5th – Took the other big log on to Chilli. & brought the big teams around over the forks of the river. In the evening Pa, Geo & I tried to get drift off our bridge but after trying for 2 hours & Geo getting drug & tumbled down the bank into the boat & me getting upset in the middle of the road, we gave it up as a bad & cold job.
Here we see the rougher parts of the manual labor that the Bench menfolk occasionally experience. It is rare that Jesse talks about having any reaction or judgment, and even more rare that it’s a negative experience. It’s vague enough that we don’t know if he got physically hurt, or if something just set him off and he was angry or distressed.
It is not clear if Jesse means brother-in-law George or Cousin George, but he mentioned George DeLapp helping taking in a load the day before. It’s possible that George Bench went back or will go back soon to his wife and kids since planting time will be starting soon. Future references to a George seem to imply DeLapp.
Next to the Bench Farm was the railroad bridge going over the Grand River, and there was also a bridge for buggies, wagons, and foot traffic. Below is what might be left of that bridge. You can check out the Bench Farm and Grand River here on Google Maps. In the right hand corner is 36 Highway. The two white objects in the Grand River are all that is left of the railroad bridge, and to the left along the bank is what might be the remnants of the foot traffic bridge.
Here is another view of it on Google Maps:
If anyone has any information on this curious little ruin, please send us an email! We’d love to know if this is the original bridge or if it is something else.
