Sarah Jane Norton Diaries: "Baked some to take on the road to Ypsilanti"

In the spring of 1864, 24-year-old Sarah Jane Norton, her 28-year-old husband Austin, and the couple's infant son Charlie emigrated from Sharon Springs, New York, to Ypsilanti. Sarah kept a diary over the next 43 years until her death in November of 1906. Her 1864 diary will be serialized here during 2012. To see all entries to date, see the "Sarah Jane Norton" tag at bottom.

At left she is pictured in 1888 at age 49. Introduction to the Norton family.

3/4/1864: Baked some to take on the road to Ypsilanti Charlie is not very well Albert came home from Rochester. he went up to Mr Sprongs and stayed till one o'clock then he came home and slept on the floor untill morning

3/5/1864: Washed, picking up a little every day so that I will not have so much to do next week Albert started for his regiment it is hard to have him go again such is war friends must part

3/6/1864: Lib Smith called in the forenon. We went George Smiths and took dinner we were agoing to stay all night but Charlie was to sick

3/7/1864: commenced packing this morning Charlie is not well at all he takes cold so very easy Susy Stafford helped take care of Charlie I could not do much we were agoing to stay Johan Moaks if Charlie had been well enough we took dinner to Mr Staffords went to Mother Nortons and stayed all night

3/8/1864: Charlie was sick all night I was up with him from half past twelve he coughed so hoarse we did not know but what he woud have the croup I stayed up and doctred him and he got better Aut and I called to John Moaks the[y] are disappointed because we do not stay there

3/9/1864: Charlie is quite smart today we started for ypsilanti at half past eaght we went to Canapharie in a wagon We took the 8 o clock express

3/10/1864: We rode all night on the cars We crossed the suspension bridge about midnight it was so dark I could not see much Charlie slept good we had a double seat and laid him on one of them we crossed on the ferry boat to Detroit. we arrived at Ypsilanti at noon it was raining father was waiting for us

These diaries were written by Sarah Jane Norton and are the property of the Norton Family. They may be used and reproduced for genealogical and historical purposes only. No commercial use is allowed without the express, written permission of Dennis Norton and no charge may be made for, nor income derived from their use.