Background: John W. Champlin was born in Kingston, Ulster County, New York in 1831 and moved with his family to a farm in Harpersfield, Delaware County, New York in 1832. He taught during the winter term at a common school in Roxbury in 1852-53 and became acquainted with Jay Gould. Jay Gould hired him to work for him as surveyor: he worked on the survey of Delaware County during the fall of 1853. The following excerpts are from a diary he kept during this time. (John W. Champlin moved to Michigan in 1854, studied law, and from 1884 to 1891 had a seat on the Supreme Court of Michigan)

Tuesday, Sep. 27th (1853): Started at head of the Delaware. Came across the mountains to Beaverdam. Everybody thought I was surveying for the railroad… Went as far as Hiram Powell’s and put up; took supper then went up to Henry More’s to an apple-cut. Cut the apples then had an old time till 2 o’clock. Then went to Beaverdam… Got as far as Sandy More’s and tarried all night. Had a glorious time with the trio. Never had a better visit...Never enjoyed life better and never expect to again…

Wednesday, Sep. 28th (1853): This morning opened cold and windy and closed cold and windy. I went as far as Moresville, and took dinner at Jenkins and then went to the foot of Clay hill. Came back; left my wheel at Hardenburg’s, then came as far as Chas. More’s. Staid all night. Slept sound as a nut... Came back to Moresville. Took supper. Sat alone. 1st-plate of bread. In front, a dish of apple sauce; on right, plate of cakes marked with hearts; on left, a tea bell; in front, candle stick; on right plate of cakes-ginger; on left, 4 sauce plates; in front plate of butter; on right, round cakes with holes in them; on left, my plate; on right, plum sauce; in front plate with three baked apples; on left, sauce plates-4; on left, sugar bowl; in front, candle stick; on right, pickles; on left, milk pitcher; in front, crackers; on right, stirred cakes; on left, plum sauce…

 Saturday, Oct. 8th (1853): Started this morning about seven o’clock. Cold and frosty. Surveyed down as far as Batavia Kill, thence up that stream to LaFarkins, where we took dinner. The country here looks poor, as well as the inhabitants; farms poorly fenced; houses small and going to decay, people rough and ignorant. Dinner, buckwheat cakes and honey. After dinner ran up the stream as far as Ballard’s store. Here is a decided improvement in the face of the country. Looks a little more like living. From here we came across the mountain to Beaverdam having survey this day 15 miles and 30 rods.

Tuesday morn (11th) (Oct. 1853): Cold. Started over Hacksknoll into Batavia Kill. Here is the most beautiful part of Roxbury. Took dinner at E. Mead’s. About 3 o’clock had a snow storm. We surveyed as far a J. Ballard’s and then staid all night. The weather looks very much like winter and it storms. When I arrived here I asked a fellow, with a face and hands besmeared with blood, if I could stay. He looked astonished – said he’d see. He went into the house and soon came out and said I could stay. I went in, and the matron, a stout fleshy woman of about 30, was mixing cake, and a girl of 18 was spinning. Had warm biscuit for supper. After supper, peeled and cut apples, in which exercise I took part. My man Fryday made himself quite familiar with the children to the great terror of our good matron. We went to bed and I had a good night’s rest.

Wednesday morn (19th) (Oct. 1853): I surveyed up the Bush Ridge road. Came around by Pine hill and went up the Portertown road until night bid me close my labors. Came to a house owned by J. Morrison, a one-eyed man, and I asked him if I could stay. He guesses so, and I drove in. I went to the house and such a dirty hole I never got in before. The old man and woman were natives from the bogs of Allan and dirty as any pigs. She wore a hood all the time; she eat in it, and I guess she slept in it. I made out to eat some supper. The old man couldn’t see what I was making a map for. The son’s wife had on a dirty night cap and wore an awful smutty face with a pair of cross eyes.

Tuesday morn (Nov. 1st) (1853): Pleasant. I started and surveyed down the river. In some places the flats are broad and in some places narrow. There are one or two very nice houses between Hamden and Walton. The river now has got to be quite heavy and it descends with a considerable rapidity. Walton is indeed a fine, thrifty looking village. The houses are mostly new and elegant. I got bled here by a tinman who charged me 25 cents for tacking on a piece of brass on my box. I went across the Del. and staid at D. More’s all night.

Thursday morn (10th) (Nov. 1853): It snowed some lat night and snows some yet. I started for the East branch. I went up Robinson’s Brook and down Baxter’s brook to Harvard, a small village in Hancock, and then I went down to Twaddles where I found the Col., and relieved him of his distress. I then came back and had supper, dried my feet and went to bed. About half a dozen sat in the bar room and talking of deers and rafts and lays and chopping and oxen.

Wednesday morn (16th) (Nov. 1853): Pleasant and atmosphere bracing. I surveyed down to the village and then found the Col. and gave him the clothes and $8.00 in cash. I surveyed two streets and took dinner and then started for Hamden by way of Williams Hollow. I went as far as T. Fuller’s and staid all night. He had just been building a new house, but had not got it finished yet. There were three beds and a trundle in the room where we slept. I slept in one, two strapping girls in the one on the left and two little girls in the trundle and two hired men in the one on the right.

Wednesday morn (23rd) (Nov. 1853): Damp. Looks like rain, but warm. Surveyed up Terry Clove and over the mount to the old Esopus Turnpike, about six miles. In Terry Clove I saw some dairy farms, and it has the appearance of having been settled some time. There is a negro here who has acquired a considerable property and lives in a two-story white house. I surveyed to the poorhouse, and went up to Delhi, and there, to my great, great joy, I found 7 letters for me …

Transcription courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association Archives, 46549 State Hwy 10, Delhi, NY, 13753. The complete transcript by former Delaware County Historian John Raitt is available in Delaware County History, Vol 9, Fall 1977, pp. 6 - 15

Retranscribed for this web site by Terri Nan Ahrens. Misspellings were preserved.