Webmaster: griffing@fnal.gov

Our dear ones have gone

Before returning to Kansas Territory, Augusta made a quick trip to Hartford, Connecticut, to visit her Aunt and Uncle. The following letter tells us that she left her son John with relatives in Owego.

Hartford [Connecticut]
September 17, 1859

My dear husband [James],

This rainy Saturday morning I am in Hartford and would you believe it, little darling John is in Owego. I intended to bring him until the day before I started when I was persuaded to leave him. Since I commenced weaning him he has wanted my constant attention & care when near him & would cry if I was not always trying to amuse or do something for him. But when left with your people, he was a good boy. They wanted I should leave him & I knew he would be well cared for as if I was there. But could not consent for a longtime to leave him. Mrs. Sacket & _________ Samuel’s wife, Loraine Hollister from Hartford, Aunt Ruth, Aunt Mary & Stella were all there Tuesday before I left Wednesday night & every one advised me to leave him. Said I would take no comfort going about from place to place as they saw how he fretted after me. So after having a good cry about it, I concluded to leave him. If I had been going to stay long, would have brought him at any rate. But as it is, I could not have visited any. They are disappointed to think I did not bring him but know I can enjoy my visit better. I hope to hear Monday from them – and also from you – as no letter came before I came away. My ticket from Chicago took me to N. Y. City & from there it cost me $2.25 by boat & hack &c to Uncle [Elizur Goodrich’s]. I think the fare to N. Y. City from Owego is $5.40.

Wednesday of this week was a great day in Owego. A balloon went up from the fair grounds with a man in the basket attached – a Mr. [Silas] Brooks. All but Ma went over to see it. Stella was at our house & went home with us at night. It was quite a sight to me as well as others. There were several thousand to see it. [1]  

Stereoscopic view of Balloon Ascension at Ontario Beach, New York
From Stereoscopic Views of Western New York State, Robert Dennis Collection

Joe Berry & Herbert Goodrich, Stella’s brother, came over & with Lee G. spent the evening. Joe visited until twelve when [my brother] Ralph was going to walk with me over to the depot to take the 12.50 train east. [My brother] Steve took my trunk over in the afternoon. I reached N. Y. at half past ten & was taken to the boat & waited until four. The Connecticut River is very low – lower than before in a hundred years – and at Middletown we took a smaller boat & came right on without any difficulty to Hartford where we arrived about nine o’clock Friday morn. Found all well. Uncle [Elizur Goodrich] & Aunt [Mary] have not changed any. [Their son] Fred is tall & fine looking & appearing boy. Jamie is smaller, full of fun & play. The little ones are pretty children, all together are a happy family.

After dinner yesterday, Aunt Mary and I went up to Mr. [John] Beach’s [house] and found Alfred [Beach] just alive. He seemed so glad to see me once more. Said he was almost home. He gave me a photograph of himself that he had saved for me & written on saying he expected it would have been sent by mail but was happy to give it to me himself. We stayed until four o’clock and he lived until half past five – conscious to the last & very happy. He is to be buried tomorrow at one o’clock. Sarah [Knapp] is there [too], the same as ever & such a comfort. [Her husband,] Mr. [Jared Owen] Knapp is in Beloit, Wisconsin and is rather better. He cannot stay in Hartford but a little while at a time [when he comes to visit]  – it affects his health so much. George [Beach] is in N. Y. State & thinks of commencing business there somewhere. John [Beach] & his wife [Lydia Ann Curtis] are expected home to the funeral. Alfred is worn to a mere shadow. [2]

It is raining fast and I cannot go out today. It appears like the equinoxial storm & I fear it will be a long one. Mrs. Knapp’s two boys are here today & they & Jamie are having a fine time playing. Fred plays well on the piano & organ – and is a good scholar. He expects to enter Yale next fall. [3] Miss Webb has broken up housekeeping & I fear is not in town. I shall be disappointed not to see her. I will write again before long. How do you get along now? If nothing prevents, I am to start the 17th of October and hope you can meet me in Leavenworth. Love to all. – Augusta

Click on Image for Enlargement

Pages 1 through 4 of Augusta Griffing's Letter
Kansas State Historical Society

Topeka [Kansas Territory]
September 22, 1859

My Dear [Augusta],

I am going to Tecumseh in a few minutes to meeting. The [Methodist Church] South are holding their conference there now and have preaching every evening, and will just scratch you a line telling you I am well. Mr. Bowen brought me a letter from you today – the one telling how bad you felt. Am sorry because you say it’s from reading my letters. Now don’t borrow trouble about me. I am doing just as well as a man can. I am too busy to find time to feel bad. Am cutting up my corn and have just lots of work on hand. Mrs. Stevenson fed the threshers. I hauled my wheat with theirs. Expect my company every minute going to meeting. Did you have a pleasant visit to Connecticut? Tell Mother & Seddie their turn will come soon. We have had no frosts yet. Sister Naylor has another son – a boy of ten pounds.[4] She is doing very well. It is three days old. All are well that I know about. I keep well. Give my love to all. Be sure & burn this when you glance it over. Tell Mother Griffing her letter has come & I will write her soon. The next I will direct to Mother Goodrich. Saw [your brother] Jim the other day. He is well. A kiss for Johnny. Is it not a big one? Love -- James

Owego [New York]
October 17, 1859

Dear James,

I expect you are thinking of us this morning, that we are about starting for home, and I hope you will not be much disappointed because we have waited a week longer. It is somewhat stormy today, not a pleasant time to start anyway, but I should not mind the weather if I was ready to go. We all keep usually well and have been washing this morning. [My brother] Ralph went back to Mr. [N. W.] Davis’s [law] office this morning discouraged with trying to get a school & will try & be admitted [to the bar] this fall & start South & try his luck there.

Pa and Steve are husking corn. It is over half soft corn this year. Potatoes rot badly. Last week I went up on the hill & stayed two days [at your mother’s]. All were well. [Your sister] Mary is at home now. [Your brother] Samuel gets along very well with his fall work. Jack Thorn is still with him. Ella said she had written again to you. Your mother is very well for her & was in good spirits. Has knit you a pair of stockings. Ma has mittens &c so I won’t have much knitting to do this winter.

Aunt [Clarissa] Parmelee came to make your mother a visit while I was there. She sent a great deal of love to you. Said she was a widow & alone & wanted you should pray for her. Samuel took Malvina, Mary, and I up to Mr. Russell’s to spend the day. We had a pleasant visit. Did not see any but Hattie. John [Orcutt] is better. They had heard that Nancy [5] thought of letting [her brother] Jacob [Orcutt] have part of her claim if he would build her a house in Topeka where she would live.

One day last week Ma and I went to Owego & took dinner at [Rev.] Mr. Pearne’s[6] & tea at [Rev.] Mr. Peck’s. Mr. & Mrs. Peck came & took dinner at [Rev.] Mr. [John J.] Pierce's & also a Mr. Olinsted, a Baptist minister & editor of the Baptist paper in Boston. He was attending convention & five brothers of them met in Owego all for the first time in thirty years and each had their pictures taken for each other. The Methodist minister is one of them. Mr. & Mrs. Pierce took tea at Mr. Peck’s and Ma & I walked home on the railroad from there. Mrs. [Harriet D. Goodrich] Mosher came with us and staid until the next night.

Saturday morning [my brother] Steve took me over to Warren. We reached Mr. Young’s in time for dinner & took tea at Mr. Pitcher’s, & after meeting Sunday we came home. Old Mr. & Mrs. [Charles] Coburn wished to be remembered to you. Mrs. Colburn said she saw you at Mr. Pitcher’s.

Sarah sent you a pair of mittens & gave me a pair too. She & Thomas are going to live by themselves on a small farm about five miles from Owego on the road to Warren. If the tenant now in possession will leave, they will go this fall. If not, they have to wait until spring. Sarah is nothing but a shadow of her former self. We concluded not to go to Tyson as there was so little time.

I have a cold & headache today. John is as roguish as ever & quite well. I have written to [your brother] Ossy to come down [from Nebraska to pay us a visit]. No money has come from [Woodstock] Illinois & I shall write to not send any. Ma has bought me a nice large trunk. Give love to all. Hope we shall hear again from you. Your last was to ma. Hope I shall get along well & find you well. Ever yours, -- Augusta

Owego [New York]
October 23, 1859

Dear James,

If nothing prevents, I expect to start in the express train tomorrow night at two & a half o’clock. Those best acquainted with the route advise me to take that train as being more sure of meeting the connexions. We expect to take the baggage over at night & stay at Aunt Lucy Fiddis’ until the train goes out. [My brother] Ralph will put this in the [Post] Office the next morning if I go. We are usually well. I hope to get safely home Saturday night.

Brother James

It is with a sorrowful heart that I write our dear ones have gone. They started at the time they expected at half past two. Johnny darling looked so good. I hope he will be a good boy…

On October 24, 1859, Ralph Goodrich wrote in his diary:

…Evening went over [to the depot at Owego] with the Frank’s & [my sister] Augusta & [her son] Johnny to start for Kansas Territory...