Diary of Irene and Alice CHRISMAN (1863): Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Elizabeth Pollard-Grayson [epg@austin.rr.com] Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* A diary kept by Irene and Alice Chrisman. It is a one year diary for 1863; however, the sisters dated each entry by year. It appears to me that Alice kept the diary for the first year or two recording mundane events. Then it appears Irene took over and used the diary to record deaths and marriages. This is a literal transcription. Any writing that I am unsure of is designated with a (?). All items in brackets are originally typed in the diary. All dates are otherwise handwritten in. *NOTE: If you are interested in this diary, please contact Elizabeth. Front Page: Irene Chrisman Setlers Stone Chester Co Pa Thursday, Jan. 9th 1868. Isaac Chrisman died. Wednesday, Jan. 11th 1871 Lizzie Bartolette died. Friday Jan. 12th 1866. Alice Jones died. Thursday Jan, 12th 71 Pappa left for the west. Wednesday Jan. 17th 1866. Uncle George Chrisman died. [Wednesday Jan 21] 74 Emma was married very dull and rainy. Uncle Isaac Stover died. Friday evening the 21st 76. of Heart disease. Saturday [January 22] 76 Hattie Rowland died. Monday Jan 24th 1870. Squire Willaner died. Friday Jan 27th. 1865. Sarah Klopp buried. Thursday Feb. 3rd 1870. Jesse Grimes died. Thursday Feb 6. 1873. Joseph Dehaven died. Thursday Feb 13. 1873. Benjamin D. Miller and Pierce started for Somerset. [Sunday, February 15, 1863.] Mr. Bartalett died Tuesday Feb. 18. 1873 Mrs. Walter MacFeat died. Monday, Feb. 20th 1865 Lewis M. Shantz died about 8 o'clock in the even- ing. Monday Feb 20th 1871. Ella Miller died about 8 'oclock in the morning. Wednesday Feb 22nd 1868 Mary Fisher buried. [Thursday February 26] 74 R. Kolb was buried. Tuesday Feb 28th 1871. John Wagonselter (?) died Saturday, Feb. 28th 1874 Grandma Pennypacker died. [Sunday, March 1] 1864 Quite A deep snow fell March 1st 74. Grandmother (crossed out) Pennypacker died. (crossed out) buried on the fifth. beautiful day and a large funeral. March 2nd 1864 Rev. Mrs. Shenkle was buried Thursday March 2nd 1871. Grandpappa Chrisman died about four 'oclock in afternoon aged 82 years 9 mo and 27 days. Thursday [March 10] 1864 Madison Brownback died. Saturday Mach [sic] 11. 1863-- We had a grand Exhibition in the E.C.U. Meeting House very pleasant evening a good turn-up & took in 35$ of which $2 were count- feit, hard the Scholars in $.s. (unsure of last phrase starting with hard) Saturday March 11. 1871 Eliza J. Stephen's died. Tuesday, March 11, 1873., Mrs. Jacob H. Major died very suddenly of heart- disease. Saturday March 15. 1873. William Hause died. Saturday [March 18] 1865 Dis Day I (Alice Chrisman) cut my finger very severely. Do you know this is a very windy day. Father went to West Chester. Saturday [March 19] 1864. Kerry Still buried. Saturday March 19th 1870 Aunt Betsy Christman Died Wednesday March 19. 1873. Mrs. David S. Taylor died Tuesday [March 22] 1864. Aunt Susie Shantz bur- ied. Friday, March, 31st 1865. Kitty Grilbb (?) buried. -------- March 31st 1866. Clara Reinhart died. Monday Apri l4th 1870 Peggy Miller died. Monday [April 10] 1865. Mrs. Jno' Baugh died in the Morning about 5. o'clock. Tuesday April 11th 1865 Mrs Eliza Whitby bur- ied. she died after an illness of only a few hours. Wednesday March [sic] 11th 1874 Em Pennypacker married John Baugh Sr buried Saturday March 14th 1874 [Friday April 17] 1863. Charles Painter died. [Monday April 20] (1874 erased) Lillie Kennedy Robb died. aged 25 Saturday. April 22. 1865. George Baugh died. had been to Pugh- town during the day and when going to bed fell and was taken up a corpse. [Sunday April 26] 1863. Grandma Price buried. [Monday April 27] 1863. Aunt Sallie Huzzard died [Tuesday, April 28, 1863.] David E. Majors & Samuel Willaner's bod- ies brought home from Falmouth, been dead about three months 1868 Mrs. Henry Fink died. [Thursday April 30.] 1863. Thanksgiving -day ap- pointed by the President. [Friday, May 1, 1863.] Commenced planting corn. Monday, May 1. 1865. John Tilton buried. Sunday May 14th. 1871. Coz. Harry March died about 11'oclock in the morning had been very low for about three weeks. [Saturday, May 16, 1863.] Grandmother Benner died. Saturday May 20th 1871. David Frick died about 11 'oclock at night. Saturday, May 21st 1870. Lizzie Brey died. [Monday, June 15, 1863.] Commenced making hay. Saturday June 17th 1865. Mrs. Joseph Johnson drownded herself in the well. [Friday June 19] 1863. Old Jacob Shantz was buried. [Tuesday, June 30, 1863.] Company started for State defence from Lawrenceville. [Wednesday, July 1] 1863. Battle of Carlisle commenced. Sunday [July 2] 1871 Elwood (illegible middle initial in a different hand/pencil) Buckwalter was buried. He was sick for two weeks with typhoid fever. Monday, July 3rd, 1865. Daniel Rinehart fell off a load of hay, and paralyzed his lower limbs. Died on July 25th Monday [July 4] 1864. Cousin John H. Stover buried. (H is in pencil; rest is in pen) Sunday [July] 5 [1863] Wet Harvest. [Tuesday July 7]. 1863. Judson Rowland came home from the Army. 'is that so. (second sentence in different hand) Monday July 11th 1870 Jonathan Urner (?) died. [Sunday, July 12, 1863] Hauled in Grain. 1871 Anna R Buckwalter died Wednesday, July 20th 1870. John Chrisman died. [Wednesday July 22] 1863. Mrs. Bartlette buried. [Friday, July 24, 1863.] John Fox died. Monday, July. 24th 1865. Cousin Henry Chrisman died. Tuesday July 25th 1865. Daniel Rinehart died. Wednesday July 25th 1866. Lydia Shantz died. [Monday, July 27, 1863.] Mrs. Frank Shantz buried. [Tuesday July 28] 1863. Mary Freas buried. Saturday, July 28th 1866. Cousin Kitty Shantz died. [Sunday, August 2, 1863.] Theodore Sower's funeral sermon preached. Saturday [August 5] 76 Francis Miller buried [Thursday August 6] 1863. Drafted men came home. Examination & Thanks-giving-day. Monday [August 7] 1876 Henry Shuman buried. Saturday Aug. 12th 1865. Uncle Henry Christman died. [Friday, August 14, 1863.] State defence men came home. August 14th 1872 Uncle Reuben Shnafs- burger (?) was killed on the Perkiomen built (?) road. [Monday, August 17, 18]68. Coz. Frank Marsh's baby died. Monday August 22nd 1870. Katie Stauffer died. Tuesday [Wednesday] 2 (crossed out) [September 1863] Irene went to school at N.C. Wednesday Sept 7th 1864 Returned from school. [Wednesday September 9] 1863. Carrie Bush married. Friday Sept. 9th 1864. Price Frick died Abe married Ada Stauffer Thursday the 9th 1875. [Saturday September 12] 1863. Celebration day. Monday Sept. 18th 1865. Grandpap Sheeder died. Howard W. Deweese died. [Saturday, September 19, 1863.] Very large Mass Meeting at the Yellow Springs. Davis Yeager buried. Friday [September] 29. 1871. Aunt Katie Frank died. [Friday October 23] 1866. High hats gone out of fashion. Sunday morn Nov 7 1869 Ellen Stauffer died Saturday Nov 15th 1873. Nathan Wagner died after an illness of 5 weeks. Wednesday [November 21 186]6 Mr Abbie Frick gave his first Sociability. Thursday [November 22] 1866 Snowed a little. [Thursday November 26]. 73 Irene came from school at West Chester. [Monday November 20, 1863.] Snowed a little. Mrs. H. Heckel buried 1876. Wednesday Dec. 10th 1873. Sarah Rinehart died Thursday [December 15, 186]4. Lewis W. Rinehart & Mary Heistand married. Friday, December 15th, 1865 Mrs. John Painter died. Monday Dec 16th 1867. Charlie Miller. died. Monday [Dec 19th] 1864. John Hunter Evans died. Monday Dec. 19th 1869 Mrs. John Bartolette buried. [Sunday December 20] 74 Dr. A. Bush died. The first snow fell. Thursday Dec 22nd 1870 Abraham Shallkop (?) & Hannah Childs buried. Enos Shantz married Miss Watson 74. [Wednesday December 23] 74 Dr. Meredith died. 10 cbs castor oil 10 " harbshorn (ammonia) deodorized alcohol enough to cut the oil (scented) Plain Fruit Cake. 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter beaten to a foam separate the yolks and whites of three eggs and beat each separately add the yolks to the cake and 1 tea-spoonful of cream of tar- tar dissolved in 1/2 cup sour milk add 1/2 teas spoonful soda dissolved in a table-spoonful of warm water then add the whites of the eggs Jumbles 1 lb butter 1 lb sugar 2 lbs flour 3 eggs 1/2 cup sour milk 1 tea-s poonful soda roll in sugar Ginger Snaps 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 cup molasses 1/2 cups ginger 1 teaspoonful soda mix stiff. Mountain cake 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 2 flour 1 teaspoonful cream tartar 1/2 t(blurred) soda nutmeg Cookies. 1 cup butter 2 cup sugar 1 cup cold water 1/2 tea- spoonful saleratus 7 eggs flour enough to roll & no more Soft ginger bread. 1 cup molasses 1 cup sugar 1 cup butter 1 cup of butter- (milk?) 1 egg sateratus (and? blurred) cloves & ginger Pickling For Hams or Beef For each 100 lbs of meat, take 7 lbs coarse salt, 5 lbs brown sugar, 2 ounces saltpeter, 1/2 oz soda or saleratus, & 4 gallons water. Boil & skim the mix- ture, let it cool, and when cold pour it upon the meat which should be weighted to keep it down. Leave common sized hams in pickle 4 or 5 days Beef can be kept until used up if the brine be scalded occasionally.------------- Cured Hams 1 1/2 lbs sugar 6 tlb Salt 2 oz Salt petre pulverized mix & rub the meat once a week or oftener This for 100lb time 4 to 6 wks Apple Jelly. Cut off all spots & decayed places on the apples; quarter them, but do not pare or core them; put in the peel of as many lemons as you like, about two to six or eight dozen of the apples; fill the preserving-pan, and cover the fruit with spring- water; boil them till they are in pulp, do not squeeze them. To every pint of juice put one pound of white sugar; put in the juice of the lemons you had before pared, but strain it through muslin. Let it boil twenty minutes, it will look redder than at first. skim it well all the time. It ought to be quite stiff and very clear. Put it in shapes or pots, and cover it the next day. Quinces for the Tea-Table Bake ripe quinces thorough- ly; when cold, strip off the skins. place them in a glass dish, and sprinkle with white sugar, and serve with white sugar (crossed out), cream. Siberian Crab-Jelly Fill a large flannel bag with crabs. Put the bag in a preserving-pan of spring-water, and boil for about seven hours; then take out the bag, and fill it so that all the sy- rup can run through, and the water water that remains in the pan; and to each pint of syrup add one pound of loaf-sugar, and boil for about one hour and it will be a clear bright red jelly. Apple-Snow Put twelve good tart apple in cold water, and set them over the fire; when soft, drain the water, strip the skins off the apples, cure them, and lay them in a deep-dish. Beat the whites of twelves eggs to a stiff froth put half pound of finely- powdered sugar to the apples beat them to a stiff froth and add the beaten eggs. Beat the whole to a stiff snow; then turn it into a desert-dish and orna ment it with myrtle or bay(?). Silver Cake Take 1 cup butter (crossed out), 3/4 cup Take the whites of six eggs, two and one-half cups of flour (?) one and one-half cups of su- gar, half cup of butter, 2/3cup sweet milk, half teaspoon- ful of cream of tartar, and a little soda. Composition Cake Three eggs, one-half teacup- full of butter, one and a half of sugar, two and a half of flour, one-half cupful of sweet milk, one teaspoonful of cream of tartar, one-half teaspoonful of soda and a little salt. Ginger Drops. Two tablespoonfuls of molasses, one of lard, half a cup of sour milk, one teaspoonful of soda and one egg. Flour enough to make a stiff batter. Bake quickly. Blueing. (this is in blue ink as are the next two entries) Take 1 oz. of chinese Blue or 1 oz. of Best Prussia Blue 1/2 oz Oxalic Acid both must be pulverized add one quart of soft water and bottle up for use. Nashing (?) compound 2 oz. borax, & 2 oz Sal-soda, 1 pint of water, with 1 qt common soft soap, let this simmer over a slow fire pulverize the borax & soda, dissolve them in the water before the soap is added, these must not boil but simmer well together, then set off & stir a little at first while cooling, when cool it will be solid. (The rest of this page is cut away, the only page cut in the book). Refined Syrup of Honey Take 10 lbs sugar, 3 lbs water, 1 1/2 lbs bees honey, 40 grains cream tartar, 12 drop essence Pepper-mint, the whites of 2 eggs & boil 15 min over a slow fire, skim it well strain it through a cloth, let it cool to about milk-warm & add 1 1/2 lbs bees honey stir it well together & you have a good syrup. Cure for Hydrophobia Take 1 1/2 oz. of Elecamfrane (?) root bruised or sliced, and boil it in one pint of new milk until it is reduced to a half-pint; when cold it is to be in one dose, after six hours fasting. Repeat the dose for several mornings To keep cider surd (?) 5 eggs & 1 cup of salt to 1 barrel _Raspberry Vinegar_ Pour over every qt of berries 1 qt of Vin- egar- let stand over night- strain and to 1 pint of Syrup add 1 lb of Sugar boil 20 min & bottle Chocolate Cacker (?faded) 1lb sugar 2 table-spoonfuls butter 2 ------------------ lard 1/4 lb Chocolate 2 eggs 9 table-spoonfuls flour 1 " each of cloves & soda 1/2 cup sweet cream ____________ Lemon Cake 5 Eggs 3 cups sugar 3 1/2 flour 1 Cup cream 1 lemon grated 1 tea-spoonful soda 1 ------------- cream tartar 1 cup butter. ________________ Pearl Cake 1 lb Sugar 1/2 lb butter 5 eggs 1 cup sour milk & cream 1/2 tea-spoonful soda 1 cup corn starch 2 cups flour 1 tea-spoonful cream tartar __White Mountain Cake__ (triple underlined) 1 lb white sugar 1/2 lb butter 1 lb flour 1 cup sweet milk 5 eggs 1 tea-spoonful soda 2 Cream Tartar __Icing & Cocoanut__ (triple underlined) French Cream Cake 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 1 1/2 cup flour 1 teaspoonful Soda 1 "--------- cream tartar 2 table-spoonfuls water Cream for the cake Boil nearly a pint of sweet milk 2 small tablespoonfuls corn starch in a little milk to this add 2 eggs whites & yolks when the milk has boiled stir this in slow- ly with 1 scant tea-cup sugar when thick add 1/2 cup butter & flavor. Cream Sponge 5 eggs beaten separate 1.5 cups sugar 1/2 cup flour bake in layers __Cream__ 1/2 pint milk 2 eggs 1 1/2 table-spoonfuls flour stir them in while the milk is boiling & flavor with lemon {Water Icing 8 teaspoon full _cold water._} (double underlined) Leopard Cake 1 Cup butter 3 cups white sugar 5 cups flour 1/2 ----- sweet milk 1/2 teaspoonful soda 8 eggs (white) Dark 1 cup butter 2 " brown sugar 1 " molasses 1 " sour milk 1 teaspoonful soda 4 cups flour 8 yolks & 1 whole egg Water Sponge Cake 2 Cups sugar 2 1/2 flour 2/3 cups water 4 eggs 1 teaspoon Cream tartar 1 ------ baking soda Lady Fingers 2 Cups butter 2 --- Sugar 2 " flour 4 Eggs 1 teaspoon Soda 1 " Cream tartar Snow Cake 3/4 cup butter 2 " Sugar 2/3 " milk 3 " flour 7 eggs (white) 1 teaspoon soda 2 cream tartar _Railroad Cake_ 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 1 cup sifted flour 2 table-spoons milk butter size of an egg flavor soda & tartar Annie Worman's _Vienna Rolls_ (double underlined) 1 table-spoon lard or butter 1 qt flour 2 tea-spoon baking powder mix together & sift place in the bowl with the butter 3/4 pint sweet milk 1/2 tea-spoon salt stir in to the flour knead & turn out on the board Roll 1/2 inch thick cut with a large round cutter fold over to form a half round wet with a little milk to stick together Wash over the top with milk & bake 20 min. [Newspaper Clipping glued in:] TO MAKE CREAM SAUCE FOR PUDDING. To make a bowlful of cream sauce take a piece of butter the size of a small egg and beat it up with powdered sugar until it is a light cream. Then set it aside. Then into a small tin saucepan put a coffee-cupful of water, and add to it a teaspoonful of flour mixed in a little water. Cook this thoroughly until it is like a thin starch. Then take up the butter and sugar mixture, and, while you are beating it energeticaly, let some one pour into it slowly and gradually the hot flour-suace. If the beating is not stopped for a moment the whole sauce will rise and be foamy as sea-froth. Flavor with wine, brandy or vanilla, as preferred. This is the best sauce made. Potato flour is sometimes used instead of wheat flour. Cucumber Sauce 3 doz cucumbers 8 onions 1 1/2 tea-cups Salt mix these & drain in sieve 8 hours then add 1/2 lb(?) mustard seed 1/2 tea=cup ground pepper 3 pints vinegar _Tomato Sauce_ (double underlined) 7 lbs ripe tomatoes skinned & in a kettle 4 lbs Sugar boil until penetrated then add 1 pint vinegar 1 oz cloves 1 oz cinnamon boil 30 min ____________________ (double underlined) _Tomato Catsup_ (double underlined) 1/2 Bus tomatoes boiled till soft Strain thru a wine sieve 1/2 gal vinegar 1 1/2 pt Salt 2 oz Cloves 1/4 lb (?) Alspice 3oz Cayenne pepper 3 table-spoons black pepper boil 3 hrs & bottle Creampuffs 1 oz of butter (over the fire 1 pint of water 4 oz _flour cook 5 min_ remove from the fire 6 eggs well beaten )add_ 1 table-spoonfull for add the yolks first each puff- brush the tops with beaten egg- bake brown in a moderate oven when done cut open and fill with Cream 2 oz Corn starch oz powdered sugar 2 eggs yolks 1 pt sweet milk boiled to mix flavor _Soft Ginger-bread_ 1 cup Molasses 1 ----- Sour milk & cream 1 tea-spoon soda 1 table-spon ginger flour to thicken Emily A Knatz Water Ices (Carm (?) When all ready for freezing add the beaten whites of 4 eggs to even 2 qts of the liquid Lemonade Roll the lemons on the table till quite soft-- cut them in halves squeeze dry add boiling water & sweeten to taste When cool add the grated rind & serve in tumblers half filled with ice powdered fine in a strong cloth with the flat side of the hammer On (?) prepared & served in a glass bowl upon stawbers sliced peaches sugar the fruit & scatter the ice over or place it over the fruit as it is served. Sweet Pudding 3 cups flour 1 " suet 1 " milk 1 " crumbs cinnamon & salt 2 eggs 1/2 tea-spoon soda 1 ----- cream tartar Sauce 1/2 cup butter 1 --------- sugar 1 table-spoon flour boil with water Cliften Loaf Cake 1/2 lb butter, 6 eggs, 1 lb sugar 1/2 pt milk, 1 lb flour, 1/2 teaspoon soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoonful cream tartar. Beat the butter, sugar, and spices together until very light. Then stir in the milk with 1/4 the flour. Whisk the eggs until thick with add alternatively with the remainder of the flour _Dandelion Wine_ 4 qts flowers 4 Oranges 4 Lemons boiled in 4 qts water Strain when cool add 1 cup yeast 3 lbs sugar, & bottle (In a preprinted "Cash Account. November." section: ) Received. Paid. 17 March A Chrisman 14.00 2.00 7.00 2.50 25.00 .75 6.00 .07 Irene Chrisman 117.50 2.05 (In a preprinted "Summary of Cash Account." section: ) [Mar] 17. I (A Chrisman 17.50. 13.25 Teacher Miss Parker Commenced taking Music Lessons September 1st 2nd 3d 18th 4th 22nd 5th 25th 6th 28th Oct 7th 3d " 8th 6th " 9 9th " 10 11th " 11 16th " 12 16th " 13 23d " 14 25th Nov 15th 8th 16th 13th 17th 16th 18 20th 19 22nd 20 27th Commenced taking Music Lessons of Prof J. Warren Custer April 20th 1868. May 4th May 11th May 21st May 28th (In a preprinted " Memoranda." section: ) [Date Dollars. Cents] July 1 Recd of J Chrisman 40.25 2 3 Recd of J Worman 16.04 4 Emma Chrisman Jr to Alice E. Chrisman [.0]3 Oct. 13th Mr. Kokler's day for preaching at Limerick ___ Carpenters Geiger 1/2 Brinard friday 1 Sat 1 mon 1 Friday Geiger & Boy 2 hours Monday Brinard & Cooil (?) came at Eleven oclock 1 1/2 Tuesday 2 Wednesday 2 Thursday 2 Friday 2 Saturday 2 April 11th 1871 Levi tearing down 2 days 2 day (?) James & Levi 2 " 2 Saturday 2 Monday 2 Tues 2 Wednesday 2 Thursday rainy in afternoon 2 Friday Showry 2 Monday workd till 8 oclock in the evening 2 1/2 Irene V. Chrisman Selzter Store Chester Co. Penn. Commenced taking Music Lessons of Miss Warren May 1867. (At Cottage Som. 3d 1867. NY. (?) 7th Simple cure 10th for 14th 17th Rheumatism 21st Take the root of 24th skunk cabbage 18th just the white 31st inside, cut it 4th 7th in bite & cover 11th with whiskey dose 14th table-spoonful for 3 times a day before meals can 4 lbs paid 470 paid for 47 lbs (Erased sums underneath) Irene Chrisman. To make unfermen- ted _Grape Wine_ To every quart of Juice take 1 lbs of sugar simmer over the fire all day- scim & bottle. __________ _To Salt pork_ To 100 lbs of pork 4 lbs Salt fine 2 ozs petre 1/2 lb Sugar ________ Grape Wine 4 lbs Sugar 1 1/2 qts water 2 1/2 qts juice