Author:Mrs. J. Wood

Mary Mark Ockerbloom documents her discover of the true name of this author on her blog. We give a summary here:

In "Centennial History of Rochester, New York Volume III.", Forman, 1933, vol. 3 ithere is an article titled "Random Recollections: Suggested by the Indexes of the Centennial History", by William Mill Butler. Butler was the city editor of the Post Express from 1879-1884. On p. 101, in discussing his interactions with the author Jenny Marsh Parker, he writes:
 * Knowing Mrs. Parker's conservative views, I gave her some information at a time, as I remember, when she was writing a paper on "Rochester in Literature." In confidence I told her about the authorship of Pantaletta: A Romance of Sheheland, which had made quite a stir, being directed chiefly against [Susan B.] Anthony and her followers. Daily papers in our foremost cities praised it as a production after the manner of Dean Swift and Jules Verne, and some asked the author to uncover his name, but he did not do so. He was city editor of the Post-Express. ... JOSEPH H. GILMORE, professor of logic, rhetoric, and English literature in the University of Rochester, a recognized authority, with whom I became well acquainted while reporting his public lectures, took a great interest in this my first book, assisting with counsel and advice; and he wrote an endorsement which he allowed me to print on the back page of the cover.

(Emphasis added). Ockerbloom's blog gives supporting evidence for this claim. This establishes Butler as the author of this book.