The Life Of George Holcomb – Taking Care of Crazy Gideon

Tuesday, May 9, 1826: We worked on said Rodgers Farm sowing oats. At night I took the single wagon and my wife went and carried our babe George Pease to Lebanon to Doctor Right’s and he looked at the swelling on my child’s cheek and let us have some salve to put on it. I called home by way of John Bull’s and got a chest of cake.
Thursday: Today I went to election to Simon Cranston’s and supported Archibald Bull in preference of Lane. I carried gingerbread and pies, cider and egg cider for sale. I cleared about six dollars.
Sunday: Today my wife and I rode to Dr. Wright’s with our child to see if the swelling was fit to open, but it was not.
Monday: Today we cross plowed our flax ground with our mares but at sunset the bay mare lost her colt. Today we began to plow sward land for corn. We plowed but very little for it was too warm for our oxen.
Wednesday: Today I sent to H. Platt’s store and paid nine cents for one pound of salts for our bay mare. Wm got them, and tameric bark to give said mare.
Thursday: Today I took the single wagon and my wife went and carried our babe George Pease to Doctor Wright’s and had his cheek lanced. This forenoon I rode up to the Shakers and got trusted four dollars and 76 cents of Monson’s office and agreed to pay in corn at 63 cents per bushel.
Saturday, May 20: Today old Mrs. Barnhart was thrown from a wagon. Her horse ran away. She was returning home to Hoosic from brother Wm’s and two of her daughters, but they were not hurt, and Wm took our single wagon and put her and a bed and fetched her from Calvin Carpenter’s home to his house.
Sunday: Today Wm took said Barnhart wagon and horse and carried the two Barnhart girls home and returned home tonight and rode one of their horses.
Tuesday: Today Gideon Barnhart came here from Hoosic. He is crazy. He came without a hat or shoes. Tonight I had him come up from Wm and I took him in a chamber and we were fastened in and we went to bed and slept very well.
Thursday, May 25: Today old Mr. Barnhart and his son Joseph came here with a double wagon after Gideon, but he had cleared out this morning.
Friday, May 26: Today old Mr. Barnhart returned home without his son Gideon.
Tuesday, May 30: Today Mr. John Mott’s wife died. It is thought that her death was caused by a family fight, bruised and took cold.
Tuesday, June 6: This afternoon Wm went after his wife’s brother Gideon that was crazy and had gone to Lebanon a disturbing the school and others. Tonight I stayed to Wm’s and helped take care of him. He was no particular trouble only to watch him.
Wednesday: Today brother Wm’s wife’s mother had got well enough to ride home with the mail carrier.
Thursday: Today Wm stayed home to take care of crazy Gideon and this afternoon his brother came and took our single wagon and carried him home to Hoosic.