John F. and Sarah O. Get The Mumps Also
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Saturday, March 30, 1850: This afternoon John F. took the one horse wagon and rode to Squ Strait’s to engage him to come and survey the line joining Benj. Nichols, but said Strait was not home. John F. called to Samuel Beers and then to Sq Wm Hands and made oath to his school bill.
Sunday: I gathered five barrels of sap, and we boiled sap today.
Monday, April 1: I gathered six barrels sap and tended to boiling sap and I boiled sap all night. Today Geo P. and John F. rode to Berlin and Geo P. bought a four year old horse of the son of Asher Wheeler and paid one hundred dollars cash in hand. Today Rensselaer Sheldon began to work for Geo P. for five months at 14 dollars per month.
Wednesday: Today I went onto my Rodgers farm and met Benj. Nichols there and we had Squ Strait survey or run the line betwixt us. I went and engaged said Strait, and said Nichols is to pay him for running the line. There was no variation in the line from the old line.
Thursday: Quite a rain storm all day and we only tended to chores and I cut up straw for horse feed. Geo P. and his hired man Sheldon sorted over and barreled up thirteen barrels of his grafted apples for market. Today or towards night Sarah O. was taken quite sick with the mumps.
Friday: I took the one horse wagon and went after Doctor Bates for Sarah. I met him on the road coming this way for Kent Hadsell’s and he came to my house first. I called to Ludwick Babcock shop and got my 24 new harrow teeth that he made out of my stock.
Saturday: This morning I walked to Lebanon to let Doctor Bates know that Sarah was better of the mumps and he was not wanted to come again, but I went one road and he came the other road. I took the ox team and wagon and carried 10 barrels grafted apples for Geo P. and I went with said load to Canaan Depot and Geo P. went with one horse wagon and carried three barrels apples which makes thirteen barrels that Geo P. sends to Boston. John F. went to Eber Rollo school examination.
Sunday: We gathered seven barrels sap and we boiled sap and I boil sap all night. Today sister Hannah Twichel came to visit us from Cincinnati Ohio.
Tuesday: I tended to boiling sap. I am lame and John plowed sward.
Saturday, April 13: Quite a snow storm and wind today. At four this afternoon brother F. Jay Wylie and wife returned home and I took my one horse wagon and carried sister H. Twichel over to Simeon Wylie’s and left her. Today John F. quite unwell with the mumps.
Sunday: Quite blustering, John continues unwell and tonight he got cold and the mumps went down out of his head into his bowels.
Monday: This forenoon I took a horse and cutter and rode to Lebanon after Doctor Bates for John F, for he is more unwell for his mumps settling down and is painful.