Webb, Adelaide Davis diary, 1917
Scope and Contents
The Adelaide Ella Davis Webb diary, as recorded at the beginning of the diary, was a gift from her husband Sidney. Addie writes about the farm work undertaken by Sidney and the hired men providing an insight into farm life, from planting to harvesting crops, helping others with their crop harvest, getting ice in the winter, and the year round work such as milking the cows and cleaning the stalls. Addie also records the weather, her daily chores, such as mopping floors, washing and ironing clothing, and preparing meals and making bread. Births, deaths and concerns about family members and friends are recorded throughout the diary. Mention of going to the movies, visiting with neighbors, or driving to town for dinner reflect some of the social activities of this farm family. Addie includes local and national events, such as residents voting for Chenango County to become a “dry” county, women’s suffrage in New York State, and the possibility of war with Germany. Russell and Mildred, Addie’s children, have written entries in the diary as well. Recorded at the back of the diary are financial accounts and the children’s grades.
Dates
- Creation: 1917
Creator
- Webb, Adelaide Ella Davis, 1880-1954 (Person)
Biographical Note
Addie, as she was known, was born July 23, 1880 and lived with her parents and five siblings in German Flatts, Herkimer County, New York, where her father worked as a laborer for the [Remington] Armory. Addie’s mother died in 1899 when Addie was ten years old. Her family remained in this area for many years. On February 23, 1906 at the age of twenty-six Addie married Sidney Webb, thirty-five, who was living in Columbus, Chenango County and working as a farm laborer. Sidney was born in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York on September 30, 1871, and as a youngster lived in Clarksfield, Ohio for a short period of time before his family returned to New York.
Shortly after their marriage the couple moved to Sherburne, where they owned a farm. Over the next few years their family grew, with the birth of a son, Russell, in 1907 and a daughter, Mildred, in 1909. By the early 1920s the Webb’s owned a prosperous dairy farm and were one of the largest potato producers of Chenango County. As reported in the August 1922 issue of the Chenango County Farm and Home Bureau News, Sidney participated in the Farm Bureau’s Potato Seed Source Variety Test experiment, which successfully proved the importance of using certified seed to prevent disease and improve the quality of the product. New York State was one of the earliest to recognize this importance. Sidney served as the President of the Sherburne Producers Association in 1922. Sidney passed away on February 27, 1947 and Addie passed away seven years later on January 10, 1954.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Abstract
This collection contains one diary from 1917 belonging to Adelaide (Addie) Davis Webb of Sherburne, Chenango County, New York.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, 2020.
Bibliography
1892 New York State Census. German Flatts, Herkimer County, New York, image 1, Addie Davis. Ancestry.com.
1910 U.S. Federal Census. Sherburne, Chenango, New York, image 20, Sidney and Adelaide Webb. Ancestry.com.
1925 U.S. Federal Census. Sherburne, Chenango, New York, image 15, Sidney C. and Adelaide Webb. Ancestry.com.
1940 U.S. Federal Census. Sherburne, Chenango, New York, image 16, Sidney C. and Adelaide E. Webb. Ancestry.com.
“Farm Bureau Holds 12 Potato Disease Demonstrations.” The Chenango County Farm and Home Bureau News, Volume 8, Number 8, August, 1922. Viewed on Google Books.
New York State, Marriage index, 1881-1967, image 244, Addie E. Davis and image 1086, Sidney C. Webb. Ancestry.com
New York, U.S., Death Index, 1852-1956 image 1602, Adelaide D. Webb.
New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 (Index to Wills, Proceedings, Vol L-Z, 1938-1970), image 390, Sidney C. and Adelaide E. Webb.
“President E.B. Clark Conducts Tour.” The Chenango County Farm and Home Bureau News, Volume 8, Number 9, September, 1922. Viewed on Google Books.
Public Member Trees. (Hall and Caldwell Family Trees). Addie Davis. Ancestry.com
“Sherburne “Gone Some” Cash Crops Plus Cooperative Marketing Pays Well.” The Chenango County Farm and Home Bureau News, Volume 8, Number 2, February, 1922. Viewed on Google Books.
“Sidney Webb Leaves Estate of $27,500.” The Norwich Sun (Norwich, New York), March 11, 1947. Accessed March 19, 2021. Newspapers.com
U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Adelaide E. Webb.
Repository Details
Part of the Binghamton University Libraries Special Collections Repository