The Diaries of Ralph Leland Goodrich, 1859-1867
June 1860 |
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June
1, 1860
Very
warm today. “Speaking” day & composition. Few present [to observe]. Got
along pleasantly, but Drucilla Adams
showed her manners by tearing up her composition before me. Called on Major
Ward. Brought 3 letters for me – one from home saying that Pa had been sick
but was quite better when they wrote. I fear he will not live long & if I
stay long here I may never see him again. [Also received letters] from
[Willoughby] Babcock [1]
and from [Henry] Handerson. I wrote 3 letters – one to Johnson, one home, and
one to Uncle Elizur [Goodrich].
Talking
with Mrs. [Caroline] Adams. She said she thought it an imposition that Major
Ward would get a teacher & put him off on her to board, situated as she was
alone with her children. She said people would talk.
June
2, 1860
Very
warm. Sent the letters up [to] Major Ward [to be mailed]. Took a walk with Bill
Denham. [2]
Rest of the day sleeping & talking. I have done nothing today. In the
evening had a little party with dancing & fiddling here. Such a happy
company – most of them my scholars, or will be. Major Ward never asked me to
go to town until it was necessary for me to go & I was compelled to ask him
how I could go.
June
3, 1860
Got
another letter from home. Pa was worse. Attended church. Bishop [Francis Huger]
Rutledge [3]
preached at Sunday school. I made an ass of myself reading. It was babyish. I
feel badly & little. Went home with the Ward’s. Came home & went to
prayer meeting at the school house. It has been very warm today.
Episcopal
Bishop Francis Huger Rutledge of Tallahassee, Florida
He "vigorously defended slavery and supported disunion." -- Glenn
Robins
June
4, 1860
Very
warm. In school. Had a new boy just commencing to read. Major Ward called at the
school in the morning & said he was sorry that I had received bad news from
home & wished to know whether I had any letters to send. I have felt badly
all day. Feel almost sick. Kept George & Mattie [Ward] after school. I gave
her a severe scolding. She cried most lustily. Mattie told one of her sisters
the other day that she might talk about her “till her mouth was dry.”
Evening called on Mr. [Edward] Footman. [He] said that the birds laid their eggs
in the sand & let the sun hatch them. In some places they are laid
indiscriminately over the ground.
June
5, 1860
Very
warm. In school. Have [not] read or done anything. Helped Carrie [
June
6, 1860
Nothing
particular, but I have come to the conclusion that if I work as I have done, I
will earn my hire.
June
7, 1860
Warm.
Cool breeze in the morning. George Ward & Mattie are the stubbornest,
dullest things I ever encountered in arithmetic. Read some of [Sir Walter]
Scott’s, Lay of the Last Minstrel.
Helping them tonight.
June
8, 1860
Warm.
Speaking day. A few [observers] present. Mrs. [Julia C.] Croom [4]
at Mrs. Adams’s. [I went] over to Major Ward’s.
June
9, 1860
Warm.
Went over to Major Ward’s. Got papers from home. Major promised to take me to
town today. He and [his son] George had gone. Felt slighted. Annie had the horse
gotten up for me & I rode up [to Tallahassee
and] bought clothes, about $15.00, & then got nothing scarcely. Saw Major
Ward in town [and] rode home with him. Got caught in a shower, wet through &
through, goods wet. Got home about 3. Had a little blunderbuss with the [Adams]
girls in the evening. Sent letters to Handerson & the gentleman in Ohio.
Major
Ward drove on a gallop home through the storm. He is a gay person. I like him
better & better though I think he is very thoughtless as far as I am
concerned.
June
10, 1860
Sunday.
Major Ward sent over to see if I wanted to go to church. Did not go. Took a walk
out to the sink. Attended Sunday school. Read little better than last Sunday.
Paid $0.50 for the Sunday school. I have only $0.25 to my name. I do not know
what I shall do without money. Though when I have taught a month, I may be able
to get some money.
Walked
up the track with the Wards & in going up we were talking loudly about the
Adams’s & we happened to see Drucilla looking over the bank with her head
drawn out like a turkey at which Annie & Sallie [Ward] commenced to laugh
immoderately. I felt guilty & do now still. I had a good laugh. Annie mocked
& called out to her. Carrie & Drucilla [Adams] are very sober to me
tonight – freezing cold. Hurting no-one but themselves. They must submit to me
or I will cease trying to do one thing with them.
June
11, 1860
Quite
a warm day. [We] had a shower today. George Ward is quite dull. Evening took a
walk on the railroad. [5]
Came upon Annie Ward [and] walked down the track with her & back. I have not
been learning anything for some time back. My time is so much occupied.
Down
at Key West, there are innumerable quantities of shells. Prof. Agassiz [6]
formed some different new classes. The turtles grow more than 6 feet long.
June
12, 1860
Warm.
In school. Tedious time. Recess slept. Got letter from [Victor E.] Manget and one from home.
Manget’s [letter] was not a cordial one. I don’t know whether to answer it
or not. It was cold & formal. Evening Mr. Williams [7]
here with some of his poetry. Quite a talker. Said his father would drive him to
church & whip him if he didn’t go. He said his father thought this way
that he would do his duty & if the boy did not turn out right, he was not to
blame for he had done his duty. Let me take his roll of poetry. Helping the
children till nearly twelve. The longer I live here, the more vexed with the
inhabitants I am. Major Ward had a dinner party yesterday at which some of the
children imbibed pretty freely.
June
13, 1860
Very
warm. Nothing new. Took a long walk tonight. Went to prayer meeting. Read some.
Sometimes when it rains, it’s only in a narrow strip on one plantation &
missing its neighbors.
June
14, 1860
Warm
intensely. In school. [I] haven’t seen Major Ward to speak to him for a week.
Done nothing scarcely today. Read a little of [Sir Walter] Scott. The people
here are ignorant, mean, impolite, and unfeeling – in the [Adam’s] house, I
mean. They laugh at me & wink to each other. Oh, if I am compelled to stay
here & teach a year, it will kill me. Showery at night. The rainy season
commences about the middle of June & continues some time.
June
15, 1860
Quite
warm. Speaking day. Punished George Ward today. He spoke well in the afternoon.
No visitors present except some boys. Evening, took a walk. Rainy. The sky was
beautiful, lurid in the west & purple & yellow [in the] east. Lightening
[was] gleaming in the south, [and] overhead [were] many black clouds. Company
here. Staid rather late. Mrs. Adams wants to go to see her plantation but she
dislikes to leave me here with the children. She says the community will talk
about it. There must be some reason why they would talk or she would not be so
anxious about the thing.
June
16, 1860
Saturday.
Rather warm. Wrote a letter home, one to George Stratton, & one to Mr.
Perkins, Camden County, North Carolina. Took a walk in the country & got some specimens – lizard & shell of
insect. Mrs. Adams went down to see her husband this afternoon. She thinks that
I would be free with her pretty daughters. I wish she & her whole
family were out of this place further than Guinea.
June
17, 1860
Sunday.
[Major Ward] has not asked [me] to go to church. At home all day romping with
the [
June
18, 1860
In
school. Major Ward came down just before opening & wanted to see me. He said
that Gov. [Thomas] Brown’s grandchildren had gone home & told things
[about me] that made the family angry. He [said] that they intended to take the
children out from [my] school. He wanted me to go over & see him. Evening,
went over & settled it with the Governor. He seems reasonable enough but the
mothers of the girls Sue M. Archer & Betty Douglas were quite enraged. He
said he would send them in the morning.
Governor
[Thomas] Brown said nearly the whole voting people were government men &
consequently democratic. The sea-board is so large that the [numerous] posts and
other government offices are filled with administration men. The Democratic
Party is the strongest but some remnant of the old Whig [Party] exists. The
Governor is a Whig.
June
19, 1860
In
school. Warm. Sue Archer came today. Governor Brown sent a paper getting persons
to come & put up an arbor to the school house. Got a letter from Johnson.
[Said he] was in Davenport, Iowa. Called over to Major Ward’s in evening. I am provoked at them & I
don’t know for what. I feel badly. I wish I was practicing law or at some
other profession than teaching. It is hard work & not very lucrative. Major
Ward’s people are getting colder every day. I am neglected, insulted &
what is worse, disliked. If I am now, I do not know what they will think of me
when I come to the French [lessons] about which I have nearly forgotten all I
ever knew. Attended church. Mr. [William J.] Ellis preached. Came straight home.
June
20, 1860
Very
warm. Bad lessons. Evening took a short walk. Went to prayer meeting. In
evening, helped the [
June
21, 1860
In
school. Warm. Afternoon rained & blew quite hard. Went to school. Evening,
went over to Mr. [Green] Chaires [and] staid to tea. [He] talked about the
country and crops. Said there were many acres (8,000) of land not taken of yet,
only about 8 or 10 thousand inhabitants in the state. Said there was a bug that
got in the seed of the corn or bud & destroyed it. Said he would have to use
about 3 thousand bushels of corn on place; Major Ward about 8 or 10 thousand.
Said Ward was a literary character [and] wrote a poem for the Lady Mount Vernon
Society, been in the State Legislature & that is all. Quite a number of
factories in this country [that] make course cotton cloth for negroes. In some
places, [they] have better advantages for manufacturing than at the North. I do
not know how I shall get along when they all come to school. I do not know how I
shall get along with them in French. I hope I shall [do] well & pray God to
be with me.
June
22, 1860
Somewhat
cooler today. Got along miserably in school today. Speaking day. Major Ward
present. Called on Colonel [Joseph N.] Whitner [8]
tonight. House full of company here tonight. Major Ward called [and was] asked
into the parlor. He did not speak to me [and] I was not asked into the parlor
& consequently did not see him. The people here are about as impolite as
they are ignorant. Mrs. Adams came home tonight. Feel sick and bad. Do not know
what to do. I fear I shall not get along well with the French [lessons]. I hope
I will.
June
23, 1860
Rather
cool in morning. Got quite a bad cold. Went to [Tallahassee] today. Borrowed $5.00 of Mrs. Adams. Went up with George Ward & Dick
Footman & John Maxwell. Got hair cut, purchased some books, sent a letter to
[Victor E.] Manget, got my watch fixed (left it there). Got books charged, got dollar’s
worth of colors charged [and] came home about 2. Went to school house, slept
afternoon, called on William Maxwell. [9]
Maxwell not at home.
Took
a walk on the track. The girls here & the Chaires are impudent and
ill-mannered. They – in this house – go ahead of all. I shall be in hot
water, I fear, when the advanced French scholars come. I hope I may succeed. If
I am compelled to leave this place, I do not know when I can get another.
Evening, party over to [Green] Chaires.
June
24, 1860
Got
up with quite a bad cold this morning. Did not go to church today. Slept a great
part of the day. Evening went to Sunday school. Came home & went with Mrs.
[Mariah E.] Black to Major Wards’ [and] staid supper. After tea, the girls got
ready for church & come out on the porch where we were & asked if their
father was going. He said no. I offered to go with them [but] he said I had
better stay with him; [that] they could go alone. I did not know what to make of
it. But he wanted to talk some about the school. We came to the conclusion that
if in a week from now we thought that a school of a high one could not be
established, I would resign. And we also concluded from appearances that a
school of the right tone could not easily be established. I know I am not giving
satisfaction to Major Ward & I think he is anxious to have me leave the
concern. He said that if after a week’s experiment we found that a school of
such a character could not be established, I would state to the trustees my
reasons for resigning & he would take me as a tutor in his family until I
could get another place. I fear my stay is short here. Oh dear, am I to be
driven about like an old wreck, not knowing when I will stop? I am forsaken
& misfortunate – an unlucky star was over me at my birth. O God, be with
me, guide & protect me. And if it my destiny for me to leave, thy will be
done, not mine.
June
25, 1860
Rather
cool today. In school, had five new scholars. Annie and Sallie Ward, Annie
Chaires, & Pattie & Tom Archer. Got along quite well today. Had no
French or advanced Latin to hear. Major Ward came & talked with me about
their children [and] wished me to call over in the evening & see him.
Evening, got a letter from home. Playing with the [
June
26, 1860
In
school. Hard time. Heard Latin classes in Reader & Virgil. Did not do well.
Began to think I [shouldn’t have] come here. I shall have to work hard. Asked
to go over to Mag Brown’s [10]
in evening. Went to Mr. [George A.] Croom’s singing for the picnic tomorrow.
Attended church in evening.
June
27, 1860
No
school. At pic-nic awhile. Sick. Studied Latin. Made some arrangements of the
classes. In afternoon, was called upon to speak but was not there. I am glad I
was not for I should have been stumped. In evening, called on Col.
[Joseph N.] Whitner. Says that he prefers to have the scholars have the text
books they have even if I am obliged to have three times as many classes as
scholars. I asked him if I had given any satisfaction. He said he thought that I
had made a favorable impression & the people thought I was conscientious
& would try to make such a school as should be, that I was diligent &
studious. Very well if I can hold out. I
could get along well if it wasn’t for Annie Ward. She stumps me on her French.
They had quite a large picnic.
Major
Ward and Annie have gone to Quincy [11]
[and] will not be back until tomorrow. I think I am dead as far as Major Ward is
concerned. I can not hold out with him.
June
28, 1860
Very
warm today. Did better in Latin Reader than yesterday. Boys bad. Had Drucilla
[Adams] stand on the floor today. She is terribly vexed tonight. I am almost
sick tonight & tired of this work. I wish I had kept on studying law, but it
is too late now, unless I am shipped from this place which I think will be done
in less than a month.
June
29, 1860
Very
warm in school. Miss Annie Ward not here yet. Speaking day. Some bad pieces.
Miss Sallie and Miss Annie [Ward] had compositions. Pretty good. Evening, called
on Mr. [Thomas F.] Williams’ – not at home. Staid with company & wife
& daughter till dark. Came home to tea.
They
said that at the Convention, Major Ward killed himself as far as politics by
refusing to identify himself with the [Union] party. He made a bad resolution
& several came down on him severely. Went over [to Major Wards’] after
tea. The Major had gone to Mr. [Green] Chaires. Sat on the steps with the
children talking & laughing about the Adam’s. They told me some of her
poetry on a person.
Patrick
is a pretty man,
Patrick is a dandy;
Patrick is a pretty man,
Sweet as sugar candy.
Major
Ward came home late. Sat up talking about the school & other matters. Said
that he would continue as we have for about two weeks to make out a quarter
& then if we could not go on we would close up the concern [saying again
that] he would take me on [as a private tutor in his family] until I could find
another place. I feel bad. I know I am not giving satisfaction to any. Did not
get home until nearly one o’clock.
June
30, 1860
Warm
day. Called on Mrs. [Betty] Douglas. In Governor Brown’s office. Wrote letter
to Lee, home, Babcock, Davis, & to Smith, Woodman & Co. Did no studying
today. Tried sleeping…
[1]
The following letter from Willoughby Babcock was forwarded to Goodrich
from Camden, South Carolina:
May
9, 1860, Owego [New York]
My
Dear Ralph. Your letter to Davis
& Babcock was received a day or two before I was summoned to Homer by
the illness of my wife, as you heard by way of Col. Davis….
We
have had ample time to discuss the Charleston
Convention – the great prize fight, etc, etc. and have decided the first
to be a bore and the second a “sell.” The rules of the ring were equally
scorned in both cases and both were decided to be ‘drawn.” They should
have been hanged and quartered as well. But peace be with them.
How
long before you intend to resume your course of law study? Do you see any
members of the South Carolina
bar? If so, how do you find them? Our boys returned from
[
[2]
William
[“Bill”] Denham, born about 1844, was one of Andrew and
Adaline’s nine children.
[3]
Episcopal
Bishop Francis Huger Rutledge, a native of South Carolina, came to Florida
in 1840 and was elected the first Bishop of Florida in 1851. A slave-owner
himself, he took a paternalistic view in defending the institution.
Bishop Francis Huger Rutledge
(double click on image to enlarge)
State Library and Archives of Florida
[4]
Mrs.
Julia [Church] Croom was the wife of 38 year-old planter George A.
Croom. George and Julia Croom had five children, the oldest being two boys
– ages 16 and 14 – who occasionally called on Annie and Sallie Ward.
George Croom owned the Casa de Laga plantation which was valued at
$15,000 in 1860. He also owned
70 slaves to help him cultivate his 800 acres of cotton and corn.
[5] Over the next few months, Goodrich would take regular walks on the railroad for exercise or just to clear his head. This railroad that linked Tallahassee with the gulf port of St. Mark’s, Florida – a distance of twenty miles. It was completed in 1837 and was a vital lifeline for Leon County planters to get their cotton to market.
[6]
Jean
Louis Agassiz was a prominent professor of Natural Science who
taught at Harvard.
[7]
Probably Robert C. Williams, a 31
year-old single lawyer who lived in 1860 with the Andrew Denham family
nearby.
[8]
Joseph
N. Whitner was a 34 year-old Engineer who lived in Leon County,
Florida in 1860 with his wife Mary and three small children.
[9]
William
Maxwell was a 52 year-old farmer who lived in Leon County, Florida
in 1860 with his wife Rebecca and their six children.
[10] Miss Margaret [“Mag”] Brown, born about 1832, was a daughter of Governor Thomas Brown, who lived in an adjacent dwelling according to the 1860 U.S. Census.
Former Governor Thomas Brown and his daughter Mag, ca. 1860
(Double click on image to enlarge it)
State Archives of Florida, Digital Collections
[11]
Major George T. Ward, with his daughter Annie in tow, attended the state
Constitutional Union Party convention at Quincy, Florida
on June 27, 1860.
The Ralph Goodrich Collection is the property of the Arkansas
History Commission.