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 McKinney. 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 McKinney 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 McKinney, 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 McKinney 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 McKinney 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 McKinneys drug store this eve and Mrs McKinney[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 McKinney and Mrs McKinney.
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 McKinney 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 McK[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 McKinney[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 McKinney 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 McKinney 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 McKinney 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 McK 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 McK 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 McK 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 McK 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 3rd 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 1st and 2nd
[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
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 