1866 & 1867 Annual Conferences

In early March, Augusta received two letters from her mother and her sister Sarah acknowledging the receipt of her letter containing the news of the birth of their fourth child, Sarah Augusta Clarissa Griffing. These letters describe an unprecedented religious awakening in Owego, New York. There are also two letters that were exchanged between Augusta and James while he attended the 11th Session of the Kansas Annual Conference held in Baldwin City on March 15-21, 1866. James served as Statistical Secretary at this Conference and upon its conclusion, was re-appointed to the Seneca charge. Finally, there is a letter from Augusta's mother written in August 1866.

We received yours and James’ [letter] last week telling us of the new arrival at your house. It is no more than I expected. Am glad you are safely through the journey, but do hope that you will not have to go the road many times more. It costs a good deal to bring up a large family. To cloathe and school them, and do by them as we ought. I hope you will get along well. Your babe will be two weeks old tomorrow and [your husband] James starts for Conference next Friday and will be gone two weeks, which will be about the 23rd of March. Your babe will be over 4 weeks old – pretty young to up and go to a new place. You ought to keep that Sister Willis with you till you get moved and settled. I hope you will not get any more cold. It was bad for you to have a cold & cough.

I am alone this Sunday morning. Sarah and Stephen have gone to church. Milo has gone out somewhere. I expect Stephen with others will be taken into the Church today and some are to be baptized. I should like to have gone today but I have got some cold and my throat is sore. I did not feel like going. The Methodist Church is crowded every evening. Stephen goes nearly every evening. It has been so muddy the last week that Stephen could not work the horses as much. They were going over Tuesday night and about time to go Milo said that [our horse] Prince was sick. Stephen went out to see him and found everything ailed him. Putt told Steve to give him saltpeter and he had to go over and get some spirits of nitro. He was better in the morning. Stephen has engaged to get Anthony Thompson 10 cords of green wood. He got Muet Lewis to help him draw it last week. They went out Friday morning and drew each a load down to the corner, unloaded and came home. Stephen said drawing wood was played out with him and we was glad to hear it. Sarah had been wanting to go down to [her sister] Mary’s. We had been expecting her up here but Thursday we hear that [her husband] Gurd [Horton] had sprained his ankle and could not walk a step – cannot bear any weight on it. Before Stephen got home Friday noon, Mary & [her daughter] Fanny came and staid to dinner. When they get on the railroad, Fanny will say, “There is Grandma’s house” and when they get behind Ben’s barn, she will say, “Where’s Grandma’s house.” They would not stay all day for she has to wait on Gurd so much. Stephen and Sarah went down yesterday and staid to dinner.

Stephen and Sarah went over to the meeting Friday night and last night the church is crowded and many have to stand up under the gallery – all around the alter is full. All the stores close at 7 o’clock so that the clerks can go to meeting. They have meetings in all the churches but many of the Baptist go to the Methodist [church]. Last night Mr. Raymond was there and Mr. Westlake got a seat for him. One of his sons has experienced religion there and one of Mr. Muzzy’s sons has…. …..one of Mr. Brooks sons has gone to the Baptist. I don’t think there ever was such a time known in Owego as it is now. Sarah said Scott Th_____ prayed in meeting last night and he made such a good prayer as a minister could. Stephen wants to go to all the meetings. After the meeting today is Sunday school and at 3 o’clock is young men’s prayer meeting at the church and then at 6 o’clock again. I don’t know how he can go to all.

Mrs. Bristol is getting better. Mr. [Wheeler] Bristol came down here yesterday to get a young chicken. The Doctor said she might eat a chicken’s wing. He looks as if he had been sick. He said he had not had his clothes off for 15 nights. She cannot sit up a minute nor move a limb. They moved her from the bed onto a lounge yesterday and made up another bed and got her onto it and she said how good. She cannot talk much. Her two daughters from Canaan have gone back and her son and his wife to Cincinnati [Ohio]. Mrs. Nutting and her daughter and Mrs. Kingston and Birtie are here, and Jane and Helen. They think it is almost a miracle. She did not expect to live. When she saw her children and knew they were here, she said what good children. All came but two.

Mr. Bliss – I believe you knew him – was coming down the road that goes by the Methodist Church and in coming over the railroad, he saw a train going one way and waited till it got over and then drove on but did not see the train [coming] the other way. He turned round to get off [the tracks but] the cars caught the back of his waggon, tore it all to pieces, and pitched Mr. Bliss and his horse into the cattleguard and when taken up they thought Mr. Bliss would die. But he is getting better. It broke three of his ribs and if he is not hurt internally, he may live.

I am going to write to [your brother] Ralph today. Stephen did not get home till 5 o’clock. He went up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis’] and got some dinner. He staid with us to supper & went back to the young converts meeting and then preaching, and then speaking and praying & will not get home till 10 or 11 o’clock. It is such bad going that Sarah thought she could not go. It has froze up hard and is rough. Lee and Hattie walked over this morning. Sarah had a good mind to walk over this evening. I do hope you will get along. Your children must be good and keep still when their mother is sick. [Your mother – Mary Ann Goodrich]

We received your letters the first day of March telling us of the advent of the little Sarah Augusta Clarissa [Griffing]. Poor little thing – I am afraid the name will weigh her down. But you cannot think how proud it makes me to have a namesake. You remembered about it did you not? We were taken by surprise – all except Ma. She says she was not. I hope you are getting along well, but I am afraid we shall hear that you are not, having such a cold as you had. Who is the Clarrisa for? Mrs. Giddings, or for our [sister] Mary? Or is it partly after both? How are the children pleased with it? [Your daughter] Maty has lost her place on mama’s lap, I expect. I do want to see you so much and wish as I always do that you lived near us.

I am glad to hear that [your son] Johnny takes such an interest in his books. Does he learn to write any yet? He must write me a letter when he has learned. [Your son] Willie, I expect, is too busy to do much at book education, but there is time enough yet.

It has been very warm spring weather for a week past & the frost has come out of the ground, and in some places it seems as if there is no bottom to the mud. Today it is quite cold and the roads are rough. Ma has written about the [religious] meetings. I do not go very often. Steve is using the horses every day whenever the weather is not too bad and we are as much or more confined at home as we were last winter for we could have [our horse] Bess in the evenings. When we dare to go, I feel almost as much afraid of her as I did last winter. We miss [our old horse] Jenny so much. Steve went up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis’] to dinner today. He says Lucy has received the [Ladies] Repository and thought it came from you. She thinks she shall come over here this week. The drawing teacher is going away Tuesday. [Cousin] Lucy spends all her time out of school with her painting and drawing. Mrs. Tennent expects to move to Susquehanna in the spring.

We are so glad that Mrs. [Wheeler] Bristol is getting better. For two or three days they did not expect she would live from one day to another. But the doctor says it was having the very best of care that has saved her. She had six daughters and two sons here. Two of the daughters did not come. Mrs. Davis – you remember her – lives in Illinois and she could not come.

Mr. [Samuel L.] Anthony is very low. They do not think he can live many days. Prudy Jones [wife of Stephen W. Jones of Tioga] is able to walk about the room a little.

Ella Griffing’s school closed Saturday. She is liked very much indeed. Steve some expects to go down the river tomorrow. They expected to start this morning & some of them did go but Steve said he would not go if they started Sunday. He wants to go very much. He was going on Frank Berry’s rafts and Fred Goodrich _____.

Rhoda Stiles wanted I should write & tell you for her that it did not amount to much your nursing Maty all winter.

Monday. The rafts are gone down the river and Steve has not gone. They started yesterday morning. It is very tedious weather. The wind blows so cold. I expected to send you a dollar in this toward the [Ladies] Repository but the man has not come for his coat yet & consequently I have not been paid for the making of it. I hope you are getting along well. Your affectionate sister, -- Sarah

According to my promise when you left, I have taken my pen to write a few lines. We have thought of you so much since you left fearing you both must have suffered so much if you traveled on Saturday, as it was a very tedious day here. The damp air came in all the crevices and the baby and I both took colds, but not serious ones. I often wondered where you were, whether traveling over that lonesome prairie or trying to be contented at Holton.

It has not been pleasant since you left – cold & cloudy every day making sad havoc on the woodpile, although I try to save it all I can. The boys both have colds but not bad. We get along very well. Emma [1] does not seem to get homesick. She has washed today and is writing a letter this evening. She and old “Bloss” had quite a time seeing which would conquer. Bloss did for awhile, and would not let Emma milk her at all. But Mother Clark came one morning and tamed her and since then, she lets Emma milk. She is better tonight for the first and has kept in pretty good order. I hope we can begin to save the milk before long. We are out of butter & can’t get any and feel anxious to make some.

The mail came on Monday, but no letter came. We have not had much company since you left and nothing new has occurred that I know of. Mary sleeps with me at the foot of the bed and is perfectly contented, asking every night if she may sleep with me. She says she loves Emma but she wants to sleep with me. I am getting stronger but do not feel quite as well as if free from a cold, which affects my head & teeth now. Give my love to Sister Hannum and all inquirers. Don’t forget four cans of peaches & the calico, &c.

Don’t forget to inquire about James Goodrich and if you see Mother Winans, ask her if he left a little photograph frame with her for me.

Wed. morning. All well as usual. Another cloudy day. Hope to hear from you. Ever yours, -- Augusta

How much I would like to hear from you all this morning. We reached Baldwin about Wednesday noon. Brother [E. C.] Chilson [2] was assigned a very good place [to board while attending Conference] although two miles out of town. I was sent just across the street to stay with Brother Dallas – a first rate place and very convenient. I called yesterday on Brother Still’s folks. She has been east but did not visit Newfield [New York]. She is well and sent her love. Conference has commenced very pleasantly. I was elected as statistical secretary and shall be obliged to be very busy from this forward.

The preachers are all about here. Sister Mc_________ & Orwigs & Hann are all here, Bro. [John W.] Taylor’s family. Bro. Taylor had rather made his arrangement for us to go on the Rochester [3] work, but after telling him that I did not particularly care about going on my farm, said he should change the programme. So I think we may be sent to Holton [4] but could not say certainly. Bishop [Calvin] Kingsley [5] presides with ease and is liked. I can not tell when we shall start for home but think you need not look for us before the last of next week sometime, but will come just as soon as possible after we are footloose. I called on Bro. [William G.] Piper [6] yesterday, all were well. He is no better, but able to be about and work a little. I received a letter from Baxter C. Dennis. They were all well and send love. Kiss all the children for Papa. Hope they will be good. Hope I may be sure to get a letter from you when I get back to Tecumseh. Yours, -- J. S. Griffing

Picture of Baker University Campus in 1867
From John Baldwin and Son Milton Come to Kansas
by Virginia G. Markham
Photograph from the Baldwin-Wallace Collection

We have had a cold cloudy morning and now at ten, it is raining. [Your brother] Stephen went over to the meeting last evening and has gone to the lovefeast this morning. [Your sister] Sarah has one of her old fashioned colds. Her eyes and nose runs all the time, and her nose is as large as two small noses ought to be. I have taken some cold and am not feeling very well. My head aches and it is so hard for me to breathe some of the time. We have a fire in our dining room now and have had one nearly everyday last week. They had hard frosts back on the hills two nights last week.

Stephen and Milo went hunting part of one day last week and killed 3 squirrels and one wild Pigeon. I cooked the squirrels and Sarah & I could have [our horse] Prince and we rode over and took the Pigeon to Frank Platt. They were very glad of it, and I was very glad we took it to her. Fanny said they would cook it and take it to her and not let her know it. They think she is some better. Your Aunt Betsey said she was stronger and appeared better. Fanny staid with her near New London [Connecticut] 7 or 8 weeks. It was 2 miles from New London – a nice bathing place. Fanny said it done herself a great deal of good, but now she has got back and she begins to feel her rheumatism again. Your Aunt Betsey went down and staid a week or two with them and Miss Bates went to. She says now she can say she has been to the seashore and picked up one shell. Fanny said there was not any shells where they was but on the other side there was a great many. They could ride to New London everyday if they wanted to. Three weeks before she went down with Frank, she went down with Charlotte to see Elizabeth. She was confined and was very poorly. Her babe lived 2 weeks and then died. She was miserable then and has been ever since. She (Elizabeth) has been to Owego for a visit and went back the day before we called there.

Mrs. Dr. Hay and three of her sons were at the Presbyterian Church last Sunday. John Hay preached, Henry Hay was with the singers, and Silas Hay was in the congregation.

Mrs. Platt wanted Stephen last spring to get a wild Pigeon for Frank but he would not and Fanny said she was crazy for some and Charles sent to New York [City] and got her some. She rode out that day with Marguett in his hack and Fred Stiles was there when she got home. He said two Irish women carried her in to the house. One day last week Sarah and Rhoda went down to make Hattie Lee a visit, but she had gone black-berrying with John Goodrich and Janie Eliza Cortright and a load of them. They staid with Aunt Mary till it was time to get tea and then come home. Aunt Mary was not very well that day. She lay on the lounge most all the time they was there. Charles [H.] Taylor’s wife is dead. She left a babe 2 days old, 6 motherless children left. A great many women have died about here in that way. Mr. [David] Taylor, [Charles’ father] is going to see him, I believe, this week and [Samuel Griffing’s wife] Malvina is going with him, so Aunt Mary said.

Mr. [Wheeler] Bristol came in here Friday evening. Mrs. Bristol goes around the house and works some. He says the Cholera is increasing fast at Cincinnati [Ohio]. Wheeler and his wife was there then but they expected to be at home this morning.

Now at 12 o’clock it is a very dark rainy day. We have 2 loads of oats out. If those oats was in, our harvest would be gathered in, till corn and buckwheat are ripe. Hope all are well. Am glad those stockings suit so well. I have another pair to send for her. Shall send sometime. Lucy [Fiddis] has gone to Newfield [New York, and] expects to commence school a week from tomorrow in the Brick or in the new [school] on Talcott Street. The August [Ladies] Repository has come. Have you read the first piece?

I did not know that Hancie [Abbey] had gone to Minnesota. When John was here he said he heard that they were to have an auction and sell their goods but that was all we heard about it. I guess that property will go quicker than it came. Goodbye now, [your mother, -- Mary Ann Goodrich]

My dear brother Ralph. Our folks have not heard from you in some time when they wrote last. I hope you are well and doing well. I was glad to hear you had as good a place as you wrote about. I should think it would be easy if not as profitable as some other employment. Are you still there and how do you get along? Have you been well and does your head still trouble you? You had a very narrow escape. Did you ever get any clue as to who did it? That affair of Dr. Webb was awful. Did they prove it on anyone?

We all keep usually well. The boys are at home yet as school has not commenced. Willie went the summer term for the first [time] and will probably go this winter as it is but a short distance. We are having for us quite a treat – that is apples. [My husband] James went some over fifty miles last week to Atchison on the Missouri River and brought us twelve bushels. He had to pay $1.00 and $1.20 a basket for them. We never have had any since we came to Kansas [over ten years ago], but if we have good success will have on the farm [near Topeka ] after awhile. Some of the [apple] trees [we planted in 1856] blossomed some this year and one apple staid on but somebody picked it before [it was] ripe. There were no peaches on our place this year [either]. Do you have apples and peaches plenty there? I’ll bet you have one thing that I love and which grows better there than here, and that is sweet potatoes. They do very well here some years.

We were visited the 1st of September by a great swarm of grasshoppers – or as some call them, locusts. They filled the air and covered the ground for over two weeks and ate all the garden and considerable corn. And some think they will destroy everything next year as the ground is full of eggs. They are a great nuisance. I heard from [our brother] James Goodrich a few weeks ago. He was at Junction City [ Kansas ] and was still teaming [and] had been across the plains this summer. That Mr. Storms you spoke of used to live at Topeka . I never saw him but my husband and James Goodrich were acquainted with him. I think James Goodrich either worked for him or boarded with him some time. Is he married? I suppose Aunt Mary is either on her way or already at Cincinnati . They have had the cholera there lately. Have there been any cases at Little Rock ? None with us and none for anywhere in Kansas .

Sarah, Mary, Steve & myself talk of getting Ma a pair of gold spectacles and don’t let her know anything about it until they are presented to her. They will probably cost about 15 dollars. I have written to see if James Goodrich will help toward them and will also ask, as I am writing, [and] give you the same privilege. If not convenient, do not do so as I know your losses have been great. But if you would put in a couple of dollars – or a dollar, no matter which, you can send it to [our sister] Mary so as not to have Ma know anything about it. She opens [our sister] Sarah’s letters… Winter weather is almost here. We have a fire some days now, although we have had no frost to kill the rines until last week.

[1] Probably James’ niece Emma Griffing, daughter of Henry Griffing and Nancy Orcutt.

[2] Rev. E. C. Chilson is credited with having organized the first Methodist Church in Salina, Kansas in 1865.

[3] Rochester has been absorbed into North Topeka, Kansas.

[4] Holton is in present day Jackson County, northeast of the Potawatomi Indian Reservation.

[5] Rev. Calvin Kingsley was made Bishop in 1864.

[6] Rev. William G. Piper (1817-1869), superannuated and living in Baldwin City, Kansas in 1866.