Text: Rev. Washington Rodman, “Knew Edgar Allan Poe,” Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL), vol. XXXV, no. 99, July 1, 1906, p. 38 (page 6 of the classified section), col. 4

[page 38, column 4, continued:]

Special Dispatch to The Inter Ocean.

ASTORIA, June 30. — Living in retirement after a busy and eventful life is the Rev. Washington Rodman, one the few living individuals who knew Edgar Allan Poe. Now 96 years of age, Mr. Rodman, hale and hearty, remembers meeting the ill fated author in Fordham close to sixty years ago. The venerable divine was then pastor of the Episcopal church in West Farms, which is not far from Fordham.

Seated in his library in the old Blackwell mansion, in Astoria, where he now resides, to the as follows: Mr. Rodman a few days ago spoke of Poe to the writer as follows:

“Yes, It is true that I knew Edgar Allan Poe. It was, as near as I can recollect, in 1847 that I met him. At that period West Farms and Fordham were not in the country and a part ct West Chester county, instead of a portion of the city of New York, as they are now. All roads led to West Farms, and it was the business and trading center for all the hamlets round about.

“Dr. William Bayard, the village physician of West Farms, always had calls to make on patients in Fordham and other places near by. He frequently invited me to go for a morning drive with him as he made his rounds. One fine spring morning we were slowly riding through Kingsbridge road, In and passed Poe's cottage. As we approached it the now immortal author stood at the gate bareheaded, evidently enjoying the morning air. The doctor, who knew Poe, said to me:

“There is Poe, the author. Do you know him?” and I answered in the negative.

“Just then Poe saluted the doctor, who stopped his horse. The poet walked out to the carriage to talk, and I was there introduced to him. He was a man of very striking personality, and his head of luxuriant hair and expressive eyes were Indelibly impressed on my memory. After a few minutes’ conversation with him, we drove on. Dr. Bayard has been dead many years.

“Fifty years ago all the mail for residents of Fordham was sent to West Farms, whose postoffice was the clearing-house of mail for near by places. Poe often walked over to West Farms to get his mail, and I frequently saw him strolling along the village street. At that time the postoffice stood at the northeast corner of Boston road and what is now Tremont avenue, or One Hundred and Seventy-Seventh street. Poe's wonderful genius was either not realized or appreciated by the people among whom he then lived. I myself was ignorant of his writings at the time, and since I have read his works and delighted In there is of to the me a world's happy greatest reminiscence literary that characters.”

Mr. Rodman is the founder of the Home for Incurables in Fordham, and in connection with Poe, he said: “Some time in the ‘70s I read in the newspapers of the dire distress and illness in Richmond, Va., of Rosalie Poe, a sister of Edgar. I wrote her a letter and offered to bring her North and provide for her relief and comfort. After an interval of several weeks I received a letter from her declining the offer, but thanking me graciously. She said that some kind friends in Richmond had come to her aid. Inclosed with her letter was a picture of her brother Edgar, which she wished me to keep as a memento.”