Previous March Posts
Posted in General information
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March 13, 1863
Port Royal,
South Carolina
Dear Brother Atwell,
In answer to yours of Feb. 22. I am glad to hear that you are all enjoying good health.
We have just come in from a drill that is new to us. It is to embark in surf boats off of the transports and land anywhere along the seashore, whether under the fire of the enemy or not. We did it good for ones that are calculated to be green hands at the business.
The surf boats will hold from 30 to 50 men. We started at 11 o’clock a.m. and got back to camp at 5 o’clock p.m. We expect to have to drill it more before we leave here before long.
You say there was a surprise party at our house. What kind of a party is a surprise party? Write who all was there.
I seen one of the Monitors today. I do not care much how soon we leave here. I will soon have two years of my time in.
We hear here that there has been certain propositions about drafting being made up north. If so, I suppose it stirs up the minds of the cowboys to the highest pitch of excitement.
Write how Isaac Bradley gets along. Write if you hear how James Sergeant likes soldiering.
We expect to hear of some fighting up towards Richmond soon. We heard that we were to go back to Virginia from another report. We heard that we were to wait here till spring time set in, then attack Charleston or Savannah.
Coe and Miller is well. It is purty warm here. The sun, when it rises and sets, looks just as it does in Indian summer. We are to get fresh bread today. We have not had it only once or twice since we left Newberg. The sand drifts like snow down here.
We hear the reports of heavy artillery off towards Savannah once in a while.
S.S. Leavenworth
Posted in Civil War, The Mill on Halfway Brook
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March 1862
Washington, March 1, 1862
Dear Friends,
One thing you wrote that you had about made up your mind to enlist. You had better take my advice and not come.
You would likely have a nice ride coming here, but you would get nothing but a hardboard to sleep on and we do not have a good living as we got up to Newburgh. If you will mind what I write, you will be better off. Besides, it is purty certain we will move after payday which is in a few days.
We was mustered in for pay yesterday. I intend to send 40 dollars home. Vanwyck has left his seat in Congress for to take charge of his regiment.
I received that paper you sent to me and was very glad to get it. That box has not got here yet. We can get cake and such things, but it is better what comes from home.
You must not enlist for anything. You will be sorry if you do. You could get in this company. If you did, you would go in the company that you enlisted in. You had better let it alone. S.S. Leavenworth
Posted in Civil War, The Mill on Halfway Brook
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February 1904
Joseph Maier kept records of the costs of rebuilding his Pine Grove Farm boarding house on Crawford Road. The cost of freight to Shohola, Pennsylvania, and the bridge toll was also added in. Mr. Maier first wrote for quotes on the cost.
Joseph Maier, Eldred, to Andrew Paye
February 7, 1904
Dear Sir,
Will you please give me a price on 3,000 Shultz hard brick, the same kind I bought of you once before and the same kind you furnished W.F. Proctor a boat load.
The price is to be delivered to Shohola. You pay the freight. I will draw them myself from Shohola.
Give me your lowest cash price money ready when the brick arrives at Shohola.
Also, how soon could you get these brick for me.
The sooner the better. Let me know at once so I can give you the order if everything is OK, and oblige.
Yours respectfully, Joseph Maier
Joseph Maier, Eldred, to Robert A. Greig.
February 15, 1904
Dear Sir,
I write to you to come back. I wanted to see you in regards to some dry white pine lumber.
I want to commence to build, but I cannot as I have no dry boards. Could you let me have 2 or 3 thousand feet? I want some wide boards for Cornish casing and face boards. Please let me know if I could get the lumber right away.
I will get Mr. Daily or if you like your sister to count the lumber for you.
I want to take it to Mr. Daily to have it planed so I can use it at once. I could go up and get what I want and take it to the mill.
Let me know what your lowest cash price is per M, and I will pay you at once as I cannot commence to build until I get dry lumber.
So please be so kind as to answer this at once by return mail and oblige.
Yours Respectfully, Joseph Maier Continue reading
Posted in Book excerpts, Echo Hill and Mountain Grove
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February 1941–1945
I hope everyone is staying well, safe when they travel, and drinking lots of nice warm beverages—tea, hot chocolate, or coffee. I lived through almost 40 winters in Michigan, but this winter in the midwest and northeast sounds major.
If you would like to read the February entries of the 1940s, I have included the links to the posts I did last year.
Posted in Book excerpts, Farewell to Eldred, General information
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February 1940
February 1940
Thursday, February 1, Ella wrote, “Children in except Stella. Oliver Dunlap called.” Friday Jim visited Roy Horton in the evening.
Monday, February 5, Garfield put his sister Charlotte’s wood in for her. Bill and Anna took Garfield to get the last of his teeth pulled on Wednesday. Bill and Anna each had a tooth filled. Lottie Meyers stopped by to see Ella for a second.
Friday the men stoned Garfield and Ella’s well up to about five feet from the top. Sunday, February 11, Garfield visited Charlotte.
Monday Lee, Charlie Sergeant, and Garfield finished stoning the Leavenworth well; Lee worked some on his place; Anna and baby Jimmy visited Ella all day; Goldie stopped in; Jim worked at Wormuth’s; and Ella found out that George Crandall (Jennie Crandall’s husband) was in the hospital. What a day!
Tuesday Garfield and Lee laid out Lee’s cellar lines. Mary Sergeant was there all day. Lottie Meyers visited in the afternoon.
The blizzard on Valentine’s Day (which would have been Sherman Leavenworth’s 97th birthday) had started raging early the previous evening. Bill Meyers Sr. and Jr. plowed, which was awful difficult. The blowing and drifting continued into the next day. Continue reading
Posted in Book excerpts, Farewell to Eldred
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February 1939
February 1939
Monday, February 6, Goldie worked for Mr. Tether cutting blocks of ice (icing) to put in the ice house.
Tuesday Anna and Bill became proud parents of James (Jimmy) Meyers. Wednesday Garfield and Ella went to see their first grandchild.
Thursday Jim Leavenworth visited his friend Orville Clark.
Saturday Frank Bartle enjoyed dinner with the Leavenworths. Goldie and Stella were in. Lee worked for Harry Wormuth.
Wednesday Anna was still in bed. Thursday and Friday Clara helped Anna. Thursday Lee worked on his place by Echo Hill, and at Harry’s on Friday.
Sunday, February 19, when Garfield and Ella visited Alvah and Mary Sergeant, Garfield put Alvah’s front room ceiling up. Lee and Clara visited Bill and Anna.
Monday, February 27, the meter man came—cost: $3.46.
Posted in Book excerpts, Farewell to Eldred
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February 1937
February 1937
Monday, February 1, Anna Leavenworth visited the Meyers.
Friday the Austins spent the evening at Garfield and Ella’s. They stopped by a couple more times during the month.
Ella finished piecing Clara’s log cabin quilt in February.
Garfield did a job for Emile Four one day. He repaired a guitar for Mr. Briggs (Irwin and Johnny stopped by to get it), and worked on a violin for Alexander Mills (a brother of Dr. George Mills).
Alex and George’s grandfather had built the original Mills boarding house which Elizabeth Mills (their mother) still managed. Alex’s wife Minnie was a daughter of Chris and Meta Meyer and had grown up in the Spring House in Barryville.
Posted in Boarding Houses, Farewell to Eldred
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February 1936
February 1936
Sunday, February 2, Ella went to Highland Lake with Clinton to see her aunt Jennie Hull. Jim went to see Mort and Jennie Austin.
Wednesday Ella wrote, “Clinton went to town. Bill was here in the evening. Blizzards out west.” Thursday Clinton drove his aunt Jennie Hull to spend the afternoon with his mom, Ella. Friday Clinton snow plowed for the County, widening the roads.
Sunday, February 16, Jim went to the Austin’s for dinner. Austin Smith stopped by with an old violin (he had gotten from Mr. MacIntyre) for Garfield to fix on Thursday.
Sunday, February 23, Dr. Gutfruend was called to check on Anna who was sick.
Friday, Mr. Briggs and the Austins were at the Leavenworth home. Mr. Briggs bought a cello for $11. Saturday was leap day. Mr. Briggs and his son John were at the Leavenworths all afternoon.
Posted in Book excerpts, Farewell to Eldred
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February 1935
February 1935
Monday, February 4, was cloudy and colder in Eldred. Clinton cut ice blocks for Perry Foster.
Friday, February 8, Ella started a star bouquet quilt.
On Friday Arthur Austin received his assistant typist score of 86.53 on the June 1934 test he had taken at the New York Department of Civil Service in Albany.
Art worked for Emily Stevens at the Post Office. His next job, clerical in nature, would be for the Sullivan County Highway Department.
Monday, February 11, Ella started a feather fan quilt. The following Monday she made her daughter Anna a dress.
Posted in Book excerpts, Farewell to Eldred
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