HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG1041.AM: Rev. James S. Griffing, 1822-1882
Letter: 1903
Kansas: Minister
Size: One letter
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Born at Owego, New York, in October of 1822, James S. Griffing was the son of John and Lydia (Redfield) Griffing. James attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. After receiving a license to preach, Griffing was appointed in 1854 as a Methodist missionary to the Indians at Wyandotte, Kansas, where the Rev. W.H. Goode served as superintendent of the mission.
In 1856, Rev. Griffing became a member of the Kansas and Nebraska Conference. Between 1856 and his 1882, Rev. Griffing served numerous congregations throughout Kansas and Nebraska, including: In 1856, Topeka; 1857, Fremont; 1858, Indianola; 1859, Big Springs; 1860, Tecumseh; 1861-2, Auburn; 1863, Tecumseh; 1864-6, Seneca; 1867, Centralia; 1868, Junction City; 1869, N. Lawrence; 1870-1, Riley; 1872-3, Blue Valley; and 1874-1882, Manhattan. Rev. James S. Griffing died on April 3, 1882 and was buried in Sunset Cemetery at Manhattan, Kansas. He was survived by his wife, Jemima Augusta (Goodrich) Griffing; and two sons, John and William. A daughter, Sarah, preceded him in death.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The collection consists of a 15 page letter written by William J. Griffing (Rev. Griffing’s son) dated March 3, 1903. The letter contains extracts of several letters written by Rev. James S. Griffing from Seneca, Kansas, in August of 1864. In these letters, Rev. Griffing details movements of a militia company of settlers organized to combat Indian depredations along the Republican River. A typed transcription of the 1903 letter is also included.
Note: Online transcriptions of these and other James S. Griffing letters are available at:
https://privatelettersjsg.wordpress.com/
INVENTORY
Letter, March 3, 1903
Subject headings:
Frontier and pioneer life — Kansas
Griffing, James S., 1822-1882
Griffing, William James, 1860-1910
Indians of North America. Wars, 1864
Kansas — Militia
Revised TMM 01-12-2017
