Viewing page 101 of 607

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Sunday June 1st 1884
The weather remains very cool so that a fire has been comfortable in the mornings and the evenings. I wrote to [[Downing?]] from whom I had a letter yesterday and also to Annie Lee. After dinner Sara, Girards wife and Girard Jr and Cousin Rachel and I drove over the South Rondout ferry and called at Capt. Andersons. We meant to have gone further but one of the horses lost a shoe and we prolonged our visit there. The Capt and Mrs Anderson were there he having recently returned from California. Lottie who has just come home from Europe, Natalie who is very pretty and Mrs. Jansen Anderson. We had a very call and they all seemed pleased to see us.
Monday 2.  Today I dug up the bulbs of the tulips &c in my mothers flower garden to separate them and put them out again this fall. I puttied the cracks in the kitchen floor and oiled it. The books came for the pictures and Sara, Cousin Rachel and I having the pictures in our sitting room and the parlor so that those two rooms are in order now. It has been a most lovely day. I had a letter a letter from Perry regarding the Art Union. He got $500 from Huntington and $250 from Eastman Johnson and says all is comfortable for the summer, so that I will not have that to worry over.
   
[[newspaper clipping]]
[[note]]North Adams Transcript  May, 29 1884.[[/note]] 
ORSON WELLS. 
The death of this venerable man occurred at his home in Braytonville, Saturday morning, the 24th instant, after an illness of about five weeks with no particular disease, but a constitutional wearing out.

Orson Wells was born in Cheshire in 1795. and was consequently at the time of his death 89 years of age, and about the oldest, or next to the oldest of the former citizens of this place. Mr. Wells' father lived in Cheshire, and his ancestors came from Rhode Island at a very early date. In his 15th year his family moved to this town from Cheshire, and occupied the present town farm place, which his father bought. In 1817 or thereabouts, Mr. Wells married Miss Zeruah Phillips, daughter of Rutus Phillips, and at his father's death he bought the farm which he occupied a number of years. Subsequently he bought the homestead in Braytonville, which he has now occupied 37 years. All his life except one or two years in New York state, was spent here. In addition to caring for a large farm he has been in the powder keg business, and acid and iron liquor manufacture. The latter business he conducted nearly 40 years, and latterly his son, D.M. Wells, has been his partner, with O. Wells & Son as the firm name. Mr. Wells had five children; only two of whom, D.M. Wells, and a daughter, Mrs. A.J. Ray of Janesville, Wis., are alive.

The deceased was a prominent member of the Methodist church here, and has been a local preacher for many years. In his vigorous manhood he continually filled the pulpit in Clarksburg, Stamford and other outlying places, and occasionally preached here. He was a deeply sincere and earnest man and he moved men because of this. He had strong sense, deep affections and lived an honest and useful life. The funeral occurred this Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Samuel Meredith, now presiding elder of the Saratoga district, formerly pastor of the local Methodist church, conducting the services. it was Mr. Wells' wish that Dr. Meredith assist at his funeral services.
[[/newspaper clipping]]

Tuesday 3.  This Mr. Wells whose death is noticed here is the one my Father & Mother and I visited at North Adams shortly after we were married. This morning I went down town and out to [[?]] nd got tomato plants & Egg plants which I set out in the garden. Then Cousin Rachel and I puttied the cracks in the floor of the servants room and I stained and oiled it and was pretty tired when it was done. I dressed and went down to the post office but got nothing. It has been much warmer today and this evening Cousin Rachel, my father, Sara and I sat out on the front porch as if old and spoke of those who used to sit there with us but who are gone from our circle. It has been a most lovely moonlight evening. I read Lucys last letter, one to Lucy and Sara had a letter from Mary Gifford today also. We keep so busy we do not get lonely or unhappy, my father is well and we are able to enjoy many blessings.
Wednesday 4.  Sara & Cousin Rachel cleaned my fathers room today which ends the house cleaning  The shades came from N.Y. and the man was to be here to put them up but did not come. I have been busy all day. Painted a border around kitchen blue and set out some petunias in the flower garden. Got an iron bed stead from my house and put in my fathers room. Mary brought little Dwight over. He is eight months old now and is a very pretty lovable child. I should have been very fond of such a child had I had one.
Thursday 5.  Went over to the cemetery and trimmed the grass on the graves and dug about the flowers  The morning glories on dear Gussies grave are gone.  

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-26 12:22:39 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-27 09:20:12 Good Job on Clipping, but MISSING Diary Entry. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-28 10:08:29