Settling The Price Of The Ditch
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Friday Sept. 11, 1846: We tended to boiling swill and this afternoon I took my one horse wagon and rode to Lebanon. I called in to Gay’s store and paid six cts to one dozen and a half of shirt buttons and then I called into the Pathist Doctors or at the house of Doctor Campbell and agreed with Doctor Ledirfee to fetch my wife there tomorrow and have her feet examined and get directions how to doctor her for the lameness if my wife does make up her mind to be doctored in that way. Today Geo P. went to Sand Lake to Camp Meeting.
Saturday: This morning Doctor Ledurfee called into my house and gave directions to rub my wife’s feet in cold water occasionally. He came into the neighborhood and I paid him one dollar and 50 cts for stopping in a few minutes. This day we boiled swill and dug potatoes.
Sunday: Today I and my two daughters and son John F went to the chapel to Meeting, Elder Kingsley preached, and this afternoon at four o’clock I and my four children went to our distict school house to meeting. A woman preached by the name of Clark, she is on a journey or a travelling preacher.
Monday: Today we dug potatoes and I met James Mac Feeley on my Rodgers farm to settle what amount I ought to pay him for digging the before-mentioned ditch, he has not dug it according to contract, but his demand was 20 dollars and I offered him 15 dollars, but we each got a man to settle for us. My man was Mr. Reuben Andrews and his man was Mr. Daniel Gardner, but our men counciled us and we both agreed to vary a little from what we said, and concluded on 17 dollars and I paid in hand which is to his full satisfaction for digging 48 rods of ditch in my swamp. Today Pardie Lapum’s only child was killed by a rock slipping on to him in a ditch.
Wednesday: Today I am quite unwell with a coramorbos.
Sunday: Today I and my four children went to Hancock to meeting. Mr. Hughes the Universalist preached and a collection taken and I paid 25 cts and towards night I and my son John F. and my two daughters rode to Lebanon Springs to hear the same Rev. Hughes preach but no meeting and we returned home.
Wednesday: This afternoon John F. took the ox team and went to Hiram Newton’s drawing a corn crib and then went to help Franklin Bull craw a barn and got it part of the way and left it for tomorrow for more teams. He left the oxen but they got out of the lot and came home tonight.
Thursday: I this forenoon took my ox team and returned to Franklin Bull’s and helped draw the barn that was left yesterday.