4th of July, Pa, Ma, Geo., Rose, Hazel, Jno., Frank, Charley, Mrs. Smith & myself went to Dawn to the celebration. Davies made a speech. Seen Aunt Lizzie’s folks. Seen Cora & Liza Johnson. Geo. gave me a book. Edd gave me a kerchief. Ma gave me a fan. Charley gave me a fan & Pa gave me $2.00.
Whenever the Bench family drives to Dawn, Missouri, it is to see James’ half-siblings by his mother. Aunt Lizzie is Elizabeth Tobey Wells, James Bench’s younger half-sister. In 1877, she married Nicholas Wells, and they had Edgar, Nellie, Rosa, Dora, and Geneva Wells. As for Mrs. Smith, Jesse could be referring to his sister Sophira Smith, or more likely her mother-in-law and Utica school teacher Josephine Smith. Cora is Jesse’s first cousin, daughter of James’ younger half-sister Levina Tobey Johnson and her husband Isaac Pierce Johnson. Liza Johnson is less clear. She might be Cora’s older sister, but the genealogical research on this looks shaky.
