Mucking about in the past

In 1852, Henry Osborne had been living in Goose Island, a village founded on goose dung (muck, as they called it), for at least 12 years. Then the Erie railroad built a depot there.

He was farming the right place at the right time. Goose Island (later Hamilton Station, later South Lima) became the heart of the local economy. "More carloads of produce were shipped from South Lima in a year than from any other place between Rochester and Elmira." (Livonia History)

In old newspapers at FultonHistory.com, I've found one mention of Henry.

Henry Osborn of Livonia Center raised 71.5 lbs of White Star potatoes from 1 lb. of seed. Good!

                 The Mount Morris Union, Thursday Oct 18, 1883

"Good!" I love that. Short and sweet.

Onions were the main crop until 1894. Then they went to town with celery. The details of root vegetable cultivation in South Lima NY in the 19th century are pretty fascinating, and not entirely off the subject. I've been curious about how Henry supported all those children, his sickly wife, his mother, and a "mistress" on 3.5 acres of land in a house the size of today's garage.

It was the local dirt.