In 1860, Christopher began working as a day laborer for Ezra Cornell and his son, Franklin. He performed a variety of tasks on the farm, including fence building, sheep shearing, plowing, and sowing, for which he received $1/day. Sometimes his wages were paid in goods, including food (turnips, beef, potatoes, and flour) or firewood. Extra money could be earned by saving the firewood and selling it back to the Cornells.

The 1860s were a significant decade for the Cornell family, as a portion of the farm was transformed into Cornell University in 1868. The remainder of the farm continued to operate, and by the 1870s, Christopher Carney was a regular employee of the Cornells earning $400/year. Additional sources of income came from the day labor of Christopher’s eldest surviving son, Michael, who began working for the Cornells in 1869. Christopher occasionally served as a “watchman” while the Cornells were traveling, earning up to $130 dollars per service. Even after Ezra passed away in 1874, the Carney family continued to work for the Cornells. The relationship lasted over 25 years.

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