June 19, 1885: The Clemens family took a special car from New York to Elmira,
June 27, 1885: In the morning, the Clemens family left Mrs. Langdon’s home for Quarry Farm.
June 17 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam sent a short note to W. Minor.
“I believe if I were you I would continue to sort beans & sand sugar, & not stray out of my God-appointed beat & strain my capacities” [MTP]. Note: This implies the recipient is a grocer, but not much else.
June 18 Thursday – Sam wrote from New York to James B. Pond thanking him for another jackass that Homer Pond had sent and asking if Pond would pay Homer, then he’d reimburse him once he was in Elmira.
June 19 Friday – The Clemens family took a special car from New York to Elmira, a ten-hour trip. They stayed at Mrs. Langdon’s home (See June 14 to Gerhardt). Livy wrote in her diary, “On June 19th we arrived in Elmira, we went directly to Mothers spending a little more than a week with her” [MTP].
June 20 Saturday – Waldstein Optician of New York, billed Livy $2.50 for “altering gold E.G.” [MTP].
June 21 Sunday – Frederick D. Grant wrote from Mt. MacGregor. “Your very kind letter was received. As I agree with what you say there is no chance of an argument on the matter contained in it. My poor dear father is worse again today. I would like (to try) to write you a snice a letter as you have me; but on account of his feeling so badly I am unable to do so” [MTP].
June 23 Tuesday – Karl Gerhardt wrote from Mt. MacGregor that he’d met Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Grant on the train from Saratoga. “They report the General sadly changed” [MTP].
Daniel Whitford for Alexander & Green wrote, enclosing W.A. Paton’s letter about the Paige typesetter. Paton liked the mechanics but thought the financial scheme unworkable [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Paton retires”
June 24 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Charles Webster. By this time the family may have removed to Quarry Farm. He asked Webster to follow up on a “little water heater” that Livy had purchased in New York “at a small Japanese store between Aitkin’s & Arnold & Constable’s.” The heater was to have been expressed to Elmira but hadn’t come. Livy didn’t know the name or address of the store, Sam confided [MTP].
June 26 Friday – Sam wrote from Elmira to his mother, Jane Clemens, enclosing a letter from his old childhood friend, “Puss” Tabitha Quarles, now Greening. Puss wanted a loan to buy a hotel in Hunnewell, Kansas. Sam had spent many idyllic summers at his uncle Quarles’ farm with Puss.
June 27 Saturday – General Grant had continued working on revisions of volume two, and even adding “plums and spices” to volume one, a process which made Sam impatient [Perry 219]. On this day Grant believed he was within a few pages of finishing. He telegraphed Sam to come to Mt. McGregor [221]. Note: Sam’s notebook stated that Grant telegraphed him on June 28 [MTNJ 3: 164].
June 28 Sunday – At Quarry Farm, Livy wrote in her diary:
“This morning Theodore, Sue, Susy and I went down to church, it was Anniversary Sunday, there was a very large number large number baptized, first infants, later in the service young people, and older people all excepting the infants professed their faith. It was an exceedingly interesting and touching service” [MTP].
June 29 Monday – Sam left Quarry Farm at 6 AM. Traveling all day to Mt. McGregor, New York, in the Adirondacks, and arriving at 8.40 [MTNJ 3: 164; June 30 to Livy, MTP].
John C. Black wrote, misidentifying Sam as an applicant for a pension [MTP: Pall Mall Gazette 3 Aug 1885].
June 30 Tuesday – Sam wrote to Livy.
Livy darling, what a journey it was!—sneaking along all day in accommodation trains, till half past 6; then I snatched a bite in Saratoga, them jumped into a buggy at 7.20 & reached here at 8.40—after dark. I shall have to remain here all day, but I can get away tomorrow I hope—& expect [MTP].
July – Frank M. Scott was hired as a cashier and bookkeeper by Webster & Co. He had previously worked for Haney & Co. of Newark, N.J. Scott was arrested for embezzlement on Mar. 11, 1887 [N.Y. Times, Mar. 18, 1887, p.5, “Confessions of a Thief”].
July 1 Wednesday – At Mt. McGregor, New York, Sam telegraphed and then wrote Livy that he would leave for Hartford at noon the next day. He added that Gerhardt took a good photograph taken of Grant and that the bust done of Jesse Grant’s child was:
July 2 Thursday – Sam said his goodbyes to General Grant, left Mt. McGregor and went to New York City [Powers, MT A Life 503].
July 3 Friday – Sam took the ten-hour train ride to Elmira [Sam to Jesse Grant, July 4].
Western Union Telegraph Co.’s July 1 bill shows telegrams sent this date to New York, Hoboken, Elmira [MTP]. Note: the Hoboken connection was with the Eirie, Lackawanna R.R.
July 4 Saturday – Sam wrote a short note from Elmira to Jesse Grant.
I got back last night, & am detained here for the present, but shall reach New York Wednesday or Thursday evening to ask some questions & get some information—further information, for the satisfying of hard-headed business men—& then I shall hope to see you [MTP].
July 5 Sunday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Karl Gerhardt. He thought the idea of Karl and Mrs. Jesse Grant’s was the right one concerning the statue. Whatever idea that was, Sam thought it an “inspiration.” Sam made a reference to giving messages to Woodruff (who favored the G.A.R. raising money for the statue—see July 18 to Gerhardt).
July 6 Monday – Sam wrote from Elmira to the editor of the Boston Herald, which had run an article Sam felt was damaging to his and Gen. Grant’s character and “untrue in spirit,” an article that accused Sam of leading Grant to break an understanding with the Century. “I want to ask for fair play—only fair play, nothing more,” Sam began. There was no understanding with the Century.
July 7 Tuesday – Orion Clemens wrote about a letter from Puss, who was anxious to go; the doctor advised a steamboat; plans to go to Hannibal; Puss feared she could not repay a loan [MTP].
July 8 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Elmira to John C. Black, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C. Sam received a June 29, 1885 letter from Black that a pension application had been denied on June 23 [Brooklyn Eagle, July 17, p6]. Sam responded:
July 9 Thursday – In Elmira Clemens wrote to Henry M. Stanley.
July 11 Saturday – Sam wrote a short note from Elmira to Orion. Evidently Mollie had suggested a pension for Puss Quarles Greening, rather than a thousand dollar investment in a Kansas hotel. Sam offered to have Webster set one up and send money to her monthly. “I hate complications,” Sam wrote [MTP]. (See June 26 entry.)
July 12 Sunday – Pamela Moffett wrote from Kinsgburg, Calif. about the letter she’d sent and her son’s concerns about it; the letter they’d both written him. Her son was upset thinking Sam would take his troubles with locusts as a plea for help [MTP].
July 12 to 13 Monday – Sam was in New York, where he saw “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” show “two days in succession” [July 14 to Cody].