The writer of this letter was Josiah Johnson (1806-1881), Emily’s brother. Josiah moved to New York several years ago. The approximate location of his farm was located near Black River, New York, very close to the current U. S. Army base of Fort Drum.
Brother and Sister – Roderick Dwight (1802-1863), and Emily Johnson Dwight (1808-1886).
David – Unknown at this point
Fathers Porter – Unknown
Uncle Ebeneser – Ebenezer Woodard (1787-1874), Josiah and Emily’s uncle who was married to Sylvia Johnson (1789-1876), their father, Josiah Cranmer Johnson’s (1781-1856) sister.
Billdad – Billdad Woodard (1793-1877), Ebenezer’s brother.
Blackriver, Nov. 3 1861
Respected Brother and Sister
After so long a time I have sit down to converse With you on paper through the Blessing of our heavenly Father we are all alive and Enjoying Comfortable helth Our friends here are all well Also we have had a wet season All through our crops are very Good rye is stout spring Grain is was stout growth but Wheat was hurt by weavles Its average yeld is 12 bus To the acer corn is good crop Potatoes is rather light Worth 40 ct per bushel Corn 50 ct per bus oats 25 Wheat 112 Beef 3 dol per hed Pork 5 dol stock is low cows From 12 to15 per head Fruit is a light crop Apple trees was badly kild Last winter David and Family are well he has work His fathers Porters farm For three years has a Dary Of twenty five cows Chees is worth 6 to 7 ct Butter 14 to 15 ct per pound we had No frost here this fall Till the 02 of october pumpkins And squash vines ware in full Bloom up to that date The present war our country Is in the Principle topic For conversation and action This county has furnish neer two thousand men and still thay are listing the People Here are mostly for the union But a few excepitions uncle Ebeneser and Billdad are Strong sesesions men and Some others I hope thair mouth will be stop yet For uttering treason agaist Our goverment how long this Bloody war and treason Will last no one can tell But I think we shall never Have peace till slavery is put Down which is the cause Of all our troubles may God vindicate the wright And put donn the rong I have not herd from the Ohio since last june all Well then I am no prophet Neither a prophet son but Look out for a snowy Winter pleas wright as Soon as you resiv this Tell us all about matters And things and how the railroad Gets along
good knight J Johnson
The next letter is written about two years later in 1863 from Betsey who has been released from the Columbus asylum for the second time. What came as a shock is expressed by Betsey in her first sentence.
