July, 1860

July 1-1 Clear and cloudy, some small showers, warm but not so warm as yesterday, pleasant.

Rev. Mr. Robinson of New School Church of this city preached for us in Hall of House of Representatives in morning 10 am from text "Behold the goodness and severity of God", a very interesting and argumentative sermon, containing more than customary original thought and altogether a discourse worthy of profound consideration of prominent originality- of sound position and logical deductions, generally and just the discourse that I should like to see in print. I am decidedly in favour of joining with a few others and requesting a copy for publication. If he should see fit to revive some parts of it first perhaps better so than not. In the evening Rev. M. Mitchell of Paxton Church preached for us at 6 pm- very sound and interesting sermon from the words "Can any good come out of Nazereth- come and see". He enforced the idea that many persons decided against the claims of religion without any examination of the subject and that if they would examine _____ it thoroughly in the light of all the testimony on that subject (which is coming to see) they would arrive at different convictions and come to the conclusion that good can indeed, come out of Nazareth.

In the afternoon at 3 o’clock son Charles and self visited the "Big Tent" pitched within a day or two in Capitol Hill east of the Public grounds in Gen. Hirtens’ vacant lots at corner 4^th and State Streets under the auspices of the Young Men’s Christian Association of ____&c. There was a good turn out, tent about 2/3 full. Rev. Dr. DeWitt preached from the words "The spirit of the ____say come" &c. His sermon was about 35 minutes long (no less) when it was through at 4 pm we left.

I walked after evening church between 7 and 8 1/4 pm, 2 to 2 ½ miles circular and had something of an occurrence up Canal, where some 12 to 18 boys were deviling a man name Smith, an old client of mine. He seemed greatly sustained or relieved by my presence. I advised him to get the names of as many as he could and prosecute them for riot, breach of the peace &c. Rest of evening at home and to bed 9 ½ pm.

2-2 Clear, very warm, hot sun. Son Charles and self at church about 10 am and from there to Hopple House I bought Friday last. Mrs. Fisher said they had a prospect of a home and her mother had just gone out again to see further about it. I told her they should not injure things and that I would pay them something for their cabbage than that they should lose or destroy it. We called at D. A. S. E.’s on our return to see Mrs. Eyster (as Charles had not called since he came from Princeton) but as Mrs. Mary Henry told us she had gone out to get a tooth pulled having had the tooth ache very badly, in the night and this morning, home at 11 am.

Paid H. W. Hoffman for 1 month’s milk to 1 inst. $1.98

Paid 3 lbs. brown sugar at Bell’s Store, per Fanny .27 (v. 26 inst)

Was at the church at 8 ½ pm to see new gas fixtures tested. Large portion of our congregation were there and a good many outsiders, men, women and children. I do not consider the light sufficient by from 25 to 50 per cent and I think the fault consists in Mr. L. G. Cunkle having put too small pipe to feed the chandeliers. The light is hardly better than the light in the N.S. Presbyterian Church here which I consider sensibly deficient. It is said by Mr. Cunkle that it will improve as the pipes get cleared of air &c. There are some lights yet to be erected in rear of the singing gallery and in rear of pulpit. I wrote a letter by Mr. Lyen the chief workman of two from Cornelius Baker in erecting the gas fixture from that firm to Cornelius Baker on behalf of our building committee (v. copy with my file church papers) expressive of our gratification with the beauty and suitableness of the fixtures and their successful erection &c by Mr. S. yesterday. Home at 9 ½ and to bed 10 pm.

3-3 Clear and cloudy, warm, pleasant air at times.

Attended funeral of our neighbor David Hummel from his house next door to us to the Harrisburg Cemetery from 9 to about 10 ½ am. Son Charles and self walked in from the cemetery by way of my Hopple lot and called at and conversed with Mrs. D. A. S. Eyster for near an hour. Home 12 noon.

I walked 3 ½ to 4 miles circular between 7 and 8 1/4 pm, meeting Mr. Connor- talked politics short time and parted, he to walk further, me homeward. To bed 9 ½ to 10.

4-4 Clear and cloudy, warm, some little showers between 8 and 10 am.

Pleasant through day, clear and cloudy, warm.

This is what I consider a very indiscreet marketing for this day, considering that the family (except Juliana and the hired woman) will spend the day in the woods, and hence the chances are in favour of waste, spoliation and deterioration but some people cannot help this way of doing things when other folks pay the piper.

Received of Mr. Connor (Anthony Moore, brother in law) retaining fee $2.50

There is a Fireman’s Parade today. "The Fantasticals" rather a limited number are out. (something of a failure) The is [sic] lots of shooting of fire crackers. The "old soldiers" of 1812 are celebrating at Independence Island and sundry Sunday School parties of sundry churches. To wit the N.S. Presbyterian, the German Reformed and Lutheran Sunday School have also gone into as many different localities adjacent to the town to celebrate, with N. S. Pres. over the river near New Cumberland, O.P. Pres. at Hamilton’s Woods. G. Reformed to Cameron’s Woods, L. to Reed’s woods.

I remained at home during forenoon. Mrs. Rawn and children all gone out to Hamilton’s Woods at 8 to 9 pm. I waited for the omnibus an hour and upwards about 1 pm at Gov. Parker’s where his daughter was also holding on for same vehicle to go to O.S. celebration. We went out abut 2 pm he having kept us waiting upwards of about one hour over the time. Rev. Mr. Cattell was present quarter part of day at celebration. We broke up about 6 ½ to 7 ½ o’clock. Murray and ___ run an omnibus through the day park and forward to and from the woods.

John Smith (stone cutter) and self walked home ahead of a good many of the party. I met at McCormick’s office from about 8 3/4 to 9 3/4 pm with Mr. Cattell, Pollock, Burnett, Warford, Hamilton, and Henry McCormick to talk about time of dedication of our church, soliciting pews &c. To bed 10 to 11.

5-5 Clear, pleasant air, hot sun.

Paid D. Thominger Collector 4^th Ward City of Harrisburg by check to his order on the Dauphin Deposit Bank the following State and County taxes on my property in said ward for 1860 to date.

Received (yesterday) by the hands of my colleague, B. F. Etter and by his check in the Mechanics Savings Bank of John Winebrenner &c (v. 24 May last) further fee $25.00

Son Charles and self walked round by Round House building by Pa. RR between 9 ½ and 11 ½ am and by Hopple lot, found them packed up ready to move. I walked again between 7 and 8 pm 3 ½ miles circular, in all through day 4 to 6 miles. Home 8 and to bed 9 to 10.

July 6-6 Cloudy, coolish, clear windy and cool all day.

Took possession of Hopple lot today while the tenants Mrs. Fisher and her mother Mrs. Lyne and moving out-son Charles, Sam. Burton and self there during forenoon &c. We put roof on an oven.

I paid John Cunkle (carpenter) for board to mend fence 57

Handed son John Calvin 4 inst. .05

Deposited in Dauphin Deposit Bank $70.00

Paid J. C. Young (collector) my state and county tax for 1860 on my Cunkle lot, West Avenue and Reservoir, viz State tax 63 cents County tax .88 = 41.51

5 per cent abatement .7

Paid by check on Dauphin Deposit Bank Balance $1.44

Advertised Hopple lot bought by me 29 ult in Daily Telegraph for rent.

Walked through day back and forward to and from Hopple lot &c 3 miles or more. I am rather more than usually unwell and have been for some time with cough. It annoys me considerably. Independent of this my general health is good enough. Evening at home, to bed 9.

7-7 Clear, fine, pleasant, coolish in morning.

Paid John Cruikshank painting at my house where Sautter lives in Raspberry Alley $10.25

Received of John Sautter 1 month rent owe 1 inst. $12.50

Paid John Sautter ½ of Garberich and Hofman’s carpenter bill of $2.60 for fixing chair back boards on wall $1.30

That is to say I received of Sautter the difference between 12 ½ and $1.30, being $11.20

(v. paid original carpenter bill away my loose receipt)

Attended from 10 to 11 3/4 am as council for William Connor at Esq. Benders in suite against him by Mr. Daniel Hoffman for carpenter work. Had a great deal of trouble to keep the justice within tolerable bounds and from committing the grossest iniquities. I had occasion to put him off his irregular and unlawful modes of conducting suits to judgement for plaintiffs before him.

Jonas C. Brinzer at office at 3 pm on subject of Saxton, S. and Co, and Swearinger suit. I wrote to them in subject of my call and left copy (v. May 10 and June 26) Walked 3 1/4 to 4 miles between 6 3/4 and 8 1/4 pm, to bed 10.