Connections More: The Ancestor's Diary

The Dairy

Introduction:

It was the year 1860. Abraham Lincoln was elected president on November 6. The little black book came to me through my mother’s saved treasures. It may have been passed on to her from her mother and her mother may have received it from her mother. I’m not sure.

The name “Folkner” is mentioned. The name “Ayres” is mentioned. “Sussex” is mentioned. “New Jersey” is mentioned. My mother, Pauline Folkner Drake was born October 1, 1914 in NJ. Her mother, Mary Abigail Folkner (Drake) was born in 1874 and married in 1896 in Andover, Sussex County, NJ. Her mother, Malinda Ann Ayres was married in 1870 in Greenville, Sussex County, NJ to James Marshall Folkner. b.5-28-1843. This little daily diary must have been written by his brother, Abraham D. Folkner. There is no owner’s name in the diary. It shows that the birthdate of the author is October 3, 1833. According to the bible records that is Abraham's birthdate. To the best of my research throughout the diary the author is unmarried. He was 27 years of age when he wrote his entries on each and every day of the year 1860.

I refer to him as The “Author.” He was a hired hand on a working farm, living in Ohio. At the end of each day he always returned to Mexico. I therefore assume that he lived in the town of Mexico. “The pocket diary is for registering events of past or present occurrence, for the use of merchants, manufacturers, mechanics, housekeepers, and professional men.” It was also used as one of a hired farm hand. My Note: An agricultural base of life is very hard work.

Contents:

Personal Attributes and Health Issues
Personal Activities
Clothing and Items Purchased
Relatives Mentioned
Employer Names
Minister (Reverend) Names and Church Activities
Chores (in Order of Happening)
Friends, Acquaintances and Others Mentioned
Places Mentioned
His Memoranda End of Year
My Notes

My listings are almost all in order of occurrence in diary entries

Page 1

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Personal Attributes and Health Issues

Never gave name -Believed to be Abraham D. Folkner

Birthdate October 3, 1833 (Age 27 year of diary 1860)

January 25 - severe cold on lungs

March 21 - was cold (weather or himself?)

April 28 - had toothache

April 29 - had tooth extracted

June 30 - bathed in the Sandusky River

September 11 - had a light chill of the ague*

September 16 - had haircut

November 24 - was extremely cold (weather or himself?)

*AGUE Ague (A-gyoo) is a severe fever that's marked by recurring chills, shivering, and sweating. Sometimes, ague refers just to the chills and shivering, topped off by joint and bone pain.

Page 2

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Personal Activities

Attended church every Sunday
Joined Singing Society in Mexico
Went to Singing School at Bears Schoolhouse
Went to Spelling School at Bears Schoolhouse
Participated in singing group
Attended lectures (by Indian captive Matthew Braton)(Phenologist* lecture no good)
Attended political meetings & orations (Tiffin, August 1, for Lincoln, orations by Clay, Bates, & Sherman)(Mexico, September 1, oration by Moses Gibson)
Subscribed to Sussex Register( NJ) Date of Publication: 1813-1943
Subscribed to Christian Advocate and Journal
Subscribed to Tiffin Weekly Tribune (OH) Date of Publication: 1859-1868
Paid poll tax
Dated (“sparks”) Miss E. J. Bare
Went squirrel hunting
Hunted pigeons
Wrote letters to friends and relatives
Attended wedding of friends
Transported friends to a party
Shared oysters with friend
Attended lawsuit for assault of James Bear
Attended school with teacher Madison Lynch
Visited to sing at friend’s homes
Had a party from Mexico to sing
Took two women to Sycamore
Had a flareup with the horses
Attended parties
Appointed as Assistant Superintendant of Sunday School
Attended picnic at Melmore
Borrowed buggy
Attended “Pic Nic” at Farmers Hill
Traveled to U.S. Fair and Cincinnati OH
Attended National Theatre
Traveled to Seneca County Fair
Visited city of Covington KY
Visited Museum in Covington KY
Traveled to Mechanics Fair in Lexington KY
Attended Seneca Community Fair
Heard introduction to course of lectures on physiology*
Heard lecture on digestion
Attended apple paring bee
Went through physiological* examination, got a chart
Attended Wide Awake meeting
Attended more political meetings and a mammoth mass meeting
Page 3 cont'd
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Spent a day reading and singing
Hugged a Bare in the evening (Miss Elizabeth or Miss Mary??-probably Elizabeth)
Collected for Sunday School
Went to presidential election in Sycamore November 6 (I assume he voted)
Participated in a Republican Jubilee (Wide Awake torches cut the Republican pole down)
Quote: “The Republicans had a Jolification over their presidential victory.”
Finished reading the old testament through the second time
Lounged around
Went to a taffy party
Got George shod In Sycamore (his horse??)
Shot a squirrel with the rifle
Had a spark Miss Bare (Miss Elizabeth or Miss Mary??-probably Elizabeth)
Took a horseback ride with Allie Funk to Crawfordville and had a pleasant time.
Got his boots mended in Mexico

*Phenology - The scientific study of periodic biological phenomena, such as flowering, breeding, and migration, in relation to climatic conditions.

* Physiology - the branch of biology dealing with the functions and activities of living organisms and their parts, including all physical and chemical processes.

Page 4

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Clothing and Items Purchased

Bought a can of oysters and 4 lbs. crackers
Purchased some books in Tiffin
Bought a gold pen, bridle, martingales and a pair of fine boots.
Paid 75¢ for book for Mrs. Lynch.
Sent $1.00 to Hall & Edsal for The Sussex Register
Sent $1.00 to Joe Leetson for the Christian Advocate and Journal
Bought coat in Tiffin $16.50
Went shopping to Melmore with Mrs. Linch and bought a satin vest.
Went shopping in Sycamore and bought stuff for pants and shirts at Harpers $3.00
Paid Poll Tax
Paid 87¢ for shears, received from J. C. Lynch 56¢
Subscribed to Tiffin Tribune
Donated to the missionary cause $1.00
Purchased excursion ticket in Cincinnati $5.35 for Bellfontaine
Bought New Discipline of our Church 25¢
Bought muslin for two shirts
Bought pair boots $2.75
Bought overcoat $10.00
Purchased a pair of buckskin gloves for 95¢
Was measured in Tiffin City for a suit of clothes
Picked up whole suit of clothes from Mrs. Volmer for $5.50
Bought a pair of drawers 25¢
Bought a pocket knife 62¢

Page 5

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Relatives Mentioned

Mother (wrote letter)(Mother was Susan M. Folkner)
Sister Jane Folkner (received letters)(wrote letters) (Sarah Jane)
Sister Abbey M. Folkner (received letters)(wrote letters)(Abigail Meriah)
Sister Elisabeth Letson (received letter)(Mary Elizabeth)
Brother John Folkner (wrote letter)(received letters)(John)
Brother Ben Folkner (visited in Tiffin City)(had dinner and tea with him)(dined with)(stayed overnight there)(got up a party and visited him at the infirmary)(Benjamin)
Cousin Lottie Poyers (signed a refunding bond from and to Gabriel Wolverton, administrator for a letter from her and another from Anna Flummerfelt)(read letters)(wrote letters)
Cousin Libbie Hibler (wrote letters)(received letters)
Cousin Hattie Hock (received letter)
Uncle Andrew.S. Hibler (received letter)(wrote letters)
Elijah Folkner (wrote letter)
Mrs. Leah Letson (received letter)

Page 6

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Employer Names

Joseph C. Lynch (Loaned Mr. Lynch $75. Jan 28)(Worked this year for $14.00 per month) (Hired on for next season for $15.00 per month)
Mrs. Lynch (bought her a book for 75¢)
Frank Baker
George Biles

Minister (Reverend) Names and Church

Reverend Mc Clain (Presley)
Ben Thompson
Reverend Williams
Elder Lenett (at Melmore, quarterly meeting)(at Mexico, quarterly meeting)(at Sycamore, quarterly meeting)
Reverend Mudge at M.E. Church in Tiffin
Father Thompson (at Mexico, quarterly meeting)
A Stranger preached sermon on May 13
Reverend Boyer L. P.
Reverend Welch
North Bend Baptist meeting in North Bend
Reverend Nickles
Attended Dedication of the New Presbyterian at McCrutchenville
Reverend Hartman preached a sermon for the paupers in the infirmary, spoke in English and German text. It is appointed once for man to dialects.
Heard the funeral sermon of Widow Leeper
Heard Mr. Sites preach at North Bend meeting

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Chores (in order of Happening)

Hauled logs and posts
Hauled corn, chopped wood, loaded logs
Thrashed seed clover
Cleaned clover seed
Hauled fodder* and rolled logs
Delivered corn to Tiffin
Husked 4 shocks* of corn
Hauled corn fodder
Chopped cord wood
Knocked off corn stubbles
Built fence for sheep
Chopped wood in woods for free use
Hauled rails and wood
Chopped logs to saw by horse power
Sawed logs with the crosscut saw
Took apples out of the hole
Dug out a trench
Filled in a trench
Hauled manure
Hauled manure on garden
Dragged logs to saw by horse power
Went for lumber in another town
Sawed wood by horse power
Hauled chips
Cleared up the door yard
Harrowed the door yard
Worked in the garden
Transplanted fruit and forest trees
Plowed for oats
Sowed clover seed
Trimmed apple trees
Cleared the door yard
Hauled out clover chaff*
Planted potatoes
Plowed corn ground many days in a row in April & May
Shopped for seed corn
Harrowed and furrowed out corn ground
Planted corn on new ground
Plowed part of garden and bean patch
Hoed the garden
Whitewashed
Dressed up the orchard
Sowed buckwheat and harrowed it in
Loaded corn Page 8 cont'd
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Washed sheep
Plowed follow* many days in May & June
Replanted corn twice
Sheared sheep
Plowed corn many times in June
Changed the stock to the new ground
Mowed with machine
Drawed in dray*
Drawed* in two loads of sawed wood
Burned a log pile
Went in harvest with the reaper
Harvested for Blair and for Lynch
Bought some lambs
Cradled* wheat for William Gibbs
Plowed potatoes
Harrowed follow
Drawed wheat with two wagons several times
Helped thrash for Frank Baker
Topped out wheat stacks
Fenced the wheat stacks
Drawed in oats
Repaired fence
Drawed up two loads of wheat, went to Tiffin & sold it
Plowed 9 acre field
Burned stubble
Filled the lane
Separated the lambs from the ewes
Plowed in the spring field
Plowed in the corner field
Cut apples
Hauled out old stack bottom
Sowed wheat in the little run field
Drilled in wheat and timothy seed in the Spring field
Shoveled the wheat about in the bin to keep from spoiling
Cut corn
Sowed 231/2 bushels of wheat on 14 acres in the follow field
Sowed 171/2 bushels of wheat on 9 acres in the stubble field
Cracked down the buckwheat in the orchard
Reaped seed clover
Cleaned up loads of wheat
Cut buckwheat
Hauled off some corn
Hauled some pumpkins several times
Drawed in load of seed clover
Thrashed rye
Brought straw bundles Page 9 cont'd
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Husked corn and drawed it in for election day for state
Drawed in 2 loads pumpkins
Thrashed 4 loads of buckwheat
Drawed in 7 loads seed clover
Thrashed 6 loads buckwheat
Repaired bridge
Thrashed oats with machine
Dug potatoes
Picked up cider mill at Wm. Gibbs
Made cider
Picked winter apples
Cleaned out bath wells and cistern
Hauled wood
Finished digging potatoes
Drawed 10 loads pumpkins
Finished picking winter apples
Marked the pigs from up the hogs to fat
Husked corn several days
Turned the pigs in the woods
Delivered 2 loads of wheat several trips
Got horses shod
Lost the third hog
Picked cider apples
Drawed one load of onions
Drawed 4 loads corn
Husked 4 loads of corn and drawed it in (thrice)
Myself husked 80 bushels of corn ears or 5 bushels of shelled corn. “Who can beat it.”
Thrashed buckwheat
Took a barrel buckwheat to Mexico
Buried potatoes and cabbage
Fenced stacks
Husked corn, drawed a lold of wood, drawed in last of pumpkins
Killed a pig
Husked 61 stacks of corn (4 bushels myself) Snowed
Repaired barnyard fence
Fenced the apples and potato holes
Buried the apples
Finished drawing corn fodder for this year
Drawed corn fodder and straw to cover the shed
Hauled rails and fenced the corn fodder by the barn
Cleaned barn to prepare for seed clover thrashing
Helped J. C. Lynch thrash and clean clover seed with Heckman's machine
Prepared for butchering pork or hogs
Helped J.C. Lynch butcher his pork, killed 8 hogs
Cut up pork and put it down - (on Christmas Day) Page 10 cont'd
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Helped J.C. Lynch trying out* lard and making sausage for two days
Sawed wood at the woodpile
Chopped wood on the woodpile - (December 31)

* To shock corn is to cut the corn stalks, place them in armful-sized bundles, and stack the bundles against each other so that they stand up.

* Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs.

* Chaff is the dry, scaly protective casings of the seeds of cereal grain or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material such as scaly parts of flowers, or finely chopped straw. Chaff is inedible for humans, but livestock can eat it.

* Fallow - Idle crop land. The most common reasons in modern agriculture are to conserve moisture for future use and for weed control. In extremely dry areas, for instance, wheat is grown every other year. Fields lie fallow.

* Dray - a low, strong cart without fixed sides, for carrying heavy loads.

* Drawed in - I think he means brought in or dragged

* Cradled - to gently support

* Trying Out - To render - You "tried out" the fat in a great iron kettle over a fire out of doors to avoid saturating the house with the odor.

Page 11

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Friends, Acquaintances and Others Mentioned

Jennie Hibler and her brother James Hibler (author wrote letters)
James Hibler (author read his confession)
G. Wolverton (author wrote letter)
William Gibbs (author dined)(author sang there)(author stayed overnight there)(author cradled wheat for him)(author went to a surprise party)(author attended an apple cut)(author visited often)(author visited Gibbs mother)
Andrew Vought (author together with him, wrote letter)(he stayed overnight several times)
David Brands (author visited)
Miss Larisa Dewit of Sussex (received letter)(author wrote letter)(several more of both)
C. M. Howell (author wrote letter) (received letters)
Matthew Brayton (Indian captive, author attended lecture)
Joe and John Pennington (author transported a load of folks to his party)(took dinner to Doc Johnson Pennington)
Tobias Vanhorn (authorwrote letter)(received letter)
Abram Swayze of Sycamore (author shared oysters)(dined with)(had visit from him & wife)(author visited, left trunk)(author borrowed & returned his buggy)
George Naggle (author paid for the loan of his sleigh)
Miss Anna Flummerfelt (author wrote letter)
Isaac Swaze and D. Brant (brought children home from school with them)
Miss Henrietta Slack of Milford PA (author wrote letter together with Andrew Vought)(received letter)(author sent letter)
Cristopher Gibbs (author dined together with Andrew Vought)(dined)
James Blair (author attended lawsuit for assault on him by citizens of Mexico)(drawed in harvest with the reaper)
Abram Bear (author dined together with Andrew Vought)(invited there, and *sparked)(went to a taffy party there)
Miss Emogene Ayres (author wrote letter)
Miss Emma J. Ayres (received letter)(author wrote leader)
Miss Eugenia Miller (received letter)
Jacob R. Leetson (author commenced letter)
Madison Lynch (teacher at Bare’s Schoolhouse)
Peter Hapler (author overnight guest)(author wrote letter)
Peter Miller (author wrote letter)
Emma E. Hibler (author wrote letter)
George Biles (dined there with Andrew Vought)(sang there)(author visited)(cut apples there)(thrashed oats for him)
J. Franks (author visited)
Debolt Bloom (delivered wood)
Thomas Swandess (author stayed all night and held girls a *spark)
Mr. Parmers (author visited)
Wm. Hechman (author visited)(went to Tiffin at night had a runaway)?? horse?person?
Hall & Edsel - Sussex Register (author wrote letter to rectify mistake)
Miss Jane W. Hibler (author wrote letter)
Mrs. Lynch (author went to Melmore shopping with her)
Miss Ann Solar and Miss Sidney Lonis (author took to Sycamore)
Frank Baker(author visited several times)(later worked for him)(helped thrash with machine)
Jacob Albertson (received visit and stayed over night)(took him to Tiffin)(received letter)(author wrote letter)
Abe Dilaplane (author attended party)(dined there)
Levi Pennington (author shopped for seed corn)
*Miss Libbie Bear (spark)(good spark June 25)(nice chat)
J. R. Leetson (author wrote letter)
Levi Gibbs & Andrew Vought (guests for dinner at home & went to singing school)
William Badgers (author bought lambs from him)
John Biggs (author borrowed his buggy)(dinner)
Joseph Biggs (author visited several times)
Mr. Holmes
*Miss Elizabeth J. Bare(author took to Mr.Holmes)(received a note)(took to Madison, had good time)(author got dinner for both Misses)(had a spark)
Miss Mary Bare(took to Mr.Holmes)
Governor Bates(author heard [Joshua Hall Bates] (March 5, 1817 – July 26, 1908)
Mr. Cashman(sp?) M. Clay and Mr. Sherman (Orators at Lincoln political oration)(author heard speak)
Moses Coe Gibson, Orator (author heard speak)
Charles Shuler of Butsville(author saw at Singing Society)(stayed with author overnight)
Judge Carey (author heard address at meeting in Mexico)
Mr. Shoemaker (author stayed over at his place in Tiffin)
Professor Parson (he presented a course of lectures on physiology*)(author had exam by him)
Calvin Rogers (author had apple paring bee there)
Mr. Dewitt (author heard speaker at Wide Awake Meeting)
Mary Bentz (she visited author)
Stephen A. Douglas (author heard him address a mammoth mass meeting)
Judge Teese (author heard him speak)
J. S. Harden (author read letter “my likeness” ?)
Mrs. Volmer (of Tiffin) (seamstress made author suit of clothes)
Widow Leeper (author heard funeral sermon)
Will Wilgins (author noted he started to NJ with Andrew Voght)
Dr. Clark (unreadable as to what author did)
Isiah Gibbs (author went with him to Henry Hears, Esq.)
Henry Hears, Esq. (author went to him with Isiah Gibbs)
Allie Funk (author took a horseback ride with her)
Mat Finch (author mentioned in memo #2) Pages 12 & 13 cont'd
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*Miss Libbie Bear and Miss Elizabeth Bare possibly same person

* Spark - to woo or court - to respond with enthusiasm

* Physiology - the branch of biology dealing with the functions and activities of living organisms and their parts, including all physical and chemical processes.

Page 14

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Places Mentioned (with maps at end)

Mexico (Crawford County OH)(He went there almost every day after working)

Crawfordville ? Cannot find on map

(Crawford County)

Sycamore Singing school - Bears Schoolhouse - Went shopping there

Page 15 cont'd

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Peppermint Valley (no longer on map - in the upper OHIO VALLEY) Spelling School

Melmore Went shopping there

Tiffin Brother Ben Folkner lives there

Page 16 cont'd

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Sandusky River Bathed in the river.

Dayton Attended U.S. Fair and National Theater

Page 17 cont'd

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Cincinatti Traveled through on way to KY

North Bend Visited

Covington KY Visited Museum and Mechanics Fair

Page 18 cont'd

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Bellefontaine Bought excursion ticket in Cincinnatti to go there

McCrutchenville Dedication new Presbyterian Church

Delphos

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Author’s Memoranda page notes, End of Year

Character of the country in Ohio its peculiarities to be observed in letters

1st nature of the soil and husking and feeding corn

Building fences

Fruit

Timber

Worth or price of horses

Price of corn and wheat

Number of bushels per acre

Sell corn in the ear

Manner of raising wheat

Days that I do not work promised not lost.

1 day went to Tiffin paid a visit to Brother Ben’s with Mrs. Baker Mr. & Mrs. Lynch June the 23rd.

Went to Tiffin to a mass meeting 1 day August the 1st.

Saturday August the 11th half day promised me if I would help finish plowing the stubble field along the road he would give me clear. Got done a little after noon, prepared to to go Mat Finch’s.

Thursday Oct 18 cleaned out both wells and the cistern J. C. Lynch promised me that should make up all of my lost time up to that time.

#4

Difference between an idea and realization of morality keep pace with intelligence and piety balance learning.

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My Notes

Matthew Brayton - Found much information and narrative on internet. Wrote book about 34 years captivity.
Joshua Hall Bates - Found information on internet. Civil War Union Brigadier General. Ohio Governor, Ohio State Senate, he resigned in 1864. He resumed his law practice after leaving politics.
Moses Coe Gibson - Found information on internet. B. Oct. 25, 1814, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. Buried Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio
Mr. Sherman - Found no information on internet. Orator - I don’t think it was William Tecumseh Sherman who was born to a prominent family in Lancaster, Ohio, on February, 8, 1820
Mr. Clay - Found no information on internet in time period around 1860. Orator
Wide Awakes - Found much information on internet. The militarism of the Wide Awakes helps explain how the election of Lincoln sparked the Civil War. The structured, militant Wide Awakes appealed to a generation profoundly shaken by the partisan instability of the 1850s and offered young northerners a much-needed political identity.
Abraham Lincoln elected president on November 6, 1860.
Andrew Vought - Indications lead me to believe he was a close friend and they did many things together.
Miss Bare - Sparked, not sure if Elizabeth (Libby) or Mary
Christmas DAY -worked with employer cutting up pork and putting it down.
Miss Larisa Dewitt - of Sussex -They corresponded often. I think she may be my family connection to the Folkners of Sussex, NJ.
My listings are almost all in order of occurrence in diary.
U.S. Fair Ohio - From information on internet: Held in Dayton Ohio in 1860
? Could my Grandmother, Mary Abigail Folkner Drake, be named after the author's sister, Abbey M. Folkner & Mary's brother, John Folkner, after author's brother John?

Final Documentation by Geraldine Reed, September 2015 Page 21

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Also Found

Susan was Abraham's mother (Abram "nickname")

James was Abraham's Father

This is James Marshall Folkner whose Brother Abraham D. has written the diary.

(James is my Maternal Great Grandfather)

He is not mentioned in the diary

My grandmother saved this picture

Click on images to view larger

Author

"ABRAHAM"

These siblings are mentioned in the diary

"Abby"

"Libby"

"Jane"

John

"Ben"

These siblings are Not mentioned in the diary

First child - date of death Unknown

Twin to Sister Margaret
date of death Unknown

Twin to brother William
date of death Unknown

Died at 11 months of age

NOTE:

SOURCEU.S. National Park Service: Civil War Soldiers & Sailors Database

LOCATIONOH

MILITARY SERVICEAbraham D. Folkner fought in the Civil War for the Union in the 55 Ohio Infantry. He entered the war with the rank of Private., and left with the rank of Private.

Maps

Mexico