Ham, Eggs, and Corn Cake: A Nebraska Territory Diary

The Diary

The Diary March 9th 1857 — Left home with the intention of being absent longer than any previous trip I had ever taken from my own fireside. Still I had none of those feelings which usually possess me at parting with my nearest and dearest of friends and relatives. I had no realizing sence of any protracted absence more than I would feel on going to my daily business. Days previous to my departure however were days of deep thought and reflection. The simplest acts of my children were unusually interesting to me and remarks that at any other time I would barely notice would make my heart swell and tears start unbidden in my eyes. But when the day for my departure arrived I was suffering with bodily ills of a more serious nature than I was willing to own and my mind was wholly occupied with those ills which were at the time painfull in the extreme. With as little ceremony as possible I bid goodby to my family and rode down to the depot chatting by the way with Irwin who “wanted to ride down with father.” He was so taken up with his ride he was not inclined to get out of the sleigh and when I had bought my ticket and looked around to bid him good-by he was not to be found. He had remained in the sleigh where I found him bundled up playing the owner of the sleigh, as large as any one. I asked him if he was not going to bid me good-by? “Oh yes!” he says and the words he would have uttered in addition choked in his throat. He kissed me and when I had got a few feet from the sleigh he said Good-bye Pa! with a force to it I could but notice as coming from a full heart. Only a short time was occupied in reaching and crossing the ferry at 2 ham, eggs, and corn cake Black Rock and getting under way on the Canada Side. The excitement of changing at Black Rock from cars to boat and boat to cars, had the effect to exhaust me considerable. For me at least, We were fortunate, in having but few passengers. I monopolized two whole seats near the stove and slept some before we reached Paris. At Paris we made the connection with the Great Western Cars. By the time we had reached London I began to regret my having left home in the condition I did. Continued to get sicker until about four o’clock p.m. when my feelings changed as if by Magic and I felt like a new being, ate a hearty supper on the boat crossing from Windsor to Detroit, and except from weakness and lassitude felt as well as I ever did in my life. At Detroit called on Mr. Frazer who gave me a pass to Michigan City. Got a seat in the cars near the stove. Left at 9.20 and slept some of the way to Marshal. Tusday 10th Walked from the Depot up to the Marshal House and went to bed a three o’clock A. M. Slept but little, at seven breakfasted and soon after got a buggy from the livery to take me up four Miles on the plank. Had a pleasant but cold ride, found cousin’s family all well. Cousin Joel Mack has a fine farm of 160 acres a good large frame house and is very comfortably situated, has a family of six children the two oldest boys who are married and living away by themselves the two next daughters one 20 and the other 16 years of age, a boy 13 and the baby a girl of five years completes his list of children. His daughter of 16 is the largest of the children is a perfect picture of My Sister Sybil when I last saw her and the baby is just another such a person as was Sister Emily at her age. The more I saw them the more I saw a resemblance both in looks and actions, but I do not believe Abigail the one resembling Sybil will live long she has a hard cough which I believe will prove fatal. My stay at Cousin Joels was a pleasant one. Cousin is a great speller and gramarian is a boy with his children and joins in their studies. His Wife is just such a...