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, 1860:  "This is the last Day of the old year   quite mild  Snow fell last night  Perhaps 5 inches  the Sleighing will be Good again.   the Past year has been one of uncomon Productiveness   the labor of the husbandman has been amply rewarded  we have a Great Plenty of food for man and beast  but the troubles in the Southern States has made money very scarce  Many are Suffering for the want of it   thousands are out of imployment    the manufactories are mostly Stoped Causing People to Suffer for want of Provision although in the Middle of Plenty"

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

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