1874


 What happened in 1874? 

From Wikipedia.com

  • The first public zoo in the United State opens in Philadelphia Pennsylvania

  • New York City annexes The Bronx

  • Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive a U.S. patent for blue jeans with copper rivets

  • Founding of the Young Men's Hebrew Association in Manhattan which still operates today the 92nd Street Y

  • Click here for more facts and events from 1874 - from Wikipedia.com

What happened in the 1870s?

From Everyday Life in the 1800's by Marc McCutcheon and other sources

  • 1870 - Northern Pacific Railroad begun

  • 1871 - Great Chicago Fire

  • 1872 - Great Boston Fire

  • 1873 - First cable cards in San Francisco

  • 1874 - One of the worst grasshopper plagues in U.S.  history wipes out Great Plans wheat crop

  • 1876 - Telephone demonstrated by Alexander G. Bell

  • 1877 - First telephone lines established from Salem to Boston and from Chicago to Milwaukee

Those are some of the facts and the events of the 1870s

This following is one of the stories that took place in 1874...a story that took place in East Boston, Massachusetts and Tamworth, New Hampshire.

 

The story of Charles Earl Gibson and Loretta "Carrie" Varney.

Background

Charles Earl Gibson was born in September of 1852. He lived in East Boston, Massachusetts and was the son of Nehemiah Gibson and Lucy Hubbard (Paine) Gibson.  1874 was the year he got married to Loretta "Carrie" Varney of Tamworth, New Hampshire. She was the daughter of Moses C. Varney and Loretta S. (Paine) Varney.

 

Note: All bolded entries in quotes are from Charles' diary from that year.

Thursday, January 1, 1874

"To day was a nice day and I worked all day. I did not go anywhere this evening. I stopped in the house all of the evening and played cards. Susie and Ell went down to the Maverick Assembly tonight".

[Susie was Charles' sister - Susan Haynes Gibson. She was born on 23 Jan 1846 and live in the family house all of her life. She married Elliot Ritchie before 1878. They had no children. She died from anemia in 1885 at the age of 39. Click here to read her obituary]

[Nehemiah Gibson was President of the Maverick National Bank at least from 1872 to 1875.]

Friday, January 2, 1874 

"Today was a rainy day and I worked all day. I did not go anywhere this evening. I stayed in the house all of the evening and retired at 10 o'clock. Mr. and Mrs. Cole was in the house this evening and played cards."

Saturday, January 3, 1874 

"Today was a rainy day and I worked all day and staid in the house all the evening. Mr. Lands was in the house this evening and played cards high low jack and the game."

Sunday, January 4, 1874 

"To day in the forenoon was fair but in the afternoon it commenced to rain and rained the rest of the day and all night. Susie and Ell went to [meilingin] the AM. I staid in the house all day and also in the evening. Johny T. came in to see me in the evening.

Monday, January 5, 1874 

"Today was a [...] day all day long. I worked all day long. Came home at night and stopped in the house all of the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Cole came into the house in the evening and played cards.

Tuesday, January 6, 1874 

"Today was a chilly day, hailing and rainy all day long. I was laid up in all day with a bad cold and did not go out anywhere at all either day or evening. I played cards all of the evening and retired at 10 o'clock.

Wednesday, January 7, 1874 

"Today was a rainy day and I went to work and worked all day long. Came home ate my supper and helped Ell make out all of our yearly bills and we worked on them till 10 o'clock. My cold was lesser today and I felt a good deal better. I retired at eleven o'clock and slept well all night long.

Thursday, January 8, 1874 

"Today in the forenoon it rained but it cleared off in the afternoon and was real pleasant. I worked all day long and Ell and I worked on our bills till 10 o'clock and finished them up. My cold is a good deal better tonight. I retired at eleven o'clock and slept well all night long.

Friday, January 9, 1874 

"Today is a real nice day. Susie's Mother [Lucy] went up to Leominster to see Fathers sister Elisa [Gibson] who is sick and got back tonight at 9 o'clock. I worked today and wrote a long letter to Carrie [Varney] this evening and retired at 11 o'clock. Mrs. [Lands] was in tonight.

[Charles and Carrie would be married on 9 June 1874]

Saturday, January 10, 1874 

18740110.jpg (387916 bytes)"Today in the forenoon it was rainy but in the afternoon it cleared off and it was pleasant here this evening. Charley Alexander is here tonight he looks miserable. I worked all day today and staid in the house all of the evening and played cards. My cold is getting better every day and I feel better.

 

 

Sunday, January 11, 1874 

"Today is a nice day and Charley Alexander is here spending the day with us and I did not go out of the house all day long. I also staid in the house all of the evening. Mr. Tredson came home from Mobile this morning. He went out there to fix the Scotland that was there in distress for father."

Monday, January 12, 1874 

"To day is a nice day but very chilly along towards night. I worked all day and in the evening I went up to the sociable party up to C.R. McLean's house and had a good time indeed and enjoyed it first rate. I got home about half past 12 o'clock."

Tuesday, January 13, 1874 

"To day is a nice day but very chilly all day long. I worked all day and in the evening I stopped in the house and Carl Thacher was up here and stopped all night and played cards all the evening. Charlie Alexander is here yet and is looking better than he was when he came. Mr. Chelbis was in this evening."

Wednesday, January 14, 1874 

"To day has been a very stormy day. It snowed all day long and cleared off in the evening. I worked all day long and in the evening I staid in the house and did not go anywhere. Charley Alexander went home this morning and went to work as usual. Elisa Johnson and Nellie Higgins came in and spent the evening."

Thursday, January 15, 1874 

"Today is a nice day but cold it is good sleighing now. I worked all day to day and this evening I stopped in the house all of the evening. Susie and Ell have gone down to the Maverick party this evening. This is the last one for this year and they had a good time and enjoyed it. Received a letter from Carrie this evening and answered it."

Friday, January 16, 1874 

"Today is a very nice day but it is very cold. The good sleighing still continues. I worked all day long today and in the evening I stopped in the house all of the evening and played cards all of the evening. Charley Alexander went home to Cohassett and went to work. There was no one in the house this evening at all. I retired at 10 O'clock."

Saturday, January 17, 1874 

"Today is a nice day but it is not as cold today as it was yesterday. It has moderated a good deal but it is kind of cold today. I worked all day long and this evening I went down to Frank Godfrey's and was gone about half an hour and then came home and retired about 10 O'clock."

Sunday, January 18, 1874 

"Today is a nice day it is real mild out. Mother, Susie and Ell have gone to meeting and Father is out and I am all alone. I have been in the house all day and also in the evening and did not go anywhere. Susie and Ell have gone up to Mr. Ritchie's this evening to spend the evening. I retired at 9 O'clock."

Monday, January 19, 1874 

"Today is a rainy day and a mild temperature. I worked in the forenoon and in the afternoon I went out to a big sleigh ride out to Brighton and had a nice time indeed and enjoyed it very much indeed. I danced 8 times and they had a nice supper. We stopped at the cattle fair .. we got home at 10 O'clock."

Entry at the back of the diary - not sure if this is from a newspaper clipping

East Boston, January 19, 1874 

Mr. Moses C. Varney died at half past 9 o'clock last Saturday. He was hurt down to the ??? factory. This P.M. at 1/4 past one o'clock he fell off of a ladder about ...

 

Tuesday, January 20, 1874 

Tuesday 20 January 1874.jpg (345034 bytes)"Today is a nice day and it is very pleasant. I worked this forenoon and also in the afternoon. I received news of Mr. Varney's death about 9 O'clock this morning and I was awfully struck when I heard it. The family going up there in the morning in the first train which leaves at 1/2 past 6 O'clock."

 

Wednesday, January 21, 1874 

18740121.jpg (352205 bytes)"Today is a cold chilly morning and I started for Tamworth Iron Works. We got as far as Portsmouth when it was stormy and it ... all day long and I arrived at Carrie's house at about 8 P.M. and found them all ... it snowed all the evening and Walter Bryant and Orrin ??? came in this evening and spent the evening."

 

Thursday, January 22, 1874 

18740122.jpg (408111 bytes)"Today I am in Tamworth Iron Works and I an having a lovely time. It is a nasty day today. It is musty musty and foggy all day long. I did not go anywhere in particular but in the evening I sat up with Carrie and we retired at 2 O'clock in the morning. I telegraphed for father to drive up tomorrow."


Friday, January 23, 1874 

"Today is a nice day and I am in Tamworth and I am enjoying myself first rate and having a good time. Father came up from Boston to advise Mrs. Varney what to do with the ,,, factory. Whether to run it or sell out. I spent the evening with Carrie and retired at 1 O'clock."

Saturday, January 24, 1874 

"Today is a clear but very chilly. I am still in Tamworth enjoying myself. Father went home to Boston this A.M. and Orrin ???? and I went out to sleigh ride and we had a good time. I went up to Miss Emma Lewis??? house and stopped a few minutes. I retired at 12 O'clock after spending my evening with Carrie."

Sunday, January 25, 1874 

"Today is a very nice day but cold all day long. I went to church this afternoon and heard Mr. Varney's funeral sermon which Mr. Runnell's preached and it was a very nice sermon and in the evening I sit up with Carrie till 12 O'clock and we had a very pleasant evening and enjoyed it very much."

Monday, January 26, 1874 

"Today is a clear day but very cold indeed. I did not go anywhere today at all but staid in the house all day. I am still in Tamworth and am having a good time. This evening Walter Bryant and Orrin Knox were in and spent the evening and we had nuts and candy and had a first rate time."

Tuesday, January 27, 1874 

"Today is a stormy day and it seems rather ...me up here in Tamworth. They had their ... up here tonight. and it was a stormy evening. I went into the donation? and had a very good time. Carrie and Lillie Hatch? waited on the ice cream table and I made change for them during the evening."

Wednesday, January 28, 1874 

"Today in the forenoon was a dull and boring day till about 11 O'clock and then it commenced snowing and snowed the balance of the day. Carrie and I went to town to Aunt Savinia's and we had a very nice sleigh ride . We came home in the evening and we had a nice moonlight to come in and we enjoyed it very much."

Thursday, January 29, 1874 

"Today is a clear but a very cold day. I did not go anywhere today at all. Carrie's mother s suck today with a sore throat and it is pretty bad. We staid in the house during the evening and had a very nice time. Carie and I sat  up till 12 O'clock and then we retired for the rest of the night."

Friday, January 30, 1874 

"Today is a clear but a very cold day. I have not been anywhere in particular today. Mrs. Varney's throat is better today than it was yesterday. I start for Boston in the morning if nothing happens. This evening Carrie and I sat up till 12 O'clock and then we retired for the night."

Saturday, January 31, 1874

"Today has been a very stormy day. I left Tamworth Iron Works this morning for home at 7 O'clock and it was snowing very fast and snowed all the way along on the road. I arrived home safe and found my parents all well. I got home at 2 O'clock. I did not go anywhere this evening and I retired at 9 O'clock."

Sunday, February 1, 1874

"Today is a clear day but very cold indeed. I have not been out of the house today as it was so cold. This afternoon I wrote to Carrie and also to Mr. Nealy and in the evening I did not go out. John came in and stopped a while. I retired at 9 O'clock for the night".

Monday, February 2, 1874

"Today is a very cold day and it has been ??? snow all day long. I went to work in the office this morning and worked all day long. I did not go up to the Sociable this evening as I was very tired indeed. I played cards all of the evening and retired at 11 O'clock. Charlie Alexander is here tonight."

Tuesday, February 3, 1874

"Today has been a very stormy day. It snowed all day long and the snow blew awfully. I worked all day long and in the evening after supper Charley, Ell and I went out and shoveled off the sidewalk and then I went down and got shaved? came home and went to bed. Ben was in tonight and played cards."

Wednesday, February 4, 1874

"Today is a very clear day but very cold today all day long. I worked all day long and in the evening I stopped in the house and played cards all of the evening. Mr. & Mrs. Cole was in and played cards all of the evening. Charley Alexander is here tonight and spent the night."

Thursday, February 5, 1874

"Today is a nice day but very cold all day long. I went to work and worked all day long and in the evening I stopped in the house all of the evening and played cards all of the evening. Florence Paine was over here tonight and spent the evening. Charley Alexander stopped over here tonight."

Friday, February 6, 1874

"Today is a very nice day but very cold. I worked all the day long and in the evening I stopped in the house all of the evening. Mother and Father have gone into Mrs. Whilies to spend the evening  and play cards. Charly Alexander went down to Cohassett today and will go to work tomorrow on the railroad."

Saturday, February 7, 1874

"Today in the forenoon it ??? and continued snowing until noon when it cleared off and it was a pleasant afternoon and also in the evening. I worked all day long and in the evening I staid in the house and did not go anywhereat all. I retired at 11 O'Clock and had a very good night's rest."

Sunday, February 8, 1874

"Today is a clear day but very cold indeed all day long. I did not go out of the house all day long or in the evening. The folks did not go to meeting today not any of them at all. It was a very pleasant evening here indeed and there is splendid sleighing here in Boston I tell you."

Monday, February 9, 1874

"Today is a nice day and it is quite mild here for this time of the year. I worked all day long and in the evening ??? came into the house to see me. We had quite a talk I did not go anywhere at all. I went over to Jimmy's and bought a gold ring and it is a mid one. Mrs. Treadmill and Mrs. Lande came in and played cards all of the evening."

Tuesday, February 10, 1874

"Today is a nice day and very mild for this time of the year. I worked all day long and in the evening I staid in the house and did not go anywhere but played cards all of the evening. Mrs. Lande was in and played cards this evening. They played the new game called ???. Retired at 1:00 o'cclock"

Wednesday , February 11, 1874

"Today is a nice day but very cold. Father and I started for Tamworth this A.M. and ... to get there at half past two. We arrived safe and sound but it was a very cold ride from the depot. We found them all well as usual. I sat up with Carrie and stayed up till 2 O'Clock and then I retired for the night."

Thursday, February 12, 1874

"Today is a nice day and I am not in Tamworth yet. I have been in the house all day and enjoyed myself ith Carrie and in the evening Walter Bryant and I went over to Tamorth Village to the Donation and had a very nice time indeed and after e go home spent my evening with Carrie and I retired at 12 O'Clock."

Friday, February 13, 1874

"Today is a nice day and I am still in Tamworth. I have not been out anyhere today, but have spent my day with Carrie and in the evening Carrie and I spent the evening together and we had a nice talk and we did not retire till 2 O'Clock it commenced to rain about 7 O'Clock.

Saturday, February 14, 1874

"Today is a splendid day and I started from Tamworth Iron Works for home this morning and arrived home safe and sound. I did not go out of the house in the evening at all and I felt very tired indeed and retired very early indeed. Tonight is St. Valentine's night."

Sunday, February 15, 1874

"Today is a splendid day and it is mild and comfortable. I have not been out of the house today or in the evening. I invited Carrie this afternoon and I expect a letter from her tomorrow. Susie, Ell., Mother and Dad went to meeting today in the afternoon. I retired at 9 O'Clock."

Monday, February 16, 1874

"Today has been a very disagreable day outside, it snowed in the morning and about noon it commenced to rain and in the evening it was starlight - but very chilli. I have worked all day today I went to Carrie tonight and I got a letter from her. I did not go out this evening I retired at 10 O'Clock."

Tuesday, February 17, 1874

"Today is a clear day but kind of chilly. I worked all day today and in the evening I stayed in the house did not go anywhere at all. Mother is not very well tonite or Susie either. I cleaned my gun tonight? I retired at 9 O'Clock."

Wednesday, February 18, 1874

"Today is a nice and very pleasant. I worked all day long. Business is very ??? In the evening The Private Sociable party met at the house this evening and they had a very nice time and enoyed it very much. They danced till 12 O'Clock and then went home. I retired at 3 o'clock."

Thursday, February 19, 1874

"Today is a nice day and very mild for this time of the year. I worked all day long and in the evening I wrote a letter to Carrie and feeling very sleepy. I retired early. Mr. Shattuck was in the house this evening and played Pedra all of the evening and they enjoyed it very much."

Friday, February 20, 1874

"Today in the forenoon was very dull day but in the afternoon it cleared off and is very mild indeed. I worked all day long and in the evening I enjoyed in the home and did not go anywhere at all. I retired at 10 O'Clock and got up early it's an enjoyable evening and very mild."

Saturday, February 21, 1874

"Today is a lousy day, it rained all of the forenoon but it stopped ... a little by noon and finally cleared up about 4pm and in the evening it was misty and foggy. I worked all day long and in the evening, I went down to see Charlie to making a new hair looks but he was out. I retired at 11 O'Clock.

[More coming at some point...]

Tuesday, June 9, 1874

Marriage of Charles E. Gibson of Boston and Carrie L. Varney of Tamworth, New Hampshire. The wedding was officiated by Rev. D.W. Waldron in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Source: Massachusetts State Archives Volume 264 Page 82

In 1878 Charles and Carrie had a child - Nehemiah Charles Gibson. By 1886 it appears that Charles and Carrie seperated as they were living in different houses. By 1890 Carrie had moved back to the family home in Chocorua, New Hampshire where she stayed the remainder of her life. Carrie was buried in the Chocorua Cememtery along with her sister "Lille".

Charles appears to have remarried and move to New York City. Elliot Ritchie joined him in NY. Charles died in 1913 and Elliot(Ritchie) in 1914. Both are buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery with Nehemiah and Lucy Gibson - Charles' parent, along with his brother and sister (Charles and Susan Haynes (who was married to Elliot Ritchie)).

 

Other historical items

1876: First telephone demonstrated by Alexander Graham Bell, Boston - https://www.massvacation.com/about/ma-stats-facts/