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Ch. 2 -- THE MOVE
In the spring of 1856, after recovering from his illness, Henry decided to give up shoemaking and try his hand at farming. Henry made a deal with Polly's father Schubel to rent his farm for three years. He then made a deal with Eli Bickford to take over the shoe shop in his absence. This move was a very sore subject between PoIlly and Henry, and the cause of many heated arguments. . . .
They were only relocating a mile and a half from town, and owned a horse and buggy. The distance isn't really that great for normal daily activity. Why was Polly protesting so much? Henry would not find out the real reason until right before the move. The answer would not come from Polly, but from their now nine year old son Albert.
One afternoon in early spring, while still living in Alabama Center, Albert walked into the kitchen of the house and viewed a scene that would forever change his opinion of his mother. . . .
The bedroom, which was shared by the whole family, was off the kitchen. It was warm outside so the bedroom door was open. On the bed, lying next to his mother, was Matthew Bardwell . . . . To see his mother being unfaithful to his father must have been distressing as well as confusing to a young boy. One can only guess what was going through Albert's mind after seeing his parents argue constantly about the move, and now this. He was certainly old enough to understand what his mother and Matthew were doing. Albert did the only thing he could; he went to find his father.
Modified detail of Alabama Center 1850s street map. Color & Letters added: F = S. Franklin. H = H. Hoog. B = E. Bickford. Among those in case. In above map image, north is to the right. |
Albert went over to the shoe shop and told his father
everything he had seen. Of all the reasons for Polly objecting to the move Henry probably never suspected his
wife of being unfhithful with his apprentice. No wonder Polly did not want to leave the Center, rent the shoe shop to Eli Bickford, or move to the farm. It would have separated Polly from her lover.
Henry immediately went over to the house and headed directly for the bedroom. Albert followed. Matthew was lying on the outside of the bed, with Polly lying down on the other side of him. Henry had a few words for Matthew and then left the room and went back over to the
shop. Polly and Matthew were still in bed together when Albert and his father left.
After Henry and his son left the house, Matthew went over to the shoe shop. Henry confronted him as soon as he came in. He made it clear to Matthew that he wanted him to leave his home, but for some reason, the threat was not enforced. Maybe Matthew talked his way out of it. Possibly Henry gave him a "don't let it happen again" ultimatum. For whatever reason, Matthew was allowed to stay; and to continue to work in the shop, and board in their home. . . .
. . . It was getting closer to the end of April and . . . Albert had gone into the house, possibly for a nap, because once again he headed for the bedroom. This time the bedroom door was closed, cutting off the breeze that would normally flow through the kitchen door. Albert opened the door to enter the room and found the reason for the door being closed. There was his mother, once again, lying in bed with Matthew Bardwell. The three of them locked eyes for a moment. The two in bed said nothing to Albert or he to them.
Albert left the room and awaited his father's return. . . . For some reason, Matthew was again allowed to
continue to work in the shop . . . Henry might have
resolved himself to the fact that the only way to get his
wife away from Matthew was to get her out of Alabama
Ceriter.
On April 23 the Hoags moved one and a half miles, away to the farm . . . . Eli Bickford took over Henry's shoe shop. Mittthew Bardwell moved to Wheatville, five miles to the west of the Center, and presumably worked with one of the tradesmen holding a business there.
Modified detail of Alabama Center 1850s street map. Color & Letters added: Dr. B = Dr. Samuel Bateman's |
From what we can gather from testimony this ended the relationship on Matthew's part. It was doubtful he had any serious interest in Polly . . . .
In 1856 Polly was a 31-year-old woman, with four children ranging from six months to nine years old. Matthew, was only 22. It is hard to imagine he would take this relationship seriously, but Polly did. . . . she was obsessed with getting Matthew Bardwell back. She continued to try and contact him. . . .
. . . at the end of May, Polly went to Dr. Samuel Bateman's, who was also a
druggist, and purchased a half-ounce vial of arsenic. It seems, according to Polly, that the Hoags were having problem with rats. . . . Polly returned a couple weeks later to the Batemans to replenish her supply.
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Calista, the doctor's wife, said, "Polly came to my house early one morning in June, she wanted to get into the office to purchase some rhubarb, and some arsenic to kill rats or mice who were destroying her clothes and bedding.
"She said she had some in the house before, but had mislaid or lost it. She was going to mix it with some bread and butter and put it between the lath. She said her husband did not wish her to buy it, for fear of accident.
"Said the mice were so thick that she couldn't live in the house. She said rat exterminator did not have any effect when they had used it."
Calista continued, "I put up a half an ounce of rhubarb for her at the same time I gave her a small vial of arsenic. I then inquired to the health of her family . . . . "
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