Lorette's Diary

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard and John Hamilton's 1857 DiariesImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

3/1/1857 Sunday. At home all day. Snowed hard & blowed all day. It is too bad after we have had such pleasant weather.

JCH: At home all day, snowing most all day. John C. Hamitlton

3/2/1857 Monday. Cold. Ma put on a bed quilt this afternoon. I did not quilt any to day.

JCH: Was over to Peter Showermans, Quite cool.

3/3/1857 Tuesday. John & Pa went to the village to Town meeting. Ma & I quilted all day.

JCH: 3/3/1857 Went to Batavia to a town meeting. Voted for American generally. Much excitement.

3/4/1857 Wednesday. John & I went up to Wm Stewarts & staid all night. Went to a singing school with them.

JCH: 3/4/1857 Went up to Wm Stewarts in the evening. Went up to a juvenile singing school tonight by Mr. Lincoln. Quite an interesting school. It is thawing some to day.

3/5/1857 Thursday. Came home about noon. Mrs. Reamer & Emaline Jackman here this afternoon. Mr. Buell came here to work finishing stairs.

JCH: Went up to the corners. Heard that Bethany had elected the fusion American & Democrat ticket, Batavia an American Supervisor. Came here. Mr. Buell came here to night to build the stairs. Cool.

3/6/1857 Friday. Pleasant. Mr Buell here at work. Ma & I finished the quilt.

JCH: I was at home all day, did not do any thing. Father Shepard went over to the saw mill to get some plank, drew home two loads. Blustering.

3/7/1857 Saturday. Very cold day. John & I visited to Charles Putnams, uncle Covells folks were there, had a good visit. They think of moving in about 4 weeks.

JCH: Went up to Charles Putnams. Mr Covell & wife, Jane Hawley was there. Talked over the trouble between Charles & Mr Smith. Very cold & blustering.

3/8/1857 Sunday. Cold but pleasant. We went to meeting up south, Charles preached.

JCH: Went up south to meeting. Quite a number out to meeting.

3/9/1857 Monday. Snowed some, Washing. Mr Buell here at work. I took cold.

JCH: Chopped about a cord of wood in the woods in the afternoon. Cut timber for to move the old barn. Some snow & cool. Mr Marvin Shepard down. Mr Buell here at work.

3/10/1857 Tuesday. Milton Powers & Olive, Warren Putnam & Sally & Lucy visited here. I am working Ma a tidy.

JCH: Drew up the timber for the barn. Warren Putnam & wife, Milton Powers & wife were here. Pleasant & some warmer.

3/11/1857 Wednesday. Our folks went up to Mr. Calvin Strongs. Mr. Buell here. John went up to debating school. It is the boys they think of having an exhibition.

JCH: Our folks went up to Mr. Strongs. Drew out straw manure & piled it in the lot. The manure rotting & heating in the barn yard, thought it bad for sheep to lay up on. Quite cool.

3/12/1857 Thursday. Not as cold as yesterday. I helped Elizebeth quilt afternoon, had considerable company in the evening to see about the exhibition.

JCH: Father Shepard helped me draw out manure all day. The south school were here this evening to see about getting up an exhibition. James and Lucy Quance here.

3/13/1857 Friday. Grandfather & mother Showerman visited here in the evening. Mr. Marsh & wife, Mr Benton & wife, Asahel Shepard & wife, aunt Sally were here. Mr Buell went home had not got done.

JCH: Father Shepard helped draw out manure in the forenoon. Mr. J. Showerman was here all day. I trimmed apple trees in the afternoon.

3/14/1857 Saturday. Pleasant. John & I visited Mr Rogers school, there were a good many in. The girls read a read a paper, considerable slanging. The boys, Pa & John went to the debating school

JCH: John trimmed apple trees in the forenoon. Mr. Buell has been here all this week except to day. Went up to fathers, came back to the school house. Boys about giving up the exhibition.

3/15/1857 Sunday. At home all day. Some warmer. Mr. & Mrs. P. Showerman & Sarah called this evening.

JCH: I went up to the meeting at the school house. Elder Davis preached. Very muddy.

3/16/1857 Monday. It thawed some. John went up to his fathers this morning.

JCH: Went up to fathers this morning gathered sap & ice and boiled it. It thawed considerably today.

3/17/1857 Tuesday. Charlie was sick all night. Was afraid he would have the Scarlet fever. Harriet, Laura & Fanny & Clark Shaw visited here. James Hamilton came down for me. They sugared off after I got there.

JCH: Syruped down and carried it up to the house. James went down and brought up Lorette. Gathered sap in the afternoon.

3/18/1857 Wednesday. Hellen & Mother Hamilton & myself visited to Azro Nortons. John staid out in the sugar bush till nine oclock at night.

JCH: Was boiling all day. Henry Bostwick & Jared Levings was over. Helped me put up a pole in the trees to swing up on. Rain evening.

3/19/1857 Thursday. I went to visit to Grandmother Showerman. Mr. Brainard folks came there. We all went up to an Exhibition to Browns schoolhouse. It was very good. I played some on a melodeon they had there.

JCH: Boiled & syruped down. It snowed & blustered all day. Very tedious to work. Went up south in Browns district to an exhibition. Lorette played on a melodeon for them. Very good exhibition.

3/20/1857 Friday. Thawed some, Wind blowed. They sugared off at the house, we brought home some sugar, Frank came down & staid a while, had warm sugar every day.

JCH: Sugared off up to the house, came home & brought home some sugar. Cleared off & thawed some to day. Frank came down & stayed a while.

3/21/1857 Saturday. Thawing a good sap day. Heard that Theodore Smith was married last Wednesday.

JCH: Drew out manure. Warmer to day.

3/22/1856 Sunday. Pleasant thawing. John went up to his fathers again, at home all day. Staid to Peters all night.

JCH: Went up home to make sugar. Sap running very fast. Gathered about 12 barrels. Warm. Helen & Liza were out in the woods. Norman Putnam came up to see about going to school.

3/23/1857 Monday. Washing. A good sap day. I staid with Sarah all night.

JCH: Boiled till twelve o clock last night. Was boiling all day. Pleasant to warm. Boiled till midnight to night. Was over to Thompson bush to day.

3/24/1857 Tuesday. Working on my tidy. John came home to night. They made 200 lbs of sugar.

JCH: 3/24/1857 Syruped down & sugared off to day. Went over to Thompson bush. Our folks to Mrs. Powers. Some rain and foggy. About twenty there. Came home to night.

3/25/1857 Wednesday. Colder & storms some. Finished the tidy.

JCH: It snowed some last night. Split wood in wood house. James Hamilton called here to see about some apples.

3/26/1857 Thursday. We went to the village. Ma got the carpets for the hall, Pa & John sold three barrels of apples 17 shillings per lb.

JCH: Frank Hamilton called here and took in three barrels of apples. Carried them to Batavia. We received 17 shillings for ours, with the promise of 22 if Mr. Marshall sold them for as much. Cool. Cloudy.

3/27/1857 Friday. Marking up the cloth for my spread.

JCH: Trimming apples trees all day. Required considerable work.

3/28/1857 Saturday. Ma & I visited up to Henry Showermans. They talk of moving down to Olives with Peters folks. John went up to the school house in the evening.

JCH: Went over to James Quances to see about buying some hay. He was not at home. Trimmed apple trees the rest of the day.

3/29/1857 Sunday. Cloudy. At home all day. Pretty bad going now. We read a long story to day.

JCH: At home all day. Cool wind in the north west. Reading in Ballus Pictorial.

3/30/1857 Monday. John went to his fathers making sugar again. This afternoon I commenced working on my compass bed quilt, but had no batten suitable. Henry Showerman moves down to day to live with his father.

JCH: Went up home this morning to make sugar. Boiled until about 11 o clock in the evening. Was over to Thompsons bush. Frank started for school at Alexander.

3/31/1857 Tuesday. I sent this morning & got batten & put on the quilt, Ma helped me. John came home to night.

JCH: Finished up my making sugar for this year. Most all the young folks on the road were in the woods. We had some sugar. Came home.

Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.

See the March 1857 footnotes.

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard and John Hamilton's 1857 DiariesImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

2/1/1857 Sunday Quite pleasant. At home all day, roads drifted some.

JCH: Did not go to church to day. A meeting at the south school house. Elder Dorman preached.

2/2/1857 Monday. Milton & Olive here to dinner, heard that Frank Shepard was down again with the rheumatism.

JCH: Chopped a little to day. Sarah Showerman and Frances Quance called here in the evening. Lorette played her new pieces to night. Frank Shepard sick.

2/3/1857 Tuesday Beautiful day. We visited to Sylvester Calkins afternoon, good visit. In the evening up to Myron Putnams, had quite a company there.

JCH: 2/3/1857 Lorette and I went over to Mr. Calkins and up to Myron Putnam's in the evening.

2/4/1857 Wednesday Rained hard all day. We went up to Father Hamiltons & expected Mr. Prestons folks, they did not come. Our folks went up to Uncle Ira Shepard. All the brothers going up to day.

JCH: Went up home to day, expected to see cousin Preston there, did not see him. Our young folks went over to Thompsons in the evening. Father & mother Shepard went to Alexander.

2/5/1857 Thursday Rained very hard this forenoon, thawing fast, water very high. Our folks do not get home yet. Frank Shepard here all night.

JCH: It rained hard all the forenoon. Water running in every direction. Had to coon it on the fence to get to barn. It thaws very fast. Frank Shepard here all night.

2/6/1857 Friday Beautiful day. Our folks got home at night. Frank Shepard here all day. The flats on the creek are all covered with water.

JCH: Frank Shepard here all day. Tapped a tree out in the road and the sap ran some. Our folks came home they said the creek flats were all afloat. Israel Quance here in the evening.

2/7/1857 Saturday Thawing yet, snow nearly all gone. In Rochester, Main street bridge was carried away to day.

JCH: Chopped wood some to day. Went up to the debating school in the evening. The question was resolved that the Almighty knew from the beginning the final destiny of man.

2/8/1857 Sunday Froze a little this morning. At home all day reading the book of Locke Amsden.

JCH: At home all day. Read a book called Locke Amsdem. Old brown came in last night. Hens have laid some eggs this last week.

2/9/1857 Monday Quite pleasant. Mrs Hart called here. Ma went to Peter Showermans.

JCH: Chopped some to day. Israel was here part of the day.

2/10/1857 Tuesday Snowed this morning & blowed. Ma & I helped Elizebeth quilt. Israel & Elizebeth here in the evening. Also Charles, Leonard & Lorette Thompson, Mr. Bostwick’s young folks & Frank Lyman.

JCH: It blusters tremendously this morning. Our folks went over to Israel Quance all day. Father Shepard went down to Batavia I read all day.

2/11/1857 Wednesday Cold. William Waite & Mr. Hathway the name is I guess were here. He tuned the melodeon.

JCH: Mr. Hathway from Lyons was here and repaired the melodeon. He charged 2 dollars. He took it all to pieces. I chopped wood. Borrowed 1 dollar of father Shepard to pay for the melodeon.

2/12/1857 Thursday Pleasant. Ma went over & helped Elizebeth on her quilt. Sarah & Emaline Putnam here in the evening. Pa went to mill.

JCH: Father Shepard went to mill up to Browns. Chopped some to day.

2/13/1857 Friday cloudy & thawing. Mr. & Mrs. Azro Norton, Hellen & Eliza & Franklin Hamilton also Charles Lamkin here visiting to day. I called to Peter Showermans.

JCH: Azro Norton & wife, Charles Lamkin, Frank & Helen Hamilton here. Went up to James Shepard in the evening & had a talk on the debate.

2/14/1857 Saturday Pleasant. John & I visited Mr. Rogers school, there were a good many in. The girls read a paper considerable slanging the boys. Pa & John went to the debating school.

JCH: Chopped an apple tree north of the barn. Visited Mr. Rogers school. The girls edited a book called the North Storm. Very good. The boys & girls blackguarding each other.

2/15/1857 Sunday. James Hamilton here all night. Pa & John & James went to the school house to meeting. Elder Davis preached.

JCH: I went up to meeting at the school house. Elder Davis preached.

2/16/1857 Monday Rainy afternoon. Washing. Heard that Wm Judd was married.

JCH: Chopped wood at the door all day when it did not rain.

2/17/1857 Tuesday Pleasant. I went over to help her quilt but she was gone. Came home & doubled cotton yarn for some socks or John.

JCH: Very pleasant and warm as summer. Billy Ware was here to have Father Shepard build a line fence in the swamp.

2/18/1857 Wednesday Rainy. Myron Putnam & wife, James Shepard & wife & Frank here visiting. Frank staid all night because it rained. It thundered & lightening very hard at night.

JCH: Myron Putnam & wife, James Shepard & wife & Frank Shepard was here all day. It rained quite hard to day. Frank was here all night.

2/19/1857 Thursday. Mr. Judson & Sabra, Vet & Clair Calkins, Ellen Lyman visited here. Ellen staid the evening. Some colder, there is ice on every thing. Read a letter from Caroline Smith.

JCH: It thundered & lightened very sharp last night. Mr. Calkins & wife, Mr. Judson & wife were here. Also Ellen & George in the evening, snow & ice on every thing.

2/20/1857 Friday. We went up to Mr. Rogers school again to day to hear the boys read their paper. They whipped the girls pretty well. Good many out. Heard that Caroline McMillen has a baby, she is not married.

JCH: Went up to Mr. Rogers school. The boys read a paper called the Spirit of the Times, beat the girls all to pieces. Good many out. Heard that Caroline McMillen had a baby without being married.

2/21/1857 Saturday. Pleasant. Ma & I visited to aunt Quances, very good visit. Pa & John went to debating school. Sarah here all night.

JCH: Went up to the debate in the evening. The question was that man is a free moral agent, was decided in the affirmative. Cool & cloudy.

2/22/1857 Sunday. Pleasant. At home all day. John went up to uncle James Shepards for a book.

JCH: 2/22/1857 Sunday. Went up to James Showermans to get a book on the exposition of Spiritualism. Winter is broke to a prospect of an early spring.

2/23/1857 Monday. Pleasant. John went over to David’s this afternoon and then to the debate. I staid with Sarah Showerman all night.

JCH: Went up to fathers & helped tap the sugar bush. A hard days work, drew buckets, washed & tapped about two hundred trees. Very warm & pleasant for the time of year.

2/24/1857 Tuesday. Pleasant & a good sap day. John went up to his fathers & helped them tap their sugar bush, staid all night. Elizebeth and aunt Roxanny & Hellen visited ma.

JCH: Finished chopping up an apple tree in the wheat lot. Went to the school house to a debate. Led as vice pres of the meeting.

2/25/1857 Wednesday. I boiled sap this fore noon & made some molasses. Went up to Hellens staid all night.

JCH: Boiled sap all day to all night. Went over to Thompsons in the evening. Quite a number there had some new sugar. Had a good run of sap. Some cooler to night.

2/26/1857 Thursday. Came home this morning. I am working some for Ma skirt. John came home brought some molasses & a jug of sugar. Says that they have made about 100 pounds.

JCH: Finished boiling in the sap & sugared off. Had about 100 pounds, Charles Lampkin was there. Came home at night. Quite cold.

2/27/1857 Friday. Not as cold as yesterday. Ma & I visited to Grandmother Shepards, the girls & I went over to Mr Rogers school, heard the girls read their paper very good. Frank, Phebe, Ordelia, Jane Hawley, Clorinda P & Wallace Hawley here in the evening.

JCH: Commenced snowing to night. Chopped wood in the forenoon. Went up to school in the afternoon to hear the Ladies Book read. Made a considerable sport. Frank, Phebe & Ordelia Shepard, Mrs. Charles Putnam & Miss Jane Hawley here in the evening.

2/28/1857 Saturday. Snowed a little last night. John & I went down to the village with a cutter. John & Pa went up to the debate, it is the last one.

JCH: The last day of Rogers school. Went to Batavia with Lorette. Went up to the debate at the schoolhouse in the evening. We closed our debates to night. Had a spiritual question. Rogers President. Cool and snowy.

Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.

See the February 1857 footnotes.

Thank you for your interest in Lorette's Diary!  I look forward to hearing from you.

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard's 1856 DiaryImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

12/1/1856 Monday. John started in company with uncle Nelson & Dan Shepard to buy mink skins.  Don't know when they will be back. Mrs. P. Showerman called. Rather lonely night.

JCH: 12/1/1856 Monday. Started up south to buy furs. Went through Bennington and Attica. Went on as far as Cowlesville and stayed all night. Bought 2 mink skins to day. Pleasant and very good sleighing.

12/2/1856 Tuesday. Hellen Showerman left her baby here to day while she went to the village.  Mrs. Getten & Mrs. Lyman Brown visited here to day. I visited to Henry’s in the morning. Wm. Stewart & wife was there. James & Israel Quance & their wifes also. Finished a letter for Lorinda.

JCH: 12/2/1856 Tuesday. Started out west through Marilla and towards Buffalo and then tried to find Clark Shaw’s. Went out of my way some six or 8 miles. Found Mr. Shaw’s about dark. Bought 9 mink and four musk rats. Dan Shepard here.

12/3/1856 Wednesday Thawed some this morning, blustering at night. Cleaned my buttery to day. John came home at night.

JCH: It rains and is thawing very fast this morning. Thought it best to come home and sell our fur. Went round by Corfu. Bought 2 mink skins and got home about dark.

12/4/1856 Thursday John & Dan went down to the village this morning. Dan then went to Buffalo & sold the fur. Pa & John drawing wood.

JCH: Drew up wood and fixed the stables. Went down to Batavia and tried to sell our skins to Oscar Lord but did not make out. Dan Shepard took my fur and his and went to Buffalo and made about five dollars. Cold.

 12/5/1856 Friday. I colored my pink skirt black. Ma & I visited to uncle James Shepard. Phebe intends to go to Alexander to school Monday.

JCH: Drew a couple of loads of hay from fathers. Killed some hens in the evening. Good sleighing.

12/6/1856 Saturday. We went to the village, Ma went with us. We sold 3 bushels of dried apples at 14 shillings per bushel. John got him a coat. I traded some.

JCH: We went to the school house. They organized a debating school.

12/7/1856 Sunday. We attended Church up south. We think of going to Wethersfield to morrow.

JCH: Went up south to meeting. Mr. Belamy preached. A smart man.

12/8/1856 Monday. John & I went to Weathersfield to day. Found Martins folks all well.

JCH: Started up south to buy fur. Lorette went up to Martin and Marvin Shepards with me. Stayed all night. Hawley went with me to buy fur. Dan Shepard did not come as agreed. Cold and pleasant.

12/9/1856 Tuesday. John started up south this morning buying fur. I staid to Martins all day.

JCH: Hawley and I started south. I went as far as Farmersville and stopped over. Did not buy any fur. Agreed to meet Hawley but he did not come in. A rough country.

12/10/1856 Wednesday. I went over to Marvins. Found them all well.

JCH: Paid 20 shillings for mink. Started on West and south through Franklinville into Machias. Bought 71 dollars worth and came into Arcade and stayed all night. To night hear that mink skins had fell four shillings.

12/11/1856 Thursday. Uncle Marvin & Martin & Aunt Alvira went to Pike to see the children. They are there at school. John came back at night.

JCH: Traveled 42 miles to day. It blows and rains very hard this morning. Determined to take my fur into Perry and sell it. Made me believe that fur had fell and got 22 shillings apiece for my mink. At Marvin Shepards to night.

12/12/1856 Friday. Marvin Chafee & wife came to uncle Marvins this morning. Had a sing with them. We went to Castile to visit Ira Leonard & Mariah. Found them very well.

JCH: Went to Castile to see Ira Leonard. Stayed all night. Lorette was there. They live on a pretty place and are doing well I should think.

12/13/1856 Saturday We staid there all day.

JCH: With Leonard all day. Had good visit and learned something.

12/14/1856 Sunday Rained this morning. Came home to day, had a bad time getting home, it Rained, hailed & snowed.

JCH: Start for home about eleven oclock. Rode in a very bad storm all day. Got home about four oclock. I was very cold.

12/15/1856 Monday I did not wash today but made mince pies.

JCH: Did not do much all day. Went up to James Shepards in the evening. Found that I could have got 3 dollars for my mink skins.

12/16/1856 Tuesday Snowed some. I washed to day. John & Henry went away to day, came home at night.

JCH: Went down north with Henry Showerman to buy fur. Went in to Batavia and bought my mink, 3 coons and a wild cat skin.

12/17/1856 Wednesday Snowed some. Elizabeth & Israel visited Ma, she fitted a black delain dress for me. Franklin Shepard called.  

JCH: Went up to  Osgood Putnams with Father Shepard to grind his axe. Agreed to make an even settlement in our affairs this summer by his giving me the old hay that was left over, except wheat, taxes and salt.

12/18/1856 Thursday. Mr. J. Rogers & wife, Mr. Wesley Sweetland & wife, Mr. S. Calkins & wife visited here in the evening. Cold - 6 degrees below zero.

JCH: Went up in the south woods after some shingle bolts. Joel Rogers & wife, Sylvester Calkins & wife were here in the evening. Thermometer, at six degrees below zero.

12/19/1856 Friday John & I went to the village just night, he bought some candles 17 lbs, 15 cents per 20.

JCH: Did nothing all day. Went down to the village bought some candles.

12/20/1856 Saturday. Sewing. Mother Hamilton, Nancy & Frank Hamilton visited here. John & Pa went to debating school.

JCH: Went down in swamp to cut a road to get out some poles.

12/21/1856 Sunday John & I attended church up south, Elder Putnam has his  donation next Wednesday, we are on committee.

JCH: Went up south to meeting, was appointed as one of the committee for a donation on Christmas eve for Elder Putnam. Cool and pleasant.

12/22/1856 Monday Pleasant.

JCH:  Drew poles out of the swamp for a cross fence east of the house. Went up to James Shepards in the evening. Heard that Wm Johnson was to be buried the next day.

12/23/1856 Thursday. Made a hood for myself.

JCH: William Johnson was buried to day. He died in Wisconsin and was a week in being sent through, delayed by the snow. He died of consumption. Drew poles all day.

12/24/1856 Wednesday. Our folks went to Charles Putnam’s donation. John & I went in the evening. Had a good time. He received 120$.

JCH: Drew out poles in the forenoon. Father Shepard went up to a donation party at the south meeting house in the afternoon. Lorette & I went up in the evening he received 120 dollars.

12/25/1856 Thursday. Pleasant. Christmas. Good sleighing. John and I went up to his father's. William Stewart folks came there. Pa & Ma visited to Uncle Nelsons.

JCH: Went up to Fathers paid him seventy dollars of borrowed money. William Stewart was there. Cold with a little snow. Father Shepard was there and gave father a new note.

12/26/1856 Friday. John and Pa drawing poles out of swamp.

JCH: Finished draining out poles from the swamp, put a fence around the straw stack to keep the sheep out. Not very cold. Was at James Quance in the evening.

12/27/1856 Saturday. Quite warm. We went to Wm Stewarts. Henry & Hellen Showerman went with us. Edward Denton & wife also there. We called to Wm Hamiltons at night. Mr. & Mrs. Hatch were there.

JCH: Went up to William Stewarts, Henry Showerman and wife, Mr Denton and wife were there. A sort of mist all day, not very cold. Went up to a debating school in the evening.

12/28/1856 Sunday At home all day.

JCH: At home all day to day. Father Shepard went down the stone school house to meeting. Elder Davis preached.

12/29/1856 Monday Pleasant.

JCH: Went down to the blacksmith shop and had a horse shod. Went down to the village. With Myron Putnam.

12/30/1856 Tuesday Hellen Showerman visited here.

JCH: Drew wood all day from the other place.

12/31/1856 Wednesday Helen Showerman visited here all day. Also William and Laura Hamilton. This ends 1856.

JCH: We drew some wood. Wm Hamilton was here in the afternoon. Not very cold.

Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.

See the December 1857 footnotes.

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard's 1856 DiaryImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

11/1/1856 Saturday Rainy & high winds. Sewing on my dress.

JCH: Very high wind. We expected Clara Calkins & Mrs Ben Moore here, did not come. Sarah Showerman & I visited to aunt Julia. Pa & John went to Election.

11/2/1856 Sunday. We attended church up south. Heard that Hellen S. was worse.   Elder Dorman  preached to day. The choir is in a ginger again. Mr. Getten leads now. Lorette Cole & Harriet Clark are married last Thursday.

JCH: Went up south to meeting. Elder Dorman preached. After noon he preached a sort of political sermon. He thought if Jesus Christ was on earth he would vote for John C. Fremont.

11/3/1856 Monday Pleasant with a bit of rain. We washed together.

JCH: Plowing all day. Pleasant with a little rain. Tomorrow is to be decided the great contest for President, Fremont and Dayton, Fillmore and Donaldson, Buchanan and Breckenridge.

11/4/1856 Tuesday. We expected Clara Calkins & Mrs. Ben Moore here, did not come. Sarah Showerman & I visited to aunt Julia. Pa & John went to election.

JCH: Morning pleasant. Presidential Election. I voted for Filmore and Donaldson, a day to be remembered. A great excitement in United States to day. Wind blew very hard at night, in the village it blew the Presbyterian steeple down.

11/5/1856 Wednesday. Mrs. B. Moore & Mrs. Clair Calkins visited me. Mary & I visited with them. John took up the note for the horse that Pa had against him.

JCH: Plowing. Genesee County gone Fremont. It snowed some to day and quite cold. Heard that Filmore had carried the City of New York.

11/6/1856 Thursday. Cool & pleasant. I made some watermelon preserves. Our folks sold 5 pigs & 1 old hog at five dollars, weight 1210 lbs. John paid Pa for half of the sheep that he bought of James Shepard, it was eleven dollar & quarter.

JCH: Sold one old hog and five pigs at five dollars per hundred. Buchanon possibly elected president. This state gone for Fremont. Do not know the exact result yet. I may go in to the house.

11/7/1856 Friday. Sewing on my dress, uncle Asahel here at work.   Delos Marsh and Frank Hamilton here all night.

JCH: Plowing part of the day. Father Shepard sold his steers for 58 dollars the same that he gave for them some time ago. Mr. Asahel Shepard at work on the smoke house.

11/8/1856 Saturday. Uncle Asahel here at work on the smoke house yet. Sewing on my dress.

JCH: Asahel Shepard here at work. It rained very hard some part of to day. Heard that Buchanan was elected President.

11/9/1856 Sunday John & I attended church up south.

JCH: Went up south to meeting. Read the New York Times to night Election news and Kansas affairs.

11/10/1856 Monday. We washed together. John & I went down to Mr. Charles at night. Bargained for a parlor stove. 5$ the price.

JCH: Went down to the black smith shop and had a clovis and the buggy fixed. Plowed in the afternoon. Went down to Mr Charles in the evening and bought a parlor stove for $5 dollars.

11/11/1856 Tuesday I cleaned the front rooms. Tired.

JCH: Plowing all day. Father Shepard nearly finished the smoke house.

11/12/1856 Wednesday. John and I went to the village, carried away my butter, 65 lbs at 22cents a pound. I paid up at Holdens.

JCH: Finished plowing the meadow. Went down to Batavia. Took down over sixty pounds of butter. Brought home my stove.

11/13/1856 Thursday We set up the parlor stove this morning. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence and Mr. and Mrs. Frisbe visited here this afternoon and evening.

JCH: Set up my parlor stove this morning. Mr Frisbee and wife, Mr Lawrence and wife in the evening.

11/14/1856 Friday. Snowed all day. Pa & John went to the village. I at work on my six-penny dress.

JCH: Went down to Batavia and bought a pair of pants for three dollars. It snowed quite fast all day. Mr Rogers paid up for the cider.

11/15/1856 Saturday. Augustus Conklin & wife here. Asineth is no better. Our folks started for Weathersfield. Olive called sold her 20 lbs of butter she paid me $4 for it.

JCH: Went to James Shepard and ground my ax. Father and mother Shepard went up to Weathersfield. Mr Conklin and wife here to dinner. Commenced chopping a little to day.

11/16/1856 Sunday At home all day. At night went to the north school house meeting (a long day).

JCH: It snowed some to day. Went down to the stone school house to meeting. Elder Davis preached. Quite a number.

11/17/1856 Monday Snowed hard all day. I washed. John chopping.

JCH: It snowed hard most all day about three inches deep. Chopped about 2 cords of wood. Lost a pair of mittens, I left them in the woods.

11/18/1856 Tuesday. Clark Newton & Mrs. Elvira King visited here day and evening. Also Harriet, Laura & Sarah West here in evening.

JCH: Chopped wood in the forenoon. Clark Newton and Elvira King were here in the afternoon and evening. Harriet and Laura and Sarah West in the evening.

11/19/1856 Wednesday. Hellen Hamilton came here this morning. She & I visited Hellen Showerman afternoon.

JCH: Ransom Shepard here helping me chop. We chopped four cords.

11/20/1856 Thanksgiving Day. Hellen Hamilton here yet. Elizebeth visited here to day. Israel came over to dinner.

JCH: Chopped wood most all day. Helped Israel Quance grind his butcher knife and we ground my ax.

11/21/1856 Friday Hellen Hamilton went home about noon. Aunt Sarah Shepard visited a part of the day. Sewing a little on my dress. Our folks do not get home yet.

JCH: Chopped all day. Cut 2 cords and a half of wood. Went down to Mr. Dascombes cider mill and got some cider. Clear and pleasant. Helen Hamilton rode home with Azro Norton.

11/22/1856 Saturday I visited to Grandmother Shepards. Our folks came here to night.

JCH: Chopped a cord of wood this morning. Went down to Batavia. Bought a pork barrel and bought a pair of mittens. Went up to Mr Shepards after Lorette. Father and Mother Shepard got home from Weathersfield.

11/23/1856 Sunday. Pleasant & cool. John & I attended Church up south. Mr. Sprague is appointed Chorister. Had a full choir to day. We went up to the school house to meeting at night. Heard that Wm Johnson is dead.

JCH: Went up south to meeting, Mr. Sprague was appointed Chorister. The fuss settled. Went up to the school house in the evening. Heard that William was dead that he died in Wisconsin.

11/24/1856 Monday. We killed hogs to day. Pa & John killed one apiece. Uncle Peter Showerman helped them. Ma & I washed this morning. We tried the lard after noon.

JCH: Pleasant, warm for the season. We killed hogs to day. Pa & John killed one apiece. Uncle Peter Showerman helped them. Ma & I washed this morning. We tried the lard afternoon.

11/25/1856 Tuesday Rainy afternoon. Ma & I took care of the lard this morning, had about 32 lbs apiece.

JCH: Chopped wood in the forenoon in the swamp. Went up to James Shepards to see Mrs. Bryan a cousin from the west. She lives in Iowa. It rained in the afternoon.

11/26/1856 Wednesday. Uncle Andrew Shepard's girl was here to day. Her name is Belinda Bryan. Old Mr. & Mrs. Mallison came with them. They start for Iowa tomorrow afternoon.

JCH: Fixed the shed and cleaned up the floor. Mr. Bryan and wife and Mr. Mallison and wife and Asahel Shepard were here to dinner.

11/27/1856 Thursday I cleaned the chamber. Olive called. I sent five things to Lorinda. Charles Lamkin here all night.

JCH: Cleaning up wheat all day. Charles Lamkin here all night.

11/28/1856 Friday John & I visited to Calvin Loomis, good visit.

JCH: Lorette and I went up to Mr Calvin Loomises had a good visit. Father Shepard took down some wheat to Batavia to sell and grind, had some buck wheat ground, new kind, very good, 11 and six for wheat.

11/29/1856 Saturday. Snowed all day. Had about 4 inches. John & Daniel thought some of going to Michigan to buy mink skins. Concluded not to go at present.

JCH: Cleaned up some corn and carried the milk home and went over to James Shepard to see Dan about going to Michigan. Went up to fathers and borrowed 70 dollars. Father Shepard bought a cow of Walter Cole for 50 dollars.

11/30/1856 Sunday Our folks went up south to church with a cutter. We went down to the schoolhouse to meeting. Davis preached.

JCH: Went down to the north school house to meeting. Quite good sleighing. Was up to James Shepards just at night.

Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.

See the November 1856 footnotes.

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard's 1856 DiaryImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

10/1/1856 Wednesday Rainy. I visited to Peters, fixing over my gingham dress.

JCH: Went down Batavia to mill. Took four bushels. Dug a ditch for the pipe from the well into the kitchen. Went to the village again for some solder. Cold and rainy.

10/2/1856 Thursday We pared some apples & put up in the house. Our folks put the pump in the house. John went to the village at night to a Fillmore meeting.

JCH: Helped put down the pipe, James Shepard here most all day. Pulled some beans and drew some apples to the house.

10/3/1856 Friday. Olive Powers visited here. John & Pa went to a political meeting at school house.

JCH: Husked corn all day. Not very good. Father Shepard went up to Myrons  to fix a road to the woods. Went to Batavia to hear Colonel Crane from Indiana speak. A Fillmore.

10/4/1856 Saturday Doing housework. Sarah & Eunice here.

JCH: Dug potatoes all day. Very light crop. Mr. Powers came round canvassing for Democrats. Put me down as Filmore and Father Shepard as Fremont.

10/5/1856 Sunday At home all day took care of Charley, our folks went up south, went over to Peters at night.

JCH: At home all day. Went over to see a medium at Mr. Showerman's. We went to sleep. He gave us a lecture on spiritualism. A smart man. His name was D. F. Cortes. Very pleasant.

10/6/1856 Monday Washing, rather tired, uncle Asahel Shepard here to work this afternoon for Pa building the drain.   George called. John paid him for some work.

JCH: Dug potatoes, Asahel Shepard here in the afternoon, making a drain. Did some hens with Henry Showerman.

10/7/1856 Tuesday Aunt Quance here sewing for Ma. I called to Elizabeths.

JCH: Finished digging potatoes. Had about 40 bushels, some of them small.

10/8/1856 Wednesday John went to the Fair, aunt Quance here to work yet. Grandma Showerman here all night. James & Lucy Quance here in the evening. Charley quite sick.

JCH: Went down to a fair at Batavia. They have fitted a permanent ground at Batavia. Shef Foster had a Barnum hum bug and a trotting course. A very good show of cattle. Very pleasant. We had company in the evening.

10/9/1856 Thursday. We went to the fair. There were a great many there. The ladies rode on horseback, all 8 of them. Very good time.

JCH: Very pleasant and quite warm. Attended the fair the second day. I believe the most people I ever saw in Batavia on any occasion. The show was very good but not as good as I expected. Some very good horses and a good show of farm implements.

10/10/1856 Friday Aunt Quance here yet, I helped Ma on a dress. Sally Putnam called, Charlie sick.

JCH: Husked corn. The last day of the fair, did not attend. Very warm for the time of year.

10/11/1856 Saturday. Helped Ma some, aunt Quance left to night. Went to school house in the evening to hear a man lecture that had been a Roman Catholic. It was first rate.

JCH: An American meeting at Alexander. Husked corn all day. Went up to the schoolhouse in the evening to hear a reformed Roman Catholic lecture and expose on Romanism. Very interesting and very exciting. Pleasant.

10/12/1856 Sunday. We all went to the schoolhouse again to day & heard the same man lecture, heard Ben Moore in the evening. Called to Grandmother Shepards.

JCH: Heard another lecture on Romanism from Don Fernando Cortes. Benjamin Moore preached in the evening. Most all talking about politics.

10/13/1856 Monday. We did not wash not having any  rainwater. Made my peach preserves & pared to day. I expect thrashers to morrow.

JCH: Husked corn. It rained some and is some cooler to night. Dan Shepard was here to see about thrashing.

10/14/1856 Tuesday Snowed a little, John had thrashers to day.

JCH: Picked some apples. Thrashed to day 76 bushels of spring wheat about 30 bushels of oats, 71 bushels of buck wheat and 3 or 4 bush of grass seed. Dan Shepard thrashed for me. It froze some last night.

10/15/1856 Wednesday. Cool. Peter's folks have an oyster supper tonight. They borrowed my dishes.

JCH: Finished picking winter apples, will have about 12 barrels. Picked up some common fruit. An oyster party at Mr. Showermans to night.

10/16/1856 Thursday Our folks went a visiting to Myron Putnams. I went up to East Bethany to Mr Prindles auction. A heavy frost last night.

JCH: Our folks went a visiting to Myron Putnams. I went up to East Bethany to Mr. Prindles auction. A heavy frost last night

10/17/1856 Friday. Doing housework. Hellen Showerman’s little girl was born this morning. Heard that Austin Buell is now really married.

JCH: Husked and drew in corn in the barn. Henry Showerman was made father this morning by the birth of a daughter. An American mass meeting at Leroy, did not go.

10/18/1856 Saturday. Rainy. Franklin Shepard here this forenoon. Ma & I went to a quilting to aunt Sally Hawleys. Read a letter from Lorinda to night.

JCH: Husking corn in the barn. Heard that Pennsylvania had gone democratic. Bad news.

10/19/1856 Sunday. John & I went to the Methodist Church in Batavia. Called on Hellen Showerman. She is quite smart. Called to Israels in evening.

JCH: Went down to Batavia to meeting at the Methodist Church. Elder Fuller preached. Went up to see Henry Showermans to see his daughter. Went over to James Quances in the evening.

10/20/1856 Monday We washed together, Ma & I went to Peters in the evening. Our folks went to the school.

JCH: Husking and picking apples. Went up to the schoolhouse to a private lecture on Romanism by Don Fernando Cortes.

10/21/1856 Tuesday Ma & aunt Roxanny visited to Ben Moore’s. Sarah visited me.

JCH: Husking corn all day about thirty bushels. Indian summer.

10/22/1856 Wednesday Pared a few apples.

JCH: Husking corn all day. Husked some in the barn.

10/23/1856 Thursday Ma & I helped Elizabeth Quance on a bed quilt. John plowing for Dan Shepard this afternoon.

JCH: Husked in the barn in the forenoon, plowed for Dan Shepard in the afternoon to day for thrashing. Quite cold but pleasant.

10/24/1856 Friday Ma & I visited to Henry Showerman, John plowing for Daniel. Pa leveling the door.

JCH: Plowing for Daniel Shepard all day. I plowed up on Walter Coles on his clearing. Very stumpy and stoney.

10/25/1856 Saturday. John & I went to the village afternoon. There was a horse race on the Fair grounds. I got me a calico dress & a pair of shoes.

JCH: Drew a load of apples in to the cider mill, sold the cider for 2 dollars per barrel. Went down to Batavia trotting horses on the fair ground. Some horses made a mile in 2.47. One man hurt.

10/26/1856 Sunday Beautiful fall day. At home all day, our folks went to meeting up south. We took care of Charlie. Mr Barney & Sarah Showerman called here.

JCH: At home all day. Mr. Barney called here with Sarah Showerman and Mr. Powers and wife. Father and mother Shepard went up south to meeting.

10/27/1856 Monday Ma & I washed together. Our folks went to the village at night.

JCH: Finished husking corn. Father and mother Shepard went down to the village. Ransom Shepard came here and got a load of sand in the lot east of the orchard.

10/28/1856 Tuesday. Elder Dorman & wife staid with our folks all night. John & I visited to his fathers, brought home a little more sugar.

JCH: Elder Dorman here this morning. Went up to fathers with Lorette.

10/29/1856 Wednesday. I called to Elizebeth’s, commenced making a calico dress for myself. Ira Leonard called in the evening.

JCH: Helped James Shepard thrash in the forenoon. Drew some pieces of rails and plowed some. Ira Leonard called here in the evening.

10/30/1856 Thursday. Rainy & cold. Frank, Aunt Amanda & Phebe Shepard & Mariah Leonard visited me, Ma & Pa went to Grandmother Showermans.

JCH: Miss Cole & Miss Clark married. Went down to the village and had my boot taped. Phebe and Frank Shepard and Mariah Leonard were here in the afternoon.

10/31/1856 Friday. Ma, aunt Roxanny Showerman & I visited to Walter Cole. Elder Fuller from the village lectured at schoolhouse.

JCH: Father Shepard helped me draw in corn stalks. Went up to the school house to a Fremont meeting. Elder Fuller spoke. Elder Short President, Elder Putnam Secretary.

Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.

See the October 1856 footnotes.

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard's 1856 DiaryImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

9/1/1856 Monday. We washed together. Ma & I called to Elizebeth at night. A frost this morning. I commenced binding my bed quilt.

JCH: Sowed and dragged the piece north of the barn over once and part over again.  Sowed onto the furrow to get it in deep.  It was dry.  Frost this morning.

9/2/1856 Tuesday Ma & I visited to uncle Peters. John & I pared a few apples in the evening.

JCH: Finished dragging and rolling my wheat. Sowed most, 24 bushels in all. Very dry, but a little prospect of rain. The horses pretty well fagged out. Cool & pleasant.

9/3/1856 Wednesday. I commenced spinning. We all went to the village this afternoon. I called on Mr. Rogers, went with Pa’s colt.

JCH: Went up in the lot and picked some corn for Lorette. It is hurt some by the frost. The buckwheat is nearly killed. Went down to the village. Carried some apples. We drove the colt.

9/4/1856 Thursday. Heard that Austin Buell was married to an Odion girl. Helped Ma sew on Charlie’s clothes.

JCH: Cleaned up wheat, Father Shepard drove a load down to Batavia. He gets 12 shillings for it. I cut a little buckwheat. It is all killed by the frost. Dry and warm. A six horse team went past for the other road, Orcutts farm.

9/5/1856 Friday Sewing for Ma. She & I visited to Sally Putnams.

JCH: Looks a little like rain. Finished cutting buckwheat, Father Shepard drew another load of wheat to Batavia. Got his pay for the wheat. He went up and paid James Shepard one hundred dollars borrowed money. Warm.

9/6/1856 Saturday. Sick all day & last night with the teeth ache. Harriet & Laura Shepard visited here.

JCH: Went down to Batavia to  a mass meeting of the American party . Mr. Brooks and Mr. Putnam were the speakers. A great many out. Mr. Brooks a very smart man, also Mr. Putnam. A pole was raised this morning.

 9/7/1856 Sunday. At home all day, my face is swelled up. Our folks & John to eve meeting.

JCH: Went up to meeting at the school house.   Charles Putnam  there. Lorette not very well, teeth ache.

9/8/1856 Monday I did not work to day on account of my face, spun a little, pared apples in the evening.

JCH: Staked a fence between the meadow and corn lot. After noon picked up a load of golden sweet apples, pared some in the evening. One piece of wheat come up very nice.

9/9/1856 Tuesday. I washed to day, Elizebeth visited me this afternoon. Ma commenced weaning Charlie.

JCH: Thrashed out some grass seed and sowed it. A circus at Batavia.

9/10/1856 Wednesday I visited Hellen Showerman. Pa traded away his colt to Josiah Putnam. I put down 6 days of apples.

JCH: Went up with Father Shepard to trade his colt with Josiah Putnam. We got a six year old mare and $20 to boot.

9/11/1856 Thursday John & I visited to his fathers this forenoon & to Knowltons this afternoon.

JCH: Windy but pleasant. Went up to fathers. Stayed till noon. Went over to Mr. Knowltons in the afternoon. Went down to see his corn very good. Bought some of Brook's speeches home and read them.

9/12/1856 Friday Grandma Showerman visited here to day. They took tea with me. I called to see Elizabeth, she is not very well.

JCH: Pulled part of my beans this forenoon. Very light crop. Cut up some corn in the after noon. Pleasant.

9/13/1856 Saturday. Uncle Martin Shepard & wife visited here to day. Johns cousin came here today, Wm. Fuller from Conn.

JCH: Uncle Martin Shepard came here this morning. A cousin from Connecticut came here to day. Was glad to see him. His name is William Fuller. Father and Mother Hamilton went out Avon to Mr. Prestons folks. My cousins and I went round a visiting.

9/14/1856 Sunday Went to the village to church. Johns cousin went with us. Uncle Martin & aunt left this morning.

JCH: Went down to Batavia to the Presbyterian Church. Cousin Wm Fuller went with us. Mr. Filmore preached. Warm and pleasant.

9/15/1856 Monday. Uncle Coville & wife, Uncle Dennis Chaddock & wife took dinner here. Uncle Marvin Shepard and family here all night. The heirs settled the estate of Grandfather Shepard. All the children were there.

JCH: Carried cousin Wm Fuller to fathers. Cut up corn. The heirs settled up the John Shepard Estate to day. Marvin Shepard here to night.

9/16/1856 Tuesday John & I went to the village. I traded 3 shillings & 8 cents had it charged to me. Our folks called to Lyman Quances.

JCH: Drew in my buckwheat. Went down to the village. Wheat coming up very bad generally.

9/17/1856 Wednesday. Baked a little for the picnic. Made a hoop skirt for myself.

JCH: Cousin Dunbar and Louisa Preston out. Cut up corn in the forenoon. Went over on the Plato farm and got about twenty quarts of elderberries.

9/18/1856 Thursday. John and I attended a picnic or a Sunday School celebration at the West Bethany Church. We were on the committee.  We afterwards went to the William Stewarts. John’s cousins were there. A fine shower with high winds.

JCH: Attended a Sunday School celebration at the West Bethany Meeting House. Went over to Mr. Stewarts. Cousin Mariah Dunbar, Cousin Louisa Preston, and Wm. Fuller was there. A good time. A fine shower.

9/19/1856 Friday. We visited to Wm. Hamiltons. The cousins were there, expect them here tomorrow. Ma visited to Grandmother Showermans.

JCH: Cut up corn in the forenoon and went down to the blacksmith shop and had the buggy fixed. Went over to Wm. Hamiltons, the cousins were there. Went out a hunting, had a good time.

9/20/1856 Saturday. Mr. Dunbar & wife, Mr. Preston & wife, Wm Hamilton & Harriet, Frank & Mother Hamilton visited here. Very good visit. Like new cousins very well.

JCH: Cut up corn. Mr. Dunbar and wife, Mr. Preston and wife, Harriet and Wm and Frank Hamilton, Mother and Wm Fuller were here to day. Had a good time. They were all Fremont mind. I stood alone.

9/21/1856 Sunday John & I went up to his fathers all of the children were there also the cousins, they went home. Our folks went to meeting up south, carried Charlie.

JCH: Went up to fathers. The cousins all left for Avon but Wm Fuller. All politics to day. Called at James Shepard to see Frank and Mariah Leonard.

9/22/1856 Monday Rainy this afternoon. We washed together. Uncle Asahel Shepard here afternoon to work for Pa. I took the shirt off to my black delain dress.

JCH: Cut up corn. Asahel Shepard here at work in the cellar.

9/23/1856 Tuesday. Rainy. Uncle Asahel Shepard helping Pa to day. I spun some.

JCH: Helped clean out the cellar. Asahel Shepard was here and plastered over part of the cellar.

9/24/1856 Wednesday. Spinning this forenoon. Aunt Sally Hawley visited me. Pa & John tearing up the  old cistern.

JCH: Finished cutting up corn. Worked in the cellar and commenced a new cistern. Mrs Hawley here.

9/25/1856 Thursday Ma & I visited to Peter’s. Hellen Showerman & Sally Putnam were there.

JCH: Drew in some beans. Finished digging the cistern and commenced stoning it up. Saw Israel Quance. He has been to Rochester to a mass meeting. A great many there.

9/26/1856 Friday Finished spinning. John helped uncle James thrashing. Asahel here building the cistern.

JCH: Mr. Nott round to get up a big wagon to go to a Fremont meeting at Batavia.

9/27/1856 Saturday Finished spinning & twisting. Calvin Loomis & Lydia Ann & aunt Sarah visited me.

JCH: Thrashed in the forenoon at James Shepards. Pulled beans in the afternoon. Asahel Shepard finished the cistern. Mr. Loomis called here, and wife. Politics high.

9/28/1856 Sunday John & I attended church up south, Elder Rawlin preached also at the school house.

JCH: Went up south. Elder Rawlin preached, (there was) a fly among the singers. He preached at the school house in the evening. Very pleasant and warm.

9/29/1856 Monday. Our folks and John went to village. Pa bought a looking glass for me for 21 shillings. John went to a Fremont mass meeting. I took care of Charlie.

JCH: Went down to Batavia to a Republican mass meeting. It rained hard all day. A good many out. Martin Grover, Mr. Morgan and some other speakers were there. Banks and Beecher did not come. Streets were flagged up very nice.

9/30/1856 Tuesday Walter Cole called to see John.

JCH: It rained most all day. Did not do much all day. Walter Cole came here to see how we should vote. I was not at home. Went down to the blacksmith shop.

Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.

See the September 1856 footnotes.

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard's 1856 DiaryImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

8/1/1856 Friday. Very warm. Our folks thrashing with Frank & Dan’s new machine. Frank is some better. Mother Hamilton and James were here to dinner. The first time that she visited us since we have been alone.

JCH: Pleasant and warm. Mother here. Thrashing. I had about six bushels for my part of the rakings. Lyman Quance used Mr. Jesse Brainards and James Showerman running Frank and Dan Shepards machine.

8/2/1856 Saturday. Very warm. They finished thrashing about 5 oclock. One of the teams were frightened after they started grazing to night. Done some damage. Charlie walked halfway across the room and got four teeth.

JCH: Wheat does not yield. Finished thrashing about five oclock. I went up to James Shepards. Frank is a little better but Daniel is worse. Warm and pleasant.

8/3/1856 Sunday. Cool & pleasant, a fine shower this morning. John & I attended church up south. Mr. Frisbee and Mr. Lawrence & their wifes called at night.

JCH: Went up south to meeting. Elder Winks preached. Mr. Frisby and Mr. Lawrance called here. We had a fine shower this morning.

8/4/1856 Monday. Cool & cloudy. Ma and I washed together. We picked currants in afternoon and made 8 lbs. of currant preserves. Pa sold 2 loads of wheat at 12 shillings a bushel.

JCH: Father Shepard drew two loads of wheat to Batavia. He got twelve shillings a bushel. I helped him clean it up. Cut some hay and oats.

8/5/1/856 Tuesday Hellen Showerman here all day, visited me this forenoon & Ma in afternoon. A good visit with her. She picked a few currants.

JCH: Went up to Mr. Quances to see James Shepards sheep. We would have bought them but we thought they had the foot rot. Cut some oats and grass and helped Mr. Showerman thrash.

8/6/1856 Wednesday. Pleasant. Grandmother Showerman & Elizebeth visited Ma. Wm Stewart & wife & Eliza visited here all day. Hiram Showerman & Phebe took tea here. Charlie quite sick all day, called in Dr. Baker at night to see him.

JCH: Helped Mr. Showerman thrash in the forenoon. Mr. Hiram Showerman and wife took tea with us. Israel Quance had his mare hurt by running a sharp stake into her thighs. Doctor Baker called here, Charley sick.

8/7/1856 Thursday Doing housework all day. Olive visited Ma this afternoon. Charlie is better.

JCH: Drew in some hay and oats, finished cutting grass, very good. Timothy seed. Gave father Shepard a note of 29 dollars.

8/8/1856 Friday. Cool & cloudy. I visited to Clarissa Calkins, good visit. Her sister Abby came there, also Ellen Lyman called there. John thrashed for Uncle Asahel.

JCH: Put up fence between the meadow and the corn lot. Thrashed for Asahel Shepard in the after noon.

8/9/1856 Saturday I visited to Peters this forenoon & to Elizabeths this afternoon. Ma visited Hellen Showerman all day. Pa & John helped Asahel thrash.

JCH: Finished thrashing for Asahel Shepard. He had two hundred and eighty bushel. Drew in the grass in the orchard. We drove father Shepards colt for the first time.

8/10/1856 Sunday At home all day. I wrote my letter to Lorinda. Sarah here this morning. Israel & Elizabeth called at night.

JCH: At home all day. Pleasant. Had two ears of green corn.

8/11/1856 Monday Warm & pleasant. We washed together. Charlie not well.

JCH: Made a stone boat this morning. Got up the sheep and checked their noses, drew stone in remainder of the day.

8/12/1856 Tuesday. Cleaned my floor this morning. John and I went to village. I got some knives & forks & spoons for $2.09 in all. Had it charged. Malvina Sweetland & Laura Short called at night.

JCH: Father Shepard and I dug up stone and drew them from the summer fallow. Lorette and I went down to the village. Father Shepard and I went up to Josiah Putnams to trade horses, did not trade.

8/13/1856 Wednesday. Cool pleasant. Ma & I visited to aunt Julia very good visit.

JCH: Finished cutting oats. Commenced cutting spring wheat. Rather light. Josiah Putnams here to trade horses. Appearance of rain. It sprinkled a little.

8/14/1856 Thursday. Ma & I visited to uncle Nelson Hawleys all day.

JCH: Frank Shepard is worse. Finished cutting wheat, dug potatoes, Lorette and Mother Shepard went up to Mr Hawleys. Dug my onions.

8/15/1856 Friday. Aunt Quance, Lucy, Sally, aunt Roxany, Eunice & old Mrs. Thompson visited Ma. We went to a Millerite meeting at school.

JCH: Was gang plowing all day. I went up to James Shepards and we bought twelve sheep at fifteen shillings per head. They were yearlings. Frank was better.

8/16/1856 Saturday. Uncle & aunt Coville called. John & I visited to his fathers. Peter Showerman talks of selling his farm. George Kendall killed this morning.

JCH: Hot and dry. Finished getting in my oats and wheat. Went up to fathers from there to Mr. Levings to see about a drill. I heard that George Kendall was driving a load of wheat to Batavia, he had a fit his horses got frightened, ran away and he was killed.

8/17/1856 Sunday Pleasant. John & I attended church at the Center. Stopped at the 5 oclock meeting. Took tea at Mr. Rogers.

JCH: Went up to the Center to meeting. Thought that George Kendalls funeral would be held to day but was not. Went over to see Joel Rogers. Saw where George Kendall was killed. Stopped at the white school house.

8/18/1856 Monday Ma & I washed together. John & I staid with Eunice & Sarah all night.

JCH: Gang ploughing. Very dry dust flies finely. Mr Showerman talked of selling his place.

8/19/1856 Tuesday Pared all afternoon, it was much needed. I marked some.

JCH: Had the buggy bill paid. Finished plowing about ten oclock. But looks like rain this morning. Made a pair of quilt frames.

8/20/1856 Wednesday Cloudy & raining bad. I pieced out a bed quilt lining. Ma & I called to Peters.

JCH: Drew stone from the north lot by road. A good many stone on it. The lot looks better.

8/21/1856 Thursday Rained all day. P Showerman visited me, making my white table cloth Ma gave me.

JCH: Rained hard part of the forenoon. Commenced plowing in the lot north of the horse barn, it does not plough very easy. A Republican meeting at Batavia. Father Shepard bought a pair of steers of James Shepard for 57 dollars.

8/22/1856 Friday Cleared away quite quickly. Ma visited to uncle Asahels. Wm Hamilton & Laura, Harriet & Hellen visited here, I went up to Hellens, they sent for me.

JCH: Plowing all day. Wm Hamilton wife and Harriet Knowlton and Helen Hamilton was here in the afternoon. Father Shepard went to the village.

8/23/1856 Saturday. Considerable housework, Jennett Shepard here afternoon.

JCH: A shower this morning. It plows very well.

8/24/1856 Sunday. Pleasant & cool. Went up to school house but no meeting. Called to see Frank Shepard was some better. Heard that Mary Hurty was married, and that Mrs. Morris Putnam had got a boy 9 pounds weight.

JCH: Went up to see Frank Shepard. He is some better . Went over to the school house. The minister did not come. We had a sort of political meeting there.

8/25/1856 Monday. Quite cool. Ma and I washed together. Put on my star bed quilt afternoon.

JCH: Ploughing very stoney, broke a land side. Father Shepard painting.

8/26/1856 Tuesday We commenced quilting this afternoon.

JCH: Finished plowing in the north lot. Went down to Batavia with a grist, did not get it ground for want of water. Came back and went to dragging.

8/27/1856 Wednesday Ma & I quilting all day, had a water melon this morning. John went after the grist three bushels.

JCH:  Wednesday. Dragging. Went down to Batavia and got our grist.

8/28/1856 Thursday Ma & I quilting all day. I asked some in to help me tomorrow. Pa helped Israel thrashing.

JCH: Finished dragging in the middle lot. Went to James and Asahel Shepards and got a roller and fanning mill. Went to raking. Father Shepard thrashing for James Quance, 200 bush.

8/29/1856 Friday. Sally, Lucy, Aunt Quance & Elizebeth, Eunice, Sarah & Aunt Roxany helped me on my quilt.

JCH: Finished rolling this morning. Fanned up some wheat with a Lyons Mill, carried it home and went over to Mr Levings and got his drill. Drilled some, worked nice.

8/30/1856 Saturday. We finished quilting my star bed quilt today. Mrs. P. Showerman here.

JCH: Finished drilling in the middle lot. Sowed about sixteen bushels and a half in it. Took the drill over to the Checkered Tavern. Let the drill for one bushel and three pecks of it.

8/31/1856 Sunday Pleasant out. We went down north but there was no meeting. Sarah Showeman here all day. Geo Shepard called at night.

JCH: Went down to the woods and met Mr. Lyman who said there was no meeting at the school house. Killed a squirrel this morning. Had him for supper.

Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.

See the August 1856 footnotes.

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard's 1856 DiaryImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

7/1/1856 Tuesday. Pleasant. Sally Putnam helped Ma paper her parlor. Mrs. P. Showerman & Sarah here afternoon. Uncle Asahel here plastering they finished. James Hamilton helped John.

JCH: James Hamilton came here to help me hoe, Asahel here plastering. Drove the old stime cow away. We heard that our sheep were out of the lot.

7/2/1856 Wednesday Cool & pleasant. Eunice here, we white washed & painted my front room, had some green peas for dinner. James Hamilton & Willard Quance here.

JCH: Willard Quance came here this morning to work hoeing and dragging. James Hamilton here. Hunted after my sheep and found them.

7/3/1856 Thursday Pleasant & warm. Eunice here, we cleaned the south chamber. Austin Buell called. Willard & James Hamilton here to work.

JCH: Hoeing. James Hamilton and Willard Quance here at work.

7/4/1856 Friday Pleasant & cold. Went up to Wm Hamiltons most of our folks there. Called to Father Hamiton & got a tub of sugar about 45 lbs. Elder Putnam here to supper. Austin Buell & Sarah Showerman went to Rochester I expect.

JCH: Fourth of July again. Went up to Mr. Wm Hamiltons. Most all of our folks there. Very pleasant and cool. Elder Putnam here to supper. Father Shepard shingling.

7/5/1856 Saturday Pleasant. Eunice here. Papered my front room. Willard here to work. Pa finished his shingling. Elizabeth took care of Charlie a while .

JCH: Finished hoeing my potatoes. Willard Quance here. Pleasant with some wind. We are finding a good many weevil in the wheat.

7/6/1856 Sunday Pleasant. Our folks went up south to meeting. Took care of Charlie. We went down in the swamp.

JCH: At home. Cool and pleasant. Father and mother Shepard went up south. Went down in the swamp, got some gum.

7/7/1856 Monday Pleasant & cool. We all went down to the village. Pa got  my things  done well by me, better than I expected. I rode home with Wm Stewart.

JCH: Pleasant. Commenced haying this morning. Went down to Batavia. Father bought Lorette a good many things. We bought fifteen sheep & lambs.

7/8/1856 Tuesday A fine shower afternoon. Mrs P Showerman here. We washed, Ma went down to the village drove the horses.

JCH: Mowing in the forenoon. Was painting windows blinds. Mother Shepard went down to Batavia and drove the horses.

7/9/1856 Wednesday. Our people bought 29 sheep at 9 shillings a head.

JCH: Father Shepard brought home his sheep. Mowing. I owe Father Shepard 45 cents.

7/10/1856 Thursday Very warm. Mrs P Showeman here and finished Ma’s carpet. Eunice here all day. Grandmother Shepard visited here. We finished papering.

JCH: Went down to Billy Ware and bought a horse rake for $4.75. Drew in five loads of hay, fixed a new trough under the pump shed.

7/11/1856 Friday. Pleasant. Eunice here this afternoon. She & Ma cleaned the parlor windows. I sewed the fringe on my carpet. Mrs. P. Showerman & aunt Quance & Elizebeth called. John set up my new bedstead in the evening.

JCH: Mowed all day, Father Shepard helped me all day. Mowing east of the house. Doctor Northrup called here.

7/12/1856 Saturday Showery & very warm. Ma & I cleaned my windows this morning. Pa & John put down the carpets this afternoon. A heavy shower after noon. George Shepard called at night.

JCH: Got up three loads of hay. It rained in the afternoon. Father Shepard helped me. The pump log gave out and we found the place and fixed it.

7/13/1856 Sunday. We all attended a quarterly meeting at the school house. Ma carried Charlie, the first she ever took him to meeting. Cooler at night.

JCH: Attended a quarterly meeting at the school house pleasant and somewhat cooler.

7/14/1856 Monday. Ma & I washed alone. Eunice finished here. Pa went to the village as he is one of the jury men there. Uncle Coville here all night. He is on the grand jury.

JCH: Father Shepard went down to Batavia to attend court, he is on the jury. Uncle Covill on grand jury, he stayed here all night.

7/15/1856 Tuesday. Pleasant. Pa & uncle went to Batavia again. George Shepard here mowing for John. We commenced housekeeping to day.

JCH: We must remember this day. George Shepard here at work. We mowed over a good deal of ground. Father Shepard at Batavia. We commenced keeping house to day. All seemed very pleased.

7/16/1856 Wednesday Pleasant. Ma went up to Grandma Showermans this morning & staid all night. Pa went to the village again. I was alone all day. George Shepard helped John draw in hay. Sarah called.

JCH: George Shepard helping me get up hay, drew in five loads.

7/17/1856 Thursday Very warm. We went up to Father Hamiltons & brought Ma home.  Called to Grandfathers. Mother Hamilton had finished Johns pants.

JCH: Dragging in the forenoon. We went up home in the afternoon and brought home mother Shepard.  Benedict  cutting father’s grass, mother finished my pants.

7/18/1856 Friday. Put down the carpet up stairs. Put up my window curtains.

JCH: Dragging all day.

7/19/1856 Saturday Eunice helped Ma, Uncle Ira Shepard & wife visited here. John went to mill. We went up to Wm Stewarts & staid all night. Commenced cutting wheat.

JCH: Went to mill and carried good wheat. Uncle Ira Shepard was here. We cut wheat in the afternoon. Cool and cloudy. Wheat some rusty. Went up to Stewarts.

7/20/1856 Sunday. Pleasant. Went to Baptist Church with them to attend the funeral of Joel Rogers little boy, about one year and a half old. Came down to the  white school house  at five oclock to meeting. Mr. Lane preached.

JCH: Went to the Baptist church to attend the funeral of Mr Joel Rogers child a boy little over a year old. Came down to the white school house. Mr Lane preached.

7/21/1856 Monday Cool. Washing both together. A man from the village helping Pa. They worked in the wheat.

JCH: Cutting wheat. A man from the village helping us. Cool.

7/22/1856 Tuesday Pleasant. Ma had no workmen to day. Trying to get settled since called.

JCH: Cutting wheat. I cut about three acres and a half in the orchard. Sowed after corn.

7/23/1856 Wednesday Pa & John cutting wheat. Pa’s man came back to night.

JCH: Was not well. Cutting wheat. Our man came back this morning and said he could not help us to day. Pleasant and dry and warm.

7/24/1856 Thursday. I churned alone for the first after separating our milk. A peddler called, Mr. Nichols, & Ma bought a butter bowl for me.

JCH: Cutting wheat. Our man came back to work. Hot and dry. Father Shepard was sick and did not work this after noon had the summer complaint.

7/25/1856 Friday Pleasant. Baking most all day. Ma gave me a pair of cotton sheets & a pair of flannel ones & a fine pair of pillow cases. Elizabeth called.

JCH: Cutting wheat. Father Shepard and his hired man commenced drawing in wheat. Wheat is light. Corn all drying up. Frank and Dan Shepard sick. Frank rheumatism.

7/26/1856 Saturday. Very warm. Mr. & Mrs. Northrup called this morning on their way to Warsaw. Also Phoebe Showerman & her sister & Wm. Johnson. Mr. Ludden went home to night after an hour’s washing. I called to Peters.

JCH: Cutting wheat till five oclock. Helped draw in two loads of wheat. Ludden went home at supper time. It took him about half an hour to wash. Hot and dry.

7/27/1856 Sunday. Warm. At home all day. We took a walk in the back lots & found some string beans & new potatoes for supper. Mr & Mrs Northrup called on their way back. Frank Shepard some better.

JCH: At home all day. Had some new potatoes and string beans for supper. Frank Shepard is some better. Most all at work at their wheat.

7/28/1856 Monday A fine shower this morning. Ma washed alone to day. I made my curtains & put them up between the beds. Ironed at night. Pa went to the village, he got a letter from Caroline Smith.

JCH: Frank Shepard no better. Finished cutting wheat. A fine shower this morning. Father Shepard went down to Batavia, was offered twelve shillings for his wheat if he would carry it in this week. Hot with a prospect of more rain.

7/29/1856 Tuesday Rainy this afternoon. Aunt Sarah Shepard visited Ma after noon. John & I watched with Frank Shepard, he was very sick all night, called in Dr Baker.

JCH: Father Shepard gave me half of the raking if I would rake the stubble, finished my wheat and went to raking. Sat up with Frank Shepard with Lorette. Very sick to night.

7/30/1856 Wednesday Came home this morning. Frank about the same.

JCH: Finished raking the stubble and drawing my rakings. A good many of them.

7/31/1856 Thursday Very warm. Went up to Hellen Showermans to help her quilt. Aunt Roxanny & Eunice were there, brought home my kitten.

JCH: Dragging all day. Lorette went up to Henry Showermans in the after noon, brought home a kitten. A machine coming in the morning. Warm and pleasant.

Read the Next or Previous diary transcription.

See the July 1856 footnotes.

Following is a verbatim transcription of the diaries penned by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton about life in rural Genesee County, New York. People, places & events transcribed have been thoroughly researched unraveling family relationships & yielding rich insights. Research results are conveniently interspersed within the transcription & published in a footnote form.


Lorette Shepard's 1856 DiaryImage Credit: Daniel J. Shepard

6/1/1856 Sunday Rainy this forenoon. Attended church up south. Austin Buell called at night with Sarah Showerman. Mrs P Showerman helped me make a new rug carpet yesterday.

JCH: Attended meeting up south. It rained some in the forenoon. Attended meeting at the school house. Mr Buell called here with Sarah Showerman.

6/2/1856 Monday Pleasant & quite warm. Pa preparing for plastering. No workman to day. I called to Peter’s.

JCH: Warm, evening rain. Pulled tare in the forenoon. Went over to Mr. Bartholf lime kiln and got 78 bushels of lime. Dragged for beans. Great complaint of corn rotting.

6/3/1856 Tuesday. Showery & warm. Making a pair of foot valances. Grandmother & Olive &  Mrs. Azro Norton took dinner here. Ma & I visited to Peters, mistrusted Hellen.

JCH: Drew twenty barrels of apples to Batavia. Went up home and got a sample of my wheat. Not very good, think of selling it. Foggy and cloudy.

6/4/1856 Wednesday Very warm through the day. Cold at night. Elizabeth visited here. I helped Ma on a frock for Pa.

JCH: Pulling tare in the forenoon. Sorting apples, sold them at a dollar a barrel. A thunder shower in the afternoon.

6/5/1856 Thursday Our folks think of selling their wheat for seven & six pence. Ma painted some in her kitchen.

JCH: Drew twenty barrels of apples to Batavia. Went up home and got a sample of my wheat. Not very good, think of selling it.

6/6/1856 Friday. Pleasant most of the day. Pa drew off his wheat. 187 bushels. Ma & I painted some. John went up home.

JCH: We drew down 187 bushels of wheat to Batavia. Sold it for seven and six pence per bushel . Went up to fathers and cleaned up over one hundred more. Warm.

6/7/1856 Saturday. Pleasant with a fine shower this afternoon. Ira Chaddock visited here. Austin Buel here. John drew off his wheat, 83 bushels.

JCH: A heavy shower in the afternoon. Drew my wheat from fathers. Hoed about seventy two bushels fell short about four pounds on a bushel. Received a check for it. Ira Chaddock called here.

6/8/1856 Sunday Showery. At home all day, Pa went up south & heard a colored man preach. Uncle Asahel called.

JCH: Did not attend church to day. Showery. Father Shepard went up south. A negro preached. A considerable excitement about the Kansas disturbance.

6/9/1856 Monday Cloudy. Helped Ma some in taking up Charlie’s clothes. Sarah called. John paid Pa 70$ on the oats.

JCH: Drew out manure sixteen loads. Father Shepard went down to Batavia and got the money for the wheat. I paid him seventy dollars on his note. Cloudy and cool.

6/10/1856 Tuesday Pleasant. Sewing for Charlie. Aunt Julia Brainard visited here. Willard Quance worked for John.

JCH: Willard Quance here helping me draw out manure.

6/11/1856 Wednesday Quite warm. Willard here. Ma & I visited to grandmother Shepard’s, good visit.   Laura’s  health rather poor.

JCH: Willard here to day we are hoeing corn and potatoes. The potatoes look nice. The corn did not all come up. Plant over what we hoe.

6/12/1856 Thursday Very warm for June. Cloudy. Peter’s folks came home to day from  Sommerset.

JCH: Horses broke away. Osgood Putnam found them in his farm yard. Hoeing corn. Willard Quance here. Pleasant and warm. A shower in the eve.

6/13/1856 Friday. Asahel here plastering. John, Ma & I went to village. We got our window curtains, got trimming for my bonnet. Paid 2 $ for it. Alexander Reamer was buried today - consumption.

JCH: Drew out some ashes to put on the corn. Went down to Batavia with our folks. Sold 94 lbs of butter. Showery. Alexander Reamer was buried to day. He died of consumption.

6/14/1856 Saturday. Pleasant. Uncle Asahel here this forenoon plastering. Willard here to work. Mother Hamilton and James here to dinner. Helped aunt Roxanny on her spread. I trimmed my bonnet. Heard Aunt Lydia Bradner was not expected to live, caused by sticking a carpet nail in her foot.

JCH: Hoed in corn. Willard here. Mother and James called here. Lorette trimmed her bonnet.

6/15/1856 Sunday. Showery. I was not well all day quite sick at night. Called Dr. Whitney. Heard that aunt Bradner was a little better.

JCH: Lorette was taken sick this morning. She was very sick all day and night. Called in doctor Whitney to see her. Showery.

6/16/1856 Monday. Pleasant. I was better this morning. Dr. Whitney called. Sarah Showerman helped Ma to day. Austin Buell called. Uncle Asahel here afternoon plastering. This day will be remembered by us.

JCH: Lorette was better this morning. The doctor called again to day. I was hoeing corn. Warm. This day remembered by us.

6/17/1856 Tuesday Eunice helped Ma wash to day, went home afternoon. Commenced making our window curtains.

JCH: Finished hoeing corn the first time. Asahel Shepard here to day and father Shepard went down to Batavia with him.

6/18/1856 Wednesday. Rainy. Eunice here cleaning house this afternoon. John bought a new stove paid 24$ for it, very good bargain. They worked on the road.

JCH: Showery and cool. I went down to Batavia and bought a stove called the Governor for twenty four dollars with the furniture. Eunice Lyons here cleaning house.

6/19/1856 Thursday Mary Brainard called. Ma & Eunice cleaned the north chamber.

JCH: At work on the road this forenoon. Sowed my buckwheat in part of it to day. Willard dragging it in.

6/20/1856 Friday. Eunice here cleaning house. Uncle Asahel here building chimney. Willard went home to night.

JCH: Finished sowing buckwheat and hoeing potatoes. Painted in the afternoon, Willard pulled tare.

6/21/1856 Saturday Pleasant. Eunice here cleaning. Asahel here this afternoon & finishing on chimney. John helped shear sheep for his father.

JCH: Went up home and helped father check sheep. Father lent me eight dollars and a half.

6/22/1856 Sunday. Very warm. Attended church up south. Came back by Father Hamilton & took supper. Miss Stevens called. She is teaching our school. Austin came this way.

JCH: Attended meeting up south. Mr. Armstrong preached. Quite warm and a little rain. Miss Stevens called here she is teaching in our district.

6/23/1856 Monday Pleasant & cool. We did not wash. Eunice obliged to stay at home to day. I called there.

JCH: Plowing for wheat, sent down to Batavia Charles Lamkin to get two plough points. We paid one dollar for them.

6/24/1856 Tuesday Pleasant. Eunice here, washing. Mrs P Showerman called. We cut the paper for my kitchen.

JCH: Plowing. It plows hard it is so dry. Eunice here at work.

6/25/1856 Wednesday. Quite warm. Eunice here & we papered my kitchen this afternoon. Very good luck. Olive here visiting. Lucy & Sally called. Charlie has one upper tooth and two under ones.

JCH: Plowing. Broke a clevis and went down to the black smith shop and had it mended. Willard called here and I paid him for work. Pleasant.

6/26/1856 Thursday Very warm. Eunice here, we cleaned my buttery. Pa painted the north room. John plowing the summer fodder.

JCH: Plowing. Broke the clevis just at night. Drove a cow down to My Lymans, Lorettes cow.

6/27/1856 Friday Pleasant. Eunice & I papered Ma’s bedroom.

JCH: Plowing. Bought twenty yearling lambs of Asahel Shepard at ten shillings apiece. Warm and getting dry.

6/28/1856 Saturday Very warm. Eunice here she & Ma papered the hall. Sarah took care of Charlie a while.

JCH: Plowing. Warm. Eunice Lyons here at work. Frank Shepard left my paper here.

6/29/1856 Sunday. Very warm a shower at night. Attended meeting at the school house. Mr. Williams preached. We called to Grandmother Shepard. Mr. Leonard & Maria were there.

JCH: Attended meeting at the school house. Called at Grandmother Shepards. Mr Leonard and wife were there.

6/30/1856 Monday Cloudy cool. Ma & I washed alone. Eunice came here this afternoon., we cleaned Ma’s bedroom & closet & my closet. John went up home to take Father Hamilton’s horse up there, he had bad ploughing with him.

JCH: Drove my cow down to Mr Lymans. Finished plowing in the middle lot. Went up to fathers and stayed all night.

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See the June 1856 footnotes.