Vee, I will give the #3 School District book back to the Town of Dummerston School District as I feel that it is really their property. I will also give them a copy of the list of names found in the book. I also plan to give a copy of the list to the historical society so people can look there for the info. The School District may well give the book to the Historical Soc. to keep in their collection. Interestingly enough the Civil War letters are NOT Vermont material. They were written by a Luther WHEELER and his parents and siblings apparently lived in Saratoga Springs, NY as that is where they are addressed to. It appears that he was related to the HOUGHTON family, or a close friend, as he mentions seeing "uncle" Don HOUGHTON. What I don't know is if "uncle" means related or close friend of the family. These letters were in my ggrandmother HOUGHTON's things in the attic. She died in 1935/6 and I'm sure nobody has looked at them since. If my grandmother had known they were there they would have been destroyed long ago. I remember my grandmother burning lots of letters that were in the attic as she believed they were private correspondence and should not be read by others. A lot of those were probably written home by my great grand uncle, George HOUGHTON, who was a photographer at the Civil War. I don't know what I am going to do with these letters when I get done transcribing them. As I do them I am putting them flat in sheet covers. They are in remarkable shape considering that they have been very tightly folded in small envelopes for 140 years and kept in a shoe box. Someone went through them at some point and numbered them, took the stamps off, and made notations on the envelops and some on the letters themselves. I had trouble finding sheet protectors large enough for the oversized paper that most of these seem to have been written on but finally found some that are working pretty well. Now I have to find an oversized binder for the sheets. I think I have found something in Light Impressions that will work. I am up to Letter #12 of 64 but there are a few missing. It is so exciting to read them and I am resisting the temptation to read them all first and just read one, transcribe it and go to the next. This man is quite well educated as his spelling and grammar are exceptional. The only thing I can't get is his punctuation, sometimes his full stop and comma look more like a dash but I just put what I think he meant. If I were writing a letter in a tent by candle or lantern after marching all day I don't think my letters would be anywhere near as readable. Ruth At 11:41 PM -0500 2/22/04, Vee L. Housman wrote: >Dear Ruth, > >I do know from personal knowledge that here in the Town of Porter, the >historical society museum has received a number of old school records from a >number of families that have had them in their posession for a number of >generations. From personal observation, for the most part the school >records were kept in the hands of the School District Clerk or the present >school teacher and never archived in a separate official school or town >"facility." >> >> Now I am on to transcribing the box of Civil War letters home that I found >> in the attic. There are about 50 or so of them. Fortunately he had good >> handwriting and it is easy to read. > >I hope you can find the time to trancscirbe those letters. Even though they >may be "Vermont" letters, please post them to our list. BTW, when you do >transcribe them, don't change the spelling or correct the grammar. Errors >of that sort is what gives them a certain twang that you can almost hear >over 140 years later. > >vee -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

Dear Folks, For many hours these past two days, I was so tempted to come up with a meaningful story that would cover what I transcribed out of the Proceedings of School District No. Three ,of Towns of Lewiston and Porter, Niagara County, New York, 1819-1872, but it knew that I would have to start from scratch all over again. But oh wait a minute. I knew that about 10 years ago shortly after I transcribed the records, I was asked to give a talk to the Town of Porter Historical Society on the subject of School District. No. Three. Therefore I only had to dig up the speech that I had entered into my computer and post the whole nine yards to you. It was the ultimate synopsis of the records. So early last evening I searched all my computer files, couldn't find my speech whatsoever and then I had to resort to digging into every file folder that I may have filed it in. I could even "see" it. It had been printed off from my computer and I had folded it into thirds to stick in my purse for the meeting. I could still see the creases on it. NONE of the file folders yielded anything and so I tackled the stack of email documents and stories that I've stored in a storage box. I leafed through everything and still couldn't find my speech. I even checked to see if I had tucked my speech into the spiral-bound version of the entire transcription of the school records. Nothing. Note: By this time I was more than JUST a bit obsessive/compulsive. So once again this evening I went through the whole routine again. Nothing. Absolutely NOTHING! I couldn't believe that I could have just discarded a speech I had made to the Historical Society. In an absolutely LAST ditch effort I turned again to my spiral-bound transcription of the school records and looked at it more closely. And there it WAS! I had inserted my speech as a forward to the transcript! There it was! So for the rest of the evening I scanned my speech into my OmniPro OCR reader and finally saved it satisfactorily to disk. As a result, I believe you might be interested in my speech/synopsis of the old school records. The records are not only important to the history of our town but of the genealogy of it as I interpreted it at the time. I'll post the speech in several segments. Please bear in mind that you won't have a clue as to where either schoolhouse was located but I'm certain that many of the members of the historical society knew precisely what I was talking about. Part I tomorrow. vee

David: I wholeheartedly agree with Vee, that was a great explanation! After reading through Phoebe's diaries, she used both British and American terms of currency. Kim

David explained: > Because the early US Mint had a lot of trouble providing enough US money > and because of our extensive trade with Canada and Mexico, foreign coins > were legal tender in the US until 1857. There were many books published > at the time that listed the various foreign moneys a bank or store clerk > might encounter and tables showing how to turn English pounds into > Spanish reales or Portuguese "Joes". It was not uncommon for businesses > of the 1850s to keep their accounts in pounds or reales, depending on > where they were located. I remember as a child being shown well worn > Spanish pieces of eight that my great-great grandfather supposedly > received in trade at this grocery store in Lewiston in the mid to late > 19th century (alas they have long since disappeared). > > So it's not the least bit unusual that Phoebe would still be referring > to English money in 1860, especially if she had been born there. Anyone > living in Niagara county in the 1850's would have come across a lot of > English money in trade (Canada didn't get their own dollar until 1858), > since Canada was still part of the British empire at the time. WOW, David, thanks for such a thorough explanation of the continuing exchange of foreign coins well into the mid 1800s. And here I thought I knew everything! :-) vee

Dear Ruth, > Rather than transcribe the whole thing, since my typing is quite slow, I > went through and listed the date and all names given on that date. I > figure this gives sort of a timeline of when folks appeared and disappeared > in the neighborhood. I plan to give the book and a printout of the list to > the town school district as it really belongs to the town. I hope they > will care for it properly or give it to the historical society so they can. I can well appreciate your not wanting to transcribe the whole school records. From experience I know that it takes a patience of a saint. And onne with fast typing fingers at that! But what you've already done is invaluable regarding history and genealogy. Yes please share the list of dates and names with the local school district. But frankly, around here I sense that the the book and the printout of information would only be stored in a box somewhere and never see the light of day again. I may be wrong but I've never been made aware that the school districts are making any effort to record their history. I do know from personal knowledge that here in the Town of Porter, the historical society museum has received a number of old school records from a number of families that have had them in their posession for a number of generations. From personal observation, for the most part the school records were kept in the hands of the School District Clerk or the present school teacher and never archived in a separate official school or town "facility." > > Now I am on to transcribing the box of Civil War letters home that I found > in the attic. There are about 50 or so of them. Fortunately he had good > handwriting and it is easy to read. I hope you can find the time to trancscirbe those letters. Even though they may be "Vermont" letters, please post them to our list. BTW, when you do transcribe them, don't change the spelling or correct the grammar. Errors of that sort is what gives them a certain twang that you can almost hear over 140 years later. vee

Dear Ruth and Vee! You have both have my thumbs up for school board meeting minutes. If the meetings are anything like the school district I worked for I am sure they will be lively! Also Ruth, I personally would love to hear about the Civil War. My family memories were destroyed in a fire in 1911. My GGrandpa William Myers' history as a Civil War Veteran from NY State is what originally got me fired up for genealogy. Regardless of which state the soldiers/sailors represented, I am sure that their thoughts and fears were the same. Jane in FL

> From: "Vee L. Housman" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > Dear Jane, > > I'm certain that Kim would jump in here right now and explain that in > Phoebe's 1860 diary she was apparently living on the tip of Long Island. In > 1857 she was living in Niagara County. > > The reason for my putting my two cents in here (or two farthings??) is > because of her use of the British term for money as late as 1860. I was > quite surprised at the continued lingering use of the terms if not the > actual coins. A number of years ago I meticulously transcribed the Minutes > of the Proceedings of of School District No. Three of Lewiston and Town of > Porter dating from 1819 to 1872. As I recall even up into the 1840s and > 1850s the records would show that so many pounds and pence were spent on > fire wood or such. > > I still find it the continued use of the terms quiet strange well after the > War of 1812 at the least. > P.S. Hmmmm, I wonder if I could be coerced into extracting the MOST > interesting stories that can be read into those school district meetings. > Hmmmm! > vee Because the early US Mint had a lot of trouble providing enough US money and because of our extensive trade with Canada and Mexico, foreign coins were legal tender in the US until 1857. There were many books published at the time that listed the various foreign moneys a bank or store clerk might encounter and tables showing how to turn English pounds into Spanish reales or Portuguese "Joes". It was not uncommon for businesses of the 1850s to keep their accounts in pounds or reales, depending on where they were located. I remember as a child being shown well worn Spanish pieces of eight that my great-great grandfather supposedly received in trade at this grocery store in Lewiston in the mid to late 19th century (alas they have long since disappeared). So it's not the least bit unusual that Phoebe would still be referring to English money in 1860, especially if she had been born there. Anyone living in Niagara county in the 1850's would have come across a lot of English money in trade (Canada didn't get their own dollar until 1858), since Canada was still part of the British empire at the time. David Cornell

Hi Ruth, You should also offer the index of names from it to the Rootsweb Vermont list co-ordinator for which ever county it comes from. Or make an index and put it in Rootswebs database. It offers information that people can't get any other way. Many people can't go looking, physically, for information. The only access they would have is through the internet, or calls and letters. The likelyhood of them finding that index from a distance is just about nil. Kathy

Hi Vee, What a coincidence, I have a book with the minutes of School Dist. #3, Dummerston, Vermont, years 1808-1893 when state law consolidated all districts in a town under one board. I know this has nothing to do with Niagra Co. NY but it appears things were similar to what was here. This book has been here in my parents house at least since 1893 as near as I can tell. The last entry was made by my ggrandfather who was clerk at the time. I did not transcribe the whole book as it is not very interesting, the clerks were the soul of brevity, just listed who was elected to what position and how much they were paying for wood and teacher board mostly. I did notice that at one point the amount was listed in shillings, which I thought odd but I guess it was just the preference of the clerk as it was only one time. Rather than transcribe the whole thing, since my typing is quite slow, I went through and listed the date and all names given on that date. I figure this gives sort of a timeline of when folks appeared and disappeared in the neighborhood. I plan to give the book and a printout of the list to the town school district as it really belongs to the town. I hope they will care for it properly or give it to the historical society so they can. Now I am on to transcribing the box of Civil War letters home that I found in the attic. There are about 50 or so of them. Fortunately he had good handwriting and it is easy to read. Vee, yes please post the interesting stories from the school dist. minutes. I wish there were some in mine, I know there were some interesting characters in the neighborhood and I'll bet the meetings were quite lively at times but these things were not written down, alas. Ruth At 8:47 PM -0500 2/21/04, Vee L. Housman wrote: >Dear Jane, > >I'm certain that Kim would jump in here right now and explain that in >Phoebe's 1860 diary she was apparently living on the tip of Long Island. In >1857 she was living in Niagara County. > >The reason for my putting my two cents in here (or two farthings??) is >because of her use of the British term for money as late as 1860. I was >quite surprised at the continued lingering use of the terms if not the >actual coins. A number of years ago I meticulously transcribed the Minutes >of the Proceedings of of School District No. Three of Lewiston and Town of >Porter dating from 1819 to 1872. As I recall even up into the 1840s and >1850s the records would show that so many pounds and pence were spent on >fire wood or such. > >I still find it the continued use of the terms quiet strange well after the >War of 1812 at the least. >P.S. Hmmmm, I wonder if I could be coerced into extracting the MOST >interesting stories that can be read into those school district meetings. >Hmmmm! >vee -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

Vee and Jane: Yes, in 1857, Phoebe was living in Niagara County, and in 1860, she was living on Long Island. Could this be her "long dreaded year" she was talking about? Also, Phoebe was British, and that could also be why she used British terms for money. In Phoebe's 1863 diary, she is back in Niagara County, but I haven't been able to figure out if she was hiring herself out for work. Kim

Dear Jane, I'm certain that Kim would jump in here right now and explain that in Phoebe's 1860 diary she was apparently living on the tip of Long Island. In 1857 she was living in Niagara County. The reason for my putting my two cents in here (or two farthings??) is because of her use of the British term for money as late as 1860. I was quite surprised at the continued lingering use of the terms if not the actual coins. A number of years ago I meticulously transcribed the Minutes of the Proceedings of of School District No. Three of Lewiston and Town of Porter dating from 1819 to 1872. As I recall even up into the 1840s and 1850s the records would show that so many pounds and pence were spent on fire wood or such. I still find it the continued use of the terms quiet strange well after the War of 1812 at the least. P.S. Hmmmm, I wonder if I could be coerced into extracting the MOST interesting stories that can be read into those school district meetings. Hmmmm! vee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane Achbach" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 8:14 PM Subject: [FOLKS] Re: NYNIAGAR-FOLKS-D Digest V04 #41 > Hi Kim! > Did I miss something earlier in the diaries? > Did Phobe live across the river in Ontario? > I see where she sold a dress for 5 shillings > and talked about going to NY as it was close by. > Wow! She had her teeth out as if it were nothing! Not a wimp like I > was! > Jane in FL > > > . > >

Hi Kim! Did I miss something earlier in the diaries? Did Phobe live across the river in Ontario? I see where she sold a dress for 5 shillings and talked about going to NY as it was close by. Wow! She had her teeth out as if it were nothing! Not a wimp like I was! Jane in FL .

Hi Jane! Phoebe lived on Staten Island for a year or so, (must be her long dreaded year she was talking about earlier)and working at a hospital. Phoebe did take frequent trips to N.Y., probably by ferry. I wish I knew what hospital Phoebe was working at! And I know one thing, Phoebe sure had strength and fortitude! Kim

Group: I have just finished posting Phoebe's 1860 diary. It's much shorter than the 1857 diary, especially since Phoebe didn't write anything after the month of October. I'll soon be posting Phoebe's 1863 Diary, the last one. You'll have to forgive me for posting Pt. 4 three times! I was tired, and wasn't thinking about what I was doing! Kim

Saturday, September 1 I have been here one year. Sunday, September 2 Took tea at Mrs. Crosley's. Called on Mrs. Heath. Monday, September 3 Commenced my popplin dress. Tuesday, September 4 Mother came and Fanny. I finished my popplin dress. Wednesday, September 5 Mother went to New York. Mrs. Penfield called. Mrs. Drew had company. Fanny and self went to the ----. Thursday, September 6 Took tea at Mrs. Heath's. Friday, September 7 All at the Picnic. Saturday, September 8 All three at the central park. Sunday, September 10 Mother and Father at Mrs. Taylor's. Mrs. Drew at the city. Monday, September 11 Mrs. Drew came back and Mother in the evening. Wednesday, September 12 Mother at the city. Mrs. Drew made catchup. Thursday, September 13 All at home. Friday, September 14 Went to Greenwood, Mrs. D., Aells, Mrs. S. Saturday, September 15 At Mrs. Angell's and home at night. Sunday, September 16 All at church. Mrs. Drew came home with us. Monday, September 17 Mother and Fanny left for New York. [Note: Tuesday, September 18-21 are blank. K.] Saturday, September 22 I went up to N.Y. and back at night by the guansteer boat. Sunday, September 23 At church and class. Monday, September 24 Very bad with my teeth, but at teacher's meeting. Slept at Mrs. ----. Tuesday, September 25 Sick all day, had my teeth out. Wednesday, September 26 Went to Hevenstorm------. Thursday, September 27 Came back. Lost my purse. Friday, September 28 Sewing and ironed. Some one called in the laundry. Saturday, September 29 Mending for self. Went up to see Mary D. And hear of Rebeckah. Sunday, September 30 At church. Joined. Tompson. All took dinner at J-----. At church at night. Monday, October 1 Brought in all the plants. Tuesday, October 2 Began the tablecloths. Sume Hanily says she is leaving. Wednesday, October 3 Mrs. Drew at the city. The---- procession. The Wide Awake procession. [Note: Couldn't make any sense of this entry. K.] Thursday, October 4 To wet for class. Sewing all day. Friday, October 5 Ironed. Took around my papers. Had a letter with 2 dollars in. Saturday, October 6 Sewing. Cut out my new dress. Cut up my black crepe basque. Repo-- the green dress. Sunday, October 7 Sacrament Sunday. I came home after church. Monday, October 8 Hemming sheets. Tuesday, October 9 Had a letter from Mrs. Penfield today. She had ordered a machine. At love feast. Wednesday, October 10 Rceived my machine. Wrote to Mrs. Penfield. Thursday, October 11 Sewing sheets on the machine, the last in the house. Went to class. Slept at E. Johnson's. Friday, October 12 Finishing table cloths and mending. Saturday, October 13 Went to N.Y. Mrs. P. not at home. Saw the T----. I took dinner at the House. Went to 503 Broadway. Sunday, October 14 At S. School. A bad Sunday. It rained all night. Monday, October 15 Mended some. Oiled my machine and put it out of order. Lucy's wedding day 9 years ago. Tuesday, October 16 Had sold more heads. Took in the oleander [?]. Fussed with the machine but it would not go. Gave Joseph Wilson his proposition to Father's. Wednesday, October 17 Took in the mending. The tenth Aneversary of Sister's marriage. Had company all day from Hoboken. Started for N.Y. but missed the boat. [Special Note: There were no more entries from October 18 through December 31. This is the end of Phoebe's 1860 Diary. K.]

Wednesday, July 4 Had company. Rain and very hot. Sewing all day. Went out in the evening. Thursday, July 5 A --- with the Governor. Sewing all day. Friday, July 6 Blank. Saturday, July 7 Blank Sunday, July 8 14 years ago Mother was -----. I took dinner at Mrs. Burbank's. Monday, July 9 Cut out sheets and pillow slips. Dudley washed them. Mrs. Burbank called. Tuesday, July 10 Hemmed handkerchiefs and skirts. Mending. Bought my silk dress for 9 dollars. [Note: Wednesday, July 11-Saturday, July 14 were blank. K.] Sunday, July 15 At Sunday School. Took dinner at Mrs. Burbank's. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] Monday, July 16 Tore out sheets and pillow slips. Dudley washed them. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] Tuesday, July 17 Hemming handkerchiefs and pillow slips. Bought my silk dress. In the evening went out. Spent the afternoon with Rebeckah. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] [Note: Wednesday, July 18 & 19 blank. K.] Friday, July 20 Went in the-----. Ironed my things. The work is coming at laast. Saturday, July 21 Sewing for self all day. R--- my skirts. Sunday, July 22 S. School, preaching. Took dinner with Mrs. W. The bible class. Mrs. Drew down again with chills. Monday, July 23 Mrs. Drew had another chill. Mending all day. Tuesday, July 24 Mrs. Drew very sick. Several called. I went to the Dr. for her. Wednesday, July 25 Mrs. Drew had a chill. Joseph came home. I ironed some and finished the handkerchiefs. Thursday, July 26 Everything in the house mended once more. Captain Drew took our account. Monday, Mrs. Drew began the c---. Friday, July 27 Did my ironing. Everything is done and I feel quite happy. Saturday, July 28 At N .Y. Called on Adell Estabrook. Tried to change my dress. Sunday, July 29 Took dinner at Mrs. Bertrand's. At the children's sermon in the afternoon. Monday, July 30 Mrs. Drew and self went to g----- to see the Great Eastern go out. Took tea at Mrs. S. At teacher's meeting. Slept at Mrs. Burbank's. Tuesday, July 31 Came home before breakfast. Sold my calicoe basque for 5 shillings. Wednesday, August 1 Mrs. Drew had company come. I carried their babe to New Brighton and they gave me 25 cents. Emmie Angell came. We had a good visit. Thursday, August 2 I went with Emmie to New Brighton for the boat. Mrs. M. Drew hnere. Sewing all day. Friday, August 3 Making sheets and pillow slips and ironed. Saturday, August 4 Sewing for self and barbor. Went in the evening to Factoryville after my papers. A violent rain. Sunday, August 5 Took dinner at Mrs. C. Johnson's. At singing school. They came part way home with me in the evening. Monday, August 6 Making straw ticks. Took Rebeckah her paper. Mrs. Heath called. Tuesday, August 7 How kind the Lord has been to me in the past year. I would love and serve him and yet how often I forget his benefits. Wednesday, August 8 Mending and making pillow slips. The laast of the piece. Thursday, August 9 Making sheets. Friday, August 10 Wrote to Emmie. Ironed my things. Put the bosom in two shirts for Thomas McDonald. Saturday, August 11 Sewing for self. Rebackah called, I went home with her. Had a letter from Emmie. Sunday, August 12 Went with Rebeckah to church. Took dinner at Mrs. Farland's. Monday, August 13 Mending another tick. A wet afternoon. Tuesday, August 14 Cooked some. A wet day. Mending mattress ticks. Wednesday, August 15 Looking for friends from Doty but they did not come because of the weather. Mrs. M. Drew here. Thursday, August 16 Picnic day. Went up to the church and then back to the Harbor woods. Not very pleasant because I knew no one. Still I was content. Some things pleased me. Had a letter from Emmie. Friday, August 17 Ironed and sewed. A fine day. Put my flowers in pots and placed them on the west side of the house. Saturday, August 18 Mrs. Davis and self went to N.Y. and purchased a bonnet for self amd strong shoes. Sunday, August 19 At church and S.S. Took dinner at Mrs. Walton's. Very hot. Came home after church. Monday, August 20 Wet. Mended and made some sheets. G. barbor & the----. Went down to New Brighton for Mrs. Drew. Tuesday, August 21 Sewing all day and in the evening it rained. Put the braid on my second shift. Wednesday, August 22 Mrs. Drew at the at night. Went to John Snediker's for Mrs. Drew. Thursday, August 23 Making sheets. The last of a peice, now we have but one peice of sheeting in the house. Everything above is made up. Friday, August 24 Finished the mending and ironed my clothes. Saturday, August 25 Repaired my shifts and finished the second new one. Sunday, August 26 Sunday School, preached class meeting, bible class. Took dinner at Mrs. Austin's. Tea at Mrs. Johnson's. Wrote to Lucy and Mrs. Penfield. Monday, August 27 Hate and I got the plumbs. Tuesday, August 28 George Faugh get some more plumbs and the sugar for them. Wednesday, August 29 Had comapny. Mrs. Dusmberry and S. had an invitation to L. Tompson's wedding. Thursday, August 30 Blank. Friday, August 31 Preserved the plums.

----- Original Message ----- From: Kim & Mike Paul To: rootsweb Cc: rootsweb Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 12:20 AM Subject: [FOLKS] Phoebe's 1860 Diary - Pt 4 Wednesday, July 4 Had company. Rain and very hot. Sewing all day. Went out in the evening. Thursday, July 5 A --- with the Governor. Sewing all day. Friday, July 6 Blank. Saturday, July 7 Blank Sunday, July 8 14 years ago Mother was -----. I took dinner at Mrs. Burbank's. Monday, July 9 Cut out sheets and pillow slips. Dudley washed them. Mrs. Burbank called. Tuesday, July 10 Hemmed handkerchiefs and skirts. Mending. Bought my silk dress for 9 dollars. [Note: Wednesday, July 11-Saturday, July 14 were blank. K.] Sunday, July 15 At Sunday School. Took dinner at Mrs. Burbank's. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] Monday, July 16 Tore out sheets and pillow slips. Dudley washed them. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] Tuesday, July 17 Hemming handkerchiefs and pillow slips. Bought my silk dress. In the evening went out. Spent the afternoon with Rebeckah. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] [Note: Wednesday, July 18 & 19 blank. K.] Friday, July 20 Went in the-----. Ironed my things. The work is coming at laast. Saturday, July 21 Sewing for self all day. R--- my skirts. Sunday, July 22 S. School, preaching. Took dinner with Mrs. W. The bible class. Mrs. Drew down again with chills. Monday, July 23 Mrs. Drew had another chill. Mending all day. Tuesday, July 24 Mrs. Drew very sick. Several called. I went to the Dr. for her. Wednesday, July 25 Mrs. Drew had a chill. Joseph came home. I ironed some and finished the handkerchiefs. Thursday, July 26 Everything in the house mended once more. Captain Drew took our account. Monday, Mrs. Drew began the c---. Friday, July 27 Did my ironing. Everything is done and I feel quite happy. Saturday, July 28 At N .Y. Called on Adell Estabrook. Tried to change my dress. Sunday, July 29 Took dinner at Mrs. Bertrand's. At the children's sermon in the afternoon. Monday, July 30 Mrs. Drew and self went to g----- to see the Great Eastern go out. Took tea at Mrs. S. At teacher's meeting. Slept at Mrs. Burbank's. Tuesday, July 31 Came home before breakfast. Sold my calicoe basque for 5 shillings. Wednesday, August 1 Mrs. Drew had company come. I carried their babe to New Brighton and they gave me 25 cents. Emmie Angell came. We had a good visit. Thursday, August 2 I went with Emmie to New Brighton for the boat. Mrs. M. Drew hnere. Sewing all day. Friday, August 3 Making sheets and pillow slips and ironed. Saturday, August 4 Sewing for self and barbor. Went in the evening to Factoryville after my papers. A violent rain. Sunday, August 5 Took dinner at Mrs. C. Johnson's. At singing school. They came part way home with me in the evening. Monday, August 6 Making straw ticks. Took Rebeckah her paper. Mrs. Heath called. Tuesday, August 7 How kind the Lord has been to me in the past year. I would love and serve him and yet how often I forget his benefits. Wednesday, August 8 Mending and making pillow slips. The laast of the piece. Thursday, August 9 Making sheets. Friday, August 10 Wrote to Emmie. Ironed my things. Put the bosom in two shirts for Thomas McDonald. Saturday, August 11 Sewing for self. Rebackah called, I went home with her. Had a letter from Emmie. Sunday, August 12 Went with Rebeckah to church. Took dinner at Mrs. Farland's. Monday, August 13 Mending another tick. A wet afternoon. Tuesday, August 14 Cooked some. A wet day. Mending mattress ticks. Wednesday, August 15 Looking for friends from Doty but they did not come because of the weather. Mrs. M. Drew here. Thursday, August 16 Picnic day. Went up to the church and then back to the Harbor woods. Not very pleasant because I knew no one. Still I was content. Some things pleased me. Had a letter from Emmie. Friday, August 17 Ironed and sewed. A fine day. Put my flowers in pots and placed them on the west side of the house. Saturday, August 18 Mrs. Davis and self went to N.Y. and purchased a bonnet for self amd strong shoes. Sunday, August 19 At church and S.S. Took dinner at Mrs. Walton's. Very hot. Came home after church. Monday, August 20 Wet. Mended and made some sheets. G. barbor & the----. Went down to New Brighton for Mrs. Drew. Tuesday, August 21 Sewing all day and in the evening it rained. Put the braid on my second shift. Wednesday, August 22 Mrs. Drew at the at night. Went to John Snediker's for Mrs. Drew. Thursday, August 23 Making sheets. The last of a peice, now we have but one peice of sheeting in the house. Everything above is made up. Friday, August 24 Finished the mending and ironed my clothes. Saturday, August 25 Repaired my shifts and finished the second new one. Sunday, August 26 Sunday School, preached class meeting, bible class. Took dinner at Mrs. Austin's. Tea at Mrs. Johnson's. Wrote to Lucy and Mrs. Penfield. Monday, August 27 Hate and I got the plumbs. Tuesday, August 28 George Faugh get some more plumbs and the sugar for them. Wednesday, August 29 Had comapny. Mrs. Dusmberry and S. had an invitation to L. Tompson's wedding. Thursday, August 30 Blank. Friday, August 31 Preserved the plums.

Vee, don't tell me that there isn't "Something out there" operating behind the scenes!!! This is an eerie story....Ghosty even :-) Jo in Michigan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vee L. Housman" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 12:01 AM Subject: [FOLKS] An unusual genealogy incident > Dear Folks, > > This afternoon the phone rang, the woman introduced herself as Donna Allen who was calling from Tucson, AZ, she told me that our Village Historian had given her my number and I was all ears to listen to what she had in mind. She said she was researching her Youngstown family and wanted to know if there were any genealogists in the area who could help her. In answer to that I suggested that I may have already researched her family and when she told me that it was the family of John Turner, I replied, "Oh, you mean John and Agnes Turner?" Of course I knew the family and had researched it as thoroughly as I could from local records. When she realized that I really knew a lot about the family and started asking me a lot of questions, I interrupted her and asked if she had email. Yes she did. I gave her my email address and suggested she email me as to what was on her mind. And she did. > > I printed her message out, studied it carefully and then this evening I probably spent about two hours responding to it. I could tell that she wasn't a newbie to genealogy when she told me about some of her theories about the family. I felt that it was a challenge and at the same time her theories made me take a different slant on the family. > > While I was digging through my TURNER file of paper copies I came across an exchange of emails that I had with Beverley Lane from Illinois last August including a number of family group sheets she had mailed me on the same Turner family. Beverley and I haven't corresponded since. I didn't bother to tell Donna about Beverley in that I figured it could wait. So at 8:37 this evening I sent my reply to Donna. > > Well guess what? At 10:58 this evening out of a clear blue sky I received an email from Beverley Lane and all she said was to remind me of our correspondence of last year and asked me if I was still doing Niagara Co. genealogy research. I really couldn't believe the coincidence of two queries about the same family on the same day! Donna certainly didn't mention Beverley and Beverley certainly didn't mention Donna. But when I responded briefly to Beverley this evening I copied Donna and I guess I'll just have to wait and see if it was a coincidence or not. At any rate, it appears that the three of us need to get into a huddle on the TURNER/CAMPBELL family "mystery" around here! > > Genealogy is sooooo boring! > vee > > > >

Wednesday, July 4 Had company. Rain and very hot. Sewing all day. Went out in the evening. Thursday, July 5 A --- with the Governor. Sewing all day. Friday, July 6 Blank. Saturday, July 7 Blank Sunday, July 8 14 years ago Mother was -----. I took dinner at Mrs. Burbank's. Monday, July 9 Cut out sheets and pillow slips. Dudley washed them. Mrs. Burbank called. Tuesday, July 10 Hemmed handkerchiefs and skirts. Mending. Bought my silk dress for 9 dollars. [Note: Wednesday, July 11-Saturday, July 14 were blank. K.] Sunday, July 15 At Sunday School. Took dinner at Mrs. Burbank's. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] Monday, July 16 Tore out sheets and pillow slips. Dudley washed them. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] Tuesday, July 17 Hemming handkerchiefs and pillow slips. Bought my silk dress. In the evening went out. Spent the afternoon with Rebeckah. [Note: This entry was originally crossed out by Phoebe. K.] [Note: Wednesday, July 18 & 19 blank. K.] Friday, July 20 Went in the-----. Ironed my things. The work is coming at laast. Saturday, July 21 Sewing for self all day. R--- my skirts. Sunday, July 22 S. School, preaching. Took dinner with Mrs. W. The bible class. Mrs. Drew down again with chills. Monday, July 23 Mrs. Drew had another chill. Mending all day. Tuesday, July 24 Mrs. Drew very sick. Several called. I went to the Dr. for her. Wednesday, July 25 Mrs. Drew had a chill. Joseph came home. I ironed some and finished the handkerchiefs. Thursday, July 26 Everything in the house mended once more. Captain Drew took our account. Monday, Mrs. Drew began the c---. Friday, July 27 Did my ironing. Everything is done and I feel quite happy. Saturday, July 28 At N .Y. Called on Adell Estabrook. Tried to change my dress. Sunday, July 29 Took dinner at Mrs. Bertrand's. At the children's sermon in the afternoon. Monday, July 30 Mrs. Drew and self went to g----- to see the Great Eastern go out. Took tea at Mrs. S. At teacher's meeting. Slept at Mrs. Burbank's. Tuesday, July 31 Came home before breakfast. Sold my calicoe basque for 5 shillings. Wednesday, August 1 Mrs. Drew had company come. I carried their babe to New Brighton and they gave me 25 cents. Emmie Angell came. We had a good visit. Thursday, August 2 I went with Emmie to New Brighton for the boat. Mrs. M. Drew hnere. Sewing all day. Friday, August 3 Making sheets and pillow slips and ironed. Saturday, August 4 Sewing for self and barbor. Went in the evening to Factoryville after my papers. A violent rain. Sunday, August 5 Took dinner at Mrs. C. Johnson's. At singing school. They came part way home with me in the evening. Monday, August 6 Making straw ticks. Took Rebeckah her paper. Mrs. Heath called. Tuesday, August 7 How kind the Lord has been to me in the past year. I would love and serve him and yet how often I forget his benefits. Wednesday, August 8 Mending and making pillow slips. The laast of the piece. Thursday, August 9 Making sheets. Friday, August 10 Wrote to Emmie. Ironed my things. Put the bosom in two shirts for Thomas McDonald. Saturday, August 11 Sewing for self. Rebackah called, I went home with her. Had a letter from Emmie. Sunday, August 12 Went with Rebeckah to church. Took dinner at Mrs. Farland's. Monday, August 13 Mending another tick. A wet afternoon. Tuesday, August 14 Cooked some. A wet day. Mending mattress ticks. Wednesday, August 15 Looking for friends from Doty but they did not come because of the weather. Mrs. M. Drew here. Thursday, August 16 Picnic day. Went up to the church and then back to the Harbor woods. Not very pleasant because I knew no one. Still I was content. Some things pleased me. Had a letter from Emmie. Friday, August 17 Ironed and sewed. A fine day. Put my flowers in pots and placed them on the west side of the house. Saturday, August 18 Mrs. Davis and self went to N.Y. and purchased a bonnet for self amd strong shoes. Sunday, August 19 At church and S.S. Took dinner at Mrs. Walton's. Very hot. Came home after church. Monday, August 20 Wet. Mended and made some sheets. G. barbor & the----. Went down to New Brighton for Mrs. Drew. Tuesday, August 21 Sewing all day and in the evening it rained. Put the braid on my second shift. Wednesday, August 22 Mrs. Drew at the at night. Went to John Snediker's for Mrs. Drew. Thursday, August 23 Making sheets. The last of a peice, now we have but one peice of sheeting in the house. Everything above is made up. Friday, August 24 Finished the mending and ironed my clothes. Saturday, August 25 Repaired my shifts and finished the second new one. Sunday, August 26 Sunday School, preached class meeting, bible class. Took dinner at Mrs. Austin's. Tea at Mrs. Johnson's. Wrote to Lucy and Mrs. Penfield. Monday, August 27 Hate and I got the plumbs. Tuesday, August 28 George Faugh get some more plumbs and the sugar for them. Wednesday, August 29 Had comapny. Mrs. Dusmberry and S. had an invitation to L. Tompson's wedding. Thursday, August 30 Blank. Friday, August 31 Preserved the plums.

Dear Folks, This afternoon the phone rang, the woman introduced herself as Donna Allen who was calling from Tucson, AZ, she told me that our Village Historian had given her my number and I was all ears to listen to what she had in mind. She said she was researching her Youngstown family and wanted to know if there were any genealogists in the area who could help her. In answer to that I suggested that I may have already researched her family and when she told me that it was the family of John Turner, I replied, "Oh, you mean John and Agnes Turner?" Of course I knew the family and had researched it as thoroughly as I could from local records. When she realized that I really knew a lot about the family and started asking me a lot of questions, I interrupted her and asked if she had email. Yes she did. I gave her my email address and suggested she email me as to what was on her mind. And she did. I printed her message out, studied it carefully and then this evening I probably spent about two hours responding to it. I could tell that she wasn't a newbie to genealogy when she told me about some of her theories about the family. I felt that it was a challenge and at the same time her theories made me take a different slant on the family. While I was digging through my TURNER file of paper copies I came across an exchange of emails that I had with Beverley Lane from Illinois last August including a number of family group sheets she had mailed me on the same Turner family. Beverley and I haven't corresponded since. I didn't bother to tell Donna about Beverley in that I figured it could wait. So at 8:37 this evening I sent my reply to Donna. Well guess what? At 10:58 this evening out of a clear blue sky I received an email from Beverley Lane and all she said was to remind me of our correspondence of last year and asked me if I was still doing Niagara Co. genealogy research. I really couldn't believe the coincidence of two queries about the same family on the same day! Donna certainly didn't mention Beverley and Beverley certainly didn't mention Donna. But when I responded briefly to Beverley this evening I copied Donna and I guess I'll just have to wait and see if it was a coincidence or not. At any rate, it appears that the three of us need to get into a huddle on the TURNER/CAMPBELL family "mystery" around here! Genealogy is sooooo boring! vee