29-1 Cloudy, some little rain, sultry.

First communion in our new church this morning. Some half dozen joined in certificate. Preaching there again in the evening at 6 pm. Snyder acted today as sexton pro tem for us for the first time, or perhaps commenced last evening. Vacation commenced with J. F. Seiler School at the end of last Friday’s session. Mrs. Rawn and self and children at Church morning and evening. Home in evening at 7 1/4 pm to bed 9 1/4 to 10 pm.

30-2 Heavy rain in last night, cloudy and clear to day., warm, sultry, fine air at times.

Wrote note to Mrs. Eliza. McCormick, wife of James McCormick for (present) and kept copy. Son Charles and Al. Fager went gunning this morning to Perry County for a week. Charles went to Fagers last night after church to sleep. They were to leave at 2 or 3 o’clock this morning in the cars for Duncannon and then to walk some 5 miles south west to the house of some man with whom they have been in correspondence where they are to stay, and where they expect to get by 6 o’clock.

Mr. Shakspear and his son George W. here this morning on business.

I walked between 10 and 11 ½ am 3 ½ miles and about the same distant between 6 3/4 and 8 pm with son John Calvin and Lyman Gilbert, son of Henry. To bed 9 ½.

31-3 Clear, some winds, fine, pleasant.

Paid Robert Gale, coal man son in law of William M. Jones in presence of son John Calvin, daughter Fanny, and Maj. Pollock up by John Casey’s house in full of all demands and for hauling coal ashes, dirt, gravel ,&c $1.12

Son John, Fanny, Maj. Pollock and self walked round between 9 ½ and 11 ½ am by State House, State St. Houses by Casey’s, George Mauly’s water basin, Hopple House, Cunkle’s carpenter shop and home.

Received of Eli and Peter Malay, 1 month’s rent due 1 inst. $7.00

Received of James Hetterman, 1 month’s rent due 1 inst. (v. 10 inst) $6.00

Paid John Cunkle (carpenter) per check to his order on Dauphin Deposit Bank on account of carpenter and mason work and materials at my Hopple House within 2 weeks or so $100.00.

I walked 3 ½ miles circular between 6 ½ and 7 ½ pm on my return accidently fell in with Mrs. Rawn and Mrs. D. A. S. Eyster on the Water Basin grounds. We walked to Eysters (D’s) and there conversed for an hour or so with Mrs. E and Mr. E. Mrs. Blessing and Mrs. Dr. Gildea, Mrs. B’s daughter. I have not been in Eyster’s house for upward of a month, nor there with Mrs. Rawn that I know of in 7 or 8 months. (v. 2 or 3 inst. when son Charles and self walked there.) Home 8 ½ to 9 and to bed 9 ½ to 10 pm.

August, 1860

August 1-4 Clear and beautiful.

I rose early, between 4 and 5 am, went to Market about 5 am. Have not been at Market for some time.

Paid John B. Graham in presence of his carter, my sons, Sam Burton for hauling this day 4 loads of dirt from Pa. Round House to my lot in State Street now rented to James Dailey to fill up yard. In full .60

Paid Emma Hummel for 2 gal. cider vinegar (very poor) got by my wife some 10 days or a week ago .40

Received of David Peelor rent due to this day inclusive $32.50

Deposited in Dauphin Deposit Bank $100.00

Paid for a ham, 11 lbs, at docks $1.65

Paid for 4 lbs coffee at Robinson and Co’s .60

Sons Charles and Calvin, Sam. Burton and self engaged from 9 to 10 to 11 ½ pm at Dailey Yard on State St. filling with dirt and grading (v above)

Walked between 7 ½ and 8 1/4 pm about 2 miles. To bed 9 and 9 ½..

2-5 Clear, beautiful, pleasant, hot sun but pleasant in the shade and fine air betimes.

We made up our minds this morning to go to the Farmers Pic Nic, at Spring Creek "Old Derry Presbyterian Church" about 3 to 3 ½ miles beyond Hummelstown or about 12 miles from Harrisburg. We had talked yesterday of going with or in the Excursion Train of cars, but gave it out on sundry account especially in prospect of the crowd in the cars, delays, accidents, &c, but finding this morning so pleasant and cool and Fanny having been at me for a carriage ride for some time, I readily decided on the family ride and party to said Pic Nic of farmers and others of Dauphin and Lebanon counties, got a comfortable one horse carriage and good horse at Calders’ Livery Stable and wife, self, Charles, John Calvin, and Fanny left in said carriage (attended or accompanied by Charles N. Boas and his wife in a Tilbury) for said Pic Nic at 9 ½ am got to Hummelstown about 11 am, where I paid for lemonade and water for watering our horses,15 cts.

(Lemonade for Mrs. Rawn and Mrs. Boas) We stopped at John Zittle’s [or Little’s] (late Hoerner’s) Tavern with when I had business about the O’Rourke claim and about which I spoke to him and he said he would be up before long to settle it. We got to the P. N. Ground about 11 3/4 am, found perhaps some two to four thousand people there who were increased by considerable addition before 3 pm..

The old church, an antique and now considerably dilapidated frame buildings with its high banked unpainted pews holding about 215 to 225 persons, is about 141 years old, by a tomb stone in the old grave yard if appears that the first preacher at said church the Rev. William Bertram died in 1740 along of which stone is that of a Mr. Galbraith who died in 1744. The original small wooden penny boxes with a short handle of about 2 feet in length are still to be seen on an old plain unpainted table in front of the precentor’s desk or pew, immediately under the pulpit which holds 3 persons. The old parsonage house is of a piece in simplicity and plainness with the church edifice both standing on a hill, the church in the top and the house some 75 yards lower down on the declivity of the hill toward the spring which is one of the largest and clearest I ever saw forming a small creek immediately at its rise, discharging I should judge several hogsheads perhaps 10 or more, in a minute.

We took our rations, ham, mutton, bread and butter, crackers, cheese, raspberry vinegar, preserved blackberries &c&c along and like the main part of the many persons there spread our table cloth on the ground rocks near the spring and other enjoyed our old Derry Church cold spring for our dinner.

I paid ice cream on the ground for Mrs. Rawn, Mrs. Boas, daughter Fanny and self (of Felix) .25

Paid at Hummelstown at Zittles on our return lemonade .35

Paid the Turnpike toll 1 gate going with own vehicles .30

Boas being ahead paid toll coming back. We met of course on the grounds hundreds of persons from this city and county and a number from Lebanon with whom we are acquainted. The Hummeltown Band discoursed its best music and a small orchestra of violins &c mounted on an elevated stand had constant occupation in performing for the dancers that constantly crowded the larger platform, specially erected for the benefit of those who like to indulge in tripping it on the light fantastic toe, a play called Copenhagen performed in and about a large ring formed by ropes or lines afforded lots of kissing to the country bucks who generally seemed to do it up, and the girls to take it in the most earnest and palatable style. These rings in circles were many or several, a variety of other plays obtained here and there through the woods with swinging, singing and all imaginable modes of fun and frolic that the genius of the crowd and convenience of the place and the occasion would scare up. Mr. Barr was there auctioning his jewelry, goods, &c Allen was there adding their pain killers and cure alls, and countless stands tables &c of eatables. Ice creams, lemonades, cakes, confectionary and things generally to take inwardly, for the good or ill of the stomach.

Altogether we had a delightful ride, an agreeable and merry sight seeing day and left about 4 pm, tired of course but well satisfied with the "curiosities" and vanities and meeting of acquaintances attending the trip. We stopped a few minutes at Hummeltown at Zittles on our return where I got lemonade as above for our crowd, 5 for my carriage and 2 in Mrs. Boas’. We got home at 6 pm, spent evening at home, to bed 8 to 9.

3-6 Clear and some clouds, pleasant.

Walked 3 ½ to 4 miles round by cemetery, asylum &c, between 10 and 11 ½ am and had incident with crazy man who was declaiming against lawyers. He said the lawyers would all go to hell because they took money to plead unjust causes. He said they would plead against a "poor girl", "poor things" and then he ripped and swore he’d murder them all if he had them there. Show me a lawyer said he, and I’ll murder him and then he seemed to make up his mind I was a lawyer and commenced hurling as big stones as he could throw at me and swore he’d kite me. I left to get out of his way. I intend complaining to Dr. Kirwin and the commissioners of their suffering such a man to roam around where he can get at whoever may be offensive to him without some person with him capable of restraining him. I said nothing to him and was in the road on the asylum grounds and he on top of the hill some 200 yds from me when making his speech but made a rush throwing stones which struck close by me. I have no doubt he would at once have killed me if he had got at or near me. Self and boys walked 3 ½ miles circular between 7 and 8 pm. This makes 7 to 7 ½ miles for me today.

Paid H. W. Hoffman for milk from 1 July to 1 August $2.58

(this makes .72 cts. for extra milk as we pay 6 cts a day for milk)

Paid Steckley (shoemaker) in full mending Fan’s shoes .30

Home from walk 8 and to bed 9 ½ to 10 pm.

4-7 Clear, fine, very warm, unusually hot sun.

Paid John Hummer per his son Benjamin for check to his order in Dauphin Deposit Bank for 2 barrels flour got 13 ult. $12.50

Paid Emma Hummel our kind neighbor for an elliptical shaped mahogany table appraised she says at $1 and divided among them to her sister Susan and left by her to be sold at appraised value. I consider it well work $5 Told Emma I had no use for it but would take it as a memento of them and because so cheap. $1.00

Received of Mrs. Mary Miess on account further fee $1.00

In passing Brandt’s Hotel at 8 pm heard Emmsinger crying rule of estate, corner of Front and Locust St. (___ estate) at $43.00. I bid $44.00 not sold.

George F. Emuslin and Mr. Young here this morning. Loaned said George F. Emerson to redeem his land $35.00. Took his note to repay said money by the 8 inst. He left with me a gold watch in pledge for such repayment by said time.

I went with him to County Treasurer. He paid $30.94 although he got a receipt for the interest added making in all $34.59. I believe that he paid only $30.94 as Freeland (?) who has long not at treasurer’s sale 2 years ago and Trenton (?) late city treasurer said he was not to pay interest. It seems he had no notice from the County Treasurer as paid bale as regulated by law.

I drew check to his order in Dauphin Deposit Bank for said $39.00

Paid Nora Barry our hired woman on account wages $4.00

(This at tea table per sister J. Rawn)

I walked between 7 and 8 pm 3 ½ miles. Hamilton Alricks along part way to whom I made complaint as a _____of Friday last incident and allowance to raving, dangerous crazy man to roam to the danger of passerby. To bed 9 ½.