Lorette's Diary

Following is the set of footnotes associated with research of the transcription of the November 1856 diary entries by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton. These footnotes are also interspersed and embedded within the transcription.

227. Mrs Ben Moore ♢ Prudence Lee Moore married Benjamin Moore in the 1850's. They lived in the same house as his sister Mrs. Clara Moore Calkins.
228. aunt Julia ♢ Julia had six step-children, being only seven years older than the oldest, Rice. Elizabeth, the youngest was only two when Julia came into the family.
229. Mr. Getten ♢ Henry and Mary Elizabeth Churchill (1828-1910) lived near the West Bethany Baptist church, on Creek Road, between Ira Newton and Captain Elisha Smith. They had two children, Oscar (1849-1865) and Helen (1850-1899).
230. Lorette Cole ♢ Lorette Cole, was a sister of Walter Cole on the south end of Putnam Settlement Road. She had married Mr. Kremer in October. Harriet Clark had married Mr. Wilken.
231. Breckenridge ♢ John C. Breckinridge, born in Lexington, KY in 1821, was the youngest ever Vice President of the USA.
232. aunt Julia ♢ Julia Powers Brainard, 34, was 21 years younger than her husband, Levi, and seven years older than her oldest step-son Rice.
233. Presbyterian ♢ The new First Presbyterian Church in Batavia had just been completed earlier in the year.
234. Mrs. Clair Calkins ♢ Clarissa Moore 28 was the wife of Sylvester Hackley Calkins; they lived in the same house as her brother Bemjamin Moore on Ellicott St Rd.
235. elected President ♢ A Democrat, James Buchanan won the presidential election, with 174 electoral votes. All of New England, New York, and the upper Mid West voted for Republican John C. Fremont who gained 141 electoral votes. The American Party chipped in with eight votes for Fillmore.
236. Mr Charles ♢ William Charles, 36, operated a blacksmith shop on the corner of Shepard and Ellicott St Roads. He also operated a Dry Goods store. His wife was Elizabeth Laramy, daughter of John and Elizabeth Laramy, who lived nearby. They were all born in England.
237. Holdens ♢ Richard 42, operated a dry goods store on the corner of Main and Jackson streets, Holden & Thorn, in the Village of Batavia. When his son Hinman entered the business in 1880, the name was changed to R. O. Holden and Sons.
238. Frisbe ♢ Alonzo Frisbee was 31 and had just married Egesta Smith, daughter of Gilbert and Polly Smith. Sumner Lawrence, 26, married Abbie Jane Lamkin in the early 1850’s, they did not have any children.
239. six-penny dress ♢ Any guesses what this is?
240. Asineth ♢ Asinath 31, the wife of Augustus Conklin of Middlebury and daughter of John Shepard’s sister, Phebe Shepard Hawley and her first husband, Alvin Hawley who died in 1846. In 1856, the Conklins had four children: Frank 11, Mary Jane 5, Charles 2, and Harriet, 1.
241. north school house ♢ The north schoolhouse is the one located at the north end of Shepard Road.
242. Clark Newton ♢ Clark C. Newton 21, was a son of Ira Newton and Mary Ann Loomis who had died at the age of 36 in 1839 and was buried in West Bethany Cemetery. It has been said that Clark's father, Ira Newton and his two brothers, Josiah and Barnabus, from Vermont passed through Genesee County on their way to defend Buffalo during the War of 1812, and thought the area so beautiful that they decided they would settle here if they survived the War. They did, and settled on Brown Mills Road in Alexander. Clark was with his sister, s Elvira Ann King 25.
243. Sarah West ♢ Sarah West was a daughter of Warren West, who lived on Putnam Road next door to sisters Harriet and Laura Shepard lived.
244. Hellen Hamilton ♢ Helen Hamilton, 27 was John Hamilotn’s unmarried sister; she lived at her parents home on Francis Road, Bethany.
245. Israel ♢ Israel and Elizabeth Quance had one child, Lois born at the end of 1855.
246. Our folks ♢ In 1856, there was no immediate communication available, other than a telegram.
247. Azro Norton ♢ Azro Norton (1830-1920) was the oldest child and lived across from his parents on Francis Road, Tichenor Norton and Nancy Ball.
248. Wm Johnson ♢ There were so many William Johnson’s in Genesee County, it is difficult to determine which one this is. Most likely it was William Johnson, a good friend of John Hamilton’s, who was the son of William Johnson and Harriet Favell of Francis Rd.
249. Mr. Sprague ♢ Drayton Sprague (1821-1899) He was married to Cordelia Loomis, daughter of Sylvester and Susannah French of Alexander.
250. Mrs. Bryan ♢ Belinda Shepard Bryan (1829-1891) was one of the oldest children of Lorette’s Uncle Andrew Shepard (1803-1848). She was married to Chancy Baldwin Bryan (1817-1882) by 1850 and lived in Cascade, Dubuque, Iowa.
251. Uncle Andrew Shepard's girl ♢ Andrew Shepard was the oldest of Lorette’s father's thirteen siblings’ brothers. He married Lucy Whaley of Middlebury, Wyoming County in 1826 and they had three children there in Attica, Thankful, Belinda, and Almon. After Almon and Lucy died, Andrew moved to Ohio in 1834. That is where he met and married widow Eliza Norton Proctor, who had four children in Ohio from her first marriage, and then six children from Andrew – 13 siblings in all for Belinda.
252. Mallison ♢ Ezra Mallison (1788-1861) and Thankful Whaley (1791-1857) Thankful was Belinda’s aunt, a sister of her mother, Lucy Whaley Shepard. Ezra settled in Middlebury in 1810 and was a soldier in the War of 1812. They are both buried in Dale Cemetery, Wyoming County, NY.
253. Lorinda ♢ Lorinda Showerman Bride was four years older than her niece, Lorette.
254. Charles Lamkin ♢ Charles Lamkin lived next door to Lorette's grandparents John and Elizabeth Showerman on Francis Rd, Bethany.
255. Daniel ♢ Daniel Shepard, 21, was Lorette's cousin, son of James and Amanda Putnam Shepard.
256. Walter Cole ♢ Walter Cole (1823-1899) was a cattle breeder on Putnam Settlement.
257. schoolhouse ♢ Down to the schoolhouse meant the one on the corner of Francis and Putnam Roads.

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212. Olive Powers ♢ Aunt Olive Showerman Powers Olive and Milton, married about four years, lived on Francis Rd across from the Hamilton family. They lived with Olive’s parents John Showerman and Elizabeth Powell Powers.
213. Colonel Crane ♢ Col. C. Crane of Indiana addressed several Genesee County town meetings for the American Party on the subject of being an American. At that time, he had delivered 455 lectures on Americanism. A “Fillmore” was a follower of the American Party’s candidate for President, Millard Fillmore.
214. permanent ground ♢ Land was purchased on Ellicott St Rd for $3047. Twenty acres from William Laramy and eight from William Ware.
215. hum bug ♢ P. T. Barnum coined the phrase, hum bug, which was an unexpected joke or trick on a group of people. In his 1855 autobiography, he had the goal to portray himself as “the world’s most tricky and entertaining fellow.” (zocalopublicsquare.org > The Greatest Story Ever Told About Hyperbole, Humbug and P.T. Barnum!)
216. rode on horseback ♢ The Genesee County Fair was hosted by the Agricultural Society of Genesee County. The officers of the Society that year were: President Eden Foster of Elba; Vice President John F. Plato of Batavia; Secretary Horatio N. Wright of Batavia; and Treasurer Chauncey Kirkham of Batavia.
217. Romanism ♢ Romanism was a derogatory term for Roman Catholics. Many Protestants were worried about the huge influx of Catholics from other countries, their Pope, and their voting power.
218. Peter's folks ♢ Peter Showerman lived on Batavia Bethany Townline Road. In his household: Eunice Lyons 36, James Martin 17, Sarah Josephine 15, and possibly son Henry 23, and wife Helen (Shepard) 19.
219. Mr Prindles auction ♢ His father Lyman Prindle first came to Genesee County in 1801 and had died in 1854. The farm was later known as Oakland Farm on Paul Road in East Bethany. Daniel and his wife Harriet Rumsey lived with his widowed mother Sarah Newell Prindle 72 and their three children, Harriet17, Sarah13, and Daniel just born in January. Son Lyman died shortly after he was born in 1847.
220. Mr Barney ♢ The name Barnea was also spelled Barney. Mrs. James Quance of East Rd was Lucy Barnea and she had three brothers, Benjamin 36, Seth 34 a carpenter who lived in Lockport, Niagara County, and Nicholas 26. Their father, Nicholas Barnea died in the 1830’s and their mother Lucy 57 lived with her second husband, Samuel Hart, in Monroe County.
221. Sarah Showerman ♢ Sarah Showerman 15, was the only daughter of Peter and Roxanny Showerman. Her two brothers were Henry 23 who married Helen Shepard, and James 17.
222. Ransom Shepard ♢ Ransom Shepard a son of James and Amanda Shepard, was the youngest of four boys born two years apart: Frank 23, Daniel 21, Harlan 19, and Ransom 17.
223. visited me ♢ James Shepard's wife Amanda, son Frank, and daughters Phebe and Maria.
224. Miss Cole ♢ Lorette Cole 29 was Walter Cole’s sister. She married Mr. Kremer. Harriet Clark married Mr. Wilken.
225. Walter Cole ♢ Walter was only 6 years old when his father died in 1829. He was the oldest of four children and by 1856 lived in the big brick house on Putnam Settlement with them and his wife, Sophronia Blanchard 30.
226. Elder Short ♢ Elder Seneca Short was a Methodist minister, and Elder Charles Putnam was a Baptist minister.

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188. Odion girl ♢ Austin married Abigail Peck Odion, 17, daughter of Samuel Odion and Abigail Peck of Bethany.
189. Orcutts farm ♢ This could have been Chester B. Orcutts farm. He was born in 1818 in Ontario County, New York. He and his wife Amelia lived in the Town of Batavia on Batavia Stafford Townline Road.
190. Sally Putnams ♢ Sarah 42, wife of Warren Putnam, had four children: Monroe 17, twins Eveline and Emeline15, and Emerette 12.
191. Harriet & Laura Shepard ♢ Harriet 26 and Laura Shepard 23, were Lorette’s single aunts who lived in the little red house on Putnam Road at Francis Road. They lived there with their recently widowed mother Catherine Wilson Shaw Shepard, 65.
192. Charlie ♢ Lorette's baby brother, Charles Shepard, would have been one year old on August 3rd.
193. Josiah Putnam ♢ Josiah 55 lived on Putnam Settlement, Bethany; his second wife Lydia (1816-1904) was a daughter of Daniel and Catherine Shaw. Josiah was a son of Peter Jr. (1758-1821) and Susannah Osgood (1766-1822) Putnam. Josiah's first wife was Olivia P. Lord (1802-1835). She and three of their children are buried in Putnam Cemetery: Nathan (1823-1824), Philinda (1825-1857), Jerome (1833-1835).
194. Brook's speeches ♢ These would have been speeches by Erastus Brooks who was the American Party's candidate for New York State Governor.
195. wife ♢ Elvira 36, was born in Attica, Wyoming County. She was a daughter of James Green (1802-1884) of Attica.
196. Wm. Fuller ♢ John’s cousin 33, was a son of Truman Fuller and Matilda Lord Fuller. The family lived in East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut. Matilda, who died in 1848, was a twin of John Hamilton’s mother Lucinda Lord Hamilton.
197. Mr. Prestons ♢ Lyman 36 lived in Hamilton, Madison County, NY in 1855. He was married to Louisa F. Lord, John Hamilton’s cousin. Their parents were brother and sister, William Lord and Lucinda Lord. Louisa was a sister to Orrin Lord, George Lord, and Lydia Lord Dunbar.
198. Mr. Filmore preached ♢ Isaac O. Fillmore 40, had been the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Cambridge, Washington County, NY before he came to Batavia earlier this year. He and wife Julia only stayed in Batavia a few years, as he moved on to Syracuse by 1860.
199. Uncle Marvin Shepard ♢ Marvin 42 was married to Persis Chaddock (1821-1910) and they lived in Wethersfield, NY. Marvin and brother Martin were twins and lived most of their adult lives living next to each other.
200. All the children ♢ All of the children of John Shepard, Sr at that time was: James, Asahel, John Jr., Ira, and twins Martin, Marvin; and daughters: Phebe (Alvin) Hawley, Polly (Dennis) Chaddock, Sally (Nelson) Hawley, Fannie (Clark) Shaw, Harriet, and Laura. His oldest son, Andrew died in 1848 in Illinois, and youngest daughter, Delliah died in1826 at age 5 in Middlebury, NY.
201. Cousin Dunbar ♢ Lydia Maria Dunbar from Hamilton, Madison County, NY, was John Hamilton's first cousin, a daugher of William Lord and Clarissa Brainard.
202. Plato farm ♢ John 54 owned land on Creek Road, Batavia, but lived on Clinton Street in the Village of Batavia.
203. William Stewarts ♢ William H. Stewart John’s brother-in-law was celebrating his 32 nd birthday.
204. Fremont ♢ John C. Fremont was the Republican candidate for the upcoming Presidential election on November 4th. John’s inclination was for Millard Fillmore, the American Party candidate. Millard was born in Cayuga County, NY and married his schoolteacher, Abigail Powers in 1826. Abigail was Lorette’s 4 th cousin 1x removed (they had the same 4 th grandfather, Walter Powers 1639-1708).
205. Mariah ♢ It was popular in the nineteenth century to pronounce the name Maria as Ma-ri-ah, as evidenced by John’s new spelling of Maria Shepard Leonard’s name.
206. Mrs Hawley ♢ Sally and Nelson Hawley lived on the Ellicott Street Road area near Bethany Center Road. Their names do not show up on any maps as they rented their lodging. As years progressed, their name “Hawley” became “Holley” by evidenced in1910 in the same location.
207. Mr. Nott ♢ Several Notts in the Bethany vicinity: William (1786-1863), John (1812-1889), and Francis (1813-1896).
208. shillings ♢ A shilling was one twentieth of a United Kingdom pound; worth about twelve pennies.
209. Mr. Morgan ♢ Edwin D Morgan became the 21st governor of New York State.
210. Beecher ♢ Henry was a protestant minister and a splendid speaker from the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights, New York City. Through his oratorical ability he was able to tell Americans what the new Republican Party stood for - Christian morality and the non-advancement of slavery in the developing West. The trustees of his church granted him a leave of absence to campaign throughout New York State during the late summer and fall of 1856 for Presidential candidate, John C. Fremont. An interesting note about the Beecher family - Henry's brother, Dr. William H. Beecher, served as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Batavia from 1839 until 1843. Apparently Henry Ward Beecher never showed up for the political gathering he was expected at in Batavia that day.

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164. Mother Hamilton ♢ Lucinda 59, had her first child at the age of twenty, a son, James L. who died in 1819. Her second child, Mary I. was born in 1818 and died in 1854. William, born in 1821 was her oldest living child. Next came Nelson L. who died in 1841 at the age of nineteen. Harriet born in 1823 was married to David Knowlton, and next daughter Adeline was married to William Stewart. Next came Helen, John, Lizzie, Benjamin Frank, and James. Lucinda had her last child, Francis, when she was forty-six, Francis died in 1847 at the age of four. All of the Hamiltons were buried in Maple Lawn Cemetery in Bethany Center.
165. Mr. Jesse Brainards ♢ Jesse was the nineteen-year-old son of Levi Brainard and Mary Morse.
166. machine ♢ Threshing Machines were use to separate the grain (ie wheat) from the straw.
167. called at night ♢ Sumner Lawrence 26 was married to John Hamilton’s old neighbor on Francis Road, Abby Lamkin. They were with Alonzo Frisbe and Egesta Smith, daughter of Captain Elisha Smith.
168. Dr. Baker ♢ He, along with many Genesee County men, was a FreeMason a 32d degree Mason.
169. Mr. Hiram Showerman ♢ Hiram was a son of John Showerman Jr. and his first wife Catherine Niver. Hiram’s wife was Phebe Johnson 27, a daughter of William Johnson and Harriet Favill of Frances Road. They lived in Wisconsin, where their son Byron Euclid was born, and died five months later.
170. Abby ♢ Abby 43, was one of eleven children born to John Moore and Clarissa Sparks who lived across from Lorette’s parents. When her husband Andrew Sparks died in 1844, they had a son Wells Sparks age 3. By In 1850 she was married to Harry Coe (1802-1885) of Pavilion.
171. Ellen Lyman ♢ Ellen Lyman, single age 20, lived with her parents Samuel Lyman and Charlotte Williamson on Ellicott St Rd.
172. Lorinda ♢ Lorinda, 24, was living in Iowa with her new husband, James Bride.
173. Malvina Sweetland ♢ Daughters of Rev. Seneca Mason Short by two marriages: Malvina 26 a daughter of Mary who died at the age of 24 and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery in 1835 in Livonia, Livingston County and wife of John W Sweetland, and sister Laura 13 was a daughter of Seneca's second wife, Maria Newton.
174. Josiah Putnams ♢ Josiah 55 lived near his father Peter Putnam’s house on Putnam Settlement. He was married twice, first to Olivia Lord who died in 1835 and was buried in Putnam Cemetery. They had five children who all died young except for Philinda 31 who lived with her father. Josiah’s second wife was Lydia Wilson Shaw, 40 a daughter of Daniel Shaw and Catherine Wilson (who was married to Lorette’s grandfather John Shepard Sr, who died in February 1856.
175. aunt Julia ♢ Julia Powers was born in 1822, the last child Asahel Powers who died in 1823, and Elizabeth Powell Powers Showerman. She was born in Barre, Genesee County (later to become part of Orleans County). In 1825 her mother Elizabeth, 36, married John P. Showerman Jr. In 1830 the two combined families of eleven, lived in Alexander. In 1835 the family lived in Freedom Cattaraugus county and remained there until 1850 when they lived in Barre once again. That is where Julia married widower Levi Brainard in 1848.
176. uncle Nelson Hawleys ♢ Nelson 45 was married to John Shepard’s sister, Sally. They were renters and lived at the south end of Putnam Rd near Walter Cole.
177. old Mrs. Thompson ♢ Lorette’s aunts and cousins were probably with Matilda Rugg Thompson, the wife of Asa Thompson, both around 80. She appears to be the oldest Thompson in Genesee County at the time. In 1850 the couple lived in Bethany with their youngest of eight children, Lydia and her husband, Anson Munger, and their two children, Luin L. born in 1845, and Esther A. born in 1850.
178. meeting ♢ William Miller predicted the 2nd coming of Christ would occur on or around October 22, 1844, based on his interpretation of Biblical dates. On the night before, believers from miles around gathered on Pinnacle Hill, the highest point in Rochester in preparation for the Coming. The Millerites were disillusioned by sunrise, and most abandoned their leader, but many stayed loyal to Miller and by 1860 they began to formalize the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. The Millerites published a paper, “The Present Truth” which may have been a topic at the meeting.
179. George Kendall ♢ George Kendall, 22, was the oldest son of Reuben Kendall (1804-1874) and Alice Holden (1800-1866).
180. the Center ♢ Bethany Center is located around the intersection of Bethany Center Rd and Route 20 in the Town of Bethany, Genesee County, NY
181. Mr. Rogers ♢ There were several Rogers families living near Bethany Center including, William Ely Rogers (1809-1899) and Elisha Rogers (1789-1876) both born in Lyme, CT.
182. Eunice & Sarah ♢ Eunice Lyons lived with Sarah Showerman and her parents, Peter and Roxanny Showerman, on Townline Road, Bethany.
183. Jennett Shepard ♢ Lorette’s cousin, Jannette 15, was a daughter of Asahel Shepard and Jane Newcomb.
184. Mary Hurty ♢ Mary 23 was a daughter of John Hurty and Elizabeth Bartels, born in Lowville, Lewis County, NY. She married John Latridge.
185. got a boy ♢ Mortimer was the last child of Morris and Maria Putnam who moved to Burton, Genesee County, Michigan in 1855. His sibling were, Melvina, Morris, Lorette, Romaine, and Charles M.
186. Sally ♢ Sally (Sarah Ann) Quance, 42, wife of Warren Putnam was with the wives of her brothers - Lucy, 29, was married to James M. Quance, and Elizabeth, 27, was married to Israel Quance.
187. Checkered Tavern ♢ The Checkered Tavern was painted like a checkerboard. It was located at the corner of Batavia Stafford Townline Rd and Ellicott St Rd. It is the same building designated as Bartholf’s Tavern on the 1854 Map of Genesee County.

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149. Sally Putnam ♢ She was the oldest child of Isaac Quance and Mehitable Powers, and wife of Warren Putnam (1811-1901) and Prudence Johnson (1784-1844). Sally lived on East Road, Batavia.
150. sheep ♢ The Shepard's raised feeder lambs, fattened them over the winter, and sold them in the spring, primarily in Buffalo, which was considered the best "fat" lamb city in the northeast.
151. Billy Ware ♢ Billy born in England, owned 180-acre Cedardale Farm on Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, which had 80 acres of cedar swamp bordered on the west by Tonawanda Creek and on the east by Celery Brook.
152. Doctor Northrup ♢ Dr. Northrup, born in Connecticut in 1818, he began his medical practice in Batavia in 1840. He built his house located at 315 East Main Street Batavia around 1850.
153. George Shepard ♢ George 22 was the oldest child of the twelve children of Asahel Shepard. George's mother was Jane Newcomb Shepard, who died in 1843.
154. Uncle Coville ♢ Richard married Lorette’s father’s sister, Phebe Shepard, in 1848; second marriage for both of them.
155. commenced keeping house ♢ This possibly meant John and Lorette now had their own living space, like an apartment, in her parent’s home.
156. Baptist Church ♢ The Bethany Center Baptist Church was built in 1826 on land donated by Abner Ashley. The church was also known as the church on the hill. Maple Lawn Cemetery is located next to the church.
157. Joel Rogers little boy ♢ Joel Rogers 50 and wife Mary Elizabeth Sherman 43 lived in Centerville, Allegany County in the 1855 census with Mary A 23 and Byron 15. The child who died may have been their second son, who would have been born around 1854.
158. Dan Shepard ♢ Daniel 21 and his brother Franklin Putnam Shepard 26, were sons of James and Amanda Putnam Shepard.
159. Frank ♢ Frank suffered from inflammation of the joints and muscles.
160. Mrs. Northrup ♢ Julia, Charles Northrups wife, was a daughter of Horace Gibbs (1787-1875) and Elaine Mack (1786-1864). Horace was a Mormon who had at one time lived in Batavia and operated a daily line of stage coaches between Buffalo and Canandaigua. Around 1845 he took his wife and several of his adult children and traveled across the plains with Brigham Young to Salt Lake City, Utah. There Horace had two more wives. Julia’s mother, Elaine, was a second cousin of LDS Prophet Joseph Smith’s mother. Julia's sister, Laura Ann Gibbs (1814-1893) had four husbands, and the story of her life appears on Findagrave.com/memorial/17933516/Laura-ann-gibbs
161. Mr. Ludden ♢ Dexter 17 was the young man who had been at Lorette’s parents’ house working for the past few days. He born in Bennington, Wyoming County, NY and lived in Batavia during the 1860 census.
162. Caroline Smith ♢ When Caroline was 9, her mother, Hannah Cory Bristol died. Her aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth (Cory) Powers (1789-1842) took her in. She was the wife of Webster Powers (1788-1850).
163. Aunt Sarah Shepard ♢ Sarah 38 was Asahel Shepard’s second wife. They married about 1844, after his first wife Jane Newcomb died in Wethersfield. The newly married couple and his six children then moved to the corner of Batavia-Bethany Townline and Francis Roads in Bethany. Sarah was a daughter of Stephen Badger Bartlett (1774-1830) and Anna Nurse (1782-1878) and born in Monroe County.

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131. Mr. Bartholf lime kiln ♢ The Bartholf family had a Lime Kiln located on Ellicott St Rd, just south of Levi Brainard’s home. A lime kiln was used to produce quicklime which was used to make plaster and mortar for buiding construction.
132. per bushel ♢ Genesee County produced over 41,000 acres of winter wheat according to the New York State Census of 1855.
133. Ira Chaddock ♢ Lorette's cousin, Ira J. Chaddock was the twenty-year old son of Dennis B. and Polly Shepard Chaddock. He lived with his parents on Chaddock Road, Alexander.
134. Ira Chaddock ♢ Ira J Chaddock had five siblings and six half siblings from his father's first wife, Lydia Thompson who died in 183; one of them was Persis Chaddock, wife of Marvin Shepard.
135. Kansas disturbance ♢ This was an era of the growing desire to abolish slavery and it was being fought bitterly in the territory Kansas, where a decision would need to be made whether slavery would be allowed once Kansas became a state.
136. Willard Quance ♢ Willard Quance 15 was the oldest child of Lyman Quance and Sarah Ann Chaddock.
137. Alexander Reamer ♢ Alexander 20 was the son of John J. and Nancy Reamer. They lived at the south end of Cedar Street at Ellicott Street (today known as St. John's) in Batavia. His mother died in 1836. John Reamer then married Elizabeth Debow, daughter of Andrew and Matina Alyea, and they had John Jr. in 1843 and Elizabeth in 1845. Alexander died of consumption (tuberculosis); he and his parents were buried in the Old Batavia Cemetery.
138. Aunt Lydia Bradner ♢ Lydia 63 was Lorette's great aunt, sister of Grandmother Elizabeth Showerman. Lydia and John Bradner lived in Barre, Orleans County with their daughter Louisa and her husband Abraham Brandt.
139. Willard ♢ Willard had three siblings, Henry 13, Lorette Frances 11, and a sister Matilda who died shortly after she was born in 1844.
140. Dr. Whitney ♢ Willard and his first wife Mary A. Whiting lived in Monroe County when son Willard Adolphus Whitney was born in 1844. In 1850 Willard 29 was a "Founder" in Chili, Monroe County and Mary and Adolphus lived next door to Dr. David Stark a Physician. In 1855 census before his wife died, they lived in Carlton, Orleans County and he was a listed as a "Miller." After his wife died, in the summer of 1855, he is in Batavia and in Diary entries he is called Mr. Whitmore and Mr. Whitman when he is dating Mary Ann Avery, and in 1856 is the first time he is called Doctor Whitney.
141. This day ♢ In John’s diary entry for this date, he visited Lorette and may have asked her to marry him.
142. Eunice Lyons ♢ Eunice Lyons would have been about 34. She was the adopted daughter of Peter and Roxanny Powers Showerman. She was adopted in 1833 and was often listed in the censuses as a domestic "servant".
143. north chamber ♢ Lorette’s parents’ home was divided into two living areas. I believe her parents lived on the north side closest to the yard and barn, and she and John occupied the south side.
144. Miss Stevens ♢ This could be Zoradi Stevens (1836-?), a daughter of Abial Stevens and Betsy Norton.
145. black smith shop ♢ There was a black smith shop at the north end of Shepard Road owned by William Charles born 1820 England.
146. summer fodder ♢ Fodder is the planting of temporary things like grain, corn, barley, or hay for animal feed.
147. Sarah ♢ Sarah Showerman was 16 and lived down the Road from Lorette.
148. Mr. Leonard & Maria ♢ Ira Leonard and Maria Shepard, married Christmas 1855

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118. Mr Getten ♢ Henry Getten in his 30’s was a blacksmith who lived in Bethany.
119. Mary Brainard ♢ Mary Brainard 17 was with Lorinda Showerman 24, who would soon be moving to Iowa.
120. Mr. Bride ♢ Unfortunately, not much was known about James when he married Lorinda, other than he was born in Virginia.
121. Melvin Buel ♢ Melvin 18 was a son of Cyrus and Katharine Buell and brother of Austin.
122. Dr. Baker's ♢ Born in Roxbury, Delaware County, N, John graduated from Geneva Medical College and opened his first practice in Ostelic, NY. In 1848 he came to Batavia with his brother Cyrus C. Baker, also a physician. Around 1842 John married Ann Mitchell and they had four children: Cynthia, Jennie Louisa, Sarah, and John M. in 1850. Ann died in 1852 and children Sarah and John died the next year. They were all buried in Elmwood Cemetery. In 1856, Dr. Baker lived in the Village of Batavia with his remaining two children, Cynthia 13, and Jennie Louisa 11.
123. Lyman Quance ♢ Lyman 38 and his wife Sarah and their four children, had moved to Michigan the past October with Morris Putnam. Morris remained there.
124. Nancy Johnson ♢ Nancy Powers, Lorette’s widowed great aunt, was married to Calvin Johnson of Climax, Michigan where they lived until he died in 1852. Nancy, a sister of Lorette grandfather, Asahel Powers, was born about 1802 in Batavia, NY. Her second husband was Alexis Benjamin Philow (1807-1881) of Richland, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
125. Mrs. Vorus ♢ Ann (Voorhees?) may have been a sister of Eunice Lyons (1822-1873), who was adopted by Peter and Roxanny Showerman in 1833 when they lived in Freedom, NY.
126. Elder Short ♢ Seneca 47 lived on Ellicott Street Road with his second wife Maria Newton, daughter of John Newton and Phebe Wright. Seneca was a son of William and Polly Short of Massachusetts. His first wife Mary died in 1835 and was buried in Livonia, Livingston County, NY. They had one daughter, Malvina F. Short. From his second marriage, Seneca had three daughters, Mary M. born about 1840, Laura J. born about 1843, and Rosalie R. born about 1845. Seneca was a Methodist Minister.
127. pulled tare ♢ Tares are weeds that look like wheat.
128. Charlie ♢ Charlie Shepard, Lorette’s brother, was 9 months old.
129. Milton Powers ♢ Around the corner from Lorette and John lived her uncle Charles Milton Powers and aunt Olive Amanda Showerman Powers, a half-sister of Lorette's mother. Milton was from Trenton Falls, Oneida County. They lived with Olive's parents, John and Elizabeth Showerman on Francis Road, Bethany with their three year old son Edwin A. Powers.
130. Lucy Quance ♢ Lucy 27, Lorette's neighbor on East Road, married James Quance in 1849. They had one daughter, Roselle Z Quance, age 4, and lived with her mother, Mehitable Quance.

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90. scions ♢ A scion is a living twig that is removed from a plant for the purpose of being joined to another plant.
91. Eliza ♢ Eliza 20 was John Hamilton’s sister who lived at home with her parents and sister Helen 27 and brother James 17.
92. comfortable ♢ A comfortable is today called a comforter.
93. Mr. Conklins ♢ Augustus lived next door to his parents, Elias Conklin and Clarissa Shepard in Middlebury. Around 1844 Augustus married Asinath Hawley a daughter of Phoebe Shepard and her first husband Alvin Hawley, who died in 1846.
94. sugar bush ♢ A sugar bush is a wooded area where maple syrup is produced by tapping maple trees. We in America learned how to do this from our Native Americans. Tapping involved boring a hole in a maple tree and then inserting a spout. As winter days warm in early spring, sap would begin to flow through the spout and into a bucket. The collected sap was then transported to a sugar house where it was boiled to reduce the water content. Many western New Yorkers thought maple sugar was more economical and tastier than imported white sugar.
95. Mrs. Azro Norton ♢ Mary Ann had married Azro Norton on March 1st. They lived in Bethany.
96. Delora Marsh ♢ Delora 11, was the only daughter of Joel Marsh Jr. (1800-1870) and Louisa (1814-1886). The family lived on Francis Road, Bethany, near John Hamilton's parents. They had three sons, Delos 21, Orlando 18, and Eugene 15.
97. school to Alexander ♢ The Genesee and Wyoming Seminary in Alexander was located in the cobblestone building still in existence in Alexander. Frank, John's brother, was 19.
98. Miss Benedict ♢ She may have been twelve-year-old daughter of William and Alzina of Alexander.
99. Henry Bostwick ♢ Henry was a son of Austin and Mary Bostwick of Bethany; later in life Henry ran a hardware and implement store on Jackson Street, Batavia.
100. Frank Shepard ♢ Frank 23 the oldest son of James Shepard and Amanda Putnam
101. Mr. Buel ♢ Cyrus 50 lived in West Bethany with wife Katharine Kromer 46 of Cobleskill, NY, and five children: Austin 21, Melvin 18, Hiram 17, Alice 14, and Allen 14. He was a carpenter and joiner. This was beginning of a yearlong remodeling project of Lorette’s parents’ home located at the fork of Shepard and Putnam Roads, Batavia.
102. Mr. Knowlton ♢ David 50 was named after his paternal grandmother, Lydia Batcheller (1748-1803). He was John Hamilton's brother-in-law, and a carpenter.
103. Lorinda ♢ Lorinda Showerman 24, Lorette's half aunt, was the youngest child of Grandmother Elizabeth Powell Powers and John Showerman. She was living in Albion, Orleans County, where Grandmother Elizabeth's sister, Lydia Powell Bradner, lived. Lorinda was moving on to Altoona, Iowa to live with her new husband, twenty-six-year-old James Bride, born in Virginia.
104. James Hamilton ♢ John’s youngest brother, James was 17. He lived at home with his parents, Hiram and Lucinda Hamilton, and his unmarried siblings, Helen, Lizzie, and Benjamin Frank.
105. Austin Buel ♢ He was the oldest son of Cyrus Buell and Catharine Kromer.
106. James Showerman ♢ James 17, a future doctor, was the youngest son of Peter and Roxanny Showerman.
107. Mr. B. Moore ♢ Benjamin age 36, became a minister in 1847. He married Prudence Lee and they shared a house with his brother John Moore Jr. on Ellicott St Rd., Batavia. Benjamin would go on and also preach in Carlton Hill, Honeoye Falls, Plano, Illinois, and Middleville, Michigan.
108. James Quance ♢ James 32 married Lucy Barney in 1849. They lived on East Road with his widowed mother, Mehitable Powers Quance. Mehitable was one of the first inhabitants of Batavia. The land she lived on was conveyed to her by her father, Peter Powers in 1815.
109. Mrs. Osgood Putnam ♢ She was a daughter of George and Mary Bryon and just had her first and only daughter, Julia.
110. gas lights ♢ The Batavia Gas Light Company installed gas lights in the Village of Batavia. They remained until electric lights were installed later in the century. In 1882 Thomas Edison's Illuminating Company in Manhattan, and began providing electricity to customers for about the same cost as gas.
111. Mrs. Butler ♢ Lucinda was the wife of Sidney Ward Butler, both in their 40’s, they had six children, Sidney Jr., Emily, Bryon, John, Martin, and Martha. They lived on Francis Road next to Asahel Shepard.
112. ploughing ♢ Lorette says 'John began ploughing' and John says he 'Plowed'. These two spellings are used interchangeably, and both are acceptable today.
113. Sally Putnam ♢ Sally and Warren Putnam, in their 40’s, lived on East Road, Batavia, next to her mother, Mehetable Powers Quance.
114. Morris Putnam ♢ was the oldest son of Morris and Maria Lord Putnam. His forty-five-year-old mother was expecting her sixth child in August, and he would be named Mortimer. Morris Jerome was about John and Lorette's age and probably went to school with them at School House No. 6 on the corner of Putnam and Francis Roads. He was single.
115. Captain Smiths ♢ lived across from the Little Tonawanda Creek, and a freshet, a sudden flood of water often due to melting snow or too much rain, took out the bridge going over the creek.
116. Hiram Hurty & Lorette ♢ Lorette Putnam 20 had just married Hiram Hurty at the end of 1855. She was the daughter of Morris Putnam and Maria Lord of Putnam Settlement who had moved to Michigan just before the marriage. The couple possibly lived with his parents in New Hudson, Allegany County, NY. Hiram may have met Lorette while in Batavia visiting his older brother Elijah Hurty, who had been in partnership with the George Bowen Law firm there (unfortunately, Elijah died in 1854 at the age 32 and was buried in the Old Batavia Cemetery). Today, New Hudson is the name of a road that runs through the Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area, located between Rushford and Cuba, NY.
117. Charlie ♢ Brother, Charles Shepard was nine months old. He was being watched by Sarah Showerman, 16.

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70. American ticket ♢ The American Party was anti-immigrant - they opposed the huge European influx of Catholic Irish and German immigrants. In 1856, it was recorded that 300,000 Catholic Irish immigrated into New York City. They were also anti-slavery, and their candidate was former President Millard Fillmore.
71. James Shepard's ♢ Uncle James Shepard 52 was the second of seven sons of John Shepard Sr. and Asenath Marvin, born in 1804 in Milford, Otsego county, NY. He was about twelve when his parents moved to Genesee County. He lived in Middlebury until 1828 when he married Amanda Putnam, and they lived in her Putnam family house for the rest of his life.
72. Mr. & Mrs. Dire ♢ Enoch 58 was born in Vermont and in 1824 married Louisa Bartlett of Rochester, NY. Besides Louisa, their other daughter was Mrs. Asahel Shepard (Sarah Bartlett). The Dyers lived in Union, Monroe County.
73. Miss Hellen Craig ♢ Uncle Daniel Powers 38 had been a widower for three years. He was a brother to Lorette’s mother Polly Powers Shepard. Helen 24, was a daughter of John Craig and Rhoda Fassett. He was a prosperous land owner and real estate developer in Middleport, Niagara County.
74. Franklin Shepard ♢ Frank 23 was the oldest son of James Shepard and Amanda Putnam. He was single and possibly working as a farm laborer in the Alexander area.
75. Myron Putnam ♢ Myron Putnam 40 was the fourth of six sons born to Franklin Putnam and Phebe Burroughs of Putnam Settlement. Myron’s father died in 1826 at the age of 44 and was buried in Putnam Cemetery. Myron’s mother Phebe, 37 when she became a widow, lived with him and his wife Elizabeth Lord and their daughter, Betsey Etta age 3 on Putnam Settlement.
76. William Johnson ♢ There were many William Johnsons in Genesee County - one in Alexander and at least three in Batavia and Bethany. This one most likely was the one who lived on Francis Road, Bethany, son of William and Harriet.
77. Mr. Reuben West ♢ Reuben was the oldest son of Warrant West and Sarah Richmond. Sarah’s brother, Leverett Richmond, owned the land at the corner of East and Putnam Roads.
78. James Showerman ♢ The seventeen-year-old was a brother to Henry 23 and Sarah15, and adopted sister Eunice Lyons 36, all children of Peter and Roxanny Showerman.
79. white school house ♢ The white school house was located in Bethany Center, and was also known as School House No 15.
80. Amanda & Alvira Mc Call ♢ The McCall sisters Amanda 24 and Elvira 19, were Lorette’s 2nd cousins, that means they descend from the same great-grandfather, Henry Shepard (1749-1835), a Revolutionary War veteran. Their mother, Esther Shepard had just died in February 1855; she was married to Turner McCall and they lived in Oneonta, Otsego County, NY.
81. Grandmother Shepard ♢ Catherine 65 now a widow, lived in what was later described as the little red house on Putnam Settlement (across from Francis Road).
82. Mr. Newton ♢ Ira of Alexander, age 60, was married to Betsey Blood Frisbie, mother of Alonzo Frisbee and step-mother of Clark C. Newton. Clark was to be married to Sarah Lincoln at the end of 1856.
83. Rosala ♢ Rosella 18 was with her brother Theodore G. Smith (1836-1872). They were children of Gilbert and Polly Smith of Alexander.
84. Uncle Ira Shepard ♢ Ira 43 and his wife Ruby Chaddock lived near Dry Bridge Road in Alexander. They had two sons, Joseph Chaddock 15, and Merritt 8; their daughter Elizebeth died shortly after she was born in 1849.
85. Seymour Chaddocks ♢ Seymour 33 was a son of Dennis Bruce Chaddock and Lydia Thompson (who died in 1835 and was buried in the West Bethany Cemetery). Dennis’ second wife was Polly Shepard, sister of Lorettes’s father. Dennis and Polly also had a Seymour Chaddock born in 1846 but he died young. Seymour married Elizabeth Lamkin (Charlie Lamkin’s sister) and they lived in the southwest corner of Bethany on the Chaddock Road.
86. Lydia Ann Shepard ♢ She wasa daughter of Asahel Shepard and Jane Newcomb (who died in 1843 at the age of 31 and buried in the Shepard Road Cemetery in Hermitage, Wyoming County). Lydia Ann was named after her mother's sister Lydia Ann Newcomb wife of Hiram Luther Smith of Erie County, NY.
87. Mr. Loomis ♢ Born in Alexander and attended the Genesee and Wyoming Seminary located there. He was 22 and a son of Sylvester 58 and Susan French Loomis 63. Other siblings were: Fanny 36 wife of Gustavus Brown, Halsey 34 who married Margaret Cole, Lucy 31, Maria 20, and Cordelia 28 wife of Drayton Sprague
88. provender ♢ Provender is a safe medicine used to control worms in animals.
89. Leveret Richmond ♢ In the 1830's Leverett 56, a Methodist Minister, lived on Putnam Settlement (his house is still standing) and was married to Eunice Unknown. She died on New Year's Day 1839 and was buried in Putnam Cemetery. They had three children, John, George, and Elizabeth. He then married widow Maria Forsyth (1808-1902) who had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, and they were livining in Geneseo, Livingston County, when he died. Leverett was the oldest son of Robert Richmond (1773-1863) and Phebe Parmelee (1778-1835).

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1. Milton & Olive ♢ Milton Powers 30, married Olive Showerman in 1852. He was from Trenton Fall, Oneida County, NY, a son of Erastus and Lydia Powers (no relation to Lorette's Powers ancestors).
2. Mr. Sweetlands ♢ John Hamilton went “down” (meaning north) to the home of Rev. Louis Sweetland for possibly some inspirational books. He was a Methodist Minister who lived on Ellicott St Rd next to Seneca Short.
3. library books ♢ The first library in Batavia was established at a meeting at Abel Rowe's house. He is known to have purchased the first lot of land in the Village of Batavia around 1801.
4. Jane Tabor ♢ Jane 21, was the middle daughter of Clark Taber Sr. and Rebecca Peck of Alexander.
5. Mr. Dascomb ♢ Lewis 43 first came to America from England in 1849. He traveled out west and to Canada and spent his first night in Batavia at the American Hotel. His first employment was keeping a herd of cows for Mr. Ganson in a pasture on Liberty Street (then called Snipery St) in Batavia. In 1852 Lewis traveled back to England, married Mary A. Snow of Devonshire and returned to America, sailing for five weeks; they arrived in Batavia on July 4 th of that year. Lewis was 34 and Mary was 25 when they settled on their farm located on Ellicott St Rd, just west of the Village of Batavia line. One day, Lewis and Mary would become members of Lorette’s brother, Charles’ family.
6. school house ♢ John and Lorette lived in Batavia Bethany Joint School District No. 6, which consisted of Bethany and Batavia families living on Francis, Putnam, Shepard, and Townline roads. It was located at corner of Francis and Putnam Settlement Roads. In those days, each family sending a child to that school, had to provide 1/4 cord of firewood per student to the school, or pay the school the equivalent price
7. Mr. Butlers ♢ Sidney 43 and his wife Lucinda Hawes were living with his widowed father, Harvey Gottleib Butler on Francis Road, Bethany. They had five children: Sidney Jr. 14, Emily 12, Bryan 10, John 8, Martin 5, and Martha 3.
8. Franklin Lyman ♢ Frank 19, lived with his parents, Samuel and Charlotte Lyman on Ellicott St Rd near Shepard Rd.
9. prospects of peace ♢ "Prospects of Peace" was the headline of an article appearing in the February 16 th issue of the Spirit of The Times (Batavia). The article stated that news was favorable of peace resulting from the Crimean War in Europe. The news came with the arrival of the steam ship "Persia."
10. William Hawley ♢ William 18, was the oldest son of Samuel M Hawley (1815-1875) and Hannah M Glidden (1819-1887). The family actually spelled their name Holly and lived on Ellicott St Rd. Lydia Ann Shepard, 20, a daughter of Asahel and Sarah Shepard, was about to be married in March. Laura Shepard 23 was Lorette's half-aunt - a daughter John Sr. and Catherine Shaw Shepard Putnam Settlement Road.
11. Miss Lydia ♢ Lydia Ann Shepard, 20, was about to be married in March. Laura Shepard was John Sr. and Catherine Shepard’s youngest daughter, age 23. They lived on Putnam Settlement Road.
12. Mr & Mrs Leonard ♢ Ira Leonard 24 and Maria Shepard Leonard 25, lived in Castile, Wyoming County, NY.
13. Leicester Road ♢ Route 63 South out of Batavia was known in 1856 as Big Tree Road until the border of the Town of Bethany, from there the road was called Leicester Road.
14. Grandfather Shepard ♢ Born in Connecticut, third son of Henry Shepard and Esther Bundy, lived on one of seven lots he purchased from the Holland Land Office in 1821; the one he lived on was Lot 1, Section 11, Town 12, Range 1; it would appear the other lots were for his sons. He was married twice and had seven sons and seven daughters, all still alive except his oldest son Andrew and youngest daughter Delilah. His first wife, Asenath Marvin died around 1826, she was 41 years old. She died the same year their daughter, Delilah, age five died. Delilah was buried in Dale cemetery; there is no record or stone for Asenath, but it is believed that she was buried there also, along with her grandson, Almon Shepard, son of Andrew Shepard. Around 1827, John Shepard, Sr. married a second time to Catherine Shaw (1792-1862). She was the widow of Daniel Shaw (died 1823) with whom she had two children, Horace W. Shaw (b 1812) and Lydia Shaw. Catherine and John Sr. had three daughters, Laura, Harriet and Fannie.
15. Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert Smith ♢ Gilbert 43 was the oldest of nine siblings, and married Polly Loomis about 1832, and they had four children who lived into adulthood. Gilbert’s family was related to the Shepards, through his grandmother, Delilah Prentice Bundy (1759-1846). a first cousin of John Shepard Sr. – his grandmother Delilah Prentice Bundy Smith (1758-1846) who was an aunt of John Shepard’s mother Esther Bundy Shepard (1752-1822).
16. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Putnam ♢ He was a Baptist minister from the West Bethany Baptist Church. He married Phoebe Hawley (1832-1895) in 1849. They had a son, Newell born in 1849, who was over ten months old before he was given a name.
17. Elder Vrooman ♢ Born in Schenectady, NY, Elder Vrooman attended the Hudson River Seminary, and lived in Middlebury with his wife Electa Everest (1795-1871).
18. funeral of Grandfather Shepard's ♢ There were about 200 descendants of John Shepard, Sr., who were still alive and could have been at that funeral. This does not include spouses, in-laws, nor friends. He was married twice and had seven sons and seven daughters, all still alive except his oldest son Andrew and youngest daughter Delilah. At least two of John’s sibling would have been still alive in 1856: William Shepard (1794-1863) and Lucy Shepard Bundy (1785-1879) both of Otsego County. John’s funeral was held at the Batavia-Bethany School House No. 6 located across from his house at the corner of Francis and Batavia Bethany Townline Roads. It was mentioned by family members in an 1876 newspaper report that John Sr. was buried in Putnam Cemetery along with his father, Henry Shepard who died around 1835. There are no head stones found in the cemetery today bearing their names nor do they appear on the Town of Bethany list of burials at the cemetery as that document had burned in the early 1900’s along with other early Bethany Town records. This diary and that newspaper article are the only record of the deaths of Henry and John Shepard, Sr. His first wife, Asenath Marvin died around 1826, she was 41 years old. She died the same year their daughter, Delilah, age five died. Delilah was buried in Dale cemetery; there is no record or stone for Asenath, but it is believed that she was buried there also, along with her grandson, Almon Shepard, son of Andrew Shepard. Around 1827, John Shepard, Sr. married a second time to Catherine Shaw (1792-1862). She was the widow of Daniel Shaw (died 1823) with whom she had two children, Horace W. Shaw (b 1812) and Lydia Shaw Putnam. Catherine and John Sr. had three daughters, Laura, Harriet, and Fannie Shepard Shaw (wife of Clark Shaw). They all lived on Putnam Settlement at the time of John’s death.
19. Marvin Shepard ♢ Marvin was named after his deceased mother, Asenath Marvin (1769-1827).
20. Miss Hurty ♢ Mary Margaret Hurty 26, was born in Lowville, Lewis County, NY, a daughter of John Hurty (1789-1865) and Elizabeth Bartels (1791-1876). Her parents lived in Cuba, Allegany County. Her brother Hiram married Lorette’s cousin, Lorette Frances Putnam in December of 1855. The south schoolhouse was located at the corner of Putnam and Francis Roads; John was an administrator of that school, hiring the teacher, finding room and board, making sure there was enough wood to keep the school warm, and regularly checking in on the progress of the students.
21. Guy Shaw ♢ Guy 62 and wife Nancy Ellis, lived in Alexander and had 10 children between 1813 and 1840. He was a son of Daniel Shaw (1760-1806) and Hannah Wells, and a brother-in-law of Catherine Shaw Shepard (Grandfather Shepard’s second wife). Guy fought in the Battle of Buffalo in the War of 1812. There was another Guy Shaw (1813-1896) who was Lorette's step-uncle, a son of Grandmother Shepard with her first husband Daniel Shaw. He married Emily Richmond (1818-1896) , a daughter of Robert Richmond and his first wife, Phebe Parmelee This Guy Shaw lived on Putnam Settlement but moved with his family to Lafayette, Monroe, Wisconsin by 1860.
22. twenty dollars ♢ Twenty dollars in 1855 is worth about $600 in 2020.
23. New Presbyterian Church in Batavia ♢ The new church on the corner of Main and Liberty Streets was built at a cost of $18,000; Rev. I. O. Fillmore was the first pastor. Prior to the new building, the Presbyterians met at a church in the Village of Batavia on Church Street (today is known as Jefferson Street). That building was razed in 1902.
24. Mr. & Mrs. Hatch ♢ Dwigjt. 26. was a son of Orrin and Eveline Hatch of Owasco, Cayuga County, NY; his wife Lucia Levings was John Hamilton’s sister-in-law, wife of his brother William. Dwight and Lucia, married in 1853, lived in Gainsville, Wyoming County, NY.
25. Mrs Knowlton & Eliza ♢ John Hamilton’s sisters, Harriet 33 and Elizabeth 21
26. Ira ♢ John Shepard Jr's brother, Ira 43 lived on Dry Bridge Road, Alexander, near the Buffalo and New York City Railroad.
27. Jared Levings ♢ Jared Levings 16, was a younger brother of Laura and Lucia Levings. He was with John Hamilton’s two sisters, Harriet Knowlton 33, and Eliza 21.
28. Mrs. Wm Johnson ♢ Harriet 59 was the widow of William Johnson (1793-1852)and lived on Francis Road with her son William Johnson 23.
29. David Johnson ♢ David F. Johnson 31 had been living in Wisconsin with his wife Ellen Garfield (a daughter of William Garfield and Mary Marshall of Alexander) until Ellen died about 1854, possibly in childbirth. Ellen’s mother Mary may have left her family in Alexander when her daughter died, to take care of her young children, and ended up dying out in Wisconsin.
30. here to day visiting ♢ All of the company were John Shepard’s siblings: Phoebe Shepard HawleyCovell (Mrs Richard D.) with Phoebe's daughter from her first marriage, Jane Elsana Hawley 16; Sally Shepard (Mrs Nelson Hawley) James and wife Amanda Putnam with daughter Maria Shepard Leonard, and Asahel Shepard and wife Sarah Bartlett.
31. Mr. Brainards ♢ Levi Brainard lived on Ellicott Street Road with his second wife, Julia Powers, a sister of Lorette’s mother, Polly Powers Shepard. Also with them was Mrs Peter ( Roxanny Powers) Showerman, and Polly’s half sister, Elizabeth Showerman (Mrs Israel Quance).
32. Mr. Benedict ♢ William Guy Benedict 38, lived in Alexander with his wife Alzina Pynchon and their two children Henry 15 and Helen 7, and mother-in-law, Mary Pynchon.
33. Mr. Lamkins ♢ Charles B. Lamkin 20, lived on Francis Road, across from the Hamilton homestead.
34. grandmother Shepards ♢ Catherine Wilson Shaw Shepard66. was a widow now, after almost 30 years married to John Shepard Sr. She still lived in the small red house on Putnam Settlement Road across from Francis Road, with her two unmarried daughters, Harriet 26 and Laura 23.
35. meeting ♢ Father John Shepard Jr went up to his step-mother's Catherine Shaw Shepard's on Putnam Settlement Rd. Every Sunday in addition to church in the morning, there was a religious educational “meeting” at the schoolhouse in the evening.
36. Charlie ♢ Lorette’s only sibling, Charie was seven months old. Lorette and John lived with her parents and brother in the house on Shepard Road.
37. Mr. Warren Putnam ♢ Warren Putnam 55 and wife Sarah Quance (1814-1865) , sister of Israel Quance, lived on East Road, next to Sarah’s mother Mehitable Powers Quance.
38. pair of elk ♢ The Livingston County News reports, “And would you also believe that wild elk once inhabited most of what is now New York State including the Finger Lakes Region and Southern Tier?” by John Adamski, Oct 6, 2018.
39. Mr. Lawrence & wife ♢ Sumner Lawrence 26 and Abby Jane Lamkin 27 were married in the early 1850's. Abby who grew up on Francis Road near John Hamilton. Her sister Marriette Lamkin 23 was also there with her husband John Markely 28. Sumner was the son of Henry S. Lawrence of Groton, Middlesex, Mass, an early pioneer of Genesee County. Also, at Sumner’s house that night, were John Hamilton’s sister Adeline and William Stewart, and brother James Stewart and his wife. Later that evening they all went over to Alonzo Frisbee’s house. Alonzo had just recently married Egesta Smith a daughter of Gilbert S. Smith and Polly Loomis, and a granddaughter of Captain Elisha S. Smith, all of Alexander.
40. William Johnson ♢ William Johnson (1815-?) William and his wife Sarah born in New York, lived in Batavia with their fifteen-year-old daughter Sarah J. and six-year-old son William H. In 1850, Eve Smith 83 also lived with the family.

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