Journal
of Alfred Love Davidson
February 1858 to April 7, 1865
Journal Transcription
Page 1:
H H R Henry Davison my book Sept.
the --, 1857.
Sept 9 Dewolf set to make final on the 7th day of
February the 1858 at 5 cents per panel & boards himself at three dollars per
week at this place.
In and for the Bowling Green.
John H. Davison started from home on surveying expedition with H. L. (?) on
Saturday the 14th of December 1866 & left Kansas City on the
20 of December for home.
Page 2:
When this you see Remember me Though many
miles Apart we may be. Henry Davison
Henry Davison
Henry Davison
Annie P. Bertrand To - Mary Messeon 12 T.
scribbled out - Henry Davidson and (?) Bertran his wife (?).
John F. Lamb and Mary Milds his wife was married on the 12th day of March 1860.
Witness A. Runels, C. Hurd.
Killed 7 hogs on the 23 of December 1861.
Page 3:
Leroy A. Bertrand Toledo, Ohio.
John F. Lamb Dr. To Henry Davidson.
June the 1 & 2 One and a half days work 75 @ 1.12
Alfred Byrum set in at work on the 4 day of June 1860.
Alfred Byrum (?) last after he began to work &c &c.
1861 Finished gathering corn on the 28 of November.
Page 4:
Clement Adams started home on the 7 April 58.
T. H. Reddish started for Mo. on the 4 April 58.
Wm. Allen Started for Little Osage, Mo. on the 28 March 1858.
C. W. Higginbotham arrived at Indianola on the third of Oct 1858.
1862 Sowed turnips July 14 the second Sowing the 18 July. Sowed the third time
August the 1. Sowed 4 time Aug't. 22.
The principal towns in Kansas Territory: Leavenworth City, Wyandotte City,
Doniphan, Lawrence, Topeka Kickapoo and Fort Riley.
Principal towns in the State of Kentucky: Louisville, Lexington, Frankfort,
Hopkinsville and Bowling Green
Page 5:
Cyrus W. Higginbotham Indianola Ks.
October 10, 1858
Sow your turnips on the 25 day of July and you will make turnips without fail
wet or dry.
Stars fell in 1826 and will fall again in 1892
Stars fell in 1826 again in 1892
October the 24 1862 turned cold today & made ice the first seen this season.
at night the snow fell partly covering the ground the first this season.
Ice inch thick this morning the 25 of Oct.
Page 6:
Population of the
The United States in 1860: Free Population - 27,112,000; Slave population
- 3,878,000; Population of all the Territories - 334,856; Total
population - 31,374,856.
Total population in 1850 - 23,191,074. Increase in ten years - 8,183,782.
Population of Kansas & Pikes Peak in 1860 - 148,400.
1861 Frost the 26 of September.
October the 11 ice this morning for the first this fall.
1862 October 11 had frost this morning for the first this season, vegetation all
killed.
Stars fell in 1824 and will fall again in 1892 according to astronomy.
Locust year 1850 again in '64.
Page 7:
1860 The population of seven of the principal
cities in the Slave States:
Baltimore 214,037; New Orleans 170,766; St. Louis 162,179; Louisville 75,196;
Washington City 61,400; Charleston 40,192; (Sasfille?) (744 scratched out)
23,745;
Richmond 37,958; 747,485.
Population of The City & States in 1860:
New York 814,277; Philadelphia 583,054; Brooklyn (spelled Brooklin)
273,425; Boston 177,902; Cincinatti 160,060; Chicago 109,420;
Buffalo 84,000;
Newark 72,655; 2,304,773. San Francisco 61,000; Providence 50,687;
Rochester 43,696; Detroit 46,834; Milwaukee 45,323; Cleveland
43,550; Troy 39,653;
New Haven 30,277; Lowell 37,069; Jersey City 29,256; Cambridge
26,074; Roxbury 25,157; Charlestown (Mass) 25,127; Worcester
24,963; Reading 23,143;
Salem 22,748; New Bedford 22,329; Dayton 20,132; 2,924,912.
Page 8:
The population of eight of the principal cities
(spelled citys) in the Southern States in the year 1860 is 785,445.
The population of twenty six of the principal cities (spelled citys) in the
Southern States in the year 1860 is 2,924,912.
The population of Kentucky in the year 1860 is 1,156,000 an increase of 17 per
cent in the last ten years.
On the 20th day of December 1860 the state of South Carolina withdrew her
connection from the United States of America.
1860 population of the world is 1 billion 50 million 159,403.
Lincoln makes the eighth president elected from the free states. There has also
been eight presidents elected from the slave states. 16 in all up to 1861.
1863 May the 11 good rain the best this year.
May 22 good shower.
Page 9:
Fort Sumpter was taken possession of by the
authorities of South Carolina on the 13 day of April 1861.
Kansas was admitted into the Union as a state on the 5 day of September 1861.
Frost on the 29 day of April killed all the plums in the low ground. Hurt
nothing on the high ground.
Sowed turnips on the 14th 1861
Davison
Commenced curing the Spring in 1861 July the 6.
Had roasting ears on the 30 day of June 1861.
Had Irish potatoes the 15 day of June 1861.
Tomatoes the 7 day of July 1861.
Cut Oats on the 15 day of July 1861.
Finished laying by corn on the 27 day of June 1861.
Had new corn hard enough to grind on the 7 day of August 1861 of common yellow
corn 1861.
Page 10:
Miss Martha S. Fisher, Council Grove,
Morris Co, Kansas.
Miss Clara Muncus, Council Grove, Morris Co, Kansas.
1861 had new corn ground at Hardins Mill on the 24 of August.
1862 had roasting ears on the 15 of July.
1863 planted the orchard in corn April the 4.
April 25 orchard corn up.
Rain on the 14th.
Rayand
1862 opened our crib of corn March the 7.
1862 had Irish potatoes the 2 day of July.
John Wanless landed here with Miss Renard Sunday November the 30 1862.
Page 11:
Battle of Carthage was fought in Mo on the 9th of
July 1861.
Battle of Bull Run was fought on the 21 day of July in which the federals were
completely rousted by succession.
H. Davidson
A. L. Davidson sworn in as post master at Indianola April the 21 1863.
Cyrenius name of one who governs.
Bartimeus son of the Honourable.
A. L. Davidson taken sick July 20 1862 congestion of the bowels and liver.
S. E. Davidson taken sick in Topeka April the 2 1863 & returned home April the
16.
Big rain of the 7 day of June 1863, also on the 8th.
Temp Kug Rendall here sick on the 7 of June 1863.
Page 12:
The peace of poverty spoke by Miss Druseller
Jackson of the Warren Co. Academy on the 4 of July 1857.
1. I have no mother for she died when I was very young, but memory still around
my heart like morning missed the sun.
2. They tell me of an angel from that watched me while I slept, and of a gentle
hand that wiped each tear I wept.
3. And that same hand that held my own when I began to walk, what joy appeared
in her eyes when I first tried to talk.
4. For they say the mother heart is pleased when infant charms expand, I wonder
if she thinks of me in that bright happy land.
5. For I know she is in heaven now that holy place of rest, for she was always
good to me and the good alone are blessed.
Turn to page No. 24
Page 13:
April 12
6. I still have some little books she learnt me how to spell, and the writing
tips she gave to me I still remember well.
7. And then she use to kneel with me in the parlor each day, and raise my little
hand to heaven and tell me what to say.
8. O Mother Mother in my heart thy image you shall be, and I hope in heaven at
last I may meet with thee.
Henry Davison
1858 Dec 17 Marthia Smith Returned from Surveying junction on the 27 of
March 1861 in service of Mackey & Berry.
1861 Oct 21 big fire on the prairie. No fence burned. Reeder lost some rails.
January the 4 1862 big snow fell 10 inches deep on Saturday night of the above
date.
Page 14:
1862 Planted irish Potatoes March 29. Put sweet
potatoes in hot bead April the 7.
Commenced. Sowing spring wheat on the 7 of April. Sowed mustard lettuce radishes
& tobacco seed April the 9.
April 22 planted the orchard in corn, finished sowing oats April the 26. Planted
out garden April the 24.
Returned from Leavenworth August 28 1862.
1862 cut spring wheat the 11 and 12 days of July.
Cut oats July the 18 1862.
1862 quit plowing corn July 17 1862. Stacked wheat August the 1.
Moved Mrs. Oldenhouse August the 1, 1862.
1863 March the 12
Commenced sowing wheat. Sowed tobacco seed same date.
March 13 planted potatoes.
March 17 sowed radishes lettuce mustard & tobacco seed
Over
Page 15:
Commence sowing wheat on the 15 day of Sept 1862.
first piece finished sowing the 24 & 25 of Sept. 1862.
Mr. Bavlin sowed wheat the 17 & 18 of Sept 1862.
Some peaches ripe the 14 of September, in their prime the 24 & 25 of Sept 1862.
All gone Oct the 1.
Clem Davidson badly burned with powder March the 21 1863.
October the 15 1862 put up 12 hogs to fatten & left out 9 bores and 3 sows.
1863 finished sowing spring wheat March the 20.
A.L. Davidson elected Justice of the Peace on the 23 day of March 1863. He
received 50 votes, Clark 36, Carpenter 29, Button 20.
There was 76 votes poled at said election held at Indianola Kansas.
Curtis & Morgan elected constables, Reeder trustee.
Page 16:
Sent the store $3.15, 1 yard drilling .25, 2 yard
calico .50, 1 pair shoes 4.00, 1 pair shoes .50 8.40
5 yard calico 1.00, 1 hood 0.75, 1 pair shoes 1.25, Flannel .65, (?) .75,
10 yard calico 2.00, shoes 1.25 16.55
To thread .20, To lantern 1.25, To oil .40, To calico 10 y 2.50, To 1 yard (?)
(?) .40, To tallow 1.10
Credit by 12/4 butter $1.83, To 10 lbs
Dec 13 11 lbs butter 1.50 3.33,
Credit cash 2.20, 3.00, 8.77, Cash paid .80
To 20 cts on G. Yany .20, To butter 1.00, To butter 1.60, To
cash 1.00
Page 17:
Entered into an agreement between J. F. Lamb &
Henry Davison on the 18 of March A.D. 1860
that we enter into a co-partnership in making a crop of corn and other grain and
vegetable on equal foot & giving A.L Davidson
one half of the corn and he (A.L. Davidson) furnish horses, plows, beds and
board us while at work.
Henry Davidson, J. F. Lamb, A. L. Davidson
Left off work on the afternoon of the 16th of July 1860 leaving A. G. Bryan with
four days work to do after I left. July 16th, 1860
Sweet sweetest love I'll not forget the, Time will only teach my heart, Fonder
warmer to regret the, Beautiful and lovely as thou art, Marih
Received our first letter from Wm. G. Davidson after he arrived at Auburn Oregon
on Nov the 29 1862.
Page 18:
Feb the 1 1863, List of letters sent from the
above date by A.L Davidson, One letter.
Feb 1 one letter to Will
Feb 1 one to Wm. Taylor
Feb 1 John Wanless
Feb 1 Geo B Hines
March the 2, one to Geo Hines, one to Henry Davison.
March 5 One to Henry Davison, one to A.C. Nichols.
Started 1 to Henry on March the 31 1863.
April 10 started letter To Will & Henry.
Alfred C. Davidson was badly burned by Powder and walked alone the first time.
Alfred Clement Davidson badly burned with powder March the 21 1863 & walked
alone the first time April the 26, making 37 days before he walked one
step.
Page 19:
Indianola, KY Aug the 5
Dear Miss, After my work (?) to you & from you a (?) times hoping it to be of no
offence however (?) feeling it has been long my wish to send to you.
Bowling Green Kentucky
Remember well and Bear in mind a Trustful friend is hard To find. Henry Davison
J. H. Davison
Page 20:
1858 K. J. Hutton for To sundries while keeping
hotel at Indianola. $5.45
To account from grocery book 20.25, To pork 5.00 30.70
Oct 6 1863
Leroy 1111111
Clem 1111111
Roseana 1111111111
Mr. Miles Forgun 3.00
To sithe a cradle 3.50
1 grinding stone 1.25
To 1 stove 16.00
To 1 clock 3.00
To 3 head cattle 25.00
To sundry 2.00
forks 1.00
crib 4.00
safe 14.00
Plows & gear 10.00
lounge 10.00
72.75
Page 21:
Minnie F. Farnsworth, Topeka, KS
John Henry Davidson left home (?) (?) on the (?) (?) (?) as the (?) (?) (?) at
the age of (?) years 3 months and 25 days.
Wm. G. Davidson started from Denver City for the new gold mines July 20 1862.
(Ruddle?) Hines, Leavenworth KS
J.C. Thompson was arrested by United States soldiers August 1 1862.
1863 April 7 peach trees in bloom, grass for stock to live well.
Charley Young thrown in Browns well by a horse & crippled April the 5, 1863.
April the 9 & 10 1863 planted the half of the west end of the field in corn.
Page 22:
Mr. John C. Adams was married to Miss (Mary?) (?)
November the 20, 1856.
A. L. Davidson land
West 1/2 11, & 11, then 19, & 11.
South East fractional quarter 5/10 to 11, 15, 99.
NW part north of Soldier Creek of the North E fractional quarter ?/5 to 11, 15,
42.
John C. Adams his land numbers North East fractional quarter of section No 3 in
township No 10 in range No 16.
Wm. G. Davidson started to Denver City August 1860.
Frank Fidling was drowned on the 3 day of August 1858 at Indianola.
Married on the second of February 1859 by Rev. A. R. Button at the residence of
the bride's mother R. W. Hindman & Miss Catherine Wallace all of
Indianola.
(written sideways) May no dark cloud rise in their future life.
Page 23:
Sept 30 (Cohen?) was killed on Sept 12. (?) (?)
was killed Oct 3 R. Brownlee was drowned Dec 19.
(?) (?) died 1857 and his widow was married on the ninth of April (?) 1858.
Porter Fidling was married to the widow Matthew on the 20 of March 1858.
Joseph Copp was married to Miss Mathew on the 20 day of March 1858.
Thomas (Farris?) died on the 29 of December 185?
And his widow married again in 1858 on 28 of March.
Henry Davison , April the 20, 1856
1860
The 34 principal cities in the United States contains three million 672 thousand
(897?) hundred in 1860.
Page 24:
The events written in this little book by our
father - A. L. Davidson many years ago.
A. C. Davidson
At home in Taberville Mo April 4 1909
Property of -
Clem Davidson
Taberville, Mo
St. Clair Co.
May 19, 1919
Page 25:
April the 7 1865, got 40 bundles of corn from John Giffet