1878 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]
Jan 1 – Went over to burg[2] after Hannah.[3] Henry[4] came down went over got Nancy.[5] Jim[6] went over got Hank[7] at night. All here to supper. Davis Stafford and Mr Giddings called here.
Jan 2 – Drawed 4 loads wood. Carried Hannah down to Caywoods in morning. Ed Phelps buried to day.[8] Cold day, no snow.
Jan 3 – Pleasant clear morning, mercury 14 Abz[9] in morning. Went over to burg[10] in forenoon with M. O. Streator.[11] Bot two Diarys 40¢ one for Ethan.[12]
Jan 4 – Went to Comstock[13] to mill carried 4 bushels corn, two bushels wheat, two of Buckwheat. Snowed quite hard. Mr Barton[14] thrashed some wheat. Harry Streator[15] drawed load wood.
Jan 5 – Mr Barton thrashing. Mercury 12 Abz at noon. Worked in shop some. Put sills together. Some snow. Mr Burgess little boy buried to day.[16] Went over to burg got Katharines[17] carpet 7.85.
Jan 6 – Snows like fun[18] this morning. At home all day. Charley Whiting[19] got Ernests[20] cutter.
Jan 7 – Mr Barber[21] finished thrashing had Eight bushels wheat. Went up to Foundry in afternoon.
Jan 8 – Cleaned out Barn and chored round. Fastened[?] up north cellar windows. Spect Ida Allerton was married to day[22] dont know sartin.[23]
Jan 9 – Not very cold mercury 31 Abz at ten AM. Some sleighing. Dell and Lois[24] called here on their way to _____. Rained some.
Jan 10 – No sleighing, not very cold. Not very well. No work to day.
Jan 11 – No work, hard cold. Not much done, at home all day.
Jan 12 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah and Mrs Betts[25] went over. Claud[26] came over with us. Mrs Betts stayed. Went down to Katharines just at night. Carried her carpet down. Stayed all night.
Jan 13 – At Katharines stayed all day. Came home at night. Snowed hard. Not very cold. Very good wheeling. Not much mud.
Jan 14 – Went over to burg in morning after Mrs Betts. Not much snow, not very cold. Sarah[27] went over to Hanks in Evening with Browns folks.[28] Mrs McKinney[29] there.
Jan 15 – Worked on boddy some. Not verry cold. Barber drawed some manure. Put one side on boddy.
Jan 16 – Worked in shop on boddy put sides on.
Jan 17 – Went to Comstock to mill carried 3 bushels wheat. Got my Buckwheat flour. Come back by Kates. Got some fresh meat. Dell and Lois came stayed all night. Fine day.
Jan 18 – Fine day. Not much done to day. Skinners[30] went home. Carried Sarah over to burg at night. Very pleasant day no snow.
Jan 19 – Worked in shop on Simmons buggy boddy. Not verry well. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in Evening. Not very cold. Rained in night. Mercury 48 Abz. Stopt milking the cow.
Jan 20 – Rainy, Mercury 38 Abz in morning. Muddy as the Devil not verry deep however. Went over to burg took Hannah over got Sarah and Mrs Betts. Rainy night.
Jan 21 – Rainy morning. Jim commenced going to School to _____ at the burg. Carried Hannah machine over to burg. Paid N. L. Randal[31] two Dollars for order.
Jan 22 – Worked in shop. Put seat bottom together. Not very well. Snows some. Not very well. Went down to Browns. Got some Hogs heads &c.[32]
Jan 23 – XX Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. No get some money. No work in shop much. Filed saw for Jo Flanders.[33] He brot some beef down. Freight train broke into on Prairie just at night.
Jan 24 – Worked on seat. Put the flare on seat bottom. Very pleasant day. Not very well now a days.
Jan 25 – Worked in shop some on Henrys thill.[34] Allen Simmons called here to see his buggy boddy. Bot shelf to stove pipe. Gave two bushels corn for it. Nice day, no snow.
Jan 26 – Put thills together. Fine day. Browns folks and Arthur Arms and wife,[35] Hank and Nancy all here in Evening. Josefine Whiting died in night at 12 oclock.[36]
Jan 27 – At home all day. Mr Barber and Ida[37] came over. Brot Mrs Betts home. Henry came down.
Jan 28 – Nice day. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Henry came down brot money from Frank sent for belts. Josefine Whiting brot in from Chicago and buried.
Jan 29 – Worked in shop. Finished Henrys thill.
Jan 30 – Mercury 27 Abz. Very cold windy day. Worked on seat. No snow on ground. Hard on wheat.
Jan 31 – Worked in shop on boddy. Fine day. Snowy day.
Feb 1 – Went over to burg after money no get it. Worked in shop on buggy boddy.
Feb 2 – Went over and moved Hank into Schroeders house. Received of Township Treasurer 56 fifty six Dollars. Paid Minnie Randall 40 forty Dollars.
Feb 3 – At home all day. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Harry Streator. Mart, Lucy[38] and Jo York[39] came up after Hannah. Mercury 6 below zero.
Feb 4 – Mercury 10 below zero in morning. Filed saw for Erve Hall.[40] Went over to burg in afternoon.
Feb 5 – Drawed one load wood. Mr someboddy put shelf on Nancys stove.
Feb 6 – Worked in shop some. Made jacks for Simmons buggy. Charley Howlet called here from Perry.[41] Said the folks wer all well.
Feb 7 – Worked in shop some. Not very cold.
Feb 8 – Went to Comstock to mill. Carried 4 bushels buckwheat. Snowed like fun afternoon and Evening. Barbers folks[42] over here.
Feb 9 – Blustrous day. Sawed and drawed two loads wood. Hank and Nancy came over stayed all night. Dick Lamkins came down left his violin.
Feb 10 – Cold. Henry called here. He went up to Jo Flanders.[43] Ethan went over to Nancys.
Feb 11 – Worked on buggy pole for Will Brown.[44] Not very cold mercury at zero.
Feb 12 – Worked in shop some on pole. Dick Lamkin got his violin. Went down to A. Browns in afternoon. Some Snow. Folks draw some logs. Mrs Jane Sunderland died to day.[45]
Feb 13 – Fine morning mercury 28 A. Carried Sarah over to burg. Carried Alfleda[46] down to Browns. Worked in shop some. Had Ernests cutter. Ernest had my sleigh to go to Kalamazoo.
Feb 14 – Finished Simmons box to day. Not much sleighing. Filed saw for N. L. Randall. Hung ax for Ernest Whiting. Mrs Jane Sunderland was buried to day at Waukegan Illinois.
Feb 15 – Worked on my wheels. Put the bolt through the floor to hold wheels down. Mrs Sam Kingsley buried to day.[47]
Feb 16 – Went down to browns. Ground axes. Went up in woods sawed some wood. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Sarah Dunning. M O Streator and wife[48] here in Evening. Ethan came home.
Feb 17 – At home. Rain some snow some. Not very cold. No sleighing. Mart and Lucy called here in Evening on their way home from Jims and Puts.
Feb 18 – Went over to burg in morning after oil and paint for Simmons. Hung ax for E Whiting. Got hogs head and shoulder of Whiting. Went down to A Browns in Evening. Saw Skinner at burg.
Feb 19 – H. A. Taylor[49] came down here in morning. Hat and Lib[50] came down in afternoon. Jo York brot Hannah home. Painted buggy boddy.
Feb 20 – Jo went down to Katharines. Went over to burg. Hannah went over to Nancys. Painted buggy box over. Nigger concert at the Methods Epikettle Church this Evening.
Feb 21 – Rainy day. Not much done. Fixed new fiddle some. To paid T C Ford[51] $16 sixteen Dollars. Rained all night. Hank Johnson called here just at night. Rain. Wm Aldrich little Boy buried.[52]
Feb 22 – Rainy morning. Hank Johnson called her at night. Worked in shop some.
Feb 23 – Drawed three loads wood. Not very cold.
Feb 24 – At home all day. Henry came down. Hannah went down to Jacksons.
Feb 25 – Snowed some. Nancy and Claud came over stayed all day.
Feb 26 – Worked in shop on wheels. Fine day.
Feb 27 – Fine day. Finished my wheels. Eugene[53] came to Hanks.
Feb 28 – Very fine day. Went down to Comstock after my grist. Me no get him. Edna[54] came on noon train. Eugene came over with me. Sarah and hannah went over to burg.
Mar 1 – Went over to burg after the girls Nancy, Hannah and Edna. Drawed one load straw to Browns one for myself. Fine day. Ernest got my wagon to go to Kalamazoo with some beef.
Mar 2 – Carried Nancy home. Edna Crawford went home. Chored round all day. Mr Perry Cornell died to day.
Mar 3 – At home all day. Eugene here. All well. Claud went home. Will Brown carried him over. Mr Cornell buried to day.
Mar 4 – Eugene went to day. Ethan went over to burg with him. I choped all day. Fine pleasant day. Rev. Russell Tomlinson of Plymouth Mass Died to day.[55]
Mar 5 – Drawed some wood. Sarah went up in woods.
Mar 6 – Sawed wood in forenoon. Very fine day. Made blocks for Theodore at noon. Rained in afternoon.
Mar 7 – Chopt wood. Cut down black oak. Fine day.
Mar 8 – Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Barber came over. We pulled up the currant bushes. Warm day. Jim went down to Katharines.
Mar 9 – Mercury 74 Abz at noon. Worked in hogpen. Warm day. Went down to Browns at noon got butter and milk. Mart and Lucy came up got some pictures. Ida Barber came over stayed all night. Lucy stayed.
Mar 10 – At home 66 Abz. Lucy and Ida here. Alvin and Ida Lee[56] here. Went over to burg at night after Sarah and Mrs Betts. Ida went home. Rained like fun.
Mar 11 – ____ cut currant bushes in fore noon. Carried Lucy and Hannah over to burg at noon. Verry warm day.
Mar 12 – Worked round. Drawed apple brush out of the orchard. Ethan put up wind mill.
Mar 13 – Went up to Jo Flanders after currant and raspberry bushes. Took dinner at Flanders. Rained some. Ernest got his buggy. Left Skeleton buggy and took my watch.
Mar 14 – Worked round garden. Set currant bushes. Worked in shop some on wheelbarrow. Claud came over helped set currant brush.
Mar 15 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg up in woods. Drawed some wood. Filed saw for Ernest.
Mar 16 – Made fence around west garden. Some misty. Mrs Ralph[57] here all day. Ernest got his Skeleton. Bot 21 lbs Soap grease of Whiting.
Mar 17 – Cloudy morning. Henry here. Hank Brown came over just at night.
Mar 18 – Drawed some wood. Chored round. Worked in shop some. Browns folks here in Evening.
Mar 19 – Trimed appletrees. Fine day. Had a big time at the burg red Ribbon gathering.
Mar 20 – Fine. Pleasant morning. Drawed brush out orchard[?]. Rained some in night.
Mar 21 – Shelled some corn. Turned cloths stick for Nancy. Libby and Emma Allen[58] here to day. They went up to Jim Milhams[59] at night.
Mar 22 – Cloudy morning. Went up to Henrys to mill. Ethan and Claud went. Carried five bushels corn. Very fine day. Jim went down to Howlets schoolhouse to hear Mr Ross read.
Mar 23 – Went over to burg after Nancy. Mrs Betts went over with me. Went to Comstock after my Buckwheat. Fine day. Lois and Will came. Henry came down stayed all night.
Mar 24 – Will carried Mrs Betts over to church. Cold day some snow flying. Henry went up to Mr Flanders. Jim and Will went down to A Browns. Jim got Kicked by a colt.
Mar 25 – Cold morning. Chored round. Allen Simmons brot wheels here to have boxes set. Lois and Will here. Made over Fathers[60] old Jack plane.
Mar 26 – Went over to burg in morning. Got rimmer. Set boxes in wheels. Night Express off the track between Galesburg and Kalamazoo.
Mar 27 – Went over. Carried rimmer home. Got Nancy and Claud. Simmons got wheels. Carried our folks down to A Browns. Warm day. Pulled grubbs some in afternoon west of garden.
Mar 28 – Snowed like fun. Not much done. Lois went over to Nancys at noon. Will went up to Harts. Miner Bellringers in galesburg to night. Blocked out axhelves.
Mar 29 – Worked in shop some. Pulled grubs west of garden. Broke whiffletrees.[61] Sarah went to burg. Lois and Will came back. The publicans caucus to day.
Mar 30 – James went down to Browns got his team. Rolled west lot. Finished pulling grubs in west lot. Democratic caucus to day. Snowed like fun in afternoon.
Mar 31 – At home all day. Lois and Will went home. Not very cold. Isaac Hizer came down to see about trading buggy for watch.
Apr 1 – Went over to burg in afternoon to town meeting. Mrs Betts went over. Fine day. Hannah went down to A. Browns.
Apr 2 – Made soap in forenoon. Burnt brush in afternoon. Very nice day. Went up to mill. Got load bark.
Apr 3 – Pleasant morning. Made soap in forenoon. Chored round in afternoon. Went up to mill. Put in guide. Got some posts. Fine day.
Apr 4 – Worked round. Went up to mill. Put in guide. Got some posts. Went down to Katharines.
Apr 5 – Mended Browns drag. Jo York, Hellen[62] and Katharine came up here. Very fine day. Perry A Pier died this Friday night.
Apr 6 – Went over to burg in morning. Got two 2/” Dollars for Alfleda four 4/” for Sarah. Doc Burrows paid me $19.50¢ for county order. Went over to burg at noon. Alfleda went to Waverly. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg.
Apr 7 – Fine day. Carried Claud home just at night. Mrs Nancy B. Betts of Galesburg came home with me. Rev Platt Betts Lady formaly of Omro Wisconsin.[63]
Apr 8 – Pleasant morning. Made guides for Theodore[64] in morning. Went down to M O. Streators got four bushels wheat paid him ten Dollars. Rained in night.
Apr 9 – Rainy morning. Went to Comstock to mill. Rained. Carried four 4 bushels wheat 5½ five and half corn.
Apr 10 – Drawed brush in west lot. Hannah and Nancy came over in morning. Mrs Brown and Jule[65] came up here. Got Whiffletrees mended. Nell Tomlinson married to day.[66]
Apr 11 – Worked round yard and garden. Carried Nancy home at night. Extracted two teeth for Mr George Ralph he paid me two one Dollar.
Apr 12 – Killed my pigs. A Brown helped me. Fine day. Cut up the pigs. Will Wagner here. Jim and Abby had a flare up.
Apr 13 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried Hanks barrels over. Made some soap. Salted my pork. Went over to burg in Evening after Hank and Nancy. They came over stayed all night.
Apr 14 – Hank and Nancy here. Henry came down. I carried Hannah down to Katharines in afternoon. Rained all the while I was gone. Carried Nancy and Claud home in Evening.
Apr 15 – Got out manure. Very fine day. G. A. Lockhart and Will started for Kansas. Lou Bristol[67] went with them. Mrs Randal and Mrs Wagner here in Evening.
Apr 16 – Got out manure. Nice day. Mrs Wagner went home. Mr Browns folks went over to burg in Evening. Jim went over after medicine.
Apr 17 – Pleasant day. Mr Daniels called here to see Ethan. Finished getting our manure. Mr C. S. Haskins brot trees and Raspberries paid him $1.65.
Apr 18 – Set out trees. Barber came over. We plowed gardens. Warm day. Mrs Forbush and Mrs Blake came over here in afternoon.
Apr 19 – Worked round garden. Set out rasberry bushes.
Apr 20 – Cleaned out yard. Cultivated garden. Dug out Elder roots. Mercury 85 Abz 80 Abz.
Apr 21 – Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Warm morning. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Nancy here. Hank and Claud went up to Armes.
Apr 22 – Cloudy looks like rain. Jim plowed in forenoon. Rained in afternoon. No plow.
Apr 23 – Rainy. Went over to burg in morning. Bot springs for wagon seat 2.25. Bot oil and lead 65¢. Bot one bottle Kenady 1.25. Warm.
Apr 24 – Warm. Some rain. Worked round. Painted wheelbarrow. Rany.
Apr 25 – Worked in shop some. Tinkered round house and garden.
Apr 26 – Not much done to day. Worked round choring &c. Wet.
Apr 27 – Some rainy. Drawed out Buckwheat straw. Put it on hill South East of barn.
Apr 28 – Cloudy and some rainy. At Home all day. No one here. All well as usual. No bellyache. All able to eat Heggs[?] &c.
Apr 29 – Charles Lee[68] and Alvin came up in morning. Extracted tooth for Charles. Alvin got one helve. Jim got Tom Brown and plows in forenoon. Brown planted potatoes down North.
Apr 30 – Went down to Charles Lees got 4½ bushels potatoes ½ bushel beets ½ bushel turnips. Got some sage roots of old Mrs King. Dick Barber got two bushels corn he paid one Dollar. Will Brown got Eight bushels corn.
May 1 – Very pleasant morning. Worked round house and garden.
May 2 – Dragged garden west side house. Seeded croquet ground and draged it. Harry Streator and Hellen Randall married this Evening.[69]
May 3 – Planted some potatoes. Henry and Davis Stafford called here. Some rain. Hannah and Katharine came up. Barber plowed some.
May 4 – George plowing some. Planted potatoes up south. No rain to day. Claud and Nancy here. Hank came over. They went down to Mr Browns. Henry came down stayed all night.
May 5 – Henry here to day. I carried Katharine home in afternoon. Cool wind. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in morning.
May 6 – Dug out five stumps south of barn. Barber plowed. Cow calved in night.
May 7 – Chored round. Burnt cornstalks out by barn. Barber plowing. Rain some. Jim went to work for Mr Streator.
May 8 – Rainy morning some thunder. Filled up stump holes South of Barn. Sarah went over to burg with Barber. Claud here. He came over with me in morning.
May 9 – Work round. Split up oak timber. The jobs let to day to fill up north sluice this side river and build bridge across mill brook by Jesse Earls.[70] McLewis builds bridge $153.00. Wm Aldrich fills sluice $16.50 (16.50).
May 10 – Put heads in mawl. George Ives called here. Went up in woods cut some wood. Barber finished plowing. Fine day. Hannah went up to T Fords stayed all night.
May 11 – Frost this morning. Cut some wood drawed two loads. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Doc Wightman[71] in afternoon. Tamer[72] carried Hannah over to Nancys.
May 12 – At home all day. Went over to burg at night after Hannah and Mrs Betts. Browns folks here in Evening. Frost this morning.
May 13 – Frost this morning. Hoed in garden some. Barber draging. Cool day. Mrs Wightman[73] here. Ida Wing came up after Hannah.
May 14 – Chored round in forenoon. Barber draging. Went to Mr Simmons raising in afternoon. He raised a big barn.
May 15 – Chored round. Worked in garden and shop some. Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to Mr Browns.
May 16 – Marked corn ground East of house. Jim came home from Streators. Barber planted corn. Went up to Foundry to see waterwheel.
May 17 – Finished marking corn ground and planted East of house. Barber finished planting. Carried Nancy and Claud home.
May 18 – Went to Kalamazoo to attend a Greenback Convention.[74] Fine day. Rained in Evening. Rainy night.
May 19 – At home. No one here. Some rainy. Hank came over in afternoon.
May 20 – Marked Jims corn ground and planted it. Made calf yard. Hoed strawberries and currant bushes.
May 21 – Worked round hoed some and tinkered round generaly.
May 22 – Repaired wheel. Put in two felloes and set tire.
May 23 – Went up in woods. Sawed some wood. Hoed corn and beans. Jim Ralph brot his buggy down. Worked on that some. Bot suspenders 50¢. Gloves 1.35.
May 24 – Drawed 3 three loads wood. Finished Ralphs spring bar. Painted windmill. Mr Brown got some cabbage plants.
May 25 – Hoed in garden some. Went over to burg. Received twenty 21 one Dollars of Township Treas. Hannah came home. Nancy came over stayed all night.
May 26 – Pleasant. Hank and Nancy went down to Browns.
May 27 – Went up on hill got load sand. Went over to burg. Got lime and hair.[75] Mrs Betts went over to burg.
May 28 – Went over to burg. Got link twister made. Mrs betts came home. Sarah went over. Claud came home with me. Went over at night. Brown plowing south lot.
May 29 – Went over to burg after chain and link twister 30¢. Rained hard. Not well.
May 30 – Sick. Hard cold. No work to day.
May 31 – Shelled lot corn. Went over to burg. Got link hook made. Went down to Browns. Got some wheat 64 and 72 bags in all.
Jun 1 – Fine morning. Went to Comstock to mill 5½ corn 2 Wheat. Mr Brown finished plowing west lot. Went over to burg at night. Took Hank, Hannah & Claud over.
Jun 2 – Cloudy look like rain. At home all day. Not very well. Hard cold.
Jun 3 – Sick. Not much done. Jim plastered corn. Eugene went home on night Express Eugene came on
Jun 4 – Jim cultivated corn. Made new side piece to cultivator. Eugene went home on night Expr. Henry and Davis called. Ethan sent moddle to Washington. Claud went to Coggins to party.
Jun 5 – Hoed some. Plastered corn in garden. Douglass drawed logs for Henry. Mr Brown sowed Hungarian grass. Mrs Skinner and Mr Smiths folks went up to Mr Flanders.
Jun 6 – Worked round house and garden. Went down to Browns got buggy. Went over to burg in Evening.
Jun 7 – Went out to Skinners. Rained some. Found them well. Sarah sick. To paid Susan Giddings $5 five Dollars.
Jun 8 – Dell and I went up to Marshall.[76] I saw the Cleveland wheel. Rainy day.
Jun 9 – Dell and I went over to Whites station and Ceresco.[77] Saw lots of big wheat. Lois and I went over to Mr Coles just at night.
Jun 10 – Traded watch and wheel for buggy. Started for home. Sarah went on cars from Ceresco to Galesburg. I came with the buggys. Got home about 4 oclock. Sarah stayed to burg. Mrs Deyo buried to day.[78]
Jun 11 – Went over to burg after Sarah in morning. Worked in garden some.
Jun 12 – Went over to burg. Got Harness repaired 1.20¢. Hoed some.
Jun 13 – Cultivated corn East of house. Hannah came home.
Jun 14 – Finished cultivating corn. Hoed. Jim put plaster on his corn. He paid Abby Jackson 16 sixteen Dollars.
Jun 15 – Sick. No work. Pedler here to dinner. Lois, Will and Ina[79] came out brot 2 pigs. Mrs Ford, Mrs Perry and daughter called here. Had a fine shower. Warm night.
Jun 16 – Fine morning. Mercury 75 Abz. Lois and Will here.
Jun 17 – Stephen Daken died to day.[80] Hoed corn some. Lois and Will went home. Took calf and wheels.
Jun 18 – Painted buggys. Hoed some corn. Barber cultivating.
Jun 19 – Painted buggy. Stephen Daken buried to day. Mr Browns cousin George Wells[81] here.
Jun 20 – Rainy morning. Worked on buggys.
Jun 21 – Finished varnishing buggy. Rainy day. Put pigs in yard. Harry Streator got hurt. Fell from a tree. Cow went to Bull.
Jun 22 – Rainy morning. Mrs Betts sic. Went over to burg in morning. Old Mrs Beakes[82] Died this morning. Nancy came over.
Jun 23 – Ida Wing came here brot Hannahs things. Hank and Nancy here. Henry came down got violin. Will Brown got his buggy. Nice day. Mrs Betts sick yet.
Jun 24 – Fine morning. Jim gone down to Mr Kings to work. Mr Wells started for home, Mr Browns cousin.
Jun 25 – Mowed grass along the fence up to the woods. Hoed some corn. Went up to mill with Mr Flanders. Saw Mr Cleveland. Went over to burg in Evening. Got Tea from New York.
Jun 26 – Cloudy morning. Hoed some. Ridler got. Went to Kalamazoo in afternoon with Jim. He went down to get some cloths.
Jun 27 – Worked round. Hoed some corn. Barber Sowed Buckwheat. Very hot day 90 in shade. Ethan oiled harness.
Jun 28 – Went up in woods. Got poles to poll beans. Drawed down hay up towards the woods. Mercury 94 in shade.
Jun 29 – Mercury 99 in shade noon. Finished hoing East of house. Ethan went to Mill. Hannah went over to Nancys. George and Marion[83] came on noon train.
Jun 30 – George and Marion here. Carried George down to Katharines. He goes to Chicago. Mrs Barnum died.[84]
Jul 1 – Put Poison on potatoes. Plowed some corn hoed some potatoes. Rained in night. Marion here.
Jul 2 – Rainy morning. Went down to M O. Streator got Six bushels wheat. Shelled some corn. Mrs Barnum buried.
Jul 3 – Rainy. Went to Comstock to mill 4 bushels wheat 8 corn.
Jul 4 – Plowed and hoed corn. Worked round garden. Marion here. Had no doings to Galesburg. Jim and Ethan went to Kalama[zoo].
Jul 5 – Finished plowing corn in East lot. Went up to Henrys mill with Marion. Charley Town[85] cutting wheat.
Jul 6 – Worked round. Went down to Browns in morning got some peas. Old Mrs Lord Died.[86] Carried Marion down to Katharines in afternoon.
Jul 7 – Rainy morning. Mrs Lord buried to day. Henry Rogers called here a while.
Jul 8 – Put Parris Green on potatoes. Had a heavy shower. Lou Burgess drove into Barn. Went over to burg in Evening.
Jul 9 – Mercury 94 at noon. Ethan took Hannah over to burg. Hoed corn and potatoes on hill. Bela Wright cutting wheat. Had a wind storm in night. Wm Blake started his self Binder.
Jul 10 – Hoed some in East end of corn. Put poison on potatoes.
Jul 11 – Went over to burg in fore noon. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Mrs Lydia barber[87] here to dinner.
Jul 12 – Went down to Katharines. Very hot day. Marion here.
Jul 13 – Marion goes to Vicksburg. Plowed out corn and potatoes on hill. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Tamer Ford here. Ethan went over to burg after the whimmen. Charley Baker called here in Evening.
Jul 14 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went over to burg just at night. Hot day. Blake cutting wheat with the Gordon binder.
Jul 15 – Cloudy morning. Finished plowing Jims corn. Plowed some of mine.
Jul 16 – Mercury 98 100. Hoed in garden in forenoon. Had a heavy thunder shower in afternoon. Rained very hard blowed corn down.
Jul 17 – Mercury 98. Spliced my old violin bow made two rings. Barber came over. Hannah went over to Nancys at night.
Jul 18 – Hoed some. Very hot day. Wright drawing wheat. Went down to A Browns got some peas. Jule not much better. Made ring. Went over to burg.
Jul 19 – Mercury 96. Hoed corn in south lot on hill. Went over to burg took over butter and Eggs.
Jul 20 – Hoed corn on hill. Very hot day. Albert Warren called here to see about getting a leg repaired.
Jul 21 – Cool wind. Went down to Katharines after some vinegar. Went up to mill. Saw new waterwheel run. Went by burg took Hannah home.
Jul 22 – Chored round in forenoon. Worked on Albert Warrens leg. Warren here to supper. Mercury 84.
Jul 23 – Finished Warrens peg leg in forenoon. Not very hot 86 in shade at noon.
Jul 24 – Big show at Kalamazoo. Hank Brown and Hannah had Bill[88] and buggy to go to Kalamazoo to show. Mrs Betts went over to burg.
Jul 25 – Hoed corn all day, finished. Sarah, Mrs Betts and Alfleda went down to Browns. Hot day. Put in cradle finger for Mark Simmons. Rained aall night.
Jul 26 – Rainy morning. Cleared off in afternoon. Went over to burg bot cloth for overhalls. Got big Pictures of Sarah and Luke.[89]
Jul 27 – Pleasant morning. Mercury 79. Plowed out potatoes and corn on hill. Ethan and Henry went down to Katharines. Hannah and Claude came over. Stayed all night. Cool.
Jul 28 – Cool. Mercury 75 in morning. At home. Went over to burg after Sarah.
Jul 29 – Worked round shop and house. Went over after Sarah. Hannah and Claud went home.
Jul 30 – Cleared out old shop and chored round. Went over to burg in Evening after hoop iron.
Jul 31 – Put hoop on pork barrel. Chored round. Put beam in Browns two shovel plow. Cut grass for bill.
Aug 1 – Worked round garden and house. Went up in woods got load wood. Ethan and Mrs Betts went over to burg.
Aug 2 – Went down to Katharines after Blackberries. Got a good lot. Very hot day. Mart cutting grass.
Aug 3 – Not much work to day. Henry Crawford[90] came on noon train. Ethan and Henry went over to Nancys in Evening. Jim went up to Shermans lake to a picknic.
Aug 4 – At home. Henry Crawford here. Very warm day. Carried Henry Crawford to Kalamazoo in afternoon.
Aug 5 – Hoed corn in East lot and pulled weeds. Went over to burg in Evening. Bot boots $3.75 three Dollars and seventy five cents.
Aug 6 – Hoed and pulled weeds. Hank and Nancy came over just at night. Had Isaac Odells Horse and buggy.
Aug 7 – Hoed corn East of garden. Henry got Bill and Buggy to go to Marshall.
Aug 8 – Hoed some in forenoon. Took west side of from west well house. Had a nice shower in afternoon. Mr Flanders took lumber up for Drum to waterwheel.
Aug 9 – Hoed corn East of garden. Henry got home with Bill and buggy. Lois and Dell came out.
Aug 10 – Finished hoeing. Dell, Lois and Harts folks went up to Flanders. I went down to Kings after Jim.
Aug 11 – At home all day. Henry down here. Dell went home. Lois over to Hanks. Dell and Lois no come here.
Aug 12 – No work to day. Not very well. Henry called here. Mr Isaac Clark called here a while. Not very well. Went over to burg in Evening to temperance lecture. Fred Farland lectured. I D L Schram[91] thrashed wheat.
Aug 13 – Worked round house and garden. Nancys girl[92] Born to day about noon. Bird Abbott called here to see about putting in pump. Jim Bayl came with him.
Aug 14 – Carried Sarah over to Nancys. Claud and Ina here. Went up to mill. Got some plank for platform to well. Mrs Betts leg very big some.
Aug 15 – Worked round. Mrs Burdick and Mrs Blake called here. Went over to burg in Evening after rollers. Baker Stilsons[?] Barns burned to day.
Aug 16 – Went up to A. McLarrys after rollers. Got some plank up to Earls. Went up to Henrys in afternoon to see water wheel. A. Brown thrashed wheat.
Aug 17 – Got some wood. John Allen[93] came down to Mr Towns.[94] Tried the Lansing plow. Went down to Kings after Jim.
Aug 18 – Cloudy morning. At home all day. Mrs Betts went to burg. Ethan took her over.
Aug 19 – Barber came over and helped move the old cornhouse. Jim stayed and helped.
Aug 20 – Worked round cornhouse. Went over to Andrew McLarys. Carried rollers up in Evening. Carried Jesses plank home. Henry went to Marshall.
Aug 21 – Worked on buggy house. Put in floor at south End. Ethan went over to burg. I. D. L. Schram had bill to go to Picknic to Shermans Lake. Warm day.
Aug 22 – Mr Norman Durgy Died this morning. Blocked up buggy house. Mr Schram came down to see if he could get Bill to go to Kalamazoo. Mrs Bronson here. Mrs Barber and Ida[95] came over to see about going to Schoolcraft. Becky P[96] died to day. Brown drawed in Hungarian grass.
Aug 23 – Worked round house and buggy house. Wheeled some dirt. O. D. Schram[97] had Bill and wagon to go to Kalamazoo with load onions. Fine day. Mr Durgy buried to day.
Aug 24 – Cloudy morning. Worked round. Got ready to go to Schoolcraft. Fine day. Henry came down stayed all night. Rebecca Plank buried to day. Stephen Loveland[98] died to day.
Aug 25 – Henry and Stafford here. Went over to Schoolcraft to spiritual meeting. Went to Mr Arms,[99] left horses, took the cars to Schoolcraft. Speakers York, Mrs Shephard, Farland, Doctor Thomas, &c. Got home about Eleven. Brown, Streator, Mrs Barber and Ida.
Aug 26 – Ethan went down to Browns after Hannah. Took her over to Nancy. Very fine morning. Stephen Loveland buried to day.
Aug 27 – Went over burg in morning. Carried papers over to Vanburen. Shelled some corn. Repaired wagon wheel. Went over in Evening after Sarah and Lois.
Aug 28 – Went to Comstock to mill. Lois and Ina went down to Katharines. Had a good shower. Got wet some. Got home noon. Lavina York[100] died this morning 5 oclock Am.
Aug 29 – Went to Kalamazoo with Lois. Bot plasters for Ethan and Hannah. Stopt to Katharines. Bird Abbott put in pump.
Aug 30 – Went down to graveyard down by Daleys. Vinny York buried to day. Went over to burg in Evening. Mrs Blake, Mrs Forbush and Mrs Henry Rogers here in afternoon.
Aug 31 – Rainy morning. Not much done to day. Went down to Henry Kings after Jim. Bus carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Claud came over stayed all night.
Sep 1 – Fine morning no rain. Went down to Katharines in afternoon.
Sep 2 – My office Expired as Assessor. Went over to burg. Got money on post office order $20.00. Received of Township Treasurer 48.25¢ forty Eight Dollars and twenty five cents. Paid Abby Jackson forty Dollars. To paid C. L. Keith[101] $2 Dollars. Helped Brown get up clover seed. Dell called here.
Sep 3 – Warm morning. Lois went home. Ethan took her over to burg. Paid T. C. Ford six Dollars and twenty five cents 6.25.
Sep 4 – Went up to Augusta to the Pionere picnic. Lois and Dell went home. Had a nice time. Fine day. Uncle Isaac Clarks Barn burnt, two buggys, lot wheat, &c.
Sep 5 – Pleasant day. Ethan carried some timber up to mill for Henry. Filed saw for Erve Hall.
Sep 6 – Not very well. Chored round. Went over to burg in Evening. Very hot day. Mercury 96 in shade. Ethan finished car.
Sep 7 – Worked on buggy house. Went over to burg at noon after Hite.[102] He no come. Went to see lumber man. Very hot day. Ethan took car over to Hank. Extracted tooth for J. Flanders. Mr Allerton[103] thrashing with steamer.
Sep 8 – Very hot. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in morning to hear the gospel preached. Went over after Mrs Betts at night.
Sep 9 – Some cooler. Made tightner frame for Theodore Earl. Had a good shower in night. Steamer Billy Rice thrashing for Mr Simmons.
Sep 10 – Some rainy this morning. Went up to sawmill got two loads wood. Carried tightner up. Went down to M. O. Streators got some apples.
Sep 11 – Steamer Billy Rice at Towns to day. Went over to burg to see Barton about cutting corn. Went over after Nancy and Hannah. Fine day. Steamer went up to Jesse Earls.
Sep 12 – Dave and Jay cutting corn. Steamer Billy Rice thrashing up to Jesse Earls. Made steps to East door. Finished cutting corn. Fine day. Paid Barton $2.00 for cutting corn.
Sep 13 – Went over to burg in morning. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over. Got some nails. Went over at noon. Got some butter for Mrs Brown. Rained some. Carried Nancy down to Browns. Uncle Isaac Clark had my buggy to go to Kalam[azoo].
Sep 14 – Worked round. Got Ernests buggy. Hiram and family[104] came on night Express. Fine weather but dry.
Sep 15 – Hite and I went around the squaire. Went to Mr Flanders. Nice day.
Sep 16 – Went up to Henrys in forenoon. All went over to Nancys in afternoon. Hite went down on Night Express. Warm and dry. Bill Blake sowing wheat on North side.
Sep 17 – Went down to Katharines in forenoon. Hot and dry. Went over to burg in Evening after Kate and Hannah.
Sep 18 – Went up to uncle Isaac Clark in morning to carry harness. Carried Hannah up to Jesse Earls. Took Kate around the square. D. C. Crawford and family[105] came and Edna Crawford[106] from Omro.[107]
Sep 19 – Went over to burg. Got D. C. Crawfords Trunk. Hot day. No work.
Sep 20 – No work to day. Cloudy, some rain, high wind. David, Amanda[108] and Kate went to Kalamazoo.
Sep 21 – Nice day. Hannah and Edna went over to Hanks. I took Kate up to Scots station. She went to South bend.[109]
Sep 22 – Fine morning. David and I went up to Yorkville and gul Corners. Took dinner at Benja____ Fox.
Sep 23 – At home. Ethan and David went over to burg. Jim at home. A Brown commenced plowing west lot. Brown sold his hogs.
Sep 24 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over. Carried Amanda and one trunk came back took David and trunk over. They all left for Dowagiac[110] on 12:52 train. Went over in Evening after Sarah. Fide Barber Died.
Sep 25 – Will Barber[111] cut Buckwheat. Rainy day. Edna here. Hannah sewing for Mrs Jesse Earl.[112] Mrs Henry Rogers[113] Died 2 oclock AM.
Sep 26 – Pleasant morning. Will finished cutting Buckwheat. Not very well. Not much work. Went over to burg in Evening after Edna.
Sep 27 – Ethan, Hannah and Edna went to County fair to Kalamazoo. Mrs Henry Rogers buried to day funeral at Methodist Church. Rev Henderson preached. The first time I was in the church.
Sep 28 – Edna Crawford started for Dowagiac Eleven oclock Am. Nice day mercury 65. Ethan, Hannah and Jim went over to Nancys. A. Brown carried some wheat wheat to mill. Will Brown sowed the west lot.
Sep 29 – Went down to Katharines. Came home by Bart gibbs and Flanders. Fine day. Frank Tomlinson[114] came.
Sep 30 – Went over to burg in morning with Frank. Helped J. T. Allerton drive sow and pigs over bridge. Frank and Hannah went down to Katharines in afternoon.
Oct 1 – Will and George Barber[115] came over and got some corn. Frank and Hannah got home before noon. Frank and Ethan went up to Henrys at noon. Mercury 88 At noon. Rained hard in night.
Oct 2 – Fine morning. Frank left on Accomodation 7 oclock 9 minutes AM. Herb Earl[116] brot wheelbarrow wheel down to be repaired. Carried Sarah over to burg at noon. Went up to Henrys mill. Henry came down with me.
Oct 3 – Rimed Jesse Earls wheelbarrow wheel. Jim cut up corn on the hill. Henry went up to Marshall. Mrs Earl and Theodore[117] started for Wisconsin to see Elva.[118] Henry went up to Marshall to see Mr Cleveland.
Oct 4 – Went down and helped Mart fix his cider mill. Cut of the vat. Mr Caywood made cider over to Comstock. Pleasant day.
Oct 5 – Rainy. Overhauled lumber in old shop to get floring. Went over to burg after Salla towards night. Hank and Nancy came over to Browns. Claud went down with Mr Brown.
Oct 6 – Pleasant morning. At home all day. Hank and Nancy came stayed all night.
Oct 7 – Went over to burg in morning after money on post office order. Abbot and Bolls came down and turned pump tops. Went over to burg. Took Nancy home.
Oct 8 – Went down to Brown in forenoon. Picked up apples. Will Barber came over and thrashed Buckwheat. Carried Hannah over to burg at night. She started for Chicago. Rained some.
Oct 9 – Worked round. Cleaned up Buckwheat. Had Eleven bushels. Hannah gone to Chicago. Jim dug potatoes. Fine weather.
Oct 10 – Went over to burg in morning. Got money on order from the boys $30.00. Put casing on wagon _____. Browns folks here in Evening. Went over to Bartons just at night. Rained in night. Jim helping Harry pick apples.
Oct 11 – Some rainy in morning. Hung the Doors to carriage house and put sill at the bottom.
Oct 12 – Ethan tore out Egg cupboard. I tore up floor to stoop and the top to cistern. Carried Sarah over to Nancys at noon. Kit Arms[119] came there. Went over after her in Evening. Jim picked Apples to Streators. Quin[120] came home.
Oct 13 – Went over to burg in morning to see if Hannah came home. Rained some. Mart came up. Katharine and Clara[121] came with him. Hannah came over with Mr Brown, Arthur and Kit.
Oct 14 – Went over to burg in morning. Got money on County Order $19.50¢. Nancy came home. Went up to sawmill got stick timber.
Oct 15 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot lumber siding, sheeting and seeling six Dollars fortyfive cents 6.45. Dave Barton[122] drawed it over. Bot lumber for Skinners wagon box $1.00. I am Sixty five years old to day.
Oct 16 – Window lime and nails 2.55. Went down to Marts after ladder. Jim went down to work. Claud went down to Mr Browns. Went over to burg. Got one stick timber, 4 sticks scantling (4×4) and joist (8×8) $1.40, one Door 150.
Oct 17 – Worked on frame. Framed sill and studding. Drawed some rails on hill put on fence. Solomon Youngs here to dinner. Henry came down stayed all night. Mrs Brown called in.
Oct 18 – Carried Sarah down to Mr Browns. She went to Kalamazoo. Bot stove four Dollars 4.00. Drawed two loads sand. Tore of lath and plaster under stoop.
Oct 19 – Went over to burg in morning. Got bolt to put through sill 20¢. Claud came home with me. Barber put up wall under stoop.
Oct 20 – Put in the studding. Ethan and Hannah, Claud went down to Charles Lees. Henry went up to Mr Flanders.
Oct 21 – Went over to burg. Got lumber studding and one joist, one plank for window sills, boards for casings $__.44¢. Put on sheeting. Mrs Elizabeth Starr came here.
Oct 22 – Went over to burg. Bot nails and irons for sills 36¢ thirty six cents. Finished sheeting and laid some floor. Rainy. Mrs Starr went over to see Cilia Newman.
Oct 23 – Went over to burg. Bot lock buts and screws 33 cents, three lbs nails 10¢ ““.[123] Carried Mrs Starr down to Katharines. Paid Barber fifty cents.
Oct 24 – Went over to burg in morning after Mr Byington. He came over and worked to day. Fine day.
Oct 25 – Hung doors. Went over to burg. Got one 4×4 scantling 16 cents, six lbs nails 21 ““. Carried Byington home in Evening. Paid Byington $2.00. Will and George drawed in buckw.
Oct 26 – Rainy day. Put on water table and sealed up East side of room. Jim came home. Snowed some just at night. Henry putting up his Cidermill at Theodores mill.
Oct 27 – At home all day. Stormy, snow fell about three inches, very damp. Corn all out, some potatoes not dug. Looks quite wintery.
Oct 28 – Went over to burg. Bot nails, can paint and putty 1.16, two bunches Lath. Bot soap and strap 22¢. Lois and Will came. Wiped my ass with a snowball the first time this fall.
Oct 29 – Saw Lind Matthews. Cold morning. Will and Lois here. Went over to burg. Paid for Lath 25¢. Saw quins Lamp. Lois and Alfleda went over to burg. Went down to A. Browns. Bot 12 bushels wheat 87 pr bushel.
Oct 30 – Sarah and Lois went down to T Fords. I worked worked on windows got them rady to case. Rainy afternoon snow all gone.
Oct 31 – Worked on room cased one window and put down base. Cyrus Streator and Franks girl called here. Cold windy day. Lois and Will went down to Katharines. Cap Hodges Buried.[124]
Nov 1 – Went up to Isaac Clarks to rais Barn. Mate Thompson here to day. Mrs Betts came over packed up her goods. She is going to live at the burg. Mr S. Streator called here. Lois here to night.
Nov 2 – Moved Mrs N. B Betts over to Burg. She moved into John Freers house. Pleasant day.
Nov 3 – Fine shiny day. Lois and Will started for home.
Nov 4 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah went over to Nancys. Went up to Mr Flanders got load apples. Pleasant day.
Nov 5 – Made cider in forenoon. Went to Election in afternoon. Very fine day, pleasant. Went down to A. Browns got five bushels wheat.
Nov 6 – Went to Comstock to mill. Rained some. Katharine came up. Finished digging potatoes. Carried five bushels wheat, ½ bushel corn, two bushels buckwheat. Mrs Oakly died.[125] Katharine came up.
Nov 7 – Cut and drawed two loads wood in forenoon. Drawed three loads dirt. Put in the well.
Nov 8 – Drawed two loads dirt put in the well. Carried Sarah and Katharine over to burg. Mrs Oakly buried. Put on some siding. Barber and Will, Mrs King.
Nov 9 – Finished siding the house. Cloudy not very cold. Barber and Will husking. Quin Streator bot out Gus Osgood hook and line.
Nov 10 – At home. Went down to Milhams. Took Katharine and Hannah home. Brot sewing machine home from Mr Streators. Not very cold. Jim went back to Marts to work.
Nov 11 – Rainy day. Went up to pump shop. Got some boards for draft board. Got some vinegar. Came round by the burg. Bot paint brush 50¢. Mortered up hatchway. Went down to Browns got some lime.
Nov 12 – Put up stove in shop. Pointed wall outside and in celler. Went over to burg. Got lumber 16 feet 28. Got some for draft board for Ethan 16 feet 28¢. Paid R. G. Smith one Dollar and fifty cents one years subscription to Kal Gazette.
Nov 13 – Put some shingles on wagon house. Put down platform over well. Carried Sarah down to A. Browns. Went down after her at night. Will Brown drawing apples to cider mill.
Nov 14 – Drawed load dirt to back up well. Got load sand to plaster. Mary Crawford[126] came in afternoon. Nancy here. Hank came over stayed all night. Very pleasant day.
Nov 15 – Hank went Fox hunting in morning. See him Fox, no get him. Carried Sarah and Mary over to burg in morning. Bot two ventilators 75¢.
Nov 16 – Rainy day. Got out stuff for windows. Put stops in one window.
Nov 17 – At home all day. Put stops in one window. Warm day Mercury 46 about noon.
Nov 18 – Drawed in some corn. Carried Sarah over to burg in morning. Charles Lee died Went over to burg after Sarah at night. Turned out some plugs for Herb Earl in Evening. Herb pd me 75 cent for wheelbarrow wheel.
Nov 19 – Went up to shop with Henry in morning. Got some vinegar. Henry helped me put shingles on barn in afternoon. Warm day. Charles Lee died in night.[127]
Nov 20 – Went up to mill got bunch Shingles. Put some on barn. Henry went to Marshall. Sate[128] came here.
Nov 21 – Paid A. Brown fifty cents. Went over to burg. Bot some plastering hair 12¢, bot vest 1.50. Saw Dell. Sate went home. Went down to Charles Lees funeral in afternoon. Rainy. Saw Orrin Lee.[129] Mr dun preached mormon.
Nov 22 – Went over to burg in morning bot Put ventilators in to day. Mixed up mortar. Put the hair in. Ethan went over to Hanks.
Nov 23 – Went over to burg in morning after Barber. He came over plastered the new room.
Nov 24 – Went down to Katharines. Saw Orrin Lee. He gave me a picture of Marks[130] house. Bill runaway, broke the wagon. Jim took us home.
Nov 25 – Cleared of barn floor so Barber could put in the cornfodder. Fine day. Brown hulling Clover had the Steamer Billy Rice.
Nov 26 – Mr Brown finished his clover. Will and George Barber drawn in cornfodder. Cold raw wind. Henry came down from Marshall went up to Mr Flanders. Henry brot a pair of chickens.
Nov 27 – Went up to Henrys mill with Henry. Got some plank to repair wagon. Rained, snowed in afternoon. Not very cold. Henry went to Mr Flanders just at night. Got wall paper 76¢ cts.
Nov 28 – Some sleighing. Thanksgiving. Git no turkee. Sarah and Alfleda went over to Nancys. Henry came down. I went up to mill helped him load up his things. He moved to Marshall. I got iron wheel and vice screw. Went over to Hanks in Evening to an Oyster supper.
Nov 29 – Worked round house and barn. Put board on south end of Barn to shut Doves out. Filed saw for Erve Hall 20¢. Jim came home. Ethan over to Hanks. Hank went to Battle Creek. Not much sleighing.
Nov 30 – Jim and I went up in woods sawed and drawed two loads wood. Ethan came home. Jim went over to burg in afternoon.
Dec 1 – At home all day. Not very cold. Some snow on ground, no sleighing. Hank and Nancy went down to Kates. They had got the well one hundred and forty one feet.
Dec 2 – Husked corn. Cleared out the barn. Not very cold.
Dec 3 – Carried corn into cornhouse in morning. Drawed in corn in afternoon. Filled barn floor. Rained just at night. Not very cold.
Dec 4 – Husked corn. Cleared the barn. Very good day. Had 12½ bushels I think.
Dec 5 – Will and George came over and thrashed Buckwheat had 4½ bushels. We drawed in corn 24 stooks.
Dec 6 – Husked corn. Snowey day snowed all day. Claud here. Not very cold. Very rough day to be out.
Dec 7 – __s cut down tree on south line. Sawed two loads wood.
Dec 8 – Snowed and blowed all day. Carried Jim down to Katharines. He is going to school.
Dec 9 – Worked round house and shop. Filed saw for A. Brown. Put moulding on arch in East room. Shelled corn. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Jim commenced school to day.
Dec 10 – Worked in shop some. Put moulding on arch in East room. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Shelled some corn in afternoon Went to Comstock to mill.
Dec 11 – Went to Comstock to mill in forenoon. Got Buckwheat flour. Got corn ground. Not very good Sleighing not very good. Cut and drawed two loads wood.
Dec 12 – Worked in shop some. Filed and set two saws for Peter Hall, one for A. Brown, one of my own. Put base down in East room. Not very good sleighing.
Dec 13 – Worked round house. Chored round s [incomplete]
Dec 14 – Cut blackoak tree out the North East corner of my woods. Dam thing fell across the fence and broke it down &c.
Dec 15 – At home all day. Jim brot Hannah home. Orrin Lee came up with them.
Dec 16 – Went over to burg. Ethan and Orrin went. We went up to shop to get pattern plank. Orrin got negative. Bot oil and Turpentine 20¢ cents. Ethan painted some. I drawed load wood.
Dec 17 – Went over to burg in morning. Got glass 40 cts for south window. Orrin went up to Mr Flanders. I painted south Door. Henry came home stayed all night. Paid my tax $6.23 cents.
Dec 18 – Mercury 8 Abz cold day. Worked in shop some. Mad frame for small dore in Chamber. Henry went home. Very good sleighing.
Dec 19 – Mercury 14 in morning Abz. Put Door frame in up stairs. Very cold day. Ethan made Will Browns spear. Filed crosscut and buck saws for Will Brown.
Dec 20 – Went up in woods cut one load wood. Went down to A. Browns got Hogs heads and feet. Went over to burg in Evening. Carried 12 Doz Eggs 16 cts pr Doz.
Dec 21 – Very snowey day. Worked in shop made seat for sleigh.
Dec 22 – Went down to Katharine. Carried Jims Trunk. Storing blustring day snowed all day. Marts folks gone to Vicksburg. Orrin went with them.
Dec 23 – Mercury 4 below zero, very cold blustrous day. Not much driving about. One cutter went East. Will Brown drawed one load wood over to Hank.
Dec 24 – Cold and blustrous. No work but chores. Very rough.
Dec 25 – Still it keeps cold. No stirring around. Went down to A. Browns to a Christmas dinner. Very blustrous. Will Planks little girl died to day.
Dec 26 – Went up in woods cut some wood an shoveled snow to get to woods.
Dec 27 – Cold and snows like fun. Shoveled snow and drawed three or four loads wood. Bad day to be out. Ethan went over to burg.
Dec 28 – Worked round house and so forth. Cold day.
Dec 29 – At home all day. Fine day.
Dec 30 – Went to Kalamazoo. Cold day. Bot stovepipe, beadslead. Brot up frames for Hank. Henry came down from Marshall.
Dec 31 – Carried Hanks things over this morning. Went up to sawmill in afternoon. Carried up cross head. Sawed out pattern timber and cutter beams. Henry went over to burg.
Memoranda
Property traded to A R Skinner for Buggy
One silver watch $50.00
One set buggy wheels $14.00
One violin $25.00
One calf $4.00
One wagon box $6.00
——-
[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke
[2] Galesburg, Michigan
[3] His daughter, Hannah Keith
[4] His oldest son, Henry Lindsey Keith, by his first wife, Minerva Payson
[5] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown
[6] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith
[7] Nancy’s husband, Henry Brown
[8] Luke’s 1877 diary entries show that on December 25th, Ed’s “gun burst, blowed britch pin into his head.” He died December 31st. FindAGrave.com reveals he was buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[9] Above zero
[10] Galesburg, Michigan
[11] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator
[12] His son, Ethan Keith
[13] Comstock, Michigan
[14] Neighbor, Samuel Barton
[15] Neighbor, the son of M. O. Streator
[16] FindAGrave.com shows that Willie A. Burgess died January 2, 1878, at the age of 7, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. He was the son of neighbors, Erastus & Hattie (Shattuck) Burgess
[17] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[18] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”
[19] The son of his neighbors, George & Jane Whiting
[20] Believe this to be his neighbor, Ernest Whiting
[21] His neighbor, Richard Barber
[22] Michigan Marriage Records confirm the marriage date; she married Aaron H. Carr in Galesburg, Michigan
[23] Certain
[24] His daughter and son-in-law, Lois and Adelbert Skinner. Lois was his daughter by his first wife, Minerva Payson
[25] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts
[26] His grandson, Claude Brown, son of his daughter Nancy
[27] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[28] Hank’s parents, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown
[29] Mary (Stephenson) McKinney, a former neighbor of Hank & Nancy Brown from when they lived in Lawton, Michigan, in 1876
[30] Lois and Adelbert Skinner.
[31] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall
[32] Etc.
[33] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders
[34] The long shaft between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon
[35] Arthur & Caroline “Kitty” (Lockwood) Arms; Arthur was the nephew of Ambrose Brown
[36] FindAGrave.com reveals that Josephine (Whiting) Higgs died in Chicago, Illinois, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. Josephine was the sister of Ernest Whiting who is mentioned quite frequently in Luke’s diaries
[37] Richard Barber and his daughter, Ida Barber
[38] His niece (Katharine’s daughter by her second husband, George Clinton Lee) and husband, Lucy (Lee) & Martin Milham
[39] Joseph York, the husband of Katharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York, by her first husband, Ethan Bradley
[40] Believe this to be his neighbor, Irwin I. Hall
[41] Perry, New York, where George & Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson lived; Marion was his niece
[42] Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber’s family
[43] 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
[44] Ambrose & Matilda’s son, Willis Brown
[45] Jane (Comfort) Nelles Sunderlin was his mother-in-law Nancy Betts’ sister
[46] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of Luke’s brother, Harvey Keith
[47] Michigan Death Records show that Betsy (Judson) Kingsley died February 13, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan
[48] Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator
[49] Neighbor, Hannibal “Hat” A. Taylor
[50] Betsey (Clapp) Taylor
[51] Neighbor, Thomas Clark Ford
[52] FindAGrave.com records show that Fay Aldrich (born June 16, 1876), the son of William & Henrietta Aldrich, died on February 19, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan (which agrees with Luke’s entry and the Oak Grove Cemetery records) and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. However, Michigan Births & Christening Index records show his date of birth as August 14, 1876, and Michigan Vital Records reveals that Fay C. Aldrich, same parents and same date of birth, died in Comstock from croup on February 14, 1879
[53] Eugene Crawford, the son of his wife Sarah’s late brother, Edwin Crawford and his first wife, Louisa Hall
[54] Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of his wife Sarah’s late brother, Edwin Crawford and his second wife, Mary Hamilton
[55] Massachusetts Death Records confirm that Reverend Russell Tomlinson died in Plymouth, Massachusetts on March 4, 1878
[56] Alvan Lee was his first cousin and it is believed that Ida Lee was Alvan’s niece, the daughter of his deceased brother, John Warren Lee
[57] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph
[58] The daughters of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen
[59] James Milham was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for February 3rd entry)
[60] His late father, Charles Luke Keith Sr.
[61] 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
[62] His niece, and Katharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York
[63] Presume he is being funny or sarcastic in regard to his mother-in-law. Rev. Platt Betts was her second husband; he died December 29, 1861
[64] Believe he is referring to his neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Theodore Earl,
[65] Matilda Brown’s sister, Julia Allen
[66] Nellie was the daughter of Luke’s niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson; she married Walter Gillette
[67] Louis Bristol was Ambrose Brown’s grand-nephew
[68] His paternal first cousin, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee
[69] Michigan Marriage Records confirm that Henry “Harry” Streator and Helen Randall were married May 2, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan
[70] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”
[71] Neighbor, George Ransom Wightman
[72] Mary Tamer Ford, the daughter of neighbors Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford
[73] Believe he is referring to Doc Wightman’s wife, Mary (Crandall) Wightman
[74] The Greenback movement (c. 1868–88) was a political campaign, largely by persons with agrarian interests, to maintain or increase the amount of paper money in circulation. Between 1862 and 1865, the U.S. government issued more than $450,000,000 in paper money not backed by gold (greenbacks) to help finance the Union cause in the American Civil War. After the war, fiscal conservatives demanded that the government retire the greenbacks, but farmers and others who wished to maintain high prices opposed that move. The party ran candidates in three presidential elections—in the elections of 1876, 1880, and 1884
[75] Lime plaster was used for exterior plastering and was composed of sand, water, and lime. Horse hair was added for reinforcement
[76] Marshall, Michigan
[77] Ceresco, Michigan
[78] Michigan Death Records show that Kezia (Lester) Deyo died in Richland, Michigan on June 9, 1878 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Richland, Michigan
[79] Lois’ children: William Byron Clark (by her first husband, Byron Clark), and Ina Mary Skinner (by her second husband, Adelbert Skinner)
[80] FindAGrave.com shows that Maj. Stephen M. Dakin died June 17, 1878 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[81] Ambrose Brown’s aunt, Rhobe Brown, was married to a Joseph Wells; however, have not been able to make a connection between Ambrose Brown and George Wells or between Joseph & Rhobe Wells and George Wells
[82] Michigan death records show that Eliza Beakes, a widow, age 85, died in Comstock on June 22, 1878
[83] His niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson
[84] Michigan death records show that Fanny (Taber) Barnum died July 1, 1878 in Pavilion, Michigan
[85] Neighbor, Charles; his daughter Hannah’s future husband
[86] FindAGrave.com records reveal that Prudence (Bishop) Lord died July 6, 1878 and is buried in the Comstock Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan
[87] Neighbor, Lydia (McClary) Barber, wife of Lewis Barber
[88] His horse
[89] Referring to his wife and himself
[90] His brother-in-law, Henry Clay Crawford
[91] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram
[92] His granddaughter, Lela Mae Brown
[93] Neighbor, John S. Allen
[94] Neighbor, Albert H. Towne, who was the father of Charles Towne (see footnote to July 5th entry)
[95] Mary (Knowles) Barber and her daughter, Ida Barber
[96] Michigan Death Records show that Rebecca Plank, age 27, died of consumption on August 22, 1878, and FindAGrave.com reveals that she is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Plank family had been neighbors until they moved to Grand Rapids in April 1873
[97] Neighbor, Orrin D. Schram, who was the father of Isaac D. L. Schram (see footnote to August 12th entry)
[98] Michigan Death Records confirm that Stephen Loveland, age 60, died of consumption in Comstock on August 24, 1878
[99] See footnote to January 26th entry
[100] Helen Lavinia York was the granddaughter of his sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee. FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in the Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Vicksburg, Michigan
[101] Himself
[102] Nickname for his wife Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr.
[103] Neighbor, John T. Allerton
[104] Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford Jr., and their two children, Harry and Jessie
[105] His wife Sarah’s brother, David Caleb “D.C” Crawford, his wife, Amanda (Thornton) Crawford, and their daughter, Ida Louise
[106] Edna Irene Crawford, the daughter of his wife Sarah’s brother, Robert Crawford
[107] Omro, Wisconsin
[108] See footnote to September 18th entry
[109] His wife Sarah’s brother (and Edna’s uncle), Henry Clay Crawford, lived in South Bend, Indiana, so presume Edna was going to visit thei family
[110] Dowagiac, Michigan, to attend the wedding of Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of Edwin (deceased) & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford. She married Oscar M. Allen, Jr. on September 25, 1878
[111] William H. Barber, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[112] Mary (Clapp) Earl
[113] FindAGrave.com and Riverside Cemetery records show that Lucy (Harris) Rogers died September 26, 1878 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan
[114] Frank John Tomlinson, the son of Luke’s niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson
[115] The sons of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[116] Neighbor, Herbert Earl, the son of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl
[117] Neighbors, Mary (Clapp) Earl and her son, Theodore Earl
[118] Daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl; she married Frank Crossfield in 1877 and the 1880 census shows them living in Oakland, Wisconsin
[119] See footnote to January 26th entry
[120] Neighbor, John Quincy Streator, the son of Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator
[121] Clara Almyra Milham, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham
[122] Neighbor, David Barton
[123] The “ditto marks” were used to indicate a repetition of the word on the line above, which was “cents”
[124] FindAGrave.com reveals that George S. Hodges had been a captain during the Civil War and that he died of consumption on October 29, 1878 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan
[125] FindAGrave.com shows that Charlotte (TenBrook) Oakley died November 5, 1878 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[126] Believe he is referring to Mary (Hamilton) Crawford, the widow of his brother-in-law, Edwin Crawford
[127] His paternal first cousin, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee; Michigan Death Records confirm that he died of pneumonia in Comstock, Michigan on November 19, 1878
[128] Believe he is referring to Sarah “Sate” Skinner, the sister of his son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner
[129] Charles Lee’s nephew, Orrin Strong Lee, the son of Ezekiel & Elizabeth (Strong) Lee
[130] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s earlier diaries and it is believed Luke 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 lived with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee, until the Spring of 1870 when he moved to Utah
