It has been a while since we last heard from Betsey (Betsey Elmer Johnson Wood – 1812-1889), Emily’s sister, and now we know why. She was one of the first residents of the Northern Ohio Lunatic Asylum, later called Cleveland State Hospital. There aren’t many details as to why she was committed, but she is back home at the time of the writing of this letter. We also learn the fate of Betsey and Emily’s brother Carlos. He was widowed in 1851, remarried in 1852, and now dies in 1855!
Brother and sister Dwight – Roderick Dwight (1802-1863), and Emily Johnson Dwight (1808-1886), Betsey’s brother-in-law and her sister.
Father and Mother – Josiah Johnson (1751-1856), Elizabeth Elmer Johnson (1785-1870), Betsey and Emily’s parents
My husband – Theodosius Wood (1801-1884)
Julius – Julius J. Brittan (1835-1912), Juliette Johnson Brittan (1812-1835), Betsey and Emily’s sister and Julius’s mother who died one month after Julius was born.
Carlos – Carlos Hawley Johnson (1802-1855), Betsey and Emily’s brother
Little Fanny – Fanny Gertrude Johnson (1855-1904), Carlos Johnson’s daughter by his second wife Fanny Wellman (1812-1880)
Widow – Fanny Wellman (1812-1880)
Lucyann – Lucy Ann Johnson (1837-1924), Carlos Johnson’s daughter by his first wife Lucy Coffin (1804-1851)
Mr. Allen – James W. Allen (1827-1915), Lucy Ann Johnson’s husband
Josiah – Josiah Johnson (1848-1925), Carlos Johnson’s son
Uncle Elmer – Gad Elmer Johnson (1819-1901), Betsey and Emily’s brother
Eunice – Eunice Johnson (1848-1898), Carlos Johnson’s daughter
H. Taylors – Hart Taylor (1799-1880), family relative
Melvin – Melvin Johnson (1831-1871), Carlos Johnson’s son
Fanny – Fanny Wellman (1812-1880), Carlos Johnson’s second wife
Josiah – Josiah J. Dwight (1833-1902, Emily’s son
Elizabeth – Elizabeth Elmer Dwight (1838-1906), Emily’s daughter
Roderick – Roderick Dwight (1808-1886), Emily’s husband
Uncle Brainard – unknown, but possibly Betsey and Emily’s uncle on their mother’s side
Orsen – unknown
Wellington – Wellington Johnson (1815-1888), Betsey and Emily’s brother
Austria – Austria Johnson (1839-?), Wellington Johnson’s daughter by first wife Elizabeth Wallace (1818-1854)
Aunt Alice – unknown
Uncle Sam– unknown
Col. Arthur– unknown
Northfield Jan. 30, 1856
My dear respected brother and sister Dwight; My thoughts have lately taken a far off flight, To the Old Bay-State and have soored pretty high, To reach your abode, towering up to the sky My health is pretty good – very good for me, And my writiing will give you a chance to see, Whether I am insane, mad, or ill willed, And why I did not visit Old Catamount Hill. Last spring we received a kind good letter From you, we could not have wished for one better That was answered by my writing two unto you, Which my friends did not send and thus proved untrue. Yes, cheated me out of hearing from my friends, By with holding my letters and sent me from home; To a Lunatic Asylum they said for my good, But let me tell you ’tis humbling, to eat State food. Thirteen weeks (less one day) was I kept from my home, At the Asylum, but had some freedom to roam Over the farm, by the brook, and to sit in the grove, Which I enjoyed, and to which, I still cling with love. Our superintendent was a kind fine man, But in some respects, I did not like his plans, In not letting me see my friends when they called, Which he did not at first, by refusing them all. Your friends are all well; your sisters and brothers; Your nephews and nieces; Father and Mother; My husband is well, and Julius is from home, He was out last night on a ride and has not returned. Carlos is dead; his children are scattered round, None but little Fanny to the Widow are bound; She is going to Iowa, which is right in her eyes, With all she can get and feels perfectly justified.
Lucyann was married last New years to a Mr. Allen and left our town They reside in Willoughby, not far from here, And are hiring their board, although it is dear. Josiah, now lives with his Uncle Elmer;
Eunice goes to school and boards at H. Taylors; Melvin is homeless a wild restless rover And Fanny has become a land speculation. I should like to hear and know how you are all do, And what is the weather this winter with you; Our winter is cold, very cold for this clime, With a plenty of sleighing for those who have time. Josiah is married, and who is his wife? And where is Elizabeth spending her life? Roderick; do you still have fits of the “blues” Pardon me, Sir: I want you to write all the news Uncle Brainard has sold out and is going west, In the spring to look round and buy where he likes best; Orson lives there now, has a wife and one child; He went into a place unsettled and wild. My husband has bought an addition to our farm Fifty eight acres, with a log house, and a framed barn; ‘Twas forty dollars per acre; joins on the south; ‘Tis well fenced, has an orchard, two wells, etc.
Now brother and sister do write me a letter, All about everything; dont be to particular; And accept my best wishes, you know I am queer; And though it is late, I wish you a happy new year.
P. S. Wellington has married a sweet little wife, Which we all begin to think is about right. And Austria is much attached to her mother, Which I hope will always be so with none to bother.
Give my best wishes to Aunt Alice, dear faithful old lady, And to Uncle Sam, her husband, grave Sober and steady. Col. Arthur is dead, his funeral is today I am fat and weigh near one hundred and seventy.
Yours truly B. Elmere Wood
The next letter is also from Betsey, but it is to a new person back in Massachusetts; Aunt Nabby. To say that the Johnson and Elmer families inter-married along with the Taylor’s, is an understatement. Nabby is Nabby Howes (1793-1869), related to the Johnson and Eimer families and is a first cousin to Betsey’s mother Elizabeth Elmer. In the body of the above letter Betsey made the comment, Roderick; do you still have fits of the “blues”. This comment will become significant later in the series. As the family ages, we are starting to see more deaths and illnesses. A major portion of the next letter is a poem. Research has not determined whether it is a copy of one already written, but we feel it is an original penned by Betsey.
