Dec. 12, 1862 Great fires in the South.
Charleston $8000,000
Greenville Alb 50,000
Nashville, Ten 800,000
Richmond 65,000
Amount 8,915,000

Wednesday Jan 1, 1862
Last night I went up to Schoonmakers School House to singing school with a load of 0f 10 and got home about 12 oclock. Had a good time. Edwin M Shultes has established a cash & Barter trade to day. I have kept Newyears to day & spent 12 ct.
Jan. 1 -"Edwin M. Shultes"- This was Edwin Mathias Shultes who was born on West Mountain in 1834 and died in Berne village in 1923. (from "Berne Family File", here after refered to as B.F.F.)

Thursday 2
Attended School to Day. Very few at school. I have bought a bottle of ink at 5 cts. It is blowing hard now. The river froze over last night.

Friday 3
Went to school to day. It has been the coldest day we have had this winter. I was invited to go down to Gallupville to the concert. There has been a convention held there 4 days. Prof Cook conducted it.
Jan.3 -"convention"- This four day convention and concert was probably held in the large hotel built in Gallupville in 1850 at the corner of Rt.146 and Rt.443. (from George Zimmer, Gallupville historian).

Saturday 4
Went to school. Bought 12 sheets of paper @ 10 cts. It has been very cold out all day. Went to singing school in the evening. Had a very good time. Brought home some --cking for 3 cts. Harriet Secor had a young daughter last night.
Jan. 4 -"young daughter"- Harriet and Francis D. Secor of East Berne had a baby girl born, Willette Secor, on Jan. 3, 1862. (B.F.F.)

Sunday 5
Went to meeting in the forenoon. Mr Ludden preached from Revalation third chapter and verse.
Jan. 5 -"Mr. Ludden" - Rev. A. P. Ludden was the installed minister of St. Pauls Lutheran Church and a neighbor of George Warner. (from " Our Heritage").

Monday 6
Sawed wood in Forenoon. Went to school in the afternoon. In the evening, went down on the flats to spelling school. Had a very good time. Mr. Veeder and Mr. Shreiber Were there. Stopped for David St. John.

Tuesday 7
Went to school all day. Nothing very important to write. At home in the evening. Read chapter in a book entitled " Camp Fires of the Revolution.

Wednesday 8
Went to school in the forenoon. In the afternoon, worked for Jacob P Warner. Made 20 logs. Stayed to the village until 9 oclock. Lavina Warner was married tonight to Mr Haswell of Knox.
Jan. 8 -"Jacob P. Warner" -(1829-1894) He married Mary Ann Hayes(1829-1894). (B.F.F.)

Thursday 9
Worked for J. P. Warner all day. John Lawson has bought William Hayes farm today. Old John Peter Ball was buryed to day. Madison Whipple came to home to day.
Jan.9 -"William Hayes" - He was born in Berne in 1822 and died in New Jersey in 1883. (B.F.F.)

Friday 10
Went to school all day.

Saturday 11
A man and his wife was accused for stealing and was found guilty and was sentenced to the penitentiary for 3 months. Had a good time skating today. Went to singing school in the evening. Enjoyed it very much. The committee meets tonight to Mr. Luddens. It is snowing fast now. Spent 9 cts.

Sunday 12
Went to church this forenoon. It has rained hard all afternoon. At home the rest part of the day. Thare has been no prayer meeting this evening-it is so rainy.

Monday 13
Went to school in the forenoon. And worked for L Hays in the in the afternoon. In the evening, had some company. Had a good time. It has been a very cold day.

Tuesday 14
Went to school for 1/2 day. In the afternoon, worked for Thomas Hays. Helped make (logs)/ for Amy Engle. Went to spelling school in the evening. Mrssrs. Stevens and Whipple, teachers. Ephraim Kniskern and Peter West were intoxicated. We made 20 logs. Albert Osterhout and wife and sister were to Amys.

Jan. 14 - "Thomas Hays" - He was the father of Elizabeth Hays who married John Lawson. - "Albert Osterhout" - married Sarah Elizabeth Gallup on Dec, 27, 1860 in Berne. (B.F.F)

Wednesday 15
Went to school all day & in the evening to Mr Luddens donation. There was a great many thare. Spent 67.00. Bought an overcoat $8.13. Mr. Ludden got $175 money. Charles E Dietz made $11 at the candy table. Azor T Hays was there. Had a very good time. Bought some cheese 4 cts.
Jan.15 -"Mr. Luddens donation"- Donations were fund raisers for the church. They usually included a public church dinner and often a candy table, baked goods, and donated clothing. (Al Deitz)

Thursday 16
Went to school all day. Mr Stevens had a fit at school this afternoon. It lasted about 10 minutes. Bought an almanac for 10 ct. Spent the evening at home a reading. We are ciphering in Partial Payments.

Friday 17
Sawed wood for E.V Filkins part of the day. It has snowed this afternoon. Bought a Hdki for 25cts at Hiram Willseys. Spent the evening at Mr. Balls. Madison Whipple left Berne for Cohoes this morning & I am a going to bed shortly & Mr. Stevens went home this morning & Jerome got a dollar from Howard --- Lieber Comp.
Jan.17- "Mr. Balls"- Probably Peter Ball and family who lived across the street.(Al Deitz)

Saturday 18
Sawed wood for E. M Shultes all day. Sidney Way died this morning 1 O clock. Will be buryed 1 o clock tomorrow 1/2 past 10. He died with the measels. Grandmother came home today from Francis Secors. Went to singing school in the evening. Had a good time. Clow was absent.
Jan.18- "Francis Secor"- The husband of Harriet who had a baby Jan. 3. "Grandmother" Sarah Warner may have been helping with the new baby. (B.F.F.)

Sunday 19
Went to church in the forenoon. The funeral of Sidney Way was preached by Mr. Ludden from Thesalonians 1 Chapter, 9 verse. Went to the D.R. Church this afternoon. Edwin Zeh & family were here to day. They live No. 142 Swan St.

Monday 20
Finished sawing wood. I split some at E. M. Shultes. Thare have been a heavy fall of snow for the last 3 days. At home in the evening ciphering in partial payments. It is getting late & I must stop writing &c yesteday thare was a battle at Mill Spring in old Kentucky. Our troops were victorious &c.

Tuesday 21
Spent 7cts. Finished sawing wood for E. M. Shultes. The 96 regiment left Albany last Friday for New York and the Havlock Battery. Azor Hays is with the 96. Thare has been a fight in Kentucky. Our troops were victorious. Gen. Zolincoffer was killed.
Jan.21 - "Azor Hayes"- Born in 1843, Azor T. Hayes at age 19 enlisted in the Civil War. After the war, he reenlisted (1866) and was killed a year later.(per " Our Heritage", in future referred to as O. H.)

Wednesday 22
Worked for Joseph Shultes. Helped thresh oats. Killed our pig today. It weighs about 100 lbs. Went to the village and staid til about 9 oclocks. Thare was a surprise party last night on the flats to Mr. Harris. They made $30 to get a coat for Mr. Harris.
Jan. 22- "thresh oats"- In winter, in 1862, grains that had been cut and bound in fields the summer before were threshed in the barn using sticks 34" long to flail the grain over a winnowing basket. As the grain was beaten, the oats or wheat would fall off the straw (used for bedding), and the shaft would be blown away while the heavier seeds fell into the basket. (Source-Joseph Caffery, Farmer's Museum, Cooperstown).

- "Joseph Shultes" - (1805 - 1889) He lived in the West Berne (Beaverdam) area. (B.F.F)

Notes by Allan Deitz on George's trip to Troy (January 23 to February 8, 1862):

With the help of Tom Carroll of Troy's RiverSpark Visitor Center, I have identified some of the businesses and people George visited while in Troy and Cohoes. In 1862, Troy was a major manufacturing hub of the country. With the bene fit of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, the Wynantskill and Postenkill Creeks, the Erie and champlain Canals and railroads, it had the ideal location for water power and transportation to make and ship products of all kinds all over the world. This was the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the United States. This also made Troy a tourist attraction.

Thursday 23
Started for Troy with Thos Hays and Charles Deitz about 9 o-clock. Had a severe headache all day. Bought a ticket for 13 cts and went ---- to Troy on the Troy & Rensselaer RailRoad. ---- paid 1 (gate?) 6 cts.
Jan.23- "Charles Deitz"- Charles E. Deitz (1840-1920) had a store of many products that included a Post Office in Berne. (O.H.)

Friday 24
Got up about 6 oclock. Went to the store until breckfast. After brecfast went to the store again for awhile. Then went down to the Foundry to see Jarred Blair. Bought a French ----- for 6 cts & some chestnuts for 11 cts &c.

Jan. 24- "the foundry"-This was most likley the famous Burton Iron Works, listed in the 1861 Troy City Directory as Henry Burton and Sons where horsehoes were made for the Union Army at a rate of one million a year. It had the largest waterwheel in the world on the Wynantskill Creek to generate power. An R. P. I. student named Ferris rode on it and designed the Ferris wheel.

Saturday 25
I rose as usual. Helped (driving)? The horse. After brecfast went to the store. In the afternoon, looked for William Haydes house and found it after a great deal of walking. It is No. 21 Harrison Place. Called on A. G. Gardiner. All with No. 44. Stormed all day. (on the side of the page)- North Third St.

Jan 25 -"A. G. Gardiner"-(correct spelling is Albert G. Gardner according to the 1863 Troy City Directory). He was a cabinatmaker. George stayed at his home during this trip and mentioned the birthday of his one year old son, Eugene Gardner.He also wrote he accompanied Mary to the dentist. St. Paul's church records show a marriage on Feb.21st , 1860 of Albert Gardner,born in Berne, to Mary Warner. John Warner,2nd and Lucy Ann Harp had a daughter named Mary. Conclusion--- George was probably staying with his half-sister and family while in Troy.(Al Deitz)

Sunday 26
Went to 4 st. Unatarian Church to meeting in the forenoon. His text was Mathew 5 chap. 6 verse. Had a good sermon. In the evening went to the 5 st. Babtist Church. Rev. Sheldon lectured about Amusementt. Enjoyed it very much.

Monday 27
Went with Albert up to the shop. Lillies Safe Works. Went down to Albany on the cars after my valise. The Bern stage had not arrived at 6 oclock so I went back to Troy on the stage. Reached home safe &c.

-"Lillies Safe Works"-This was run by Lewis Lillie, a safe manufacturer in a large warehouse at 207 River Street, Troy.

Tuesday 28
Got up at about 8 oclock. Fashionable early. Ate breckfast and sat down to read Gleasons Pictoral. In the afternoon, went up to the shop. It has been a very cold day. We are all getting sleepy and I must stop writing.

- "Gleasons Pictorical"- This was an illustrated weekly newspaper begun in 1851 . The full name was 'Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion". The pictures were woodcut engravings. The paper carried news articles with many pictures on topics such as war, politics,art,science,travel and exploration, literature and the fine arts. ( Source- Web Site-www.google.com).

Wednesday 29
Went to depot and saw the cars go off. & then went to the foundry and saw the shells which weigh 214 lbs. Went to a fire in King St. An old wood house was burnt. In the evening went up to Jarred's in the stage &c.

-"the foundry"-This was most likley the famous Burton Iron Works, listed in the 1861 Troy City Directory as Henry Burton and Sons where horshoes were made for the Union Armay at a rate of one million a year. It had the largest waterwheel in the world on the Wynantskill Creek to generate power. An R P. I. student named Ferris rode on it and designed the Ferris wheel.

Thursday 30
Arose as usual. Ate brecfast and sat down to read. Went up to Cohoes, saw them spin. Went up afoot and came back with the stage. Arvilla came down with us. Had a good time. They are having a good time over to the carnival. (Back at the skating?)

-"Went up to Cohoes, saw them spin" - This was probably the the famous Harmony Mills textile cotten mill that opened in 1857 and was employing 5,000 persons. It was powered by the Cohoes Falls on the Mohawk River (also a tourest attraction). Only Niagara Falls could generate more power east of the Mississippi River in 1862.

Friday 31
Eugene Gardiner is 1 year old today. Had a good old time reading Gleasons Pictoral.