In her early adulthood, Clara began teaching at different schools in her community. Many times Clara would work with out wages in poorer areas, and taught children from the age of toddlers to late teens in one classroom (Biography 2). After teaching others for more than a decayed Clara decided that she wanted to go back to school. She enrolled at Clinton Liberal Institute, in Clinton, New York (Sahlman 1). However, in July 1851, Clara's mother passed away, and Clara overcome with emotion left Clinton, her education incomplete (Biography 2).
In July 1854, Clara accepted a job as a recording clerk in a Patent Office. She worked there copying patent applications and regulations (Biography 3). In 1857, Clara lost her job when her employer resigned. But through all this, Clara never gave up her love for helping others. While unemployed Clara financially supported her nephew who had tuberculosis. Clara did this until she ran out of money (Biography 3). Shortly after ending the care for her nephew Clara was called back to her job at the Patent Office. A few months later in April 1861, the Civil War had begun (Biography 3). .
Clara still involved in her charitable work, quickly jumped into action. She assisted the Union army by gathering and purchasing provisions (Biography 3). The U.S. government soon found that they were unprepared for the war and during the First Battle of Bull Run; they sent numerous men to makeshift hospitals in homes or buildings around Washington. The Patent Office where Clara worked was one of the makeshift hospitals (Biography 4). Clara went right to work administering assistance to the wounded soldiers. Soon after Clara stopped working at the Patent Office, but she would still receive wages from the government due to her support of the Union Army (Biography 4).
Through at first, Clara was not fully welcomed on the battle field, but with her persistence she became an asset on the front line.
