On A Journey To The West
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Friday, August 27, 1847: We passed through Little Falls and to Utica at sundown and I paid six cents for gin. At twelve o’clock tonight we got to Rome. Our passage was 4 dollars 86 cents and we took lodging to Putnam’s Hotel.
Saturday: This morning I paid our lodging to Putnam’s 37 cts and three cts for beer. I walked to brother Reuben Morton’s and his son Elisha fetched my wife and Sarah from the village. Today we found brother Simeon Wylie and wife to brother Reuben Morton’s.
Tuesday: Mr. Page walked with me to Verona Springs, I drank of the water and bathed my hands and feet and I paid six cts for each of us a drink of whiskey. This afternoon brother Simeon Wylie and wife starts for home from brother Reuben Morton’s.
Wednesday, September 1: This morning cousin Elisha Morton took his team and carried myself and wife and daughter to Rome and then we took the cars to Utica and I paid one dol and 31 cts for the passage and I paid 14 cts for cake and peaches, and my wife and Sarah remained to Baggs Hotel while I walked to New Hartford to brother John Campbell’s, and cousin Henry Campbell took a one horse carriage and fetched my wife and Sarah from Utica to New Hartford.
George and his family travel around the area visiting relatives for a few days.
Monday, September 13: This afternoon we started for home from brother John Campbell’s, cousin Henry Campbell took their two horse team and carried us to Utica and Susan Brown with him. We took passage nearly six o’clock and tonight we came about ten miles for the canal was crowded with boats.
Tuesday: Some rain, the boat moves slowly.
Wednesday: We continue slowly, I paid six cts to a grocery for candy.
Thursday: We continued on the boat until eleven o’clock and the boat got to Schenectady and I paid our passage, us three which was 3 dol and 60 cts, and I paid one dol and 50 cts for tickets to the railroad office to go to Troy.