Monday, April 13, 2026

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Saturday, June 2, 1860

Macomb.  Early this morning the people began to gather in, and by noon from seven to ten thousand assembled. The morning was quite warm with a fresh breeze from the South, and the arrangements for speaking were made in the public square. Lawrence was to commence at 2 P. M. and I was to follow him. At 1 P. M. the wind shifted to the North, and blew almost a hurricane for half and hour, and then rained very heavily for sometime. Between 2 & 3 P. M. when it had almost ceased to rain although the earth was drenched, and the grass dripping, a great crowd of men and women assembled in the square, and I was compelled to address them, which I proceeded to do with my hat on, and an umbrella held over. After speaking an hour, being then thoroughly wet, and the rain increasing, it was proposed to adjourn to a large unfinished brick house, which we did, and where I addressed them for an hour longer tho' not one fourth of them could get in.

At 7 O'clock I took the cars for home where I arrived at 10, and found that rain had extended to Adams County in copious & abundant supply. It was the best and heaviest rain we have had this year. Lawrence and I dined with Mr Twyman, the son in law of Mr Chas Chandler

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 413

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