[Incredible diary that belonged to a Joseph Atwater. This diary covers the time period 1858-1887, (see diary excerpts below), and measures 5 x 7niches with approx 40 double sided pages of content. In 1858 Atwater travels with his family by steamboat from Ohio to Louisiana where he buys a span of horses & carriage. He then travels further west, settling in Springfield, Texas. In Texas, he purchases 220 acres of land, and stock farm. He also mentions purchasing a slave he writes “Our hired help was a slave hired from his master Mr. Means a near neighbor for the sum of $200.00 in gold, two suits of clothes, 2 pairs shoes and 2 blankets and his board for one year”. Atwater than mentions the cost of maintaining his farm the political state of the country for example in 1861 while leaving Texas he writes” Excitement ran very high. Only one subject was being discussed “The probably war” Politicians on the trains could hardly confine their several arguments to words.” There are a few more entries regarding the Civil War, such as the Fall of Fort Sumter property lost/confiscated the mood of the civilian population etc. Atwater remained in Texas until the outbreak of the war. He decides to move back North in 1861 specifically Canandaigua New York where they still had a farm. For 20 years he was a traveling representative for Tiffany & Co. He was born in 1820 and passed in 1912. His diary covers his trip through Cincinnati to Shreveport Louisiana then to Marshall Texas in 1858. He will live with his family in Texas until 1861. There is so much to research its overwhelming. Includes a copy of research notes from a family member did and a transcript they typed up of Joseph Atwaters.] [Page 1] March 14, 1858 Joseph Atwater of Canandaigua, N.Y and Almira M. Tiffany of Wellington, Ohio were married at the residence of Henry Allyn of Wellington Ohio by Prof. Henry E. Peck of Oberlin College Ohio. June 16, 1858 Went south by way of Cincinnati taking steamer the Ohio Belle down the Ohio river and the Mississippi river as far as the mouth of the Red river there taking the steamer Lecormlate for Shreveport, LA. [Page 2] July 1, 1858 In Shreveport and spent 4 days thence to Marshall Texas and purchasing a span of horses having an extension top carriage made by M. Flages of East Bloomfield NY. I’ve traveled by carriage through the state as far as Limestone Co. 1858 In same year purchased a farm of James C. Means of Colton Gin, Freestone County. Farm nearer Springfield Limestone County. 40 Acres fenced in crops. 20 acres in orchards and garden yard to balance open prairie and some timber. [Page 3] August 4, 1859 Logdia J. Atwater was born near Springfield Limestone Co. at our home, Texas. 1859 We purchased an additional tract of timber some 10 miles from our home of John Kerbez. Cedar timber for rails. 1859 Our hired help was a slave hired from his master, Mr. Means, a near neighbor for the sum of $200.00 in gold, two suits of clothes, 2 pairs shoes and 2 blankets and his board for one year. [Page 4] 1860 In or near Springfield Texas on our farm. Enclosed a large field through which ran a stream and built a large dam across it to have a water supply for stock at home. 1860 Bought a flock of sheep and more cows. Raised a large crop of corn, wheat oats and cotton. Sent cotton to Houston in bales by ox teams. Sold grain to the emigrants who were moving into the state. A heavy crop of peaches. Hired help to dry all we could [Page 5] 1860 On our farm. Peaches there was no market for unless dried and there were so many the hogs were turned into the orchards to eat those on the ground. A very large crop of sweet potatoes. 1860 Just began to find out that it was a very prosperous county to live in and a good climate when the county began to call meetings to settle the questions that could not be settled. Union men were there and non union men and soon one side, the union men dared not speak. [Page 6] 1861 Probably it was fortunate for us that we had some property left at the North to look after. And in the spring when everything was looking finely corn about 12 inches in height. March 8th started for the North. 1861 We traveled by carriage about 100 miles to the railroad then took the railroad to Houston. There took the steamboat to go down the bayou to Galveston. A deep narrow stream. So narrow that only in certain places could boats pass each other. [along side] Railroad there finished as far north as Hempstead. [Page 7] 1861 From Galveston took steamboat across to Berrvick Bay, thence by railroad to New Orleans and from there took the railway through Northern Mississippi and Alabama by way of Huntsville, Eastern Tennessee and Virginia by way of Petersburg to Washington DC making few stops. [along side] Lynchburg, VA. 1861 Excitement ran very high. Only one subject was being discussed “The probable war”. Politicians on the trains could hardly confine their several arguments to words. [Page 8] 1861 Leaving Washington where all was excitement we passed through Baltimore and Philadelphia on to New York. Weather very cold and snow was flying. At New York the news was brought that Fort Sumpter was taken. 1861 From New York took the cars for New Haven Conn thence to Hartford from there to Suffield, Conn. where we remained several days visiting friends. From Suffield to Westfield, Mass. and visited friends there From there we went to Hartford Conn. [Page 9] 1861 Left Conn. for State of NY March 1st and went by way of Albany. All along the route companies of volunteers were forming for the War. At many places friends were at the trains to bid them goodbye. All was wild enthusiasm. 1861 Stopped at Bristol NY and rented a house of Ira Totrman until could decide what was best to do. 1861, July 26th purchased a place of 15 acres of Philander E. Hall on the west shore of Canan Daignon Lake. Within corporation. Amt paid $1400.00. [on side] Silver 122 Deeds Page 509 [Page 10] 1861 Place out of repair and same fall built a new barn $200.00. Bought a horse 5 years old and light harness and buggy. Bought a young heifer 3 years old. Built new fences, etc. Began keeping house at the North while everything in south was confiscated. Horses taken for the army, cattle sheep and hogs taken for soldiers supplies. Fences taken for camp fires and all personal property in the state of Texas lost. [Page 11] 1862 Bought 1,000 Isabella Grape vines from Jayne + Platman. Benton Yates Co. NY. P.H. Cooney Agent. Exchanged my gold watch and chain for the vines. 1862 Mrs. Maria Atwater made her will and willed that the money should be paid back to Mr. Atwater out of her property that he had through her influence loaned to the Pitts Bros. who lived in Moline, Ill. The will was made Feb 7th 1862. [Pages 12 & 13] Emma B. Atwater was born at our home in Canandaigua NY. November 7th 1862 Purchased 2 cows and a fine flock of 10 young Southdown sheep and they proved a very profitable investment. Wheat, corn, beef and pork brought a very high price. The oil excitement was at its height next to war and farms and fortunes were lost. All through this part of the country land was in great demand to be leased(?)March. The property was transferred by Joseph Atwater to Thomas Dempsey of Canandaigua, NY. The same property was deeded to Mrs. Almira Atwater of Canandaigua, NY by Thomas Dempsey and wife Elizabeth Dempsey. March 27th, 1862. No incumbrance whatever on property in March 1862. Mrs. Maria Atwater died in Canandaigua NY at her home. [Page 14] 1863 Still successful farming on the small place. Everything brings a high price. The Pitts Bros are studying if in any possible way they can break the will. 1863 They made an offer through their Lawyer Henry M. Field that they would pay 50 cents on the dollar and if we would not accept it would get nothing as they would break the will. We said very well; as they had received every dollar of that amount from him and had had the use of it for year. [Page 15] Now when a way was provided to right a wrong if such was intended we would give them the opportunity to do so or take nothing except what the law would give. 1868 As the heirs at Sams Were Henery E. Peck of Oberlin Ohio sent by our Government to inquire into the condition of the Freedman; and later to Hagle and Cyrus Pitts and Hiram Pitts of Moline Ill who had borrowed the money and used it in constructing a very costly house. There who called themselves very conscientious Christian men; we left it for them to decide [Page 16] 1864 War the all absorbing thought. Yet those who remained at home and on their farms were getting very prosperous. 1864 Wheat pr bu $2.50 to 2.75 Barley 1.95 to 2.10 Oats 1.00 to 1.10 Rye 1.75 to 1.80 Corn Yellow 1.98 to 2.00 Corn White 2.00 to 2.10 Hay per ton 25.00 to 35.00 Butter per lb. .45 to .55 Cheese per lb. .25 Eggs per doz. .40 to .42 beef and Pork per lb. .16 to .17 Beef .17 to .19 Veal .18 to .20 Wool per lb. .95 to 1.10 Apples per bbl 5.—to 5.50 Grapes per lb. .15 to .20 [Page 17] 1865 November 27th The heirs of Mrs. Marion Atwater seem to have come to a conclusion to make no attempt to break the will and a final settlement is made through Hezekiah M. Jarvis Administrator and Elihu M. Morse the Surrogate. 1865 November 27th Mr. Atwater received nearly Four Thousand in money and place it in U.S. Government bonds at 7 per cent interest [Page 18 and 19] 1866 Sold crop of Isabella grapes at 8 and 10 cts per lb netting a very good profit per acre. Other crops good and considered the place too small for farming. Invested some money in county bonds and the amount on hand in bonds being about $3900 began to think of extending our farm. 1867 Anna L. Atwater was born at our home in Canandaigua NY Feb 12th 1867 Sold one fine colt 3 years old to Leonard Atwater of Westfield Mass for the sum of $125. Sold some of our Southdown sheep also two cows. Prices were growing lower still there was a good demand for everything raised on the farm. Amount on hand in money and bonds over $4000 [Page 20] 1868 December 29th Purchased part of the so called Thomas B. Lyon farm of Seymour H. Jackson for the sum of Nine Thousand Dollars. The sum of Five Thousand paid in hand. Four thousand seven hundred being in bonds and int money and three hundred dollars borrowed of Mrs. Betsey Dempsey making Five Thousand Dollars cash paid in hand on the land and a mortgage given on same land for four thousand dollars. The balance due Mr. Jackson. 1869 Dec 7th 1868. Made out Quit claim. Deed of Texas property to Mr. Herring of Texas. Deed made out by James C. Smith, and sent south by S. Collins Hart, and delivered through him to W. F. Robberts, and by him delivered to J. C. Means. Money paid by J.C.M. to W. F. Robberts then to S. Collins Hart of Canandaigua who went south to Marshall, Texas. 1869 Rec'd the $850.00 in gold from S. Collins Hart and paid him for his trouble. The preminum of gold brought the ????? to about one thousand ???? [Page 21] 1869 The note paid to Warren Peckerns Apr 6th was the last note held by anyone against Joseph Atwater at that date. After over nine years of hard work and care to meet every note as it came due, every payment of interest on mortgaging every payment due our hired help, every payment incurred by running farm expenses and every payment for our own living expenses it was with a deep sense of gratitude and thankfulness that we paid the last note due. As each mortgage was paid off of course the burden of debt seemed lighter but not until the last dollar on every mortgage was paid every note, every obligation whatsoever was paid did we feel any freedom. I now know how much sacrifice it costs to secure a home and how sacred a person’s right in that home should be regarded. I have even looked upon the use of another’s money without paying it back as a great crime. And after realizing all these years how hard money is obtained by labor on a farm, my views and opinions are stronger than before. No matter in what way injustice may be carried out to rob a person of their money or home or property the great sin remaining the same and should burn in their conscience until just reparation is made. There is a satisfaction in feeling that through all the sacrifice made to pay all these obligations that so far as I know every one has been fully paid who helped us in our work or in any way held any account against us.