Frenchcreek continued
THE YEAR THE FRESHET DIDN’T COME...
FRESHET - a great rise in a stream caused by heavy rain or melted snow
This little book is a MUST for anyone with ancestors or
connections to the Frenchcreek Twp. area of Venango County, PA.
It is for sale through the Venango County Historical Society.
Take yourself back in time to the years of 1854-55 in Utica, Venango
Co., PA. Carolee Kinnear Michener, assisted by Dennis L. Armstrong,
has edited and researched the diary of Charles H. Raymond.
Charles H. Raymond, born 3 Feb 1832 in Utica, a son of Aaron Weeks and
Ann Eliza Whitaker Raymond. Aaron W. Raymond purchased a large tract
of land where he operated a store and a foundry, ran a successful mill,
and laid out the town of Utica. Charles later managed the store in
Utica as his father went to the area that is now Raymilton, Venango
Co., to start a blast furnace, mills and a large general store. In
1871 Charles married Jennie S. Ives of Little Falls, NY.
Many members of the Raymond family are mentioned prominently in his
diary: Matilda, who became the wife of Jackson Robinson; William W.;
George W.; Hannah M., who became the wife of Philetus W. Raymond; Mary
J.; Harriet A., who became the wife of John L. Mitchell; Sarah, who
married William J. Lamberton; Aaron W., Jr., and Ann Elizabeth.
Numerous people are mentioned in this diary. Some of the surnames are:
Adams, Alexander, Amon, Anderson, Bailey, Baird, Beebe, Black, Bodine,
Brown, Buchanan, Canfield, Clark, Cooper, Crouch, Crum, Davis, Deets,
Dempsey, Devore, Dice, Dickey, Duffield, Floyd, Foot, Gilfillen, Glenn,
Hanna, Hasson, Haylett, Hays, Hood, Johnston, McCandless, McClelland,
McMullen, Miller, Moore, Nesbit, Pinkerton, Plummer, Riddle, Russell,
Seth, Shannon, Simcox, Smith, Snotgrass, Stewarts, Thompson, Underhill,
Vannatten, Wallace, Whan, Whitman, Williams, Wright, and Yeager. The
Cooper and Pinkerton families are mentioned frequently throughout his
diary.
Here are some entries from his diary: (spelling is as it appeared in the
original-. Reprinted with permission of Carolee K. Michener.
1854 November) 18th Saturday Snowed part of the day and snowing now,
9 o’c in the evening. There is one thing wanting and wanted badly to
make business brisk and that is a freshet. All kinds of business is
being kept back for want of that one thing needful...
1854 December- 22nd Friday Very pleasant, Thawing a little on the
south side of the hills. Attended an oyster supper at Mrs. Stevenson’s
this evening. Had a very pleasant supper. The names of the guests were
as follows: Robt. Duffield, J.M. Adams, John Lindsey, M.S. Duffield,
Chas Duffield, J. S. Hanna, Mr. Dise, school teacher. The Watchers met
tonight. The club is increasing rapidly. I will soon be alone among the
young men of the place. They have nearly all joined the Watchers. It
is probably that the society would do a goodeal of good in some places
but in this place I think we are about as free of drunkards before it
was started as we are now. ... Sleighing excellent. Better we have not
had for many years.
1855 January- 9th Tuesday A little on the cool order but pleasant.
Foot started for Meadville today. Father went to Cooperstown and from
there to Franklin. Pinkerton sawing some, balance of the day threshing
corn. The Union Literary Society met this evening. Declemations,
essays and debate are the order of the evening. The subject was, wither
foreigners have to become citizens. On the negative were Thomas Nesbit
and J. L. Hanna, the affirmative, C.W. Gilfillen and Wm. James. The
creek was in running stage, that is boats are going down the stream.
Letter from J.W. Underhill this evening. All well. He says that money
is loaning at from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 per cent a month. ... G. W. Foot
started to Meadville. Took up a big hog we got from W. Russell. It
weighed 375#
1855 March- 1 Thursday The mercury was fifteen below zero this
morning. Cold, colder, coldest. Business dull. Fodder running out,
cattle starving to death, and hard times generally is the general
subject of conversation.
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