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. Wm 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 25th 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.”
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 