Allen Otho Binckley to John Henry Binckley, September 5, 1843

Cleveland and Ohio City, 1851. From: A History of the City of Cleveland (1896)

[Allen Otho Binckley (age about sixteen) at Cleveland, Ohio, to John Henry Binckley at Somerset, Perry County, Ohio, September 5, 1843. Postmarked te same date, Ohio City. Original manuscript in the John Milton Binckley Papers, 1816-1943. Library of Congress Manuscript Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. This is my rough transcription. Additional paragraph breaks added for easier reading.

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing a scan of the original document.]

                                                       Cleveland Sept 5th 1843

Dear Father and Mother

I received your kind and affectionate letter Dated August the 7th and 8th a week ago yesterday and would of answered if before, but [I] had no opportunity of going to the City through the week. I did almost begin to think that you did not intend to Answer me but the Appearance of your good and affectionate letter Banished all such silly though[t]s. 

I am very sorry to learn that [you] have been visited with that distressing Malady that has taken its Rounds almost throughout the States. I myself did not escape without a small Call. I was not able to . . . . back or sheet for some time though my health has been very good since. In speaking of going West I don't think I shall go any farther West than I am at already. It is my intention to not stop here any longer than Possible.

I am determined to come home this fall if it can be accomplished by any means however. Come I will if god spares my life. I think I shall be able to Come in the course of next month if I have good luck.

My motto is "Homeward Bound By Sea or By land." I think that my Course is pretty near through with at least all the Lakes. I think "A Sailor's Life at Sea, don't Suit Me." -- I have tried it and it won't "Gibe no Way I can Rig it" the next course I tak[e] will be for home and won't stop on the Passage.

I could not help spreading my provision "Scuttle" on a kind of good and easy way to think that Father thought of my getting "spliced" in the place that I have Been filling in the Past year or two that is something that never troubled my Ship what would do with a Better half I would have as much use with a ship's top my head as I would the . . . it means something that will . . . do me any good. But they tell me that I am a curious Child any way and if I had not Written Something that gave me Reason to think So you would not of thought of it.

I can't take care of myself What I do with a Wife well suppose I was to get married, what then. Why the answer of the Business is this if I was to get a wife I would have to get one that would take care of me . I could not take care of her. I would have to as "Lover McNeill" done, get some old "Widday." But it is an ill wind that Blows . . . Body Good -- as the Capt. said When his vessel went ashore I will go to . . . with you as . . . want me to go . . . 

Get a few Clothes more than what I have got and then for now. I think you will be Better Satisfied in the Southern Country than in this, you spoke some about my Bad Writing. This place is . . . the Ink along you must Excuse my Sailoring . . .

I hope to be with you shortly.

My Best Respects to . . .
My love to you and My Brothers.
Write soon good by[e] your Son
To his Father & Mother A. O. Binckley 

[Allen Otho Binckley (circa 1826-1876).
John Henry Binckley (1788-1849).
Charlotte Stocker Binkcley (1788-1877).]

Mary Louisa Michel Binckley Memoir, 1906 (and 1899): Part VI

Bedford (Liberty), Virginia, by Edward Beyer, circa 1855

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley Memoir, 1906 (and 1899), Part VI. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.

 

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

Of that winter in the South I have few impressions. I believe we boarded with some distant relations, and father was ill, and some children (I don't know whose) tormented me.

But only two incidents stamped themselves clearly. I heard mother and her friends talking of a lovely lady they were all fond of and pitied and I for the first time took in the idea that a man could be cruel to his wife. 

Then in a store one day, mother's friend directed attention to a lady standing at a distant counter with her daughter an overgrown girl; and afterwards I heard them laughing -- "Sixteen, and her mother keeps her in pantalettes yet --" ["]Yes, the mother is a gay widow, and dresses that poor girl like a child for fear of being seen with a grown daughter." That also was a new revelation as to human possibilities. 

There are no pleasant ideas of the return trip to Abingdon. We must gave gone by stage as dear Blackie died in the South. Shortly afterwards we went to Bedford, and it must have been a sort of farewell occasion that mother took me with her to dine at cousin Preston's. My chin just did come over the edge of the table and the solemn silence children had to keep in their elders' presence gave me only more time for keen observation of guests and servants, while my first art criticism was aroused by the old blue willow-pattern plate so close to my nose. 

Mother had none of those plates, her set of China, as was often done then. Grandfather Johnston had sent for these in his early  married life. There is not one of them left, most being lost in the war. I had one or two of the desert [dessert] plates which were lost with nearly everything else I had stored in Chicago.

Uncle Tom Campbell lost his wife (my father's sister Martha) and wrote to urge Mother,) as we were intending to go to Bedford) to come to him for awhile and help him until he could get his houseful of children arranged for [parentheses as in original].

The baby, Fred, was very delicate, and poor uncle Tom was in such trouble that my parents consented to stay with them some months. The eldest, Mary (afterwards Mrs. Jones) was some years older than I but Charlotte (Mrs. Butts) was my age. Ann, younger. A little boy two years old, and the baby. Mother's devotion saved the sick baby's life, but that winter the country was scourged by a (then) new disease, diptheria, which raged for months. We were all ill, but recovered, except uncle Tom's splendid little boy, Willie.

That winter I saw sister Charlotte for the first time. She was living with her aunt, Mrs. Wingfield, and came out to visit us. Father's mother had died two several years before, and so had both his unmarried sisters, Mary, and Louise: his brother Stephen had died in the prime of life, just after writing a successful play -- a most brilliant youth.

The eldest brother Tom lived in Kentucky and married Miss Julian of Frankfort. The sailor brother, Fred, was captain of a merchant vessel when he died of yellow fever on the Gulf of Mexico.

Uncle Robert was the only one in Bedford, and lived in the old home place. He married the beautiful Lucy Phillipps and raised a family of twelve children to be grown and married. The handsomest set I ever saw.

Mother was the blessing of uncle Tom's house for more than a year when he married again. A most excellent match in every way, a she proved a devoted step-mother, and made herself beloved by all his kin. She was also named Martha, and during all her life was devoted to Mother. She lost one grown unmarried daughter, Martha, and had no son. Her daughter Fannie married a first cousin, Joe Wilson, Roberta married Hopkins, and Sallie is unmarried.

In case I cannot finish this, there is one thing I want remembered by my children. Although we were always struggling with poverty, the gay sweetness of my father, and the serenity of my mother, kept an atmosphere around us that made the poorest home enjoyable. Children should always be able to look around and find peace. 

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930).
Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Father = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866).
The trip to Alabama probably occurred between 1842 and 1844. The move to Bedford occurred by 1845.
Grandfather Johnston = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
Uncle Tom Campbell (1813-1890).
My father's sister Martha = Martha Mitchell Campbell (before 1820-circa 1844).
Mary Campbell (circa 1835-?).
Charlotte Campbell (1837-1906) married Junius H. Butts (1830-1878) in 1858.
Baby Fred Campbell (born circa 1844).
Ann = Ann Henry Campbell (1837-?) married Thomas Kelso (1834-1867) in 1865.
Sister Charlotte = Charlotte Elizabeth Griffin Mitchell (1829-1921).;
Her aunt Wingfield = Charlotte Griffin Wingfield (1810-circa 1855), married to Gustavus Adolphus Wingfield (1808-1888).
Father's mother = Sarah "Sally" B. Hawkins Mitchell (1777-1841). 
Mary and Louise = Mary Jane Mitchell (d. 1839) and Louise Mitchell.
Stephen = Stephen Mitchell (d. before 1845).
Tom = Thomas B. Mitchell (1796-1868).
Miss Julian = Mildred Abbott Julian married Tom in 1823.
The sailor brother, Fred = Frederick W. Mitchell (d. circa 1849).
Uncle Robert and Lucy Phillipps = Robert Crump Mitchell (1807-1872) and Ann Lucy Phillips (circa 1809-before 1880).
Martha = Martha Sarah Crenshaw (1825-1890) married Tom Campbell on June 6, 1844.
Martha Campbell (dates unknown).
Fannie Campbell (1847-1938) married Joseph Watkins "Joe" Wilson (1846-1877) in 1872. His mother was Mary Jane Campbell Wilson (1810-1851).
Roberta Campbell (1851-1928) married John H. Hopkins (1852-1892) in 1880.
Sallie Campbell (1855-1925).]

Mary Louisa Michel Binckley Memoir, 1906 (and 1899): Part V

Surrey*

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley Memoir, 1906 (and 1899), Part V. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.

 

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

Bedroom candles were lighted, goodnights said, & all scattered to . . . rooms that had, to be sure, only rag carpet rugs on bare floors, but the beds were plump and piled high with blankets, and a glorious fire sparkled & roared up the chimney.

A darkey girl who had been curled up asleep in the chimney corner for hours, would wake with a yawn or grin to serve you. If the water in the ewer was nearly ice, she would produce from some nook the black kettle and trivet, shovel on to a corner of the hearth a glowing mass of coals, and soon a warm footbath would be ready, and she more than ready to give it.

Probably another peice [piece] of ebony would roll herself out from her pallet under the bed and beg "Law Miss Lou -- lem'me com yer har." If several girls were together in one room, they generally made a raid on the pantry on the way up stairs, and curled together on the hearth rug, would spin out the endless gossip of girlhood to the accompaniment of haircombing, pickles and poundcake.

No one ever troubled about hygiene or microbobes and the balls and parties to be talked over were few and far between, but as far as I can remember they had no ore indigestion than the microbe-haunted youth of this 20th century, and seemed to get as much pleasure out of their mild "milk and water" amusements as this same youth does from his mad rush after pleasure.

My first remembrances of Abingdon as I have said, but they are few, and not very clear. Behind the cottage was a large green yard divided fro the front by palings. past kitchen, smokehouse, and servant's houses a lane led back to a pasture where Blackie, the carriage horse, spent most of his time. 

Father's animals were always petted, and Blackie was the most responsive. To get into the yard was his treat, where a piece of bread and caresses were always on hand for him (sugar was much too dear for even Blackie) and it was while galloping down that lane one afternoon in high spirits that he saw baby Willie come toddling to meet him, & then stop still right in the narrow gate. There was no room to pass -- he could'nt [couldn't] stop himself, so the poor beast just gathered his feet up in one wild jump over the child's head, and as soon as he could stop turned to see if harm was done. Mother saw it, and said the horse trembled with the shock and fear.

He was a large, well bred animal, quite powerful enough to take us all down to Alabama one fall for father's health. The carriage was what we now call a surrey, only more heavily built, as all vehicles had to be in anti-railroad days when travelling was done by stage, horseback, or private carriage, and the roads were poor, to put it mildly. 

It was considered fortunate if your destination could be reached by public highway, as such roads were kept in some order, and on their windings were regular stopping places where man and beast could find shelter at night. I hardly think the road we travelled could have been a public one, for I dimly remember having to stay at night in rough cabins, and it must have been a long wearisome way, even to such good travellers as my parents were.

Willie was not old enough to  understand much, but as we rolled along, day after day through "forests primeval," many a story must have been told me of nature and her wondrous ways, her plants and small beasts, for the trip has always been a delicious, if hazy, memory. 

Especially I remember like a dream the passing through a broad belt of the long-leafed pine which then lay on the edge of northern Alabama. Even a child's mind can take in the wierd [weird] charm of a pine forest. A green twilight [as] far as the eye reaches -- crowded with tall tapering tree stems -- no undergrowth breaks the sender lines soaring up into a distant spread of plumy tops that shut out the blue sky. 

A faint breath of resinous perfume is in the still air. Sunlight filters through now and then in shining drops. A brown carpet of pine needles lies so thick and soft there is not sound of wheel or hoof as you dreamily roll along, no sound but that exquisite, strange musical sighing note that murmurs forever through the swaying, far up, branches. A land of dreams -- shut in -- no outer world -- utter solitude -- and no sound but that mysterious swaying hint of elusive music.

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930).
Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Father = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866).
Willie = William Manning Mitchell/Michel (October 1, 1839-1908).
The described trip to Alabama probably occurred between 1842 and 1844.
*Link here.]

Beverly Randolph Johnston to Eliza Mary Johnston, December 26, 1843

[Beverly Randolph Johnston at Abingdon, Virginia, to Eliza Mary Johnston at Columbia, South Carolina, December 26, 1843, Box 25, Folder 1, Series X, Sub-series J, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough transcription.]

My dear Lizzy

I got your alarmed and miserable letter by last mail. I have fully complied with your instructions: have seen Dr. Trigg and your aunt Sally, and now report: that she is altogether well, and in no condition to excite the fear of the most apprehensive of her friends. I dined with her yesterday at your cousin Tom's, and was observant of her at the table, and can assure you that her dinner was not that of an invalid. So put your heart to rest on that subject.

Your cousin Tom sets out for Richmond this morning on some business relating to the college. Pray can you tell me anything of your Uncle Syd. Let your next letter be altogether about him, as your last was devoted to Mrs. Floyd. But I must not be more diffuse in my reply than you were in your letter. You wrote but for information on a single subject. You have it and I am done.

Yours most affectionately,
B.R. Johnston

P.S. The stage is just about to start. 

[Eliza Mary Johnston (1825-1909)
Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1876)

Dr. Trigg = Dr. Daniel Trigg (1808-1853) 

Aunt Sally = probably Sarah Preston Floyd (1802-1879)

Cousin Tom = probably Thomas Lewis Preston (1812-1903)

Uncle Syd = Algernon Sidney Johnston (1801-1852)]

Mrs. Floyd = probably Letitia Preston Floyd (1775-1852)]

John Preston Johnstone [Johnston] to Eliza Mary Johnston, September 14, 1843

[John Preston Johnstone [Johnston] at Carlise Barracks, Pennsylvania, to his sister Eliza Mary Johnston at [Columbia, South Carolina], September 14, 1843, Box 26, Folder 12, Series X, Sub-series J, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough transcription.]

My dear Lizzy

Yours of the . . . post marked 3rd I have just received; and though I can now say but little upon any subject, yet I write to assu[re] you of my safe arrival and of my satisfaction at my condition & prospect from what I have yet seen. I arrived here on the 1st (somewhat after my time as you may say, although you said I had such abundance of time to get here when I started from Abingdon) and my Captain, a better man than whom I suppose never drew breath, gave me, as soon as I made known my wish for it, a leave of absence of seven days to go to New York, to get my uniform & equipments: for that leave I only returned last night, and really since I left you I have scarcely been still a single day: now however I am stationary for some months at least. With the looks of this place and its people I am a good deal pleased & hope to spend an agreeable time here. I am not yet fixed at all, and am now busy in arranging my room and mess arrangement in the course of a few days I should be snugly settled, and at much more leisure than at present. I have a very fine horse to ride, a handsome, wild, fiery little black stallion, as pretty an animal as I almost ever saw, so you may know one great point in my happiness is already filled out. My companions I believe to be pleasant intelligent men from what I have seen of them.

I saw Uncle Edward in Washington as I passed through: he & Aunt Estelle are both very well & have gone to house keeping again in a very neat little establishment which he has rented -- of Uncle Jo nothing has been heard very lately, and I suppose he must be now on his way to Washington. 

I will write more fully in about a week or ten days; now I cannot as I am full of business of one sort or another all day. I do not doubt you're spending a most-agreeable winter in Carolina and only regret 'tis too far off that both money and time to see you are not at my disposal. Write often, dear Lizzy, more often that you formerly did, and give me the news of all your pleasures. Remember me to all enquiring friends, Uncle Syd in particular.

Most affectionately
Yr. brother
J.P. Johnstone 

[John Preston Johnstone/Johnston (1824-1847)
Eliza Mary Johnston (1825-1909)
Uncle Joe = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
Uncle Edward = Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
Aunt Estelle = Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (De Cressac Villagrand) (ca. 1802-1848) 
Uncle Syd = Algenron Sidney Johnston (1801-1852)]

John Preston Johnstone [Johnston] to Roger Jones, September 14, 1843

[John Preston Johnstone [Johnston] at Wytheville, Virginia, to Roger Jones, September 14, 1843, to General Roger Jones, Adjutant General of the United States Army, in Washington, D.C., Record Group 94, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984, Letters Received, 1805-1889.]

I have the honor to acknoweldge (after some delay occasioned by my temporary absence in Abingdon) of "Special orders no. 59" from the Head Qrs. of the Army, requiring me to relive Bvt. 2nd Lieut. John Hillhouse [(1817-1882), USMA Class of 1842] of Capt. Washington's Company on 30th Inst; which will accordingly be complied with. 

John Preston Johnstone [Johnston] to Roger Jones, August 1, 1843

[John Preston Johnstone [Johnston] at Greenfield, Botetourt County, Virginia, to Roger Jones, August 1, 1843, to General Roger Jones, Adjutant General of the United States Army, in Washington, D.C., Record Group 94, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984, Letters Received, 1805-1889.]

Sir

I have the honor to acknoweldge the receipt of Gen. order no. 42 from the Head Qrs. of the Army, accompanied by a blank form for an oath of allegience; and herewith enclose the latter filled out and sworn to before a Justice of the Peace; I have also to report my acceptance of the appointment conferred upon me, and in compliance with one of the requisitions of the above mentioned orders, to state as my birthplace Abingdon Virginia, and the State from which appointed Virginia. Any further orders which it may be necessary for me to receive will reach me by direction to Abingdon, Virg.

Very Respectfully
Your obt. servt.
Jno. Preston Johnstone
Bvt. Secd. Lieut. 4th Arty.

[From microfilm copy an additional note: "Rc'd August 7, 1843. Commission. Signed in Fincastle [Virginia], 1 Aug. 43 J. Preston Johnstone. John P. Shanks, J. of P."]

John Preston Johnston to Eliza Mary Johnston, May 29, 1843

[John Preston Johnston at United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, to his sister, Eliza Mary Johnston at [Abingdon, Virginia?], May 29, 1843, Box 26, Folder 12, Series X, Sub-series J, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough transcription.]

My dear Lizzy

Are you all dead in Abingdon? Really I don't think I ever was so long without news from you before, and were I not to set off for that region so very soon I should be much disposed, contrary as it is to my general custom, to grow uneasy at your long silence; but thank heaven three more weeks will terminate my career in this hard school of adversity, and then straight for you and all those I love. Where in the world is Uncle Bev & why don't he write to me? Time and again I have written to him lately, yet he keeps most obstinately silent. Touch him up a little, if you can have any effect on him, and let him know that a letter from him would be peculiarly [particularly?] acceptable to me at this time.

Now I know you envy me one thing and that is a visit I have just had from Uncle Joe, who spent all of yesterday with me: he looks as well as ever, (not quite so large whiskers as formerly however) and is in fine health and spirits; only a short time since from Florida and now on his way to locate the boundary of the new Treaty. He will probably be in that region until the first November next and then he'll go to Washington again. He regrets extremely that there's no more chance of fighting with the Florida Indians, as it takes away one great source of his pleasure. If the Oregon bill passes he is bent on going there immediately as there will doubtless be grand sport in the fighting way as well as in every other; no one will be more ready to volunteer for this expedition than myself, if 'tis ever really set on foot but I fear 'twill never be. He gave me the first news I have had of Uncle Edward for an age he is writing for the National Intelligencer at present, at a salary of $20.00 per week, looks very well, and seems to be getting on quite well: he boards in the city. Uncle Jo thinks Aunt Estelle is getting a good deal better than she got credit for, and that were it not for her Uncle Edward would not be able to manage his concerns at all. 

The examination will commence on this day week and in a fortnight from that time we hope that our class will get thorough, though there's no telling; the President is to be on shortly to review us; and a board of 9 officers of the army have been appointed and ordered to inspect and report on the condition of the academy; Gen. Scott at the head then a Brig. Gen., several Col's., and some Captains and no doubt we'll be considerably bothered before we get through all our performances.  

But I must close. Write again as soon as you receive this so that I may get it before leaving.

Love to all --
Most affectionately
Yr brother
Jno. P. Johnstone [signed in the Romantic style, inspired by Sir Walter Scott]

[John Preston Johnston (1824-1847)
Eliza Mary Johnston (1825-1909)
Uncle Bev = Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1876)
Uncle Joe = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
Uncle Edward = Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
Aunt Estelle = Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (De Cressac Villagrand) (ca. 1802-1848) 
$20.00 per week = about $600.00 in 2016.
The President = John Tyler (1790-1862)
Gen. Scott - Winfield Scott (1786-1866)]