Stephen Mather: The proud new father: Part 2

Excerpts from correspondence with Esther Jennings Wakeman

Joseph Mather Jr. and Happy Osborn Wakeman were Stephen’s paternal grandparents.  Happy’s brother was Henry Burr Wakeman.  His wife was Esther Jennings Wakeman.  In 1906, Esther received two letters from Stephen sharing the news about the new arrival. From those letters…

Chicago July 4

My dear Aunt Esther

           …As one of my nearest relations and one who was very dear to both father and mother, I know you will rejoice with me in the news that within another month we will have a little child in our home.

…Both Jeanie and I have earnestly wished for our own child and since father’s death particularly, I have more than ever felt how much it would mean to me to have some one of my own blood.  It seems so good to be here after we have waited all these years…

    …Your affectionate nephew Stephen

Aug 16, 06

My dear Aunt Esther

…I know you will rejoice with us in the news that we have a daughter born last Friday evening…She is as sweet a little baby as one could possibly ask for and good-natured and well…

…Of course, it is needless to say that the father is as proud as can be.  It is a great relief to have the event safely past as naturally we were somewhat worried as Jeanie is within two years of 40…

     …Another summer we hope to have Baby in at the Homestead and we will bring her over to see her Aunt Esther…

           ….Affectionately Stephen T. Mather

As uncle and aunt, Henry and Esther were close with Stephen’s father, Joseph Wakeman Mather.  After Joseph’s daughter Ella Maria died in December 1861, they named their own daughter, born the following May, Ella Maria as well.   In August 1906, a little more than three months before she died, the eighty-two-year-old Esther wrote a letter to Stephen that, perhaps, could have been more gently phrased.  Just a brief excerpt…

Green’s Farms, Aug 20^th, 1906

My dear Stephen,

…Your good letter of Aug 16^th was duly rec’d, and we all rejoice with you and Jeanie in the safe arrival of the little daughter and heir.  We all send congratulations and hope she will live and be a great comfort and blessing to her parents and friends.

...Could your father have lived another year he too would have welcomed a grandchild.  It was his earnest wish that a son would be born to you to bear up his name and now that a daughter has come, we hope in due time a son will follow…

Your sincere friend, Esther M. Wakeman

Did Stephen write to Esther again?  We do not know.  We do know that, from day one, Stephen was fiercely and forever “as proud as can be” of his daughter Bertha.