Reminiscence of John Muir by Graydon, Ellen

303 Downey Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana My dear Mrs. Wolfe, My sister and I will be happy to give you any information we have concerning Mr Muir. Unfortunately I am the only person living that has any recollection of Mr Muir in Indianapolis. It is over seventy years ago – I recall my aunt Miss Catharine Merrill with a flock of children going into the woods with Mr Muir and I can see my aunt with a bunch of wild flowers in her hand. Nothing more of that scene. I have often heard the family speak of Mr Muir, of his accident & the acquaintance following that. When my sister Katharine Graydon & our cousin Janet Moores were in college nothing had been heard of Mr Muir for several years, when an article appeared in one of our leading magazines – the old Scribner I think – on the water ousel (?) [ouzel] by John Muir. Never have I seen greater excitement on the part of those two girls – to know the author of a magazine article! Both girls (in their teens) wrote to him & the intercourse between Mr Muir & my family never ceased. After leaving Indianapolis Mr Muir visited us twice & perhaps it was three time – a most delightful guest. I have a paper on Mr Muir by my sister Katharine. As I have more than one copy I can let you have one but there is little or no detail of his life in Indianapolis. My sister spent several months in his family teaching his children so her acquaintance was renewed. Mr Muir had the gift of winning friends – equal to Wm [William] Lyon Phelps – and one of the most ardent is my cousin Samuel Merrill who can have no recollection of Mr Muir in Indianapolis but has heard the family talk it over. If there is an assistance I can give you, let me know and my sister & I will do what we can. Very sincerely, Ellen D Graydon November 1