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July, 1847.]

GOVERNOR WALKER.

211

Wife rode out to visit the sick. Sickly time in Wyandott City. The complaint appears to be a typhoid fever. Just heard that Mrs Palmer is dead.
     Friday, 2.--Mr Hightower commenced going through my corn, the garrulous old Turk! I am sick of him. Why his tongue is [in] perpetual motion. It is nothing but one eternal clatter.
     Saturday, 3.--Got an Ohio Statesman. Not much news. Hightower finished his job at noon and put out.
     Sunday, 4.--Quite unwell. Rheumatic affliction in the head, which is so painful, especially in the afternoon, as almost to set me distracted.
     Mrs Graham very sick. News announced in the Statesman, that in consequence of the defalcation of Col. Huber, a loco foco, Receiver of Public Monies in the Land Office at Upper Sandusky, Col. Purdy McElvain, another loco foco of course, has succeeded him in wearing "the blushing honors," and fingering Uncle Sam's cash. This is truly a streak of good luck for Purdy.
     Monday, 5.--Sick, loss of appetite. Nerves unstrung. My head disordered. All sick. I would sell myself for a sixpence. Mr Dennis returned to-day in company with a Mr Smith, a journeyman carpenter.
     Just heard of the return of Isaiah and Irvin. Our sick neighbors no better, particularly Mrs Graham and William Garrett.
     Tuesday, 6.--Had a sick and restless night. Cloudy morning, prospect of rain. To-day is our regular Council or Court day, and I ought to attend its session, but how can I? William G. no better. I fear for him.
     3 o'clock P. M. William is dead! alas! alas! our worst fears are realized. Finished a letter to Martha. Upon going to bed I had placed upon the nape of my neck a large blister plaster, for a neuralgic affliction in my head.

212

THE JOURNALS OF

[July, 1847.

     Wednesday, 7.--Ah, misericordie! Dress my blister! I am a complete scald. Got the poll evil in full. fruition. Dr. Hand called to see me in the evening. Gave me some advice and left some medicines. Slept comfortably through the night. Mr Davis staid all night with us.
     Thursday, 8.--Took a Seidlitz drink, feeling somewhat. feverish and thirsty. Had a most refreshing shower. Oh, what a change in the atmosphere. How balmy and fragrant is the air!
     Aye, strike up your music ye little feathered songsters.

     Friday, 9.--Mr Davis arrived at about daylight and informed us that our esteemed friend, Mrs Graham, died this morning, within ten minutes of 3 o'clock. Here I will say that if I had a female friend on earth, one that was no kin to me, whose friendship was solid and enduring, earnest and sincere, it was the lamented Mrs Mary Graham. I lament deeply that in the order of Providence I was denied the pleasure of seeing her during her illness, being confined by sickness. Peace to her remains, and my blessing on her memory.
     Wrote a long letter to Col. Goodin upon the subject of the failure of his sale of land made for me.
     Saturday, 10.--I've got the poll evil. The blister on the back of my neck raises such a stench that -----
     Wife gone to Kansas for our mail, finding everybody else too lazy to go. Warm day, thermometer 86o. On retiring to bed, "I tuck a dose of calomy," as Mrs Hodge would say.
     Sunday, 11.--Weak and debilitated, no appetite. Warm day, sultry and oppressive. No circulating air. Thermometer 85o.
     Monday, 12.--Passed a most dismal night. Was racked -with pain to a degree sufficient to send me distracted. 0, neuralgia! Thou art the very prince of all complaints.

July, 1847.]

GOVERNOR WALKER.

213

"When fevers burn or ague freezes,
 Rheumatics gnaw or colic squeezes,
Our neighbor's sympathy may ease us,
   Wi' pitying moan;
But thee, thou hall o' a' diseases,
   Aye mocks our groan."

     Tuesday, 13.--Rested tolerably well last night, after trying a new nostrum, viz: bathing my head in the water in which potatoes had been boiled. Whether there be any efficacy in it or not, time alone will determine.
     Wrote to A. R. Curry again upon the subject of the $30.00 loan. I expect the villain intends to swindle me out of it.
     'Tis said he is a most accomplished villain, that while studying theology and preparing himself for the ministry, he was at the same time studying with commendable industry the fine arts of villainy. Well, he has made great proficiency in the latter science, as C. B. Garrett can testify to his sorrow. His epitaph should be thus:

ON A CELEBRATED PRESBYTERIAN PREACHER
"Here Mr. Curry in death doth sleep;
   To h--l if he's gane thither,
Satan gi'e him thy gear to keep,
   He'll bold it well thegither."--Burns.

     Warm day, thermometer 88o, no wind stirring, rendering the atmosphere, oppressively sultry. Mrs Russell left the Deacon's in a flurry. Something wrong here.
     Wednesday, 14.--Rested well last night. My complaint is leaving me. I have now been free from it for thirty-six hours. Potato soup has been the catholicon in this case. What a discovery. Hear it ye sufferers with rheumatics, sciatica, neuralgia, etc. Boil a dozen or more potatoes till they are thoroughly cooked; bathe the afflicted parts three or four times a day while the water is warm.
     By to-day's mail I received a letter from Col. Goodin informing me that he had made another sale of my Hardin County lands to a Mr Greer of Knox County, and at the same


214

THE JOURNALS OF

[July, 1847.

time inclosing a blank deed, and what is still better, the pay is d'argent comptant. So Mr Saylor may hunt for lands elsewhere.
     Thursday, 15.--To-day the assembled nation nominates candidates to run against the chiefs at the August election. I concluded it would not be safe for me to venture out to encounter solstitial sun in my present weak condition. So I staid at home. Had to dine with us that man of affliction and many troubles, Mr Graham. He is recovering from his illness.
     Friday, 16.--Finished the "Mountain Siege" for John Shunk's paper, occupying ten closely written pages. Wrote an obituary notice of Mrs G. for the "Expositor."1
     Saturday, 17.--Wife started early this morning for Westport on business and to get our mail if any. Strolled over to Deacon Peerey's and spent an hour in social chat to drive away ennui. Tried to invoke the muses, but 'tis no use. Parnassus Hill, to me, is an unknown Eldorado. I am as ignorant of its locality, its hills, its rivers, bays, springs, etc., as I am of "Symme's hole" where Reynolds says "all the game in the arctic regions retreat to for refuge in the winter."2
     Received a batch of newspapers, new and old, so I have new news and old news. Sultry evening. At night our rest was disturbed by a troop of dogs, which did us the honor of a most unmusical serenade. To show them how much I appreciate their civilities, I went out with my double barreled gun, and fired a salute, leaving one of their party dead


     1 Published in Cincinnati, Ohio.
     
2 Captain John Cleves Symmes, for six years from 1818, a resident of Newport, Kentucky. He was an eccentric man and evolved a New Theory of the Earth called "The Theory of Concentric spheres." He maintained that the globe is composed of a number of hollow spheres, having spaces between them occupied by atmospheres, and that these shells were widely open at both poles, and that the concave surface of the outer shell, and probably of them all, is inhabited by various kinds of inferior animals, and by intelligent beings resembling ourselves. Captain Symmes's drawings illustrating his theory were reproduced a few years since in the Southern Bivouac, a magazine published at Louisville, Ky.


July, 1847.]

GOVERNOR WALKER.

215

on the spot. Whereupon they stopped their music and dispersed.
     Sunday, 18.--Cloudy; some prospect of rain. Commenced raining in the afternoon and rained a most refreshing shower till night. What a change hath this much needed and much prayed for rain wrought in the face of nature! How pure and balmy is the air.
     Monday, 19.--Clear and beautiful morning. Set out to pay a visit to J. Walker, who is still sick. Found him laboring under a great nervous irritability. Staid till after dinner. Then called upon C. Graham. They are all getting better. Hunter still sick. Old complaint. Warm and sultry.
     Tuesday, 20.--Wrote to the girls. Heard from J. W. through Uncle James. Symptoms some better, less nervous. Deacon Peery gone to the institution. "More lumber" is the cry of my carpenter. My curse upon the wasteful rascals, it would keep a steam saw mill going to keep them supplied with lumber. Thundering, perhaps more rain. "So mote it be."
     Wednesday, 21.--No rain, nor sign nor indication of any,--sultry.
     Wrote to J. R. Rowand. Went to gather blackberries. Too warm to gather many so I sounded a retreat home, contenting myself with a couple of quarts of the fruit.
     Thursday, 22.--Went to the village. Paid a visit to J. W. He seems to be getting better. Received an invitation to attend the great barbecue at Independence. I may go, can't tell yet, depending upon my colleagues the Chiefs, as the invitation is to the Council.
     No news by yesterday's mail.
     Friday, 23.--Beautiful morning, but a prospect for a warm day. On my way to Weston, hired Mr Hightower to clear out my new corn field and hoe my potatoes.

216

THE JOURNALS OF

[July, 1847.

     Saturday, 24.--In Weston. Can purchase no lumber.
     Hiatus.
AUGUST, 1847.

     Monday, 9.--Bought of a Shawnee Indian a pony in Kansas for $8.00 and I have called him "Cato." He is a pretty little fellow.
     Engaged a Mr Bowring to do the lathing and plastering, 14c per square.
     Friday, 13.--Engaged a Mr Shaw to build my chimneys.
     Saturday, 14.--John Lynch commenced work at $14.00 per month. A real son of the "Emerald Isle."
     Hiatus.
     National election and barbecue. The old Council reelected.

SEPTEMBER, 1847.

     Saturday, 11.--Mr Keyser and Mr Taylor commenced boarding.
     Hiatus.

OCTOBER, 1847.

     Monday, 4.--Hannah Walker went down to Kansas to take the boat for Ohio to-morrow morning; be gone perhaps seven weeks. A pleasant and prosperous trip to her.
     Tuesday, 5.--Dr. Hewitt commenced paying the annuity to the Wyandotts and they, after receipting, paying their respective dividends over to the Chiefs in order to rebuke and defeat the officious interference of the Government in the distribution of the annuity.1
     Wednesday, 6.--Continued the same.
     Thursday, 7.--Same.
     Friday, 8.--Same.
     Saturday, 9.--The Chiefs commenced paying out.


     1 It seems that heretofore the annuity had been paid to the Chiefs, and by them to the people.


October, 1847.]

GOVERNOR WALKER.

217

     Sunday, 10.--Wrote to Mrs W. for Wednesday's mail.
     Monday, 11.--Commenced paying again.
     Tuesday, 12.--Mr Bowring finished his work.
     Wednesday, 13.--Paid him off, so I am done with him and his loafers and his carrion horses.
     Thursday, 14.--Severe frost last night. Resumed the payment of the annuity. Mr Fish and Hetty were married.
     Friday, 15.--Wrote to Mrs W. to go by Saturday's mail.
     Saturday, 16.--Continued the payment.
     Sunday, 17.--Staid at home, read the news, etc.
     Monday, 18.--Resumed operations; busy times. Everyone in motion to gain "multum pecunia" if he can, and if he cannot he must go minus.
     Tuesday, 19.--Closed the payment! Felicitatus.
     Wednesday, 20.--John Walker left in no very good humor, not meeting with as good success in his collections as he expected.
     Thursday, 21.--Sick, took medicine. Staid at home.
     Friday, 22.--Went to Kansas. Made some purchases; came back by dinner time.
     Saturday, 23.--Commenced a letter to Harriet. At night attended a meeting of the directors of a joint stock company. Came home after midnight.
     Sunday, 24.--Read all day. Lonesome, melancholy.
     Monday, 25.--Done nothing, but "pottered" about the house.
     Tuesday, 26.--Finished Harriet's letter and one to Mrs Walker for to-morrow's mail.
     A Council held to-day to investigate a case between F. A. Hicks and Adam Hunt--a paltry affair, truly to cause the Council to convene in a special session.
     John Lynch hauling stone to-day.
     Wednesday, 27.--Ditto.
     Hiatus.

218

THE JOURNALS OF

[October, 1847.

     Thursday, 28.--Staid at home and thought of Hannah and longed for her return.1
     Friday, 29.--Went to town to purchase marketing.
     Saturday, 30.--Went to the P. 0. for my mail.
     Sunday, 31.--Hiatus.
NOVEMBER, 1847.

     Thursday, 11.--Received a letter from J. W. Garrett announcing the safe arrival of Mrs W. at Upper Sandusky on the 26th ultimo, making the trip from this place to Upper Sandusky via Wheeling in twenty-one days, at the same time visiting her friend in Belmont County on her route. This is rapid traveling.
     Friday, 12.--My Irishman left me without leave or license and that at a time when I most needed his services. My curses on the ungrateful wretch; I understand he is at Kansas paying his devotions to that most potent of all deities to us poor sinners Bacchus.
     Saturday, 13.--A most Labradorian day. It rained, hailed, and snowed, in an horrible tempest all day.
     Sunday, 14.--Read newspaper for news, but found none of interest. Betook myself to a "brown study."
     Monday, 15.--Staid at home and attended to my domestic affairs.
     Tuesday, 16.--Attended Council. Transacted a variety of business. Wrote to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs upon the subject of the blacksmith shop.
     Wednesday, 17.--Staid at home as usual.
     Thursday, 18.--Went to Kansas and attended to securing my two lots, and attended Dr. Hand's wedding. Joy attend him and his bride.
     Friday, 19.--Came home.
     Saturday, 20.--Mrs W. and Martha returned.


     1 No man was ever more devoted to his family than was Governor Walker to his.


November, 1847.]

GOVERNOR WALKER.

219

     Sunday, 21.--Staid at home
     Monday, 22.--Went to Kansas to purchase marketing.
     Tuesday, 23.--Attended Council. Revised our National Code.
     Wednesday, 24.--Rose early and found ourselves enjoying a most delectable snowstorm, the first we have had this fall.
     Thursday, 25.--Cold and severe morning. Dreary morning. Winter on hand. Went to town for news, but got none.
     Friday, 26.--This morning the thermometer stood 30 above zero. Whew! Cold morning, blustery day. Bought 393 pounds of pork of Mr Roberts of Clay County. Hauled it from the "sand bar" home.
     Commenced reading the ----
     Saturday, 27.--Clear and pleasant morning. Cut up my pork and salted it away. This I always do myself if able. Warm and pleasant.
     Sunday, 26.--Cloudy and cold morning. Commenced a letter to J. W. Garrett. My mind is foggy this morning, and cannot write anything worth reading, so I will lay my letter aside till I conjure up a little common sense.
     Monday, 29.--Clear and pleasant. Finished a long letter to J. W. Garrett to go by Wednesday's mail.
     Heard that James Washington was ill of a violent attack of the pleurisy; saddled my horse and went to see him; found him dangerously ill. While there sold my horse Juniper to the widow Russia Hicks. In the evening had a visit from C. Graham who staid till bed time.
     Tuesday, 30.--A stormy morning, snowing and sleeting. Bella horrida. Received a letter from John Goodin upon business. The Council meets to-day.
     Adjourned at 4 o'clock P. M. to meet the National assembly at the old Church.

220

THE JOURNALS OF

[December, 1847.

DECEMBER, 1847.

     Wednesday, 1.--The first day of winter. Autumn went off in a rather gruffy mood, leaving behind an horrible rain storm. This morning the sun rose clear and smiling. Pleasant morning. Cold and cloudy in the afternoon. Rained at night.
     Thursday, 2.--Cold and cloudy. Fair prospect for a snow storm. Winter has now fairly set in. Cold raw and blustery day. In the evening Mr Asbury King of Kansas came and made application for the school. Postponed for the consideration. Staid all night.
     Friday, 3.--Clear and cold morning. Thermometer 10o below zero. Prospect of a fine day. Mr Phips, a pianist, called upon us and spent the day in tuning Sophia's piano. Staid all night. Mild and pleasant night.
     Saturday, 4.--Pleasant morning. Fine day for business. I must be up and doing.
     Harlan Riggs and William McDowell finished their job of cutting cord-wood. Paid them off and they put out.
     Sunday, 5.--Visited S. Armstrong; passed a half hour in chitchat. Came home and staid "te hum" all day. Read, wrote and loafed.
     Monday, 6.--Went to town. Came back and hauled wood. Mrs Washington called upon us and inform[ed] [us] that the Chief is recovering from his illness.
     Tuesday, 7.--Went to town. Sophia taken sick from a violent cold.
     Engaged Mr Noble to build a corn crib and shed eighteen feet square. In the evening the sky became black and distant thunder was beard. At sunset we had a heavy rainstorm, which lasted till 8 o'clock. Then turned cold during [the] night. "It snew,then it friz."
     Wednesday, 8.--Keen, frosty morning. Replied to Leonard Smalley's letter upon business. To-day being the day

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