Letter to Mary Johnson of Worthington, Ohio from Havens Cowles of Columbus, Ohio

This letter was written to Mary Johnson of Worthington, Ohio from Havens Cowles of Columbus, Ohio to inform Mary of her travel options for returning to Worthington after an upcoming visit to Columbus. Cowles notifies Miss Johnson that there are two possible options by which she can return home depending on her needs. She can return with Col. (Levi) Pinney, another important Worthington resident, on Thursday if Col. Pinney can secure a carriage or she can wait until Sunday when Cowles himself can bring her home. While this note may appear to be of little importance today, it shows that in 1844 a trip between Columbus and Worthington was something that required advanced planning and often spanned more than a day.

Mary was daughter of one of Worthington's founders, Orange Johnson and wife Achsa (Maynard) Johnson. She married Francis Sessions on August 18, 1847. The Sessions were interested in promoting art and art instruction in Columbus. The Sessions art collection formed a basis for the Columbus Museum of Art collection.

According to the "Inventory of Cowles Family Letters" transcribed by Jennie McCormick, Worthington Historical Society – Apr. 2005, Havens Cowles was the son of Rensselear W. Cowles who in 1818 married Laura Kilbourn and operated a general store at Worthington until his death in 1842. Havens Cowles was born in 1819 and died in 1871. His remains can be found at St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Capt. Levi Pinney was born in 1782 in Connecticut and died in 1869. He was a veteran and served in War of 1812. He later became colonel in the Ohio militia. His remains can be found at Walnut Grove Cemetery.