|
|
Cover:
10
John Wheatley
Northumberland
Pennsylvania
his Memoranda
April 16th 1839
<p.1> John Wheatley /
Left home April 16 1839 about Five in the Evening Arrived at Arensburg
3 in the Morning Rained from 7 to 2 comenced snowng 5 AM snow
covered the hills verry thick the 17 7 AM started after Breakfast
watter Street where we arrived after traveling over the worst
road i ever seen around \about/ 8 in the Evening
verry unpleasant day it being snowey and Cold all day
18 started at 5 AM for Pittsburg arrived at Holladays Burg at 10 ½ Breakfasted started at 11
19 Breakfasted at Murraysville at 9 this Morning verry Heavy Frost Supposed to Kill all the Fruit
<p.2> Friday 19th arrived at Pitt about 2 oclock stopped at Mr Irons |
Pittsburg Hotel
Satterday 20 Entered the Czar for St Lewis this evening arrived at Wheeling on virginia side about eight in the Evening tarried until \Sunday/ eight in the mornig [sic] a distanc of 92 miles from Pittsburg very fine morning appletrees her in full bloom watter falling verry fast in the river high bluffs on both sides at intervals passed many towns through the day and night Monday mornig at 9 ½ arrived at Portsmouth 350 Miles from Pittsburg verry fine morning.
<p.3> got verry hot, came up rain about about [sic]
five oclock in the afternoon. Miserable set of Huts all along
the river for Whites to live in not as large as pig pens with
us some verry fine Orchards all the way allong, wood seems to
be the chief trade for the people along the river, Monday Evening
arrived at Cincinati about Eight this is
a beautiful Place 448 miles from Pitt Covington
and Newport Ky are places of Buisness Cincinati
is improving verry much last Season there was 700 Buildings put
up this morning \Tuesday/ Warm & raining a little i feel reather
unwell <p.4> with pains in my head and disiness of Eyes
10 oclock feel Better after walking out to the canal a great Many
Buildings going up ther is a Many steam Boats
laying here suppose to be about 20 this looks like buisness much
surprised to see such a place as this is for Buisness left Cincinati
about 2 oclock verry Pleasant arrived at Maddison
about 10 ½ in the Evening stoped ½ hour started for
Lewisvill Where we arrived before day \on
Wednesday/ comenced raining 7 oclock Cleard I walked up town seen
their market which is verry Poor ther is a dirty stinking place,
here i <p.5> seen the grass about 1 foot long putting up
some verry fine buildings Courthouse in perticular will be splendid
building We have as many on the boat as can be accomodated and
they are all verry pleasant and kind verry much pleased with Company
and the Officers of the Boat the Captain and his Brother are the
Owners of the Boat this is the first trip since they have bot
the Boat, Left Lewisville about 1 oclock verry Hot with fresh
\an additional/ supply of Passengers & frate As many and as
much as the Boat can Contain Passed through the Cannal then was
detained for <p.6> 2 hours for want of a pilot than proceded
on Thursday Morning verry fine and warm about 120 miles from Lewisville
went on shore see oats about 6 inches in lengh on the 'Ia' shore
here the land is very sandy bu appears to produce well the trees
here are in full leaf looks beautiful
arrived at Shawneetown about 7 in the Evening went on shore walked through the town Came accross locusts(?) in full Bloom here they are building a new Bank not much of a Place 849 miles form pitt Friday morning 26 arrived at the mouth of the Wabash here we was informed that the <p.7> Pennsylvania & the glasco ware both Burnt the Pennsylvania i saw laying at Paducah at the mouth of the Tennesee River which is a total loss Paducah is springing up verry fine in city stile i understd a company from Yew York [sic] has the principal part of the Town and they are doing all they can to make it flurish i understand the Pennsylvania had 50 thousand Dollar in Specie on board for one of the Banks the loss is Estimated at 200 Thousand Dollars, this Morning Clear and verry warm we have got out of sight of the hills i dont like this country the least bit <p.8> the banks are low and Overflow when ther is a Midling Freshet this is the ruin of the country, last nigh was the First time i though about home the reason was that i went to bed and fell assleep but was awoke by a buzzing in my hed finely i concluded that it was bed Bug that had got in my Ear which made me feel verry bad but finely i bore with it for some time and at last he thot he had got in the rong place for good living so he Backed out much to my satisfaction but when he came the Enterance i snapped him like a Pea and then rested well the remainder of the night
<p.9> Friday at 1 ½ \oclock/ we Entered the Missipi This is a wast [=vast?] different from the Ohio The Watter is Just like soap suds We proceeded about 14 miles When we came \to/ the Glasco the Boat that was Burnt they wore taking things out of her but is a comple Reck We proceeded on 8 or 10 miles when our Engine got out of Order We had to run her on shore to Repair just Before sun set i went on shor on the Masura side here the Soil is about 6 to 10 feet deep here the Musketoes are verry thick and bein(?) pere(?) the vines are nearly 2 feet long and the soil first rate
<p.10> Satuerday Morning \27th/ verry fine about
9 Oclock we came to the Mountains on the Masura side which are
limeston in such quantities as i never sas [sic] they are
very Beautiful washed or carved out at the distance of 100 feet
high about 1 ½ came up a verry heavy storm of rain &
hail lasted about ¾ of an ower then cleared of about 2 ½
we pased the Iron Mountain City
wich no one would of known to be such from the appearance the
are only 3 or 4 houses here just above there is a shot tower built
on the top of one of these <p.11> hills which extend along
the Massura side for a long distance | the nex thing worth notice
was the Cornish Rock which is a beautiful
sight that is the Rock is washed out in the stile of a beautiful
Cornish. We passed the Screw aug mill this works
by the log in the watter cut like a screw and the current carryes
it round with such velosity that makse the mill work we arrived
at St. Lewis about twelve in the Evening
Sunday Morning 28th arrose after a good sleep walked ut town this place is improving verry much they are building a great Hotel <p.12> which covers the whole square which will be the best Building in the city
Started for Atton on Board of the Empire
with a great Many of the Old Comrades which was a verry agreeable
set arrived at atton about 2 Oclock stayed with Waples
Next Morning got horse & went in the Cutrary about ten miles
| seen verry fine jant(?) seen some verry fine Buildings this
is the most hilley plase i ever seen i seen where Lovejoy was
killed here is an amense of Buisness Done Rents are verry <p.13>
high here got back from the Country just in tim to get on Board
of Elk with Ramsey &
Company \Monday 29th about 3 oclock/ the Missipi is
Constanly filled with Islelands low Bank on one side or the other
all the way soil appears verry good but would not live here for
the Best farm i could get last knigh we had a verry heavy rain
it rained until abot 8 in the morning the Cleared of | warm passed
on util about 3 Came the City of K\M/aro\ion/
this is as level as a floor for Miles the Sil is verry good say
ten or 15 feet thick but the bans are so low <p.14> that
they overflow at every good rise ther is 3 or 4 Steam saw mills
here or parts of mills they are falling to pieces with Everything
else about the place You may see Churches partley finished and
many othe fine Buildings standing withot Roof & some in one
condition and some in anothe they say it is verry sick|ley and
i should say so too for it is intirely too low but is at a verry
pretty Point about 10 miles above Hannibal
Hannibal is a town situated on the side of a small hill and appears
to be a smart <p.15> buisness place looks as if it will
come to something smart here our Boat & the Ben Franklin
had a race which our Boat just beat and that was all up to the
city of K\M/airo\n/ as they call it but it looks
like some of the ancient City all going to the ground and never
to rise for ages as long as ther is the heathey West to fly to
here is the Best timber as i have yet seen the soil is so good
as to make the timber grow to a verry great sis the swamp Red
Oak is verry larg maple walnut locust and many other <p.16>
This Marion City is Dr Ealys City the Lawn(?) arround this place must have cost a great amount We arrived here about 3 and did not leave her until 9 this time i thot verry long the Boat was to be loaded with Lumber for Quincy a distance of about 10 Miles this i thot verry hard case | Left Quincy about 6 in the Morning for Warsas the Morning Midling Cool i dont feell verry well Quincy has the appearance of a real Buisness Place a number of verry fine Buildings proceede for Warsaw <p.17> within about 10 miles of that we seen a verry fine Deer swiming the river some of the Crew shot at it on the shore but had no luck as for Killing of it i though we would never reach the destined Place just above Quincy there is a beautiful Perarie her i can <see> 5 or 6 miles and as level as a floor with a Number of Horses Grazin the Grass here is about 18 inches high | arrived at Warsaw about 2 Oclock Wednesday the first of May got verry warm this Place is Principally on a verry large hill lots here along the warf <p.18> sells for 3 thousand Dollars to appearance not worth 10 the Principal Part of the buisness will be don on \the/ warf Just before we arrived here the Captain said his Boat was not safe to go any further therefor we was put on shore and here to wate the arrival of some other this makes me almost sik with their saying it is sickley her now this Place is nearly Opposite the Des Moins River from appearanc that looks to be a verry levil part of the Country suppered went to bed about 9 ½ in the town of Warsaw <p.19> Just had got asleep arroused by the news that a Boat had arrived got on Board about 12 Oclock in the Night proceeded up to the foot of the Rappids at which Place we Lay until 7 occlock in the morning this morning i arrose went on shore seen corn growing which was 4 or 5 inches in Length and so cold as i thot of the ague and felt verry much like it the watter fell Last night about 5 inches the Country her looks verry Rough | on Both Sides of the River about & We came up to the Fayett which was sticking fast on the rappids We layd to and took <p.20> part of her Fraight with the intention of loosening her which we did this morning the breakfast was verry roughf it seemed to me the further we go the worse Everything seems to get the victuals are so roughf that i can scarsley make a meal of anything the Cook are so Dirty if you see them preparing a meal it is a noughf for me here our Old Comrades are nearly all left for which i feell verry sorry it is getting verry cold so much so as i cant stand it to go out without my over coat we proceeded up the [blank] <p.21> Which for some distance as far as the Rappids Entered that is about fourteen Miles without any islands we passed the Demoin Garrison this is a verry Prity situation then proceeded up to fort Madison went on shore here too Cold to stand her long seen the Old part of the stockades this is a verry Beautiful situation for a town therby(?) they have very fine watter here this is about 5 oclock seen some Indians along the Road they are verry peacable they say but they Look rather Squally <p.22> |
New Boston
i arrived her about eight in the morning this morning Friday 4th
3d this is verry Cold the landing here with all the
serrounding Country is Nothing but a bed of sand ther is but 11
Dwellings here this place is a verry slow place nothing doing
in any shape here the stage as they Call it is a serious looking
thing they stop and feed on the long like a team with us the Perarie
her is midling large | left New Boston for Fredk Frick
about 11 oclock and arrived there about 12 which is about 7 miles
the road he ws verry good and smoothe not a stone nor hardley
a stump <p.23> this Farm of Mr Frick i think
is a verry cheap property ther is 240 acres Which the most of
it can be cultivated with a sng little house and stable and other
building the the land is what i would Call first rate it is as
black as tar for about 18 inches of a sandy loam and when ploughed
gets as fine as any of best of our gardens and produces in abundance
when properly attended to here you can stand in the Door and look
over ½ of the Farm the house stand under a bluff and fronts
the South You can see 7 or 8 miles all as level as a floor this
is in a beautiful <p.24> situation and a good neighbourhood
ther is a creek about ¼ of a mile to the north Which \is/
well timbered along both sides the timber is blac walnut ash popular
cottonwood hickery | and a varity of other kind plums grass strawberry
in abundan the only thing wanting is a good spring they say they
can get watter by Digging 15 or 20 feet but the Missfortune is
there is no stone to wall a well within 7 miles which is rather
far for advantage |
Stuerday [sic] 4th of May
This Morning verry high and cold wind such as they have not had since March this Morning. <p.25> verry heavy frost this look rather far north from that of mouth of the Ohio ther is a vast differance in the 2 points enoughf to make a person shuder to go further North Mr Frick is getting stock arround him Logs &c. |
Satuerday afternoon went to Mr Canders with Mr Frick he has a beautiful Farm as Level as a Floor with a fine Spring of Watter he also has a ¼ of Timber about 1 Mile of has has [sic] things arround him snug i Like this stuation verry much this day was very Cold \and Winday/
Sunday Morning the 6\5/th this Morning
verry fine and Clear <p.26> Started from Mr Frick
for Keithsburg to take Boat for | at which
place i stayed Sunday and spent a verry long day looking for a
Boat but none came | verry much to my dissatisfaction i walked
the Shore up and down, for many hours but no Boat came i took
something to Eat at Mr Keiths
which they were verry Kind to Offer | and at last i was invited
bed which \i/ accepted but lothe to go for fear of Missing a Boat
but none came.
Monday Morning the 6th i arrose Early after tolerable <p.27> good nights sleep this Morning comenced raining but soon cleared of but no Boat yet | comenced walking the \shore/ and looking but in vain this was the time i thot on home here putting in time which you would think so precious now 3 oclock & no Boat yet more sorrow, as the time is now past for me to take the stage at Stephens, which will detain me 2 or 3 day again. | i thot like many that i was left on shore
Tuesday the 7th
This morning i arrose more dissatisatisfied [sic] then
Ever still looking <p.28> for a Boat at Keiths Burg
this but none comes at this place there is 3
or 4 Cabbins on the Bank of the River about 3 miles from Fricks
but so anxious to get on, was affraid to leave the Shore here
ther was not to drink but River Watter Which i could not stand
The Musquetoes are getting so bad that a person cant have any rest or peace any place | this morning fine and warm |
Wednesday the 8 Fine Morning Still at Keithsburg wating for
a Boat but none comes this tryes my patience rather hard <p.29>
Nothing but Bred and & soft butter oily Bacon
this makes me think more of Home here nothing to pass time but
looking down the river as far as the Eye could see but no Boat
in sight walk back & forth all the time in suspence for fear
one might pass this is enough to weaken a weekly person days &
nights without any cumfort in Body or in Mind too hard all the
company Enjoying themselves on Rock River wher it is pleasant
and can get a drink of good watter which i cant do <p.30> |
about 11 Oclock i left Keiths Burg on foot for Mr Fricks this was the warmest walk that i had in a long time i took dinner there and then started for Millers Burg at which place i arrived in the Evening stopt at Mr Thorntons this is the Newest town that i ever seen it situated on a verry prity place for a Town great Fixters Making for Court in a week or too when i came here i was sadly disapointed to find that the stage had left for Stephenson in the Morning then i <p.31> was in as bad a fix as Ever No Horses no Waggons nor no ox Team to take me over to Mr Boons at Fowlers Grove a distance of about 12 miles i then insisted on G Frick to take me over on part of the way if i could get another chance(?) after going about 5 miles we stopped at a House and the man agreed to take me over which he did and got there in time for the stage Last night we had a verry smart rain most of the night we passed over a beautiful Body of Land as good as need be timber and watter but no stone <p.32>
Thursday 9 of May
Mr Boon has a fine Farm good Land watter & timber | of a midling quality Left Boons for Stephenson a distance of 18 miles through a beautiful Paraie it is said it is 52 miles in length this is the best that i have yet seen this after noon there came up a thunder storm that was a serious looking storm much Lightning & thunder but we got through safe to rock River crosed over to R.T. City this cant be much of a Place
Stephenson is improving verry much it has som beautiful situations for Building that <p.33> is Elevated spots here the Missippi Look better then i have seen it at any other Place The Fort is standing it appears to be in good condition in part they have a verry handsome Court House here Mr Hass keeps the stage office here he keeps a verry Good house
i seen the Place where Black Hawk was taken and the Pen where he kept his Horses & is [=I] seen the Rock River Mound this is verry large the town over the river is improving at a midling rate this Evening is verry cold and windey <p.34> |
Friday Morning 10th Cold Left Stephenson for Savanah in the Hack breakfast at Port Byron about 10 this is a verry dull place all the way up her the land is midling low swampy part of the way thickley timbered i seen 2 mills going by the force of the river watter such as i never saw we passed through many town new land but But [sic] not improving New Albany improving some the land we traversed to here is verry sandy and poorly timbered some of the Parare is improving of the river but is not verry Good all along the river the inhabitants <p.35> complain of the Ague we crosed the cat tails and the [blank] which runs to the Rock River when the Missipi is high and when Rock River is high it runs through to the Missipi we arrived at Futton city about 5½ in the Evening this place is intended for the County Seat it is Laid out verry large on the banks of the river just below there is some verry good land this place is where the road leads to Dixons Ferry i think this place will improve and make a town verry soon for there is several Building going on now <p.36>
Whilst wating here there came a Mr Scott
along that was going 6 miles above Dixons i got passage with him
and much pleased | at first but it turned out be a tedious rout
by laying by one day and then not getting throught as i thot i
could a Mr Bower at Dixons asked
me ten Dollars to take me on to Kishwaukee
a Distance of 35\3/ miles i thot that too Garlickey
Saturday morning 11th we staid her withe Mr Young a Methodist & took Breakfast before we started he lives 10 miles to the East of Futton City he has a fine Farm and there <p.37> is getting a good Settlement arround him ther is a mill within a half mile and saw mill close by and a verry good Grove of timber we then comenced traveling on the prairies ther is some of as good wheat on this prairie as i have seen this spring i think it will yeild 40 bushels to the acre we traveled from 6 in the morning until 12 on one p\r/a\i/rie-about 22 miles this is the largest i have seen it is 60 or 70 miles in length generally good we came to Rock River about 3 Oclock in the Afternoon crosed over to Dixons and stopped about one hour <p.38> and the went on to Mr Scotts Stayed ther until Monday morning
Dixonville is a sturring place but a set of Rogues i think
the Ferry is a valuable Property there was more than 3 hores & men in team crosed in a short time the say it yeild mor than 2 thousand Dollars a year
the land where Mr Scott lives i would not have no timber fit for any thing but Fire wood the land too Gravely and Poor some too wet but the Farm would make a good Grazing farm close here is the army track to Kishwakee <p.39>
stayed At Mr Scott over Sunday this was another verry long day it rained in the afternoon the rain was verry Cold Monday 13th this Morning was verry Cold we started for Kishwakee traveled through some beautiful Prairie and some bad slews but no good timber we arrived at Kishwaukee about 2 oclock this was the most windey day that i ever traveled i had to hold my hat the whole time
Tuesday 14th this day i went with the Company through
the timber until about 3 \4/ oclock corosed the
river 3 times & <p.40> evaded the slews frequently until
i was so tired that i could scarsely walk any further i suppose
we must of traveled about 28 miles ther was some of as good timber
as there was any place in this part of the Country white walnut
about 3 feet over Black walnut of a verry good quality ash Burr
Oak verry large hickery Buttonwood Maple and Many Other Kind of
timber we then came to the shanpte(?) tired Enough for that day
Wednesday 15th this morning Cold and windey started to look at the land here <p.41> i find i verry large Boddy of verry good Land but not runing watter suffecient for a close settlement Hobert has a verry fine spring of first rate Watter | with a good quarry of lime stone of a midling quality he says he will insure coal under the lime the lime is said to be about 60 per cent the land was ploughing whilst i was ther the plowman said it was the Easyest that he ever ploughed and as good as there is any occasion for the section that i wanted has been claimed by a Mr [blank] and I think there will be some <p.42> trouble about it this was as fine a spring as i would wish to see it is about 2 rods wide each way and throws up the sand & graverl in a great many places 12 to 25 in number
the center of the Parairie is about 3 miles from the timber
i have chosen section No 10 which lays along the the [sic] North of Hoberts and about 6 miles from town to the nearest part and the Watter is to come from Hoberts Spring the sction in the same range is all taken between that and the town Lumber can be got for <p.43> 15 Dollars per thousand shingles at 3 railes from 12 to 15 on the ground the timber setions on both sides are all take but for speculation the persons that hold a section cant pay for ten acres if in market there for if the land comes in market soon ther can be Enoughf got at reasonable prices
Thursday 16th this morning a verry heavy white frost this looks rather Cool for sleeping on the grass vegitation is far advanced this season things looke verry well corn Beans cuccumber <p.44> this is the finest day i have seen since i have been within 150 miles of this that is in the after Part of the Day i traveled over several setions of Land and the are all verry good no musketoes here no buffalo pats as ther is furth south i have seen Deer sand hill Crane snipe pararie Fowls & many other kinds of Birds the sand hill is the larges of all the Bird kind that i ever seen standing 3 feet high
Come Back to Kishwakee this place is not as much of a place as i thot for <p.45> there is 30 frames now standing now and nothing doing at any they will soon be tumbeling to the ground the People here are verry indolent and lazy nothing like enterprise about them this Town is beautifully situated on the Banks of Rock River about 3 miles from the mouth of Seckamore \Run/ \&/ adjoining a Mr Miller that has Bot a Beautiful farm but gave a beautiful Price $5,500.00
Friday morning 17th light frost this morning but no wind 10 oclock it is verry Hot for the time of Day <p.46>
| grain wheat | 1.00 | to | 1.25 |
| Do Corn | 50 | ||
| Oats | 50 | ||
| Flour | 4.50 | 5.00 | |
| Carpenters | 1.50 | __ | 2.00 |
| Labourers | 87 | 1.12 |
| i arrived at Rockford about 7 this Morning
this place is situated in a verry hilly place about the River
but the country just back of town is verry level & thickley
settled and it is the same all the Way so from Kishwaukee the
stage arrived from Galena about 10 and stayed
ther until after one we then started <p.47> for Checaugo
we went about 3 miles in a verry prity Country and then i came
to a verry broken country until i arrived a Belvidear
here the Country is level and verry handsome and then broken in
places until we come to Amersonsville
and here ther is a beautiful country we stoped here for the night
we got her about 6½ oclock this day was verry warm |
Started for Chicaugo at 4 oclock Came to Williams \16 miles/ for Breakfast through a low slooish country most of the way with scruby Bur Oak We came to Fox River at the town of Elgin 30 Miles from Ames <p.48>
This morning verry fine & warm this place is improving verry fast | we proceeded on to Chicago through a low slewish country intil we came within 15 or 16 miles of Chicago and then it is all inundated by times but now it being dry for some time is not quiet so bad but this is the worst that i ever sas the watter is within one foot of the sorface in any place almost after a deal of hard tugs we arrived at Chicago about 5½ oclock in the afternoon this day was verry warm <p.49> |
Chicago is as level as a floor for all through and round about this is a verry buisness Place People here seem to be doing as if they intend to do to advantage for the place and themselves things in general are a cheap here as they are on the East this place is improving verry much but rather dul at this time
Sunday Morning 19th this Morning verry fine and pleasant here there is but 2 Boats at this time the Pennsylvania & United States the Pennsylvania intends starting this morning and i being anxious to be <p.50> under way took passage for Buffalo started at 12 oclock in a calm watter passed south Port about 6 and wooded at R [blank] at sun set a distance of 60 miles form Chicago |
Started about 8 and arrived at Milwakee
about 12 in the night and layed there until 4 in the morning this
morning was midling cold but the lake smooth the day passed and
nothing to notice about 11 at knight we landed
at Manatou Island for wood and tarred
until six in the morning this morning cold Cloudy and lookd verry
much <p.51> for rain but clared of about 8 and was verry
fine until we arrived at Mackinaw then the
wind came through the narrows from \L/ huron this was cold this
is about 5 oclock | we landed her & stayed one hour i was
much plased with the view of the fort i went up into the Fort
is is verry well fixed off ther are no soldiers her know [=now]
ther is a few cannon the Fort is 70 or 80 feet above the watter
on the side of a hill the Hill is all Rock it is the most suitable
place for a for no i verse at this neck it is impossible for a
ship to pass for the land on the <p.52> side projects a
great distance in the lake her are the old fashed Houses post
Drove in the ground and wetherborded with Bark and covered with
Bark & they make another kind the cut the peices abot 4 feet
long and the cout a grove in the frame and so they fill up and
the joice comes through and is fixed(?)
here the Indians are as thick as the Whites and some of them better looking the Squaws on the young Squaws but here is little papooses as thick around the streets as the whites and that is Like Northd for them(?) <p.53> |
we then proceeded on at a little before sun set at this place
as i was leaving i saw so verry fine church they
told me it was a prisbitiarian Church built by the Missonary Society
and Close by some verry fine Buildings for the Missionaries to
live in Here was a great Deal said abot the maniagement of that
buisness here we passed on through the fog until about 5 cleared
away and got out of the sight of Land about 6 | as we had just
sit down to supper i heard a great fuss in the Kitchen and Come
to find the facts the Boat was <p.54> on fire which created
gret alarm but the hands soon succeeded in putting it out to great
sattisfaction i felt rather bad on acct of being out of sight
of Land this was abot 30 miles above Above above [sic]
the head of St Clear River
We the proceeded on through the river and in the morning we was
at on near the head of St C St Claer
Thursday 23d this morning we had a heavy rain & thunder which lasted about 2 hours so dark that we had to Eat breakfast by Candle light but Cleared of verry fine <p.55> this morning is getting warm i had a verry bad cold all the way coming to here but this morning i feel \no much/ better |
About 4 oclock we arrived at detroyt at which plase we stopt about 1½ this is quiet a large place but is over stocked like all the rest of the Western towns Ft Malan is a verry pritty place i seen a great many red coats and indians here just below is the island wher the patrots took possession of here they have several Forts We arrived at Huron about 2 <p.56> \Friday Morning 24th/ and arrived at Cleaveland about 10 through a heavy storm of Rain & thunder | but after we go ther A short time it cleared of and i went up hill to see the Town & there i find a beautiful Place here there is more boats and shipping then i have yet seen in the West this Place is on Both sides of the canal & river cianyun(?) this is quiet a buisness place it has got verry warm we start for Fair Port at which place we arrived after 3 ½ hours going a distance of 30 miles stoped ½ hour and started with the <p.57> intention to have a race with the Boat Called the Fair Port but they \beat us/
This is a poor looking place i think verry sickley from its location Brown Watter semes to be the simtoms for sicknesses | we pased by several small towns the timber on the american shore is verry thick and tall such i would not like to have where wood is plenty about 10 oclock there came up a heavy storm this is about 20 miles below Erie | which lasted too long for me it deprived me of seeing Erie being sick with my Cold i was affraid to venture out they got in about 12 at night <p.58> stayed there about 2½ hours & then started in the storm
Saturday Morning \25/ this morning find after the storm | and arrived at Buffalo about 11 \at the mansin house/ this is the Place for buisness here there there in more buisness done then in all the West the canal boats so thick it seems impossible for them to get through the shipping her is verry numerous the main street is a beautiful street so wide and the walks so roomy her everything is plenty and not very dear accepting the Tavern Bill & that is high <p.59> i took stage to start in the morning at 6 for Avon this morning verry fine passed through the Holland Purchase this a sction of country that i would not live in it is low swampy and verry heavly timbered the land is too cold we arrived at Betania after passing through a verry roughf and then a verry fine part of the country this Betania is a beautiful place the Buildings generally have a grove of 20 to 50 feet begore the house Beautiful trees of the neatest kind and the buildings fixed off in the best stile which is verry common in this <p.60> State we arrived at Avon at 6 in the Evening took supper & started for Canadaga arrived here at 11 started at 20 minutes of twelve for Aubon arrived at Geneva at 2½ started at 3 | this place i cant say any thing about as it being in the night we arrived Watterloo just at day break this is a handsome place like the most of the towns as we passed through arrived at Aubon at 7 in a heavy rain this is another Beauty of a place the Penetintiary is a fine Building & the Building in general are very tastily kept off i feel, verry unwell <p.61> this morning after riding all night over a verry roughf road the last 20 miles was the roughest that i ever rode the reason was because the Drove so fast, | 11 oclock claring off | & cold started at 6 in the Evening for West Hill at which place we arrived about 9 through some of the Best Country for Wheat & Peas, but verry hilly after supper i inquired about Uncle the landlord sayd he knew him verry well and his property was in the hands of Sam(?) West bu did not know how it was he told me to go to Syracuse and ther i could find out all about it by Colling on <p.62> Lawyer Knoxon being the Cort was in session could not see him until noon and after Examining finding that it was sold for an oridginal morgage which took the whole property through his being too Easy, & by making inquiry dinging that Mr [blank] had got the personal Property for his attendance | and trouble so Mr Knoxon says it is all gone and there in no remedy it was rather hard but he ws to Easy Mr Mench said he knew J Wright to be so too much for his own good <p.63>
This will be one of as good places for buisness as any in the State the Canal through the Center and Railroad one sqr(?) to the South and another Canal just at hand from the Pike Road her is the place for making salt they are enlargeing their works verry much and the buisness her looks as much as in Philad- |
Tuesday afternoon it is verry Cold and rainy
Wednesday 29 this morning Cold & rainy started at 8½ Oclock for Cortland at which Place i arrived about 4 after traveling through a verry roughf Country <p.64> The hills are the worst that i have yet see Cultivated but the Country arround Omer is fine & some splendid Buldings and likewise at Cortland ther is two of the finest Buildings that i have yet see they are situated in the Center of the town and occupy one sqr Each with their Gardens which is trees of all sorts kinds and quality shrubery of Every kind this Cant be but the Town lays rather low it is on a levil the citizens are princpally Farmers living in town |
On my way here i passed through Canondaga _____ of Indians holding 3 miles square
[end of book]