Family secret time:
Emma (
STAGE)
REDDING was the mother of John Emerson
WILLOUGHBY, b. 10-21-1889.
John Emerson
WILLOUGHBY was adopted by Clara Angeline (
STAGE)
WILLOUGHBY and her husband, Andrew Thomas
WILLOUGHBY.
John's biological father was apparently from a well-to-do family (as we'll see in later
letter
when he provides $).
However, he was largely absent during John's youth.
This man, name unknown, never produced any other male heirs. Later in life, he approached John to offer an inheritance in
exchange for taking his name. It has become a mark of family honor that John declared something to the effect "you didn't give me a name
when I needed one, I won't take it now."
The relationships come clearer in the 1900 and 1910 census records where he is listed as Clara's nephew.
Piecing together some other stuff. We know that John's biological father is from the Darbyville area. In Clara's letter, she mentions "Johnys papa has come home". We also know that John is born in Monroe, Ohio, which is a ways away. We don't know the logistics of the baby handoff but there's some physical distance.