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.

December 28, 1857:  "This is the anual Church Meeting  Atended  Got the Same Seat we had last year  Price $10"

December 29, 1857:  "Wife and myself went to Delhi in the waggon   Paid our tax $7.93  Militia tax 50 cents  $8.43"

December 31, 1857:  "This is the last Day of the year and a Very Stormy one it is   Snow Enough for Sleighing   wind very High an Cold   16 head of Cattle an 3 horses to the big bey at the Lower Barn is up to the beam with Some an the Scaffold below the rye with a Good quantity"

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

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