John F. Goes To School In Hoosic
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Wednesday, December 1, 1847: Today while I was in Pittsfield to brother F. J. Wylie’s I called to Mr. Brown’s near Mr. Pomeroy’s factory, he keeps boarders. I bargained with him for two fat hogs and he agreed to pay me six dol and 50 cents per cwt and I went up into Fen Street to Mr. E. Bonny’s grocery and engaged two fat hogs at six dol and 50 cts per cwt. After dinner I and my wife came home from Pittsfield and got home at dusk. Tonight or this evening I went to John Conklin’s and engaged him to help us butcher our old hogs tomorrow and on the way home I borrowed Mr. James M. Glass half hogshead to scald hogs in, and engaged Mr. James M. Glass to help some to hang up the hogs. Some rainy tonight.
Thursday: We butchered our five old hogs and Mr. John Conklin helped and I owe him for the same and Mr. James M. Glass helped some in the way of changing works, and on this evening I walked to Lebanon to Ludwick Babcock and engaged him to shoe my horses and take his pay in carrots, price not agreed.
Friday: Today I took my two horse lumber wagon and carried four of my hogs to Pittsfield, two of them to Mr. Brown that keeps the boarding house near Mr. Pomeroy’s factory, weight 605 pounds at six and a half cents per pound. Said Brown paid me the cash 39 dol 25 cts and Mr E. Bonney two hogs, weight was 516 pounds at six cts and a half per and he paid me the cash 33 dol and 54 cts and I returned home by eight o’clock and today and night quite rainy. I called to L. Babcock’s and borrowed a piece of old carpet to put over my pork to keep off the rain.
Saturday: We this forenoon husked corn and this afternoon cut up and salted one old hog.
Sunday: Today Geo P. took the one horse wagon and rode to Lansingburgh to carry his brother John F. a new coat and vest and other clothes. He stayed tonight with John F. at his boarding place to Mr. Hoyt’s.
Monday: I tended to chores and husked some corn. Today John F. paid up his board and school bill to Lansingburgh and Geo P. took him to Hoosic Falls to school and to board to Mr. Powers at one dol and 75 cts per week and washing.
Tuesday: Today I took my two wheel carriage and carried my wife and Sarah up Goodrich Hollow to the new school house to the funeral of old Elijah Goodrich, Elder Jones preached. Tonight Geo P. returned home from Hoosic and his expenses were eighty cts. I sent to John F. 25 dollars to help pay board and schooling.