George Holcomb

A Major Snow Storm

by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks

Thursday, February 19, 1846: I took my one horse sleigh and my wife and we started to go to Hiram Newton’s but we met Rufus Withee and wife and we returned home and they with us on a visit. On this evening I took my one horse sleigh and carried my wife and Mr. Withee and his wife over to the Presbyterian meeting house and I paid 25 cts for my self and wife for admittance to hear Mr. Lessear lecture on electricity and phrenology and mesmerized his daughter and Geo P carried Charlotte E. and Belinda Pierce.

Friday: Today a snow storm and high wind and the roads drifted badly. Mr Withee and wife continued with us. Today I walked up to Mr. Russels to see how my son John F got through the drifts and storm going to school.

Saturday: I and my two sons shoveled snow on the highway, said Withee and wife continue with us.

Sunday:  Today I walked up the road to inquire about roads being shoveled out.

Monday: On this morning Mr. Rufus Withee and wife started for home and I went with them one mile to see them over the drifts, and on this forenoon I and Geo P shoveled on the highway, and this afternoon we cleaned snow out of our buildings.

Tuesday: This afternoon I and my two sons walked over to the Presbyterian Church to an anti-rent meeting. Mr. Van Schooven, one of our senators, addressed the meeting.

Thursday: We chopped wood to the door, We have severe cold weather.

Saturday: Today I walked to the widow Anna Moffitt’s to appraise the property with Mr. Sylvester Webb to see the difference when Mr Everetts took the farm, the first day of March in 1842. I took dinner to Everett’s but I got no pay today.

Friday, March 6: I took my cutter and carried my wife to Hiram Newton’s on a visit, and after dinner I rode to Randal A. Brown’s store to see the trial go on between Mr. Simeon Wylie and Stephen S. Kittle concerning a note said Kittle refused to pay. I stayed but a short time.

Saturday: I and John F. drew a load of wood from the swamp but the oxen crowded. Today Geo P. took his cutter and H. P. Wylie with him and went to Lanesborough fishing.