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     Thursday, 6.--Went up to Westport to meet Major Robinson. Got my Quarter's pay. Came home.
     Saturday, 8.--This day 30 years ago I was made double by being spliced with a rib.
     Sunday, 9.--In the evening tho' kept a profound secret, a wedding came off at the Parsonage. But it was not as much of a secret as the getters-up supposed, for at night a real original Charivari wound up the evenings entertainment. The Bride was Miss Catharine Ann Dofflemeyer and the Groom, G. W. King, alias G. W. Thompson.
     "The sweet concordant sounds" produced by a union of Drums, Tin Pans, Tin Horns, Sleigh Bells and everything capable of producing a racket, were faithfully used till 11 o'clock to the no small annoyance of the Parson.
     Monday, 10.--My execrations upon mail contractors! Twice have I sent to the P. 0. and the cry is "Nothing for you": when I ought to have a half Bushel of papers.
     Tuesday, 11.--Attended the session of the Council. Martha's application for a divorce from William Gilmore was taken up and considered. A decree made dissolving the marriage tie.
     The Delaware and Shawnee delegation left Kansas to-day for Washington, on board the "Polar Star."
     Saturday, 15.--Clear and cold morning, but thanks to a Kind Providence no frost. The fruit has thus far escaped.
     Sunday, 16-A few days ago I received a letter from Lyman C. Draper, Esq., notifying me of my election to an Honorary Membership of the Historical Society of Wisconsin. So, I must prepare a paper for a contribution. What can I do? Well, I will hatch up something.
     Monday, 17.--Therm. at daylight, 22^o! A hard freeze. This may truly be called "a nipping frost." It has effectually nipp'd the fruit, the peaches and plums especially.
     Tuesday, 18.--And sure enough, another severe frost. So

27

we have it. Keep it up till August. "Storm after storm" and frost after frost.
     Went to attend the session of the Council.
     M^rs W. went to Kansas to purchase family supplies.
     Another Boat-load of Danish Mormans landed at the Pond. MAY, 1854.

     Sunday, 14.--Wrote a long letter to John H. Cotter, in California.
     Monday, 15.--Went in pursuit of my horses. Found them, secured one, but could not drive the other, nor would he follow. I came home, saddled up and went in pursuit. I soon found him; then we had a regular steeple chase. I ran him all over the country with a long Goad in my hand and whenever I got near enough, I plied him with it. Getting weary of the sport, he turned his head homeward. By way of punishment for his perverse conduct, I fastened a heavy toggle to his fore leg to regulate his powers of locomotion.
     Tuesday, 16.--In the evening we were favored with the company of some young Ladies who staid all night.
     Thursday, 18.--Beautiful and calm morning. At 10 o'clock the "Sons of Temperance" assembled at the Lodge and marched in procession to a grove near Silas Armstrong's to celebrate the Anniversary of the formation of the Division. The exercises commenced by the presentation to the Division of the Bible by Miss Tabitha Armstrong, accompanied with a suitable address which was received and responded to by Cyrus Garrett. An ode was then sung. Then the presentation of a Banner by the Ladies of Wyandott, thro' Miss Harriet Walker, accompanied with a thrilling speech prepared for the occasion. Then another Temperance Ode was sung. An eloquent speech was then delivered by a M^r Mil

ler of Parkville. Several [other] speeches were delivered when the Division marched back to their Lodge.
     Of the banner I would say the Upholster imposed upon the Ladies most scandalously. It is entirely too small, and the Artistic work bunglingly done; and [he] charged them $19.00 [for it].
     Friday, 19.--In the afternoon [I] employed myself in writing letters, or rather answering a pile I have on my table.
     Saturday, 20.--Cloudy and an occasional sprinkling of rain.
     But it turned out [a] pleasant and cool day. Wrote nearly all day.
     Sunday, 21.--Clear morning and it turned out a pleasant day.
     Wrote to C. Carpenter and P. Muir. Took a stroll and called upon Matthew [R. Walker] spent some time in social chat with him and family.
     Monday, 22.--Cool morning. Worked in my Garden. Pleasant day. The Kansas River rising. Cool and pleasant evening. The Delaware and Shawnee Chiefs returned.
     Tuesday, 23.--Harriet gave a party to the young Ladies and Gentlemen of the neighborhood. They were a real set of romps, and enjoyed themselves to the life, and the party broke up about 11 o'clock at night, all in the best possible humor.
     Thursday, 25.--Rec'd two letters; one from Col. Browne of Maryland, and another from a G. W. Brown of Coneautville, Penna., an Abolition Editor.
     It is supposed the Nebraska-Kansas bill has passed the House. So mote it be.
     Friday, 26.--Raining. This is the day for the Solar Eclipse. Showery and cloudy. Looking out for the appearance of the Eclipse.
     Well, the Eclipse came off, but if we had not been previously informed by the Almanac, we never would have been

favored with the phenomena. By the use of a piece of smoked glass we could perceive the new moon which had just changed, passing over the Northern limb; but the obscuration was scarcely perceptible. This partial Eclipse lasted a little over two hours. The drifting clouds and occasional showers frequently bid the two luminaries from our view.
     Saturday, 27.--It is supposed the Nebraska-Kansas Bill has passed the House.
     The brethern of the "Mystic tie" are about forming a Lodge in Wyandott.
     Monday, 29.--To-day the great Rail Road meeting comes off at Parkville. It was my intention to have attended, but such is the inclemency of the weather that I am deter'd from venturing out.
     Went in search of Miss Topsey who was supposed to be the happy mother of a young one. I searched all day, glen and thicket, hill and dale, without success. In the evening she came up with the beautiful little one.
     Tuesday, 30.--Harriet and several of her cronies have gone up to the Prairies on a Strawberry frolic.
     Wrote to Col. O. H. Browne. Martha returned from Kansas, and all I got was an obscure Ohio Newspaper and M^r Senator Norris's speech on the Nebraska and Kansas Bill. Well, this was truly a sad disappointment! When in fact I expected to hear from the great Russo-Turco-Anglo-Gaulo War, and [to] bear of the Territorial Bill being passed, a few duels in Congress, the innexation of Cuba and the Polynesian Isles, the chaining of the Devil a thousand years. But I have heard nothing!
     Wednesday, 31.--Engaged in answering a letter I received from an Abolition Editor in Pennsylvania.

 

JUNE, 1854.

     Thursday, 1.--Resumed my letter to the Penna. Editor and finished [it], making eleven pages of manuscript. Wrote also to M^rs E. J. Barrett, now at Morristown, Ohio.
     Friday, 2.--Clear and beautiful morning. Settled with Dan'l Dofflemeyer for putting in my Oats crop and hauling cordwood. Sent the Domestic to Kansas for our mail.
     The Charter granted by King Charles the Second, to the Hudson Bay Company, is dated 1670.
     Saturday, 3.--M^rs W. [and I] and M^r and M^rs Priestley went over to Esquire McGee's to execute deeds, but unfortunately he was away from home. We came home without accomplishing our business. So we have another trip to make.
     Sunday, 4.--Rainy. M^r J. K. Goodin and family came over from Kansas to stay a few days. They are from Hardin County, Ohio.
     Monday, 5.--Clear morning. M^r G. set out for Fort Riley on an exploring tour.
     Lost our Ferry Boat again.
     Tuesday, 6.--Attended the session of the Council.
     Tuesday, 13.--Attended the session of the Council. Major Robinson present, and paid to the Council the half year's School fund.
     A certain infamous Doctor landed, from Franklin County, Ohio, having his equally infamous family with him.
     Wednesday, 14.--M^rs Goodin left, intending to go to Weston to rejoin her husband.
     Thursday, 15.--J. Walker, and the----X----called upon us to-day. Impudence brazen faced, on the part of the latter.
     Saturday, 17.--Clear and pleasant morning. Went to mill for the first time in Wyandott, and got my grist ground.

heard of the recovery of the Ferry Boat. M^r McQuiddy and a M^r Allen called and spent the afternoon.
     Sunday, 18.--Staid at home all day. Wrote a comniunication for the "Cadiz Sentinel."
     Monday, 19.--Clear and beautiful morning. M^rs W. and I took a ride on the banks of the Rio. Missouri.
     Tuesday, 20.--The Council held a session to-day, but I did not attend.
     Wednesday, 21.--Clear and bright morning. I do earnestly [hope] these everlasting drenching rains will cease for awhile, that those sluices in the Clouds will be for a season closed up and if need be, sent to some drouthy part of the globe
     We have had no mail for near two weeks for the want of a Boat to cross the river. Altho' the Boat was caught at Richfield, about forty miles from here, yet our worthless Council and still more worthless Ferryman take no steps towards getting it bro't up again. A pretty set of fellows to want to maintain a separate government.
     Splendid evening. The bright Luminary of day receded slowly behind the Western Hills with a most smiling and agreeable face.
     Thursday, 22.--Beautiful morning, promising a beautiful tho' warm day.
     Went to the city of Wyandott, and found the City deserted; all gone out into the country.
     Saturday, 24.--Bright and warm morning. Harriet and Sarah Driver set out for Kansas, riding to, the river and footing it the rest of the road. A warm time they've had of it.
     At night we were alarmed by Harriets illness. Nervous headache and vertigo.

     I have thus closed my scrap and fragmentary Diary. This the 25 day [of] June A. D. 1854.

© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller