Diary of Samual J Arnold, July

Diary of Samuel J Arnold July - December, 1851 OHIO July 1 Tuesday I spent the day helping Soloman TeFaler raise a stable. July 2 Wednesday I helped Jacob Maddux to mow till noon & I halled water in the evening. We have it very unhandy to get water. I went to Jacobs for grass. July 3 Thursday I spent the forenoon hunting & had bad luck, only killed 1 squirrel & we had a woolpicking this afternoon. July 4 Friday I went to bluffton & saw a great crowd collected to celebrate the 4th but some celebrated the bottle. I bought a cow of abram Mcdole price 13$. July 5 Saturday To day we howed our potatoes & tryed to get ready for harvest. I killed 5 squirrels this evening. The wether is fair. July 6 Sunday I went to drive my cow home & got caught in a rain. My brother helped me home with the cow. We had a fine rain. July 7 Monday I intended to help Jacob Maddux harvest, but it rained so that we only cut 15 dozen & I ground my scythe. We had a hard rain this evening. July 8 Tuesday I done but little work today. I hunted squirrels this morning & commenced a brush fence this afternoon. July 9 Wednesday I worked for Jacob Maddux. I cradled 68 dozen & it commenced raining at noon & it is raining yet & the ground is flooded with water. July 10 Thursday The ground is wet & I have been thining my corn to day. Corn is quite small for this season of the year, but it is growing well now. July 11 Friday I worked for Maddux. Three of us put up 114 dozen. The wheat is good. The wether is pleasant today. July 12 Saturday We put up 104 dozen. We are failing. The wether is warm & has the appearance of rain. July 13 Sunday We spent the day at home in rather a lazy manner. The wether is very warm. There has been thunder showers passing around, but none came here. July 14 Monday I helped Jacob Maddux to harvest. Him & me put of 83 dozen of wheat. The wether is clear & pleasant. July 15 Tuesday To day we only put of 65 dozen. The wether is very warm. July 16 Wednesday I helped Mr. riddle to harvest. It was very windy which made it very hard cradling. July 17 Thursday I done but little work. I had no place to harvest so I took times easy. July 18 Friday I plowed corn. The corn is small for this season of the year. July 19 Saturday I finished plowing my corn & went squirrel hunting, but found but one. They appeared to all be holed up. July 20 Sunday I attended a burying at bluffton. The name of the man was Eliphalet wooltz. Maria went to Jacob Madduxes. July 21 Monday We howed corn to day. The wether is clear. July 22 Tuesday I worked at my brush fence. I am trying to fence in a lot for to keep hogs in & am fencing 1 side with brush. July 23 Wednesday I am working a little at my fence. I have a great deal of trouble with my horses. I am pasturing them in the woods. July 24 Thursday I took Maria & Mrs Paynter to Mr. gartens to a quilting & I bought 300 ft of plank. I paid $3=00. July 25 Friday I finished my fence & went & brought home a sow & 7 pigs. I bought them of Mr. grayham. I paid him $3=00. July 26 Saturday I helped Jacob Maddux shock hay til 3 oclock & I went to Bluffton. I bought a jug full of whisky. I paid 53 cts. July 27 Sunday I stayed at home & bent the sabbath a little by making hay ladders. July 28 Monday I hired John Evans to help me mow at Jacob Madduxes. I bought a piece of grass. I paid Mr. Baldwin $10=00 on his job of clearing. July 29 Tuesday I commenced mowing at Mr. Gartens. I took a piece of grass to cut on shears. John Evans was helpig me, but on we only worked till noon on account of rain. July 30 Wednesday We worked at our hay. July 31 Thursday We are yet working at haymaking at Mr gartens. It is quite unhandy to work so far from home. August 1 Friday We have commenced halling. The roads are rough. August 2 Saturday We finished our halling hay by working after dark a while. August 3 Sunday We had a stack of hay to finish to day. & got it done just in time. We had a fine rain & it is raining yet. August 4 Monday The ground is very wet. The election went off to day, but I have not been here long enough to have a vote. August 5 Tuesday I went to bluffton & bought 10 bushels of corn at 311/4 per bu. I went in a debt to J. Studabaker $3=95cts for corn & other notions. August 6 Wednesday I do not like the idea of store debts, but I cannot see how I am to get along without. I worked for Jacob Maddux to day taking up oats. August 7 Thursday I worked at clearing up a piece of ground for turnips. August 8 Friday I went to Mr. Nelsons & got my horses shod & went in debt 30 cts & I went & got a load of wheat of Studabaker. August 9 Saturday I started early this morning to wayne. I had on 41 bu & it was load a nough in the mud, but I had plank the most of the way. I bought a churn $1.25, a lb salt $1:44. August 10 Sunday I got home last night at 10 oclock & my horses was very tired. I spent to day a home. August 11 Monday I worked at clearing my turnip patch. August 12 Tuesday I am working at my turnip patch yet. I am cutting off the saplings & not grubing it. It will be roughly put in. August 13 Wednesday John evans commenced to work a month for me. He is to make a dry(?) month for 13$. August 14 Thursday We worked at clearing to day. I brought home 8 bu of wheat that I got of J. Maddux. August 15 Friday To day we plowed & sowed our turnip patch. The wether is dry & we are at a loss for water. August 16 Saturday We sowed our turnip patch with timothy & we built a chicken house this afternoon. August 17 Sunday We visited uncle John Maddux. The roads is bad. We had a great rain last night. John evens put in 4 days last week. August 18 Monday We butchered a sheep this morning & I altered a horse for Mr. hafelief. I got $1. We waid our sheep. It waid 100 lbs. I $1-50 for it & Jacob Maddux took _ of it. August 19 Tuesday James Campbell & Jacob Maddux helped me to day. We grubed & cleared fence row & Jacob had to leave at half past 1 oclock. August 20 Wednesday We worked on our clearing. I had John Evans & James Campbell grubing. August 21 Thursday We are yet working on our clearing. The wether is warm. We had a hard rain this evening. John Evans worked 6 days this week. August 22 Friday Jacob Maddux helped me to saw & rive clapboards. I went to bluffton to get a load to hall to wayne, but got none. I paid James Campbell $2=00 for 4 days work. August 23 Saturday We started early on a visit to Eelriver. We fed in Wayne. I sold my horse for $75=00. We got to our relations & found them well. August 24 Sunday We stayed last night at Mr. Benets. Last night & today have plenty of good peaches which is a rairity to us & this evening finds us at my brothers. They are all well. August 25 Monday I bought a yoke of cattle of Mrs. Pearson for $53, but left them till next week. We spent the day in the neighborhood. We took a girl to raise of Joseph Jones. She is coming home with us. August 26 Tuesday My fatherinlaw took a horse & came with us home. The wether is cool. We got home before sun set & found all right. August 27 Wednesday Father Bennet started home early this morning. Myself & the boys worked at clearing up treetops & making ready for roling. August 28 Thursday no entry August 29 Friday We are yet working at our clearing. The wether is dry. It is a fine time for burning logs & brush. August 30 Saturday John evans worked 5 days this week & James 4 days. John has worked 15 days on his month. August 31 Sunday no entry September 1 Monday I met the County board for the purpose of trying to get my land put down, but could do nothing. It is praised 1225$. September 2 Tuesday I sent John Evans to help John Bender raise a house. I borrowed Moses More. James is out asking hands to help role. September 3 Wednesday We had a rolling & quilting. The girls got thair quilt out but I did not get more than half done rolling. September 4 Thursday The young folks had a quite a jolification last night. I brought 3 hogs home that I bought of Mr. Grayham & they got away this evening. I paid $7=50 cts. September 5 Friday I went to Eelriver after my cattle. I got out to Mr. Benets at 5 oclock this evening & found the folks well. September 6 Saturday John worked 3 days this week & James 2. John has worked 18 days on his month. September 7 Sunday I stayed last night at Elijas & started early with my cattle home & I landed home a little after dark. The wether is warm. September 8 Monday I tryed my oxen to the wagon. They work well. John & James is working in the clearing. My clearing goes slow on account of it being growd up rough. September 9 Tuesday I took a load of ashes to bluffton. I got 5 cts per bu, but their measure is very large. September 10 Wednesday I was agrivated to nock down an old drunken man last night & I went to Esq. Witmores & paid my fine to day. It cost $2=50. September 11 Thursday I took my cow to Adam Deems to a durham bull yesterday. We have to hall all our water on account of drouth. September 12 Friday We rolled logs with a yoke of cattle & 3 hands. Mr. Paynter, John & myself. We done a good days work. September 13 Saturday We rolled today & got almost done. John worked 4 days this week & James 3 days. John & I went to the river & took a wash this evening. September 14 Sunday I went to the mill to buy flower yesterday, but there is none to be had. The river is so low they cannot grind. We had a fine rain last night. September 15 Monday The wether is cool. I spent the day in helping to butcher a beef. We had to go near Adams County to get it. 4 of us joined & bought it. We paid 9$ for it & it weighes 374 lb. September 16 Tuesday I went to bluffton with our beef hide. It weighed 53 lb. I settled with Studabaker & had to pay him $3=74. John Evans got sick to day. September 17 Wednesday We turned our teem of our own & finished rolling logs. The wether is dry & it is a good time to burn logs. I worked till very late burning logs. September 18 Thursday We worked at picken thrash & righting up heaps. I have to spend a great deal of time in hunting my cattle. I have to let them run out.l September 19 Friday We loaded up a load of ashes & left them on the wagon. There is some thunder showers pass by but none comes here. September 20 Saturday I commenced cutting up corn. I took Maria to bluffton & got the doctor to cut open her finger. She has had a very sore finger for several days. It came from a small cut. September 21 Sunday We stayed at Moseses last night. They was all well. We came home early this morning and spent the day at home. We have had a little rain. The road are slipry. September 22 Monday I cut up corn. Marias finger is getting better. I worked hard to day, but did not seem to get along fast. September 23 Tuesday I cut up corn till noon & it commenced to rain. In the after noon I got the promise of some corn to top at Mr. Sanders & Witmers. September 24 Wednesday I commenced plowing for wheat in my corn ground. James Campbell worked for me today. Jacob Maddux wife was take very sick. September 25 Thursday I took a load of ashes to bluffton & only got 41/2 cts per bushel. I had 39 bu. James topt corn in Mr. Sanders field for me to day. September 26 Friday It rained to day so that we did not get to work. We had a fine rain to day. I paid Welty 5$ on his job. September 27 Saturday James & I topt corn in Souders field to day. The corn is a getting dry. We had a very sharp frost thrusday morning last that was the first frost that we had this year. September 28 Sunday Spent the day at home & hunted some for deer but found none. September 29 Monday James & Robert Campbell helped me to day. They topt corn in Souders field. I sowed some rye & went to John Hoovers for seed wheat. I bought 4 bushels for $2-121/2. September 30 Tuesday I soed some wheat for the first. It is later than I like to soe but Ihave 71/2 acres that I would like to soe. What I soed is call wagoner wheat. I finished soeing in my corn field. October 1 Wednesday The boys are toping corn at esq. Witmores. I went to John Tuttles to try to get a coon dog, but was too late. I halled water from Murray & got my plough sharped. October 2 Thursday James & I was coon hunting & got our dogs porkupined & caught no coon & we feel quite stupid to day or I do. October 3 Friday James & I built fence & halled railes for the first towards fencing the new ground for wheat. It seems to be a poor chance for wheat. The ground is fry & hard yet. October 4 Saturday Settled with Studebaker. I went to a vandue & bought a side saddle, a kettle & I give my note for $6=80. None months after date L/Semuel Paynter paid for the wool that I brought from wayne. I settled with Jacob Maddux & fell in debt 4$81 cts. October 5 Sunday I spent the morning deer hunting but seen none. I spent the rest of the day at home principally. October 6 Monday We built fence to day. James Campbell is helping me yet. October 7 Tuesday I payed John Evans $12=50 for work. I commenced to plow with my oxen & plowed the lot between the house & road. The ground is dry & hard. October 8 Wednesday I plowed & James picked trash & built fence. I am plowing in the new ground. It plows well. October 9 Thursday Thomas Foler helped me plow. He plowed with the jumping shovel & I with the big plow. James could not work to day. October 10 Friday James helped me to day. We run one plow to day & I went to Moseses & got his mare. October 11 Saturday We run two teams harrowing. We soed the southwest part of the new ground & commenced at the west end of the piece & soed Sparks wheat & I cleaned 3 pecks of it next to the road. October 12 Sunday We had a fine rain to day. I went out in the woods a little while & shot a deer & cripled it, but did not get it. October 13 Monday We harrowed with two teems till noon & I took Jacob Madduxes harrow home & James plowed in wheat with the shovel plow. We will see which does the best at harvest. October 14 Tuesday James plowed & harrowed til noon & then went to a grubing party. I went to Bluffton & brought home the things that I bought at the sale last week. October 15 Wednesday I helped Mr. Blue raise a house & killed a deer as I went. I shot it in the plank road & it run about a hundred yards. October 16 Thursday James plowed & I built fence. I worked very late & am very tired. I am anxious to get done seeding. It is very late. October 17 Friday I closed my fence & commenced seeding the part of my new ground on the east side of my cornfield. I soed the west side with sparks wheat & some in the middle was a mixter. October 18 Saturday We finished soeing wheat & it is raining beautiful. I tryed to clean a small piece on the east side of Mediteranian 3 rod wide. The first wheat I only soed 1 bushel to the acre & the last I soed more than 2 bushels. We will see which is the best. October 19 Sunday no entry October 20 Monday I helped Thomas Faler husk corn. James Campbell helped me. We done a good days work. The wether is cold & a raw air. October 21 Tuesday We stoped under the new ground fence & I halled water from Murray & James choped a large tree for clapboards. October 22 Wednesday We sawed off 5 large logs & went to Mr. Grayhams after my hogs. October 23 Thursday We soed timothy seed in the low ground among the wheat this morning & James diged potatoes & I went to Moseses. I got a little Bears oil. He killed one lately. October 24 Friday I went to the shop and got a shoe set on my mare & I went to Bluffton & got a load to hall to wayne. I took 391/2 bu. James worked on the road for me under Mr. Paynter. October 25 Saturday We started to wayne this morning early & intended to go to Eelriver on a visit, but had to turn back on account of rain. The road is so slipy. October 26 Sunday We visited Mr. Paynter to day & I hunted a little, but killed nothing. The wether is cold & it snowed a little to day for the first this fall. October 27 Monday James & I choped fire wood & I hall water this evening. The wether is so cold that there is ice across the wabash. October 28 Tuesday James & I worked the roads under Mr. Wisner. I have 6 day to work on the roads this year. October 29 Wednesday We went to hunt crab apples, but found few & got a good soaking. The wether is warm & wet. October 30 Thursday James & I worked on the road with the cattle & plow. We finished my road work to day. The wether is warm & pretty. October 31 Friday James commenced one job a clearing. I took Mr. Nelsons saw home & got my horse & James shod rough to day. Ready to try our visit. November 1 Saturday We started early this morning & reached Eelriver after dark. We halled 40 bu of wheat & 3 of corn to wayne. We found the folks all well at father Benets. November 2 Sunday We went to Elijas this evening & found them all well. We had some rain before we got out. The wether is cold to day. November 3 Monday We started early home & I bought two pigs at Mrs. Williams. I paid $4=75 cts for 2 small pigs. The price seems high. We got home about sunset. The wether was agreeable. November 4 Tuesday Jacob Maddux rived boards for me to day. I took the bags home that I had of Studebakers. My load over run colbs(?) & I bolted out clapboard stuff in the afternoon. Mr. Paynter spent the evening with us. November 5 Wednesday We had a very good tracking snow fell last night & I spent nearly all day after the deer, but got none as usual. The snow broke the trees tile it was dangerous to be out. November 6 Thursday I choped a little & hall water & I spent a good part of the day hunting my hogs, but did not find them. November 7 Friday I choped & halled wood & I got 4 bu & 22 half bushels of corn in the ear being par of what he borrowed 4 years ago. November 8 Saturday William Maddux came to see me & I got but little done. We hunted a while, but I saw no deer. The wether is quite pleasant to day. November 9 Sunday I sold my gun to William Maddux for 10 Dollars, $1=50 paid in wheat that I got last summer. It snowed all day. November 10 Monday I cut & hall fire wood & built a pig pen. I worked hard & am tired. The wether quite pleasant. There is 291/2 days unsettled that James Campbell has workd for me. November 11 Tuesday I halled some fodder & done up my tures ready to start to ohio in the morning. Paid my delinquent tax on my land $7.00. November 12 Wednesday I started to ohio early this morning with my mare & James CampbellÆs with gear on. I fed at M. Chatmans at noon & put up at recovery with Tip. November 13 Thursday I paid 85 cts for my fare last night. I had company to day. It rained nearly all day. I fed & took dinner at greenville & paid 45 cts & rode to new harrison & put up with Mr. Shade. November 14 Friday My fare was good. I paid 75 cts. I called to see Mr. Barber, but he had moved off & I traveled on through tipacanoe & got to uncle John Arnolds about 3 oclock in the evening & found them well. It rained to day as usual. November 15 Saturday I got to fathers at 11 oclock today & found them well & spent the rest of the day there. They have everything plenty & live in a good house, but it does not seem like to me any more. November 16 Sunday I had the pleasure of seeing some of my old neighbors. I went to see how mu sheep were doing that I left at Mr. Snells. They are doing well. The wether is fair. Wheat looks poor in the ground in this country. Wheat is worth 50 cts. November 17 Monday I went to see Peter Anglebarger. He was keeping sheep for me on shears, but I found them in rather a bad situation & several missing. I came to fathers this evening. November 18 Tuesday I went last night to see Joseph reed & Mr. Bousmans. They agreed to take some of my sheep to keep on shares & I & Isaac Bousman went to Anglebargers & brought them. Reed took 13 & the Bousmans 12. November 19 Wednesday I stayed at Mr. Snells last night & parted our sheep this morning. I had 29. John agrees to take them to keep next year on the shares. I bought 2 pigs of John Shroyer to take to Indiana. November 20 Thursday I intended to start home early this morning, but it is pouring down rain. I started & got as far as uncle John Arnolds & put up for to day. It rained all day. November 21 Friday I started for Indiana early. I went the pike to troy & from that to Newton. I paid 28 cts toll to day. I got to new harrison & put up with Mr. Shade. November 22 Saturday My bill was 75 cts. I paid 15 cts toll on the road from new harrison to Greenville. It is a poor pike. I traveled hard. I got to recovery after dark & put up with H. Tip. I had very bad roads to day. November 23 Sunday I started early expecting to get home today, but got disappointed. I got to T/Lot Frenches & stoped for the night. I had miserable roads to day. November 24 Monday I got home about 11 oclock & feel happy to find all well. I have had a very mudy trip. I feel as though I can stay at home for awhile. My trip cost $4=07 cts. November 25 Tuesday I put in the time looking at my pigs & husking a little corn. The pigs that I brought from Ohio looks the best. I think they stood the trip well. It snowed the bigest part of the day, but did not make much snow. November 26 Wednesday I choped Some firewood & husked corn enough to feed my stock. The wether is pleasant. November 27 Thursday I choped some firewood, but worked moderate. The wether is quite moderate. James Campbell come here this evening. November 28 Friday James & myself halled my fodder home from Souders this morning. We had 3 loads. The wether is cold this morning. I stacked my foder this evening. Jacob Maddux with us. November 29 Saturday I went to murray to mill & took a grist of corn. The mill is doing a good business now. I hunted for my hogs that I have out. I found them at Grahams, a sow & 7 shoats. They are doing well out. November 30 Sunday Myself & family containing Maria, wife, & Synthean Jones all spent the day at Mr. Weltys. December 1 Monday I brought my grist from the mill this morning & I spent the afternoon in bluffton. The wether is quite pleasant. I read kate Clarendon, a novel till very late. December 2 Tuesday I finished reading my novel & spent the day principally in the house. I sold a wagon to Mr. Graham for $45 on tick. It snowed all day faithful & is at it yet, but it is not cold. December 3 Wednesday It snowed some this forenoon. I hunted the bigest part of the day, but found nothing. I tracked a fox a long ways, but could not start it. December 4 Thursday Michael Blue helped me hall my foder from Mr. Whitmores. We had 2 small loads. I saw some folks killing thair hogs in the woods. I think that a poor plan, but it cannot be helped here. December 5 Friday I done nothing of account today. I hunted some for my sow & shoats that I have running out, but did not find them. Mr. & Mrs Souders spent the evening with us. The wether is cool & the snow is yet on the ground. December 6 Saturday I helped Mr. Blue butcher hogs. They killed the poorest I ever saw killed, but they had not been fed any. I killed one also & cleaned it at Blues. The snow is quite soft to day. December 7 Sunday I cutt up my hog to day & walked through the woods the rest of the time. I hunted for coon tonight, but they donÆt run. I believe I caught a porcupine & posom. The snow is all gone. The wether is warm. December 8 Monday I choped some & went to bluffton & bought a pair of boots of Martin Winters for $2=50 on credit. The wether is quite warm & windy. I looked for my sow & shoats. They are running near where I bought them. December 9 Tuesday I went to Bluffton this morning again & sold 31/2 lbs butter at 10 cts per lb & bought 1 lb sugar 9 cts & _ lb saleratus 5 cts. I helped Wismer raise a stable. December 10 Wednesday I got my hogs home. They look well to run in the woods so long. They have not had any corn since early this fall. There was a small skift of snow this morning, but it is gone. December 11 Thursday I did no do much work to day. I under brushed some between my house and the road. The wether is moderate for this season of the year. December 12 Friday I made a few railes & built a pen & put in my sow & let the shoats run in the woods. I want to learn them to range near home. December 13 Saturday I halled some boards & covered my hog pen & halled a little firewood. The week is past & I am ashamed to see how little work I have done. The wether is very cold. December 14 Sunday The ground is covered with snow & there is a good foundation for it. We had intended to go to church to Murray to day, but the wether was so bad that we gave it up. We had a very strange looking costomer to take dinner with us to day. He is traveling west. December 15 Monday I went to Moses Arnolds & he came to see me. The wether is extremely cold. December 16 Tuesday Moses stayed all night with us. I done nothing but cut a little wood & sit by the fire. December 17 Wednesday The wether continues very cold. I choped enough wood to keep us from freezing. December 18 Thursday I followed a fox track most all day, but could not start it. Went to Jacob Madduxes on a visit this evening, but they was not a home. December 19 Friday I choped firewood till noon & sit in the house in the afternoon. The wether was very blustery this evening & it is a snowing. December 20 Saturday The wether is moderating a little, but it is cold yet. I hunted all day & caught 8 rabits, 1 pheasant & 1 opossom. We visited Jacob Madduxes this evening. We went in a sleigh. December 21 Sunday We spent the day at home. Mr. Paynter & his family called to see us this evening. The wether has moderated a little. December 22 Monday I took an early start & got a good days work done. I choped firewood this fornoon & I got out a pair of sled runners this evening. The wether is pleasant but cold. December 23 Tuesday I finished my sled runners & choped wood & halled up some this evening. It takes my half my time to get firewood. December 24 Wednesday I choped some firewod & I went to Bluffton. I took some butter. I got 10 cts a lb. I bought 1 gallon whiskey 31 cts, 2 lb cofee 25 cts, _ lb spice 10 cts. Absalom Bennet came to see us this evening. December 25 Thursday Absalom and myself spent the day hunting rabbits. We had good luck catching. The wether is very damp & misting rain & snowed this evening. December 26 Friday Absalom started home early this morning. I done but very little work to day. The wether is clear & moderate. December 27 Saturday I spent the day doing nothing. The wether warm, the snow is melting very fast & there has been some rain to day. December 28 Sunday We spent the day at home. The wether is warm & the snow is all gone. December 29 Monday I paid Jacob Maddux $3=00 for 100 lbs beef that I got last fall of him. I cut & halled up timber to top out my chicken house. December 30 Tuesday I spent the day making a washboard at Mr. Blues. We have needed one a long time. The wether is wet & it thundered last night like summer. December 31 Wednesday I halled up boards & covered my chicken house & halled firewood. The year is going out warm. Another year is gone & I am hapy to say that I am well & think that I have spent the last part of the year to a better advantage for myself than I have spent here to fore & I hope to spend the next year much better than I have this. I am living on a piece of land of my own containing 200 acres, but I am in debt $285=95. 195 I owe on my land & 90 in dribs for clearing & other notions. I have 1 horse beast, 1 yoke of cattle & 1 cow & calf, 12 head of hogs besides 22 I want to kill for our meat. I have about fifty Dollars in notes and money by me after I pay my tax, but I have not corn or other grain to fee my stock without buying. Corn is worth 25 cts per bushel. I soed 10 acres of wheat & rye last fall. I also have 58 head of sheep in ohio or had a short time ago.