On May 5th, J.P. dug his well, which told us that the family did not have a well during that first year in Springdale. Their property may have had a creek or spring, or perhaps they carried water from a source further away from their property. Whichever might be the case, it probably meant that significant effort was required to have water for the family.
The second interesting entry concerning their house occured on June 6th, when J.P. "bot. 225 feet of flooring." This entry told us that the cabin had a dirt floor from the time they moved into the cabin in December, 1850, until after June of 1851. This entry also gave us an indication of the size of the cabin. A quick analysis of the cabin based on some "guess-timates" of features in the photo of the house and some mathematical computation, indicates that the cabin was most likely 10'x20' (200 sq. ft) or 15'x15' (225 sq. ft.). The 15'x15' model is most likely, given that J.P. purchased "225 ft of flooring" and as a frugal Scotsman, he would not purchase more flooring than needed. Also, the 15'x15' model also provided 25 sq. ft. more floor space for the same amount of outside materials.
J.P. was able to purchase the flooring after receiving a $200 draft from R. Grant on May 7th. According to Measuring Worth.com, $200 in 1850 was worth between $4,200 to $5,700 in today's economy. So far there is no indication as to the identification of R. Grant, or where he resided, or what his relationship to James P. McPherson was. If anyone has any information about this R. Grant and James P. McPherson, please contact me at the email address listed on this blog.
Another interesting development in the diary centers around J. P. and his wool buying. Back in April, he borrowed $10 from Mr. Anderson and purchased 42# of wool at Fullers. In May, J. P. went to Madison and obtained a $100 Cash and Due Bill from Tibbitts, Gordon and Co. Then on June 4th, he received $100 from Mr. Gordon, and at the same time he purchased a "steel yard" (which is a balance device for weighing material, such as wool). Over the next 10 days he bought wool from Whyte, Waddell, Harlow, Brian, Munger, Jacket, McDonald, and Bently (a good portion of the Scots living on Scotch Lane). When I first read these entries, I thought that he was going to use the wool himself, but after checking the Wisconson Argus newspaper for 1850 and 1851, it appears that Tibbitts, Gordon and Co. were in the business of buying and selling goods. J.P. appears to be showing his entrepreneurial acumen.
On a community level, J.P. was quite involved in working on the school house and spent 3 days working on the school house. On June 2nd, while on his way to Madison (probably on foot and it's 20 + miles), he stopped at a Mr. Martin's to see the school he built.
On personal level, J.P.'s wife Mary was "at Mitchells" on May 3rd, and their friends the Mitchells left for NY on May 5th. She may have been helping the family pack for the trip, or perhaps she was there in some other capacity. Also, on June 20th, William Cairncross arrived. William was the son of J.P.'s friend Alex Cairncross with whom he had been in correspondence. It would have been interesting, if J.P. had written more about Mary's activities, the content of his correspondence to Ann Adamson and Alex Cairncross, as well as R. Brand, A.A. Bird, and R. Grant. On these issues, the reader has some interesting, but unanswered questions.
Now with all of this background, enjoy reading J.P.'s diary entries.
Journal Entries for
May 1, 1851 through June 30, 1851
May 1st Thurs Ground
white with Snow. At J. Mitchells afternoon.
" 2nd Fri Helping
J. Mitchell to get out Stone & build wall.
" 3rd Sat. Working
at garden. Mary at J. Mitchells.
" 4th Sun. At
Mitchells, Eadies & Jackmans.
" 5th Mon. J.
Mitchell and family left for New York. Sent by him letters to A.
Adamson & J. Blackhall. Received two small pigs from Mrs.
Thomson.
" 6th Tues. Working
at School house.
" 7th Wed. Received
letter enclosing Draft for $200 from R. Grant also
letter for J. Mitchell from C. Hairy Planted
potatoes at Mr. Andersons.
" 8th Thurs. Chopping
wood for Line burning.
" 9th Fri. DO " " " " Posted
letter to R. Grant.
" 10th Sat. Digging
well. Thunder & rain storm.
" 11th Sun. At home.
" 12th Mon. DO
" 13th Tue. DO
" 14th Wed. At Home " " Rcd letter
for J M from L F.
" 15th Thurs. Digging
garden.
" 16th Fri. At Madison.
Recd $100 cash and due bill for $100 from Tibbets, Gordon & Co.
" 17th Sat. At Home.
" 18th Sun. At Mr. Andersons. Raining.
" 19th Mon. Working at
School House.
" 20th Tue At Ben Hays,
Perkins Mill & Harlows.
" 21st Wed. Clearing for
breaking. Recd letter from Alex (Cairncross/JGH)
" 22nd Thurs. DO Do Do
" 23rd Fri. Posted
letters to R. Grant & A. Cairncross. Clearing for breaking.
" 24th Sat. DO DO DO
" 25th Sun. At Primrose
P.O. Britzs, Mill &c
" 26th Mon. At home.
Raining.
" 27th Tues. Working at
School house. Hauled my lime.
" 28th Wed. At home.
" 29th Thurs. Working with
Mr Anderson. Planting corn.
" 30th Fri. DO " " " " "
" 31st Sat At Home. Raining.
June 1st Sun. At Miles and
Lamonts.
" 2nd Mon. Started for
Madison – Stopped at Mr. Patons. Went to Mr. Martins to see his
school.
" 3rd Tues. Planting
corn on the Sod
at Mr. Andersons.
" 4th Wed At Madison
with Mr. Paton. Recd $100 from Mr. Gordon. Bot steel yard.
" 5th Thurs. Bot.
Messers. Whyte & Waddeles wool.At
Brian & Clevelands
" 6th Fri. At Britzts
sawmill. Bot 225 feet flooring.
" 7th Sat. Planting
corn at Mr. Andersons.
" 8th Sun. At Home.
" 9th Mon. Planting
corn.
" 10th Tues. DO DO
Recd Whytes & Harlows wool.
" 11th Wed. DO DO
Recd Waddelles & Brians DO
" 12th Thurs. DO
DO At McDonalds & Browns.
" 13th Fri. At
Stevensons raising forenoon. Recd Munger
& Jacket
wool.
" 14th Sat. Planting
corn. Recd McDonalds & Bentlys Wool.
" 15th Sun. At house.
" 16th Mon. (Planting corn Lined Out by JPMCP.//JGH) Working on
road.
" 17th Tues. (Do Do Lined out by JPMcP.//JGH) DO DO
for Mr.Stevenson.
" 18th Wed. DO DO
Recd letters from A. Adamson, R. Brand & R. Grant & enclosing
Draft for $16.
" 19th Thurs. At Madison.
" 20th Fri. Hoeing corn
fore Mr.
A.
Wm Cairncross arrived.
" 21st Sat. Planted
potatoes at Mr. A's Raining til noon.
" 22nd Sun At Cross
Plains Hotel.
" 23rd Mon Hoeing corn
for Mr. Davidson.
" 24th Tues. (Photographic
copy did not include this entry as it was cut off.//'JGH)
" 25th Wed. Hoeing corn
for Mr. Beat.Recd Letters frm Grant & Brand.
" 26th Thurs. " " " " "
" 27th Fri. " " " " "
" 28th Sat. At home. Raining all day.
" 29th Sun. At Martins
Stewarts Patons & Beats.
" 30th Mon. At home.
Note: Yellow highlighted words mean that this is my best guess as to the word.//JGH
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