December 26 Wednesday – Sam petitioned to join the Polar Star Masonic Lodge Number Seventy-nine of St. Louis, the largest in the state. In so doing, he promised “to conform to all the ancient established usages and customs of the fraternity” [MTL 1: 106-7; Strong, 88]. Sam would rise to the level of Master Mason by July 10, 1861 [Jones 364].
December 11 Tuesday – The Alonzo Child arrived in Cairo, Illinois, where it laid up until Jan. 8 1861 due to ice in the river.
December 4 Tuesday – The Alonzo Child left for St. Louis.
December 1 Saturday – The Alonzo Child arrived in New Orleans.
November 30 Friday – Sam’s 25 th birthday.
November 23 Friday – The Alonzo Child left for New Orlean
November 21 Wednesday – Sam wrote from St. Louis to his brother Orion and family about running the Alonzo Child aground, about prices of poultry, eggs, and apples in New Orleans. Sam, ever the speculator, wrote:
My Dear Brother:
November 18 Sunday – The Alonzo Child arrived in St. Louis.
November 12 Monday – A rising tide freed the Alonzo Child [MTL 1: 105n2].
November 11 Sunday – Sam ran the Alonzo Child aground, about seventy-three miles above New Orleans at the Houmas Plantation. It remained stuck for 28 hours [MTL 1: 105 n2].