Voice of the People: Daily Life in the Antebellum Rural Delaware County New York area

Business/Labor

Business/Labor Home page | Excerpts from the diary of Nathanial Arbuckle, Delhi farmer, 1852-1861 Table of Contents

Note: For serious researchers only: may be hard to read, as is the original
Background:  Nathanial Arbuckle was a native of Scotland and came to Delhi when he was 17. His usually terse diary entries give some idea of the daily life of a farm family in the Antebellum rural Delaware County area.  Weather was vitally important to the success of his farming business, so he frequently comments on it. He also makes occasional comments on local and national events.

1852  September 4:  "heard from William in CA Foots leter but no leter for us yet"

1852  September 5:   "Preparing to Go to Meeting Charles got Kicked with the horse in bed Ever Since Very Sick"

1852  September 6:   "Beautyful Day Thomas is Ploughing Charles in no Beter yet Choping a Litle Sent for the Doctor for Charles"

1852  September 7:  "The Doctor was here Again to See Charles he is a Good Deal Beter than he was Still Dry and Warm"

1852  September 9:   "Still Continues warm and Dry no rain for a long time Pasture and Meadows is Dryed up Cattle Can Scarcly live what there is Green the Grasshopers is Eating up the times look Serious"

 

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Courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association Archives, 46549 State Hwy 10, Delhi, NY, 13753. 

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