This letter was written by William Wallace Johnson (1813-1900) to Emily’s daughter Elizabeth (Lizzie) Elmer Dwight (1838-1906). He also writes on the same paper a letter to Emily, for which he apologizes for not being a ‘respectable looking’ letter since it was included in Elizabeth’s letter and not written as a separate letter. This is the next to last letter in our series. We have been following the Johnson family for thirty-two weeks from 1833 to this letter written in 1880.
Capt. Edward Johnson – Edward Johnson (1598-1672), one of the founders of Woburn Massachusetts and the author of one of the first histories of New England. Although it is implied in the letter that he is a relation, we could not find a link to our Johnson family – yet.
Prof. Walter R. Johnson – Unknown
My father – Othniel N. Johnson (1778-1851), William Johnson’s father and Emily’s uncle.
Uncle Carlos – Carlos Hawley Johnson (1802-1855), William Johnson’s cousin, Elizabeth’s uncle, and Emily’s brother.
Brother Edwin – Edwin Johnson (1818-1905), William Johnson’s brother.
Homer Johnson – We could not find this Homer Johnson in the genealogy of the family. The author’s brother was named Homer Johnson, but he died in 1843.
My wife – Abigail Clark Johnson (1812-1889), the author’s wife.
Payson – Edward ‘Payson’ Johnson (1849-1903), the author’s son.
Greenfield, Wis. Apr. 7, 1880.
Mrs. L. E. Ames,
Dear cousin,
Yours of the 21st ult? was duly received, and it was very acceptable, notwithstanding the long delay.
The various items of information which it contained were interesting to us. but we were sorry to hear that so much affliction had come to you and your family by sickness, but cheered and encouraged by the other fact that you are all well now. In compliance with your request my rhyming propensity has been brought into action, and the result is enclosed herewith There is a poetic vein in the constitution of the Johnson race. If you have been permitted to examine that unique book written by Capt. Edward Johnson soon after the first settlement of New England and entitled “Wonder working Providences of Sian’s Savior in New England”, you have found that quite an amount of poetic talent existed in him, or at least he developed quite a poetic tendency. Prof Walter R. Johnson had a fine poetic taste and no small amount of poetic talent. My father wrote very respectable verse, and your Uncle Carlos (peace be to his memory) indulged quite successfully in the use of his poetic pen, and some of the younger descendants, I know, could write verse. With all these facts before us, I was somewhat surprised that you should come to the conclusion that “I can think of no one among them so gifted in that direction as yourself.” Thank you for the compliment, and at the same time, I would indulge the hope that the production which I send will not cause you to come to a different conclusion. Hope that you may have an interesting, and enjoyable time at that Anniversary gathering. My compliments to the Party. The claims of other duties on my time at present will not permit me to write an extended letter. but I shall claim from you an answer very soon after that “Silver Wedding”. If my Poem is read to that Party, I request that whoever reads it should examine it thoroughly and read it well, which I have no doubt will be the case if the reading is done by your-self. And now, as I have not time to write a respectable looking letter to your mother, permit to say just a word to her on this piece of paper.
Dear cousin Emily,
Many thanks for your kind letter and for the liberality which you manifest, in what you propose to do towards the purchase of that monument I hope that I may be so successful in raising the amount from others, that it not be necessary for you to pay so much. I shall do the best I can to equalize it and make the burden as light as possible for all concerned. Your reference to the scenes that surrounded the home of your childhood brought forth a thousand interesting reminiscences in my mind, and I found myself lost in reverie and living over again the days of my boyhood. Brother Edwin wishes me to say to you that he intended and expected to visit you, that Homer Johnson was to take him to your place, but the roads were so bad that he finally gave it up. He was quite sorry that it was so. My wife’s health is poor, and our son Payson has been quite sick but is about again the rest of our family connections here are well Let us hear from you again.
Love and good wishes to you all.
Truly your cousin
Wm W Johnson
