Collecting For Last Summer’s Cow
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Wednesday, Feb 17, 1847: This evening Ezra Sackett and his mother came to my house. He bargained in her presence for my house to live in another year for the same as last year, 15 dol, and I agreed to hire him for half the time for six months at ten dollars per month to begin the middle of April. This evening John F. went to the dancing school.
Friday: John F. went to the mill with corn and rye, one bushel each, and carried his sister Sarah to the Chapel to the several schools examinations.
Sunday: Today a snow storm and wind.
Monday: Today we yoked the steers and broke a road on the highway, and then John F. and I went into my Rodgers swamp and chopped and drew a load of wood with our steers.
Wednesday, Feb. 24: Tonight F. Jay Wylie and wife stayed with us and this evening John F. and Sarah and Deborah Wylie returned from Troy, they went to Bacon’s boosum store to return boosums and get more and get pay out of his store.
Thursday: This afternoon I took my cutter and rode to Lebanon. I called on Pool Hill to the post office and paid four cents postage on papers, and I got some money subscribed for the bell.
Friday: I took my cutter and carried my wife to brother Simeon Wylie’s, and Charlotte to the widow Harriet Johnson’s. I then called to Doctor Thomas to see to getting my pay for a cow I sold him last summer, and from there I went to Mason’s shop and paid six cents to have my boot mended, and from Hancock Village I rode up to Wm. Clark to see if he wanted to buy my wool but he did not. On the way Thomas Hazard subscribed one dollar and paid it to me for the bell to the school house and lecture room, and then I went to brother Simeon Wylie’s and took tea. Doctor Philander Thomas called and I went with him to our school where his daughter Sarah was teaching said school. There he paid me for my cow, price 20 dollars and interest 93 cents. His account was two dollars and 50 cts for doctoring my family, he paid me precisely 19 dollars. Tonight John F. and Sarah and Mary Wylie went to Hancock to Lapum’s to dancing school.
Saturday: Today a snow storm and high wind and snow drifted bad.
Sunday: Today I and John F. shovelled snow on the highway and John went on the road with our young oxen part of the day to make a road.