ANONYMOUS OSBORN FAMILY DIARY

VOLUME THE 1^ST

Measuring 4” x 6”, the tan paperbound notebook is titled “ 1865 Counting House Almanac 1865” on the cover, with a calendar for the year underneath. Printed among the stylized border decorations are advertisements for the company who sold it: “All goods sold warranted to prove as good as represented.” “Our Motto…Large Sales and Small Profits.” “ Please to accept our thanks for past favors.”
“Prompt Pay Insures Bargains.” Hand written on the cover in pencil are the words “Volume the 1^st”. On the back is an advertisement for the company who printed the book: L. S. Learned of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts. The diary is lined with vertical lines on the left and right hand sides of the pages as for accounts. Its author, almost certainly Orlando Osborn, wrote in pencil throughout.

Orlando Cable Osborn was born to Joel Osborn and Catherine S. Washband in 1847. He lived all his life in the Osborn-Wheeler Homestead on Riggs Street, taking over the family farm after his father’s death. In 1869, he married Idella Jane Andrew, and they had six children. Active in state and local politics, Osborn represented the town in the Connecticut Legislature in 1883 and 1889. Locally, he headed a committee of the Oxford Agricultural Society in 1875 and was a member of the Board of Education in 1884. He died in 1905. He was 18 years old when he began his diaries.

Some punctuation has been added for clarity. As with many diaries from this period, there are few or no commas, periods or apostrophes.

Thanks to Nancy Tuccio for sharing her ancestor’s diary.

Top of 1^st Page in Small Print: CG X uluf (?)

Oxford April 22^nd 1866

Spent Evening a C. C. boys went over to Great Hill. C. Butler, Heber Chatfield. Called on S. Tucker

April 29^th.. Went down to Woodbridge. Eth. At C. C

May 3^rd Society at Horace Cables. Went down a foot and alone. Eth out west.

In small print under entry: C C up with W G.

May 6^th .. Went over to Chesnut (sic) Hill (.) Took Jule. went down to Sarah’s. took a ride. Came back. Saw C. C. Good Time

May 13^th In Evening it stormed. Mary Jane and Bernard called. Eth over at C C. Tomorrow Heber goes to New Haven.

Oxford May 17^th 1866

Society over to Aunt Mary’s. went over alone came back with C C. Made Bargain to meet 17^th of June go to Festival, meet New Years (sic) Eve Dead Alive Enemy or friend if possible. For 5 years.

May 18^th Wales Hubbell was buried. Frank Davis, Dave Candee, Nois (sic) Church and myself were pall bearers. was carried into the church, buried at Quakers farms. Charles had our horse.

`

May 19^th

Ridged ground for corn. Changed sheep. got last load of hay from Twitchel Farm and sold Straw to go Monday

Oxford May 20^th 1866

Stayed at home from Church. Father and Grandmother went. I went over to Great Hill in the evening with Bernard, called on Kate Fowler and Jennie Wooster and Charles Butler were there. C C was going down to Seymour with W C. for some cause. did not go. W. C & G. B went over to E. S. Eth down to C C

May 21^st

Spread Manure. Charles Ridged Corn. Mother went to Seymour, bought this memorandum. Mr Ford had young Stags to cart manure for Horace Cables. Spent part of the evening at Henriettes (sic) came home, wrote this account of to day

Tuesday

Oxford May 22^nd 1866

I planted corn to day. Charles Hubbell helped me. Father worked half a day, went down to the center in the evening. received a letter from Elibba Hatch. stopped at Horaces (sic) played three games of chess with Henne. came home. bought ¼ pound of brimstone. had interview with D____ this morning. hope it may be the last cause Cider.

Wednesday

May 23^rd

Planted corn, finished up. Charles H- helped us. pulled a few sweet fern when I got through. set out tomato plants. Society at Shelton Smiths (sic) did not go. C C did not (crossed out) go. Eddy went home with Mary. Net Candee, Sarah Dunham were there.

Thursday

Oxford May 24^th, 1866

Went to New Haven to day. Father, Horace Cables (sic), Parson, Pierce and Myself. I Bought Pants, Vest and Suspenders for $13.. Hat for $3.75, Neck Tie and Hair cutting and Sundry notions $1.40. went down to the end of Long Wharf . went into the Legislature & Senate. heard Mr Foster and Thomas Bond speak. bought some Porgies. let Charles have 20 at 3 cts a piece

Friday

May 25^th

Charles planting his corn. fixed fence and put up scare crows. Answered E’s letter. carried it down, got paper, came home. made no calls. Father away about Beacon Falls bridge.

Saturday

Oxford May 26, 1866

Made fence up to John Buck place. Father helped me. got through at 3 o’clock. Father then went over to Ben Nicols. Mother, Grandmother & Bessie went to Seymour. came back that way . Put up Scare Crow after father went away

Sunday

May 27^th

It stormed hard all day, raised the rivers higher than they have ever been before at this season of the year. Bernard went over to Jennie Woosters (sic). Horse got away and in getting it he stomped down the beet bed and broke down the bean poles. I staid (sic) at home.

Monday

May 28^th

Piled boards in the morning. Jay came over and his horse got away . Charles Hubbell caught it . no damage done, was small. caleulateing (sic) to go fishing, did not go. Went up to Lewis Perkins and got the stone drug (sic). Charles Hubbell had horse to go to Birmingham, did not work for us. Harrowed over piece across the road in the afternoon. Mr Wold of Beacon Falls came over and bought our wool at 57 cents a pound.

Tuesday

May 29^th

Charles Hubbell came. we went to work at fence across the road. It was a crooked stone wall. [In margin] May 29 rained afternoon. worked at Bar Posts

Wednesday

May 30^th

Charles Hubbell came, worked at same fence as yesterday. In the evening I went down to the center, called on Mary Hudson. went with her over to Mr Millers (sic). got acquainted with Miss Angeline Miller. Got box of Seidlitz Powders. Agreed to carry Miss Miller over to the Society and bring Mary home [Note: Seidlitz Powders were used to aid digestion and as a laxative.]

Thursday

May 31^st

Charles Hubbell came. worked at same fence as yesterday. Mr Keeler came with a drove of Cattle. father bought a cow for 60 dollars. Our folks went over to the Society at Lewis Davises in the afternoon. I went over in the evening. Carried Miss Miller and brought home Miss Miller and Mary Hudson had a race with Frank Davis coming home. Cornelius Perkins, Glover Cable, Bernard Davis, John Fairchild, Wales Chatfield, Edward Chatfield, George Sanford, Charles Butler, Arthur Flagg, Clark Riggs, Frank Davis, Elijah Treat, Fred Sutton, Nat Candee, Sarah Fairchild, Mary Candee, Louisa Candee, Julia Chatfield, Mary Hudson, Angeline Miller, Augusta Judd, Bernice Riggs, Susan Ward, Susan Tucker, Mary Wooster & Burton Tucker were there. C C came with W. C. C. P came with N. C. G. C came alone. B. D came alone. J. F. Brought S. F. E. C came alone. G. S. Brought A. J. C. B & C. F both X came together. C. R came with B R. F. D Carried Home L. C. & M. C. Agreed to see G. C. 19^th of June. I do most solemnly swear so help me Almighty God I never will drink any intoxicating drink without used as medicine during my Mortal life or practice the Art of La Ma Chapelle and hope to endure mortal agony for each disobedience.

Friday

Oxford June 1^st 1866

Charles was here. worked at stone fence across the road. Father went down and got bag of meal of Porp (?) in the afternoon or Oats and corn horse feed

Saturday

June 2^nd

Charles worked and myself worked at fence across the road. Father went to Naugatuck to inspect roads. Charles went home a while before time on account of his wife being taken sick.

Sunday

June 3^rd

Stormed all day. slept the greater part of the day. Staid at home in the evening. Saw no one during the day

Monday

June 4^th

It stormed a large share of the day. did nothing. Saw nobody. Put up Scare Crows and made 2 milk stools. in forenoon helped father weigh wool. At noon he weighed it and carried it away. It weighed pulled and all 792 pounds. He received for it $447.42

Tuesday 810

June 5^th

It stormed some to day. cleaned out the cellar. father went over to Naugatuck to inspect roads. went up on the hill to salt sheep and cattle. found one down.

Wednesday

June 6^th

Charles came to day. he went up to Lewis Perkins after scrape. Came back and went with the stone drag up on the hill and drew down the creature that was down. James Carley died this morning at 6 o’clock. Charles went down and drew on logs. Came back and worked at wall a short time when it rained and we came back and made bar posts the rest of the day. Mother and Father went over to Naugatuck. There was a social over to Aurelia’s (sic) Buckingham’s. It rained hard all the evening

Thursday

June 7^th

Got up and fed horses and milked when Charles came and we worked on the road until (sic) 11 o’clock when we went down to the funeral of James Carley. Mrs Lake had a hysterical fit. Came home and Aunt Mary, Sarah and Julia Chatfield called. they spent the rest of the afternoon and took tea with us.

Friday

June 8^th

Worked on the road. helped Theodore Warner drive down Charles Hubbells (sic) mully (mule?). Egbert bought her and paid 50 dollars for her. father swapped, gave him the white heifer for him.

Saturday

June 9^th

Worked on the road. Sam worked with us. Father went away in the afternoon. went down to Orrin Buckinghams (sic) with Charles. Horse came near getting away coming home scared by Pats (sic) cow.

Sunday

June 10^th

Went to church. it was pleasant. Sarah and Julia wore dresses alike. Went over on the hill. took Julia and went up to John Beechers (sic). exchanged pictures with Sarah Beecher and Horace Perry. called on Sarah Fairchild. Theodore came over there. Glover was there. staid short time. Came up on the hill; staid short time and came home. Good time

Monday

June 11^th

Charles came and Lewis Hubbell helped us. we washed sheep. I lay down on the ground and got to sleep at home

Tuesday

June 12^th

Charles helped us and we hoed potatoes.

Wednesday

June 13^th

It stormed. I helped father to get around some cattle and took them down to twitchel farm. went into Horaces and got my boots. Our folks went up to Lewis Perkins to the society. spent afternoon up to Henriettes (sic). she was at home and Ellen Stone.

Thursday

June 14^th

Charles helped me and I finished the piece of Potatoes back of Pats (sic) and hoed in front of Tuckers. Our folks went to society overt to Mrs Hawleys (sic). I was intending to go but it stormed and was obliged to stay at home

Friday

June 15^th

Father and Mother went to New Haven. bought a barrel of fresh blue fish at 4 cents a pound, an Album for $5 & Charles helped me. we hoed potatoes on the Cables (sic) land. Enos said Aunt Mary, Sarah and Julia went to New Haven. They went down to Mrs (sic) Thomases. went up to Henriettes (sic) in the evening. Eliza Peck was there, her & Ellen Stone.

Saturday

June 16^th

Went down to Seymour and got a Negative taken and got 7 Pictures of Bessies (sic) and ordered 9 of myself. came up across Chestnut Hill. took dinner at Aunt Mary’s. called to Uncle Burritts (sic) and called 3 on Julia. went into the new store kept by Glover Cables & Jay Beecher. Saw Sarah and Julia first goods out of new store and I caught them in ragged dresses.

Sunday

June 17^th

Went to church. Hellen (sic) Peck is up. Elibba and Julia Hatch have come up from Bridgeport. Theodore has gone to Albany. Spent the evening up to Henriettes. Had meeting with S. cause raw E g s shall meet no more

Monday

June 18^th

Rained in the morning. worked in the garden. Went down in the evening to William Churches (sic) after Miss Holbrook. Heard Eliza play some tunes and came home

Tuesday

June 19^th

Charles came, hoed corn in the long meadow. Altered the lambs. Eliza and hellen (sic) Peck were here. Went down to the center and carried Hellen (sic) with me. came back, staid awhile at Grandfathers 9sic) and came home

Wednesday

June 20^th

Charles came and we hoed corn up to Hitchcock lots. Charles went home a while to pay a man some money that was collecting Rodney Robinsons (sic) debts. Father went down in the morning to get some beef. I went away about 5 o’clock. Father & Charles took the lambs up on Jacks (sic) hill down and cut their tails off. Went down to Seymour to a temperance festival. Carried Julia. Saw Seabury Hull & several other acquaintance.

Thursday,

June 21^st

Charles came and we hoed up to Hitchcock lots. Father plowed part of the day. Mother and Martha Holbrook went down to Seymour. they met Sarah Fairchild and Julia Chatfield. there was a society over to Bernice Riggses; did not attend

Oxford

Friday

June 22^nd 1866

Charles came. finished hoeing up to Hitchcock lots. Father went down to William Churches (sic). lost a pocketbook containing $355.00. went down to the center in the evening.

Saturday

June 23^rd

Father went to Woodbury. Suspects Silas Judson of taking his money. Set trap to catch him. Aunt Mar, Sarah and Jane Hotchkiss came over to our house. Jane staid over. Went down to Wm Churches (sic) to carry Marth Holbrook. saw their new piano and heard Eliza Brown play

Sunday

June 24^th

Went down to twitchell farm. caught horse. came back. went to church.went home with Charley Butler at noon. had some pie and cake. In the evening I went Over to Beacon Falls to find out what kind of money they paid us. Elibba Hatch went with me. called a short time at Sarah’s. coming back Glover was there. had an invitation to call at Julia’s coming back. could not stay. Jay Beecher and Theodore were there. met Frank Davis and Mary Hudson and Louisa called short time in front of Mrs (sic) Candee’s. came back. had a good time. The text was at St Johns (sic) 21 chapter, 17^th verse: Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me

Monday

June 25^th

Father went over to Naugatuck. Charles sowed corn down to twitchel farm. Sam had one pair of oxen to plow out potatoes. we sowed the carrots, carried down some posts to ____(?) and drew some poles and made pen to put sheep in. Ellen came down to get some money. went up with her. Came back and retired.

Tuesday

June 26^th

Commenced shearing sheep. sheared 19, Charles 20. Father was at home. had no more help. Jane Hotchkiss is here. Went down to Presbyterian festival. Saw Jay Beecher. Took pieces of strawberry cake with him. went to the theater or play. came home with Ellen Stone.

Wednesday

June 26^th

Sheared sheep. Sheared 23, Charles sheared 22. Father went to Woodbury

Oxford

Thursday

June 27^th 1866

It stormed. Did not Shear. Charles plowed for his buckwheat. Picked cherries. Father went to Ansonia. I went to Seymour in the evening. saw a couple married at Baldwins (sic). Elibba purchased a net.

Friday

June 28^th

Sheared sheep. Charley sheared 18. I sheared 16. altered the lambs in the morning. took the sheep over on the hill. Went down to the festival in the evening. met several acquaintance among whom were Elibba and Julia Hatch, Louis Riggs, Julia Chatfield and others, Annie Abbot.

Saturday

June 29^th

Sheared Sheep. Charles, Mr (sic) Ford, Sam Riggs and myself Sheared. I sheared 17, Charles 1y, Mr (sic) Ford 15, Sam 13. Received a note from Julia saying she would be at home tomorrow. Eve (?) signed Your true Friend

Sunday

July 1^st

Staid at home from church. Spent the evening with Julia. called on Martha Fuller. Wales Chatfield was there and Mr (sic) Culver, a lady from Bridgeport, Charles Fuller and others. Theodore Warner was over at Sarah’s (sic) Fairchilds (sic). Cornelius Perkins carried Net Candee down to Seymour and John Fairchild carried Sarah Dunham. Bernard was at Mrs Candees (sic) with Alois Tomlinson, Jay Beecher, Glover and Heber (?) at Great Hill.

List of XPS from May 39^th 1866

May 30 .55 June 21 00

“ 31 .10 “ 24 01

June 1 00 “ 25 00

“ 2 00 “ 26 2.35

“ 3 00 ‘’ 27 00

“ 4 00 “ 28 70

“ 5 00 “ 29 2.05

“ 6 00 ______________________________

“ 7 00 Total Expenditure

“ 8 00 for the month of

“ 9 00 June commencing

“ 10 25 at May 30^th and

“ 11 00 extending to July 4^th

“ 12 00 Amounts to

“ 13 00 $9.02 [written large]

“ 14 00

“ 15

“ 16 1.47 June 17^th 1866

“ 17 .03 July 4^th 1866

“ 18 .00 May 22^nd 1866

“ 19 14

“ 20 1.35 No More

On inside back cover, written large with an embellishment: “Finis”