12. DIARYOF ALSON WARD July 1844 24.Spent the day working in hay mowing,spreading., opening, drawi ng, taking and a number of operations. Unc)e Daniel -Jet his ox team and hand he1p draw as the. wea,thE;J: J-09_kedc.loubtf_uJand..JJe.had nothing -urgeri_t_., ·heexchanged with usexpecting ·us-.tolielp him·1n Hke circumstances Just at night there \ came a shower of _rain finding a quantity of our hay in windrow the showers continued in tbe evening until bedtime. 1
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25.The shower has resulted in a confirmed settled rain storm rained during the day in the fo_renoonwent to the Valley to carry some grists. Carpenter went along fr.om the Valley I went to the saw mill after walnut plank rained most of the time but not very. hard. 26. Partly clear without rain opened the hay which dried off so as part off it would do to draw in the barn which we did, mowedall the rest down. 27.A fine and pleasant day improved our time in getting our hay in succeded Tn finishing off time enough to help Uncle Daniel draw a load of oats in the evening Carpenter Angell helped us in hay to day. 28.Sabbath. In the forenoon attended the Presbyterian Church Mr Wiles preached an able sermon to the youth took dinner at Grandpa1 s and staid until afternoon service Mr Howpreached after meeting we returned homeMrs AbrahamSmith - came with us from Grandpa s staid all night 1
29.Cradled oats a very hard days work got most of the field west of the house in swaths. Ward Wesley and Angevine helping cradle Mrs Smith spent part of the day at our house from there to Uncle Daniel s. In the evening I went to the Valley to cary Mrs Smith a grist for Dr Canfield and some other matters, Father, Aletta, Edward, Mary and Sarah went to Pokeepsie in the afternoon Edward intending to take the five oclock· boat for the city.& 1
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3O.Spent the day in the oats lot cutting raking binding drawing in the barn & finished cutting and about our thrashing in the barn. 31.Rained most of the day, therefore spent most of the day in the house and mill, Carpenter Angell was at our house until noon went to the Valley with Angevine after dinner. August 1844 1. Worked in the oats raking and binding & Carpenter helped Uncle Daniel. 2. Spent the day in the oats lot, finished our hay and oats this day. In the evening went to the Valley to carry some flour Aletta Ann and Mary went along Aletta staid at the Doctors found Mary Angell at Grandpa1 s got them about the middle of the afternoon. 3. In the forenoon helped Uncle Daniel draw in oats in the afternoon trimmed apple trees fixed fence made some cider (or rather juice to drink) from apples.
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4. Sabbath spent the forenoon at church Mr Wile preached. to a small congregation in consequence of rain until nearly church time there was a very heavy shower of rain'and wind just about daylight which leaves the corn somewhat inclined. In the evening went to temperance meeting. Alanson Thorn and Mr Hamthe Methodist minister gave us short lectures . 5. Went to Pokeepsie about ten oclock in the morning Carpenter Angell went along. The Sons of Temperance held their first anniversary at Pokeepsie this day two chartered steam boats from NewYork and one from Hudsonbrought the three divisions, a pleasant day for all ,all things passing off smoothly
