Saturday, February 28 1863

Lizzie Poage & John Means came down & took Annie & Sarah up to Mr. Burgess’s to spend the day.  At two o’clock they went with Maggie to the Meeting house where she leads the sabbath school children to sing -- Kate went & brought the children home.

Peggy's comments:
The reuse of first names is sometimes confusing; here's an attempt to clarify relationships.  

Mrs. Burgess was born Elizabeth Means.  She married first William Voris and had 5 daughters.  William Voris died and Elizabeth later married Dyer Burgess.

Two of William and Elizabeth's daughters died in infancy.

One of Elizabeth's daughters is Lizzie Voris Cutler,  married to William Cutler.

Another of Elizabeth's daughters was Anne Voris Poage, who married James Poage.  Ann and James had a daughter, also called Lizzie.  Anne died shortly after giving birth and Anne's mother, Mrs. Burgess, raised the baby.

The youngest of Elizabeth's daughters was Maggie Voris who at the time of this journal, is also living with her mother, Elizabeth Burgess, and step-father, Dyer Burgess.

Annie and Sarah are Lizzie and William Cutler's daughters.

Kate Dawes is William and Lizzie Cutler's niece (daughter of William's sister Sarah) and lived in the old stone house with the Cutlers.

Their ages at the time of this journal are:
William Cutler:  50
Lizzie Cutler:  30
Annie Cutler:  9
Sarah Cutler:  7

Julia Cutler:  49

Dyer Burgess:  79
Elizabeth Means Voris Burgess:  64
Maggie Voris:  27
Lizzie Poage:  14

Kate Dawes:32

William Cutler and his family lived in the Old Stone House in which he was born.   His sister Julia Cutler also lived there.  Their niece Kate Dawes lived with them.

The Burgess family lived nearby.

Friday, February 27, 1863

Packed soldiers box.  Found that there was enough canned & dried fruit, socks, &c. to fill three boxes which we accordingly filled & directed to the Sanitary Commission at Cincinnati & George put them upon the train.

Peggy's comments:
The Sanitary Commission formed shortly after the beginning of the Civil War.   The purpose was to improve conditions in hospitals and on the field for U. S. soldiers.  

Thursday, February 26, 1863

John has got back from Watertown.

I put down my carpet & set the room to rights. 

Kate & the children came home tonight.  They saw a fire -- a drying house connected with the Bucket factory was burned.

Wednesday, February 25, 1863

Kate, Annie & Sarah went to Marietta -- it is the last day of Lucy Dawes’ School.  The children are invited to Bettie Gates’ tenth birthday party.

Took up my carpet & cleaned my room today.

Two boxes of books from Washington & Reed Encyclopedia &c. &c.

Peggy's comments:

Little Bettie Gates was the daughter of Betsey and Beman Gates and the sister of Mary Gates.

Tuesday, February 24, 1863

George went again to Marietta.  Two little boys from Hocking & Mr. Cole do the chores --

Mrs. Julia A. Bailey & little Emma came & spent the day.  Emaline McClure & Mrs. Fannie Bailey called with contributions to the soldier’s box.

Monday, February 23, 1863

Cold.  Mrs. Terril washed.  George Cutter went to Marietta as a witness at Court.  His brother Charles came with him to spend the night--

The bombardment of Vicksburg has begun by our gunboats -- we must wait patiently on the Lord.  Shall not the Judge of all His earth do right.

Peggy's comments:

George Cutter worked for the Cutler family.  This entry makes me curious as to why he was going to court!
Vicksburg, Mississippi, was a Confederate-controlled fortress along the Mississippi River.  U. S. Grant led the Union Army of theTennessee against this stronghold.

Sunday, February 22, 1863

Washington’s birthday --

Snow three or four inches deep fell last night -- snowing today.  Went to Sabbath School, nearly all my class present -- felt encouraged to hope that my efforts for their improvement might not be all in vain.

Mr. Curtis preached a good discourse on prayer --

Saturday, February 21, 1863

Lizzie went with Mrs. & Mrs. Dickey to solicit contributions to a box of canned fruits for the Sanitary Commission.  They went down as far as Loring Lewis and were very successful.

Nancy has gone to spend the Sabbath at Leander Robinson.  Mrs. Sarah Howe of Belpre was buried today.

Friday, February 20, 1863

John Kuntz went to Watertown.

Thursday, February 19, 1863

Dinner party here today.  The guests were Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Lindley, Mrs. Gates, Mrs. Bosworth, Mrs. Goff, Mr. & Mrs. Dickey, & Maggie Voris.   Had a good dinner, turkey &c -- well served.  Mrs. Terril here to help about the work.  Our guests, with Mrs. Cutler & Kate, went to the Circle at A. S. Baileys.

Wednesday, February 18, 1863

Kate, Lizzie, myself and the little girls went to Mr. Dickey’s where we met Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Beman Gates, Mrs. Sala Bosworth, Mrs. Lindley, Mrs. B. C. Bailey & Mrs. And Mr. Goff  & Maggie.  Spent the day pleasantly.  Kate took Annie & Sarah home in the buggy but the road is so muddy Lizzie & I came on the cars where we met Mrs. Col. Clark & A. H. Browning.

Peggy's notes:

Mrs. Beman Gates (Betsey Shipman Gates) was the sister of Mrs. Sala Bosworth (Joanna Frances Shipman).  Their daughters would later marry brothers in the Dawes family.  

Tuesday, February 17, 1863

Mrs. Dickey called & invited us to spend tomorrow at her house to see Mrs. Stewart with whom Kate & I travelled last spring when we went to Pana, Illinois.

Monday, February 16, 1863

Sarah & Lucy returned to Marietta on the morning train.  Pleasant day.  Mr. Burgess who has been sick the last week came down & I read the Gazzette to him.  When well he comes every day.

Sunday, February 15, 1863

Lucy and the little girls went to church & Sabbath School.  The choir sang well but the melodeon was silent.

Saturday, February 14, 1863

Nancy has gone home to spend the Sabbath.  She has a curious place above her ankle which we think is a spider bite.

Friday, February 13, 1863

I see it stated that Lieut James G. Worthington, son of Gen. James T. Worthington of Chillicothe, died lately in Washington.  He was on Gen. Piatt’s staff.  When Kate & Lizzie came home from Cincinnati Gen. Worthington was on the train coming to visit his sick son---

Last night of singing school.  Belpre singers up.  Mr. A. H. Browning & his daughter here all night.

Thursday, February 12, 1863

Singing school all day & in the evening.

Wednesday, February 11, 1863

Tuesday, February 10, 1863

Monday, February 9, 1863

Sunday, February 8, 1863

Peggy's notes:

Julia did not write on February 8, nor did she write in her journal for the following three days.

Saturday, February 7, 1863

A few sleighs have passed yesterday & the day before.  This is all the sleighing we have had during the winter.

Friday, February 6, 1863

Mrs. Burgess & Maggie were here to dinner.  Our carpet & rug which had been detained arrived this evening -- it is very handsome & good.  Together they cost fifty-two dollars.
Rufus & his regiment are now at Belle Plaine near the Potomac.

Thursday, February 5, 1863

This is the day for circle at Mr. Dickey’s but the snow has fallen five or six inches deep so as to make it unpleasant to move on the roads.  Kate & Lizzie are both much fatigued by their journey.

Lucy came by evening train, also the sewing machine.  

Ephraim has received his commission as Major dating from Nov. 1^st.  

Lucy gave me a handsome [illegible].

Wednesday, February 4, 1863

Valonia Reppert & Mary J. Newton came on morning train to spend the day but finding Lizzie & Kate absent, they went to Mr. Harts.  Thermometer 8^o above zero this morning.  The train was delayed at Pilcher by a cattle train which got off the track so Lizzie & Kate did not arrive at home until nine o’clock at night.  They brought with them a box of Brittania for me.

Peggy's comments:

Brittania biscuits were manufactured in the late 1800's.  Could this be the treat that Lizzie and Kate brought to Julia?

Tuesday, February 3, 1863

A light snow fell last night, a cold day, at noon, the thermometer stood at 16^o above zero.  Annie came home after dinner.  Eliza [illegible] came & staid all night.

Public affairs look dark.  Northern traitors seem resolved to ruin the Country.  Only God can help us now.

Monday, February 2, 1863

Lizzie & Kate started to Cincinnati this morning to select a sewing machine in exchange for our old one and to do some shopping.  A beautiful day but cold.  Annie has gone to spend the night with her Aunt Maggie.

Peggy's comments:

Here are some sewing machines which were available in 1863:

http://tinyurl.com/admb9fr

http://www.ismacs.net/howe/the_howe_sewing_machine.html

http://www.sewing4everyone.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=117243528

Sunday, February 1, 1863

A very unpleasant day.  I was kept at home by a severe headache.  

The congregation was small. 

Our loss in the battle of Stones river near Murfreesboro Dec. 31 was 12, 679 killed, wounded & missing, 500 of whom were officers.  The enemy lost in killed & wounded 15,000.

Peggy's comments:

For more information about the Battle of Stones River in Tennessee:   http://www.nps.gov/stri/historyculture/battle0.htm