"How To Survive A Summer Vacation," by B. Elwin Sherman

Posted on 26 June, 2008 by Janice Brown


 
“I work harder on my summer vacation than I do on my job.”
 
I'm here, dear dedicated readers, to prevent those words from ever being uttered again.  No one should come away from leisure time without feeling leisurely, and my dictionary defines “vacation” as “leisure time spent away from work devoted to rest or pleasure.”
 
Right there is where we get into trouble.  Rest is always pleasurable, but pleasure is not always restful.  In fact, pleasure can be downright laborious, as we all recognize from this column's opening declaration.
 
Thus, having a pleasurable, restful summer vacation takes careful planning: the kind that a carpet-flopped dog applies when it gets up and moves away from the couch, only to re-flop over there by the TV.  (As a general rule, we should pay more attention to animals.  They have no ulterior motives, and often have no apparent motives at all.)
 
As a specific rule, surviving summer leisure is far more challenging than making it through a winter's labor.  Winter is easy in our North Country, once you resolve to not pummel anyone who crunches around the re-formed frozen tundra spouting: “Well, at least you can dress for the cold.”  These people should be duct-taped into six layers of woolen hats and thermal union suits, then parachuted over the equator.
 
Yes, you can dress for the cold, but you can also not dress for the heat–a far more pleasurable, restful and cheaper application, as we enter the canicule.
 
“Canicule,” as we all recall from our high school French lessons, means “a chocolate-glazed jelly doughnut.”  This is what I recall, anyway, which is why I flunked French class.  It actually means “heatwave,” or “scorcher,” or “the hot period between early July and early September.”  I remember spending my last adolescent canicule wondering how I'd ever survive it without the unrequited affections of my senior class French teacher.
 
(CONFIDENTIAL to Mademoiselle Rousseau:  If you're still out there, that was my longest, hottest summer vacation ever, and I did finally give up wearing a beret, eating chocolate-glazed jelly doughnuts, and calling everything “magnifique!”)
 
No summer vacation plan (remember the flopping dog) should ever be set in motion without a Plan B.  Here, I confess to being a worst case scenario kind of guy.  No, this is not being pessimistic.  A pessimist is always expecting the worst.  I'm always expecting the best, but I'm ready with a satisfying alternative when everything goes wrong, which it usually does (the first rule in: “Sherman's Two Rules For Living With Rules”).
 
Again, look to your dog's example.  You don't see him descending into a combination of road rage and helpless funk when the family car breaks down enroute to visiting Crocodile Safari Land.  He's just happy for the chance to go off and chase jackalopes while you wait for the tow truck.
 
So, as you “plan” your summer vacation, a few do's and don'ts:
 
DON'T use this time to “catch up” on projects in and around the house.  These activities have few, if any, leisurely components to them, and are almost always dangerous, irritating or beyond your expertise.  If they weren't, you wouldn't have waited until now to tackle them.
 
Yes, the eaves at the top of your house where the ladder just barely reaches are still unpainted.  Big deal.  Go with Plan B, and think of yourself as the neighborhood's king of the unpainted peaks.  Then, lie down next to the dog and have a nice restful AND pleasurable nap.
 
This will avoid your having to spend a long-awaited canicule (and beyond) in the restful but most decidedly unpleasureable mode of orthopedic traction after you went with Plan A, painted over the hornet's nest hole YOU KNEW was up there, and jackknifed backwards off the abbreviated ladder into the juniper bushes.
 
DO let them know at your job that you are not to be called during your vacation for ANY reason.  Yes, maybe that invoice you misrouted on your last day of work resulted in the entire eastern seaboard's widget vendors being mistakenly billed for doohickeys, but you don't need or want to know this until you return to work.
 
Save it for when you end your off-duty canicule and go back to find your desk emptied.  You should always avoid receiving word that you've been fired (Sherman's 2nd Rule) while lying in a body cast and recovering from an overdose of hornet venom.
 
DON'T take the family to Crocodile Safari Land, unless your idea of restful pleasure is ogling big lizards in a concrete sinkhole, and watching some disaffected guy (probably an ex-widget invoicer just out of rehab) stunning them into submission with hypnotic underbelly rubs.
 
DO take time to embrace every day of your well-earned respite as if it were your last (and have faith that this will not be the case).
 
DON'T forget to just plain relax, and enjoy every restful, pleasurable moment that life affords you free of charge:  walk in the woods, swim in the water, sit in the sun, and nap with the dog.
 
DO remember the Plan B bug repellant, life jackets, sunblock and flea collar, and if you're going to stop and smell the flowers, I'd first check for hornets.
 
We'll save Plan C for next winter.
 
* * * * *
Syndicated humor columnist B. Elwin Sherman is off somewhere not painting over a hornet's nest in the North Country.  He can be reached via his website at elwinshumor.com.  Copyright 2008 B. Elwin Sherman.  All rights reserved.  Used here with permission.
* * * * *  
 
B. Elwin Sherman's Humor — Books/Columns.
http://www.elwinshumor.com
 
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Hopkinton New Hampshire’s Medal of Honor Recipient: Carlos W. Colby (1837-1922)

Posted on 24 June, 2008 by Janice Brown

Carlos William Colby, a farmer’s son, was born in 1837 in the small town of Hopkinton, New Hampshire. He moved with his family from New Hampshire to a farm near Alton, Illinois in 1850. Carlos enlisted in the Union Army in September of 1862, in Company G, 97th Illinois Infantry, mustered in as a second corporal.

He received a Congressional Medal of Honor in 1896 “…for most distinguished gallantry in action at the battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi.” His letters home survive, many of which were published by his great-grandson John S. Painter under the title of “Bullets, Hartack and Mud: A Soldier’s View of the Vicksburg Campaign” (Journal of the West, Vol IV, No. 2, 1965).

Medal of Honor Recipient: COLBY, CARLOS W.
Rank and Organization: Sergeant, Company G, 97th Illinois Infantry.
Place and Date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered Service At: Madison County, Ill.
Birth: Merrimack, N.H. [actually Hopkinton, Merrimack Co. NH]
Date of Issue: 31 January 1896.
Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the “volunteer storming party.”

When the Civil War ended, Carlos Colby returned home, married Anne E. Rowe, farmed and raised a family. Carlos Colby died, aged 85, in 1922, and is buried at Cress Hill Cemetery in Hillsboro IL. Note: Carlos Colby is my cousin, through his LONG family line (see LONG family tree link below, in the genealogy section).

Janice

-Descendants of Carlos W. Colby-

–Grave Site of Carlos W. Colby–

–Inventory of Carlos W. Colby Papers, 1821-1937, bulk 1861-1865-

–Men of NH Who Served During Civil War in Units Not in NH–

–Medal of Honor Recipients, from the Battle of Vicksburg–

***********************************
***COLBY FAMILY GENEALOGY***
***********************************

Anthony Colby (1605-1660) and Martha (c1610-?)
Thomas Colby (1650-1691) and Hannah Rowell (1653-1707)
Thomas Colby (1675-1741) and Frances Willoughby (1672-1778)
Ezekiel Colby (1699-1761) and Mary Elliot (1699-1761)
Elliot Colby (1735-1811) and Judith Sargent (1739-1782)
John Colby (1767-1850) and Sarah Flanders (1774-1837)

James Colby, son of John & Sarah (Flanders) Colby was b. 9 January 1798 in Warner, Merrimack Co. NH and d. 19 Jan 1852 in Upper Alton, Madison County IL, aged 54 years. He married 15 Feb 1826 to Abigail Bailey Long, dau of Dr. Moses & Lucy (Harriman) Long, by Rev. Mr. Hatch. She was b. 11 May 1794 at Hopkinton NH, and d. 19 Feb 1859. They resided in Warner NH for about 10 years, then moved to Hopkinton NH, to the old Long homestead where they lived until 1850. (He purchased farm from Moses Long & Stephen H. Long on East slope of Emerson Hill, 3 miles West of Hopkinton, NH). In 1850 Mr. Colby and his family moved west with his family, settling in Alton IL. (He purchased a farm at Alton, lived near B.F. Long & G.W. Long). James Colby died 19 Jan 1852, aged 54 years. Abigail B. (Long) Colby died 19 Feb 1859.
[ALSO SEE Long genealogy]
Children of James & Abigail B. (Long) Colby:
1. infant son, b. abt 1828 Hopkinton NH; died in infancy
2. Lucy Long Colby, b. 21 Apr 1829 Hopkinton NH; m. 12 Nov 1849 to Theodore Alexander Stout; res. Princeton NJ
2. George H. Colby, b. 31 March 1831 Hopkinton NH; res. Alton IL
3. Sarah Lyman Colby, b. 11 Aug 1832 Hopkinton NH; teacher in the Missouri School for the Blind, St. Louis MO
4. Caroline Maria Colby, b. 14 Aug 1834 Hopkinton NH; m. 1856 to Charles H. Thomas; died at Alton IL Dec 1864
5. +Carlos William Colby; b. 15 May 1837 Hopkinton NH; res. North Alton IL, soldier during the war of the Rebellion

Carlos William Colby, son of James & Abigail B. (Long) Colby, was b. 15 May 1837 in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. He died 19 May 1922 in Peoria, Peoria Co. IL. He married 20 Dec 1866 in Alton, Madison Co. IL to Anne Elizabeth Rowe. She was b. 29 March 1844 in Alton IL and d. 18 Dec 1899 in Butler, Montgomery Co. IL.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1863 for gallantry in the charge of the “volunteer storming party” at Vicksburg on May 22, 1863.
[SEE rootsweb family tree] [Also see descendants of Carlos William Colby link above]
———–
American Civil War Soldiers
Name:     Carlos Colby ,
Residence:     Godfrey, Illinois
Enlistment Date:     11 Aug 1862
Enlistment Place:     Madison County, Illinois
Side Served:     Union
State Served:     Illinois
Birth Date:     15 May 1837
Death Date:     20 May 1922
Service Record:     Promoted to Full 1st Sergeant.
Enlisted as a Corporal on 11 August 1862.
Enlisted in Company G, 97th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 11 Aug 1862.
Mustered Out Company G, 97th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 29 Jul 1865.
Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 1 Aug 1865.
———–
U.S. Census > 1870 United States Federal Census > Illinois > Madison > Township 5 Range 10
Colby, Carlos A. 33 M W Farmer 6000/500 NH
Colby, Anni E. 28 F W House Keep Illinois
Colby, Charles W. 10/12 M W Illinois Sep
Rowe, Elizabeth 64 F W North Carolina
Grover, Alice 18 F W Servant New York
————
U.S. Census > 1880 United States Federal Census > Illinois > Madison > North Alton > District 24
Colby, Carlos W. W M 43 Farmer NH NH NH
Colby, Annie E W F 35 Illinois England NC
Colby, Charles W. W M 10 IL
Colby, Florence I W F 7 IL
Colby, Carlos F W M 1 IL
Rowe, Elizabeth W F 74 IL [should be NC]
Allen, Mary Ann W F 21 IL
————
Children of Carlos W. & Anne “Annie” Elizabeth (Rowe) Colby:
1. John Rowe Colby, b. 10 May 1868 Alton, Madison Co. IL, d. young in 1869
2. Charles Willis Colby, b. 9 Oct 1869 ALton, IL; m. Mamie McRenolds
3. James Rowe Colby, b. 3 July 1871 Alton IL, died young in 1871
4. Florence Mae Colby, b. abt 1873 Alton IL
5. Cora Lee Colby, b. 24 Dec 1875 Alton IL, died young in 1879
6. Carlie Faye Colby, b. 19 July 1878 Alton IL, d. 1945 unmarried
7. Stella Long Colby, b. 31 Dec 1881 Alton IL, d. 1899
8. Henry Hastings Colby, b. 21 Jan 1885 Butler, Montgomery Co. IL; m. 1911 Ida C. Miller; had issue b. in IL. He d. in Houston TX; had issue

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Happy Anniversary New Hampshire!

Posted on 20 June, 2008 by Janice Brown

Depending on which of the events in the history of New Hampshire’s settlement that you celebrate, in 2008 New Hampshire is either 220, 317, or 328 years old. Of course all of these days are connected with European colonization of the area. The Native Peoples resided here for thousands of years longer.

New Hampshire separated from the Massachusetts Colony  On January 1, 1680 [328 years ago] when it became a separately governed colony. It reunited with the Massachusetts colony in 1688, and separated finally in 1691 (becoming the royal Province of New Hampshire). [ 317 yrs ago].

Following the American Revolutionary War, New Hampshire became the 9th state in the fledgling United States of America on June 21, 1788 [220 years ago].

Janice

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New Hampshire Missing Places: Trecothick

Posted on 20 June, 2008 by Janice Brown

On May 1, 1769 a charter was granted to Barlow Trecothick for a town called Trecothick–the only location by that name in the world. This name remained until the town was incorporated 16 June 1802 when the name of Ellsworth was substituted.

It was originally named after Barlow Trecothick, who with John Wentworth (son of Mark Hunking, and future Governor of New Hampshire) visited England to present their petition to the king, praying for the repeal of the stamp act. Barlow, along with Wentworth were appointed “joynt and separate agents for the province” of New Hampshire at the Court of Great Britain. Barlow was a Boston merchant who later became Mayor of London and Member of Parliament, and he died childless 2 June 1775 (his wife was Grizzell Apthorpe).

Ellsworth, New Hampshire, lies in the central part of Grafton County at latitude 43 degrees 54 minutes and longitude 71 degrees 48 minutes. It is bounded north by Woodstock, east by Thornton and Campton, south by Rumney and west by Warren. The renaming of the town to Ellsworth was done so to honor Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, (third Chief Justice) who, at the time of the town's incorporation, had recently negotiated a peace treaty with France, resulting in the Louisiana Purchase.

Many settlers from western Massachusetts and Connecticut went up the Connecticut River and occupied the towns in that beautiful valley.  The first permanent settlement was made in 1790 by Jonathan T. Downing who was from Gilmanton NH.

It is believed this area was popular with the Native People, as many artifacts were found here in past years. The local mountain is named Kineo, reportedly from Kunnawa, a local “chief” who hunted there. It is said that gold can be found in some of the streams.

Ellsworth's land is for the most part hard and untillable, as compared with other New Hampshire towns, and the greater part of the land was covered with forest.  Even by 1880 Ellsworth had a population of only “209 souls.”  In 2005 only 86 people lived in this community (a great increase from the 13 living there in 1970).

Janice

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Isles of Shoals New Hampshire: No Hogs, No Women

Posted on 18 June, 2008 by Janice Brown

E.E. Bourne in an account of the Isles of Shoals, writes “The law allowed no women or hogs on the island. In 1647 John Reynolds went to live on Hog Island, carrying with him his hogs, and also his wife, which made a great uproar among the inhabitants. The people petitioned the Court of York County that they might be compelled to remove them. The court ordered the hogs off, but allowed the wife to stay, if there were not personal objection to her.”

The original petition stated, “The humble petition of Richard Cutts and John Cutting, showeth, that contrary to an act of court which says, ‘No woman shall live on the Isles of Shoals,’ John Reynolds has brought his wife hither with an intention to live here and abide. He hath also brought upon Hog Island a great stock of goats and swine, which, by destroying much fish, do great damage to the petitioners and others; and also spoil the spring of water upon that island, rendering it unfit for any manner of use.
  Your petitioners therefore pray, that the act of court may put in execution for the removal of all women from inhabiting there; and that said Reynolds may be ordered to remove his goats and swine from the island without delay.”

As mentioned above, the court ordered the removal of the swine, but decided, as to the complain against the wife, “It is thought fit by the court, that, if no further complaint come against her, she may enjoy the company of her husband.” (Massachusetts Historical Collection, vo. vii, p. 250)

Hog Island is now called Appledore Island.

Janice

*Additional Reading*

–Articles about the Isles of Shoals at Cow Hampshire–

–A Handy Book of Curious Information, by William Shepard Walsh, 1913, J.B. Lippincott Company; page 930-

– March 1925 “Legends of New Hampshire: The Wraith O’ White Island” [Isles of Shoals]

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