Horace Purdy Journal, September 1862 Entry
6pgs
9/1 George and Cousin Edmund Palmer stopped on their way to the cars. Cousin Edmund took our old gun to remember George by. George goes to Camp Aiken, of the 17 th volunteers at Bridgeport. The Regiment expects to start for Washington tomorrow. I received a letter from George this evening and he says they go without fail and wants me to come down in the morning train which I expect to do. Father picked a bushel of crab apples for me this afternoon. I carried some over to Aunt Louisa, to Abel, and to Mrs. Baxter as presents. I carried some over also to Burr Bradley and Mrs. Eames, Mrs. George Bradley, Mrs. George Dickens, Mrs. Briggs, Julia Pine and Noah Hoyts store. For these I expect pay but could not make change with some and therefore had to trust them.Gussie and I went into the street in the evening and got caught in a shower. I went up home after 9 o'clock to tell our folks we should go to Bridgeport without fail tomorrow but they had retired. I got a good drenching before I returned home. 9/2 Rose early and took the cars in company with Mother, Father & Isabelle to go to Bridgeport to see the 17th Regiment off to war and George who is in Company C., Capt. Moore. When we arrived we found they would not go today. We found Uncle Stephen in the next field adjoining the 17th with the artillary. He was sent for on account of his wife being sick and mother went with him and in the afternoon he had a fine boy born to him, his first child. Mother stayed with his wife all day. We went from camp in the afternoon to Mrs. Beardsley's, an old friend of mother's, and staid to tea. Before tea we borrowed a baby carriage and took Eddy with us and visited P. T. Barnum's old place and all around the premises and then visited his new place. We did not go around it but looked at it from the walk. We went to camp again and after dress parade George procurred a pass and came to the city with us. He went with us to Mrs. Beardsleys and he and I went to the center of the city to do a little business and then came back to Mrs. Beardsley's. Then he went back to camp. 9/3 We stayed at Mrs. Beardsley's last night. After breakfast went up to camp and found Uncle Stephen and Mother. Phebe Palmer also made her appearance. Regiment had breakfast at 6 and struck their tents at 7 o'clock. Mother and Phebe went with me to Mrs. Beardsley's and around 11 o'clock we went to the railroad crossing on Broad St. to see the regiment get on board the cars. It was noon when the train left. They we all in good spirits. The last thing I did for George was to fill his canteen after he was in the car. After, Mother and Isabelle went to Mrs. Beardsley's to dinner while Gussie and I went to the Atlantic Hotel to dinner. After we called on Brother [Meiley]. We left Bridgeport at 5 o'clock and went to Stamford to visit Aunt Abigail. 9/4 I felt very tired last night and did not rise very early this morning. Phebe came home from Bridgeport between 11 and 12 o'clock. After dinner Phebe borrowed a carriage and we took Eddy up town on a walk and to the new cemetary. Mother went to Portchester and returned around 5 PM. At 6:10 we took the cars for Norwalk to return home. Aunt Abigail gave me a sled to bring home for Eddy. We arrived safely home around 8 o'clock. 9/5 Did not go to the shop today. Stayed home to do some work. Went up to John Pollitts today with 4 quarts of crab apples and came home with some slips from flowers and plants. Spent considerable time looking for Sherman Disbrow to have him put in my coal today. When I found him he could not do it. I went to Rittons and got the rest of George's photographs. I left 3 with Edith Newman for his friends and gave another to George Starr as he directed me to. Eddie had a fall and hurt his head quite bad. After dinner I went digging potatoes in my garden. After tea I carried Burr Bradley's carpet bag back to him, which I borrowed for Mother to go to Bridgeport. I went to the post office and to market and commenced a letter to George before retiring. 9/6 Worked in the shop and on the way home to dinner took a letter and paper out of the post office from George. They were mailed from Baltimore while on the way to Washington. Gussie went up home in the PM to help Mother make crab apple jelly. I went to the post office and market in the evening and Abel came home from New Haven in the evening. 9/7 I went down to the 9 o'clock prayer meeting but the church was locked and there was no meeting. Brother Crawford preached and I attended Sunday School and came home to let Gussie go in the PM. A collection was taken at Sunday School to buy a library for the 17th regiment. We took in $2.84 and Brother Starr made it $3.00. After tea I wrote a letter to Cousin Charles Mills and finished one to George. I gave George's picture to Edward Barnum and one to Father Griswold's family and one to Abel. I went to prayer meeting in the evening. 9/8 Warrants are being served today on all military subjects to appear at the Town House on next Wednesday to draft men to fill the quota of the town for the last call for troops to serve for 9 months. I went to the post office in the evening and got a letter from George. They are at Fort Marshall, Baltimore MD. 9/9 Abel went back to camp this morning. I was up late with my writing and did not get up in time to go to the depot and see Abel. I worked as long as I could see in the shop. George Lovelace, the constable, has been to the shop serving notifications to military subjects to muster at the Town Hall tomorrow at 9 o'clock to be drafted. After tea I wrote a little more in my letter to George and went to the post office and mailed it. 9/10 The drafting was to come off at 9 o'clock, but to give them more time to volunteer, they adjourned until 3 PM. They assembled at that time and adjourned til Saturday. When they adjourned we lacked 8 men, and to make the quota this evening we lacked 4. The present prospect is that by Saturday the quota will be full. Ellen Dare came and took tea with us and went down town with us in the evening. She is to stay with us tonight. 9/11 I came home to dinner from the shop and Gussie and Ellen Dare called at the shop in the PM. I went out to the [Store] house with them and we all weighed ourselves Ellen 100, Gussie 106 3/4, Baby 21, Myself 111. They went up to the cemetary. After tea I went to the post office. Ellen is still with us and we are enjoying her visit very much. 9/12 I came home to dinner and brought home a letter from George from Baltimore. He stated he was about sick and they haven't had what they were entitled to from the Commissary in the food line. He wished me to send him a box of provisions. I got a letter for Eleanor Dare when I came home at night. I answered George's letter in the evening and mailed it. I got a can of oysters prepared for long keeping and a paper of pepper to send in a box to George next week. 9/13 I carried my dinner to work, but on account of Sherman Disbrow, came home to prepare the way to put coal in the cellar. On the way I stopped at the post office and got a letter from George acknowledging my second letter. He did not get the first since I sent it to Washington and they stopped in Baltimore. Went to market and the post office in the evening. 9/14 Attended church in the morning and Brother Crawford preached. it being Sunday School prayer meeting at noon, I did not stay. Gussie went to PM and evening. I wrote a letter to George at Fort Marshall, Baltimore MD. Mother called on her way to meeting and went with Gussie. 9/15 Worked as usual in the shop and received the Baltimore Clipper from George. I went to the market in the evening and left extracts of 3 of George's letters at the Times Office for the print. 9/16 I came home to dinner and Harriet Wheeler was with us for dinner. On my way home at night I stopped at Benedict &Nichols and bought ticking for 2 shop aprons. I took care of Eddy in the evening to let Gussie and Cousin Mary Purdy go into the street. I counted over the scholars of the Sunday School also in the evening. 9/17 Worked hard in the shop all day. On the way home I took a letter from the post office from George. Enclosed was a picture of Fort Marshall which headed the sheet of paper on which he wrote. He used 2 other sheets of paper and it was a good long letter. I mailed a Danbury Times to him and a short letter which I wrote at Mr. Swift's office in the evening. I enclosed 25 cents worth of postage stamps to him. 9/18 I have worked as usual in the shop. Good news from Gen. McClellan by telegraph. There was a terrific battle at Sharpsburg at which the Rebels were severely beaten. 15,000 of them were taken prisoner with 9 batteries of artillery. It is reported that they are surrounded and will be annihilated. I had a letter from George this evening. He wants $5 drawn from the bank and to have 75 cents used for 6 more cartes de visites for him. I wanted to send a treasury note and there are none smaller than $5, I sent the $5 and 25 cents worth of stamps and reserved 75 cents from $6. I sent it from my own pocket to avoid drawing any from the bank and give him a chance to send it to me when he gets paid off, provided I am not obliged to use it before and compelled to draw it. 9/19 I came home to my dinner. Moses Baxter built my bridge over the ditch this forenoon. In the evening, Mother Griswold took care of Eddy and Gussie and I bought a basket of peaches, $1.12 and 6 glass jars to put up the fruit air tight. 9/20 Worked as usual in the shop . On the way home stopped at Rittons to see about another $1 worth of George's carte de visits. Mother and Gussie I found up at Mother Griswolds and we took tea up there. By a letter received today by Cousin Frank Boughton from John, I learned that George is sick in the hospital in Baltimore. David Bradley is also sick and with him there. George had a considerable fever when he gave up and went there. I called in to the Singing School a short time this evening. 9/21 I attended church in the morning. Chas. B. Ford, the Ridgefield preacher preached for us all day. I came home at noon and Cousin Mary Purdy took Eddie to her house so Gussie and I attended church in the PM. I was too sleepy to benefit from the sermon. We did not go to meeting in the evening. I finished my letter to George and sent it by Mother Griswold to the post office. Gussie wrote to Cousin Eliza in Cal in the evening. 9/22 A good day to work, it not being so warm. Gussie put up her peaches in airt tight jars and Bell came down and took care of Eddy. I went to market in the evening and saw Josiah Day from the 17th Regiment, Fort Marshall, Baltimore. He came home upon getting news that his wife was not expeted to live, she having the heart disease. He told me George was able to be about camp again although he had been very sick. Gussie took a colored lithograph of Fort Marshall from the post office today that was sent by George. Major William [Meagling] from the 11th regiment came home on the freight train. He was wounded, the ball passing through the bone and entirely through the leg. He was wounded in the late battle on the upper Potomac while McClellan was driving the invading Rebels under Jackson & Lee across the river from Maryland to Virginia again. 9/23 I was rather late to the shop this morning. In the paper we had a Presidential Proclamation of freedom to all slaves in the rebellious states after Jan. 1, 1863. I went to market in the evening and to Starr Baldwins to see Josiah Day about sending a package to George when he returns tomorrow or the next day. I commeced to make up the package when I returned home. Gussie received a letter from Elizabeth Mead in the evening. 9/24 Wednesday. Joseph Young came the shop to work for the first time since his wedding last Wednesday PM. He gave $1.00 to the shop to spend for beer. I came home to dinner and just got back to the shop when Josiah Day called to tell me he was to start for the Regiment in Baltimore on the passenger train and would take a package for me to George. I left my work in time to go home and put it up and give it to him at the depot. It contained 1 gross of letter paper, a can of oysters, a bowl of crab apple jelly, a paper of pepper, 1 box of Brown's Bronchial Troaches, 2 boxes of Palmer's boot blacking, 1 roll of Griswold's salve, 5 cartes de visites (ordered by him at Rittons) in a letter, the Danbury Times, and 3 Sailors Magazines. Gussie went to the Depot and after the train left we went to look for a bedstead and wash stand which we bought at Joe Ives' and 7 1/4 yds carpet for bed room $4 which we bought at Benedict & Nichols. I took a letter at noon from the post office from George for Mother. Mothe called on her way to class in the evening and Gussie opened and read the letter to her at her request. George was well again. Their rations are miserable, nearly all the meat is stinking and some of the hams are full of maggots. I went to class in the evening. Brother Chittenden led. 9/25 I worked in the shop as long as I could see. Joe Ives delivered the bed and washstand. B&N also sent the carpet. Gussie spent the day up home and I got my supper. Before I finished Gussie came and had taken a letter from George from the post office. I went to market in the evening. Before retiring I pulled out the tacks in the parlor carpet to prepare for cleaning. 9/26 Jane Pine is helping us clean house today. I came home to dinner and helped Jane shake the parlor capet and I finished the whipping. I then planed off the edges of the floor boards that had warped and sprung and then put down the carpet. I went back to the shop and worked as long as I could see. After tea I put the sitting room stove in its intended position but the pipe was too long so I took it to Charles Hull's to be cut. I took another picture from the post office from George of the Missouri volunteers. 9/27 Saturday. On my way to the shop I carried my stove pipe to Charles Hull's to be shortened again. I also bought a 1/2 yd. of carpet, not having bought enough last Friday. Worked hard and late in the shop. I brought the stove pipe when I came home and put it up before tea. Gussie went up home in the PM. I went to market in the evening. 9/28 Sunday. Brother Crawford preached in the morning. I sat up in the choir in George's seat. Gussie went in the PM. After tea I wrote to George and Gussie wrote to Elizabeth Mead and Ellen Dare. I carried them to the post office but did not stay to evening meeting. I returned home and retired early. 9/29 Worked in the shop. Received a letter and picture, The Soldier's Dream, from George in Baltimore. I answered his letter in the evening and mailed it . I carried down to Curtis Bennett's the 3 pictures which George has sent home to be framed. Isabella came down to take care of Eddy while Gussie washed. She stayed nearly all day. 9/30 I came home to dinner and got out my cider barrel and rinsed it. At 4 o'clock it was taken away to Ridgefield to be filled. I engaged 12 bushels of potatoes of James Fowler.
1862-09
Horace Purdy Journal, October 1862 Entry
7pgs
10/1 I worked in the shop and did not feel very well in the PM. In the evening I carried Mother's things and ours over to Burr Bradley's to be packed up with others to be sent to Baltimore to George, David Bradley, George [c] Lewis, George Dickens, Phineas Lounsbury and a brother of George Mead's in Company H, Orin and Augustus Bronson, Smith Delavan, L. B. Griffin, William Otis, Norman Kellogg. We had to make up 2 boxes to hold them. William Lounsbury gave us the boxes. It was about 11 o'clock when we finished nailing up and marking the boxes. I received a letter from George in the evening. He wants more money sent to him. 10/2 I went over to Burr Bradley's before breakfast to help get our boxes of provisions to the depot to go Express to our boys in Capt. Moore's company, 17th Regiment, Baltimore. After breakfast not feeling too well. I helped put down the bedroom carpet upstairs. After dinner I went down and drew $10 for George from the Savings Bank. Six of it to replace the money I sent him and $4.00 to send him by letter. James Fowler brought me 12 bushels of potatoes (Prince Alberts) in the PM. A dispatch at night that Charles Small of Capt. Moore's company is dead. I mailed a letter to George in the evening and one for Gussie to Elyza in Cal. 10/3 Very warm in the shop. I spent the forenoon at home rebuilding my potato bin. I went to the street in the evening to get some articles at the store. When I came home I took my account book up to Father Griswold's and we looked over our account. We found a balance of $6.70 in my favor. I engaged 1 barrel of greening apples of Mr. Hearn 10/4 My barrel of cider came today. Joe Young came home with me at noon and helped me roll it into the cellar. Capt. Jenkins Company home on a special train at noon. They left the cars at Bates Crossing and marched up the street. Capt. Jenkins, 1st Lieut Starr, 2nd Lieut Betts and Adjutant Gregory were presented with a sword each in the evening at the Concert Hall. The swords were a present to them from the company. Charles Small's body was expected on the evening train but it didn't come. Gussie went up home in the PM and I went up to tea. Father and Bell came home with us and stayed to take care of Eddy while we went to the presentation. I received a letter from George at noon giving an account of Charles Small's death. He was with him when he died. 10/5 [Love] Feast in the morning at 9 o'clock. Elder William C. Hoyt preached in th AM. I collected a little money from some members to assist in sending some singing books to George, Company C. I came home after Sunday School and Gussie went in PM. We went over to Abel's a little while before evening meeting. I attended the prayer meeting. Brother Crawford became unusually animated, walked up and down the aisle exhorting sinners to repentance, especially members of Capt. Jenkins Co., 23rd Regiment, who were home and many of them at church. I wrote a letter to George and mailed it on the way to prayer meeting. Bell came down and went to meeting with me. 10/6 Worked in the shop until 11 o'clock and came home for early dinner prepatory to attending the funeral at 1 o'clock for Charles S. Small. I went back to the shop and the men all assembled at a quarter to 1 and went in a body to the church. The church was not open to we walked up to Jas Osborne's to meet the procession. Capt. Jenkins Company borrowed the cadet muskets at Jackson's School to attend the funeral with. The house was well filled and the funeral a large one. His remains came on the train this morning. Gussie walked up to the grave and was very sick with a sick headache when she returned. Mother and Bell were with us for tea and Bell stayed and washed up the dishes. I went to Societies meeting in the evening at the church. I ordred 1 doz. gold chains and 1 Lute of Zion for George, Company C, 17th Regiment, Baltimore Md. 10/7 Worked as usual in the shop. Paid 3 months dues to the Hatters Association, 30 cents. Received letter from George acknowledging reciept of things sent to him by express. Also received one from Uncle Stephen who is in camp in Bridgeport in the artillery, drilling and preparing for the field, acknowledging receipt of George's picture. After tea Joseph Young called and took a glass of cider with me after which we went to the Hatters meeting in the Basement of Concert Hall. 10/8 Heat in the shop as much as any day last summer. I came home to dinner. Cousin Frank Boughton spent the day with us. I recieved a letter from Charles Mills. He is sick in the hospital in Frederick MD. The golden chains and Lute of Zion came in today, I paid Sherman Disbrow what I owed him for coal, $11.75 in front of Epsicopal Church on my way home to dinner. Gussie and Frank Boughton went into the street in the evening. I took care of Eddy and wrote to George. After they came home I went down and mailed my letter and Danbury Times to George and brought home the 2 pictures from Curtis Bennett's who has framed them. Cost was $2.00. Gussie wrote to Ellen Dare and enclosed her veil which she left here at Louis Meogling's to be dyed. 10/9 We had work only until noon today. After dinner we took Eddy in the carriage and went into the street. Gussie bought a pair of Morroco Balmoral shoes at Lounsbury's for $1.37. We called at Couch's Picture Gallery to see about having a picture of Gussie and Eddy. I called on Major Meogling ath the Wooster House. He is home on account of a battle wound. His colonel died of his wounds and he has been promoted to Lieut. Col. of the 11th Regiment. Before going down town I wrote a letter to Cousin Charles Mills, now Steward of the Gail St. Hospital in Frederick MD. I left the letter with Mr. Swift who was a prisoner with him in Richmond, to let him put in a letter to him also, which he did and mailed it for me. After tea Father came down with a straw bed just as I was going up for it. I drew a pail of cider and carried it up for him while he wheeled the wheel barrow. I went into the street in the evening and paid Fairchild and Gillett 25 cents for 1 yard of tarltan which Gussie bought today. 10/10 A half day of work in the shop. After dinner I went over to Sturdevants to get the money due George for work when he enlisted. I got $1.00 of it but he didn't have change and agreed to leave the balance at O. H. Swift's news office for me. Bell came down and took care of Eddy in the PM while Gussie went to Mrs. McNeil's to get a dress cut. I received a letter from George and Gussie one from Ellen Dare. I wrote a letter to David Mills, the first since his release from imprisonment in Richmond. I attended a Special Hatters Meeting in the evening to take into consideration the subject of Foul Shops. The whole evening was spent in legislating on the subject but adjourned without accomplishing anything. 10/11 I came home to dinner and Bell came down and spent nearly all day with Gussie. I went to the post office in the evening and got a Baltimore paper from George. I went to Lounsbury's and selected a pair of boots for George. He set then aside until George should order them sent to him. I bought an new wooden faucet for my vinegar keg and put it in in the evening. 10/12 Quite cool, we made a fire in the sitting room for the first time. Went to church in the AM. Brother Crawford preached from John 10.10. Sunday School prayer meeting at noon after which I came and Gussie went in PM to the communion service. I wrote a letter to George. I attended in the evening and Brother Crawford preached. I sat in the choir. 10/13 Worked as usual in th shop and we took tea up to Mother Griswold's. I went to Teachers meeting in the eveninig but on account of the stormy weather there were not enought to do business, so we adjourned and went home. I took a letter for Father from New Haven from the post office. I think it was from Uncle Theodore, who has gone for a soldier and is now at camp in that place. 10/14 Limited work today and I finished before night, $2.25. On my way home I found Lieut. Morris Krazinskie of the 11th Regiment. He was a private in our company in the 1st Regiment for 3 months. He was wounded in the late battle of Antietam Creek and promoted from Sargent to 2nd Lieut. He came home with me to tea. After tea I got my old carpet bag and put the singing books in it for George and prepared to take it to the express office to send to George. Mary Purdy came in to go up to Mrs. Barnum's to see the corpse of her baby. Her husband, Eben Barnun, has gone to war with the 11th Regiment. Just before they started up, Joseph Young and his wife came to spend the evening. As Gussie was all ready to go, they did not stay. I took my bag an put in 2 quarts of chestnuts and 6 quarts of apples and took it to the express office. I wrote to George and put the receipt for the bag in the letter. I also wrote to Goodenough and ordered 60 copies of the School Advocate. 10/15 I was up early to go to the post office to take back a letter I mailed yesterday evening because of directing it wrong. I wrote another and mailed in it $12.00 fro 60 copies of the Sunday School Advocate for one year. I got the letter registered. I recieved a letter from George in the morning. He wants $2.00 more. Mrs. McNeil came this PM to work at dress making. Mr. McNeil being at work painting Father Griswold's home, he came in to tea. I went to the post office in the evening. Not hearing from George I went into Mr. Swift's office and wrote a letter to George with the $2.00 enclosed. 10/16 Worked as long as I could see in the shop. Gussie went up home in the PM. After tea I went to market. I heard that some member of the 17th Regiment telegraphed home that the regiment left Baltimore at 2 o'clock. 10/17 Worked as usual in the shop. It is reported today that the 17th Regiment left Baltimore yesterday at 9 o'clock. Gussie went in the PM with Eddy to Mr. Couch's picture gallery and sat with Eddy for a photograph or carte de visite. She went in the street in the evening with her mother and Hattie while I stayed with Eddy and inked over some old letters from George and Cousin Charlie Mills which had been written in pencil. 10/18 Saturday. Worked as usual in the shop. Edwin Hummingston come on the evening train from the West. Mrs. Stewart came to Father Griswold's on the evening train also. I recieved a letter by evening mail from George. It was written at Washington on their way to Virginia. Goerge ways that the regiment struck their tents at 4 o'clock on Thursday morning, at 8 o'clock started for the depot, arrived around 9 and didn not strat from there until 2 o'clock, arriving at Washington at 9 o'clock. 10/19 Attended church in the morning. Brother Crawford preached from 113 Psalm and I came home after Sunday School and Gussie attended in the PM. I have had the headache a little all day and quite hard since tea. Mother called on her way to evening meeting and Gussie went with her. They took at letter to the post office I had written to George. 10/20 Edwin Hummingston commenced work this morning. We were started on 2 doz. at 6/- Went to the post office in the evening and got a letter from George. They are about 4 miles from Washington at a new site for a fort and they think they are to build it. I brought a letter from the post office for Harriet from Abel in New Haven. I answered George's letter before retiring. 10/21 The morning was coolest of the season and froze ice quite hard. Gussie had some plants on the piazza badly frozen. I did not got to work on account of taking physics last night which left me incapacited for work today. I went to the Gas Works and brought home a little basket of coal to try in our cook stove. I went to Couch's and had a negative taken for some cart de visites. I also made shelves for plants in the sitting room windows. I brought our bedding down from Father Griswold's garret. We went up to Father G's. Mrs. Leobdell and Mary G. Hoyt were there. Mr. Harris came for 2 barrels to put my winter apples in. He brought one barrel just at night (greenings). Gussie went into the street shopping in the evening and I stayed with Eddie. Aunt Louise moved from Gregory's house just north of us today and has gone in with Frank Boughton. When Gussie returned about 8 o'clock I went over to Burr Bradley's where David Bradley and George Dicken's wife were making up a box for them of boots and put in a knife and fork for George. 10/22 Worked all day in the shop . Received a letter from Cousin Charles Mills acting as Steward in the hospital at Frederick MD. Mr Hearn brought my other barrel of apples today (Spitzenburg's ). Mother stopped on her way to class and I read George's last letter and also Charles' to her. I went to market and to class and mailed the Times to George. 10/23 Worked as usual in the shop and after tea took the wheel barrow and went up home for George's cider barrel to use for vinegar. And brought it home with my corn basket full of straw to bind up rose bushes with. I went to the post office and mailed a letter to Abel for Harriet. 10/24 I filled my vinegar barrel with water before breakfast. Put my dinner in a paper and filled my pail with cider and carried it with me to the shop. I took Father Griswold's silk hat to the shop and sleaked it off for him. We were limited in our work at the shop. On my way home I left the list of subscribers to the Sunday School Advocate with Edward Barnum, the distributor, at Clark and Ford's store. I received a letter from George acknowledging receipt of the money letter and bag with singing books, chestnuts and apples. He is on the sick list from a head cold contracted while on picket guard. In the evening I went to Couch's and got 4 carte de visite of wife and baby and of myself. I wrote to George before retiring and enclosed our pictures (carte de visite). 10/25 I went to the post office before breakfast and mailed my letter to George. I had the headache in the PM and stopped work early on that account. On the way home I stppped at Couch's and got the rest of the pictures, 25 in all including the ones I brought home yesterday. Mother received a letter from George. She was with us for tea and I gave her pictures of each of us to carry home. I went to the teachers meeting but there being few teachers there we adjourned without doing anything. 10/26 I stayed home in the morning and Gussie went to church. Mr Pease of Bethel preached. I went to Sunday School. The session was short, We went over to the Congregational Church for the reqular quarterly Sunday School concert which took the place of the afternoon service. There was good attendance of all the schools, Baptist, Congregational and ours. The exercises were very interesting. After tea and in the evening I wrote to Charles Mills, to Sister Harriet, and Gussie wrote to Edwin. We enclosed our pictures in all 3 letters. I wrote to George also. I did not go to meeting on account of the rain in the evening. Frank went and I sent the letters by him to be mailed. Gussie wrote to Ellen Dare in the evening and sent pictures also. 10/27 I went to the post office before breakfast and mailed the letter to Ellen Dare. Jo Young stopped at the office on the way to dinner and got a letter for Gussie from Ellen Dare and one for me from George from Washington, He broght them to the shop to me. 10/28 Gussie went with me as I went to the shop to go to the dentist to have a tooth extracted. But Dr. St. John was not there so she returned without getting it done. She went again in the PM and had it done. I brought home a letter for Mother from Bridgeport. Father came down after it while we were at tea. I went to the post officee in the evening and mailed a letter to George enclosing 8 letter stamps he requested of me by note in Anna Taylor's letter which she handed me while we were at tea. I got a letter for mother from Harriet with a cart de visite of herself. 10/29 Edwin Augustus is 14 months old today. I was late to the shop this morning. Abel returned to his regiment this PM on the 4:20 train. Harriet went with him and is going to visit in New Haven with her friends. I left work and went to the depot to see him off as it may be the last time he will be home. I went to Dea O. Stone's office to hand in my tax list but he was not in. I went home and got in my carrots and beets. After tea I went to market. I mailed the Danbury Times to George in the evening. 10/30 Worked as usual in the shop. Came home late and went to market after tea. 10/31 Clark Beers came over as I was getting up, to get Josie Wheeler's cradle as Harriet has gone to New Haven with Abel to visit him in camp and other friends in the city. Mrs. Beers is taking care of Josie. I helped him take it home. I engaged a barrel of late made cider this morning at of Mr. Lounsbury. I was rather late at the shop this morning but stayed late to make it up. I received a letter from George in the morning mail and one from Harriet in the evening. I answered George and mailed it in the evening. I also mailed one to Carlton and Porter for 15 more copies of the Sunday School Advocate to make our number of subscriptions equal to last year, 75. I went to market and to Lounsbury's shoe store to see about sending George's boots to him.
1862-10
Horace Purdy Journal, March 1870 Entry
9pgs
3/1 I spent the forenoon in the street working insurance. In the morning I received a letter from my Ins. Co. saying I might forward the application for Mrs. Disbrow but would not make it payable to her husband unless he insured also. I answered by the PM mail saying that he now had $2,000 on his life. I urged the company to issue the policy as this was the only condition on which he will take the policy. Just at night I took John H. White to Dr. Bulkely's office and had him examined. Filled out the certificate there and in the evening mailed it to the company. In the street this evening I saw Peter Robinson and took him into Dr. Bulkely's to be examined, leaving the other part of the application to be filled out tomorrow. 3/2 I delivered Charles H. Wilcox's policy for $500 and received the premium of $9.73. In the forenoon went down to the sewing machine factory and talked life insurance with Col. James Ryder explaining the plan and the strong points and advantages of the company. I gained his favor and acknowledgement that it was a superior company. I then called at the Pahquioque shop for a few minutes and from there to the post office and received the 3 policies, and also a letter from L. E. Twitchell with bill enclosed for 5 spring beds, my first lot sold since coming from New London last Christmas. In the PM I got Charlie Disbrow to deliver my spring beds which came by freight, to Hawley, May, Ryder, Beers and Griswold. During the afternoon and evening I put them all in. It was about 9 o'clock in the evening when I put the last one in for Henry Ryder on Montgomery St. in Granville Hoyt's house. About 5 this evening Dr. Bulkely examined George Bell's wife for a joint policy with her husband. Gussie went this evening to a surprise party at H. E. Comes on Rabbit Hill. 3/3 In the forenoon I went up to Peter Robinson's on Balmforth Ave. and took Mrs. Robinson's application for a joint life ins. policy with her husband. I received by the morning mail the policy for John H. White and a letter from D. R. French, General Agent, with enclosed permit for the State Insurance Commissioner for me to act as agent for the Homeopathic Mutual Life Ins. Company of NY. After dinner I went up to Gould S. Disbrow and took Mrs. Disbrow's application for a policy payable to her husband. I called at Mrs. E. M. Jones and got her signature to the friends certificate on Mrs. Robinson's application. Having felt sick with a headache all day and after dinner feeling worse, I kept quiet the remainder of the PM. After tea I felt better and went into the street to see George Bell about being examined tomorrow. Gussie went this evening to the auction sale of Fanton's fire damaged shirts and bought me 6 shirts nearly perfect for $3.50. 3/4 It tried to snow in the forenoon but was too cold. It moderated in the PM so that it snowed a little. Henry M. Day came in town this forenoon. I saw and had a talk with him about the money he owes me but could not get anything definite from him. In the PM I went up to Young and Ely's shop, to Mallory's . After tea I went into the street expecting to have George Bell examined but I could not find him. I deposited $18.60 in Danbury Bank for a check I sent by this PM mail to L. E. Twitchell. 3/5 I talked life insurance in Charles Chapman's shoe store in the forenoon. Young Dr. William Bulkely went up and examined Mrs. Disbrow this morning but omitted to have her sign the document so I went up before going to dinner and had her sign it. In the PM old Dr. Bulkely went up and examined Peter Robinson's wife. I mailed the joint applications by the afternoon mail. I put in a door spring for William Bedient Jr. , the artist. I did it to test it beside another kind he was using. In the evening I went in the street and did some marketing with Gussie and came home. Joseph Bates paid me today $6.84, he balance of his first quarterly payment on his 15 yr. endowment policy. 3/6 Gussie and Hattie Mills attended church while Georgie and I stayed home. After tea Georgie and I took a walk around the square to West St. by way of George and Orchard Streets. I wrote to George concerning his voting here this spring and also offered him New London and Wyndham counties for the sale of the Connecticut Spring Bed. 3/7 It has snowed all day. I received from the Homeo. Ins. Co. an extra from the Insurance Times, a statement of business of all companies doing business in NY for the year ending December 31, 1869. In the PM I mailed a letter to D.R. French at Seymour CT. I went to Concert Hall in the evening to hear Dr. Pond lecture on Temperance. It was acknowledged by those present to be the best lecture yet delivered and the audience voted unanimously to invite him to repeat it at some future time. 3/8 Sleighs tried to run but made sorry work of it. In the forenoon I went to the Sewing Machine factory to see James Olmstead to get the $27.00 left by Charles Hayes for me to draw. I got $20.00 and then came home, stopping as I got to the post office and got Mrs. Disbrow's policy from the Ins. Co. Received also a letter from L. E. Twitchell with receipted bill enclosed for the last lot of spring beds. After dinner I wrote to Mr. Twitchell and also to Starr & Farnham printers, cor. State and Main Streets, New London for the bed cut I had them use in printing my circulars. I want them to send it to Mr. Twitchell at New Haven. I also wrote to A. Stanley Smith. I then went into the street and mailed the letters I wrote and took Mr. Disbrow and his son Charlie's policy to them. Later in the PM I saw John White and gave his to him. They all paid me but Gould Disbrow who wants me to wait a day or two. Dr. Bulkely received a letter from the Ins. Office in NY to see Peter Robinson again about his pulse. So in the evening I went with him to the Doctor's office, and his pulse instead of being over 80 was 72, and expansion of chest instead of being 37' to 38' was 35' to 37'. 3/9 I went to Bethel on the noon train to talk life insurance and returned by the evening train. Received a letter in the evening mail from George answering mine about voting here in the spring, also telling me he was now at work at Straw Hat Curling. 3/10 I received a joint policy for George B. Bell and wife. I took the noon train for Bethel. Sidney Smith came up with me on the evening train. He came home with me and talked about taking the New London and Wyndham counties to sell the Connecticut Spring Bed. He left about 10 o'clock to walk back to Bethel. I bought of George Osborne in Bethel a smoked beef tongue. 3/11 I went up to the boot and shoe factory and to the Chase Carriage factory in the forenoon and talked life insurance. Rec'd by the morning mail a joint policy for Peter Robinson and wife. In the PM I delivered it and got a check for the amount of the premium, $109.40. Gould S. Disbrow also paid me the premium for his, $31.60 less $3.13 for a 1/22 [Bbl] flour. I talked life insurance with H. E Comes and Robert Sayers. George Dickens wife died this morning about 5 o'clock. 3/12 In the forenoon I rode with Peter Robinson over to Sturdevant's to talk life insurance a little with the shop hands. I rode back about noon with William A. Bouton who drives George Starrs' team. Before going to dinner I took Peter Robinson's check to the Danbury Bank. I made out my report to D.R. French and went again to the bank and got a draft for $135.88, which with my commission, examinations, balanced accounts for all premiums collected up to date. I mailed the report and draft by the PM mail. I brought home a cat just at night from Gould S. Disbrow's feed store. 3/13 Cold, blustery and snowy all day. The funeral of George Dickens' wife was to be attended this PM immediately after sacrament service at the church. But on account of the severe weather it was postponed until tomorrow. Gussie went over to Mr. Dickens in the forenoon to help arrange flowers for the funeral but returned about noon because it was postponed. I stayed at home all day and took medicine, feeling about sick myself. First appearance of whooping cough with Georgie. 3/14 There has been some sleighing today. George Dickens buried his wife from the church this PM. After the funeral I went up to Charles Chase Carriage Shop to talk life insurance. From there I stopped at the Union Hat Shop and talked with Cyrus Raymond and think I shall finally insure him. In the evening I went to market and then over to John Bouton's and made a call. 3/15 I went over to Mr. Richards in the morning and had him cut from an old pair of slipper uppers a pair of small ones for Georgie. I then brought them home for Gussie to sew together and bind. I then went down to the Pahquioque Shop and called for a few minutes also at the Railroad Repair shop and then at William A. Bedient's picture gallery. I lent Bedient $25.00. He returned it to me again this evening. After dinner I commenced paining my home again. I finished the north side and commenced on the West end. In the evening I went to the post office and received a letter from D. R. French acknowledging the receipt of my report and the draft for $135.88 which I sent on Saturday. 3/16 I started snowing very had this morning, then turned to rain. I received by the morning mail a letter from Starr & Farnham saying that they had sent by express to Mr. Twitchell in New Haven the bed cut they used in printing my circulars last fall, also giving me Mr. Crockers name and address who keeps the Pequot House in New London. I wrote to Mr. H. S. Crocker about spring beds for the hotel. I also wrote to Mr. Twitchell that if he wrote to him concerning them, to refer him to me. I then wrote another letter to George in Brooklyn. After dinner it cleared and was warm, but splashy ' the snow being soft and full of water. Before night the wind got into the north and it grew cold. Mr. Richards had one of Georgie's slippers done but it being too large he had to rip it again and make it over smaller. Mr. Pond came in about 9 o'clock in the evening to get me to go over to Mr. Warner's on West St. and sit with Marshall West who is sick until a young man named Trowbridge should come about 11 o'clock to watch with him for the night. I did so and returned about 11'. 3/17 Henry Ryder paid me $7.20 for a spring bed. I called at the County House to see Albert Sherwood on life insurance but he was not at home. Mr. Richards finished Georgie's slippers today. I brought them home before tea. After tea I gave Georgie an injection to move his bowels, they have not moved for 3 or 4 days. Gussie and I went to market in the evening. 3/18 I called at the Pahquioque shop in the forenoon where we had a good deal of talk about the school and its principal, Mr. Pond. In the PM I went up to the Mallory Shop and talked life insurance a little. In the evening I went to the school meeting in Borough Hall, but the hall not being big enough the meeting was adjourned until next Monday at Concert Hall. Consulted Dr. Bulkely about whooping cough with Georgie. 3/19 Was around town talking life insurance. In the evening was at Randall & Bradley's and talked with 2 or 3 on life insurance. 3/20 Sunday. I stayed t home. After tea Father called with a letter written by Bell to George and wished me to mail it for her. Bell is very much worse and father feels too poor to pay for a doctor. So I went for young Dr. Bulkely and sent him up there at my expense. I went up home and was there when he called. He ordered with other things Sherry wine sweetened with loaf sugar. I went to the druggist and bought a little for 23 cents. She being much reduced and debilitated requires this as a mild stimulus and tonic. 3/21 I watched with Bell last night and came home to bed at 5 o'clock. I rose about 8 o'clock and took breakfast. I then went up to Tweedy's factory and talked life insurance. After dinner, wrote to the home office of the Homeo. Ins. Co. ordering more rate books. In the evening the adjourned school meeting met at Concert Hall. James S. Taylor and his crew who has tried to make a disturbance and break up the school was totally defeated and Mr. Pond (the principle) was completely vindicated and sustained. 3/22 In the forenoon I went up town to Tweedy's factory to see some parties about life insurance. Received by morning mail a letter from George F. Howard with George W. [Kris] at Norwich stating that there is some dissatisfaction with the spring bed I sold there last fall and on that account did not wish to engage in the business. Also a letter from William H. Hayes inquiring about business for Charlie, if work had commenced. Consulted Andrew Knox about a sign for my contemplated insurance office. Called over at the sewing machine factory to ascertain about work for Charlie Hayes. In the evening I went into the street to the post office and to see what I could strike in the way of life insurance as usual. 3/23 After breakfast I went up home to see Bell. In some respects she was better, in others she was worse. From there I went down to the County House and talked with Albert Sherwood about insuring his life. He concluded to do so the first week in April if money he is expecting from the State comes. From there I went to Dr. Bulkely's office and consulted him about Bell. I got some more medicine which with his visit on Sunday I paid him $1.25. After dinner I went up home with the medicine and gave instructions about it. In the PM I called to see John Starr about a writing desk for my office. In the evening I received a letter from Mr. Twitchell about spring beds. 3/24 After breakfast I went up into the street to send Dr. Bulkely up to see Mother Griswold. I then went up home to see how Bell was. I think she is slowly gaining. I went before dinner over to the sewing machine factory to arrange with James Olmstead about sending for Charlie Hayes to be made a freeman and vote. After dinner I wrote to William H. Hayes to send Charlie up after arranging with D. P. Nichols to pay his fare up and return. Before night I moved the desk I bought of John Starr from Scofield's old store in Pahquioque block to Bedient's Photographic Gallery where I have established my office for life insurance. I came home and took a bundle of life insurance documents to the office and arranged them in my desk. I went into the street in the evening. After taking the desk I paid John Starr $8.00 for it. 3/25 Friday. Bought both red and black ink for my office. In the PM I visited Rundle & White's, also [Samuel] Holley' s wool had factory to talk life insurance. Charlie Hayes returned from New York by the evening train. A sociable at the church in the evening. The Sunday School children met and had their gathering in the PM. 3/26 In the morning I went with Charlie Hayes to the Court House to be made a freeman. In the PM I went up home to see Bell. She is getting better. I received by the morning mail two copies of agreement between D. R. French and myself. I signed them both and returned one to him. 3/27 Commenced snowing about 9 AM but soon turned to rain. Gussie had the neuralgia last night and this morning. After supper I went up home to see Bell. When I returned I went up to see Mother Griswold who is very feeble, and there is a prospect of her never being any better. 3/28 I went down to my office in the forenoon and did some writing. After dinner I wrote to William H. Hayes about an agency for new patent oil cloth. I mailed at the same time in the afternoon mail a letter to George which I wrote yesterday. After I went down to the Pahquioque shop. Business is very dull there again. I brought from the office my large bottle of ink to fill my small ink stand at home. I went to market in the evening. 3/29 I was up to Rundle & White's and Mallory hat shops in the forenoon talking life insurance a little. In the PM helped William Bedient paint his Photograph rooms where I have my office. I was at the office in the evening. 3/30 I got a pint of French brandy at Wooster House of Smith Turrell to give to Mother Griswold. Dr. Bulkely recommended us to go there in order to get a good article. It cost 81 cents. I went to Bethel on the noon train to see Sidney Smith about going to New London to sell spring beds. I did not see him as he was away from home. I came up on the 3 PM train. Father Griswold was on the same train. Dr. Bulkely came to see Mother Griswold again about 5 PM and says she may not live longer than tomorrow. Father Griswold immediately telegraphed for Edwin and for Harriet. After tea I went to the Depot to meet Harriet from New Haven, but she did not come. Received a letter in the evening from George about the spring bed business in New London and Windham Counties. Work is getting dull and he thinks he may be glad of it soon. I went to my office and wrote a reply before coming home. I also got one from William H. Hayes at Heath and Smith, 44 Murray St., New York regarding a new patent oil cloth which I requested an agency for if it could be obtained. 3/31 We were up all of last night expecting every hour that Mother Griswold would die. She had a sinking turn at 2 o'clock but she rallied and is still living now at 4 PM. Father Griswold sent me this morning to the telegraph office with a dispatch for Uncle Lorenzo Burr at Bloomfield saying that she was only just alive. Harriet Stevens came by the morning train from New Haven. I met her at the Depot. After breakfast, I went up home to see Bell. I found her sitting up and doing well. She has discontinued the medicine almost entirely, not now needing it. William A. Bedient took my picture this morning for his own use. A telegram this PM from Edwin at Erie PA. He is on his way home and will be home tomorrow afternoon. Sidney Smith from Bethel called at my office to see me about selling beds in New London County. On account of giving up the territory to George as I contemplate, I refused to send Mr. Smith.
1870-03
Horace Purdy Journal March 1904 Entry
7 pgs
MARCH 01 TUESDAY - Mercury 32 above. Awoke this morning and found about 1 ½ inches of snow on the ground and cloudy still with a little snow in the air though not hard storming. I went over to John Parslow’s in the morning to arrange for renewal of his store policy; the increase of rate since a year ago of course was objected but he however had it renewed. In the PM, I wrote it up and in the evening, I delivered it. He not being in, I left it with his wife. In the PPM, William Popke called for me to sign a petition for a new hose carriage for the Jefferson Avenue Hose Company which I did. I found $8.00 in my old brown overcoat pocket and am puzzled to remember who put it there and who paid it to me. We have pretty much concluded that it is the house rent paid me on the 12th of February by A. Scheppeassi occupying No. 11 William Street as it was paid at their house on that day that she paid me and I was wearing that coat. MARCH 02 TUESDAY - Mercury 30 above. Lowery in the morning. Pleasant during the day and lowery again in the evening. I went downtown in the forenoon for the first time since last Saturday. I left two counterpanes at Targett & Simmons laundry and solicited insurance on their new laundry building which they are contemplating building. I saw our stamp clerk, Clark Howes regarding the high rate on Morlock & Husk and ascertained what must be done about the boiler and smokestack to get the rate reduced. I then called on them and we talked the matter over. They gave me a check for the policy recently written for them. At 2 P.M., I attended the funeral of Captain E. E. Wildman. On my return, I called at the D. G. Lowe factory to see Mr. ___ regarding the policy on the house of Louise ____ which she has just purchased. I received a check from S. E. Downs, treasurer of the Methodist Church Society for the policy on the parsonage and furniture. MARCH 03 WEDNESDAY - Mercury 35 above. I t began raining about daylight and continued more or less moderately during the day which had been warm and foggy. I have felt quite badly with the grippe and stayed in. I wrote and sent by mail a renewal policy to Caroline Gorman and Helen Purcell at new Fairfield. We made up the Connecticut Fire Insurance Company February report and mailed it. George took money and the bank book to make a deposit after dinner. MARCH 04 FRIDAY - Mercury 18 above. Pleasant and cool. Pension Day. The first old veteran to appear early this morning was Sheridan Morris. George drove up to Saul Gregory’s immediately after dinner and made his pension voucher. I had a scrap with Henry Veats because I would not advance him on his pension. He being already under the influence of drink, I would not give him money to become more intoxicated. He requested his pension certificate which I gave him and he left. While George was up to Saul Gregory’s I went over to 109 Liberty Street to Make Mrs. Foley’s voucher and then to 78 Town Hill Avenue to make Bridget Rooney’s. On my return home, I went to John Parslow’s and to James McCullum’s and to Rachel Dikeman at the home of Charles Johnson on 31 New Street. In response to a notice sent to her at Brookfield Center, Mrs. Hannah Weld called to see about her insurance. Received a check for Byron Dexter and J. Higson & Co.in payment for loss in amount of $12.41 which occurred January 18, 1904. MARCH 05 SATURDAY - Pleasant. George and Mr. Beeman started about 9 A.M. to go down to Cousin Edwin Mills to arrange for renewal of their fire insurance. Frank Sherwood called a few minutes after they started. On their return, they reported that they would write to Edith at Waterbury and wait for her reply. Before dinner, I went up to North Street and secured an $800 furniture policy for James Durbin. James Martin called in the P.M. and had his pension voucher made. In the forenoon, I bought a chicken at Marsioch’s market. Mary pronounced it spoiled and I returned it. George and Sarah came over in the evening. MARCH 06 SUNDAY - Mercury 30 above. Cloudy all day. Misty and at times a few flying flakes of snow but no real storm of either rain or snow. Lottie and Julia Hirsch came from Sunday School and took dinner with us. We stayed at home all day, but went over to Brother George’s in the evening. MARCH 07 MONDAY - Mercury 38 above. Warmer, misty and almost rain in the morning. It came near clearing away about 10 A.M. and I harnessed and drove over Wildman Street to see about collecting for insurance written last December for the East Danbury Progressive Club. I found William Lynch at Van Gall’s factory (he being headman of the club) and he said that they had concluded not to insure this year and not knowing that it was necessary to return the policy sent to them, they had retained it. He said that he would bring the matter up at their next meeting and possibly they would keep and pay for the policy. MARCH 08 TUESDAY - Mercury 38 above at 7 AM, 48 at noon. Pleasant. Edgar L. Wildman made an affidavit as to his lost pension voucher and requested a duplicate. Just before dinner, I went up to 10 Pleasant Street to get Mrs. Louise Dexter’s to sign an application for accrued pension and also for a widow’s pension. After dinner, I returned for two witnesses to sign where it was omitted but they were not in. I arranged for them to call at my office tomorrow morning. On my return, I found special agent Knox of the reliance waiting for me. After he left, Laura Boughey called for a statement regarding John Norris’ life insurance and Byron Dexter’s interest in the same. I went with her to Lawyer Davis’ office where the case was being investigated and made a statement regarding $400 paid by Mr. Dexter what was supposed to be for deferred premiums. I cleared up the matter by stating that the payment was to pay off a loan to John Norris by the American Loan and Deposit Company for which the policy was assigned to secure. This was done to clear the policy of all claims against it that it might be assigned clean to Byron Dexter which it was. MARCH 09 WEDNESDAY - Mercury 36 above. George and Mr. Beeman went to King Street this morning to see about renewing Philo Mead in the old George Wilkes place. He succeeded in doing so. Herbert Wildman called after dinner for forms to renew Edmund and Hannah Weld at Brookfield. He spent part of the PM with me. Mary and I spent the evening at Joe Merritt’s with Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. Mr. Rogers paid for furniture insurance. MARCH 10 THURSDAY - Mercury 18 above. George drove with me to take the train to go to Brookfield Junction at 9:05 A.M. and to leave the horse at D. Gage’s shop to be shod. I got left by the train. I returned to the blacksmith’s shop and got the horse after she was shod. Charles and Fred Bevans called and got their pension checks. Also Henry Veats; his had not yet arrived. Before dinner, I went with Mrs. John Germanetti (?) to show her (a prospective buyer) Edgar Wildman’s house on 43 Washington Avenue. After dinner, George took the bank book and made a deposit. I drove up to Lee Heights and arranged for the renewal of Mrs. Catherine Ryan and Clark Ferguson. I took Mrs. Fred Rogers with me and left her at Leon Rogers at 23 Willis Street. I then went down to William Hall’s blacksmith shop for my spindle buggy left there to have an axle mended. MARCH 11 FRIDAY - Mercury 30 above. Cloudy and about 9 A.M., it commenced raining gently and froze as it came making it very icy and dangerous getting about. I took the 9:15 train to Brookfield Junction to see Mrs. Wordin living near the station about the insurance of her property on Apr 4th, it being now insured in the Middlesex Mutual. I stayed in the office in the P.M. and did up some writing. Clarence Morgan came in and we looked up some accounts which had been running for about 3 years. Surprising as it may seem, we found while I was at Brookfield in the forenoon, Orrin Knox called to make an affidavit as to the marriage of Leonard Dexter to Frances Cosse on December 18, 1853, the same being necessary in Mrs. Dexter’s efforts in getting a pension. MARCH 12 SATURDAY - Mercury 20 above. Pleasant and cooler. A light flurry of snow last night which covered and disguised the ice making walking a very careful thing to do. Before noon, however, the ice gave way to the sun and the walking was quite sloppy. Mr. Johnson, so-in-law to Mrs. Dexter, called in the morning to see if I could go down to their farm and meet Mr. George Dexter who would also make an affidavit as to Mr. Dexter’s marriage. We could not today. After dinner I went to the Adams Express office with Policies # 2268107 to #2268149, inclusive, the same being 43 in number to be returned to the Greenwich Insurance Company, they having gone out of business by reinsuring in the Commercial Union of England. Sherwood Fanton called and paid for his insurance. William Phillips also called in the evening and paid $8.00 on account. Edgar Wildman called in the P.M. to see what I had done about selling his house on Washington Avenue; also as to receiving a duplicate pension voucher in lieu of one lost for his March pension. Soon after his departure, the postman, Mr. Owns called and left the duplicate voucher we were waiting for from Boston. MARCH 13 SUNDAY - Mercury 25 above. Pleasant and cool. E. W. Griffith called this morning with his pension voucher returned for correction of an error in not giving the residence of the Notary Public. H. H. Johnson called in the A.M. to see if George had come from Bethel to drive with him down to Dexter’s farm to take an affidavit of Leonard Dexter as to being present and witnessing the marriage of Leonard Dexter and France Cosse. George did not appear. Mary attended church in the morning. Lottie and Julia Hirsch came from Sunday School and took dinner with us. Mrs. Anne Miller, occupying the Pieran’s house at No. 9, died this morning at 3 o’clock. MARCH 14 MONDAY - Mercury 42 above. Pleasant in the morning. Edgar Wildman called this morning and had his pension voucher made out which I a few days ago received from Boston in lieu of one he lost. I went downtown in the forenoon and gave William Stillman a check for the church seat rent to April 1st and arranged to renew the same for another year. In the P.M., I went to the office of William Cable and had him type write two affidavit forms for me to be executed by Orrin Knox of this town and George Dexter of North Salem, New York, evidence of the marriage of Leonard Dexter and Frances Cosse in the matter of getting a widow’s pension for Mrs. Dexter. I called in the A.M. at William Stillman’s business office and delivered a furniture policy to Mrs. Lillian Pritchard. MARCH 15 TUESDAY - Mercury 30 above. About 2 inches of snow fell last night. It ceased about 8 A.M. Rufus Rice came in this morning and signed papers applying for an increase in pension. Just before dinner, I went over to see E. S. Fairchild to show him options under his ordinary life insurance policy of $3,000 at the expiration of 20 years on the 25th of this month but did not find him at home. I called down to Van Gall’s factory to see about renewal of Henry Borman’s policy which comes tomorrow, also to ascertain what the East Danbury Progressive Club had concluded to do about keeping up their insurance. They had concluded to drop it for the present, so said their treasure, W. H. Lynch. After dinner, I went up to Mrs. Leonard Dexter’s with an affidavit to be executed at North Salem, New York by George Dexter as a witness to Leonard Dexter’s marriage. They are to see that he properly executes the same and returns to me to be forwarded with other papers in Mrs. Dexter’s application for a widow’s pension. MARCH 16 WEDNESDAY - Mercury 32 above. A pleasant day. In the morning, I took a trolley car and went over to E. S. Fairchild’s and gave him a statement from the Equitable Life naming options at his disposal to select from in adjustment of his life policy at the expiration of 20 years. I then ordered coal of C. L. Morgan and came home by trolley and found Orrin Knox waiting to sign a new drawn up affidavit for him to sign in proof as an eyewitness of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Dexter. In the P.M., I made a deposit at the bank, made some purchases for the house and returned home. The city today has been mending a water break on the main water pipe at the corner of William and George Streets. I repaired the lock to the lower door for Mrs. Clark who occupies upstairs at No. 9 William Street. MARCH 17 THURSDAY - Mercury 16 above. Cool and pleasant. St. Patrick’s Day. Edgar Wildman called this morning for his pension check which came yesterday. He also took his certificate as he expects to go to the Soldiers’ Home at Noroton. In the P.M., I drove with Mr. Beeman and at Morlock & Husk’s Machine Shop had a part of Mrs. Clark’s lock repaired. We then drove to Grandview Avenue to collect of Mrs. McDonough but failed to do so. After which, I called on Mrs. John Allen to see if she had heard anything from her pension papers. She had not. I then came home and finished repairs to the lock. In the evening, I went up to Dr. Sunderland’s with Mary. MARCH 18 FRIDAY - Mercury 32 above. I awoke this morning to find it snowing. It continued to do so moderately with mingled rain until about noon. Later in the afternoon, it cleared away. I took the trolley car up to North Street to transfer Mrs. Sarah J. Bouton’s furniture policy to No. 66 North Street. After my return about 4:30 P.M., Mr. George Van Fleet from New Haven, agent from the Equitable, called on me. After a short visit, I went with him by trolley over to E. S. Fairchild’s as he is considering which option of several at his disposal he will select on his $3,000 policy. We had a pleasant call and suggested to him a continuous installment policy. As he is not contemplating any more life insurance at present, we left the matter for the present. Mr. Van Fleet left on the Highland Division train east and I returned home. The children of Mrs. Ann Miller moved her furniture, etc. out from No. 9 William Street this P.M. and in the evening they left the key at our office. George Dickens died last night at 12:30. MARCH 19 SATURDAY - Mercury 30 above. A bright morning. I drove over to Mrs. Woods and collected premium for insurance written Feb. 1st. From there, I went over to George Bradley’s at Beaverbrook and collected $1.50 from him and $2.00 from his father on a policy turned over to us by L. Treadwell. Then I drove up to see Mr. Fuller at James Jennings’s place but got nothing from him but partly arranged for some hay. I returned home in time for dinner. I broke my harness while at Mr. Fuller’s. I remained home in the P.M. and among other things done, I mended the broken harness. About 5 P.M., I gave Abram Tosi the key to No. 9 William Street which 1st floor apartment he has rented from April 1st. MARCH 20 SUNDAY - mercury 42 above. Warm and pleasant and somewhat windy. I went to the Post Office at noon from which I went and called on J. H. Ives to give him $.59, a return premium for cancellation of his Reliance Insurance policy on his store which he has given up. After dinner, I completed the Reliance report for February and enclosed the Ives policy also with the one not taken for the east Danbury progressive Club. Fanny and little George Martin, her baby came up and was with us to dinner. Before evening meeting, we went over and called on George and Sara who are still combatting their Grippe colds. We attended church in the evening. Dr. Wilson preached well to a small congregation. MARCH 21 MONDAY - mercury 30 above. Pleasant in the morning and until noon. Cloudy in the afternoon with threatening rain. I attended the funeral of George Dickens on Stevens Street at 1 P.M. where I met Frank Crofut of Boston who has been in Danbury recently taking care of his brother-in-law, Joel Foster. After the funeral, I went up to stamp clerk, A. H. Howe’s office to see about the rate of a plumber shop in Bethel which George contemplates insuring. Also to switch the Abram Tosi premium in the Turner building on Orchard Street taken by Reed for 1% when I wanted 1 ¼ % as per last known rate. I went over to W. H. Cable’s office and got $5.00 cash from him, the balance (less $.35) of his life insurance premium nearly two years ago. I then called on Frank Hartwell looking to get a business suit of clothes provided he will take some life insurance. We had a talk over it but did no business. I found to my surprise that he is carrying no life insurance at all. In the evening, I wrote to A. J. Hunt, U. S. business agent in Boston making an inquiry why Mrs. Bridget Rooney did not get her pension check for voucher used and forwarded on March 4th. I paid a $200.00 Note due today at the Danbury National Bank. In the evening, I called on Dr. Sunderland to get the name of the name of the person who told him he was a fool to pay a full year’s premium for Life insurance, but he would not inform me. Mrs. George Hartwell called in the P.M. while I was attending George Dickens’ funeral and paid $68.95 on account of insurance on mill inventory, etc. MARCH 22 TUESDAY - Mercury 34 above. Foggy with light rain at times during the day. We wrote the Edwin Mills policy today as covering from the 17th of March, Francis Lowny came in and had the $200 furniture policy cancelled as he is moving to New Jersey. We also cancelled the three month occupancy permit recently put on as he has rented the place to a tenant I went to the bank with a $150 deposit this P.M. I also went over to the R.R, Depot to see David Hoyt about the date of the death of his second wife. We hoisted the sleigh up in the barn this morning. MARCH 23 WEDNESDAY - Mercury 50 above. Pleasant and warm. I arranged for the renewal of Ada Sperry’s insurance this morning. I called at Mallory’s shop and saw Clifton Underhill about insurance. He had recently taken an endowment (?). He promised me to insure furniture. Davis Hoyt called at noon with some facts to finish hi papers ready to send to the Pension office. I received an affidavit from George Dexter at North Salem as to being a witness to the marriage of Leonard Dexter. A Mr. Miller, a special agent of the Equitable called in the P.M. We went over to Mr. Beeman’s in the evening to hear music by Mr. Tompkins on violin and Harley Beeman with banjo and Mrs. Beeman on piano. MARCH 24 THURSDAY - Mercury 50 above. A beautiful day. Before diner, I drove over Hull’s Hill with L. P. Treadwell to make the acquaintance of Thomas and Mary Dunn insured in the Conn. Fire Insurance Co. to be renewed on May 2. Also to enable Mr. Treadwell to collect a balance due, all of which we accomplished. I made another pension voucher for Bridget Rooney. The one made on MARCH 4 got lost at the Boston Post Office and another was sent. I also got the remaining facts from Byron Dexter as to the age of his mother as required in her pension claim and sent first application and affidavit for same to her attorney J. P. Crabbe & Co. at Washington, D. C. In the evening, I delivered a policy to Mrs. Ada Sperry, and then spent the evening at Edwin Rockwell’s at 24 Foster Street where George came with his talking machine to entertain them. MARCH 25 FRIDAY - Mercury 38 above. In response to orders from the Lafayette Fire Insurance Co., we this morning packed up for shipment by express all renewed policies and other supplies required in closing this agency on account of reinsuring in the national of Hartford made necessary by losses in the recent Baltimore fire. I walked considerably in the forenoon and became very tired, in consequence of which I stayed in the office in the P.M. Edith A. Mills from Waterbury, on her way home stopped at 4:30 and took a paid policy on their place in Starrs Plain. Peter M. Osborne also called and paid for policy issued last December on his furniture at Long Ridge. I felt so badly that I sent for Dr. Sunderland in the evening. MARCH 26 SATURDAY - Mercury 60 above. Warm and lowery but no rain to amount to anything. Notice came by Elmer Karl’s’ boy about 9 A.M. that the house of Lucy Harris just over the state line on the road to Brewster was burned this morning at 5:30. Total loss on the house and looks like the same for the furniture. George immediately took Mr. Beeman and drove over to look at the same. We mailed notice to the Connecticut Insurance Company this P.M. I have stayed in today. Mary and Mrs. Hawley did the Sunday marketing in the P.M. MARCH 27 SUNDAY - Mercury 30 above. Colder with feeling and appearance of snow in the morning. While it did not storm, there was but little sunshine. Lottie and Julia as usual came after Sunday school to dinner. After dinner, I went to Dr. Sunderland’s to get word as to examination of my water. He found an indication of a slight kidney affliction and gave me medicine for it. Later in the afternoon, I went over to Stevens Street to see how John Stevens was getting along with his accidental hurt for which I have him insured. After dinner, Mary went over to Balmforth Avenue to see Mrs. Raymond to see how old Grandma Bevins is who is not expected to live. Mary returned before meeting time and we with Mrs. Hawley went to hear Dr. R. S. Pardington of Bethel deliver a discourse or lecture on Mormonism. MARCH 28 MONDAY - Mercury 30 above. Little sunshine though not stormy. We wrote a furniture policy this morning for ___ Tosi at No. 9 William Street. Today being election in City for election of expiring number of Common Council only. I bought 10 bushels of oats of Mr. Barnum. The fire got out in the furnace and I had to kindle it in the P.M. Edwin Griffin died suddenly in his chair this evening. MARCH 29 TUESDAY - Mercury 22 above. I made a check this morning under date of yesterday and mailed it to the Equitable Life for premium on George’s and my own policies due today. Mr. G. Fitch, adjuster for The Connecticut Insurance Company came from Hartford, arriving on the 9:15 A.M. train and George drove him out to Elmer Keeler’s to settle with Mrs. Lucy Haines for the loss of her house which they did and he took the 11:37 train back to Hartford. While they were adjusting the loss, I went up to 19 Summit Street to see a small damage requiring paint and papering to one room. In the P.M., H. A. Wildman called and I gave him a check for the balance of the brokerage business for February. In the P.M. about 4 o’clock, I drove over to Germantown to arrange for the renewal of Adelaide Holton. She said she would call tomorrow afternoon and let me know. From there, I went over to Edgar Benedict’s and to Celia Purdy’s and arranged for the renewal of both. I then went up to Knapp’s Lane and took a diagram of the house where Joe Merritt has moved. Livio Tosi called in the evening and paid for his insurance on furniture; also for his April rent in advance. In the P.M., Elmer Keeler called with Mrs. Lucy Haines, thinking that Mr. Fitch, the Connecticut Insurance Company adjuster had taken advantage of them in settling for $300 on furniture when the policy called for $500 on their items. They were mistaken in the amount, $300 being correct. They went away satisfied. William F. Bradley came in the evening and had the mortgage interest in his policy changed from Elizabeth S. Benedict, now deceased changed to Mary S. Bradley. I sat up and worked in the office until nearly midnight making up endorsements on Greenwich policy, now Commercial Union by re-insurance for Joe Merritt and mailed the same to the Greenwich to have Commercial union sign the transfer, also notifying them of small smoke damage to Mrs. Hattie Bradley’s house on Summit Street. MARCH 30 WEDNESDAY - Mercury 30 above. A beautiful day. I did some about town driving and took Mrs. Bliven with me. Robert Chambers informed me that his Pleasant and Pearl Street house was sold to Emerson Ballard thus disappointing Thomas Scofield who thought to buy it. I took Edwin Griffith’s life Insurance policy in the Equitable and wrote the company notice of his death and requested death proof blanks to be sent to me. MARCH 31 THURSDAY - Mercury 35 above. Lowery this morning. I drove top Brookfield to see if the policy of Robert and Effie Jones in the New London County Mutual expires tomorrow. I ascertained that it expires on July 28. They paid me $5.58 for a policy written last September by the Connecticut Fire Insurance Company, same to expire in July when the one in New London is promised me to write under one policy, A little snow began to fly as I stared about 9 A.M. I returned about 11:30 in time for dinner. On my way home the storm became mixed with rain and fine hail. It increased and continued all afternoon. I attended the funeral of Edwin Griffith in the P.M., after which I went up to Dr. Sunderland’s office with a specimen of urine made by George Purdy to ascertain if he has kidney trouble. None however was indicated. The doctor spoke to me about an accident policy for his driver, Mr. Snyder. From there I went down to Mr. Daragan’s store to see about a policy on his block expiring tomorrow. After tea, Rufus Reed called and paid his life insurance premium which was due yesterday; also for one for his tools written last December.
1904-03