White Diary - 1870
In l870 the diary was written over the l869. In this portion we hear how BB and 16 other men moved to Camden Mississippi. He took along his wife Rebecca, son B.B. jr age 2 and daughter Theodosia 3 months. They go on some kind of contract, probably share cropping. Along the way the train jumped the track twice.
Those who went with were C(Claus?) Peterson (enlisted in Clinton for civil war Aug 2l, l86l), Mr. Wittman
In the l870 census of Canton, MS we find several families that might have traveled with this party; Andrew Thellepson 24 painter from Norway, his w ife Anna 20, son Olaf 4/l2 born Illinois in January. Robert Vender family, John Swenson l7 tailor born Denmark, Wm Dutremos 46 tailor born Belgium. Then Frederick Meyer 32 dairymen Hamburg, Teresa 24 keep house, Charles born Jan in Illinois. In the family treasures we also find a photo of a girl about 8 years old named Tina Williams. Also one of Wallace E Williams of West Bethel Vt. Perhaps these were part of the group.
March 30 (l870) signed a contract with T.H. Palmer and D.G. Barnett. Started same for day for Canton (Mississippi)
March 3l started for Miss with l6 men and myself, in all l8.
April l arrived at Alton , Ill , bought vitals for men
April 2 train thrown off trac C Peterson disabled
Arrived at Jackson, Tenn, bought food for men. Carson men thrown off the track. No one killed Claus Petterson shoulder was dislocated
Lost man at Warp Bluff, arrived at Canton. Wittman sent....of Barrett to come after us. .
April 4 recd of funds l0.00 all pd
Canton Miss April 4, l870 D.G. Barrett came for my family and myself, arrived at his residence
April 5 went to Canton, recd supplies for myself and family and other articles $7.50
April 6 went to work cleaned fodder from hosue half a day. Went to work T. Rejain house
April 7 worked at home
April 8 worked to hard cutting wood. Howed l/4 of the day with Wiskey
April l0 Canton Miss l870
April l0 went after a man lost at Mays Bluff. Could not see him thought (illeg) for him.
April ll not better
April l2 worked for D.G. Barnett cutting cotton. (Across the last three days is written ‘recd of D.G. Barnett 25 lbs (illeg) at 4 l/2
April l3 my day for labor. Worked for D.G> barnett
April l4 worked for D.G> barnett
April l5 worked for myself
April l6 worked for myself
April l8 lard 20, candle 5. 45, l0 60, 6 .05 60
April l9 worked half day for C.G. Barnett, agreed on price for monthly, the note for 5l/2 days, worked half day. Commenced at my time to plant crop, on new agreement with D.G. Barnett at $l0.00 (illeg) no time paid in with is agreement. All my time.
April 20 worked all day, worked half day D.G.Barnett stated at this time he would not find me a team. All this he repaid on this day and said one mule and one plow was a team and that was all the would furn me with. I demanded a team.
April 22 worked all day. On pak recd l pack (or peck) meal an done baking.
April 23 worked all day
April 25 recd 26 lbs flour at 4 l/2 a lb
April 26 worked one day for D.G. Barnett
April 27 worke done day for D.G. Barnett
April 28 worked l day for D.G. Barnett book pg l8 line 4
April 29 worked all day for B.B. White fed my field of corn
April 30 worked for B.B White , fed my field of corn
May l worked for B.B. White. Feed all used Saturday evening. Planted cotton see. Mrs Doctor Barnett came to my house and brought a drug to my wife at $l.25 not pd up to the date (pencil later) pd
May 2 went to Tonel (town?) With boy,. See W. Babcock brother to Sml Bonds wife of Iowa
May 3 plowed all day
May 4 recd of Mrs Barnett 3 lbs meat cured at 25 pr lb–75 Howed corn with (illeg)
May 5 Howed corn
May 6 plnated cotton all day and worked. Worked Jack the mule l/2 day, worked Monday
May 7 plowed and planted
May 8 planted and plowed, recd one peck meal corn
May l0 howed corn one day
May ll howed corn (handwriting is getting shakier and harder to read)
May l2 howed corn. (Across last 3 lines is written ) recd 29 lbs of bacon 22 per lb 20 lbs flour 4 l/2 per lb. 25 lb meal corn at l.75 per bush
May l3 sowed cotton seed
May l4 plowed and planted see, finished planting
May l5 went fishing, recd 6 l/4 lbs of fresh shoulder at 8 per lb. Howed corn l/2 day
May l6 three men of Dr Ward came to see me and we were pleased to see them.
May l7 howed cotton all day
May l8 howed cotton all day
May l9 recd native that J. Nicholas (illeg) me if I came on his farm again. I resolved to sue him, bound over to court. Mr D.G. Barnett was to go to get some Indians. Think he went to Siat Lodge.
May 20 recd 4 l/2 lbs sugar at price stated 25 cts pd. Recd coffee 2 l/2 plowed corn 3/4 day (illeg) Monkey . Took Ne Biol corn today
May 2l (torn off)
May 22 2ls l870 the 2lst recd 20 lbs flour at l3.50 per bushel
May 24 (torn) 70 cabbage plants and some toes plants no count of them, cotton all day and set out sweet of cotton, think we had a good (illeg)
May 25 howed all day , was stormy, some showers. Recd some information that there was to be a fire school law passed, had some word with Collone. I am dissatisfied and he is meeting. Mr D.J. Barnett went for some Indians to hoe cotton. I asked him to have them bring some baskets.
May 26 North looks stormy. Howed cotton all day. Stormy weather.
May 27 Barnett used mule all day. Looked rainy
May 28 Barnett used mule all day. B.B. White howed corn all day. Weather good. Friday morning see Indians first. They came to hoe cotton. They call themselves Clalketawes tribe.
May 29 B.B. White howed corn all day weather good
May 30 Mr Warrds men came down and see my family all (illeg0 they seem to think that unless they can make 200 dollars a year they will leave this country and go to Texas and get some land.
May 3l Monday May 30th l870 recd 5 lbs of meat l/2 of (illeg) kerosene oil. Howed cotton until about 4 p.m. Rained weather looked stormy. Have been blessed with a good shower. See the Indians have (hoe) cotton, set out sweet potato plants after 4 p.m. Talked with D.G. Barnett about the Indians on the frontier of USA. This is the same as myself in reference to their condition.
June l howed cotton all day by myself, weather stormy
June 2 howed cotton all day mby myself, weather stormy
June 3 Howed cotton all day. Made bargain for the balance of the week for D.G. Barnett and to have all next week by myself agreed with him for same. I have work after Monday.
June 4 Howed cotton all day, weather stormy
June 5 Howed cotton all day weather stormy, finished howing very near all the cototn the firs time.
June 6 picked a few (illeg) pllums and the rain came thick and fast, a blessing bestowed on man, too few rains come as this shower has.
Recd a pitcher of milke and a few beets and a small piece of ham for my boy. Have this week looked at my cotton and I am thankful to God for the beautiful crop he has blessed me with.
June 7 howed cotton all day B.B. White
June 8 Howed cotton all day for B.B.White
June 9 Howed B.B. White
June l0 howed and (illeg) all day for B.B. White
June ll Hogs destroyed 3l head of cabbage for B.B. White, l rice, l oats for head. Rain.
June l2 worked all day, rain in afternoon
June l3 hogs destroyed cabbage l9 heads at l0cts a head
June l4 my hand came to work by the name of Rober, was sent me by Collins Nichols. Have howed cotton all day. Have been blessed with a fine day. My crop looks well. 2 lbs or lard received this day, 6 lbs of meet of D.J. Barnett. D.J. Barnett hogs came in and rooted out my potatoes. I soon informed him of the fact and he said they were wild hogs. Exchanged time this day.
D.J Barnett me they were his hogs and he had been looking after them and have been on my garden all the afternoon.
June l5 recd this day one peck of meal $l.50 per bushel
howed cotton all day. Returned one piece of meat and had a few words in reference to the meet. I claimed it was not good. D.J.Barnett said it was. He told me all meet was the same in this climate, and I then laid the meet on the bench and resolved to take it home and when noon came I called for the meet and he told me it was none of my business, when it was, and to go about my business and mind my business.
June l6 howed cotton all day. D.J. Barnett came out, told me I could have the mule this a.m. or about 4 in the afternoon to make my 3 days up with myself and two hands.
June l7 I took my hands I his cotton and I went in the oat with the rest and bound half a day. At noon went in the cotton with my two hands and with some and worked until 5 in the evening when it rained and very hard.
June l8 recd this day half gallon molasses at 63 cts with l0 (illeg) cts added. This morning Ret Barnett came after me and wanted me to (illeg) sweet potatoes and I refused to go and went and saw D.J. Barnett and he claimed I must give him 3 days work and this I did not like. He told me he would charge me with it and I told him to charge it. I do not think I should pay it. Mr Barnett told me I was setting the minds of black against the white and I am satisfied he did not tell the truth. He also told me I was over (illeg) with cotton.
June l9 howed cotton all day
June 20 In the morning Mrs Barnett sent me with the help. Went to Mr Wellforths Aunt Rhody to come and help Mrs Barnett and she came. I recd a basket of Irish potatoes half apeck.
June 2l bound oats all day
June 22 rec l/2 gal salt the same day. Recd l/2 gal molasses, also lard, and 2l lbs (illeg) for 20 cts. Scraped cotton half day with Jack and was to give and did give D.G. Barnett one day work with the mule and plow half day. Howed cotton in afternoon and worked till one hour after sunset. Set up oats for D.G. Barnet. Also went to Mr Norris Nicholas for water and it was good water.
June 23 went in to my cotton all day. Put two hand sin my cotton in the afternoon.
June 24 went in my cotton all day
June 26 worked in my cotton all day. Was taken sick in the afternoon. Sick al lnight.
June 27 recd this day one bottle of Drakes Plantation Bitters at $l.25 from D.J.Barnett. Sick all day
June 28 went into the oats for D.J. Barnett and worked until about l hour of sunset and then went to help boys. Hallow oats worker about l/2 after sunset. Mrs Barnett little girl called my wife Molley.
June 29 see two negroes who it was said had been stealing cotton from Mr Millfort. Report (illeg) this mornig. Recd this day of D.G. Barnett at 6 29 lbs flour and 2 lbs lard l.20 l/2 bushel of potatoes, l/2 gallon molasses $3.
June 30 howed cotton all day for D.J Barnett wife taken sick and myself
July l sick all day
July 2 sick. For wife 6 powders
July 3 continue taking powders all day
July 5 (missing)
Jul6 6 recd towels and (illeg)
July 7 (missing)
July 8 recd l2 lbs meat of a should and D.G. Barnett and myself divided the meet, the shoulder. Recd two hands, had to give them up to R. Mellfort. Recd l/2 gal molasses. Sicl all day
July 9 sick all day
July l0 (missing)
July ll sic all day recd l lb sugar, send me 50 lbs flour, 30 lbs meet
July l3 recd 2 hands Mark Johnson. Worked them all day. Recd l2 l/2 meet at 25, recd l/2 gal molasses
July l4 sick last day
July l5 worked in cotton all day. Had 2 hands Mr Mellhart claimed them had to give them up.
July l6 recd l.25 (illeg) cabbage. Worked cotton all day
July l7 worked all day
(Pages missing and broken)
July 30 worked a little in my own cotton. Recd 20 lbs of flour at $l0 a bushel.
Aug 2 3.00 flour, 3.00 meet, 2.50 fish, potatoes, onions, cheese, salt.
Here ends the diary. In the l870 July 27 census we find Benjamin B. White 30, laborer and his wife May 25, Benjamin 2, Theodosia 6/l2. Next door is the Barnett family he worked for.
In l892 on a pension application filed by B.B. White jr there is a report of the investigation. It says Geo Walker and R.J. Elderidge of Shaorn MS say that they knew B. B White and know that he died about Feb l0, l87l and that they made the coffin. His wife died about two weeks afterwards. We know from family tradition that the daughter Theodocia died too. B.B. was left an orphan.