John William Sterling Journal: January-June 1859

1859 - January

January 1st The new year has commenced and hath brought me along with it in safety! How many things have I to be thankful for! My knowledge has increased! My life has been preserved! And grateful for my safety through the past and for freedom from dangers and accidents which constantly beset my path. I shall try and strive with all my might aided by Almighty God to live a better and holier life.

Very rainy the first part of the day but the afternoon filled our eye with HIS radiant and genial rays. Robert and Sarah dined with us. Kate will go back on Monday. Cornelia and Cousin Rufus called at 3:30 but at 5 went back having only time to chat for a short 40 minutes and drink a nice supper. Very splashy walking.

January 2nd Today is Sunday. Overhead clear and serene. Under foot frozen ponds. It is very slippery. A great many had falls. Sister Sarah sat with us Sunday afternoon. A most splendid piece of oratory as beautiful as Mr. Heid ever uttered. So the people said.

January 3rd It looks like snow. Nevertheless Pa and Kate went to New Haven. Pa returned at dusk when I ran to the depot and received him. He brought Mother and Cordelia skeleton hoopskirts. Mother’s was the most elegant that comes: it had 25 hoops.

January 4th Last night the snow did come and with what depth we were surprised. Robert and Sarah came up here this afternoon. Sarah drank tea with us: but Robert could not stay: but came up in the course of the evening. Rob played two games of chequers with Pa but the latter conquered in both. I guess Sarah thought Robert something smart at it: she was too urgent for him to play. Pa had not played before in 15 years or more.

January 5th Robert fell flat into the snow as he went home last night with Sarah: but when both got across the street they fell together. Today is Mother’s birthday. Yesterday the paths were made but no school

January 6th Yesterday the train was 2 hours in getting up from Bridgeport. But Sarah and Robert went to New York.

January 7th Yesterday I staid home from school. I had so bad a cold and sore throat.

January 8th Now I have staid home from school now 4 days but 5th 6th 7th 8th.

January 9th Today is Sunday, and finds me still an invalid not able to go and hear Mr. Swan --- that minister who is so much liked and so smart is he that they compare him with and make him equal to Mr. Weed. On the eve of 8th, it froze the snow and rain and it will be slippery.

January 11th Oh how slippery it is! It seems as if one wanted to stay in the house all day and it is so cold: but nevertheless I have summoned energy enough to go to school. (11 degrees below zero all day) Thermometer 11 degrees below zero at noon and lower at night and morning. The paper states it is the coldest night in 70 years. Today we commence Livy. Hamilton Curtis is with me in it & Greek.

January 12th Today not quite so cold.

January 13th I think Livy is very hard. I have only read a page or two yet. I am reading Anthon’s Jacob’s Greek Reader now and have got over to anecdotes.

January 14th It commenced to rain again today. Pa and I went to Bridgeport in the slay yesterday and I got my tooth filled but I must go again next week.

January 15th Pa has got something of a cold and has not been out. The streets are all aflood. Cordelia and I went to church all alone, a thing which has never happened before. Pa & Mother stayed home on account of influenzas.

January 17 Today Mother is worse. She will have to sleep on the sofa tonight.

January 18 Morning. We made a fire in the Dining Room about 9 o’clock in the evening last night so as the room would be warm all night. Then we converted the sofa into a bed and put Mother in it. This morning she looks as if she had been shut up a month. She had truly an awful night. We sent Mr. Allis after Doctor Schodier.

January 19 Mother has improved a little. I went to skating on this side Dyke. Splendid.

January 20 Mother sat up too long and is afraid she won’t sleep tonight.

January 21 Mother a little worser: night appeared very long to her.

January 22 I put my dog in my large sled this morning. I have not had him in before in a year.

January 23 Mr. See preached for us today. He is from Fair Haven where Mr. Swan & Mitchell formal (sic) resided.

January 24 Doctor Schrodier came for Ann who is quite sick

January 25 Doctor Schrodier came twice for Ann who is quite sick.

January 26 (ditto marks)

January 27 Mother better. Doctor Schrodier came for Ann who is quite sick.

January 28 Mr. Sedgwick has been talking to Hamilton Curtis and myself so strongly about writing a Latin Oration. I suppose we must do it. I have got one piece ready for Exhibition.

January 29 Saturday. Last night I made up my mind to write a piece and I have a splendid one. I have sent it in a letter to New Haven for Kate.

January 31 Monday – Go to school as usual: -- am reading Livy etc.

February 2 Received a letter from Kate. Praising and extolling in the highest manner my speech.

February 4 Today is a happy one – for Kate is home for 12 days. She grows handsome.

February 5 For the last week I have been making a vane and it is not done yet. It is very handsome. Pa got us some oranges besides 2 kegs figs – 10 lbs. prunes.

Feb. 7th Yesterday it snowed about 1 foot deep. The trains were not regular so Kate was compelled to wait till 3 o’clock.

February 8th A splendid day for sledding.

February 10th Miss Kate Reers was married in our church to a man named Mr. Goulden. Pa and Mother went and congratulated the parents.

February 11th (Phrase in Greek)

February 12 It snowed a little last night. This morning “Hoddy” Russell, I, and C. Swan busied ourselves in riding on our sleds after sleighs. Mr. Beach we met over to the Depot so we hitched on and soon we had half a dozen sleds one after the other and in this manner he took us down to Fresh Pond stopping every now and then to mend the ropes, etc. All of us together numbered around 20. We thus employed ourselves until 1 o’clock when we were late to dinner.

February 16 Our wood is most all here. Mr. Allis has it most all split up. I help him some.

February 18 Go to school as usual Study Greek, Livy, etc. Take no dinner and prefer today without any but Mother by her goodness persists in sending me something – a piece of cake and candy in abundance.

February 21 I am learning Cordelia, Ann, Margaret & Mrs. Mitchell’s Annie how to skate. The two former go nicely.

February 23 Keep busy all the time.

February 25 Today it snows. We shall have sleighing. On the next page I will put down a list of scholars in Mr. Sedgwick’s school and their characters so as I can see how many turn out well and how many bad.

1. Hines Trulock, 9, Loud fellow enough. Likes me to death. Wants to kiss me. 2. Susan Beers, 14, + In Caesar: quite smart. Very Red. 3. Charles Armstrong, Spaniard. Not advanced. Stout. 4. James Swan, 14, + Not advanced. Strong. Good fellow. Clever. 5. Joseph Staples, Very clever most too much so. Slow in studies. 6. Marshall Trulock, Very good enough – boards at Mr. Sedgwick. Very clever good natured. 7. William Austin, very good, drags along in class. Most turned out but yet not in Greek & Latin. 8. Senward Austin, Very Sentimental, quiet. 9. Dewitte Swan, Nothing suits him but his own will. Always finding fault. Never content. 10. Asa Curtis, High spirited, always laughing. 11. Alice Curtis, 16 + Very disagreeable, always laughing, never stopping (scolded awfully, deserves it. She lies). Definition of no. 7 applies. 12. Clarence Swan, Smart as a steel trap to talk. Know nothing of his studies. Clever. 13. Anna Beers, Smart, very, clever, some pluck when mad. 14. Clara Wells, Ugly; not forward. Spirited as all that family are. 15. Henry B. Wells, 13, Ugly, not forward. Spirited but no ingenuity in manly qualities or any else. 16. William Barnum, Very bad boy. Knowing nothing but swearing, etc. Very quick in movement. 17. Margaret Stagg, 15 + Very poor scholar. Clever. Very wild. 18. Harly Chapman, 14, Nice boy. Advanced. Smart 19. Margaret Mallett, nice girl. Not so very much ahead but quite studious 20. Robert Sedgwick, Overgrown in body & eyes: in Latin with Cordy. Nice boy. 21. Frank Austin, Always picking a fight. Very mean and feels too smart 22. Inv Benjamin, Downtown fellow. Knows nothing but boating. 23. blank 24. Frederic Dayton, 12, Sickly. Beautiful drawings of maps he makes. 25. Cordelia Sterling, 12, + (blank) 26. Esther Ely, Bright. 27. John W. Sterling, 14, + (blank) 28. Margaret Stratton, 16, Exceedingly smart. Nice and pretty. 29. blank 30. Ransom Burritt, Clever, but no great student. 31. Louisa Deforest, Shore girl, not much anyway. 32. Howard Russell, 13 + Clever but no great student. Always laughing at anything. 33. Johnnie Park, Trifling fellow therefore knows nothing. 34. Maggie Gilbert, Great little passionate girl but rather smart. 35. Fred Curtis, Clever fellow. 36. Susan Hitchkiss, Lives down to shore. Good enough for all I know. 37. Hamilton Curtis, 16, Very smart. Very sober. Very good fellow. Not much life. 38. Ellen Only, Exceedingly affected especially in Reading: no great scholar as she pretends. 39. blank 40. Julia Fairchild, Great talker. Wild and I guess like her Mother. 41. James Austin, No Scholar. 42. Anna Plumb, smart, very. 43. Jimmie Chapman, smart, very in Latin with Cordy. He & She highest in Latin. 44. George Nash, Greatest piece of vanity ever lived. Knows nothing, boasts everything. 45. Mary S. Gilbert, Wild after boys, knows nothing. 46. Henry Russell, 16, Mean. Common. 3 talent. English washes not much. 47. Lillie Curtis, 15 ½ Not much. But one lung. Reads & talks peculiarly. 48. “Guss” Curtiss, Dwarf. Splendid singer. Study – Latin. 49. Edward Coe, Downtown fellow, not much either way. 50. Caroline Stagg, Common. 51. George S. Strong, 14 + Great in himself so he thinks. Very wild. No scholar. 52. Louisa Wilmot, More sober than Carrie and a good scholar. Reads with me some Saturdays 53. Caroline Wilmot, Common in scholarship but great after boys. Beautiful. 54. Frank Keeler, A swearing blackhead. 55. Jewett Peck, a tattling fellow: won’t help his father because has pain in his side. Thinks he is smart but has not that reputation. 56. Susan Curtiss, (no comment) 57. John S. Ulford, Good decent fellow. 58. blank 59. Joseph Jameson (no comment) 60. Frank Curtis, Dandy, always making fun, no scholar/ 61. Willard Staples, High fellow, swears and all such – turned out of school, so bad with grades. 62. Emma Jane Curtis (no comment) 63. blank 64. blank 65. blank 66. blank 67. Lucinda Jameson, too smart for her dress. Which is always very handsome. Works by sewing straw. 68. Miss Taryweather 20, Very fine. Taught summers for 6 years and in winter goes to school. 69. Lucy Fairchild, Dismissed from District School for lying and then sent to Academy.

March 1859 Anno Domino

March 1st Now days I stay at school and eat my dinner there.

3rd Very rainy

5th I have just completed my vane which it has taken some time to make. The main color is white striped with red. I wrote a composition today.

March 12 Very rainy. Carried Mr. Swan $150. Saw Jim and invited him up to our house where we conceived a plan for a Steam Engine.

March 14 Saturday. I made both pistons for my engine. I do the work & Jim looks on.

March 17 I am busy with learning my parts in the Dialogues. I have committed to memory my single piece and my Latin Valedictory.

March 19 Jimmie Mitchell and I blew up a large log today. I have alluded briefly above to my steam engine. James and I first conceived of this plan in Mr. Swan’s kitchen where I had resorted to see the boys after having paid Mr. Swan $150. We took the plan from Comstock Philosophy. The whole of our Engine is made of wood and works admirably with the hand but we are afraid when steam is applied that it will stick up and swell the lower piston box. One difficulty which presented itself to our youthful minds was that we could not fix machinery that would move up and down the valve that lets off and keeps in the steam.

March 24 Exhibition is near at hand and we are preparing for it with zeal. I am not afraid of it.

March 26 I have written a Latin Valedictory for Exhibition. I took some pains but nevertheless it has paid me for my trouble. I have another eloquent piece written by Edward Everett.

March 30 Today we are very busy, for on the morrow is Examination. I have been so busy lately that I have forgotten to write quite an amusing incident. It was this. We boys, with Mr. Sedgwick had expected to sell tickets of course as we had done the last two years to defray the expenses of casket candles and other articles necessary on every such occasion. So Miss Ellen Olney!! As she was in a dialogue refused to go on with it if the tickets were to be sold. And each girl – being influenced by her, the oldest, of course did not want to oppose her and at the same time did not know which way to vote. Now Mr. Sedgwick had called those of us boys (among whom I was) who had been chosen as the committee for Examination & Exhibition, the girls backing out in speaking their dialogue. After we had heard what Mr. Sedgwick said, we were determined that we would not have an Exhibition fall through just for the girls and we were about relieving the girls of this task when we were called up to Mr. S’s desk to consult on this matter. And we were a long time deliberating whether we should let the tickets be free or sold, by ballot. Finally we decided to let it go by vote, almost sure it would go against us. Nevertheless we ventured and lossed (sic) our side by a vote or two. Although this despicable Ellen Olney, for this is her reputation gained in this way, she depreciated in value of merit more than before. For I do not believe there is but one girl in school who cares anything about her, and her name is May Mallett who of course thinks as she does in every thing.

March and April Examination Exhibition Election Wood Bargain

March 31 Today is the first of our Examination. None of my classes recite today. Cordelia passed a very good one.

April 1st Today is the second of our Examination. Mr. Sedgwick examined Hamilton Curtis & me in Greek and we passed with flags unstained. Our Livy came next and in that we did as well as in Greek. Now our Algebra came next but I don’t mean to say that it recited next for it was only called out. Too bad, that for 4 weeks with the hardest study we persevered in obtaining what we thought would be glory for us, but instead of that, our labor was all spent in vain.

Exhibition was a splendid achievement for our School and I was in almost every dialogue and spoke two pieces, the one – The Character of Washington, the other – A Latin Valedictory. Our extra pieces were added – my by Septimus Austin on “Casabianca” who is only 5 years old: the other a long Dialogue.

April 2 Happy day for our long dreaded Examination & Exhibition is over.

April 4 Election: very windy. Republicans carried the day. Quite a good deal of fun in seeing Irishmen made Freemen. The[y] joke Mr. S. Jackson a good deal in asking him how his school gets along: what this arose from is this: he had been trying to learn Jimmie Burback, formerly our man, to read which he succeeded in doing so he was permitted to vote. Pa as usual was Moderator.

April 5 Pa has just dismissed his man Mr. Allis: I don’t mean just but lately. There are 4 loads of wood all split up and as Pa was going to hire one man to throw it in & pile it up I offered my services 10 [cents?] per hour which he refused at first, but finally consented. (Kate’s return. Laying of Corner Stone) I expect to work at it today an hour or so.

April 6th Masons are watched very closely for they have made a great many mistakes.

April 7th Working at wood in the morning, but in the afternoon looking at the men over to the church.

April 8 Went to the depot this morning and received Kate with gig, who has returned home from Boarding School for the Summer.

April 11 Vacation passes quickly.

April 14 Very rainy.

April 16 Very windy. The lead box for the containing of papers and articles which are to be put in. Kate has a list in her journal to which refer.

April 18 Today is the first of our spring term. It was amusing to hear Mr. Bruce. The box was put in and Mr. Stratton placed a stone over it when Mr. Bruce with hammer in hand and hat off said. “For the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost I dedicate this stone to all future generations.” We thought this was pretty good, but I must leave to go to school and it is the first day of school I must be there early: wrote the names of the scholars into Mr. Sedgwick’s book.

April 19 Livy, Greek, Geometry, Spelling and Grammar I have chose as studies for this quarter. I think though Geometry will come quite hard.

April 20 As Geometry takes up more of my time than I can expend, I have decided to take Arnold’s Latin Prose Composition.

April 21 The steeples are going up fast upon the underpinning of new Church.

Steam Engine, Raising of Steeple Raising Rafters

April 25 By means of a die{?} which they made Saturday have placed upright a long pole of 58 feet length, made fast by ropes bound to the surrounding trees. At the summit of this long mast many pulleys are. Then at some distance they have a wench as they call it over which a large rope is coiled. Thence to a pulley at the foot of the mast. Thence through a double pulley at the top of the mast. Thence to one side of the frame which is on the ground. & in this manner they raised one half and tomorrow they will raise the other.

April 26 Other half of steeple up in the same manner as first. & what seems a what seems a little curious is that this mast is environed on all sides by frames. & everyone asks how they are going to get it out: Well this is the way they expect to hoist it up to the bell deck (58 feet high) and with it to hoist up the spire.

April 27 Frame of Church going up very fast. 19 men to work.

April 28 Frame progresses very fast.

April 29 My Engine gets on finely: Both cylinders are of tin, etc. Mrs. Ham’s cow was killed by Express.

April 30 Frame most all up. I painted the inside of Pa’s boat. He promised to give me 50 cents.

April 31 Beautiful Sunday. Mr. Hyde preached in afternoon. Went to evening meeting.

May 1 Busy raising the church. I am proceeding with my engine finely. I will draw it out bye & bye.

May 4 Raising rafters.

May 7 Help’t Pa paint outside of boat. He expects and hopes to sell it.

May 10 Sister Sarah came up with baby Friday the 6th to a [musical?]

Redness of Sun. I went to New Haven.

May 10th Beautiful weather: a curious phenomenon happened last week. For three or four weeks in succession the sun appeared as red as a flame & one of the evenings although blackish clouds extended above the horizon and though they appear of the same hue and color nevertheless the sun was only obscured in the middle in the perfect shape of a parallelogram.

May 11 Rainy. I am very busy in making my Steam Engine. Will draw a plan in a little while explaining it fully.

May 12 Was busy with my Engine when Kate came running furious by out, asking me if I wanted to go to New Haven for Miss Bowden had offered me a ticket the cause of which was the following. As there are always meetings of Stockholders once or twice per year so it is with this New York & New Haven Railroad. She had given Mr. Mitchell and Jimmie one so thought I would go with them: and accordingly I did in 9.45 train and arrived in New Haven at 10:15. Mr. Mitchell went to the Railroad meeting while Jimmie and * went to Doctor Ives where we staid 10 or 15 minutes: then to Aunt Amanda’s where we waited some time in the parlor on account of house cleaning: after we had staid there about an hour Jimmie went to Doc Ives for dinner while I dined at Uncle Ogden’s. Jim came up after Dinner when Dave, he and I went to the College Cabinet from which place we went to Snow’s Confectionary and loaded with 1 ½ pounds of candy returned to the cars which brought us safe home where I assure you I was welcomed.

7 o’clock p.m. Uncle Ogden has walked up from Bridgeport and we are getting him his supper, we having had ours. He has returned from the Anniversary.

May 16 They are getting along finely with the new Church.

May 17 Pa, Mother and I went to Bridgeport to try some clothes. They got me three tailed coats and 3 pair of pants for Summer.

May 17 These coats I do not mean were what really what they call tailed hit (?) coatees., “ie.” With body projecting a little lower than buttock.

May 19 They are getting ready to raise the steeple yesterday: the frame would illustrate it better than I could do, even the words. And here it is. And I am afraid its poor construction and architecture will give more of a mingled conception of its make than a mark would. But excuse this blunder and next time perhaps I may succeed better.

Excuse me for my parody On the first piece I spoke Although it is a rarity Please hear me my dear folk.

And thus it doth run With its foolish pugn [?]

You scare expect one of my age To draw for public on this page And if I should chance to fall below

Raphael, Rubens or Angelo Don’t view me with a critic’s eye But pass my imperfections by.

John W. Sterling Jun.

1859 June & May

May 25 Today is Wednesday and I have determined next week to practise drawing from Chapman’s Book which Pa presented us last Summer during which time we were accustomed to draw 2 & 3 times per week.

May 27 Monday. Drew half an hour after 2 with Cordelia, Kate presiding.

June 1 They have put the scaffolding up as high as the steeple will come. As yet the spire has not as yet attained higher than B (see cut)

June 2 They hoisted the remaining part of spire from B (side cut) right through the scaffolding. It looks very nice.

June 3 Yesterday was very rainy. Thunder showers frequent.

June 8 Two days ago Pa went to New York and returned the same day on the first. There was a meeting of the Committees of the Ladies Serving Society (who are going to hold a festival in the New Church) among whom Pa is. This assembly was held in the Conference Room. Pa was elected Chairman. They appointed other committees, namely Refreshment Committee etc. and I was appointed one of them.

June 10 Beautiful day in the morning but the clouds arose quickly in the afternoon and it thundered and lightened till in the evening it cleared up but was showery all night.

May 11 Beautiful day. They are fixing and laying the floor very fast. Uncle David will not be here this summer. He has been attacked with a fever which has left him very low indeed.

Curtis Thompson and I still recite in Greek to Mr. Sedgwick taking a page per day over to the 70th page in Anthon’s Jacob’s Greek Reader.

Monday night there will be a meeting of the Committee of Refreshments at Mr. Strong’s.

May 13 Today is rainy. Clearing off by night. I think we shall have a nice time at Mr. Strong’s.

1859 June

June 14th Our Committee met as each one had been notified at Mr. Strong’s. As I have stated before there are more committees than ours. We appointed Sub committees: they allotted to two persons out of every district to collect the things Monday morning. Henry Booth and I take this district. James Swan and I were appointed to hire a man to help the Ice Cream Maker, and the fated man was Mr. John Black who lives in the small house on the railroad owned by Mr. Isaac Brooks and Mr. Burr Brooks deceased.

June 16 There has been quite a commotion about having a vane on the church. Pa is strongly fixed for one. There has also been quite a talking about Mr. W. Booth’s stopping the ladies from having a festival in the church.

June 18 Today is Saturday. I made an egg beater out of wire for Kate after the pattern of Aunt Lizzie’s. They all discouraged me but I succeeded.

June 20 They are getting on with the church finely. They have commenced to nail the siding on.

June 22 I am studying the Greek Reader still with Curtis Thompson at the rate of one page per day: we are half through the Dialogue.

June 25 Beautiful day. Jimmie Mitchell and I went to Nells Island a swimming for the first time this year. I have somewhat of an headache but hope to get over it by tonight.

June 27 Yesterday I staid home from church -- so violent was my headache. I did not get up till 2 o’clock. T.M. Robert and Sarah came up in the evening as they do almost every week as it is the only night Robert has in the week.

June 28 I staid home from school again today.

June 30 Jimmie and I went swimming today which makes the second time. We only pay him 5 cents. We are gone from 1 hour to 1 ¼ to 1 ½. <comments />