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 31, 1858:  This is the last Day of the old year   it is now about to be numbered with those before the flood   Greate Changes have taken Place Since it Commenced   Millions has been Born into it and millions has Died an yet [] one left no Doubt for Some wise Purpose although hidden from us   we are now about to Commence another year    who will live to See the end of it we know not _ _ _ _ _

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

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