RECIPE FOR PICKLING HAMS
100 Lbs Hams, 9 lbs salt, 20z saltpetre, 2 lbs white sugar,
1 at syrup, 4 oz saleratus. Boil and skim - 10 gals water.
Put in hams for 3 weeks. Take out 24 hrs and put back for
3 weeks and then smoke.
Sept. 28, 1860.
Visited the St. Louis Fair yesterday – at least 100,000
people present. A grand affair. Saw the Prince of Wales, an unassuming
modest-looking youth, very plain, nothing striking or commanding in his
appearance.
Nov. 22, 1860.
Great excitement in the South about the election of
Lincoln to the Presidency. Strong threats of secession by the cotton states.
It has had the effect to produce a money panic and at present the indications
are alarming.
Dec. 13, 1860.
Great pecuniary distress in the country owing to the
political discussions which have arisen out of the election of Lincoln
for President. Several of the Southern States threaten secession, and
will in all probability go. It is a dark time for our country. The North
has agitated the subject of slavery until the South is maddened to desperation
and unless she retraces her steps, the Union can not stand. The Lord is
our only help.
Dec. 30, 1861.
Sabbath evening. I feel constrained to say now as the
year is about closing "hitherto has the Lord helped me". I have record
that the Lord has greatly blessed us as a family during the past year.
What a rich experience of his abounding goodness have we enjoyed’. Health
and plenty, domestic and social joys, and precious religious privileges.
We have now nine children. What a precious charge to train and educate
for time and eternity. Who is sufficient for these things? O Lord, I commit
them to thee evermore, Amen. The weather is quite cold. Two days ago had
a heavy rain. Our little son Glover has been quite sick with pneumonia
for two days. Our land is now suffering great distress, pecuniarily and
politically. The North and South are arrayed against each other in bitter
hostility on the slavery question. South Carolina has seceded. Other Southern
states are preparing to do so soon. Disunion and civil war threaten us.
Men's hearts fail them from fear of terrible calamities. Human wisdom
it utterly at fault to settle the difficulty. God alone can deliver us.
The President has appointed a day of fasting and prayer for the nation.
May the Lord save this people and make us a praise in the earth.
Jan. 31, 1861.
Our country is still in a gloomy and distracted condition.
Six states have seceded from the Union. Congress still refuses to settle
the difficulty by adopting the Crittenden or any other compromise. But
there are hopeful indications that the border slave and free states may
yet effect a settlement of the matter. God grant that the Union may be
preserved.
July 2, 1861.
Very cool last night and this morning, clear, a large
comet in view towards the north.
Dec. 6, 1861.
The oldest inhabitant doesn't remember such warm weather
as we are having now. We are sitting in the house tonight with doors and
windows open and without fire. We had a good rain a few days ago and the
wheat looks fine.
Dec. 18, 1861.
The weather continues charming, almost tropical, Indian
Summer. Occasional white frosts.
Dec. 20, 1861.
Weather changed today. Wind northwest, cold and cloudy.
Dec. 25, 1861.
Civil War is still raging with all its fury in this
land. Missouri is suffering terribly, owing to its border situation and
the division among her own people. War brewing with England on account
of the capture of Mason and Slidell, Southern Commissioners by Captain
Wilkes on board the English vessel "Trent".
May 30, 1862.
The Virginia Hotel burned down yesterday. The town
was in great danger for awhile.
October 20, 1862.
This day we buried our negro woman Ally. She died yesterday
at two o'clock in the afternoon of disease of the bowels after two weeks
illness. She was 66 years old.
Jan. 1, 1863.
The old year goes. The terrible civil War still rages
in the land. Hired Henry (negro) to Borgmeyer at $20.00 per month for
the year. How wonderfully has a kind providence protected us as a family
while so many friends (families) have been visited by desolation and ruin.
Sept. 14, 1863.
My negro man Henry ran off yesterday. Many negroes
are leaving every week.
Oct. 5, 1863.
Chester Johns has been with us several days. Left this
morning. Louisa (daughter by first wife) left this morning for Mrs. Dorsett’s
to teach.
Oct. 20, 1863.
Hired of Dick Overall negro woman, with man and child,
at $50 per year – he to clothe and pay doctor's bills.
Dec. 21, 1863.
Lindsay and I have today brought a good many of our
cattle home from Dardenne.
April 8, 1864.
Raining hard this morning. Mag and Mr. Borden left
this morning for Philadelphia.
[Mag and Mr. Borden would be Margaret Lindsay Durfee
and her husband Edmund Payson Borden. Margaret was Jane Amanda Durfee’s
sister. SDC 1/26/1999]
July 23, 1864.
Today our little son George fell from a tree and broke
both arms. The left arm was broken near the elbow joint and is a compound
fracture, which makes it very serious. The right arm is broken just above
the writs.
Oct. 10, 1864.
Last night we had a terrible storm of wind and rain.
Several valuable houses were damaged, Mr. Eugene Gauss, the Methodist
Church, Gibbs Factory and several others.
Jan. 1, 1865.
I am to pay Jack, my old negro man, per year $60.00
and clothe him and pay all expenses.
Jan. 5, 1865.
Mild. Today my daughter Louisa was married to William
Morgan of Paris, Illinois, was originally from Kentucky.
Jan. 17, 1865.
Our negro Cely left us today. The poor negroes are
emancipated but they are now and will suffer a great deal.
March 20, 1865.
I went to St. Louis today to attend a meeting of Board
of Directors of Lindenwood Female College. William Granger, colored
man, moved his family into the old Kitchen at the farm. Is to pay $2.50
per month rent.
April 6, 1865.
At six o'clock this evening my daughter Mary (first
wife) was married to Mr. Thomas J. Pearce.
April 13, 1865.
Colored man, Anthony, moved into my servant's house
today at $5.00 per month.
April 15, 1865.
This is a dark and gloomy day for the nation. President
Lincoln was assassinated in the theater in Washington last night, and
Secretary Seward murdered in his sick bed.
July 24, 1865.
Fred, my son, cut his foot very badly with an axe.
Aug. 12, 1865.
Moved Aunt Katy (colored) into my house from farm.
Aug. 14, 1865.
Today, Monday, Mrs. Durfee and Arthur and George
left for Philadelphia to visit Mag. (Mrs. Borden).
[Mrs. Durfee would be Ann Glenday Durfee, mother of
Jane Amanda Durfee. SDC 1/26/1999]
Aug. 16, 1865.
Annie fell from fence at Mr. Pourie's on the pavement
and cut her forehead.
Sept. 5, 1865.
Baltimore (negro) is about finishing the plastering
of the kitchen.
Oct. 19, 1865.
Eclipse of the sun Today.
Nov. 11, 1865.
Our little child, Maggie, died last night at seven
o'clock of the croup, nearly 3 yrs old.
Nov. 12, 1865.
Today, Sabbath, a lovely autumn day, we buried our
dear little Maggie in the graveyard at Lindenwood.
Nov. 25, 1865.
We have had Indian summer now for nearly one Month,
with hardly any variation of temperature. The days are clear and
beautiful and mild and the nights a little frosty.