Letters from Jane Eliza "Jennie" (Camp) Johnson and her husband Ezra Levan Johnson, of Newtown, Connecticut.
They had a visit from Henry Sanford Merritt and his new wife Urilla "Rilla" Swingley (Phelps) Merritt on their honeymoon. They were writing to Mrs. Cynthia "Patience" Patience (Loomis) Merritt, their aunt and mother of Henry Merritt. Henry was the first cousin of the Johnsons.
The Johnson home at Newtown, Conn. 2014
Ezra "Levan" Levan Johnson, son of Julia Merritt Johnson, sister of Levan W. Merritt. (1832-1914)
He was a farmer, teacher and school visitor. He was unofficial town historian of Newtown. He collected documents about town history, and wrote articles about town history for the Newtown Bee Newspaper.
Mr, Johnson spent the majority of his teaching career at South Center and Sandy Hook School districts, and served on the Board of School Visitors for 58 years, until his death in 1914.
Mr Johnson was a member of the Men’s Club.
In 1905, Mr Johnson served on the committee for the celebration of Newtown’s Bicentennial, and as “historian of the day,” according to a tribute.
Jane "Jennie" Eliza (Camp) Johnson. (1837-1922)
She had five children. When [Ezra Johnson] died in 1914, his wife decided to publish all of the writings, as a whole. She adds her own essay, ‘The Domestic Economy of Our Mothers, a genealogy section, and the list of Newtown resident’s sworn to the Freeman’s Oath, It was titled: "Newtown;s history and historian, Ezra Levan Johnson" published 1919.
William Fairchild and Adaline (Johnson) Fairchild are mentioned. Adaline is sister of Ezra Levan Johnson, she had three children. Their Mother Johnson was Julia Johnson, her husband Charles died in 1871. Jennie's son was Charles Johnson was 21 years old. Not sure who Albert.was and "Aunt Kezia" were. Uncle John Johnson (brother of Charles Johnson, Ezra Levan Johnson's father), Aunt Mary Dibble Johnson (John's wife), Rebecca was Betsey Rebecca Johnson (daughter of Uncle John Johnson), and Mrs. Dibble was Mary Dibble Johnson's mother, Betsey (Hine) Dibble, born . 11 Aug 1789. Katie was Jennie's sister Katherine F. Camp.
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Envelope addressed to:
Mrs. L. W. Merritt
Medina
Orleans County
N. York
Newtown
October 13, 1873
Dear Patience:
Your dear good boy Henry and his good wife left us by the
7:45 train p.m. – B Port -- & from thence to N. York by boat expecting to
reach there at 4 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday).
They arrived in town last Sat. by eve. train from N.Y. & went
directly to Esther’s where they remained until Sunday noon. Jennie & I first met them there and with
us they attended church and spent the night.
Monday, you know is the everlasting washing day, but we just voted to
change the order of things and Jennie & I spent the day with them in riding
about. In the a.m. we went across
Botsford’s Hill – through Zoar & home by way of Mile hill calling on our
way on “Aunt Keziah” where we spent an hour – nearly, and the decision was
unanimous that to listen to her talk of the “good old times” and how they did
when she was a gal was a greater treat than the Theatre or Circus. The p.m. we took another tack – going up
through the village and across n. west to Father Camp’s where we took tea and
around home in the eve. Tues. eve. we
left “Tinkerfield” for S. Hook in time to take dinner with mother & in the
p.m. we all went thru the Glen and through the rubber factory and around to
Hanover and called on Albert.
Jennie and I left mother’s late in the eve. leaving Henry
& his wife to spend the night with mother, and she to go with them to Wms.
In the morning. This morning we got out
the washing machine & went at it. At
half past ten we were through (Jennie and I) and then left all and started for
Tarranton [?} where we found Mother,
Henry & Rilla had arrived before us. We took dinner there and spent the
p.m. At 6 ½ this eve. we started for
home going by way of the depot to take your dear boy and his wife that they
might be on their way to Medina where they expect to arrive on Saturday of this
wk. We kissed them good-bye and were
sorry to have them go. We fain would
have kept them longer, but we knew their time was limited and that their home
friends had a stronger claim on them – so what else could we do, when they said
they must go, than to bid them “God speed” – and set them on their
way? They are gone from our sight, but
they have a place in our hearts and pleasant recollections of them will,
often come up in our minds as in the time to come we live over the past few
days. You have yet to meet Henry’s wife for the first time. We know you will love her and give her the
warmest of mother’s welcome, I can faintly imagine the deep, heart joy with
which you will meet them if God spare them to reach Medina. Henry is a noble boy, and what a blessing to
you all, that he can bring to you such a sensible, noble, good and worthy wife,
sister and daughter. We can not tell you
how much we have learned to love them during the short visit they have
made. We could neither do for them or
show them any thing grand, but we tried to make it pleasant for them and hope
we in some small degree succeeded. They
came to our house the 12th Oct./73 – on their wedding
trip. We arrived at your house on
the 12th Oct./58, on our wedding trip. 15 yrs. ago!
Henry was then a little boy of 8 yrs. the age that our Lee now is. I can hardly realize that the shy boy with
the round chubby face that we saw at your house then, and the manly form that
has been the light of our house for the past few days – is only that same boy
grown to manhood, -- But, I did not propose when I commenced, to write you a
letter in this strain – only I wanted to let you know how hugely we
enjoyed their visit how much we liked, (I’ll use a stronger word) how
much we love his wife. I rejoice that there is such pleasant time in store for
you all, as their safe arrival will produce.
We shall think often of you all, and in imagination visit with you some.
Henry may reach you in advance of this letter, but I guess not.
Love to all. Good
night. Affly, your nephew
E.L. Johnson
Also in envelope addressed to: Mrs. L.W. Merritt Medina,
Orleans County, N. York Newtown Oct. 15th, 1873 Dear
Aunt and the Girls and all the good folks we love in Medina.
We are just home and sitting quietly by our sitting room
fire and I cannot stop thinking of the good time we have been having all the
week and how much we have enjoyed having your dear ones with us, for you must
know Levan and I have just come from the depot when we said “Good Bye” and gave
our farewell kisses to Henry and Rilla.
We are so sorry to have them go so soon for we commenced
loving them just at first and have kept sight on ever since. It seems to me I must have known Rilla a long
time she seemed now so near to me. I am
sure Henry has “made a good select” and that you will think her a jewel. We have as you know very little in our house
or surroundings beautiful to show them but we were heartily glad to have them
here and tried to make them feel that we were and they tell us they have enjoyed
their visit with us. The only fault we
have to find with it is it has been all to short.
Dame Nature has contributed not a little to their enjoyment
for I am sure you never saw the forests more gorgeous than they are and have
been for a good while. –- and Eliza (bless her heart!) so kindly consented to
come for a few days and she took my kitchen work right off my hands so I could
visit with them without having their bodily necessities entirely neglected, for
you know we must eat and drink even if we do want to visit. So I will give Eliza a credit mark ever so
long even if she did go away from me when I wished she would stay.
How I did wish as they started and we knew that if all goes
well they will be with you in a few days we could go along too, for I cannot
tell you how much I do want to see you.
I did not know until it was really decided that we were not to go this
fall how much I had thought of it and I was more disappointed than I supposed
it was possible for one to be. Although
I had said almost nothing about it yet I found I had almost all summer been
anticipating it and had made my arrangements with that in view until it seemed
to me I could see just how it could be done and I almost was sure it would be
done. But Levan didn’t know wither how
much I had been thinking of it. I
suppose it is all right for I had felt in regard to that as I strive habitually
to feel in all things that our Heavenly Father orders all things and there are
really no mistakes made in His government although some things seem so vey
mysterious. Quite likely you know from Katie of her whereabouts but lest you
may not have heard I will tell you that she is in Minneapolis. She started in company with his Frank Fairman
(whose company she had as far as Chicago).
Three weeks ago to-day reaching ch. Sat. evening. She would have stopped in Medina but it was
such a good opportunity to go with Mary I am that we felt unwilling to have her
miss it. Mother has heard twice and we once from her and thus far she seems
pleased.
Levan has been writing to “Aunt Patience” and I told him I
might write exactly the same but I have just been reading it and I find he has
said it all, so I cannot see much use in filling even this half sheet out of
nothing.
I hope so much that some of you will write to us as soon as
they – Henry and Rilla I mean – reach Medina for we shall feel a little anxious
until we do hear.
Oh! I remember that
Levan did not tell you that Wm. and Adaline have been to the “Big city” for a
visit quite an event in their quiet steady lives. Julia
kept house quite as nicely I guess as her mother – made the butter and
the bread and all the little fixings. She changed so much since you have seen
her from a little girl to a dignified young lady. Charlie seems not nearly so old though he
carries a handsome gold watch given him on his 21st
birthday. My Father and Mother are very
well though very lonely without Katie and thinking of her so far away. Uncle John, Aunt Mary and Rebecca are just as
good, as ever, and considering the terrible affliction they daily endure on
account of Mrs. Dibble, very well. She
grows worse and worse in mind though her body seems as vigorous as ten years
ago. You can have no idea what a trial
she is. Yourselves Henry and Rilla can
probably give you as much information as I should. We jog along after the same old fashion
trying to get some good and give some, and we pass on feeling very often as
though we failed entirely but perhaps on the whole getting along as well as we
can expect. I am certainly better in health this summer than ever as you will
easily believe when I tell you that I have had no help this summer except a
little girl about two weeks and these few days help from Eliza. Of course I am obliged to leave very many things
undone but to do what must be done takes just a little time and strength – Well
it is now nearly eleven o’clock and I guess the boat is about starting on its
way with its precious freight.
That God may bless and keep them through this journey and
through lifes journey shall be one of my oft repeated prayers.
Maybe I’ll add a line in the morning but now I must say
-- Good Night.
Thursday Morning
Another perfect day so far as weather goes for the
tourists. Levan has just started for
Bethel with two of the boys to help him drive cattle to the butcher’s. I am to start now in a few minutes to take
Eliza home. Then when I get back I shall
go into the kitchen and into my old round but the memory of the pleasant time
for the few days past will make the hard work easy. Levan and I did our washing yesterday morning
before going to Adaline’s and when I got home at night Eliza had done every bit
of this ironing, eleven shirts, four table cloths & c, &c.
The horse is ready and waiting and I must away. Love for you all.
From your Affectionate
Jennie
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