Sabbath, Jan. 31, 1864

Rev. Mr. Wakefield preached today for Mr. Curtis who is holding a series of meetings in Belpre with very encouraging results, quite an interest is manifested by the young there, may many be truly converted.  Mr. Wakefield preached from the text “Take heed how ye hear” a very good sermon.

Talked with William  -- he feels Annie’s death very deeply.  God sanctify it, and all his dealings with him to his eternal good.

Saturday, Jan. 30, 1864

Kate went to town to see the dentist and the mantuamaker.  She wants to get a traveling dress of princess cloth made, also a brown corded silk which I gave her.  Miss Lucy Brigham engaged to do them.  Her bonnet, shawl & gloves and dress trimmings came by express from Cincinnati and are very handsome.  William got her spoons in the city, the best I ever saw, the large ones were 25 dollars for six, the small ones $10.  Mrs. Lizzie Walton & Mrs. Clarke did her shopping.

As usual there were a great many in to see William & do business.  Col. Moore, A. S. Bailey, Isaac Hopkins, Joe Skipton & etc.

Maggie was here and helped Lucy on the quilt which is being quilted for Kate.

Peggy's comments:

A mantua was a kind of dress.  Kate's wedding was to take place in about two weeks.

Friday, Jan. 29, 1864

William arrived about midnight last night.  The weather is still warm.  Mr. & Mrs. Greenwood made us a call this afternoon to express their sorrow & sympathy for our late bereavement.  Mrs. G. gave Kate a beautiful Photographic Album -- Mrs. Blackinton called and was very kind, she expressed a great deal of sympathy for Lizzie, having herself lost three children.  

Longstreet has attacked our forces at Knoxville, Tenn.

Thursday, Jan. 28, 1864

Thermometer at 62^o above zero in the shade.  I sat in my room with the window open, and found it very pleasant, much less ice running today, two or three steam boats passed.  Mr. Franklin came and got three horses & a mule for Railroad work, these animals have been kept here during the winter.  The little black mule is quite a character, very vicious, and has been boarded up in his stall for some weeks past and food and water given him there.  He was pastured awhile on Hocking where the people had a perfect terror of him.  He got out of the field and into some of their houses & performed some antics, which made him decidedly unpopular.

A dispatch from William saying a heavy slide west of Big Run will detain the train until midnight.

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1864

A very pleasant day.  Ice running all day.  I think the river must have broken up to its source.  Maggie Voris here to dinner.

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1864

Another spring-like day.  The river has risen three or four feet, and the ice is running out, one steamboat passed down.  Lucy is here helping Kate get ready for her wedding.  She is getting her things nicely done.

Monday, Jan. 25, 1864

Mrs. Dawes came on the train & returned again this morning.  Rufus & Mary arrived safely in Milwaukee.  

A beautiful sunny day -- like June.  Mrs. W. D. Bailey called and Mr. Burgess, but he is here every day to get the Gazette.  Kate has gone to spend the night at Mr. Burgess’s.  No paper this evening.

Sabbath, Jan. 24, 1864

This is my birthday, a sorrowful one to me for my heart mourns for dear little Annie whose young life gave so much fairer promise than mine, she so loved and cared for, with the elements of a noble character, certain of Christian culture, and a healthy mental development, with a prospect of wealth -- how much good she might have done -- how much happiness conferred  -- but she is taken and I am left.  But God is wise to determine our destinies and who shall call Him to account?

Another cloud just now is Kate’s contemplated removal.  I hope and believe her happiness will be promoted & therefore acquiese, but the loss of her society will be a sore one to me.

Mr. Wakefield preached for us today, a good sermon on conversion as illustrated in the case of [unreadable].  He is a good preacher.

The ice which has bound the river since Jan. 9^th today broke loose and drifted down & gorged at the head of James Island.  The river is rising and ice drifting --  There is much apprehension of loss of boats & other river property but the snow is going off without rain & the rise in the river very slight, which is favorable.

Peggy's comments:

Julia Cutler was fifty years old on this birthday.

Saturday, Jan. 23, 1864

The snow is disappearing very rapidly -- warm day --  Lucy came on the evening train, she will spend the next week here helping Kate get ready for her approaching marriage.  We have been busy since the first week of December, but a good deal yet remains to be done.

A letter from William saying he shall be detained in Cincinnati until next week.

Friday, Jan. 22, 1864

Lizzie and little Sarah have gone to spend the day at Mr. Burgess’s.  Mrs. Charles Dickey called.  Mrs. Carlin went to the Burgess’s to spend the night with Eliza Carlin who lives there.

Thursday, Jan. 21, 1864

The late snow storm has blockaded many of the western and northern Railroads, and quite an alarming number of accidents have occurred during the present month -- many of them occasioned by the cold weather.  The last storm the weather has not been severe, the thermometer much of the time 30^o above zero.  We fear that Rufus and his bride have been detained by the snow, but have heard nothing yet from them.

Mrs. Carlin came again this afternoon.  There has been much sickness on Hocking this winter -- mostly fevers & some deaths have resulted -- a Mr. Geared, a child of Mrs. Scott, and Lewis Ellenworth have died -- most of those now sick are getting better.

Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1864

Kate wrote to Jane S. Shedd.  Mrs. Terril here ironing  Mrs. Carlin left this evening to visit at Mrs. Burgess’s.

Peggy's comments:

Kate Dawes, about to be married, wrote to her sister Jane (Jennie) who was doing missionary work in Persia with her husband.

Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1864

The ground which has become nearly bare is again covered with snow, for two or three hours the air seemed filled with large flakes, which fell to the depth of three inches.  The setting sun shone for a few moments with dazzling brightness upon the snowy bank beyond the frozen river.  It made me think of the river of death & “shining shore” on the other side.

Mrs. Clarissa Carlin, Nancy’s sister in law, came this evening, her husband, a soldier in the 25^th Iowa, W. B. Carlin, died in Hospital at Memphis Tenn. last fall.  

Kate & Lizzie have been busy all day with mourning goods.  Kate is making Lizzie a black dress.

Monday, Jan. 18, 1864

Warm, the snow is rapidly disappearing, the water stands over the ground.  I went with little Sarah to W. D. Baileys for a call.  William started to Chillicothe and tomorrow goes to Cincinnati.  The new line from Loveland to the city is to be let to contractors this week.

Kate came home on the evening train, the only lady & drunken soldiers aboard -- very disagreeable.  Lt. Col. R. R. Dawes and Miss Mary B. Gates were married this morning by Rev. T. Wickes at the house of Mr. B. Gates and started to Wisconsin immediately after breakfast by the way of Cincinnati and Chicago.  Ephe returned from Cincinnati Saturday and was at the wedding & goes with them to the city today.  Ephe’s Regiment the 53^d are every day expected home having enlisted as veterans.        Mr. Carlin was here to dinner, his only living son, James, who was wounded in the bowels at the battle of Chattanooga, has had the ball extracted -- he is still in hospital, but hopes before many weeks to be able to be moved North.

Peggy’s comments:

The marriage of Rufus Dawes and Mary Beman Gates took place early Monday morning as it was unseemly to be married on the Sabbath.  They immediately left Marietta on the train for the west to join Rufus’s regiment in Milwaukee.

Rufus R. Dawes

Mary Beman Gates Dawes

                     

Rufus writes:

A heavy snow storm set in which delayed our progress.  We were all day getting from Cincinnati to Hamilton, Ohio, twenty four miles.  A day was consumed going from Hamilton to Valparaiso, Indiana.  At this point we found a strike of locomotive engineers on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago R. R,, and we took a sleigh and drove across the country twelve miles to the Michigan Central Railroad, where we boarded a freight train and arrived in Chicago on Thursday evening, in triumph in the caboose.  Of course under such circumstances, the trip was in every respect delightful.

Sabbath, Jan. 17, 1864

We all went to meeting except Lizzie who was not well.  Mr. Curtis addressed the Sabbath school scholars, urging them to imitate Annie in her habit of obedience, of reading the Bible and committing it to memory, & prayer & trust in God.  There were several strangers at meeting.

Saturday, January 16, 1864

William went to Marietta in his morning and went down on an engine a little after noon to meet some men from Baltimore who were at Parkersburg for the purpose of making examinations preparatory to building a Railroad Bridge across the Ohio at that point.

Mrs. W. D. Bailey called.  Mrs. Burgess & Maggie here to dinner.  George Cutter came to spend the Sabbath.  Mrs. Terrill washed.

Friday, January 15, 1864

Rufus came down this morning to spend his day.  He is to be married to Miss Mary B. Gates Monday morning next.  We are always glad to see him & hear his adventures.  Kate & Lucy went up with him this evening.  I sent Mary a silver sugar basin for a bridal gift.  And answered Miss Cone’s letter.  

Thursday, January 14, 1864

Mrs. Dawes returned home this morning     she found Rufus on the train.  His Regiment, the 6^th Wisconsin, are re-enlisting as veterans and have been sent home on a thirty days’ furlough, and to recruit their numbers.  He will follow in a few days to Milwaukee.  

Lucy is with us today.  The weather is much milder.  I wrote to friends in Ames and at Hilliard.  Received a kind letter from Mary Cone about dear little Annie.

Peggy's comments:

Rufus Dawes and his regiment, the Sixth Wisconsin, re-enlisted as a regiment with the promise of thirty days leave.  They left for Wisconsin, with Rufus taking leave of his men in Pittsburg to travel by train to Marietta.  

Wednesday, January 13, 1864

The funeral of dear little Annie took place at half past ten.  Mrs. Dawes & Lucy and George Cutter came on the morning train.  Her coffin also came, it is covered with black velvet with silver handles & screws.  A wreath of rose geranium leaves lay around her head & a bouquet of geraniums and fever-few tied with white ribbon lay on her breast.  Rev. Mr. Curtis was here and made excellent & appropriate remarks.  They sang the “Shining Shore” which was a favorite with our darling, and also “Thou art gone to the grave but we will not deplore thee”.  Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. E. G. Andrews & Mrs. F. Dodge aided in singing the last.  After these services the procession moved to the station and went on the train to the Gravel Pit -- And then the bearers carried the coffin to the graveyard.  They were George Cutter, John Kountz, John Hutchinson, Calvin Finch, Addison Knowles, and James D. Bailey.  A wide road had been shoveled through the snow to the graveyard, and all around our lot.  I never was there before when the ground was covered with snow.  It seemed cold & dreary but we know that while her body lies there, her living spirit is with Christ the Lord.  The sun shone out, and seemed to speak to us of hope in our sorrow.

Among those who came from town were Col. J. Mills, Mr. W. W. Graves, Mr. & Mrs. F. Dodge, Mrs. President Andrews, Mrs. E. B. Andrews & her daughter, John Newton, John & James Means, Mr. & Mrs. Ridlow, Mr. L. Reppert, Col. T. W. Moore.

The neighbors were all here, almost, and appeared to sympathise with us.  Mrs. A. S. And Mrs. W. D. Bailey staid at the house, also Emeline M^cClure, with Lucy Dawes who was too unwell from Diphtheria to go with us.  They had dinner prepared for us and Mr. Curtis stopped and partook with us.

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1864

A cold morning, the thermometer 1^o above zero in the porch.  Every tree & shrub is thickly robed in the purest frost work, and the whole earth is white with a snow which fell last week.  Mrs. Burgess came & staid all day.  Lizzie & William feel the loss of their dear little daughter very deeply, and to Kate & me the bereavement is scarcely less.  She was not an ordinary child, she had a strong will and was self reliant, but unobtrusive.  Was very conscientious in the performance of every duty, whether it was reading the Bible which she had done in course the last year, (even on her sick bed she began it again on New Years’ day and continued to read her chapters daily) -- praying -- preparing her lesson & to recite to her cousin Kate -- practicing under her mother’s instructions on the piano -- or performing her tasks about the house, all was done faithfully, very seldom did she require to be reminded of a neglected duty.  She was tall for her years, with soft brown hair, long eyelashes, and large beautiful grey eyes.  She had a pretty forehead, and a sweet mouth with very red lips.  She had not much color in her cheeks unless she had been exercising and yet her health had been excellent never having kept her bed for a day until her last sickness.  There was an intelligence and sweetness in her smile that made her face very interesting --

But her brief & happy life is over.  God help us to submit.  The unexpectedness of Annie’s death seems to have shocked all the neighborhood -- and many have called to express their sympathy.  Mr. & Mrs. Joel Deming, Thomas & Betsey Bailey, Mrs. George W. Bailey, Mr. & Mrs. Dickey, Joanna Scott, Mr. B. C. Bailey, and Mr. L. Hart & others were here today.  Mrs. W. D. Bailey & Mrs. Charles Dickey staid all night.  Mr. Hart says a number of friends from town wish to come, and wish an extra train for their accommodation.  It will be sent.  Mrs. W. D. Bailey wrote some beautiful lines which she sent to Lizzie on Annie’s Death.

Monday, Jan. 11, 1864

A mournful day for this household.  What is God doing with us --  Annie is dead -- our precious darling.  God pity us.  This morning William went to Chillicothe without any apprehension of her danger, she seemed so much better & talked so pleasantly.  I went in to see her just after dinner.  She seemed comfortable & cheerful.  Her pleasant “thank you Auntie” were the last words I heard her speak.  After that she went to sleep.  On awakening she said to her cousin Kate who was sitting with her “Kate, it tires me so when I sleep in day time.”  She raised up, & took a drink of water from the table at her bedside, threw up her hands with a slight groan and was gone.  Kate sprang to her, took her in her arms, put water on her face, called to the family -- but before we reached her, she had ceased to breathe.  We could not believe it.  We wrapped her in a hot sheet, we put mustard & a blister on her breast, stomach, and stimulants into her mouth, but she was unconscious of all our efforts.  She died about a quarter before three. Without terror or alarm for she knew it not, til she was present with the Lord who hath said “of such is the kingdom of Heaven”.  John had started on the first alarm for the Doctor, and W. D. Bailey took a dispatch to the Gravel Pit for William.  Mrs. W. D. Bailey was here & very kind, also B. C. Bailey & wife, and Mrs. A. S. Bailey. Emeline M^cClure came and staid all night, and Mr & Mrs. Lyman Hart were also here and as kind as they could be.  Sister Sarah came on the evening train and mourns with us for she loved Annie.  The doctor did not come.  John went to three, they knew it would not avail.  William arrived a little before midnight on an extra train, to find the lips he had kissed in the morning cold in death.  Mr. Burgess was here when Annie died, he was cruel in blaming us for having employed a doctor.  I said “The Lord gave & hath taken away.”  He said, “yes, by the hand of the doctor.”  Mrs. Burgess, Maggie here.

Sabbath, Jan. 10, 1864

This is Sarah’s 8^th birthday, may God keep her unspotted from the world.  All went to meeting but Lizzie who staid with Annie.  We hope Annie is better but she is weak, her throat is not sore, but she has no appetite.

Sarah and Annie Cutler

Saturday, January 9" 1864

Thermometer 8^o above zero.  River closed with ice opposite here.  Kate went home with her mother to see Ephe who starts back to his regiment on Monday night.  This is Jennie Shedd’s birthday, also of little Jennie Cutler.  Little Sarah has been celebrating her birthday in advance--the tenth coming on the Sabbath.  Col.  Moore & his wife called this evening.  They came in a sleigh & Ephe came on the train with Kate to say good bye & returned again to town.  George Cutter here.

Peggy's comments:

Little Jennie Cutler was one of the many children of William and Lizzie Cutler who died in childhood.  She was born in January of 1861 and died in April of that same year.

Jennie Shedd is sister to Kate, Lucy, Rufus and Ephraim Dawes.  She has been living in Persia as a missionary since her marriage to Rev. John Shed in 1859.

Sarah Jane (Jennie) Dawes Shedd

Friday, Jan. 8th, 1864

Three inches more snow fell during yesterday afternoon & last night, making about 8 inches during the present storm.  Sun shines today and eaves drip a little.  Emeline M^cClure spent the day here.  She says George E. Cutter spent Wednesday night at their house.  He was on his way to Washington City, meeting W. P. M^cClure on the cars and learning that it was doubtful whether he could cross the Ohio at Parkersburg on account of the drifting ice, he & Mr. Wyatt stopped with M^cClure who took them next day over in a skiff.

Mrs. Dawes came down on the evening train.  William also returned from Cincinnati, he spent last night in Chillicothe and suffered with cold.  Emeline M^cClure here all night.

Thursday, January 7, 1864

Trees covered with frost, thermometer 4^o above zero this morning -- snowed during the afternoon, but so fine it does not accumulate much on the ground.  Thermometer in the evening rose to 14^o

We were engaged to day quilting for Kate who is getting ready to be married.

Peggy's comments:

Kate Dawes, one of Julia's nieces and the oldest sister of Rufus and Ephraim Dawes, was 33 years old in early 1964 and had not yet been married.  She lived in the Old Stone House with Julia, William and Lizzie Cutler, and William and Lizzie's daughters, Annie and Sarah.  Julia's one line entry in her journal about Kate's anticipated marriage makes me wonder how enthusiastic Julia was about this upcoming marriage.  

Kate Dawes

Wednesday, January 6, 1864

Cold night.  Thermometer at 9^o above zero.  This morning, in the afternoon sun shone, and melted the snow on the south side of the roof so as to cause dripping.

Kate went to Mr. Burgesses this afternoon & staid to tea.  Maggie is sick but getting better.  Annie wrote a letter to Marion Robertson Hunter but was very tired when she got through.

Comments:
Here is Annie’s letter to Marion:

Constitution, January 6, 1864
My Dear Marion:
I thought, perhaps, you would like to get a letter from me, and hear how we are getting along.
I have been very sick with the diphtheria, and am not well yet.  I awoke one morning and found that I had a sore throat; I did not think much of it, but it got so sore, that the next morning we had to send for the doctor.  He brushed it out and gave me a good many bad medicines, but it had to be brushed out a great many times before it got well.  I was almost well, but I took cold, and was sicker than at first, although my throat was not so sore.  It is so cold that I can not get strong very fast, and still have to stay up stairs.
We were very agreeably surprised by having Ephe come in on Christmas evening.  He gave Sarah and me each a very pretty pen-knife and a great deal of candy.  I must tell you what I received on Christmas--my presents were all books.  Mama and Maggie each gave me a book, and Kate gave me a Bible as a reward for having read it through.
On New-Year’s, Kate gave me a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress, and Mama a very pretty gold ring.
For the last box we sent to the soldiers, Sarah and I made comfort bags, that is, bags with needles, pins, buttons, paper, etc., in them.  We each of us wrote a little letter, and put in the bag, and, perhaps, the soldier that gets it, will answer the letter.  Would not that be nice?
On Monday before New-Year’s, just after dark, a freight train ran off the switch, at this station; the engine rolled down the hill on the engineer, who was badly scalded, but not killed.  They brought him down to our house, and sent for the doctor who dressed his burns, and the next day he was taken on the train to his home, in Chillicothe
I forgot to tell you that Dr. Hart has gone to New York this winter, and I had to have Dr. Regnier, who is very kind to me.
Sarah sends you her love.

Your affectionate,

Annie

Tuesday, January 5", 1864

Thermometer 24 above zero.  Ice floating in the Ohio river since New Years’ day.  It has now become very heavy.  No boats of any kind passing.  The snow still falls but is not more than five inches deep.  The newspapers speak of this storm as being very severe in Kansas, Iowa, Illinois &c.  At Louisville Ky. the cold is the greatest ever known.  In northern Ohio, and at Chicago it is said to have been 30^o below zero.  Railroads blocked up out west with snow.  Annie begins to sit up a little.

Monday, January 4, 1864

Snow about three inches deep.  Little Sarah looking admiringly upon the landscape said “it looked like a sheet of white paper with pencil drawings upon it.”  Lucy went home and Major Dawes to Cincinnati with William.  Ephe has been with his regiment constantly for more than a year, since he was last at home he has been at the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Jackson, Miss., and at Chattanooga, besides numerous skirmishes.  Since the latter part of Sept.this Army Corps has been constantly on the march through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.  His regiment the 53^d O. V. I. Belongs to the 3^d Brigade, Col. Cockerill commanding, 4^th Division, Gen. Ewing, 15” Army Corps now under Gen. John A. Logan & in the Department of Tennessee under Gen. William T. Sherman.

Sabbath, January 3, 1864

Little Sarah went to Sabbath school with Nancy.  Lucy, Ephe, William & I went to meeting.  Mr. Curtis preached -- small congregation  -- not more than 35.  The day cloudy, cold, and windy, toward evening snow began to fall.  Kate & Lizzie staid at home with Annie.

Saturday, January 2, 1864

This morning the thermometer is 6^o below zero -- a change it is stated of 54^o in 24 hours.

William has had John busy nearly all day endeavoring to secure the cellar from frost .  We have kept good fires but our fuschias, wallflowers, and other houseplants were frozen.  We have two pits filled with plants we value very much.  There are two or three thicknesses of carpet over the glass now but Thursday night when the weather changed it was not covered, the lower side of the glass was thickly coated with frost.  The wind blows keenly all the time.  We leave the pit unopened for the present, hoping all will not be lost.  Major Ephe & Lucy Dawes came on the evening train and will spend the Sabbath.

Friday, January 1st, 1864

Last night the wind blew a tempest and the thermometer fell rapidly -- the weather yesterday was mild & pleasant, tonight the mercury is only 4^o above zero.  Annie who has been sick with diphtheria nearly three weeks is still unable to sit up but her physician Dr. Regnier pronounces her decidedly better.  The year 1863 is gone.  In looking back over it we have much cause to be thankful.  As a family we have been greatly prospered.  Rufus & Ephraim although in perils oft, have been kept alive and unwounded, those of the family who have been sick have all recovered, our pecuniary affairs have been in a good state, debts paid when due, many pleasant & comfortable things have been procured, no great trial has assailed us - so we may devoutly & sincerely thank God for his manifold goodness & mercy towards us.  The New Year - what has it in store for us?  Changes I know for some coming events do cast their shadows forth.  

William got home from Cincinnati very cold & tired -- train 4 hours late.

Peggy's comments:

With the beginning of the new year, Julia Cutler began writing in a new journal.  Unlike the small date-book that she used for 1863, she used a larger book and therefore had unlimited to space in which to write.