Thursday, January 15, 2009

January 15 through 18, 1886

Click on picture to enlarge for easier reading of original.

They go to visit the H. M. Ingraham family. This is actually his daughter Harriet Amelia, her husband Harmon M. Ingraham, and their daughter Florence J. who was about 2 years old at the time. By the end of the year she will be pregnant with Charles Byron. As far as I know, Henry always refers to them as the H. M. Ingraham family, and never mentions his granddaughter? They live in Wayland, NY - about 8 or 9 miles. Not sure how the roads went in those days. They stop in North Cohocton on the way home, and purchase Salt Petre, and "Tobacco Slim Jim". He mentions paying for both, indicating they probably had accounts at both places -- perhaps even bartered for some things? Salt Petre may have been for meat preservation, or possibly stump removal (I'm not sure they would have spent money on stump removal?) Can't find any info on the tobacco product. Maybe Henry smoked or chewed? Salt Petre was purchased at Carpenter's -- a store/drugstore run by Ezra S. Carpenter - Physician , Surgeon --- their family doctor.

Saturday, Jen gets a dress cut at Miss Arnold's - same place Sarah got a dress earlier in the week. Thinking back, I wonder if Miss Arnold knew how to measure and cut for clothing, but maybe folks sewed the clothes themselves? Probably commercial patterns weren't available. Cows are mentioned - another food source / product. They go to Grange later in the day, and get crackers, soda (baking soda I'm sure - definitely not Coca Cola!), and sugar somewhere. I think the Grange Hall was in Ingleside, and I think there was a general store there - corner of Maple and Babcock Rd? (Sarah's diary from the previous year mentions bartering eggs and butter for canning jars there.)

Note: Membership in the Grange organization is available to anyone who is interested in participating in making better communities. The Grange began as an agricultural organization at a time when agriculture was the primary occupation of rural citizens. Today the Grange still closely mirrors the makeup of our rural communities. Agriculture is still important to the Grange and its members in that the economic welfare of rural communities is still strongly influenced by the economic stability of agriculture.

They go to church on Sunday. Sermon on Luke 20 - render unto Caesar. Elder Lawton took a vote of congregation on whether they preferred responsive readings, or a scripture lesson. Not sure if that was just for the day, or was a vote on changing the order of service?

Monday, Henry helps Jen with the washing... he does the "pounding" and carrys out the water afterward. There would have been no machines to help --- water would have been heated in a big pot/boiler on the wood stove. Omar checks ice somewhere nearby -- finds it too thin for cutting and storing yet. I'm not sure exactly what Henry is thinking about when he mentions that "Omar was out last night. He is feeling very moderate" Maybe he thinks Omar was out drinking and had a bit of a hangover????? I'm sure he would have never mentioned it directly.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

January 11 through 14, 1886

Click on picture to enlarge for easier reading.

More wheat taken to the mill for flour and feed. Sarah picks up the dress she was measured for last week. A check of the accounts at the end of this diary shows the dress cost 75 cents. I'll try to get the account pages posted to a separate web page for reference as we go along.

Tuesday, they butcher pigs - not sure how many --- lightest was 262 pounds, heaviest was 290. They get Head cheese, Sausage, Ham, Shoulder, Lard, Hocks, and I'm sure lots of stuff not mentioned, from the pigs. The actual butchering only takes 3 1/2 hours, but making the sausage, head cheese, etc. takes place over the next couple of days, along with preservation in barrels with salt.

Mart (?) Lawyer buys 1800 raspberry roots for $5. The Olney's lived on what is present day Lawyer Road.

They make sausage, etc on Wednesday... put up a cask of side meat, and 195 pounds of ham! Henry scalds a barrel for the hams and shoulders. While it is cold in January, this meat probably will last into warmer weather. 13 people probably go through food pretty fast though.

On Thursday, they go visit Aunt Mary and Uncle Augustus Weld. Augustus is Sarah's uncle - her Mother's younger brother. Sarah's Mother is Julia (Lydia) Matilda Weld Hill. Looks like Sarah is an only child, but Sarah's Mother is one of 14 children. Lots of aunts and uncles for these kids!

Just a quick person note ------ This is fun!!!!!