Saturday Feb. 1
Came down to Troy from Jarred Blairs with the stage. The faer, from Cohoes, is 12 cts. In the evening, went to the glass blowers at Rands Hall. Thare were 3 brothers & 1 lady. I enjoyed it very much. It has been snowing most of the day. The admitance to the glass blowers is 15 cts.

-"glass blowers at Rand Hall"- This was a performance George saw at this hall that offered concerts, lectures, dramatic presentations, and later,opera. It was located on the NW corner of 3rd and Congress Streets

Sunday 2
Stoped last night at William R. Hydes. Started for A. G. Gardiners about 11 oclock. In the afternoon, went up to camp Wool to meeting. Rev. Mr. Cheshire from Waterford preached. Thare are about 75 men are at the barraks.

-"camp Wool to meeting" (church service) -Camp Wool was probably a military training camp since Major General John E. Wool, born in Conn., orphaned, moved to Schodack and became famous in the War of 1812 at Plattsburg, and more so in the Mexican War. He served in the Civil War at about 70 years of age. The tallest monument in the Troy Cemetary is his. (Source-Weise History of Books,and Tom Carroll).

Monday 3
Went up to G. S. Kenyons about 10 oclock. Bought some chestnuts. 7 cts. One of the Cohoes stages upset this morning about 10 oclock. Two persons were hurt.

Tuesday 4
Arose as usual. Ate brekfast and went out to the store. Business not very brisk. In the afternoon, went up to Lillies Safe Works. Had a good time. Went down to the post office in the evening. No mail for me.
(A note at the bottom of the page) Albert G Gardiner.

Wednesday February 5 1862
Stayed at A. G. Gardiners last night. Went down on River St to see the sights. Went to the dentist with Mary. Came home and then went up to the foundry. Saw them mill iron. In the evening, went up to the skating park. Enjoyed it very much.

Thursday 6
Went out in the country after potatoes with William Holladay. Got back about 1:30. An old woman fell down on the sidewalk this afternoon and fractured her thigh. The carnival last evening was a brilliant affair. About 2500 persons were present.

"the carnival"- This was Troy's Winter Carnival according to the Troy Daily Times newspaper at the Troy Public Library.

Friday 7
Got up about 8 oclock. Ate breakfast and split some wood. Carried some groceries up to Mr. Davis. Got the cash. $4.55. Went down to A. G. Gardiners awhile and then went down street to the stage office. Bought 2 apples for 3 cts. Wednesday, bought a handkerchief for 25 cts.

Saturday, February 8, 1862
Started for Albany from Troy, 7.20. Reached Albany 8 oclock. Left for Berne by stage. It is bitter cold this morning. John Spencer and wife, Edward Settle, George Benedict and Jacob D. Settle came out with us. There was a donation at New Salem last night. They raised 130$.

Sunday 9
Attended church in the forenoon. Mr. Ludden preached from Job 22 chap. and 12 verse. He had a good sermon. Had a letter from George W. Vanguilder Co. F. N.B.H. Cavalry, Washington, D.C. Went out on a ride last night. I had a good time.

Monday 10
Sent a letter to George W. Vanguilder this morning. Sawed wood for Jacob Settle & Jacob Ball. Went to spelling school in the evening. Hiram Gage and Mr. Stevens teachers. Jerome Ball & Sarah Joined the chorus. Went home about 9 oclock and wrote some in my journal and ledger.

Tuesday 11
Sawed wood for Jacob Ball in the forenoon. In the afternoon, went to school. We are ciphering in Assessment of taxes. Went to the post office. My (paper) is home. They are flooding the ice to make a skating park on the kill dam. Lucius E. Ball and sister Carrie home tonight with the stage.
Feb. 11-"Lucius E. Ball"-This was friend Lucius Edward Ball, brother of Jerome Ball and many others. Lucius died at age 20 in the Civil War. -" sister Carrie" was George's 4 year old sister whose mother was Catherine West, the second wife of John Warner. (B.F.F.)and (Al Deitz)

Wednesday 12
Went to school all day. Had the headache this forenoon. Henry Fairliegh killed his hogs today. 7 of them. Mr. Luddens donation last night down to Gallupville went off good. Jerome, Alonzo, Sarah, Immogene & Phena Bedell, went down. They raised 180.$
Feb.12-"Gallupville"- Mr. Ludden's donation was probably sponsored by the new Lutheran Church(1853) in Gallupville, of which he was the Minister, but held at the new hotel for more space. (from Chester Zimmer).

Thursday 13
Went to school all day. In the evening, went to Prayer meeting. Thare is a party going down to Gallupville tonight. Alice Ball, Clara Hochstrasser, Julia Wipple, Elizabeth, Eugene & Jesse Wood, Lucius A Ball, Martha Brunk, Louis Merselis & Dan Merselis, C E Deitz, Edwin Settle.
Feb.13- "Jesse Wood"- He died at age 17 in the Civil War. His gravestone with a Union uniform cap on top can be seen from the road in a small cemetery on the Berne flats in front of what was the Thomas Wood farm.(O.H

Friday, February 14, 1862
Attended school all day. Spoke pieces in the afternoon. It has been stormy to day snowing & blowing a perfect gale. E.M Shultes & Senara has an auction to night down to Peoria. Spent this evening at Hiram Wilseys. Jerome & Jesse & Bedells girls.

Saturday, 15
Sawed wood for Jacob Settle part of the day. Jerome Ball got a letter from Howard Van Liew to night. There was a battle on the 7 at Roanoke Island North Carolina. Our troops were victorious & took 3 thousand prisoners. Went to singing school in the evening. Had a good time.
Feb. 15- "Jacob Settle"- In 1817 Jacob, Charles and later Theodore Settle had a store for groceries, dry goods, hardware and medicines with a meeting hall on the second floor. (building still stands near the bridge in Berne) (O.H.)

Sunday, 16
Rather stormy. Went to church in the forenoon. Very few at Church, only 6 in the Choir. Have been reading all afternoon. Did not go to prayer meeting this evening. The Union loss at Roanoke Island 50 killed 222 wounded Rebel south 13 killed 89 wounded.

Monday, February 17, 1862
Went to school about 8:30. Mr. Stevens has not come yet. We are ciphering in Analogues to day. Jerome spent the evening at our house. It rains & it hails and cold stormy is the weather and I am going to bed.

Tuesday, 18
Went to school all day. Salinda Schell came down to our house this forenoon. Fort Donalson was taken on the 16 together with 15000 prisoners, 3 generals 48 field pieces 17 heavy pieces & 20,000 stand of arms. Union loss 300 killed 600 wounded. Mr. Miller & Mary etta Ball was married to night. It was witnessed by 3000 persons.

Wednesday, 19
Mr. Miller had his donation to night at Peter Reinharts. Quite a good many thare. Julia Wipple was married to Christler, a soldier to night. It has been snowing all the evening quite hard. Went to the donation. Had a very good time. A Mr. Ball kept the candy table. They raised 87.96 at the Donation. Spent 25 cts.

Thursday, February 20, 1862
Got up about 7. Went to the village about 11 oclock. Staid over thare until night. Commenced splitting wood at Edwin M. Shultes about 3 oclock. Came home about 6 ooclock. Jerome Ball spent the evening at our house. I have been writing in my Journal this evening. President Lincoln son died to day, age 10 yrs. William.

Friday, 21
Went to the village on an errand for Mrs. Smith. Stoped at Mays. Got some wedding cake (Mary etta's). Splitting some wood for E. M. Shultes. Got through 1 oclock. Went to school in the afternoon. In the evening went to spelling school. Afterwards went over to Mr. Luddens. Got home 12 oclock.

Saturday, 22
Went to school about 9 oclock. It was not commenced when I got thare. Thare is an Antirent meeting at the village this afternoon. Susan got a letter from Charlie Schemerhorn to night. Went to singing school in the evening. Had a good time practicing on the Chart. Mr. Miller started for Columbia County this morning about 8 oclock.
Feb.22- "Antirent meeting"- Berne became known as the Capital of the hilltown farmers antirent movement against the Albany Dutch Patroon, Steven VanRensselaer IV, in January of 1845 when 115 delegates from eleven counties met in the spacious Lutheran Church to petition the state legislature. (from O.H.)

Sunday, February 23, 1862
Went to meeting in the forenoon. A stranger preached for Mr. Ludden. They took up a collection for John Clow to pay him for leading the choir. They raised $19.00. 6$ remainder
In the afternoon went to meeting at the Methodist Church. Thare is a meeting thare to night. It has been raining all day.
Feb.23- "John Clow"- He was also the mason during the building of the West Berne Methodist Church in 1879. (from O. H.)

Monday, 24
Started for School about 8 oclock. No one at school. Went down street. Susan went down to New Salem this morning with the stage. We built one fort at School to day and captured one. It has been very windy to day, it blows harder than ever recolect of seeing it blow.
Feb. 24- "Susan"- This was George's sister Susannah Warner, born in 1843. (B.F.F.)

Tuesday, 25
It is still blowing very hard. Mr. Stevens has borded to our house a cou0le of days. We started for School half past 8. I have been very busy to day learning my pieces. Recited our pieces this afternoon. Nathaniel Gordon was hung to day for being Engaged in the Slave trade.
Feb.25 -"Nathaniel Gordon" - This native of Maine had engaged in slave trading for many years but had never been caught until Aug. 8, 1860 on the West Coast of Africa with 897 Africans on the ship, the Erie, of which he was the captain and responsible for obtaining his cargo. He was tried, convicted, and executed on Feb.21, 1862 in New York City after an unsuccessful appeal to President Lincoln. (from "Harpers Weekly", March 8, 1862, p.157)

Wednesday, 26
Went to school about 8. Went down street and got an old boat to speak our piece. It is Mr. Stevens last day at our school. Spoke 3 pieces. The Slow Goer was one of them. Spent the evening at Ira Engles. Had a good time.
Feb. 26- "Ira Engles"- His daughter, Libbie R. Engle, sent letters to George when he was a soldier in Louisiana in 1863. The lock of hair found in the 1863 diary is believed to have been hers.(from Norma Luce June)

Thursday, 27
Sawed wood for E. M. Shultes in the afternoon. Ira and me sawed a cord in 3 hours, green wood. In the afternoon sawed and split a little over 1/2 cord for Seneca Shultes. Albert Davis boy died last night. It snows and blows a perfect storm. The roads are drifting shut.

Friday, 28
Got up as usual. Ate breakfast and went over to James Totten to split wood, got thare about 9 oclock & went to work. It has snowed and blowed all day hard. The stage did not go by until late. Nothing much going on to day. The roads are all shut. The drifts are higher than they have been in 5 years.