mainly because his own financial matters were not favorable. Poe had been trying his writings in both London and New York for publication, besides had the promise of a position in New York from Dr. Hawkes, with whom he corresponded. With his old spirit of independence, he left the Messenger and went to New York. The financial panic about this time interfered with his well-laid plans and for several years he was in financial difficulties, having often to borrow money and go into debt. He published the “Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym” early in 1838, and his “Conchologist's First Book” in 1839, followed in 1840 by “Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque.” He worked on magazines and got out books up into the year 1845, when he secured an interest in the New York Broadway Journal, in which he published many of his writings. It was in 1845 that his well-known verses, the “Raven,” were published. His next publication was his “Poems and Tales,” in 1845, followed by his last work, “Eureka,” in 1847. His wife died in the meantime, and he had begun to give lectures. He came to Richmond [column 3:] in 1848, and remained here, as stated in a letter in my possession from John R. Thompson to P. P. Cooke, about three weeks.

The Whitman Romance.

His literary work while in Richmond at this time appears to have been meagre, but outside of his contributions to the Messenger he wrote in July a new “Literati” paper on Mrs. Lewis, which has also been missed by his biographers. While he was at the Mackenzies’ home on this visit — it was only for a brief resting spell, prior to his departure North again — most of his time was spent about newspaper offices and resorts frequented by some of the newspaper writers of Richmond. One of Richmond's oldest residents now living told me of his introduction during this visit to Poe by one of the Richmond newspaper proprietors, who called him out of bed late at night to meet the then even famous poet and hear him discourse from “Eureka” and others of his writings before a select assemblage of Richmond Bohemians. It does not look like he made social calls on this visit or tried to renew his acquaintance with his former sweetheart. Poe's love affairs in these days were never much of a secret. With so many devoted lady admirers, his movements, especially among the fair sex, were closely watched. While the “Whitman” romance had just started, still it was talked about in literary circles and mentioned by Poe on his Richmond visit at this time. Among the literary [column 4:] characters he met with then was John M. Daniel, of the Examiner. They did not get along together, and bad feelings existed between them from the start. Daniel has some acquaintance with Mrs. Whitman's family, and after hearing about Poe's intentions made some disparaging remarks, which came to Poe's ears. This, with some other treatment about a debt, infuriated Poe, who sent a challenge to Daniel to fight a duel. The affair was well remembered by Judge Hughes. The newspaper men arranged to have Poe meet Daniel alone in the Examiner office, and the matter was settled without recourse to arms. Daniel afterwards published an unkind allusion to the reported engagement of Poe and Mrs. Whitman, but before Poe's death, became one of his most intimate friends. And yet, when he died, wrote in the “Messenger” possibly a much harsher account of his life than Griswold's. Later still he wrote a most pleasant and favorable letter about Poe to Mrs. Whitman.

Declined Reconciliation.

An article appears in the current Century Magazine on “Poe and Mrs. Whitman,” written by Professor James A. Harrison, of the University of Virginia. The editor of the Century tells his readers that new light is thrown on the subject, which starts off with the bold statement that Mrs. Whitman was “betrothed to Edgar A. Poe in 1848, a few months before his death.” Most every schoolboy of this day now knows [column 5:] that E. A. Poe died in October, 1849.

Then it goes on to state that Poe first published his “Raven” in the Evening Mirror under the assumed name of Quarles, which is erroneous — the name being given there as E. A. Poe. Then follows a long account of the rupture with Poe as left by Mrs. Whitman, which most all biographers of the life of Poe have followed — to the effect that Mrs. Whitman sent her verses, “Stanzas for Music,” to the Metropolitan Magazine in February, 1849. She always would have it appear that Poe construed these lines as an olive branch, and in return wrote “Annabel Lee.” Poe, while on his last visit to Richmond, stated that Mrs. Whitman made repeated efforts towards a reconciliation, which he refused. This is fully verified by some published verses by Mrs. Whitman, now in my possession. They are among the strongest she ever wrote about Poe. She sent them to a magazine she knew would come under his eye many months after the publication of her “Stanzas for Music.” So as Poe would not regard these as old stock, she dated them. Poe saw them, but made no reply. Mrs. Whitman must have lived in hopes that they were forgotten, but took pains later in life to carefully revise the lines, beginning:

“I bade thee stay. Too well I know the fault was mine, mine only.”

Mrs Osgood stated to Griswold that [page 4, column 7:] Mrs. Whitman besieged Poe with valentines and letters long before he wrote or took any notice of her. The sling at Mrs. Weiss for not knowing of Poe's visit to Richmond in 1848, and of the fact that he then met Mrs. Shelton for the first time after the interruption of his youthful devotion to her through the interference of his guardian, Mr. Allan, seems in bad taste.

A Duel, Not Marriage.

Professor Harrison, like all the other biographers of Poe, gives very little information about Poe's visit to Richmond in 1848. I fail to find direct evidence that Poe met Mrs. Shelton for the first time since his youthful devotion in 1848. Mrs. Shelton herself said she met Poe in 1849, and theat her father did the early “interference” — not Mr. Allan. Professor Harrison and all other Poe biographers have merely taken the inference from Poe's letter to Mrs. Whitman in 1848 that he was about to engage himself to Mrs. Shelton.

Poe, in his letter, simply said that he was about to “enter on a course” — not “about to depart upon an enterprise,” as Professor Harrison alleges — which also would not necessarily imply that he intended to marry again. It undoubtedly referred to his intention to fight the duel with John M. Daniel, which would possibly have finished his “course” and borne him “far, far away from sweet Helen.”

After a year Poe returned again to Richmond in 1849. He remained longer on this trip, and was very temperate had joined a temperance society here was commented on in the newspapers at the time, and a notice in one, evidently inspired by Poe, admitted the fact. He spent some time about Norfolk, Va., and delivered his lecture there. He appeared before the public in Richmond and lectured at the old Exchange Hotel twice. While here he made a careful revision of all his writings, largely manuscript which he intended to publish, including a biographical sketch of his life. This was seen by Judge Hughes while in the hands of John M. Daniel, with whom Poe left same. Some of the revised texts from this intended publication were published about this time by Poe. While not mentioned by any of this biographers, they are now in my possession.

Fell From Grace.

Nothing very definite has ever been ascertained about Poe and his movements from the night he left Richmond until found in Baltimore. The inferences have always been that he had taken liquor again, and was also drugged by election rowdies. The Baltimore Patriot, in October, 1849, published that “Edgar A. Poe died Sunday morning at 5 o’clock, after an illness of a week. His disease was congestion of the brain.”

The Duane Southern Literary Messengers found by me in Boston, Mass., had memoranda references in both the hands of Poe and his wife. The editorial desk used by Poe at the Messenger office here, formerly owned by Prof. B. B. Minor, who bought out T. W. White, now in my possession, originally contained many interesting Poe documents, many of which Professor Minor gave away to relic-hunters. The most important, however, are still in the out-of-the-way drawer where found. Among them an unpublished poem in Poe's hand, also letters about the Messenger from O. W. Holmes and R. H. Dana, etc.

Besides the early miniature of Poe, owned by the later Mr. Robert Lee Traylor, now in possession of his family, I have the photograph taken by Davies, of Richmond, for Rosalie Poe of a miniature in oil of the poet, worn by her. With the valuable letters in the Valentine Museum, also first and rare editions of Poe's writings in private hands, Richmond is not far behind other cities in the holdings of rare Poeana.

Richmond is also crowded with early and late Poe historical association. Here were the abodes of himself, his wife, his own and two foster-mothers and first and last sweethearts. Some of them now peacefully rest in Richmond cemeteries, and in one of these, pleasant legends say, he nightly roved to commune with the spirit of his “Helen.” Verily, Richmond is the poet's “Helen” of a thousand memories — instead of dreams. The last, but not the least, important memento of the poet is the old Messenger building itself, still standing, and little altered, while adjoining same is the building used by the old firm of Ellis & Allan, and where it now would seem Poe planned his second mysterious journey abroad. There is also now living in Richmond one of the oldest printers, one of her best known and respected citizens, who was an apprentice on the Messenger, worked in the old building, and has a remembrance of Poe, White and all. A number of new letters written by Poe have been discovered since the publication of his last biography; also now information regarding him has come to light, but still the lot of the Poe biographer is far from being a happy one.

Withal, however, the dawn of the centennial of his birth finds his fame in this land of his own more dazzling than ever dreamed of by his small hand of early idolaters.