Box 2, Folder 7: Typewritten Letters, 1811-1828

Increase Allen Lapham. Part of his life work told in his writings and in selections from his diaries and letters.

"In the vast workhouse of nature he wrought, penetrating her arcana and revealing her mysteries for the enlightenment of his own generation and posterity."

Grace P. Jones.

Edited by his daughter Julia A. Lapham

In Two Volumes.

Vol. I.

1897

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Chapter 1 1811-1827

March 7, 1811-Thursday-I was born in a framed house in the town of Palmyra (now Macedon), Wayne Co. N.Y. five miles from the village of Palmyra; two miles west of the Macedon locks, on the Erie canal. In 1847 Freer's Bridge was on the old farm.

My father's name was Seneca Lapham and my mother's maiden name was Rachel Allen. My own name written in full is Increase Allen Lapham, named for my mother's father.

At the time of my first recollection we were living in the town of Galen, Wayne Co. N.Y.

1818. This year the family moved to Pennsylvania, near Pottsville or Mt. Carbon on the Schuylkill river, where we lived one year, and then moved to Orwigsburgh, four miles below; father, who as a contractor and engineer, was employed on the Schuykill canal.

1820. From there the family returned to Galen and father was employed at Lyons on the Erie canal, which was then constructing.

1822. The family moved to Rochester N.Y. where one of the arches of the first aqueduct was built by father. I remained at Galon and worked for a few months with one Elias Langdon, a farmer.

1824. The family removed to Lockport, N.Y.; father built the gates and woodwork for the locks which gave name to this place. They were deemed one of the wonders of art and a great triumph of engineering skill. Many strangers visited the place to inspect the work during its progress and I found frequent sale for my drawings of the plan of

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1824.

these combined double locks. These plans were scattered far and wide over the country. I remained a short time in Rochester, tending a petty grocery for, Timothy Miller.

March 7. Thirteen years old; went to Lockport and cut stone for the locks; here I found my first fossils and began my collection. The beautiful specimens I found in the deep rock cut at this place gave me my first ideas of mineralogy and initiated a habit of observation which has continued through all my life. I found amusement and pastime in the study of nature, leading to long walks in the country and as I found no others of similar tastes, those rambles were usually without companions. During this year I got employment under Alfred Barrett, Esq. President, engineer of Erie canal, as rodman at ten dollars a month and fifty cents a day for subsistance; which situation I held until the completion of the canal. My older brother Darius was employed as assistant engineer at the same time and place.

1825. I was present when La Fayette passed through Lockport on his "tour of welcome;" and when the completion of the canal was celebrated, Oct. 1825, and well remember the sound of the telegraphic cannon stationed along the route from Buffalo to New York which announced the important fact that the first boat had left Lake Erie on her way to the Atlnatic [Atlantic]. The following is the inscription at the foot of the locks:

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1824.

[left side note: could leave nothing of this when locks were enlarged - .]

"Erie Canal Let posterity be excited to perpetuate our Free Institutions and to make still greater efforts than their ancestors to promote Public Prosperity by the recollection that these works of Internal Improvement were achieved by the Spirit and Perseverance of Republican Freeman."

"The Erie Canal 362 miles in length; was commenced the 4th of July, 1817 and completed in the year 1825 at an expense of about $7,000,000. and was constructed exclusively by the Citizens of the State of New York."

The celebration of the cap stone was performed on Friday the 24th of June 1825 in masonic form. Under the cap stone was deposited two numbers of the Lockport Observatory, the order of the day, two pieces of the latest coin, a slip of paper containing the name of the governor, De Witt Clinton, and a brass plate with the time the first stone was laid, the names of the engineers and builders etc.

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1826.

1826. Went to school in Rochester the first part of this year. Darius was employed on the Welland canal in Upper Canada; and father went to Ohio on the Miami canal leaving the family in Lockport.

March 7. Fifteen years old today. In June of this year I assisted in running a test level for a canal around Niagara Falls on the Canadian side.

Aug. 5. Father secured a situation for me on the Miami canal, and wrote that I must come immediately.

Aug. 11. Went in a canal packet boat to Buffalo and before night was on board the steamboat Enterprise on my way up Lake Erie. My father made this trip, a few years ago in the steamboat Walk-in-the-Water, which had so little strength of engine that oxen were employed to pull the boat up the then--existing rapids, from Black Rock to Buffalo.

Aug. 13. Sunday; arrived in Buffalo just at night.

Aug. 14. Started in the stage at three this monring [morning] for Middleton on the Miami canal; rode sixty miles.

Aug. 15. Rode to Columbus where we staid all night.

Aug. 16. Drove to Dayton, where we staid.

Aug. 17. Got to Middleton at breakfast time this morning. Went to Duck Creek, saw father and found I had come much sooner than he expected, -- my place not ready.

Aug. 30. Commenced work on the Miami canal as rodman, under Byron Kilbourn Asst. and Samuel Forrer resident engineer, at $12.00 per month and $3.00 per week for board. ****

Dec. 15. A few weeks ago father went to Louisville having been employed on the canal at that place; today I left the above