It was only through the efforts of my older sister, Mrs. Eugene Pond, in her task of salvaging the family’s personal items, that I became acquainted with our great-great grandfather’s safe box. Although I had spent hours and hours probing the objects in the storeroom located on the second story of our double farmhouse, I don’t recall seeing this box of old papers, even though I cherish the memories of going to this former bedroom which the family delegated as refuge for homeless items. It was a field of dreams for the antique dealers who seemed to come around when times got hard for my folks. About once a year, I was given permission to sweep and straighten this room. To this day, I can see the early morning sun stream in on this northeast bedroom. As the sun embraced the dainty flowers on the wallpaper, I often pondered about what life was like in the times when the room was used as a bedroom. I can still see the lovely narrow floral picture as it hung forlornly on the wall.

The room contained several knocked-down beds in various stages of disrepair, two steamer trunks whose journeys had ended and now only served as guardian for several intriguing items; large bags of hickory nuts which waited for someone’s patient attention; and probably, this old tin box which lurked behind some object much too heavy for a little girl to move. Consequently, when my sister showed me the box, this was the first time I had ever seen it. It seems a timely confrontation now because of my present day interest in family genealogy.

It took me about 12 hours to unfold and read the papers in the box. I think I was introduced to as many creditors as I was to silverfish -- those tiny little creatures who inhabit old papers and books. Through genealogy, many of the cast of names had taken their positions on the family charts. I was about to meet many neighbors and local businessmen who played the roles of creditors. Many of these people had been only names on the lines of census records. Now, they took on a more significant identity. Their patience stalled off many a mortgage foreclosure. The periodic pleas for money became all but pathetic. It was quite a surprise to discover that great-great grandfather had taken a second wife after the death of his first wife - I discovered this when the second wife acquired his estate. It began to occur to me that others might enjoy reading through these transactions if only they were written into book form. As the stack of 723 documents towered out of control, this strange little book took on a life.

The family to whom these papers belonged was the Conklin family. They probably came to Jefferson County, N. Y., around 1820 from Warren, Herkimer County, N. Y. Ezekiel and his family of eight children most likely settled first near Perch River, near Brownville. Later, the sons settled on Pillar Point and one son, Daniel, settled in the Town of Hounsfield, not far from Brownville.....Several of the cancelled mortgage receipts pertain to the gradual growth of the farm which was founded by Daniel in 1836. The farm’s acreage eventually totalled 194 acres. Most of that acreage is now owned by Conklin descendants.

Those of us who take such pleasure in walking around Daniel’s farm today will have this unusual glimpse into the day-to-day financial dealings which enabled Daniel and his offspring to pass the Conklin farm from the 19th, through the 20th and into the 21st century.

While we look at these receipts, we can vicariously go to the doctor, bury loved ones, sew a calico dress or fashion a cashmere coat -- perhaps build a barn, maintain and repair the farm machinery, select the newspaper of choice, etc. One rare occasion when a store-bought garment was purchased, the date on the bill matched great grandmother’s birthdate. The trips to the general store proved most fascinating in that they were charged on a running account, which sometimes went unpaid for many months. Interestingly, prices for tea, cod fish, sugar, cloth, etc. really didn’t change much during the four decades for which I found statements. Don't forget to look for the quack treatments popular in that day. One extremely eye-opening Contract of Lease of property owned by one of the Conklins, pointed out what miserable arrangements were made for tenents who rented farms in Jefferson County.

Introduction As Written January 20, 1995
By Shirley Conklin Farone

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------