DABuckingham - 1868 page 18

. 24 Sept, South Family new drying house caught fire and burned down.


I 9 Oct. 'A man of the world came here wishing to take a few photographs of the vil lage. "
(This must have been James Irving of Troy whose photographs are so widely used to illustrate :

Shaker articles.)


. 10 Oct. The photographer is still here
taking pictures. I
1 11 Oct. Photographer and his wife attend public worship. \ 12 O


26 Oct Freegift Wells & Ephraim Prentiss exchange rooms. 'Thisis done to accommodate Br. Free-
gift who is lameand aged. He brings In his coal-stove from joiner's shop toconvene him
with constant fire, day & night, as he has to be up much in the night."


16 Dec Take wool to West Sand Lake to be made into cloth & yarn.

29 Dec Joseph LeFurne at 2d Order died quite suddenly of erisypelas.

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1869

7 Apr Elder Giles & Nehemiah take their bees from eel lar & set them outdoors .- 59 or 60 swarms.


2 May A hired shoemaker went to work. Shaker shoemaker "now has care of the youth and works
in the herb garden."


27 May Preparation for the "Boston Meeting. " Representing Wisdom's Val ley will be Augustus
Blaze & Paulina Bates of 2d Family and Geo. A, Lomas & Harriet Bullard of SF and they
started today for Boston.


13 June Elder John Vance addressed the worl d in our public meeting for 40 odd minutes. Spoke
well. Quite a large audience who gave good attention.


17 July Maria Treadway drowned herself in the pond about 4 a.m. Was found to be missing from
her room in the Infirmaryabout 4:30. Body found in about 6 ft. of water, 3 rods from
shore. Three of the brethren want out in a bofc got her by clothing and towed her to shore.
C. Miller went to West Troy for coroner. He came & summoned a 6-man jury - 3 of brethren
Chas. Brackett, Nehemiah White & David Hawkins, and 3 hired men. Verdict: death by
drowning in a fitof insanity. (Thej^^'-s-oo_menil(c)n--of-a--faweFa'l-

4 Oct 14" of rain in about 30 hours. Everything flooded, all bridges over creek washed away
except stone one; allcellars flooded, some 4-5 ft.; Office kitchen fioor 8 in. water;
had to move 50 beehives and have them washed away.


10 Oct Among spectators at public meeting was American ambassador to Mexico.

17 Oct Zevlah Spier died. "Last ofthe Firstborn (so called), the last of thosein thisSociety who
have seen Mother Ann's face and from her received verbal instructions, etc. 88 yr 11 m 20 d.
"Has always been true to the cause of Christ & Mother which she espoused when very young.
Her example thru life has been one of righteousness, peace and order, and her words will
praise her in the gates of heaven and her children rise up and bless her."
Chas. Bracket & Freegift make her coffin.