IMH 75:2 158-59

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

1881

Thursday, January 13th.

We, that is Alvin and I, manufactured firewood till about
ten o'clock when Alvin quit to help Mother wash. Jehu and
Woodford O'Nea1(31) were here before we ate breakfast to confer
about buying the remainder of our standing corn. After making
a tour of investigation through it they came back to the house
and after some dickering they agreed to take it at $30 and take
all risks beside. Father and I hauled up three sled-loads or
eleven shocks of corn from Bill Hand's wheat-field. While we
were at it Mrs. "Marget" Ballinger(32) called at the house to get
some soap and newspapers. She got 'em. As we came in with
the last load of fodder it began to rain and kept at till night
when it began to snow. It had previously threatened rain all
the morning Bob Foster came while we were putting away our
last fodder (we put it all in the cow-barn) Bob came after the
sausage-grinder but it was gone. It seems that Mrs Pamela
Crone is to marry Mr Nathan T. Whitson, familiarly known a[s]
Dob Whitson, this evening. The disparity in their ages and
circumstances renders it a noteworthy affair-if it comes off.(33)

 

Teaching Notes; fodder is ear corn on its stalk, If you tie a bundle of corn stalks together
in the field, it is called a shock. It was a convenient way to store the corn. The shocks could
be quite large. Alvin and William cold take a sled and park it next to a shock and then
push it over and take it to the cattle for feed. A fodder-chopper was also manufactured
but no mention is made in the journal of the Harriosn family having one. It was powered by a
small engine although some were hand operated. Here is a picture of an antique one.

The marriage of a 21 year old man to a 34 year old widow with five children would likely
be a topic of conversation--even in this day