July 4, 1851 - Every one is out trying to Hunt the Fourth

Friday 4^th (July)

A memoral day, every one is out trying to Hunt the fourth, and many I trust will find him, some in the grog shop, others at balls and some like myself will find him in the kitchen. We did all the work as usual and in the afternoon Libbie, Thomas, and I went out to the farm. Spent a very pleasant day in the hay field, lying on the new mown hay. Got a lecture from Cousin Joe Nye and returned home. Had many fireworks of every description. A little past 9 went down to get some ice cream and such a time. After we came home, sat on the steps a while when father called us in to look at the fireworks from Sterritts, after which we retired.

The farm may have been in Maineville, Warren County, Ohio. According to the 1860 Federal Census, Joseph T. Nye lived there with R. T. Nye, H. Wilson and Sidney Stacy. Perhaps he was not happy to have the young people trampling his freshly mown hay. Joseph Nye’s wife is Serena’s aunt. Roxanna Tolman Nye was the widow of Timothy Wilson. She is the mother of Lewis, James, and Henry Wilson, as well as Abigail and Samuel Nye (Spooner 178-180).

 

Ice cream is included in the list of products prepared by confectioners (Parkinson). Williams’ Cincinnati Directory and Business Advertiser, for 1850-51 lists more than forty confectioners in Cincinnati. They are scattered along the main streets throughout the area between the Ohio River and Ninth Street. Serena has previously mentioned going to Bakers for ice cream. There is a grocery operated by Charles F. Baker, located at the northeast corner of Seventh and Elm. Perhaps he also sells ice cream. This ice cream would be made using natural ice cut from frozen lakes and rivers, insulated with hay in ice houses, and delivered by ice dealers. There are no freezers to store the ice cream; it must be eaten soon after it is prepared.