This letter is from Melvin Johnson (1831-1870), the son of Carlos Hawley Johnson (1802-1855). Carlos was the older brother of Emily. Note that Melvin is now in Wisconsin. The last time he wrote, he lived in Chesterland, Ohio. Somehow with all his traveling, he manages to keep up with the events of the family. The last time he wrote, he expressed a liking for his soon to be stepmother’s looks. In this letter, he asks ‘what do you think of my fat stepmother…….?’ He also appears to complain that she talks a bit since he says ‘she is blessed with the power of speech.’ Late in this letter he says that Hart Taylor’s son died as a result of studying in school too hard. He says, ‘it created a disease of the brain which is thought to have caused his death.’ Further investigation suggests that he died of meningitis.
Aunt – Emily Johnson Dwight (1802-1863), the recipient of the letter
Mr. Hill – unknown
Cousin Wallace – William Wallace Johnson (1813-1900), cousin
Edwin – Edwin Johnson (1818-1900), cousin
Cousin Edwins wife – Polina Howes Johnson (1820-1864)
Cousin Thetis Smith – Thetis Johnson (1804-1895)
Uncle Hooker Taylor – Hooker Taylor (1811-1884)
Aunt Wood – Betsey Johnson Wood (1812-1889), Emily’s sister
Uncle Proctor – Daniel Proctor (1810-1869), married to Emily’s sister Ellen
Uncle Wellington/W’s – Wellington Johnson (1815-1888), Emily’s brother. Wellington’s wife Elizabeth died in 1854.
Father – Carlos Hawley Johnson (1802-1855), Emily’s brother
Lucy An – Lucy Ann Johnson (1837-1924), Melvin’s sister
Aunt Maria – Ellen Maria Johnson Proctor (1826-1889), Emily’s sister and married to Daniel Proctor
Eunice – Eunice Johnson (1841-1898), Melvin’s sister
Fat stepmother – Fannie Adams Wellman (1812-1880), Melvin’s stepmother. She was married before and is referred to in the letter as Fannie McGee
Josiah – Josiah Johnson Dwight (1833-1902), Emily’s son
Elizabeth – Elizabeth Dwight (1858-1906), Emily’s daughter
Mr. Morse – Jesse Morse (1809-1887), married to Anna Elmer (1811-1868), Betsey Elmer Johnson’s sister
Mrs. Morse – Anna Elmer (1811-1868)
Coley Smith – unknown
Alfred – Alfred L. Smith (1833-1923), friend
Uncle Josiah – Josiah Johnson (1806-1881), Emily’s brother
Aunt Brainard – unknown
Martha – unknown
Col. Ames of Chester – unknown
Flora/Mrs. Browning – Flora Ware (1826-1858), Emily’s niece, daughter of Emily’s sister Festa
Hart Taylor – Hart Taylor (1799-1880), brother of Abigail Taylor who married Hezekiah Palmer of the Palmer House.
Laura E. – unknown
William – unknown
Julius – unknown
Mrs. Cooper – unknown
Obed Elmer – unknown, but with Elmer as the last name, there is probably a connection to Betsey Elmer, Melvin’s grandmother
Os – unknown
Mr. Gaws – unknown
Uncle Roderick – Roderick Dwight (1802-1863), Emily’s husband
Greenfield Wisconsin Feb. 20th, 1855
Dear Aunt
I wrote you a letter last fall. And never received an answer The probability is you never received it else you would have written. For fear you never rec’d it I again make an attempt hoping this may reach you. And tempt you to write. I left Ohio the tenth of Oct., last in company with a gentleman and family from Shelburne Falls., Mr. Hill Who came to Northfield to see the folks They were going to Iowa They came with me as far as Ann Arbor in Mich. Then they stoped to visit some friends. Since then I have heard nothing of them. Will you write me if you know where they went. And where they are stoping I came here to Greenfield and went to work with Cousin Wallace and Edwin, plastering And worked till cold weather broke us off I then took a job choping just got fairly at it have only choped three weeks. When I cut my foot very bad It is five weeks since it was done and I cannot make a move towards walking. And dont know when I shall. I have almost had a mind to be homesick. But would think that was useless and strive to feel at home. The friends here are all very well excepting Cousin Edwins wife She has a young babe. about 10 days old A daughter. believed they have named it Martha. E. and [?] are both teaching school I presume you have heard that Cousin Thetis Smith is married Her husband is a fine old gentleman. Deacon of the Presbyterian Church. He has lived at her house ever since they were married. But they are intending to move to his house the first of March Which is about miles from here. This neighborhood will miss Aunt Thetis very much for she is always ready to lend the helping hand in case of sickness. I think she is one of the best of women And I wish her a happy life with the Deacon. I hear from Ohio quite often many sad changes have taken place since you were with your friends in Ohio. Death has removed many loved ones from our family circle Time waits for no man And death is no respecter of persons I rec’d a letter from Uncle Hooker Taylor two or three days since. He wrote that the friends were all well except aunt Wood. Her health is poor Uncle Proctors folks have got a son. I believe it is about two months old. They still live in the old log cabin. Which would blow away in any common wind were they all to leave it. Uncle Wellington is not married yet. But keeps house I do not know who does his housework Father does not know when he will move to Iowa. He wrote that he could take twenty dollars per acre for his land. Only paid ten last June That is doubling ones money tolerable quick If a man can
always do that. And keep doing so. He can enlarge his pile. Father lives in Chester. this winter. Lucy An is living with Aunt Maria[?] Eunice is attending school in C. What did you think of my fat stepmother Doubtless you saw that she is blessed with power of speech. All that is sufficient to enable her to carry her part in conversation. I dare say you found out that she had four children. And, furthermore That they were very handsome. and smart! Also accomplished. I am not going to say anything disrespectful of my Mother. Her children are bright and good children. And perhaps are better looking than C. H. Johnson’s children. But the McGees are not angels nor the Johnsons fools (Unless I am one) As to that I will not say
Father was highly pleased with his visit in Mass. And I guess in N. H. I have thought for two years that I would make you a visit But I have got off so far now. that it looks like a long road. And I presume I shall never see my native hills Though nothing would give me more pleasure than a squint of them. And I have relatives besides you living in Mass. That I should love to see. But my face is set towards the going-down of the Sun. And next season may find me at the Capitol of Kanzus. I have thought of making a tour in that direction as soon as next Sept. There are many things in the west to invite young men to come on Wages are high and land is cheap And the bright eye of the maiden Sparkles us lovingly in the forest homes as in your Older States And methinks they are rather to be chosen. They will make better wives than the codfish aristocracy of old settler places Where is Josiah I should like to see him. Is he always going to Stay at the East. Or is he determined to push out and acquaint himself with the mysteries of the country beyond the Mississippi I expect to do it if I live. And find a home in some dense forest yet unbroken by the white man. Where I can trap the wolf and trap the deer. I think this will suit me. I ask not wealth nor fame. But health, a happy life to live and a happy death to die. What is Elizabeth doing. I should like to hear from her. I hear she is a large fair looking girl Time must have wrought great changes in her. When she was in Ohio she was slim and sparefaced I presume she has not changed in Appearance much more than my sisters have. Lucy A. has grown out of your knowledge I dare say. and Eunice too. Mr. Morse sold his farm last Saturday for twenty one hundred dollars which is a little less than fifty per acre. I do not know his reason for selling. But think he wants to get more land than he had and turn farmer. He does not know where he shall locate. He intends to Stay here Six months or a year to settle up his blacksmith business A number of hundred dollars is due him. And will take him some time to collect it. I believe he will have over two thousand after his debts are paid. Mrs. Morse enjoys very good health this winter. She was quite unwell for a while in the fall and she doctored for the Liver-complaint. It is a general(?) time of health in this place. The Scarlet fever is prevailing Some in an adjoining Town. And one or two are Sick in this town with billious fever. It has been good Sleighing here since the middle of January. till today It is fast melting away. This is Second day It has thawed and the good sleighing is passing away. I like Wisconsin. The climate is right. The soil very productive. and easy of A cultivation. The greatest fault I can find with this part of the country is a Scarcity of running water Plenty of good pure water can be obtain -ed by diging. But it is not profitable for farmers to depend upon wells to supply their Stock Neither will any kind of Stock do as well as they will to have easy axcess to spring brooks. I have been in to see W’s School this afternoon. He makes the boys and in fact the girls walk right up to the rack. He does not mince matters with any schollars But he or she must obey the rules. or Suffer the penalty attached to
all rules laid down by him Coley Smith and Alfred are both teaching Wednesday Morning 21st. This morning is cold and pleasant. Think our snow will stay a little longer. I heard from Uncle Josiah not long since. They were all well. His time is mostly taken up breaking steers and hunting foxes And I dare say he enjoys himself firstrate Aunt Brainerd is gradually recovering her health She has been very low.And it will take a long time for here to get up Martha is now sick. But I do not know the disease. Col. Ames of Chester. buried two Sons the first part of the winter, his two oldest John & Edward. I believe you were acquainted with the Col., when he lived at the East. He is in low circumstances. And the probability
is he will not rise He is not a close dealer. Uncle Josiah wrote that Flora (Mrs. Browning) had been out Black River visiting. That She had a boy Six mo. old. We had not heard of it till he wrote. Hart Taylor buried his Second Son Austin last Nov. He had been attending School for a number of months previous to his death.And Study hard Study was to much for him. It created a disease of the brain which is thought caused his death He was a young man of much promise. Was beloved by all who knew him. Laura E[??] is married. William Still remains Single and lives with his Father. Julius is fitting for College. He has been attending School at the Richfield academy for five or six months. But he wrote me a few days Since that he was taking a few weeks rest. And was going to Twinsburgh at the commencement of the spring term
He seems determined to have an education. And intends to Study law. Mrs. Cooper’s health is not very good. She bas for a month past been troubled with rheumatism. She has a Large family And if l can
judge aright Life to her is unpleasant. It would be to me at any rate. were I in her Situation. I went down to Kenosha Co last Fall where Obed Elmer lives. had a good visit.at O’s and also at Mr. Gaws. I Saw Miss Eunice Chapin of Buckland at Mr. Eimers. Where is my aunt Eunice if you see her give her give her my respects Remember me to Uncle Rodric My best respects to Josiah Elizabeth And all who chance to inquire for me Please write. And J. & E. to do the same. And direct to Greenfield Milwaukee C. Wis.
I remain yours
Respectfully
Melvin Johnson
Mrs. Emily Dwight Shelburne Falls Mass.
The next letter is from Betsey Elmer Johnson Wood (1812-1889). The letter is quite revealing about Betsey and her brother Carlos. In previous letters we learned that Carlos’s first wife passed away and he remarried. In this letter, we will learn that Carlos has died.
