It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from this/these transcript(s) must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collection Coordinating Committee. Elizabeth Kane Journal #1, 6 June 1864 – 12 December 1864 Vault MSS 792 [journal is written primarily in ink; all notes made by transcriber are in brackets; page numbers are added by transcriber to left side] [inside front cover] 300) 15000 50 [front leaf] No [-] 748.169 shares [page 1 is blank] [2] [the following is written upside down compared to original writing] 9/601.02 141.229 9 1271 05[-] 635.5 [pages 3-4 are blank] [some pages are torn out between page 4 and 5] [5] June 6th 1864 Tom wants me to continue my diary, left off for nearly a year. He wants me again to record my decision on the much debated questions — build or not build — sell and leave here or stay. Parties are desirable of buying him out, and he could obtain probably $20.000 for the Summit Place, and $15.000 for the Roberts Lot. Now he wishes to sell his estate excepting the half share in the selection from his property at Lamont taken for the RR. town, realising thus about $58.000. turn this into gold or sterling — and watch events, which means, go away from here. We would then, he says, be free — a desirable something for him — much less so for me. And in the approaching prostration of events business prosperity, which he insists upon it must be frightful: we will be independent as regards our living—in a good position to invest in land again if we desire it. Whatever may be the fluctuations of events our position in argument is I believe always the same. I want to build and stay here: he always wants to go. He began his last proposal by seeking my con= = currence in his selling the Robert Lot and so much of the Sum= = mit as would leave us about 40 acres round the house, and after turning this over in my mind I did concur fully in the wisdom of his selling the Roberts Lot, and a portion of the Place. But I asked to look at it on the map, and found the buyers contemplated a railroad close to the garden and a railroad town running round to meet the buildings of Lamont. When I said they would make the place intolerable, and then Tom said he thought less of that because [pages 6 and 7 are blank] [8] these people wanted all if they could get it, and indeed he felt himself if he stayed committed to the Penna RR. and to the Dyuhoga Company not to sell as his property was so tied up with theirs, but that going away he could cut the gordian knot. So that the question really resolves itself into the old thing. Had we better spend our lives here or elsewhere? To answer this is also to ask and answer What are our objects in life, what our prospects, and consistency with these what parts of the earth are to be called “elsewhere.” We want a place where the children will enjoy good health. and ourselves also. We want a place where we can obtain a living without such toil of mind or body that we are unfitted to serve God heartily. We want a place where we can use our powers mental and bodily most usefully to ourselves and our fellows. The answer to the first question bars all rich, un- = healthy lowland country, and all our Eastern cities. I believe San Francisco may be healthy. Tom proposes California, East Tennessee, and Canada. The two latter places he would render desirable abodes by becoming Military Governor of one, or settling in the other with the purpose of inciting a revolt, throwing off the English rule, and then picking out whatever place or occupation suited him best. I reject these as unsuited for a married man of forty the possessor of four small children, whose life is of value to them. And seriously, the anxiety I should endure on his account would be no compensated to me for by any amount of money gained even by a less questionable process than [9] lifting the property of others. California remains, and I will leave to Tom the task of pointing out the advantages which it possesses over this place. It is an unknown world to me, and though I love Tom as much as I do, I yet feel that the first step towards that place even if it be a Paradise involves the final parting with all people and places we have known in this world. And if Tom or I should die there before our children are grown? Let me now say why I prefer staying here. Tom has no profession, and has to begin a career elsewhere. He says the same thought and labor expended on a prosperous country would have made him a very rich man, and that he is very uncertain that toil and thought can make him rich here. I will grant it all. But – Six years ago Tom became agent here at a salary of $1000 He owned then $3750 worth of stock and $8600 - (?) in gold. He has maintained us, fought two years for his country, and if he sold now could move off owning $58.000 /currency to be sure) and a half share in acres in the town of Lamont. I don’t think, considering his feeble health that he has earned little. Remaining here we have the share in Lamont, 1000 acres at least of the Summit adjoining Lamont, acres of the Roberts Lot ₤943.11 in gold $1318 at 6 per ct – $1000 a year salary, $4225 in the same 10 per ct paying stock, 5 per ct commission on sales of lumber for the Company $3000 interest in the Dyu- hoga Coal Company (a tract composed of choice lands picked out by Tom himself for the Co.) and the probability of being This is worth almost double in currency [10] this agent – a contract for clearing with the RR. Co. which should pay for the clearing and fencing of a large tract round the house and towards the town, which we can either sell, or rent for pasture. In addition, we are to have the lumber for our house for the price of sawing it, and the privilege of using the steam sawmill on our place at night to work up our own lumber for sale. Our cellar is dug, our hydraulic ram working, some little clearing commenced, a plan that suits our convenience admirably, paid for, and the carpenter is ready to begin work. What little furniture we have, our books, clothes etc, are principally here, and of course we must sacrifice them if we leave. There are other advantages. Tom’s life for six years has lain before the people, so that his credit is thoroughly established He understands them, and his agent’s business perfectly, and I trust that if we live here he won’t have to exhaust himself so in his labors. We are 25 miles from Lamont here. Then we should be on the spot. And with his lot settled, I hope this winter would see him at leisure to work on his Tactics. All the advantages on this page would be thrown aside. We love the country, and are healthy here. I am happy here. It is true the winter is fearful. It is true that now is the time to sell if sell we must. But these lands are not paper. Really good coal underlies them, one real railroad at least runs through them, timber must have a market, if not so good a one, and if the crash [11] comes soon the price of labor goes down too. If our land bears an artificial value now, we shall not find it depress below what we gave for it, and supposing our fortune in currency value contracts we have quest as much as we had when we started here six years ago. Let us get our backbuilding up, squeeze into it for the winter and if we stand that consider ourselves settled, I say. Mind, however. I say also. If Tom could part with, say 500, acres of the Summit, or with the Roberts lot with honour and profit I would advise it, but since he cannot, I vote for a home here. Now when Tom returns from his Tax paying trip I’ll let him write his answer to me. Jun 11th I did not write, thinking Tom would be home yester= = day, perhaps. I thought he might like to write about Cali= - fornia. In the meantime he has a letter from Mr Biddle; requesting him to sell off some of the Dyuhoga Coal Lands. I think this should make him feel free to sell the Roberts Lot if he chooses. There are several things to annoy him in these letters. I have spent all my leisure since Tom went away puzzling over the Cornelius accounts in the hope that I might be able to spare Tom all trouble. But it really seems as if I had done nothing. I am trying to get Willy into short clothes. He is too large and active to wear the old set the others had. [12] Sunday 12th June. Tom reached home on Friday evening, and having been perfectly wet through the day before he has been sick with rheumatism ever since: worried too about the Dyuhoga Coal Company’s lands. He has to take two fifths not one fifth of the tract, and as there are some payments still to be made it reduces his gold to $2000. The dear fellow is hardly fit for work tomorrow but he must write letters and accounts. I hope I may be useful to him. The army news is unfavorable: and the Dyuhoga Co. want their lands sold at from $20 to $30. I hope dear Tom may be able to do this and to sell his Roberts Lot. In the mean time he must have his Chicago stock transferred to Papa and borrow upon it as agreed. 22d June Nothing written. Have been a little sick, and not a little sorry about my dear little Tot who is far from well. Papa’s banking company is broken up. Two of the directors have been speculating in the shares of the Company, and the others protested. The two however having bought a majority of the shares outvoted the others who have resigned and the business is to be sold out. A handsome mention of the management of the business here was made at the meeting. Tom is preparing maps and descriptions for the [13] 25th June Letter from Papa in reply to Tom’s transfer of his Chicago Stock saying “I sent on the Transfer Papers to Mr Burtis, and re= =ceived back this morning scrip for 169 shares of the Chicago Gas Light & Coke Co. in my name, the scrip number is 1757, and after the money which I may advance to you with 7 per ct. interest is repaid these 169 shares will again become yours, and you had better keep this letter as a voucher. On the 17th I bought $359 in gold [Three Hundred Fifty Nine Dollars in gold] being the equivalent of $700 currency at 95 pct prem which I hold subject to your order. Your $1318.12 lent out on call loan on 18th May I called up 20th inst, the 33 days int. amounted to 7.25. so that I held $1325.77 less cost of gold $700 = Balance due you $625.77 I now enclose the following checks No 1 my Check on Bank of America in your favor $1000.00 “ 2 Do Do Do 1000 “ 3 Do Do Do 200 “ 4 Do Do Do 200 “ 5 Do Do Do 200 “ 6 Do Do Do 200 “ 7 Do Do Do 200 8 Do Do Do 100 $3100.00 Deduct balance due to you as stated on other side 625 77 At your debit with me at 7 pc Int. $2474.23 The $359. in gold to E. Burlington [14] Today Tom had a letter from Jos. D. Potts announcing that Thomson agreed to change the name of Lamont to Kane the consideration being $1000. which Tom gives to found a working men’s library in the town. This name is a present from Tom to me as he knew how mortified I was about the change from Kane Station. Yesterday Tom brought home from his last trip to the Summit meat from two bears. I eat two help= =ings at dinner thinking it as I said “the tenderest venison I had almost ever eaten.” July 10th My dear Harry’s birthday. She is nine years old, a refined modest little girl, backward in book learning being lazy, but forward beyond her years in all that may be acquired by the active use of her eyes and ears, and retained by an excellent memory. She has a better stored mind than most children, greedily devouring every- -thing I, or her father will tell her, but she reads imper= =fectly, and does not write at all. Elisha and she learn the same lessons – know their multiplication table, and some of the other tables – practise the four simple rules of Arithmetic, and have some little smattering of History and Geography: the little they do know being intelligently understood, not mere parrot learning. They have a great love of poetry – though Harry has a more intelligent appreciation of it, and both of them know long poems they have learned from me, by heart. The Rebels are making a raid into [15] Pennsylvania, and I await with the most intense anx= =iety news which shall determine the truth of the con= =flicting rumours. My dear Tom sick and delicate as he is may return from the trip he is now on, only to leave me if the news is bad. He is gone into the woods with a geolo= =gist, and does not expect to return till Monday night or Tuesday morning. July 30th There has been a rebel raid and Tom went down to offer his services, but, fortunately the Rebs. took themselves off, and he came home a week ago. he has been sick ever since. — Our building goes through adventures we may laugh at some day. When Tom was here our mason being very drunk had a fight, and went home and we were till ten o’clock one night out getting him back to work. Tom, that is, I only went for the drive. Briggs stuck to it a little, but after Tom left, he went off again. Everything came to a standstill The sawyer took holiday, the carpenter, and every one. Cornelius has been unable to get old Briggs back – being probably overcome with shame, for, having promised me to return to work of a Tuesday morning, he did get back Tuesday night as far as this house, very very drunk. In that condition he lay one day at Howard Hill, and then sneaked home. Cornelius procured two others, who went in, rifle in hand on Friday. One was Grimes our shingle maker whose obliging behavior makes it unpleasant to try to catch his three deserter sons, who appear now and then [16] with their rifles. August 17. Dear Tom was away all last week from Monday till Sunday on a horseback journey through Forest and Clar- -ion Counties. He says it was a most satisfactory trip both as showing him that much extolled land and lime in C. Co. was the same as ours, and also in convincing him that his route for the A.[-]. & K. S. RR. has the advantages he claims. There are other things to depress him however. A claim- -ant turns up for a warrant which contains the Ann Swift and part of our Roberts lot on the ground of a treasurer’s sale for the taxes of 1841 and 1842. Our oldest Tax Bill is for 1842-1843. — Then our wretched building is not advancing except in cost. Not till he himself stayed and saw it done was the first 12 [-]. put in the drying kiln. and there it must stay four weeks! Nothing is done, and he must go there and remain on the spot. In the meantime he had to start yesterday for Erie to buy bricks, for the freight on which alone he must pay 52 dollars the car load! On his way he was to stop at Warren to see Struthers about the title to the Roberts Lot. Returning East he is to keep on to Williamsport to see Mr Potts, then to Phila to see our Company and the Penna RR, then to Wilmington to get John to open his leg, where a piece of bone seems to be working out of the wound I miss him much, but pray that he may be benefited, dear darling! Little Will is nine months old today. Pat had a son born August 1st. [17] “West Wind.” Kane. November 6th 186[-] Tom grieves that I have given up my diary, kept when there was nothing particular to say, always abandoned when I was either doing or suffering. I have indeed missed the opportunity of recording while it was fresh the most interesting event in our lives for years, our moving into the woods, but I will try to remember and write down what I can, and diarise in future or atten[--] it. Today is Sunday, the first clear day but two since we came here more than six weeks ago. Tom left on Tues- -day to try to purchase the 4000 acre tract for the & E. Co. I suppose he will arrange to come home after the great Election turning off at the next station below here to go into the country to vote. The children and I have held our little service, and their scripture lesson learned, Harry and Elisha are playing in the snow, while Evan is making pin patterns in my pincushion and Willie is playing on the floor. Now for my Narrative. Pat paid us a visit returning with Tom from the visit talked of in my last journal entry. He advised us strongly to come down to him and Bess this winter, emphasising their cordial invitations by pointing out my poor Evan who was languishing so that even my eyes were forced to admit that he was fading like a wilted flower. He made me feel very unhappy. Tom had to be here, I knew, and I knew he was too delicate to be left to endure the hardships he must undergo, rough [18] it without a home. During this time of anxiety we went up to see the barn. It was unfinished, and all of new wood, but the house was only a skeleton. So I stood in the doorway, and said here I would live till the wing of the house was habita- -ble. Tom was not sure I was in earnest, but he though- he would ask Barrett his opinion. Barrett decidedly advised it. Now one of our main sources of discomfort was that the Barrett’s so earnestly desired to get rid of us, and this plain evidence of the fact rendered it impossible to secede from my decision. Tom had boards sawed dividing the lower part of the stable into rooms, two of the stalls being left open in the kitchen as pantries, and the remainder (three) boxed up. Next came a little dining room, and the third com- -partment was for our boxes, barrels, etc. The harness closet was left for a milk-pantry. Upstairs the hayloft was divided into two large bedrooms, and the high grating and low door for shoveling in hay being removed, windows were substituted Then Tom had a small stove which he had up there put in the one appropriated for a nursery, and the cooking stove put up and so the kitchen and nursery were a little less damp. Meanwhile I separated my boxes selecting what could be left for cheaper transportation across the snow and repacking with care what we must take. I was well worn out and so was poor Tom who would plow through the dreadful mud to Barrett’s and return back before he was rested looking so worn and weary my heart ached for him. On Wednesday the 14th Septr we started. [19] Tom had come down to see us, and I persuaded him to ride part of the way in our carriage so as to rest until our roads parted at White’s. It was a ride full of emotion. We were leaving the lovely valley where we had been happy and comfortable (not a romantic adjective but one we were destined by contrast to understand the full meaning.) leaving it to plunge into an untried life, and one whose dangers were very apparent. Could the frail “wee white rose of all the world” stand it? God knows how my heart trembled lest my love for my dearest husband had led me to value too highly my duty to him, compared to the duty I owed the lives of his children. — I suppose we shall always remem- -ber our parting, when Tom turned off on his way through the woods to Kane, and we pursued ours to Wilcox not to meet till we should come to live there. As Tom’s solitary figure disappeared along the narrow road little Elisha’s unsteady voice struck up the hymn “When, Lord, to this our western land Led by thy providential hand Our wandering fathers came,” The thought of my Father’s good care watching over us too strengthened me, and gave me courage. I am cowardly and Tom did not know how I dreaded escorting the children to the tavern, and moving them up here by myself. On Thursday I left the children with Jane in their most uncomfortable quarters at Wilcox, and took Elisha with me to Kane. He cried until the time came to go there over the prospect of being left with his father when I should return in [20] the evening, but he was not sorry when he got there. We got the conductor to stop the train at “the bricks” as they call the beginning of the roadway leading to our buildings. Tom was waiting for us, but a contractor and a Catholic priest were there too. The dear fellow soon joined us, telling me the priest had come to see about a church to be erected on our ground. — My poor household gods were now just being driven up the muddy forest hill side on a stoneboat (our only useful vehicle here where we have no roads and I saw that my hope of putting up the bedsteads and having things ready for the children to come up next day was not possible to be realised. I was forced to give that up. But the vision of the children’s dismal faces, the dirty room at Wilcox, the “weather-breeding” loveliness of the day forboding the equinoctial storm, all made me plead with Tom to let me bring them. Just as he seemed about to yield word came that the cow was lost, Barnes had started at daybreak in pursuit of her but it was feared she had gone to Barrett’s. Of course without the cow the children could not go there, but Tom promised to telegraph if the cow was found, and to let me bring the children up. I retuned at night alone, having made a great effort of self denial in not dragging Tom with me. The dear fellow was disappointed too I found having prepared to go with me. The telegram came, and I got the children off. The clouds were black, but when we got to Kane we had sunshine the rest of the day. We stopped [21] at the mill trestle work, and soon saw Tom riding Clarion with Lyly perched behind him plowing his way through the deep mud toward us. He soon joined us, and I showed Jane the corner where I laid little Will to sleep in the mill the day we came up with Pat. We dined at Dunbar the sawyer’s, and it was nearly three before we got to the barn. It did look dreadfully dark, but they put a brave face on it, and we slept there that night. Landrigan had kept watch beside our goods as they lay be the Railroad the night before. That night I put sheets on the beds, but for many nights afterwards we could only use blankets. The streaming eyes and noses of the children, and the steaming window panes, the cold wet sheets and pillowcases, and our wet underclothes were the natu= =ral result of the dampness from the unseasoned unplaned wood. And the barn was so dark, and so dirty! Jane and I plunged into work. A buffalo robe spread on the kitchen floor was poor Willie’s sole nurse, while we cooked and tried in vain to get the new stove to bake decently. All the unpacking had to be done too. Poor Tom endured patiently our poor cook- -ing, but he could not endure to see me worn out as I was, so tired I was ready to drop. He tried everywhere in vain to get a servant. At last, it seems as if we had been a month struggling on, I can scarcely believe the account book that says it was on the 21st only six days after our arrival that Mary Arthur came. She was a girl of 14, stout active and willing though dirty, and we welcomed her gladly. But I soon found to my cost that I could let her scrub and scour under Jane’s eye, but that was all. Not to put too fine a point upon it, it was my [22] daily occupation for weeks after cleaning and dressing the children in the morning, to comb and scrub their poor little heads – to make the beds, and make up the bread, occupations I could not delegate. We were threatened with a visit from a Committee of “McKean & Elk” gentlemen but I did not know the day precisely, nor their number, some -where about the 17th October they said. I wrote constantly urging Mother to send me Eliza Johnson and Mother replied by frantically compassionate letters, and accounts of her vain efforts to induce Eliza to come. Meanwhile another damsel came aged sixteen, on the 13th of October. She is a regular stuck up Yankee, a student at Alfred College where they learn to edit papers, Philosophy, Mathematics Algebray, etc, but not to spell or speak their own language. This young lady began to cry upon her arrival in our charming domicile having expected to come to a place where she could “attend parties and go to Meeting.” We tried her as cook for which she said she was qualified, but alas, she didn’t know nawthin’ about bread made with hop risin’, nor haow folks did without saleratus. She gobbled lumps of butter, drank up Tom’s anchovy sauce by putting it to her mouth, and romped and fought with Mary in the kitchen until I had to silence them. Meat she knew nawthin’ about roastin’ but said she could fry. Burnt greasy chips! I had to keep Jane in the kitchen as before for she had to attend to everything. Meanwhile the fatal 17th drew near. Dear Tom was so kind and sorry for me, and he ordered nice things to come and bespoke [23] some pies and bread in the neighborhood and, as he hs since confessed told Dunbar his wife must come and cook at any price while the gentlemen were here. Mean= =while by Tom’s advice Jane made venison stock and shin of beef stock, and I browned some onions, and roasted coffee with my own hands. Tom urged my not attempting cake, but I knew I had made sponge cake well and determined to try. A success! So was the soup stock, so were the onions and coffee, and the smells were out of the house. On Tuesday the 18th Tom rode over to the station to see if they were there, and our agreement was that they should dine there, and be kept away till tea-time. Tea and breakfasts I thought I could manage and one dinner. I thought there might be three, Tom said possibly five gentlemen. I laid out the children’s things ready to go to Dunbar’s where we were to stay, and hurrying our miserable dinner over prepared to put the aired sheets on my three beds, when Harry rushed in, “Oh Mamma, Mamma, Eliza Johnson!!” I flew out and fairly wrung the womans hand, I nearly cried with relief! What could I have done without her! She brought word that nine gentlemen were coming right over as soon as they had dinner! I was almost at my wits end, for we were short of all such things as bed linen, cups, spoons, spoons, knives and forks. The first thing was to put up more bedsteads, and this was hardly done, and my preparations for tea explained to Eliza when Harry brought word that the gentlemen [24] were in sight. Jane and the children were hustled into the kitchen, and I lit the lamps, came down and welcomed my guests, and then as they filed up stairs I went off carrying Evan in my arms all the way to Dunbar’s, half a mile I guess. Eliza “took hold” with a will. The gentlemen stayed till Friday afternoon, and all congratulated us on our admirable cook. My dear Tom said it was a matter of moment to him to entertain them himself, and to be with them as long as he could get them to stay for business reasons, of which I may be able to give an account some other time. I shall go on with our experience at Dunbar’s. Tuesday 8th Novr If I don’t take care I shall forget my diary again! Let me put down yesterday’s actions. There was an interval of clear weather for a few hours in which we rambled to the house site to watch the carpenters then down to “the bricks,” along the RR. to the newly cut track of the Big Level and so home. In the daylight I sewed. At night I read to the children and after they had gone to bed inspected Dunbar’s and Rose’s accounts. Today it rained all day. I sewed on the machine and made cake and read to the children Tom telegraphs that a broken engine will oblige him to stay all night at Wilcox. So our little world goes. What are they doing outside? Who is the new President It is decided at this hour. May God bless the nation. [-] I suppose this has been the most momentous day in its history. [25] I’m not in the humour to write about my stay at Dunbar’s where I boarded in company with the mill hands, and slept in a nook curtained off the dining room. I have newspapers to read, and am disappointed not to see my dearest darling tonight. 10th November. Thank God Lincoln is elected! That means I hope a free country for our children to love, and a great one. And I completely forgot the diary yesterday. Tom came home with a world of things to tell me, and the day was gone before it had well begun. Today he had to go to Warren to see Struthers from whom he is to purchase his share in the P. Morris tract for the K. [-]. & C., and tomorrow he has an appointment to meet Potts in S. Mary’s to settle town matters. There is a plan lying beside me for a splendid hotel, it is a question whether Tom shall put $5000, or $10,000 in it, and there is a prospect of having the station nearer us, and various tempting things to be obtained “cheap for cash” if one only has it. R.P. offers in a sweet note today $5000. for investment in Kane. That pleases me for it looks as if people began to think Tom knew pretty well what he was about in settling here. But I hope my dearest will have strength for his labors. 11th Tom passed on his way to S. Mary’s. I was busy making Harry canton flannel nightgowns. It began to snow in the afternoon. [26] 12th November. Snowing almost all day. I received word from Barnes that he would like me to pick out the trees I wanted cut. I didn’t want any, but he came with three other skilful choppers saying it was unsafe for us to live in the barn, for if a wind arose the trees weighed down with snow would fall here. So down crashed several of Tom’s pet nobility of the forest. One splendid curled maple is they say the finest specimen they ever saw. Tom is going to have some furniture made for me of it. He was sent for when the train came up, but did not come. Still it snowed, and I felt afraid the road would become impassable. We were warm beside the wood fire, and I read to the children, and sewed all day. At teatime came a telegram from Tom that he would be up in the freight train. So all the evening we watched and waited, deceived a dozen times by wailing sounds that proved to be the wind among the tree tops, and not the panting train. At half past eleven we gave him up, and Cornelius who had spent hours watching down at “the bricks” went back to Dunbar’s and after arranging everything in case he should come we too went to bed. I awaked suddenly, crying, “There’s the engine!” and so at last it was. We heard it halt and then go on, so Eliza and I rapidly dressed, and then while she put the kettle on I helped and then watched for my dearie. How long it seemed before I saw him suddenly quite near at hand, as if one of the black tree stems or stumps relieved against the snow had suddenly wavered into life! Two minutes more, and he was safe beside the fire, so hoarse and tired my heart sank for fear of pleurisy [27] So bitter was the storm, that even when he arrived after it subsided, all the landmarks were obliterated and he had lost his way even in the short distance. He had 2 dozen eggs by way of a delicate attention to me, but he found he could not carry them, so he hid them in the brushwood, and toiled up, carrying his little bag and a flag Sam. Field bought for him. Sunday, 13th. Tom resting, but with a bad cold and cough. Everything beautiful out of doors, snow covering ground and every branch and twig so that the distance becomes a hazy veil of white lacework over a steel blue, or gray or golden horizon as the moods of the day pass on to evening. None of the usual sounds of the woodmen’s axes broke the Sunday stillness, only the usual Sabbath(!) sound of gunshots rather nearer and more frequent than usual told that the poor deer were seeking the clearings and paying for their poor little prudence with the lives they sought to save. Cornplanter’s Indians, who were camped close to us on a hunting party are gone, but a number of hunters came up on the train – a piece of civilisation we could spare, Cornelius says if he is not at work tomorrow he will kill me a deer. I don’t mind that! Saturday 19th Too busy a week to write or perhaps I should say Tom was too busy for me to get dips into the inkbottle. I have tried to help him and to see his business people. Dear little Willie is a year old, the 17th being his birthday. He cannot walk yet though he pushes a chair and walks after it, nor talk except in gibberish. But he is [28] a darling good beauty! Our wing is getting shingled, but our windows can’t be put in yet, because our pulleys were stolen, our siding can’t be put on till the window frames are in, and our chimney can’t be built because our brick- -layer’s shoulder is put out. December 1st Poor Pat’s little baby son died on the 29th November after two or three days of suffering. May God comfort the poor father and mother! Cornelius is ill with pleurisy, and Tom’s mill hands are all quarrelling and going to leave. Weather this week mild and rainy: every trace of snow gone [pages 29-30 are blank] [31] Sunday Sept. 22. 1867. After a long gap I think I will try to resume my diary – relinquished I think even after Mother’s death. We are all alive and well, even dear Tom is stronger. — One of the children just now handed me a diary for 1866 showing that I then kept occasional memoranda. — This far in the season we have escaped any killing frost. The very little children (and the Yarnalls who are staying here) have gone to bed, but Harry and Elisha are listening to an account by their father of the effect of great ocean waves. We are sitting in his study. All the carpenters work of the house is done: there remains alone some placing of grates and mantels and the last coat of paint on the house. — I have had a long talk with Tom today and decided against his lumbering this year because we want him to be free minded for the children’s sake, and think he has quite enough work to do in effecting sales for the Co – and trying to work up League Island and attending to his own military history. Sept. 23. No frost yet! Mrs Yarnall teaching the chil= -dren. Mr Yarnall at the hotel, Tom dictating to me 24th Tom left in the freight train for Smeth -port. Yesterday was pretty well occupied by both of [32] in composing and dictating a little lecture he thinks of delivering there. Besides that he dressed a mans wounded hand and rode into the woods to a point on Kenjua. Mr Yarnall is slashing at the poor trees round the hotel with great zest. Mrs Yarnall is teaching the children I have just finished copying a long letter to Mr Collins and writing two short ones for Tom. Frost last night. Today is brilliant – cool and clear. Saturday 28th Tom returned yesterday noon. His lecture was a success, but the week is dashed by J L’s getting drunk. – Tom bought an ox for himself price 130 and one of a pair for the Co. We were desperately busy getting letters off for the mail. Tony Clay and Burlingame to dinner. Letter from Mr Teraley received notifying K. of his appointment as special Agent at a commission of 5 p. cent on sales. [33] 29th September. Yesterday and this morning were exquisite Indian summer like weather. This afternoon comes up stormy threatening to deprive us of our trip to Erie Buffalo and Niagara tomorrow 30th September 1st 2d & 3rd October Days to be chronicled with a white stone. We went on Monday to Erie meeting Brewster the Attorney General, and Schofield our Representative on the Cars. At the Reed House met also Galusha Grow. The Reed House is magnificent. Its dining room is a very fine room and I was pleased to find it only 2 feet larger than that in our Kane hotel. We took a pleas= =ant drive and returned to tea. Mrs. Scofield and Judge Johnson called, and after that we chatted and read “Nasby”. In he morning Tom started out and had very satisfactory business meetings with Tyler our RR superin- -tendent and Douglass the stamp Collector or whatever he is. We just caught the 10.20 A.M train reaching Niagara about three in the afternoon. We crossed to the Canada side and drew up at the Clifton House tired out. I was for going to bed at once but Tom persuaded me to go down and get some dinner, which was so good that it and a nap made me view matters in a new light. Our room was [34] just opposite the Falls, and we had the roar of waters in our ears all night. In the morning through a hard rain clearing up gloriously we drove across the Bridge to Goat Island, and the Whirlpool coming home in time to dine and rest all the evening with the anticipation that we had seen in the rosy pinkness of the cataract foam at night the last of the sunlight on Niagara. This morn =ing (the 3rd) rose grey and stormy but after breakfast we wrapped up and walked to the Fall. Never could any one see the glor[-] under such lovely shifting “storm and sunshine cloud and shadow.” There is no use trying to describe the Falls but I can say we had a perfectly happy morning’s walk – and en= =joyed a lovely little garden very much too. This afternoon we leave for Buffalo [35] 13th October. We visited the State Fair at Buffa- -lo, and I was surprised to find myself enjoying it so much. Between ourselves I suspect I have an undeveloped capacity for great enjoyment. I keep too much down to a “set gray life” and it is unnecessary now I think. We found Mr Collins here on our return, and the whole of last week has been overwhelming fatigue for Tom where he was quite unfit for it. I do not think he ever spent a week of such agonising neuralgic pain. The Company have had eleven gentlemen to visit the lands, and Tom has had to talk to them. Today is cold enough for snow. 14th October. A perfectly charming autumn day. Tom and I were busy with our pens till dinner time – all the gentlemen away with Mr Yarnall After dinner Mrs Yarnall and I took the children down the Comonsville Road into the clearing by Hubbards and up the Terrace slope – a lovely walk. To bed early, with a headache Tom away trying to persuade the gentlemen to take farms. 15th Another brilliant day. 16. 17. 18, 19, 20. All the loveliest weather pos- -sible. No fires going in the house – pansies, mignon- -ette and [-]weet alyssum still blossoming out of doors and the autumn leaves still beautiful though [36] now browning and falling thickly. The Yarnalls left on Saturday the 19th. The good man has been slashing into the trees on the Terrace slope at a great rate, much to Tom’s chagrin. The hotel is almost “sided up”, the piazza pillars up on one end with the brackets primed as also that end of the house for display. 25,000 or 30,000 bricks are moulded and drying nicely at the yard. Tom had his achievement to show me after the Yarnalls left. We took the children and drove out along the Big Level to Nye Sverria no longer a Slough of Despond but a first rate road. I really think I never was so surprised in my life. We spent yesterday evening alone, the first for 15 weeks and a half. Every thing at present looks prosperous with us. The Co. are paying off their debt to us rapidly: the dear children are well, and the parents too. God be thanked for all his mercies to us. [37] Monday – a lovely day. It rained in the night and was rainy most of yesterday but today Wednesday is cold and clear. Our men are at work on the Wilcox Road[-] All the week The rest of the week rainy till today Nov 1st Friday when Tom is gone to Howard Hill with Dr Freeman and though not raining it threatens to snow Biv. gathered these violets, probably the last we shall see. Ground still unfrozen 2d November. A brilliant but frosty day. 3rd Sunday. Raining all day. Read Evangeline to the children. Mr Yarnall out walking. My dear Tot has been very ill with Intermittent Fever I believe she is out of danger now. — Last week I taught the children faithfully all the time – did some writing, made a dress for Harry, and was much worried by squab- -bles in the kitchen. I had a nice long ride on Satur= =day afternoon with Tom and Mr Yarnall all over the town and along the Wilcox Road to the old RR. cutting and across the RR. to the woods behind the brick yard thence by a hauling road of James’ to the Big Level and back. Tom says it was five long miles. Tom is worried at my having induced him to put $2500. into a lumbering partnership with the McK & E. people. The hotel has its first coat of paint on and the piazza roofed in. [38] Nov. 5. There is a sprinkle of snow on the ground and there was a slight fall that melted as it fell yes= -terday while I was out on horseback with Tom. I have had four rides lately Nov 6. Clear & cold. Old J. D. Hunt here. Sent Aunt Ann J N’s wages to Nov 1. for investment Nov. 10. The weather has been persistently mild, Tom is suffering very much with pain in the back. Mr Collins wants Tom to go to Buffalo on Tuesday to attend a meeting of proprietors interested in the extension of the BR & P.RR. Burlingame sent in news on Friday that he had discovered two veins of coal at Howard Hill thicker than any of Dalson’s on land marked as coal less by Dalson. Tom has convinced Mr Yarnall of the impolicy of lumbering this winter on account of the late ness of the season, the quantity of lumber on the Allegheny and the financial troubles. I suppose he knows best but I am very sorry all the same. He would have had a quar= =ter share in the profits if any. However the less there is going on the less work there will be for him to do. I am very anxious to have Dr Freeman settle here for Tom’s sake. He is not strong enough to go about among the [39] sick. I am troubled about him. Life is a burden to him from pain, and he often tells me he can not endure the amount of work he has upon him. I cannot prevent his working, and am afraid I hellp to burden him when I only de= sire to aid him in getting through his work. Yesterday I was out with him running a line that intersects the RR. between the house and mill. My dear Tot has been very ill with intermittent fever but is out of danger now. Tuesday Nov 12. Winter is here at last. The snow began to fall yesterday afternoon and is now several inches deep. Tom left in the 5 o’clock train this morning for Buffalo, and our breakfast bell has just rung. 13th October. Nov. Yesterday I finished the second quilt, taught the children, helped preserve a half bushel of quinces, and cut out a new plaid frock for Harry Today I have been occupied in making the frock, having done everything but five of the 8 buttonholes, putting in the pocket and trimming it. Antony Clay came in about half past eight and stayed till after dinner so I could not teach the little ones. Cloudy and snowy all day. [40] 17th Novr Willie is four years old. Poor Mr Yarnall was telegraphed for as Elsie is ill. May God spare her to the poor parents! Elisha brought me a pansy from the flower bed. But it is cold with an inch or two of snow on the ground and more threatening. 23rd November. We have had very curious weather, damp as could be, and raw heavy fogs – the snow all gone. Tom is suffering a good deal from his neuralgia. Elsie is better. My old cook is to leave me on Wednesday. I have had two nice rides with Tom since the snow melted, down the Wilcox Road to Hays’ and then along the old Sunbury & Erie RR. line to old Kane Station, and along an old contractors road to the Smethport Road near K’s boundary line. 25th Steady rain last night. Jane the cook has left and now Jane Nelly is vexed by Eliza’s saying that she must be sorry. I suppose servants will fight, and often wish we could either do our own work or have a New York house where one couldn’t hear the fights. Decem 2. Saturday the weather became cold with a slight sprinkling of snow. A Reporter from the Erie Dispatch came on Wednesday – left Saturday [41] is to return today. Yesterday, Sunday thermom- -eter 15 to 10 ab. zero. Today heavy snow. Very favorable analysis of Gas Coal reported Dec. 3. Yesterday my head ached and I thought I was going to have erysipelas. Thank God it is nothing 8th Tom has been taking the most wonderful care of me and stopping off all the draughts during the rainy windy snowy weather we are having. The men are making an ice pond down below the mill. Yesterday afternoon Tom spoke to me very seriously on the subject of our future. He says that the McK. Co. cannot last, he is even now partitioning it into lots for division among the stockhold =ers, and then his occupation is gone. To hold our property through the dead commercial time that is coming he must be earning, and he proposes to look forward to the Northwest. Of course he has nothing defined in prospect, but I must exert myself and not be a drag on him. God bless him! 12th Dearest Tom left here on Tuesday. Yesterday it was cloudy and mild and I took the children sleighing. I wrote to Aunt Ann, Helen, Aunt Alida Tom, etc, Today it is very cold & snowing hard We killed the pigs on Tuesday. [pages 42 to 237 are blank] [pages 238 to 272 are written upside down compared to previous entries and page numbers and start from the back of the book] [pages 276 to 273 are blank] [272] Specifications Of the workmanship and materials required in the erection and completion of a Frame Cottage for General Kane in Sergeant Township McKean County Pennsylvania General Description The main building will be thirty five feet six inches on front, by thirty seven feet six inches deep, (with a pro= =jection of five feet six inches by twenty one feet on the Eastern flank, and a tower projecting six feet by ten feet four inches on the western side) and two stories high each ten feet in the clear. The back building will be twenty four feet six inches by twenty nine-feet six inches, and two stories high each nine feet in the clear. The height of the tower and the pitch of the various portions of the roof, with the arrangement of rooms, porches, closets &c is fully explained by the drawings marked 6. upon which the several dimensions of the same are also figured. Excavations. A cellar will be dug under the full extent of the building (excepting only the porches) to the depth of seven feet clear of the joists, and foundations trenches for the cellar walls and piers at least six inches deeper than the cellar bottom and of the width marked for the walls. The foundations of porch piers will be sunk to the depth [271] of three feet below the natural surface of the ground, or deeper should the nature of the ground require it to insure from injury by frost. Provide trench also for drainage of cellar — and excavate a cesspool at a proper distance to the North and East of the building, walled and arched over with stone, (or covered with a large flat stone.) All the earth from excavations not needed in grading the grounds around the building to be carted away as also all rubbish that may be made during the progress of the work. Stone and Brick-work. All the cellar walls and piers, also the porch piers [-] tinted blue on the plan of cellar to be built of good quarry building stone laid on their broadest beds in good lime-and-sand mortar – none to be less than eighteen inches thick and to conform to the plans as to position and dimension. All the inside facings to be smoothly dashed and lime- =washed: and the outside facings from the ground up line up to the leveling for sills, to be hammer dressed stone square & straight laid broken range and neatly pointed. The chimneys will all be brick: no walls between fire place and woodwork (back walls) to be less than nine inches thick: and no flues less than nine by thirteen inches, and carefully pargetted throughout their whole height with good mortar, and topped out with straight hard bricks above the roof as per drawings Provide a hearth (of marble or other suitable stone) to each fire place of not less than twenty two inches wide by [270] the width of chimney front laid on the usual trimmer arches. Arch-bars for each bars fireplace of 2” X 3/8” iron eight inches longer than the opening and corked at the ends. Carpentry & Joinery. There will be a bottom sill ( x ) to each main wall and partition of the building, bedded in mortar on the cellar walls & piers, and these framed with and pinned together with at each intersection. The corner posts (4 x 8) and window and door posts [-] double 3” X 4”) will be framed and pinned into these sills at bottom, and the corner posts into a wall plate (4 X 8) at top; at the proper line for the second floor of joists the ties or joist bearers (4 X 8) will be framed into the corner posts; into these ties will the window and door=posts be framed, and all stayed with intermediate braces (3 x 4) cut in between the sills and posts ties, and the ties & plates, running diagonally from bottom to top of each story, and the framing completed by cutting and nailing in studding (3 x 3) sixteen inches between centers. The flooring joists (3 x 10) will all bear on the sills and ties; and the ceiling joists (3 x 8) on the wall plates (extending over to receive the cornices) will be notched down one inch on the same; all joists to be placed sixteen inches between centers, and each tier where the length of joist exceeds ten feet to have a course of lattice bridging through the centre. The rafters (3 x 6) will bear at bottom on a [269] two by six inch raising plate firmly secured on top of ceiling joists, and those of main roof at top on a frame (of 3 x 10) the dimensions of the flat supported by the partitions beneath and those of back building on a ridge piece (of 3 x 10). No rafters to be placed more than two feet eight inches a part; all to be boarded (or lathed) for shingles, except the flat and porch and bay window roofs which will be be prepared for tin The weather boarding for the entire structure to be narrow, well seasoned or kiln dried mill worked boards free from knots shakes or sap. and well nailed to every stud with three quarter inch lap. The porches will be ceiled with mill worked boards laid smooth side down on ceiling joists (3 x 4) planed and chambered. For the construction of these, the tower, cornices, bay window, window heads, and balconies, refer to the drawings made on a large scale. Felt to be nailed between weather boarding and rough boards. Floors Lay all the inside floors with 4/4 mill worked well seasoned (or kiln dried) boards, the best to be selected for the Hall Parlor Boards to be act more than } Library, Dining Room and Setting Room Four inches wide } floors, and all to be blind nailed to the joists and afterwards smoothed off. The porch floors to be laid with 5/4 narrow well seasoned boards, and the joints white leaded; to have a descent outwards of two inches. Hall, dining room, & Study to be cherry ”ash” or cherry and alternately Stairs. The main stairs (one flight) will be made of 5/4 cherry step boards, tongued glued and blocked to the risers and let into the wall string (with paneled spandrel beneath and door on the rear for closet) the rail will be cherry with 8” octagon staff and turned cap and base, the bal[-]sters will be two and a quarter inches diameter turned [268] “walnut ash or maple” of cherry or maple. The stairs over these leading to the loft (or servants’ rooms if finished up). will be enclosed with a door at bottom; and the private stairs from first to second story will be neat box stairs with door at bottom; and the private stairs from first to second story will be neat box stairs with door at bottom all built in the usual way. Provide also cellar steps (inside and outside) made strong and neat, and all the outside steps required by the plan (including also steps to the rear porch not shown on the plan as their position will be influenced by local reasons – as also the cellar entrance. Step ladder to flat. Doors. The front doors will be made folding, paneled and moulded on the outside and bead and butt inside, two and a half inches thick (of two thicknesses screwed together) hung with four by four inch butts and secured with a six inch upright mortise (rebate) lock and two iron plate flush bolts. All the other doors of first story, main building, (except closet doors) will be one and three quarter inches thick, four panel moulded on both sides, & hung with four by four inch butts and secured with four inch mortise locks. All the doors of Back building and Second Story, (except Closet doors) will be one and a half inches thick four panel and moulded and hung with 3 ½ by 3 ½ inch bolts and secured with four inch cottage locks.; the side entrance and back kitchen entrance to have two additional bolts to each. All the closet doors, including also the doors of Pantries Milk Room and Attic will be four panel moulded on the exposed side & bead & butt on the other, hung with three and half by three and half butts and secured with approved closet locks. One attic room closeted all round – all to have closets. Turn to end The outside cellar doors will be made of tong[--] [the following lines are written up the left side of the page perpendicular to original writing] Instead of arch between back and mainbuilding – have sliding doors, and made of cherry All the rooms to be wainscotted as high as the windows in Cherry or Chesnut. Library & study to be shelved [267] and grooved boards, with strong battens put on with wrought nails clenched; and hung with wrought strap hinges to 6 x 8 cheeks of locust or oak firmly framed together & secured with a swinging bar & hooks inside. Windows All the window frames first and second story and third story of Tower will be made for 1 ½ inch sash double hung with the best cord weights and sham =axle pullies. The window from Parlor to Western Porch will be five lights high, the lower sash extending to within four inches of the floor, (its bottom rail being five inches wide,) and made to fly up into the head until even with the meeting rail of the upper sash. [-] The windows of the gables will be hinged to open inwards and secured shut with the proper fastenings [-] All the balanced sash to be provided with porcelain lifts on the bottom rail, and approved fastenings securely put on at the meeting rail. The cellar windows will be hinged at top to a 3” x 6” frame built in the wall secured shut with small bolts and open with hook and staple to the joists Shutter and blinds if required. All the above window frames described for first and second stories will be made with an outside shutter rebate of one and a half inches. The shutters for first story will be panel one and a half inches thick, moulded on the exposed (when open) side and bead and butt on the other and hung with three & half by three and half loose joint butts and secured by ten inch bolts and outside (open) by approved back-holders also provided with rings and staples. Those for second [266] story will be close or Venetian Pivot blinds as the owner may direct & hung and secured above. The Bay window will have inside Shutters, folding as shown by a full size drawing for the same (hung with the usual hinges and back flaps) into jamb soffits provided for them Closets and Pantries All the Closets, the Pantries, Medicine and Photo= graphing Rooms will be fitted up with shelvings and there intended for wardrobes to have metal hooks. Dressings. The dressings and wash boards for the principal rooms will be explained by a full size drawing: in the back building the dressings will be a simple fac[-]d and band moulding about four inches wide and the wash boards about seven inches inclusive of an inch and half moulding on the top, the last member of the dressings not to be put on until the plastering is done. The Bath Room will be neatly wainscoted with narrow boards and beaded joints Roofing. All the Roof to be overlaid with shingles (except the flat on main roof and top of tower, the porch and bay window roofs which will be of tin) The shingles to be eighteen inches long and one inch less than one third their length to the [-]ather. each slope of the main roofs to be divided into four equal parts spaces, and the first and third spaces from the bottom laid with shingles pointed at an angle of 30° with the line of the course. The shingles for this purpose not to be less than 5 inches wide. [-] Note. On the main roof of the western elevation the drawing represents the character of the roof above described, somewhat exaggerated however on account of the smallness of the scale; the whole of the shingle roofs should be done in this way. [265] The valleys, flats, and gutters to be laid with the best two cross leaded roofing tin, as also the Porch & Bay Window Roofs, painted on both sides, the upper side two coats [-] Provide also the iron railing for flats as represented by the drawing [-] The gutters will be stop and made to convey the water to seven three inch conductors [-] one to each external angle of the building except the S.E. corner of the Dining Room. [-] put up with the proper shoes and spout stones. Discharge the water from the several Porches into these conductors by a short 2 inch pipe. Plastering Note If the house is to be used as a summer residence alone it would be a very method to line with dry mill worked boards not exceeding four inches wide, and then paper on cheap canvas. This would make a better house too when afterwards lath & plastered. [-] Otherwise All the walls and ceilings [-] except the ceilings of porches [-] will receive two coats of brown mortar and one of white. Cornices will be run on the ceilings of the Hall, Parlor, Library, Sitting & Dining Rooms, of hot less than 18 inches girt. and ornamental centre flowers of Choice patterns not less two feet nor more than three feet diameter placed in the middle of each. The mortar for the plastering to be composed of fresh lime mixed in proper proportions with clean sharp sand and slaughtered hair. And all lath to be sound and free from bark. [264] Plumbing. A reservoir of boiler iron 5 feet diameter and four feet high to be placed in the loft as marked on the plan close to the flue from Kitchen Range, to be encased with lath & plaster leaving an air-chamber of four inches clear all around it; into this chamber a flue from the oven of the Kitchen range will be made to vent, (Controlled by a damper so that the heat may pass up when not needed) to insure against freezing in the coldest weather, Supply from this reservoir the follow= =ing points, by means of 5”) 8 extra strong lead pipe, having proper connections for the purpose, with the 30 gal. circulating boiler & water back of the kitchen range: In the Bath-room, the Bath-tub & wash basin, with hot & cold, and the water-closet with cold water; in the Dress= =ing Room near Library a wash basin with hot & cold, and a water closet with cold water; in the pantry and kitchen each a sink (also in Photographing room) with hot and cold water. The supply to tap the reservoir two inches from the bottom. The waste=and=overflow pipe to be each two inches diameter and discharge into the nearest rain conductor. The sinks above described will be iron enamelled with brass fixtures and the necessary waste and overflow pipes, and fitted up beneath with panelled front of walnut; the wash basins will [263] be china bowls – and countersunk marble tops with silver plated fixtures: large waste and overflow pipes; and fitted up beneath with panelled front of walnut; also the Bath tub and water-closet in the bathroom will have corresponding fronts: — The bath-tub lined with copper tinned and to have plated fixtures and two inch overflow & waste pipe. The water closets will be the best pan to have four inch lead trap and vertical iron pipe connecting by curved joint with a six inch terra cotta pipe leading to cess pool. All the wash from sinks & bathrooms to be carried off in the same manner — this pipe to be laid about four feet below the surface. Range Furnace A cooking range, selected by the proprietor to be set up complete in the kitchen, with water back connecting with the 30 gallon circulating iron boiler A white enamelled warm air register will be required for Parlor, Library, Dining Room & Sitting Room, and black do for the chambers over and for the Photographing Room /and black for upper & lower halls) and medicine room all to have the proper dampers for controlling the heat. Set also in the position indicated by the plan a furnace of large capacity, with the proper pipes for the discharge of warm air & gas into the flues indicated for the service, including a tin flue of 8” x 4” inches to the Bath Room Painting & Glazing. [262] Painting & Glazing. The painting will be done under the special direction of the proprietor. All the interior finish that may be done with walnut cherry or any of the hard woods will be oiled & varnished. Any other interior finish will receive three coats of white lead or linseed oil The glass will be the best American well bedded, bradded and back puttied. The numbers and sizes of the lights are all marked on the drawings Supplemental. The study to have either two or three corner bookcases – with shelves beneath in little cupboards with panelled doors – of cherry The library to have three bookcases as marked in plan, with panelled closets below to the height of the wainscotting. Glazed closets for China on either side the dining room Chimney, glazed above, panelled below. A door and small enclosed porch in the angle between the dining room Chimney, glazed above, panelled below. A door and small enclosed porch in the angle between the dining room and main building. Closets in the garrets where indicated filled partly with drawers, partly with shelves. All the rest of the walls wainscoted to the window Dining room – study – and half floors to be of such hard woods as may be indicated. Sliding doors in the arch between first and second story front and back buildings Floors of the back building tightened as indicated by Mr Laverty. [page 261 is blank] [260] Copy July 9th 1864 I will build a horse barn for General Kane in the place in= =dicated by him like Mr Medberry’s at Pot Allegheny – complete in all respects for Two Hundred Dollars by the 1st of September if I cannot before. J.A. Bright [page 259 is blank] [258] Decem. 31. 1864 With the understanding that Mr Lillybridge is to carry out General Kane’s views regarding the gen- -eral dispatch of his general business as explained to him to the satisfaction of General Kane, Gen’l Kane will credit Mr Lillybridge at the expiration of the month of January with the sums following $20. for re skidding the Cherry logs beyond the Pine and hauling them up hill. $20. for making the road from this Cherry to the main road. $40. for making a mile of road leading from the Cherry beyond Valentine Glott’s to the main road. $40. for clearing not less than two acres or as much ground as is needed for One Million of Logs Mr Lillybridge engaging to deposit the logs in the manner most advantageous to General Kane’s interests as hereafter to be designated by General Kane. on poles clear of the ground and at least two or three deep the ground at present cleared not to be occupied and Mr Lillybridge to be very particular about not cutting any trees not indicated by General Kane. Thomas L Kane. After this I added that if Mr Lillybridge made any other road or roads which I decided to consider as a main road, I would give him at the rate of $40. a mile – if he considered that enough. He answered me that he did. Mr Lillybridge considers it [257] most advantageous to his interests that Gen. Kane shd. do a heavy business beyond the capacity of the mill to saw this winter, and therefore favoring the deposit of logs to be drawn to the Mill by plank road from a point nearer the logs to be furnished than the Mill is, considers it for his interest to make up the difference by putting up the logs in good shape and carefully according to General Kane’s directions – but two and three deep and no more unless Mr Lillybridge can conveniently do so Signed Thomas L. Kane Signed Lowell L. Lillybridge Witness Jane Nelson [256] New York and Erie RR. R. H. Berdell Hugh Riddle Eng. Elmera Genl Supt. Ro[-] RR. John Arnott Elmera John S Bggs Eng. Supt. [---] Erie RR Dunkirk Daniel Drew. N.Y. H.C. Fork S Charles Minot Gregory Cunningham Genl Howard Buffalo Rev. De Pew. Buffalo. Lockheed Ay[---] J.T. Henry Kean J.M. Comstock Atlantic & Great Western. RR. — names through W. Wood. [illegible deletion] L.[-]r. Gifford Eng. B.B. & P. RR. people at Buffalo. Write with 6 copies to be circulated to advantage by Walter Wood, Helen Watts, Jas Wood. Rochester. Syracuse. Ask Wilmarth, Souther & Willi, Lesley, for names. S. Field also. D. Kingsbury,2 Whiting,2 Ci Phillips [--]sport J.D. Potts, J. A. Wilson A.J. Carratt W.A. Baldwin Genl Read E[-] J.J. Lawrence Col. Campbell Alfred Tyler. Esq. Lombart. G.B. Roberts, T.A. Scott Simon Cameron W [-] L Smith Downer oil works Corry M.A. Irvine W.H. Dyckman [-].D. Aldrich [---] OL. Lester Esq St Mary’s J.W. Kennard Engineer Chief A, G. H. RR. N.Y.. Genl H. W. Mrcum [---] [255] Alsop Wil[---] Ruggles Em. Howard. Sergeant Mekean Ruggles N.Y. Caldwell May O Patterso Horton No[-]ey T. Wilmarth C. Lugh C. R. Easly WW Morison P. Jarrett LA Mckay P.M. Porce Lockhaven Pitt Cooke Sandusky Jay Cooke Phil[-]oln. Pitt Cook Landcorky [---] D. Casement Painesville Ohio T. Struthers Warren Pa H.G. T. Struthers LD Witmore Esq Curtis, Johnson. Judge M[---] Judge White Judge Ga[-]. Read W.A. Nicholls T.[-]. Leifer E. [--] P[-]ddle D[-]me Col [--]ant Forest Co. [--] J.G. Gordon Bowlville [-].G. Moorhead, Phlada. Hon. J.K. Morehead, Pottsbury. Jos W. D. Rilly Hon Edgar Cowan; Hon. Gl. W. Scofield. Hon Warren Cowles Hon Ep[-]phra B. El[---] Senate [--]amsbug Lt. Colonel John A. Eldred W P[----] L[--]th. Bale Ohio RR. Baltimore V. Thompson Esq. Erie Felton Genl. H. Haupt [254] Buffalo & Huron RR. D. Richmond [-] Port Buffalo & Erie RW. Buffalo. J. Lewis Grant Supt [---] E. RW. Buffalo. H.W. Chilleasten Supt. Buffalo Lockport & Niag. Falls RR. Buffalo. C.J. S.P. Chare. Washington Chas J. Brydges Manger Grand Trunk RW. Montreal, Canada Hon. R. C Grier Supreme Court Washington Philada Alf James Wood Esq. Lep[--]bl Lindon & York Ins Co. N. Y. ? Colonel John W. Ferrey Philadelphia G W. Childs 3rd & Chesnut Phila Morton McMichael Jr. Esq. “ Geo. Roberts Smith Esq. Philada. “ Samuel L. Taylor Esq. 2d & Walnut St “ * Mrs. A. V. R. Constable 1304 Walnut St Phila Hon E. K. Price “ W. & J. Carpenter Chesnut [--] 9th Phila William Wood Jr. Esq. Care of Dr. Prince Northampton Mass. Hon. W. P. Wilcox Pt. Allgheny. McKean Co Pa Maj Gen Silas Carey Washington Horner Grely N.Y. Chas A. Dana Chicago Frank McReyster Esq. N Y. Maj General Meade Philadelphia E.M. Stanton Gov. Dennison Carter Hansway Latobe Pa And. Johnson J.L, Black ! [drawing over the name “Jas Buchanon !”] [253] H. Croskey & Co. [pencil drawing] Delaware Avenue bel Green Philada H Pomeroy Clark Bros Boston C S S Lennox 54 Wm Street New York L A Macks M[-]w[-] Oliver P. Bacon Erie Pa [pages 252-250 are blank] [249] Cherry Jan 27 1866 Koons New Old 157 100 255 487 157 189 153 285 153 285 100 204 157 133 229 133 180 100 285 75 204 118 284 Jan. 27. 1866 50 229 180 236 M. Koons 137.38 17.438 204 139 285 337 M. Glott 175.77 17.551 256 139 236 2243 133 117 172 McArdle 102.85 22.954 236 139 192 Recap. $416.00 4746 236 157 153 1903 192 1903 2263 2600 Pd. J. Barnes $20 346 204 414 9249 x $6 = 55.484 4746 153 204 133 2263 1903 204 88 346 3683 6649 2243 55.49 2006 259 100 153 81.89 x 10 = 81.89 old 9255 172 285 379 $137.38 152 229 346 88 256 132 157 379 259 256 102 88 180 118 236 414 133 157 180 118 526 152 180 414 4746 204 3683 2600 [248] Jan. 27 1866 Whitewood M. Glott
From Glotts Hemlock Mc Ardle Hemlock fallow McArdle 414 285 523 229 118 180 Recap. 531 525 170 523 229 284 285 3397 552 609 346 259 100 335 256 3038 [-]99 2733 414 229 152 180 192 180 365 365 285 379 192 346 229 3367 414 609 172 414 204 256 117 3431 284 450 172 229 335 229 335 3086 Error Error 792} 414 379 204 256 346 88 22967 4 ½ 744} 379 892 157 136 335 450 91368 1148 691 285 792 229 346 335 335 $102,85[-] 609 229 744 192 346 335 285 204 180 4722 3397 2733 3367 3086 609 337 Recap. 285 214 157 204 5823 284 5823 at [-]52.407 180 [-]35 346 285 414 11728 7 2 335 256 137 172 4722 337 16.450 157 229 256 284 153 at 7 ½ 133 256 100 945 115.15 4822 118 123.37 172 180 558 153 346 157 259 new 123.37 999 old 52.40 229 229 414 1470+60 $175.77 229 133 335 1470+60 153 180 88 11608+120 133 137 117 120 11728 457 379 285 229 285 379 3038 2970 3431 [247] Feb 3 M’Ardle 34.00 Hemlock at 4.50 Sum 285 204 285 285 204 214 379 136 284 256 335 379 3931 3657 204 204 609 204 180 192 5467 3468 139 285 390 285 310 172 3408 2476 609 379 450 337 256 153 2951 609 487 414 229 192 346 3075 4998 133 214 567 346 180 335 3160 310 346 594 256 229 567 2805 414 285 652 285 256 118 39356 487 526 285 379 394 229 256 379 414 346 133 335 558 192 526 3931 3657 5467 3468 3408 2476 153 337 526 285 394 136 118 144 180 163 204 180 609 340 335 346 102 450 180 335 335 229 180 285 229 489 405 652 229 335 180 379 379 284 192 117 346 379 284 133 285 285 450 214 172 285 285 487 229 204 285 180 457 365 180 136 229 285 285 133 2951 3075 4998 3160 2805 [246] New Cut Glott cherry old @ 7.50 Koons Cherry @ $7 336 157 346 157 118 285 652 372 346 157 229 346 16,801 204 180 744 157 236 102 153 379 136 204 489 157 236 458 153 214 157 W.W. 285 652 379 792 $9 per all from his fallow 133 214 102 946 346 285 285 153 133 240 159 172 567 133 792 136 153 153 229 229 172 192 346 117 153 284 256 526 180 102 192 335 133 172 153 229 139 214 157 285 259 256 450 526 118 256 284 256 153 192 180 697 214 487 192 133 229 172 214 652 214 487 192 133 346 214 133 3775 744 192 414 229 192 256 5173 487 301 8 4905 3714 3502 204 236 450 8948 526 236 479 236 214 157 256 346 8948 229 285 229 346 180 3018 3898 157 180 214 4905 256 256 180 285 157 3590 50 259 214 3714 414 172 346 336 551 3527 3502 [---] 102 256 204 551 100 335 487 189 Ch 488 35653 W 8746 100 172 118 744 192 414 229 3898 172 192 157 792 450 180 256 3590 3527 204 450 285 118 414 180 379 3502 3714 285 425 346 425 526 180 346 4905 256 425 256 567 236 346 379 3018 35.358 229 487 346 335 229 259 200 551 4602 5688 6140 180 567 310 346 35.909 4602 8746 3898 3590 3527 5688 157 16587 8948 8948 [245] Glott had 804 ft. Hemlock timber. McArdle had 34.50 paid Barrett 35.909 750 1795450 Koons Koons 117.60 251363 16.804 Glott 277 82 269.31.750 $117.607 McArdle 177 10 857 $572.52 277.82 Glott 946 900 851.400 $277.82 Glott McArdle 39.356 450 1967800 B. says pd. McArdle 978.83 157424 Glott 1139.06 $177.10.200 Koons 541 114.016 98.242 437.558 9 9 9 1026.144 884.148 3938.022 513.07 442.89 3 5 1969. 5 1013 33 978.88 There were 59 Old Cherry -3 not handed = 56 guess 11 a 12 M. 934.50 44 2 ½ 88 22 9.84 $110 1749 27.733 4.172 4 052 6 315 3 148 44.821 [244] Thomas L. Kane in acc with J. & P. McArdle Dr. Cr. Jan 5. To 11.579 Hemlock 52.55 12 4.755 21 39 20 5.315 5.311 23.92 24 22.967 102.85 Feb 3 39.356 177 10 10 141.228 635 52 17 114.016 513 67 24 98.242 442 80 437.558 or 49 Add 600 as if error 438.158 2.70 438.158 Feb. 28 add days to date(34.475) 155 13 472.553 at 4 ½ 2127 55 Dec 23. By advances to date $300 & $350 650 Jan. 5. Cash 52.55 12 21.39 20 102.85 Feb. 3 177.10 10 Per [--] J.L. Morrison. 601.02. Barrett 34.50 635.52 24 Iron and Smethbrook to Jan. 8. $12.60 Feb. 21. 8.35 20.95 “ 12 bu. Oats at 65 c 7.80 26 Cash 100 00 “ “ By Balance 201 16 Feb. 28 “ Meat Feb 27. 19[--] Feb 28. 115 lbs Meat at $1.80 1969.32 27 Shoeing 30 c. 5.49 <30> “ Paid Order Francis Stray 48 “ By Balance 295.70 Feb. 28 In the tally of logs for Feb 17. the 9 is probably a 3. Credit for 400 shot therefore be given to the McArdles. With this exception then is no error in adding up in their favor “ J.D. [---] [243] Glott Whitewood 14 701 3 031 18.107 5 823 15 450 (Copy) 945 Received Mar. 20, 1866 One Hundred 35 553 and Seven 28/100 dollars in addition to the payments 42.773 of March 1. 1866 which were in full settlement – and 30.780 the gratuity prorated at that time 15 444 J. Mc Ardle 181.708. Cherry 1080 2497 458 6278 2002 4666 16.981 Received March 1. 1866 of Thomas L. Kane Two Hundred and Ninty Five Dollars and Seventy Cents payment in full of the Balance due us on final settlement of our account for hauling logs this day. Received also out Promissory Note & Bill of Sale security for $650 advanced. [five cent stamp Record also One Hundred and Four Dollars and adhered to page] thirty cents gratuity, we satisfying J. D. Barnes that all our hands are paid in full. John McArdle Patrick McArdle clear [---] 165 Returned Genl. Kane the Bill of [-]ale as security for the above amounts – with the understanding that it is to be of no effect after we produce vouchers to his satisfaction that we have paid all hands to date P McArdle John McArdle [242] Thomas L. Kane in acct. with M. Glott Dr. Cr. To Jan. 13. 14.701. Whitewood at $7 ½ 110 257 3031 ww. from G’s fallow 9 24 28 20 1080 Cherry at 7 ½ (post) 8.10 2497 “ at 8 19 98 18107 Whitewood at $7 ½ 135 80 27 “17.557” viz 5823 from Gs Fallow at $9 52 41 16.450 at $7 ½ 123 37 Feb. 3 Old Cherry 458 at $9 3.42 WW from fallow. 946 at $9 8.52 WW. 35.653 at 7 ½ 267.39 10. Old Cherry 5278 at 7 ½ 47 13 New Cherry 2002 at 9 18 01 42.773 Whitewood at 7 ½ 299 41 17 30.780 (or 24.989) at 7 ½ 230.85 24 Old Cherry 4666 at 7 ½ 35 Whitewood 15.444 at 7 ½ 115.83 1503.07 1425.21 Dec 18 By. Advances to date (exclusive of old Acc. unsettled) 200 To Jan 13 .. Pd. Cash $133. 133 20 153.96 163.96 27 175.77 175.77 Feb. 3 277.82 277.82 10 385.96 385.96 ‘ Lumber, Smithing &c 54.55 34.15 88.70 To Balance $77.86 77.85 1503.07 [241] Record Feb. 26 1866 the preceding Balance of Account in full to date viz. $77.86 and $22.18 advanced in all One Hundred Dollars $100— Michael Glott. tons Whitewood Old Cherry 1264 16070 9255 3285 10.519 at 6 = $53.114 19355 New Cherry 81 89 16587 21.107 13 057 19.602 78.536 78540 Fellow. 556 at 2 ½ 13.90 Cherry 89.591 862.41 89055 555 278 89590 Mar. 3. 1866 P.d. M. Glott. gratuity $100.— [240] Thomas L. Kane in acct. with M. Koons Dr. Cr. 1865 Jan. 13. [--] 16070 Old Whitewood k at 2 ½ 40.17 1236 20 .. 556 Cherry old (fallow) at 2 ½ $1 39 12351 Hemlock at 2 ½ 30 90 1254 Cherry old — at 2 ½ 7 58 3285 Old Whitewood k. at 2 ½ 8 21 27 9255 Old Cherry at 5. 55.53 8189 New at 10. 81.89 Feb. 3 16.587 “ Cherry at 10. 165 84 “ 10 21 107 “ Cherry at 10. 211 07 26.759 “ Hemlock at 2 ½ 64.89 17 13.051 Cherry at 10 130.51 24 19602 Cherry “ 196 02 “ 2665 Hemlock at 2 ½ 6 66 4593 11 73 1012 42 27 By Pd. Barnes order for Beal $37 845 Mar. By Pd orders Cornelius $48.47 McKean 30.70 160.42 78.67 Pd. Morrison $20, Meere $15 35 48 7050 54.48 Agreed to pay [--] Cord $48. To Ferris 70.50 Warner 54.58209 08 24 Stowbridge $24 Haffner $12. 311 75 12 160 62 648.98 151 33 78.67 35 202.65 20 [239] Me Ard Warner LardOil 2.18 per gl. 41 ½ in B[-]l. Freight on Oil 4.50 [238] My dear Sir: With the high personal regard which I entertain for yourself and your brother it wd be improper in me to proceed against persons in your employ as if they were strangers to me. I send therefore Mr, Burlingame with this to say that any [---] being instructed to regard as [--] I desire to regulate the course which the refusal of yr. partners to cease being [----] to deny [---] it incumbent on me to adopt by <[---] by> a strict regard as possible all convenient con[--]ity to yr. convenience and feeling’s. very [--] yr [---] servt Th L. K. S Bishop Esqr. My dear Sir: Gentlemen When given by me to the parties of the Kingun P[-]tinn Co to cease boring until I cd measure the depth attained at their different borings I am instructed by my Company to treat them as trespassers I sent the [---] to be Buy summons of acting with energy & dispatch I sent the hearer to be fully [----] by you as to my [-]ynts and his [---] I shall direct him to act for me very [---] yr [---] servt Th L. K. Messrs W. B Esq. Shall