Memories of the Coes 20: Trading, Raisings and Auctions

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 Trading

I think father was a great hand to trad, and that there was very much more done in early days than now. Men would trade anything, from horses and farms to pen knives. There must have been something exhilerating in matching ones wits and good judgement against those of another. We heard a great deal about horse trading in particular. 

Raisings

There were frequent "raisings." Bees where the  men of a neighborhood gathered at a certain stage of building of a house or barn to raise the timbers. They were not without danger, as sometimes a heavy timber would fall to the peril of legs or even lives. Buildings are now erected in a different way. Charles had one at Pleasant Grove 15 or 20 years ago, when Frank DeWolf made or fixed over a barn. 

Auctions

Twenty or thirty years ago there was quite a rage for "Pink Teas" as a form of entertainment for ladies. Table decorations were pink, and such viands as could be so made were also colored pink. Charles laughed when I read once that "auctions are Men's Pink Teas." In the old days where there were no automobiles permitting speedy locomotion, the refreshments were much more elaborate than to-day. There might have been sandwiches fried cakes, cheese and always hot coffee. This was furnished to all the men and boys who cared to attend. Usually coming in winter or spring before the steady farm work begah, they were really a kind of social gathering for the men as well as business propositions. One can imagine the topics of conversation, concerning the stock and other goods for sale, the machinery, operations on the farm for next year, business transactions other than the auction, friendly meetings, plain gossip. A fine looking young farmer went up to Robert at an auction a few years ago, and asked if he knew any one who had a farm to rent on shares. Robert put him in touch with his father who hired him for a term of a year. 


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Patty's notes on these entries

These were three separate consecutive entries in the original manuscript. I've combined them into one blog post. 

Father - Albert Coe (1827-1907), son of Ezra Coe and Elizabeth Ann Sornberger

Charles - Charles Joslin Call (1859-1939), son of Robert Call and Charlotte Joslin, husband of Elizabeth Ann Coe

Pleasant Grove - Also known as the Sweetland Farm, Robert Call (1831-1913) purchased this farm from Ralph Sweetland in 1878, Charles Joslin Call and Elizabeth Ann Coe lived at Pleasant Grove from 1895-1913. There is more info about Pleasant Grove at https://pattyhankins.blogspot.com/2020/04/memories-of-calls-17-sweetland-farm.html

Frank De Wolf - Frank DeWolf (1863-1948), son of Orin DeWolf (1830-1899) and Betsy Adams (1830-1906). Frank lived in Stafford from at least 1875-1940. 

Robert - Robert Vincent Call (1892-1961), son of Charles Joslin Call and Elizabeth Ann Coe. He married Lucille Alice Hale (1893-1996) in 1919. 

Robert Vincent Call (1892-1961)
Photo shared by Evelyn Call Brumsted at the 2003 Call Reunion 


Previous Post in the Memories of the Coes: Spring Medicine, Making Soft Soap and Maple Sugar
Next Post in the Memories of the Coes: Mother - Deborah

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