Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross and a Civil War Nurse

Clara Barton was born to a middle class family in Oxford Massachusetts on December 25th, 1821. Clara was the daughter of Captain Stephen and Sarah (Stone) Barton. respected farmer, horse breeder and politician. And was the youngest of five children. She was educated at home and nursed her invalid brother, which was her only pre civil war training. When Clara was young, she was very shy and enjoyed the outdoors. She was later formally educated at New York State. Barton was primarily a teacher from the age of 15. Only during the civil war did she pursue nursing passio…