1863: Granville Griffith to James Lawrence

This letter was written by Granville Griffith (b. 1835), the son of Joseph Robinson Griffith (1806-1849) and Caroline Guthrie (1806-1850) of Edgar, Illinois. Granville addressed the letter to his sister, Ann Katherine (Griffith) Lawrence (1830-1915) and her husband, James Lawrence (1825-1869) of Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois. James and Ann were married in Edgar County, Illinois, in 1849 and had relocated to Topeka, Shawnee county, Kansas by 1860, but then returned to Illinois during the Civil War.

Mentioned in the letter are Granville’s brother, Columbus Griffith, and Thomas Lawrence (presumably a relative), both of whom served in Co. I, 2nd Kansas Cavalry. Thomas’ enlistment papers inform us he was born in Edgar county, Illinois in 1836. His Find-A-Grave biographical sketch confirms his enlistment in the 2nd Kansas Cavalry on 25 August 1862 but it states that he was “killed in action at the Battle of Prairie Grove” on 7 December 1862 and that he was “buried as an unknown soldier.” This information is inconsistent with the letter, however, that claims he survived the battle but received a severe leg wound that was probably mortal and had been taken to a hospital in Fayetteville. The “John T.” who journeyed to Fayetteville to attend to Thomas was probably John Thomas Lawrence (1830-1876) who was married in Edgar county, Ohio, in 1854 to Margaret M. Matthews and was living in Ottumwa, Kansas in 1863.

Transcription

*Addressed to James Lawrence, Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois*

Hartford, [Lyon county] Kansas
January 7th 1863

Dear Brother and Sister,

I received your letter a few days ago and should have answered it sooner but have been so busy that I have not had time. We are well and I hope by the time this reaches you that you will be all well again.

I was very sorry to hear of poor little Eddie’s death ¹ but one great consolation—he is better off than we are.

I heard last week that Columbus had the small pox but I am in hopes that is not so. He is still at Fort Scott in the hospital. Thomas Lawrence was wounded at Prairie Grove—shot through the knee and I heard that he would have to have his leg taken off. John T. has gone to him. He is at Fayetteville, Arkansas.

I don’t know that I have anything to write that would interest you. The health of the country is good. Our college ² in Hartford is nearly completed. I want you to write to me as soon as you get this. Tell me how you are getting along, what you think of doing, &c.

Mary joins in sending her love to you all. From your brother and sister, — G. and M. E. Griffith

Tell Joseph when you write to me he must write soon.

¹ Edwin Lawrence was born in 1859. He must have died in late 1862.

² The old Hartford Collegiate Institute was built in 1863 by John Griffith and Richard How. The Hartford Collegiate Institute was a branch of Baker University, and served to prepare students for entrance into the Methodist university in Baldwin City, Kansas (southeast of Lawrence).