Historians examine diaries at annual meeting

By Wilma Felton-Gray

Correspondent

NORWICH – Chenango County Historians met recently at the Chenango County Museum. The topic of the meeting was diaries. Town historians were invited to bring a favorite part of a diary of a family member or resident of their town. Three presentations were scheduled during the meeting.

Wilma Felton-Gray presented a diary of Orra Parker who lived in Guilford Center. The diary provided an opportunity for further research, which developed into a story of a self-made wealthy bachelor and his, rather risqué love life from the 1870s to 1925.

Jackie Hagen, high school intern, presented the diary of Sally Enos of Smyrna. Jackie told of how Sally lived, her hard ships and details of the life and the times in which Sally lived.

The third presentation was the diary of Samuel Pike by Chenango County Historian, Dale Storms. Samuel was associated with Joseph Smith and was baptized by him in Colesville. Samuel’s experiences led him from a early day sinner to a “Latter Day Saint.” The diary proved to be of interest in the early days of the Afton-Bainbridge area.