A Visit From The Western Cousins
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Monday September 18, 1848: I this forenoon carried an old wheel that Simeon Wylie had put three new fellows. I had Mr. Palmer Barnes put one new fellow to wheel and charge the same to my account which was 25 cts and I fetched home a set of old one horse wagon wheels that said Barnes had new fellowed and took his pay in carrots last spring, and this afternoon I rode to Lebanon and left the before-mentioned old wagon wheel to Ludwick Babcock’s shop to have the old tire set and my wife rode with me and stopped to Charles Gillett’s till I returned. Today John F. went to find a shingle maker and wall maker. Tonight I fetched Deborah Wylie to sew on dresses.
Tuesday: Today I went after Doctor Right and he came to doctor my wife for the coromorbus or disentery. Today Geo P. went to Troy to the county fair and he had Simeon Wylie Jnr pleasure one horse wagon and paid him one dol for the use of his wagon.
Wednesday: Said doctor came to my wife and today John F. and I drew into the barn three loads of shocks of corn and then rainy. Tonight Geo P. returned from the fair at Troy. Yesterday I let Geo P. have five dollars when he went away and he has paid it.
Thursday: This forenoon we repaired fence and chopped and drew a load of wood and this afternoon I took my two horse team and went to Lebanon and moved Cornelius McNaughty into my house near James M. Glass’s and for moving him I agreed to take his work and he agreed to work two days in each month to pay his rent until next April. While in Lebanon I called to Gays and Pierce’s store and paid 19 cts for half a pint French brandy.
Friday: I took my two wheel cariage and rode to Pittsfield. I had my horse new shod to Nelson Tracy’s shop and had it charged, one dollar, and I called to brother Fred Jay Wylie’s, and I called to Squ Goold to make inquiries concerning the trial of Marcellus Ross and said Goold agreed to notify me when proper. My two sons drew in corn to the barn. This morning I drove Tylor Ayers cow home to fat to the halves.
Saturday: I am quite unwell with the disentery. This afternoon Mr. Sidney Grosvenor and wife and Mr. Edwin Lewis and wife came here from the west, Madison County, Town of Lebanon. I am uncle to their wives.
Sunday: Today I took my two horse pleasure wagon and carried cousin Grosvenor and cousin Lewis and their wives and my daughter Sarah to the Shaker meeting. Tonight John F. rode to brother S. Beers to let them know that our cousins have come from the west. John stayed to Beers tonight.
Monday: This morning I took my one horse wagon and Geo P. with me and we rode over to my Rodgers farm and got a fat wether (a male castrated sheep) and butchered it. We picked a few winter apples. This afternoon cousin Grosvenor and cousin Lewis and their wives and my wife and daughter Charlotte E went to the Shakers on a visit. This morning Grosvenor bled my Ayers cow.
Tuesday: Today cousin Grosvenor and cousin Lewis and their wives and my two daughters visited brother Beers.