Return to New Jersey

August, 1864

1 A very warm day. Took Str. Eastern Queen for Boston. Had a pleasant trip down the river.

2 A little cloudy. Some rain fell this morning. Arrived in Boston at 5 ½ o'clock. Had a good night's rest. Took cars at Worcester depot at 8 ½ o'clock A. M. for N. Y. City. Got there at 6 o'clock. Rained a little this eve.

3 Quite a pleasant day. At 8 o'clock and 90 minutes took passage on the N. Y. Central R. R. for Belvidere. Got there at 2 o'clock P. M. A heavy shower this afternoon and evening. He is back in Warren County, New Jersey in northwestern New Jersey where he previously had taught school. The towns mentioned in upcoming diary entries are in this region of New Jersey.

4 A pleasant day. Called around and saw my friends. A National fast day. I fasted and attended church.

5 A little cloudy today. Went on a picnic to Manunka Chunk Station. Only a few were present. Had quite a good time.

6 A pleasant day. Called on more of my friends.

7 Attended church all day and evening.

8 Another pleasant day. Met one of my scholars that I thought a good deal of. L. T. D. Staid all night there.

9 A hot day. In the forenoon I went a gunning with L. T. D. but got nothing. About two o'clock started for Townsbury. Staid all night at J. Paces.

10 A hot day. Called and staid all night at T. Hoaglands.

11 Another hot day. Took dinner at Vansyckles. Staid all night at J. Whitesells.

12 Took dinner at Mr. Henry's. Staid all night Daniel Hull's.

13 Another hot day. Took dinner at Mr. Almer's. Staid all night at Mr. Myer's. A singing class met there in the eve. Had a good time.

14 A hot day. Attended church all day. Staid all night at A. L. Fleming's.

15 Quite hot. I staid all night at J. B. Ingersoll's.

16 A pleasant day. Attended S. School Convention in the eve at Jayne's Chapel. Staid all night at A. Ketcham's.

17 A heavy shower of rain this morning. Staid all night at John Dean's.

18 A pleasant day. Staid all night at H. Hopler's.

19 Another pleasant day. Staid all night at Wm. Osmun's.

20 Another hot day. Staid all night at Wm. T. Henry's.

21 A little rainy today. Went with Mr. Henry to church at Danville in the morning. In the afternoon went to Jayne's Chapel. Bro. Buttz preached. Staid all night at Wm. Henry's.

22 A little cloudy today. Went to Hackettstown. Staid all night at David Parks'.

23 A pleasant day. Staid all night at D. Parks.

24 A hot day. Went with the M. E. S. School on a picnic to Port Murry. Went in canal boats. Staid at A. F. Cregors at Rockport.

25 A hot day. Staid all night at H. C. Davis'.

26 Another hot day. Made a number of calls. Came back to Hackettstown and staid all night at D. Parks.

27 A pleasant day. Made calls. Staid at D. Park's all night. Went to Vienna in the eve to a war meeting. Made a few remarks by request. Was cheered.

28 A fine day. Went to M. E. Church. Rev. Dr. Porter preached. Went to the Presbyterian meeting in the eve. Staid at D. Park's all night. Hackettstown.

29 Another pleasant day. Staid at D. Parks.

30 Pleasant. After dinner went to A. C. Howells, Vienna, and staid there all night.

31 A lovely cool day. The S. School on the Vienna circuit had a picnic. 4 schools. I attended. Had a fine time. Came back to A. C. Howells and staid all night.

September, 1864

1 A fine day. Got a ride to Belvidere. Took Board with L. T. Dickinson.

2 A fine day.

3 A little cloudy.

4 Rainy today. Went to the Old School Presbyterian church in the morning. Sunday School in the afternoon. And the funeral of a soldier. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Knighton. Rainy in the eve.

5 Rainy today.

6 Cloudy but little rain.

7 A lovely day.

8 No entry.

9 No entry.

10 No entry.

11 No entry.

12 Quite pleasant the past week. Nothing unusual happened. Walked to Washington, N. J. from Belvidere and staid at Mr. Hartpence's.

13 Walked to Rockport, and staid all night at Mr. Cypher's. A little cool and cloudy today. Saw an old friend, Mr. Jenning's, at Washington. It has been a long time since I have seen him. I attended school with him one winter at Monmouth, Me.

14 A pleasant day. Went to Hackettstown and staid at D. Park's.

15 Quite pleasant.

16 Pleasant. Left Mr. Parks and went to Townsbury. Staid all night at Mr. Henry's. The teacher Mr. Delins has left the school at Vienna and gone to war.

17 A fine day. Walked to Belvidere. A telegram from my brother was waiting for me. He did not need me, so I will take up a school.

18 A little cool today. Rained a little in the evening.

19 Got a horse and carriage and went to Vienna and engaged the school. Went back to Belvidere the same day.

20 A fine day. Got a ride to Hackettstown and staid at D. Parks all night.

21 A lovely day. Went to Vienna and back.

22 A little cloudy. Did nothing today.

23 A little rainy. Went to Vienna and staid at Mr. Howell's.

24 Showery today. Went to Hackettstown to get some things in order to keep Bachelors hall, as I can't get board less than $4.00 a week and I can't pay that.

25 A lovely day. Attended church in the morning and evening.

26 A fine day. Commenced school today. A fair beginning. School at Vienna.

27 No entry.

28 No entry.

29 No entry.

30 No entry.

October, 1864

1 No entry.

2 No entry.

3 Nothing unusual occurred the past week. Had a good school. On Friday night went to D. parks. Came back Sunday night.

4 No entry.

5 No entry.

6 No entry.

7 No entry.

8 Pleasant. Quite cold. Went to Jacob Paces and staid all night.

9 No entry.

10 A pleasant day. Heavy frost last night. The first of any account of the season. Quite cool today. Cloudy and rainy most of the last week.

11 No entry.

12 Began to rain about 12 o'clock M. Attended the re-opening of the M. E. Church at this place (Vienna). Had only service on account of rain.

13 Cool and rainy.

14 No entry.

15 No entry.

16 No entry.

17 Last week quite pleasant, all but Wednesday. Thus far get along well with my school.

18 No entry.

19 No entry.

20 No entry.

21 Went to David Parks.

22 A little stormy today.

23 Went to church at Hackettstown. Took dinner at C. Titus'.

24 Quite pleasant most of last week.

25 No entry.

26 No entry.

27 No entry.

28 Quite pleasant all the week up to last night when it began to rain quite hard. Rainy all day.

29 Staid about home today.

30 Went to church at Vienna in the forenoon. Went home with Mr. Henry and took dinner with him. Went to Jayne's Chapel in the afternoon. Staid all night at J. Deans.

November, 1864

1 No entry.

2 No entry.

3 No entry.

4 Began to rain last night. Rained some today. A little pleasanter in the eve. Went to Hackettstown to a political meeting (Republican). Got back at 12 o'clock.

5 Staid about home today. Staid at J. Dean's all night. Made a call with some young folks to N. Vliet's.

6 Went to church in the morning and eve.

7 Rainy today. Tomorrow is election day for President. I think that Lincoln ought to be elected as I think he is the best. I can't believe in McClellan and the platform. Yet if McClellan is elected, I hope it will be for the best. General George McClellan was now the Democratic candidate for President. He ran on a peace platform.

8 Today I voted for Abraham Lincoln and A. J. Johnson for Presidents.

9 No entry.

10 No entry.

11 Last night was out till two o'clock to a small party at Mr. Hulls.

12 A little stormy the first of the week. Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson are elected presidents. At Mr. Olmsteads last night till two o'clock to a small party. Had a good time. Went to Hackettstown today.

13 Today heard Dr. Porter of Hackettstown preach. Took dinner at C. M. Titus'. Quite cold, and a few flakes of snow fell.

14 No entry.

15 Had quite a snow storm this afternoon.

16 No entry.

17 No entry.

18 No entry.

19 Went to Hackettstown and back. Quite stormy during the week.

20 Attended church at Vienna.

21 No entry.

22 No entry.

23 No entry.

24 Thanksgiving Day. Had no school. Heard Bro. Clark preach a good sermon. A pleasant day.

25 No entry.

26 No entry.

27 No entry.

28 Some bad weather last week, but not much. Have not much success in the extra meeting yet.

29 No entry.

30 No entry.

December, 1864

1 No entry.

2 No entry.

3 Quite pleasant weather for the greater part of the past week. A little foggy today.

4 A little cool and pleasant. Went to church here in the morning: then to Jane's Chapel to a love feast and Quarterly meeting at two o'clock P. M. A large turn out. A good time. In the eve church at Vienna was full. Bro. Bryce P. E. preached; a good sermon.

5 No entry.

6 No entry.

7 No entry.

8 No entry.

9 Quite cold today.

10 Quite pleasant the past week. Last night it snowed quite heavy. Snow 6 inches deep. Fell quite even.

11 Quite moderate today. A little foggy.

12 Clear and cold today.

13 Cold today.

14 A little more moderate today. Pleasant.

15 No entry.

16 No entry.

17 Quarter closed yesterday, but I shall keep one week more before I have a vacation.

18 No entry.

19 No entry.

20 No entry.

21 No entry.

22 No entry.

23 A pleasant day. Treated my scholars today. Take a vacation next week.

24 Went to Belvidere today. Got a ride from Townsbury. Sleighing good. Staid all night at Bro. Dickinson's.

25 Another pleasant day. Attended church morning and evening. S. School in the afternoon. Staid all night at Mrs. Lawrence's. (Sunday)

26 A little rainy and foggy today. Went to Phillipsburg. In the eve attended the N. E. Fair and Festival at Easton. Staid all night at J. C. Bennet's Hotel. Phillipsburg is in New Jersey. Easton is across the border in Pennsylvania.

27 Still foggy and damp. Attended the fair this eve. Staid at Bennets.

28 Returned to Belvidere today. Still foggy and damp.

29 Moderate and foggy.

30 Quite cool today. Returned to Vienna.

31 Stormy today. The diary concludes after this entry. The war continued for several more months. The New York 99th lost their original members when their three year enlistments ended earlier in 1864; however, the regiment consolidated its companies and continued until mustered out in July, 1865. Eugene Goodwin, now age 31, continued teaching for a time, got married, went to medical school and became a country doctor in Iowa. He died in 1910 at age 79.