Don't James get anything for preaching?

There are eight letters presented here that span the year 1871. The first two of these letters were written by Augusta to her husband James Griffing while he attended the Annual Methodist Conference in Paoli, Kansas. The next two letters were written by Augusta's mother, Mary Ann Goodrich, from Owego, New York. The first of these two letters from her mother includes an insert from Augusta's sister, Sarah Goodrich. The second of these would turn out to be the last letter Augusta would receive from her mother. The fifth letter was written by cousin, Lucy Fiddis, who wrote to tell Augusta of the death of her mother, Mary Ann Goodrich. The sixth letter is from Sarah Goodrich to Augusta. The seventh letter was written by James' sister, Clarissa [Griffing] Giddings from her home in Table Rock, Nebraska. It contains news of the brightening prospects for the town. The last letter was written by Mr. D. H. Horne of Topeka concerning money he owed to James Griffing.

I suppose by this time you are in Paoli [Kansas] and Conference commenced. I hope you reached there safely & will have a pleasant time. Things move along with us about as usual. Little Phony Knipe died the night you left – Monday night – and was buried Tuesday afternoon. I saw Brother [William] Knipe Tuesday morning & told him we would not go to the house, but would go to the grave. John Hymes helped harness & took the team to the house & Mr. Hymes drove to the grave & Miss Dale & I got in here & Mrs. [John] Hougham & her girl got in there. [KSAC] President [Joseph] Denison & wife went to the house…

I felt sorry not to go but thought it would be the safest way. I have not heard from there today, but Emma [Knipe, age 2,] seemed better yesterday. Sister K is poorly & Susannah fainted at the grave. They take it very hard.

My cold is still very bad but I feel better than I did last night. I could hardly keep up then. The boys colds seem a little better. Yesterday was so very warm, but last evening there was a change and tonight (Wednesday) a good fire is needed. It hailed & rained quite hard last night.

Mr. Goodwin took tea with us last night on his way to Mr. Winey’s. Miss Dale is getting better of her cold. Ed was in town today & no mail has come since you left excepting a letter for him. Sister Dearborn and Carrie came here just after you left to send a letter by you to Brother Dearborn from one of his preachers. So he let [our son] John take it down the next morning to Brother Sullivan.

I shall hope to hear from you by Saturday. You must enjoy seeing old friends for me too. I wish you might see Sister Hawley. And see all you can at North Lawrence & don’t forget shrubbery & currants. If you were at Ossawatomie, Mrs. Roscoe would send me some shrubbery, I know.

Thursday, [March 16th]. I went to see Sister [Lucy] Knipe today. [Her daughter,] Little Emma is better & so is Sister K and the rest are usually well.

I think I will send [our son] John down with this [letter] in the morning if I get no other opportunity. Miss Dale is not as well as yesterday. She went to see Miss Hovey & took more cold, I think. Ever your affectionate wife, -- Augusta

I was very glad to hear from you last night by letter & hope you are having a very pleasant time. We are getting along very well. Colds are better & no new disease has as yet made its appearance among us. Brother [William] Knipe’s people are better & as far as I know, the neighbors are well. Miss Dale is better than when I wrote you. Hope you received that letter sent to Paoli. School begins tomorrow & I am not sorry on the children’s account.

My letter came from home [Owego, New York] yesterday. Ma was slowly improving but not able to write. Mr. Nealy was dead & buried. Mrs. Prudence Wadsworth had been home & went to see Ma.

Ed went to stay with young Mr. Lee last night and has not returned yet. [Our son] John went up to Rocky Ford with Mr. Burr yesterday & got one fish that made a small taste. Brother Warner passed here Friday to mill & I sent & got some screenings. His wife is better. All doing well.

Both the boys went to church & Sunday school today. I hope if I go to Osage County. You will drop me a line at Topeka. Ever your affectionate wife, -- Augusta

It is a pleasant Sunday morning. [My children] Stephen and Sarah are going to Church. It is a cold morning and some flakes of snow has fallen but the sun is shining now. All usually well. [My son Ralph’s daughter] Jennie[1] is sitting on a quilt on the carpet playing with her playthings and is well, but will have her crying spells. She eats hearty and drinks milk, and when she don’t cry she is good. [My daughter] Mary and her children and [mother-in-law] Old Mrs. Horton was up her yesterday; we had a good visit. There has [been] two Mr. Dunham’s – oldish men – have died in Nichols [New York] within 2 or 3 weeks.[2]

Mr. [Asa] Brooks did not go to Conference this year. He was not well enough to go, and is not going to preach this year. Their daughter that was married last has gone to housekeeping. Their other little daughter is living with his daughter that is married and living in Nichols and is well off. And Milly [Permelia Brooks] says she thinks she will always live with her. Their two sons and the twins are all that is at home. Their family is quite small [compared] to what it has been. Mr. Brooks has a cough and his lungs are weak. They are afraid he is going to consumption.

Your Mother Griffing is not as well this winter as she has been. Sarah and I went down to your Aunt Mary’s Friday and drove [our horse] Prince. He went staggering along & came near falling down. Your Aunt Mary[3] was not feeling very well that day. She looks very bad, both hands tremble all the time. And Mrs. Nealy is very feeble. Aunt Eliza and Mrs. Taylor was not able to go to the funerals, Mrs. Nealy’s sisters. There are only two children – Charles, his second wife’s son, and Sarah, his last wife’s daughter. She carries on the farm this year. She has chosen Jack Goodrich, Administrator.[4] It is going to be a difficult matter to settle that property. John will come in for all his Mother’s property and has her share of his father’s too. And he is a ____ coot. He was drunk at Charlie’s funeral.

Stephen lost an [Owego] Gazette and Christian Advocate of his pocket last week. Mrs. Horton says Mrs. Patch[5] died in Towanda and her funeral was a week ago today. Several went from here to the funeral. Quite an obituary notice of her death is in the papers, and Mrs. Standish Tinkham[6] is very sick and has been for a week. Her son James Tinkham[7] is home. He is a Physician and Surgeon.

Mrs. Spicer was buried in our [grave] yard the 1st day of April. They have been living over the river with Amanda. She married a Mr. Ferris. [Your mother, -- Mary Ann Goodrich]

Dear Sister. We received your letter with the flower seeds Thursday. Am very much obliged for them. Frank Platt [8] brought one home last Saturday. I will send you some of them. I do not feel able to put my flowerbeds in order and have hired Dick Cortright to come and help me this week. I have been to Church today. It seems a long time since I have been to the Methodist before. Our new minister preached for the first [time] today. I do not think we shall like him as well as we did Mr. Wheeler.

The weather has been quite cold for a week or two. None of our fruit trees are in bloom yet. Our baby [Jenny] has got entirely weaned from her bottle and eats very hearty of potato, which she likes better than anything else, and bread and milk and gingerbread. And has got to be very good nights. But she has spunky fits once in a while. I have put short dresses on her and she looked so pretty in them. A great many say she looks so much like your children. I went over to the [Owego] Village last week and got you a [hair] nett and send you another like mine. Tell Willie I was very glad to get his letter & will answer it before long. Am sorry he has the rheumatism but hope he is better. John must write too. Wonder if Maty is much larger [than her cousin] Jenny? Love to all, your affectionate sister, -- Sarah [Goodrich]

Steve brought a fresh shad for supper tonight. It was a very small but a good one. Our chicken hatched today. We put out those tomato seeds you sent in a pan of earth and keep it by the stove, and they are coming up. Aunt Fanny wants some of the plants. Aunt Betsy & Frank called here yesterday for some fresh butter.

No letter has come from you last week but we hope to get one this noon. [Your sister] Sarah and [brother] Stephen have gone to church, and will go to [the post] office. It is not a very pleasant day. It is cold and cloudy. We are all usually well today.

[Your brother Ralph’s daughter] Jennie has a cold but it does not make her sick. [Your sister Sarah] gives her catnip tea. She is now sitting on a quilt on the carpet and has got off the quilt. She will soon creep. She has short dresses and little shoes and stockings & looks as your Mary did some. She sleeps in her crib and Sarah on the lounge and I sleep alone. She sleeps better in her crib.

[Your sister] Mary [Horton] and her children were up here yesterday. Mary has been sick nearly all the week with a cold. Mrs. Tiffany and Dora called here one day last week. I do not think Dora will ever get over her sickness. She does not look like the same girl. She is so thin and white, and Mrs. Tiffany does not dare to leave her alone long at a time. If she should have another such a fit alone, she could not live.

Your Aunt Fanny and Frank called here yesterday. We are making a little new butter and Frank wants new butter and eggs. Mrs. Woodbridge came down Wednesday afternoon & staid here till Thursday morning and I went with her up to Aunt Ruth’s and staid all day. It commenced raining after noon and she staid with us Thursday night and started for home about 10 o’clock Friday. We had a good visit with her and I guess she enjoyed it. Nancy has got home and she has heard from her all safely. Nancy went to Harrisburg [Pennsylvania] to see Governor [John White] Geary and was there one reception day. I expect it is a great day. Her little son about 12 years old that came with her asked her who it was that she danced with. I suppose he did in fun. She went to New Haven and to Mount Holyoke [where] she saw some of the old teachers and went to see some of her old schoolmates. When she went back, she had no acquaintance from Omaha, but she found good friends and when she got to San Francisco she had to stay a week before the boat sailed.

Uncle Aner [Goodrich] is about helpless and does not know much. They have to wash his pants every day. He only wears them from morning till noon. After dinner Jack called him to the bedroom door and got him on to the bed and there he lies till the next morning when they get him up and roll him out to the table and after breakfast he is on the lounge till after dinner. It is dreadful. Mr. S[amuel] S[tandish] Tinkham is getting better, so our paper says. Mr. William Gridley is sick & confined to his bed. They have had an auction at Mr. Giles and his whole property is to be sold.

Sunday afternoon. [My brother Elizur’s son] Jamie Goodrich and Ed Stratton have been here and [your brother] Stephen has just gone to take them down to [your sister] Mary’s. James has brought your pin – I think it is beautiful. I think you will like it. As soon as I can, I shall get your spoons and I have a few things that I shall make up a small package and send you by Express. Do you want to send for anything? I do not know as Jamie will stay here tonight or not. He wants to go back to the [Owego] village. His wife is coming [with him] next time to stay a week or two. I hope I shall be better than I am now. I have so much pain in the right side of my head. Jamie did not care to take any pay for your pin but I made him take pay. He cannot afford to give it. He did not maker his expenses last year but they let [him continue.] Goodbye, -- [Your mother, Mary Ann Goodrich]

Yours was received yesterday. Don’t [your husband] James get anything for preaching – no Missionary Money or anything?

The telegram has just been received from you. We did not much expect you could come. But [your brother] Steve & [sister] Sadie thought best to dispatch at once to you.

[Your mother -- ] dear Aunt Mary [Goodrich] -- died yesterday (Thursday) afternoon about half past five. She had been feeling quite well for her during the day -- as well as usual since her illness in the winter. After dinner, or about half past three, she complained of her head paining her. Sadie says she came in from the kitchen and sat down in her rocking chair, put her hand up to her head. [She] said it pained her terribly. Said in a moment more that she should faint away. Steve lay on the lounge right by her. He jumped up and tipped her chair back so she could not fall out. Then she said call the man and get her on the bed. Charley was not within hearing so they drew the chair into the bedroom and helped her on the bed. She complained of her arms feeling strange and of the severe pain in her head and in five minutes was unconscious and remained in that state until she breathed her last. The last thing she said was to "put another pillow under her head."

The doctor came about a quarter of an hour before she died. [Your sister] Mary did not get here until afterwards. They sent a dispatch to [your brother] Ralph last evening at nine o'clock but have as yet received no answer. I will leave this open and if one comes before mail time, I will write you.

They did think the funeral could be put off until he could reach here but people today say it will not be possible for him to get here before Monday night at the earliest. And the opinion seems to be that the funeral cannot be delayed after Sunday afternoon or Monday.

Steve has gone over to town to send a dispatch to Rev. Mr. Wheeler who is now in Norwich. They want him to come if he can. The new minister is so late an arrival that she was not yet acquainted with him. We did not send to mother -- a dispatch I mean. I am going to write. I thought it would not do for her to come alone after hearing of it and being worried & ancient. And I don't much think Anna or John could come with her.

Steve has just come in and Ralph cannot come. Neither can Mr. Wheeler. They have appointed the funeral at half past two Sunday. Miss Bates came in this afternoon and said it was an apoplectic fit. [She] said nothing could have been done for her. They came over after me this morning and I have been here all day.

Every one seems so kind. Mrs. [Mary Worthington] Bristol has offered us all the white flowers we want. Sadie did not feel like writing to you today so I have done it for her knowing that you will want to hear directly all the circumstances attending her death. We shall all miss her so much. It seems to me I shall as much almost as her own children. And we can hardly realize yet that she is gone. Seems as if it must be a dream from which we shall awake and find as it was yesterday morning.

I know how hard it must be for you to be so far away. We have thought & talked so much of you today. Aunt Ruth came down today but staid only a few moments. [She] seemed very feeble. I hope you and your children are well. Give each of them a kiss from,

P.S. The account I wrote of Steve receiving a dispatch from Ralph was not so. A lady came in and said so, but I found afterwards that she misunderstood Steve. 'Tis sad news indeed I have to write to you but I am glad to be able to relieve poor Sadie a little. Love to all in your family. Yours very respectfully, -- Lucy

How can I write or live ever and our Mother dead. I ought to have been prepared for it but I was not. I see now that instead of gaining strength as I was in hopes she would, she appeared to remain about the same. She had a headache almost all of the time but the day she died she seemed unusually well and cheerful and took more interest in what was going on. We had raw onions cut up for dinner -- you know she is fond of them -- and after she had taken her nap, she said the onions had left a bad taste in her mouth and she must taste of something to take it out & spoke of her mouth tasting bad two or three times that afternoon. And she had complained of her head feeling so bad if she stooped down any. Once she took Jennie up from the floor, something I never let her do if I can I can help it, and she said she ought not to have done it for it hurt her head so.

About four o'clock she came in from the kitchen and put up both hands to her head and said her head, her head would split and sat down in her chair and asked if some one would get her a chair to put her feet on so as to brace her head back. In a second she said she was faint. I jumped for the camphor to get some for her to swallow, but she wanted to get right onto the bed and we drew the chair. Steve and I [went] into the bedroom and helped her on to the bed, she screaming all of the time, her head, her head. Steve was in the house on the lounge and held back her chair when she said she was faint, and before we got her on the bed she rubbed her arms and said, "What is the matter of me?" When we put her on the bed, she said take off my shoes and put on my night cap. And she untied her cap she had on and threw it off.

When we laid her down, she said, "Just another pillow under my head." And that was the last she said. In less than a minute she was insensible and breathed so hard, & her countenance changed so much, full and purple, and she breathed so about an hour and then her breath stopped. She suffered dreadfully for a few moments before she went into the stupor and then her earthly sufferings were over. Steve sent for old Mr. Bristol and he came down and made a prayer. Dr. Bates said we could keep her until [our brother] Ralph came and rather urged us to do so as he was coming so soon. Steve sent a dispatch that evening, but we have not received an answer & I do not think he got it. We had a letter from him Saturday saying he expected to start in two weeks from that day which would be next Monday. What a coming home it will be for him poor boy & Ma had recond on his coming so much.

[Rev.] Mr. Bixby attended the funeral. It was Sunday at half past two o'clock. It was bright and pleasant all the morning until noon and then it clouded over and rained all the time of the funeral and until we got almost to the [grave] yard when it cleared up and the sun shone forth bright. When our dear mother was lowered into her grave, it came over me it shall be light at evening tide. Oh the house is so lonely. You cannot begin to know the desolation. Jennie misses Grandma so much. The day never seemed long enough suit me before; now they are so long. The girl sleeps down with me, and Jennie sleeps in her crib at the side of the bed. I have had her sleep in her crib for two or three weeks & I slept on the lounge. She worried so nights. It disturbed me. She thought so much of the baby that she had put up with a great deal of inconvenience, & it has been too hard for her, although I have tried to save her all I could. But I wish I had done more. It does not seem as if I could give her up, she was so much to me. I leaned upon her for all. She was so weak and feeble.

There were a great many here at the funeral. Some of the choir offered to come over and sing. The minister gave the ____ hymn and read the 90 Psalm and made some good remarks. I wish you could have been here. There seems so few of us. I feel as if I was in a dream or stunned. I cannot think. She was laid out in black silk waist and sleeves, and muslin under handkerchief laid in folds, and muslin folds around the waist and a pretty cap. But the women did not want us to look at her. I did not see her after Friday. Mrs. Taylor told me not to. She had changed so. The coffin stood in the hall & was not opened. I wish you were here or could come but do not suppose you can. I will write again soon and tell more. Somehow I cannot think. Everybody was very kind. Mary Berry staid with me all night Saturday night, & Lucy went over every day. [Our sister] Mary did not get up here until after she died -- right after. I forgot to say we received your dispatch in a few hours.

The days move along I suppose as they always have done, but how changed everything is to me. Nothing seems as it used to be. The house seems so still and lonely. I do not know what I should do without [our brother Ralph's] baby [to take care of]. She is a comfort to me and not much trouble. It seems as if she knows when I feel bad and tries to comfort me. I hope Ralph will not want to take her away. We have not heard from him yet. I wrote to him Saturday after Ma died, but do not know as he would get it before he started for home. I have sent a paper to Mr. Finch so he will know when he gets them. Mrs. Finch was coming with him, but do not know whether she will now or not. I wish you could have been here, but hope you come before a great while.

We received a letter from Aunt Mary yesterday. She had not heard of Ma's death. She wrote Aunt Lydia Skeel was dead. She had cancer in her stomach and vomited almost incessantly till she died. Her sister Emiline came a week or so before she died. There has been so many deaths this spring. You will see in the paper I send that Abbie Champlin Woodard died the same day that Ma did. She went every where most to try and save her life but it seems it was not to be.

We have received a good letter from [Rev.] Mr. Wheeler. He was very sorry that he could not leave his church to attend the funeral. He said he "loved our mother and hopes to rejoin her again in the Home of the Soul." Ma was always kind and hospitable to every one, and she had a good many friends. There were a great many here at the funeral for all it was a very rainy afternoon. Everybody was very kind and some shall always feel a deep love for [her].

Ma's sickness in February was very singular. If I can see you, I can tell you better. The sights or phantoms she saw seemed to haunt her. There was hardly a day passed that she did not talk to me about it. There was one person in particular troubled her so much. He was young, [had a] round face and red cheeks, and very strait, and walked with his arms folded before him. He would walk past the front of her bed, pass through a door into the parlor to an open window. He would come and look over her as she lay in bed & when she turned to look, he would turn and walk slowly away, always to the open window. After awhile he got into a rocking chair and rocked up onto her bed. She said he was so impudent he rocked against her back & she wished I could drive him off. After a day or two she said she had got rid of him. She said he was rocking against her & she snapped her handkerchief at him and told him to be off, and he never came again. She knew all the time that it was not really so, but it was to her.

She went up to Mrs. Tiffany's a short time ago & was telling her of it & about her sickness, & Mrs. Tiffany told her it was a good spirit come to tell her something if she had only spoken to it. I think it made an impression on her mind for she spoke of it often & wished she had just spoken to it. Mrs. Tiffany & Dora were here Saturday and told me a good deal that makes me wonder if it was anything more than a diseased brain. Do not think me foolish.

I was going to send Aunt Mary's letter to you but I sent it over to Lucy to read today and she has sent back word that she wants to send it to her mother & they will send it right back. [Our sister] Mary has not read it yet either. What shall I do about sending your pin? Ma had not got the spoons. She was going to have me get them the first time I went to the Village.

I am so lonely sometimes. I do not know what to do. Ma was always here and lately she seemed to take more interest in what was going on. I thought she was better. We had quilted two quilts and she was going to set one together right away as soon as I could go to town and get the cloth. It does not seem as if she had gone from us forever. She seems so near. We have a good [housekeeper] girl or I do not know what I should do. I have not the heart to work. Write often.

I was a little inclined to leave the brother off but can hardly make up my mind to do that, but I do feel like chiding him a little for his forgetfulness of his friends. I was very glad my dear Sister to hear from you, and that it is well with you as it is. We had been talking of you only a few days before and wondering why we did not hear from you. Sarah, who is now living in Table Rock, said she had written a long time ago but got no answer. I told the girls we should all write and see if we could not get some response, but Sarah was a little huffy and said I would not get her to write again.

[Our daughter Fanny’s husband] C[hauncy] H. Norris is still in business here and appears to be doing well. [Our daughter] Lydia and her little ones are living on the farm. She rents her land for cash rent and manages pretty well. [Our daughter Sarah’s husband, Mr. [Lorenzo Waugh] Smith’s health is quite poor so that he is not able to do much toward earning a living. Mr. Giddings has been quite sick for a number of days but is able now to walk about and oversee his business. My own health is tolerably good.

We are to have a camp meeting here on the old campground on the south side of town to commence September 1st, which will be next Friday. O how I wish you could come up and worship with us. We propose to hold over two Sabbaths. Why can’t you come? We shall have a tent on the ground and we are looking for a good meeting.

It is a busy time here just now. The Atchison Company are extending their line of Railroad up the Nemaha Valley and are at work on the line between this place and Humbolt 10 miles below to which place they have completed the grading. They have bought that part of our farm on the bottom and are to erect a Depot Round House and Machine Shop. The land [is] to be laid off in Town lots. Several of the stockholders are talking of doing great things in building up the town but my ardor has so far cooled down that though they talk and act like business as though they meant what they say, yet my faith is limited by sights. Not yet swallowed up in it yet. I will write you again when it is fully realized.

I think Mr. Giddings will sell off most of his stock as soon as he can dispose of it to advantage and not work so hard as he has in time past.

[Our daughter] Mary is at home now but will leave for school in a few days. She is larger than I am and a very rude, wild girl. My prayer is that she may be kept from the evil and guided in the right way. Do you not feel your anxiety increase for your children as they grow older? May you have wisdom from above to direct you and yours in the Paths of Righteousness. Mary sends love to the children. We wish much to see you all. I have not heard from [our family and friends in] Owego [New York] in some time.

Do not wait so long before you write again. Love to all. Your sister, -- Clarissa [Giddings]

It will not be possible for me to pay the two notes at this time. I hope after the 10th when taxes are paid I shall be able to send some money to pay the notes. I will do the best I can. Am trying to sell the land cheap to get out what money I have in the land and settle with you. As soon as I can make any arrangements for the money I will drop you a line. Yours truly, D. H. Horne

[1] Jennie Goodrich, daughter of Ralph and Jennie Connett.

[2] Probably referring either to employees of Henry Dunham’s gristmill or to Silvenus Dunham’s carding machine and fulling-mill’s that operating in the town of Nichols, New York. Source: Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, p. 299.

[3] Probably Mary Fox, who married William Goodrich (born 1804), a younger brother of Silas Goodrich.

[4] Possibly John Goodrich, son of Aner Goodrich and Ruth Stratton. John was born December 5, 1830 and died July 20, 1876. Source; Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, p. 467.

[5] Probably the wife of Timothy P. Patch who was born in 1809. He came to Owego from Massachusetts “in February 1834 and opened a meat market. He continued in that and the grocery business until 1855. In 1860, he removed to Towanda, Pa., where he resided until his removal to Corning, N.Y., a few months previous to his death, which occurred June 30, 1882.” Source: Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, p. 345.

[6] Lois Willoughly was the wife of Samuel Standish Tinkham. Source: Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, p. 364.

[7] “Dr. James H. Tinkham, the only son of Samuel Standish Tinkham, was born in Owego, March 16, 1836. In July 1861, he entered the United States navy as a surgeon. During a visit to Owego in 1879, he was attacked with quick consumption and died June 2nd in that year. He was a physician of great promise, and during his illness he was ordered as fleet-surgeon to the West Indies squadron.” Source: Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, p 325.

[8] Possibly F. E. Platt, a cashier with the Tioga National Bank.