31st — Cold as black sin. Mary & I drove Button to the “buggy sleigh” at B.Y.P.U. & church. Stepped over to Mr. & Mrs. Mitchells for a few moments after church. Frank rode on the back end of the sleigh. The axle hit Button on the feet & he ran off with us & tore up things in general. Broke one sled runner, cracked another broke back buggy spring, busted the bottom out of buggy, broke dashboard & made Button’s heels real sore. Got him stopped about halfway home & walked the rest of the way leaving the buggy behind.
Jesse is writing on a Friday, so he must be recalling the event from last Sunday.
Jesse mentions the Mitchell family only once, and it isn’t obvious who he means. This might be William and Castara Mitchell. They farmed and raised a family in Green Township, Livingston County, and were listed in the 1870 federal census. They buried two of their children in Utica Cemetery. William appears with his father Robert S. Mitchell and siblings in the 1850 federal census for Livingston County as well, making them one of the early pioneering families. However, in the 1880 and 1900 census, William and Castara are farming in Monroe Township which is a bit of a ride from Utica, especially with a skittish horse and sleigh. It is possible that William and Castara are visiting Utica from Monroe. William possibly owns farms in both townships, or is visiting family and old neighbors.
While there are all kinds of sleighs, a one-horse open sleigh is going to be small and light. Most don’t have a back bench. Frank could have been facing backwards and riding on some kind of back platform. He might have been riding with one foot on each runner, like a skier! It would have been nice to have more details about this dramatic experience!
