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 morn (12th) (Oct. 1853): The weather is not so chilly as it was yesterday…We finished Batavia Kill and then came over into Red Kill. Here the land looks poor and the people poorer. The houses are small and cheap built, having a poor appearance. The farms are poorly fenced. It being now noon I am at J.H. Hammond’s where I have the promise of a dinner. I have eaten dinner and surveyed to Clovesville. On the way some fellows proposed to make us say “Down Rent,” but did not make it out. Clovesville lies between two mountains and is strung along perhaps a quarter of a mile. There is two taverns, two or three stores, and some other kind of crafts are carried on. There is two or three nice houses and a dozen of a meaner appearance. I am stopping at the temperance hotel.

Friday morn (14th) (Oct. 1853): The weather this morning is cold and frosty, but gives promise of a pleasant day. We took breakfast then started for the county line at the top of Pine Hill. Here it runs through the middle of a house built by one Niltse who was over-fond of mutton, and when a constable came from Ulster he would step across the room and he was in Delaware, and when one came from Delaware he would step across the room and be in Ulster. About half way down the hill is the ruins of the place where Greene shot the man; the house and barn are complete ruins…

 Sunday morn (16th) (Oct. 1853): Is another pleasant day. I tried J.S. Ingraham for his horse, but could not make a raise. He said he was sometimes penurious enough to compute the interest on his Bible, and see how much more money he would have had if he had not bought it. But Abe, the dear fellow, got Bruce Smith’s horse, and then we went home. Got back about ten.

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 ...
 

Excerpts 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.