Hillsdale , Michigan ,

                                                                                                15th, 1875
                                                                                                Thermometer  - 14 Zero Below

 

I, Charles Monroe, was born in Suffield, Hartford County , Conn. , May 8,1807 I lived in said town until September 1815, I was then taken by my Uncle Abraham Dudley, to East Bloomfield , Ontario County, N.Y. I lived with him seven years and to November 3rd. I was then fifteen years and six months old. I then started on boat with my pack on my back that weighed twenty-one pounds, for Suffield, 330, to see my Mother, Brothers, and Sisters, whom I had not seen for over seven years. I walked to Waterloo my feet became sore and there was a boat going down the Seneca River to Montezuma. I stepped on board and worked my passage by shoving with a setting pole, down the crooked and marshy stream.
Than we struck the Erie canal it was then built from that point to eight miles below Utica . I walked some and rode some as far as Rome , then I walked to a tavern eight miles below Utica , where there were two men by the name of Johnson with a drove of horses bound for Albany . They told me I might ride one of the horses to Albany for fifty cents, which I willing gave. They fixed me a pair of stirrups and tied my pack on one of the horses one of them rode behind the saddle. I rode on blankets.
We rode over the Cherry Valley Turnpike to avoid toll gates. We rode into Albany the third morning about ten o'clock, I then crossed the noble Hudson River and took the Albany and Hartford Turnpike for Sheppard, Berkshire County, Mass. and then stopped a week with my Uncle, Obediah Bush, then I shouldered my pack again, which every man did that traveled and was not able to pay stage fare, which was very high them days, for Old Stockbridge to see my oldest sister, Bertha, which was living there, but could not find her. Then I started over the Blandford and Becket Hills for Suffield, The third day after leaving Suffield, about sundown, I came to the house where I was told my Mother lived. I went in as the door was open and they were keeping a public house. There were two women talking in the bar room, no man in the house to be seen. I sat on the bench soon one of the women left. I made up my mind which was my Mother and when the other left, I rose up and she bowed to me and I said "how-do-you-do, Mother". She said "Is it you James?" and I said No, it is Charles", and she sprang to embrace me as only a Mother could a child. I stayed with them about fifteen days; all had changed no one knew me or I them except now and then an old person who had not changed much. Then, took my pack and started for Sheffield , the fifth day of December 1822. Ground white with snow, but very good walking, I got to Uncle Berties in Sheffield the seventh day of the month. I stayed a few days with them and then went to Stockbridge; found and made my sister a visit. Then back to Sheffield again and stayed there until Cousin Edward Bush got ready to go to Utica with a load of oysters, which I think was about the 20th of the month.

 

The wheeling was very good and snow enough for sleighing and yet cold enough to keep the oysters from any hurt when we arrived at Utica . We stayed together one night. The next morning I shouldered my pack and started for Bloomfield . I started West on the Turnpike and soon came in sight of the Canal, it being all frozen over and nice skating. I thought of my skates that I had bought while in Sheffield . I off with my pack, took them out and put them on, or under my feet, put on my pack again and started. I went easy and fast; then I felt as happy as ever I did in my whole life. There was many a man and boy that looked at me as I Glided along. I was predicting how long it would take me to reach Montezuma at the rate I was going, when I was passing Chittenango Freezer, I went to the bottom of the canal, plumb four feet deep. I broke the ice to the shore, pulled myself up on land again, all wet to my skin up to my arms. There was a house in about forty rods where I went in. By the time I got to the house, the water had about stopped dripping off my pants and began to press around the bottoms I stayed there about two hours; got warm and partly dried and started on and if ever a boy walked it was about that time, to keep from taking cold, which I escaped. I arrived in East Bloomfield the last day in December, 1822; gone two months Lacking three days. All glad to see me and I to see them. I went to school the rest of the winter. I stayed with Uncle Dudley until the Spring of 1825. I then hired out to work for Moses Fairchild's for $9.00 a month, for one month, and stayed with him a year at that price.

Then I hired to work for Joel Steel for $10.00 a month. I worked for him two months cut my foot and was laid up for four weeks. Then I went to Mr. Fairchild's again. I then stayed with him until the last of February, 1827. Then Elite Lee and I took the stage at East Bloomfield for Sheffield again and Suffield to see my Mother, Brother, and Sister. Again Elite went with me as far as Sheffield . I stopped with Uncle Burk a few days and then started for Suffield. We went through Cannon, Litchfield and Farmington to Hartford . The stage turned over in one of the streets of Hartford with all the passengers. Then up the river to Suffield. I made my mother a good visit. Then I went back to Suffield, I stayed with Uncle Burk until the first of June. Then I went to Uncle Bert's in Nassau , Van Renslaerer, County, New York stayed with him until the middle of August. While with him I got poisoned working with him in his low meadow. Was hindered from work for two weeks. I then went to Sheffield and then to Suffield to see my Mother again. I walked from Sheffield to Suffield and then fifty miles in ten hours, Stayed a few days and walked back again in about the same time. I then took the stage for Albany and Skenactica and then took a line boat on the canal and rode on it to Bushel in Monroe County , New York , and walked from there to Bloomfield to Uncle Dudley's. I stayed there two or three days and then went to Mr. Husted's in Gorn to work. He died the same day I began to work for him. I stayed there two weeks and lent Mrs. Husted $200. Things looked bad and I left. I then went over to the Turnpike from Canandaigua to Geneva to Mr. Densmore's to work.

 

I worked a week and was sick, or was not able to work, and went back to Uncle Dudley's again. This was on Thursday, Friday my brother James was going to Rochester and I went with him, we stayed in Rochester over night. Saturday we went back to Uncle Dudley's, I was sick, took to bed. I had a fever forty-two days. I did not leave the house for ten weeks. I had $105 when I was taken sick. I paid it all to the doctor and Uncle Dudley for taking care of me. I was then in my 21st year. I then went to work for Mr. Fairchild again for $5.00 a month to the first of April, about three months. Then I hired to him for six months for $11.00 a month. I worked my time out and then I went to work For Jacob Burleson, making pumps and pump logs in Port Gibbon. I stayed there for a month.
I had a letter there from sister Permelia to come to Broom County To see her married. I started from Port Gibbon after sundown for Uncle Dudley's in Bloomfield , on Mr. Burleson's horse, a dark rainy night. Took a straight line for Boughton Hill as the roads would admit of, forded Mill Creek, where the bridge had been taken by the floods not long before. Just as I was getting near the Western shore, a limb knocked my hat off in the water. I sprang from the horse and in the water and cached my hat again led my horse up the bank and got on him again and rode on again with my pants dripping wet. I arrived at Uncle Dudley's at about eleven o'clock at night; found Vienna up, as I expected, for she seldom went to bed before midnight. I stayed with them a day or two and then took the stage to Union, Broom County , to see sister Permelia married and also Miss Hannah Bradley's marriage. Miss Sarah Muss and I were chosen waiters. I was gone from Bloomfield . fourteen days and spent $14.00. Then I took a lot of wood to cut for Mr. Godfrey West of Geneva . Then I worked to Timothy Bull of East Bloomfield until the first of April. Then I took the stage again for Union, Broom County , to work for my brother-in-law, James C. Curtis, April 1,1829. I worked for him for seven months for $11.00 a month. He built a new house in the summer. Brother James and Sister Fannie were with us. September 9, 1829 I was married to Martha Dudley of Union, Broom County , New York , daughter of Jed and Lydia Dudley. She had one brother and one sister, their names were Jed and Lydia Ann. I lived with them or made it my home

with them until December. Then I went back to East Bloomfield and worked the winter for Timothy Bull and then back to Union . I bought a frame house of Dr. Newell and drew it on the ground where I built. My wife, Martha, hired from her father's estate fifty acres. Drew my brick from Olive Crocker's, ten miles, 3,000, as we built full chimneys with fire places. I drew them with a yoke of oxen. I did not own a horse for a number of years. I got my house, so we moved into it the 17th of June, 1830. I had to Buy all my provisions to live. We boarded all of our help when I began to build. I had $206. I bought us a cow and a pair of three year old Steers. Gave $16.00 for the cow and $25.00 for the Steers. I worked out every day I could spare. I did not buy but one thing to get married and that was a pair of gloves. I never wore them but once after and that was to Meeting the next Sabbath and then I sold them.

I had clothes, so I did not have to buy any for over two years. Not a thing for myself. Martha had $95.00 paid her by my signing a receipt for it, fell to her from her Grandfather Dudley's estate. She bought all the Furniture in the house when we commen­ced keeping house, but one hen's feather Bed and a $2.00 bed-stead, which I bought with my money. In August following, the 13th day our eldest son, George was born. Our place was all new; hardly a spot big enough to set our house. I worked out by the day enough to support ourselves. The most of the time I chopped wood and cleared off the land. The 1st of October my brother brought Miss Fanny Steven's to our house. We invited quite a party of young and old people and they were married. They brought their Furniture and lived in the north part of our house and lived with us for one year and a half. In the month of February 1831, I took James' horse and sleigh loaded with cigars and went to Newborn over the Beach Wood turnpike. Was on the road when the great eclipse of 31 appeared. I stopped at every Tavern on the road and sold every landlord a box or more of cigars. I brought a load of tobacco to make into cigars home. The first of April I hired to Mr. Bishop and Mr. Lock, near neighbors, to work for them on their farms every other week, for each six months for $12.00 a month. When my Time was out with them I got up the winter wood and provisions for my wife to live on and I started out for Michigan; went as far as Lewiston, Niagara County, New York stopped at Mr. Joseph Parker's and they discouraged me from going any farther. Went to chopping wood for Jacob Compton for his Ashery. I boarded with Mr. Parker. I cut ninety cords of wood and corded it up in twenty-three days in the month of November. I was then twenty-four years of age. I then bought a three year old colt of Mr. Parker; made me a pung; put a crockery crate on for a box and started home again. I stopped to Cousin William Burk Bushes in Betavia over night. The next night I came to Uncle Dudley's in Bloomfield . I stayed with Uncle a day or two. The Sleighing had become a little better and I started for Union . Found my wife and boy well. I had been from home for over four weeks. I went to chopping and thrashing for the neighbors when they wanted help and for myself. In February Horatus Steven's and myself went to Lawrence Maseru's and trashed rye for two weeks. He lived ten miles from us and we walked there before sunrise. They had not been to breaktfast.·We walked back again Saturday night and then to Mr. Maseru's again Monday morning before they had Been up to breakfast. I could not get Jed Dudley, my wife's brother to agree to any division of the farm and as he was not of age, we could not form any division and I hired out again to work for Lester Ledbetter, getting out timber for and building a saw mill, he to gave me $15.00 a month and boarded me, but my wife to do my washing. In November after my time with Ledbetter was out, my son Oliver was born. In January 1833, I bought two yoke of oxen and went five miles from home to draw logs. I worked for James Higby about six weeks and made $125 which done me more good then any money I ever earned. The summer of '33 I worked out with my oxen for neighbors as they wanted. I went to Ithica twice in the summer for merchandise for one of our merchants, a distance of thirty miles, A Mr. Pollard went with me once with his oxen, a Premium pair, but they tired out and he was a day longer going than I was. I went it in three days, and he was four. When I could get nothing better to do, I would cut wood and

peel lumber bark for the tanneries. I have cut and drawn wood for a mile and three quarters for six shillings a cord. This was swamp wood, soft maple, black ash, and Hemlock; hard Land wood brought $1.00 a cord.

For this wood we had to take leather or store pay; could get no cash for it. There was no day so cold that I did not work. The winter of '33 and '34 I drew logs for Timothy Tubbs. The next summer I worked for myself some, clearing the land and building me a little barn. Up to this time I had only a log Hovel for oxen and cow and calves. I raised this year some corn an the John Curtis land. I worked on through the coming year with my oxen as I could get work and sometimes with my hands only. I could hew timber quite well and could stone up a cellar pretty well; could get some jobs in that line which would help. during this summer our land was divided and we knew what was our own. We then felt better then before, as we could not feel settled. In the spring of '35 Mary Ann was born, our. first daughter. We were all suited. The summer passed off pleasant.
In October I bought me a horse and buggy and we took our baby and went off to Bloomfield for a visit; the first time Martha had been to Bloomfield with me. She was delighted with the people and the country. She had never been out of sight of the Hemlock hills before. We left our two boys with their grandmother. The coming winter I was made captain of our military company, I got my timber and lumber for a barn.
We raised the 3rd day of July 1836. Our haying and harvest was late that year, but I got the barn all enclosed in time for my crops which was a great convenience for me. About that time I bought about 160 acres of land in Illinois near New Barton, Merce County , and the Elisabeth River . In the Fall I sold it to Brother James and the next spring I struck in with more courage to do more than I had ever done, but the summer was cold and wet; no fruit. Brother James came from Illionis the last of September 1837; was going to start back about the middle of October. Brother in -law Tubbs and I concluded to go with him.
We left for the West the 17th day of October, 1837. Charles Tubbs took us to Ithica and then down the Cayuga Lake and Canal to Buffalo ; then a steamboat to Chicago . We were five days going to Toledo ; the Weather was so rough we took the little railroad to Adrian and then by stage to white Pigeon. Then we three with four others hired a man to take us to Michigan City , but his horses tired and did not go farther than La Port. Two, myself and another man, walked eight miles to La Port and paid the man five cents a mile same as though we rode. We then hired a man that was going through to Chicago to carry our bags and all walked to the Big Calumet. Then three took the right hand road north to Chicago and four of us took a bee line to Cleveport, across the broad prairie; then we found Edward Bush, a cousin I stayed with him two nights and one day and then started over toward Fox River . I crossed the Desplains Flat and came on the bluff; I thought it the most beautiful country I had ever seen. I stopped at a Tavern kept by a man by the name of Tabor. He wanted to get some rails split. I said I would try it one day. I took his ax and wedges; he said I would find a beetle there. I started off about a mile and a half with my dinner, I split 112; it was toward night and I rent to his house again and stayed with him. He paid me a dollar and one shilling and I started for Chicago .
The country was new and open. I rode with a doctor For five or six miles. He said we could see over to the Rock River Bluffs from a high ridge that we were going over soon. we came to lower land a slew as he called it. We had two horses and a light buggy, going over the slew his horses both got down. We got out and unhitched them from the buggy, led them out; then we lifted the buggy out on the grass and drew it to the horses, hitched them on, got in ourselves in rather more mud than I had been use to seeing. Then we came up to Brother Tubbs. We walked within 11 miles of Chicago , crossed the Dolphins River and took a noose pinned together with two women that were a waiting to cross. Then we walked three miles to what was called the widow Berry 's Tavern. she was keeping the house herself. We put up for the night; we ate supper and went to bed  tired, but could not sleep much the wolves kept up such a howling and crying. The next morning as soon as light we started for Chicago . We soon came to water. We walked in water from 4 to 18 inches deep, 8 miles to Chicago before breakfast.
We found a town of 4,000 inhabitants and not a settler in the town; the houses all on blocks. We put up at the Old American Hotel, kept by Charles Cook, who was formerly from York State . We came into the town on what is now called Lake Avenue , then the Joliett Road . We crossed the South branch of the Chicago River and what was then called a Foot bridge, tied to each bank. They were all of that kind that were in the city at that time. There were four taverns or hotels: The American, Tremont , United States and Lake, I looked around one day; then I started out on what is now known as Michigan Avenue , then the Detroit and Chicago turnpike, a sandy beach road washed up by the lake. I followed the lake shore to Michigan City . The first night after I left Chicago I stayed in a tavern built with Tamarac poles; no chamber nor partitions, but blankets hung up for screens; beds were single, hung up around the room, three tiees, one above the other; men slept in one room, the women in the other. The mens was the bar room, the other was the cook or kitchen, all full and some lay on the floor. The nearest house to it was eight miles. The next nearest was 15 miles. The average distance of houses apart was about 5 miles, everyone a Tavern between Chicago and Michigan City . I walked all the way to Adrian . When I got in the State of Michigan I went North of the direct road to Coldwater to see the country. A great part of the country looked nice. I was alone the most of the time. In some of the country I would go 4 or 5 miles without seeing a man or a house and a road except marked trees. I saw men breaking up the land with 4 or 5 yoke of oxen on a plough. Right among the trees turning over the land with a great coarse plough. I was glad when I was within hearing of Adrian . The first steam whistle I ever heard was in Adrian . There was a man with me from the Chicago and Detroit Turnpike going down to Ohio , when we heard the whistle we were about 100 rode from the Depot. He said they were getting ready to start for Toledo . We started on a run and just got on the car as they were starting. If we had been ten minutes later we would have had to stay there, 24 hours or walked. This was the first time I had ever ridden after a steam engine. When we went West We Were drawn over this road by horses. We rode to Toledo in one hour and a half - 33 miles, then the fastest I had ever rode. There was a steamboat waiting for us at Toledo . We stepped right down and got aboard and soon we were going down the Maumee River to the Lake Erie and to Buffalo . The boat touched all the ports The next morning when the bell rung for breakfast I went with the crowd, but not being a cabin passenger they demanded pay For breakfast before eating. I handed them a bill and they said they did not take wildcat money. I had no other; then he said: "You must get something ashore when we stop." They did not stop long enough for me to go ashore and get anything to eat until it was afternoon. I went into a saloon to buy something and pie; put down my money. He grabbed the cakes and pie and said: " We can't take that money. Have you no other" I said: "No". "Than you cannot have anything to eat here"I then stepped into another saloon and said "Give me a cup of tea, a piece of pie and a cake". He set the cake and pie right on and I went to eating it.
Had been 35 hours since I had a thing to eat. I ate what he put on and called for more; he put it on with the last. I drank my tea. When I got through I handed him my money. He says: "Have you no other money" and I said: "No" and then he said, "Why did you not tell me before", and I said "You did not ask me". He said: "Go to that boat that is bound for Detroit"; I went but the clerk would not change it. I stepped on my stage which was about ready to start and had no further trouble with him. I ate no more until I got aboard the Canal was the next afternoon.  

The Captain told me I could get it changed in Lockport , Which I did. I got a $5.00 bill changed by giving him 25 cents on the dollar which was worth more than before we arrived in Rochester the next day a little before sundown. I started on foot for Bloomfield . Mr. Benjamin Heckler overtook and I rode with him to his home in Mendon. I stayed with him over night ate breakfast with him and then walked to Bloomfield . I stayed in Bloomfield a day on two and then I started for my home in Union . I walked a little over 100 miles in two and a half days. Found all well. My son Steven was born this month, 1837. I went right to chopping and threshing as the neighbors wanted and for myself. I gave up the West for a while. In the spring Alvah Ketchum and I bought the Lusk lot of land that lay in behind us We gave $2.25 and acre for 111 acres and I began to clear it. I cleared 7 acres the first year. I then had a horse and oxen to do my work with. About the first of October, Brother Squires wrote me from wheeling, Virginia , to come and get his wife, my sister, Ledema. I sold one of my oxen to get money to go with; took my horse and buggy and drove as far as Wilksburgh; then left my horse and buggy with a farmer then the Wilksburgh and Harris­burgh Canal and then I took the Harrisburgh and Junnietta Canal to the Alleghany Mountains then by railroad over and through the mountains to Hollidaysburgh; then the Canama and Pittsburgh Canal to Pittsburgh; then by stage to Wheeling on the Ohio River- a beautiful town.
Stayed with them two, days and started for Union , our home, with sister, baby and baggage. Came the same way back; gone three weeks. When I got home I traded my horses for a larger pair. In the month of January 1838, I took my team and moved Brother Tubbs and my sister Fannie and their baby to Smithport, McKean County Pa. by sleighing; was gone 8 days. I brought back old Mrs., Hutchinson with me for John Waterman, for which he gave me a quarter of beef. Than I got ready for the next spring's work, This year I was made Lieutenant Colonel of our Regiment. I cleared six acres the coming summer ploughed it and did quite a farming Business. In July Norman Bronson with his wife came to see us with other relatives they had here. His wife and my wife cousins. While here I sold him our farm for $1100 in September. After I took my wife and went East to see Mother in Connecticut . Coming back we stopped in Lee, Bershire County , Mass. to see sister Lodema Squire; went from there to Sheffield to visit our cousin; from there to Stockbridge to visit the Curtises; then West to stockbridge to visit Uncle Eli Barns and their families, While there I bought my farm back. We had not left it nor he his. We went to Richmond to visit Uncle Darious Barns and Uncle Sebelon Bacon and their families; then to Nassau , Van Renslair County, New York. to visit Uncle Abigail Bush and his family.
Then to Renslerville to visit Uncle Cole and family; then for home. We were gone from home four weeks. I worked through the winter. In the spring I bought Brother Ketchum's half of the newlot. All went as well as could be expected. In the month of November our son James H. was born. He was very small and feeble. His mother was sick a long time; did not get about the house until the spring following. We had to take our baby away to be nursed by Mrs, Holden. The darkest in our life when not a death in the family. We jogged along the best we could until the winter of '41 when I traded 45 acres of my new lot for 80 acres of land in Michigan with Mr. Marean of Union . The year of '42 I cleared ten acres. Hough Cleveland worked for me the summer. Robert Taylor and Abigal Loomis died that- summer and Hugh Cleveland in the winter. He was the best man to work I ever hired. In October, 1843, my son William was born. In this month and year Uncle Dudley and his daughter Vienna made us a visit. The next spring Steven and Mary Ann Dudley came to see us and took Oliver home with them to stay a year. In September following I went to Michigan to see my land. I called at Bloomfield going and coming back. Oliver wanted me to come after him when the year was out. I went after him as I agreed to. Elvira Curtis went with me, but did not get him. They overpersuaded me to let him stay.

This was 1844 the great presidential campaign I attended the great mass meeting in Rochester, the 3rd of October, and another in Ithica the week after. The two largest meetings I ever attended. We stayed in Union on our farm  until the spring of 1846. Our daughter Lydia was born in February. In March after my son George and I put a load of tools and goods and started for Bloomfield . I had been out there in January before and taken Mr. Jole Steel's farm. We got there in time to cut some wood for sugaring before it was warm enough to make sugar. We made a 1,000 pounds of sugar and some molasses. The third day of April I started back to my family. I Left farm at union and left my family in Bloomfield . Captain Bowers came with me with a load of goods for me. During the year Edward A. Smith made us a visit. I went back with him to union after my two horse wagon and brought the rest of our goods, In November Mr. Steel died after a long sickness. In the winter his farm was sold. In the spring of 1847, I moved on Mr. Greg's farm east of the Canandaigua outlet, three miles east of Canandaigua village.
We took Mr. Greg's farm for one year. He wanted us to stay longer and we stayed four years, we had two children born while on Mr. Greg's farm; John Greg, was born Septem­ber 1848, and Frances pemelia in November 1850. December 5th. 1850, I bought a farm in Phelps of Esmond Blackmar of Nawark, Wayne County, New York. April 1, 1851, we moved on our Phelps farm of 188 acres, for which I was to pay $8500. I paid $2,000 down and $500 the first day of October. The spring of 1852 I sold my Union farm for $1700. I was owing on it $300 which left $1400. In the spring of 1853 I sold my Phelps farm for $10,000. When I went on the Blackmar farm I was worth all told about $4,000. Then I left, two years later, $7,000. In June 1833, I bought a farm Simeon Philleps, near the village of Phelps for $8,161.00 125 acres. In September, our eldest son, George, was married to Mary Ann Garlock of Phelps. In October 1854, our daughter, Martha Ann, Died. In June 1855 I went with Mr. McLoud and James Ridley to Illinois to see the country. In 1856 I sold Exra Brown 8 acres of our plat For $1,240.
In June 1857 I sold my farm to Dr. Tresler for $10,000. We were to work it until October and live on it as we had done. In August George and I went to Michigan ; was gone four weeks, came back, and took our farm again. In November we with four of our children, moved to Union , our old home, again. George and Oliver took the farm in 1858. Steven went to live with his Uncle Daniel Squier in Canada . In the spring James went back to Phelps to live with the boys. The spring of  1859 we all moved back to Phelps. I bought a Farm of William Johnson for George, the Courtright Farm; gave $4,000 for 80 acres. The Spring of 1860 I bought a farm of Mr. Crane for Steven. Steven was married in september to Los Bostwick of Union, Broom County , New York . In July Uncle Dudley died. Oliver lived with Mr. Norton a year, selling groceries. James went into Mr. Norton's store. He stayed there until August 1862, when he and Oliver enlisted in the Army.
In November following, I went to Virginia after him, by the way of  Harrisburgh, Baltimore , Washington , Fort Monroe , and Norfolk . I found him near Portsmouth , very sick. I stayed with him until he was able to come home and brought him with me. We arrived home about one o'clock and the next day, a few minuts after four o'clock my wife died. I had been from home just three weeks. I had four children with me. James stayed home until he got well, then went to Mr. Horton's again. The last of February 1863, I went to Lowell to see Sister Abigail. I stopped to Springfield to see sister Elizabeth. Paid Mr. Bailey a call in North Adams , Called on Steven Bush in Greenbush. Mr. bailey in Cohoes , then home gone two weeks. In the spring, I repaired our house.
In June I was married to Mrs. Caroline Childs, widow of the Elder Theron Childs of Caslton , Ontario County, New York . We were married at her brother-in-law's in Minden . We then went to her brother's in Akron . Made a few visits, and returned homes; gone eight days. In the fall our daughter Lydia went to Lowell and spent the winter with her Uncle James Mort. In February 1864, I went down to Virginia at Deepbotton near Richmond to see Oliver. He was sick; I stayed until he was better and then came home.  

Steven went to Castleton in trade with Mr. Runyon in the spring of 1865. In July Oliver came home from the war, gone almost three years. In June after my wife and I went to her sister's in Milwaukee . In October we went to see my sisters in Canada and Massachusetts . In December we attended a Christmas tree in Syracuse with her relatives. In spring of 1866 Steven moved into our tenant house and sold goods in Mr. Hoske's store. I sold our plank road farm to Daniel O. Parker for $4800. In October, wife and I made a visit to Akron , Ohio , and Michigan as far seat as Kalamazoo . We visited at Jonesville and Hudson, and then home again. The 8th day of January our daughter Lydia was married to Lysander Cummings.
In the spring of 1867, March, while we were making a visit to Mr. Cole's W.W. Gates came to our house to buy our farm. When I came home, he came to see me. I sold my farm to him the 21st of March, 1867 for $16,000 to give him possession the 15th day of April. I got my bills of Sale out to sellon the 3rd of April. When the day came we sold all out, a good day and a good sale. We settled with all and left The house on the day we agreed to. Our goods all went outi all of our children all from home but Frankie, wife, Frankie, and myself went to George's and stayed a day or two with them. Wife and I went to Mr. Cole's at Minden . I looked about the country for about ten days. wife went back to George's and I started for Michigan . I telegraphed Oliver in Erie to be ready to go with me. wife and Frankie made a few visits in Phelps and then they started for Akron to see her brother and family. I went back to Betavia and stayed there four days and looked around the country to find a farmi could not find one to suit and I went to Milwaukee to attend the Silver wedding of Brother and Sister Moore. I went to Dellener with Mr. Coburn to see the country i then back to Chicago . Then we all went to Belvedere to see some of the cousins. Then Bother Benjamin and wife went home to Akron . We went as far as Rockford , We stayed there a week at the hoteli then came back to Chicago . Then we went out to Aurora and Betavia , ILL. we looked the country over but could find nothing to buy then went to Elkhart , Indiana looked a day or two and then to Jonesville.
We looked the country over and made a verbal bargain with Isaac Runyon his farm south of Jonesville, if I came back in such a time. Then to Hudson , a day, then to canadaugua and from there to Leroy and Lima , from there back to Phelps. Could not find any better to suit than the Jonesville property. We shipped our goods to Jonesville and started July 13,1867i went as far as Rochester , then to Pennfield a day i stopped aver one train in Erie to see Oliveri then to Jonesville and to Mr. Runyon's. We would not do as he had agreed to. I looked around one day and then made a new bargain with him the 21st day of July, 1867 to take possession the 14th day of August. Our goods came in about a week and we put them in one of the unoccupied rooms and waited for the day to come when we could have possession. Greig and Frankie came a day or two after Mr. Runyon left, I hired two Men to finish the haying and harvesting. William came with the colt and buggy the 1st. of September. I bought a pair of horses of Elihu Davis. In a few days I bought a pair of oxen from Henry Delivan and began to work again. In a few days I hired Mr. Martin of Hillsville to turn around and draw our shed and raise it, Uncle Zera Tubbs to do the carpenter work. I took possession of it the 14th day of August, 1867. We lived on said farm for three years, then wife and I went East were gone over two months. Came back to Jonesville and moved out things to Hillsdale in President Fairfield's house. Paid rent until April 1st, 1872 then bought it. I gave $3,520 for it. The summer following I moved the main house 28 feet East and raised 18 inches. I moved the back part of the house on the Southwest corner of the lot and fitted it up for a tenant house.

 

* The great Presidential campaign of 1844 was of President James K. Polk.