wjgriffing@comcast.net

A baneful poison
Dead as a herring
Ralph Goodrich writes from Hobart College
North Street Chapel is in a vicarious state
Shake the dust off my feet
Rev. Giddings comes to Nebraska Territory
Encircled by loved ones in Owego
I know you must be lonely without us
You must be enjoying yourself now
Our dear ones have gone
A terrible drought has prevailed
His weight in gold

This series of letters and material cover the period from 1857 to early 1861, a relatively quiet time in Kansas Territory. In these four years, James served appointments in Fremont, Indianola, Big Springs, and Tecumseh which were all within riding distance from the Griffing homestead halfway between Tecumseh and Topeka. Though the bloodshed had mostly ended, Kansas settlers suffered reverses due to the Panic of 1857 and the draught of 1859-1860. From August to October 1859, Augusta returned east with her two-year old son John to visit her relatives in Owego, New York. It was her first trip home in four years.

Deed to Lot 26 on Rhode Island Street in Lawrence, dated February 1857. James Griffing purchased this property from Francis Killam, a carpenter from Pembroke, New Hampshire, who came to Kansas Territory in one of the Emigrant Aid Society parties in April 1855.

Tecumseh Town Association Shares Certificate from 1859

Deeds on Tecumseh Lots from 1859

Fees charged to travelers boarding overnight with James & Augusta in 1858