The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

George Holcomb’s Life Comes To An End

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Tuesday, January 22, 1856: This evening John F. took his two horse sleigh and carried his sister Sarah A. and others  to the widow of Joseph Brown to a party, tonight I had a very restless night and shaking.
Wednesday: I am quite unwell and John F. unwell. This morning Appollas Rollo had a cow beef of John at six dollars and fifty cts per hundred.
Friday: I am better.
Saturday: I am not well. John went with his two horse team to the widow Morey’s mountain farm and got a load of 150 bundles rye straw at six dollars per ton. John F. and his two sisters visited this evening to Gustus Rollo and carried him 25 pounds tallow and bought 20 pounds more of him and left it all with him to make into candles.
Monday: This evening Allen Smith went with my horse and cutter to the Elyseum to the school house near H. Patchings and carried my two daughters and Eliza Wylie and John F. walked to the Elyseum.
Monday, Feb. 4: I am better. Tonight John F. and his two sisters went to the debating meeting at Lebanon school house.
Wednesday: Geo P. drew ice from John Conklin’s saw mill pond
Wednesday, Feb. 13: This afternoon Geo P. started on foot to go north  to engage to sell fruit trees. Tonight Ezra Sackett stayed with us. Severe cold. Today John F. drew  wood from the swamp, Ezra Sackett chops, he drew three loads.
Friday: John F. drew two loads wood from the swamp, Ezra Sackett chopped. John F. paid Sackett one dollar for two days chopping.
Tuesday: I am not so well. John F. shovelled snow on the highway
Wednesday: I am not so well. Doctor Bates stopped and left me medicine.
Thursday: I am better. Doctor Bates called and left medicine.
Friday: John F. and his two sisters and Eliza and Mary Wylie went to  the Baptist Church to a temperance lecture by Elder Rodgers.
Saturday March 1: My health poorly. John F. went from the swamp to John Conklin’s saw mill three times with ox team. Tonight snow and blow storm.
Monday: I am quite unwell. This evening the youngest son of the widow Rafferty died, she is the tenant of John F. on the Rodgers farm.
Tuesday: I am no better. Doctor Bates stopped and left me medicine. John F. went to Simeon Wylie’s and got four gallons molasses that was my share of 40 gallons that Seppronas Twitchell presented to his relations.
Sunday: Tonight I was more unwell. I got no rest sleep tonight.
Wednesday: I am the same or no better.
Thursday: No better.
Frdiay: no better. Doctor Bates Called. John F. sold Geo P. 32 sheep at 3.50 cts.
This is the last entry in George Holcomb’s diary. He died three months later on May 12, 1856. His wife Lucinda lived until January 29, 1863. Geo P. lived until 1883. John F. lived until 1894. Charlotte never married, and lived until 1891. Sarah O. married George Long in 1864, and lived until1877.