Thomas Wright's Diary

1859

1, January 1859

Lan sakes another year, has started have most my stuff ready ta move. Bought a dutch oven good fryin pan plates some cups fer the place. Betsy she seems excited about it, least ways around me whens we alone an all. Still work at the Saloon three days a week fer Joe. Least till I move inta the old place.

Figure money I have put back should hold till least mid September. Always do odd jobs, might still work the Saloon spell longer just so I don't feel like I gots no money. Besides three days ain't no time.
Poppy say, long as ya got food little money be fine.
I feel the same, long as I ain't starvin an a roof over me all is fine. Besides always be bounty ta work at.
Don't figure they a stop runnin any time soon. Poppy can't go alone not after New Richmond nope won't have it.

Just got word, from Poppy we leaves in the mornin. Mister Bowman has us a job, in Covington pick up few slaves from a fella, Davis his name. Never been they been buildin that bridge crossin the river ta Cincinnati. Poppy said we'll visit that city never been ta big city before. This could be a true adventure.  Fer me and Poppy both us has
never been ta Cincinnati.

Poppy figures take maybe nine hours ta get to Cincinnati. Long as the weather ain't bad. Figures we go little over halfway. Stop camp and finish up next day. Supposed ta pick them up on the fifth, Poppy say we leave about noon tomorrow, gives us some time just in case. Betsy don't much care fer me a leavin told her this ain't chasin no one, stay our side the river, with thum slaves. Just visit the city fer a spell is all.

She still looked sad an all, she leaned through the curtain and kissed me, say be careful Thom needs ya. I blow the candle out, say night Betsy.

                      2, January 1859

Up early couldn't sleep, Betsy already has biscuits goin. Gots the slab of bacon slicin it. Tatters already cut up ta fry. Coffee started, she say Mister Thom I'll make some gravy no eggs this mornin.
Just bacon biscuits an tatters. I say fine just fine.
She quietly hummed while she worked.

My strange how she can move, just doin normal work. Her body moves with such grace. The sway of hips and ass, her leaning ta grab something. Dear just, that can drives me crazy. Lan sakes doesn't take much fer her ta get me heated up. Had ta step outside, don't need fired up this early. Poppy be up and Ma real soon.

Sunday taday, good day ta start a journey most folks just go ta Church then do the small jobs of tendin ta the animals an such, rest of the day is rest. Don't look like weather movin in, not to cold.
Needs a coat least not so cold freeze ta death.
We stopped near the Ferry landin fer New Richmond only abouts twenty miles left. Poppy looks across, say made good time, camp here fer the night. Cross over in the mornin, have breakfast Bowman be payin fer it. Might as well eat good on him. Supper we had left over biscuits few slices of bacon.

                               3, January 1859

Whens we crossed over the river, slight feelin of guilt came over me. Lost Tully an Grace here both might as well figure. Should a blew a damn hole in one, they may a stopped. Then again may a killed me, least ways wouldn't have death a followin me.
Poppy could tell, I was uneasy told me ta not worry sometimes it's best not ta fight. Most people here are good law abiding people. Poppy ordered we had steak an eggs.

Felt like a king I did. Don't get steak least ways beef steak maybe deer steak, on occasion. We crossed back over, went on in ta Covington.I looked across the river at Newport. What a place Cincinnati is big, riverboats stacked along the shore. I am at a loss for words. I can see towers fer that bridge theys a buildin. We cross over the Lickin River.
Poppy finds the stables Mister Bowman says ta use.
Drop the wagon and horses off.

Poppy say before we go over, best check in at the Inn get our room. I say we ain't sleepin at the stable? Poppy laughed Bowman is payin we sleep an eat good this trip. Lan sakes room, never do that travel sleep on the ground or in the wagon.

Room was nice, table couple chairs nice bed fireplace, Poppy say we start a fire later this evenin. They watch it fer us if we leave ta go some place. We had dinner about one, sausage and a Lager. Then we went ta Cincinnati! I was so excited didn't know what ta expect!

Warehouses, Riverboat companies, freight and passenger. As we got further inta the city stores never seen so many! Houses, tenements. Hotels, restaurants. Saloons my goodness must be one every ten steps! People never seen so many, noise lan sakes noisy freight wagons carriages.
Signs at the Saloons by a wurst get a free beer.

We work our way up cross the canal inta the brewing part of town, the English Americans call it crossin the Rhine. My goodness theys brewing beer I see least ten different Breweries. More Saloons now theys, even more, of them, every second door must be a saloon. I can smell the Beer they a makin, wagons pullin out used grains fer feed. Wagons of kegs leavin. Even Poppy is amazed by it. Never have I seen such as this. Poppy smiled lets have another beer, keep smelling that beer makes you want one.

Of course, we finds a Saloon serves Moerlein. Had another sausage. We spent till about four I guess in the city. Crossed back gots a fire goin. Let them know we was goin ta eat, keep an eye on the fire.

Had a fine dinner, pork chops fried tatters red beans. After we had a whisky. Plum tuckered I am.
Warm room soft bed, what a day we had.

Think that about covers this chapter. Hope I put across Thomas's excite  well enough. Few tidbits of interest the Bridge being built at the time, we call the Roebling Bridge. Built by John A. Roebling it wasn't finished till  January 1867, the bridge never closed due to flooding. When finished it was the longest suspension bridge at the time, until the Brooklyn Bridge, designed and built by the same man till his death.

Cincinnati at one time became the Brewing Capital of America, till prohibition. By the late 1800s it had over 30 Breweries in town and across the river. At one time the city had a Bar for every 14 men. 1859 it may not of been that big a number but, it would of been more than him or Poppy would of seen. One more thing the Breweries dug underground storage Over the Rhine is just about a maze of tunnels. Where they Lagered beer stored grain and such.

I hope you are enjoying the story so far. The little extra History I add, hope it makes the story more interesting. Remember to vote comment please.
Thanks all Dram12