DIARYOF ALSON WARD
60.
Sej)tember 1845 2.8..and we jumped in a two horse carriage and came out with a rush and go~ ho1:1e before, a11. tbe. foJks. were, up·. I came on1Y as far as Grand PAs and ·sta1d -~1.l] church· time and went to churcn.". Aft.er cnurch went ·nome·and _all-tliirigs· 1ooked quite natural. 29.In the morning I prepared myself to go to the Valley after my trunk as we were not able to bring it with us Sabbath. I hurried myself back to help thrash buckwheat with the machine. We finished off the buckwheat just at night. Edward Free, Charles Robinson, Minard Dean. Calvert Dubois helped us some of the time husking corn etc. 30.Spent most of the time cleaning up buckwheat, Calvert turning the fanning mill. Father and Grandpa went to PM T1 s just before dinner and did not find him home. October 1845 1.Father ploughed and I went to Pokeepsie with sister Mary and Miss Pierce to the County Fair it being the second day. There was not much to be seen. The address and the ploughing came off but I did not attend either. Wewent through the village hall and looked at the fancy articles, flowers&. I went to see the skeleton of a mammothor mastadon found west of Newburghsome twelve feet high and very large tusks 2. Ispent the day ploughing, harrowing in the meadow. Father sowed the rye. Mr Dean husked corn. We ridged the ground in narrow ridges and fixed it so the water can run off without much-trouble
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3. Spent the day as yesterday ploughing out the back furrows clearing them out with hoes. Mr Dean and Calvert Dubois_helped. Father went to Pokeepsie after Sarah as he expects to meet her qt the noon boat where he found her in company with Mr Daniel Platt s daughter. 1
4. Sabbath Spent the day home as it rained moderately most of the day. 5. In the forenoon it looked quite rainy and the wind blew cold and stiff from the north.Just before noon I went to the Valley and took some things for the Doctorthat Edward sent by Sarah from Oswego.. Ibrought Mr Dean homewith me to help us clear the ditchesbetween the lands. Weall spent the afternoon fixing them. 6. I spent the day ploughing the patch by the bars ploughing a ditch in Uncle Daniel 1 s field. Father and Edward Free fixed the ditches.Minard husked corn. 7. Edward Free cleared ditches,Minard husked corn, I spent the day ploughing and harrowing, Father worked with Edward. 8. In the mo~ning Mr Dean and E. Free finished husking corn as there where but seven stouts to-husk .. Wedrew in the corn although it rained before we got it half in, after finishing drawing the corn it slacked raining and we all went to clearing the furrows but it did not let us work at it long so we quit it. Mr Dean went to sorting corn, Free took the horse to the shop to get a shoe set. on. Father and myself worked at the buckwheat. In the afternoon Father, Mr Dean and myself finished clearing the ditches
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9. Father went to Pokeepsie in the morning. Minard went over the ploughed ground and turned over the sods and put them in the holes. I spent the day ploughing in the buckwheat stubble
