The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Midwinter Wood Chopping

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Thursday, January 8, 1852: I and Geo P went with one yoke of his oxen and got a sled load of alder wood that Alexander Celinbaum chopped last spring to the halves. Today John F. went with cutter to Pittstown to Ira Humphrey’s on a visit.
Friday: I went with ox team into my swamp a got a load alder wood that A. Celinbaum cut to the halves last spring.
Saturday: I drew one load wood from the swamp that was 2/3 hard wood that A. Celinbaum had no authority to chop. This evening Philander Carpenter and two sisters visited us with the schoolmaster that teaches school in Hancock up Goodrich Hollow, his name is Ramsey. This afternoon Geo P. took his horse and cutter and carried 19 fowls, part old and part young, to Lebanon and sold to the tavern keeper by the name of Anson.
Sunday: Today John F. returned from Pittstown.
Tuesday: I called to Masons and he handed me ten dollars to hand to Geo P., this money is to pay for hides. Today John F. rode to Lebanon and engaged the two stacks of hay that Geo P. had in Mr. Soins meadow, to Mr. Anson for 36 dollars, calling it six tons of hay. Geo P. paid me 2 dol 50 cts for my hide.
Thursday: I this afternoon carried my wife and the widow Freelove Wylie to Elder Havens donation. I gave two dollars cash. We returned home at night and left the widow F. Wylie to stay the evening, and this evening Geo P. and his two sisters went to said donation and Geo P. gave one dollar and they gave 50 cts each. Today my two sons drew three sled loads hay home from a stack in the widow Wylie’s meadow.
Thursday: I chopped and drew an ox sled load of wood from my Rodgers farm and I went with Aaron Merrils and told what trees he may chop, three cord wood at one dollar per cord.
Saturday: I went into my swamp and chopped alder and hemlock for wood and helped the Runnals fix a wood road across J. B. Maxon’s lot into my swamp by the way or across near school house. Tonight the three sons of Ira Humphrey and the wife of oldest one, James, came from Pittstown on a visit, and this evening Burton Jolls and wife and Egbert and Gustus and Mary Jolls and Deborah Wylie and the wife of Simeon Wylie all visited us.