Since the summer climate of Tarboro did not agree with Dr. Cheshire's health, he purchased in 1850 a home in Franklin County, about four miles from Louisburg. This place was named Monreath and on it stood an old, well-built house surrounded by one hundred and sixty acres of land. Here the Cheshires spent their summers. These pleasant vacations at Monreath caused Joseph to lose about two months of school each year, since the fall term began the middle of July. Therefore, in the summer of 1864 he asked his father if he could not attend the Louisburg Academy from July to September. His father readily agreed, and each day young Cheshire walked the four miles into Louisburg to conjugate Latin verbs and pursue the other fields of learning which made up the curriculum of the average classical school of that day. During the Civil War the Cheshires did not suffer from molestation by the enemy or from severe deprivation as did many southern families. They gave shelter and comfort to many refugees from the eastern part of the state, which was occupied by federal troops. Writing of his impressions of the war years, Cheshire observed: "It is strange that almost all my memories of those tragical days seem to be of bright and happy experiences. I do not remember any atmosphere of gloom or depression. The spirit of all was brave and buoyant."[1] The abolition of slavery did not greatly affect the economic status of his family, since his father owned only a few domestic servants whom he had inherited. Cheshire's religious education began, of course, at home. Every Sunday afternoon he and his brother stood before their mother with the Negro children and repeated their assigned part of the catechism. He did not attend Sunday school until after he had learned all the catechism, that is, all but the "Desire." He later remarked that he never learned it "so as not to forget it," and that it was the only thing he ever tried to remember and failed. By the fall of 1865 Cheshire was ready to enter college. It had been originally planned that he should go to the University of North Carolina. But when the time arrived his father did not have the money to send him. Dr. Cheshire, however, had already decided not to send his son to the state University; he did not think the environment there would be suitable for a boy of fifteen, for a good many young soldiers, fresh from the careless life of the army, were entering the University that fall. Cheshire's best friend, Dick Lewis, and several others of his class-mates went in the fall of 1865 to Mr. Graves' school in Granville County. He was left in a class by himself at the Tarboro Academy, where he continued his studies under the direction of Mr. Wilkinson.