Elizabeth Mills Chamberlain, 1839-1933

Close NYC friend

Although there are no letters in the McConnell family papers written to Mrs. Chamberlain by JLN, she never-the-less figures importantly in JLN’s life as the friend in whose home she died. According to Mrs. Chamberlain’s court case testimony, their friendship began around 1886, when JLN came to her home, and that of her husband, John Chamberlain, with a check for $5.00 toward the Thanksgiving dinner for the aged and infirm deaf mutes. John Chamberlain was then assistant rector of St Ann’s Church for Deaf Mutes.

However, we know that her husband, John Chamberlain, knew JLN before, or knew of her, since he signed Sophie’s death certificate, marking her birth incorrectly we believe in New Orleans. Regardless in later times, JLN invited Mrs. Chamberlain to go with her to Greenwood Cemetery after which they went every two weeks when JLN was in the city. In 1886, Mrs. Chamberlain painted a portrait of Sophie. Although we are uncertain which portrait this might be, it was a favorite of JLN’s as she mentions a portrait several times in her letters to friends. Mrs. Chamberlain had studied painting abroad for four or five years, and her work was taken seriously enough that she is listed as an artist on her death certificate. Although she had no known medical training, she states that JLN “always sent for me when she was ill.” In 1899, Mrs. Chamberlain took care of her for about three weeks at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and then for approximately six months at the Chamberlain’s home during JLN’s last illness.

On at least three occasions, JLN stayed at the home of the Chamberlain’s on her way to and from summer resorts, always paying board when she stayed. Mrs. Chamberlain was JLN’s guest at resorts at Lake George and Lakewood, NY, and accompanied JLN to New Orleans in 1897, as did their daughter in 1895. In 1893, JLN gave Mrs. Chamberlain $25,000, which was in keeping with her philosophy of giving to those she cared about while she was alive, rather than leaving an inheritance to them in her will.

From Mrs. Chamberlain’s narrative, we see JLN in a more gentle and caring manner than others often portray. Mrs. Chamberlain described JLN as “one of the sweetest and most loving natures I ever knew,” and professed “she was a most beautiful and attractive woman and I loved her for her own sake better than anyone else outside of my own family….”

As Mrs. Chamberlain testified that she wrote to JLN every Monday and Thursday, with JLN writing to her with about the same frequency, it is somewhat surprising that none of their letters survived. Or perhaps they still do in some family papers not yet found in a repository.

Elizabeth Mills married John Chamberlain (1838-1921) in Council Bluff, Iowa in 1866 where he was then rector of St. Paul’s Church. They had four children: Schuyler, Elizabeth, Margaret and Adelaide. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution tracing to her ancestor, Daniel Davison. In 1872, and continuing until his death, Dr. Chamberlain was associated with Dr. Thomas Gallaudet in NYC where he became vicar of St. Ann’s Church for Deaf Mutes and General Manager of the Church Mission. He was described as “a ripe scholar and profound theologian.”