Pendleton Family Papers (c.00295)

This collection contains correspondence, a majority from relatives and school friends of Lottie Pendleton (later Mrs. George W. Bailey) who studied at Oberlin College, Michigan Union College, and Adrian College from the late-1850s to the early-1860s. Most of the letters (1861-1863) are from friends Mary E. Hale (1846-1903) and Harriet Elmina “Minnie” Dutton (1844-1934), both of whom lived in Ann Arbor, who discuss their social lives and experiences at school. There is one letter from Harry Scrandrett, a friend from college, who described his experience as a Union soldier in the Civil War.

Also included are selections from George W. Bailey's account book (1864-1866), in which he copied down home remedies to treat both animals and humans, in addition to a few recipes for cleaning products. The book contains some expense accounts and miscellaneous poetry, but these pages are not included in this online collection.

Charlotte “Lottie” Maria Pendleton was born on September 26, 1838, in Cugahoga Falls, Ohio, to Israel Colton Pendleton and Lydie M. Pendleton (maiden name Burke). It appears that Lottie’s father, Israel C. Pendleton—who was a lawyer and worked as a coal dealer in the 1850s—served on the Board of Trustees for both Michigan Union College (in Leoni, Michigan) and its successor, Adrian College. Lottie was enrolled in the Young Ladies Preparatory program at Oberlin College from 1858-1861, a curriculum designed mainly for young women who intended to teach. During the same period, Lottie attended Michigan Union College in Leoni, Michigan, staying in the home of John and Kate McEldowney. John McEldowney served as President of Michigan Union College during this time and when the college moved to Adrian, Lottie came along and likely boarded in the family’s new house in Madison, Michigan, in 1860. Lottie matriculated at Adrian College from 1860-1862. During this time, she was enrolled in the Senior Preparatory Class pursuing a Science Course of Study, but did not obtain a degree. Lottie married George W. Bailey on January 21, 1864, in Wayne County, Michigan. George had a son (Fred D. Bailey, b. 1855) from his previous marriage to Caroline “Carrie” A. Green (married December 1854) and they were still married by the time George was drafted into the military in 1863. No record of Carrie can be found after 1863 and it is unclear why or how George and Carrie’s marriage ended. Lottie and George had four children together, Israel Colton (1864-1926), Eunice (1866-1931), Clara May (1874-1932), and Maude Irene (1877-1960). Lottie died in Lansing, Michigan, on May 11, 1914.

Several photographs of Lottie Bailey may be found at the following link: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=98492486&ref=acom

A photo of George W. Bailey may be found here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98492431/george-w.-bailey/photo