Horace Purdy Journal, February 1860 Entry
6pgs
FEBRUARY 01 – WEDNESDAY – Cold and snowing still this morning. It came off clear in the PM, but still cold. I worked as long as I could see in the shop. We were paid off in the PM. On my way home, I called and paid to Gould Disbrow $5.00 on coal debt. Received another letter form Henry Brayman at Norwalk. I did not get through my tea in time to dress and attend class. Gussie was unwell ad could not go. I made a fire down in the cellar to keep the frost out in the evening. J. Wakely lectures this evening before the Young Men’s Christian Association. Subject – The Foreign Born Demosthenes. I would like to have heard it, but it was not convenient for me to attend. Indeed, should I have gone, I would have attended class instead. FEBRUARY 02 – THURSDAY – Cool and pleasant this morning. I worked hard all day in the shop. Cloudy and some snow in the PM. It was too late when tea was over to attend church, and besides, I was too tired. I learned today that Jesse Stevens was married yesterday afternoon to Cynthia Sanford, daughter of Joel Sanford. I spent the evening mostly in reading my paper. FEBRUARY 03 – FRIDAY – Very cold this morning. Mother came down and stayed nearly all day with Gussie. I did not see her, as she came down after I went to the shop and went away before I returned from work. Gussie is nearly sick with a cold. I attended drill in the evening. FEBRUARY 04 – SATURDAY – A pleasant morning. It snowed a little by squalls during the day. The evening was beautiful. The moon shone splendidly. I worked hard all day in the shop. In the evening, I went down to the store for some articles. After I returned home, I went over to Abel’s and paid him for the Semi-weekly Tribune, which I took off his hands after he had subscribed - $2.50. Gussie is sick with a severe cold. FEBRUARY 05 – SUNDAY – Cold last night and this morning. Gussie did not feel able to attend church this morning. She came to Sunday School and stayed in the PM. The weather was a good deal warmer in the afternoon and had the appearance of rain. The text in the AM was Hebrews 10 and the latter clause of the 23rd verse. – “For he is faithful that promised” – a continuation of the same on last Sab bath by Brother Miley. Text in the PM – 1st Corinthians 15:19 – “If in this life only, we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” by David Osbourne of Bethel, a good sermon. After tea, Mother Griswold came in and stayed a short time when she and Gussie had a short conversation about the difference in the circumstances between Harriet and herself. We did not attend the meeting in the evening, which was to be preaching, but stayed over home with Mother Griswold. We took possession of our new seat in church today in No. 30, North aisle. FEBRUARY 06 – MONDAY – We rose at 5 o’clock. I was one of the first at the shop in order to secure a certain block to finish 4 hats on. Rain in the AM, foggy all day. The evening was pleasant, but very muddy. Gussie was worse today. Her cold has obliged her to take to bed this PM, but she had tea ready for me when I came home. I went to the store in the evening. John Boughton walked up with me and came in and revived Gussie’s spirits very much. Was paid off today at the shop - $15.00. FEBRUARY 07 – TUESDAY – An eclipse of the moon last evening. Warm and pleasant today, but very muddy. Gussie is much better today. I worked as long as I could today in the shop. I went uptown in the evening for some oysters. Mother Griswold called while I was out. FEBRUARY 01 - WEDNESDAY – I worked all day in the shop. Joseph Tammany was off. Albert Johnson was shopped before night in his place. Another tea party at Father Griswold’s. Mr. Bartram and Isaac Smith with their wives. We took tea with them. I went to class in the evening, but came out before it closed and spent the balance of the evening with Father Griswold’s company. FEBRUARY 09 – THURSDAY – Pleasant, but muddy. Have not felt very well today, a bad cold. I went to market in the evening, but did not attend meeting. Gussie went to A. B. Hull’s auction in the PM and bought a number of articles. FEBRUARY 10 – FRIDAY – Very windy last night and today. It blew off the top piece of our church spire and a number of the top bricks of the Pahquioque chimney last night. Our work holds good in the shop yet. I earned $3.00 today. Gussie received a letter from Cornelia Post in Essex. I attended drill in the evening. Mr. Holmes has been moving into his new store. I paid Father Griswold $1.76 for some beef lard which I bought of him some time ago. FEBRUARY 11 – SATURDAY – Pleasant in the morning. Snow in the PM and in the evening. Mr. Gibson, our old shopmate, came to the shop this afternoon and we made him a present of one of our best soft black hats. He is still quite lame, but improves slowly. Father Griswold has been quite sick today with a heavy cold. We are somewhat afraid of a fever. We had news today that the new M. E. Church in Norwalk which was covered and ready for plastering was blown down yesterday or the night before. Our nephew, Edwin Luther Griswold is just 4 years old today. I went to market in the evening. Abel and Harriet have gone to Singing School this evening for the first time since they left the choir except for Christmas Eve when we all four called in a short time. FEBRUARY 12 – SUNDAY – Pleasant. Text in the AM – 1st Peter 1:8-9- “Whom having not seen, ye love, though now you see him not, not believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” by Brother Miley. Sunday School Prayer meeting in the morning, Sacrament in the PM. We brought home Isabella’s certificate to get it framed for her. After tea, we went over home and stayed until church time in the evening when we attended preaching in the audience room. Text, - Luke 15:7-“I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance” by Brother Miley. There was a prayer meeting after the sermon, but we did not stay. FEBRUARY 13 – MONDAY – pleasant during most of the day. Cloudy just at night. A little rain in the forepart of the evening. Was paid off at the shop -$14.00. Charles Stevens’ wife died about 6 ½ o’clock this evening. Lawyer Averill’s wife died also today. Marvin Boughton and wife came and spent the evening with us. We enjoyed it very much. Retired about 11 o’clock. FESBRUARY 14 – TUESDAY – I worked as usual in the shop. It had the appearance of rain in the AM. The sun shone in the PM. I went to market in the evening. FEBRUARY 15 – WEDNESDAY – Cloudy and very cold in the AM. It commenced snowing in the PM and continued to do so until we retired. The funeral of Charles Stevens’ wife and Mr. Averill’s was attended this afternoon. I could not attend because of the hurry in our shop. I did not attend class in the evening on account of the storm and being tired myself. FEBRUARY 16 – THURSDAY – It snowed most of the time today with the exception of a short time in the PM when the sun shone and I thought it had cleared off. But it began to snow again before I left the shop. I worked hard all day and was home late and very tired. On that account I did not attend class in the evening. FEBRUARY 17 – FRIDAY – A pretty cold morning. We are still very much hurried in the shop. We work early and late. Gussie went up home in the PM. I wrote a letter to Harriet last evening and intended to mail it this evening but forgot it. I attended drill, or rather, went to the Hall, but nothing as usual was done. FEBRUARY 18 – SATURDAY – Stormy all day, snow. We had 5 quarts of pecan nuts at the shop today, the same being a garnish paid by Albert Johnson. I was the last person to leave the shop. I worked as long as I could see. Mother Griswold sent over an invitation while we were drinking tea to go over and eat walnuts this evening. We went, of course. FEBRUARY 19 - SUNDAY – Pleasant but windy. The snow is about six inches deep. Abel and myself shoveled out the paths over to Father Griswold’s this morning. Mr. ___, a blind man, preached this morning. The meeting was in the lecture room on account of the weather, but few came. The text was John 9:2-3. The service was quite interesting. The Sunday School being rather slim, the lessons were omitted. Brother Miley preached in the PM. The text was Hebrews 3:7. Mother sent us an invitation to go up and take tea with the, but the snow was too deep and we stayed at home. We did not attend church in the evening. I finished writing a letter to Harriet. I wrote one to Henry Brayman at Norwalk. FEBRUARY 20 – MONDAY – Pleasant. I worked as usual in the shop. We took tea over home. We are going to board there for a week to be company for Mother Griswold, who is alone, Father and Fanny having gone to New York. Abel and Harriet and Gussie and myself went over to Abel Ely’s in the evening to sing. It was a pleasant occasion, but I could sing but a little myself. We arrive home at Mother Griswold’s at about 11 o’clock and retired quite weary. FEBRUARY 21 – TUESDAY – I arose, made the fires, went over to my house to replenish the fire, took breakfast and went to the shop. I came home late and very tired. In the evening, Mother Griswold asked me to write to Edwin about Ellen’s medicine. I did so. February 22 - WEDNESDAY – The anniversary of Washington’s Birthday. Cloudy in the morning. It rained very hard in the PM. The snow disappeared very fast. The streams rose rapidly. We did not attend class in the evening on account of the storm. We drank some bottled cider in the evening with Mother Griswold. FEBRUARY 23 – THURSDAY – The snow had all disappeared this morning. It cleared off by daybreak. Warm and very muddy. A hard shower in the PM. The clouds resembled that of a thunder shower, but no thunder was heard, I believe. I earned $3.37 today in the shop. It was late when I came home from work. Gussie did not attend the evening meeting because of the mud and I did not because I was too tired. FEBRUARY 24 – FRIDAY – Not very cold. I had bad luck making Mother Griswold’s kitchen fire this morning. I worked hard all day in the shop. I earned $3.00. Mother came down this PM by invitation of Mother Griswold and took tea with us for we are still staying with her. After tea, Mother walked downtown with me, she to meeting and I to drill. It was rather late before I finished copying the minutes of the business done at the military meeting so that I could retire. FEBRUARY 25 – SATURDAY – Pleasant but cooler. I worked as long as I could see and was the last one to leave the shop. After tea, I went downtown. I carried three pictures to Charles Bennet’s store to be framed. I found George Allen in the street and gave him the $2.25 which was given to me by a few members of the Wooster Guard as a donation to be presented to him. I did some errands at the stores and came home and fixed my fires at home and to Mother Griswold’s and retired. FEBRUARY 26 – SUNDAY – We rose late, too late altogether for Sabbath morning. The day has been pleasant, cool but not tedious. As was appointed last Sabbath, a general prayer meeting was holden in the audience room of the church instead of preaching this forenoon. Preaching in the PM by Brother Miley, text – Hebrews 11: 17-19. Subject, “The Faith of Abraham.” Mother Griswold is still alone and we are staying with her. Abel and Harriet came in and stayed with us to tea, after which we had a sing together. My voice is very much impaired for singing on account of a difficulty in my throat. I fear that I may have the catarrh. We did not any of us attend church in the evening. Harriet and Gussie did not feel well, and I was too tired. FEBRUARY 27 – MONDAY – Pleasant. Very much like spring. Mr. Crofut has some more leather brims for the California trade. The work is very hard and perplexing. I was paid $16.00 for my last week’s work, better, I suppose than this week will be. After tea, I went into the street and called at C. H. Reed & Co. and balanced my account with them - $12.25. I bought a codfish for Mother Griswold and came home. FEBRUARY 28 – TUESDAY - We rose rather late this morning. I did not finish the dozen of hats today which I took out yesterday afternoon. The work is slow and hard. The day has been pleasant, more like April than February. On my way home from work, I went to Charles Bennett’s store and got the three pictures that he has been framing for me – Gussie’s certificate, the Methodist Church, and Isabella’s Sunday School Missionary Certificate. The whole bill was $2.00. Father Griswold came home on the morning train. I mailed a letter in the evening for Father Griswold and a note to Charles Hoyt’s wife for Mother Griswold about a new cap. I came home and helped Gussie cover her bookshelves for the parlor, after which I fixed the kitchen fire ready to start in the morning for Mother Griswold and then we came home to our own house to retire for the first time in eight nights. Father Griswold bought us a marriage certificate and a new bible for Mother Purdy as a present. FEBRUARY 29 – WEDNESDAY – We were at home this morning and rose a little earlier. Gussie washed, but it proved to be a bad day – cloudy. I worked all day in the shop, but could scarcely stand up to my bench in the PM, on account of a severe headache. I came home sick and soaked my feet and took some homeopathic medicine and retired. T. Hoyt bought me a bushel of the Mercer potatoes.
1860-02-01
Horace Purdy Journal, February 1861 Entry
9pgs
FEBRUARY 01 – FRIDAY – Pleasant during most of the day. It clouded over just at night and began to snow a little about dark. I went to the shop in the morning and ha one dozen hats. I attended drill in the evening. FEBRUARY 02 – SATURDAY – Abel and Harriet were run away with last night on their way to New Fairfield with David Cosier’s horse. Rain and fog today. The snow was wasted away very fast. The roads and walks are very slippery. I have worked in the shop. We took tea over to Mother Griswold’s I went to the Express Office when the evening train came in for a package of books for the Sunday School. They did not come as I expected. I came home and helped Mother Griswold bottle up some cider. Then we came home and retired. FEBRARY 03 – SUNDAY – Pleasant but very icy. I attended church all day. Gussie did not attend in the morning but came in the PM. We sat in our new seat (No. 31) for the first time with Brother William B. Bradley and wife. Brother Pegg preached in the morning from Job 26:9. A Mr. Griswold from Hartford, a local preacher, preached in the PM from 1st Corinthians 3:16. I wrote a letter after tea to Brother Goodenough ordering some books for the Sunday School. Mother Griswold called for a short time after tea. We both attended Prayer Meeting in the evening. Rev. Griswold prayed, sang and talked during the meeting. FEBRARY 04 – MONDAY – Cloudy in the morning. Clear and pleasant in the PM. I have had work nearly all day in the shop. The Pictorial Catechisms, presents for the Sabbath School scholars, came to us by express today. I went to the store in the evening. FEBRUARY 05 – TUESDAY – Pleasant. Charles Bennett’s store caught fire inside last night about 12 o’clock. It damaged his goods considerably (dry goods), burning many of them and injuring others. I had work nearly all day in the shop. Mother Griswold’s wash woman, Irish Mary, washed for us today. After Gussie had paid her for her work, she filled a basket with vegetables and gave them to her to carry home, for she is very poor. Jonas Giddings lectured here before the Young Men’s Christian Association, subject, John Q. Adams. The rowdies and roughs of the Democratic Party threaten to give him the smell of rotten eggs. I attended drill and on my way home stopped a few minutes outside the hall to see what was going on, but the crowd was made up of such a class and so obscene and disgusting was the conversation that I thought to do justice to myself, I had better leave, and did so forthwith. FEBRARY 06 – WEDNESDAY – Pleasant. I went to the shop and waited all day for work and finally came home without getting any. Mr. Crofut paid us some money. I drew $10.00. A package came for me by express from Mr. Goodenough in New York containing catechisms, Sunday School Almanacs and a catalog of Carlton & Porter’s publications which I ordered for our Sabbath School. Mother Griswold, being alone, we took tea over there. I did not attend class in the evening, but went around doing trading a little and paying some debts. FEBRUARY 07 – THURSDAY – Ran in the forenoon. Sunshine and snow with a high wind in the PM and evening. I went to the shop in the morning and worked a little and then gave up and came home. I felt too sick to work. I have had a bad cold which has settled in my bones accompanied with a bad headache. Gussie was over home and took dinner there. I ate a little myself. We did not attend class in the evening, but stayed at home by a warm fire. FEBRUARY 08 – FRIDAY – We rose rather late. It was a severe cold night last. Some of our choicest plants were frozen and all were chilled. Not feeling very well, I did not go to the shop. I made some molasses candy. Mother Griswold found the molasses and I made it, then we divided the candy. I attended drill in the evening. FEBRUARY 09 – SATURDAY – I went to the shop and worked all day on four hats. They are some which Mr. Crofut is trying to make imitate the imported French hats. It is hard, slow and very particular work. I went into the street in the evening to buy something for breakfast and got into a political discussion with Edgar Wildman which detained me longer than I intended. FEBRUARY 10 – SUNDAY – Warmer today. Misty in the morning. Pleasant at noon and in the PM. Brother preached. Text in the morning, Psalms 73:25. Thirty Three Pictorial Catechisms were given out in the Sunday School to those scholars who had committed the catechism to memory. Text in the PM, Deuteronomy 3:25. Prayer Meeting in the evening, but we did not attend. Uriel Cosie was buried this afternoon after meeting. FEBRUARY 11 – MONDAY – Warm and foggy in the morning. A little sunshine in the PM. I worked all day in the shop on those imitations of French hats, 14/ per dozen. I finished only seven hats. George called in the PM and stayed until I finished my work and then came home with me to tea, after which I cut his hair for him. We called over to other Griswold’s before he went home and stayed a short time, when he went home and I came home with Gussie who had been there all evening. Father Griswold came home on the evening train. FEBRUARY 12 – TUESDAY – Warm and some rain in the forenoon. It rained all last night. It came off clear after dinner and was warm and pleasant, but very muddy. I came home from the shop before night with a sick headache. I stayed away from drill in the evening on that account. Fanny came in about 9 o’clock with her list of books which she is going to have me send for to New York for the Infant School Library. My head feeling a good bit better, I wrote the letter ordering them before I retired. FEBRUARY 13 – WEDNESDAY – Pleasant and warm, but very muddy. I worked all day in the shop. I sent a check by John Rooney to the Pahquioque Bank at noon. He drew it for me and brought it to the shop when he came from dinner. It was money belonging to our Sunday School which I mailed this evening to Edward Goodenough in New York to pay a bill for books. Today, Abraham Lincoln has undoubtedly been declared President of these United States in the Halls of Congress in Washington, DC. FEBRUARY 14 – THURSDAY – Pleasant, warm and muddy still. St. Valentine’s Day. I waited for work in the shop from noon until 3 o’clock and then worked as long as I could see. We did not attend Prayer Meeting in the evening. FEBRUARY 15 – FRIDAY – Rainy. A little hail just before night. I waited all day in the shop for work and then came home without doing anything. I received a letter from James Maynard from East Haddam. I brought home Father Griswold’s clock from Mr. Woodford’s when I came home from the shop. I went to drill in the evening. While there, an alarm of fire was raised. It soon became quiet and we supposed it was a false alarm, but on my way home from drill, I found out that it was a reality. It was McDonald & Ford’s Dry Goods Store. It was soon extinguished, but not before it sis a great deal of damage. FEBRUARY 16 – SATURDAY – The fire at McDonald & Ford’s store last night was caused by a leakage of gas until it became so dense that it ignited from the stove. Pleasant and warm, but very muddy still I received another express package with the books and papers for the Infant Class that I ordered. I received a letter from Uncle Chauncey Griswold. I went to market in the evening. Father, Mother and Bell came down and spent the evening with us. Mother Griswold came too. Just after they went away and perhaps before they got home, it commenced raining very hard. FEBRARY 17 – SUNDAY – Pleasant during the day, but windy and muddy. Brother Pegg preached in the morning from John 20:13. Sunday School Prayer Meeting at noon; Sacrament in the PM. After tea, I wrote a letter to James Maynard in North Lyme, Connecticut. We went to church in the evening. Brother Pegg preached from John 5, last of the 4th verse. Mr. Vintz, a German, died this afternoon. He was a member of our church. His family has been sorely afflicted as of late. He has lost several children within the last four years and last fall, his wife had her foot amputated and is only able now to hobble around the house with the aid of a crutch and now he is taken away and the poor family will suffer unless, as I hope they will be, cared for by kind friends and the church. FEBRUARY 18 – MONDAY – Pleasant. I had only one dozen hats at 12/ today. Mr. Vintz was buried at 2 ½ o’clock today. I went down to the church in the evening for my certificate of life membership in the Missionary Society which was in the library. FEBRUARY 19 – TUESDAY – Warm for the season. Cloudy part of the day. I have had work in the shop. Martha Case, from Essex, came to Father Griswold’s on the evening train. I attended drill in the evening. FEBRUARY 20 – WEDNESDAY – It snowed last night and continued until noon when it cleared off warm. I worked as usual in the shop. I went to class in the evening. Peter, Brother Cosier and myself stayed a little while after class and talked. FEBRUARY 21 – THURSDAY – The wind began to blow towards noon and it grew colder. I have had work in the shop. I went to market in the evening, after which it was rather late, so instead of going to class, I came home. FEBRUARY 22 – FRIDAY – The anniversary of Washington’s Birthday. The Wooster Guards (or a portion of them) assembled voluntarily to fire a national salute. At the second volley, a horse became frightened, threw the driver out and broke the wagon at which we stopped and closed the windows to the Hall (for we were firing from the windows). I attended drill in the evening. FEBRUARY 23 - SATURDAY – Warm and muddy. I have had plenty of work in the shop. Cloudy in the evening with a few drops of rain. I went into the street for a few articles at the grocery. The news tonight by the New York Evening Post was that Abraham Lincoln, the president-elect, was to be assassinated at Baltimore on his way to Washington and that he escaped by disguising himself. He intended to arrive there today and undoubtedly did. FEBRUARY 24 – SUNDAY – Warm and cloudy in the morning, but it came off pleasant about church time. It has been windy and very muddy. Brother Pegg preached in the morning from Luke 4:4. In the PM, from Jeremiah 8:22. After tea, I spent the time until evening meeting writing up a list of all the Scholars in our Sabbath School. We went to the Prayer Meeting in the evening. FEBRUARY 25 – MONDAY – Pleasant. Have had work all day in the shop. George and David Mills called at the shop to see me. I spent the evening in writing for the Sabbath School. FEBRUARY 26 – TUESDAY – Cloudy in the forenoon, but the sun shone bright and pleasantly just before night. I have had work in the shop. I worked as long as I could see. I attended drill in the evening. FEBRUARY 27 – WEDNESDAY- Pleasant and warm. I worked as usual in the shop. McDonald & Ford sold off a large amount of goods today damaged by fire and water. Gussie went down and made some purchases. When she came home, she was taken with a severe sick headache. I did not go to class on that account. FEBRUARY 28 – THURSDAY – The last day of winter. Warm and pleasant. I have worked in the shop as usual. We were paid a little more money today. I received $8.00. I wanted $35.00, but it was of no use. I received a letter from Harriet. I went to the store in the evening and went into Prayer Meeting rather late.
1861-02-01
Y. M. C. A., Young Men's Christian Association, Hartford
3.5 x 5.5, colorized postcard
c. 1905