Saturday, February 29, 1868 – “Buy a farm wagon before a fine carriage.”

This is a very Stormy cold kind of a day. I was doing the chores to day. This is the last day of February. Jane & Frank Boyd were in here to day. 1868
Bill came home to day. [I feel happy to day. My wife.]

Hints to Farmers.
Keep good fences, especially line fences;
Don’t starve your land, if you do you will grow lean.
Don’t leave to memory what should be written it makes lawsuits.
Buy a farm wagon before a fine carriage.
Don’t buy patent rights to sell again.
Bovina.

Friday, February 28, 1868 – “She who rubs her checks with a brickbat…”

This is a cold day. 1868  I am at home to day. I did not do much to day. Bill went to Andes to day. W.W. Forrest was here to day. Him and Lill & I went down to Brushland this afternoon. Henry Liddle and Bill Liddle were in here this afternoon. Thare is Singing School in Brushland to night. O. Dickson was over here to night. He stayed all night.

Genuine Fools
He who wipes his nose on a nutmeg grates, and picks his teeth with a razor.
She who rubs her checks with a brickbat to give them color.

Thursday, February 27, 1868 – “This is a day that I shall Remember as long as I live.”

This is a stormy day. 1868. I am in the Town of Hamden in Basin Clove this morning.
This is a day that I shall Remember as long as I live. My Wedding day.
Married.
At the U.P. Parsonage., Lansingville, by Rev. D.S. McHenry. Mr. Walter J. Coulter of Bovina to Miss Jennette D. Wilbur of Hamden, Del. Col, N.Y.
I came home tonight. Bill and Jim are at home to night. 1868
I came through Delhi to day. [I feel happy to night]
It was dark when I got home to night.

This clipping was inside the diary in the entry for the 27th.

Wednesday, February 26, 1868 – “This is my last day of single life.”

This is a tolerable fine day. I am not at home to day. I went through Brushland, Delhi and Lansingville* to day. I am in the Town of Hamden to night.
[I am with my dear Nettie to night.]
This is my last day of single life. Brushland.
Thid. Dickson was over here to night. He stayed all night.
Thare was some folks from Andes up to A. Liddles to night. 1868
[This is the last night that I sleep alone without my dearest Nettie.]  Brushland

*Lansingville later became Delancey.

Tuesday, February 25, 1868 – "It has snowed all day."

It has been storming to day. It has snowed all day. I was down to Brushland to day.Bill went down with me. W.W. Forrest went down with me. Bovina. 
This is the last day of school for this winter. Frank Boyd was in here to day. Jim came home to night. I saw John Armstrong in Brushland to day.
I received a letter to day. [Nettie.]
I saw John Dysart in Brushland to day. 1868
I borrowed a cutter today from Andrew McGibbon*. Bill did not come home with me this afternoon.

*Andrew McGibbon (1803-1883), son of John and Isabella McGibbon, was married to Walter’s aunt Mary Coulter

Monday, February 24, 1868 – “This winter is noted for being a very cold winter.”

This is a cold stormy day. I was doing chores to day. We cleaned up some oats to day.  Net Rutherford is here this forenoon. She went away to the funeral this afternoon. Mrs. Forrest was Burryed to day. The folks were all down to the funeral to day. It is snowing from the Southeast to day. Bovina.
Bill is home to night. This winter is noted for being a very cold winter. 
One year ago to day I saw Frank Gowanlock.  He was in here a year ago to day. Bovina.
Walter J. Coulter. 1868

Sunday, February 23, 1868 – “Bill Cut my hair to day.”

This is a very cold day. It is the coldest day we have had this winter. Murcury 24 [degrees] below zero. Wind North to day. Thare was none of the folks to Church to day. Net Rutherford is here to day. Bill Cut my hair to day. He also cut Lills and Anns. Bill went down to T. Forrests to night to sit up. 1868

At ladies fairs they’re almost hugged
By pretty girls, you know,
That they may crack up everything
The ladies have to show-

Spirit of Paradise
Which gives to all the self same bent,
Whose lines are wise and innocent.

Saturday, February 22, 1868 – “The Harlem River is frozen over…”

This is a cold day. Murcury down 4 [degrees] below zero. I was drawing Manure to day. Bill was helping me this afternoon. Net Rutherford is here to day yet. Some of the folks were down to Brushland to day. Every thing is quiet today. 

President [Andrew] Johnson has bought a farm of 1.000 acres in Tennessee.

Mrs. T.E. Forrest died today*. Brushland.

The Harlem River is frozen over with 12 inch ice for the first time in 11 years. Loaded sleighs can be seen daily midriver on the ice below Peekskill.

*This was Mrs. Thomas E. Forrest, born Helen Raitt in 1820.

Friday, February 21, 1868 – “World always speaks of Lincoln with a sneer…”

This is also a fine day. I feel about used up to day. I was drawing Manure to day. Net Rutherford & Magie Storie are here to day. Magie Storie went home to day. Major Liddle was in here to day. Lolagaging*. Thare is Singing School in Brushland to night. Bill was down to it. One year ago to day I was in the Town of Hamden. [I was with my dear Nettie.]

The World always speaks of Lincoln with a sneer, but a Democratic paper elsewhere calls him the “Nation’s clown.”
Grant and Buckingham.
Brushland 1868

*Lollygagging - spend time aimlessly

Thursday, February 20, 1868 – “It was daylight when we got home.”

This is a very fine day. I did not do much to day. Hank and Jane Liddle are here this morning. They went away this forenoon. Net Rutherford & Magie Storie are here to day. We went over to Andrew Liddles to night. A. Liddle and wife were also along. We had a Bully old time. Mag. Hat and Ell Liddle were at home. James Race & wife (were) also thare. It was daylight when we got home. Major Liddle came home with us. 1868  It rained to night for the first in two months.

Wednesday, February 19, 1868 – “It was 12 o’clock when we got home again.”

This is a fair winter day. I was doing chores this forenoon. Net. Rutherford and Magie Storie and Kill went up to A. Boyds to day. I was down to Brushland this afternoon. I sold a tub of Butter to day to John Hillson for $.46 per pound. W.W. Forrest rode up from Brushland with me. Hank and Jane Liddle came here to night. We all went up to A. Liddles to night. We had a joly old time. It was 12 o’clock when we got home again. Hank and Jane Liddle* Stayed here all night.

*Probably Henry and Jane Liddle, children of Alexander and Bina Liddle.

Tuesday, February 18, 1868 – “I went to mill this afternoon.”

This is a cold day. 1868. I did not do much to day. I went to mill this afternoon. Net Rutherford and Ann rode down to Brushland with me, also M Tuttle. Magie Storie and Net Rutherford are here to day. James H. Thompson* stayed here all night. He got stuck going over the hill to day. A. Liddle and wife were down here to night. We were playing Ucher to night. I was in Brushland to day. One year ago to day I was in Brushland. One year to night Jane Hoffman was here. Brushl Bovina 1868

*Probably James H. Thomson (1818-1904), son of John and Marian Thomson.  He married Jane Amos in 1856.  They had 8 children.

Monday, February 17, 1868 – “The wind is south to day.”

This is a stormy day. 1868. The wind is south to day. I went to mill this forenoon to the But[t]end. I was not doing much this afternoon. Magie Storie is here to day.
Thare is preaching in Brushland to day at the U.P. Church.
A. Boyd and A. Liddle were in here this afternoon.  Net. Rutherford came up this afternoon. She stayed all night. I saw Mat. Lambert to day. 1868. He was going to Andes. I met the folks going to Church today. 1868
Brushland. 1868

Saturday, February 16, 1868 – "For this the feeling heart reveres...."

This is a fair winter day. This is sacrament day at the U.P. Church Brushland. The folks are all away to Church to day. Thid Dickson was in here this morning. He went to Church. Maggy Storie* came up here to night. Thid Dickson was here to night.

Memory**
Time, when our own, we oft despise-
When gone, its loss deplore;
Nor till the fleeting moment flies
Do mortals learn its worth to prize,
When it returns no more.
For this, an anxious look we cast,
With fond regret, on hours long past-
For this the feeling heart reveres
The memory of departed years

*Margaret A. Storie (1841-1928), daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Storie and a first cousin of Walter Coulter’s
**From a poem written in 1810 by Fitz-Greene Halleck.

Saturday, February 15, 1868 – “Love is to domestic life what butter is to bread.”

This has been a fine day. It has not been so cold to day. I was drawing Dung to day. Bill was helping me. Thid Dickson and Sandy Wilbur were here this morning. Thare was preaching at the P. Church to day. Some of the folks were down to Church to day. A. Boyd was over to Margretville to day. M. Tuttle took a load of wood to Brushland to day. 1868.

In Connecticut ghosts are fined fifteen dollars each. 
A miss is as good as a mile – especially if it is a lovely Miss.
Love is to domestic life what butter is to bread.

Friday, February 14, 1868 – “Murcury down to zero.”

It is cold this morning. Murcury down to zero. W. Stotts vandue* came off to day. I was down to it. Thare was quite a crowd at the Vandue to day. Susan and Sandy Wilbur** were thair to day. James Penney and wife R. Neisch and wife were thare to day. The cows sold high one for $72. Thare was Singing School in Brushland to night. Wat. Stott took down a load. Net Rutherford was along. Sandy Wilbur came up with me. He stayed all night. Jane Boyd was here to night.

*Vendue – an auction
**Susan and Sandy (Alexander) Wilbur were brother and sister, the children of Hatzel and Ann Wilbur.  They were from Hamden.  Their significance in Coulter’s life will become obvious by February 27.

Thursday, February 13, 1868 – “Mrs. Gen. Grant affects pink silk.”

This is a fair kind of a day. The wind is South to day. This is fast day. The folks are to church. I am not doing much today. I rote a letter to day. [code]
I bought a new vest? to day from John Solomon.
John Solomon is here this forenoon. He went to John R. Thompsons* to night. One year ago to day Mary Gowanlock was here.

A young lady being asked by a politician which part she was most in favor of, replied that she preferred a wedding party. 
Mrs. Gen. Grant affects pink silk.

*This probably is John R. Thomson (1810-1892), son of Andrew and Elizabeth Thomson.  He was married twice, first to Mary McFarland (1812-1842) and later Helen Armstrong (1819-1905).

Wednesday, February 12, 1868 – “Dickens is ill.”

This is a fine day. It is not so cold to day. I was drawing Manure to day. O. Dickson was in here this forenoon. D. Black went up by to day. 1868
John Solomon is here to night. He stayed all night. One year ago to day was Town meeting day. Thare was Singing School in New Kingston one year ago to night. Also Spelling School same night at our school house. Bill R. Seacord* is up to M. Tuttles to day.

Edward Booth averaged $3.000 a week last season.
Dickens is ill.**

*This probably is William R. Seacord (1836-1916), son of John and Jeanette Fuller.
**Reference to author Charles Dickens, who was on a five month lecture tour, during which he did indeed have health problems.  He returned to England in April 1868 and died in June 1870.

Tuesday, February 11, 1868 – “This is Town meeting day.”

This is a tolerable fine day. Mercury 10 [degrees] below zero this morning. This is Town meeting day. I was down to Brushland to day. James Elliott & James Douglas were candidates for Supervisor. James Elliott was elected. Jane Boyd was here this afternoon. O. Dickson was here this afternoon. 1868
Thare was a Donation in Brushland for Mr. Kennedy.
I received a letter to day [from my dearest Nettie].  I was drawing Manure this afternoon.  Brushland.  Walter J. Coulter

*Oliver Dickson (b 1840), son of Gilbert Dickson and Ellen Irvine

Monday, February 10, 1868- “I was breaking roads to day.”

This is a very cold day. Murcury 8 [degrees] below zero this morning. I was breaking roads to day. We cleaned up some oats this forenoon. 1868.
Jim Douglas and Bill Strangeway and O. Dickson came over the hill to break out the roads to day.
Thare is a Singing School in New Kingston to night. Bill went to Andes this afternoon. A. Boyd was in here to day. M. Tuttle was helping to break roads. One year ago to day Mary Gowanlock was here. Same time, Bill White was here. One year to day was a very cold day. Brushland.

Sunday, February 9, 1868 – “I shaved today.”

This is a stormy day. It is not so cold to day. Bill is at home to day. One year ago to day I was sawing wood. I shaved today. There was none of the folks to church.

“Love is the union of two hearts 
That beat in softest melody.
Time with its rages imparts no
Bitter fusion to its ecstacy.”
Recipt for Happiness.
Just wealth enough to keep away
Of want the direful scenes;
Just health enough to gild the day,
And make lifes course serene;
Virtue enough to act that part
Which is devoid of sin;
Courage enough to ask the heart,
“Art though secure within?”

Saturday, February 8, 1868 – “I got ten firkins and 4 tubs to day.”

This is a cold morning.  Murcury down to 10 [degrees] below zero. I was down to Brushland this forenoon. I got ten firkins and 4 tubs to day. Bill came home to day. I was drawing Manure this afternoon. I was into the Post Office to day. 1868
I saw H. Warren to day.

Ten Follies-
(To think the more a man eats, the fatter and stronger he will become.)  Ks., is the authorized abbreviation for Kansas. Kansas has nearly a thousand miles of railroad. Saxe gets one dollar per line for his ledger verses. 1868

Friday, February 7, 1868 – “Thare was a Dance at the Hook to night.”

This is a very cold day. If I may so term it. I was not doing much to day. Jim Gowanlock is here today. I was down to Brushland to day. Jim S? and some of the rest of the folks were along. I got some firkins today. Thare is singing school in Brushland to night. Thare is a Donation at the Hook to night. [code] Mr. Andrews. Thare was a Dance at the Hook to night. Music by Liddles Band. S. White was down to the Hook to night. Thare was a corcus [caucus] meeting in Brushland to night. One year ago to day A. Liddle was married to Mary Gill.*

*Alexander Liddle (1839-1918), son of John and Isabella Liddle, married Mary Gill (1842-1917), daughter of James and Mary Gill.

Thursday, February 6, 1868 – “Thare has been nothing going on of any importance to day.”

It has been cold and Stormy to day. I was drawing Manure to day. Thare has been nothing going on of any importance to day. Thid Dickson and Jim Gowanlock* came here to night. Thare is Spelling School to night. We went down to S.S. to night.
Net Rutherford and Miss Dennis were at the S.S.
Thid Dickson and Jim Gowanlock stayed here all night.

High color – Sky blue.
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder” – of some one else.
Follow – To imagine that every hour taken from Sleep is an hour gained.
Population of Rome. 215.573.

*Jim Gowanlock was the son of William and Ann Gowanlock

Wednesday, February 5, 1868 – “…not a very pleasent job.”

This is a fine day. South wind blowing to day. It is snowing to night. I have been drawing dung to day which is not a very pleasent job. Bill is not at home to day. Miss Dennis was in here to night. Thare is a Donation in Andes to night for Mr. Bruce. Thare was a pedler here today. One year ago to day I was in the Town of Hamden. One year to night I am at R. Scotts in Hamden. One year ago I saw [my dear Nettie at home]. Two years ago to day I was in the Town of Andes.
Brushland. [W.J.C.]

Tuesday, February 4, 1868 – “This is my Birth day.”

This is a cold day. This is my Birth day. I am 25 year-old to day. John Forrest, Henry Liddle and Net Rutherford are here this morning. I was down to Brushland this forenoon. Bill went down to T. Forrests with me. Net Rutherford rode down to D. Blacks* with me. I was drawing manure this afternoon. Lill and Ann & Henry Liddle went up to A. Liddle to day. 

Knowledge is power – to accomplish, to enjoy – and these are the only ends for which man was created. All knowledge confers this power.

*This is probably David Black (1824-1883) who had a farm on Coulter Brook Road.

Monday, February 3, 1868 – “…the coldest day…”

This is a very cold day. Murcury down to 20 [degrees] below zero. This is the coldest day we have had this winter. I did not do much to day. Thare is a Donation in New Kingston to night for Mr. Sirria(?). Night. I was at the Donation to I took over a load to night. Lousia Dennis*, Net Rutherford, Henry Liddle** and our girls went along with me. I saw Mary Gowanlock***, Alice Russel, Ann Gladstone, Barbary Archibald, Sarah Gowanlock***, Liby Miller & Lib Russell at the Donation to night. Mr. Sirrice(?) got $136.50 as Donation to night.

*Louisa Dennis (b 1846) was the daughter of Thomas and Louisa Dennis.
**Henry Liddle (1845-1921) was the son of Alex and Bina Liddle
***Mary and Sarah Gowanlock likely are the daughters of William and Ann Gowanlock.

Sunday, February 2, 1868 – “The Blue Coats, and how they Dined, Fought and Died for the Union”

This is a very fine day. W.W. Forrest and Net Rutherford were here this morning. Some of the folks were to church to day 1868. Jim came home to day and went away again. Nancy Boyd was here this morning. Bovina. Bill cut Jims hair to day. 
Woman – Bonnie lassies of our land. May we ever remember that thou art Heavens choicests best gift to man. 
“The Blue Coats, and how they Dined, Fought and Died for the Union; with Scenes and Incidents in the Great Rebellion.”* 1868.

*This references a book written by John Truesdale in 1867

Saturday, February 1, 1868 – “We had a joly old time.”

This has been a fine day. This is the first day of February 1868. The winter is half through for 1868. I was not doing much today. Some of the folks were down to Brushland to day. W.W. Forrest came up here this afternoon, he stayed all night. Bill & him went up to A. Liddles to night. Net Rutherford and Nancy Boyd* came here to night. They stayed all night. We had a joly old time.  [Illegible]
One year ago to day I bought a new watch. One year to day it was raining. O. Dickson was here one year ago.

*Probably this was the daughter of Andrew and Ellen Boyd.