Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 062: Sarah Helen Whitman to John H. Ingram, July 27, 1874,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), p. 194 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 194, continued:]

62. Sarah Helen Whitman to John H. Ingram. Item 164

My dear Mr. Ingram,

Washington papers containing the announcement of Rosalie Poe's death were recd. from O’Connor this morning.

You kind efforts in her behalf must be a heartfelt satisfaction. I will write tomorrow if possible. Ever your friend

I doubt not that the thought that you were interesting yourself for her cheered her last moments, even though she was mercifully spared the need of further aid. I write in great haste on a slip of paper which I intended to enclose in my next letter.(1)

[Enclosure: Newspaper clipping from the Washington, D.C., Evening Star, July 22, 1874. Item 582]

POE. At the Epiphany Church Home in this city, this morning, in the 68th year of her age. Miss ROSE POE, the last surviving sister of the late Edgar Allen [sic] Poe. Funeral from the Church Home, Thursday morning, at 9 o’clock.

[Enclosure: Newspaper clipping from the Washington, D.C., Daily Critic, July 23, 1874. Item 583]

DEATH OF THE SISTER OF EDGAR ALLEN [sic] POE. — Miss Rose Poe, the last surviving sister of the late Edgar Allen Poe, died yesterday morning after a lingering illness at the Epiphany Church Home, on H Street, near Fourteenth, in the 68th year of her age. She came to this institution from Baltimore, where she had been living for some time with distant relatives, on the 1st of March last, and was at the time in very delicate health. A week ago yesterday she had a violent attack of congestive chills, and though every effort was made to strengthen her she sank visibly, and expired quietly and without pain, as above stated. Her funeral took place from the Home this morning, and the remains were interred in the Rock Creek Cemetery. In the death of Miss Poe it is believed that the last of the family, and indeed, of the immediate relatives of the gifted young poet, Edgar Allen Poe, has passed away.

 

1. The slip of paper contains a newsclipping pasted in the center and around which this letter is written; the clipping announces articles in the August number of the Eclectic, among which is listed “an interesting account of Edgar Poe taken from Temple Bar.”