Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 17 January 1878

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Baltimore, Maryland, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She says she's spending the winter in Baltimore for her health; talks about two families she lived with "when I was south," apparently as a teacher, and how she has gotten in touch with some of them; and talks about the possibility of going to visit Elizabeth in North Carolina, or of Elizabeth and/or Georgiana visiting her in New England.]

Baltimore Jan 17, 1878

My Dear Sister Lizzie,

You will be surprized no doubt to see from what place this letter is dated. But I think I have written you that my two oldest boys1 are living in this city, and as the severe cold of our two last winters affected unfavourably both my cough and my rheumatism, my husband2 thought I had better spend the winter here. I have been here just about a month. I was very busy for months before I left or I should have written to you before. I sent you a letter in the summer enclosing a photograph of Isaac Marion,3 my youngest son. Did you get it? I have hoped that you would write but perhaps you have and it has not reached me.

Did not Mr. James Gould4 live live in Franklin St. near the corner of Charles St? My boys are now boarding in Charles not more than 8 or 10 doors from Franklin. I am boarding very near what was Mt. Hope Seminary.

Do you remember about the families with whom I lived when I was south? The first was Mr. Bowie's5 consisting of Mary,6 Cora,7 Robert,8 French,9 & Thomas.10 There was also two little ones11 not under my care. Mrs. B.12 died not long after I was married and I corrisponded with Cora, whom I dearly loved for a few years. But children, sickness, deaths, and many cares came and I did not answer her letters. Of course all intercourse was stopped. I come now hoping to learn something of them, perhaps to see them. What I learn is, that every one of them is dead excepting one of the little ones.13 I can hardly believe that they, so much younger than I, are all dead, and I still live.

In the other family my pupils were Margaret Claggett14 and Henrietta Cowman.15 Mrs. Claggett16 and Margaret, who is unmarried, are quite poor I understand, & are keeping a boarding house in Washington. I shall go to W I think this winter & hope to see them. Henrietta is living here in Baltimore with her second husband Mr. William D. Bowie,17 a second cousin of my Mr. Bowie.5 I find her a lovely and intelligent woman, surrounded by every luxury and elegance that money and taste can collect. I have seen her a number of times and from her am able to learn much of my former acquaintances. She was here yesterday and brought a young lady whose mother and grandparents I used to know. Henrietta married a Dr. George18 for her first husband. He was quite wealthy and they spent three years in Paris, while he was continuing his studies. She had three children, one is dead, the other two still live. Perhaps you don't care much for this, but seeing and hearing of these friends, not heard of for so many years, quite excites me and my mind is full of them.

My own family remain as when I wrote you last. Two1 are teaching here and the youngest3 is in the School of Technology in Boston. He expects to graduate in June. He is studying to be a Civil Engineer. It was his picture that I sent in my last letter. If you got it and will let me know I will send you the others. I want you to see them all.

Do you know that coming so far as Baltimore makes me think that it may not be impossible that I may yet come and see you sometime. Should you like to have me? Oh how I should like to see you and yet I suppose we are both very much altered, still I cannot think of you as anything but young. Why, do you know that I am over 60? Sixty! Only think of it! I can't hardly believe it myself.

Now just as soon as you get this I want you to write to me. Write all about yourself and Georgianna19 and the boys and Mr. Bowditch.20 Give my love to them all. Are you not going to spare Georgianna to come north again? I wish you would let her come & make me a visit next summer, why can you not? Have you given up all hope of coming to New England yourself? Why nowadays the journey is not so very much. I left house at 7 o'clock in the evening & reached here before noon the next day. Dr. Boyden21 still lives. I told him I had heard from you, he spoke of you with much interest.

Good bye, do write very very soon to your loving sister Lizzie.

Direct your letter to me care of Dr. William E. Story, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.

  1. William Edward Story (1850-1930) and Frederick Washington Story (1852-1920), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's sons
  2. Isaac Story (1818-1901), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's husband
  3. Isaac Marion Story (1855-1918), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's son
  4. James Gould (1795-1874)
  5. Robert Bowie (1804-1881)
  6. Mary Margaret Mackall Bowie (1828-1867), Robert Bowie's daughter
  7. Cora Bowie (1830-1862), Robert Bowie's daughter
  8. Robert William Weems Bowie (1833-1871), Robert Bowie's son
  9. George French Bowie (1835-1876), Robert Bowie's son
  10. Thomas Contee Bowie (1837-), Robert Bowie's son
  11. There were actually three smaller children in the Bowie family - Maria Louisa Bowie (1839-1891), Margaret Hall Bowie (1841-1901), and Amelia Margaret Bowie (1842-). Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's letter of 20 March 1878 mentions Maria Louisa Bowie, and says she was "but five years old" when she last saw her, which implies Elizabeth was there with the Bowie's in 1844. If so, Elizabeth was incorrect in saying "two little ones."
  12. Margaret French (1807-1847), Robert Bowie's wife
  13. This also appears to be wrong. Both Maria Louisa Bowie and Margaret Hall Bowie were still living.
  14. Margaret B. Claggett (abt 1835-1920)
  15. Henrietta Duckett Cowman (1834-1908)
  16. Mary A. Bowie (1802-1886), Margaret B. Claggett's mother
  17. William Duckett Bowie (1830-1888)
  18. Archibald George (1831-1873)
  19. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's daughter
  20. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's husband
  21. Wyatt Clark Boyden (1794-1879)