1/1/1857 Thursday. We all went to the village & then over to Peters. John & I went home with Henry & Hellen staid all night, we had oysters for supper. Pleasant.
JCH: James Shepard was here this morning. Went down to the village. Took down some hams at 10 cents per pound. Over to Peter Showerman's to supper. Went up and stayed Henry Showerman’s all night.
1/2/1857 Friday. Eugene, Malvina & Cornelia Shepard visited here. We had quite a party of little folks here in the evening. Cornelia & Malvina staid all night. Pleasant & good sleighing.
JCH: Eugene, Melvina, Cornelia Shepard were here all day. Some young folks were here in the evening.
1/3/1857 Saturday. The children started for home. Ma & I visited to Israel Quances. I sewed for Elizebeth. Pa & John went to the debating school. A bad day. Snowed & blowed.
JCH: Drew 3 loads of wood from the other woods. Went up to the debating school in the evening.
1/4/1857 Sunday Snowed some. At home all day.
JCH: Did not attend meeting to day. Went over to Mr Showermans and got some papers.
1/5/1857 Monday Cold and stormy. Sewing on my dress. Myron Putnam, Frank & Dan Shepard here in the evening.
JCH: Chopped some at the door. Went up in the south woods and drew a load of wood.
1/6/1857 Tuesday Cold. Finished my dress. John made a wood box. Pa went up south to a church meeting. Uncle Webster Showerman & wife came here.
JCH: Father Shepard went up south to attend a church meeting. The parties were Elder Putnam and Deacon Lovelace. Made a wood box. Very cold. Webster Showerman came here.
1/7/1857 Wednesday Not as cold as yesterday. Uncle Webster Showerman here this morning then went up to Grandpa Showermans. Our folks went up to Uncle Nelson Hawley’s to an oyster supper. Josiah Putnam here evening to see the melodeon.
JCH: Father and mother Shepard went up to Nelson Hawley's to an oyster supper. Chopped a little. Mr Webster Showerman here this morning.
1/8/1857 Thursday Very cold, coldest day we have had. John & I went up to Grandfathers Showerman’s. Webster & Hulda Showerman were there. Good visit.
JCH: Went up to John Showermans to day. Tremendous cold. Mr. Webster Showerman there, I went over home and got an Almanac.
1/9/1857 Friday It stormed all day. We all went up to Uncle Asahel Shepards in the evening to an oyster supper. I twisted thread all day.
JCH: Went up to Asahel Shepards to an oyster party singing and a prayer meeting. We had good oysters.
1/10/1857 Saturday Snowed all day. Uncle Webster & wife called this morning. Aunt Julia Brainard visited here had a good visit with her. John went up to the debate in evening. I went to Elizebeths.
JCH: Went up to a monthly meeting up south. They had a great time confessing. Webster Showerman called here. Debate in the eve. I was President.
1/11/1857 Sunday. At home all day. John & Pa went to the schoolhouse to meeting. Ben Moore preached. Webster called this morning, thinks of starting for home to morrow.
JCH: I went up to the school house to meeting. Ben Moore preached. Mr Levings was there and spoke. Webster Showerman called here.
1/12/1857 Monday Cold & high winds. John & I went to Wm Hamiltons, staid all night, John & Wm went to the debating school.
JCH: Went in the woods and cut three saw logs for plank to move the barn with. Lorette and I went on the Center road. I went to a debating school in the evening.
1/13/1857 Tuesday. We went over to David Knowltons, had very good visit. Davids folks & Wm folks went to Mr. Lanes donation. We went to Mr. Thompsons in the evening. Good visit and then home.
JCH: Went over to Mr. Knowltons, was there all day. We went over to Mr. Thompsons in the evening. A donation party at Mr Lanes. Mr Knowlton went up.
1/14/1857 Wednseday. John went to the village & sent for New York Weekly Times, paid 80 cents for it. Uncle Ira Shepard & wife here all night.
JCH: Went down to Batavia with James Shepard. Some warmer to day. Sent for the New York Weekly Times, paid 80 cents.
1/15/1857 Thursday. John & I went up to uncle Nelson Hawley’s visiting, Henry Showerman & wife, David Knowlton & wife, Wm Hamilton & wife were there, had a good visit.
JCH: Went up to Mr Hawleys. Henry Showerman, Wm Hamilton and David Knowlton was there. Had a good visit.
1/16/1857 Friday cold and stormy. Pa & Ma went up to Grandmother Showermans.
JCH: Father and mother Shepard went up to see their folks, pretty cold and stormey. Chopped a little today.
1/17/1857 Saturday cold and blustering. At home all day. Making John a fine shirt.
JCH: Went up to James Shepards in the evening. No debating school the roads being quite bad. A man there with potted beehives. Quite a number in.
1/18/1857 Sunday. Did not get to meeting. The roads are considerably filled up. Thermometer 21 degrees below zero.
JCH: Did not go to meeting to day.
1/19/1857 Monday Clear and cold. Our folks went to the village afternoon. I sent for a few things by her.
JCH: Father and mother Shepard went to the village I received my Times to day.
1/20/1857 Tuesday Cold. Made a bonnet case for myself & finished the fine shirt.
JCH: Father Shepard took down six bushels of wheat, received 11 shillings per bushel. Chopped some to day.
1/21/1857 Wednesday Very blustering and cold. Franklin Shepard here all day and went with us up to Henry Showermans to an oyster party (or a dancing party). Good many there, had bad time getting there, the road was drifted.
JCH: Frank Shepard here all day. We went up to Henry Showermans in the evening to an oyster party and dance. About 16 couples were there. Heard that Mr. H. Huggins little boy was dead.
1/22/1857 Thursday Very cold. I should think it must be 22 degrees below zero. Sewing, commenced making some chemises for myself.
JCH: Heard that last Sunday was 21 degrees below zero. At home all day.
1/23/1857 Friday Clear & cold. Ma & I visited to Peter Showermans. Pa & John went up to visit Mr Rogers school. John & Frank Shepard went off in the evening.
JCH: Went up to see Rogers school. He keeps a good school. Lorette says I cut up pretty bad.
1/24/1857 Saturday Very cold. At home all day. Pa & John went up to the debate at night. Sarah Showerman visits here.
JCH: At home till evening. Went up to the debate, a very good one.
1/25/1857 Sunday. John & I went to the village to Church, to the Methodist.
JCH: Went down to Batavia to meeting. Went to the Methodist Church.
1/26/1857 Monday Wind is in the south to night. Not quite as cold to day. We had a large wash to day.
JCH: Was at home all day.
1/27/1857 Tuesday Rainy this morning, thawing. Our folks started for Uncle Covells today. Heard that Mrs. Walter Cole has got a daughter.
JCH: Chopped some to day. Our folks went out to Uncle Covells. Lorette and I at home. Mr Hawley here to day.
1/28/1857 Wednesday Very pleasant day. At home all day. We were alone.
JCH: Chopped some to day.
1/29/1857 Thursday Beautiful day. Our folks came home at night. They say that Jane Hawley has got a melodeon.
JCH: Our folks came home today.
1/30/1857 Friday Another beautiful day . David Knowlton & wife, Wm Stewart & wife visited here. John & I visited to Wesley Sweetlands in the evening. Wesley talks of going to Cattaraugus to live. Heard that Sam Hawley has got a child, also that Geo Moore has got a son. Uncle Marvin Shepard came here at night.
JCH: Wm Stewart here. Mr. Shepard the melodeon man called here and Lorette bought two pieces of music of him. Mr. Knowlton and wife here. I went down to Batavia with him. Marvin Shepard & wife came here in the evening.
1/31/1857 Saturday. Uncle Marvin Shepard & wife, Asahel & wife, Dennis Chaddock & wife, Nelson Hawley & wife, Clorinda Putnam & Frank Shepard visited here. I finished the last of my sewing yesterday.
JCH: Went down to Batavia with Marvin Shepard. Went into the jail with him, 9 prisoners there, Don Cortes a spiritualist and Mr. Olin who was in for forgery. Came home, most all of Shepards here. Bought clover seed.
Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.
See the January 1857 footnotes.
