Nancy Brown’s 1874 Diary

1874 DIARY OF NANCY C. BROWN

Jan 1 – Pleasant, thawed some this afternoon. Ethan[1] came down after us to go to Lois.[2] Hank,[3] Hannah,[4] Louese[5] and I went. We stoped to Fathers[6] to night. I cut out my wraper. Ethan sewed it up on Lois machine. Uncle Ed Armes[7] & Mrs Sherman were at Fathers to day. Hank and Ethan went to the Burg[8] this morning. Stayed with Willie[9] last night.

Jan 2 – Warm, thaws, it is quite muddy. Rained a very little. Father, Hank and I went to the Burg. I got Hannah a hat frame. I stoped with Ida B[10] a little while. Mrs Staining[?] gave birth to a little boy Sunday eve, it died Tuesday eve, burried to day. Ed Wolcott and Family[11] stayed to Pas[12] last night. We came back to Fathers. Arthur[13] is here.

Jan 3 – Warm ____ pleasant. Had to sit with the door open most all day. Went down to Pas with Arthur this morn. Made Hannah a hat. Ma washed. I went back down to Fathers with Ethan. Mr Streetors, Mrs S–, __uin[14] and Ethan were here this eve. Dell[15] got back to night.

Jan 4 – Warm till about nine thirty, commenced storming, stormed till night. Hank and I went up to Pas this afternoon. Hank went back and I stayed. Hannah went to Battle Creek to night. Ethan took her to the cars.[16] Ida went too.

Jan 5 – Cold and very rough. Hank and Father went to the Burg this morning. Hank got me a pair of gaiters,[17] price $2.50. Hank concluded to send our goods on the cars. He and Father took them over to day. Mother came up with the last load. I went back with them and stayed all night.

Jan 6 – A little warmer. Hank and I went down to Pas this morn. Hank and Father went to the Burg to help load our goods. Libbie Allen[18] stayes here to night.

Jan 7 – Cold. We left Pas fifteen minutes after seven. Ethan took us to the cars. We got to Lawton,[19] got the stove up and had luncheon before twelve. We feel pretty tired to night. George Moffitt called and asked us to go to his house and stay all night but we did not go. Just a little bit home sick to night.

Jan 8 – Pleasant. Mr Merritt commenced to work here on the sky light. I have not done any thing toward settling yet.

Jan 9 – Stormy. Men are to work in the other room. They make an awful racket. I am making over my curant jelley. Two ladies called here to get their pictures taken. I guess they dident get them. Mr Moffitt and an other gentleman helped this afternoon so they got the sky light puttied in.

Jan 10 – Snowed a little last night. I finished my dress this afternoon. Did not feel very well, was lonesome.

Jan 11 – Very cold. Hank and I wrote to our folks. Hank got up and got breakfast. Hank wrote a letter to C. H. Stephens, Chicago for six dollars worth of photograph goods. Mary Gray and Isaac VanAntwerp[20] both of Lyons were married to day.

Jan 12 – Warm and pleasant. I finished one of Hanks chinchilla gloves and commenced a pair of mittens for myself. Father killed the bull, old Bob and some other sheep.

Jan 13 – Commenced snowing about nine this forenoon. Snows real hard. I made _____ to day, the first I ever made. I am sewing dress. Hank got some potatoes, they are ten shillings a bushel. We got a letter from Father and Mother. Galigan suit was decided in her favor. Helen Carltons baby died to day. It was a month old.

Jan 14 – Very good sleighing with a light load. Snows a little to day. The side light is in. I have cut out my under clothes and sewed some on my chemise. Hank got his photograph goods he sent for. I baked two mince pies. Hank got 4 pounds sugar (.50).

Jan 15 – Very cold this after forenoon, snow this afternoon. Mr Merritt finished here. George got some paper. We got a bag of apples & some beef from Father. Father went to town Tuesday, he traded Fred. Cape[21] went with him & did not come back. I finished my chemise and wrote to Fathers folks this evening.

Jan 16 – Very cold. ______ ______ fruit and some other things froze last night. It was the coldest night yet this winter. We got about a quarter of the front room papered and one cote of paint in the operating room.

Jan 17 – Another cold night last night. Warmer this afternoon. _____ _____. Finished papering about three. Got a letter from Ina & Mother. Hannah came home Thursday. Mrs Chapin is sick. Cape got back that night he went away. Hank bought a _____ of ice box to night No. 169.

Jan 18 – Rainy. I baked two apple pies and some tarts and crullers. Hank finished painting in the operating room and tore off the paper. I wrote to our folks this evening. I am sick to day X.

Jan 19 – Snow this morning, rain this afternoon and Pleasant the rest of the day. Hank got paper for the operating room and dark room. We painted one cote on the front room and then commenced papering the other room. Got about a quarter done. Sent a letter to Pa.

Jan 20 – Rainy. We papered the dark room this afternoon. Hank opened the boxes, things were all right, but the small looking glass that was broken all to pieces. Ethan is twenty three (23) years old to day.

Jan 21 – Pleasant. Hank opened the big box, found things all right in them. We moped all the rooms. Was pretty tired when we got through.

Jan 22 – Rainy. Put down the carpet this forenoon. Picked up and got things partly straightened around in the operating room.

Jan 23 – Warm and pleasant. A young lady called to see about getting some pictures. Hank fixed the backgrounds. I made the curtains between the operating room and kitchen.

Jan 24 – Rainy. We hung the pictures this afternoon and evening.

Jan 25 – Rainy. We papered all we could in the operating room and bed room but did not have paper enough to finish.

Jan 26 – Pleasant. Hung out the sign. Should taken some pictures but it _____ so bad that Hank couldent. He took two gems[22] of me.

Jan 27 – Rainy. Had eight feet of sheet iron put on the chimney[?] this morning, does not smoke quite so bad. Rained so we could not do any thing. Got a letter from Ma.[23] She said Ethan had been up to Mr Earls. She said Helen Van Jonsens[?] baby was dead.[24] Hank got a cup bord of G. Moffitt, paid two dollars.

Jan 28 – Pleasant. Hank took 4 fifty cent gems for twelve shillings. He agreed to take some pictures for wood he bought, 4 pounds sugar (.50), (.12) worth of ______ and (.15) worth of kerosene oil. I wrote a letter to “The Domestic”, the first busines letter I ever wrote.

Jan 29 – Pleasant this forenoon, cloudy this afternoon. I took a picture of a little boy, got (.50). Got a letter and the clothes from home, also a letter from Harry Streetor[25] of Carston Ohio. Mother[26] sent a chicken, some corned beef, a loaf of bread and twenty six eggs.

Jan 30 – Very stormy and blustering. Mr Cole brought an old picture here to be copied. I was sick all night, feel a little better to day. About five inches of snow fell to day. I wrote a letter to Ida Barber.[27]

Jan 31 – Pleasant. Do not feel very well. Hank took in five dollars ($5.00). He has taken in $7.00 this week. He took his first negative in Lawton to day. He paid out $1.00 for wood.

Feb 1 – Pleasant. Nancy is not very well. We wrote a letter home to day “to Pas”. Had a call for some pictures but could not take them. “Henry”[28]

Feb 2 – Cloudy but pleasant. Nancy is better this morning but gets worse about noon and I got Dr M^cKinney. He comes twice to day, says her kidneys are affected. “Henry”

Feb 3 – Pleasant. I am a little better. The Doctor called here again this morning.

Feb 4 – Pleasant. About the same as yester day. Dr was here again. The mans funeral was to day, the one that got killed with oxen. Hank wrote to Ma to let her know I was sick. We got a postal C– from Will.[29] Father sent us a parlor stove to day.

Feb 5 – Pleasant. Set up some to day. Hank tried to take Mrs Dr Thomas[30] picture. She could not sit still long enough, is going to try again.

Feb 6 – Blustering. I was up most all day. Got a letter from Ma. She said she would be here tomorrow if I was no better but Hank wrote that I was so guess she wont come. Sent the dirty clothes home to night.

Feb 7 – Very Pleasant. Had an awful rush for tin types. There was fifteen waiting at one time. Had to turn off seven. Took in $6.75 for tin types.

Feb 8 – Did not do any thing of account.

Feb 9 – (no entry)

Feb 10 – Pleasant. Hank sent a postal card to Will and got a letter from Fathers folks. They said Will would be Saturday.

Feb 11 – Pleasant. Mr Robinson had this building raised and it craked the wall and paper all up. Hank feels pretty blue over it.

Feb 12 – Pleasant. Hank fixed the wall as well as he could. I baked bread and fixed my balmoral[31] this eve. Hank got me a pair of kid gloves and 12 cakes of soap and two lead pencils & some shaving sope.

Feb 13 – Pleasant. I made some cookies and crullers. There was a man preached in the street this afternoon.

Feb 14 – Warm and Pleasant. The same man preached this morning at nine. We have been crowded for tin types all day. Took in nine dollars $9.00. Will came this afternoon. A band from Battle Creek played here this afternoon and evening for the Auction. Happy Charley showed here this eve.

Feb 15 – Very pleasant. I do not feel very well. Hank and Will went to the foundry to day. Will went home this evening on the accomadation train.

Feb 16 – Pleasant. We took in $1.25. Hank bought four pounds sugar, a lamp chimney and burner and some plaster pins. I made my night dress sleves this evening.

Feb 17 – Pleasant. Hank took a negative of Mattie Abbott and quite a number of gems of other people. Dr M^cKinney and wife were here to see about getting some large pictures. Got a letter from Ma, Ethan and Louesa.

Feb 18 – Pleasant. Hanks Photographs goods came on mail. He got him a pair of pants and a vest at the auction store, paid $6.50. A man plastered here again to night. Hank got twenty five cents worth of beans. He painted the front room again. I am sick X.

Feb 19 – Fine rain. I am about sick with the head ache. Hank moped the operating room and kitchen. There was a dance at the hotel to night. Had the Paw Paw band to serenade the town.

Feb 20 – Pleasant, cloudy. I have not done any thing to day. There is to be an other dance to night. Got a letter from Mother. She sent the clothes and three _____ and some dried beef and other things.

Feb 21 – Stormy. We took in $7.00 to day. Took some pictures of two new couples just married.

Feb 22 – Pleasant. Hank went down to the Foundry. I made some crullers and an apple pie and wrote home. I expect Hannah and Ida go back to the Creek to night.

Feb 23 – Stormy. Hank did not take any pictures to day. The dentist called here a little while. Hank got a quart of milk, the first we have seen or had since we have been in Lawton.

Feb 24 – Pleasant. Did not take any pictures. Hank coppied and enlarged two. He went down to Mr Stearns to see some things. I took a couple of gems of him.

Feb 25 – Some stormy. I wrote a letter to Alice. Hank paid Mr Robison $1.50 for rent. They opened their saloon to day.

Feb 26 – Pleasant but cold. Roads dreadful rough. I finished my night dress. Hank got some kerosene oil. He has taken in $1.50 to day and has taken a negative of Mr M^cKinney, also copied one from the Days Doings.

Feb 27 – Warm and Pleasan. Alice Moffet & sister came here to get some babys pictures. Hank done $7.85 of work. He got four pounds of sugar and we melted it and made syrup. We got butter from Ma. Hank printed.

Feb 28 – Very Pleasant. Was buisy all day. Took in $7.40. I went down town for the first time. I got 2 yds. of rose colored ribbon. We called on Mrs M^cKinney at the store. The dentist tried to pull Hanks tooth this morning but broke it off three times.

Mar 1 – Pleasant. I have baked and done some other work getting ready to go home, expect to go Monday. Hank has fixed a picture to put on the back of prints.

Mar 2 – Pleasant. I left home this morning a little after ten, got to the Burg and found Dell so rode over to Pas with him. Got there about half past twelve. Caroline Earl[32] came to Pas this afternoon. I paid Amos Rogers $2.50 and Father $6.00. Harley Nichols Father died this morning.

Mar 3 – Rained. Ma washed. Carl went to the Burg this morning. Pa got my trunk. I am most sick. Mart Milham[33] came after Ethan yesterday to go down there and stay while he went to Schoolcraft for the “Grangers.”

Mar 4 – Pleasant. Ma, Aunt A[34] & I went down to Fathers. I am going to stay all night. Mart took Ethan home to night. I feel some better to day.

Mar 5 – Pleasant. I wrote to Hank this morning. Frank Chase was here a visiting. Father drew wood with Bill[35] & the new horse. Lois and Willie came home from Brady. I went out to our babys “grave.”[36] I wove some hair for Aunt Jule.[37]

Mar 6 – Rained some last night and a little this morning. Ethan and I went down to Aunt Kates.[38] Henry[39] came there about noon and rode as far as Dells with us. We called there a few minutes. I went up to Pas.

Mar 7 – Snowed a little, blustering this afternoon. Hank came on mail this noon. We stayed to Pas.

Mar 8 – Blustering, worse day we have had this winter. Ethan took us down to Fathers. He stayed till night. Henry was here a little while this afternoon. Dell came down this evening. George Moffitt died this morning, had been sick about a week, had inflamation of the lungs.[40]

Mar 9 – Pleasant but cold. I washed some. Will C– was here a little while this morning. Father took us to the cars. We stopped at Pas a few minutes. Mrs Hawver and Mary went to Lawton in the same car with us.

Mar 10 – Pleasant. Printed. George was buried to day, funrel at the M E Church at eleven oclock A.M. He was burried in Masonic order. I baked some to day.

Mar 11 – Cloudy and cold. I wrote to Hannah. Andrew Mofitt had three gems taken to day. We got a letter from Mother. She sent Mr & Mrs Dickensons pictures and their letter.

Mar 12 – Cold and windy. We moped this morning. Hank took two gems of me with Mr Churchills lense. Mrs M^cKinney called here. We sent Hannahs letter.

Mar 13 – Cold, snowed a very little. Hank took in three dollars $3.00. He wrote to Pa and sent him a stick he had been varnishing for him. Mrs Dr Thomas died to day.[41]

Mar 14 – Warm and Pleasant. Been buisy all day. Hank has taken in nine dollars & twenty cents $9.20. This has been our best week in Lawton. We have taken in $18.45.

Mar 15 – Warm and pleasant. I wrote to Aunt Jule. Mrs Dewey and Mrs Thomas funeral was to day. Mrs Thomas was buried at Paw Paw.

Mar 16 – Very pleasant. We printed. I did the most of it & Hank took pictures. We went down to M^cKinneys drug store this eve and Mrs M^cKinney[42] wanted we should go down to her house and we went.

Mar 17 – Warmer than yesterday, had a thunder storm to night. I commenced making me an over skirt & waist out of the calico Mother let me have.

Mar 18 – Very warm, had to keep the doors & windows open all day. We got a letter from Mother. We have taken in over $13.00 so far this week.

Mar 19 – Rained last night, cold to day. We intended to print but could not on account of it being so cloudy. I finished my dress.

Mar 20 – Pleasant. We printed one hundred and forty small prints and three large ones. Hank took a large negative of Mr Dr M^cKinney and Mrs M^cKinney.

Mar 21 – Cloudy but pleasant. I wrote to Fathers folks. We sent the clothes home. We sent Aunt Jule $15.00 fifteen dollars. We have taken in over $7.00 seven dollars to day and twenty dollars and nineteen cents this week ($20.29 right).

Mar 22 – Windy. I washed the Pillow shams and sheet & the stand cloth. Hank made some cream candy. It was real good. The Foundry stoped work last night. Hank brought some a pack of cards last night, paid sixty cents for them.

Mar 23 – Pleasant but cold. Hank has had all he could do retouching negatives and taking pictures. I helped all I could.

Mar 24 – Warmer “and” Pleasant. We printed. I had a dizy spell. Hank got some brandy for me. We got a letter from Hannah and Ida. Hannah said Wesley[43] had traded his farm for a farm in Kansas and was going to move in about four weeks.

Mar 25 – Rainy. We have been buisy taking pictures all day. Hank sent Aunt Jule fifteen dollars $15.00.

Mar 26 – Rainy. We got a letter from Mother and the clothes also a letter from Ma. She has got the Eyresspelas[44] on her nose.

Mar 27 – Rained a little. Mrs Dr M^cKinney and three other ladys called here. I sent a letter to Ma. Hank got us a rocking chair, is to take two dollars and a halfs worth of pictures for it.

Mar 28 – Pleasant but cold. Took in over eight dollars. Took six negatives, the rest were tin types.

Mar 29 – Pleasant. We expected the “Merry Ten” to come and have their pictures taken but they did not come.

Mar 30 – Cloudy. We took in $3.50 to day. Rose M^cK[45] called here. Hank went to see if we could get Mrs Tapin to do our washing. She called here this eve and said she would. Mrs N B M^cKinney[46] and the Dr and Wife[47] were here this eve but Dr was called away.

Mar 31 – Pleasant. We went over to the Dr this evening. There is a temprance lecture here this eve. The lecturer Mr ________ called here.

Apr 1 – Pleasant. Rose M^cKinney set for a negative. We took in $3.20. Mrs Tapin brought our washing home to night.

Apr 2 – Pleasant. I had a Sterecope view[48] taken. Hank says it is the best picture he ever took. Dr and wife, M. B. & wife were here this evening. I wrote a letter home. Hank got a new pair of new boots paid $5.00. I was weighed to night, weight 1.15.

Apr 3 – Wet snow most all day. Hank got a _____[49] to look at my picture. It looks real nice. There is to be a dance at Stewarts Hall to night. We intend to go a little while. Hank has gone to take the new show case down to Mr Stearnes.

Apr 4 – Pleasant. Has been the poorest Saturday since we have been here. I went over to Dr M^cKinney a little while this evening. Hank came after me. Mrs Geo Moffitt[50] called there this afternoon for the first time.

Apr 5 – Stormed all day, about six inches of snow fell. We sugared off to day. It is the first warm sugar we have had.

Apr 6 – Pleasant but cold. It has been awful exciting times in town to day on account of lection. Mrs Dr M^cKinney called here a little while this evening.

Apr 7 – Very pleasant. We printed this forenoon. Our goods came from Lovejoy and Foster this noon. I went to the P.O. for the first time. Mrs Moffitt called and left Georgs picture.

Apr 8 – Pleasant. Hank retouched negatives all day. We got a letter from Mother, she said Arthur Armes was coming here tomorrow.

Apr 9 – Very Pleasant. We printed. I baked some this forenoon. Arthur came on the three oclock mail. We have been pretty buisy to day. I sent a letter to Lois.

Apr 10 – Pleasant but windy. Did not do much to day. I ironed this afternoon.

Apr 11 – Pleasant this afternoon, snow and rain this forenoon. Took in over $7.00 to day. Arthur is here yet.

Apr 12 – Cold. Hank moped this forenoon. Arthur went away from here on the Accomadation train this evening.

Apr 13 – Stormy this morning, pleasant the rest of the day. Mrs Smith brought some wreaths here this evening to have Hank fix. Mrs Tappin and daughter brought the clothes home.

Apr 14 – Pleasant. I took Mrs S– frames home and got me a hat frame & flowers. We got a letter from Ma.

Apr 15 – Pleasant but cold. I made my hat to day. We put down the old carpet in the kitchen. Hank got the new show case ready to hang up tomorow.

Apr 16 – Cold. I went over to Dr M^cK a little while this afternoon. Mrs Hawver, Mrs Moffitt and an other lady called here. We had out rooms white washed. It cost $2.00.

Apr 17 – Some pleasanter. I went down to Mrs Moffitts this afternoon. Hank, Dr M^cK and wife came a little while in evening.

Apr 18 – Pleasant. Have been pretty buisy to day. Hank ordered some goods.

Apr 19 – Rainy this afternoon. I am sick. Hank took a negative for a young man got $2.50. I wrote a letter to Ma and one to Hannah. Sent Hannah our pictures.

Apr 20 – Rainy. Hank took large negative for Mr Humphrey. I sent a letter to Ma and Hannah got one from Lois.

Apr 21 – Pleasant. I got some feathers ready to make feather flowers. L. Lays baby was buried to day, it was a bout twenty months old.[51]

Apr 22 – Pleasant. I comenced making some flowers. We went to the temprance meeting to night. Mr Watkins spoke.

Apr 23 – Pleasant. I worked some on flowers. We got our box of good yesterday. Cost us over twenty dollars.

Apr 24 – Pleasant. Cemicals would not work at all. I ironed and worked some at my flowers. Mr & Mrs Pattingill spent the evening here.

Apr 25 – Pleasant. I have been sick most all day had a weak spell this morning. Dr M^cK and wife called here a little while this afternoon.

Apr 26 – Pleasant but a cold wind. Hank wrote to Loyd. We went down to Mrs Moffitts a little while this afternoon.

Apr 27 – Rained a little toward night. I expect Wesleys folks started for Kansas to night. I baked some to day. There was quite a good deal of snow on the ground this morning.

Apr 28 – Pleasant. We have taken in $8.00 to day. Got a letter from Father. I wrote to them. I went over to the Dr a little while.

Apr 29 – Pleasant. I went down to Mrs Moffitts this afternoon, found her cleaning house. We went up to Mrs Smiths this evening.

Apr 30 – Pleasant. I have not felt well today. Got a letter from Ma & Ethan telling about the machine. We went to Mr Smiths and got some views.

May 1 – Pleasant through the day, rained a little this evening. I did not sit up much till toward night. We went over to the May Party a little while but did not join the dance but we got some Ice Cream.

May 2 – Pleasant. I am some better. Hank got some Medicine for me. Mrs Dr M^cK was up here a little while, invited us to come over there tomorow. We have taken in $22.55 this week.

May 3 – Rained a little toward night. I baked some this forenoon. We went over to the Drs this afternoon a little while.

May 4 – Pleasant. I came home to day on mail. Ethan was at the Depo. I went down to Aunt Celinas and stayed this afternoon to visit with Wesleys folks. They start to night for Kansas. I have got the tooth ache.

May 5 – Pleasant. Tooth aches to day. Ma has got some greens for dinner the first I have had.

May 6 – Pleasant. My tooth ached fearfully all day. Ma & I went over to Mr Barbers[52] this afternoon. Ida is at home, going back tomorow.

May 7 – Pleasant. Intended to went down to Fathers this morning but was sick. Did not go till this evening. They have got the house all cleaned except the cellar.

May 8 – Pleasant. Toothache again. Have not done much sewing. I went out to our babys grave and fixed it up as well as I could with my hands.

May 9 – Pleasant. Went up to Pas this forenoon. Hank came this evening. My tooth uclerated and broke. Hannah came home this afternoon.

May 10 – Warm. Hannah, Hank and I went down to Fathers. Ethan was not well enough to go. Hank & Hannah went up to see Lois a little while.

May 11 – Pleasant. Hank, Aunt Jule and I went a boat riding this afternoon. Delia Berge died to night.[53]

May 12 – Pleasant. Father took Hank to Kalamazoo this morning. He is going home to day. Father took me up to Pas after he got home.

May 13 – Pleasant. Had the tooth ache all day so did not do much work. Delia Berge was buried to day.

May 14 – Pleasant. Ma & I went to Loises this afternoon. I did not go home with her.

May 15 – Rained hard this afternoon. Have had the tooth ache all night and all day.

May 16 – Pleasant. Dell, Sate[54] and Lois went to the Burg this morning. I went down to Pas with them.

May 17 – Pleasant. Had an awful time with my tooth.

May 18 – Pleasant. Ma was up all night with me. My tooth was so bad I could not sleep any. Pa took me down to Fathers to night.

May 19 – Pleasant. Father and I went to the Burg this morning. I had Miller Pull my tooth, one prong broke off.

May 20 – Pleasant. Do not feel very well. Hank came to night to attend the law suite.[55] Is most sick.

May 21 – Pleasant. When the men went to town I went down as far as Aunt Kates. Aunt K– is out to Hellens.[56]

May 22 – Pleasant. We stayed to Aunt K– all night. Hank is all broke out with the scarlet rash so he cant go to town to day. Will have to use his old testamony.

May 23 – Pleasant. Hank is some better. Father beat Allerton, got twenty six dollars judgement.

May 24 – Pleasant. Will took Hank and I up to Pas this forenoon. Father, Mother and Aunt Jule came up a little while this afternoon.

May 25 – Pleasant. Ida Barber came home sick Saturday. We came home to day.

 

No more entries for the rest of the year.

Cash Account January:                        Rec’d.              Paid

1                                                                  .65
5    One pair gaiters                                                       2.50
12                                                                .4
14                                                                .13
15   Let Hank have                                                        2.00
21   Hank gave me                                 2.50

 

Cash Account February:                     Rec’d.              Paid

4    One lemon                                           .8
4    Candy                                                   .5

 

Week Ending February (29)              10.75
Week Ending March (6)                     11.95
Week Ending March (14)                  18.45
Week Ending March 21                     20.29
Week Ending March 28                     20.09
Week Ending April 4                          11.90
Week Ending April 11                       16.43
Week Ending April 18                       14.12
Week Ending April 25                       17.80
Week Ending May 2                           22.55

March 20 Work for Dr McKinney    5.35
March 23 Work for Beach                 2.00
March 28 Work for wood                  1.00
Mrs Robinson                                      2.50

(The next page with the heading Cash Account, July, is illegible except for the words Rail Road.)

Miss Alice Crawford
Patch Grove, Wisconsin

Miss Nellie Tomlinson
Perry, Wyoming Co., New York

Miss Ida E. Barber
Battle Creek, Michigan

Miss H. M. Keith
Battle Creek, Michigan

Mrs. H. A. Brown
Lawton, Box 169, Michigan

——-

[1] Her brother, Ethan Keith

[2] Her half-sister, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner

[3] Her husband, Henry Brown

[4] Her sister, Hannah Keith

[5] Her youngest sister, Louese Keith

[6] Her father-in-law, Ambrose Brown. Nancy refers to her parents, Sarah (Crawford) & Charles Luke Keith Jr., as Ma and Pa, and to Hank’s parents, Matilda (Allen) & Ambrose Brown, as Mother and Father

[7] Believe she is referring to her husband Henry’s Uncle William E. Arms

[8] Galesburg, Michigan

[9] William Byron Clark, the son of Nancy’s half-sister, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner

[10] Neighbor, daughter of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[11] Edward G. Wolcott and his wife, Sarah (Bliss), and their son, Henry Orton Wolcott

[12] Charles Luke Keith Jr.

[13] Arthur Arms, the son of William E. & Cynthia (Brown) Arms

[14] Believe she is referring to Marius O. Streator, his wife, Laura (Rawson) Streator, and possibly their son, John Quincy Streator

[15] Adelbert Skinner, the husband of Nancy’s half-sister, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner

[16] The train

[17] Gaiters (or spats) were worn over shoes or boots to protect the lower legs and ankles from pebbles, dirt, thorns and such

[18] One of the daughters of neighbors John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[19] Lawton, Michigan

[20] Michigan Marriage Records at Ancestry.com reveal that Isaac Van Antwerp, age 28, married Mary Gray, age 17, in Muir, Michigan, on January 11, 1874

[21] Believe that was the Brown’s dog

[22] Small tintype photographs. Tintypes were printed on iron, but called tintype because the metal resembled tin

[23] Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[24] See January 3^rd entry; believe that both entries are referring to Helen (Carlton) Vanhousen’s baby

[25] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” D. Streator, the son of Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[26] Her mother-in-law, Matilda (Allen) Brown

[27] Her friend from back home

[28] Henry wrote the entries for both February 1^st and 2^nd

[29] Most likely Henry’s brother, Willis Brown

[30] Sallie (Cole) Thomas, the wife of Dr. Oscar Thomas

[31] A colored woolen petticoat worn under a skirt and draped so that portions of it could be seen

[32] Her cousin, Caroline (Wolcott) Earl, the sister of Edward Wolcott

[33] Martin Milham, husband of Aunt Kate’s daughter (by her second husband), Lucy (Lee) Milham

[34] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, widow of Harvey Keith (Charles Luke Keith Jr.’s brother), who was living with Luke & Sarah

[35] Her father’s horse

[36] Nancy delivered twins on May 30, 1873. One was born dead and the other lived only two hours. They were buried at the foot of a tree near the horse trough on Ambrose & Matilda Brown’s land

[37] Julia Allen, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, who lived with Ambrose & Matilda

[38] Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee, her father’s sister

[39] Her half-brother, Henry Keith, the son of Charles Luke Keith Jr. by his first wife Minerva (Payson) Keith

[40] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that George Maffit, age 38, died from pneumonia on March 9, 1874 in Lawton, Michigan, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Lawton, Michigan

[41] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Sallie Cole, age 23, wife of Dr. Oscar Thomas, died of consumption in Lawton, Michigan on March 13, 1874

[42] Believe this refers to Napoleon & Lois (Walldorff) McKinney. The 1880 Census lists Napoleon McKinney as a “drug clerk”

[43] John Wesley Keith, her father’s adopted brother

[44] Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the skin, very similar to the “flesh eating bacteria” infection noted in recent years. It was one of the major causes of death in wars among wounded soldiers and hospitalized civilians in the days before disinfectants and hand washing

[45] Rose McKinney, the daughter of Napoleon & Lois (Walldorff) McKinney

[46] Lois (Walldorff) McKinney

[47] Have been unable to find any information regarding a Dr. McKinney; investigation continues. Update of 8-23-2018: Census records for 1870 & 1880 show Martin VanBuren McKinney (a physician) & Mary Elizabeth (Stephenson) McKinney living in Lawton, Michigan

[48] Two photographs of the same object taken at slightly different angles mounted on a single background which when viewed through a stereoscope creates a 3D effect

[49] The word was barely legible, but I believe it referred to a stereoscope

[50] Addie (Hanover) Maffit

[51] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com reveal that Edward S. Lay, the son of Alexis & Anna Lay, died of spasms in Comstock, Michigan on April 19, 1874

[52] Neighbor, Richard Barber

[53] A search at FindAGrave.com reveals that Fidelia (Bronson) Birge, age 43, died May 11, 1874 and is buried in McKain Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[54] Sarah Skinner, the sister of Adelbert Skinner, the husband of Nancy’s half-sister Lois

[55] Luke Keith and Nancy & Hank Brown all wrote in their 1873 diaries of the Brown and Allerton lawsuit. There was a judgment entered on March 6, 1873 awarding Ambrose Brown $22.00 plus costs. It is unknown whether this was a new lawsuit or if John Allerton had requested a retrial

[56] Helen (Bradley) York, Aunt Kate’s daughter by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

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Luke Keith’s 1874 Diary

1874 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

The entries from January 1 through June 10 were first written in the back of his 1873 diary. He copied the entries of January 1 through February 5 into his 1874 diary and they are basically identical to what he originally wrote in his 1873 diary. Anything from 1874 that clarifies or adds to the 1873 entries is noted in brackets. He then had entries in his 1874 diary on August 30 and September 1 and finally daily entries from September 22 through December 31.

Jan 1 – At home. Ethan[2] and girls[3] went down to Lois.[4] Ed Wilcut and wife[5] came here, stayed all night.

Jan 2 – Eds folks went home. No snow [but very] muddy.

Jan 3 – Quite warm 60 Abz.[6] [Not much done but chores.]

Jan 4 – At home. 60 Abz in morning, cool at night 30 Abz. Hannah[7] went to Battlecreek to learn Dress Makers trade. [All well.]

Jan 5 – Cool, no snow, 20 Abz in morning. [Choring round.]

Jan 6 – At home. Not much work [but chores].

Jan 7 – Hank and Nancy[8] moved to Lawton.[9] Fine day.

Jan 8 – Pleasant morning, 30 Abz. Went over to burg.[10] Bot Lock for schoolhouse 30 cts.

Jan 9 – Filed saw for [N. A.] Randal 10¢.

Jan 10 – At home. Mrs [Hat] Hawleys[11] Father and Brother came [here in afternoon, stayed all night].

Jan 11 – At home. Cold, no snow. Henry Semer paid me Nine Dollars.

Jan 12 – Mr Abbot and son[12] left. Went over to burg. Paid my tax 16.87 cts.

Jan 13 – Cool, no snow. At home. Catharine,[13] [Mrs] Gaffing and Jo Lee[14] here.

Jan 14 – Cold. Hannah came home. Snowed [some].

Jan 15 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Cool and blustering, snow 2¼.

Jan 16 – Cold, 7 Abz in morning. At home [no work] not very well.

Jan 17 – At home. Worked in shop some.

Jan 18 – Not very cold. Ethan & Hannah [went down to Streators] went over to Barbers[15] in Evening.

Jan 19 – At home. Went down to Streators[16] in morning.

Jan 20 – Went down to Catharines, stayed all night. Thrashers came to [____] thrash clover [seed]. Mart and Lucy[17] went to town. Rainy night.

Jan 21 – Rained in afternoon. Came home in Evening. Rainy. Lois here.

Jan 22 – Rainy morning. [No work but chores.]

Jan 23 – Worked on bob rods and neap. Paid D. S. Bronson fifteen Dollars. Ethan & Hannah went up to S[am] Whites to a Dance. [Hiram Lovelands wife Died to day.][18]

Jan 24 – Snows some. At home. All well.

Jan 25 – At home. Ethan & Hannah went up to Wesleys.[19]

Jan 26 – Finished Bobs. Went down to A. Browns[20] in Evening. Cold, no snow.

Jan 27 – Rainy morning. [Not much work.]

Jan 28 – At home. Worked in shop some.

Jan 29 – Went down to M O Streators, got five 5 bushels wheat. Mrs Semer paid one Dollar.

Jan 30 – 28 cold and snowy. No work. Very blustring.

Jan 31 – Pleasant morning 2 below zero. Went over to burg got Louesas[21] shoes mended 60. Alfleda[22] came back.

Feb 1 – 11 Abz, pleasant morning. Traded harness for sleigh.

Feb 2 – At home. Not much work.

Feb 3 – Went to Comstock[23] to mill. Fine day.

Feb 4 – Made saw frame for Mrs Semer.

Feb 5 – Went over to burg at noon. Carried hams down to A. Browns. J. R. Towsley Buried. Mart and toot[24] came here. Posted up to here.[25]

Feb 6 – Snows this morning. At home.

Feb 7 – At home. Worked round shop and home.

Feb 8 – At home for day.

Feb 9 – Went down to Lois in Evening. All right.

Feb 10 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine came home with me. Went over to burg in Evening. Streator came up in Evening. Wes and Harriet[26] here. Alfleda _____

Feb 11 – Fine day. Went up in woods, got load wood. Carried Catharine home. Streator and T Ford here in Evening.

Feb 12 – At home. Not very well. Rainy night.

Feb 13 – Repaired hand slead. Snow all gone.

Feb 14 – At home. Worked round house and shop some. No snow.

Feb 15 – At home. All Well.

Feb 16 – At home. Cut some wood.

Feb 17 – Sawed some wood. Cold, no snow.

Feb 18 – Went to Kalamazoo. $4.00 paid four Dollars on Sewing machine note.[27]

Feb 19 – Sarah[28] and Alfleda went down to Streators. Stormy.

Feb 20 – At home. Work in barn. Husked corn.

Feb 21 – Sarah went over to burg. Hannah went up to Battlecreek. Oscar[29] called here in morning. Had been to Lansing. No snow.

Feb 22 – Fine day. 29 Abz in morning. At home all day. Hawleys folks went up to Ridlers.[30] Alfleda and Oscar came back just at night. Oscar went home.

Feb 23 – Put top on my new violin. Very blustring day.

Feb 24 – Went down to Skinners, got some apples. Hawley[31] got a fart crosswise and blowed a perfect gale.

Feb 25 – Cold, not much wind in morning. At home. Cut some wood.

Feb 26 – At home. Choring round. All well. Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.[32] Turned balance wheel for Ethans Engine.

Feb 27 – Turned balance wheel for Ethans Engine.[33] Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.

Feb 28 – Cut wood. Pleasant day. Eugene[34] came up in Evening.

Mar 1 – Cloudy, no snow.

Mar 2 – At home. Finished husking corn. Caroline Earl[35] came here. Ethan went down to Marts.[36] Nancy came home.

Mar 3 – Carried Caroline over to burg. Rained some.

Mar 4 – Round home, fine day.

Mar 5 – Sawed wood, got quite a pile.

Mar 6 – Went over to burg. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines. M. O. Streator and wife[37] here. Sold the bobs to Streator. He paid $.00 ten Dollars.

Mar 7 – Some wind in morning. Rough day, blustrous.

Mar 8 – Hank and Nancy here. They went down to Browns. George Maffit Died.[38]

Mar 9 – Cold. At home. Hank and Nancy went home. Not much work.

Mar 10 – Maffit buried. Went to Comstock to mill. Very cold. Stopt to Catharines. Got letter from Carry Plank.[39]

Mar 11 – Cold morning, no snow.

Mar 12 – At home. No work out doors.

Mar 13 – Went over to burg twice. Went up to Durkees. Received 88 Dollars of Township Treasurer. Paid Miss Davis 88 Dollars. Aunt Linda Hobbs Died.

Mar 14 – Went to Kalamazoo with Dell.[40] Paid A. B. Sumner thirteen Dollars 13.00. Nice day. Sarah went to ARS.

Mar 15 – Catharine here.

Mar 16 – Went over to burg. Went down to Skinners. Got his wagon.

Mar 17 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sold Ira Carlton twenty and half bushels corn fifteen Dollars and 37½ cts. Rained in Evening, Thundered. First thunder storm. Paid Doc Finch ten Dollars. Sarah and Catharine went up to Wesleys.

Mar 18 – At home. Worked round. Got some wood, got Peacock.

Mar 19 – Worked round some in shop some.

Mar 20 – Went down to Kalamazoo with Wesley. Traded my watch with Wes for his Buggy and Harness. Martin Turner[41] stayed here all night. Theodore, Elva and Hurb Earl[42] here in Evening.

Mar 21 – Went over to burg with A. Brown. Tild and Jule[43] here in afternoon. Went over to burg in Evening after Azros and wife. They stayed all night.

Mar 22 – Pleasant. Azros folks went up to Wesleys.

Mar 23 – Went over to burg. Received of Town Treasurer forty Nine and Ninety nine/100 Dollars 49.99. Cold wind.

Mar 24 – Painted wheelbarrow. Ethan went down to Catharines.

Mar 25 – Lois, Sate and Mrs Skinner[44] came down here. Rained some. Jim[45] went up to Mr Flanders, got Pea hen. Henry[46] came brot Boiler.

Mar 26 – Trimed some appletrees and choped some. Cut one tree up in woods.

Mar 27 – Jo Lee and Catharine came up here. Jim and Harvey went down to Catharines.

Mar 28 – Cold and windy. At home.

Mar 29 – Went down to Catharines. Orson Starr and wife came up there. Had some new shugar.

Mar 30 – Helped A. Brown clean up wheat. Sarah came home with him.

Mar 31 – Cold wind. Major commenced to set. She had 14 Eggs.

Apr 1 – Split some logs for wood. Henry came down. They fired up Engine. Martin Turner here to dinner. Hannah came home.

Apr 2 – Wesleys Auction to day. Went up to Wes Auction. Cold, snowed some.

Apr 3 – Went up to Wesleys, got bedstead. Went up agan, got buggy. Ethan, Hannah and sis[47] went up in afternoon. Henry came down. He went up to Wesleys. Snowed like fun.[48]

Apr 4 – Cold morning, 9 Abz in morning. District No. 7 paid C. L. Keith[49] one Dollar $1.00.

Apr 5 – At home.

Apr 6 – Went to town meeting.

Apr 7 – At home. All well.

Apr 8 – Sarah went over to Hoags,[50] Lois Barbers. I went over to Dicks in Evening. Cut wood. Ethan drawed some.

Apr 9 – Tinkered in shop some and round house.

Apr 10 – Went up to Wesleys. Helped him pack his things. He took them to the burg. Harvey and Ellis[51] stayed all night. Ethans Engine went the first time.

Apr 11 – Ellis and Harvey here.

Apr 12 – Mart and Lucy came, Lucy stayed.

Apr 13 – Put in crosbar in M O 50 Streators buggy thills.[52] Made pole for Hawley 1.00 one Dollar. Rained in Evening. Ethan Drawed wood.

Apr 14 – Cloudy. At home. Made Evener for Hawley 25¢.

Apr 15 – At home. Toot here _____. Chored round, cleaned door, yard, piled wood.

Apr 16 – Fixed up kettle for making soap. Toot went up to Jims.[53]

Apr 17 – Cloudy. Hawley took load stalks. Made soap.

Apr 18 – At home. Not very well. No work.

Apr 19 – At home. Fine day, cold wind.

Apr 20 – Worked round in garden and yard.

Apr 21 – Went to Kalamazoo to probate Court.

Apr 22 – Went to Comstock to mill. Got three bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Harriet stayed here.

Apr 23 – Went over to burg, carried Harriet and children over. Mr Murphy died.[54]

Apr 24 – Drawed manure, put round appletrees. Setled up with Hawley.

Apr 25 – Lame, no work to day. Fine day.

Apr 26 – At home all day. Fine weather.

Apr 27 – Finished trimming currant brush. Catharine here. Ethan packed over Engine.

Apr 28 – Snow 1 inch and ¼ deep this morning.

Apr 29 – Hawley left this morning, he was very sick. Soing machine miller here. Catharine went home. Bely Right paid over first payment on the land.

Apr 30 – Drawed manure from Hogpen. Henry came down here.

May 1 – Fine morning. At home all day. Went down to Skinners just at night.

May 2 – Went to Kalamazoo. Borrowed twenty five Dollars of Jule Allen. Paid miller for machine 30 Dollars.

May 3 – At home. Mart and Lucy came up. Wes and family here.

May 4 – Worked round yard and garden. Went over to burg in Evening. Wesley and family left for Kansas on the Eleven fifty Eight run. Nancy came home.

May 5 – At home, fine day. Alfleda went up to A. Browns. Henry came down.

May 6 – Moved fence south of orchard and west side of lane. Will Plank[55] came in Evening.

May 7 – Pleasant morning. Ridler commenced plowing in south lot.

May 8 – Repaired A. Browns Roller in morning. Ridler plowing. Heard the first Whipporwill.

May 9 – Put handles in Ridlers plow. Ethan got Bill Brown to plow garden. Hank came home.

May 10 – Fine warm day. At home.

May 11 – Plowed gardens. Will Plank went home. Burnt brushheap. Mrs Delia Birge died.[56]

May 12 – Worked round garden. Drawed some roots and brush of plowed ground. Hank went home. Ethan planted for A. Brown.

May 13 – Put cover in Browns churn. Hot day. Will Barber[57] commenced plowing in East lot. Mrs Birge buried to day.

May 14 – Sarah and Nancy went down to Skinners. Ethan planted corn for Dell. Ridler planting in South lot.

May 15 – Went down to M. O. Streators got some potatoes. Rained in afternoon and night. Finished planting South lot.

May 16 – Rainy morning. Worked round garden and and shop.

May 17 – At home. All right. No one here.

May 18 – Planted potatoes. Ed Childs stayed Marked potatoe ground. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Barber and Dell plowed.

May 19 – Planted potatoes. Ed Childs stayed here all night. Rained.

May 20 – Went down to Charles Lees.[58] Sarah Stayed.

May 21 – Went to Kalamazoo to attend Browns & Allertons lawsuit.[59]

May 22 – Went to Kalamazoo. Was sworn on suit.

May 23 – Went to Kalamazoo. Browns Suit Ended. Brown got judgment of 26 Dollars. Ida Barber[60] came home sick.

May 24 – At home. All right.

May 25 – Chored round. Went over to burg. Got Wheel for hank. Hank and Nancy went home. Went down to Skinners just at night.

May 26 – Worked round garden and shop.

May 27 – Worked in shop and chored round.

May 28 – Made Hogyard. Put hogs in. One of them sick.

May 29 – Jo Lee here all day. Altered hog, put rings in his nose. I went down to Catharines, carried Lucy home. Alfleda went with Jo Lee.

May 30 – Went to Kalamazoo as witness on uncle Isaac Pierce Estate.[61] Giddings baby[62] buried to day.

May 31 – Went over to Mrs Wilson in Evening to Spiritual circle.[63]

Jun 1 – Worked on Hanks wheel. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jun 2 – Finished Hanks wheel.

Jun 3 – Not very well. At home. Barber brot thills over to be made.

Jun 4 – Worked in shop some on thills.

Jun 5 – Hued out thills. Barber and Ridler cultivating. Had a fine shower in afternoon

Jun 6 – Cut out rockers for chair. Went over to burg, sent Hanks wheel to him. Ethan and Henry turned mallets and balls for Ed flanders.[64] Had a heavy rain in Evening. Went down to Lois just at night.

Jun 7 – At home. Alvin and Ida Lee[65] came up here.

Jun 8 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Had a heavy shower. Went over to burg in afternoon. Saw Doc. Johnson.

Jun 9 – Hot morning. Took felloes[66] of Wightmans wheels.

Jun 10 – Went over to burg to see show come in.

[End of 1874 entries in his 1873 diary, then two entries in 1874 diary on August 30 and September 1]

Aug 30 – Judge Bazel Harrison[67] Died to day Ae 100 & 3 years.

Sep 1 – Judge Bazel Harrison Buried to day.

[No entries for September 2-21]

Sep 22 – Husked corn in East lot. Nancy came home. Ethan came home in Evening.

Sep 23 – Carried Sarah down to Catharines. Received twenty four Dollars of Town Treasurer $20, primary $4 Library. Husked pop corn, had one bushel of Ears.

Sep 24 – Husked corn, put in the barn. Warm day.

Sep 25 – Husked corn. Finished husking Barbers corn, had 37 thirty seven bushels of Ears. Drawed in seven shock of Ridlers, had seven and half bushels. Hot and dry.

Sep 26 – Rainy forenoon. Drawed in some corn in afternoon. Went down to Catharines after Sarah, stayed all night. Had a heavy shower in Evening. Charley Harris[68] Died this morning.

Sep 27 – At Catharines. Came home in Evening. All right.

Sep 28 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Skinners, got some peaches. Went over to burg in Evening. Paid Emma Sumner[69] forty three Dollars $43.

Sep 29 – Husked corn. Pleasant day. Carried 2½ wheat over to mill. Nancy put on her quilt.

Sep 30 – Pleasant morning, no frost yet. Husked corn. Hannah came home. Mrs Brown and Jule here quilting.

Oct 1 – Husked corn. Ethan and Jim went to Fair at Kalamazoo.

Oct 2 – Husking corn. Finished South lot. Fine day.

Oct 3 – Carried up corn into Cornhouse, 38 bushels. Browns folks here in afternoon quilting. Hank came in Evening. Lois came down in afternoon, helped Nancy quilt.

Oct 4 – Cool, first frost, 31 Abz, pleasant day. Ethan and Hannah, Hank and Nancy, Sis and Jim all gone down to Browns. Mr Spires Died this Evening.

Oct 5 – Drawed corn in forenoon, husked in afternoon. Had a shower. Henry and Sate came in the rain. They were going up to Battle Creek to get Dol doctered.

Oct 6 – Cloudy but warm. Jim and I husked corn. Ethan and Hank went over to Mr Arms.[70] Mrs Brown and Jule up here, got quilt of. Lucy called here, she went to burg. Henry and Sate came back. Mr Spires buried to day.

Oct 7 – Husked corn, drawed in some. Hank and Nancy went home. Had some squirels for dinner. Cullin Town married to night.[71]

Oct 8 – Finished drawing in corn in forenoon. Finished husking my corn. Got hard cold.

Oct 9 – Sick with cold. Jim husking corn for A. Brown. Ethan picking apples. Fine day.

Oct 10 – Fixed Hog pen so I could put hogs in. Ethan and Sarah went down to Orsons. High wind part of the day.

Oct 11 – Rainy morning. Put Hogs in pen this morning. Stormy day. Frank Lee Shot himself to day.[72] He was hunting in Jacksons woods.

Oct 12 – Durkee called and got report for supervisor to Assess on District No. 7 for incidental Expences.

Oct 13 – Shelled two bushels new corn to take to mill. Chored around house and barn. Ethan and Sarah went down to Charles Lees[73] to Franks funeral. Fine day. Ambrose Fields[74] brot in on cars[75] to night. He Died in Ohio.

Oct 14 – Put box on stove boot. Got some apples up to the corner. Brot some wood of the hill.

Oct 15 – Went to mill to Comstock. Carried two bushels new corn, got one ground into _____, the other fine meal. Joel James[76] came here, Stayed all night. Nice day. He was selling washing machines Territory.

Oct 16 – Carried Joel over to burg. Came back and picked some tomatoes and carried them over to Barbers. Sarah went over. Ethan picking apples down to Browns. Jim went down to Catharines. Carried petition over to An Eliza Deckers.

Oct 17 – Dug potatoes. Fine day. Ethan and Jim husking for Brown. Received letter from Oscar.

Oct 18 – Fine morning, very little frost. Charley and Will[77] here. Sarah and I went up to Flanders,[78] went round by Brick School house.

Oct 19 – Dug potatoes. Ridler husked corn in South lot. Ethan and Jim husked corn for Brown. Brot Apples up at night.

Oct 20 – Dug some potatoes. Carried sis down to Catharines.

Oct 21 – Dug potatoes. Fine day. Ethan and Jim husking for Brown. Went down to Browns in Evening. Repaired Blinds for Mr. Ralph.

Oct 22 – Dug potatoes. Boys husking to Browns. Mr Ralph got his Blinds. House Warming to Shimdts. Warmed up the Big House. Ridler and Will husking, finished the South lot. Fine day.

Oct 23 – Sarah went up to Mr Ralphs. Jo Lee came up here. Finished diging my potatoes. Alfleda came home. They had a concert at Methodist Church in Evening. Brownell got the Jack Knife.

Oct 24 – Carried potatoes down cellar. Warm day. Went over to Burg, bot Beef bone, got Alfledas watch cleaned[?]. Rained in the night.

Oct 25 – Warm day. Went down to Catharines after Louesa.

Oct 26 – Took wagon to pieces. Made steps to East Door. Ridler finished drawing his cornfodder, cleared both lots. George Tomlinson[79] called here in afternoon bout a our. Rained some.

Oct 27 – Repaired Em Ralphs chair. Drawed pumpkins. Jesse Earl, Martin turner, and Mr Latta called here in afternoon. A. Brown finished husking corn to day.

Oct 28 – Rainy. Ethan and Jim went down to Browns to work. No work to day, sick, head, back and belly ache.

Oct 29 – Sick, no work. Ethan and Jim to Browns drawing cornfodder. Cold, high wind.

Oct 30 – Cold, some snow flying. Ethan down to Browns. Filed saw for A. Caywood. Snowed some, stormy night.

Oct 31 – Snow two inches deep this morning. Dillenbecks Auction to day. Cold raw day. Not well. Went over to burg in afternoon. Snowed and rained, cold, bad storm.

Nov 1 – Cold wind. Jim gone down to Catharines. Sis over to Allens.[80] Jim & Stella Milham[81] here in afternoon. Jim came down to see the binder. Jim went down to Catharines.

Nov 2 – Pleasant, but cold wind. Not very well.

Nov 3 – Went over to burg to Election. Not very weell.

Nov 4 – Carried Sarah over to Hoags. Went up to Schrams[82] to get horse and wagon.

Nov 5 – Got Schrams Horse and wagon. Went down to Marts. Made some cider 34 galons. Fine day. Jo Lee sick.

Nov 6 – Took Horse and wagon home. Cleaned up some wheat got of Mart, took it over to mill. Sarah went home. Ethan and Jim went up to Flanders after Walnuts.

Nov 7 – Mary Ann and Nettie, Glen and Hobert[83] came here. Jim Went to Lawton.

Nov 8 – Not very cold, 59 Abz, rains some. Went down to Catharines. Jo sick there.

Nov 9 – Went down to Catharines. Hannah went with me. Carried stool to Jo. Libby Clark[84] stayed with Sis. Went over to burg, bot shoes for Hannah and odder dings &c.[85]

Nov 10 – Carried Sarah over to Hoags. Carried one pair shoes back to Shroeder and Olins.

Nov 11 – Worked round house and shop. Went after Sarah in Evening. Net came back.

Nov 12 – Cut maple tree by the west stoop. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Cold, snowed some. Jo no better. Libby Allen[86] came here, stayed all night.

Nov 13 – Cold, pleasant morning. Mary Ann and youngones came down. Stayed all night. Sarah and Mary Ann went over to Evys.

Nov 14 – Cold wind. Mary Ann Started for home. Cold wind. Jim came home from Lawton.

Nov 15 – Went down to Catharines to see Jo. He was no better. Pleasant day, no snow yet. Charles Lee sick.

Nov 16 – At home, not much done, not very well. Went over to burg, got ax fixed, 50. Rainy.

Nov 17 – Chored round. Not very well to day.

Nov 18 – Cut down two trees in woods, drawed two loads wood.

Nov 19 – Went up to Henry Clintons. Carried some things to send Mrs Wiseman.[87] Went to burg when we came back. Bot some red paint and blue vitrol.

Nov 20 – Moved bench in to South room. Snowey day. Cut holes in seat for Skinners privy. Henry came down here, stayed all night. Snow 3½ inches.

Nov 21 – Put thill in Sleigh. Drawed load wood on Sleigh. First snow. Henry went home. A. Brown brot quarter Beef, 90 lbs. Henry and I went over to burg.

Nov 22 – Not very cold, looks some like rain in morning. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Rained hard when we came home.

Nov 23 – Rainy and cold. Carried Sis to school. Not much work to day. Snowed and blowed like the old nick, afternoon and Evening. Ethan went after Sis at night.

Nov 24 – Cold, snows some. Worked in shop some. Put batten on crack in well room. Cold blustrous day. Not very well.

Nov 25 – Lois came down, stayed all night. Worked in shop some.

Nov 26 – Went down to A. Browns to turkey dinner. Mr Hubbard and boy was there. Lois went home. Stormed some in Evening.

Nov 27 – Worked on portable partition. Snowed some. Sarah colored Sis and Alfledas Dresses.

Nov 28 – Snowes like fun this morning.

Nov 29 – Ethan and I went down to Catharines with Sleigh. Cold day.

Nov 30 – Shelled and carried three bushels corn over to burg mill. Went down to Mrs Simmons to see about stove.

Dec 1 – Cold. Very good sleighing. Made Shovel and tongs box.

Dec 2 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg with sleigh. Not much sleighing now, snow about all gone. Made Lois lap board.

Dec 3 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg, got grist. Went with buggy. Henry here. Dick Barber and Mr Allen called here.

Dec 4 – Pleasant, no snow, fine October weather. Worked on gearing.

Dec 5 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg in Evening. Sarah went to Jane Hoags.[88] Ethan up to Flanders. Pleasant day. Got first Rilegio[?].

Dec 6 – At home, fine day, Mercury 40 Abz. Pleasant as spring almost. Cut Will Browns hair.

Dec 7 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg. Got pattern of Mary Mason. Sarah went to Lawton on night train.

Dec 8 – Went up to Jo Flanders. Got three bushels wheat, took it over to mill. Fine day, no snow. 13 bushels wheat $1.5¢ pr bushel.

Dec 9 – Went over to burg, got my grist. Cold but pleasant. Worked on gearing some.

Dec 10 – Very pleasant but cool. Went over to burg after Sarah but she no come. Worked in shop some. Staring got ten bushels corn 40 lbs $.4.00.

Dec 11 – Very pleasant day. Roads dusty. Worked in shop. Went down to Browns got ____tting for sand board. Ethan worked for Brown. Will Clark stayed here all night.

Dec 12 – Pleasant morning. Drawed pole to hang hogs on. One load wood. Edwin Flanders brot boards to make tool chest of Mr Flanders. Got Hay Knife. Pleasant and dusty.

Dec 13 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy day. Jo some better. Came home in Evening, got wet. Jim went with me.

Dec 14 – Cold, some snow on ground. Worked in shop. Received letter from Hiram.[89]

Dec 15 – Went up in woods, cut down tree. Ethan drawed two loads wood. Finished waggon gearing. Plasant day.

Dec 16 – Went over to burg at noon. Sarah came home from Lawton. Rainy night.

Dec 17 – Worked in shop on cross head for Theodore Earl. Fine weather.

Dec 18 – Worked on cross head. Pleasant and cold. Put up stove in shop. Henry, Mr. Ives and George Ives called here in afternoon to see my new violin.

Dec 19 – Killed hogs. A. Brown helped. Pleasant day. Theodore got crosshead. Killed two hogs. Lois went to Mary Jane Birges[90] funeral, left Inez[91] here. Mr Flanders called here in Evening.

Dec 20 – At home all day, not very well. Cool day.

Dec 21 – Chored round house and barn &c. Went down to Catharines in Evening. Snowed like fun when we came home. Went up to Mr Flanders to pick out boards for wagon box.

Dec 22 – Snow 2 inches deep this morning. Cut up hogs and salted them. Mart, Catharine and Lucy called here in Evening. They went over to burg. Sarah went with them.

Dec 23 – Not very cold. Work on A. Browns wringer. Ethan drawed some wood.

Dec 24 – Worked on wringer. Made Lapboard for Mrs Flanders,[92] one for Mary Mason.

Dec 25 – Worked on wringer some in forenoon. Dick Barber and wife here to dinner. Fine day, not much snow.

Dec 26 – Pleasant morning. Worked on wringer and chored round. Charles and Julia Lee[93] came up here. Went over to burg with Charles.

Dec 27 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy. Ethan went up to Mr Flanders, stayed all night.

Dec 28 – Worked in shop some. Henry came down, stayed all night.

Dec 29 – Cold morning, 15 Abz, fine snow.

Dec 30 – Worked in shop on wagon box some. Got out cleats. Henry here making stool.

Dec 31 – Henry came down, finished stool. I dressed out some stuff for box cleats under box. Hannah came home.

——-

[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke

[2] His son, Ethan Keith

[3] His daughters, Nancy, Hannah and Louese

[4] Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[5] His maternal first cousin and cousin’s wife, Edward G. & Sarah (Bliss) Wolcott

[6] Above zero

[7] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[8] His son-in-law and daughter, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown

[9] Lawton, Michigan

[10] Galesburg, Michigan

[11] Neighbor, Harriet (Abbott) Hawley

[12] Harriet Hawley’s father and brother

[13] His sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[14] His first cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)

[15] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[16] Neighbors, Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[17] His niece and her husband, Lucy (Lee) & Martin Milham

[18] FindAGrave.com confirms that Elizabeth Loveland died January 23, 1874; she was buried in the Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Michigan Marriage Records show that her maiden name was Russell

[19] John Wesley Keith, his adopted brother

[20] Ambrose Brown, neighbor and father-in-law of his daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[21] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith

[22] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith

[23] Comstock was the town he lived in

[24] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham, daughter of Luke’s sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[25] The entries up to this date had been copied over to his 1874 diary

[26] Wesley Keith’s wife, Harriet (Blakslee) Keith

[27] He made the following entry in his 1873 diary: Jun 5 – Bot Sewing Machine $60. Paid twenty, gave note for forty payable in Eight Months

[28] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[29] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr) Keith

[30] Neighbors, James & Mary (Croak) Ridler

[31] His neighbor, Byron Hawley

[32] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[33] Ethan was an inventor; this was one of the projects he was working on

[34] Sarah’s nephew; Eugene was the son of her late brother, Edwin Crawford, and his first wife, Louisa Hall

[35] His cousin, Caroline (Wolcott) Earl, the sister of Edward Wolcott

[36] Martin Milham, husband of Lucy (Lee) Milham. Lucy was daughter of his sister Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[37] Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[38] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that George Maffit, age 38, died from pneumonia on March 9, 1874 in Lawton, Michigan, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Lawton, Michigan

[39] Caroline Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank. The Plank family had been neighbors, but on April 3, 1873, Luke noted in his diary that they had left for Grand Rapids, Michigan

[40] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner, who was married to his daughter Lois

[41] His cousin

[42] Neighbors, the sons and daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[43] Ambrose Brown’s wife and sister-in-law, Matilda and Julia Ann Allen

[44] His daughter Lois, and her sister- and mother-in-law, Sarah Skinner and Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[45] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[46] Henry Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[47] Nickname for his daughter, Louese

[48] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”

[49] He’s referring to himself

[50] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[51] Wesley’s sons, Ellis and James Harvey Keith

[52] Two poles between which a horse is hitched to a wagon

[53] Not sure who this is; his son, Jim, was only 12 at the time

[54] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Levi T. Murphy died in Kalamazoo on April 23, 1873 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo. Michigan Death Records also show that he died in 1873, so it is unclear why Luke added this in 1874

[55] The son of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[56] A search at FindAGrave.com reveals that Fidelia (Bronson) Birge, age 43, died May 11, 1874 and is buried in McKain Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[57] Neighbor, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[58] His paternal first cousin. Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee

[59] Luke and Nancy & Hank Brown all wrote in their 1873 diaries of the Brown and Allerton lawsuit. There was a judgment entered on March 6, 1873 awarding Ambrose Brown $22.00 plus costs. It is unknown whether this was a new lawsuit or if John Allerton had requested a retrial

[60] Neighbor, the daughter of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[61] Michigan Death Records show that Isaac Pierce died in Climax, Michigan, on July 12, 1873

[62] Michigan Death Records show that Adelia Giddings, age 1, died of spinal meningitis on April 29, 1874

[63] A seance

[64] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[65] His paternal first cousin, Alvan Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee. Ida Lee’s father, Joseph Warren Lee (Alvan’s brother), died April 4, 1864 in an Army hospital from wounds received in battle in Tennessee during the Civil War. Her mother, Nancy E. Taylor, remarried July 29, 1864 to William Count, but died three months later on October 1, 1864. The step-father relinquished his rights to the children and they went to live with their grandparents, Charles & Juliana Lee, in Comstock

[66] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel

[67] From the Kalamazoo County Sesquicentennial Committee marker: Bazel and Martha Harrison are buried in the Harrison cemetery south of this marker. He led a party of 21 who were the first permanent settlers on Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo County, where they arrived on November 5, 1828. One thousand people attended his funeral on September 1, 1874 because he was admired, esteemed, respected and loved by all who knew him.

[68] Michigan Death Records reveal that Charles Harris, age 28, died of Typhoid Fever on September 26, 1874; FindAGrave.com shows that he was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[69] Neighbor; the 1880 Census shows that she was a school teacher so perhaps she was teaching in 1874 and that was her payment for services rendered

[70] Believe he is referring to Hank’s uncle, William Arms, Cynthia Brown’s husband

[71] Michigan Marriage Records show that Cullen Towne married Sarah Antoinette Adams in Comstock, Michigan on October 7, 1874

[72] The Michigan Death Records reveal that Francis Lee died October 11, 1874 from accidental discharge of gun

[73] Charles Lee (1797-1878), Francis Lee’s grandfather

[74] FindAGrave.com shows that Ambrose Field died October 10, 1874 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[75] The train

[76] His maternal first cousin

[77] His grandsons, Charles and William Clark

[78] Neighbors, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders. After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith, died, Joseph & Amanda took in their children, Henry and Lois Keith. From letters from that time, it would appear that Lois was then sent to Minerva’s parents while Henry lived with the Flanders family. According to Carol (Boyer) Stafford, the Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like he lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” who I believe was actually Henry L. Keith, age 16, living with Joseph & Amanda

[79] The husband of Luke’s niece, Marion Sprague

[80] Neighbor, John S. Allen

[81] Believe he is referring to neighbors, James Milham and his daughter, Stella. James was Martin Milham’s half brother

[82] Neighbors, Isaac & Olive Ellen (Atkinson) Schram

[83] James “Oscar” Keith’s wife and children, Mary Ann (Batey), Glen and John Herbert Keith; Oscar and Mary Ann had two daughters, Jessie and Catherine, but it is unclear if either one of them went by that nickname

[84] The daughter of Loren & Amanda (Taylor) Clark. Loren was the brother of Lois (Keith) Clark Skinners’ first husband, Byron Clark

[85] Other things, etc.

[86] The daughter of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[87] Former neighbor, Caroline (Williams) Wiseman. An October 11 entry in Luke’s 1871 diary reported that “Mr Wiseman (Joseph) and wife left,” and a December 28, 1871 letter from Mrs. Wiseman shows they were living in Utica, Kansas. Another letter dated January 16, 1876 shows they were living in Spring Side, Kansas

[88] Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[89] Most likely his brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[90] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Mary Jane (Bronson) Birge, age 38, died December 17, 1874 in Brady, Michigan, and was buried in McKain Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[91] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, who was born June 13, 1874

[92] Neighbor, Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[93] Charles (see footnote for May 20) & Juliana (Davis) Lee

Luke Keith’s 1872 Diary

1872 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR[1]

Jan 1 – Ethan[2] and girls went down to Catharines.[3] No snow but lots of ice in road. At home all day. Alfleda[4] here.

Jan 2 – Made sleighshoe pattern for A. Brown.[5] Not very cold. M. O. Streator[6] called here he had been up to cidermill.

Jan 3 – Hard cold, head ache. Nothing done. Ethan and girls went over to Mr Planks in Evening.

Jan 4 – Went over to burg.[7] Fitted shoes on my sleigh. Let Vanburen have one Dollar. Mary and Carry Plank[8] here went to school.

Jan 5 – Went up to Schrams to see old cow. Went over and got my sleigh. Bot Jims[9] Boots 2.50.

Jan 6 – Carried Hannah and Nancy[10] up to Wesleys.[11] Hank Brown[12] working on retouching frame. Got two bushels wheat ground.

Jan 7 – At home. Alfleda here. No snow on ground good wheeling.

Jan 8 – Drawed some wood on sleigh. Scoured new shoes. Went down to Catharines.

Jan 9 – Killed my hogs. Mart[13] and A. Brown and Wes helped me. Mr Schram killed my cow.

Jan 10 – Sold J. C. Blake two hogs weight 6.74 lbs 4.85 cts. pr hundred. Got my beef. Carried my cast iron up to B. Hartwells had 300. lbs 1½ pr lb 4.50.

Jan 11 – Went up to Mr Kirbys. Cool wind almost rains. Lois[14] at home a while.

Jan 12 – Went down to Catharines after Nancy. Swaddle girls here Libby Allen here. Mr Plank got some beef.

Jan 13 – Went up to Wesleys. Got a pig. Went over to burg paid my tax 12.53. Will Plank[15] stayed all night Drawed 100. Dollars of town treasurer for District No 7. Dick Lamkins brot violin to be repaired.

Jan 14 – Pleasant morning.

Jan 15 – Snowed some. Went over to burg bot some glue.

Jan 16 – Snowes snow 2½ inches this morning. Sarah[16] went over to Janes. I drawed one load wood. Went over after Sarah in Evening.

Jan 17 – Cloudy not very cold. Put the hair in one End of Dicks bow. Put bottom on chopping bowl. John Sherman broke down had a big load wood.

Jan 18 – Found new lamb this morning, all right.

Jan 19 – Put hair in one End of Lamkins bow. Went over to burg carried over Buckwheat and corn. Sarah and Nancy went over. Bot sis[17] some shoes 2.00. Snowey day snow fell 5½ inches 5½ in.

Jan 20 – Got Schrams saw cut one load wood. Snows some. Jo Lee[18] called here. Hannah went home with him. Rebeca Plank[19] here.

Jan 21 – Put up hog. New snow 2. Went down to Jo Lees, Alfleda went with us.

Jan 22 – Went over to Burg after sis. Went to A. Hoags to see Decon Mason.

Jan 23 – Jane Hoag an Mary Mason came over here. I went down to Catharines after pig.

Jan 24 – Worked on fenders some cold day snow 1¼.

Jan 25 – Cold morning. Went over to burg.

Jan 26 – Went over to burg. Worked on fenders some.

Jan 27 – Paid W^m Johnson $19.50. Put fenders on cutter. Cold day. Went over to burg in Evening got buckwheat flour, bot 3 darning needles.

Jan 28 – Cold 4 Abz[20] Mart, Lucy[21] and Cate Chaffee[22] came here. Stove fell down broke the bottom. A Brown here in Evening.

Jan 29 – Cold 6 Below zero. Very Cold. No work.

Jan 30 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Mr Briggs. Went and see George.

Jan 31 – Cold 9 Abz. Went ofer to burg. Bot Ethans pants 5.50 5.50 A. Browns folks here in Evening. Arthur Arms[23] here with them.

Feb 1 – Cold 8 Below zero. Alfleda went waverly. Stephen D. Hall and wife here all day.

Feb 2 – Cold 16. Below zero. Carried stove over to Burg. Bot one peace of cotton 5.93. Ethan, Nancy and Hannah went down to M O. Streators in Evening. Mr Geo Torry shot himself in Kalamazoo this morning.

Feb 3 – 25 below zero pleasant but cold. Ethan and the girls went up to Swaddles. Carried my stove bottom over got it mended 5/-.[24] Jo Sherman and wife here.

Feb 4 – Some warmer 18 Above zero at 7 AM. Went down to Marts and Jo Lees. Snowed like fun[25] when we came home.

Feb 5 – Snowed all day. Painted my cutter bottom. Went over to burg got stove bottom put stove together.

Feb 6 – Snow 8 inches deep. Carried Nancy down to Skinners.[26] Went up to John Shermans. Nice sleighing. Net Gafre(?) came down with Jim Milham[27] after Stella.[28]

Feb 7 – Cold 17. Below zero. Ethan put slead together. Jo Lee came up here. Ethan went down to Jim Jacksons in Evening. Hannah stayed to A. Browns.

Feb 8 – Cold and pleasant 10 below zero. Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night. Filled tooth for Will Brown[29] this morning.

Feb 9 – Went to Kalamazoo after sis. Pleasant day went and saw Judge Briggs. Came back to Catharines stayed all night.

Feb 10 – Came home. Stoped to Jo Lees. Went down to Charleses with Jo.

Feb 11 – At home all day. Warm thawed snow went fast. No one here.

Feb 12 – Pleasant 14. Abz. No work to day.

Feb 13 – Snowed and blowed all day snowed 1 inch.

Feb 14 – Cold 3 Abz. Went to mill up to Howlands. Snowed like fun. School teacher stayed here all night. Went down to Jo Lees in Evening. He was gone from home. Very cold snow fel one inch 1 in.

Feb 15 – Cold. Went up to Wesleys after Louesa.[30] Sarah went down to Skinners. I went down to Skinners after Sarah. Stopt to A Browns stayed the Evening. Sawed some wood.

Feb 16 – Mr Roberts called here the Galesburg Herald. Sarah and Nancy went over to Barbers. Filed saw for Ridler, sawed some wood. Will Plank came here stayed all night,

Feb 17 – Puttied up cutter dash. Went down to Fords in Evening with Wesley to see about Blackwalnut lumber.

Feb 18 – At home all day. Jo Lee came up here stayed to supper.

Feb 19 – Went over to burg in the morning to see Mr Reynolds about the Bristol place. Freer girl buried [see footnote to November 9th entry]. Jule Bristol[31] died. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines. Ethan and the girls went up to Ridlers to a dance. I vacinated Carry and Mary Plank.

Feb 20 – Carried Sarah and Nancy over to Burg. Snowed like fun.

Feb 21 – At home all day. Mrs Bristol buried to day.

Feb 22 – Carried Hams down to A. Browns this morning.

Feb 23 – Blocked out 3 axhelves.[32] Ethan and girls went up to Wesleys to a dance.

Feb 24 – Dow Haines and cousin called here had their violins with them. They played very well. Mr and Mrs Plank[33] called here to see about geting the house for the summer. Went down to Jo Lees.

Feb 25 – Went down to Catharines, came home. A. Browns family here in Evening.

Feb 26 – Pleasant morning lots ice all over. Painted sleigh over.

Feb 27 – Painted sleigh some. Repairing front room some. Will Plank here all night. Stelly Millham stayed all night.

Feb 28 – Pleasant morning. Worked in shop some on axhelves.

Feb 29 – Painted cutter thills[34] worked on helves some. Pleasant day

Mar 1 – Mr Plank drawed some wood. Ethan and Nancy went over to burg. Mrs Barber sick.

Mar 2 – Went over to burg. Saw Mr Reynolds he no want the place. Will Plank sawed some wood. Started to go down to A. Browns. Bill[35] got a way from me. I got him up to John Shermans barn.

Mar 3 – Cool, no sleighing. Mart and Lucy and Catharine came up.

Mar 4 – Carried some corn over to mill. One inch snow. Mr Plank drawed some wood. Cold wind. I drawed some wood. Catharine here.

Mar 5 – Pleasant 4 below zero. Cut and drawed some woood.

Mar 6 – Went over to burg, got meal. Caroline Earl[36] came here. Mr Plank and Will sawing wood.

Mar 7 – Pleasant morning. Sarah, Caroline and I went up to Wesleys. Carried Caroline over to burg. Went in to barbers, Mrs barber some better. Mr Allen and children[37] here in Evening, Mr Planks young folk, Hank Brown and Hank Childs.

Mar 8 – Snow 2 inches deep this morning. Sawed out some gearing. I Schram[38] called here. I paid him 6 Dollars. Jo Lee Sold his farm.

Mar 9 – Sawed some more of my gearing. Extracted one tooth for Will Brown. Paid A. Brown 30.00 dollars, paid Alice Byington 49.00 & 30. Went Down to Skinners. 49 in afternoon. Saw 79.00 Charley Sutherland.

Mar 10 – Went down to Jo Lees and Catharines. Catharine went home.

Mar 11 – Sawed out wheelbarrow arms. John Sherman paid me 3.50 cts in full of all accounts up to this date.

Mar 12 – Went up to Ell Carys this morning with sleigh. Ethan went to Kalamazoo with Will Plank. Got Mr Barbers sewing machine. Nancy and Sis went up to Mr Allens.

Mar 13 – Went over to Wesleys, down to M O. Steators. Got one bushel potatoes. Went over to burg. Got 35. lbs flour of Mr Plank. Old Mrs Ralph and Em[39] here. Jo Lee came up. Mr Samples girl Buried to day.

Mar 14 – Went up to Wesleys, got one bushel potatoes. Will Plank splitting wood.

Mar 15 – No work to day. At home.

Mar 16 – Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines, stayed all night.

Mar 17 – At home, no one here. Ethan, Nancy came home. Lucy came home with them.

Mar 18 – Lucy went over to burg to get Georgies[40] picture taken. I choped wood in fore noon. Snowed like fun in afternoon. Jo Lee called here. Will Plank here. Snow fell 1 inch one inch.

Mar 19 – Nice morning, sun came out. Cut some wood and drawed it down.

Mar 20 – Pleasant and cold, mercury at zero. Lucy went to burg got picture of Georgie. I hued sum spokes. Mr Allen had an Auction.

Mar 21 – Hued sum spokes. Paid Hawkins six 6. Dollars for cleaning schoolhouse. Cold wind. Old Mr Hutchinson buried to day.

Mar 22 – I sawed out stuf for cloths bars for Catharine. Ethan went down after Hannah. Lucy went home. Cold wind. Hannah came home. Ethan lost the pail. Col Chester Hannan buried to day.

Mar 23 – Cold and blustring, snow 2 inches deep.

Mar 24 – At home all day. Dell[41] and Lois came home, firs time Del was here to tea. Sick all night.

Mar 25 – Sick no work to day. Hard cold, snowed and rained some. Ethan and Sarah carried Mrs Barbers machine.

Mar 26 – Went over to burg got paint and oil, some varnish for Lois table and stand. No snow.

Mar 27 – Commenced painting front room. W^m Cook called here this morning. He was going to Midland City to see his brother. Fine day.

Mar 28 – Painting some in front room. Not well hard cold.

Mar 29 – Painting some.

Mar 30 – Went to Kalamazoo. The Bristol place sold to day. Had a hard rain, some snow and lots of ice. Trees covered with ice. E. Underwood stayed here all night.

Mar 31 – Stormy Nasty day.

Apr 1 – Went over to burg to town meeting. Mr Planks folks moved to day. School commenced to day. Wes and I and Hobe Williams went up to Schrams in Evening.

Apr 2 – Bot five Bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Paid him 4. four Dollars.

Apr 3 – Sick no work to day. Mr Planks folks fixing for Auction.

Apr 4 – Auction. Mr Plank sold his Horses, wagon, Harness and various things.

Apr 5 – Mr Plank make pigpen, Henroost and worked around generally. Rubecca[42] leveled of cro ca [croquet?] ground. I put up fence

Apr 6 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Had a fine shower. Jo York[43] stayed all night.

Apr 7 – Came home at night stoped to Jo Lees. Mr Cook called to Catharines. He gave me some specimines of their mines, copper, silver and lead.

Apr 8 – Pleasant morning.

Apr 9 – At home not much work. Carried some corn to mill. Mr Stafford buried to day. They took James Flanders to the Asylum to day.

Apr 10 – Went over to burg, carried some corn for Mr Plank. Brot home some glasses from Osgood. James Flanders died[44] to night about seven oclock.

Apr 11 – Pleasant morning. Went up to Mr Clarks auction in afternoon. Cut wood in fore noon.

Apr 12 – Went over to burg in morning, got my photograph. Had a shower. Henry[45] came home in afternoon. High wind. Ethan went down to Catharines. Carried glasses back to Osgood. Lois came home.

Apr 13 – Pleasant and dry very high wind. James Flanders buried to day. Very windy. Mr Alonzo Wright died about 4. P.M. to day.

Apr 14 – Went down to Catharines. Carried my photo down to send to Mark[46] by Mr W^m Cook. Jo Lee came home with me. Rained in night.

Apr 15 – Snowey day, snow fell 2. in. Went and took Jo home in afternoon. Rough time.

Apr 16 – Pleasant morning. Put up leach[47] run of Loze(?). Florence Plank[48] Died to day.

Apr 17 – Made soap. Put up some fence. Henry Clinton and wife called here. Put up leach.

Apr 18 – Some rainy this morning. Went up to Wesleys Expecting to go up to Mr Williams but did not. Helped Wes clean up load wheat. Jo and Jesse Lee[49] here.

Apr 19 – Fine day. Made soap to day. Mr Town[50] came over here. First time I spoke to him.

Apr 20 – Went over to burg, carried 8 doz Eggs 1/ pr doz. Went down to Jo Lees. Stayed all night.

Apr 21 – Came home. Mr Randall sick. Rained some in forenoon.

Apr 22 – Put chip manure around currant bushes. Mr Randal some better.

Apr 23 – No work to day. Mr Plank and Caroline[51] left on the Evening Express. Mr Allen went with him.

Apr 24 – Cut some wood, painted windows. Went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Apr 25 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Judge Briggs. Marvin Babcock[52] was buried to day.

Apr 26 – Not very well. Ethan drove team for A Brown to sow plaster.[53] I went down to Cath­arines carried cloths bars. Got Evener[54] of Jo Lee. Rained a little. Cleaned out Barn.

Apr 27 – Cloudy and cool. Burgess Boy called here to get some Early potatoes. Chored around some. Not very well. Bill got into towns lot. Ethan and Will Plank made steps to front door.

Apr 28 – At home. Fine day. Lois and dell came home. I filled 4 teeth for Dell.

Apr 29 – Ethan drawed manure. I cut tree for gateposts. Warm day. Heard the first Whipporwill.

Apr 30 – Put my tool chest in shop, papered kitchen. Mart came up and got corn. Had a wind and rain storm, rained in night.

May 1 – Worked round some. Charles and Alvin[55] called here.

May 2 – Hued out one gate post. Mrs Plank papered kitchen. Sheared one sheep.

May 3 – Ethan went down to Charles Lees and Catharines got some turnips. Hannah came home. Sarah and Nancy went down to A Browns. I went down in Evening. Painted front room. Fanny Town[56] called in to see Mrs Plank. Dea Mason called here.

May 4 – I painted some in kitchen. Ethan plowed garden, had Prince. Brown, Hank and Arthur Arms came over. Will Plank came home in night.

May 5 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.

May 6 – Planted potatoes. Carried my plow down to A. Browns. Sent my photo to Patty.[57] Got potatoes of A. Brown.

May 7 – Cloudy. Went over to burg to see Mr Tousley to let him have some cornground to plant. Went up to Mr Ridlers. Jason Durgy came over and took it. Bot onion seed. Mrs Mason here and Deacon took tea.

May 8 – Put up old log in south lot, set steaks for gate posts. Nancy and Hannah went down to Skinners.

May 9 – Rained some in morning, windy. Sowed onions out by Barn. Ethan and girls went over to burg. Went and got Will Planks trunk.

May 10 – Sowed corn East of currant bushes. Sarah went down to Catharines with Mart, Lucy sick.

May 11 – Ethan and Will Plank went to Kalamazoo. Rainy day. I worked on sulky thill, repaired vice, cut the nut open and put it together.

May 12 – Cloudy and cool. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Nancy & Hannah went down. Sarah came home.

May 13 – Cloudy and cool. Pulled stumps in south lot. Jason Durkee commenced plowing. Ethan and Will went fishing. Doc Babcock came up here to buy the farm.

May 14 – Got a few stone of the south lot. Ethan and I planted corn for A Brown in after­noon. Edwin Flanders[58] and Arthur Arms helped. Will Plank planted for Erastus Town.[59]

May 15 – Rained some in Morning. Will Clark[60] here. Put sulky thill together.

May 16 – Repaired fence up by the woods. Went up to Chapins to see my place. Chapin had cut all the large timber off.

May 17 – Shelled seed corn. Drawed of some stumps from plowed ground. Ethan plowed some for A Brown.

May 18 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Doc babcock. Rained. Jo Lee went down with me. Jesse Earl[61] went down after some long timber. Wes went down.

May 19 – Went down to Catharines after Nancy. Mary Plank went along. Jack Bristols little girl[62] buried to day.

May 20 – Rainy in forenoon. Dell Skinners Horses run a way. A man and woman came here, they was with Dell. No one hurt. Ethan and I and Jim helped A. Brown plant in afternoon. Durgy commenced marking corn ground.

May 21 – Cloudy morning. Put front on Skinners buggy. Durgy commenced planting corn. Catharine and Lucy came up here. Rained in night. Painted Sulky thill.

May 22 – Rainy morning. Rained all day. No work.

May 23 – Painted sulky wheels. Durgy finished planting corn. Took calf down to Catharines. Rained some in night.

May 24 – Chored around. Went up in woods, got some steakes. Lois and Sate[63] here. Jim and Will went down to Skinners stayed all night.

May 25 – I went to Kalamazoo. Lois went down. Jo Lee went along. Jim and Will went down to Catharines stayed all night. I went to Martin Turners.[64] Went down to see Doc Babcock. Ida Barber[65] came over stayed all night.

May 26 – Pleasant morning. At home all day. Had a shower in night. Saw the prettiest rainbow I Ever saw just at night.

May 27 – Built fence up side hill side of corn. Ethan set some cabbage plants.

May 28 – Fine morning. Will Plank washed my sheep. Ethan and Will went to Kalamazoo. I got bushel potatoes of A. Brown. Cut some stakes to stake fence.

May 29 – Pleasant morning. Cut some stakes, repaired fence in front of house. Ethan carried Will Plank up to Erastus Towns. I painted sulky some.

May 30 – Not very well. Picked up some things in shop. Moved stove back.

May 31 – Planted beans and some potatoes, hoed some potatoes, planted over some corn where the hens scratched it up. Mart and Lucy called here. Ethan, Sarah and Nancy went over to burg in Evening to concert.

Jun 1 – Picked potatoe bugs in forenoon. Rained in afternoon. Went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Jun 2 – Went up and got Jo Lee. Stayed until night, came home.

Jun 3 – Picked potatoe bugs in forenoon. Made Dels whiffletrees[66] in afternoon.

Jun 4 – Picked potatoe bugs in forenoon. Ethan drawed wood. Mr Allen called here. Went down and got Jo Lees old buggy. Jo came home with me stayed all night. Aunt Norma Coe[67] died this morning.

Jun 5 – Fixed Lois table in fore noon. Went down to Skinners in afternoon to raising. Carried Jo Lee home. Warm day.

Jun 6 – Smoothed of my stand. Read a letter from Mark. Rained in night.

Jun 7 – Rebecca had a fit this morning. Some rainy. Worked on road in afternoon. Had a shower. Will Plank came home. Cow calved in night.

Jun 8 – Cloudy and some mist. Worked on road. Warm day. J. Earl, Hat Taylor, O. D. Schram, S. Thomas, C. L. Keith, E. B. Keith.

Jun 9 – Warm day. At home. Ethan and Carry and sis went down to Catharines. Mart and Hannah came up here.

Jun 10 – Rainy. A. Brown brot his buggy up to be repaired. Worked on A Browns buggy. Conklin Smith came here stayed all night.

Jun 11 – Put hind Ex to Browns buggy. Jo Lee, Mr Hall and Alvin Lee[68] called here. Ethan went down to Marts to cultivate corn. Had a shower in Evening. Mrs Allerton visiting Mrs Plank.

Jun 12 – Finished A Browns buggy, put in forward Ex. Mr Allen called here. Del and Lois called here brot some milk.

Jun 13 – Rains like fun some thunder. Took Jo Lees buggy to peaces. Rained hard most of the forenoon. Ethan came home. Mart and Wes Stowell caled here. Hank Brown took the buggy over to burg. Got it finished.

Jun 14 – Fine morning. Picked potatoe bugs most of the day. Mrs Skinner, Lois and Sate here. Ethan got his boots fixed to day 2.50. Mrs. Ripley Cummings[69] Buried to day.

Jun 15 – Worked round shop. Varnish Lois table stand &c.[70] Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night.

Jun 16 – Went down to Catharines and over to Chancy Beckwiths, came home.

Jun 17 – Warm day. Went to Kalamazoo with Ethan. He commenced work for the Grand Rapids and Indiana RR Company. Drew on order on town treasurer $.90.50 cts for District No 7.

Jun 18 – Hoed in garden some. Mrs Brown and Jule[71] here.

Jun 19 – Martin Turner here. Went up to Jesse Earls and down to Catharines. Sarah stayed down there.

Jun 20 – Mr Allen sheared sheep. Very hot day. Got letter from Ethan. Sheared sixteen sheep. Mercury 100 and in sun.

Jun 21 – Made standard for shovel plow for Mart Milham. Extracted one tooth for Mr Youngs. Very hot day, Mercury 83 in shade. Went down to Catharines to carry Ethans pants. Hannah came home. John Sherman paid one dollar for Buckwheat. Coburn commenced plowing East lot.

Jun 22 – Very hot 87 Abz. No work, headache. Hoed some onions.

Jun 23 – Went down to Kalamazoo to carry Ethan some things. Found him feeling very well.

Jun 24 – Plowed out potatoes and corn East of barn and gardens, hoed some. A Brown paid 2.00.

Jun 25 – Went over to burg in morning to see about wool. Went down to A. R. Skinners, Lois sick. Got woolbox went over to burg in Evening. A. R. paid 75 cts. Nancy bot dress.

Jun 26 – Working around garden some. Carried Nancy down to A. R. Skinners.

Jun 27 – Picked potatoe bugs. Jo Lee here all day. Mart came up just at night.

Jun 28 – Went over to burg carried corn and wheat for Mrs Plank. Mr Plank got home in Evening.

Jun 29 – Went over to burg. Got Mr Planks truck and grist. Went down to Catharines, carried some things for Ethan. Eb and Harry here. Coburn plowing.

Jun 30 – At home. Very hot day. Went in swimming. Mr Plank and Jim went in.

Jul 1 – Turned 3 pins for J. Allen, three for A. Brown. I tied up my wool had 78½ lbs by my weight.

Jul 2 – Lois came home. Del sowing Buckwheat. Went over to the burg. Very hot 97 Abz in shade 11 oclock AM. Mr Chancy Beckwith[72] Buried.

Jul 3 – Went over to burg sold my wool 60 pr pound 45.00. John Shermans man got Buckwheat one bushel and half 10/-. Went to Kalamazoo to see Ethan. Let him have $2.00. Had a fine shower. Sol Youngs here.

Jul 4 – Went down to Streators with Wesley got three bushels wheat. Carried Browns wool box home. Sis and Beca went down to Skinners. Paid Mr Streator 2 two Dollars. Ethan came home in Evening.

Jul 5 – Warm morning. Went down to river got two barrels water for Mrs Plank to make soap. Went over to burg after potatoes, bot fish. Carried Ethan to Kalamazoo in afternoon.

Jul 6 – Warm morning. Repaired Reel to Skinners Reaper. Mr Right called here. Mr and Mrs Warren Brown here to Mr Planks. Went over to Burg in Evening. Bot ½ bushel potatoes 3/-.

Jul 7 – Warm morning. At home all day. Very dry. James Stowel buried to day.

Jul 8 – Went down to Skinners to get him to cut my grass. Went up to Wesleys. Mr Allerton commenced cutting wheat. Mr Plank to work for him. Hot day 95 in shade.

Jul 9 – Skinner cut my grass. Went over to burg at noon and in Evening went down to M. O. Streators after rake. Raked some hay.

Jul 10 – Finished raking hay. Took rake down to Streators at noon drawed in three loads hay. Ethan came home from Kalamazoo. Hot day.

Jul 11 – Finished drawing hay. Jo Lee here. Very hot day 101 in shade 116 in sun. Will Plank worked for Mr Imus[?].

Jul 12 – Turned six pins for Mr Allen. Went to river got water to wash with. Mr Plank and Will to work for Allerton. Very hot 95 in shade. Sis and Jim went up to Mr Streators woods after berries.

Jul 13 – Warm and dry. Put one felloe[73] in my wagon. Ethan and Nancy and Jim went to Kalamazoo. Had Mr Schrams buggy. Hannah came home with them. Mercury 99 in shade.

Jul 14 – Warm morning. Ethan went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Jul 15 – E went to Kalamazoo to get his pay. Hot day 99 in Shade. I commenced cutting wheat on hill. Had a shower in afternoon, had a heavy Shower in Evening while I was after the cows. Ethan got home. Turned six pins for A Brown.

Jul 16 – Cut wheat cut 100 Bundles. Ethan worked for A. Brown. Sarah had $.00 ten Dollars.

Jul 17 – Turned Seven pins for Mr Allen this morning paid him two Dollars $2.00 cash.

Jul 18 – Went down to river got water to wash. Went over to burg got shugar & tea. Went down to Skinners to help him draw wheat, no help him. Jim fell and hurt him. Mr & Mrs Henry Clinton came down here. Hat and Libby Taylor here. I went up to David Bronsons got one galon wine. Sold the Calf to Mr Hicock for 5 five Do.

Jul 19 – A. Brown drawed his wheat in to my barn. Finished drawing pit.

Jul 20 – Went over to burg in morning got Nails. Put ridgeboards on South part of house. Had a shower in Evening. Will, Mary and Carry came home.

Jul 21 – At home all day. Catharine and Hannah came up just at night. Cows laid out to night.

Jul 22 – Went over to burg bot gloves 60, bot Catharine shoes 2.00. Ethan work for N. L. Randal. Put boards on house. Went over to burg bot gloves 60. Went down to Catharines, Sarah stayed. Will Clark went with me. Had a rainy night.

Jul 23 – Rainy morning. Lois came home. Made pig yoke. Mr Plank had Bill to go to burg. Uncle Pete Johnson[74] came over here to see stove. Turned ball club for Will Clark and seven pins for Mr Allen.

Jul 24 – Cloudy. Commenced shingling west side of house. Put bell on cow. Went over to burg in Evening bot three bunches shingles $3.18, one pair of shoes for sis 1.75. Saw Dick Blackburn.

Jul 25 – Finished Shingling the west side of house about noon. Rainy afternoon.

Jul 26 – Put arm on Jo Lees buggy seat. Went over to burg in Evening, got Catharines glasses. Ethan went down to Dels got some apples.

Jul 27 – Went down to Catharines after Sarah. Mart finished drawing wheat. Mr. D. A. Mc Cullom[75] buried to day. Chan Rittaker at Kalamazoo.

Jul 28 – Went down to Jo Lees and Skinners, carried Lois some wine.

Jul 29 – Headache, no work to day. Hot day.

Jul 30 – Jo Lee came up here. Old Mr Williams[76] buried to day.

Jul 31 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Hibbard, no see him. Rebecca Plank went down to Catharines. Bot Set teaspoons $2.62 cents.

Aug 1 – Drawed some wood. Went up to Raymonds old place to see Mr Hall.

Aug 2 – Worked on Jo Lees buggy box put on sid and End, made Standards to dash. Ethan worked for A Brown. Paid Obe Williams Sixty 63 three Dollars. Fanny Town very sick.

Aug 3 – Worked on dash some. Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night. Went down to Catharines Mr John Milham there came I. D. L. Schram[77] repaired fence round School yard.

Aug 4 – Went down to Catharines. Mr John Milham[78] there. Came home in Evening.

Aug 5 – Put Dash on Jo Lees buggy. Had a heavy shower in afternoon. W^m Ralph and wife and Father[79] came in and stayed through the shower.

Aug 6 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Hibbard and Bruce, all gone from home. Ethan went down to Marts to work.

Aug 7 – Finished Jo Lees dash, put the box on to the gearing, painted some. Jo here went down to Wolcots after the cows. Received a letter from Mark Lee.

Aug 8 – Hot day 95 Abz. Fanny Town some better. Headache, no work. Sarah went over to Barbers in Evening stayed all night.

Aug 9 – Worked on Joes buggy, puttyed up nail holes &c hoed some turnips. Went down to Dels after corn. Went over after Sarah in Evening. Fanny Town very comfortable this morning.

Aug 10 – Painted Jo Lees buggy. Mr and Mrs Riley Bennet came here. Stayed here all night.

Aug 11 – Bennets folks here. Killed two hens. Rained some in afternoon.

Aug 12 – Went to Kalamazoo, went to George Turners,[80] Sarah went had Schrams buggy. Had a heavey shower in night. Saw Bruce Hibbard, Hicock, Doc Finch.

Aug 13 – Rainy took sulky over to burg. Went down to Skinners helped At home all day. Took sulky over to burg.

Aug 14 – We Went down to Skinners in fore noon.

Aug 15 – Went up to gull Prarie to see Mr Wood to sell him the Bristol place. Ed Childs came here in night. Hicock got four sheep paid ten Dollars. Put Cow in Browns lot. Edna Crawford[81] came here.

Aug 16 – Ed Childs went over to burg, carried corn to mill, brot sulky home. Got strap 50. Went down to Catharines after Ethan and Hannah. Henry came home to day.

Aug 17 – Went up to Chapins. Saw Mr Wood made a trade with him. Not very well. Nancy and Edna went over with me. Rained in night.

Aug 18 – Cloudy morning. Killed Bob.[82] At home all day.

Aug 19 – Harry Streator[83] got sulky this morning. Edna went home. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines.

Aug 20 – Sarah went down to A Browns. Made wheel to wheelbarrow. Mr Wood and Pain came over here. No trade. Mercury 97 in shade.

Aug 21 – Very hot. Painted wheel, three chairs and one pail. Went over to burg in Evening. Sis and Becca went. I paid Doc Merrill Six Dollars.

Aug 22 – Hot. Painted chair bottoms, wheelbarrow wheel. Went down to Skinners in Evening. Hank and Frank had a runaway, broke Streators Sulky. Smash him up generaly some.

Aug 23 – Went over to Chapins and B. Vosburgs. Mr Wood and John Pain Came over, made bargain for Bristol place. Repaired saw frame for A. Brown 25.

Aug 24 – At home all day. Jo Lee came up got his buggy. Sate Skinner here. Schram thrashed his wheat had 2.25 bushel.

Aug 25 – At home all day. No one here.

Aug 26 – Not much work to day. Skalawag came here stayed all night. Had a nice shower. Got Schrams buggy.

Aug 27 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sold Bristol place to Benjamin Wood for $1000. Paid Chapin 50, paid Kirby $4.34.36 four hundred and Paid Lucy $100. Tom Meeker Died this morning.

Aug 28 – Cool and cloudy in morning. Put up some fence south of orchard. Tom Meeker buried.

Aug 29 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg bot sis Dress. Jo Lee came up here. Mrs George Blake Died this morning.

Aug 30 – Pleasant and cool. Lois came home. Mr Schram got Bill to go to Wakeshma. I cut some wood sawed five logs. Mr Plank helped T. Ford thrash.

Aug 31 – Pleasant morning. Painted over to Mr Towns in forenoon, painted dining room. Mr Schram brot Bill home about dark. Henry Came home stayed all night.

Sep 1 – Went down to Catharines after Ethan. Ethan and Hannah came up with Marts team. Mr Gould Richardson Died.[84]

Sep 2 – Steamer came here to thrash. Fiered up just at night.

Sep 3 – Finished thrashing about ten oclock forenoon. Fine day.

Sep 4 – Went down to Jo Lees stayed all day. Catharine came with Mrs Youngs. Sick.

Sep 5 – Mr Randal thrashed S. Steamer machine.

Sep 6 – Went over to burg after Nancy then went down to Skinners. Got one bushel peaches. Carried Nancy down to Catharines to go to Vicksburg. Edna Nichols[85] died to night.

Sep 7 – Came back. No work to day at home. Made bow to oiles poke.

Sep 8 – At home not well. Ambros and Tild[86] came up here. Cut big watermelon. Edna Nichols buried to day.

Sep 9 – At home all day. Pulled some beans.

Sep 10 – Worked round house and garden.

Sep 11 – Got in beans and sowed corn. Henry came down. Went up to Schrams got buggy. Had a fine shower.

Sep 12 – Henry and I Started for Deerfield. Some rainy. Stoped in Kalamazoo. Bot hat 2.00, bot blouse 2.00. Went to Carolines stayed all night. Rainy day. Went over to burg in morning. Bot vest 2.50.

Sep 13 – Left Carolines for Oscars.[87] Fine day. Got to Oscars about four in afternoon. Found them well.

Sep 14 – Paid Oscar $300.00 three Hundred Dollars. Paid Alfleda 300.00 one Hundred Dollars $100.00. Henry Meridith went down to the Lake. Oscar and Mary Ann[88] went to Coloma.

Sep 15 – Started for home. Stoped to Glyttenberg with Schuyler Harris. Found them well.

Sep 16 – Left for home, got home about seven in Evening all right.

Sep 17 – Went down to Skinners after sleeve pattern for Hannah. Durgy cutting corn. Had a shower.

Sep 18 – Went down to Kalamazoo after Nancy. Had a hail storm. Stayed to George Turners all night. C Stephen Wilcut[89] stayed here all night.

Sep 19 – Came home to day. Went down to A Browns in Evening to A spiritual Circle.[90]

Sep 20 – Went over to burg to mill. Mr Rickey buried to day.

Sep 21 – No work to day, not very well. Went over to burg just at night, bot broom. Went down to A Browns in Evening, attended a circle. Rained in night. Mr Hudleston Shot this afternoon.

Sep 22 – Not very well. Ethan came up after Hannah. Went down to A. Browns in Evening to attend a circle. Mrs Plank went. Rainy night.

Sep 23 – Commenced my vice. Jo Lee came up here. I went over to burg with him. Mr Planks folks had company, Mr Wordswoorth and wife. He played and sung in Evening.

Sep 24 – Went down to Skinners, got some peaches. Mr Wadsworth left. Ethan came up after Sarah, Toots[91] baby[92] sick. Hank Brown and Farland called here, was here to tea. Rainy afternoon. Farland went to see Jim Hoag. Hank, Nancy, Ida and Farland went to W. Judsons.

Sep 25 – Will Plank left for Grand Rapids. Worked on vice some. Very windy. Sarah Turner and Georgie[93] came here. Cow went to Bull. Lucys baby died fifteen minutes to seven.

Sep 26 – Very windy morning. Ethan brot Sarah home. Finished my vice.

Sep 27 – Went down to Catharines. Lucys baby buried. Carried Sarah Turner down to Mr Davis. Had A. Browns buggy and our horse.

Sep 28 – Carried Sarah down to A Browns. Cut weeds in west garden, cut popcorn, dug a few potatoes. Went down to A Browns after Sarah. Rained some, rainy night, very windy.

Sep 29 – Rainy day, cold wind. Ethan brot Nancy and Hannah home. Very rainy.

Sep 30 – Cool, cloudy and some misty. Pared one bushel apples. Went up in woods. Split five logs for wood. Mrs Allerton visiting Mrs Plank.

Oct 1 – Cloudy and cool, some rain in morning. Went over to burg. Sarah & Mrs Plank went, came back. Jo Lee came up. Nancy and I went over to burg, saw Comodore Foots carriage and poneys. Lois came home. Jim went up to Wesleys stayed all night. Paid I. D. L. Schram 45 cents.

Oct 2 – Drawed 4 loads wood. Jim up to Wesleys cutting corn. Will Clark came down here. Put cow in lot south orchard. Henry called here. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Oct 3 – Cloudy not very cool. Round home all day. Warm and pleasant.

Oct 4 – Went over to burg to see Barber about cutting buckwheat. Loyd Higgins came over with me. Went down to Marts after Ethan.

Oct 5 – Went to Kalamazoo to get some cutter shoes, got none. Nancy and Hank Brown married to night Rev Mr Day married them.

Oct 6 – Rainy morning. Higgins here at home all day. Rainy some.

Oct 7 – Ethan and Loyd gone to Kalamazoo with A. Brown. Jim Millham brot his wheels here to be rimmed.

Oct 8 – Went to Kalamazoo with A Brown. Loyd went to give in his testimony. Bot steel for cutter shoes and linament. Fine day. Barber and Durgy cutting Buckwheat.

Oct 9 – Pleasant morning. Loyd Higgins gave one silver Dollar. He and Ethan went over to burg. I rimed one wheel for Jim Milham. Durgy boys husking corn.

Oct 10 – Cloudy. Barber and Durgy cutting Buckwheat. Ethan and Loyd gone to Streators, Flander and Skinners. Jo Flanders[94] brot some peaches.

Oct 11 – Loyd Higgins Started for home. Ethan went over to burg. I pounded out specled beans. Barber and Durgy cutting Buckwheat. Fine day. Boys husking.

Oct 12 – Went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Oct 13 – Helped Jo Lee move some things and came home. Snowed some

Oct 14 – Pleasant day. Will Plank came home badly hurt. Had his hand took of smashed coupling cars. Nancy moved over to Burg. Bot halter strap 40 cents.

Oct 15 – Carried my cutter over to burg to be Ironed. Mrs Dick Barber here. Barber and Durgy thrashed Buckwheat in afternoon. Paid G. A. Lockhart ten Dollars towards Ironing Cutter.

Oct 16 – Carried Sarah down to A. Browns. Durgy & Barber thrashed Buckwheat cleaned up 17½ bushels. Fine day.

Oct 17 – Carried Sarah over to burg to Nancys. Barber & Durgy thrashing buckwheat. Some smoky. Went over to burg in Evening. Bot some cranberries. Got Sis shoes mended.

Oct 18 – Barber & Durgy thrashing Buckwheat. Fine day. Worked round barn and house. Huron Arms and Ida here to Planks in Evening.

Oct 19 – Made Nancy moulding board. Made lever for Mart. Went down to Marts, Sis and Cary Plank went with me. Warm and dry. They finished on the Buckwheat, had 59 bushels.

Oct 20 – Fine morning, pleasant. Ethan came home. Eb and Nell called here.

Oct 21 – Repaired camry for Hank. Dug some potatoes, drawed some corn. Warm day. John Sherman drawed Plank some wood.

Oct 22 – Dug some potatoes. Mr W^m Johnson drawed Mr Plank load wood. Went over to Nancys in Evening. Warm day, very dry and smoky.

Oct 23 – Fine day. Dug potatoes in west garden. Tild and Jule here in afternoon. Went up to sawmill got some bar posts. D. Bronson there. P. T. Barnums Show at Grand Rapids to day.

Oct 24 – Went to Kalamazoo to see P. T. Barnums show. Fine day. A big croud there.

Oct 25 – Dug potatoes. Fine day. Finished West garden.

Oct 26 – Rainy day. Went over to burg after Nancy. Made some bars to go into Cornfield, put them up just at night. Got wet.

Oct 27 – Pleasant day. Nancy and Hank went down to Browns. Tip, Ras, Yarsky and Totty there or Expected there. Durgy husked corn. Fine day.

Oct 28 – Nice day. Finished digging potatoes, had about 20 bushels. Sis started for Catharines, went as far as Lois.

Oct 29 – Pleasant morning, no frost to hurt any thing. Mrs Plank paid 5.00. Bot shugar, one pr gloves .75 75 cts. Jim husked corn for N. L. Randal.

Oct 30 – Carried Sarah and Mrs Plank down to Skinners. Moved corn in cornhouse. Rainy afternoon. Went down to Jacksons after Sarah and Mrs Plank. Rained like fun. Jim husked for N. L. Randal. Becca husked for Allerton.

Oct 31 – Firing Salutes in town this morning, Colfax Speaks there. Carried Mrs Plank over to take cars for Kalamazoo. Carried some new corn over for sarup. Went down to Catharines. Went over to burg in Evening after Mr Planks folks about ten oclock.

Nov 1 – Went over to burg, got some sarup ground. Bot Jims Boots 3.00. Jim went down to Catharines. Went up to Schrams to Raising, raised his Barn. Went over to Barbers in Evening with A. Browns folks. Some rain.

Nov 2 – Cloudy and cool morning. Went over to Burg. Sis went over to Nancys. Got in one load corn in afternoon. Rained quite hard. Mrs Plank went down to T. Fords. Mr Plank killed a pig. Youngones all away from home.

Nov 3 – Cloudy morning. Unloaded load corn. Went down to Catharines. Henry went with me. Ethan and Catharine came up. Rained a very little, cool.

Nov 4 – Pleasant morning. Drawed one load corn in afternoon. Rainy. Boys finished husking to day.

Nov 5 – Rainy day. Went to Election, Greley and Grant[95] run the heat.

Nov 6 – Got my peach blow potatoes down from south lot. The boys got the last of their cornfodder away. Snowed some in night.

Nov 7 – Snow about ¼ of an inch deep.

Nov 8 – Drawed pumpkins, some fodder. Fine day. Went over to burg just at night.

Nov 9 – Hung ax and filed saw for Del Skinner, filed saw for A Caywood, finished blocks for Theodore Earls Saw. Mrs Freeer[96] Buried to day.

Nov 10 – Fine morning. Went down to Catharines. Got Marts trowel.

Nov 11 – Cut some wood and drawed it. Fine warm day. Went over to burg in Evening.

Nov 12 – Trimed orchard some. Fine day. Dug a few potatoes in south garden. Jo Lee here. Had Smith Carletons buckboard. Harvey stayed here all night with Jim.

Nov 13 – Cool morning, some wind. Round home. Went down to Catharines. They all came up here in Evening, had a time.

Nov 14 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Eugene Crawford[97] came here. Stoped up cellar windows. Cold wind. Filed buck Saw for A. R. Skinner.

Nov 15 – Went down to Catharines with Eugene. Snowed and blowed like fun. Hannah came home with us. Snow fell about 4 inches.

Nov 16 – Pleasant, sun came out, snow fell about 4 inches. Carried Sarah and Hannah and Eugene over to Nancys. No snow to day.

Nov 17 – Mart and Ethan came up home. Eugene here.

Nov 18 – Eugene left for Dowagaic. Cleaned out Hen house. Mr Allerton drawed some wood for Mr Plank. He asked me about the hogs, did Mr Brown say any thing about the hogs before the trial commenced. I think not. He says we stood by the gate talking, heard the hogs and I started to go to home and Mr Brown followed an we saw the hogs in my lot. This is what he says to day.

Nov 19 – Cloudy and cold at [incomplete entry]

Nov 20 – Went over to burg got my cutter. Paid Lockhart 3.00 three Dollars.

Nov 21 – Cut and drawed some wood. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Went over to burg with Sleigh the first time.

Nov 22 – Went over to burg. Bot oil for machine 20. Carried Sarah down to A. Browns. Snows some.

Nov 23 – Went to Kalamazoo with A. Brown to see Hickox about my sheep. Says he dont want them, says I had better sell them if I can. Went and saw Sherwood, Browns lawyer. Snow about gone.

Nov 24 – Quite warm wind in South in morning. Went down to Catharines. Catharine came home with me. Harry Streator came and got money of Ethan.

Nov 25 – Snow all gone. Put turnips in cellar. Went down to Marts. Cold wind.

Nov 26 – Went up to Wesleys. Pleasant day Sarah and Catharine went over to Nancys. Ethan and I cut some wood. Bill began to cough.

Nov 27 – Cold wind but pleasant. Dell Skinner got sheep. Paid $10.00. Very cold, high wind. Bill sick.

Nov 28 – Snows this morning. Went up to Wesleys. Snow fell 2 inches. Bill sick.

Nov 29 – Cold, Snowes some. Went up to Jo Flanders. Cold and blustring. Edwin got Home from Chicago. Snow fell 2 inches. Bill geting worse. Horace Greely Died[98] to day.

Nov 30 – Drawed two loads wood, some cornfodder. Went over to burg. Osgood paid $.50.00. Bot syrup 1.10 one galon. Harold and Mrs Gaffing here visiting. Cold day, mercury 8 Above zero. Bill no better. Snow fell 1½ inches.

Dec 1 – Snowey day. Bill no better, dont run at the nose yet. Snow fell 1½ inches.

Dec 2 – Some warmer, some rain in morning, snowey day. Wes brot Catharine down in morning. Snow fell 2½ inches.

Dec 3 – Went over to burg. Got some shugar, nutmeg and cinnamon. Nancy came home with me.

Dec 4 – Went down to Catharines after the Heifer. Not very cold. Mr Latta and Ida Clark[99] came down to Mr Planks in Evening.

Dec 5 – Turned two knobs for Lois stand. Henry came down. Mr Allerton asked about the hogs, what he told me in regard to the hogs. Fine day. Mr Flanders called here left letter for Henry. A. Brown killed his hogs.

Dec 6 – Henry went home. Worked round house and shop.

Dec 7 – Put up stove in South room. Drawed two loads wood, one load cornfodder. Went over to burg in Evening. Got Jim pair suspenders 35.

Dec 8 – Not very cold, snows some in morning.

Dec 9 – Worked round shop some. Cut out boxboards for cutter. Went over to burg in Evening. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to take lesson. Will Plank went to Grandrappids. He got a situation. Very cold, 8 Abz.

Dec 10 – Went over to burg. Carried Will over to go to work. Nancy came over. Lois came home. Skinner paid me five Dollars. Cold, snows some. Paid W^m Schroder five Dollars on Sarahs Account.

Dec 11 – Fine morning, not as cold as it has been. Went over to burg. Lois went over, got some shoes. I bot Lois shoes for Louesa 2.00. Mrs Skinner & Sate here in afternoon. Dell, Henry and Will Harmony and Hank Brown here in Evening. They rode down hill in Evening.

Dec 12 – Pleasant day. Worked round house and barn. Shelled some corn.

Dec 13 – Went over to burg. Carried 3 bushels Buckwheat, 1½ corn. Mrs Plank went over with me. Made box to Jims slead. Hannah got her ring of E. Underwood.

Dec 14 – Pleasant. Cut some wood, drawed one load.

Dec 15 – At home all day. Pleasant day.

Dec 16 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo to take lesson. I mended Mrs Planks teapot, ours and some pans. Planed out boards for cutter box.

Dec 17 – Went up in woods, cut one load wood, got pole to hang hogs on. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Nancy had a quilting.

Dec 18 – Killed one hog, Mr Plank killed one. Snowey day, Snow fell 3 inches.

Dec 19 – At home all day. Cold. Mr Fitzjerrald moved to Kalamazoo, left some things here. Cold, snowey night, snow fell about five and half inches 5½.

Dec 20 – Put up my hog. Ethan got load wood. Mr Caywood got his bobs. I carried girls to school. Some blustring.

Dec 21 – Went up in woods, cut some wood. Mr Latta came up there, paid Latta $5 five Dollars. Mr Fitzjerald got his things. Went over to burg. Paid my tax 12.57. Very blustring. Mrs Van Vliett[100] died to day. Mercury 2 below zero, cold night. Henry called here got his letter from Buffalo.

Dec 22 – Cold 20 below zero about seven AM, cold and some wind. At home all day. No one here.

Dec 23 – Very cold day, blustring. Carried the girls to school. Ethan gone to Kalamazoo to take lesson. Henry came down in Evening. Cold.

Dec 24 – Cold morning, 27 below zero. Del called here, paid 5.00 five Dollars. He wanted two axhelves. Isaac Schram got hurt by a lim from a tree.

Dec 25 – Cold, no wind, 2 above zero. Went down to Skinners in afternoon, went from there to Catharines, stayed all night. Cold night. Let Del have two Axhelves, hung one ax.

Dec 26 – At Catharines all day. Cold. Mart and Darling cleaned up load wheat. We came home in Evening.

Dec 27 – Cold and pleasant. Dell got two bushels buckwheat. Hung ax for Dell. Charley Smith here with him.

Dec 28 – Went over to burg. Received one Hundred Dollars of Township 100 treasurer. Paid Myron Latta $35 thirty five Dollars. Henry came down after Ethan. He went up to Mr Flanders stayed all night.

Dec 29 – At went up to Wesleys after Lou Hannah went over to burg after Louesa. Dell and Lois came here. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Snow fell one inch. Dow Haines got my melodian.

Dec 30 – Snowey day. Sawed out sills for my cutter box. Snow fell 2 inches. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. There was a dance up to Mr Riddlers.

Dec 31 – Dressed out sills for cutter boddy. Edwin Flanders here to see about cupler. Dell and Lois went to Lima.

——-

[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke

[2] His son, Ethan Keith

[3] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[4] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, widow of his late brother, Harvey Keith

[5] Ambrose Brown, neighbor and father of Henry Brown, daughter Nancy’s future husband

[6] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[7] Galesburg, Michigan

[8] Daughters of neighbors William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[9] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[10] His daughters

[11] John Wesley Keith, his adopted brother

[12] Henry (Hank) Brown. Hank marries Nancy in October

[13] Martin Milham, Lucy Lee’s husband. Lucy is Catharine’s daughter

[14] Daughter by first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[15] The son of his neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[16] His third wife, Sarah Crawford

[17] Daughter, Louese

[18] First cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)

[19] The daughter of his neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[20] Above zero

[21] Martin and Lucy (Lee) Milham (daughter of Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee)

[22] Niece (daughter of brother Harvey and Alfleda (Starr) Keith)

[23] Son of Cynthia (Brown) and William Arms. Cynthia was Ambrose Brown’s sister

[24] /- is the symbol used for shilling. A shilling was a coin of Colonial America and varied between 12¢ and 16¢

[25] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”

[26] Most likely his daughter and new son-in-law, Lois (Keith) Clark and Adelbert Skinner

[27] James Milham was Martin Milham’s half brother

[28] Jim Milham’s daughter

[29] Willis Brown, Hank Brown’s younger brother

[30] His daughter, known also as Louese or Sis or Lou

[31] Julia (Wood) Bristol (daughter of Simeon & Reliance (Brown) Wood, first cousin of Hank Brown

[32] Ax handles

[33] Neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[34] Two poles between which a horse is hitched to a wagon

[35] His horse

[36] Believe he is referring to his first cousin, Caroline M. (Wolcott) Earl

[37] Neighbor, John Allen, who is mentioned quite frequently as well as some of his children, Byron, Cora, Ida, Libbie and Emma

[38] Isaac Schram, a neighbor

[39] Neighbors, Hetta (Burgess) Ralph and Emaline (Stone) Ralph, the mother and wife of William Ralph

[40] George Clinton Lee Milham, Lucy & Mart Milham’s son

[41] Adelbert Skinner, Lois’ second husband

[42] Believe he is referring to Rebecca Plank, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank’s oldest daughter

[43] Joseph York, husband of Helen (Bradley) York. Helen was daughter of Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[44] Neighbor, James R. Flanders, age 36, buried in Riverside Cemetery, Charleston, Michigan

[45] Son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[46] His cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind to run his father’s farm and was living with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee. An entry in Luke’s 1870 diary for March 18 states that “Mark and Henry started for Salt Lake in night”

[47] Wood ashes through which water is passed to carry away soluble portions

[48] Florence (Plank) Hansell, age 20, was the daughter of Lewis & Ann (Groat) Plank. Lewis and William Plank were brothers

[49] Cousin (grandson of Charles Lee and Rhoda Keith, by their son Charles and his wife Juliana Davis)

[50] Albert Towne, the father of Charles Towne who would later marry Hannah Keith in 1891

[51] Caroline Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[52] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Marvin Babcock died April 23, 1872 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[53] Land-plaster, or gypsum, was used as a fertilizer

[54] Apparatus for giving an equal proportion of work to horses in pulling, drawing a load, etc.

[55] Believe he is referring to his cousin, Charles Lee (son of Charles Lee and Rhoda Keith), and Charles’ son

[56] Sister of Charles Towne

[57] His sister, Martha “Patty” Keith Sprague

[58] A neighbor

[59] Erasmus Towne, son-in-law of Ambrose Brown’s sister, Reliance (Brown) Wood. Also referred to as Ras

[60] Grandson, son of Lois (Keith) and her first husband, Byron Clark

[61] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[62] Lula Anna Bristol, who was just shy of four years old, the daughter of Jackson & Julia (Wood) Bristol, died May 17, 1872 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Julia (Wood) Bristol and Henry “Hank” Brown were first cousins

[63] Del Skinner’s sister

[64] First cousin (son of Asa Turner and Lydia Willcutt)

[65] Neighbor, daughter of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[66] A horizontal crossbar to the ends of which the traces of a harness are attached. Also known as a swingletree

[67] Don’t know who he is referring to, but often the parents of a husband or wife of a family member, or the parent of a neighbor, were referred to as Aunt and Uncle

[68] His paternal first cousin, Alvan Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[69] Neighbor, Lucy Jane (Kingsley) Comings, died June 12, 1872 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[70] Etc.

[71] Julia Allen, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister. Julia lived with Ambrose and Matilda for 25 years, until her death in 1881

[72] FindAGrave.com shows that Chauncey Beckwith died July 4, 1872 (so couldn’t have been buried on July 2) and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[73] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel

[74] A neighbor. Believe Luke used the term Uncle as a sign of respect for an older person

[75] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com reveal that David A. McCollum died July 25, 1872 in Comstock, Michigan

[76] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that John W. Williams died July 29, 1872 and is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[77] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[78] Martin Milham’s father’s name was John; perhaps this is him

[79] Neighbors, William & Emaline (Stone) Ralph, and William’s father, George Ralph

[80] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner

[81] This could be Robert Crawford’s daughter, who was about 17 at the time, or Edwin Crawford’s daughter, who was about 14. Both Robert and Edwin Crawford were Luke’s brothers-in-law

[82] Assume this is one of his farm animals

[83] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” D. Streator, the son of Marius O. Streator

[84] A search of FindAGrave.com (as well as the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com) shows that Gould Richardson died September 3, 1872 (not September 1) in Pavilion, Michigan, and is buried in Schoolcraft Township Cemetery, Vicksburg, Michigan

[85] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Edna Nichols, age 18, died September 8, 1872 (not September 6) in Charleston, Michigan. She was the daughter of Nelson & Mary (Earl) Nichols

[86] Ambrose and Matilda Brown

[87] Nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr)

[88] Oscar’s wife, Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[89] Stephen Hoxie Wolcott, his maternal first cousin

[90] A seance

[91] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham

[92] Johnny Milham, who was born June 27, 1872

[93] His cousin George Turner’s wife, Sarah (Roberts) Turner and their son, George Turner

[94] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders; father of James (see April 10 entry), Edwin (see May 14 entry) & Henry Flanders. After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. The Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda

[95] Horace Greeley lost to Ulysses Grant by a landslide

[96] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Jane (Hoag) Freer died November 7, 1872 and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Her daughter, Luthere A. Freer died February 17, 1872 and is also buried in the Cook Cemetery. Luke mentions in his February 19^th entry that the “Freer girl buried”

[97] The son of Luke’s late brother-in-law, Edwin Crawford & Louisa Hall

[98] Horace Greeley, who was devastated by the death of his wife five days before the election (see November 5^th entry), died himself three weeks later, just before the electoral college met

[99] The granddaughter of Ira & Angeline Clark, who were the parents of Luke’s daughter Lois’ first husband, Byron Clark

[100] A search of the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com shows that Henrietta Van Vleet died December 21, 1872, and the Oak Grove Cemetery records reveal that her maiden name was Lockwood

1872-04-09

Luke Keith’s 1869 Diary

1869 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

Jan 1 – Cold and blustrous. Ethan[2] went down to Charles Lees.[3] No work Sarah[4] sick. Nancy[5] sick.

Jan 2 – At home. Sick no work.

Jan 3 – Ethan & Lois[6] went down to Catharines.[7]

Jan 4 – Went up to Hiram Cooks got some cranberries. Mary Ann[8] came here.

Jan 5 – Bot this Diary 45¢. Went over to mill carried 8 bushels wheat to mill. Mrs Wiseman came home with me. Mary Ann left.

Jan 6 – Pleasant morning. Sarah and Nancy sick yet. Mark[9] came up and killed sheep. Mr Flanders called here to look at steers.

Jan 7 – Mark came up and killed sheep. Mr I went over to burg to see Bristol.

Jan 8 – Rainy day. A Brown and I went up to Wesleys.[10] Lost my mittens.

Jan 9 – Made Nance[11] stable. Took shed down.

Jan 10 – At home all day. Lois went down to Catharines.

Jan 11 – Worked on partition in kitchen.

Jan 12 – Worked on partition. Mrs Hawver called here and Mary Lewis.

Jan 13 – Painted twelve blinds. Let Doc Wightman have two bushels potatoes. Pleasant day.

Jan 14 – Very fine day. Finished painting Blinds.

Jan 15 – Carried my hubs over to burg.[12] Carried fifty files over to Burrels to be cut over.

Jan 16 – Carried Blinds down to Catharines. Fine day. Mr McNaughton called to see steers. Pleasant day. Ethan went down to see Charley.[13]

Jan 17 – Fine day cloudy. Moved Bedstead into shop.

Jan 18 – Went down to J Lees[14] to see Mark carried their dinner down in the woods _________ of Charles took dinner with them.

Jan 19 – Mark came up and butchered my hogs. Mr Birge[15] picking over potatoes. Windy day.

Jan 20 – Birge picking over potatoes. I cut up my pork. Made cart wheels for Birges boy. Pleasant day.

Jan 21 – Fine morning. T Flanders[16] came over. Not much work to day. Ed Childs called he took dinner.

Jan 22 – Made cart for Birges Boy.[17] Pleasant day.

Jan 23 – No work to day. Ed and wife & Susie Brown[?] came down here. Fine day. Ida Barber & Carry & Ella Wiseman came over.

Jan 24 – Pleasant as April. Went down to Marks. Mark & Ann came up here.

Jan 25 – Sold my steers to S. C. Blake for 45 Dollars. Very pleasant day. Got Bu___ from A. Browns[18] in evening. Helped York load [illegible].

Jan 26 – Pleasant 18 Abz.[19] in morning. Cut down two trees south of barn. [illegible]. Doc Wightman got two bushels potatoes.

Jan 27 – Helped Jo York[20] load one load of stalks. Went over to burg carried 3 bushels corn. Snowey day. Alfred Signor got his corn. Sick in night.

Jan 28 – Rather damp day. Sick no work to day. Jo York drawed two loads cornfodder. Finished the lot. Sold my calf to Jo for five Dollars.

Jan 29 – Rainy day. Lois came home. Paid My Tax 28.46. Turned the cows and horses in the south lot. Finished my buggy pole.

Jan 30 – Went down to Charles Lees and Jo and Marks. Cool and some wind.

Jan 31 – Came home. No snow but cold.

Feb 1 – Cut down one hickory tree and maple tree south of Barn. Charles Lee came up here.

Feb 2 – Traded violin with Charles J Lee for watch. Mrs Barber and George came over here. Snowey night. Ethan & Charles went to burg.

Feb 3 – Snow some 3 inches deep snows yet in morning. Charles went home. Sarah and Lois went to burg.

Feb 4 – Sarah and Lois went over to burg. Hellen[21] and Catharine came up. Charley Lee stayed here.

Feb 5 – Hellen and Catharine came up. I went over and brot them home. Pleasant some snow cold & _____ in morning. Charley went down to burg.

Feb 6 – Went over to burg bot boots for me 5.00, one pair for Jim 2.00. Drawed some wood. Hellen went up to Wesleys. Charley Lee stayed all night.

Feb 7 – At home all day. Ethan went down to Charles Lees.

Feb 8 – Went to burg carried 3 bushels wheat to Mill. Left cuplers with Oatman. Mr and Mrs Schram here in Evening. (Shermans[?] in night.) Pulled tooth for John.

Feb 9 – Rainy morning. Went to Mill got grist. Worked some in shop.

Feb 10 – Tacked my Boots. Cut out some stuff for Lees nut box.

Feb 11 – Pleasant. Made Lees Nut Box. Painted my buggy pole. Ethan carried my watch to school.

Feb 12 – Mr & Mrs Swaddle here all day. Painted Lees Box. Ida Barber came over.

Feb 13 – Lee carried his Box over this morning. Went down to Catharines. Rainy afternoon.

Feb 14 – Came home. Rained like fun.

Feb 15 – Went over to burg. Got some irons made for well rope _____.

Feb 16 – Put Buckets on to rope. Put in one new bottom. Sawed out some strip for Lees bed.

Feb 17 – Made Lees bed sted. Went over to Mr Planks in evening took Tea. Mr & Mrs Brown there Mr Ford.

Feb 18 – Snows some this morning. Finished Lees bed carried it over to burg. Nancy went over. Got some lime. Edith came down stayed all night.

Feb 19 – Pleasant. Put up leach. Made door to kitchen and put up leach.

Feb 20 – Put on door handle. Went over to burg got my cuplers of Oatman.

Feb 21 – Snowey in morning. Snow some 4 inches deep.

Feb 22 – Went down to Mr Yorks stayed all night. Went with sleigh. Snowed some.

Feb 23 – Came home. Jo went out to Vicksburg with load goods.

Feb 24 – Cold and Blustering. Mark Lee came up got my _____. Wes called. Peddler called, bot soap 20¢.

Feb 25 – Cold 8 Abz cold. Filed saw. Worked in barn.

Feb 26 – Cold 18 Abz blustrous. Worked round house and barn.

Feb 27 – Carried 3 bushels corn to _____. Sarah went over to burg. Mr Hawkins choped some wood. Let him have 1 & ½ bushels potatoes. Pleasant day. Got link made to cupler 5¢. Harry Myers Died.[22] Ethan & girls went down to Catharines.

Feb 28 – Cold. Sarah over to burg. York came after Lois she went over to Vicksburg. Good sleighing.

Mar 1 – Carried Hannah[23] and Nancy up to Mr Swadles. Received letter from Stepen Wilcut.[24] Put rave[25] on Planks sleigh.

Mar 2 – Cold morning snows some. Went over to burg. Lasher[26] came home with me.

Mar 3 – Went down to Streators Lasher went along. Drawed some wood. Went over to burg after Nancy & Hannah. Extracted two teeth for _____ Schram. Two Mrs Ralphs here. Got load straw from Streators.

Mar 4 – Cut some logs[?] south of barn drawed them down. Mr Streator left some wagon poles here to day. Very cold 8 Abz.

Mar 5 – Cold day. At home no work. Lasher came up.

Mar 6 – Went over to burg. Very blustering. Sold my California ___ ring to Efrim[?] Streator. Got silver chain one pair gloves and five Dollars. Mrs Havens died.[27]

Mar 7 – 2 Abz. At home cold day.

Mar 8 – Pleasant. Went over to burg with Jo Lee. Mark and Jesse Lee[28] called here. Doc Wightman got one bushel potatoes.

Mar 9 – Foggy morning. Drawed some wood.

Mar 10 – Started for Marshall[29] left home about half past four AM. Train run the station. Snowed and blowed like fun. Went to Concord.[30] Fare 1.35. Went to Johns stayed all night.

Mar 11 – Went over to Kirkwoods.[31] Fare 75¢. Stayed all night. Cold day 2 below zero in morning.

Mar 12 – Pleasant morning. Irene[32] and I went over to uncle Jasons[33] found uncle quite smart.

Mar 13 – Went over to Jonesville[34] with Steven.[35] Good sleighing.

Mar 14 – Cold and blustering. Jesse sick.[36] Went up to Stevens and over to Bissils[37] in Evening. Snowed some.

Mar 15 – Pleasant in morning. Went down to Jess went over to Mr Underhills. Filed saw for Steven. Took tea at under Hills. Went over to Bissels stayed all night.

Mar 16 – Cold morning. Kirkwoods woods folks came over to Bissels. I went over to Stevens and Jess. Stayed with Jess all night.

Mar 17 – Cold morning. Made a fire for Uncle Jason. Left Uncle Jasons about noon. Went over to Concord got to Concord about four PM.

Mar 18 – Left Concord 9 AM for Concord station. Left for home about one got home about three P.M.

Mar 19 – Went down to Catharines. Snowed like fun. Found them all well.

Mar 20 – Came home. Jess Lee married[38] this morning. Mr Greenleaf[39] died to day about noon.

Mar 21 – At home all day. Cold. Mr Greenleaf buried.

Mar 22 – Went up to Wesleys. Very snowey day. Made Axhelve for Chub.

Mar 23 – Mended Birges chairs. Pleasant day. Mrs Brown[40] and Julia,[41] Mrs Plank here visiting. Brown and Plank here in Evening.

Mar 24 – Went over to burg. Sarah went over. Hank Wells called here to get rope, he broke down got very muddy.

Mar 25 – Went over to burg. Saw Bristol & L. T. Earl.[42] Talked some of making a trade.

Mar 26 – At home not much done to day.

Mar 27 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot Broom 40 bot Jim some cloth for pants. Filed Wes saw. All the Planks over in Evening. Nancy & Hannah went up to Allens.

Mar 28 – Pleasant Mercury stands at 60. At home all day.

Mar 29 – Trimed apple trees some. Cleaned out back house. Went down to A Browns got hams. Went over to burg. Got Hannahs shoes tapt 65¢. Rainy night Pixly & Grannis at burg.

Mar 30 – Rainy morning. Went up to L. T. Earls. Cold and muddy.

Mar 31 – Finished trimming orchard. Ethan and girls went down to Catharines. Jo Lee came up. I filed his saw.

Apr 1 – Snows and blows like fun. Went up in woods got 3 pails sap.

Apr 2 – At home all forenoon. Went to burg in afternoon.

Apr 3 – Drawed rails in forenoon. Went to burg in afternoon. Saw L. T. Earl and Hellen Blake. Made trade for Bristols place.

Apr 4 – Went down to Catharines with Bill[43] and sleigh. Sap run some.

Apr 5 – Pleasant morning. Round home all day Except when I was to town meeting.

Apr 6 – Went down to Catharines. Helped Mark shugar of. Lasher came back.

Apr 7 – At Catharines shugared of. Mrs Carleton & Jenny came over to eat shugar.

Apr 8 – Went to Kalamazoo got some clover and timothy seed ___ 75¢. Pleasant day. Got money for Mr Bristol 600. Dollars. He paid me 4.78.82.

Apr 9 – Drawed brush out of orchard.

Apr 10 – Pleasant. Picked up old fence bottom and stuff on side hill and moved some stone. Brot apples out cellar.

Apr 11 – Pleasant morning. Found one of my sheep dead. Pulled the wool of her.

Apr 12 – Pleasant morning. School commenced to day. Cleaned out cellar.

Apr 13 – Drawed some stone. Sarah and Sucy Brown went over to Planks. Birge burnt potatoetops in East lot.

Apr 14 – Finished moving stone. Laid up some fence. Sarah and Brown went up to Jesse Earls.[44] Carried my pole and whiffletrees[45] over to burg.

Apr 15 – Pleasant morning. Brown and Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Gaffing came here stayed all night.

Apr 16 – Went down to Catharines with Gaffing. Mary Brown Died this morning. Rained some.

Apr 17 – Sarah went over to burg. I drawed some manure.

Apr 18 – Rainy day. Charley Lee here to Breakfast. Harry Streator here. Mary Brown Buried to day. Rainy night some thunder.

Apr 19 – Paid Lucy[46] 2.60. Dollars. Got some scions[47] out of Catharines orchard.

Apr 20 – Worked round home. Rainy. Ole Bull at Kalamazoo this Evening.

Apr 21 – Moved some fence round barn yard. Mr Woodden Died this morning.

Apr 22 – Split out some fence posts. Went over to burg got ten lbs fence nails one lb ___. Mr Woodden buried to day.

Apr 23 – Got out manure. Paid M. O. Streator[48] $133.00. one Hundred & thirty three Dollars for J. O. Keith.[49] Had a shugar party.

Apr 24 – Fixed some fence. Split out some fence posts.

Apr 25 – Carried Sarah over to church. Mr Bristol called here in morning.

Apr 26 – Sowed my clover seed. Rained some afternoon.

Apr 27 – Worked round yard got out some manure &c.[50]

Apr 28 – Went over and got Jane Hoag brot her here. Moved some fence round barn yard. Got out some manure.

Apr 29 – Got out some manure. Birge plowing the hill. Had Jim and Bill.[51]

Apr 30 – Lois came home. Went over to Burg got my pump. Carried five bushels potatoes 35¢ pr bushels.

May 1 – Put up my laths and mended Browns cloths wringer and commenced some hubbs for velosiped.[52] Rainy day.

May 2 – Carried Sarah over to church. Pleasant day cold south west wind.

May 3 – Plowed gardens. Jo & Lois Lee[53] called here. Finished plowing the hill south of Barn.

May 4 – Moved old fence posts and boards round barn yard. Got out some manure. Will Clark helped some.

May 5 – Took down fence East of house. Carried 3 bushels wheat to mill. Birge plowing with Jim and Bill. Took Nance down to Catharines.

May 6 – Went to mill this morning. Worked round house and garden.

May 7 – Put out some onions and potatoes.

May 8 – Finished putting out onions. Planted some corn and potatoes cucumbers &c. Ethan draged in East lot.

May 9 – At home all day. Made me a ring. Had fan and Jim. Turned them out let them run all day. Jim and Bill over to Birges.

May 10 – Piled up and burnt stumps on hill. Ethan draging. Jo Lee called here. H. A. Taylor planting corn. Fine day.

May 11 – Got out manure put on gardens south of Barn.

May 12 – Got out manure put it around the Apple trees. Had a shower in afternoon. A. L. Keith[54] called here. Rained when he left.

May 13 – Cloudy rain. Not much done.

May 14 – Went down to Catharines. Had H. A. Taylors wagon.

May 15 – Mr Wheeler brot C. J. Lees trunk over. Went to Kalamazoo had Birges wagon. Ethan, Henry Childs and Loyd Higgins went down to get some velosipeds felloes.[55] No get um.

May 16 – At home all day. Lois and Jesse Lee came up.

May 17 – Birge and Ethan marked out ____ ground.

May 18 – Planted corn on hill finished planting. Mrs Hawver and Mary Lewis here.

May 19 – Planted potatoes East of barn.

May 20 – Got out manure and plowed some. Rained in night.

May 21 – Went down to Catharines with potatoes. Rainy.

May 22 – Finished plowing East of barn. Ethan sick. Put down carpet. Turned block for mawl. Cool wind. Circus in Kalamazoo to day.

May 23 – At home all day fine day. Jesse Lee and Alvin Lee[56] came up brot Lois home. Paid Alvin Lee and took up my Note 28.72.

May 24 – Dragged my garden south of barn.

May 25 – Planted corn and potatoes south of barn. Very hot.

May 26 – Planted Beans and Birge planted potatoes and beans and corn. Sarah and Lois went down to A. Browns Mrs Plank. I went down and took Tea.

May 27 – Had a heavy shower this morning.

May 28 – Jesse Earl called. I signed a petition for the company to discharge Cogswell from the Central Depo. Lois went down to Marks. I went over to burg. Hannah went to Marks.

May 29 – I put frame on Harrys slate. Mended Catharines chair. Let hogs out. Cut some yokes for hogs.

May 30 – At home not very well.

May 31 – Sick. Ethan & Birge picked up load potatoes. Some rainy.

Jun 1 – Pleasant day. Sick. Ethan gone to school. Carry Wiseman came over. Killed the old cat.

Jun 2 – Had Birges Market wagon. Went down to Catharines left Hannah. Schram and Birge went to Kalamazoo with potatoes. Sold for 25 cts pr bushel.

Jun 3 – At home. Went up to Mr Schrams in morning to how they made it selling potatoes. Very hot day.

Jun 4 – Sick no work. Jesse Turner and wife[57] came here stayed all night. Rained some. Birge came over and shelled some corn. I got 104 cabbage plants of H. A. Taylor. Set them out.

Jun 5 – Pleasant but cool. Jess went home this morning. I went down to Catharines took dinner with Charles Lee. Cool wind.

Jun 6 – At home all day not very well.

Jun 7 – Washed sheep. Picked up some potatoes. Cool. John Sherman broke his wagon wheel down oposite my house.

Jun 8 – Cool and cloudy. At home. Sarah went down to Mr Streator planted corn.

Jun 9 – Planted corn. Birge planted in forenoon.

Jun 10 – Planted corn. Horse fair commenced at burg.

Jun 11 – Finished planting corn. Warm day. Lucy came up. Mart went over to burg.

Jun 12 – Cultivated potatoes in East garden. Had a shower. Mr Harger called here. Catharine came up with Mart.

Jun 13 – Went down to Catharines after Hannah.

Jun 14 – Went to mill carried 4½ wheat one corn.

Jun 15 – Made fence East side of barn yard. Pleasant day.

Jun 16 – Sheared my sheep a Mr Hall done it. Went over to burg. Charley McCausey paid 25¢ paid 50¢ for shearing sheep. Turned out hub for Birge barrow.

Jun 17 – Mowed orchard. Killed a big black snake. Rained some.

Jun 18 – At home most of the day. Went over to burg got buckle put on harness 25¢. Went down and got A. Browns buggy.

Jun 19 – Went down to Uncle Warrens.[58] Found him very sick. Some rainy had a heavy shower in Evening.

Jun 20 – Cloudy not much rain. At Carolines[59] all day. Saw Alvin Holmes and wife.

Jun 21 – Came home. Left Uncle Warrens about noon. Left uncle sitting on the stoop. Got home about five P.M.

Jun 22 – Ethan cultivated corn. Had a shower. Sold my sheep pelt to Cadys pedler for one Dollar.

Jun 23 – Ethan cultivating corn. I raked up some hay in orchard.

Jun 24 – Plowed out potatoes in East garden. Went over to burg in afternoon. The Masons had a time.

Jun 25 – Worked in shop on wheel barrow wheel.

Jun 26 – Worked in shop some.

Jun 27 – At home all day. Rainy.

Jun 28 – Shaved and drove spoke in two wheel barrow hubs.

Jun 29 – Worked on road. Water very high.

Jun 30 – Helped Birge shingle his shanty. Warm day.

Jul 1 – Went over to burg. Took dinner at Wisemans. Carried school marm home. School closed.

Jul 2 – Some rainy. Stranger called here young man and woman. Had a shower. Commenced A. Browns Hay rack.

Jul 3 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Balloon go up. He no go up.

Jul 4 – Went down to Catharines to see Dr Finch.

Jul 5 – Mowed some. Birge took some home.

Jul 6 – Birge and I mowed all day up in south lot.

Jul 7 – I mowed some and _____ what Birge and I mowed.

Jul 8 – Worked for Brown on Hay rack. Went down to Cates. Marks Boy Born.[60] Hogs killed lamb.

Jul 9 – Worked on Browns rack. Finished Hay Rack. Extracted tooth for Will Brown.[61] Uncle Warren Died to day.

Jul 10 – Drawed in hay. Verry windy day. Ida Barber came over stayed all night.

Jul 11 – Pleasant morning. One sheep gone this morning. Uncle Warren buried[62] to day.

Jul 12 – Mowed in south lot to day.

Jul 13 – Sorted potatoes. Alfleda[63] came here.

Jul 14 – Went to Kalamazoo with potatoes 24½ bushels 30 cts pr bushel.

Jul 15 – Sorted potatoes. Alfled helped. David Tomkins helped. T. Flanders came over.

Jul 16 – Went to Kalamazoo with potatoes 21.¾ 35¢ pr bushel. Mr. Rosa[64] buried to day. Very warm. Flanders left.

Jul 17 – Repaired Browns reel to reaper. Made churn dash and cover for Mrs Wiseman. Drawed in one load hay. Went over to burg in Evening. Bot dresses and other traps some 5.00.

Jul 18 – Pleasant and warm 77 Abz. Carried Hannah down to Catharines.

Jul 19 – Mowed grass. Killed a skunk. Ethan worked for Mr Randell binding wheat. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jul 20 – Made a hay trough. Went down to A. Browns got some peas. Rainy. Ethan to work for A Brown. A. B Sumner called here to renew inshurance.

Jul 21 – Sowed some Buckwheat. Raked up some hay.

Jul 22 – Went to Kalamazoo with load potatoes for Mr Birge. Sold Ed Wilcut[65] two bushels 30¢ pr bushel. Sold 17 Bushels for 25¢ pr bushel.

Jul 23 – Worked round hoed some. Ethan to work for brown.

Jul 24 – Cradled wheat round my lot. Mark came up to cut wheat. Drove team for Brown some. Brot Reel shaft.

Jul 25 – Put in Reel shaft to A. Browns Reaper. Hot day. Suky Brown[66] here. Went to church with Planks folks. We went down to Catharines. Rained. Stayed all night.

Jul 26 – Came home. Went up to Wes with Suky Brown. A. Brown finished cutting his wheat.

Jul 27 – A. Brown cut my wheat. Warm day rained in night. Suky went down to Allertons.

Jul 28 – Had a heavy thunder shower this morning. My wheat out.

Jul 29 – Went up to Mr Hugys[?] after Birge wagon. No get him. Got Schrams. Drawed in my wheat.

Jul 30 – Went over to Hugys got Birges wagon. Ethan gone to draw wheat for A. Brown.

Jul 31 – Ethan drawed wheat for A. Brown & Plank. I put hogs in wheat lot.

Aug 1 – Went up to Charleston with Bristol and Beckwith then went down to Catharines. Brown came home with us.

Aug 2 – Ethan carried Brown down to Streators. I wen over to Burg with Jo Lee.[67] Bot soap & other traps. Uncle Peat Johnson starts to day for the East. Had a shower. Birge got Fan & Jim.

Aug 3 – Birges trial to day. Went over to burg took bill got my wagon. Ethan worked for A. Brown.

Aug 4 – Worked in shop some. Cut out stuf for Mr Planks wagon box. Carried Hannah down to Browns.

Aug 5 – Plowed out my potatoes and hoed some corn and vines.

Aug 6 – Worked in shop on Streators wheels. Ethan worked for Brown.

Aug 7 – Went over to Mr Guays got my two shovel plow. Mrs Simonds died. Carried Rocking chairs over to Mary E Claps of some.

Aug 8 – Pleasant day. At home all day. Mrs Simonds Buried to day. M. O. Streator called here.

Aug 9 – Thrashed some wheat. David Tomkins called here. Went up to Howlands burg with M. O. Streator to get felloes.

Aug 10 – Carried Sarah and Alfleda down to Streators. Got 4 bushels wheat of Streator carried it to mill. Ed Gillis[68] Died.

Aug 11 – Cloudy. Put up two bushels new wheat this morning. Carried it to mill. Seaman S. Bristol paid me sixty Dollars. Very hot. Hoed corn some where the old mercury was on the corner.

Aug 12 – Hoing corn. Very hot 90 in shade at noon.

Aug 13 – Got Mr Schrams wagon went down to Catharines drawed her a load wood. W^m Wheeler sent violin here to be repaired.

Aug 14 – Went over to burg got grist new wheat. Birge came over here. Had a shower. Nancy went over to Barbers with Birge.

Aug 15 – At home all day. Not very hot.

Aug 16 – Went over to burg with Jo Lee. Helped Mr Plank thrash after supper.

Aug 17 – Mr. Plank finished thrashing in forenoon. Thrashed my wheat in afternoon. Had 45 bushels paid $.5. Dollars.

Aug 18 – Ethan plowed corn. I hoed some in garden. Put handle on knife in afternoon. Very hot.

Aug 19 – Helped Brown thrash in afternoon. Very hot.

Aug 20 – Worked down to Browns. Finished thrashing. Had 354 bushels wheat, 75. oats, 11. peas. Had a heavy shower.

Aug 21 – Rainy. Went over to burg. Mart[69] came up. Bot traps for Jim &c. 2.33.

Aug 22 – Went down to Catharines got some vinegar.

Aug 23 – Worked on Streators wheels some. Ethan went down to Catharines got some Blackberies. Very hot.

Aug 24 – Worked in shop some. A. Brown got Bill to plow. Hot Hot 120 in at noon in sun 95 in shade.

Aug 25 – Catharine came up. Chored round not much done. Ethan helped Mr Brown clean up wheat. Mr Plank brot his wagon over.

Aug 26 – Work on Planks box.

Aug 27 – Work on planks Box some.

Aug 28 – Worked on Box. Took down old shed by hog pen.

Aug 29 – Went up to Mr Seamans took dinner. Mart and Lucy came up got Birds.

Aug 30 – Work on Box put on one coat paint. Mr Schram thrashed his wheat. Cool day.

Aug 31 – Painted Planks Box. Worked on wheels some.

Sep 1 – Finished Streators wheels. Picknick up on Jesse Earl place. Ethan cutting corn.

Sep 2 – Put rim on one of Wightmans[70] wheels. Ethan cutting up corn.

Sep 3 – Worked on wheels. Streator got his wheels. Ethan went after Lois. Painted violin, Trunk and wash stand.

Sep 4 – Pleasant morning. Worked in shop some. Went over to burg after Hannah. Went over in Evening after Henry & Hiram.[71]

Sep 5 – At home all day. Mart and Lucy came up. Extracted 2 two teeth for Mrs Plank.

Sep 6 – Went up to Yorkville. Had a livery team. Had a good time. School commenced. Suky Brown teaches.

Sep 7 – The boys left for home on the one 35 train. Fine day. Lois went up to Mrs Birges.

Sep 8 – Not much done to day. Not very well.

Sep 9 – Drawed in his my corn fodder. Begun to plow for wheat. Warm day.

Sep 10 – Cut grass East of currant bushes. Ethan Plowing. Mrs Schram called here. Mary and Emmet[72] came up on the noon train.

Sep 11 – Went over to burg. Sent things to Henrys folks. Fine day. Mr Ford and Allerton have a law suit to day.

Sep 12 – At home most of the day. Carried T. Flanders up to D. Bronsons just at night.

Sep 13 – Warm day. Mary and Emmet went home on the 1.35 train. Pleasant day.

Sep 14 – Ethan helped A Brown clean up wheat. Plowed ground East of currant bushes. Had a shower in the night.

Sep 15 – Finished one of Wightmans wheels and cut some corn in garden.

Sep 16 – Sowed wheat in corn on the corner. Horse races commenced to day at Galesburg. Fine weather.

Sep 17 – Sowed wheat south of buckwheat 3 acres. Second day horse races at the burg. Fine weather.

Sep 18 – Sowed wheat East of currant bushes. Went over to burg in Evening. Carried Dick some melons.

Sep 19 – Extracted tooth for Polly Earl. Warm day. Went down to Catharines. Very hot day. Pros[73] came in the night on the 11 oclock train.

Sep 20 – Paired some apples. Ethan went to school. Went over to burg.

Sep 21 – Went over to burg to mill. Pros and Streator had a set to.

Sep 22 – Went over to burg in morning. Ethan, Pros went down to Catharines. I made rack to dry apples on. Mr Schram made 84 galons cider.

Sep 23 – Pros and I went up to Durgys old farm to see about a cider mill screw and buggy. Carried cider over to Blackburn 40 galons.

Sep 24 – Pros left for Niles[74] on the one 35 train. Ethan sick. Started to cary Alfleda down to Jo Lees broke down down by Skinners.

Sep 25 – Rainy morning not much work. Ethan sick. Got letter from James Higgins.

Sep 26 – At home all day.

Sep 27 – Went over to burg in morning. Got Schrams buggy. Ethan and I went to Kalamazoo.

Sep 28 – Went up to Mr Seamans got cradle. Cut some Buckwheat. Ethan cut some corn. Mrs Barber & Mrs Johnson came over here.

Sep 29 – Finished cutting Buckwheat and cut corn.

Sep 30 – Went over to Burg. Got Birges wagon. Went down to Catharines.

Oct 1 – Went down to Jeff Chaffees.[75] Rain in the night.

Oct 2 – Rainy morning. Went to Schuyler Harrisses.

Oct 3 – Left Harrises went to Oscars found them well.

Oct 4 – At Oscars all day.

Oct 5 – Went down to Paul ville[76] through the woods.

Oct 6 – Left Oscars for home. Went up to Harmon Smiths stayed all night. He lives in Almena township.

Oct 7 – Left Smiths for home got home about dark. Fine day.

Oct 8 – Went over to burg in morning. Birge and Ethan dug potatoes.

Oct 9 – Rainy day no work. Birge came over and shelled corn.

Oct 10 – At home all day sick headache. Wesley went down to Catharines got one of my cider barrels. Ethan and the girls went down.

Oct 11 – Pleasant but cool. Ethan and Birge digging potatoes.

Oct 12 – Went to mill. Birge digging potatoes.

Oct 13 – Made thill[77] for wagon. Birge carried load potatoes home. Mrs Courtney called here took dinner.

Oct 14 – Rain. Put up stove in shop. No work to day.

Oct 15 – Finished digging potatoes. Went over to burg. Paid Blackburn for Lois trunk. Got my cider barrel.

Oct 16 – Worked in shop some. Marion Lynch died.[78] A. Browns folks here in Evening.

Oct 17 – Sarah went to church. Mart & Lucy came up here.

Oct 18 – Ethan dug some potatoes. Drawed in Buckwheat thrashed Beans. Marion Lynch Buried to day. Lois & Will[79] started for Ohio on the night express.

Oct 19 – Cloudy not very cold. Ethan dug potatoes south of barn. I finished Wightmans wheels.

Oct 20 – Ethan dug potatoes East of House had 23½ bushels. I cleaned out old shop.

Oct 21 – Went up to Wesleys and Mr Seamans. Mr Seaman helped me kill Hog. Went over to burg got new _____ for Mr Seaman.

Oct 22 – Cool and cloudy. Went over to Jo Yorks. Rainy afternoon. Got to Joes about 3 oclock. Snowed some.

Oct 23 – Snowey day. Went to an auction sale. Went over to Vicksburg saw Nash Robinson.

Oct 24 – Cold raw day. Went over to As___ Finley. Saw some nice country.

Oct 25 – Went over to ______ ______. Sold wool 28 lbs 40 cts pr pound. Got yarn and cloth. Went back to Joes started for home about 3. Oclock got home about half past six.

Oct 26 – Snowey day. Boiled some potatoes for hogs. Banked up house.

Oct 27 – Went over to burg sent money and (too faint to read)

Oct 28 – Some warmer. Thrashing Buckwheat some.

Oct 29 – Picked apples some cider apples and put some in cellar.

Oct 30 – Thrashed Buckwheat. Drawed one load wood. Suky Brown here sick. Took Birges wagon home washed it.

Oct 31 – Went up in Pavilion[?] looking for Nance no find her. Pleasant day.

Nov 1 – Finished thrashing Buckwheat. Warm day mercury 59 in shade at noon. Carried Stew Daken apples 75¢.

Nov 2 – Cleaned up B.wheat 12½ bushels. Worked round house and shop. At home all day. Carried some apples over to Thad Daken 2 bushels 38¢ 75¢ and Mrs. Stuart one 35¢.

Nov 3 – Cleaned up buckwheat had 12½ bushels. Went to mill. Carried Thad Daken 2 bushels apples 38 75¢ Mrs Stuart one bushel 38¢. Drawed some wood. Went down to Jo Lees got kettle.

Nov 4 – Went over to burg in morning. Got some tallow. Carried over 2 bushels Buck Wheat. Rainy day. Mr Schram thrashed his beans.

Nov 5 – Picked Apples. Cleaned of the trees. Went over to burg after Buckwheat. Nancy went over to Mr Barbers.

Nov 6 – Ground my ax. Put in new helve. Picked up some apples. Jo Lee called here. Had a snow storm rather a rough day. Ethan went down to Charles Lees with Jo Lee.

Nov 7 – Around home all day. Suky Brown here to Tea. Nancy came home from Mr Barbers. Cold raw day mercury ___ Abz in morning.

Nov 8 – Ira Smith came here. No work to day.

Nov 9 – Smith here. No work. He left about 3. PM for Battlecreek. Mrs Bostwick called here from Canada. Not very cold out cloudy. An old Lady Died at Ha___ _____ing today. Extracted tooth for Sutherland[?].

Nov 10 – Sarah went over to burg to Mr Jacobs to see Mrs Bostwick. I went over after her in Evening. Filed saw for Schroder Bill 30¢. Birge finished drawing corn.

Nov 11 – Cool and cloudy. Worked in shop on Wightmans Ex. Ira Smith came back. Snowey afternoon.

Nov 12 – Went down to Catharines with Smith. Saw Henry Lee[80] of Salt Lake City. Nancy went down to Catys. Hannah came back with me.

Nov 13 – No work to day only chores. Went over to mill got Buckwheat flour. Voted for Justice of the peace. Snow on the ground.

Nov 14 – Went down to Jo Lees. Not very cold. Lois some better.

Nov 15 – Spliced buggy thill for Jesse Earl. Extracted tooth for George Sutherland, works for Del Skinner.[81]

Nov 16 – Went Kalamazoo with Mr Schram. Snowed and Blowed like fun, very bad day. Ed Childs came here stayed all night. Got my straw cutter of John Ash.

Nov 17 – Ed and I went over and saw Suky Brown in the morning. Ed stayed until two oclock PM then started for home. Very much bad day. No work to day.

Nov 18 – Carried Catharine some apples. Nancy came home. Charley Lee stayed here all night. He went up to Dick Lamkins to take old Sal home. Snowed like fun. Hank Brown[82] here in Evening.[83]

Nov 19 – Drawed some corn. Snow some 10 inches deep. Charley Lee went to Kalamazoo. Mr Schram got his beens.

Nov 20 – Cut wood and boiled potatoes. Went over to burg.

Nov 21 – Went down to Catharines with Adelpha York.[84] Pleasant day not very good sleighing.

Nov 22 – Drawed some wood. Snowey bad day to be out. Killed turky.

Nov 23 – Boiling potatoes. Birge got my slead. Mr Flanders brot my match planes home and Mr Clarks seat down. Went down to Jo Lees in Evening. Very cold. Had turky for dinner[?].

Nov 24 – Cold morning. Mercury 2 Abz. Snow about 18 inches deep.

Nov 25 – Worked round house. ______ plastered front room.

Nov 26 – Carried 2½ bushels buckwheat to mill. Drawed some corn one load wood. Fall term school closed.

Nov 27 – ½ past Eight mercury 30 Abz, some wind, growing cold. Henry Scramlin and wife and Jane Hoag here to day.

Nov 28 – At home all day. Ethan down to Catharines to Mormon meeting. Not very cold. We went over and took Tea with S. A. Brown had chicken pie.

Nov 29 – Work round house and barn &c.

Nov 30 – Mr Schram picked up load apples. Henry Lee came up here. I gathered some cabbage. Mr Thomas Durgy Died in night about Twelve O clock. S. A. Brown here in Evening.

Dec 1 – Drawed some corn. Went up to Wesleys he had gone to burg after coffin.

Dec 2 – Cold and snowey. Went to Comstock to Mr Durgys funeral. Elder Sherman Pie____ the sermon. Pall bearers M B Bostwick, John Allen, Ed Lane, Jesse Earl, H A Taylor, C L Keith.[85]

Dec 3 – Schram made 80 galons cider. Not much work to day. I made fire board. Dr Wightman got his wheels.

Dec. 4 – Stormy morning. Went over to Burg. Carried Hannahs shoes got them tapt 80¢. Bot machine oil 15¢. Ida Barber came home with me.

Dec 5 – Cool and pleasant. At home all day.

Dec 6 – Went over to burg. Sarah & Suky went. Ed Childs came down after Brown. Louesa went home with them. Sent butter[86] to Hiram 31 & ¼ lb. Doc Wightman got his old buggy.

Dec 7 – Snows some. Went down to Charles Lees with birge to sell his buggy. Put new cross head on saw. Up to Earls mill. Went down to A Browns in Evening.

Dec 8 – Cut down locus tree front of house. Ethan helped Mr Streator thrash.

Dec 9 – Ethan helping Mr Ford thrash. Cold and pleasant. Went down to Jo Lees. Sarah and Nancy went down to Catharines.

Dec 10 – Went down to schoolhouse with Wesley. Schram made 83 galons cider. I went down to Catharines stayed all night. Rainy night.

Dec 11 – Rainy day. Mark and Mart went to Kalamazoo Mr Grant went with them. Henry stayed at home. We came home at night. Rained some.

Dec 12 – Not much rain but cloudy. At home all day.

Dec 13 – Went over to burg got set bed springs. Went up to Mr Ralphs put it in for them.

Dec 14 – Boiling cider to day. Milford Matthews called here to day. Cold and bad going, no snow.

Dec 15 – Worked some on Eds violin, some chores.

Dec 16 – Worked on Yorks violin. Went to mill. Carried 4 bushels Buck wheat.

Dec 17 – Went to Kalamazoo. Carried H. M Smiths cider. Harrison Sprague came here stayed all night.

Dec 18 – Sprague left for grand rappids. Mr Wiseman called here. Wesley, Mr Randal and myself moved seats in schoolhouse. Cold day.

Dec 19 – Cold and some snow. Went down to Jo Lees and Catharines. Lois no better.

Dec 20 – Went down to A Browns up to Wesleys over to mill. Got Buck wheat flour. Carried 2 bushels wheat to mill.

Dec 21 – Cold 12 Abz very little snow. At home most of the day. Went over to mill Brown went to.

Dec 22 – A Brown brot his bugy up here. Finished Earls whiffletrees.

Dec 23 – Chored round house. Raised finger board on my old violin. Hung ax for Jo Lee. Very good sleighing. Cold and blustering mercury from 10 to 16 Abz.

Dec 24 – Got up very Early. Mark, Ann & Lucy came up here. No work to day. Recd $200 from town treas. Paid Joseph Wiseman $10.00[?].

Dec 25 – Went down to Catharines. Mark & Mart gone to Kalamazoo. Lois some better. Pleasant day. S. A. Brown stayed here.

Dec 26 – Fine morning. Ida Barber here. Hank Brown called here.

Dec 27 – Went over to burg. Nancy went over to Wisemans. Carried one bushel potatoes to Mr Barbers. Paid C. L. Keith $20.00 paid my Tax 18.77.

Dec 28 – Choped and drawed four loads wood. Ethan went over to burg in Evening. Paid S. A. Brown $90.00 got one cow and Eleven sheep of A. Brown.

Dec 29 – Made 82 galons cider. Mark made some.

Dec 30 – Got ready to butcher. Put up pole to hang hogs on. Finished Mr Ridlers ax helve.

Dec 31 – Killed 3 hogs. Mart Milham helped butcher. Catharine came up with him.

——-

[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke

[2] His son, Ethan Keith

[3] Most likely his paternal first cousin, the son of Charles and Rhoda (Keith) Lee, and the brother of Joseph W. Lee

[4] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[5] His daughter, Nancy Keith

[6] Lois (Keith) Clark, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[7] His sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[8] Mary Ann (Batey) Keith, the wife of his nephew James “Oscar” Keith

[9] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s diaries and it is believed that he is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind to run his father’s farm and was living with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[10] His brother, John Wesley Keith, who, according to the family Bible, was adopted

[11] Believe this was one of his cows or horses

[12] Galesburg, Michigan

[13] Believe this is Charles Jedediah Lee, the son of Charles Lee (see footnote #3)

[14] Believe this to be Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin, the son of Charles and Rhoda (Keith) Lee, and the brother of Charles Lee

[15] Neighbor, Cornelius W. Birge

[16] A neighbor, Thomas Flanders

[17] Cornelius’ son, Alvin C. Birge, who was about three years old

[18] Neighbor, Ambrose Brown, whose son, Henry Brown, would become the husband of Luke’s daughter, Nancy

[19] Above zero

[20] Joseph York, the husband of his niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[21] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[22] A search of the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Harry Myers, age 29, died of consumption on February 27, 1869

[23] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[24] Perhaps he is referring to Stephen Hoxie Wolcott, his maternal first cousin. The Willcutt name has been spelled in various forms including Wolcott as evidenced by the fact that Stephen (and Luke also) was the grandson of Jesse & Katherine (Beal) Willcutt

[25] The vertical side pieces to a wagon body

[26] While “Lasher” is referenced repeatedly in Luke’s diaries and also in letters to Luke from Charles Cridland, the only evidence found regarding his first name, Joseph, was a receipt in the back of Luke’s 1858 diary dated December 6, 1858 for the payment of Comstock real estate taxes

[27] A search of the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Mary (Kennedy) Havens, age 59, died of “congestive chills” on March 5, 1869

[28] Jesse Earl Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee, and brother of Charles Jedediah Lee (see January 16 footnote)

[29] Marshall, Michigan

[30] Concord, Michigan

[31] John & Irena (Wolcott) Kirkwood lived in Scipio, Michigan, about 10 miles south of Concord, Michigan

[32] Irena and Luke were first cousins, the grandchildren of Jesse Jr. & Katherine (Beal) Willcutt

[33] Irena’s father, Jason Beal Wolcott

[34] Jonesville, Michigan

[35] Most likely Irena’s brother, Stephen Hoxie Wolcott

[36] Most likely Irena’s brother, Jesse Wolcott

[37] Irena’s older sister, Waity Catherine Wolcott and her husband, John Bissell

[38] Jesse Earl Lee married Julia Toupence in Galesburg, Michigan

[39] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Elder William J. Greenleaf died March 20, 1869 and was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery

[40] Matilda (Allen) Brown, the wife of Ambrose Brown (see January 25^th footnote)

[41] Matilda’s sister, Julia Allen

[42] Lyman T. Earl, neighbor and “shirttail relative;” brother of Jesse Earl

[43] Believe this is his horse

[44] Neighbor and “shirttail relative;” brother of Lyman T. Earl

[45] The pivoted horizontal crossbar to which the harness traces of a draft animal are attached and which is in turn attached to a vehicle or an implement

[46] His niece, Lucy Irene Lee, the daughter of his sister Catharine

[47] A young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting

[48] A neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[49] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith

[50] Et cetera

[51] Believe these are his horses

[52] A human powered land vehicle with two or more wheels; now commonly called a bicycle

[53] Joseph W. Lee and his wife, Lois (French) Lee

[54] Believe this to be Aylmer Lot Keith, his paternal first cousin

[55] A felloe, or felly, is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes

[56] Alvan Lee, Jesse’s and Charley’s brother

[57] His maternal first cousin, Jesse W. Turner, and his wife, Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner

[58] His uncle, Warren Wolcott, who lived in Almena, Michigan

[59] Caroline (Wolcott) Earl, Warren’s daughter

[60] George Clinton Lee

[61] Willis Brown, Ambrose Brown’s son

[62] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Warren Wolcott is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Mattawan, Michigan

[63] Alfleda (Starr) Keith was the widow of Luke’s brother, Harvey Keith

[64] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Garret Rosa died July 15, 1869, and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[65] Believe this is Edward G. Wolcott, his maternal first cousin, the son of Warren and Electa (Damon) Wolcott

[66] Believed to be Susie A. Brown, sometimes referred to as Suky Brown and/or Decatur Susie Brown. The September 6 entry shows that she was the school teacher

[67] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin

[68] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Edwin Gillis died August 10, 1869, in Battle Creek, Michigan and is buried in Oakridge Cemetery, Marshall, Michigan

[69] Martin Milham, the husband of his niece, Lucy Irene (Lee) Milham

[70] Dr. George Wightman

[71] His brothers-in-law, Henry Crawford and Hiram Crawford Jr.

[72] Mary (Hamilton) Crawford and Emmett Patrick Crawford, the widow and son of Edwin Crawford, his brother-in-law

[73] His brother-in-law, Lucius Prosper Crawford

[74] Niles, Michigan

[75] Thomas Jefferson Chaffee Jr., the husband of Luke’s niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[76] First called Paulville, located in Van Buren County, Michigan, was renamed to Palisades Park around 1906 by Arthur C. Quick, a naturalist, who made it a wild flower sanctuary, and later a summer resort and then a private club

[77] The long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[78] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Marion Lynch, age 20, died October 16, 1869, in Richland County, Wisconsin, and is buried in Prairie Home Cemetery, Richland, Michigan

[79] His daughter and grandson, Lois (Keith) Clark and William Byron Clark

[80] Believe he is referring to his cousin, William Henry Lee

[81] His future son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner, who married his daughter Lois in 1871

[82] Ambrose Brown’s son, Henry Brown.

[83] Hank married Luke’s daughter, Nancy Keith, October 5, 1872, so perhaps they were courting at this time

[84] Marion Adelpha York, the granddaughter of his sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[85] He is referring to himself

[86] A letter written in September 1869 to his wife, Sarah, by Hiram’s wife, Kate, asked if she would send them a crock of butter for winter use and said “It is so hard to get good butter. It would be a real treat.”

Luke Keith’s 1861 Diary

1861 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 13 were first written in the back of his 1860 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1861 diary. Anything from 1860 that clarifies the 1861 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Went down to Catharines[2].

Jan 2 – Went to the burg[3]. Bot ten lbs shugar 1.00.

Jan 3 – [Cloudy.] Worked in shop on [sleigh & bobs]. Cut out sleigh runners for C[harles] Richard[son].

Jan 4 – Snows. Worked on Wes[4] bob.

Jan 5 – Worked on R[ichardson]s sleigh. Wesly set shoes. Went to the Burg in evening. Bot starch 10¢ salratas[5] 10¢.

Jan 6 – [Went over to the burg.] Carried Sarah[6] to church.

Jan 7 – Went over to Burg. Bot salt & tallow 2.21¢. [Went up to Jesse Earls.] Fixed pully for Jesse. Richardson Brot ¾ wood. Mary Johnson came to Board.

Jan 8 – Worked in shop. Bot 4 lbs tallow of Wesly 50¢.

Jan 9 – Worked in shop. Jef [Jesse Chaffee] here. Harvey went home.

Jan 10 – [Pleasant.] Worked on [Richardsons] sleigh. [Got out runners.] Ground sausage meat in the evening.

Jan 11 – Snowey & cold. Worked on sleigh. [Charley & Azro called here.] Went to the burg evening got runners. Bot one lb Tea 62 this Book 25 wicking 6 licorice 1.

Jan 12 –Worked on sleigh. Richardson Brot load wood. Austins Boys over here. Lois[7] at home.

Jan 13 – [Pleasant.] At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Jan 14 – Worked on sleigh. Cut out slead runners in evening.

Jan 15 – Worked on sleigh got it ready to set shoes. Went over to the burg in evening. Rained like fun.

Jan 16 – Set shoes on sleigh commenced Box. Went over to the burg in evening. Got Ehens[8] Boots tapt 30¢ Bot iron & screws 29¢ Paper & thread 2¢ flour of Johnson 60 cts.

Jan 17 – Worked on sleigh box. Sarah & Patty[9] went down to Mr Clarks. S. Newman came over. Subscribed for Map of the united States price $.7.00.

Jan 18 – Worked in shop on sleigh box and on land slead. Catharine here. Mr Deyo[10] here in evening. Frank Whitcomb Died[11].

Jan 19 – Worked in shop some on box. Went over to the burg in evening. Got my boot mended.

Jan 20 – Pleasant. Sarah went to church.

Jan 21 – Went to Kalamazoo to court[12]. Bot Deyoes cow 10.00 Bot shoes 1.62 Bot Dolls 20. Frank Whitcomb Died.

Jan 22 – Pleasant 10 Abz[13]. Went to the Burg stayed all day to go to court. Bot beer 5¢ shoe strings 1¢.

Jan 23 – Pleasant morning 18 Abz. Went to Frank Whitcombs funeral. Martin Turner & wife[14] stayed here all night.

Jan 24 – Snows like fun. Martin went home. James L. Earl & wife[15] here. Carried Patty & Catharine up to Yorks[16].

Jan 25 – Cold 8 Abz. Worked in shop some. Finished my slead. Mary came back.

Jan 26 – Cold 8 Blz[17]. Worked in shop. Sarah went to church. Bot Dishes & window papers & cotton $.1.11¢.

Jan 27 – Cold 23 Abz. Sarah gone to church.

Jan 28 – Worked in shop some. Went over to the burg in evening. Bot yarn 50¢ Bot violin string 20¢.

Jan 29 – Cold & blustering. George and Marion[18] came went over to the burg. Bot yarn 31¢ Bot shugar 50¢. George left for Wisconsin.

Jan 30 – Went up to Yorks in evening. Patty & Marion stayed all night.

Jan 31 – Cold morning 6 Abz. Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in evening. Bot coffee 20¢.

Feb 1 – Carring my slead up to Milfords. Went over & got my cow. Rained hard. Patty Marion & Lois here.

Feb 2 – Went over to the burg twice. Patty Catharine & Marion went to Battle Creek. Paid 15.75¢ to Kelly on _____ _____.

Feb 3 – Pleasant 7 Abz. At home. Sarah went to church. Jo & Lois Lee[19] here. B. Hartwell called here.

Feb 4 – Pleasant. York got two loads straw. Mr Marther & wife came down with P. C. & M.[20]

Feb 5 – Cloudy. Mr Marther went home. Patty & Marion went down to Catharines. I went to mill at Pavilion. Made the shoes for my slead up to Milfords[?] shop.

Feb 6 – Cloudy. Worked in shop some. Put shoes on slead. Lois at home. Babcock paid 82.44.

Feb 7 – Cold 4 Abz blustering. Work on gearing. 18 Below zero in evening.

Feb 8 – Cold 5 Blz. Patty & Marion came home. Bot tea 63¢ 5 lbs shugar 55¢.

Feb 9 – Cold Pleasant 10 Abz. Chored round house. Went over to Burg in evening. Bot thread 5¢ Bot candle sticks ___. Thawed fast.

Feb 10 – Warm 50 Abz. Carried Marion up to Mr Yorks. Sarah went to church. Snow went like fun rain in evening.

Feb 11 – Pleasant 55 Abz. Helped wash. Took my engine a part.

Feb 12 – Windy 29 Abz. Worked in shop some. Went over to the burg in evening. Bot Broom 25¢ Bot emery paper 8¢ Hive syrup 5.

Feb 13 – Cloudy snow all gone. Worked in shop. Oscar Mary an[21] & Mrs Baty[22] here.

Feb 14 – Windy morning rained & snowed. Went over to the burg. George came. S. Kingsley paid me 75¢.

Feb 15 – Snows like fun. Went up to Flanders. George went to Colon. Henry[23] carried them. Went up to Yorks after patty. Went to school meeting.

Feb 16 – Cold some snow. Catharine Mark[24] Lucy[25] & Harvey[26] came up.

Feb 17 – Cold snows some. At home. George & Marion came back from Colon.

Feb 18 – Pleasant. George & Marion Patty left for home. C. R. 7/8 wood. Paid George 254.00 16 cents back at this date. Mark & Harvey & Lucy here.

Feb 19 – Alfleda[27] & Catharine here. Went to mill up to Pavilion. Carried two bushels of wheat.

Feb 20 – Cloudy. Alfleda & Catharine here. Worked in shop. Catherine went down to Mr Clarks.

Feb 21 – Cold. Went down to Catharines. Got some hickory timber. Saw Browns calf.

Feb 22 – Storms some thunder. Split some wood. Worked in shop. Richardson Brot 7/8 wood.

Feb 23 – Rainy. Worked in shop. Made cradles for Hannah & Nancy[28]. Cold & windy night.

Feb 24 – Pleasant & cold. Sarah gone to church.

Feb 25 – Worked in shop. Went over to the burg in evening Bot salratas 10¢ Bot shugar 50¢ wick 4¢. Trimbeck Here.

Feb 26 – Worked in shop on gearing. Mr Snow stayed all night.

Feb 27 – Worked on wheel for Richardson 1.75.

Feb 28 – Cloudy. Put up leach & chored round House. Stilwell got his wheel 1.75.

Mar 1 – Cloudy & smoky. Made soap. Pleasant.

Mar 2 – Pleasant. Sarah went to the burg. Carried Deyo some potatoes. Paid Deyo 2 Dollars on cow. Bot one lb Tea 62¢.

Mar 3 – Cloudy. Sarah at home. I went up to Yorks. Took dinner. Went & found some timber.

Mar 4 – Pleasant & cool. Built smoke house. Put my hams to smoking.

Mar 5 – Snows like fun 2½ inches deep. Went over to the burg to election. Got my Key. Bot plank $2.10 Bot matches 5 letter 3.

Mar 6 – Pleasant. Went up to Yorks. Got out some stringers for the race[29] bridge.

Mar 7 – Pleasant. Worked in shop. Put violin together. Eugene there. Cow calved about 2 oclock P.M.

Mar 8 – Cloudy & rainy. Hewed spokes for Fathers[30] wagon. Wesley & D. Taylor here.

Mar 9 – Cloudy. Went up to Yorks. Got some S. elm bark for cow. Worked on spokes some.

Mar 10 – Cloudy. At home all day.

Mar 11 – Pleasant. Put in two boulsters for C. Richardson.

Mar 12 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on spokes. School closed.

Mar 13 – Cloudy rather cool. Ben Mose got Boulster. Sarah went up to Wesleys. Ben Jackson got into the river in Evening. Shaved spokes.

Mar 14 – Pleasant. Shaved spokes for Fathers wagon. Bot thread 10¢.

Mar 15 – Pleasant. Put rim on Fathers wheel. Filled 4 teeth for Lois.

Mar 16 – Cloudy. Worked in shop on gearing. Eugene Bronson brot his violin.

Mar 17 – Pleasant & cold. Put hair in violin bow for Eugene Bronson.

Mar 18 – Pleasant 4½ Abz cold. Went over to the burg. Bot cotton 13.

Mar 19 – Pleasant. Pedler here. Bot plaster & solution 1.25. Got out spokes for Jesse Earls wheel. Pleasant C. R. brot one cord wood. May April

Mar 20 – Snows in morning May. Rimmed Earls wheel. Cold snowey day.

Mar 21 – Pleasant morning June. Worked in shop drove spokes in Fathers wheel.

Mar 22 – Worked in shop rimmed Fathers wheels. Ethen got boot tapt 10.

Mar 23 – Cloudy morning. Painted wheels. Mother[31] went down to Catharines. Ethen went.

Mar 24 – At home all day. B. Clark[32] here after Golden Seal[33].

Mar 25 – Pleasant. Carried wheels up to Milfords. T. Flanders[34] came. Rainy night. Put in half crotch for Jesse Earl.

Mar 26 – Rainy day. Painted wheels over again. Flanders here.

Mar 27 – Snows some. Stranger called took breakfast. Flanders left. Worked on gearing.

Mar 28 – Pleasant. Work on box. Wallace Earl left for California. Lois home. Got my magazine.

Mar 29 – Rainy day. Worked on box. Wesley made saw frames. Mother sick.

Mar 30 – Snow on ground. Worked in shop on ax helves[35]. Catharine came up.

Mar 31 – At home. Jo & Helen Wes & Harriet[36] here.

Apr 1 – Snowey. Went to town meeting. Bot Tea 25¢ Bot salratas 10¢ School Bill 38¢.

Apr 2 – Worked in shop on box. Made helve for A Chipman. Doc Bab here in Evening.

Apr 3 – Pleasant. Went over to burg. Got order of Babcock 89.00. Bot screws 15¢. Ricardson Brot 7/8 wood.

Apr 4 – Pleasant. Painted wagon box. Worked up to Milfords afternoon. Halls Auction. Father bot chair.

Apr 5 – Cloudy. Worked up to Milfords fore noon. Painted box.

Apr 6 – Cloudy. Painted gearing. Made ax helves. Rainy night.

Apr 7 – Rainy morning or misty. Put wagon together. Father went & got Mrs Bundy.

Apr 8 – Rainy. Went over to the burg & up to Wesleys. Killed calf. Rainy afternoon.

Apr 9 – Worked in shop. Made ____ for C. Richardson. Father brot his wagon down. Nelson Nichols ___ to 21.½ lbs veal $1.07.

Apr 10 – Pleasant. Put in wagon neap[37] for Father. Went over to burg. Bot shoes for Nancy 74¢ one paper 5¢.

Apr 11 – Pleasant. Went over to burg. Bot powder 10. Uncle Warren[38] came here. Father got his oxen.

Apr 12 – Cloudy. Went down to Catharines. Husked corn.

Apr 13 – Mark & Catharine & Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Uncle Warren went home. Sarah bot calico & dishes 6.25¢. Mark bot harness.

Apr 14 – Snowed some cold. Came home afternoon.

Apr 15 – Cloudy. Went over to burg. Bot wicking 5¢. Tightened boxes in bugy.

Apr 16 – Commenced moveing. Carried six loads. York & ____ helped.

Apr 17 – Pleasant. Finished moveing. Brot five loads. Bot wheat 3 bushels.

Apr 18 – Cloudy morning. Fixed barn. Rainy day.

Apr 19 – Went over. Got my pig. Got trees grafted. Bot ½ lb tea 25¢. Got my cow home.

Apr 20 – Trimming currant Bush. C. Richardson Brot 1 & 1/16^th cord wood.

Apr 21 – Went over to Fathers. Got the old cat.

Apr 22 – Trimmed trees. They raised a pole in town a number inlisted. Thunder shower in the night. Flanders brot ½ ton hay.

Apr 23 – Pleasant. Fastened my bench & moved things round shop.

Apr 24 – Put in reach[39] for C. Richardson 50¢.

Apr 25 – Pleasant. Cleared out shop. Bot glass 44¢ violin string 15¢. Tenant got stove.

Apr 26 – Pleasant. Worked in yard. Mrs Rexford called here. Extracted tooth for Del Pond (25¢.

Apr 27 – Rainy morning. Scraped my trunk. Bot carpet hook 15¢ & put down carpet.

Apr 28 – Pleasant. At home all day.

Apr 29 – Pleasant. Worked in yard. Bot paper 5¢.

Apr 30 – Pleasant. Went over the river up to Jesses & round by hartwells.

May 1 – Cloudy & cold. Got out manure. Bot window bolts 30¢ Bot mortar 10 postage 4¢ soap 13 Bot tree 20.

May 2 – Pleasant. Plowed garden & planted some potatoes.

May 3 – Worked in garden some. Made ax helve for E. Flanders.[40]

May 4 – Pleasant. Bot lime 3¢ Bot two files 18¢ cts. Filed saw for Oatman.

May 5 – At home. Rained in afternoon & evening. Had headache.

May 6 – Pleasant. Lois came ____ went over to Fathers. Got 3 bushels corn 93¢. Bot curtain paper 30 Boots tapt 50.

May 7 – Bot roll paper 38 Beef 38 Sulpher 6 Molasses 28. Worked on pole & whiffle.

May 8 – Pleasant. Finished pole & whiffletree. Bot shugar 55¢. Mrs Johnson & Mrs Stevenson here.

May 9 – Pleasant morning. Bot pants for Ethen & bonnets for girls shoes for Hannah 2.26¢. Lois Ethen went up to Wesleys.

May 10 – Rained in morning. Got out my timber. Guile sold stove to Tim Mills $.9.00. Wesley Brot 6. bushels potatoes.

May 11 – Cleaned out cellar. Bot apples 19¢. Lois went home.

May 12 – Pleasant. At home. Old Mr Warren[41] died. Van Swaddle died.

May 13 – Rainy. Lois came back. Sent letter to Mr Cridland[42] & one to E. M. Stratta 3.48. Percivals Horses Killed on the Rail Road. Bot matches 5.

May 14 – Cloudy & cool. Drove some spokes. Sent letter to P. Betts[43] 3¢. Richardson brot one cord wood.

May 15 – Cloudy. Finished driving Earls spokes.

May 16 – Cold. Got strawberry vines. Bot ½ lb Tea 35¢. Mrs Pond[44] died. Set out strawberries. Planted onions peas & lettuce.

May 17 – Pleasant. Planted beets pop corn coffee &c. Mrs Pond buried. Bot ribbon 9¢.

May 18 – Pleasant. Planted beens cucumbers & potatoes. Cold backward wether. Some corn planted none up yet.

May 19 – Cloudy. At home all day. Henry came down.

May 20 – Rainy morning cool. Worked in shop on hubbs & spokes. Bot sandpaper 3¢.

May 21 – Pleasant. Planted melons & potatoes. Old Mrs Taylor & lib here. The boys left for Detroit. Bot salratas 10¢.

May 22 – Finished spokes sawed out some felloes[45]. Sarah Beedle here to dinner. Mrs Deyoe[46] here to tea.

May 23 – Cloudy. Went to show afternoon went saw woman 25 saw aztec children 15¢ picture 15 candy 2. Cow out. Wiseman & family here to tea.

May 24 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on wheels. Made ax helve for Wesley 38¢. Bot cotton & thread 40¢.

May 25 – Pleasant. Worked on wheels. Bot grindstone and hangings 3.25 cod fish 25¢. Lois went home. Battle at sands point.

May 26 – Rains. At home all day. Pleasant apart of the day rained in Evening.

May 27 – Cloudy morning. Worked on wheels. Got my magazine & chart. Bot cabbage plants 10¢.

May 28 – Pleasant. Fitted exes to Earls waggon.

May 29 – Pleasant. Harrison Sprague called here. Father & Mother here. Bot nails 8¢ Bot chair painted 38.

May 30 – Pleasant. Finished my fence. Bot 2 lbs nails ___.

May 31 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Got 3 bushels potatoes. Bronson brot [sentence unfinished].

Jun 1 – Rainy morning. Austin raised his barn. Got Sarahs shoe mended 13¢. Got 5 bushels & 40 lbs wheat of Bronson.

Jun 2 – Rainy. Working at home all day.

Jun 3 – Pleasant morning. Set box for D. Bronson. Set boxes in Bronsons Hubbs. Bot Broom 20¢.

Jun 4 – Cloudy. Made grind stone frame. Babcock paid 8.8.13.

Jun 5 – Pleasant. Planted corn for fodder.

Jun 6 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on Bronsons Exes. Truax & A. R. Brown at shop. Post Office moved to J. F. Warrens.

Jun 7 – Foggy morning. Worked on gearing.

Jun 8 – Pleasant. Rimming wheels. Made thill for D. Lamkins. Bot one lb Tea 75¢ Bot reeds 4¢.

Jun 9 – Pleasant and warm. At home all day.

Jun 10 – Hot. Finished Earls wheels. Peck got part of the gearing.

Jun 11 – Warm. G. Signor brot his cart. Painted wheels & gearing. Mark & Catharine here. Tenant paid 10¢. Rained very little.

Jun 12 – Pleasant. Repaired G. Signors cart. Got out spokes for Streators wheel. Sarah & Lois went over to Wisemans.

Jun 13 – Pleasant. Drove spokes. Mrs Watts here most all day. Bot ½ lb glue 14¢. Richardson Brot almost one cord wood. Jef. Chaffee[47] started for the War.

Jun 14 – Pleasant. Finished streators wheel. Bot oil 25¢ Bot sundries for Sarah $4.00. Some thunder & some rain.

Jun 15 – Pleasant. Put the rims on Bronsons wheels. Windy day blew a perfect gale.

Jun 16 – Cloudy & cool. At home all day. Went up to the grave yard[48] just at night.

Jun 17 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Got my plank from Truax. Barber drawed it on dray 12¢.

Jun 18 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Got 5 bushels corn.

Jun 19 – Repaired wheel for A. Chipman 17/-[49] wheel for T. Aldrich 38¢ Bot County Map 5.00.

Jun 20 – Went up to Wesleys to look at some timber. Had a fine shower. Bot Envelope 2¢. Sent letter to G. T.[50] 3¢. Alph Beals & wife came in Evening.

Jun 21 – Went over to Fathers with Beals. Ransom took County Map. Paid me $5.00. Sent 88. Dollars to G. T. by Express.

Jun 22 – Pleasant. Worked on road. Alph Beals called. Cut James Flanders hair.

Jun 23 – Warm. Henry Brot Lois home. Cut Henrys Hair.

Jun 24 – Worked on road. Paid grafter 1.50¢. Verry hot.

Jun 25 – Worked on Chips box. Bot saleratas 10¢. Went up by Swaddles after cow. Rained in the night.

Jun 26 – Worked on Box and repaired wheel for Tay Aldrich 75¢.

Jun 27 – Worked in shop and hoed some. Agent here from New York Act. 145.

Jun 28 – Put in steak for A. Chipman. Worked on box some wood Sawyers left Emma Clark here.

Jun 29 – Worked on box. Truman Dewey here.

Jun 30 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Nancy & Hannah went up to Wesleys. Heavy shower in the night.

Jul 1 – Pleasant. J. York called. Worked on Bronsons wheels. B. Vosburg brot cradle to repair.

Jul 2 – Pleasant. Worked in shop some. Got out seat rails. Bot pants for Ethen 40¢ Bot camphor 10¢ pins 6. Went after Mrs Ralph in Evening.

Jul 3 – Very hot. Took nance home. Girl[51] Born at sun down.

Jul 4 – Pleasant. Great celebration in town. Bot shoes for Ethen 1.00 two pennies to the girls. Hellen & Jo here to dinner. Harvey[52] buiried to day.

Jul 5 – Hot. Helped wash. Mary Childs here. Hoed some. Paid D. Harris[53] one Dollar.

Jul 6 – Received letter from G. T. Repaired cleadle[cradle?] for B. Vosburg. Hoed potatoes.

Jul 7 – Hot. At home. Had a shower in the afternoon.

Jul 8 – Rainy morning. Worked on wheels some & on Box. Vosburg got cradle. Paid 38¢. Sent letter to G. T. Mrs Ralph 1.50.

Jul 9 – Parker here to Breakfast. Mended squair for Dutch tailor. Mark & Catharine & Mr Strong here.

Jul 10 – Pleasant. Filed two saws for barber. Mended cradle for Azro Blakeslee 38¢. Bot Box matches 5. Tailor paid 50¢.

Jul 11 – Pleasant. Bainbridge & frind Smith called. Mended cradle for D. Taylor 15¢. C. Richadson Brot one cord wood. Cow gone.

Jul 12 – Rainy. Cow gone. Mended cradle for Williams 10¢. Set skeins to Earls wagon. Bot candles 10¢.

Jul 13 – Pleasant. Repaired two cradles for J. C. Blake 50¢. Bot Washington map 7.00. Smith paid 10¢.

Jul 14 – Went over to fathers. Alvan[54] there.

Jul 15 – Cloudy. Repaired cradle for W^m Blake 10¢. Hoed potatoes & corn. Bot 5 lbs shugar 45¢. Cow gone. One nipple 10¢.

Jul 16 – Put in two fingers for Williams 20¢. Rimed one wheel. Bot ½ lb Tea 31¢ Beef 16.

Jul 17 – Pleasant. Rimed wheels. Made rake for B. Clark.

Jul 18 – Pleasant. Painted Bronsons wheels. Beckwith paid $5.00.

Jul 19 – Pleasant. Mended rake & cradle for D. Lamkins 50¢. Mr. Mc.Govern here. Got his razor sharpened. Mrs David & Caty Wing here to Tea.

Jul 20 – Pleasant. Worked in shop some. Went down to movies. Bent seat rail &c[55]. Lois went home. Smith paid 10¢ saw.

Jul 21 – Pleasant & dry at home. Del Pond paid 2.5 cts.

Jul 22 – Pleasant cool. Bot pail 25¢. Made patterns for union buggy.

Jul 23 – Pleasant & dry. Worked in shop some on gearing and box.

Jul 24 – Cool & dry. Bot Beef 25¢. Worked on gearing & dash &c.

Jul 25 – Pleasant. Worked on bugy gearing some. Yankee Robinsons show here. Went in Evening 15. Got Baswood board of A. Pond 20 feet.

Jul 26 – Rains this morning had a fine shower. Bent dash & split it. Had head ache after noon. Bot candles 20¢.

Jul 27 – Pleasant. Worked in shop some. Glued dash. Bot 5 lbs salt 5¢. Gyle paid five Dollars. Blackburn 25¢. Rainy night. Isaac Wing called here.

Jul 28 – Rainy morning. At home all day.

Jul 29 – Put up lathe & filled one tooth & extracted one for D. Taylor 50. Dwight paid me 15¢ for fixing cradle. Indian stayed all night. Bot _____ oil 5¢.

Jul 30 – Had a shower morning. Worked in shop some. Bot cloth for apron 25¢ Bot one doz eggs 8¢ crackers 2¢. Very hot 95 _____. By Clark paid 50¢.

Jul 31 – Cloudy. Worked in shop on lathe & dash. Very hot night.

Aug 1 – Hot 80 Abz morning. Put dash on cutter. Put in seat &c. Very hot.

Aug 2 – Hot 80 Abz. Worked on lathe some on cutter thills[56] &c. Very hot.

Aug 3 – Hot 76 Abz. Worked on thills &c. Mark brot Ethen home.

Aug 4 – Hot 85 Abz. At home. At four P.M. in sun 110. In shade 98 & 90 in evening.

Aug 5 – Cloudy. Worked on thills & fender. Dr James Harris[57] called. Bot ½ lb pepper 8¢.

Aug 6 – Pleasant. Corporation tax 24¢. One pr shoestrings 1¢. Went up to J. Flanders. All hands. Had a shower in night.

Aug 7 – Cloudy. Worked on cutter. Put Box on Chipmans wagon. Heavy shower all night.

Aug 8 – Hot morning. Finished Tuttles cutter. Mended Barbers Knife &c.

Aug 9 – Cloudy. Bot screws & Bots 22¢. Worked on table some. Mrs Rogers Sarah & An Eliza old Mrs Austin & Chloe. Guile moved his things.

Aug 10 – Foggy. Finished table. Carried corn to mill. Bot beer 10. Richardson Brot ¼ cord wood.

Aug 11 – Cooler & cloudy. Bot Beef 18¢ Bot ½ lb Tea 38. At home all day. Commenced raining in the night had a heavy rain.

Aug 12 – Rainy morning, Rain Rain. No work to day. Circus here. No meal to day.

Aug 13 – Pleasant. Lois came. Bot Beef 30¢ apple 2¢. Mended Ed Flanders pen. Richardson Brot one cord & 1/8 wood.

Aug 14 – Pleasant. Worked in shop made boulster for J. Flanders. Flanders brot over lumber. Bot saleratas 10. A Chipman brot 4 bushels wheat.

Aug 15 – Made whiffletrees[58] for A Chipman. Had the first green corn. A Chip- Brot 4½ Butter. Bot candles 15. Richardson Brot 1 & ¼ wood. Recd 15 of Night.

Aug 16 – Pleasant. 4 Envelopes 2¢ postage 3¢. Sawed out springs for Earls wagon. Sarah went over river Mrs Deyo & Lois.

Aug 17 – Put irons on Earls Box & John B. White called here. Babcock paid $.18 & 48/100 Dollars. Paid Father $.78 Dollars.

Aug 18 – At home all day. Mended fan for An Eliza Rogers.

Aug 19 – Pleasant. Went up to J. Flanders & Mrs Wheatons. Flanders got three Kittens.

Aug 20 – Cloudy. Put in Ex for C. Richardson 2.00. Sarah & Lois went to A. Hoags.

Aug 21 – Worked in shop on Earls Box. Put finger board on John Fishers violin 10¢. Extracted tooth for J. York. Had a devil of a shower got wet.

Aug 22 – Rainy morning. Went over to Fathers. Sent letter to Omro[59] 3¢. Bot violin string 15¢. Gillis & Oatman here.

Aug 23 – Nice day. Worked in shop on buggy gearing. B. Hartwell called. Went over to Fathers. Bot map of D. K. Rogers 10¢.

Aug 24 – Sawed out buggy gearing. Went down to Catharines. Pleasant day.

Aug 25 – At Catharines. Saw toots[60] melodian. Came home. Lois left.

Aug 26 – Fine morning. Bot 6 lbs salt 6¢. Worked on Earls Box. Earl brot wheel. Riley Bennet & wife here & Mart Fisk. Georges store burnt.

Aug 27 – Worked L. T. Earls wheel. Sarah went over to Wisemans. Received letter from H. Crawford.[61]

Aug 28 – Pleasant. Finished Earls wheel. Great picknick at Kalamazoo.

Aug 29 – Pleasant. Earl got his wheel. Made seats for Earls wagon. Bot paper 10¢. Got magazine.

Aug 30 – Pleasant. Finished Earls wagon. Kalamazoo Rigament left to day. Bot nails 4¢.

Aug 31 – Sick. Not much work done. Sent letter to H. Crawford 3¢.

Sep 1 – At home all day. Bad cold.

Sep 2 – Rainy. Worked on Strubles gun. Bot eggs 5. Recd paper from G. T. Store burnt.

Sep 3 – Went over to Fathers. Finished Strubles gun 2.50. Bot bird seed 3¢. Went to show in evening 50¢.

Sep 4 – Put my lumber in the barn. Sarah went over to Deyoes. Peter Johnson left for the East. Let him have $.50.

Sep 5 – Pleasant. Work in shop. Enos Smith here. Bot candles 7¢. Alvan here all day.

Sep 6 – Pleasant. Worked on buggy gearing some. Alvan made reel. John Fisher got violin is to pay me Eight Dollars.

Sep 7 – Worked on gearing. Bot one fourth pound Tea 25¢ of A. L. Mason.

Sep 8 – Cloudy. Went over to Fathers.

Sep 9 – Earls waggon went to the paint shop. Lois came home. Worked on gearing some.

Sep 10 – Work on Bug gearing. Rains some 10 min to Eleven.

Sep 11 – Cloudy. Pol___ Bronson called A. Powers Brot violin. Bot thread 5. Flanders Brot ½ Bushel apples. Tenanted spokes. Sarah & Lois went to Renfords Coreys.

Sep 12 – Made Box to my cart. Sarah & Lois went to James Coreys Renfords Renfords. Bot candles 14¢.

Sep 13 – Worked on Hartwells Buggy Boddy. Sarah went to T. Whitings.

Sep 14 – Rainy. Worked on Hartwells B. Boddy. Bill Brown called. Lois went home.

Sep 15 – At home all day. Made hog trough in the morning.

Sep 16 – Cloudy. Worked on Boddy. Bot Beef Steak 20¢. Rainy night.

Sep 17 – Cloudy some rain. Worked on Boddy. Bot paper 5¢. Struble paid one Dollar.

Sep 18 – Pleasant. Worked on boddy. Filled tooth for Jake Hill 38¢. Bot screws 6¢.

Sep 19 – Pleasant. Bot salt 11¢ Bot mill _____ & meal 57¢. Put the skeleton Boddy together. Heavy shower in night.

Sep 20 – Cloudy. Worked in shop. Went up to Howlands. Had a _____. Bot pumpkin 4¢.

Sep 21 – Worked on Boddy some. Made penny Box. Bot paper 5¢ one apple 1.

Sep 22 – At home all day.

Sep 23 – Worked in shop on violin. Bot screws & nails 36¢. Gave nancy & Hannah one cent.

Sep 24 – Work on violin. T. Flanders here to dinner. Bot paper 5. Jesse W. Turner[62] called. Bot ¼ lb Tea 25¢.

Sep 25 – Worked on Boddy some and on violins. Bot paper 5¢ Nigger Brot violin.

Sep 26 – Worked on Boddy and violins. A. Powers called. Put L. T. Earls wagon together.

Sep 27 – Went over to Fathers. Got two bushels corn. Sarah & children went over got her shoes. Got Sarahs shoes 50¢. Got wheels painted 50. Schroder paid 20¢. Aldrich paid 1.10.

Sep 28 – Worked in shop some. Put up stove. Bot eggs 8 Bot cap 75¢ Bot thread 5¢.

Sep 29 – Cloudy and cool. Henry came home. Went over to Fathers. Rainy. Ethen went down to Catharines.

Sep 30 – Cloudy & cool. One package Envelopes 10¢. Mr Tuttle paid five Dollars. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢.

Oct 1 – Cut hay in G. Hoges yard. Tinkered in shop some. Bot syrup for sis[63] 25¢.

Oct 2 – Some cloudy. Went over to Fathers.

Oct 3 – Went to Kalamazoo fare 20¢ four peaches 2 ride up to fair ground 5 ticket 25¢. Bot cotton & calcoe 5.45¢. Rainy. E. Beckwith paid 15.00.

Oct 4 – Cloudy. Worked in shop some. N. M. Tuttle left. Saw Jonathan Smith & Richmond Perry. Wesley went to Kalamazoo.

Oct 5 – Some rainy. Bot comb for Hannah 10¢ Bot Bran 22¢. Lois & Mrs Clark[64] here.

Oct 6 – Rainy. Bot seed 3¢. Went up to Yorks. Lois went home.

Oct 7 – Dug my Green Bay potatoes &c. Got meal from the mill. Pleasant. Bot candles & salrates 25¢.

Oct 8 – Pleasant. Got my hay over. Bot pork 16¢. Husked corn.

Oct 9 – Pleasant. Put top on Powers violin. Went up to Milfords. Saw Charleys spy glass.

Oct 10 – Pleasant. Worked in shop some. Henry & Lois at home. Bot calico 108. Sarah went to Geo. Whitings. Richardson Brot ¼ wood. Bot ½ lb Tea 50¢.

Oct 11 – Worked round house in shop some. Killed my hog. James Holden helped me.

Oct 12 – Cut up and salted my hog. Weighed 322. Powers got violin. Paid 2.00. Filed saw for Warren 10. Filed saw for Earl 10¢.

Oct 13 – Went over to Fathers. Had sick hedache.

Oct 14 – Went down to Catharines after apples. John Fisher paid one Dollar. Warm day.

Oct 15 – Pleasant. Got wheat of Bronson. Struble paid 50¢.

Oct 16 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot clamps hubs & rims & one file & crackers one violin string. Beckwith pd 5 ___ Struble one Dollar. Bot two pairs shoes 1.50¢.

Oct 17 – Cloudy morning. Bot cloves & cinnamon & shugar 72¢. P. Johnson paid 51.00. B. Hartwell paid 10.00.

Oct 18 – Cloudy. Made rack to dry apples on. Bot candles 16. Jane Whiting & Addeline Harris[65] here.

Oct 19 – Pleasant. Jane Hoag & Mrs Scramlin here. Dug few potatoes.

Oct 20 – Pleasant. Ethen came home. At home all day.

Oct 21 – Pleasant. Finished digging potatoes. Sent letter to H. Crawford 3¢. Lois & girls came home.

Oct 22 – Bot drilling & thread 18¢ braid 8¢ Book 15¢ Bot hoop iron 4¢. Filed saw for S. Earl 8¢.

Oct 23 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot Shugar 1.00 Bot paper 1.00 Bot hubs 150. Braid 2¢. Showed like fun when we started for home.

Oct 24 – Pleasant. B. Hartwell paid $10.00 Dollars. Richardson brot ½ cd wood. J. C. Blake paid 1.00. W. A. Blake paid 10¢. John Fisher paid 10¢. Mr & Mrs Isaac Corey here to tea.

Oct 25 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot yarn 1.00 bot two pr socks for Ethen 40¢. Went down with Dr. Wightman.

Oct 26 – Put in two spokes & tightened two boxes in Dr Wightmans sulky. Bot one 3/8 socket chisel 44¢. Paid Bachelder two Dollars to apply on S. A. Millards &co Act.

Oct 27 – At home all day.

Oct 28 – Made saw buck for Mr Bachelder 50¢. Bot candles 16¢ Bot bran 20. Mrs Austins Boy[66] Born.

Oct 29 – Pleasant. Worked on thills some & on violin. Mrs Cross children got hurt run over by a team.

Oct 30 – Rainy. Bot delane[?] 11¢. Worked on thills & violin.

Oct 31 – Worked in shop some on thills. Bot one Brace one smooth plane and one Hundred Spindles 3.50¢.

Nov 1 – Bot Book 15¢ one bar soap 10¢. Worked on thills some on violin &c. Rainy

Nov 2 – Rainy. Got Boots tapt 50¢. Let Riley Coe have 25¢. Worked in shop some. Mark here. Henry at home stayed all night.

Nov 3 – At home all day. Lois & By came home.

Nov 4 – Worked in shop on spokes. Paid school bill 2.68¢.

Nov 5 – Shaved spokes. T. Flanders here to dinner. Bot candles & ½ lb Tea 54.

Nov 6 – Worked in shop shaved spokes. Put the filling in violin top for J. Fisher.

Nov 7 – Shaved spokes & put base bar in violin put top on. Bot sand paper & file 22¢ Bot bran 18¢. A. R. Turner painted telegraph pole. C. Richardson wood ¾ cord. Henry Crawford[67] here in Evening.

Nov 8 – Pleasant. Shaved spokes. Went to hear spiritual lecture 6¢.

Nov 9 – Bot broom 13¢. Finished Hartwels spokes. Bot broom 13. Caty Chaffee[68] here.

Nov 10 – Pleasant & smoky. Went over to Fathers. Saw old Mrs Chaffee. Rode home with Ed Hoges.

Nov 11 – Pleasant day. Worked round Barn & cistern. Signor paid one Dollar.

Nov 12 – Sent up to Wesleys & Yorks Fathers & Jesse Earls. Ethen went to show 5.

Nov 13 – Bot glass & nails & putty 39¢. Cleared out for my pig pen. J. Flanders got my cider Barrel. Bot one lb candles 14. Earl Brot lumber.

Nov 14 – Built pig pen. Bot one paper salearatas 10¢. Flanders brot cider 30 gal. Snowed in Evening.

Nov 15 – Grandrapids Cavalry passed half past six. Horses passed at noon. Worked on pig pen & house. Mary Nichols here.

Nov 16 – Worked on house & pen. Extracted tooth for Job Aldrich 25¢. Mr Streator got Cals violin. James Stilwell paid 50¢. Went over to Fathers.

Nov 17 – At home. James Hoxie & A. Caywood called here.

Nov 18 – Bot nails slate logwood and cudbar[?] 27¢. Made bin in barn.

Nov 19 – Went over to Fathers. Brot over my smoke box. Went up to Charles Richardson. Alfleda here. Bot turnips 20¢.

Nov 20 – Put up smoke box. Nailed ridge boards on barn. Bot cope____ 3¢. Alfleda left. Got buck skin of Austin. Austin had 5 gals cider.

Nov 21 – Cut out gloves. Worked on gearing. Bot nails 4¢. C. R. brot 1&¼ wood. Flanders Brot two pigs 2.00. S. Harris called. Bot candles one apple 15.

Nov 22 – Went over to Fathers. Bot thread 5¢. Worked in shop. Let Sarah Beedle[?] have 7¢. Caty Chaffe came over.

Nov 23 – Snows cold. Smoothed up Hartwells gearing & thills.

Nov 24 – Went over to Fathers. Cold & snowey.

Nov 25 – Went over to Hartwells. Bot 13 bushels wheat $11.00. Bot boots for Ethen 2.00.

Nov 26 – Worked on bobs. Got bas board of H. Vanmeter. Cut of Beadstead[?] for C. P. Galligan. Finished my gloves.

Nov 27 – Sold Steve to D. K. Rogers 3.00¢. Worked on bobs saw. Bot lock & whiffletree irons & postage 28¢.

Nov 28 – Filed saw for Austin 10. Repaired pump for Warren 25¢. Put in thill for Wightman 25. Filed saw for Mead 10. Mark Lee here.

Nov 29 – Filed saw for Smith 10¢. Put in crotch for A. Austin 10.00. Bot one lb candles 14.

Nov 30 – Filed saw for Bachelder 10. Sold helve to Tenant. Worked on bobs some. Put top on my new violin.

Dec 1 – Snows. Sarah gone to church. I went over to Fathers in Evening.

Dec 2 – Bot soap 10¢ Bot Tea 40. Henry Scramblin here. Lauriston Cruttenden[69] here left on 7 oclock train.

Dec 3 – Let Scudder have Elm plank 26 feet. Worked in shop rimed out hubbs. Ethen went down to Lois. Got Accordion.

Dec 4 – Drove some spokes. Trimed out hubbs. Bot saffron 19¢ postage 3.

Dec 5 – Pleasant no snow. Drove spokes in B. Hartwells wheels. Bot matches 5 postage 3.

Dec 6 – Put rims on wheels. Spliced Elecks bow. Made tobacco pouch for P. Johnson 15¢.

Dec 7 – Rainy morning. Banked up round shop. Bot thread 5¢ Bot bran 15¢.

Dec 8 – Went up to Wesleys Yorks & Fathers. Bot candles 14¢. Warm & smoky.

Dec 9 – Smoky & warm. Worked on wheels puting on rims. Augusts team got stuck in sand.

Dec 10 – Cloudy & warm. Finished Hartwells wheels. Rainy.

Dec 11 – Cold & pleasant. Worked on boddy. Split back pannel. Eleck paid 51¢. Alvan called here.

Dec 12 – Bent pannel for buggy. W^m Whitcomb here glued for him. Byington here. Bot calico thread & gun _______ 37¢.

Dec 13 – Worked in shop some. Wesley drawed dirt. Babcock paid 24.50.

Dec 14 – Work on ball. Bronson brot 10[?] Bushels corn paid $2 cash. Bot lamp & candles 1.62.

Dec 15 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Catharine & Mark there.

Dec 16 – Worked on Mr Turners thing. Bot canvas 12¢ Brads 12¢ sulpher 12¢ Postage 6. Sent letter to G. T. one to J. S. K.[70] Richardson most 1 cord wood.

Dec 17 – Pleasant. Worked on Buggy box. Put on back pannel. Paid corporation tax 1.67.

Dec 18 – Worked on buggy seat. Bot salearatas 10¢. Wightman paid 5¢.

Dec 19 – Pleasant. Wightman paid 5¢. Worked on bugy Boddy some.

Dec 20 – Went up to Milfords. Matthews made churn dash for C. P. Galligan. Bot violin string 15¢.

Dec 21 – Worked on bobs. Filed saw for Wesley 10¢. D. Lamkin Brot Hay. C. P. Galligan paid 50.

Dec 22 – Went up to Yorks & Fathers. Cold & snowy.

Dec 23 – Went over to Jesse Earls. Got 1376 lbs bran of D. Affleck. Bot oil can 50¢ & oil 39¢.

Dec 24 – Worked in shop on Stove platform &c.

Dec 25 – Bot stove & pipe nails Tacks candy & eggs 9.___. Put up stove. Bronson Brot lumber.

Dec 26 – Worked on runners for York. Sawed out bob runners for B. Clark. Bot hat 1.50¢. Smith paid 10¢.

Dec 27 – Put log on the way. Put on spring bar for Baty 37. Richardson Brot 1&¾ cord wood.

Dec 28 – Got out & bent runners felloes seat rails & fenders. H. Crawford[71] & family came out here.

Dec 29 – Went over to Fathers. Mother sick. Rev. Platt Betts Died this morning.

Dec 30 – Sick no work to day. Bot camphor 10¢. Henry went up to Yorkville.

Dec 31 – Filed saw for Mr Williams 5¢. L. T. Earl & Drayton Smith called.

——-

[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke

[2] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[3] Galesburg, Michigan

[4] His brother, John Wesley Keith, who, according to the family Bible, was adopted

[5] Saleratus; sodium or potassium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent; baking soda

[6] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[7] His daughter, Lois (Keith) Clark, by his first wife, Minerva Payson

[8] His son, Ethan Keith

[9] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[10] James Deyoe

[11] This same entry is also shown on January 21. No information has been found to date regarding Frank Whitcomb, but it would appear that he was related to Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner (see January 23 entry)

[12] Perhaps this is in regards to Mr. Deyo being accused of burning the church (see June 21, 1860 and subsequent entries in Luke’s 1860 diary)

[13] Above zero

[14] Martin and Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner; Martin and Luke were first cousins

[15] James and Caroline (Wolcott) Earl; Caroline and Luke were first cousins

[16] Joseph and Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was Luke’s niece

[17] Below zero

[18] George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson; Marion was Luke’s niece

[19] Joseph and Lois (French) Lee; Joseph and Luke were first cousins

[20] Patty, Catherine and Marion

[21] James “Oscar” and Mary Ann (Batey) Keith; Oscar was Luke’s nephew

[22] Mary Ann’s mother, Betsy (Olds) Batey

[23] His son, Henry Keith, by his first wife, Minerva Payson

[24] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s diaries and it is believed that he is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind with the Keith family to run his father’s farm

[25] Catherine’s daughter, Lucy Irene Lee

[26] His brother, Harvey Keith

[27] Harvey’s wife, Alfleda (Starr) Keith

[28] His daughters

[29] An artificial channel or bed of a stream leading water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, such as a mill or a mining claim

[30] Charles Luke Keith Sr., who was also referred to as Luke

[31] Hannah (Willcutt) Keith

[32] His son-in-law, Byron Clark

[33] Goldenseal, a wild harvested root in high demand in the 1860s used for coughs, digestive upset and pneumonia

[34] Thomas Flanders

[35] An axe handle

[36] Harriet (Blakslee) Keith

[37] The pole, or tongue, of a cart

[38] His mother’s brother, Warren Wolcott (Willcutt)

[39] A pole which was usually a 2-by-4-inch piece of white oak with a hole at the front for connecting the wagon to a hitch

[40] Edwin Flanders

[41] Joseph Warren

[42] Charles R. Cridland

[43] Platt Betts, his step father-in-law

[44] Nancy Pond

[45] A felloe, or felly, is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes

[46] Paulina (Benson) Deyoe

[47] Believe this is Thomas Jefferson Chaffee, the husband of Luke’s niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[48] Family story is that Luke would often play his violin at the graves of his first and second wives

[49] /- is the symbol for shilling

[50] George Tomlinson

[51] His daughter, Louese Jerusha Keith

[52] Believe this is his nephew, Harvey G. Keith

[53] Daniel D. Harris. Luke’s baby daughter, Louese, would grow up and marry Daniel’s son, Daniel Jr.

[54] Believe this is his cousin, Alvin Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[55] Etc.

[56] The long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[57] Daniel D. Harris’ father

[58] The pivoted horizontal crossbar to which the harness traces of a draft animal are attached and which is in turn attached to a vehicle or an implement

[59] Omro, Wisconsin, where his wife Sarah’s mother and stepfather lived

[60] “Toots” is mentioned in many of Luke’s diary entries but so far have not been able to figure out who he is referring to

[61] Most likely Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr., who was serving in the Civil War

[62] His maternal first cousin

[63] His daughter, Louese Keith

[64] Lois’ mother-in-law, Angeline Clark

[65] Adaline (Ralph) Harris, the wife of Daniel D. Harris

[66] Walter V. Austin, the son of Almon & Chloe (Wilbur) Austin

[67] His wife Sarah’s brother

[68] His niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[69] The nephew of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith. Lauriston was killed in action during the Civil War on August 11, 1864 in Newtown, Virginia

[70] James S. King, his maternal first cousin

[71] Sarah’s brother, Henry Crawford