A taste of what grows in Kansas

This series of letters were written during September 1869 while Augusta and her four children were visiting family and friends in Owego, New York. James stayed in Kansas while serving his appointments on the North Lawrence Circuit. A day-by-day calendar of September 1869 can be found at the link above.

I received your yesterday written the 27th of August – only five days coming. It contained the check for Steve. I went over to [Owego to] see a Doctor yesterday for [our daughter] Mary. Went to Miss [Elizabeth H.] Bates. [1] She thinks it’s a low fever, probably intermittent. She does not complain but lies on the lounge the most of the day time – eats a little. I shall send again this morning & hope she will get along soon. I thought it was one of the spells similar to others she has had when we thought it was worms. John & Sadie still have boils, but seem well otherwise, & so is Will.

I called at [your sister] Mary Pike’s yesterday. All are well. Your mother wanted to know if James was not coming for me. Received a letter from [your sister] Permelia [Brooks] yesterday [addressed] to you [and] will send with this.

My gums are not healed yet. There are still some pieces that will have to come out. It is very cold here at present. I presume there was a frost last night on the hills. There was a fog here. We have had very little warm weather since we came here.

Ma received a letter from [my brother] Ralph last night saying he expected to be married last Wednesday [to Jennie Connett] and should go to Ohio to see Jennie’s friends [afterwards] but would have so little time to stay that he could not come home. Ma & I have written for him to come if he can. I will write again in a few days.

[My brother] Steve was glad to get the money. He had borrowed it to send & had never had enough to pay. He sees hard times for money since he made that visit to Kansas. He thinks the money ought to bring interest being kept so long. Whose fault was it? Certainly not yours or his. Ma says if you have not yet let out that $100, you may send it & she will let Steve take it & take his note.

I sent you a letter Wednesday saying that [our daughter] Mary was sick. I went over Tuesday to Miss Bates for medicine but Mary was no better Wednesday & I sent for her to come over. She said she had a low fever Bilious intermittent, settled, & would have to run its course. She has fever all the time. Miss Bates has been over every day. She said today she was no worse but it had run so long she would be sick some time. I had no idea it was fever. We doctored her thinking it was worms. I feel so sorry that I did not send for her sooner, but I had no idea but she would be better soon. She would get up every morning and go to the table & eat some every meal & play some & lie on the lounge. It came on very gradually & Miss Bates says [she is] all the worse for it. She has not had much appetite ever since she had the measles, and since we came here, she has not eaten heartily. Being bilious before coming & eating unripe fruit & the day we came from Sarah Young’s it was very warm & the ride in the heat & all together brought in on. We have a bed for her in the front room & I sleep on the lounge near her. She rests very well nights. I only gave her medicine twice in the night last night. [Our other daughter] Sadie has a bad boil & fell & hurt it today. [Our boys] John & Willie both have had sores & boils ever since they had the measles. They are well otherwise.

Aunt Lucy Fiddis came over this morning & she and Ma have gone up to Mrs. Bristol’s & Mrs. Tiffany’s. [Your sister] Mary Pike & her two children spent the day here yesterday, and [my sister] Mary Horton & [her daughter] Fanny [did too]. All were well. Mary says your mother is as well as usual – only her ankle. It is a running sore now and inflames & causes a great deal of pain & makes her walk lame. She has a great deal of diarrhea at times. Mary says she will eat everything whether it agrees with her or not, and then she has a bad diarrhea.

Camp meeting broke up yesterday. I heard there was a great crowd in attendance & had good order. [I heard] nothing more about it. The boys spent the day with their Grandma Griffing one day this week & called at [their] Aunt Malvina’s. I have not been there yet. Was intending to visit there and several other places this week, but cannot very soon. I hope Mary will not get any worse. I will write in a few days again. Mary said today, “When is papa coming?” Sadie says, “I sorry for papa all alone.” Hope I can write more cheerful news of Mary next time. Ever your affectionate, -- Augusta

Only two numbers of the Lawrence paper have come since I have been here & one of them was one I read before I left Kansas. I wish you would see about it. I would not pay for it if it is not sent. It’s an aggravation.

Three letters have been received from you the past week & I have written three times. Hope you will get them.

Miss Bates said today that [our daughter] Mary was doing as well as she could. The fever is getting a little shorter but will take its course. For several days she had fever day & night, but a little while today she was free from it. She has not suffered very much pain but been stupid & quiet. Miss Bates says she’d rather have her complain more. If nothing else sets in I think now she’ll begin to get better slowly. She came down very gradually & it will take some time for her to get up again. She, as well as the rest of the children, were pleased to get your letters. Mary wanted me to write one to you for her today. She don’t like to take her medicine at all. Miss Bates did not lose a patient last fall with fever & she had a good many.

Aunt Ruth & Mrs. Woodbridge called here yesterday. [My sister] Mary & [her husband] Gurd come up often. [My sister] Sarah Goodrich is almost sick tonight. Ma and [my brother] Steve went to church today. Sarah was not well enough & could not leave Mary. The children are about as they have been.

I hope you will get someone to can me some tomatoes, about ten or a dozen cans. I would not miss having some put up. The cans are in the closet on that shelf. Grapes are not ripe here. Peaches are in market from $3.50 to $4.00 per bushel. Apples are not plenty. I wish you would save some tomato seeds from some nice ones. Am glad the garden is doing so well. Wish you could sell some. We will be glad to get the sweet potatoes. Take good care of them. Did you save the lettuce seed & the rest of the onions? Am glad the cow does so well. It is better that you took care of her I expect. How do things move along? And do the people keep well? Have you heard from Mr. Curtis?

The dentist did not get out all the roots. Pieces are left and I shall have to have them out. I should have gone before [this] if Mary had not been sick.

I wish I could have brought that stone urn of Junction City Stone. [My sister] Sarah would have liked it – don’t let it get broken.

Monday – Miss Bates says Mary is very decidedly better and we can see that she is improving and if she gets no backset, will be well before long. She is pretty patient. Grandma & [her] Aunt Sarah are very kind to her.

Does the dew plant & the geraniums grow much? Do not forget to water them. You do not say anything about going to camp meeting so I suppose you did not go. What kind of a meeting did they have?

Two letters came tonight from you – one written the 3rd & one the 5th. It is strange you do not get my letters. I wrote three times last week. [Our daughter] Mary is getting better slowly & I think & hope surely. Her fever left gradually. Yesterday it lasted but a very short time. She sits up in bed. Miss Bates says I must be very careful of her & not let her overdo or take cold. She is not coming until day after tomorrow unless she should get worse & it is the first time she has missed since she commenced. I feel sorry about her being sick & also about the Doctor bill, but I cannot help it. The other children have boils and I think if Mary had also had them, she would not have been sick. Willie has one coming on the back of his neck & it looks as if it would be a bad one. And John has another on his arm. Sadie keeps about as usual. She has no bad boil now, [only] one or two small swellings.

[My] sister Sarah is sick for a day or two. She is never well now & works very hard – too hard for her strength. I try to help her all I can. We have not done much visiting yet. Everyday brings its work. Mary being sick has put us back about our work & visiting. I have not sat up with her, but slept on the lounge close by her & would waken whenever she moved & so took good care of her. I felt afraid it would run into Typhoid fever and am so relieved to think it has not. She has been very patient & behaved very well. Today she sat up in bed & tried to make a doll’s dress for a little dolly grandma bought her since she was sick.

John milks one cow nights & mornings & helps some when he can. They behave better than I expected. I cannot tell when I shall start home but will let you know in good time. I shall have to [spend] money for my teeth & Dr. bill – besides my fare & also to get some things.

That Lawrence paper does not come at all. I would stop it & not pay for it, or do something about it. They would like it if it would only come. I hope you will keep well. What would you do if you should get sick? Am sorry for Mrs. Morgan. Did the rest of Mrs. Higbee’s children have the measles? Perhaps Sister Young would put me up a few cans of tomatoes? Do you get enough plums to do anything with them?

Miss Bates asked Mary if she [would] rather stay with Grandma or go back to Kansas. She says go back to Kansas. The children talk of papa & John will write again. Hope this will find you well. Ever your affectionate, -- Augusta

Give kind regards to all inquirers. If you have not let out that money of Ma’s, please send it to her.

Another Sabbath has come & almost gone. I suppose you are getting ready for the evening service. Does the Baptist minister preach every Sabbath at 3 o’clock? [Our daughter] Mary is improving. I have dressed her this afternoon for the first time, but Miss Bates said I must keep her in her room for a few days so as not to have her take cold. She has been quite sick, but Miss Bates says has got through with it remarkably well, if she doesn’t have a backset. She has a good appetite. She sweats a great deal while sleeping.

[Our other daughter] Sadie is well as usual – has no bad boil just now, but Willie’s on the back of his neck is very sore & goes with his head bent over. It is beginning to discharge some.

Sarah & Steve are both not feeling well. Steve takes cold very easy & has one now and a bad diarrhea. Rhoda is quite sick – cold & fever. A number are complaining. Sarah, Mary & I went over in town yesterday. We called a few moments at [your sister] Mary Pike’s. Your mother was not well. She looks bad. Has a diarrhea. The rest are well. We called on Lucia Broadhead who lives near Mary’s. Mrs. Sharp, her mother, lives with her and Stephen Sharp, wife & baby are here now. She is a very pleasant woman. She goes back next week. Stephen [Sharp] & his partner have lost $15,000 by the failure of Hale of Junction City.

We called at [your brother] Samuel’s but he & [his wife] Malvina had gone to visit somewhere & would be gone until tonight. I have not seen him yet. [With] our Mary being sick, I have not been there to visit [but] shall go this week if possible. Ma & I spent a part of the afternoon at Aunt Ruth’s one day. Uncle Aner [Goodrich] knows but little now & sleeps a great deal. [My sister] Sarah & I went to church today. Brother Wheeler is a good preacher & they have a large congregation – quite fashionable & stylish.

The State Fair comes off this week at Elmira. Steve & Gurd talk of going one day. I cannot afford to go & so do not think of it. I hope you did not take cold getting so wet as you did. If you feel bad, do go to Dr. Rice & get something to take. I fear you will get sick too. Is there much fever or what is the sickness [you speak of]?

I saw Mrs. [Mary] Williamson & Mrs. A. Burton today. Both inquired about you. [My brother] Ralph is married – has been to Cincinnati on a visit or near there & will start this week for Little Rock. Could not come home now.

Tuesday – No chance to send this yet but will send John with it before long. The threshing machine is here. [It] came yesterday & John helps. Uncle William Goodrich came yesterday from Myersburg, Pennsylvania. Four of the men stayed here all night & twenty of us all ate dinner. We have plenty to do. Steve’s oats turned out nearly 75 bushels to the acre.

[Our daughter] Mary keeps getting better. She is out in the setting room – looks pale & thin as if she had been very sick.

As Augusta is very busy around the house this morning and she thinks I have more leisure than she has, she wants I should write to you. I suppose it will be better than not to hear at all. Well [your daughter] Mary is up and around the house and all the rest are ___ing. Sadie has a boil otherwise they are all well. Yesterday, Sister Lucy Fiddis came over to go down to Mary Horton’s, and Augusta and I went with her and spent the day. We left all the children at home and Augusta had a good quiet day. Augusta drove [our horse] Prince. I believe they are going to make some calls this afternoon.

Our State Fair is this week at Elmira. Stephen & Gurd went down yesterday. Stephen gave Augusta an invitation to go but she did not think it best to go and Stephen was glad that she did not, for she could not go very comfortable. Many had to stand up and the rest was crowded, and Steve came home so tired.

Mr. [Charles] Judd, a son of old Father [Gaylord] Judd, who has been a Missionary to India, is here & will preach in our church Sunday. His wife is out of health and does not go out any. I believe her name was [Sarah] Hubbard and her father lives in Candor. Our minister goes to Speedsville to attend a quarterly meeting and he has invited Stephen to take him up. They expect to start tomorrow about ten o’clock and will not get back till Monday noon. A few weeks ago Stephen took him up to Newark one Sunday morning and came back after meeting in the evening. He preached a temperance sermon there in the evening. Stephen likes to go. He gets acquainted with a good many people and goes where he never has been before, but we do not know how to spare him so long as he will be gone this time.

Augusta wishes you would not forget to gather some hops. I hope you are getting along well. I suppose it is lonely but you have plenty of time to study and visit. I will leave the other side for Augusta. From you ever affectionate, -- mother [Mary Ann Goodrich]

Ma has almost written you a letter. Three letters came from you a day or two ago, but were mailed at different times. One contained the order or draft for $50. It was all right. I have not yet found out how much our tickets back will be but will try to do so today & also how much my doctor bill will be & send you word how much more I will want. But it will probably be $50 more. I have used what money I had left after coming for one thing & another that I needed. I think I shall start back [to Kansas] the 7th of October. I cannot get ready before & get my teeth fixed, & do what sewing is needed to fix us comfortable to go back. I have written Mrs. Curtis but if I do not hear from her, shall go right on & not stop.

[My sister] Sarah & I visited at [your brother] Sammy’s one day this week. He is miserable & looks very bad. Still works all the time. Is a clerk in a hardware store. The fare for one person will be about $42. Please send $50. [Ever yours -- Augusta]

I did not write yesterday as I intended. We went to church in the morning & heard Brother [Charles] Judd. Sister Sarah, John, my Mary and myself went. It was the first Mary had rode out. She has been well enough before, but it has been too damp to let her go. She is getting along very well – looks pale yet. The rest are well.

[My brother] Steve came back in the night from Speedsville. He had a pleasant time & enjoyed it. He has a cold & does not feel well much of the time. I saw [your brother] Sammy [again] yesterday. He said [your nieces] Anna Kelly and Julia [Kelly] & her husband were at your mother’s. [They] had been to the State Fair & were going to see [their sister] Mary Permelia at Wilkes-Barre today.

This morning we were washing & who should drive in the yard but Brother [Asa] Brooks with Anna & Julia & her husband, on their way down to see [Asa’s daughter] Permelia Horton [in Nichols]. I was glad to see them & they said they would like to see you so well & sent love to you. [Your niece] Anna [Kelly] is in the Millinery business in Williamsburg, New York, & says she wishes you would write to her at 101 4th Street, Williamsburg. They both are pretty looking women. Anna is quite a businesswoman. [Her sister] Julia [is married and] lives at Auburn & [their other sister] Mary P. [lives] at Wilkes-Barre. [Their father,] John [Kelly is remarried and his] wife keeps a boarding house in Williamsburg. They did not come in and I did not ask half the questions I wanted to but will find out more about them from your folks. Anna says her Grandmother has failed a good deal since last summer. Her memory fails so much.

Brother [Charles] Judd stayed at [your brother] Sammy’s. I did not speak with him or see him out of the pulpit. His wife is poorly. They will not go back until she is better.

I sent a letter [to you] mostly written by Ma. The draft came all right. I wish you would send $50 more. If nothing prevents, I expect to start back the 7th of October. If I do not hear from Mrs. Curtis, [we] shall go right home [rather than stopping to visit them]. If she answers my letter, will stay there over Sunday.

I hope you will keep well. If you begin to feel bad, do take something. If I had given [our daughter] Mary ague medicine when she first began to feel bad I might have saved all the trouble & expense, but I did not know it.

It is very pleasant today. Steve is cutting up corn. John is helping. Do not let the sweet potatoes spoil. Will you have any winter cabbage? Does the old cow fail much in milk? I hope not. Do you know whether you can have the house this winter? I must close. Good-bye. Ever your affectionate, -- Augusta

I shall go one day this week to have the impression taken for my teeth. My gums are almost healed. Are somewhat tender in places.

Saturday last I received a letter from Brother Griffing stating that you would make us a visit as you returned home & requesting us to inform you relative to train time at Summerfield, which is as follows: Morning train arrives at Summerfield 7.15 A.M., 2nd train at noon, 3rd train 10 o’clock P.M. I suppose that you cannot tell which train you will come on. You will please inform us of the time that you expect to start home and the time (the day) that you will be likely to arrive at Summerfield and we will be there at the arrival of every train till you come. The agent at Summerfield thinks that the noon train would not be likely to let you off. Mrs. Curtis has not been well the last 3 or 4 days. The boys and myself are enjoying our usual good health. Yours truly, -- Harvey W. Curtis

Yesterday I sent you by express a few of Kansas productions. My object was to satisfy the incredulous who seem to think that this “Great American Desert” is so close to sundown that it is entirely unproductive. I merely wanted to show that if its productions are not as large as may be found there, they will at least bear a fair comparison. I should have been glad could I have sent some articles exhibited at our state fair. There were cabbages weighing in the region of 30 lbs., beets ditto. Pumpkins over 100 lbs. Oats 45 bushels to the acre. But I had no room. The fruit I picked in Brother Baldwin’s orchard near Judge Wakefield’s except the pear, which by the way, is quite an inferior one compared with those at state fair. The three ears of corn you will see are not large as the ordinary corn. I merely sent them because growing on one stalk. I found a stalk of popcorn in our garden with seven ears on, but I had not room to send it and several other samples of things, which I was obliged to leave out for want of room. The grapes are the concord variety. I hope they will not sour or spoil. I did think I would put sugar in them & then I thought that would prevent getting the natural taste. I did put in a little & tried to take out again. I tried to fasten the urn so it would stay in one place, but expect it will get loose [and] go about just where it pleases. If the County fair has not taken place, I wish you would take over whatever you please & just see how they compare with [New] York State productions. When you get through with the articles, please let the friends about home have a taste of what grows in Kansas. Send Mother Griffing one of the largest peaches. Some of the apples I expect are hard winter apples, not good yet, and it may be some of them not ripe. Some of those Brazilian Sweet Potatoes have been raised here weighing as high as ten pounds. Our nauserwonds are getting very nice. They sell over in town at seventy-five cents a bushel. Irish [potatoes] at twenty-five. The flowers, grasses & weeds I picked here in the yard except the coxcomb, which I got in Mr. Higby’s yard. You can have that broken stem of grass stretched out at full length & fastened to a stick to show its height. But it does not grow near as high as blue stem, which I have found higher than my head on horseback.

Everything is moving along here about as usual. The society has not met for some time. The Baptists think of having a festival to buy a melodeon to use in the church & Sabbath School at their hours of service. Myself & cook keep well & live together very agreeably, but very little quarreling or scolding. How are all there? Is [our daughter] Mary running about yet? How is Will’s neck and darling’s patience now? And Johnny – tell him I went out and got a bushel of hazelnuts yesterday. Love to all & what remains keep yourself & ever believe me yours, most truly, -- James

Your letter written the 16th reached me tonight. It was the one with Emma’s letter [enclosed]. Am glad you keep well. I fear every letter to hear you are sick. I hope the sickness there has subsided. There is not much sickness about here. All are usually well here.

Ma went over to Owego yesterday & did some trading which nearly tired her out. She cannot do much on her feet & soon gives out. The boys brought down some apples today & we have been pealing some tonight for drying. Apples are not very plentiful. You spoke of sending some things for the Fair here. The Company are in debt and I hear will not have a [County] Fair this fall. The State Fair was held last week in Elmira, so it will be of no use to send them on. And besides, it would be rather expensive and the grapes & peaches would be apt to spoil. I would like it if they could see some specimens of the Kansas productions.

I wish you could put up some grapes but I hardly know how to tell you is the best way. Ask Mrs. Higbee or Sister Akers. I hope you will get some. And won’t you save some of the double Tunias & other flower seeds? I fear the frost will get them before I get home. Am glad Sister Young put up some tomatoes. They will come nice this winter. Ma is busy knitting. [My brother] Steve is asleep on the lounge. [My sister] Sarah is sewing and the children [are] in bed.

[My sister] Mary, [husband] Gurd, and [daughter] Fanny came up today. We hear from [my brother] Ralph Monday. They were going back to Little Rock the next day after he wrote. He was in good spirits.

Thursday morning. [My sister] Sarah & I are going to Owego this morning so I will take this. Hope it will find you well & the sick one’s better. Ever yours, -- Augusta

Your letter written the twelfth only reached me yesterday, ten days after it was written. I don’t see why they should be so long a coming. It contains little letters from Darling Maty & Willie. Pa was glad to hear from them & sorry to hear of their afflictions & hoped they are both well by this time. I went over yesterday to see about that [Lawrence] paper. They have all the directions right and say that it goes from the [post] office here regularly every week. They say the fault is in Uncle Sam’s mail somewhere. I also made inquiry about the railroads.

The papers stated a few weeks ago that the question was under advisement of reducing the fare especially on through trains, but there has been no action yet. They have now completed through Missouri a [railroad] route North of the river, leaving the road that crosses at St. Charles at Moberly and running through Keytesville, on to Liberty & Kansas City, crossing on the long bridge. I think this is a little shorter than the one South of the river & the cars run up quite near the boat in St. Louis. The road south of the river has an omnibus transfer of about a mile & a half. The fare on both is alike. I believe you must use your judgment which to take, but I am more favorably impressed with the one North of the river. You will want to take a train that leaves St. Louis about 3 or 4 in the afternoon that will enable you to reach Kansas City just in time for the morning train to Lawrence. If you start out of St. Louis in the morning, you will reach Kansas City in the evening & be obliged to lay over there until morning, so the agent told me here.

3 o’clock P.M. I have received today a letter from Brother Curtis saying he had just written to you to let you know about the trains and says he will be at the depot to meet you, let the train come whatever time of night it will. He says he does not get a chance to sell out there yet and, if he does not, says he may come down to Topeka this fall and sell his land here. But says he does not abandon the idea of coming to Kansas sometime. When he sells out there, says he will come & buy in Shawnee County or elsewhere. They would be greatly disappointed not to see you and I hope you will have a good visit with them. I should be very glad to see them myself.

I was over this forenoon to attend a meeting of Episcopal ministers who are in session in Lawrence. Rev. Kennick of Leavenworth preached & a Rev. [D. W.] Cox of Manhattan was ordained to the priesthood. Six priests were present, all wearing white gowns but the one who preached – he wearing a black one. There was a congregation of about 20 out & such formality. He was ordained by Bishop Vail. The form was almost precisely such as our church has in the ordination of deacons.

Brother [Reverend R. L.] Harford has sold his house at Manhattan and is building over in Lawrence over on the side of Mt. Oread [on] a lot he bought for $500 of Professor [Elial Jay] Rice. It was one he planted out to fruit trees & surrounded with a hedge when Professor in State University, expecting to make him a home there one of these days. It will make Brother Harford a most pleasant residence, where he can live as preacher in charge at Lawrence two or three years & then as Presiding Elder of Baldwin City District a term of years which I predict may be the case.

Well dear, I am at the end. Good night. My love to all, reserving your own share. Kiss the children for Papa. Yours always, -- James

[North Lawrence, Kansas]
Thursday afternoon [September 23, 1869]
3 o’clock P.M.

I had a letter written to send to you today but went away & forgot to take it to the [Post] Office and found there yours & Ma’s written the 16th stating your reception of my order and your purpose to start home in two weeks from today. On the other side is an answer I received from Mr. Orr, who purchased our house at Junction [City]. I wrote to him through Brother Jenning that if he would send me fifty dollars or a hundred dollars right away, I would charge him no interest on it, and he wrote the within reply. I again wrote to him not to fail to send at least fifty dollars on the first of October even if he had to borrow it at the bank for the money I must have. So I think there will be no doubt about his sending on October 1st at least $50 & it may be what he says within. If so, I will send that one hundred for Stephen. If the money should not reach you in time to start, you can borrow $50 without any risk, I think. For if Mr. Orr entirely disappoints, I will (Providence permitting) borrow it here. Tell Mother I will answer her letter next time.

That Mrs. Judd used to be a scholar in my school at Candor. Her name was Sarah Hubbard. I would be very glad to see her. Please send my kindest regards, if you have a chance. Also to her husband with whom I was acquainted. -- James

Your agent Mr. Janing showed me a letter from you in which you stated you would like $100 at this time &c. In reply I will state that I have no money at this time, but expect to be able to pay you $200 about the first of October. If it would be any accommodation, I could borrow the money at the Bank for 2 ½ cents a month, provided you would allow me the percent I would have to pay, I.E., $2.50 on $100.

If you can wait till the first of October, I think then will be no doubt but I will have it for you. – S. Orr

It is a very rainy Sabbath morning and I think it will be a rainy day. No going to church today from here. We are all usually well today except little Mary. She was very quiet Friday and wanted to lie down and at night [Augusta] found she had fever [again]. Saturday morning she went over to see Miss Bates & get medicine but Miss Bates thought best to come herself as she says a second attack is sometimes very bad. Her fever is not as high this morning. Miss Bates is coming again today if it does not rain too bad and may not have come again, we hope.

I am glad to hear that you and your cook get along so well. I do not think you have very kind neighbors. I am sure if you had, they would invite you in sometimes to eat a meal with them. Stephen and Augusta were intending to go to Newfield this week. If Mary gets better, they will go yet.

We are having considerable rain, which makes it bad about getting around. Mr. Levi Catlin was buried here in our [grave] yard Friday. He and his wife went to Toledo a few years ago to live with Calferna, their youngest daughter who married her cousin, Harry Messereau’s son. They came back here last spring for a visit and he has not been well since he came here. We hear he died at Mr. Nathaniel Catlin’s place up the river.

Stephen has got his crops all secure. His corn is nearly all cut up. This rain is bad for buckwheat. It is rather late to make hay here. The days are getting shorter and we do not have so much sunshine now as when the days are longer. I hope you and your cook will still live peaceable and have patience with each other. [Your mother-in-law, -- Mary Ann Goodrich]

Sunday eve. Ma has written part of a letter and I will finish it. [Our daughter] Mary was doing well & had got along so well, & all at once fever came on again. I had tried to have her careful both in eating & everything else. But I expect she ate things when I did not know it & Tuesday Mary Brink took her and Sadie up in the orchard for walk and it was too much for her. Friday night I was going to take them & go & stay with your mother and [sister] Mary, but just before we were to start, I found she had fever. Sarah and I went right to work with her & got her sweating but still her pulse kept up so high. For a while after I found she was sick again, I thought I should lose my reason. I could not sleep all night. But I have made up my mind that I must take care of myself if I [am to] take care of her. Last night I rested very well. She does not suffer any pain or complain of anything. Miss Bates says she wished she would. I do hope she will get no worse.

Sarah Young & husband & children were here yesterday afternoon. We had been invited to go to Aunt Lucy Fiddis’ but did not go as Mary was sick. Grove [Pike] called here yesterday [and] said all were well. Two letters came yesterday from you saying you had sent that box, and they went over to the Express office, but it had not come & they said it would not probably come before the middle f the next week. So the peaches & grapes will be spoiled. I am real sorry you sent it. First, there will be no fair, & then I have no money to spare to pay the express [which] will be considerable, I presume. Am glad you did not send it to Mr. Truman. I will write soon as it comes. The State Fair here was a failure, they say.

Well I have got my teeth and think I shall like them. They all say I look better – that they are a great improvement. I cannot eat much with them yet. My gums are still very tender & will not bear the pressure. Steve & I were going to Newfield this week but will have to give it up. I had set the seventh of October to start home and if Mary is well enough for the trip, will start unless something prevents. Hope this will find you well. – Augusta

Monday morn. Mary’s pulse is not quite as high as yesterday. Afternoon. Mary seems better. Steve has got the box – the Express only four dollars & eighty cents. The peaches & grapes were all spoiled. The rest came safely. I am sorry there is no fair. Charlie Brooks has come for the boys to go home with him & stay for a few days. Hope they will have a pleasant time.

I received your letter informing us when to look for you. Wee shall be very glad to see you. Wee are not packing up to start yet. Wee cannot goe until wee sell out & times are hard here now & buyers scarce. Wee would like very much to goe to Kansas this fall but see but little chance for it. Be shure to call this way. Wee would be very disappointed if you did not. Wee are all well. Yours truly, -- Sarah Curtis

I sent a letter to you Monday saying Mary was sick again. She has been quite sick too, but is better today. The fever – when it is on – is much shorter and Miss Bates said today she was doing very well, but she is weaker than she was before. Miss Bates says it was mostly caused by eating & overdoing. She has eaten apples or something when we have not seen her, but I think she will not do so again. She is anxious to get well & go home to see her papa.

I shall not be able to start back the 7th of October as I expected as Mary will not be well enough to travel, but will start soon as I can – probably the week after that. I received a letter from Mr. Curtis a day or two ago letting me know about train time as he said you requested him to do so. They had not received a letter from me. Mrs. Curtis was sick.

Aunt Lucy Fiddis is here today. Two young ladies – Miss Probert & Miss Comstock – start for California by [transcontinental] railroad today. [They are] Lucy’s acquaintances. They go to teach [and] are going about a hundred miles up the coast from San Francisco. Tappan Reeves, his mother & Lucinda are there & have written for the girls to come.

Yesterday, Steve and I rode over to your mothers a few moments & took the apples &c. you sent. We left them an ear of corn & a couple of apples. Some of the apples were partly decayed. The box was hot inside [and] the sweet potato commenced rotting. They thought they looked nice.

John [Kelly’s] wife [Charlotte Hill] & daughter Mary was there. She came the day before & was going today. She had been to her old home. She lives in Brooklyn [New York now]. Said she wished you would write to her. Steve is going to town today & is in a hurry so I will close. [My sister] Sarah likes the urn very much. Good-bye. – Augusta

[1] Elizabeth H. Bates, Owego; born at Charlemont, Massachusetts. Diploma February 25, 1854 from Female Medical College of Pennsylvania. Source: History of Tioga County, Kingman