The President is dead

It has been 5 whole days since you left us and how much has happened in that time. The days have been long and the nights have been longer. [Your sister] Sarah’s cold is getting worse. She coughs a good deal. My throat has been very sore. I have had pork on my throat two days and nights. It is a little better this morning. This morning early the sun shone very pleasant [but] at breakfast time it was raining. Since that time it has been pleasant and now at 10 it looks as if it would rain every minute. We are all 3 of us here – Stephen on the lounge reading, [and] Sarah by the stove reading. It is very lonely. We want to know where you are but that is impossible. We hope you are at Mr. Curtis’ and that you are all well. And [your] darling [daughter] Mary – how is she? Do not let her forget grandma. Show her my likeness and see if she knows it.

After you went away, Helen Bristol came in. Tuesday Mrs. and Miss Bishop called. They came to the front door and I waited on them in the front room and carried in some coats and soon got the room warm. They staid about an hour. Was very sorry that they would not have called before you went away.

Stephen brought me a letter from Aunt Betsey that day. She wrote about Henrietta’s getting married. She says her father and mother had gone to Mr. Wilcox sleigh riding and she packed her trunk and went to Springfield and was married. She has married into a very respectable family but her father and mother was very much opposed to it. John and his wife have been to see her. They boarded the teacher – a lady – all winter. The children did not miss a day going to school. They had good sleighing and was carried the most of the time. Gertrude is going to teach a school this summer on the hill. Eugene S. Strickland [1842 - 1918], son of Joseph [Strickland and Emily Shepard], was married to a Miss Myer. They was to commence housekeeping the week before she wrote [but] his wife was taken sick the day they were going to move and died of brain fever. The Dayton’s settled their lawsuit. Mrs. [Hancie Abbie] Dayton paying Henry & John 500, and pretty soon there was a couple of men detected passing counterfeit money from Glastonbury. The money was furnished them by John Dayton and he has not been seen in these parts since.

Cora Wilcox has been very sick with inflammatory rheumatism. They did not think she would live. She wanted to know if you had gone back to Kansas. Anna Morley died last winter. She did not mention Aunt’s Nancy & Clarissa. Friday just at night Mrs. Gid Taylor came in. She said she intended to make a cake of beeswax for you but she would not get time. Saturday morning Stephen took over straw and cucumber to your Aunt Lucy and got hemlock bark to colour with and went to see Mrs. Hill when she could weave our carpet and she would put it on Monday if it was ready and if we don’t get it ready, cannot weave it till June. Now we want your lively hands here to help us but I suppose some number thinks they want you more.

When Stephen came he had heard the news that the President was shot Friday evening at a theatre on Good Friday evening. That same night about the same time, W. H. Seward and his two sons was stabbed. They have hopes that Mr. Lincoln will live. It is such a terrible thing about the President. The flags were all half masted and the bells [were] all tolling yesterday in the Village [of Owego].

Stephen has got his oats sowed and dragged in. Mr. Smith was here Thursday and Friday. We have not seen [James’ brother] Daniel [Griffing] nor any of them on the hill, or Mary since Wednesday. I am writing you the news now but how long it will be before you get it. We wonder if you have heard that the President is dead. You are in his native state [of Illinois], I suppose.

Did your provisions last? Was you very tired and how about the children? Did [your husband] James get a suit? I suppose it was James that swung his handkerchief going past [our house on the railroad]. I do hope that you will get to your home in Kansas safely, but I do not think that it will always be your home. I think sometime you will live nearer New York State. Helen [Bristol] said she and her father hurried to the depot. Mr. Bristol said he wanted to see you and James before you went but just as they got there, the [railroad] cars was moving off. Aunt Lucy started to go up. She had an errand in to Mr. Wright’s and she staid longer than she ought to and when she got there, the [railroad] cars had been gone 5 minutes. She had some apples for you.

What will become of our country? We will send your photographs in the next letter. Andrew Johnson was sworn in [as] President yesterday. I intended to give you my red blanket for a petticoat for [your daughter] Mary. How sweet and pretty she looked when she went away. I cannot write. Goodbye.

Yesterday a tin peddler came along. I let him have my rags and he let me have 3 milk pails and a quart cup. It has been a long lonesome rainy day this day but we must get used to you all not here to go ahead now and get thankful and so we must. We want a good long letter from you and tell all particulars. [Your mother, -- Mary Ann Goodrich]

As Ma says, it has been a long lonesome day. It has been raining. We did not go to meeting and somehow I could not get interested in reading. I would like to know how, and where you are today, but hope you are at Mr. Curtis’ [in Illinois]. It seems a long time since you went away. I hope [your daughter] Maty was not much trouble and the boys, I think, would not be any more than they could help. We have not seen [James’ brother] Daniel since you went. He said he should come and see us.

I am sorry Mrs. Bishop did not call before you went. I wish you could have seen her sister. I rather like her. Mrs. Bishop said she was very sorry she was not at home when we called there. I am too now, but you remember I was not at the time. Oh dear, what shall I do about calling on people. I cannot go alone. I do miss you so much.

Daniel [Griffing] has just called on his way to town. He is going to start in the morning at four o’clock and is going to stay with Charles Goodrich tonight. He says Maxwell Catlin [25-year old son of Jacob Catlin] is going with him to Baltimore. Grove Pike is getting ready to go to the oil regions. We all like Daniel. He was going to call at Ephraim’s after he left here. I hope they will give him some apples. Steve got the rest of your photographs yesterday. They are real good. Daniel took one of the vignettes.

Thursday and Friday we did not do much of anything but the housework, though Ma colored yellow with the oak chips. Friday and yesterday we had to go to work in good earnest to get the carpet yarn ready. I twisted the rest of the yarn in the afternoon. Steve got some compositivia & we colored some of the yellow rags green. I shall be so glad when the concern is done. Ma put the hemlock chips asoak yesterday & colored the yarn. It is a very handsome tan color. I shall not wash tomorrow. Am going to try and get it ready to take it over to Mrs. Hill tomorrow night.

Don’t you think the next day after you went our pump came back to order and holds water as well as it ever did? It stands in all night. It is a great convenience to have it so. I wish it had taken the fit before you went away.

I suppose you have heard about the President’s being shot before this. It is so dreadful – just when peace is dawning. But if he had been to church instead of a theatre, it might not have been.

I suppose my little witch Maty is fast asleep somewhere. How much I would like to see you all. Ma thinks you may get this sooner if we direct it to Lincoln [Nemaha County, Kansas] than if we send it to Topeka. Did you know you did not take all the dried fruit we intended for you? There are currants & cherries that we dried on purpose for you & forgot it. I am very sorry they were not put in. Tell Johnny I miss him about bringing in wood. He and Willie must be good boys & learn to read well. I gave those child’s papers to the Stile’s children for Johnny. I hope we shall hear from you soon. Love to you all. A kiss for the children. I hope they will not forget us. Ever your affectionate sister, -- Sarah [Goodrich]

As you wrote part of the letter we received from Summerfield [Illinois], I will write part of this to you in particular. I hope you are at home [in Kansas] today and all well, and that you have gone to your preaching place. Last Wednesday evening, [my daughter] Sarah and [my son] Stephen went to the Village [of Owego] and found a Hymn Book in the [post] office for me. I am very thankful for it. It is a very nice book – nicer than I should have bought. I guess Augusta told you we needed one for we did not have a decent one in the house. I have been thinking of getting one but something else was wanted more and so have put off getting one. We have not seen any of your people since you left. We have not been out, and but few have been here.

Augusta, we all wish we knew how you all are this morning. It is a pleasant morning here but quite cold. I thought we should go to church today but it is so cold and I have taken cold. I cough a good deal this morning and Sarah don’t care to go along. [My daughter] Mary has not been up here since the day you went away. Stephen was there one evening last week. She said she should come up today if she had to walk, and Stephen told her he would take her home if she would come. [Mary’s husband] Gurd [Horton] has been very busy with his team plowing and sowing. He has bought 8 bushels of oats of Stephen to sow. Stephen has sold all his oats, but his corn he cannot sell. The clothing he has bought for [your brother] Ralph will cost about 50 dollars. Sarah has made the pants and vest and commenced making the shirts. Frank Taylor has not brought home the coat but I suppose it is done.

One day last week Chauncey Hill came over for more rags. Said his wife wanted more blue and white, and old calico, and so the pants had to go one side and we tore up that pillowcase, your old drawers had been washed and put in your box. We took these and an old shimmie of Sarah’s, and my old hoopskirt. It made two balls and we made a calico ball and sent Mylo over with them. Last evening, Stephen and Mylo went over and got the carpet. She calls it 32 yards and I paid her six dollars for weaving it. It is good and pretty. Sarah says it is the handsomest rag carpet she ever saw. It is smooth and the colors are good. In the fancy stripe, she has only two threads of a colour in a place, the center is one of the blue and one of the white each side. There’s two black, yellow, green, blue, white, red, tan. The dark stripe has 4 threads of white in the center with black between. She thinks she can get the sewing for Ralph done this week and next week go to cleaning.

Mrs. Bristol has been very sick but is better. Hannah Cortright lives there. We have not seen any of your neighbors except Sarah. Putt Charles goes to the Village to the Cottage school near the Methodist Church. Miss Hull is one of the teachers. Angelo McCallum is at home. His health is not good and to think that such a man as Brigadier General [Daniel Craig] McCallum [1] is such a charactered man, is going all the rounds with the remains of the President. They will get to his home [in Springfield, Illinois] this week sometime. We do not have any news but the funeral and the papers are all full of it.

We made soap last week and had good luck. Have got our cork full. Our water has not been out of our pump since you left but once and Mylo let it out. Is it not strange? Stephen took over 8 dozen of eggs last night and got 22 cents a dozen and 3 lbs. butter and got 32 cents a lb. I put over 3 dollars in eggs for the weaving of the carpet. Sarah mourns a good deal about the poor brown sugar we had when you was here. Since you went away, Stephen has got good brown sugar for 18 cents and we have eggs to get it with. We get between 20 and 30 eggs nearly every day. We have but 2 calves yet. I have only sold the 3 lbs. yet. Mrs. Tenent is going east and is going to start Tuesday. [As to] your photographs – we gave one to [James’ brother] Daniel [when he was here], sent one to [your brother] Ralph, and sent you one. Three [others] we shall send to your Mother Griffing’s and one to your Uncle as soon as I can. We shall get 2 more taken. Do you want any more?

That [hymn] book was a very nice present -- the nicest one I have had in a long time. It is useful and we needed it. Augusta, why did no you speak about the dried fruit in our pantry? I am so sorry about it. I had forgot that we had any. I made two pie plant pies yesterday. How is [your] darling [daughter] Mary? Does she remember me? Does she know my likeness? And the boys how are they? How do you find things at home? Did you get any fruit at Mr. Curtis’ [home in Summerfield, Illinois]? I am very glad that James liked Illinois. I do hope he will get a place there and then Sarah can go and see you & perhaps I can go too. It will cost but little to go there. [Your mother, -- Mary Ann Goodrich]

It seems an age almost since you went away and we have not heard from you but once. It was too bad you had to walk so far at Cincinnati [Ohio]. We are anxious to hear how you get along the rest of the way [on your return trip to Kansas]. That hymn book was quite a surprise. Mother Goodrich was greatly affected when she received it. It is a very nice one.

Yesterday, [my sister] Mary & [her husband] Gurd & [their daughter] Fanny came up and about four o’clock Aunt Lucy and Mrs. Tenent came over. Aunt Lucy was tired out when she got here. [Our brother] Steve took them home in the evening. Mrs. Tenent expects to start east Tuesday night, is to take both of her children, and wants to stay two or three months. A cousin of hers from Hornellsville [New York] is going with her.

I am getting along with [our brother] Ralph’s sewing real well. Have got [his] pants & vest done and the shirts all making. I want to get them all done this week and send them. We got the cloth in just the right time. There was a panic just then & goods came right down. Since then they have raised almost to their old prices again. The cloth for the shirts was only thirty cents and very nice. (One month ago today you and I went to Owego to get your dress and how long the time has been since. So much has happened here.) I was going to observe that same day Mary bought cloth for sheets and pillow cases – a whole piece I believe. Yesterday when [Mary’s daughter] Fanny came, we asked her where [your daughter] Maty was? She went right into the bedroom & tried to get up on the bed and seemed to miss her.

I received a letter from Louise Rice last week. They are going to Providence to live. Her mother’s friends live there. Her mother & some of the goods were gone & she was staying at a friends.

Tuesday. We have baked bread, pies, & cake this forenoon & I have picked greens for dinner and Ma has gone over to call to Mrs. Bristol’s. And it is only half past eleven o’clock. Don’t you think we have done well?

I wish we knew where you were and if you had got home yet. I wonder if [your daughter] Maty misses me any? I do her very much and your boys too. Does Willie get the use of his limbs any better? Tell John [that] Sarah Stiles was here last night and told how he remembered better than any of the scholars last winter how wide the Amazon River was at its mouth. I wonder if he remembers it yet? I hope he will study this summer and learn a good deal. And he must learn to write so as to write to me. Steve has come into dinner & I must set the table. I hope we shall get a letter from you today. Love to all. Ever your affectionate sister, -- Sarah [Goodrich]

We received your second letter yesterday. Am sorry you are so tired and sick with colds, but I expected you would be worn out. It is a long journey to take with your 3 children and so much baggage. How did you go from Summerfield [Illinois] to Leavenworth [Kansas] and from Leavenworth to Topeka? And now how are you going to get home [to Lincoln, Nemaha County, Kansas]? But you are home before [receiving] this. I told you the last part of your journey would be the hardest and I guess it was. I should not want to live in Kansas for many reasons and one is it costs so much to get there and another is you cannot raise fruit and winter wheat. Fruit and good bread is half of living. And what is the use of living or trying to live if we cannot have some of the comforts of life?

I was glad to have [your husband] James write that he liked the country through Illinois and did not know but he would try to get a home there. I do hope he will sell out in Kansas and join a Conference in Illinois and come there to live, find a home this side of the big river, and then some of us will go and see you. And we could send you a box of goods. It would not cost as much. Did not Mrs. Curtis want you to come there and live near them [in Summerfield, Illinois]?

I had written thus far when it was time to go to church. Sarah, Stephen & I went. Stephen went to hear Bishop [Arthur C.] Coxe, [2] and he and Sarah have gone to hear him this evening. Sarah & I went to hear our minister, Mr. Westlake. I like him very well. He is a young man and boards at Mr. Burtons.’ His text was in James, first chapter, 22nd verse, “But be ye doers &c.” We took our new hymn book and I took my glasses.

The funeral of Mr. John [M.] Falkner [of Barton] was at the Episcopal Church today. He was killed on the [railroad] cars Thursday. A train fell through a bridge in the Delaware and several were killed. That Mrs. _____ that lived in Cannewanna and had been sick so long was buried Friday and there was 3 or 4 other funerals that day. Mr. John Sackett’s son [who served in Company E of the 104th New York Infantry] was brought to his grandfather -- Mr. George Talcott’s [of Owego] -- sick from the army [where he] died [on 3 May, 1865 at the age of 19] and was buried Friday.

[Your sister] Sarah finished [your brother] Ralph’s shirts Thursday, washed them this Friday morning, and then she went to work and pulled off 2 or 3 clapboards under the window and after working and prying an hour or two, she found James comb & her scissors. The planks were about a half-inch apart. She had a long wire and put down and by prying it open underneath, they fell down, and several hairpins too.

Saturday Sarah & Stephen went to the Village [of Owego] and took the box for Ralph. We sent a suit of clothes, 3 shirts, two pairs of white stockings, which was 62 cents a pair, and 2 pairs of blue and white 37 [cents] a pair. I bought 1 and one-quarter yard linen – paid 1.00 per yard. I cut off 2 squares for two pocket handkerchief and the piece on the side made the wristbands for the shirts. Stephen gave him 6 turn over collars, Sarah sent him two neck ties – one for you and one for herself – and Lucy wanted to send one but had not got it and wanted Stephen to get one and she would pay him. So he got three neckties if he gets them. I sent him 2 pieces of woolen stockins. I hope he will get them safely and that they will fit him. They took over the old papers and got 10 pieces of wall paper 25 cents a roll. The old paper nearly paid for it. They took eggs and butter enough to get a kit of Mackerel – paid $2.50 for it. Stephen took a receipt for the box of goods. Had we ought to send the receipt to Ralph?

Our carpet is nearly made and we expect Lucy will come Tuesday to white wash and wash the old carpet and help other ways. This week will be a hard week for us. I think Stephen will help Sarah some. Frank Taylor was here to supper Friday. She asked $3 for making Ralph’s vest. It was more work to make it than it was [your husband] James.’

We have not seen any of your people on the hill yet but have heard that [James’ brother] Samuel is going around to take the census of the people. We are glad that he has got the appointment. I spoke with Mrs. Harvey at church today. She is better. She enquired about you.

Lucy commences her school tomorrow. Mrs. Tenent went Tuesday night. How far do you think [your brother] James Goodrich has gone? Had not Judge Winans better take his letters from the [post] office and keep them till he gets back? Did your provisions last till you got back to Summerfield? And I want to know how you get along after that and how you got home. And have you got your trunks? Did you keep all your satchels, coat and shawl? How is [your daughter] darling Mary? Gurd [Horton], [his wife] Mary & [their daughter] Fanny have been up here today and staid to supper. Fanny looks around for Mary.

You have been there [in Kansas] 10 years – long enough to have apples and good winter wheat if you are ever going to. [Your mother – Mary Ann Goodrich]

We have got our supper work out of the way and I want to write to you before anyone comes. Ma and I went to church this morning and I am so tired. When I get home I go to bed. I do not see how you can stand for to go all day – yet I would like to be in a Sunday school if I could. Next Sunday is the first quarterly meeting this year and I suppose Mr. [George P.] Porter will preach. Mr. Porter rents the parsonage and they live there instead of going to Athens.

[Our sister] Mary [Horton] and [her daughter] Fanny came up yesterday and in the afternoon we went over to the [Owego] village. I bought me a hoop skirt and a belt & buckle. The belt & buckle cost only one dollar. They are neither one of them of the best quality but plenty good enough for one in my circumstances. We went to Coburn’s [Gallery] to see about the photographs. He will take six for fourteen shillings. We will send you four – perhaps five – of them. Fannie sat for her photograph & I think it will be a good one. He will finish up one or if it is good they are going to have a good many taken. Fannie grows better natural & does not show so much spunk. I wonder if [your daughter] Matie is the little independent miss she was here? I do want to see her so much – only think it has been almost a year since you were about starting to come here. I never, never can get over our not being at the depot for you when you came.

Our early apples are ripe. Does not your mouth water for them? I wish you could have my share of them for I do not care for them – particularly the sweet ones. I would like to send the children some if it were possible. I wish you could see my flowers. The gladiolas are just splendid – the first one of that choice kind came out this morning & it is very handsome. It is very different from the others. There is only one flower on a stalk and it is more like a lily. I am so glad you got them for me. Mary and Fannie stayed up all night and [our brother] Steve went home with [Mary’s husband] Gurd to go fishing and came home this morning.

Fannie slept with me on the floor in the dining room. I did not dare go upstairs to sleep for the reason that Ma saw something up there that gave me the horrors. What do you suppose it was? She went up into the kitchen chamber Friday, where on the floor all curled up lay a snake. Just imagine what happened then? I was outdoors at work and Ma ran to the window and screamed to me to bring up some clubs and kill a snake. Of course I ran but when I got up there it was nowhere to be seen. I do not see how in the world it could have gotten up there and then disappear so soon. It was quite a large streaked snake. It gives me the cold chills to go up stairs now.

I do not feel bad about my hymn book. It is not injured at all. The cover looked a little mildewed for being done up so long & may be a little damp, but it has all worn off & looks bright & new now. So you see it is one of the things that improve by using. It is considerable smaller than Ma’s – nearly the same kind of cover and gilt edged. It is a very nice one and I am very thankful to my brother James for it.

Anna’s husband came Friday. He would not have come for a week or two yet if the baby had not been so sick. The baby was quite sick last week with bloody dysentery. They thought one day it would not live. It is better now, but they have the doctor still. There is a good deal of the bloody dysentery about here. Ben Truman’s only child died with it last week.

Miss Seymour & Lucy were here last Monday night. Miss Seymour asked about you and said it seemed odd not to see you or the children here. She never was here until after you came. All send love. Ever your affectionate sister, -- Sarah [Goodrich]

[1] Daniel Craig McCallum (1815-1878) was a Scottish born railroad engineer who was the general superintendent of the Erie Railroad prior to the Civil War. In 1862, he was commissioned a Brigadier General and made superintendent of the U. S. Military Railroad system that took over the captured southern railroads. After Lincoln's assassination, he was apparently part of the large funeral entourage that accompanied Lincoln's body back to Springfield, Illinois. From Mary Ann Goodrich's comments, it would appear that she knew the family. It is presumed that Angelo McCallum was the son of Brigadier General McCallum.

Brigadier General McCallum

[2] Coxe, Arthur Cleveland (1818-1896) was the son of a Presbyterian minister. He attended the University of New York and the General Theological Seminary. After being pastor at churches in Hartford, Baltimore and New York, he was offered and refused the appointment as Bishop of Texas but, in 1865, became Episcopal Bishop of Western New York. He wrote many hymns, including 'O Where are Kings and Empires now'.