My heartfelt thanks are extended to a small group of descendants of James P.McPherson and his wife, Mary Burns McPherson, who on a cold windy Waunakee, Wisconsin, weekend in November, 1910, got together to share photographs, letters, and the J.P.'s diary. Lois Burmeister Doyle and her family brought the diary and several boxes of pictures and letters; Bill Mansur brought family photos and most welcomed of all his photography and computer skills; and me, Joan Hill, the owner of this blog, traveled from the Pacific Northwest with my stash of historical documents, maps and family photographs. My Wisconsin cousins and I spent 2 1/2 days photographing the diary and scanning photos and letters, then Bill Mansur turned our work into a wonderful family CD which he distributed to our Waunakee tribe. A wonderful weekend that warms my heart even now. JGH
1850
(p.1)
|
I James P. McPherson left New York
City on April 30, 1850 for the west Per Steamer Buffalo from
Albany. Fare for wife and Self, 30 cents for berth
& Children $1.12.
Left
Albany for Buffalo, Thursday, May 2nd,
per canal boat “T.J. Dudley”, fare $3
each, children reckoned
as one – luggage
allowed each person 50 lbs., extra luggage 70 cents per 100 lbs. =
expenses.
The Canal boat
was overcrowded, and having cold wet weather the passage was very
uncomfortable
Arrived
in Buffalo early in the morning of Saturday, May 11th.
Left
Buffalo for Milwaukee, Sunday, May 12th at 10 o'clock morning,
Per Steamer “Globe,” steerage cabin fare $3 each, children
ireckoned 1½
– paid for luggage $11.50
Total.
Called
in at Grand River, Cleveland, Detroit (lay in Detroit from 9
o'clock evening till 2 o'clock morning), Mackinaw and Sheboygan
and arrived in Milwaukee on Thursday May 16 between 1 and 3
o”clock afternoon. Was accompanied by Mr & Mrs. H from New
York to Milwaukee where we parted – Mr H going to his
Father-in-laws in Washinton County.
Left
Milwaukee for Madison, Friday May 17th
per waggon – Fare $16.50 to be paid equally by Mr. Benton &
self but Mr. B ran short of funds on the way and I advanced him
$2.50 which made my expenses for waggon hire amount to S10.75.
Arrived
in Madison in the evening of Sunday, May 19th.
Left Madison for Verona Monday May 20th.
Wagon Hire
-------
-------- ------- (JP's
dashes)
Reckoned fare from New York to Verona inclusive $36.00.
Other expenses – for cart hire, Back dues and
Food &
lodging by the night amounted to
------
from New York to Albany.
(The
bottom of the page is very faded and tattered, to the point of
being undecipherable.) |
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1850 (p.2)
|
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May
|
21st
|
Tuesday | Moved into Mr. John Stewarts log house beside the new frame store. Wednesday and Thursday fixing about the house – gathering rails and fencing garden. |
“
|
23rd
|
Thursday | Mr. John Beat ploughed up my garden |
“
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24th
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Friday | Commenced to plant potatoes and continued at Plant & working about the house on the 25th, 27th, 28th, 29th , 30th, and 31st Making pants and vests for John Stewart. |
June
|
1st
|
Saturday | Making pants for John Beat |
“
|
3rd
|
Monday | Working about the house and garden. |
“
|
4th
|
Tuesday | At raising of Alex Brown's house. Commenced to make John Gows pants. |
May
|
31st
|
Posted letter to Jabez Burns. | |
June
|
3rd
|
Posted letter to James Westwood and Ann Adamson. | |
“
|
4th
|
Tuesday | The weather up to this point has been very dry causing fears for the oat and corn crop. This afternoon a thunder storm came up from the North W and heavy rain fell for a short time which has raised the hopes of the farmers. |
“
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5th
|
Wednesday | Finished John Gows pants and took them home. Got another two pair to make. This afternoon had another slight thunder shower. |
“
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6th
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Thursday | Cut and commenced to sew Meyers, Stewart and Gows pants. |
“
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7th
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Friday | Worked at Tailoring. |
“
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8th
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Saturday | DO Took home Meyers, Stewart and Gows pants. |
“
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9th
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Sunday | Called at Mr. Mitchells. Went to Springdale with Myers (Misters) Rutherford, Brown and Mitchell. Had tea in Rutherfords. |
“
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10th
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Monday | Took splinter out of Isabella McDonald's foot. Measured John & D McDonald for pants. Went to the mill for flour. |
“
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11th
|
Tuesday | Made a vest for John Beat. |
“
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12th
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Wednesday | Worked at Tailoring. |
“
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13th
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Thursday | Out land hunting with Messers Beat & Urlich. Mr. Beat showed me two 40s beside Mr. Miles which I think of settling on. |
“
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14th
|
Friday | Cut Pants for D. Gardner. Worked at Tailoring. Posted letter. |
1850
(p.3)
|
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June
|
15th
|
Saturday | Working at tailoring. Took home McDonald's pants. |
“
|
16th
|
Sunday | Went with Msters Mitchell & Brown to land beside Mr Miles. |
“
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17th
|
Monday | Working about the house & garden. |
“
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18th
|
Tuesday | Made a vest for Mr. Dunlop. Sowed onions. |
“
|
19th
|
Wednesday | Out with the County Surveyor on Mr Miles and Leslie's land. |
