Definition of "Misery"

First, the young lady whom you spoke as becoming [a] mistress of the establishment would most likely (if she could become as such) be brought into a state of misery, instead of being brought from the state of misery, (or Missouri), [...]

1879 August 20, Noah Allen, “Noah in Misery-He Relieves Himself”, in The Wichita Weekly Beacon, page 3