1877

John Becker

Indian River

Lewis County, New York

Saturday, September 1, 1877

This morning Christopher Kempeny & I went over to Peter VerSnyder's 

after a bushel of apples and some plums.  After getting home we went into the woods and ranked bark.  We have 80 cords.

Wednesday, September 19, 1877

Finished ranking bark this morning.  I went to Jordan Falls to get Mr. Rice to measure my bark but he was not at home.  We have 208 cords of bark by our measure.  

Thursday, September 20, 1877

We were working up timber in the fallow today most all day.  Dug some potatoes the rest of the day.  Weather very pleasant.  Was at Peter VerSnyder's yesterday after apples.  

Friday, September 21, 1877

Bought of Peter VerSnyder four one half bushels of apples at fifty cents per bushel.  Brought them home last night.  Worked up timber.  Today Christopher Kempeny was here to looking for farm.  

Saturday, September 22, 1877

Began to log today.  Bryant and Darby came to measure my bark but we could not agree on the measure so I concluded to let it go by weight.  They allowed me 183 & 1/4 cords.

Friday, October 5, 1877

I was at Jordan this forenoon settled up with Mr. Rice.   He paid me $200. dollars per check which leaves $141.32 due me.  James Ellis was here paid him $34.35 in full.

Saturday, November 17, 1877

I bound five bundles of rhye straw.  Their weight was 109 lbs. for Mr. Rice at $15.00 per ton.  Sent it up to him by Mr. S. Love.  Underbrushed the rest of the day.  Rained again this evening.

Monday, November 19, 1877

It snowed about three inches.  Yesterday was at C. Shiver's after my oxen.  Went to John Rock's after flour and a scalding tub to butcher.  This afternoon I was taking logs out of the road.  

Tuesday, November 20, 1877

Today Peter Smith and C. Kempeny came here to help me butcher.  They charge fifty cents a piece.  Samuel Love paid me Seventy-five cents for straw for Mr. Rice.  Quite cold all day.  

Friday, November 23, 1877

Was at Jordan Falls today bought a pork barrel of Rice for .25 cents and paid him for it.  Looked the bark account over.  They have drawed ninety-two loads up to this evening.

Monday, November 26, 1877

I was underbrushing today.  Rained a little this afternoon.  Bound two bundles of straw for Mr. Binkey of Jordan Falls.  Their weight was 64 lbs. at $15.00 per ton which makes it .45 cents.

Saturday, Dec. 1, 1877

I started to go to Jordan Falls this morning but the road was too bad so I churned until noon.

Thursday, December 13, 1877

It has rained all day.  I was at Jordan Falls received twenty-five dollars of Mr. Rice and Brothers.  They have drawn one hundred and forty-eight cord of bark at present.  Raining yet.