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17. DIARYOF ALSON WARD sep 1844 14.Spent the forenoon pulling out stone with the oxen that had been dug around in the lot-west of _the.house the aft~rnoon picking peaches tending mil] & Father fixing a show box ·for exhibiting honey next week ·at the StateFair in Pokeepsie. Mr and Mrs Newcomband Mr Ross came in the afternoon to spend the afternoon and evening with us . .15.SabbathWent to church in the forenoon Mr Wile preached giving us a .history of _our church,, the. doctrines of _the Presbyterian Church and this day begins the fi.ft~en years, of _his.ministry· in this pl ace. 16.Spent the day home around the house Father went to Pokeepsie with peaches butter & became a memberof the State Fair to commenceto morrow and continue three days. 17.Spent the day at Pokeepsie at the Fair not much to be seen excepting dust it being perhaps as dusty as it ever was on the Dutchess Turnpike. They were preparing mostly to day. 18.Spent the day~at the Fair at Pcb:keepsieFather,Mother andAunt Mary Angell went in one wagon. Carpenter,Mary and myself in the other got in company with Henry Sleight and Miss Gidley there were perhaps the greatest gathering Pokeepsie ever experienced it being estimated as near as they were able by tickets & at one hundred and forty or fifty thousand persons. The ten acre lot was well filled. 19.Spent the day at the Fair not as many people as yesterday but sufficient to make it pleasant at three oclock Mr Bancroft delivered his oration which was a splendid thing Mr VanBurenand many other great men were on the platform.
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2O.Spent the day home tB1ding mill part of the time fixing the lead pipe &Luther Redfield came to our house before dinner and spent the day Grandpa came also but had not been here many minutes before Mr Mott came for him on business 21.Spent the day home in the mill most of the time Luther left our house about ten oclock for the Valley expecting to take the night boat for Albany. Father went to Pokeepsie in the afternoon 22.Sabbath Spent the forenoon at Church Mr Wile preached the rest of the day home. 23.Spent the day home sowing rye wheat & ,., 24.In the morning attended Edward Barnes wedding quite a gathering for a morning wedding after the wedding went to the Hollow to muster got there after the roll had been called but with so good an excuse; was excused. Carpenter Angell took his departure from the Valley for Yale to-day ifter dinner, do not expect to see him again in a year his long stay with us has formed an attachment that we expect to miss. 25.Spent the forenoon fixing the furrows or ditches on the flat south of the locust nursery. In the aft_ernoon spent most of the time in the mill as it rained moderately most of the afternoon.
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26.Spent the day at Washington Hollow at the mass meeting. It was a gala day for the Democrats.Although unfavorable in the morning it proved a good day with a fair turnout there went from Pleasant Valley a procession about a mile long one eight· horse team about fifty four horse and many two and one horse teams Richard Davis and others addressed the multitude ably
