This letter was sent by Melvin Johnson (1831-1871), Carlos Johnson’s son and Emily Johnson Dwight’s nephew. It was sent from ‘Mulberry Corners’. According to the census, Carlos Johnson and Melvin were living in Chesterland, Ohio. There is an intersection of Chillicothe (Rt. 91) & Mulberry Road, that even today is called Mulberry Corners. Melvin reports in this letter that Julia Fuller has died. This is the same Julia Elmer Fuller who married Homer Fuller as mentioned in the last letter written seven months ago.
Melvin makes a point of saying that there was a reported case of Cholera in Cleveland. During the 19th century, cholera spread across the world from its original reservoir in the Ganges delta in India. Six subsequent pandemics killed millions of people across all continents. The current (seventh) pandemic started in South Asia in 1961, reached Africa in 1971 and the Americas in 1991. Cholera is now endemic in many countries.
Also mentioned in the last letter was the concern of Melvin for his uncle Josiah who was possibly onboard the steamship Atlantic.
From the text on the website Maritime History of the Great Lakes.
At about 2 a.m. on August 20th, 1852, the ships Atlantic and Ogdenburg collided on Lake Erie. The SS Atlantic sank, taking with her about 300 of her 500 passengers, mainly immigrants on their way to the US.
The wreck of the Atlantic today rests in 165 feet of water on the Canadian side of the border south of Long Point, Ontario. Since shortly after the disaster the wreck has been a target for salvage operations. The most important cause of this was Atlantic’s safe, which contained approximately $35.000 ($1,386,700 in 2023 dollars) of American Express gold. The safe was brought to the surface by divers in 1856, which was remarkable since dives below 40 feet were seen as impossible prior to this!
SS Atlantic was only four years old when she sank, and known for her luxurious interior. The first-class state rooms were said to be decorated with gold gilding, tapestries, and carved rosewood furnishings. These rumors attracted bounty hunters and several attempts were made to retrieve items from the wreck. One of the more exotic of these attempts involved a submersible diving bell. The attempt failed, and the wreck of the submersible now rests on or near the deck of the Atlantic.
The wreck was then forgotten, until its rediscovery in 1984 by a local Canadian diver, who retrieved several hundred artifacts. A California based salvation company used the buoy placed to mark the find to explore the site and claim the rights to the wreck. The Ontario Government, who the courts deemed to be the owner of the wreck, has promised that artifacts from the ship will be made accessible to the public.
Father – Carlos Hawley Johnson (1802-1855), the father of the author and Emily’s brother
Mother – Lucy Coffin Johnson (1804-1851), the mother of the author
Lucy A – Lucy Ann Johnson (1837-1924), the author’s sister
Fanny McGee – Fanny A Welman (1812-1879), the author’s soon to be step-mother
Mel – Melvin Johnson (1831-1871), the author
Uncle Wellington – Wellington Johnson (1815-1888), the author’s Uncle and Emily’s brother
Julia Elmer/Mrs. Fuller – mentioned in the last letter as just married in February 1851
Flor – Unknown
Uncle Josiah – Josiah Johnson (1806-1881), the author’s uncle and Emily’s brother
Uncle Josiah’s wife – Jerusa Phillips Johnson (1813-1882)
Uncle Brainard – Unknown
E. Dwight – Emily Johnson Dwight (1808-1886), the author’s aunt and the subject of this series of letters
Mulberry Corners Sept. 15, 1852
Dear Aunt
Your letter came to hand by this morning mail and I hasten to answer for fear delay will prove neglect Myself and Friends are enjoying good health, Father is fixing things around preparatory to getting married! (You smile) but this old gentleman thinks he has lived a widower about long enough and I am of the same opinion the girls have not had the easiest time you ever heard of since Mother died, still they have got along well considering their ages. without hiring any to Speak of Lucy A is the best girl of her age for business in Ohio I think I have not enlarged(?) The lady he expects to marry is in all respects a lady and understands all kinds of business a tailoress by trade she is a widow mother of 4 children 3 of which are grown up and are capable of taking care of themselves, the young a son 8 years old which will live with him She is one of the best singers I ever heard plays the Piano and other instruments her daughter 18 years old is considered the best pianist in Portage County He will be married in 2 or 3 weeks. Her name is Fanny McGee She has for 8 years supported her family with her needle is in rather low circumstances is 34 years old and good looking ——-¬which you know the Johnsons always admired! Mel!
Among the rest—¬
I am still clerking and as never good in answering I am very busy at present Our friends in Northfield are well or at least were Friday Uncle Wellington was here that day. He has been looking at a farm in this place and thinks of purchasing but cannot say as he will. Julia Elmer or Mrs. Fuller died about 3 weeks since up the Chxxxxxx in Ill where they had moved and purchased a farm Flor is in Ridgeway teaching
I must tell you our fear about Uncle Josiah although they are not very well founded, We hear he and his wife were aboard the ill fated Atlantic. As we expected him to visit us about that rime and a Johnson and wife are reported missing residence unknown Uncle Wellington wrote but rc’vd no answer I think we must give ourselves no uneasiness rill the fact is known, for I think it very doubtful his being on the boat Sept 14/52
This morning finds me very well excepting a slight touch of the rehmachism in the Shoulder, day after tomorrow I think of attending our State fair held at Cleveland the 15, 16 & 17 days of Sept no doubt it will be a splendid Show It is a general rime of health in this section, a case of Cholera is reported in Cleveland.
Uncle Brainards folks are well I must close
Yours Melvin Johnson
E. Dwight
Write soon my love to all
The next letter wasn’t signed so the author is unknown at this time. The writing is rather poor, but it is not Gad Elmer Johnson since he is mentioned in the letter. It appears to be written by a man since it is addressed to Roderick Dwight and not to Emily. It covers a lot of news about the family and what is happening in Ohio.
