A better day is coming

From the following letter, we learn that James Griffing anticipated selling his claim and small "squatter's cabin" on the banks of the Wakarusa to Rev. Levin B. Dennis, the newly appointed senior pastor on his circuit. It was not to be, however. Writing from Rev. Goode's temporary quarters on the Wyandotte Reserve, Rev. Dennis discussed his change of plans:

Dear Brother. Since my return home -- or to my Brother's [home] -- I think of doing somewhat differently to what I did [at the time] when I separated from you. My Brother very kindly offered to keep my family until Conference [in October] and probably by that time I may find a very good chance [to find more suitable accommodations] -- at least I shall keep watching every opening. I could not feel fully satisfied to take your place at any price. I felt no fears but what you would do right [in selling it without trouble]. But after consultation with all, we thought [it] best to fix up here for a time at least. So you need not feel bound in any wise to keep your claim for me. I shall fix [on a house] as soon as possible and be back on the circuit.

I shall be at Lawrence -- or near there -- the 30th inst. I would like to meet you either the 30th of this [month] or the 2nd of next month. Please leave word where I can find you in my box at the Post Office in Lawrence. God bless you is the prayer of your, -- Brother L[evin] B. Dennis.

As instructed, James arranged to meet Rev. Dennis at a store in Lawrence on July 2, 1855. While waiting for his good friend to arrive, he took out a pencil and began another letter to Augusta:

[And] so the time passes. I should have written you long 'err this and now [I am] in a store at Lawrence where there is a crowd talking about auctioneering books, plowing on claims, and everything that a crowd can conjure up to talk about [which makes it hard to] get two thoughts together and put them on paper. Your kind letter reached me last week with one for [your brother] James which he was glad to get. I also took one from [my brother-in-law, Rev.] Asa [Brooks] [1] and Permelia containing news I [had already] heard some two or three weeks ago, but was glad to hear from them [anyway]. They were on their way to Conference and, I suppose that long before this time, they are at their new home. Brother Brooks says he has given up the idea of coming to Kansas, having been frightened in his undertaking by the doings of the Missourians. [Too bad. For] we here think but little about [it] and are disturbed no more by them than you people [in New York] are disturbed by the Pennsylvanians. Everything passes along as pleasantly as fine weather in the finest country of the world can make it.

Our legislature meets today [in Pawnee]. We shall get the results of its proceedings the last of the week and are waiting with anxiousness to know what will be done. [2] It has a large majority of pro-slavery representatives -- only 12 free-soilers. [3] [This is] quite a respectable minority, all things considered. Had just been done [at the last election], scarcely a pro-slavery man would have been found in the whole body.

Your papers and letters to myself and [your brother] James have all reached us, I guess. James told me to say that he had written and intended to [write more] in the future -- as [often as] once in two weeks unless [un]commonly busy. He is now engaged fencing his corn. It looks well. It is about six inches high and I guess will pay him pretty well for a sod crop. His garden has been disturbed some by insects. [My brother] Henry's garden looks well. He says that it is much better than any he ever had at Owego [New York]. I think this [is] pretty good for the first year. He also is fencing his corn -- both are building sod fences. His children were very well and hearty when I left. Velma is getting stronger and Nancy thinks [that Velma] is now as healthy as when at Owego. There have been no cases of cholera anywhere about in a long time.

Business is quite brisk in Lawrence now. [4] The old sod cabins are giving way to more substantial buildings. Four stone houses are being erected and I should think some fifteen or twenty frame houses. We have had an abundance of showers and vegetation wears a fine appearance. As for the snakes, they are sometimes quite neighborly. Nancy has killed two or three in and about the house but James and Henry go barefoot all about and think as much about them as they do the grasshoppers.

Henry's cabin has no floor as yet. He thinks of building an addition as soon as he gets through with his corn. I have taken a new claim which I like better and think more valuable than the old one [on the Wakarusa]. It is situated not far from the Kansas river along the road running from Tecumseh to Topeka, about halfway between the two villages which are about five miles apart. [5] I have about 15 acres fenced on it and four acres broken and planted to corn. It is just coming up. I have planted some garden seeds but cannot say what they or the corn will do as it is so late in the year. I hope to be able to get up a cabin on [the claim] before long -- about 12 by 16. It will be about two miles from James and Henry's [claims] and will have a dozen cabins within a mile of it.

James Griffing's claim is highlighted as the SE portion of Section 24 (halfway between Topeka and Tecumseh)
James Goodrich's claim is highlighted as the Eastern half of the SE portion of Section 16 ("about two miles" south of Griffing's claim) near a tributary of Deer Creek

I think, with care, there is but little more danger travelling at this season than any other. It is best to keep off from steamboats [and] out of crowded rooms. [Only] be careful in dieting and travelling will be reviving. I may start for home in some six or seven weeks. I shall probably ride Jacob through Missouri to the [railroad] cars. You ask whether you shall stay at home and hear the wolves howl or go with me on Jacob. I am in hopes to be situated so as to be home most of the time but if I can manage to bring a buggy out with me when I come, [then] I hope to have your company with me [as I go] around the circuit. Father Jordan, an old local preacher, will be my nearest neighbor. He is a fine old man -- very hospitable and has a large family of fine young people. [6]

I think if Henry and James have their health, they cannot help doing well -- much better than they could possibly [do back] east. James has moved in his new cabin and seems to be quite contented. He thinks it quite preferable to his sod building. The country seems to be quite healthy at present but I am fearful that the diarrhea will prevail soon as green corn, peas, beans, and cucumbers are large enough for use. Nancy thinks they will have lots of cucumbers by about the 4th or 6th of July. How does vegetation appear there? Oh what most beautiful weather we have had for a few weeks past -- cool refreshing breezes like those off the sea have been blowing most of the time. We are expecting the 4th [to be celebrated] here at Lawrence in the shape of orations, firecrackers, Shawnee speeches, dinners, &c., &c. I may be here to participate but should prefer being with yourself there. [7]

My circuit is quite large but I do not preach often lately -- only Sabbaths when I try to do something. I get but little time to study and [even then] it is more with special preparation to talk to the people. I cheer myself, however, with the prospect of a "better time coming." As ever, I must subscribe myself, your own absent, -- James.

I am now on my journey down in the south country travelling the rounds of another preacher's circuit through his request as his wife was somewhat unwell. And as I am stopping a day at the house of an old Father in Israel, I thought I could not better spend a portion of this afternoon than in writing to you. You will notice that it must necessarily be a long letter -- whether I have anything to say or not.

I have not seen [your brother] James or [my brother] Henry since I last wrote and consequently must talk about something else. I do think that thus far, we have had one of the [best] growing seasons I ever witnessed, although somewhat late in the commencement. Yet the season has seemed to be so well interspersed with rain and sunshine that vegetation has gone forward beyond all account. I must say I never have seen crops go forward with so great rapidity. We are now in the midst of green peas, beans, cucumbers, potatoes, and corn. In Missouri, the wheat crop was harvested some two weeks ago and is considerably above the average [yield]. [So much so that] seven dollars per hundred weight flour is reduced to four dollars and many other articles [are] proportionately [reduced] so that the squatters are beginning to see better times. In a short time, they will be supplied not only with their own resources -- which are considerable -- but also with the surplus of the states at reasonable prices. The fall emigration will soon begin to set in which will make times much more lively.

I am among the Ottawa Indians on the farm of an old Indian named [Tawa] Jones, a local preacher. [8] He is quite wealthy, lives in a fine white house pleasantly situated in a walnut grove, has about twenty acres of corn planted from which he will probably realize over 5000 bushels. [He has] about twenty acres of oats [and a] considerable [number of] potatoes. [He] will have many waggon loads of melons, has a fine peach orchard, about a hundred head of cattle besides horses, mules, ponies, hogs and many other valuables on his large farm. I know of no farms in Tioga County [New York] that I would think were half as good for tillage and but few farmers that go ahead of this Indian in the productiveness or management of their farms.

The country here is quite similar to the lands bordering on the Kansas river -- I think a little better timbered, less rolling, and more thinly settled. I preached five miles above here in two different neighborhoods [9] yesterday [July 8, 1855] in log cabins and had a congregation of about 40 in each of the places. The people came some three or four miles to the meeting on ponies, in ox waggons or anyway they may happen to. At one of the places, they have a Sabbath school in operation which is the only one on the circuit. On my circuit, we have now some six or eight in operation. Some are held in groves, some in private houses, and some in temporary buildings constructed [for this] purpose. The children seem to take considerable interest in them but we have not as good a supply of Sabbath school books as we would desire. I do wish some of the opulent of the East who are right in the midst of books only knew how much good they might do by forwarding to us a few Sabbath school libraries. Or [if they] would send some of their second hand soiled books, they would seem like new ones to the little self-sacrificing, eager pioneers of Kansas.

But a better day is coming. Kansas already begins to exhibit many of the features of a much older settled state and she will not be behind in any good undertaking that will lend to promote her interests. She is already in the very morning of her existence sowing those seeds which, with germination and culture, will supplant all noxious weeds and produce those fruits just calculated to promote her glory and give her an elevated position among the states. And were she but free from that incubus brought upon her from the passing of that infamous Nebraska Bill, she might very peaceably take her position where she so much desires -- where she will never suffer from the withering blight of slavery. In order to get [to this lofty position], difficulties seem to arise before her, but she seems bound to attain that position at whatever sacrifice. May kind Heaven make plain and peaceable the way.

In the morning I leave here, ride fifteen miles and preach at eleven [o'clock].[10] I shall go over an entirely new country to me. My trip out will be mostly along the waters of the Marais des Cygnes and Osage with their tributaries. I hope to get back to Lawrence one week from tomorrow after riding about 200 miles.

The celebration of the Fourth [of July] at Lawrence passed off with considerable interest. It was estimated that about 1500 were present. The oration by Dr. [Charles] Robinson was a masterly production -- very timely and will be instrumental of much good.[11] The citizens -- at quite an expense -- furnished a free dinner. Speeches were made by two Indians which called forth much applause. They evinced much interest in the day and a very friendly disposition toward the whites. I presume the [Lawrence] paper will furnish you with all the particulars. Does it continue to come regularly?

I have just learned that the legislature of the territory has adjourned from the place where the Governor appointed to meet at Pawnee and gone down near Missouri. The Governor vetoed the vote [to adjourn and relocate at the Shawnee Mission], but they overruled. They have also not allowed the free-soilers -- who had credentials from the Governor -- admission to a seat. The legislature remaining is composed entirely of pro-slavery men elected by an armed mob from Missouri and it is not probable that the Governor will sanction a single one of their measures. [I am sure that] all the laws they try to enact will prove a nullity and the people say that if the Governor does sanction them, that they will not abide by them. The consequence [of all of this] is that there will be quite an unsettled state of affairs here until the people elect a legislature of their own to enact the laws.

But it is getting night and I must go and water Jacob. I exchanged my claim near Lawrence for a larger black horse -- about 15 hands high. He is pretty good in a buggy but as I have no particular use for him [at present], I shall dispose of him at the first good opportunity. I am glad that I sold [my claim] when I did as I think I have a much better claim [near Tecumseh].

I wrote to mother last week. Is she at Samuel's now? Tell [your sister] Sarah I left her housekeeper in my cabin to take care of it in my absence but when I returned, how deep was my grief to find that she had been destroyed by 'wild varmets.' I found her body but it was headless. Abundant as were her brains, I suppose they were all eaten up. I think she was altogether too intellectual to endure the hardships of pioneer life. Tell her I can do better selecting for myself. But I must close with my best wishes for your present and future happiness. -- James

Map of Kansas Territory south of Lawrence showing the area where James traveled "the rounds of another preacher's circuit." The first claim that James took in Kansas Territory was on the south bank of the Wakarusa River, right next to the property shown on the map as "Stewart's Fort." The farm of Ottawa Jones northeast of the village of Ottawa can also be seen on the map. Drawn by William Connelly, Quantrill and the Border Wars, 1956

^[1] "Asa Brooks was born in Batavia, N.Y. on October 1, 1819 and died at his home in Candor, N.Y. on May 20, 1897 and was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Candor. He was the son of Rev. Bethuel Brooks, a local preacher who lived most of his life in Lisle township, Chenango County, N.Y., but for a few years in Batavia... Asa had two brothers, John and Wesley, who were local preachers. [Asa] could not remember when he had not religious impressions, and at fifteen years of age, at a camp meeting held near Union Center, he surrendered himself to Christ. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Newark Valley, and at once became an active worker. He received his exhorter's license in 1840, and local preacher's license in 1842. In the same year, he joined the Oneida Conference, becoming a member of the Wyoming Conference at its organization.

In the 1850's, when spiritualism was spreading over the country, he found that some of his parishioners in Candor were being led away with the delusion. He accordingly preached a series of sermons against the false doctrines of the new cult. These were so favorably received, that a demand was made for them in permanent form. He accordingly recast them and put them into a book of 164 pages called Spiritualism Examined and Refuted...

Reverend Asa Brooks
from History of Wyoming Conference

[2] When the pro-slavery delegates arrived at Pawnee, they found poor accommodations. Many of them had to camp out on the prairie near the hastily constructed territorial capitol and, when they met in session on July 2, 1855, they voted virtually unanimously to adjourn and seek more suitable quarters at the Shawnee Mission near Westport. This, after all, was much closer to the Missouri homes from which many of them came.

[3] Actually there were only five free-soilers elected as territorial delegates to the legislature in 1855. "Of the five, only [Samuel D.] Houston [of Manhattan] was seated. He soon resigned because he felt that the members of the legislature had obtained control by 'outrage and fraud' and denounced them as usurpers." Pioneers of the Bluestem Prairie, p. 360.

[4] "In January, 1855, there were 80 residences, with from 5 to 20 occupants each [in Lawrence]. Another account [states that there were] 400 abolitionists [living in Lawrence]." George Martin, Early Days in Kansas, p. 5.

[5] Topeka and Tecumseh were rival towns for many years. Eventually Topeka became the State Capitol and Tecumseh languished. At the time that James located on his claim halfway between the two towns, they were of about equal size and shared equal prospects for success. In an article written in 1881 entitled, "Who Killed Tecumseh" by J. W. Clock, it is reported that "the pastor of the Methodist Church [in 1855]...was James S. Griffing, of whom the writer desires to take this opportunity to say a few kind things. He is proof against being vainly puffed up... The writer believes him to be one of the most unassuming, uncomplaining, patient, trust-worthy, self-sacrificing, loving and beloved ministers ever sent out with the good tidings of joy. How infinite the distance between him and that kind who are forever seeking to be greatest in the kingdom, and distressing themselves, through fear that they will not get the place of the largest salary with the least labor. Weigh J. S. Griffing, immortal, as one of the suffering pioneers of Kansas Methodism on the scales by which God weighs actions and men, against the self-seeking, self-laudatory, pompous, ambitious, pitiable race that shear instead of feed the flock of God, and he would make a thousand of them 'kick the beam.' God bless brother Griffing and make him still greater power for good as he preaches to his little flock of colored people [in the 2nd Methodist Church] at Manhattan, and teaches by the silent power of a holy life..."

[6] "Father Jordan" was Charles Jordan. He was "born in Virginia in 1790, the son of William and Lucy Stitch Jordan. When he was a boy in his early teens, the family went to Kentucky where, at his father's death, he inherited land and slaves. There is a family tradition that he was the first man in Kentucky to free his slaves which he did when he came of age... He left Kentucky about 1827 and, after a short stay in Indiana, settled in Edgar County, Illinois. There his daughter, Mary Ellen, met and married Osborn Naylor, the son of David Naylor, who had come to Illinois with a party of settlers from Adams County, Ohio.

In the spring of 1854, Charles Jordan's wife died and later in the year he led a party of relatives across the plains to Kansas [Territory], arriving at Tecumseh in November. In the party were four Jordan daughters -- Mary Ellen, whom her family called Polly, with her husband, Osborn Naylor; Nancy Jane and her husband, Jesse Stephenson; and Marinda and Keziah, girls of 18 and 16 as yet unmarried... A son, William Jordan and his wife Mary were among the travelers. There were at least two children to enliven the journey -- a little girl, Elizabeth Parks, an orphan relative whom Osborn Naylor and his wife had taken into their home, and a four year old boy, Joshua Detwiler, an adopted son of Charles Jordan.

Charles Jordan was a Methodist preacher and, when that denomination organized a church in Tecumseh in 1856, he was a charter member." Ruth Naylor Chandler, Two Families of Old Tecumseh; Naylor and Morris, p. 25-26.

[7] Even in 1855, the free-soilers were organizing to defend themselves from the pro-slavery forces that threatened to drive the abolitionists from the territory. Lawrence, the nucleus of abolitionist sentiment, established its own militia and, on the 4th of July, 1855, the ladies of the town presented a flag "to the military companies of Lawrence." [From Mrs. Charles Robinson's diary]

[8] In his book, Outposts of Zion, p. 304, Rev. William H. Goode described John Tecumseh Jones, an interpreter of the Ottawa Indians as "a prominent Indian named 'Tawa Jones' [Ottawa Jones]; educated at the school at the Great Crossing in Kentucky, and noted, in early life, for a chivalrous, but unsuccessful attempt to ally himself with the domestic arrangements of the Chieftain who superintended... Jones [was] a sedate, sensible man, a Baptist preacher, apparently pious, with an intelligent Eastern lady [Jane Kelley] as his wife, living on a fine farm with good buildings and surrounded by the comforts of life. But his anti-slavery sentiments exposed him to violence during the 'dark years' that followed. He was fired at, barely escaped with his life, and his fine residence was burned to the ground."

[9] The two "neighborhoods" were Palmyra and Prairie City, both near the junction of the "Hickory Point" road and the Santa Fe Trail.

[10] Fifteen miles from Ottawa Jones' house was the distance to Osawatomie, a free-soil community near the junction of Marais des Cygnes River and Potawatomie Creek.

[11] Robinson's Fourth of July speech was considered too radical to suit most of the settlers. He is reported to have said, "Let us repudiate all laws enacted by foreign legislative bodies...so thought and so acted our ancestors and so let us think and act!"