Little is known about Mrs. Eliza A. Pound and her three children who were
neighbors of James and Augusta Griffing on College Hill at Manhattan, Kansas.
But that she was considered almost a family member by the Griffing's, there can
be little doubt. It is clear that James and Augusta often left their children in
the care of Mrs. Pound whenever their duties required them to travel
out-of-town. The 1875 census records tell us that Mrs. Pound owned property on
College Hill adjacent to the Griffing's, that she was born in New York State,
and that she had moved to Kansas from Wisconsin where her two eldest children,
Isabella (age 20) and Byron (age 18) were born. Her youngest son Elias (age 9)
was born in Kansas and was a playmate of Will and Mary Griffing.
Late in 1875, Eliza moved her family to Boulder, Colorado, but soon changed
her mind and returned to Kansas. The 1880 census records show Mrs. Pound living on College Hill near Manhattan again. Living in
the same household was her daughter, Isabella, who had married George H. Failyer, a professor of chemistry at the Kansas State
Agricultural College. The wedding ceremony took place in Eliza Pound's home on
July 23, 1879, by their neighbor and pastor, Rev. James Griffing. The pictures below are
presumed to have been taken in 1875 just prior Mrs. Pound's departure for
Colorado when she would have been 42 years old and Elias would have been 9.
Augusta
(left), James, & Mrs. Eliza A. Pound (right)
Elias
Pound, Will Griffing & Mary Griffing, ca. 1875
Boulder
[Colorado]
December 14, 1875
Friend Willie
and Mary [Griffing],
We arrived at
Boulder yesterday. On the plains when we crossed them, we saw some Antelope,
Buffalo, and Prairie Dogs. The Conductor of the train shot with a breechloader
from the baggage car and broke one of the antelope’s legs. And the baggage
master killed and broke one’s legs too.
[My dog] Lad
got through all right and when we stopped at Denver every time he saw the
[railroad] cars he would run for he was afraid he was going to be put on them
again. I enjoyed the trip very much and wished that you could have been along
too. Has that cat been around since she went for Byron?
Lad rode in
the baggage car and when the train stopped at a station, I went out to the
platform and I thought that I would go and see Lad. And when I got into the
baggage car the cars started. I could have got back but I thought I would stay
in there. The folks were scart and Belle sat down and cried [until] a man came
and found me. I will close. Your friend, -- Elias Pound
Boulder
[Colorado]
December 30, 1875
Friend Willie
[Griffing],
I received
your letter and Mary’s enclosed in your Mother’s and was very glad to hear
from you. We all ate Christmas dinner at Aunt Mary’s and there were quite a
number of presents given. Mine were a box of Initial paper with a pen and
penholder, a box of cards called Game of Nations, and a nice pair of shoes. What
did you and Mary get?
There is about
six inches of snow on the ground now and is still snowing a little. I am
acquainted with some of the boys. I wish you a happy New Year. My Mother’s
letter was so full that I could not put mine in. I can’t think of any more to
say. Write soon. Yours truly, -- Elias Pound
Boulder
[Colorado]
March 26, 1876
Dear friends
Willie and Mary [Griffing],
I received
that present all right and thank you very much for it. We have put Jennies
picture in it. We talk a good deal about going back to Manhattan and I do want
to go because I like College Hill and my playmates a great deal better than I do
Boulder and my playmates here. The boys big and little chew tobacco and swear.
Byron says there are no less than 14 or 15 places where liquor is sold.
About three
weeks ago two sisters – one twelve and the other fourteen years of age –
climb up on the side of the mountain about a mile from here. A rock gave way
under the youngest one’s feet and she fell about fifty feet. Her sister looked
over to see where she had gone to and she was so frightened that she fell too.
The youngest one was so badly hurt that she died in a few days. The other one is
getting well. He father and mother are so poor the people here gave enough money
to pay the funeral expenses. When it gets a little warmer, I will go up in the
mountains and get some gum. I can’t think of anything more to write. Now write
soon. From your friend, Elias Pound.
Boulder,
Colorado, March 27, 1876
Dear Mrs.
Griffing,
As Elias has
left so much paper not written on, I think I may as well fill it as t write on
another sheet. Elias was much surprised and pleased to receive the present from
Willie and Mary and we were all pleased that Mary was so thoughtful of him as to
remember just the time his birthday came. It reached here about 8 o’clock
Friday evening. We are all comfortably well. I have done my washing and have not
yet fully decided what we will do. It is too long a story for me to write all
the reasons which have caused us to think that perhaps it would be better for us
to go back [to Manhattan] but I will mention a few. First, you remember we were
told before we decided to come here this last fall that we could live in this
house and our rent should cost us nothing, but nevertheless, we have had to pay
at the rate of 15 dollars per month ever since we came into it. To be sure, I
have a deed to this place, and one thousand dollars of my money was put into the
house, and I could do as I please with it in spite of any one if I chose, but I
should have trouble, and hard feelings between some of our relatives and us if I
did take it into my own hands. You know we are only getting 7 dollars per month
for our house at home and may not get that even. We have to pay more than double
for some provisions over what they would cost us at Manhattan. Property, rent,
and taxes are Oh! so much higher here. If I keep this house, and two lots, I am
told I must pay two thousand dollars at the end of two years, besides the one
thousand I already have in it, or else it must be sold to someone else if there
is a chance this spring. And you know the house is not planned at all to
accommodate the number of boarders I expected it was until after I had seen it.
Byron has had but little chance to earn money as yet. Still he now has a good
prospect of obtaining a job of helping to survey, which will give him employment
for six weeks and perhaps longer at two dollars per day besides his boarders and
with a good man who is much like Prof. Mudge.
Professor
B. F. Mudge
KSAC
[I have done
the washing] and ironing both today with the exception of a little of the
ironing which Belle is now doing, so you may know I am feeling quite well these
days. My arms do not trouble by being lame this winter as they did last. For the
past six weeks, Belle has been troubled with Rheumatism. At first it came in her
feet, and in a few days it seemed to leave her feet and go into her fingers.
When her fingers are swollen with it, her feet are all right. But in a few days
after it leaves her fingers, her feet begin to swell. So it goes back and forth.
Most every person says she will probably get over it as soon as she becomes
acclimated to the climate. I think this must be a hard winter for Rheumatism all
over the country for I hear of so many having it in most every letter I receive.
We are having
now the most wintry weather we have had this year. Still it is no such winter
weather as I have so often known in Kansas; but a few miles from here in the
mountains, the snow is deep and it is very cold weather.
Though some of
the students, we have heard that Mrs. Cripps does not seem to take much interest
in her work at the College, and I have been thinking perhaps she may not remain
in the College this year. Therefore, I am quite anxious to hear from her, and
learn what she thinks about keeping any house until next January. One of my
neighbors who is acquainted with Mrs. Cripps says she does not keep at any one
occupation long at a time. I will tell you some other things she (I mean my
neighbor) says at another time. I do hope Mrs. Cripps will be punctual in paying
up the rent when due. You wished to know if we really do think of returning to
Manhattan. Yes, we have talked very strongly of doing so. [Your friend, -- Mrs.
Eliza A. Pound]
