Duties I owe my family as well as the church

I have just received yours & Johnny’s letter after so long looking and was sorry to hear of your sickness and that [our son] Willie was still ailing. I saw Dr. [Samuel] Martin at Topeka and told him about Willie. He said the very best cure he knew of for the inflammatory rheumatism was to take a sweat of alcohol. Just fix a blanket over him and burn alcohol under it. Said it was the best thing that could be done to remove any kinks of the kind from the bones. It is easily tried and may do him good. I think that is what we done for him last winter. That, with a little tea of the colchicum seed, I think will draw the kinks out of him and make him a new boy. You speak of its being wet there underfoot. How very different it has been here all winter. With the exception of some pretty cold weather about Christmas, it has been most delightful. The roads [have been] dry & hard and excellent [for] getting about. The children have been playing ball at school and it has hardly seemed like winter yet.

You spoke of being up with [my sister] Mary [Pike]. What is the matter with her? You did not say. Does her ankle trouble her yet? The climate is so different there in the wintertime from what it is here that you will need to be very careful.

I am sorry the railroad in Missouri is no better & scarcely a train passes but what something breaks or the cars run off the track. I hope the boats will be running in the river by the time I want to come & also hope I shant be obliged to come until after Conference when I can do so much better leave for a time than now. I would not let Willie try his weight on his leg too much. Try the alcohol sweat sweet pet. I hope he will get better.

I found James Goodrich’s note after looking those papers over carefully. Those photographs [of Lincoln, Sherman, & others] I obtained from Cincinnati with a map I sent on for. I thought I would like them to help fill out your [photograph] album.

So you all have your hands full. Now you can fully sympathize with me with my big family. I can’t tend to them all as closely as I would wish but I try to do the best I can. It keeps me awake some nights, however, thinking about it & dear [Augusta], I do feel as if I wanted your counsel occasionally, & now & then a stitch or two with your needle. Yet when I get to looking too bad, some of the folks [around here] take pity on me and furnish sundry improvements by the way of patches, darnings, &c. So I try to keep in good spirits, but it’s awful hard work. You say you hope I have a good time all here to myself. Well I should if you did, but of late your letters have tended to take off the edge considerable. I hope for better news next time.

There is a washing machine made at Auburn, New York by S. W. Palmer & Co.[1], price $7.00 called ‘the challenge machine’ warranted to wash quicker & easier & better than any other ever used to wash. Cleans six shirts in seven minutes, 4 sheets in 4 minutes, 25 pillowcases in 5 minutes and other clothes in proportion and with one quarter of the tear of the machines or hand washing. It weighs only thirty pounds. I want you should enquire about it. I have sent for a circular and if it’s what it professes, a brighter day is dawning. Yours, -- James

It is Monday eve. Willie & Mary are asleep & the rest of us are sitting around the table as usual. Willie is improving all the time. He wears one shoe & stocking and the other foot is still kept bound up. His right ankle is weak and he walks lame & falls down very easily, showing his joints are weak. He feels quite proud to think he can walk a little. We are careful not to let him go out in the kitchen or anywhere that he would take cold, and I hope he will get entirely well of it now. He says he wants to see Pa and wants to know if he is coming soon. Mary is the most mischievous child of the three, I think, for she is in something or other nearly all the time. John has been to school today and is taking off his boots. They keep his feet [dry] much better than shoes.

Two letters came last week, one from Lincoln & one from Topeka. And so you found all well and had a good visit. I do hope that railroad will go on. Is it to go through Topeka on the opposite side of the river? Has Bro. Hannum made enough to live on the past year? I hope he will make something another year. You did not write how you found Mrs. Naylor. And how is Bro. McQuiston liked? And does he want to stay there another year? Will that Rice be accepted and is he loyal? What is Father Winans going to do now – join some other church? And did Mother [Winans] leave too? Am glad your taxes are paid. Did you sell that buggy? Have you found [our dog] Dan? What was the matter with Mr. Linville? Has brother [Luther] Jones returned from Denver yet?

The past week on the 19th was Uncle Aner Goodrich’s Golden Wedding. They are both rather feeble and could not make a large party as is the custom here. Only the children & grandchildren were expected, but Uncle William Stratton heard of it & he and Aunt Alice came down & brought Mrs. Woodbridge with them & they then invited Ma & Aunt Mary up there, so all together they had quite a party and a pleasant time. Friday Uncle William, wife, & Mrs. Woodbridge & Aunt Lucy were here. Uncle William only stayed two nights. Left all well at home.

[My brother] Steve works his horses all day, but he has a colt nearly three years old that he has been breaking and we can ride after that almost any night, but I am such a coward I don’t want to. But I wanted to see Melissa [Clark] ride & so I plucked up courage to go with her [to her father’s (Mr. Catlin)] Saturday night to call. They had a large tea party and we stayed on a short time. Mr. Catlin you must surely come & see him. Melissa has not changed very much & Ermane makes a fine looking woman. After calling there we went to Mary’s awhile where we had supper. The colt went good, only faster than I like to ride.

I have not heard from [your sister] Mary Pike in several days. She was getting better. It is snowing. We have had sleighing for some time. Give love to all inquirers. Write often. -- Augusta

I have just received yours of the 15th – the one written when you fell asleep before you finished. I do believe if you will use Dr. Martin’s medicine – a sweat of alcohol – it would help Willie. I am sorry to have my little pet suffer so and would be glad if I could only be there to assist in taking care of him. I am glad I wrote him the letter and will try and remember him often when I write. Tell him Pa hardly knows how to stay away from him a single day but duty makes it necessary for the present and Pa keeps wishing that better news will come next time. Pa will be so glad when he can come and hold his little birdie in his bosom.

Cutie, you have not said much about [our son] John of late. Does he behave well? Is he good to obey or has he unpleasant, disagreeable ways with him? I wish you would speak freely. It makes me feel bad to have the children away so long and especially John, who at his age needs much patience and care in checking the wrong and encouraging the right. A little want of watchful attention at his age may bring many years of bitter sorrow and care.

I am stopping at Sister L[uther] B. Jones this week and she is becoming greatly worried about her husband. She has received no letter from him in some time and she is fearful he may be massacred by the Indians. They have possession now of a great part of the road [to Denver] beyond Ft. Kearney and he would likely be very near in his journey back right where our soldiers have been having several fights with the Indians. I hope all is safe but I greatly have my fears, [though] I dare not tell her so. Since Chivington killed so many of them, the Indians have become desperate. A great many that he killed are reported to have been women and children, and they seem bound to have revenge and betake whoever may fall into their hands now.

Did you ever get the last [Ladies] Repositories I sent – the Oct, Nov, & Dec No’s? Your repository has not come on yet for some reason. If you think I had better come home at anytime before Conference, I want you to say so. I think probably more will be paid in these last weeks than at any time during the Quarter and I shall need all I can get. Besides it seems highly necessary that I should be here at Quarterly Meeting as it is possible the [Presiding] Elder may not be. And if I should come, it will be necessary that I be at the Conference or the [Seneca] circuit won’t be represented there at all. You will have time after this reaches you to get a letter to me before Quarterly Meeting. If you think I ought to come home immediately after, say so, and I will try and come.

Does [my] sister Mary [Pike] talk anything about dying? And does she seem to be comforted in her sickness by the consolation which religion inspires? This world is one of sickness and pain & sorrow and disappointment, and all it promises is but brief at best. Yet if its hours are rightly employed, it will chase away all gloom & sorrow from the couch of sickness and cause one exultingly to exclaim, ‘although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. My rod & staff comfort me.’ How true that is. Kiss my treasures and believe me ever yours, -- James

No mail came Friday evening. I expect I should have received a letter from you. Since the stages have all been stopped by the Indians, the mails have been getting quite irregular. I have been quite anxious nowadays on account of Willie’s sickness… He must be a great sufferer. I do hope that his disease has taken a more favorable turn and that he is nearly well by this time. Does he have much appetite? And does he appear very much like himself? How is [my] sister Mary [Pike]? Does she suffer very much in her sickness? And how does dear Mother Griffing seem to bear up amid the multiplied cares? Has your own mother recovered so as to be up and around? Oh how often I think of you all and long for the time to roll around when I can come & see you all. Only two weeks from next Saturday & Sunday is our last Quarterly Meeting after which I shall feel myself a little more at liberty, but you know how it is on a circuit just before Conference. It’s best for a preacher to do his duty then if ever. Yet there are duties I owe to my family as well as the church, and nothing but sickness shall keep me away. Whenever you think I had better come, [tell me.] I want you to express yourself freely.

There are some few cases of the small pox scattered about in the country here, or rather about Seneca in its mild forms. With care I don’t think it will spread much. I think it would be well to have the children vaccinated. If you should, you must have a little care from whence the vaccine comes. Is there much excitement there with reference to the draft? And how many will be required from that County? Have you heard from Topeka lately or from Sister Curtis [in Illinois]?

Has not this been a most delightful winter thus far? With slight exceptions at first, I am afraid I shant get sleighing enough out of my old jumper to make it pay expenses. Have you had much of any sleighing there?

Would you like to drop in just now to see what kind of a housekeeper I am when forsaken? Well you would find me right in the parlor in front of the stove using the stand for a desk. The bed [is] perhaps not looking quite as tidy as usual & Sunday articles [are] piled upon the bureau. In casting my eye in that direction, I can discern a cup, candlestick, bowl of eggs, lamp, pitcher & washbowl, work basket, boxes of divers kinds, & stacks of newspapers, water pails & ropes & pans are perceived around the sides of the room and your most obedient, the sole master of all he surveys. It needs others here to make it seem anything like home.

I was much worried by reading remarks made by Dr. Kingsley (now Bishop) speaking of two little boys he had, their ages about like Willies. Said they used to sit on his doorstep and watch his coming and run out to meet him to escort him home. But Jesus had taken them both. But he expected they would be anxiously watching for him from “the Portals of Glory and be ready to welcome him there.” May the all-powerful give you support, my dear wife, in this hour of need and lead you to cast all your cares to Him who careth for all. Forever your husband, -- James

Your letter dated the 16th inst. containing the photograph of the young man killed by the Indians came a few days ago. I intended to write last evening but Mr. & Mrs. Bristol came in and spent the evening. Yesterday was a busy day. Ma washed in the forenoon and then let the water freeze in the pipe leading to the cistern & had to thaw it out. [My sister] Sarah & I [had to do it as there was] no man at home. [My brother] Steve and Nick Cortright, who works here, had gone to the back lot for all day. We had a great time and it has made Sarah about sick.

[Our son] Willie is well enough to be around but his neck keeps stiff & lame. The doctor says it will trouble him until warm weather. He was much pleased to get your letter to him & has had it read a great many times. [Our son] John goes to school. It continues only two weeks longer and I am sorry it closes so soon for it is better for John than to be at home. The teacher has given him a piece to learn to speak the last day. You remember it. “You scare expect one of my age to speak in public on the stage, &c.” He has nearly learned it & Willie can repeat several lines of it [too].

We are having what the call an old-fashioned winter. There has been sleighing for a long time. The snow is not deep here but it is in some places and it snows a little now and then & keeps the sleighing good.

[My brother] Steve improves everyday and has a man all the time. The draft comes off in about two weeks. This town has to raise 47 men so Ben Stiles said this morning. If there is a draft, Steve will be very apt to be drafted, but I hope not.

[My sister] Sarah and I made two visits last week. We took Mary and left Willie with Ma. One day we spent at Charles Goodrich’s in town & the other at Aunt Eliza’s with Louise. We had a good visit both days. We stay at home very close and these are the first visits made in a long time. [My sister] Mary [Horton] and her babe was up and staid two days and nights the past week. [Your sister] Mary Pike is getting along. Harriet Mosher is still here, but intends going back before long. Both she and Melissa had new teeth while here as they could get them cheaper than in Michigan.

George Goodrich’s mother is very low and not expected to live. She lives with Susan up the river. There have been several cases of small pox in town. Erastus Evans is just getting over it and Mary Talcott is sick with it.

Dick Cortright has been a prisoner south for some months & was nearly starved. He was paroled & was barely able to reach home which is at Pipe Creek where he has been very low, but is getting better now. One man from Owego died in a few days after getting home. Mrs. Richard Sackett is very sick with dropsy & heart disease. They do not think she will live long.

Am glad to hear good news of Mrs. Hocker. How is her mother, Sister Jones? Is Father [Cyrus] Beers’ house comfortable this winter & do they keep well? I think of them all often.

Yesterday it melted some. Today it does not. John got his feet wet by getting snow in his shoes. They keep dry & comfortable now. Give my love to all inquirers & ever believe me yours truly, -- Augusta

There I forgot to put the “dear” in but no matter. You are just as good and just as dear as though I did. Although you were good in writing so soon, I did not receive yours written the 16th until the 30th of January – only 14 days coming. After a great deal of anxiety I was very glad to hear that you were improving at home. I hope my pet [Willie] by this time is able to run about some and that you are all well. The folks about here seem to think that if Willie was only here or had been, Dr. Hidden would have placed him on his feet right along as he has treated some very severe cases of that disease and has been very fortunate in every instance. But there is no knowing – he might have done no better.

It is raining today a fierce shower, which will bring up the brooks and furnish plenty of water again for the stock – a thing that has been pretty scarce. I had made my arrangements to have commenced a protracted meeting from this evening, but the prospect at present looks somewhat dubious. I received a letter from Bro. Curtis the same time yours came. Says they have sold their farm in Edgar for five thousand, four hundred dollars and has bought land (did not say how much) near Summerfield [Illinois] for thirty dollars per acre and could sell the same at present for seventy-five dollars [per acre]. So I guess they are doing very well pecuniarily. Says Sister Curtis received a letter from you stating that it was probable I would come East before Conference. I thought I had generally carried the impression that I had better wait until after Conference unless it was strictly necessary that I should come sooner. Says there is considerable excitement there about the draft. That the county has already raised some four thousand dollars for the purpose of buying up men to fill the quota (which is from 10 to 15) which, in addition to what the State & Governor give, makes each man’s bounty six hundred dollars. [This,] added to the sixteen dollars a month for the year makes his wages $792 per annum, which will make sixty-six dollars per month for a private, which I think will pay pretty well.

Bro. Luther B. Jones rode up with me when I went for the mail last and took his wife by surprise. She had said that morning she would jump up & down to get a letter from him as she had not heard from him since the last Indian difficulties. He sold his team at Denver and came down with some other person. Says the Indians are not apt to molest the large trains but often rob & kill when some two or three teams are by themselves. Says our forces had quite a fight with the Indians near Julesburg and lost several in killed & wounded just the day before he came along. He thinks of buying another team & trying it again and may take his family this time as he has had quite an offer at Denver City to keep a boarding house. I hope for Lincoln’s sake that they will not go.

You spoke of the doctor’s bill. I will pay it when I come, as it will not require him to wait a great while. You never said whether you had sold your land or whether you have heard from [your brothers] Ralph or James lately. You must try and have all your visiting accomplished so that it may not detain us long there after I come. I don’t suppose there is anybody cares about me beyond our own families and it won’t take me long to see them. I expect to visit with all my might and get all I can to help me so as to get through quick as it will take some time to go and come. Besides, we want to stop on the road and want to do some work at our old home [near Topeka] before we go to our circuit. I wish you would remind [your] sister Sarah that she has not answered my last letter to her. A kiss for my pets. Yours always, -- James

It is Sunday but we are at home. It is snowing and blowing and [my brother] Steve don’t want to take us [to church] and so we stay at home. Ma is not feeling very well but [our son] Willie is better. His joints are weak yet & his neck is stiff or lame but he is much better and will, I think, get along now. I shall not let him go out on the ground to get cold or wet.

Yesterday Steve could take us down to [my brother-in-law] Gurd Horton’s and so [my sister] Sarah and [all of our children] John, Willie, Maty, and myself went. It is the first time Willie has been out since a week before Christmas – just seven weeks. I bundled him up & kept his face covered & he has not taken any cold and enjoyed his visit very much. I think it did him good. He was anxious to go. Gurd and [my sister] Mary [Horton] were just ready to go to town & so Sarah went with them and I stayed & took care of the children. They brought back a letter from you and one from [my brother] Ralph. Poor Ralph has so much trouble. The soldiers are not paid & they owe him considerable and he is owing others & can’t pay and is not yet in business although he expects to be after awhile. His health is poor & the doctors tell him it will not do for him to go north, but that he had better go farther south. He has lost the most of his hair. I do wish he was in some healthy employment. He would feel so much better. Steve is going to send him some money by Express if he can -- $50 or $100.

Steve works early and late trying to make money to buy that land & pay [my sister] Mary. He has drawn 20,000 feet of oak, mostly logs, to Jones’ mill this winter & gets $20 a thousand in the logs. He got them mostly from his land & some from [my sister] Sarah’s down here back of the orchard. He pays a hired man twelve shillings a day & boards him and has hired him since before Christmas & he is to pay Sarah for hers sometime. I don’t know what he will do if the draft takes him. None are enlisting and there are 47 to go from this town. We hear Owego has filled up her quota by going elsewhere for them. I greatly fear that he and others will either have to go or pay a great deal.

Wednesday. Steve had to go to Owego & Nick Cortright was in the woods & could take a load to the mill if the team was only there, so [my sister] Sarah & I drove out there & came back on a load of logs. Going out we stopped at your mothers. [Your sister] Mary [Pike] is able to be about some. Still they have to keep a girl yet [to help with the housekeeping]. She was not feeling as well as usual that day we were there. [Mary’s husband] Grove [Pike] had taken her over to [your brother] Samuel’s to spend the day a few days before. If she continued getting better [she] would be able to come here before long. Your mother was well as usual. Samuel is not well at all. Some days he is able to work a little & the next is sick in bed. They think his kidneys are affected and he suffers a great deal.

Sarah & I went to Aunt Mary’s one day the past week after dinner awhile. We were sent for. Aunt Lucy Fiddis, a Miss Clark & Clarissa Kellum from Towanda were here.

I received a letter from Mrs. Curtis this week. All were well. [Their son] Shelby was trying to go into the army. They [want us to visit and] hope we won’t disappoint them. She says it’s just as near to go that way as farther north [on our return trip to Kansas].

I hope word has come from Brother [Luther] Jones. She must feel terrible. I do not think there will be any need of your coming before Conference. You must get you some clothes & not be there at Conference shabby. Hope things will move along pleasantly there. Willie wants papa to come next week. The boys were pleased to get their letters. With much love. I am always your own, -- Augusta

Your letter of the 24th came Saturday evening late and was gladly received & perused. I was glad to hear so favorable a report from Willie and hope now that he may get along. It will be necessary to guard against his taking cold again.

I called at Dr. Hidden’s Saturday when I was over in the Colony and talked with him about Willie. He said that he had used the colchicum extensively in such diseases and had found it the best remedy of anything he had ever used. Said that a table spoonful of seed steeped in about half a pint or large teacup full of water and give at a spoonful once in two or three hours. Says it will produce a nausea at the stomach at first and after a day or two it will act as a gentle cathartic. Said that alcohol sweats did very well in chronic rheumatism but did not amount to much he never thought in inflammatory rheumatism. In steeping the seed, bring it to a gentle boil merely. The colchicum seed can be obtained at the apothecaries and is a simple, easy remedy and should be taken again. I wish you would try it. It can do no harm and may be just the thing. The Dr. gave several instances of curing people where other remedies with other Physicians had failed but said that this in some cases failed. Your [Ladies] Repositories for Jan & Feb have come – very interesting. I guess I will not send them but wait & bring them when I come [to get you and the children].

Father [Cyrus] Beers is quite unwell with a very severe cough and lung complaint. Mrs. Stinson is also quite sick with pain in the breast. The people besides are generally well.

Bro. Hannum would have faired slim had it not been for a job hauling hay, which helped him through pretty well. Sister Naylor was well and getting along just tolerably. Hiram Ward’s is to live where Bro. Stith does and rent the place. Bro. Stith don’t know exactly what he may do. Bro. McQuiston I guess is liked very well. The railroad will pass on the north side of the river about fifteen or twenty rods from the bank just as at Lawrence.

I commenced a series of meetings last evening & expect to keep them up most of the week. We have no good place for holding them. Our schoolhouse never has been finished yet. School is taught [by Edmund Pickup] in the small building beyond where Mrs. Carter lived during the summer and we hold our meetings there but the house is too crowded to be comfortable.

Tell Willie he does not want to see Pa worse than Pa wants to see him. Pa would be very glad could he only come and see him right away. Pa is so glad that he can begin to get about again and only hopes he may not be sick again. Tell John I am glad to hear he is learning to read so well and hope he will be able to read pretty stories to Pa when he comes. And little Sis, Pa would like to shake her a little for her mischief and have her get right out of “something nearly all the time.” I did not sell that buggy. Bro. Knipe did not go to look at it but may at Conference. Our Quarterly Meeting is near at hand. I hope we may have a good time & that the [Presiding] Elder will be here. I have not heard from him yet so I guess he will come. Yours ever, -- James

I would like to know how you are getting along and where you are today. Two letters mailed January 31st & February 3rd came last night – the last one not so very long coming. The trains are irregular now on account of deep snow everywhere. Such a winter has not been known for years. It is from two and a half to three feet deep here in the woods – so deep that they cannot work well. It is a cold blustery day and we have not gone to church.

We are all usually well. Ma does not go out any but does not suffer with a cold at present. [Our son] Willie goes about the house and I have taken him out twice carefully wrapped up. The doctor gave him medicine to sweat it out. Great drops of sweat were on his face constantly while he was so sick & would keep me busy wiping his forehead.

We hear yesterday that [your sister] Mary Pike is worse again and has the doctor. She has taken a little cold or over done. She is very frail. I shall go up and see her soon as I can. [Your brother] Samuel is not well at all – one day up and another sick. I received a letter from [your sister] Permelia [Brooks] the past week. She said they had received a letter from you. She wants me should be sure and come down there and I stay with her & you go to Conference with Mr. Brooks somewhere about the 12th of April. She hopes to come up here this month & I hope she will to see Mary.

Old Mrs. Hollenback is dead. She was over 80. We hear the quota for the draft is about filled or quite, so they will probably escape here again. Yesterday we were invited to Aunt Mary’s to spend the afternoon. Ma did not dare to go down and [my sister] Sarah and I went. They wanted [my sister] Mary to come too and so Sarah went after her yesterday forenoon and then we took her home in the evening. Aunt Ruth & Mrs. Mosher were at Aunt Mary’s. Harriet [Mosher] talks of going to Mr. Reed’s west of here the last of this week & then start home when it turns warmer so that the train can be more regular.

Our school is out now & I am sorry. [Our son] John has improved in reading [and] loves to read now. But he and [his brother] Willie make me trouble when together and things move more quietly & peaceably when he is in school. John is learning that hymn, “When I read that sweet story of old” sung by Brother Dennison so much. He learned his piece and spoke it very well. They had an exhibition on a small scale Thursday night. Ma took care of [our daughter] Mary and [my brother] Steve took Sarah and I down. John spoke as well as any of them. The teacher said he improved the fastest in his class & he thought he must read at home.

Sarah & I called at [Rev.] Mr. Keyes one day the past week. We only saw his wife. She has a young babe and feeble health. They have four children & keep two hired girls now. She has only been out once this winter. We also called at Mrs. Thompson’s. She said we must come and make her a visit when you come. They have a beautiful house – well furnished. Her neck is dreadful & looks so bad.

We expect Harriet Mosher & her sisters-in-law & sister & mother all here Wednesday. If I wrote to Mrs. Curtis that you would come before Conference, I did not intend it. I think I wrote you had thought of it, but unless necessary, should wait until after Conference. Am very glad to hear of Brother L. B. Jones’ safe return. I hope they will not leave Lincoln unless they can do much better. We have not heard from [my brother] James Goodrich lately. [My brother] Steve is going to buy all the back lot if he can. James Goodrich wants his pay next summer and Steve is trying to make money this winter to help pay him off. I told him he could have mine & not pay yet awhile. I gave him a note at seven percent. He gives five hundred apiece.

[Our daughter] Mary’s ankle is entirely well. Steve talks of taking me to Wysox before long to be gone only two nights. I have not heard from Topeka. I shall write again to Sister Hannum although I wrote to her since I have had a letter. Also to Carrie [Winans]. I don’t think from your description you are a very particular housekeeper, but I hope you will have some help sometime. That old place of your father’s has been bought by Mr. Strong of Pipe Creek whose wife was a Ransom. I sometimes wish you owned it. Am glad you have so comfortable a winter. Give my love to all inquiring friends & ever believe me your, -- Augusta

I found a letter from you as I came home this morning. Glad to find [our son] Willie is improving & also [my] sister Mary [Pike]. The small pox is quite prevalent all through the country here – a great many on Turkey Creek and in Seneca. No cases [have been] fatal as yet but it makes the meetings thin. Several of Bro. [Hiram] Burgar’s and also Mr. Hicks’ [families have the small pox.] Mr. Hicks lives near Dr. Edwards & Mr. Keys who married Dr. Edward’s wife’s sister. Father [Cyrus] Beers’ house is quite comfortable [except] in a pelting storm when it leaks some. He & Mother [Mercy Beers] have both been quite sick but were some better before I left. Have not been to see them since I came back.

36 years – ahem! Quite an old woman [you have become] to be sure. I hope the photographs won’t show the wrinkles. You must have grown some older since you left. I saw that Aunt of Noteware’s wife last night in Seneca. She resides there, was formerly widow Mitchell, but now Mrs. Johnson. She tells a hard story about Noteware. She appears to be a very fine woman & is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Speaks highly of Noteware’s wife. Says she is a poor grief worn woman brought about by Noteware’s intemperance & profligacy after he came to Leavenworth, Kansas. Says he & wife have separated. She tried to obtain a divorce but failed. She wanted to know if his wife was with him there. Mr. Stinson borrowed my horse to go down to Lecompton, starting this morning to see a cancer doctor lately come in there. It has been raining pretty much all day. I hope he will get through safely.

I received a letter from Bro. Hannum today. He says Mr. Kiser’s oldest son at home died after two days sickness with inflammation of the brain. He was a prisoner at the same time with Bro. Naylor. Says [our dog] Dan is there and feels very much at home. Says he himself has been sick with sore lungs for four or five days [but] that the rest of the people are generally well. He thinks Bro. Taylor is sick and won’t be around to his Quarterly Meetings. I don’t know what I am to do. It’s too bad. Next Saturday & Sunday is the meeting and I have not had a word from him yet. The circuit is very much behind on the Quarterage. What shall I do? The most of them have hard scratching to live and it seems hard to take it from them. Tell my ducks [children] how very often Pa thinks of them. Kiss them all. Always our own, -- James

Your letter mailed the 7th inst. came a day or two ago – also a Central came today containing Brother [Osborn] Naylor’s obituary. It seems good to see the familiar Central and its improvement. I suppose tomorrow commences your last Quarterly meeting before Conference. I hope the [Presiding] Elder will be there and that you will have good meetings. And soon it will be time to start for Conference. How shall you go & where [will you] leave your horse & buggy when you come east. I feel anxious to see you & the boys talk of you a great deal. I want to be there to see to your clothes before Conference. I don’t want you should be in Topeka looking shabby.

We are having a real old-fashioned winter – deep snow and cold weather. Last Monday morning the thermometer fell to 12 degrees below zero. Tuesday to 23 degrees – Wednesday to 14 degrees – and today it is thawing and more agreeable weather. Yesterday I rode up with [my brother] Steve as he went to work and spent the day at your mothers. [Your sister] Mary [Pike] is getting along very well now. She was sick for a few days but is better and they are doing without a girl now. Your mother is well & smart for one of her age. [Your brother] Samuel is miserable. If he does anything, he is laid up. His liver & kidneys are affected. [Samuel’s children] Ella & David go to school and [your brother-in-law] Grove [Pike] is drawing wood to the depot.

Harriet Mosher & Lee’s wife & Fred’s wife & Francis ("Frank") Stroup visited here Wednesday. Harriet starts for home tomorrow and goes to Mr. Reed’s near Addison where she will stop a week or more. Charles Taylor & wife are here on a short visit. Aunt Hope Goodrich died this week & was buried Wednesday. Uncle Erastus [Goodrich] had been taken up & buried on the mountain & she was laid beside him. None of us went to the funeral, which was up the river.

[Our son] John has the chicken pox now – a disease children have. It troubled him for a day or two itching so much & his throat was some sore, but he is getting over it without any trouble. I am glad to have him get it & be over with it. [His brother] Willie & [sister] Mary are as usual and I am very well.

The apples are almost gone – only enough for a few days. But [my sister] Mary [Horton] has some & we shall have tem from there occasionally. I wish there were more for they will be gone before you get here.

Tell Sister Luther B. Jones I found her “respects” and am much obliged. Give my love to her and all enquiring friends. I often think of them all & thought I should write to some of them, but do not get about it. I hope they will not go to Denver. I hope Father [Cyrus] Beers and Mrs. Stinson are better.

[Our son] John has written a letter to send in this. Willie says, “Tell Pa I’ve been sick & want to see him.” I will send two papers – one [Owego] Times & [Owego] Gazette. The oil fever is prevailing here in Owego. Numbers have invested hoping to get rich.

Joe Berry & wife called here yesterday. She lost a babe about the time [your sister] Mary Pike did and rode out yesterday for the first time. With a great deal of love. Ever your, -- Augusta

[1] In 1855, Sidney W. and J. F. Palmer began the manufacture of planes in Auburn, New York as J. F. and S. W. Palmer and Company. In 1863, Palmer sold his interest in this company to Charles Coventry, who in turn sold the interest to C. M. Palmer in 1871. The patented plane probably had a short production and the family became involved in the manufacture of washing machines, snow shovels, and wash boards. Auburn business directories during the period 1867 through 1883 show Sidney W. Palmer as a washing machine and clothes dryer manufacturer. Source: Catalogue which accompanied his exhibit, entitled “Yankee Ingenuity: Patented Planes of New York State.”