There are seven letters presented here spanning the year 1870. The first is a
letter from Mary Ann Goodrich to her grandchildren, John & Willie Griffing,
written while their parents James & Augusta Griffing attended the Annual
Methodist Conference in Topeka, Kansas. Augusta's sister, Sarah Goodrich, adds a
note to this letter.
The second letter was written in Circleville, Kansas by a Mrs.
Yelfe, who was
obviously a good friend of Augusta Griffing's. It is an invitation for Augusta
to pay her a visit. The third letter was written to James and Augusta from his
sister Mary [Griffing] Pike. The fourth letter, enclosed in the same envelope as
the third, was a rare letter to James and Augusta from his mother, Lydia
[Redfield] Griffing.
The fifth letter was a short note from James Griffing to his wife, Augusta,
while she was presumably staying with a friend -- perhaps the Mrs. Yelfe
referred to earlier. The sixth letter is another letter from Mary Ann Goodrich
to her daughter. And the seventh letter is addressed to Mr. H. D. Horne and is
a request for payment to James Griffing. Presumably it is a copy that James made
for his own records prior to sending the original.
At the time these letters were written, James
and Augusta had recently relocated from their farm east of Topeka to a modest
frame home they had constructed on their property northwest of Manhattan. The
home was built in 1870 on "College Hill" just north of the old Bluemont Central College building, on present day College Avenue. The house still
stands today, opposite the KSU baseball stadium. The College Avenue Methodist
Church is located immediately to the south and rear of the home.
The Griffing Home on College
Avenue
Manhattan, Kansas
Owego
[New York]
March 20, 1870
To my
Grandchildren John & Willie,
I suppose you
are both at Lawrence and your father and mother are at Topeka [attending
Conference]. I hope you will be good boys while they are gone. Do you go to
school? And how do you amuse yourselves out of school? Do you have any snow now?
If you were here, you could play in snow as much as you would want to. We have
about 4 feet of snow on the ground – too much to slide downhill. [Your Uncle]
Stephen, [Aunt] Sarah, & Mary Brink have gone to Church in the latter, and I
am home alone, and I take this opportunity to write when I can be quiet and
still. The deep snow has stopped the train so much [during the past week] that
today the freight trains are going nearly all the time. Our school is out and
Mary [Brinks] is at home now. [Your cousin] Fanny [Horton] comes up about once a
week and she has wanted to know if [your sister] Mary has answered her letters
yet. I hope she will before long. I guess [your Aunt] Sarah will write some to
you. I hope you will be good boys and help your father and mother all you can. I
have written two letters and am getting tired. You must write to us. From your
ever affectionate, -- Grandmother [Mary Ann Goodrich]
My Dear John
and Willie,
Grandma has
left this part of the sheet for me to write. I suppose when it reaches you it
will find you domiciled in some good friend’s family. I hope you will not get
homesick while your father and mother are gone to Conference. But I rather think
if you can get plenty of reading, you do not get homesick easily, do you?
Grandma has
told you about our deep snow. It is deeper than it was the winter you were here
[in 1864-65] and if it goes off suddenly, we shall have a higher freshet than we
had then.
Mary Brink’s
school closed last Tuesday in the afternoon. Lee Goodrich took the school
[children] on a sleigh ride, which they enjoyed very much. Little Charley Stiles
has been to school everyday except one. He used to stop in here mornings and go
with Mary [Brinks].
Night before
last some of Mary [Brink’s] schoolmates gave her a surprise party. They all
walked through the deep snow. There were Sarah & Helen Stiles, & Olie,
Ella Goodrich, Emiline Cortwright, Martha Algiers, George Cortwright, and
Charley Putt. Do you remember them all?
[Your cousin]
Fanny [Horton] talked about you all often and is very anxious to have [your
sister] Maty answer her letter. Her baby brother has got to be a large fat baby
and thinks ever so much of her. I was down there and spent the day yesterday.
Now boys, we
want you to write us. When you get moved, you must tell us about your new home
[in Manhattan, Kansas]. Do your eyes get better, John? You must try and be good
boys. Goodbye from [your] Aunt -- Sarah [Goodrich]
Circleville
[Kansas]
April 28, 1870
Mrs. Griffing
[my] Dear Friend,
I have been
waiting for you to get moved and also to find time to write to you, and after
all I cannot get any time, but will snatch a few minutes this evening before
prayer meeting time. It seems to me I never was so much pushed with work as
lately.
We are
tolerably well though there has been considerable sickness about here for the
past two months. We have had both small pox and measles in Circleville lately
but no deaths from either here. But [there have been] several [deaths] about
Holton and two are soldiers [that] died of small pox. There has been a good many
deaths within the circle of our acquaintance but none right here except Mr.
McCart [who] died of bilious pleurisy. Mrs. Huldah Hannum died a few weeks ago
of brain fever. Mrs. Brownlee died last week. I did not hear what disease she
had. I believe these are all you are acquainted with. The Dr. has not lost any
patient except Mr. McCart. Bell Yolin is very low with lung disease. He has been
using Dr. Wolfe’s inhaler but has gone down steadily. I used to think the
inhaler was a great thing but I have lost confidence in that mode of treatment.
Mrs. Harper is
not a candidate for matrimony. Consequently Uncle Billy was badly disappointed.
Mrs. Harper has bought this our property she bought of Mr. Wilson gone $950. We
traded it for a little over 800. We have it rented until fall and I want you to
come to see me before I leave it for I do not know where I will be after that.
Bring all the children and come prepared to make a good long visit for I have so
much I want to talk about. I tell everyone that speaks about you that you are
coming and you must not disappoint me. Mrs. Hart is expecting to start on a
visit east next week. Everybody can go but me.
I had a
present from home lately. Among other things, a very nice black alpaca dress
pattern. I want you to write and tell me how to make it, skirt and all. And also
send me some pattern for little boys dresses for I do not know what to do with
Harry. I want to make him some summer dresses and I don’t know how. Tell me
what is worn now for outside wrappings. I want something to wear to church and I
don’t know what to get.
Please
write soon and tell me how you are situated and satisfied and be sure and come
and see us. Excuse my short and poorly written letter for my time is precious. I
forgot to tell you that my near neighbor in the Foster house became deranged
lately. Last week she was almost running crazy. She has frightened me almost out
of my senses. She is better now. The cause of her derangement was dropsy of the
brain. There is not much hope of a perfect cure. Your friend, -- M. J. Yelfe
[Owego,
New York]
Friday, May 27, 1870
Dear Brother
[James] & Sister [Augusta],
I suppose that
you think [it] strange that I have not written before this. Don’t know what
excuse to make for not doing so. I commenced a letter to you some time ago but
was obliged to lay it aside before finishing it & when I came to get it
again, it seemed so out of date [that I] would not send it, but would write
another very soon. Have kept putting it off day after day until am almost
ashamed to write.
We are all as
well as usual tonight. Have all retired but me. Am sitting by the bed where the
children sleep. [Our son] Georgie is teething & is quite troublesome. Has
been all winter. It takes a great deal of my time to take care of him. Am in
hopes that he will be better natured when he gets all of his teeth.
Ma’s health,
I think, is better now than it was in the winter. She does not cough as hard
& appears more cheerful. [Pa’s sister,] Aunt Clara Parmele is here now
making us a visit. She is a great deal of company for us [and] is a great
talker. Ma sits & listens to her until she falls asleep & when she
awakes, goes right on with her visiting as though nothing had happened. They
seem to enjoy talking over old times very much. Aunty is in her eightieth year.
She is quite smart for a person of her age. She lives with her son John [Parmele]
in West Newark [New York].
[Our sister]
Permelia [Brooks] has not been here in some time. She has been troubled with the
rheumatism in one of her knees so that she can hardly get about sometimes.
[Our brother
Samuel’s wife] Malvina was up here yesterday. She was feeling bad. Her health
is not a bit good. She was with her mother a great deal & I suppose is clear
worn out. Sammy is about as usual – some days feeling pretty well, then clear
down again. He is in the hardware business yet. [His son] David is in the book
store & [his] daughter Ella is in Illinois.
There has been
a great deal of sickness in Owego the past winter & a great many deaths.
There is a funeral almost every day & sometimes two. There was a little girl
six years old died with croup the other day. She was not sick but a few hours.
Our children have never been troubled with croup. I feel more afraid of that
disease & the Diphtheria than any other.
[Our daughter]
Matie has a bad cold now, coughs hard & is almost sick. Yet she goes to
school every day. We cannot get her to stay home from school. She did not miss
but three days in all winter. Then she was sick two days & the snow was so
deep she could not get there the other day.
[My husband]
Grove is not very well this spring. His leg pains him when he walks much. He is
in the tree business this summer. Libbie is teaching in the Deep Well district
this summer. She boards to Mr. Brown’s that lives where our folks used to.
They are very fine people. Libbie likes her school very much – has a small
school of 25 scholars.
I received a
letter from [our sister] Clara not long ago & am going to answer it
sometime. Those photographs that I had taken the day you left weren’t very
good & so I did not have many taken. Thought would sit again, but have never
done so. Will have to send it just as it is. [My husband] Grove thinks they
would have looked better if I had pinned my ears back. Have not had Georgie’s
taken yet. Matie says she is going to write to cousin Matie & will send her
pictures herself. Please write soon, [your sister] – Mary [Griffing Pike]
[Owego,
New York]
June 12, 1870
My dear
Children and grandchildren,
I want to
write to you but don’t hardly know how to get at it. I forgot my health
isn’t comfortable. I am not long for this world. [Your father’s sister,]
Aunt Clary Parmily [Clarissa Parmalee] has been to see us. Staid a few day. She
is in her eightyth year. She is smarter than I am, She can git into [a] wagon
without much trouble. [Your sister] Mary and [her husband] Grove [and] the
children have gone to the store. Horton’s have a young daughter. I have not
seen [your sister] Permelia since about the time you ware here. Malvina lost
both Father and Mother. She is quite broken harted. I wish I could write more
and better. I don’t expect you can read this. I expect you will laugh at this
scribble [but it’s] the best I can do. [Your sister] Mary has written. I have
not finished my letter & I will write my name to send with the rest. Perhaps
I may rite again. Love to all. [Your mother] – Lydia Griffing
[Manhattan,
Kansas]
August 24, 1870
Dear
Cutie [Augusta],
We are all
well and everything moving along about as usual. [Our son] Will is beginning to
count the time. He and [his brother] John went to Rocky Ford yesterday to fish
and caught about 3 lbs. making us a good mess last night & this morning. I
churned this morning about a lb. [of butter] but it is soft & not as hard
and yellow as yours. The old hen hatched 7 chickens. We keep her in a keg nights
& put her in the coop days.
I hope to get
a letter from you today saying you [and our daughter Mary] reached there safely
and are both well. Shall look for you Friday, Providence favoring. Always your
affectionate husband, -- James.
Love to all
who inquire.
Fishing
in rowboat below Rocky Ford
on the Big Blue River
a sketch by James Griffing's son Will
Owego
[New York]
September 4, 1870
Dear Augusta
& All,
It was dark
Sunday morn now but the sun came up nice and bright early. We had a rainy
afternoon and evening yesterday but for the camp meeting pleasant and now it
looks as if it might rain today. The Henry Young’s and family have gone by
this morning…
[James’
brother] Samuel & [his wife] Melvina was at Aunt Mary’s & Lee’s last
Sunday. Your mother Griffing was with them. Did you know that [James’ sister]
Permelia Brooks has twin babies? They are 2 or 3 weeks old but we have just
heard of it.
[Your sister]
Mary [Horton] came up one day last week and [your sister] Sarah went with her
down to Aunt Mary’s. They had a pleasant visit and Aunt Mary saw the babe Fred
[Horton]. By the way, he is not as good as he has been. He is stronger and shows
his spunk and he knows how to cry. He creeps flat on his stomach or rolls over
to get over the floor. I never saw a babe creep as he does. He is getting pretty
heavy for [his sister] Fanny to hug.
Mr. & Mrs.
Tiffany called here one day last week. They enquired about you & yours. Dora
has not come home yet but her Uncle has gone back to New Jersey. Uncle Ben has
put an addition on his barn. I have a letter yesterday from [your brother]
Ralph. He is feeling desperate. [His wife] Jenny is sick, flat on her back and
has to be lifted off the bed. He ought to be with her more but Redmond is in New
York and keeps writing to him that he must do the business. She is sick and
homesick. The Doctor’s say he must take her away from there – take her north
for a month or so, but she won’t go back there to live again and he can’t go
north unless he can sell out there. His expenses have been enormous lately and I
think he is nearly crazy. The babe is cross &c. &c. Poor fellow, he has
trouble. If he cannot support No. 1, he ought not to have bargained for more. I
cannot help him.
[Your brother]
Stephen bought me a peck of plums Friday and [your sister] Sarah canned 6 cans
yesterday. We have been canning tomatoes & we have not dried much corn and
we shall not have more cabbages nor cucumbers. Our rains do not do much good
now…
Did I tell you
that Hancie [Abbey] had been to Chicago and had her cancer taken out again? Anabeth
wrote so. And that Frank Platt is at Auburn? Miss Dr. Bates went to see her one
day this week and expected to bring her home but she was not able to come. She
has been very sick – 2 days not able to get up long enough to have her bed
made.
Now two
o’clock. The funeral procession has gone by and it is raining so nicely. Oh
what a bad time they have at camp meeting. I have written this by piece meals. I
am nearly sick with a cold…and have a bad cough and feel bad… Your
affectionate mother, -- [Mary Ann Goodrich]
Manhattan
[Kansas]
December 29, 1870
Mr. D. H.
Horne
Dear Sir,
Those
remaining notes with interest will be due January 1st 1871, or next Monday. As I
have been obliged to sacrifice by your refusing to pay the last note when due, I
shall expect promptness this time. Yours, -- J. S. Griffing
