Wednesday, December 29, 1886 --- Henry says he is not feeling well, and does not do much. Bart continues to draw ice. Robert Stanton stayed overnight with the boys. Harmon Ingraham and Hattie (his daughter) and grand daughter Florence came to visit. They are well, and they have brought "butternuts" and popcorn for the kids. Henry sends them home with a couple of pullets and a rooster. (a pullet is a hen less than one year old)
Note: Butternuts are nuts in the Juglans genus, which also includes walnuts. The nuts strongly resemble walnuts, growing in sticky strongly scented pods which split open to reveal a knobbled husk with a shell inside. Butternuts are also sometimes called white walnuts, a nod to their resemblance to conventional walnuts, although they have a far richer, sweeter, flavor and more pale bark and wood. Unfortunately, true butternuts can be very difficult to obtain these days, because they are not cultivated on a wide scale and the butternut crop has been devastated by canker and fungal infections.
Thursday, December 30, 1886 --- Henry has the boys pack away the ice, and then Bart goes to get more ice blocks. John Babcock comes by looking to buy a horse. Henry offers him Old Kitt for $100. Cash, or a good note for 3 months. John stays until toward evening, but does not decide whether to buy Old Kit.
Note: John Babcock is my great great grandfather on my mother's side. This discussion represents two of my great great grandfather's doing business together! This is a good time to note that I bought another diary this past summer. The diary is that of John Babcock's son Bert Babcock. At the time of the diary Bert is 27 year's old. The year is 1894 - 8 years after Henry's diary. (I also have a transcript of a diary of John Babcock) Picture of Bert Babcock below.
Bert Babcock is not in my direct line - he had no kids - He is the brother of my great grandfather Leman Babcock..... my grandmother's father.
Friday, December 31, 1886 --- Sarah goes to Naples. Henry and the boys pack the ice into the ice house, cutting the large blocks into thirds, and packing away all the ice that they have hauled so far. Henry sends the resolutions that the church voted on last week to Dayton, Ohio for publication. (This must mean that the church is part of a denomination or other type group based in Dayton.) Henry also writes a letter to Elder Childs. Bart, Mills, Lois, and Jen go to a surprise party. Nina Fox comes over, and goes to the party with Lois.
Henry notes that "it is foggy tonight". And thus ends the 1886 diary entries of Henry Cadmus Olney - my great great grandfather.
The lower part of the right page contains the record of Henry's agreement with Leicester Fox to hire Bart. See entry of
March 12 - 15, 1886
