The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Marketing Potatoes To New York City

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Tuesday, August 9, 1853: I and Patrick dug potatoes, Louisa Merrils came a spell this morning and picked up potatoes but would not mind and pick up the small ones and I dismissed her. Today Geo P. took John F. horse and carried John F. to Canaan Depot to take the cars for New York to see what the market was for new potatoes and Geo P. returned from Canaan to New Lebanon Shakers and bargained with the North Family to buy their nursery grafted fruit at ten dollars per hundred and they help him take said trees up next April.
Wednesday: We hayed it on the hill, and towards night we plowed on my potato ground where we dug off the potatoes.
Thursday: I and Patrick this forenoon plowed and bushed the potato ground for turnips and I this afternoon sowed the turnips. This evening nearly midnight John F. returned from N. York and tonight  cousin Eliah Holcomb returned and stayed with us, he has been a few days selling his books. Today an uncommon hot day.
Friday: I am lame, I only helped John F. draw a load of oats from above the orchard.
Sunday: My wife and Charlotte E. and Geo P.’s wife went to the Chapel to meeting, a severe hard thunder shower this afternoon and my wife had stopped to brother Simeon Wylie’s to tend a meeting at the lecture room, I went with my horse and wagon and fetched her home, the meeting prevented on account of the shower.
Tuesday: This morning early I rode to Lebanon Springs and put a letter into the office for John F. to New York City to an agent to assist him in marketing new potatoes, and I sold one bushel new potatoes to Doctor Campbell wife 50 cts. Tonight cousin Eliah Holcomb returned going from selling his books
Wednesday: This morning Geo P. came and helped me put a load of oats into the barn that the wagon turned over near the barn as John F. was going in last night, and then began to rain and it was quite a rainy day. This morning at three o’clock John F. started for Canaan four corners with 108 bushels new potatoes and put them on the railroad for New York market.
Thursday: I went with my horse and wagon to Hancock village, I carried Mr. Mason four bushel new potatoes at 25 cts and I carried two bushels oats to the Union store at 50 cts per and traded.