The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 1 of 2): Including Public Addresses, Her Own Letters and Many From Her Contemporaries During Fifty YearsHarper, Ida Husted
History
The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 1 of 2): Including Public Addresses, Her Own Letters and Many From Her Contemporaries During Fifty Years
Harper, Ida Husted
Anthony, Susan B. (Susan Brownell), 1820-1906
On November 7, 1845, the parents and three children took the stage for
Troy, and from there went by railroad to Palatine Bridge for a short
visit to Joshua Read. The journey from here to Rochester was made by
canal on a "line boat" instead of a "packet," because it was cheaper
and because they wanted to be with their household goods. At Utica they
found two cousins, Nancy and Melintha Howe, waiting for the packet to
go west, but when they saw their relatives they gladly boarded the line
boat. Mrs. Anthony did the cooking for the entire party, in the
spotless little kitchen on the boat, and the young people, at least,
had a merry journey.
The family arrived in Rochester late in the afternoon of November 14.
They landed at Fitzhugh street and went to the National Hotel. The
father had just ten dollars, and it was out of the question to remain
there over night; so he took the old gray horse and the wagon off the
boat, with a few necessary articles, and with his family started for
the farm, three miles west of the city. The day was cold and cheerless,
the roads were very muddy, and by the time they reached their
destination it was quite dark. An old man and his daughter had been
left in charge and had nothing in the way of food but cornmeal and
milk. Mrs. Anthony made a kettle of mush which her husband pronounced
"good enough for the queen." The only bed was occupied by Mr. and Mrs.
Anthony, and the rest slept on the floor. Next day the household goods
were brought from the city and all were soon busy putting the new home
in order. That was a long and lonesome winter. The closest neighbors
were the DeGarmos, and there were a number of other Quaker families in
the city. These called at once and performed every friendly office in
their power, but the hearts of the exiles were very sad and home-sick.
The cause of human freedom was then uppermost in many minds, and the
Anthonys found here congenial spirits in their strong anti-slavery
convictions, and numerous little "abolition" meetings were held during
that winter at their home and in those of their new friends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 1 of 2): Including Public Addresses, Her Own Letters and Many From Her Contemporaries During Fifty Years — John Shaqi
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