Luke Keith’s 1889 Diary

1889 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH, JR.[1]

Jan 1 – 23.[2] Nice pleasant day. Nice wheeling. Hank[3] came up. They went down to Mrs Browns.[4] Will Clark[5] here. Allice Williams Buried to day.[6]

Jan 2 – 24. Went over to Burg[7] after Lois and Ina.[8] Two strangers here to dinner. Went down to Katharines[9] with Nancy.[10] Fine day.

Jan 3 – 43. Very pleasant day. Nancy went over to Lois stayed all night. Lou and children[11] here.

Jan 4 – Mercury 36. At home. Lou went up to Jim Milhams.[12] Sarah[13] went over to Fanny Towns.[14] D[15] came this Evening.

Jan 5 – 36 Abz.[16] Took Lou up to W^m Ralphs.[17] D. and Will Ralph went hunting. I went over after H. Crawford[18] he no come. Ethan[19] went to Kal.[20] Bot this Diary 20 cts.

Jan 6 – Mercury 34. D, Lou and children and Cory came back stayed all night. Will and Lois went down to Katharines. Not very cold.

Jan 7 – M. 32 in morning. D went over to Burg. Ethan took Lou over to Lois. Hannah[21] went over to Fanny Towns this morning. Some fine snow rather damp.

Jan 8 – Mercury 40. Went over to burg in morning. Took Lou and children over to Mrs Ralphs.[22] I got Jays pin mended. The gun smith of Maplow was performing at the Galesburg Opra House to night. Rained all night.

Jan 9 – Mercury 42 in morning. Rainy forenoon snow and blowed like blazes in afternoon and Evening. Hannah at Towns (rest of entry is illegible).

Jan 10 – Mercury 21 in morning about two inches snow. At home all day. Not much work.

Jan 11 – Mercury 36. Some work. Went over to burg at noon got no mail. Albert Chase[23] got his violin he paid one Dollar.

Jan 12 – Mercury 18 in morning about 40 in middle of the day. Not much work to day. Sawed some wood. Nice weather for winter.

Jan 13 – Mercury 30 nice day sun came out some. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. No one called here to day.

Jan 14 – Mercury 34. Turned two roolers for H. D. Streator.[24] Not very well.

Jan 15 – Mercury 32. Mr Bogards Died to day. Finished Streators roolers. Will Clark came over with Ethan stayed all night. Sally[25] and I went up to Jesse Earls[26] in afternoon stayed the Evening. Rained some.

Jan 16 – Mercury 54 rainy day. No work to day. Ethan and Will went over to burg in Evening.

Jan 17 – Mercury 30 in morning wind blowing from the west. Will here. Not very well. Ethan and Will making moosik on de guitah and de fiddlind.[27] J C Perkins Died to day[28] L. C. Wests[29] Draftsman.

Jan 18 – Mercury 38 in forenoon. Sawed some wood. Ethan mended the big yellow Rocking Chair. Ethan and Will went over to Burg in Evening. Snowed some.

Jan 19 – Mercury 12 in morning south East wind cold. Went down to Katharines she was feeling some better. No snow Mercury 20 in Evening.

Jan 20 – Mercury 2__ in morning west wind. Sate[30] here. Snowey day Mercury 31 in afternoon.

Jan 21 – Mercury 18 in morning snowing like blazes. Bert Staffords boy here selling Fruit trees.

Jan 22 – Mercury 12 in morning very nice day. Done the chores and pared apples. Ethan went over to burg in morning. Mercury 37 in afternoon. Dick Lamkins called got the iron brot. He had been to Flanders got a lot of old iron.

Jan 23 – Mercury 23. At home. Done some chores. Went over to burg in afternoon after Mrs Gaffing she no come.

Jan 24 – Mercury 48 nice day very pleasant shiny. Gaffing here.

Jan 25 – Mercury 46. Will Clark came over. Pleasant spring day. Ethan and Will gone down to Mrs Browns in Evening.

Jan 26 – Mercury 26. Went over to burg in morning to the mail then took Gaffing down to Katharines. Cloudy south west wind.

Jan 27 – Mercury 26 in forenoon north East wind and snowing.

Jan 28 – Mercury 23. Took Hannah over to burg in morning she went to R. G. Smith. Filed saw for N. L. Randal[31] he paid me for plane and saw 25 cts. Harry got his pulleys 25.

Jan 29 – Mercury 34 some snow. Hannah went up to Culls[32] to day. I cut Hickory tree up by the gap North side of woods. Some snowey day wind south west.

Jan 30 – Mercury 34 nice comfortable day south south west wind. Hannah up to Culs. I trimed up the Hickory tree sawed some wood and done the chores. Ethan patterns for bundle carrier.

Jan 31 – Mercury 31 some wind and snow sort of a blustrous day. I got the sleigh out for the first. Drew one load wood. Not much sleighing a bout a inch and a ½ snow.

Feb 1 – Mercury 13 Abz very nice day. Went up and got the last of the Hickory tree. Went over to Burg after match plane.[33] Got glass for school house.

Feb 2 – Mercury. Cloudy not very cold. Not very well. Not much work to day.

Feb 3 – Mercury 38. At home all day. Ethan and Will went down to Katharines. Hannah at home.

Feb 4 – Mercury 36. Shelled some corn for feed took it over to mill in afternoon. Mr Nichols turned some brush handles. Got some match plane of Charles Whitcomb.

Feb 5 – Mercury 10 Abz snows and blows. Went down to Katharines found her rather weak not able to sit up any. She gave me the paper. Mercury 7 Abz in Evening.

Feb 6 – Mercury at zero at 7 am. Went over to burg. Took over some hickory timber to Lockhart. Snowed like blazes a while. Filed saw for Will Brown.[34] Will Clark came home with me he went down to C. Fords.[35]

Feb 7 – Mercury 12 abz in morning. Not much work. Ethan put Wills Desk together. Hannah not go to Dods. Mercury 20 Abz about 5. P.m.

Feb 8 – Mercury 26 in morning. Not very well. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines to cut and fit dresses for the three youngest girls.[36] Strong south west wind Mercury 36 in afternoon. No sleighing yet.

Feb 9 – Mercury 26 Abz. Went down to school house in fore noon. Put in 3 lights glass. Will Brown drew two loads wood.

Feb 10 – Mercury 14 in morning about 3 inches snow. Some sleighs out to church to day. Wind south west.

Feb 11 – Mercury 20 in morning. Hannah went to Caywoods. I took Sarah over to Barbers in afternoon. Snowey. Went with the cutter the first time it has been out. About 4 inches snow. Cutter runs very well. Mercury 20 in afternoon.

Feb 12 – Mercury 14. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Snowed some Mercury one above zero in Evening.

Feb 13 – Mercury 7 Abz in morning. Took Sarah over to Lois in forenoon. Snows and blows some in afternoon.

Feb 14 – Mercury 14 in morning. Hard cold. Hued out some ax helve. Not very well. Mercury 20 in Evening. Hannah came home. Will Clark came over.

Feb 15 – Mercury 14 Abz in morning. At home. Hard cold. No work on my plate. Hannah at home cleaning house. Went to Mill took two bushels wheat.

Feb 16 – Mercury 21 rainy morning cleared of about Eleven. Will Clark and Hannah went to Kalamazoo. Hannah stayed to Nancys.

Feb 17 – Mercury. At home. Will here all day he went home at night. Snow all gone.

Feb 18 – Mercury 24 snows like fury and blows some. Wind blows hard just at night. Snow piling up some. I shelled some corn for feed for Fan.[37]

Feb 19 – Mercury 8 Abz very Blustrous snow flies lively. About all I wanted to do to keep fires and do the chores at the barn. Hens lay some three Eggs to day.

Feb 20 – Mercury. Went over to mill took corn and oats for feed. Went over after Hannah. Cold wind. Very good sleighing. Will Clark gave me his Watch the one I used to own.

Feb 21 – Cold south west wind. Went down to Katharines. Katharine not so well very weak no appetite. Hannah down to Streators to work making Mrs Streator[38] a dress. Blanch Olin Married this Evening.[39]

Feb 22 – Mercury. Went over after Lois this morning. Will came over. Snows some. Some cold day.

Feb 23 – Mercury 9 below zero very cold. No work out side. Sawed some little wood. Ethan to work on Wills Book case.

Feb 24 – Mercury 9 below zero in morning. Took Sarah down to Katharines.

Feb 25 – Mercury 4 Abz in morning. Went down to Katharines in afternoon after Sarah. Jim Milham called got axhelve 50 cts.

Feb 26 – Mercury 22 Abz snows some. Went over to post office. Left my watch with Wilson to be cleaned. Bot Bottle of Log Cabbin Sarsparilla 75 cts. Mrs John Lay died this Morning.[40]

Feb 27 – Mercury 38. Went over to Blakes. Took Checks over for Stevens[41] trunk and satchel. Evva here all day.

Feb 28 – At home. Not very well. Will Brown got his desk. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines.

Mar 1 – Mercury 24. At home. Worked on table top. Mrs John Lay buried to day. Nice stormy day snowey day.

Mar 2 – Worked on table made drawer. Theodore came down got two draw made. Mercury 44 Abz.

Mar 3 – At home. No one here Except Stephen Comfort. Nice day.

Mar 4 – Mercury 44. Went down to Katharines she no better. Theodore, Allice and Claud,[42] Herb, Luella & Royal,[43] Frank, Elva & Ethel[44] here in Evening.

Mar 5 – Mercury 42 verry nice day. Finished the table. Ethan making medicine cupboard. Put Cutter up over Stable. Mrs Galusha here in afternoon. Hank stayed all night.

Mar 6 – Mercury 48. Went over to burg. Took Hannah over to see Mrs Barber. Bot Trimmings for Medicine cupboard. Very nice day. Received the Leroy[45] Times. Ad Russel Married to day.[46]

Mar 7 – Mercury 44. Got out stuf for Clauds[47] draft board. Stormy some big snow flakes. Will Clark worked here to day. Ethan and Hannah up to Theodores this Evening.

Mar 8 – Mercury 34. Will Clark, Ethan and Hannah cleaning house. Cold day. Took Hannah over to Barbers in morning. Ethan and Hannah went up to Theodores in Evening.

Mar 9 – Mercury 32. Ethan and Will Clark went to Kalamazoo. Stephan cleaned the clock. Cold north west wind.

Mar 10 – Mercury 27. At home. No one here Except Stephen. Ethan at Hanks.

Mar 11 – Mercury 22 in morning. Sawed and split some wood. Stephen sick. Ethan not come home yet. Mrs Joseph Flanders Died about ten AM to day.[48] Mer 45 in afternoon. Ethan and Hannah up to Crosfields this Eve.

Mar 12 – Mercury 32. Went over to Mill got corn and oats groung. Took Dinner to Skinners.[49] Put Clauds board to gether.

Mar 13 – Mercury 53. Mrs Joseph Flanders buried to day. Went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Mar 14 – Mercury 54. Repaired Will Caywoods chairs. Went over to burg just at night. Stephen here yet. Ethan and Hannah gone to Herb Earls this Evening.

Mar 15 – Mercury 64. Worked in shop and chored some.

Mar 16 – Mercury 66. Went over to Towns with Jesse Earl. Saw Uncle Cullin. Mr A Town[50] sick. Went to Mr Frenches funral this afternoon.

Mar 17 – Mercury 54. At home. Ethan & Hannah went down to Mrs Browns.

Mar 18 – Mercury. Mrs Harvey Freer buried.[51] I went down to Katharines she not much if any better. Will Brown went up to Abe Powers got load Hay 1600 & 10 lbs. Paid $5.44[?]. Nancy and children[52] went home. Jim[53] came home.

Mar 19 – Ella Annis buried to day. Very fine nice weather.

Mar 20 – Mercury 48. Build manger for Fan. Nice day. Jim at home.

Mar 21 – Mercury 44. Worked on manger. Put in seed box for Fan. Nell Sanford came over stayed all day. Jim went down to Charly Fords.

Mar 22 – Mercury 4__. Went down to Katharines she not much better. Charley, Mate Ford[54] & H. D. Streator here in Evening also Will Clark. He stayed. Took two bushels wheat to mill in morning.

Mar 23 – Mercury 66. Made saw Buck. Will C here. Jim left for Chicago on 9 oclock train. Let Jim have $5.00 five Dollars. Mrs Hannah L Tuttle buried to day.[55]

Mar 24 – Mercury 64. At home. Mrs Brown, Will, Lizzy[56] and children[57] here. Hannah went up to Kate Thompsons just at night. Mrs Dibble buried to day.[58]

Mar 25 – Made Kneading board. Sarah and Ethan went down to Katharines. Mr Comfort here.

Mar 26 – Mercury. Cool south west wind. Took Ethan over to burg in morning he went to Shelby Ville.[59] Set hen on Eleven Eggs just at night. Sawed some wood. 28.

Mar 27 – Mercury 48. Sawed some wood shelled some corn done the chores. Ethan up to Shelbyville. Old Mr Comfort here Mrs Betts[60] Brother.

Mar 28 – Mercury 46. Took 2 Bushels corn and oats to mill. Oscar[61] came here about noon. I sawed some wood. Katharine no better.

Mar 29 – Mercury 35 and snowing like fun.[62] Went over to burg. Let Del[63] have 10½ Doz Eggs 10 cts pr Doz. Hannah came home. Snow about all gone.

Mar 30 – Mercury 40. Went down to Katharines in the afternoon she no better. Snowed in night. Mrs Heister buried to day. Took Hannah over to R. Gs in morning.

Mar 31 – Mercury 35 in morning snowed and rained. Rained all day the first rain of the season. Ethan up to Lous I spose so.

Apr 1 – Mercury 33. Went over to Burg in afternoon to Town Meeting. Nice day. Sally went over to Lois. Sate some better. Mr Gates paid one Dollar for repairs on School House.

Apr 2 – Mercury 30. Not much but chores. Nice day. Will came over stayed all night.

Apr 3 – Mercury 32. At home. No one here but Stephen, Lois and Will. Filed saw for C. Town.

Apr 4 – Mended Lous curling iron put handle in. Charley Town[64] paid one Dollar for filing saws. Went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Apr 5 – Mercury 36 and snowing like fun snow all gone at night. Will Brown took load wood up home with Nell and Tom. Cool night.

Apr 6 – Mercury 54. Worked in shop some on Lous Knife. Ethan and Charley working on fence machine. Mary Ann[65] called here just at night.

Apr 7 – Mercury 34. At home all day. Will Clark here. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Will Clark went to Chicago on Evening Express.

Apr 8 – Mercury 68. I moved the old logs out of the yard south of the house. Hannah home sick not able to work to day. Very nice day rained in night.

Apr 9 – Mercury 38. Ethan took Hannah over to Mrs Stanfords. I raked yard some. Had a nice rain in morning C. A. Town took Fanny Wilkins to Kalamazoo she went home.

Apr 10 – Mercury 40. Killed Bob.[66] Very nice warm pleasant day. Old Mr Comfort sick not getup to day. I sawed the large wood in the yard. Stired up the old stack bottom by the hen yard.

Apr 11 – At home. Not much work. Had thunder storm in night. Ann Elize Shafter Decker Aldrich Died in night.[67] Warm nice rain. J. W. Keith Died.[68]

Apr 12 – Worked round yard dugng up ground for my roots. Rained some to day. Went down to Katharines she no better.

Apr 13 – Manured the ground and set out the roots.

Apr 14 – Mercury 44. Nice pleasant morning. At home all day. Cold wind all day. Mrs Ann Eliza Shafter Aldrich Decker buried to day.

Apr 15 – Mercury 61. Put chip manure on the asparagus beds and around some small appletrees. Set the Wyandotte hen on 13 Eggs just at night.

Apr 16 – Mercury __4. Mr Comfort sick. Worked on East door in barn. Went over to burg at noon after Hannah. Bot hinges for door. Fanny and Hannah went to Kalamazoo.

Apr 17 – Mercury 74. Worked on door put hinges on cleats and brace. Old Mr Comfort some better no start for home. Very warm day.

Apr 18 – Mercury 68. Mr Comfort left on the 10.45 Train for Detroit. Finished the door at the Barn. Jo Smith chopping. Hannah to J. T. Allertons.[69] Rained some in afternoon 51 days.

Apr 19 – Jo Smith Chopping. I not do much. Rainy afternoon. Jo worked all the afternoon no stop for the rain. Quite warm. Paid Jo $2 Two Dollars.

Apr 20 – Nice warm day. Went over to burg in morning. Bot shugar, coffee, molasses, soap. Took over 14 Doz Eggs 10 cts pr Doz. Went down to Katharines in forenoon.

Apr 21 – Cold north wind. Went to Kalamazoo went to Nancys at their new home. Took 11½ lbs Butter to Nancy for Mr Knapp. They fetch 22 cts pr lb.

Apr 22 – Jo Smith came over helped me get out manure. Nice pleasant day. Hannah went to R. Comings in morning. She was sick had to come home.

Apr 23 – Nice day. Went over to burg to mill took over two bushels wheat. Went to see Mr Souls about putting in corn. $1 bot pants one Dollar.

Apr 24 – Went over to Mr Comings and burg changed my pants. Saw Smith Thomas about putting in corn. Jo Smith copping.

Apr 25 – Put handle on the East Barn door. Drew some manure out on East lot. Hannah at home not very well. Ethan went to the burg in Evening.

Apr 26 – Mercury 30 in morning. Dick came over and plowed potatoe ground, draged that and garden, drawed wood in after noon. Ethan paid him Two Dollars.

Apr 27 – Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Cold wind. Went down to Alvins to see if I could let me have some potatoes.

Apr 28 – Mercury 40. At home all day. Very cold wind.

Apr 29 – Mercury 42. Cold north wind. Went down to Alvin Lees[70] bot Eight bushels potatoes 2/- pr bushel $2.00. Ethan papering Sallys Bedroom.

Apr 30 – Mercury 43. Nice day cool wind. Worked in garden. Floated potatoe ground and garden. Ethan cleaning house and put down carpet. Charley Town had wagon to get potatoes of Alvin Lee. Mary Allerton Plank Died to day.[71]

May 1 – Mercury 43. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Cold north wind. Ethan planted potatoes.

May 2 – Mercury 45. Went to mill in morning took over corn and oats. Bot codfish. Paid Read for beef 25¢.

May 3 – Mercury 45. Went over to burg in morning. Got Wichita paper notice of Wesleys Death.

May 4 – Mercury 49. Went over to burg and over to D. Stafford. Got a Piece of the clavel___ water wheel to send to Henry.[72] Got letter from Jim he sent $2.00. Hannah came home.

May 5 – Nice day. Jesse Earl here in forenoon. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. She not some better.

May 6 – Mercury 90. Charley Town commenced plowing East lot for corn. I put out my grape cuttings. Ethan working on corn planter.

May 7 – Very hot day. I helped Sarah wash. Cleaned up yard some worked some in garden. Charleys boy plowing East lot and very hot.

May 8 – Not very well. Choring round. Ethan and Charley working on planter.

May 9 – Working around house and garden. Trimed some appletrees.

May 10 – Trimed some trees sowed some raddish and Lettauce seed. Went over to burg took 12 Doz Eggs 10 cts pr Doz 3.2/4 lbs Butter 15 cts pr lb. Rained in Evening.

May 11 – Trimed some trees. Took Sarah down to Katharines just at night she stayed all night. Charley planting with new planting machine.

May 12 – Went down to Katharines after Sarah in afternoon. Katharine no better she very bad off.

May 13 – Took Hannah over to W A Blakes in morning Bot 2 qts Beans 16¢. Tom Russell marking East lot. Rainy afternoon some.

May 14 – Sowed some corn chored round. Went down to Katharines just at night. She was worse we stayed all night.

May 15 – At Katharines she is a little Easier this morning. We stayed until 3 PM we came home. Nice day. Charley planted the East lot to day with the new patent planter.

May 16 – Had nice rain in the morning rained hard. Not much done. Cut some dry limbs in orchard.

May 17 – Mercury 84. Went down to Katharines in morning found her no better. She seemed to be failing just at night when we left for home.

May 18 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Sarah went down to Katharines stayed all day. Clara[73] brot her home just at night. Had a heavy shower. Ethan and Lou no come home. I finished sowing corn. Mrs. E. M. Clap buried to day.[74]

May 19 – Ethan and Lou came home. Hannah sewing girl came Lulu Forrester. Lou and children came.

May 20 – Hannah and girl up to Em Ralphs. I went down to Katharines in forenoon Katherine no better.

May 21 – Took Sarah down to Katharines in afternoon. She stayed all night. Katharine very sick.

May 22 – Went over to mill got my meal. Went down after Sarah just at night. Katharine no better. Cold wind very cold.

May 23 – Ethan went over to burg got my grist. Went down after Sarah just at night. Took Sarah down.

May 24 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo to see L. C. West and Hooker. Cold North west wind.

May 25 – Took two bushels wheat to mill. Took Sarah down to Katharines she stayed all night. Nancy here. Ina came over. Charley Town brot Eleven hundred hay. Katharine Died at seven oclock PM.[75]

May 26 – Mart[76] brot Sarah home. Mart and I went over to Burg to see Labbit[77] an the sexton. Rainy night.

May 27 – Rainy morning. Went to Funeral one oclock AM. Cleared of in afternoon. Katharine Buried to day.

May 28 – Mercury 40 at five Am. Had a big frost this morning the first we had here. Hoed corn & Potatoes in East garden. Stella and Mary Milham[78] and Emma Schuyler here in afternoon.

May 29 – Mercury 42 in morning some rainy. Ethan, Lou and children went over to burg. Cold wind.

May 30 – At home. Lou and children here. Cold, snowed and rained all day. Very rough day.

May 31 – Cold and windy. Lou went home to day. Went over to burg after some one to plaster. Found Sam Hartwell.

Jun 1 – At home. Not much work to day. Picked up brush in orchard. Rany afternoon. Hannah came home in Evening. Rany night.

Jun 2 – Some sprinkle in morning. Lois and Ina drove over just at night. John Ives drove in a few minutes to see Hannah. Ethan and Hannah went over to burg just at night.

Jun 3 – Went over to burg after Nancy took her over to C. Fords to help Hannah. Went up to Ed Flanders[79] got mortar. Sam Hartwell plastered in middle room. Cold wind.

Jun 4 – Went over got Hartwell to white wash and paper the room. Cold wind. Corn very backward. E Flanders called got some mortar.

Jun 5 – Nice morning sun came out for the first time in two weeks to warm up much. Went down to Katharines in forenoon.

Jun 6 – Cleaned house cleaned middle room. Cool. Mr Russel planting over East lot. Hannah and Nancy went to Geo. Blakes this morning.

Jun 7 – Work around house. Ethan put down carpet. I hoed some in garden. Some showery. Russel planting. Verry wet and cold.

Jun 8 – Some rainy. Russel finished planting. Kate and Blanch[80] came on the B.T.[81] 6 oclock run.

Jun 9 – Rainy. Kate here. Not much going on. I put the figures on Squair for Jim Milham.

Jun 10 – Letle sprinkle some. Went over to Burg in morning after Kates trunk. Made Charley Towns pulleys to clock. Jim got his Squair. Ground verry wet.

Jun 11 – Worked in garden. Fine day. Jesse[82] came up on Bobtail 6 PM. Got letter from George[83] with a v___ in.

Jun 12 – Very pleasant day. Worked in garden. Went over Bot shoes for Jesse bot one pair for Sarah.

Jun 13 – Nice morning. Took Jess over to burg. She went back to Kalamazoo.

Jun 14 – Not very well. No work to speak of.

Jun 15 – Hannah and Kate sewing like the Divol for Jesse making commencement Dresses.

Jun 16 – At home. No go to church to day. Kate and Blanch here.

Jun 17 – Will Brown brot Pig. Made pen for them. Lost my glasses. Gathered up old iron for Dick Lamkins.

Jun 18 – Went over to burg. Not work much. Rainy verry wet now days.

Jun 19 – Had a hevy shower this morning. Took Kates Trunk over. Blanch and Bes[84] went to Kalamazoo. Took Kate over she went on 2.47 train. Big rain blows hard.

Jun 20 – Not much work. Helped Sarah wash. No one here company all gone. Filed saw for Charley Town he paid me for the pulleys and _____.

Jun 21 – Some ledle rain this morning. Not much work to day. Worked in garden some. Cool wind. Took Sarah over to Lois. Took Gaffings Box over to M Nichols.

Jun 22 – Took 2 Bushels wheat to mill.

Jun 23 – Cyrus and Mrs Streater[85] called here just at night. Ethan and Hannah went down to Kalamazoo. Pleasant day rather cool wind.

Jun 24 – Nice fine day. Went up to E. P. Flanders to raising. He raised a large Barn 88 x 36 feet.

Jun 25 – Sick headache no work to day. Dr. Spinney and wife[86] stayed to Charley Towns all night.

Jun 26 – Very warm day. Hoed some in garden. Went up to Herbs got 54 cabbage plants just at night. Hannah working to J. T. Allertons.

Jun 27 – Not very well. Took Sarah over to Lois. Worked in garden some.

Jun 28 – Took Sarah over to Lois she not stay. Commencement Exercize at Church. Reception at ____ Olins in Evening. Nancy and Lelah[87] came up.

Jun 29 – Put Paris Green[88] on potatoes. Rained some in afternoon.

Jun 30 – At home all day. Very warm. Ethan I went over and got Lois she came over stayed all day. Hannah promised to go in company with Nell in Streator.[89]

Jul 1 – Mercury 94 in shade. Worked in garden put paris green on potatoes Clara Milham[90] came up in afternoon.

Jul 2 – Mercury 94 in shade. Put poison on potatoes. Charleys boys cultivated in East lot.

Jul 3 – At home. Not doing something. Very hot. Corn growing nicely.

Jul 4 – Mercury 90. Sprinkled potatoes. Verry hot mercury up in the ninetys.

Jul 5 – No work. Repairing my old violin the first it has Ever had of any amount.

Jul 6 – Hot. Not much work. Not well headache most of the time.

Jul 7 – Very quiet day but a few callers.

Jul 8 – Mercury 95 very hot. Charley Clark[91] came in Evening stayed all night. Hannah was sewing for Mrs Randall.

Jul 9 – Mercury 100 in shade. Charley here brot his wagon down just at night.

Jul 10 – Took Hannah down to Mr Randalls.

Jul 11 – At home. Not much work to day. Very hot and dry.

Jul 12 – Mercury 98. Not very well. Put water on leach[?]. Hoed some in garden.

Jul 13 – Went over to burg at noon after cherries bot one bushel 1.50, shugar 75 cts. Went over in Evening.

Jul 14 – Some rainy morning rainy day it fixed up Potatoes and corn first rate.

Jul 15 – Went up to Herbs got fifty cabbage plants. All hands picking berries. Claud[92] and I went up and picked three quarts red respberries. Paid 8 cts pr qt 24 cts.

Jul 16 – Nice morning took Hannah up to Culls in morning.

Jul 17 – Took Sarah over to Lois. I not ver well some. Not do much. Very warm.

Jul 18 – Rainy day some had a heavy rain. Claud here now days on a visit. Mrs Streator here in afternoon.

Jul 19 – Makesum some soap not much. Had a nice shower at noon. Sarah went over to Fannies in afternoon.

Jul 20 – Not much work. Not very well now days.

Jul 21 – At home. Will and Lizzie came over. Lois here all day. Mrs Streator came down stayed while Harry went to burg.

Jul 22 – Went over to burg got carpet from Chicago. Plowed potatoes in afternoon. Nice day. Hannah over to Commings.

Jul 23 – Fine day not very hot. Worked on roler frame. Helped wash. Hannah up to Ralphs in forenoon. Went down to Myron Flanders in Evening. Pearl[?] Barn to day.

Jul 24 – At work some in garden. Not very well. Russel cultivating Ethan.

Jul 25 – Not much work. Ethan making pattern for Mr Knapp. They are shingling the Methodist Church at the burg.

Jul 26 – Fine day had a nice shower this morning. X Took two bushels wheat to mill.

Jul 27 – Not very well. Choring round. Had a heavy rain and wind storm in Evening. Lois got home from Jaxon[93] to day.

Jul 28 – At home all day. Hannah went up to Gull with Galusha folks.

Jul 29 – Ethan sick. No work to day. Cloudy and cool. Hannah sewing over to Towns. Lelah here.

Jul 30 – Cloudy morning look some rainy. Ethan not some better ledle mite. Doc McBeth came over to see Ethan.

Jul 31 – Went over to burg in morning. Nancy and Bes came on the morning Train. Went over at night got Nancy she stayed all night. Doc came over.

Aug 1 – Took Nancy and Bes over to burg. They went home on the Eight 22 train. Al Read got Bull of C Ford. Killed him just west of the house. Doc came over.

Aug 2 – Put in buggy shaft for Mr Franklin 80 cts. Nice day. Ethan not much better.

Aug 3 – Went over to burg in morning got bolt for thills[94] 5¢.

Aug 4 – At home all day. Mrs Brown came down. Lelah went home with her at night.

Aug 5 – Went over to burg. Repaired Russels boys violin glued it up some. Ethan some better not much.

Aug 6 – Worked in shop some on violin. Worked in garden. Went over to post office at noon sent letter to Lou one to Jim. Bot pint wine for Ethan 40 cts.

Aug 7 – At home. Went over to burg. Worked round garden. Ethan some better. Aunt Hannah Wilmarth came here stayed all night.

Aug 8 – Had a nice shower. Worked in garden some. Aunt Hannah Wilmarth[95] came this morning. Lelah came back to night. Mr Fred Hawver Died.[96]

Aug 9 – Had a nice shower this morning. Took Aunt Hannah over to Mrs Byingtons this morning. Jim came home to night.

Aug 10 – Took Lelah over to burg. She went home. Went up to Theodores got some Pears and Apples. Mr Hawver Buried to day.

Aug 11 – At home all day. Jim here. No one here but the family to tea. I chased chickens all day.

Aug 12 – I not very well. Jim went to Shelbyville. Ethan some better.

Aug 13 – Will Clark came over this morning stayed all night.

Aug 14 – Nancy and Bes came up this morning. I went over got Bes. Hannah went to Kalamazoo on the Evening train. Theodore got Peter pig. Mrs Geo Wheeler Died.[97]

Aug 15 – Nice morning. Lots folks going to Pionere Picknic at Long Lake. Ina came over. Hannah went to the Pionere Picknic at Long Lake. Very nice day.

Aug 16 – Mrs Geo Wheeler Buried to day. I went with Jesse Earl. Very fine day. A good turnout. She was one of the oldest Pioneres of our Town and County. I think she came in 1833.

Aug 17 – Jim and Cora[98] went up to Scots.[99] Nice weather. Not much work but chores.

Aug 18 – At home all day. Will Clark was here awhile just at night. Mrs Streator called a while. Jim and Cory went up to the Lake. He drove Bill.[100]

Aug 19 – Jim and Cory went to Shelbyville Corys home. J. T. Allerton thrashed his wheat and oats. M. Milham done the job.

Aug 20 – Sarah and I went down to Katharines old home she no there. Jim came back from Shelby.

Aug 21 – Sent money to Hellen.[101] Jim and Will Clark started for Chicago on the Two twenty two run P.M. in the afternoon of that day. Hannah sewing at Mr Frank Crossfields.[102]

Aug 22 – At work on roller. Warm and dry. Not very well in some places.

Aug 23 – Working on rooler. Nancy came over stay all night. Bes came over from Wills.

Aug 24 – Hot and dry. Nancy and Hannah sewing making over dress for Nancy. Nancy and Bes went home on the 9 10[?] Train P.M.

Aug 25 – D Harris[103] came this morning on 3 oclock train. Hannah went to Vick ville. Ed Harmon sold my wheelbarrow wood to D. $5.00.

Aug 26 – Worked on roller. Very warm and dry.

Aug 27 – Mercury in the 90s. Finished one roller. Ethan worked on Charley Towns moddle some.

Aug 28 – Mercury 93. Nancy and Lelah came up. I went over at noon got Lelah. Bot roap for Fan 5 feet 22¢. Hannah up to Mary Fishers at Scotts.

Aug 29 – Mercury 93 hot and dry. Not much work to day.

Aug 30 – Mercury 101 2 pm. Worked on roller. Very hot.

Aug 31 – Mercury 95 2 Pm. Worked on roller. Very hot and dry. Sarah went over to Towns. Ethan repaired Mr Randals melodeon. Lelah here.

Sep 1 – Mercury 94 3 PM. At home no one here. Advent Camp meeting in full blast on the north side of the river opposite our place. Commenced work for H. Cruttenden 43 yrs to day.[104]

Sep 2 – Mercury 93. Worked on roller staves. Very hot. Ethan cut some cornfodder.

Sep 3 – Mercury 95. Not very well to day. Hot and dry. Lelah here.

Sep 4 – Mercury 92. Put one roller in frame. Took Sarah and Lelah over to Lois. Ethan bound up the cornfodder. Rained in the night.

Sep 5 – Rainy morning had a nice shower. Went over to burg at noon. Sent package to Hellen. Hannah at Lois sewing for Mrs G Beach.

Sep 6 – Hot and dry Mercury 70. Not doing much. Ethan working for Knapp.

Sep 7 – Hot day. At work round as usual. Not do much. Corn drying up. Cut cornfodder. Nancy and Lelah went home on 9 oclock accommodation bobtail.

Sep 8 – Mercury very much high. At home. The camp meeting closed to day. Ed Harmon called here in Evening.

Sep 9 – Took 2 Bushels wheat to mill. Bot one bushel corn 45 cts. Hannah at Galushas. Recd letter from G.T.[105]

Sep 10 – At home. Not do much work. Nice weather very hot. Patty[106] left home[107] on 4.30 PM train.

Sep 11 – All right. Went over to burg at noon. Patty came on 2.22 train all right.

Sep 12 – Mercury 91. Not very well. Not much work. Hot and dry.

Sep 13 – Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo. Hannah went to Shelby ville.

Sep 14 – Working around work in shop some and garden.

Sep 15 – At home. No one came in to day. Very quiet for Sunday meeting. Folks no call to see Hannah.

Sep 16 – Hot and dry. Charleys men cutting corn. I dug some potatoes picked up some apples.

Sep 17 – Some cooler Mercury 58 pleasant some cool wind. Ethan went to Augusta after Rose James.[108] She came on the Olin Excursion Train. Cool Evening.

Sep 18 – The Olin Reunion at the M. E. Church to day. Big croud. I took Patty over to Lois. Oscar and Mary came on noon train. Nice day. They stayed all night.

Sep 19 – Oscar took Mary up to her mothers[109] in afternoon. He came back stayed all night. Cool morning some frost the first of the season.

Sep 20 – Pleasant day. Oscar went up to Mrs Bateys. Olin union had a dance at the rink.

Sep 21 – At home. Working around shop and garden.

Sep 22 – At home. No one here. Hannah at Hanks. She came down from Shelby ville.

Sep 23 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Rose went with him she went Rices.

Sep 24 – Patty and I went down to Katharines and Julias. Warm day. Mart repairing clover Huller.

Sep 25 – At home as usual. Not mutch going on. Pleasant some some ledle rainy.

Sep 26 – Repaired Marts concave. Ethan working for Charley Town. Mr Brown Died.[110] He lived on East Main St. front of Grove St Galesburg.

Sep 27 – Fine day. Drew two loads wood from the woods. Patty here.

Sep 28 – Mercury 77. Chored round. Drew one load wood. Very warm. Ina came over in afternoon. Ethan worked for C. Town.

Sep 29 – At home all day. No one here Except Pattsy and Rose and Hannah. Mr James Millham Dide about 12 oclock to night.[111]

Sep 30 – Went over to burg in morning. Patty, Rose and Hannah all here.

Oct 1 – Nice day. Ethan took Rose to Augusta and back. I took Hannah over to Mrs Thad Claps.[112] Mrs Gaffiny came home with me.

Oct 2 – Took Patty Kalamazoo. Went to Jesse Turners.[113] Fine day. Patty stayed with Nancy. I went home.

Oct 3 – Went to Kalamazoo on the way to Shelby ville. Got left. Stayed to Hanks. Very ____ day. Hank and I went up to the burg to attend Mary Schroders wedding.[114]

Oct 4 – Went up to Shelby ville on the 7.30 train.

Oct 5 – At Lous. D & Jay[115] went up to Bradley to the Ball play. Shelby team Beat the Bradley team very much bad.

Oct 6 – At the Harris House. D and I and Floyd went and found Jumbo. Got him home.

Oct 7 – At the Harris House all right. Cool wind. Went over to Jays a while in afternoon.

Oct 8 – Left Shelby ville on the Eigh Oclock run in morning. Came to Nancys stayed until night. Came up on the 5 oclock run.

Oct 9 – Took Hannah over to R. G. Smiths. Theodore dug the potatoes in afternoon.

Oct 10 – Working around. Got 3 bags wheat over to Charley Towns. Took one bag over to mill.

Oct 11 – Hannah came home. I went over and got Nancy she stayed all night.

Oct 12 – Mercury 64. Took Nancy and Hannah over to burg this morning. Rainy warm.

Oct 13 – Mercury 40 nice pleasant morn. All at home. Cool East wind. Claud and Nancy came up here.

Oct 14 – Went over to the cemetry with Patty. Worked on roller some. Nice day very dry.

Oct 15 – Finished putting in the staves in roller. I am 76 yrs old to day.

Oct 16 – Put head on roller. Very nice weather. Took Patty over to Lois. Got one load wood down. Bot pants one Dollar.

Oct 17 – Put rooler together. Worked around the yard and Barn. Patty and I went around the squair. Very nice weather.

Oct 18 – Worked on road all day. Nice weather. Went over to burg after Nancy at night.

Oct 19 – Worked on road in forenoon. Cut some grass for Bill. Ethan working for Charley Town. Took Nancy over to burg in morning.

Oct 20 – At home. Patty here. All well and feeling better.

Oct 21 – Washing as usual. No one here but de famle.[116]

Oct 22 – Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo after Frank and Hat.[117] Lois drove the rig over in morning for them. They had Bill Olmsted and surrey.

Oct 23 – Took Patty over to Lois in morning. She stayed all day.

Oct 24 – Ethan, Frank, Hattie and Hannah went over to Lois.

Oct 25 – Patty, Frank and family started for home on the 3.00 PM train. Nancy came over stayed all night.

Oct 26 – Took Nancy over this morning. I went up to Theodores got pump put it in well at the house.

Oct 27 – Mercury 39 in morning. At home. No one here but what belongs here. Ed came down. Ho__ got some bark of the appletree.

Oct 28 – Very fine day. I made crosshead for Theodore. Hannah went down to Mrs Summers to make um dress for Cal. She had nothing to wear to church but her night gown. Mrs Cooley called to see Hannah.

Oct 29 – Got sweet corn into the barn. Husked some.

Oct 30 – Took Sarah over to Mr Ralphs and Blakes. Cool day. Carried Neal Commings dress over to her. Mr Edmons Auction to day.

Oct 31 – Took Ethan over to burg in morning he went to Kalamazoo. Lois came over in forenoon I took her home at night. Some ledle rain not much.

Nov 1 – Rainy day. No work out to day. Nancy Hart came up as usual stayed to Lois all night.

Nov 2 – Chored round all day. Ethan repaired Mr Towns clock and Mrs Randals sewing machine. Hanks folks went up to Will Browns stayed all night. Let Herb Earl have $1.00 for Hannah.

Nov 3 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went up to Will Browns. Hanks folks came here stayed all night.

Nov 4 – Hanks folks went home on the Eight 20 run. Hannah went up to John Blakes to sewing. Mrs R. G. Smith went with her. Sally and I washed.

Nov 5 – Went down to Katharines. Pleasant cold wind. Mart thrashing for D. C. Read on portage st Kalamazoo.

Nov 6 – Mercury 26. Picked up some brush in orchard and fixed up cellar windows. Ethan went over to burg in morning and Evening.

Nov 7 – Drew two loads wood. Rained. Went to Mill. Bot Shoes $2.00.

Nov 8 – Rainy day. Not much work to day. Ethan went over to burg in morning. Husked some corn. Bill out in lot now days. Nancy came over.

Nov 9 – Mercury 45 some rainy. Worked in corn house cleaning up getting ready to put in the corn. Took Nancy over to burg in Morning.

Nov 10 – Mercury 40. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Nice warm day for this season of the year. Will and Clara Caywood[118] called here.

Nov 11 – Mercury 44. The two Hannahs went to J. C. Blakes this morning. Nice day. Patched the roof to the corn house ___. Mr Daniels called here. Mrs Olmsted called here just at night.

Nov 12 – Mercury 56. Patching corn house roof. Rainy afternoon. Sarah went over to burg in afternoon to Em Ralphs and Barbers. Sam White Died to day.[119]

Nov 13 – Mercury 50. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to day to see West.[120] I went up to Herbs got Hannahs ticket. Not very cold. Put some shingles on corn House.

Nov 14 – Mercury 39. Ethan got home at noon. Some stormy cool wind. Charley drew one load corn put it in corn House. Some snow in the air. Sam White buried to day.

Nov 15 – At work in barn some. Went over to burg after Lou and children. Nancy came over in Evening stayed all night.

Nov 16 – Took Nancy over to burg this morning. Put some shingles on cornhouse.

Nov 17 – Ethan went over after Lois she came over had to go home. Luke Smiths folks came down.

Nov 18 – Rainy day. Washing day. Ethan cut some wood up in woods.

Nov 19 – Mercury 46. Drew two loads wood. Went over to burg in morning after Lois she stayed all day. Bot broom 80¢. Em Ralph brot the chickens.

Nov 20 – Mercury 45. Quite nice and warm for fall weather. Not very well. Ethan chopping. No work but chores. Some misty.

Nov 21 – Mercury 44. Took Lou over to Mrs Ralphs. Sarah went over to Fan Towns. Hiram[121] came on noon train. Hannah up to Gates sewing.

Nov 22 – Mercury 41. Hannah to Galushas. Cold rainy day verry rough day. Stell and Mary Milham came down in afternoon. Nancy came over at night. L Carson Died to night.[122]

Nov 23 – Mercury 41 pleasant day. E. took Nancy over to burg. Hi[123] not very well. Hiram left on 2.15 train. Ethan took Lou over to Em Ralphs in afternoon. Ed Harmon and _____ went cademy of theater at Kalamazoo.

Nov 24 – Mercury 47 pleasant but cold north wind. Ethan and Lou went over to Lois.

Nov 25 – Mercury 42. Lou went to Kalamazoo on 2.15 train. Charley Clark came on the morning train. Mr Alonzo Carson Buried to day. Clark stayed all night.

Nov 26 – Mercury 25. Charley went home on 7.20 train. Ethan worked for Dell putting in storm doors. I went up to E. P. Flanders got five Bushels apples. Snowed like blazes. Charley drew the cornfodder to day.

Nov 27 – Mercury 33 Snow ten inches deep this morning. Not do much to day. Some sleighs running to day.

Nov 28 – Mercury 27. At home all day. Not go down to Nancys to Thanksgivum. Ethan went over to burg sent letter to Aylmer.[124] Some sleighs running not much sleighing.

Nov 29 – Mercury 18 some cloudy sun shows through some. Hannah up to the Flanders farm. Bess here. Nancy came over stayed all night.

Nov 30 – Mercury __7. Ethan took Nancy over to burg in morning. He drawed wood on sleigh the first sleighing of the season. Nancy and Bes went home on Evening train. Hannah came home.

Dec 1 – Mercury 23 in morning. At home. Hannah went over to Flangers[Flanders] in Evening. Some sleighing. Took top of Jims violin.

Dec 2 – Mercury 44. Washing and doing chores. Hannah at Galushas to day goes to E. P. Flanders this Evening. C. A. Town[125] paid Ethan $10 Dollars cash. No sleighing snow going off.

Dec 3 – Mercury 33. Put some stifning in Jims violin top. Went up to Herbs and Jesses. Frank sawing. Theodore gone to Kalamazoo.

Dec 4 – Mercury 21. Went up to Herbs got 70 heads cabbage $1.00. Exchanged some corn with Jesse Earl.

Dec 5 – Mercury 36. Mr Mitchel came after Hannah. Shelled some corn fo to take to mill. Eva Moore called here to get her chart.

Dec 6 – Mercury. Took Sarah over to A. Hoags[126] in forenoon. Very pleasant day sun shone all day. Filed buck saw for Charley Town 25¢. Paid Tax $54 cents. Jefferson Davis Died to day.[127]

Dec 7 – Mercury. At work around house and barn. Took Nancy over to burg in morning. Nice day no snow.

Dec 8 – Mercury 60 very nice day. D Harris came this morning stayed all day. Hannah went to Scotts this Evening to Mrs J Richardsons.

Dec 9 – Mercury 55. Washed the big bed coverlets. Very fine day. Cull drew some cornfodder. Set hitching post south of the house.

Dec 10 – Mercury 44 rainy day some thunder and lightning in Evening. Went over to burg in afternoon. The Rink stood in front of the Rank and Post office on Pearl st.

Dec 11 – Mercury 42 very nice day. Went over to burg in morning. Took 2 bushels wheat to Mill. They turned the corner of Pearl and Battlecreek sts with the Rink.

Dec 12 – Mercury 40. Went down to Marts to Mill. Took some corn got meal for house use. Clara came home with me she stayed all night. Fine day.

Dec 13 – Mercury 42. Sarah and Clara went over to Lois. I went up to Herbs to see Jo Smith about chopping. Charley commenced sowing rye.

Dec 14 – Mercury 34. Lee sowing rye. I not very well. Ethan working on Edwins moddle. Clara took Sarah over to Fannys. Some sprinkle not much.

Dec 15 – Mercury 32. At home. George came up after Clara. Not very cold. E. E. Thresher, John Thresher and Mr Chesebrow came over to see moddle traction Engine went East in forenoon went to Climax.

Dec 16 – Mercury 44. Washing day. Not very well to day. Ethan finished Threshers moddle took it over in Evening. Some rainy day. Herbs girl Born this Morning 7 oclock.[128]

Dec 17 – Mercury 44 in morning rainy this morning. Chored round house and barn. 46 in Evening.

Dec 18 – Mercury 46 in morning. Took Ethan over to burg in morning he went to Kalamazoo. Jo Smith cut grubs to day. Nice day for winter.

Dec 19 – Mercury 35. Went over got Hannahs cloak in morning. Jo chopping. Elva Cross field here in Evening. Frank came down. Rained all night.

Dec 20 – Mercury 40 rainy morning. Jo no come to day.

Dec 21 – Mercury. Jo chopping. Nice day. He finished cutting grubs. I went over to burg in morning to see about the picture —– which Nancy selected one. Ethan went over in Evening.

Dec 22 – At home. No one here. Went over the river found the whip[?] on the hill north of the bridge in the mud. Ed Harmon here in Evening.

Dec 23 – Not much work to day. Ethan drawed wood. Took Hannah down to Caywoods in morning. Went over to burg got picture.

Dec 24 – Mercury 44 in morn very warm nice day. Ethan finished drawing the wood. I worked in shop some on violin put on finger board. Mercury 64 at night. Agness Smith Married.[129]

Dec 25 – Mercury. Went over to burg in morning. Lois came home with me. Bot sack Buck Wheat flour 33 lbs. Lelah came this Evening. Bot my 1890 Diary 25 cts.

Dec 26 – Went up to mill got load sawdust some lumber of Mr Crossfield 30 feet. Fixed the well at the House.

Dec 27 – Mercury 25. Took Hannah over to Commings. Worked on window for the well room made the sash. Got Lelahs package. Lois at Nancys. Got Ha_____ package from Perry.[130]

Dec 28 – Worked window some and platform strut up the well room.

Dec 29 – Put in the stops inside. Lelah here.

Dec 30 – Put outside stops on outside of window. Fixed inside of the room some. Mr C Durkee Killed on the railroad track just west of A. Cars place.[131]

Dec 31 – Not verry well to day. Expected to went to Kalamazoo to day but no go. Ina, Lelah and Bes here.

Memoranda.
Dimensions of my violin top
Length of Bas Bar ____ inches
2 in fron lower End
2 ¼ from upper End
General Thickness 1/8 in
under right hand side of B. Bar 1/8 and 1/16[?]
And diminish Each way to 1/8 in
Heith of B. Bar under Bridge 5/16

Henrys[132] Number
335 Miner Avenue
Stocten California
USA

——-

[1] Charles Luke Keith Jr., known better, and referred to, as Luke

[2] Mercury reading

[3] His son-in-law, Henry “Hank” Brown

[4] Hank’s mother, Matilda (Allen) Brown

[5] His grandson, William Clark

[6] Michigan death records confirm that Alice Williams, age 22, died in Pavilion, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan and an accompanying obituary states she died of Typhoid Fever

[7] Galesburg, Michigan

[8] His daughter and granddaughter, Lois (Keith) Clark and Ina Skinner

[9] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[10] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[11] His daughter, Louese (Keith) Harris, and her children, LaVerne and Floyd Harris

[12] James Milham was the half-brother of Martin Milham, who was the husband of Luke’s late niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham

[13] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[14] Neighbor, Frances Towne

[15] His son-in-law, Daniel D. Harris, known as D.

[16] Above zero

[17] Neighbor, and D. Harris’ uncle

[18] Either Hiram Crawford Jr. or Henry Clay Crawford; both of whom were brothers of his wife Sarah

[19] His son, Ethan Keith

[20] Kalamazoo, Michigan

[21] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[22] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph, wife of William Ralph, and D. Harris’ aunt

[23] Hank Brown’s cousin

[24] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” D. Streator

[25] Nickname for his wife Sarah

[26] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[27] Luke often uses silly words in his diaries; in this case, making music on the guitar and fiddle

[28] Records of Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan shows that John C. Perkins was interred there on January 17, 1889

[29] Lucius C. West, patent attorney in Kalamazoo

[30] Sarah Skinner, the sister of Adelbert Skinner, Luke’s son-in-law

[31] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[32] Neighbor, Cullen Albert Towne, Fanny Towne’s brother

[33] A plane having cutters designed to make the tongues and grooves on the edges of boards so they fit tightly together

[34] Willis Brown, Hank’s brother

[35] Neighbor, Charles Ford

[36] After her daughter, Lucy (Lee) Milham, died in 1884, Catherine took care of the children. The three youngest girls would be Nina (9), Gertrude (7) and Lavinia (6) Milham

[37] His cow

[38] Neighbor, Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

[39] Michigan marriage records show that Blanch Olin married Charles White in Galesburg, Michigan on February 21, 1889

[40] Sophia (Beckwith) Lay. FindAGrave.com shows that she died February 26, 1889 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[41] Stephen Comfort, his wife Sarah’s uncle (see March 3^rd entry)

[42] Theodore & Alice (Vandercook) Earl and Alice’s ten-year-old son from a previous marriage, Claude Seeley

[43] Herbert & Luella (Farr) Earl and their two-year-old son, Royal

[44] Frank & Elva (Earl) Crossfield and their five-year-old daughter, Ethel. Theodore, Herbert & Elva were the children of Jesse & Mary “Polly” (Clapp) Earl

[45] Leroy, New York

[46] Michigan marriage records show that Addie Russell married Harry Burroughs in Galesburg, Michigan on March 6, 1889

[47] Believe he is referring to his grandson, Claude Brown. At the time Claude was 14 years old and later became a professional commercial artist

[48] Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders. FindAGrave.com confirms that she died March 11, 1889; she is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[49] His daughter and her husband, Lois & Adelbert “Del” Skinner

[50] Neighbor, Albert Towne

[51] FindAGrave.com shows that Anna Maria (Elsworth) Freer died March 17, 1889 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[52] Claude, Lela and Bess Brown

[53] His son, James Clinton Keith

[54] Neighbors, Charles & Mary Ann “Mate” (Thompson) Ford

[55] According to FindAGrave.com, Hannah Streator (Matthews) Tuttle died March 20, 1889 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galeburg, Michigan

[56] Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown

[57] Ray and Perry Brown

[58] Prudence (Lamb) Dibble; according to FindAGrave.com she died March 22, 1889 and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[59] Shelbyville, Michigan, where his daughter Lou’s family lived

[60] His late mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts

[61] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith

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

[63] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner

[64] Neighbor, Charles Towne

[65] Mary Ann (Batey) Keith, the wife of his nephew Oscar Keith

[66] One of his farm animals

[67] Michigan death records confirm that Ann Eliza (Shafter) Decker died April 12, 1889 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Shafter Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[68] The Keith Family Bible shows that “Wesley Keith” was Luke’s adopted brother. FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Goddard, Kansas

[69] Neighbor, John T. Allerton

[70] His cousin

[71] FindAGrave.com shows that Mary (Allerton) Plank died April 30, 1888, not 1889, and that she is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Anoka, Minnesota

[72] His son, Henry Lindsey Keith

[73] Catherine’s granddaughter, Clara Milham

[74] Mary (Stedman) Clapp, the wife of Edwin M. Clapp. FindAGrave.com shows she died May 16, 1889 in Detroit, Michigan and that she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[75] See obituary at https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/obituary-of-catherine-keith-bradley-lee

[76] Martin Milham, Catherine’s son-in-law

[77] Henry Labbitt, the undertaker

[78] The daughters of James & Ellen (Adams) Milham; James and Martin were half-brothers

[79] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[80] Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford and her daughter, Blanche Crawford, who were the wife and daughter of Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[81] Bobtail train run

[82] Jessie Crawford, Katherine & Hiram Crawford’s daughter

[83] George Tomlinson, the husband of his niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[84] His granddaughter, Bess Brown

[85] Cyrus Streator and Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator. It is believed that Cyrus was the brother of Laura’s late husband, Marius Streator; research continues

[86] Andrew B. & Frances Spinney

[87] His granddaughter, Lela Brown

[88] A poisonous emerald-green powder used as a pigment, insecticide, and wood preservative

[89] Believe this should be “Nell and Streator,” which would be Nellie (Underwood) Stanford and her cousin, Henry “Harry” D. Streator

[90] His grandniece, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham (see also footnote to May 18^th entry)

[91] His grandson, Charles Clark

[92] His grandson, Claude Brown

[93] Jackson, Michigan

[94] The long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[95] According to the 1880 census, Hannah was the sister of Luke’s neighbor, Joseph Flanders. Luke often referred to the parents of a family member, or of a neighbor, as Aunt or Uncle

[96] FindAGrave.com shows that Frederick Hawver died August 8, 1899 and is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

[97] FindAGrave.com shows that Ethelinda (Tubbs) Wheeler died August 14, 1889 in Comstock, Michigan, and is buried in Ford Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[98] Jim’s girlfriend, Cora Meredith

[99] Scotts, Michigan

[100] His horse

[101] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York, the daughter of his late sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[102] (See footnote to March 4^th entry)

[103] His son-in-law, Daniel Harris

[104] His first wife was Jerusha Crittenden (also spelled Cruttenden). She had a brother by the name of Henry Crittenden, so perhaps that is who Luke is referring to

[105] George Tomlinson (see footnote to June 11^th entry)

[106] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[107] Patty was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Marion & George Tomlinson

[108] Roselia James. Rose lived in Charlestown, Ohio, and the future wife of Luke’s cousin, Edward Wolcott

[109] Eliza “Betsy” (Olds) Batey

[110] Thomas Brown. Michigan death records confirm that he died September 26, 1889 in Comstock, Michigan

[111] While the Michigan death records show his date of death as October 1, 1889, FindAGrave.com has his date of death as September 29, 1889 which agrees with Luke’s entry

[112] Mary (Sherwood) Clapp

[113] His maternal first cousin

[114] Michigan marriage records show that Mary Schroder married Lester Carson in Galesburg, Michigan on October 3, 1889

[115] D Harris’s brother, Jay Harris

[116] “The family”

[117] His grandnephew and his wife, John “Frank” and Harriet (Root) Tomlinson

[118] Neighbors, William & Clara (Evans) Caywood

[119] Michigan death records confirms that Charles White died November 12, 1889 in Charleston, Michigan

[120] Lucius C. West, patent attorney in Kalamazoo

[121] His brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[122] Michigan death records show that Alonzo Carson, age 32, died of Typhoid in Ross, Michigan on November 24, 1889 (not the 22^nd as Luke wrote) and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[123] Hiram Crawford’s nickname

[124] Luke had a cousin by the name of Aylmer Lot Keith; perhaps this is to whom he is referring

[125] Cullen Albert Towne, Charley Towne’s brother

[126] Abel Hoag; Abel’s wife, Sarah “Jane” (Mason) Hoag, and Luke’s wife Sarah were good friends

[127] Jefferson Finis Davis served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865

[128] Michigan birth records show that Mary Earl was born in Comstock, Michigan on December 16, 1889 to Herbert & Luella (Farr) Earl

[129] Michigan marriage records show that Agnes Smith married Edward Wilber in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan

[130] Perry, New York

[131] Michigan death records show that Zerah C. Durkee, age 49, was killed by a train engine in Comstock, Michigan on December 30, 1889 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[132] His son, Henry L. Keith

Advertisement

1886 Diary of Charles Luke Keith Jr.

1886 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH, JR.[1]

Luke wrote his entries for 1886 in three different diaries: it appears that he first wrote the January 1-30 entries in the back of his 1885 diary, then January 31 to March 31 in the back of his 1881 diary. On March 4^th he bought an 1886 diary and started to copy all those entries, but only copied January 1-9, left the following pages blank and then started entering daily on April 1 through the end of the year. As the January 1-9 entries in his 1886 diary are shortened versions, I have used the 1885 version.

Jan 1 – Mercury 36. Very nice day no snow. Went over to Lois[2] to a New Years dinner me self and Sarah,[3] Hannah,[4] Lou,[5] Mrs Brown,[6] Jim,[7] Ethan,[8] Will Clark.[9]

Jan 2 – Mercury 41. Filed saw for Jim. Cut and drew two loads wood and one load corn. Rainy day.

Jan 3 – Mercury 43 no snow, rainy morning. At home all day.

Jan 4 – Mercury 38. No work but chores. Ethan went over to Foundry to work.

Jan 5 – Mercury 30 snowey. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. D.[10] came home with him.

Jan 6 – Mercury 11 Abz.[11] Lou and D. went home. Mr Lanfor Burdick Died Six Oclock this morning.[12] Went down to Mr Randals got Butter. Cold wind. Fanny Town[13] called in.

Jan 7 – Mercury __4. Took Hannah over to the burg[14] in morning. Choring around. Took saw up to Theodores[15] to be gumed[?]. Filed saw for Skinner[16] 25 cts.

Jan 8 – Mercury 16. Not much done. Very windy day. Mr Burdick buried to day.

Jan 9 – Mercury 18. Snowey and Blustring day. Drew two loads wood one corn. Theodore came down here.

Jan 10 – Mercury 14 in morning. At home. Cold snowey day about 4 inches snow. Husked some corn. Mercury 4 four below in Evening.

Jan 11 – Mercury 3 below in morning cold and blustring. Jim and Will Clark posting bills for H. A. Brown.[17]

Jan 12 – Mercury 6 Abz. At home doing chores.

Jan 13 – Choring, no work to amount to much. Cutting some wood. Went down to Randalls.

Jan 14 – Mercury 10 Abz. Cut and drawed three loads wood.

Jan 15 – Rainy. Drawed two loads corn.

Jan 16 – Mercury. Went over to burg in morning got glass for schoolhouse. Went and set them. 4 lights 40 cts. Got 3½ lbs Butter of Fanny Town.

Jan 17 – At home all day. No one here till just at night George and Evva Blake[18] called here.

Jan 18 – Mercury 32. Went up to mill. Ground my ax. Herb Earl and wife[19] stayed in their new House for the first time.

Jan 19 – Mercury 14 Abz. Husked some corn cut some wood. Went over to burg got some nails.

Jan 20 – 9 Abz. Went down to Katharines[20] and M. O. Streators.[21] Very stormy day snow all day.

Jan 21 – Made door to Egg cupboard.

Jan 22 – Mercury 1 below. Stormy. Painted cupboard.

Jan 23 – Mercury 15 below. Took Sarah down to Marts.[22] She went to Kalamazoo to see Ed Allen.[23] Very cold. Plenty snow but not very good sleighing.

Jan 24 – At home all day.

Jan 25 – Mercury 29. Went to Kalamazoo after Sarah. Stoped to Marts saw the mill run. Charley and Clara[24] stayed here.

Jan 26 – Mercury 26 Abz. Jim drawed 3 loads wood one corn. Hank, Lelah and Bes[25] came over they came to Lois.

Jan 27 – 30 Abz. Went over to burg. Took Clara up to Hats.[26] Charley went home. I shelled some corn. Filed saw for N L Randall.[27] Hank to work in galery at the Burg.

Jan 28 – Mercury 22 Abz. Went down to Marts to mill. Got six bushels corn and oats ground. Louese came home.

Jan 29 – Mercury 23 Abz. Took Lou over to burg to get pictures taken. Lou, Clara, Lelah and Bessey here stayed all night.

Jan 30 – At home all day. Lou here she went over and got negatives of the children. D came at night. Cold day.

Jan 31 – Lou went over to burg. Got pictures of the children. D came at night. Cold day.

Feb 1 – Cold good sleighing. No work but chores. Mr Albert Carletons House burned to day.

Feb 2 – Cold day. Took Hannah over to Mrs Sumners. D went up to Scotts.[28] Cold.

Feb 3 – Mercury 32 below zero in morning. Hank went to Kalamazoo. Theodore & Dick Barber[29] came down here. D. & Lou, Ethan and Hannah went down to Mrs Browns.

Feb 4 – Mercury 17 below. D. & Lou went home. Clear and cold. No work but chores.

Feb 5 – Cold day at home. Choring. Old Mr Bennet[30] killd at the burg by the cars.[31]

Feb 6 – At home, cold, bad getting around. Hank left for Galesburg Ill. on Evening Express.

Feb 7 – Mercury. At home. Will Aldrich here. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Mrs Joh Schrader called here.

Feb 8 – Mercury 40 Abz. Went over to Mr Towns[32] got 2¾ lbs butter paid $1.20 cts. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah.

Feb 9 – Mercury 54. Drawed two loads corn. Jim drawed one Load wood. Hank and Nancy[33] came on noon Train.

Feb 10 – Mercury 44. Took sarah over to Mrs Watts[34] Funeral. Husked in fore noon. Went over in Evening got Nancys trunks.

Feb 11 – Mercury 45. Took Nancy down to Mrs Browns in morning. Took Sarah up to Mr Rogers in afternoon. I drew two loads corn in afternoon. Sprinkled some just at night.

Feb 12 – Mercury 35. Husked corn some. Worked round house and shop.

Feb 13 – Mercury 33. Choring, not much work. Hannah came home from Austin Peases place. Hank came home in Evening.

Feb 14 – Mercury 35. Hank, Nancy an children[35] here. Hank and Nancy went down to Mrs Browns.

Feb 15 – Mercury 27. Hank and Nancy went to Kalamazoo. Snows some. Edna Allen came to day.

Feb 16 – Mercury 5 Abz. At home. Took Nancy over to burg she went to Kalamazoo. Georde [sic] Tomlinson[36] came on noon train. Went down to Katharines.

Feb 17 – Mercury 23 Abz. Went over to Burg. George left for home on noon train.

Feb 18 – Mercury 38. At home. Worke in barn fixed stall for fan.[37] Ed and Madge[38] here.

Feb 19 – Mercury 23. Cut and drawed some wood. Cold wind.

Feb 20 – Mercury 12 Abz. Cut some wood. Hannah came home from Caywoods.

Feb 21 – At home. Ed and Mage here. Lelah and Bes here.

Feb 22 – Mercury 23. Took Hannah and girls over to cars. Lelah and Bes went home. Hannah went to Lous. I cut some wood.

Feb 23 – Mercury 21. O. M. Allen[39] came up to see Ed. Fan had a calf to day it droped 12 noon.

Feb 24 – Drawed load wood. Made pen for calf.

Feb 25 – Mercury 15 Abz. Cleaned up some wheat. Cold and snowey, high wind, very blustring.

Feb 26 – At work round Barn. Sawed some wood. Went over to burg went to mill.

Feb 27 – Drawed some wood. Not much snow. Very rough roads.

Feb 28 – At home. No one here Except the Allen family. O. M. came up in afternoon.

Mar 1 – Choring round as usual. Went over to Burg at noon. Got some medicin for Edna. Got Harness oil of Semour Miner.

Mar 2 – At home. Jim had Bill[40] to draw straw.

Mar 3 – Mercury 26. Cut some wood drawed some wood.

Mar 4 – Went to Kalamazoo. Went to Hanks. Bot Diary 75 cts.

Mar 5 – Mercury. Mended Kettle. Chored round. Very pleasant day.

Mar 6 – Cut and Drew two loads wood. Very nice day.

Mar 7 – Nice day. O. M. came up. Doc McBeth came over to see Edna. I went over in Evening after McBeth.

Mar 8 – Snows like fun. Doc came over in morning. Ethan sick.

Mar 9 – Mercury 32. A. R. Skinner cut wood part of the day. Fine day snowed some not very cold.

Mar 10 – Mercury 38. Went over after Lois in morning. Put clasp on Mrs Bradshaws album. Cow sick.

Mar 11 – Went over to burg bot medicine for cow. Drawed some wood and some corn. Cow sick.

Mar 12 – Mercury 38. Ben Smith Died shelby ville.[41] Snowed like Blazez. Went over after Del he came over to see cow. Charley Corey taking down the old Brick on corner.

Mar 13 – 30 Abz. Not very well. Went over to Burg got oil. Cow some better not much.

Mar 14 – At home all day. Mrs Hubberd Lewis marred to day.[42] Mr Benj Smith of Shelby Ville Buried to day.

Mar 15 – Went up to Mr Ridlers to by some wood. He Brot one cord wood $1.75.

Mar 16 – Cow sick. Went over to burg after Hanks things at Galery. Put handle in Spade.

Mar 17 – Went up to Jesse Earls[43] got vice of Theodore. Went to burg got some medicine for cow of Munger $1.00.

Mar 18 – Went down to Mrs Brown & got some potatoes. Glued Mrs Rogers chair. Mrs Bradshaw got her Album 25 cts.

Mar 19 – Mercury 70. Cut some wood. Filed saw for A. Kaywood. Put up iron vice. Clara Milham[44] here.

Mar 20 – At home. Cut some wood.

Mar 21 – At home. Filed saw for Dell Skinner.

Mar 22 – Went down to Mrs Browns got some potatoes. Snowed some cold March wind. Hannah came home from Shelby Ville.[45]

Mar 23 – Went over to burg after Cora Meridith.[46] She came stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Worked on Hat & Libs[47] cupboard. Cora went up to Jim Milhams.[48] Ethan took Hannah down to Smith Carletons.[49] Very nice day.

Mar 25 – Worked on cupboard. Fine day. Ina[50] came over stayed all night.

Mar 26 – Went over to burd [burg] in morning after Lumber to finish cupboard.

Mar 27 – Mercury 32. Worked on cupboard. Very nice day. Charley Town[51] finished fence on north side road. Hannah came home from Carletons.

Mar 28 – Went to Katharines. Cold East wind.

Mar 29 – Changed corn with W^m Rogers. They moved three Loads goods.

Mar 30 – Rainy day. Finished the cupboard. Mended spade for Jim. Jim bot Horse of Taylor Girls.[52]

Mar 31 – Mercury 41. Rainy fore noon. Davis Stafford and Mr Brown came down to see the Binder. I took the girls cupboard up to them. Mr W^m Rogers took the last load goods to day.

Apr 1 – Mercury 34 stormy snowey bad day. Shelled some corn. Doc McBeth[53] here morning and Evening.

Apr 2 – Mercury 24 some snow ground well covered. Filed saw for Jim. Went over to burg after Doc McBeth at noon Ed Allen Blowed out this evening.[54]

Apr 3 – Mercury 20 very pleasant morning. Cut and drew some wood one load corn. Lois came over.

Apr 4 – At home. Ethan took Hannah up to Scotts to Jon Powers.

Apr 5 – Nice pleasant day. Went to town meeting. Ed some better. Doc comes twice a day.

Apr 6 – Mercury 32 the wors Bluster of the season, snowed and blowed a perfect gale all day.

Apr 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot some maple shugar 48 cts.

Apr 8 – Mercury 25. Ethan and Lois went to Kalamazoo. Nancy gone up to Lous. Very nice day. I cut some wood. Bot can Honey of Mr Rainy[?].

Apr 9 – Drew two loads straw two loads corn one wood. Very pleasant day.

Apr 10 – Worked in woods and in shop. Ed not much better.

Apr 11 – Nice day. I husked corn all day. O. M. Allen came up. Rainy day.

Apr 12 – Nice warm day. Laid up fence on hill south of orchard. Went over to Lois just at night.

Apr 13 – Went to Kalamazoo. Lois went to see Nancy. Bot Hat $1.50. Paid for the Telegraph[55] one year $1.50. Nicholas Chilson Died to day Ae 80y.[56]

Apr 14 – Mercury 85 Abz very nice day. Drawed stone in forenoon. Took down some fence up by the woods in afternoon. Hannah came home from Scots.

Apr 15 – Moved some fence. Nice day. Drew some corn.

Apr 16 – Took down fence. Drew one load old rails.

Apr 17 – Husked corn in forenoon. Hot day had a thunder shower just at night. Hannah came from Em Ralphs.[57]

Apr 18 – At home. Ed some better. Bessie here. O. M. no come up to day. Theodore and Hannah went to W^m Rogerses.

Apr 19 – Very warm day. Went over to burg got groceries. Ed Rouland paid two Dollars for Repairing violin.

Apr 20 – Mercury 80 Abz. Drew 3 loads corn one load old rails. Jim commenced plowing on the hill for oats. Nice warm day.

Apr 21 – Mercury 84. Took Lois trunk to the Depo. She went to shelbyville. Husked some corn. Jim plowing. Bot 1½ bushel clover seed $10.50.

Apr 22 – Mercury 84. Husked some corn. Very nice day.

Apr 23 – Mercury 87. Ethan went to Kalamazoo after Nancy. The children came.

Apr 24 – Mercury 84. Jim finished plowing the oat ground drew in the corn all in. I dug out some stumps.

Apr 25 – At home. Nancy and children came up stayed all night. Very pleasant day. O. M. came up in afternoon.

Apr 26 – Nancy went home on 11 oclock run. Jim ploting oat ground. W^m Blake called in to see Jim. Rainy afternoon.

Apr 27 – Went up to M. O. Streators bot six bushels wheat 85 cts pr bushel. Took it over to mill in afternoon.

Apr 28 – Drew some stumps of south lot one load stone. Jim commenced Drilling oats.

Apr 29 – Jim finished drilling oats he plowed the garden.

Apr 30 – Went over to Burg in morning. Draged the garden and potatoe ground.

May 1 – Not mutch work to day. Rainy some. Went over to burg in afternoon.

May 2 – Nice day. Jim, Mrs Brown and Hannah went down to Nancys.

May 3 – Took Edna Allens trunk over to the Depo at noon. Got a draft cashed for her $50.22 cts. She went on the 9.20 train Evening.

May 4 – Went up to Mr Flanders[58] got ½ bushel potatoes 25 cts. Rained quite hard. Sarah went down to Mr Randals a dance to Mike Maloneys new barn.

May 5 – Went up to mill. Turned rooler for Mr Beals of Climax. Went over to Burg got Sarahs Dress and ticking.

May 6 – Husked corn in afternoon. Nice day.

May 7 – Finished husking corn. Mrs Brown and Bessie came up here. Bes stayed all night. Show at the burg I went saw murmaid.

May 8 – At home. Mended wire fence on East road spliced one wire. Rainy night. Hannah over to Nells.

May 9 – Went down to Katharines. Rained some not vey cold.

May 10 – At home. Worked round house and garden.

May 11 – Went over to burg in afternoon to the Band Torniment. Received postal from George.[59]

May 12 – Worked round choring. Went over to burg. Shelled corn in afternoon. Nancy and Mrs Wagner came up in afternoon.

May 13 – Mercury 81 warm day. Sarah went over to Hoags.[60] Ina went to Shelby Ville. I went to Milhams to mill.

May 14 – Mercury. Worked in garden some. Went over to burg. Bes here.

May 15 – Went over to Forbush in afternoon. Rainy.

May 16 – At home all day. Nice day.

May 17 – Went over got the Buggy thill[61] iron mended 85 cts. Lois came home from Shelby.

May 18 – Took Sarah over to Lois. I cut and drew one load wood plowed out corn in the garden went after Sara.

May 19 – Pleasant morning. At home working round house and garden. Jim plowed the corn ground.

May 20 – Went down to Mrs Browns got drag. Draged corn ground and floated it. Very warm day. Lois came over.

May 21 – Very warm day. Marked my corn ground. Went down to M. O. Streators got seed corn.

May 22 – Hot as blazes. Planted corn. Mr & Mrs Streato[62] and Mrs Brown here in Evening. Expected Forbush & Blakes folks here dey no came.

May 23 – Mercury 90 in shade. At home all day. No one here. Ethan took Lois and Ina home in morning.

May 24 – Planted potatoes covered them with straw. Nice day.

May 25 – Planted potatoes. Cool day north wind. Set hen to night in Bills west feed box.

May 26 – Not mutch done. Went over to burg. Nancy and girls came up this morning.

May 27 – Went over to burg in morning. Jesse Earls gray Horse died this morning. Ob Evens and Maty Carson married this Evening.[63]

May 28 – Went over to burg in morn sold 1400 & 60 lbs Hay to Met Thomas 50 cts pr 100. Took some things up to Wm Ralphs to go to Lous. Mr Williams of Berry died.

May 29 – Went over to burg twice. Worked in garden some cultivated corn and potatoes.

May 30 – Went up to Mr Levi woods. Syrus and Moridz Streator went had a good time. Nice day. Very dry.

May 31 – Worked in garden planted beans hoed corn plastered corn.

Jun 1 – Sarah went over to Mr Austins to a crazy quilt party.

Jun 2 – Went to Kalamazoo to get Sarahs teeth Extracted. Bot coat. Nice day very dry.

Jun 3 – Plastered corn. Hot day no rain.

Jun 4 – Painted Jims Buggy. Mr Wood and wife of Shelby here stayed all night. Charles Anderson came he went over to Mr Fords stayed all night.

Jun 5 – Charles came over in morning left on noon train for Battle Creek. Mr Woods folks left for home.

Jun 6 – At home. Very dry. Jesse Earl came down here. Walter Thresher and his uncle came over to see the binder.

Jun 7 – Very warm and dry. Made corn drag. Painted Jims Buggy boddy one coat.

Jun 8 – Mercury 84. Cultivated corn. Very hot and dry. Hannah went up to Mr Deweys at Scotts.

Jun 9 – Worked on buggy. Put last coat on boddy. Very hot and dry.

Jun 10 – Put leathers on thills. Cleaned the dash. Finished the buggy. Went down to Mrs Browns got my buggy.

Jun 11 – Mercury 90 in shade very hot. Cultivated corn. Went over to burg twice.

Jun 12 – Mercury 99 in shade. Cultivated corn in fore noon. Took Sarah down to Mrs Browns.

Jun 13 – Mercury 84. Sprinkle some in forenoon.

Jun 14 – Mercury 104 in shade. Got one tire set on carriage 35. Got Bridle mended 20¢. Charley cut Mrs Wrights grass. Cameron & George Barber[64] here.

Jun 15 – Mercury 90 very hot. Jim commenced cutting the grass in East lot. Had a nice shower just at night.

Jun 16 – Mercury 84. Ethan went to burg to pay Thresher for Enterprise.[65] Jim got cabbage plant.

Jun 17 – Mercury 83 pleasant nice day. Chored round in forenoon. Went down to Katharines in afternoon to see Mart. He is sick had his wens[66] cut out.

Jun 18 – Worked in garden and hay field. Went up to Herbs got cabbage plants.

Jun 19 – Jim finished cutting hay. Tip and Quin called in Evening to see Binder.

Jun 20 – At home. Nancy and Lelah & Bes here. Lois came over.

Jun 21 – Mercury 96. Worked in hay field all day finished. Ethan went to Kalamazoo took Nancy home. Took ook[?] his Knotter down to West.

Jun 22 – Mercury 84. Drew in some hay finished up. Had a nice rain.

Jun 23 – Worked in garden some. Mr Town and Fanny went to Kalamazoo. Hannah went up to Hat & Libs to sew. I cultivated corn some.

Jun 24 – Took Sarah over to Lois had a big rain. Mary Flanders[67] an her cousin Mrs Jackson came in stayed through the shower.

Jun 25 – Hoed in garden some. Plowed corn in afternoon.

Jun 26 – Took Sarah to Kalamazoo she went to Shelbyville. Claud[68] came home with me.

Jun 27 – At home. Lois and Ina came over. I finished plowing corn plowed out the potatoes up by the woods.

Jun 28 – I finished plowing corn plowed out the potatoes up by the woods.

Jun 29 – Hannah to Hats sewing. Hoed in garden some. Set out cabbage plants 77.

Jun 30 – Mercury 80. Hoed cabbage, chore round. Hannah went to Streators. Mr Erastus Stuart Died this afternoon.[69]

Jul 1 – Mercury 8 [sic]. Mr Streator came and got sewing machine.

Jul 2 – Hoed corn some cultivated potatoes up by the woods. Sarah came home from shelbyville. Maria Flanders buried to day.[70] Erastus Stuart buried to day.

Jul 3 – Went over to burg to celebration. Took dinner to Lois. Went over in Evening to the dance in Corey Block and at the rink.

Jul 4 – At home all day. Clara and Lee came up. Hanah went down to M. O. Streators. H. N. Tubbs buried to day.[71]

Jul 5 – Hot morning. Working in garden and choring round.

Jul 6 – Went over to burg. Hoed some. Went to M. O. Streators in morning and afternoon. Mr Streator sick.

Jul 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Sold Eggs 9 Doz. Took zinc back.

Jul 8 – Went to Kalamazoo after Hannah. Mr M. O. Streator Died 15 minutes past twelve noon.[72]

Jul 9 – Mercury 104. Hoed in garden some, chored around, set up wheat.

Jul 10 – Mercury 94. Plowed corn in forenoon and some afternoon. Very hot. Mr Burdick and Mr Wilson called here to show some violins.

Jul 11 – Mercury 90 very hot and dry. Mr M. O. Streator Buried to day.

Jul 12 – Mercury 84. Hoed in garden and chored round. Jim Drew in wheat. Fine day not so hot.

Jul 13 – Jim raked the wheat and

Jul 14 – Jim raked the wheat scatterings and drew them in. The Whiting family at the burg to day. I went over in Evening. Oliver Young died.

Jul 15 – Ethan, Hannah, Jim and Claud went to Kalamazoo to see Barnums show. Nice day Mercury 84.

Jul 16 – Plowed corn. Fine day. Went over to Burg in morning. Cyrus and Quincy Streator[73] called here.

Jul 17 – Hoed corn some in forenoon. Went over to burg at noon. Syrus & Quin called here jus at night. Some cooler.

Jul 18 – Mercury 74 some cooler. Katharine and Lee came up here.

Jul 19 – Lelah and Bess came on noon train. I went over and got them. Lois came over with me.

Jul 20 – Mr. Harry and Ed Rowland called here. Lelah and Bes here. Very smoky.

Jul 21 – Mercury 91. I went up to Levi woods with Cyrus Streator. Mrs M. O. Streator and Quin and Cyrus here to tea. Very dry.

Jul 22 – Mercury 94. Hoed corn and done the chores. Went up to Cullin Towns[74] afternoon.

Jul 23 – Mercury 93 very hot, dry and smoky. Hoed garden.

Jul 24 – Mercury 94. Hoed some corn and cabbage. Very hot day. Nancy came up.

Jul 25 – Mercury 104 in shade. At home all day. Ethan, Hannah and Hanks folk, Lizzie and Will[75] came to Mrs Browns.

Jul 26 – Mercury 69 rainy morning, rainy day. Nancy and girls went home.

Jul 27 – Took Sarah over to Lois. I worked in shop on axhelves.

Jul 28 – Made helve for G. A. Lockhart. Ethan took crank pattern over to Foundry. Rained some this morning.

Jul 29 – Mr Randal cut the oats. Mrs Ed Hoges Buried to day.[76] I worked in shop to day.

Jul 30 – Jim drawed oats. Fine hot day rained just at night.

Jul 31 – Mercury 94. Mr Johnson thrashed the wheat and oats 129 oats 46 wheat. Rained one ledl mite just at night. Very hot.

Aug 1 – Mercury 104. Hannah came home from Howlands Burg. I went down to Katharines. All well.

Aug 2 – Worked in garden some. Chored round most of the day.

Aug 3 – Went over to burg. Worked round house and garden.

Aug 4 – Cut weeds and grubs along the fence up the hill. Hot day. Allerton[77] thrashed. Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo.

Aug 5 – Went down to Mrs Browns. Helped Jim clean up wheat. Rainy forenoon. Cut weed on hill.

Aug 6 – Went up to Mr Flanders in afternoon. Sarah went. Ed took pig down to Rial French.

Aug 7 – Took Fan up to Mr Flanders to get Jersey calf.[78] Went down to Katharines in afternoon after Hannah. Sarah went down to see Minnie Randal.

Aug 8 – Nice day. Jim and Hannah went to Kalamazoo to see Lou.

Aug 9 – At home choring. Not much work to day.

Aug 10 – Took Hannah down to Mate Fords.[79]

Aug 11 – Mercury 96. Mr Joseph Whitford buried.[80] Henry Crawford[81] came here this morning. He went home on the Eleven Oclock train.

Aug 12 – Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo after Lou. Robert Crawford[82] came to day. George Turner Buried to day.[83]

Aug 13 – Robert here. Went over to Burg after Lous trunk. Robert and I went around the squair. Rained in Evening.

Aug 14 – Cloudy some mist. At home. Robert here. Very warm.

Aug 15 – At home. Hot day. Robert and Sarah went over to cemetry.[84] Mary Ellen Allerton[85] and Carrie Plank[86] called here in Evening.

Aug 16 – Took Robert over to the train. Rainy morning. Robert left for Canada.

Aug 17 – Sarah and Lou went down to Mrs Browns. I helped Jim repair the grainry.

Aug 18 – Cut and drawed some wood. Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo to see the Sham Battle. Cord Beach got hurt.

Aug 19 – Took Sarah and Lou up to Em Ralphs. I Repaired chair for Em.

Aug 20 – At home. Went down to Mr Browns in morning.

Aug 21 – Harry Crawford[87] came on 7 Oclock train. Carrie Plank and Mary Allerton here in afternoon. Lois came over. D came. Went over to burg in Evening. Ha[d] a heavy shower rained in night.

Aug 22 – Cloudy looks like rain. Harry Crawford here. All well.

Aug 23 – Not much work to day. Jim commenced plowing East lot. George Hubbards baby died this morning.[88] Carry Plank here.

Aug 24 – Hannah and Carey went down to Mr Allertons. Lou and children went over to Lois. Oat Hills mother Died to day.[89]

Aug 25 – Took Lou over to Mr Ralph. Robert came back from Canada. Glen Keith[90] came on noon train. Mrs Hill buried.

Aug 26 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Harry went with him. Robert went up to Nelt Blass.

Aug 27 – Mercury 102. Took Robert over to burg he went to Chicago. Carrie Plank came here stayed all night.

Aug 28 – Mercury 99. Carrie went up to Gull Lake to attend the Grange Picknic. Jim plowing. Lou here.

Aug 29 – Had a heavy shower. Went down to Katharines.

Aug 30 – Let Jim have six bags full of corn. Mr Hampton here to dinner tin pedler. Hannah took Carrie Plank to Kalamazoo.

Aug 31 – Lou and children here. Jim plowing. Very warm.

Sep 1 – Jim plowing. Nice day. Lou here. I not very well. I commenced my last years work for H Cruttenden[91] 40 years ago to day.

Sep 2 – Took Lou to Kalamazoo. She stayed to Nancys all night. Very nice day.

Sep 3 – Jim plowing. Warm. Working round as usual. Some hot weather.

Sep 4 – Jim plowing. I cut load wood drew it down. Just at night had a heavy thunder storm. Lightning struck Cole Durkees hors Barn burnt it and straw stac.

Sep 5 – Mercury 80. At home. No one here but our own folks. Hannah came home this morning from Streators. She is making Mary Fishers wedding dress.[92]

Sep 6 – Mercury 93. Cut some corn. Jim floted wheat ground. Very hot day.

Sep 7 – Mercury 90. Cutting corn. Jim working for M. Caywood[93] cutting corn spec so.[94]

Sep 8 – Mercury 86. Cleaned wheat. Took 4 bushels to mill. Hot day. Rained in night.

Sep 9 – Mercury 69 some rainy this morning. Went down to Mrs Browns. Jim went to Kalamazoo. Cate Crawford[95] came home with him.

Sep 10 – Chored around house and shop. Not much done. Warm day.

Sep 11 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in afternoon. Cate went over with me. Rained in night.

Sep 12 – Nice morning. At home all day. Kate here.

Sep 13 – Work in shop some. Kate here. Ethan working on Knapps canal power. Got the sewing machine 60 cts Freight.

Sep 14 – Choring around. Cut some corn. Hannah & Nancy went to Jackson. Lelah & Bes came here.

Sep 15 – Took Ethan over to Burg. He went to Jackson to State Fair. Jim took Kate to Kalamazoo. Sarah went over to Mr Ralphs.

Sep 16 – Cut corn some. Fine day some wind. Blowed uncle Isaac Clarks[96] Barn down.

Sep 17 – Cut corn. Choring round.

Sep 18 – Finished cutting corn. Ethan came home.

Sep 19 – At home all day. Nancy came home to day.

Sep 20 – Fine morning. Jim dragging. I cut some wood and d[r]ew it down.

Sep 21 – Mercury 56 some lidle rany. At home. Jim dont be dragging to day some. Mr Franklin brot machine home.

Sep 22 – Mercury 67. Jim draging with spring tooth.[97]

Sep 23 – Went over to Burg in morning. Bot ½ bushel Timothy seed 1.13¢. Rainy lots Lightning & thunder.

Sep 24 – At home. Hannah came home sick from Mr Ogdens.

Sep 25 – Choring around. Put Beens in Barn and done various things. Mr Levy Woods folks came over. Stayed to Mrs Browns all night.

Sep 26 – All hands went up to Mrs Streators. Had a good time. Hannah some better. Rainy night.

Sep 27 – Rainy morning. Helped Jim. I went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Sep 28 – Helped Jim clean up wheat. Mr D. L. Tuttle buried at Galesburg to day.[98]

Sep 29 – Mrs Skinner Died.[99] Mrs Forbush and Eva Blake here in afternoon. Mrs Browns Jersey cow Died.

Sep 30 – Went down to Mrs Browns. Helped bury the cow.

Oct 1 – Cut some wood dug some potatoes. Lumis Robinson came here. He went home on nine oclock run.

Oct 2 – Went to Kalamazoo stayed all night. Went to the Accadamy of music** in Evening. Hank and Nancy went with us.

Oct 3 – Nice weather. At Browns. I went up to the Asylum in forenoon and then Hank and I went over to the water works. We came home at night. Old Mrs Daniels Died to day.

Oct 4 – Mercury 76 in shade. Fine day. Drawing rails for fence south of Barn next to the wheat.

Oct 5 – Laid bottom rails for fence. Fixed two saws for Allan Simmons. Jim and Charley Ford moved Rial French.

Oct 6 – Finished filing Simmons saws and turned driver for Bench Screw. Very nice day. Mercury up in the 70 & 80.

Oct 7 – Went over to burg in morning and down to C. Fords. Ethan picking apples down to Mrs Browns. Very nice weather.

Oct 8 – Mercury 80. Went up in woods cut some steaks. Went over to burg got band for sewing machine. Bot box Buggy greace. Lois came home. Nice weather.

Oct 9 – Mercury 84. Took Sarah over to Lois. I chored a round house and barn.

Oct 10 – At home all day. Lois and Ina came over. George Yeomans and Burt Burrell here.

Oct 11 – Jim came home from Shelby Ville. Jay[100] came home with him. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Oct 12 – Husked some corn. Very nice day very dry. Lum Robinson and wife here in afternoon.

Oct 13 – Built fence south of barn. Very nice day. Mrs Gilfus died to day. Jay here all right.

Oct 14 – Rainy day. No work. Rained and blowed hard all day. Blowed my corn most all down.

Oct 15 – Nice day. Finished my fence. No frost yet of any account. Dell and Sate[101] got home. 73 years old to day.

Oct 16 – Went over to burg. Bess and Jay went over to Lois. Nice day. Not much done. Rather lame. Old Pionere here to dinner.

Oct 17 – Mercury 69 pleasant some wind. Ethan, Hannah, Bes and Jay gone to Kalamazoo. George Yeomans and Burt Burrell here to day.

Oct 18 – Mercury 54 very nice day warm and dry. Husked corn. Jay here. Mr Knap here. Work on propeller.

Oct 19 – Mercury 57 very pleasant and dry. Husked corn. Mr Knap here to day working on propeller.

Oct 20 – Kalamazoo House Burned to day. Drew in my cornfodder in the morning. Went down to Mrs Browns got apples. Rainy. Went over to burg in afternoon. Not cold.

Oct 21 – Warm day. Choped some wood. Aunt Hannah Wilmarth[102] here to dinner stayed the afternoon.

Oct 22 – Nice day. Put apples in cellar. Drawed some wood in afternoon. W. H. Knap & Agent came over in afternoon.

Oct 23 – Fine day. Went to Kalamazoo with Jay. He went home. Claud went with him.

Oct 24 – Picked up Hickory nuts. Nice warm day. Jim went down to Hanks after Hannah. Lois went with him.

Oct 25 – Took the W. H. Knap Propeller up to Butterfield to try the Boats. Husked corn in afternoon. Cold day.

Oct 26 – Cool wind. Husked corn. Ethan dug potatoes. Hannah work for Fanny Town. Jim went to Kalamazoo with wheat.

Oct 27 – Husked corn. Cool day. Put potatoes in cellar. Jim went to Kalamazoo with wheat.

Oct 28 – Went to Mr Isaac Clarks funeral to day. Cool wind.

Oct 29 – Went up to Levy Woods. Mrs Streator and Mrs Green and Cyrus went.

Oct 30 – Husked some. Chored round. Put lights in windows to school House.

Oct 31 – At home. Picked up some Hickory nuts and cut some sage.

Nov 1 – Mercury 54. Finished husking to day. Sate worked for Hannah. Charley Smith came over after Sate.

Nov 2 – Mercury 55 nice warm day. Went over to Election. Levy Wood and wife here, Fanny Town and Mrs Pease.

Nov 3 – Drawed my cornfodder. Very nice day. Went over to burg at noon. Mr Knap an Ethan tried the Boat.

Nov 4 – Ethan and Jim Conky went to Kalamazoo. I dug some roots for Sarah. Cyrus and Mrs Streator. called. Tip Town[103] called.

Nov 5 – Worked round. Lelah and Bes here. Nancy came up. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 6 – Went over to burg. Took Nells dress over. Went to Lois. Saw Mary Hall. Nancy and girls went down to Mrs Browns. Snowed in night the first of the season.

Nov 7 – About ½ inch snow on the ground this morning. Jim Konky came got his camery. Hank came up here.

Nov 8 – Cut some wood. Nancy and girls went down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 9 – Drawed one load wood. Rained then snowed like fun.[104] Made stall for Peter. Not very cold. Will Brown moved to day.

Nov 10 – Doing chores. Made ladder or apart of one. Cold.

Nov 11 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Cut out rounds for ladder. Cleaned up some wheat.

Nov 12 – Went over to mill. Made cloths stick for Nancy.

Nov 13 – Nancy went home. Lou came home. She came up with Jim. I went over to Comstock. Sarah went down to Katharines.

Nov 14 – Pleasant day cool wind. Herb Earls Boy born this morning.[105]

Nov 15 – Put plank down at the west door at barn.

Nov 16 – Took Lou over to Lois and Mr Ralphs. Mr Knap and Ethan tried the Boat. Cold wind.

Nov 17 – Rainy day. Got pig of Jim. Went over to burg at night. Got oil. Lou went up to Jim Milhams.

Nov 18 – Mercury 25 cold and blustrous, snowey, cold. I worked in barn some.

Nov 19 – Lou and children[106] here. Cold wind. Ethan cut some wood. I drew two loads.

Nov 20 – Ethan choped some wood. I jointed boards for East side of barn. Doc Martin and wife called in Evening to see Hannah.

Nov 21 – At home all day. Pleasant. Lou went to Kalamazoo. Levy Wood and wife and Mrs Streator here.

Nov 22 – Boarded up East side barn. Nice day.

Nov 23 – Mercury 58. Repaired pump and well in barn.

Nov 24 – Mercury. Went over to burg got shugar and oder dings,[107] cinnamon and Raisins, oil &c.[108]

Nov 25 – Went over after Lois. Snows. Del came over got Horse and wagon. Took load stone over. Hannah came home.

Nov 26 – Ethan took Hannah down to Mrs Howlets. I got thirty Dozen Eggs of Fanny Town to send to Chicago. Cold day.

Nov 27 – Sent Eggs and Butter to Chicago to Hiram Crawford.[109]

Nov 28 – At home. Hannah went up to Herb Gilsons.

Nov 29 – Mercury 2 Abz. Not much done. Ed Schram called here. I hired him to cut some wood.

Nov 30 – Ethan went over got Lois in morning. She came over to wash. I went over to burg in Evening to get stove for Hanks folks.

Dec 1 – Mercury 8 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo took Hanks stove down to them. Mrs Brown went. Very Blustring. Jim and Bell Starr came up with me. Lum Robinson started for home. Saw Dob Zinsky[?].

Dec 2 – Cut some wood. Put ladder together in Evening. Cold and blustring he snow very hard some.

Dec 3 – Drawed two loads of wood on sleigh. Jim called here said he had sold his team to Will Brown. Ed chopping. Dr Babcock buried to day.[110]

Dec 4 – Ed chopping. Cold day. I drawed wood.

Dec 5 – Mercury 16 Below zero. Went over to burg in morning. Jim shingling for Dell. Ed Schram chopping.

Dec 6 – Mercury 2 blow zero. Went over to burg in morn. Jim shingling for Dell. Ed chopping.

Dec 7 – Drawed wood in forenoon. Went down to Marts in afternoon. Nice day.

Dec 8 – Fine day. Drawed wood. Ed no chop some. Fanny Town came over in afternoon.

Dec 9 – Drawing wood. Not much snow. Very nice weather.

Dec 10 – Drawed wood in forenoon. Got all down that was cut. Snow about gone. Leon[111] here stayed all night.

Dec 11 – Leon went up to Batey.[112] Glen came down with willow[?] in morning. Leon came back stayed all night. Dell put some shingles on Barn.

Dec 12 – Leon and Glen lef for home.[113] Rained some.

Dec 13 – Not much done but chores.

Dec 14 – Snowed and blowed hard. Very rough day. Went down to Caywoods and Mr Flanders. Paid Ed $— for butter. Mate Ford came here.

Dec 15 – Cold snow about — inches deep. Hannah went to Dr Ma– to sew. Took Sarah down to Mrs Browns. Filed saw for Jim. Hung ax for Herb Earl.

Dec 16 – Cold day. Worked in shop some. Smoothed up axhelves. Ethan went to burg in Evening.

Dec 17 – Finished up axhelves and chored round. Sarah went up to Ha–. I went up took tea with them. Snowed and blowed.

Dec 18 – Worked in shop some. Finished up my helves. Ed Schram called here.

Dec 19 – At home. Went over brot Lois over. Some stormy.

Dec 20 – Mercury at zero. Took Hannah over to train she went to Kalamazoo.

Dec 21 – Mercury 34 Abz. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah and Lelah. Shelled corn for feed.

Dec 22 – Mercury 5 Abz. Went down to Mrs Browns. Took letter down to Lizzy with sample in. Hannah went up to W^m Ralphs.

Dec 23 – Went over to burg in morning paid my tax $6.78 cts. Went over at noon got money order cashed. Went over to Lois in Evening.

Dec 24 – Went down to Marts to mill. Took 7½ bushels corn and oats ground. Sent books to Claude, Lelah & Bes, Jay and Verne[114] and Marts children.

Dec 25 – Worked on toboggin for Claude. No good he break some. Not very cold.

Dec 26 – At home. No one here. Cold winter weather. Good sleighing.

Dec 27 – Mercury 13 Abz. Went up to Theodores got board for toboggin. Oscar, Mary Ann[115] and Glen here to day. They left for home.

Dec 28 – Mercury 3 below. Went over to burg. Got shoes for Sarah. Cold day.

Dec 29 – Mercury 3 Abz. Went over to burg in morning got calender. Mrs Beley Wright Died this morning 7 oclock.[116] Went over to burg in Evening.

Dec 30 – Mercury 15 below very much cold day. Sarah & I went to Kalamazoo she stayed to Nancys. Bot articks $1.25. Very cold. D. and Jim came.

Dec 31 – Mercury 13 below. Went over to burg in afternoon. Ina went home. Mrs Bela Wright buried to day. Very cold day. I done nodings not much to day ver mooch goot sleigh plendy snow some. Lou sent me money, pay some money. D went home on noon train.

——-

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

[2] His daughter, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner

[3] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[4] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[5] His daughter, Louese (Keith) Harris

[6] His son-in-law Hank Brown’s mother, Matilda (Allen) Brown, who was also Luke’s neighbor

[7] His son, James Clinton Keith

[8] His son, Ethan Keith

[9] His grandson, William Clark

[10] His son-in-law, Louese’s husband Daniel Harris, Jr.

[11] Above zero

[12] The Michigan death record lists his date of death as January 21 (although it’s possible that the 1 in 21 is actually a 4) and there is a notation “Names added to list by Henry Laffitt [Labbitt] Undertaker Galesburg Michigan.” FindAGrave.com agrees with Luke’s entry of death on January 6, 1886, and shows he is buried in Lawler Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. The January 9, 1886 edition of the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, p.3, noted: The funeral services of the late Langford [sic] Burdick of Galesburg were held in the Baptist church at that place yesterday, Rev. J. S. Boyden officiating, and were largely attended. The remains were interred in the cemetery in Charleston Township.

[13] His neighbor, Frances Towne

[14] Galesburg, Michigan

[15] Theodore Earl, neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[16] His son-in-law, Lois’ husband, Adelbert Skinner

[17] His son-in-law, Nancy’s husband, Henry Brown, who was a photographer. It appears Jim and Will were posting advertisements around town. The February 9, 1886 edition of the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, on page 6, reported the following: Henry A. Brown, photographer, recently of Galesburg, Ill., who has been taking all the pretty prizes in town (if each is left to be sole judge) for the past two weeks, will locate in Kalamazoo in the bank building, on the northwest corner of Main and Burdick streets.

[18] George & Mary Evelyn “Eva” (Forbush) Blake lived in Charleston, Michigan, which is about five miles east of where Luke lived

[19] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Herbert Earl, and his wife, Luella (Farr) Earl. Herb and Theodore (see footnote to January 7^th entry) were brothers

[20] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[21] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[22] His late niece Lucy (Lee) Milham’s husband, Martin Milham. Lucy was the daughter of his sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[23] His wife Sarah’s niece, Edna (Crawford) Allen. See also February 23^rd entry

[24] His grandson, Charles Clark, and his wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark

[25] His son-in-law and his daughters, Lela and Bess Brown

[26] Neighbor, Harriet Taylor

[27] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[28] Scotts, Michigan

[29] Neighbor, Richard Barber

[30] Michigan death records show that F. K. Bennett was “run over by cars” in Galesburg, Michigan on February 5, 1866

[31] Train cars

[32] His neighbor, Albert Towne, who was the father of Fanny Towne (see January 6 & 16) and Charley Towne (see March 27)

[33] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[34] Michigan death records reveal that Harriet Watts died February 8, 1886 in Otsego, Allegan County, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Allegan County, Michigan

[35] Claude, Lela and Bess Brown

[36] George Tomlinson, the husband of Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[37] His cow

[38] Edna Allen and her daughter Madge

[39] Edna’s husband, Oscar M. Allen, Jr.

[40] His horse

[41] According to FindAGrave.com, Benjamin Smith died March 11, 1886 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Wayland, Michigan

[42] Michigan marriage records show that Adeliza (Hubbard) Lewis, the widow of Franklin Lewis, married Charles Rimmey in Galesburg, Michigan on March 14, 1886

[43] Neighbor, and father of Theodore (see January 7^th entry) and Herbert Earl (see January 18^th entry)

[44] His great-niece, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[45] Shelbyville, Michigan, where his daughter Louese lived

[46] Cora Meredith, his future daughter-in-law; she would marry his son Jim in June 1891

[47] Harriet Taylor and her sister, Flora Elizabeth “Libby” (Taylor) Schram. Libby had been married to Isaac Schram, however by 1880 they were divorced and Hattie and Libby were living together

[48] Neighbor, James Milham, who was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote to January 23^rd entry)

[49] Neighbor, Smith Carlton, son of Albert Carlton (see February 1^st entry)

[50] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner

[51] His neighbor, Charles Towne

[52] Hat and Lib Taylor

[53] From an ad in the October 23, 1880 Galesburgh Express: Wm. L. McBeth, M.D., PHYSICIAN & SURGEON. Office at Burdick’s drug store. Residence on Battle Creek street, two doors east of Bennett House. Calls attended to promptly at all hours. Galesburgh, Mich.

[54] Hard to decipher the order of his words as some were squeezed in between lines, so this may not be a true reading

[55] The Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph newspaper

[56] An old neighbor from when Luke lived in Covington, Genesee County, New York. The New York Death Index shows that Nicholas Chilson died in Batavia, Genesee County, New York and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York, although it shows his age as 77

[57] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

[58] His neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[59] George Tomlinson

[60] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah “Jane” (Mason) Hoag

[61] The long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[62] Marius O. & Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

[63] Michigan marriage records show that Oliver Evans and Mary Carson were married in Richmond, Michigan on May 27, 1886

[64] His neighbor, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[65] Kalamazoo County Enterprise newspaper

[66] Common fluid-filled growths (cysts) that form from hair follicles that are most often found on the scalp

[67] Neighbor, Mary (Smith) Flanders, the wife of Edwin Flanders

[68] His grandson, Claude Brown

[69] Michigan death records mistakenly show that Erastus Stewart died October 3, 1886 in Comstock, Michigan with the notation “Names added to list by Henry Laffitt  [Labbitt] Undertaker Galesburg Michigan.” Langford Burdick (see footnote to January 6^th entry), likewise added by Henry Labbitt, was also incorrectly entered. The Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph newspaper editions of July 1 and July 6 (both on p. 2) agree with Luke’s entry showing that Erastus Stewart died on June 30, 1886

[70] Maria (nee Thayer), who was the widow of James Flanders (the son on Joseph Flanders, see footnote to May 4th entry), married Victor Gardner. She is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan alongside her first husband, James Flanders

[71] FindAGrave.com reveals that Horatio N. Tubbs died July 2, 1886 and is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, Wayland, Michigan

[72] Michigan death records show that he died in Comstock, Michigan on July 8, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Luke Keith’s diary entry of 10-18-1894 reads: Went down to Mrs Streators with Will Clark they took up Mr M. O. Streators remains and put them in the new cemetry at Galesburg

[73] Believe them to be the brother and son of Marius Streator

[74] Cullen Towne, the son of Albert Towne (see footnote to February 8^th entry)

[75] Willis & Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown; Willis was the son of Matilda Brown (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[76] Michigan death records show that Adeline Hodges died July 27, 1886 in Galesburg, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[77] His neighbor, John T. Allerton

[78] Fan was his cow. Presume he was taking Fan to the bull

[79] Neighbor, Mary Ann “Mate” (Thompson) Ford

[80] Michigan death records show that Joseph Whitford died in Charleston, Michigan on August 10, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[81] His wife Sarah’s brother

[82] His wife Sarah’s brother

[83] Michigan death records show that George Turner died in Kalamazoo from a fall from a scaffold on August 10, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[84] Most likely the Galesburg Old Cemetery where their mother, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts, was buried

[85] The daughter of neighbors John & Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton

[86] Carrie Plank was the daughter of William & Harriett (Groat) Plank who had been neighbors of the Keiths in Comstock until they moved to Grand Rapids in 1873

[87] The son of Hiram & Kate (Atcheson) Crawford; Hiram was Sarah’s brother

[88] Michigan death records reveal that Floyd Hubbard, the six-month-old son of George & Alice Hubbard, died in Galesburg, Michigan on August 23, 1886

[89] Michigan death records reveal that Sarah (Watters) Hill died August 23, 1886 in Galesburg, Michigan

[90] His grand-nephew, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[91] On July 25, 1847 Luke married his second wife, Jerusha Crittenden (she died September 23, 1848). Jerusha had a brother Henry; perhaps this is who he is referring to

[92] Mary Fisher married Marenus Caywood in September. Sadly, on March 4, 1887 Marenus was killed when his horses “run with him” according to Luke Keith’s 1887 diary

[93] Neighbor, Marenus Caywood

[94] Expect so

[95] Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, the wife of Hiram Crawford, Jr., Sarah’s brother

[96] No relation is known at this time; however, often the parents of a husband or wife of a family member, or the parent of a neighbor, were referred to as Aunt or Uncle

[97] An outdated piece of farm equipment which used many flexible iron teeth mounted in rows to loosen the soil before planting

[98] FindAGrave.com shows that David Tuttle died in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 25, 1886 and he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[99] Sarah (Knight) Skinner, the mother of Del Skinner (see footnote to January 7^th entry). FindAGrave.com shows she died September 29, 1886 in Ceresco, Michigan and that she is buried in the Quaker Cemetery in Waterloo, New York

** See https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/academy-of-music-kalamazoo-michigan for more info on the Academy of Music

[100] His grandson, Jay Keith Harris, who was 3 years old

[101] Sarah Skinner, the sister of Del Skinner (see footnote to January 7^th entry)

[102] According to the 1880 census, Hannah was the sister of Luke’s neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[103] Neighbor, Eunice (Wood) Towne

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

[105] Royal J. Earl was born to Herbert & Luella (Farr) Earl

[106] Jay (3), LaVerne (just under 2) and Floyd (7 months) Harris

[107] Other things

[108] Etc.

[109] His brother-in-law

[110] FindAGrave.com shows that Isaiah J. Babcock died December 1, 1886 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[111] His grand-nephew, James Leon Keith, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[112] Presumably to visit his grandmother, Betsy (Olds) Batey, in Pavilion, Michigan

[113] Bloomingdale, Michigan

[114] Lou’s children

[115] His nephew’s family; see footnotes to August 25^th and December 10^th entries

[116] Betsy (Fisher) Wright. Michigan death records reveal that she died in Galesburg on December 29 and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

Luke Keith’s 1873 Diary

1873 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 10 were first written in the back of his 1872 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1873 diary. Anything from 1872 that clarifies the 1873 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Worked in shop some on cutter boddy. Went over to burg[2] with Ed Flanders.[3] Louesa[4] went over to burg.

Jan 2 – Worked on cutter boddy. Ida Allen[5] here. Mercury 35 Abz,[6] rainy. Henry [Keith][7] and H. A. Brown[8] went to Benton Harbor.

Jan 3 – [Lots ice.] Henry and Hank came home. Went down to A Browns[9] in Evening. Very windy day. Worked on cutter box.

Jan 4 – Worked on cutter box, cut some wood. Sate Skinner[10] came here, stayed all night.

Jan 5 – Hank and Nancy[11] came up here. Snows like fun.[12] Snow fell 4 inches.

Jan 6 – Went to Kalamazoo. Got two bushels wheat of Mart.[13] Could not get it ground.

Jan 7 – Pleasant [morning]. Ethan[14] went over after Nancy. She was sick could not come over.

Jan 8 – Put cutter box frame together. Cold and blustring. Henry came down. Very cold [darn cold day]. Flora Swaddle[15] died to day.

Jan 9 – 6 Below zero, very cold. Put chain on well. Henry came down agan. Very [cold and] Blustring. Flora Swaddle buried. Mr Joy[16] died to day. He was 80 years old. Cullen Bryant Town here in Evening.

Jan 10 – Cold, mercury 6 below zero. Henry went home. [Louesa down to Lois.[17]] Jo Lee[18] came up after Ethan. Paid I. D. L. Schram[19] $42.00 Dollars to get School wood.

Jan 11 – Went over to Nancys. Bot this Diary .50¢. Paid Amos Rogers 1.50. for Detroit Tribune for one year.

Jan 12 – Went down to Marts. Nice sleighing. Found them some better.

Jan 13 – Rainy, snow most gone, lots of ice, very slipery.

Jan 14 – Went up to Howlands to Mill. Very Icy. Went over to barbers[20] in Evening. Mr Baley and wife[21] there. Rained some.

Jan 15 – Rainy morning, mercury 34 Abz this morning. Cut tree out East boot of the hill. Went up to Wesleys[22] and Schrams to see if they folks could have the Schoolhouse to have a lecture.

Jan 16 – Snowey day. Snow fell 8½ inches. Shelled some corn, put up some Buckwheat to carry to mill, put Eight bushels in box. Snowed all day. Charley Town[23] borowed two inch auger.

Jan 17 – Went up to Howlands mill. Sarah[24] went up to Swadles.[25] We took dinner there.

Jan 18 – Went over to burg after Nancy then went down to Catharines.[26] Carried some meal and Buckwheat flour. Hank came over. Nick Gault Buried to day.

Jan 19 – Ethan came up, brot Hannah.[27] Henry came with him. Jim[28] down to A. Browns.

Jan 20 – Snow 4 inches. Went over to burg. Cut two dry trees on South road. A. Browns folks here in Evening.

Jan 21 – Snows 3 inches. Carried girls to school. Carried Sarah and Mrs Brown[29] up to Mr Ralphs. I went up in Evening.

Jan 22 – Sarah and Mrs Plank[30] went up to Mr Taylors. Henry came down and tinkered the old clock. We went over to burg. Hank and Nancy, Byron Allen, Cory, Ida and Libby[31] came over in Evening.

Jan 23 – Snows and blows some. Got State map of Mr Plank[32] this morning 1.25 one Dollar and twentyfive cents. Very Blustring night.

Jan 24 – Went up in woods, got load wood. Not much done to day. Snow fell 4 inches.

Jan 25 – Snows this morning, snow fell about 1 inch. Elder Philip Potts[33] Died to day. Cold ay.

Jan 26 – Fine pleasant morning. Ethan, Catharine and Jo Lee came up here.

Jan 27 – Cut down one tree. Drawed two loads wood. Hung ax for Mart. Henry, Lois and Sate called here. Cold, mercury 4 Abbz. Went over to burg after Nancys cloths to wash.

Jan 28 – Cold 4 Abz in morning, snow about 20 inches in woods. Went down to Charles Lees.[34] Broke sleigh thill[35] on Huds hill. Elder Philip Pots buried to day.

Jan 29 – Cold morning, mercury 20 blow zero at six A.M. Shaved out axhelve[36] for Wesley.

Jan 30 – Went over to burg with Jesse and Alvin Lee.[37] Cold and windy. Sick, no work to day.

Jan 31 – Nice day. Went down to Catharines. Mr Plank went with us. I went over to Comstock got money on order 2649 $5.17 cts Libray money.

Feb 1 – Not very cold, snows some, ten Abz. Went over to burg after Nancy. Paid Amos Rogers 26 Dollars and 49 cents for Book and globe for school. Lois came home with us. Henry and Sate came home from the creek.

Feb 2 – Pleasant and cold, 11 below. At home all day.

Feb 3 – Drawed one load wood. Rained some. Went up to Wesleys. Put side boards on my cutter box in Evening.

Feb 4 – Put end boards on cutter box. Not very cold. Mart brought Ethan home. Jo came up with them. Sarah went down to A Browns. Ethan sick.

Feb 5 – Went over to burg with A Brown, bot some screws. Put plugs in cutter box. Fine day. Mo Streator[38] brot buggy pole. Went down to A. R. Skinners[39] in Evening. Lois sick.

Feb 6 – Fine day. Cut and drawed two loads wood. Mart and Toot[40] came up in Evening. Clara Spire stayed here all night.

Feb 7 – Sawed wood. Went over to burg in Evening. Henry came down here. Mrs Polly Earl visiting Mrs Plank. Thaws some, very sloppy.

Feb 8 – Snows and blows, mercury __2 Abz. Charles Lees folks came up to day. Bent cutter dash in Evening. Edwin Flanders called and got my clamps. Fixed violin, set sound post and cut down the bridge for Monroe Hamiltons boy. Snow fell 1 inch.

Feb 9 – Pleasant morning. At home all day. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah. Sis[41] went over and stayed.

Feb 10 – Put dash on cutter box. Worked in shop some.

Feb 11 – Worked on box some, smothed dash.

Feb 12 – Cut and drawed three loads wood. Old Mrs Ralph[42] here to day. Very icy.

Feb 13 – At home, not very well. Henry came home, stayed all night. Henry and Hannah went up to Wesleys in afternoon.

Feb 14 – Carried Henry and Hannah down to Catharines. Mart thrashed his clover seed out, had six bushels. I changed bells with Mart.

Feb 15 – Cut and drawed one load wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Louesa. Clarence Wing[43] died this morning.

Feb 16 – Not very cold, smoky, very good sleighing, not much snow, very icy. Oscar and Mary An[44] came here.

Feb 17 – Fine day. Oscar left for Saginaw. Mary went up to Mr Bateys.[45] Ethan finished his cupling. Thawing some.

Feb 18 – Worked on Streators cutter pole. Very warm, snow went of some. Ethan and Hannah, Mary and Carry Plank[46] went up to Mr Flanders[47] in Evening. Del[48] got his new sleigh.

Feb 19 – Pleasant. Henry carried Hank and Nancy home. Cate Keith[49] came down from Mr Bateys. She an Louesa went over to burg. Henry carried Streators pole down.

Feb 20 – Jo Lee brot Cate Chafy[50] up here. Cold day. Ethan and girls went down to T. Fords to an Evening party. Henry Started for Havannah York State.

Feb 21 – Cate here. Lois came up. Went over to burg. Got Murties[51] picture. Carried Lois home. Snow 2 inches, mercury 6 Abz.

Feb 22 – Cold 2 Abz in morning. Meredith and Melvill Blod_____ came up after Cate. Hannah went down with them. Oscar came back he went down to Catharines. Very cold. Mr Hall called here in Evening. A little light he got.[?] Very cold.

Feb 23 – 4 below zero in morning, cold, blows some. At home all day. Mrs Walter Coe[52] buried to day.

Feb 24 – Cold 2 Abz in morning. Sun came out in the morning. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Ed York[53] died to day.

Feb 25 – Drawed two loads wood. Ethan went down to Catharines after Hannah.

Feb 26 – Went over to burg, got Jims boots tapt 50¢. Sarah went over to Nancys. Ethan went down to Dels to do his chores. Snowed and blowed some. Del and Lois went over to Deal Birges.

Feb 27 – Snows and blows very rough, 13 Abz. Sarah washing. Snow fell 3 inches. Edwin York buried to day.

Feb 28 – Went up to Howlands to Mill. Carried four bushels Buckwheat, three of corn. Did not get it. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Mart sawing wood.

Mar 1 – Went up to Howlands after my grist in morning, got it all right. Nancy came home with me. Not very cold.

Mar 2 – At home all day. Mrs Gafing and Edith and Chub here. Amos Chipman[54] Buried to day.

Mar 3 – Cut and drawed some wood. Cold. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Mar 4 – Went to Kalamazoo on the Brown and Allerton Suit.[55] Came up to Catharines, stayed all night. Mr Darling and Mitchel folks there. Very cold but pleasant.

Mar 5 – Went back to Kalamazoo. Came home at night. Ethan sick. Cold and pleasant.

Mar 6 – At home. The Brown and Allerton Case decided. Judgment tendered in favor of Brown 22 Dollars and costs.

Mar 7 – Not very cold. Drawed two loads wood, one load cornfodder. Lois called a few minutes.

Mar 8 – Snow about gone, very windy. Ethan sick.

Mar 9 – Snows like fun, not very cold. Snow fell 7½ 6½ inches. At home all day. Henry and Sate came down here.

Mar 10 – Hued out one axhelve. Went over to burg in morning. Went down to Skinners in Evening. Mr and Mrs Plank went a burg.

Mar 11 – Cleaned out barn some. Chore round barn.

Mar 12 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine not very well. Called to Loises when I came back. Will[56] some better. Henry came home with me. Carried Hannah over to burg in Evening. Henry went up to Mr Taylors to see about Amandas childrens Pension. Mr Plank started out to find him a place.

Mar 13 – Cool and cloudy, snow about gone.

Mar 14 – Went down to Catharines. Sarah went down and stayed. Charles, Alvin, Jesse and Jule[57] was there. Some muddy. Lucy some better. Will Clark better. Lois not very well yet.

Mar 15 – Rainy and windy. Went over to burg in Evening after Jim. Hued out ax helve.

Mar 16 – Went down to Catharines after Sarah. We stoped to Skinners. Sarah got Rocking Chair of Jo Lee.

Mar 17 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. I cut up trees in cornfield up south. Put up some fence.

Mar 18 – Drawed four loads wood. Went over to burg. Rainy. Sarah went. Mrs Plank and Rebecca[58] went along. Muddy, snow about gone.

Mar 19 – Cut lots grubs in woods. Rained in afternoon, got wet. Mr Plank got home. Ethan Started after his mother. Bill[59] run away with him, broke wagon Ex and came back.

Mar 20 – Went over and got wagon home. Sarah came home with Lois. She carried Dell and henry over to burg. They went to Plainwell. Hank and Nancy sick. Snowed in night. Mrs Philip Goodrich[60] hung her self in night.

Mar 21 – Snows Blustering. Lois, Mrs Skinner[61] and Sate came down to Planks. Snow one inch.

Mar 22 – Ethan and I went to the woods sawed some, cut of ten blocks. Mrs Jackson called here. I went up in woods in afternoon, cut some grubs. Ethan went over to burg in Evening.

Mar 23 – Pleasant morning. Mrs Philip Goodrich buried to day.

Mar 24 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Hank and Nancy moved over. H. A. Taylor, Myron Latta and Hat, Lib and Ida Clark[62] here in Evening. Snowed some about ½ inch. Very cold and windy.

Mar 25 – Not very well. Ethan went over to burg twice. Nancy sick. Cold and windy, snowed in night.

Mar 26 – Cold. Nancy no better. Snows, cold. Hank rode Bill over to burg after Doc Alfred. He came over. Snow 8 inches this morning. A Brown came up here. Mr Plank went to Grand Rappids to see about getting a house.

Mar 27 – Mercury at zero in morning. Dell and Lois came here. He brot his drag.

Mar 28 – At home, not very well, no work.

Mar 29 – Went to Kalamazoo with Schram. Got order for money on City Bank one Hundred and Seventy Dollars 170.00. Allertons[63] and Simmons folks here to Planks.

Mar 30 – Fine morning, sun came out.

Mar 31 – Mr Plank packing his goods. I went over to burg after Emmet Crawford.[64] Helped Mr Plank in afternoon.

Apr 1 – Cloudy morning. Jim and Emmet went down to Catharines. Snowed like fun. Mr Allerton and Mr Simmons took two loads goods for Mr Plank to Kalamazoo. Snow fell ¾ inch. Mr Allertons folks had the Plank family to stay all night. Sarah sick. Jim

Apr 2 – Snows this morning, disagreeable day. Planks folks went down to Allertons, stayed all night.

Apr 3 – Drawed three loads cornfodder. Went down to Dels, got his democrat wagon. Went over to burg, got Mary Chaffee. Mr Planks folks left for Grand Rapids. Went down and got Hank and Nancy. J T Allertons old white mare lying in the lot almost dead.[65] Paid Schroder and Lay five Dollars $5.00.

Apr 4 – Put some slats in A. Browns drag. Paid Myron Latta one Hundred and seventy Dollars for teachers wages.

Apr 5 – Wesley came down and helped me kill hog in forenoon. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Catharine and Lucy sick. Cate got her arm burnt. Jo and Hellen[66] there. Ethan went up to Mr Flanders, stayed all night. Mercury 85 Abz.

Apr 6 – At home all day.

Apr 7 – Mr Clark called here from Plainwell to see my place. I went to Comstock to Town meeting. Went with Mr Ridler. Cold, windy.

Apr 8 – Rainy day. Repaired Skinners Drag. Hank and Ethan went to burg.

Apr 9 – Carried my wagon wheel over to burg to get Tire set. Very muddy, cold, raw day.

Apr 10 – Went over to burg in morning. Got wheel and skeins. Hannah went down to Fords. Stayed all night.

Apr 11 – Worked in shop on Ex. Not very well. Rainy morning. Lind Matthews called here just at night. Hannah came home in morning. Put poke[67] on cow the first time.

Apr 12 – Snow one inch 1 inch. Carried two bushels corn to burg. Cut _____ for Jo Lee, put on his cane. Henry and Dell called here.

Apr 13 – Carried Ethan and Hannah down to Catharines. Pleasant day. Mr Henry Rogers called here in afternoon. Saw Jesse and Jule Lee. They are going to Salt Lake.[68]

Apr 14 – Pleasant morning. Worked in shop on Ex. Mart brot Ethan home just at night.

Apr 15 – Worke in shop. Set skeins on Ex. Rained in afternoon. Jim carried some Eggs over got some shugar. Hank took picture of tent.

Apr 16 – Worked in shop on Ex. Went over to burg twice. Got shoulder bands set. Went over and got two bolts. Rained some. Lois called here. Mr Clark from Plainwell came up to se Dell.

Apr 17 – Worked on thills. Went over to burg, bot bolt and whiffletree[69] iron. Rainy day. Will Plank came here to day.

Apr 18 – Finished my wagon Ex. Took Skinners buggy home. Will came home with me. Will Plank went down to Allertons, stayed all night.

Apr 19 – Went down to Catharines. Dell, Lois and Ethan there to dinner. Jule Lee there. Jo Lee let me have a cask with some vinegar and a jug. Fine day.

Apr 20 – Pleasant. Henry and Will came down. Mart brot Hannah home.

Apr 21 – Got out manure, put on garden. Pleasant. Hank went down home to take Photograph of A. Browns house. Some snow in the air during the day. Snowed some in Evening.

Apr 22 – Snows like fun, snow six inches in morning. Drawed three loads wood on sleigh. Cool, damp wind.

Apr 23 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Cates, found them some better. Stoped to Lois, took supper when we came back, had oysters.

Apr 24 – Cool, some snow in the air. Mr Hawley commenced plowing west lot, had Bill. Moved fence. Mr Hawley helped move it. Took about two Hours. Henry came in night. He came from Elkhart.

Apr 25 – Hawley plowed, had Bill. Snowed like fun some of the time. I burnt brush and the old stuf from the fence. Jim went down to Catharines in afternoon.

Apr 26 – Hawley finished sod ground in forenoon, burnt fodder on hill.

Apr 27 – Pleasant. Henry Clinton and wife called here. Dick Barber and wife and Ida came over.

Apr 28 – Put up leach. Wheeled out some ashes on garden. Hannah went over to Barbers. Hank Brown went out photog. Henry and Edwin flanders called here. Cloudy day.

Apr 29 – Wheeled some dirt. Put around maple trees west side house. Cleaned out cornhouse. Hawley plowed to day. Hannah came home. Ida Barber came with her.

Apr 30 – Cleaned out cellar. Smoked hams. Hank Brown plowed East garden. Ethan went to Kalamazoo, his car starter.[70] Ida went home in Evening. Hawley plowed all day.

May 1 – Finished cleaning out cornhouse. Filed saw for Ned Thomas 15¢. Hawley finished plowing corn ground, commenced draging. Rained before noon, rainy afternoon. Hawley went home. He worked half day.

May 2 – Cleared out the hog yard in forenoon. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Ethan came home. Mrs Brown and Jule[71] came up here. Cloudy and cool.

May 3 – Some rainy in morning. Went over to burg bot Jims pants. Cold. Cleared of in afternoon. Took fence away round hog yard. Henry and Will Clark and Harvey came down. Stayed all night.

May 4 – Pleasant morning. Ethan, hannah and Henry went down to Catharines. Eliza Galfus[72] buried. Fine day. Heard the first whipporwill this Evening.

May 5 – Warm day. Hawley draged cornground. I carried two bushels corn to mill. Ethan and I measured corn ground.

May 6 – Put cover on Lois chest. Hawley Draged corn ground. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to see Geo Turner about car starter. He paid him $12½ Dollars.

May 7 – Hawley finished draging half past nine AM. He took drag home. He worked ¼ of a day. I made a corn marker. Finished Lois chest. Lois came home. Rainy afternoon and night.

May 8 – Rainy day. Made mallet for Mart. Ethan and Hank made saw mill.

May 9 – Rainy day. Went up to Wesleys got four bushels Bagas for myself and Catharine. Wes plowing. Got brass ferrel[73] of Geout[?].

May 10 – Bot four bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Went to Comstock to mill. Catherine and Toot better. Got the Foundry building fraim up to Comstock, working on dam putting on dirt. Hannah went down to Gus Giddings to work a few days. She rode down with T. Ford.

May 11 – Pleasant Morning at home. Put head on Jo Lees cane.

May 12 – Cut some lims on apple trees, drawed brush in afternoon and burnt them. Sold Heifer to Mr Brockway, Received ten Dollars. Hawley marked corn ground. Rube Coe[74] Died to day.

May 13 – Commenced planting corn. Ethan and I planted one day for Hawley.

May 14 – Finished planting about ten AM. Took up and set out onions. Mrs Brown and Jule, Mrs Barber and Ida here. All hands here to tea.

May 15 – Worked round house, chored round. Turned legs for stool.

May 16 – Got oak bark to color with. Worked on stool. Ethan planted corn for Cull Town.[75] Mrs Nathanial Potts[76] buried. Mercury 44 Abz in morning.

May 17 – Drove Heifer over to burg. Received four Dollars of John Levens for Brockway on Heifer. Worked in shop on stool some. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Paid Lucy ten Dollars.

May 18 – Went up to Jesse Earls[77] lot to find some soft stone.

May 19 – Ethan, Hank and Nancy gone to Kalamazoo I Expect. Commenced raining about ten A.M.

May 20 – Put stool together. Fine day, cool. Went over to burg. Bot two Bushels Potatoes 1.80. Bill got down broke thill.

May 21 – Had Bill Brown Ethan plowed garden. Hot day, rained in night. Will Clark stayed here all night.

May 22 – Nice warm morning. Every thing looks fresh and nice.

May 23 – Went down to Skinners and Fords. Went after Mrs Fords Brass Kettle. No get him.

May 24 – Draged my gardens. Brown drawed Straw. Ethan went down to Catharines after Net Whitmore. Made bars. Del got bolts for stool. Mr Hawley and fife[78] came down to see the corn. Town[79] finished planting. Second time.

May 25 – Pleasant morning. Ethan went and took Net back to Catharines.

May 26 – Planted potatoes in South garden. Marked both gardens. Rained in night. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to take lesson.

May 27 – Planted potatoes in west garden. Ethan planted beans. Commenced raining about two oclock. Sowed corn in morning. Went down to M. O. Streators got bushel Potatoes and Mrs Fords Brass Kettle.

May 28 – Pleasant morning. Finished Skinners Stool. Sarah and Nancy, Hannah went down to Browns. Finished planting potatoes. Agent for the Home Sewing Machine Company left machine here. Warm day.

May 29 – Warm morning. Went up to Hawleys, stopt to Hargers, went up to Benj Hartwells in afternoon. Went to Burg, bot overall cloth.

May 30 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot grind stone 1.62 hung stone. Sterreoscope pedler here to dinner 50¢. Went over to burg in Evening after Sis Shoes 50¢. Sarah went down to A. Browns. Nancy sick, had twins, both dead.

May 31 – Pleasant morning, but cool, no frost here. Ethan and I helped Hawley plant over the corn. I worked all day. Ethan commenced about ten oclock. Sowing machine pedler came and took the Home Shuttle Machine and left the Home. Sarah down to Browns.

Jun 1 – At home all day. Put the cow in A. Browns lot.

Jun 2 – Henry went to Albion. Hugh Shafter came over to see about gate. Not very well. Hawley cultivated corn. Hot day.

Jun 3 – Went over to burg, bot boards. Made gate. Will Plank came here. Hawley cultivated corn. Very warm day. Henry and Sate called here.

Jun 4 – Warm morning. Carried gate over to Hugh Shafters. Ebberley Underwood called here. He was sick. Ethan carried him home.

Jun 5 – Worked on road. Warm day. Bot Sewing Machine $60. Paid twenty, gave note for forty payable in Eight Months.

Jun 6 – Worked on road in forenoon, finished my tax.[80] Warm and dry. Mr Ralph washed his sheep.

Jun 7 – Worked round. Made drawer to sewing machine. Conklin Smith called here. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Jun 8 – At home all day. Mart and Lucy came up with Ethan.

Jun 9 – Moved some stuff out of shop. Exchanged Horses with Dell for a few days. Henry came down and stayed all night. Rained a little in night.

Jun 10 – Henry left in forenoon. No work to day. Not very well. Mr Havens called here, the Baptist Minister.

Jun 11 – Took sulky over to burg to get it repaired. Warm and dry. Went up to Mr Swaddles to see if we could get Mrs Semer to come down and show Sarah how to weave carpet.

Jun 12 – Went down to A. Browns in morning to see Nancy. Hank got the ague.[81] Hot and dry.

Jun 13 – Went up to Mr Flanders to see about getting the loom. Stopt to Dells got Bill. Went over to burg in Evening. Auction there in Evening.

Jun 14 – Went up to Jo Flanders to see about the loom. Sarah stayed to A. Browns all night. Carried two bushels corn to mill. Hot and dry.

Jun 15 – Very hot morning. No Signs of rain. Granny Hen Died about five P.M. A. A.Eged[?] about Eighteen years. James S. King[82] Died about six P.M. Ae 64 years 3 months and 19 days.

Jun 16 – Worked on wheelbarrow some. Went over to burg in Evening after meal. Jo Lee came up here to day. Sarah went home with Jo.

Jun 17 – Went down to Catharines in morning. Came home. Went up to Mr Flanders after loom. Mr Flanders brot loom down and helped set it up. Hawley cultivated corn.

Jun 18 – Not much work to day. Very hot, 96 in shade. Hoed some potatoes. Barbers folks here in afternoon. Mr Flanders washed sheep. Ethan helping Dell draw hay.

Jun 19 – Turned five pins for A. Brown. Went up to Mr Swaddles after Mrs Semer. Went up to Flanders after _____. Bot Eight yards of muslet netting 75¢. Hawley paid me one Dollar. Hawley cultivating.

Jun 20 – Put up warping bars. Ethan and Hank gone to Vicks burg. Hoed some potatoes. Very hot and dry. Mrs Semer put in the peace and wove some. I went in Swimming the first time this season. Water very warm.

Jun 21 – Turned tredles around on loom. Carried Hannah down to Skinners. Carried Mrs Semer over to burg in Evening. Got Sulky. Made pitman[?] box for Jesse Earl. He paid 50¢. Henry came down. Turned Six pins for Dell and six for Mr Earl. Hank Brown went to Lyons to get a place.

Jun 22 – Very warm and dry. Rained a very little.

Jun 23 – Went to Kalamazoo with Edwin Flanders. Got Hubs, spokes and Felloes[83] for set wheels for their buggy _____. Henry went home. Hawley paid one Dollar. Had a fine shower. Hawley cultivated corn. Put some screws in Streators buggy.

Jun 24 – Hot morning, mercury 91 in shade. Went over to burg in Evening. Carried Flanders hubbs over to Bristols to be banded. Had a heavy shower. Nancy came home. Lois brot her up. Mary and Edna[84] came in about Eleven in Evening. Sarah bot Hannahs dress.

Jun 25 – Worked on wheelbarrow some. Mary and Edna went on the Eight oclock _____ Evening.

Jun 26 – Cut out felloes for my wheelbarrow. Mrs Semer came back. Mr and Mrs Flanders[85] called here. Ethan went down to Marts after cabbage plants. Hank packed his things. Painted Sulky some. Bill Matthews child drownded in cistern to day.

Jun 27 – Ethan gone to help Dell get in hay. Worked on wheel some. Hawley cultivated. Matthews child buried to day.

Jun 28 – Finished my wheelbarrow wheel. Went over to burg in Evening. Dressed out sills for cutter boddy. Hawley cultivating. Mrs Hawley came down. They went down to see Murpheys place.

Jun 29 – At home. Not very well. Had a shower. Mrs Semer here.

Jun 30 – Sick, no work to day much. Put name on Jo Lees cane. Went down to Skinners, got 4½ bushels of wheat of Dell. Hawley cultivated corn.

Jul 1 – Started to go to mill, went down as far as Browns. He took my grist. Hawley cultivated corn in forenoon, finished. Rainy afternoon.

Jul 2 – Worked in shop some. Mart and toot called here. Dol[86] had collick. Had a shower. Bot this ink 5 cts, Bot comb 10¢.

Jul 3 – Hawley commenced plowing Buckwheat ground. A. Brown commenced cutting wheat. Had a heavy shower in afternoon. Mrs Semer got carpet out. Not very well.

Jul 4 – Had a shower in the morning. Put hoops on pounding Barrel. Hank, Jenny and John Crawford[87] came to day. Hawley finished plowing. Mrs Semer went over to burg.

Jul 5 – Hank went home on the Mail one thirty five. Hawley went to Kalamazoo. Sowed Buckwheat. Hawley dragged it in. Ethan and Jim worked for Brown in afternoon.

Jul 6 – Went down to Catharines and Charleses. They wer cutting wheat. Hall and Parker cradled. Mrs Semer came back.

Jul 7 – Ethan and Hank work for A. Brown in wheat. Jim worked for Randall.

Jul 8 – Made Reel for Town. Bot medicine of Warren Brown 50¢. Sate came here, stayed all night. Cool.

Jul 9 – Cooll morning. Jo Lee and Catharine came up here.

Jul 10 – Put spokes in to Jo Flanders hubbs. Fine day. Had good luck with this. Carried Mrs Semer over to burg.

Jul 11 – Went up to Battlecreek with Jo Flanders after Horse. Frank Hogges Saw Enos smith and Howell. Fine day. Folks all Harvesting, lots wheat cut. Mrs Semer came back.

Jul 12 – Plowed out all the potatoes and beans. Hoed the beans. Fine day, not very hot. A. Brown finished cutting wheat. Henry Semer came here.

Jul 13 – Carried Hannah down to Catharines. All well.

Jul 14 – Worked on wheels, put rims on two and half. Hot day. Ethan went down to Skinners to work. Hot night.

Jul 15 – Worked on wheels some. Hank Started for Muir.[88] I carried his chest over. Went and saw Mrs Hoges buggy. Very hot day.

Jul 16 – Very hot. Work on wheels. Worked on wheels. Fitted rims.

Jul 17 – Put rims on wheels. Rounded up some felloes on fore wheels.

Jul 18 – Finished Flanders wheels. Cool and windy. Skinner finished his harvest. Ethan came home.

Jul 19 – Went over to burg. Bot shoes for Sarah 2.00. Jim bot Hat. Sarah over to Mr Towns sowing.

Jul 20 – At home all day. Ethan went down to Catharines after Hannah and Sis. Fine day.

Jul 21 – Worked on cutter sills some. 4 Paw Show in the burg to day.

Jul 22 – Worked on cutter sills some. Jo Lee here. Lois came home. Henry Semer came over here. Hawley cultivated corn. We setled up for horse work and my work. He paid me 3 Dollars. Warm day.

Jul 23 – Worked in shop on cutter boddy sills. Hot and dry.

Jul 24 – Worked in shop some. Very dry, no rain.

Jul 25 – Worked in shop. Went up in woods, got load wood in Cart. Sarah and Mrs Semer went down to A. Browns. Old cow sick.

Jul 26 – Not much work in shop. Mr Flanders brot paint to paint wheels. Mrs Semer finished weaving. I carried her home. Henry and Dell called here, left team and went over to burg.

Jul 27 – At home. Hot and dry. A. Brown cradled round his oats.

Jul 28 – Worked in shop, painted Flanders wheels.

Jul 29 – Worked on wheelbarrow. Painted wheels over. Hawley cultivating corn. Jo Lee up here all day. Went down to bridge saw them drive spiles.

Jul 30 – Finished wheelbarrow frame. Smothed of cutter box. Went down to Charles Lees with Hawley to see about taking his farm.

Jul 31 – Had a fine shower this morning. Worked in shop.

Aug 1 – Put mouldings on cutter box. Went over to burg. Bot paper, brads, one paper, carpet tacks. Henry Clinton[89] Died in night. Pulled a tooth for Ollive Schram.[90]

Aug 2 – Henry here. Ethan helped him on his moddle. I painted cutter box. Worked on hub some. Mr Flanders came along, told of Mr Clintons Death.

Aug 3 – Henry Clinton buried to day. Went down to Catharines. Nice cool day.

Aug 4 – Worked on Hubbs. Fine day. Ethan worked for Brown. Mrs Brown here. Ezra came and got saw to to saw spiles.

Aug 5 – Worked on hubbs. Mart and Catharine here. I went over to burg with Mart. Eugene Crawford[91] Came along. I rode home with him. They finished driving spiles for Bridge. Extracted tooth for Mart.

Aug 6 – Finished my Hubbs. Worked on wagon pole for M. O. Streators wagon.

Aug 7 – Finished Streators pole 1.50. Sarah went down to A. Browns. Nancy went. Had a nice shower.

Aug 8 – Worked on gearing. Ethan went to Kalamazoo with A. Brown. Ed Flanders came along, left his team here.

Aug 9 – Not very well. Made Spile driver for Jim. Will Clark here. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon. Henry called here just at night. Went over to burg.

Aug 10 – At home all day. Not very well.

Aug 11 – Worked on Jims Driver some. Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg in forenoon.

Aug 12 – Went down to Marts. Got some Baswood boards. Ethan henry went to Kalamazoo.

Aug 13 – Went over to burg with Edwin Flanders. Picknick up in Jesse Earls woods.

Aug 14 – Cut my cornfodder. Henry here to work on Hotell starter.

Aug 15 – Henry and Ethan at work at Hotel Starter. I finished Jims Driver.

Aug 16 – Henry here at work to day. Doctor Alfred[92] Died this morning. Alfleda[93] came here to day.

Aug 17 – Hannah and Adelpha[94] came up. Mr Alfred buried to day.

Aug 18 – Went to Comstock to mill. Got 4 bushels and 14 pounds of wheat of Mart Milham. Will and Cary Plank came here.

Aug 19 – Packed up Nancys things and carried them over to burg. I went up to Hawleys to tell him about Murphys farm.

Aug 20 – Made Door frame for butry door. Lois came up, stayed all night. First team[tram?] crossed new Bridge to night about dark. Very hot, 98 in shade.

Aug 21 – Put netting on Door frame. Ethan, Lois, Hannah and Nancy went up to Wesleys in afternoon. Rained some, hot forenoon, 93 in shade.

Aug 22 – Hot, 98 in shade. Worked in shop some. Edwin Flanders got Buggy wheels. Got the paint.

Aug 23 – Ethan and I dressed out spokes for lumber wagon. Mrs Streator and Nell here. Ida barber came over stayed all night. Cool, 78 in shade. Ground Mr Flanders plane Irons.

Aug 24 – At home all day. Ida Barber here. Dell and Lois came up at night. Henry called here. Carry Plank came in Evening, stayed all night. Wes here. Mr and Mrs Brown came up. Charles Lee and Alvin came up after colts. Hot, 96 in shade.

Aug 25 – Hot and dry. Nancy left for Muir ten minutes past Eight. Alfleda came Back this morning. Hannah went Kalamazoo with Nancy, lost her Parasol. Carry Plank went down to Mr Allertons. Rained North and south of us, no rain here.

Aug 26 – Cloudy and cool morning. Worked on spokes. Went over to burg in morning. Got order on Treasurer for 82 and 60.100 Dollars. Wesly went to Kalamazoo got the money. Got two pigs of A. Brown. Edwin Flanders got their new Roller. Paid Wesley one Dollar and sixty cents out of school money.

Aug 27 – Mended Parasol for Mr David Bronson and one for Louesa. M. O. Streator called here to see Alfleda.

Aug 28 – Ethan gone Down to Catharines with Henry. I am repairing old table. Not very well, sick all night. Picknic over to Pickerel Lake. The Galesburg Band went.

Aug 29 – Warm morning. Ethan worked sum on bobs.

Aug 30 – Ethan got out beams for bobs. Jim pulled beans. I repaired barnyard fence. Jo Lee brot Hellen and Vinny[95] up in afternoon. Rainy night. Jo Lee went over to burg carried over lot Eggs. Got shugar 7 doz.

Aug 31 – Rainy morning at home. Hellen and Vinny here.

Sep 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot Sis shoes 2.00. carried Sis down to Mr Carletons to pick hops. Went to schoolmeting in Evening. I. D. L. Schram Elected Director. Hellen here. Bot Brass Kettle of Jo Lee.

Sep 2 – Alfleda went to Battlecreek. Went up to Wesleys in afternoon. Hellen stayed. Only four of us here to night. Toots Gal[96] Born to night about Eleven P.M.

Sep 3 – Rain day some. Ethan morticed bob runners. Wes called here. I tenonded bob knees. Only four to day.

Sep 4 – Hellen and Vinny came back from Wesleys. Put up Notices for School meting. Went over to burg in morning. Mr Town paid one Dollar for Repairing reaper.

Sep 5 – Hellen came back. Hawley commenced cutting corn. Put the carpet down. Went down to Skinners in afternoon. Left Hellen.

Sep 6 – Ethan and I cut of corn. Eugene Came up here. Henry called here a while.

Sep 7 – Rained some. Eugene and Ethan gone up to Mr Flanders. Went down to Catharines.

Sep 8 – Cut corn. Warm day. Sold Hawley the sleigh. Henry came down.

Sep 9 – Finished cutting corn. Hawley worked in forenoon. Sold my Sleigh to Hawley for 12 Dollars. Paid Nettie Quay 80 Dollars.

Sep 10 – Round home. Worked in shop some. Henry here. Went to Comstock. Went to Schoolmeeting. Elected Coly Durgy Director.

Sep 11 – Worked on case some. Went down to Catharines after Hannah.

Sep 12 – Worked on case. Henry and Ethan worked on machine. Henry went to Comstock.

Sep 13 – Working on case for their machine. Henry and Ethan gone to Kalamazoo. Paid I. D. L. Schram one Dollar on Order.

Sep 14 – Mode hook for case to telegraph. First ice of the Season.

Sep 15 – Finished case. Mr and Mrs Hawley came down here to take farm. Henry and Ethan went down to Mr Fords in Evening to be Swared[?] on their machine.

Sep 16 – Carried Ethan and Hannah Sarah over to burg. Sarah went to Janes. Ethan and Hannah went to Grand Rappids State Fair. Henry Leroy came here stayed until Evening. Went over to burg with Mr Hawley came down cultivated in forenoon, went home. Gave up sowing my wheat.

Sep 17 – Rainy Morning. Not much done to day. Dilinbecks Bull in my garden this morning.

Sep 18 – Went down to Catharines to see about working her land. Pleasant day. Mart making cider. Spence Thomas cow in my garden this morning, in all night.

Sep 19 – Cut tree up in south lot for wood. Cut one Hickory tree. Spencer Thomas cow in my lot. Cut popcorn what was left after Thomas cow had been in and got her part.

Sep 20 – Chored round house and barn. Put cornfodder in barn. Jim husked corn for A. Brown. Hawley came down to see about moveing. Fine day.

Sep 21 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.

Sep 22 – Worked in shop some. Worked at Theodores stuff for car. Hawley brot down some things.

Sep 23 – Hawley moved to day. Came down, hogs, cow and all. Fine day. Eugene came here. He was posting bills.

Sep 24 – Fine morning this. Ethan and Hannah got home. Lois and Mrs Skinner here.

Sep 25 – Built fence down to corner of orchard. Sarah went over to burg. Stayed with Jane Hoag all night. Cow got out. Smith Shapsteen buried to day.[97]

Sep 26 – Ethan went over to burg after Sarah. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Hawley and Ethan picked up load apples. Filed saw for A. Brown 25.

Sep 27 – Hawley and Ethan went up to cider mill. Made 70 galons. Made handles for Maple Grange. Sarah went over to Jane Hoag. Eugene came in Evening. Put hogs in pen.

Sep 28 – Hawley put bell on his cow. Put cows in woods. Rainy day.

Sep 29 – Worked on Skinners wheel. Hawley drawed manure. Ethan boiled cider. Eugene went to Kalamazoo. Ethan went over after Sarah. Spencer Thomas cow got in here in Evening.

Sep 30 – Finished Dels wheel and Marts Grange tools. Hawley moing for Mr Taylor. Spence Thomas cow got in here, eat up pumpkins. Caried Hannah and Ethan down to Catharines. Mart paid one Dollar. Jo Flanders paid Eight Dollars for making wheels.

Oct 1 – Sawed out stuf for Theodores car. Made some blocks for saw. Old Maid Clark buried to day. Hawley helped Taylor draw hay. Jo Lee and Catharine came up here. I went over to burg with Catharine.

Oct 2 – Worked on car some and odder dings.[98]

Oct 3 – Went to Kalamazoo to County Fair. Rainy day. Stayed to Catharines all night. Alfleda came back.

Oct 4 – Got home about noon. No work to day.

Oct 5 – At home all day. Hank and Nancy came in night.

Oct 6 – Went up to Mr Ridlers to rasing in afternoon. Sarah went over to Janes stayed all night. Carrie Knap Died.[99]

Oct 7 – Went over to burg to see about getting rollers to move Hog pen. Ethan to work for the band boys. Carried two Ex sticks over to Mr Burrel. Went down to Dels and Streators. Got 4 four bushels wheat of M. O. Streator $1.35.

Oct 8 – Husked some corn. Henry and Lois here in Evening.

Oct 9 – Husked some corn. Ethan went down to Charles Lees. Hank and Nancy went down to Catharines. Schyler Harris and wife came here. Stayed all night.

Oct 10 – Went to Comstock to Mill. Harris and Sarah went down to Catharines. Pleasant day, warm.

Oct 11 – Drawed in buckwheat, thrashed some, drawed one load corn. Ethan came home in forenoon. Mrs Polly Earl, Hat and Libby Taylor here in afternoon. Pleasant day. Opened Hannahs fellon[100] in Evening.

Oct 12 – Pleasant, cold East wind.

Oct 13 – Thrashed buckwheat. Hawley put corn in barn. Hank left for Chicago.

Oct 14 – Finished thrashing buckwheat. Went over to burg got rollers and pries to move hogpen. Cleaned up buckwheat, had 12½ bushels. Fine day.

Oct 15 – Harriet and Edith[101] here. Made whiffletree for Wes buggy. Sawed out stuf for Catharines rack. Drawed cornfodder. Went over to burg.

Oct 16 – Drawed cornfodder. Went over to burg. Got plank of Burrall. Rained some. Town thrashed wheat. Nancy went down to Browns.

Oct 17 – Some misty. Barber came over helped move Hog pen.

Oct 18 – Leveled up hogpen. Hawley helped. Ed Wilcut[102] came here in afternoon stayed to tea.

Oct 19 – Not well. Ethan, Hannah and Louesa went down to Catharines. Pleasant day. I gathered some Hickory nuts.

Oct 20 – Worked round hogpen, made henroost larger. Jim went up to Wes after Beech nuts. Went back stayed all night. Libby stayed all night. Wes called here in Evening.

Oct 21 – First Snow this morning. Worked on car some. Rainy day. No work.

Oct 22 – Ethan dug potatoes. Put car together. Pleasant day and cool.

Oct 23 – Put wheels on car. Sarah went over to burg to see Jane, stayed all night.

Oct 24 – Went to burg. Took Roolers home. Worked on apple rack. Ethan dug potatoes.

Oct 25 – Carried Mr Knapps pries home. Finished apple Rack. Pleasant day. Hawley finished husking. Went down to Catharines stayed all night. Alfleda went to Kalamazoo with Mr Carlton to see Orson Stars folks. Wm Wheeler got his violin. He paid 75 cts.

Oct 26 – Rainy day. Got some beechnut. Came home in Evening.

Oct 27 – Made bin for corn in cornhouse. Cool wind. Snowed in night.

Oct 28 – Snow 3 inches deep. Hawley started for Hastings. Worked on whiffletrees. Made two for Theodore Earl.[103]

Oct 29 – Went down to Marts. Got hog. Hawley got home.

Oct 30 – Went up in woods cut two trees for sleepers for stable. Snowed like fun, melted fast as it came. Had it sayed on then would have ben 2 inches.

Oct 31 – Drawed two sleepers, some wood. Snowed all day.

Nov 1 – Got one load plank from mill, one load wood. Hewed sleepers. Rained in night. A. Brown get Knife handles made three.

Nov 2 – Ran and snow, bad day to be out. Hawley carried Lou over to Rowlands. Mart came up after Sarah in Evening. Rainy.

Nov 3 – Picked up Apples in orchard. Fine day. Hawley dug potatoes for John Blake.

Nov 4 – Drawed in corn and husked in afternoon. Pleasant day. Hawley helped A. Brown butcher Hogs and sheep. Hawleys Brother had Jack to carry their Boat up to the lake.

Nov 5 – Lucys Baby died about ten AM.[104] Sarah came home. Alfleda came. Pleasant day. Husked corn all day. Hawley dug potatoes for J. C. Blake.

Nov 6 – Pleasant morning. Drawed corn some.

Nov 7 – Drawed one load corn. Went down to Catharines to funeral. Lucys Baby buried to day. Came home in Evening. Rained.

Nov 8 – Drawed sleepers out to barn and some straw.

Nov 9 – At home. Nancy and Jim went over to Barbers. I gathered some Hickory nuts. Snowed and rained some.

Nov 10 – Nancy came home this morning. Received of Town Treasurer twenty five Dollars. Paid James McLarry Eleven and fifteen 100 Dollars. Alfledas Box came 75 cts Express Charge.

Nov 11 – Went up to sawmill got 256 feet baswood boards ½ inch. Snowed like fun. Snow fell 2 inches. Husked 15 bushels corn. Hawley helped one hour and a half.

Nov 12 – Snowey. Husked out what corn there was in the barn.

Nov 13 – Put in floor in stable. Put horses in.

Nov 14 – Put manger in stable. Hawley went to mill. Sent three bushels Buckwheat, one of corn.

Nov 15 – Killed hog, the one I got of Mart. Worked in stable some. Fine day. Wes got plank.

Nov 16 – Lucy and Hannah came up.

Nov 17 – Sawed out Worked in stable on stalls. Ethan and A. Brown went to Kalamazoo after Hanks things.

Nov 18 – Sawed out out thills for wagon, one for sleigh. Stormy day.

Nov 19 – Hawley Killed his black pig. Brown brot up some of hanks things. Paid Mrs Chipman $5.00 five Dollars for cleaning school house. Worked on thills some.

Nov 20 – Worked in barn some on stall. Got stick up to corner. Bradley and Theodore after some ___ails.

Nov 21 – Dick barber brot cross cut saw to be filed. Pedler Layton called here. Sawed out raves for bobs. Drawed in lot corn. Filled barn floor. Fine day.

Nov 22 – Finished hawleys sleigh thill, painted thill. Mr Flanders got his handles. Brot paint down. Hank came home from Chicago.

Nov 23 – Sick all day. Snowey.

Nov 24 – Snow 2½ inches this morning. Hawley gone over to help his father[105] kill beef. Theron went to Battlecreek. Old cow kicked me. Uncle Sam Curtis Died to day Ae 87 yr.[106]

Nov 25 – Worked on bobs some. Snow 3 inches. Husked corn some. Hawley helped J. C. Blake thrash.

Nov 26 – Snows some. Hawley gone up to Blakes. Aunt Mima Curtis Died to day Ae 84 yrs.[107]

Nov 27 – Cleared out shop. Hank and Nancy here. Snow 1¾ inches. Hawley up to Blakes.

Nov 28 – Snow ¾ inches. Jim went down to Catharines.

Nov 29 – Cut out some battings for shop. Will Plank came. Ethan down to Catharines.

Nov 30 – At home all day. Hawleys folks went over with boys just at night with sleigh.

Dec 1 – Sawed some battens, put them on. Ethan drawed load wood. Rained just at night. Hawley at Blakes.

Dec 2 – Rainy day. Worked on bobs all day. Very warm, rain.

Dec 3 – Snow all gone. Worked in shop some.

Dec 4 – Worked on ax helves some. Set glass for shop window. Ethan and Will Plank went over to burg. Very high wind. Hawley Paid three Dollars on sleigh.

Dec 5 – Drawed two loads wood in morning. Ethan went down to Catharines. I drawed lot corn, filled barn floor, put window in shop. Hung ax for O. D. Schram.

Dec 6 – Worked in shop. Put in some battens.

Dec 7 – Rained in forenoon. At home. Ethan down to Catharines.

Dec 8 – Rainy. Husked some corn. Not much done to day. Turned handle for Mr Flanders. He called here, got his handle. Mrs Hawley sick. I went over to burg after Wightman[108] in night. Very muddy.

Dec 9 – Went down to M. O. Streators after some straw. Filled Alfledas bed. Hawleys girl born[109] about one AM this morning.

Dec 10 – Not very well, lame back. Lois here.

Dec 11 – No work, lame back. Cant get around much.

Dec 12 – Rainy day. Ethan went to Comstock to mill. Sarah went down to Catharines. Edith stayed here all night.

Dec 13 – Snows like fun, snow fell ¾ inch. Old Mr Watts fell down cellar and killed himself.

Dec 14 – Lame, no work. At home.

Dec 15 – At home, no work. Repairing violin.

Dec 16 – No work Except on violin. Mart and Toot called here.

Dec 17 – Repairing violin for Climax boy. Back lame as Ever. Mr Watts buried to day. Sarah went. Fine day. Alfleda over to burg.

Dec 18 – Cloudy morning.

Dec 19 – At home. No work, lame back. Paid L. Mead one Dollar pr order.

Dec 20 – Rowe boy got his violin. He paid $1.50. Went down to A. R. Ses[?]. Ethan went over got Gaffing. A. Bartholomew and Haynes boys here in Evening. Brot their instruments. Eugene came. Henry and Frank Tomlinson[110] came here about nine in Evening.

Dec 21 – Snowed some. Went down to Catharines. Mrs Gaffing went. Hannah went home with me.

Dec 22 – Fine day, pleasant and cold. Frank came back. Henry, Dell, Lois and Sate here in Evening.

Dec 23 – Ethan and Hank went up to Wesleys in forenoon. Sarah went to Kalamazoo with browns folks. Got cloak cloth for Hannah. Fine day. Ethan and Hank went up to Flanders in Evening.

Dec 24 – Cloudy 32 Abz in morning. Put hams smoking. Went up to Mrs Semers after money, git none. Received fifty dollars of Town Treasurer. Fine day.

Dec 25 – 39 Abz in forenoon. Paid E. S. Davis $10 ten Dollars. Snowed some in night.

Dec 26 – Snows. Ethan came home. Patty[111] sent me three Dollars.

Dec 27 – Snow 3½. At home, no work.

Dec 28 – At home all day.

Dec 29 – At home. Fixed for butching. D. C. Crawford[112] came here in afternoon.

Dec 30 – Butchered my hogs. Wes helped me. Hawley killed his hog. His Father helped him. Cool. D. C. Left for South Bend Indiana.[113]

Dec 31 – Cool Morning 22 Abz. Not very well.

——-

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

[2] Galesburg, Michigan

[3] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[4] Daughter, Louese Keith. Also referred to as Sis or Lou

[5] Neighbor girl. See footnote for January 22^nd entry

[6] Above zero

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

[8] Henry “Hank” Brown, his daughter Nancy’s husband

[9] Ambrose Brown, Hank Brown’s father

[10] Sarah Skinner, the daughter of Sylvester & Sarah (Knight) Skinner, and the sister of Adelbert Skinner, the husband of Luke’s daughter Lois

[11] Daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown. She and Hank were married October 5, 1872

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

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

[14] His son, Ethan Keith

[15] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Flora Swaddle, age 16, the daughter of W. G. Swaddle, died January 8, 1873, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[16] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Ira Joy died January 9, 1873, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

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

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

[19] Isaac Schram, a neighbor

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

[21] Neighbors, John & Eliza Ann (Young) Bailey

[22] John Wesley Keith, his adopted brother

[23] Charles D. Towne, married daughter Hannah on September 21, 1891

[24] Third wife, Sarah Crawford

[25] Neighbors, William & Celestin Swaddle

[26] Sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[27] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[28] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[29] Matilda (Allen) Brown, Hank Brown’s mother

[30] Neighbor, Harriet (Groat) Plank

[31] Byron, Cora, Ida and Libbie Allen, the children of neighbor, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen, who are mentioned quite frequently

[32] William Plank

[33] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Rev. Phillip Potts died January 25, 1873 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[34] His paternal first cousin. Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee, the brother of Joseph W. Lee and the father of Charles Jedediah Lee

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

[36] Ax handle

[37] His paternal first cousins, Jesse and Alvan Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[38] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

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

[40] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham, daughter of his sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[41] Nickname for his daughter Louese, also called Louesa

[42] Believe he is referring to his neighbor, Hetta (Burgess) Ralph

[43] A search of the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com shows that Clarence G. Wing, age 6, the son of B. A. & Louise Wing, died February 14, 1873; FindAGrave.com reveals that he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[44] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr) Keith, and Oscar’s wife, Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[45] Mary Ann’s father, John Batey

[46] Daughters of neighbors William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[47] Believe he is referring to his neighbor, Joseph Flanders, the father of Edwin Flanders (mentioned previously)

[48] Adelbert Skinner

[49] Catherine E. Keith, the daughter of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[50] See previous footnote

[51] Mertie LaVern Chaffee, the daughter of Thomas & Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[52] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Charlotte Ann (Goodrich) Coe died February 21, 1873 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[53] Edwin R. York was the brother of Joseph York who was married to Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[54] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Amos Chipman died February 27, 1873 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[55] Luke, Nancy and Hank all wrote in their diaries of the Brown and Allerton lawsuit. Luke wrote the following in his diary on November 18, 1872: Mr Allerton drawed some wood for Mr Plank. He asked me about the hogs, did Mr Brown say any thing about the hogs before the trial commenced. I think not. He says we stood by the gate talking, heard the hogs and I started to go to home and Mr Brown followed an we saw the hogs in my lot. This is what he says to day

[56] His grandson, William Byron Clark, son of Lois (Keith) and her first husband, Byron Clark

[57] Charles Lee, his two sons, Alvan and Jesse, and Jesse’s wife, Julia (Toupence) Lee

[58] Rebecca Plank, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank’s oldest daughter

[59] His horse

[60] The Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Nancy (Meade) Goodrich committed suicide on March 21, 1873 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[61] Del and Sate Skinner’s mother, Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[62] Libbie and Ida Clark were the daughters of Loren and Amanda (Taylor) Clark

[63] Neighbors, John & Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton

[64] The son of Sarah’s brother, Edwin, and his second wife, Mary (Hamilton) Crawford

[65] Hank Brown made the following entry in his diary: John T. Allerton licked and drove his gray mare all the forenoon in a shamefull manner

[66] Joseph and Helen (Bradley) York. Helen was the daughter of Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[67] A wooden collar put around a cow’s neck to prevent the cow from getting under or through a fence

[68] Many members of the Lee family were Mormons. Several of them had previously moved to Salt Lake City

[69] 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

[70] One of Ethan’s inventions (see May 14, 1873 letter)

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

[72] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Eliza (Gilfus) Delano, age 19, died May 3, 1873

[73] A ferrule is a ring or cap usually of metal put around a slender shaft (such as a cane or a tool handle) to strengthen it or prevent splitting

[74] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Reuben L. Coe died in 1873 and is buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery, in Climax, Michigan

[75] Cullen Albert Towne, brother of Charles Towne (see footnote for January 16^th entry)

[76] A search of Michigan Death Records at Ancestry and at FindAGrave.com reveals that Sarah (Odell) Potts, age 24, died of consumption May 15, 1873 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Her brother, Azor (Ezra) Potts, age 19, died earlier in the year on January 10, also of consumption. They were the children of Isaac and Polly “Mary” (Shoemaker) Odell. Searching further, three of their other children also died of consumption: Angeline/Adeline (Odell) Youngs, age 29, on June 3, 1874; Jane Ann (Odell) Olin, age 30, on February 13, 1877; and Ellen Odell, age 25, also on February 13, 1877

[77] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[78] Byron & Harriet (Abbott) Hawley

[79] Albert H. Towne (Charles’ and Cullen’s father)

[80] According to a document from the Commissioners of Highways of the Township of Comstock, Luke, as Overseer of Highways in Road District No. 26, was “… hereby commanded and required to take charge of men named in the annexed assessment, and cause them faithfully to work the number of days therein specified …” The men were required to work a certain number of days based on how many acres they owned. While this particular document is for the year 1877, it can be assumed that this is what Luke is referring to for 1873. In 1877, the men Luke was to take charge of, and the days they were required to work, was: Ambrose Brown, 45 acres, ¾ day; __. C. Durkee, 120 acres, 5¾ days; Jesse Earl, 120 acres, 5¼ days; Theodore Earl, 20 acres plus saw mill, 1¼ days; James Ridler, 40 acres, 1½ days; O. D. Schram, 80 acres, 2¾ days; Luke Keith, 35 acres, 1¼ days; Albert Towne, 116 acres, 5 days; H. A. Taylor, 55 acres, 2½ days; Bela[?] Wright, 51 acres, 1¼ days; and John Schroder, 42 acres, ¾ day

[81] A form of malaria characterized by stages of chills, fever, and sweating

[82] His maternal first cousin

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

[84] The widow and daughter of his brother-in-law, Edwin Crawford

[85] Joseph and his wife Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[86] His horse

[87] Sarah’s brother and his family, Henry, Virginia (Worley) and John. Nancy’s 1873 diary also includes George

[88] See Henry Brown’s 1873 diary. He and Nancy were moving to Muir, Michigan to set up his photography business

[89] The Michigan Deaths & Burials Index at Ancestry.com shows that Henry Clinton, age 73, died August 1, 1873 in Charleston, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

[90] Neighbor, Olive Ellen (Atkinson) Schram, the wife of Isaac D. L. Schram

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

[92] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Dr. Melancthon W. Alfred, age 63, died August 16, 1873 in Galesburg, Michigan, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery

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

[94] Marion Adelpha York, the daughter of Helen (Bradley) & Joseph York, and granddaughter of Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[95] Neighbor, Lovina Allen, another daughter of John & Amanda Allen

[96] Catherine Samantha “Kitty” Milham, born to Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[97] According to FindAGrave.com, Smith Sharpsteen died September 23, 1873 and is buried in Oak Grove Cementery, Galesburg, Michigan

[98] Other things

[99] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Cora L. Knapp, age 15, the daughter of William & Eliza Knapp, died October 6, 1873 in Comstock, Michigan

[100] Felon – deep inflammation on a finger or toe

[101] Harriet (Blakeslee) and Edith Keith, Wesley Keith’s wife and daughter

[102] Believe he is referring to his first cousin, Edward G. Wolcott

[103] Neighbor, the son of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[104] Catherine Samantha “Kitty” Milham, born September 2, 1873

[105] Chester Hawley

[106] Samuel Curtis was the father of Sarah, who married Henry Crittenden, who was the brother of Luke’s first wife, Jerusha Crittenden

[107] Mima (Knapp) Anable Curtis was Samuel’s second wife and thus the stepmother of Sarah (Curtis) Crittenden)

[108] Dr. George Ransom Wightman

[109] The 1880 Census lists Laura Hawley, age 7, as the daughter of Byron & Harriet; no further information regarding her has been found

[110] His grand-nephew, Frank John Tomlinson, the son of George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[111] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[112] His wife Sarah’s brother, David Caleb “D. C.” Crawford

[113] Sarah’s other brother, Henry Clay Crawford, lived in South Bend, Indiana

Luke Keith’s 1862 Diary

1862 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 16 were first written in the back of his 1861 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1862 diary. Anything from 1861 that clarifies the 1862 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Father[2] called here. Bot 5 lbs shugar 55¢ ½ lb Tea 40¢.

Jan 2 – Henry[3] & family left. One lb candles 14¢. Put on some seeling. Apple 1¢.

Jan 3 – Hung ax for Wightman 10¢. Sawed out stuf for cutter box.

Jan 4 – Filed saw for A. Austin 10. Lois[4] went home.

Jan 5 – At home all day.

Jan 6 – Filed saw for Williams [received 15¢] paid 15¢. Worked on cutter. Filed saw for Mead 10¢.

Jan 7 – Worked on cutter. Put on fenders. Received letter from Robert.[5]

Jan 8 – Snowes like fun. Made thills[6] to [Milfords] cutter.

Jan 9 – Moved lumber in to the barn. Sarah[7] went over to Fathers.

Jan 10 – [Work on boddy.] Worked on frame to cutter box.

Jan 11 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot Hubbs 1.30 one broom 20¢ shoes for Sarah 1.25.

Jan 12 – At home all day.

Jan 13 – [Running around the burg.] Nothing done to day. Bot clothes pins 5¢. Got Hannah[8] shoe tapt 15. Warner moved his things over here.

Jan 14 – Bot file 16¢ paid Tax 4.84. C. R. [Richardson] Brot 1 & 2/4 cords wood. Filed saw for B. Clark.[9] Filed saw for Warren 10¢. Nancy[10] & Hannah went up to Wesleys.[11]

Jan 15 – Worked on [boddy] cutter box. Wightman paid 10¢. Put handle on fork for Peter Johnson 5. Ethen[12] went down to Catharines.[13]

Jan 16 – Worked on cutter box. Bot screws 10. Bot [Diary] this Book price 38 cts. Sarah went home with Byron.

Jan 17 – Worked on cutter box. Put guards on Richardsons bobs 25¢. Ed Childs making slead.

Jan 18 – Worked on Box some. Ed to work on slead. Filed saw for Mr Smith 10¢. Let Mr Rauson have stick for whiffletree[14] 4¢. Plenty snow.

Jan 19 – Went up to Yorks[15] & Fathers. Called to Milfords.

Jan 20 – Worked on cutter put on dash. Bot nails & screws 9¢. Milford called here in Evening. Let Wesley have $4 & 50 cents.

Jan 21 – Worked on cutter. Finished Milfords cutter. Made pattern for shoes.

Jan 22 – Worked on bobs. Let pond have plank 2.25 cts. Father Brot Beef. Charley got cutter. B. Moore got wheel. Bot two candles 5¢.

Jan 23 – Worked on bobs. Extracted tooth for Elder Austin. Mr Maffit here. Made sausage pessle for D. Lamkin.

Jan 24 – Worked on bobs. Made neap[16] for Charles Richardson 75 cts. Bot one apple 1¢.

Jan 25 – Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Worked on bob neap. Bot paper 3¢.

Jan 26 – Went over to Fathers. Mother[17] went down to Catharines.

Jan 27 – Worked on bobs some. James Millham here. Alvan[18] called. Bot one galon oil 60¢.

Jan 28 – Worked on bobs. Sent letter to Hite[19] 3¢.

Jan 29 – Worked on bobs &c. Good sleighing.

Jan 30 – Put one bob together. Lyman brot his shoes for bobs.

Jan 31 – Sis[20] got hand burnt. Bot salve 25¢. Bot iron & screws 9¢. Made slead for Mrs Hodges. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢.

Feb 1 – Worked on bobs. Received 10.

Feb 2 – Went over to Fathers & up to Milfords.

Feb 3 – Worked on bobs. Sent letter to G. T.[21] 3. Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢. Carried one bob to shop. Richardson Brot one & ¾ stove wood.

Feb 4 – Worked on bob some. Mrs Butterfield buried to day. Lois came home in Evening.

Feb 5 – Finished Earls bobs. Sarah & Lois went over to Mr Halls. Bot salrates[22] 10¢.

Feb 6 – Worked on slead for Mrs Gyle. Got Ethens Boots tapt 37¢ Bot iron & screws 10¢. Richardson Brot one & one Eighth wood.

Feb 7 – Finished Mrs Gyles slead. She paid one Dollar. Bot Lozenges 25¢. Filed saw for Kingsley (25¢).

Feb 8 – Worked in shop some. Chored round. Nancy came down with measles. Hatty Signor died.

Feb 9 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. Lois Ethen and Hannah went in Evening.

Feb 10 – Took down lathe &c. Sawed of some spokes. N. Galt paid one Dollar. Hung ax for Vet Mead 10¢.

Feb 11 – Hung ax for Meads Brotherinlaw 10¢. Set saw for Dutch Smith 10. Went up to Andrew Mc.Clarys. Extracted tooth for his wife 25¢. Garvas Muncil called here.

Feb 12 – Went over to Fathers. Matilda Munsil here in Evening. Stuarts Regiment left Kalamazoo.

Feb 13 – Worked on seat rail. Bot crackers 5¢. Left my boots to Johns to be tapt. Paid 75¢. Received a letter from Hiram.[23]

Feb 14 – Worked in shop some. Bored seat rail. Bot screws 4¢. Henry[24] went home. Ethen & Hannah got the measles.

Feb 15 – Ethen & Hannah got measles. Vet Mead paid 10¢. A. Knight paid 6¢. Bot 5 lbs shugar 63¢.

Feb 16 – At home all day. Benj Hartwell called here. Verry pleasant.

Feb 17 – Pleasant morning. Put seat together for Hartwells buggy. Uncle Jason Wilcut[25] came on the four oclock train went over to Fathers.

Feb 18 – Finished seat put it on to boddy smoothed of boddy. Bot paper 5 one pr comes 1¢.

Feb 19 – Went over to Fathers. Uncle Jason came over & stayed all night.

Feb 20 – Bot salt 25 lbs 31¢. Uncle Jason went over River. Candy 1¢. Worked in shop some finished Hartwells boddy. Richardson Brot 2 & 1/8 stove wood.

Feb 21 – Worked in shop. Mark[26] Catharine & Lucy[27] came up to the Dance in Evening. Got magazine for March.

Feb 22 – Hued some spokes altered over mallet. Eugene Cory paid 10¢. Mrs Hodges paid one Dollar.

Feb 23 – At home all day. Out little young one[28] got the measles.

Feb 24 – Hewed spokes. Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Uncle Jason & T. Flanders[29] here.

Feb 25 – Set saw for A. Austin 5. Jason & Flanders left. Hued spokes. Marshal Austin paid 6¢. Extracted tooth for Earls sawyer 25¢.

Feb 26 – Filed saw for Ely Wightman (10¢). Filed saw for Mr. Minor 20¢. Sawed out gearing for Flanders wagon.

Feb 27 – Sawed out some felloes.[30] Bot paper 5¢. Uncle Jason came over. Got Mrs Wisemans machine.

Feb 28 – Sawed out some felloes. Mended pitman for B. Clark. Bot hive cyrup 5¢.

Mar 1 – Sawed felloes. Bot Book for Hannah 12¢. Filed saw for A. Hoag 20¢. Bot file 10¢.

Mar 2 – Went over to Fathers & up to Yorks. Saw Milfords cutter.

Mar 3 – Filed saw for F. Mead he paid 20¢. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Minor paid 20¢. Nick Galt paid 1.50¢.

Mar 4 – Got out some gearing. Went to corporation Election. Bot rice 10¢ Bot shoes 25¢ Paid postage 26¢. Passenger car broke down.

Mar 5 – Hard cold no work to day. A. McLary paid 25¢. Received letter from Stephen Wilcutt.[31]

Mar 6 – Worked on gearing. Sent letter to uncle Jason postage 3¢. Vacinated Ethen Nancy & Hannah.

Mar 7 – John Kirkwood came this morning. Went after uncle Jason. Came up on the 10.30 train in Evening. Babcock paid $12.25. Filed saw for B. Clark

Mar 8 – No work to day. Got cold. Lois at home.

Mar 9 – At home all day. Byron Emma & Rilly Lee here. Lois went home.

Mar 10 – Rainy. Heard Robbin sing. Mended Fathers wagon put in reach & half crotch. Bot syrup 44¢.

Mar 11 – Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢ Bot oil 25 Bot thread 5¢. Worked on gearing. Filed saw for Mr Smith 10. Henry Crawfords Baby[32] died.

Mar 12 – Worked on gearing. Sarah went to Wisemans. Mr Parker called here. Aunt lib called.

Mar 13 – Worked on gearing & spokes. Father called. J. York brot some spokes. Received letter from Stephen Wolcott.

Mar 14 – Worked on spokes. Cyrus Wheaton brot violin trunk postage 4¢ nitric ascid 5¢.

Mar 15 – Painted B. Hartwells buggy. Bot turpentine 10¢ Bot half galon oil 25¢.

Mar 16 – Ground covered with snow.

Mar 17 – Worked on spokes. Bot gum shelac 14¢ tallow 8¢.

Mar 18 – Made neap to Flanders wagon. Sold P. H. Whitford violin trunk 75¢.

Mar 19 – Made sign for C. P. Galligan 38¢. Bot paint brush 13¢ Bot shugar 13. Got Hannahs shoe tapt 12. Ethen and Hannah went of [sentence incomplete]

Mar 20 – Bot alcohol 3¢ Bot one spool thread 5¢. Flanders brot hay & some straw. Dutch Smith paid 10¢.

Mar 21 – Went over to Fathers. Ground knives for Andrew McLary Recd 19¢. Got some butter.

Mar 22 – Set saw for James Hold__. C. Richardson Brot one & 1/8 stove wood. Bot hoop iron 8¢. James Milham got plank 30¢. Carried two bushels wheat to mill.

Mar 23 – At home. Sarah went to church.

Mar 24 – Worked in shop on gearing. All well. Made block for Wightman spring.

Mar 25 – Filed saw for Joy 20¢. Rounded gearing. John Mooney here. Sarah went to Mrs Stevens.

Mar 26 – Worked on gearing. Filed saw for Jim Eleck 10. Sarah went up to Hoags & Seles. Calvin Streator Left for Ohio.

Mar 27 – Finished gearing. Filed saw for W^m Batt. Got vitrol 1¢.

Mar 28 – Extracted tooth for Albert Johnson. Put in reach for Jesse Earl paid 50¢ Bot paid 10¢. Wesly paid 4.50¢. Went to lecture in Evening.

Mar 29 – Worked in shop on spokes &c. Jim Eleck paid 10¢. Sent letter to Hite 3¢.

Mar 30 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine came up with York.

Mar 31 – Hung ax for D. Lamkin. Hued some spokes. Filed saw for C. Clark. Bot paper _____ 6¢. Paid B. Hartwell 72 cts for J. W. Keith Recd 4¢. Mrs. Tom Kenyon here.

Apr 1 – Went up to J. Yorks. Hannah went over to Fathers rode with James Perry came back with York. Sarah over to Mrs Hodges[Hoages?].

Apr 2 – Rainy morning. Worked in shop some on seeling. Bot chocklate 15¢.

Apr 3 – Mr Noah Starr[33] came this morning went over to Fathers started to go up to A. Chipmans. Flanders brot his hubbs.

Apr 4 – Bot one lb sugar 13¢ Bot licorice 3¢. Worked in shop. Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Bachelder paid 10¢ back charge. Mr. Starr Left For Paw Paw.

Apr 5 – Worked in shop some on banjo. Bot Eggs 16¢ Bot one indelable pencil 25¢.

Apr 6 – At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Apr 7 – No work to day. Went to town meeting. Bot ½ lb crackers 5¢. Richardson brot ¾ cord stove wood. Babcock paid 81.13. Lady Norman Born today.

Apr 8 – Worked in shop. Shaved spokes &c.

Apr 9 – Shaved spokes all day. Bot cloth for capes to shakers 25 Bot spool thread 5¢.

Apr 10 – Finished shaving spokes. Bot lamp wick 1¢. Theadore Earl paid 25¢. Alvan here. Put in reach for Doc Wightman 50¢.

Apr 11 – Worked on hubs. Bot ½ lb Tea 40 Bot on ham 1.94¢ Bot sugar 68¢ thread 2¢. Put Box in trumes cart 5¢. Sutton got his Bangolin.

Apr 12 – Finished mortising hubbs. Extracted tooth for Charles Earl.

Apr 13 – Went over to Fathers found them sick.

Apr 14 – Worked on hubbs some. Put rockers on chair for Sol Kingsley. Flanders brot load straw. Richardson Brot two loads wood. Sarah & Nancy went over to Fathers. Bot oil 3. Got shoe tapt 15¢.

Apr 15 – Put Boxes in Flanders hubbs. Worked on Raymonds wheel. Sarah gone over the river. Ed Drury Brot five loads wood.

Apr 16 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot violin pegs 50¢ strings 80¢ tail piece 50¢ postage 3 Beer 10¢ fare 25¢. Drury Brot two loads wood. Bot Draft for G. T. 94˚93_“29 cts.

Apr 17 – Sent Draft to G. T. 3¢. Drove spokes in raymonds wheel. Joy paid 20¢. Drury Brot two loads wood. Put strings on my new violin. Sarah came home.

Apr 18 – Finished Raymonds wheel. He brot two bushels & 8 lbs wheat 1.70¢ 12½ lbs shugar 125.

Apr 19 – Worked in garden trimed trees cleared out the yard. Filed saw for Wesley. Set out quince trees. Bot oil 25¢.

Apr 20 – Went over to Fathers found them some better. Ethen down to Clarks. Mr. Galligans child[34] buried.

Apr 21 – Rainy morning. Wedged boxes in hubbs. W^m Whitcomb in shop in afternoon.

Apr 22 – Drove spokes in Flanders wheels & commenced rimming. Bot ½ bushel potatoes 12¢. Sent letter to Omro[35] 3.

Apr 23 – Riming wheels. Went down to Lockharts shop. Bored yoke for A. Chipman.

Apr 24 – Worked in shop on wheels putting on rims. A. McLary paid 6¢.

Apr 25 – Worked in shop. Finished Flanders wheels. Flanders paid 25¢ for filing saw.

Apr 26 – Painted Flanders wagon. Extracted tooth for A. Moffit 25.

Apr 27 – Pleasant. Sarah gone to church.

Apr 28 – Worked in garden. Piled up my lumber. Lyman Earl brot five Bushels potatoes.

Apr 29 – Worked in yard. Shelled coffee & Beans. Burnt brush. Bot one dozen Eggs 7¢.

Apr 30 – Worked round garden. Went over & got some early potatoes. L. T. Earl brot 17 fence posts.

May 1 – Went down to Catharines with Mother. Lucy sick.

May 2 – Made bed piece for Ex one boulster for Yorks wagon. Bot saleratas 10. Painted Flanders wagon. Mr Bronson got his gearing.

May 3 – L. T. Earl brot four posts 180 pickets 20 rails. D. Lamkin plowed garden. Plowed garden.

May 4 – Went up to Wesleys. John Wilcut went up to Yorks. Almon Pond[36] married.

May 5 – Worked in garden some. John Wilcut here. Left on the 2 oclock train. Earl brot 250 pickets. Bot dog Eggs 7.

May 6 – Made boulster for hamilton 50 spring bar for Race 39¢. T. Cory paid one Dollar. Lamkins draged garden.

May 7 – Planted onions peas & Radishes potatoes &c.

May 8 – Bot beet seed 5 Lettuce 5. Went over to Fathers. Got some me__ican potatoes. Wesley brot some June potatoes shugar 7.

May 9 – Planted potatoes. Filed saw for Marshal Austin 10.

May 10 – Made yard for pigs & cow &c. D. Hamilton paid 24¢. Paid school bill 1.04.

May 11 – Went up to York ville. Went up the lake.

May 12 – Planted Beans. Not much done to day. Sent letter to Hiram 3¢ one to Henry 3¢ Bot ½ lb Tea 40. Cow out to night.

May 13 – Planted corn and coffee. Filed saw for Mr Hoag 15¢. Rainy.

May 14 – Moved my stringers. Planted cucumbers & mellons. Ethen came home. Hoag paid 15¢. Bot chimney for lamp 10¢. Oatman shot Mrs Stevensons Dog.

May 15 – Worked on A Chipmans wagon. Beach brot his wheelbarrow.

May 16 – Worked on Beaches wheelbarrow. Went down to Circus ground. Bot orrange 5¢ Nancy 2 cents. Hamilton paid 25¢. Circus in Town.

May 17 – Worked on wheelbarrow. Went down to Lockharts. Got four rivets made.

May 18 – Went over to Fathers. Catharine & Mark there. Lois went home. Verry cool day.

May 19 – Snows some cold. Flanders got his wagon. Saw Barny Vosburg. Worked on spokes. Bot one ball wicking 8¢.

May 20 – Heavy frost 3 degrees below freezing point. Worked on spokes. Bot cotton 36 candy 1¢.

May 21 – Shaved spokes for Chipmans wagon. Bot one spool thread 5¢. James Wilber here in Evening.

May 22 – Bot two maple sticks of Pond 15¢. Worked on Exes &c.

May 23 – Worked on Box put box together. Bot screws & nails 18¢. The old man Signor buried to day.

May 24 – Worked on box. Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Bot sundries &c $9.74 Bot Lamp chimney 10¢.

May 25 – At home all day. Sarah & girls went to church.

May 26 – Worked on box &c. Helped T Cory lay his stringers for bridge.

May 27 – Bot fish 18¢. Barny Cory left. Drove spokes in forward wheels put on rim.

May 28 – Finished forward wheels set skeins &c.

May 29 – Worked on hind Ex drove spokes in hind wheels. James S King[37] came on the noon train.

May 30 – Finished Chipmans wheels. Went over to Fathers with King.

May 31 – Let Vanmeter have 154 feet bas boards. Hank paid me 35 cts for scantling. Blanchard paid 25¢. Bot Eggs 6 starch 6.

Jun 1 – Bot 2 & ¼ beef 16 cts. At home all day. King here.

Jun 2 – Painted Chipmans wagon. Baty Brot cultivator. Worked on it some.

Jun 3 – Mended cultivator for Baty 50. Filed saw for Mead 11¢. Bot Eggs 9¢ Bot two combs 15 Drazing 9. Carried wheels down to shop.

Jun 4 – Set skeins & run back and forth to Lockharts. Got wheels & grist brot up 12¢. Beach paid two Dollars.

Jun 5 – Finished Chipmans wagon. James Billings here to dinner.

Jun 6 – Chipman got his wagon paid 8.25. Extracted tooth for Geo Moffit 26¢. Bot cheese 18 Bot Ethens shoes 1.25 one Dollar of his money. Built my Bridge.

Jun 7 – Painted old cradle. Paid Billings for paper 1.00. Went down to Catharines with King. Babcock paid 86.38.

Jun 8 – Came back. Went up by Flanders Wheelers Clapps & Blakes.

Jun 9 – Worked in shop some. Went over to Fathers got some potatoes.

Jun 10 – Shaved spokes. Got boots tapt 37¢ Bot beef 15¢. Father Mother Catharine Lucy & Mark here.

Jun 11 – Went Kalamazoo. Got Draft 88.57/100. Bot _____ shoes 1.25 Tea 38¢. Fare down and back 55¢. King stayed.

Jun 12 – Drove spokes in sulky. Bot paper Envelopes &c 25¢ Bot rice postage 8¢.

Jun 13 – Finished Wightmans wheels. Commenced Austins Ex & thill.

Jun 14 – Put in Ex to austins wagon. Henry came home. Lois & Emma here. Extracted tooth for Austin Chipman 25.

Jun 15 – At home all day. King came back.

Jun 16 – Put in thill & dash in austins wagon.

Jun 17 – Put dash on Als wagon. Bot screws 5¢ Bot saleratas 10 Bot hat 10. Sarah went up to henry Rogers.

Jun 18 – Plowed & hoed my patatoes King went home with Father. Bot Ale 10 Bot Fish 25¢. Sent Catharine some strawberries.

Jun 19 – Dan Rices show in town. Went in in Evening 75¢. Bot cheese & candy 33¢.

Jun 20 – Bot linnen 31 Bot walnut Board for seats 15¢. Worked some on seats.

Jun 21 – Worked on seat. King went over to Fathers. Sold E. Hopkins wheel.

Jun 22 – Went down to Catharines with King. Got Cals violin. Went in swimming.

Jun 23 – Made seat for A. Austin. Bot thread 5¢. Father & King came over. Brot my flour up from the mill.

Jun 24 – Piled lumber in barn. King went over to Kingsleys. Kingsley paid 50¢. Filled tooth for Emmett Cory 25. Went over to Earls took tea.

Jun 25 – Went to Kalamazoo. Got money for Catharine. Bot dinner 15¢ Bot hat for Ethen 32. Went in swimming.

Jun 26 – Cut grass in yard. Bot thread 5 Bot shugar 13¢ Bot Eggs 20¢. Jesse Earl Paid ten dollars.

Jun 27 – Hoed beans &c. Bot stockings & Elastic for girls 50 postage 6¢. Raked up my hay.

Jun 28 – Edwin Childs pd 5.00 A Chipman pd 9.00. Bot beer 5¢. King came back.

Jun 29 – Went over to Fathers. He let me have 25.00.

Jun 30 – Bot coats pants & vest collars & Satchel 15.15¢. Bot beer & candy 14¢. Received 35.10¢.

Jul 1 – Left Galesburg ½ past one AM for Springfield Mass. Fare from G to S 19.70. Bot oysters 25¢ Bot apples 10¢ Cakes 5¢.

Jul 2 – Arrived in Springfield half past 10 AM. Bot cakes 6¢. Went round the Armory ground. Could see the green mountains.

Jul 3 – In Springfield. Went around the City some. Saw their new steam fire Engine work. James & myself got wet some.

Jul 4 – The armory bands formed a procession marched down to City Hall went up to the Armory went on to the tower. Could see Mount tom & green mountains. Fire works in Evening.

Jul 5 – Went down to the car shops up on the fair grounds. Bot oraculum 10¢. Very hot day.

Jul 6 – At George Carletons in East Springfield Mass. Very hot. Went up to the cemetry. Saw some nice yards and monuments &c.

Jul 7 – Very hot. Went on the Arcenal tower 133 steps.

Jul 8 – Went up to Chicopee. Went all through the gun & sword factorys cotton mills &c. Fare up & down 20¢.

Jul 9 – Went up to the water shops. Made out Board bills for G. W. Carleton. Bot mouth glass 25¢.

Jul 10 – Left Springfield. Far to North Hampton 60¢ Hampton to Williams burgh 50¢ Williams burgh to Babylon 30¢. Got to Jesse Wilcutts[38] six P.M. Crackers 5.

Jul 11 – Went up to uncle Joels[39] found them haying. Went down to the Jewel place. Sat down on the rock in front of the old house or where it used to stand. Saw W^m Pinchen.

Jul 12 – Cut my name on tree on town line between Chesterfield & Goshen on uncle Joels farm East of Barn. Went over to the lilly pond on to the old farm where Mother was born. Very smoky.

Jul 13 – Went on to the Corker place & on to the old perry place & the old John Stevens farm south of the Jewell place.

Jul 14 – At uncle Joels. They are Haying. Stayed there all day. Had a shower. Uncl Joel is mowing _____ of putting in most dark.

Jul 15 – Went down to Patrick Bryants Chesterfield hollow went past old uncle ned Keiths[40] place. Got some cider brandy.

Jul 16 – Went down to Jesses Wilcutts and took dinner. Went into Grandfather Keiths[41] house.

Jul 17 – Raked hay for uncle Joel. Went over to Chesterfield hill in Evening to a war meeting. Saw David Beals. Jim shit his Breeches.

Jul 18 – Around the house all day. James & Jason[42] sick. Went over to the old Naremore place.

Jul 19 – Went over to Cole Rain[43] with Jason. Went through Shelburn falls vilage. Got to Cole Rain about 2 PM.

Jul 20 – Went to Leroy Bates and Aunt Catys.[44] Found them well. Rained hard. Went through Greenfield. Bates lives on Deerfield Meadows.

Jul 21 – Went back to uncle Joels. Came through Shelburn. Went into the old Burying ground where Grandfather & Grandmother[45] was buried.

Jul 22 – Went over to Aunt Rhodas[46] & Warren Balls. Found them well.

Jul 23 – At Joels. All his children at home Except three girls. All well.

Jul 24 – Left Joels at seven. Got to Chester ½ past twelve. Martin[47] came with me. Called on Aunt Suzy.[48] Called on old Mrs Dewey.

Jul 25 – Left Chester about 9 Am. Fare to Albany 2.15 cts. Got to Albany at 12 noon. Fare to Rochester 4.58. Got to Rochester ½ 7 Evening.

Jul 26 – At Rochester. Lodging & Breakfast 1.00 Bus fare 20¢ fare to Leroy 70. Arrived ½ past nine Am. Got to Pavilion[49] ½ past twelve noon.

Jul 27 – Went up to uncle Jesse Spragues[50] Orrin Scrantons. Saw Mortimer Maryette & Louisa.

Jul 28 – Went down to Em Kendals. Called on Mr Snows folks. Saw Mary & Julias girl. Heard her play on the malodion.

Jul 29 – At home. Helped George transfer Bees. Went up to Mr Crossmans & uncle Noah Slars.[51]

Jul 30 – Went up to pearl creek.[52] Saw Pond Thomas Miller & Capt Parks John Miller.

Jul 31 – Went up to uncle Sam Curtises[53] & Wyoming. Saw old Mrs Peterson. She was almost 99 yrs of age.

Aug 1 – Left Pavilion half past five got lft Batavia 8.50 Am got to Buffalo 10 Am. Street car & ferry 10 cts fare from Batavia to Detroit $7.70 cts left Buffalo 5 Am or Black Rock rather.

Aug 2 – Left Detroit ½ past 8 Am. Fare to Galesburg 395 py & cheese at Marshal 15¢. Got home 2 PM. All gone from home.

Aug 3 – Went over to Fathers. Found them all well as usual.

Aug 4 – Went over to Fathers. Hannah Nancy went over. Had a terrible hurricane. It blowed down six houses some Barns. Mr Bachelders wife & child[54] was killed.

Aug 5 – Bot steak 12¢. Worked on fence. J M York & Hellen here.

Aug 6 – Worked on fence. Bot pants 1.25 nails 20 candy 1¢. Mr Bachelders child buried.

Aug 7 – Went up to Dilenbecks. Made some fence. Ford got the moddle. Bot four Apples 2¢.

Aug 8 – Made wagon neap for A. Caywood. Paid corporation tax 1.14¢.

Aug 9 – No work to day sick. Bot berries 25¢. Bot 9 lbs shugar 1.00.

Aug 10 – At home all day some sick.

Aug 11 – Went over to Fathers. Mark & Caty Chaffee[55] came home with me. Bot crackers 5¢.

Aug 12 – Bot beef 11¢ Bot Beer 10. Got tug mended 10. Got Nance. Went down to Catharines. Caywood paid 75 cts.

Aug 13 – Went down to Kalamazoo. Bot medicine 50¢.

Aug 14 – Bot goldenseal alum & Borax 5¢ Bot book for Ethen 20¢.

Aug 15 – Piled some wood. Bot codfish 24¢ Bot ½ lb Tea 62 Apples 5¢.

Aug 16 – Bot slate 12¢. Babcock paid 100 & 10.50 cts. Bot shugar 7¢ Bot Geography 25 Bot Extract Blackberry 22¢.

Aug 17 – Went up to Yorks. Got Evensroot. Jo & Hellen came home with me.

Aug 18 – Sent two letters 6. Sent Georges money. Filed saw for James Holden 16¢. Bot tannin 3 Bot Beef 15¢.

Aug 19 – Bot salt 10 Bot panacea 50. Hoed in garden & made door steps.

Aug 20 – Bot glass & putty 24¢. Made jack for D. Lamkins 95. Extracted tooth for Mr Struble 25.

Aug 21 – No work to day. Jo Flanders brot two bushels wheat 2.10¢. Louisa Kingsley here. Alvan called here. Rainy. Mary Townsend Died.

Aug 22 – No work to day. Bot Broom 20¢. Mary Townsend buried. Mr Baty got cultivator. Paid 50¢.

Aug 23 – Hoed in garden some. Miss Toby died. Bot oil 25¢ two Apples 2¢.

Aug 24 – Bot Beef steak 18. At home all day.

Aug 25 – Set up leach. Put up plank for P. Johnson chimney. Bot buts screws & hooks for fish pole box 12¢.

Aug 26 – Worked round. Put water on leach. Got out stuf for box.

Aug 27 – Worked in shop some. Made box for pole. Made lye &c. Bot apple 1¢.

Aug 28 – Made soap. Mowed some weeds. Bot beef 25¢.

Aug 29 – Mowed some weeds. Bot half lb rice 5¢. Repaired fence some.

Aug 30 – Worked round house. Scalded bedsteads &c.

Aug 31 – At home all day. Had a hail storm & rain.

Sep 1 – Went over to Fathers. Bot apples 25 Bot Eggs 24 bot cord 17¢ & lock 17¢.

Sep 2 – Went over to Fathers. He thrashed wheat. Had 107 bushels.

Sep 3 – Worked in shop. Sawed out stuff for Flanders & Bronsons boxes. Bot box matches 5¢ of C. P. Galigan.

Sep 4 – Worked on Flanders Box. Went to hear Huchison Boys sing in Evening. Took Tea down to Beaches.

Sep 5 – Nothing done to day sick not much work to day.

Sep 6 – Went over to Fathers. Bot History for Ethen 50 Bot buttons 9¢.

Sep 7 – At home all day sick. No one here.

Sep 8 – Went after cow in morning. Wesley called here got one Dollar. Went after cow at night.

Sep 9 – Worked on violin some.

Sep 10 – Worked on violin. Dont work much any how.

Sep 11 – Worked on violin put it together.

Sep 12 – Finished violin put on strings. Jo & Hellen here. Had a trotting match in town.

Sep 13 – At home no work. Bot mutton 20¢.

Sep 14 – At home. Went after the cow found her in Sharpsteens lot.

Sep 15 – Sent letter to uncle Joel 3¢ candy & peach 2¢.

Sep 16 – At home round town. Carried most 3 bushels & half wheat to mill.

Sep 17 – Went over to Fathers. Got some veal. Mrs Bachelder[56] died. Mrs Lamb died. Heavy shower in Evening.

Sep 18 – Cloudy & rainy morning. Sent letter to Bob[57] 3¢. Flanders Brot his wagon down. Mrs Bachelder Mrs Lamb & Miss Avery Buried to day.

Sep 19 – Worked on Flanders box.

Sep 20 – Worked on box. Bot thread 3¢. Let Charles Richardson have five Dollars. Sarah went over the river.

Sep 21 – Went over to Fathers. Sarah came home.

Sep 22 – Finished Flanders Box. Bot indigo 6. Filed saw for A Hoag 15¢.

Sep 23 – Mended parasol for Mrs Steel. Sent letter to Jonas Leroy[58] 3. A Hoag paid 15¢.

Sep 24 – Went over to Fathers. Received letter from J. S. King. Went over to Kingsleys. Bot shugar 52¢.

Sep 25 – Worked on Bronsons box. Extracted tooth for Ruth Ann York[59] 25. Mrs Steel paid 25¢. Sent letter to J. S King 3¢. Bot Envelopes 10¢ gum 1¢.

Sep 26 – Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢. Filed saw for Morton 10 filed saw for Morton 10. Bot peaches 25. Cavalry went through. Saw Eugene Ed Drury Chase & Spence Thomas.

Sep 27 – Went over to Fathers in morning. Bronson brot his wagon got 75 lbs bran. Went over to Fathers in Eveing. Evy Clark here. Ethen came home.

Sep 28 – Went over to Fathers. Sarah went to church.

Sep 29 – Worked in shop some on seat and Bronsons Box. Bot meat 15¢ of Morton.

Sep 30 – Went over to Fathers. Went down after Catharine. Mother very sick. Saw Oscar Miles & Harly Seeley.

Oct 1 – Bot file 10 Bot cabbage 10¢. Joseph Lee[60] paid 25. Filed saw for Truax 10¢. Bronson brot runners. Mended clamps & filed saw for Schroder 38¢.

Oct 2 – Schroder paid 38¢. Filed saw for Stranger 10. Filed Joseph Lees saw. Went over and see mother. Put irons on Flanders Box. Recd letter from Hiram.

Oct 3 – Bot 2 lbs steak 14. Patty came this morning. Worked on Bronsons box.

Oct 4 – Worked on Bronsons Box some. Stranger paid 10¢. Oscar called here.

Oct 5 – Went over to Fathers. Mother very sick. I set up with her all night.

Oct 6 – Went over to Fathers with Dr Wightman. Sent letter to G. T. one to uncle Jason 3¢.

Oct 7 – Mother Died half past ten to day. Pattys[61] Trunk came in Evening. Bot chimney for lamp 10¢ salt peter 8¢.

Oct 8 – Old cow in _____. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢ gum 1¢. Mother Buried[62] to day. Had a heavy shower. George Hoges came home.

Oct 9 – Went over to Fathers. Came back with Flanders. B combs 1¢.

Oct 10 – Worked in shop some. Put finger board on violin.

Oct 11 – Worked in shop on box &c. Uncle Jason came. Went over to Fathers.

Oct 12 – Went up to Wesleys with uncle Jason. He went down to Catharines.

Oct 13 – Working on box. Nancy Bot crackers 3¢.

Oct 14 – Put box together. Bot lime 6. Sent letter to Hiram 3. Filed saw for Morton 10 one for Mead 15.

Oct 15 – Bot steak 17¢. Finished Bronsons Box. A. Moffit paid 25¢. Uncle Jason came back.

Oct 16 – Uncle Jason left. Went over to Fathers. Paid Mr Ralph 25¢. Mrs Betts[63] goods came.

Oct 17 – Worked on Flanders seat. Flanders Brot 19 galons cider. Paid Barber 13¢ for draying.

Oct 18 – Finished Flanders seat. Bot chicken 15¢ Bot ribbon for girls hats 62¢ Bot violin string 15.

Oct 19 – Went up to Wesleys got squaw weed. Extracted tooth for Mrs Oatman 25.

Oct 20 – Made pole and roll for D. Lamkins 1.50¢. Sawed out cutter runners in Evening.

Oct 21 – Bristol Brot his wagon. Cut some runners out. Got Bran I guess 150 lbs dont know.

Oct 22 – Worked on Bristols buggy. Made bed peace &c. Bot 43 Eggs of Sol Kingsley 26¢.

Oct 23 – Bot 5 lbs shugar 65¢. Work on Bristols buggy. Made reach.

Oct 24 – Repaired shafts. Hued some spokes. Bot buttons & thread 56¢. Filed saw 10¢. Mrs Guile paid 38¢.

Oct 25 – Went over to Butterfields with hubs. Worked on spokes. Commenced neap for Walter Chipman.

Oct 26 – Went over to Fathers. Went up on hill with Patty & Lucy. Bot 7 lbs pork 42.

Oct 27 – Worked on buggy. Commenced Wightmans wheel. Filed saw for Marshal Austin 10.

Oct 28 – Worked on Wightmans wheel -/17. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Bot colt of S. Kingsley.

Oct 29 – Bot 70 lbs Flour 2.00. Repaired wheel for [blank]. Mrs Betts came.

Oct 30 – Worked on Bristols wheel. Flanders Brot 12 Bushels potatoes.

Oct 31 – Repairing cupboard for Mrs Betts.

Nov 1 – Bot spoon butts & screws for table 55¢. Filander Mead paid 14¢. Bot Bran 36 Bot soup boon 15¢. Ethan went up to Yorks got 2 chicks.

Nov 2 – Shaved some spokes. Lois & Mrs Betts went to church.

Nov 3 – Filed saw for Hoag 5¢ filed saw for Morton 10¢. Took colt up to Flanders. Bot oil 25¢.

Nov 4 – Bot ½ lb Tea 50¢ Bot shugar 25¢. Went to Election.

Nov 5 – Patty & Lucy came over. Bot ginger spice & nutmegs 35¢. Hoag paid 5¢.

Nov 6 – Bot Beef 21¢. Morton paid 10¢. (J. S. King came.) Patty went Back. Bot bran 145 lbs.

Nov 7 – Got pictures made. Went over to Fathers in Evening with Hannah & Nancy.

Nov 8 – Worked round House. King went over to Fathers. Filed saw for Hoag 10.

Nov 9 – Went over to Jesse Earls. Extracted tooth for Mrs Earl 25¢. Went down to Fathers. Patty & Catharine went home with Mark.

Nov 10 – Alvan & Jerome here Kingsley & King. Let King have 20 in gold for 23 pr cent. Let Detroit man have 20 in gold for 28 pct. Bot Beef shank 10. King Left for Home.

Nov 11 – Went over to Fathers. Cut hole through chimney. Dwight Taylor brot load wood for Mrs Betts.

Nov 12 – Worked on Bristols box. Paid school bill 64¢. Boys commenced sawing Mrs Betts wood. Extracted tooth in the night for E. P. Oatman.

Nov 13 – Worked on Bristols Box. Filed saw for Barbers boy one for fry 20. Boys finished sawing wood.

Nov 14 – Worked on box. Patty & Catharine went to Battle Creek.

Nov 15 – Bushed hub for A. Chipman 50¢. Filed saw for Morton 10¢. Bot thread 7¢. Chipman paid 50¢. Stillwell brot corn. Filed saw for A. Hoag 10¢. Bronson Brot wheat.

Nov 16 – Went up to Yorks. Went and got Beechnuts. John Darling and wife there.

Nov 17 – Bot two prs Boots $5.62¢ Bot Bran 45. Oatman paid 50¢. Bot screws 55¢. A. Hoag paid seven cents. Filed saw for A. Lamkins 15¢ one for Earl & Barber 15¢. Bot thread 5¢.

Nov 18 – Worked on Bristols Box. Father Catharine & Patty here. Went up to grave yard.[64] Bot butter 34¢. Wightman got lead pipe. Lois came home.

Nov 19 – Worked on Box put it together put on dash. Went and fixed P. Johnsons stair rail. He got his mittins paid me 75¢.

Nov 20 – Fixed Johnsons Bowl 25. Filed saw for Hoag 10. Made rack for Eugene Cory in Evening 38¢. Shelled corn. Bronson brot shoes for sleigh.

Nov 21 – Filed saw for Mr. Gilbert 15¢ he paid 15¢. Eugene Cory paid 25¢. Went to lecture in Evening. Saw them dance. Bot one lb nails 7¢. Elder Gilbert died.[65]

Nov 22 – Bot brimstone 6¢. Work on Bristols box. Truman Johnson Brot two lbs Butter. Drove spokes.

Nov 23 – At home al day sick. Elder Gilbert buried.

Nov 24 – Went up to Milfords & to Fathers. Hoag paid 10¢. Eugene Cory paid 10¢.

Nov 25 – Got insurance transferred. Worked on box finished wheels[?]. Sold violin timber to George Turner[66] 50¢.

Nov 26 – Filed 3 saws for B. Clark 40¢. Filed one saw for Mrs Geo Stevenson 20¢. Worked on slead. Sarah bot sundries callico &c 4.55¢.

Nov 27 – Bot pork 15¢. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Finished H. Barkers slead. Sawed out some runners. Went over to Austins. Got oyesters in Evening.

Nov 28 – Snows some. Bot file 10¢ Bot thread 4¢. Filed saw for Austin Odell 20¢. Filed saw for A. Austin 15¢. Bot salt 25 Bot beef 15.

Nov 29 – Got out runners. Milford called here. Paid Butterfield 11¢. Charles Richardson Brot one load stalks. Bot chicken 20¢ Bo violin string 15.

Nov 30 – Went over to Fathers. Had roast turkey. Darwin York & Julia Dunning[67] there.

Dec 1 – S. Bristol & Brother Called Ben Hartwell called. Hung ax for P. Johnson 10¢. Getting out Knees & Beams for Bronsons Sleigh.

Dec 2 – Went to Kalamazoo for B. Hartwell. He paid one Dollar 1.00. Bot dinner 10¢. Stephen D. Hall Left.

Dec 3 – Hung ax for P. Johnson 7¢. Bab. paid 23.35¢. Bot shugar 62¢ Bot flannel 28¢ for F. Hawver. Hung Ax for Dea. Cory. Filed and hung new saw for Cory. Patty & Catharine here. Ex^td tooth for Adelphaia York.

Dec 4 – Cut out mittens for Hawer. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Worked on Bronsons sleigh.

Dec 5 – Filed saw for Fry 10 one for Barber 15¢ one for Smith 10 one for Lausen[?] Odel 15. Smoothed up knees and beams runners &c. Patty left for home on the 11.48 train.

Dec 6 – Put Sleigh together hung Ax for Stranger 10¢. Sold him stone 10¢. Barbers boy paid 15¢. Made Adze handle for Austin Odel 25¢. Went over to Fathers in Evening. Got Apples.

Dec 7 – Bot 3-2/4 lbs steak 21¢. At home all day.

Dec 8 – Peter Johnson paid 10¢. Went up to Wesleys Yorks & Fathers. Filed saw for Morton 10¢ filed saw for A. Lamkins 20. Odel paid 50¢. Bot 10 lbs pork 50¢ of Morton.

Dec 9 – Worked in shop. Put seat together. Went up to Wesleys in Evening. Lucy paid 10¢.

Dec 10 – Went up to Wesleys. Got Eight bushels of Ears corn. Worked a little in shop. Alvan cut holes in seat.

Dec 11 – Finished Bristols seat. Worked on bob runners. Bot ½ galon oil 40¢.

Dec 12 – Made springbar for Mr [blank] buggy 50. Barber brot up boards from B. Moores 10¢. Put raves on sleigh.

Dec 13 – Finished Bronsons sleigh. Alvan & Bristol here. Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢ Bot candles 15 Bot sausage 15¢. Nancy & Hannah went up to Wesleys.

Dec 14 – Went over to Fathers. Ethan stayed. Boy Born[68] 9 oclock Evening.

Dec 15 – Warm no snow but muddy. Hoag paid 20¢ Fry paid 6¢. Paid Mrs Ralph 1.00. Bronson brot 71 lbs pork.

Dec 16 – Set shoes on Bronsons sleigh. Bronson brot boards for box. Sawed out stuf for Bronsons box. Filed saw for Walace fry 10¢.

Dec 17 – Worked on Bronsons sleigh box. Bristol got his buggy away. Alvan here. Filed saw for Lauson Odel 15¢.

Dec 18 – Filed saw for John Schroder 15. Worked on sleigh. Bot blewing 5¢.

Dec 19 – Alvan here to dinner. Finished Bronsons sleigh. Commenced whiffletrees.

Dec 20 – Mended Frank Austins slead 10¢. Fry paid 11¢. Finished Bronsons whiffletrees. Paid Sarah Beedle 35¢. Bronson got his sleigh.

Dec 21 – Went over to Fathers. Rather warm thawed some.

Dec 22 – Bot salratas starch & alcohol 23¢. Dick Whiting paid 50¢. Worked on Ned Stevensons slead.

Dec 23 – Finished Ned Stevensons slead. David Bronson Brot four bushels & 20 lbs wheat.

Dec 24 – Piled some spokes. Bot comforter 25 B two pr shoes $2.00. Scudder got bas board 20¢. Bot candy 2¢. One bbl flour found in James Deyoes yard put there by some damd scoundrel or presbyterian Devils to ruin him.

Dec 25 – Sawed out beams & raves for Milfords bobs. Bot matches one Apple 6¢.

Dec 26 – Sawed out two raves for Milfords bobs. Made slead for Ed Gillis 1.25¢. Lois came home. Let James Deyoe have one dollar.

Dec 27 – Worked on bob runners. James Deyoe paid one Dollar. James Flanders brot 8¼ lbs butter.

Dec 28 – Went over to Fathers. Mark brot ten bushels wheat to Catharine. Went up to Yorks. Brot Lucys malodion down.

Dec 29 – Made scate wood. Worked on bobs. Hung ax for Ely Wightman 10¢. Bot lamp 50¢ Bot malassis 60¢ Bot sulphur 6¢ Bot candles 15 candy 1¢.

Dec 30 – Worked in shop some. Could not do much.

Dec 31 – No work to day. Got a great boil on my face. Extracted toth for ruth An York. Ed paid 50¢. Ground Ax for P. Johnson. He paid 10. Postage 3¢.

 

Notes from the back of Luke’s diary:

Petingill McOmber Luke Thayer. I saw their places from the Corker place.

Tell uncle Warren the horse track is plane as Ever in the rock near the corker bars and those little studs at the bottom of the rock in the field. William Wilcutt lives near uncle Joels on the old Zebulon Wilcutt[69] place he preaches.

[July] 15 went past the place that Father & John Wilcutt laid wall and never got their pay.

[July] 21 went & saw the _____ in Goshen it is near the burying ground.

Warren Ball lives on the old Williams or Lyons place.

Aunt Rhoda was up to the old Adam Beals place picking berries.

Joel Wilcutt Chesterfield Hampshire Co. Mass.

Uncl Joel has twenty Grand Children.[70]

Malinda Ebenezar Shaw[71]

Mary William Wells[72]

Rhoda Russel B Packard[73]

Lydia Elexas Wells[74]

Lucretia Henry M Dyer[75]

Clarrissa Alvan Daman[76]

Jesse ” Mary[77]

Alvin ” Mary ann[78]

Martin ” Malury[79]

Aman Lichfield
Miah Luce
Owns the Corker place
Eustice Wilcutt
Chester Mass
Joel Wilcutt
Cummington Hampshire County Mass

Ogden Tomlinson is in the 10th [or 16th] Wisconsin Volunteers

Mail Trains May 5/62
Going East 12.55
” ” West 2.05

Bliss family setted in the town of Springfield 1645
Jothom Damon
Goshen Mass

——-

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

[2] Charles Luke Keith Sr., who was also referred to as Luke

[3] His brother-in-law, Henry Crawford

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

[5] His brother-in-law, Robert Crawford

[6] The long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[7] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[8] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[9] His son-in-law, Byron Clark

[10] His daughter, Nancy Keith

[11] His brother, John Wesley Keith, who, according to the family Bible, was adopted

[12] His son, Ethan Keith

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

[14] 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

[15] Joseph and Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was Luke’s niece

[16] The pole, or tongue, of a cart

[17] Hannah (Willcutt) Keith

[18] Believe this to be his cousin, Alvin Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[19] Nickname for his brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr

[20] Nickname for his baby daughter, Louese Keith

[21] George Tomlinson, who was married to his niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[22] Saleratus; sodium or potassium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent; baking soda

[23] His brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr

[24] This could be his brother-in-law, Henry Crawford, or his son, Henry Keith

[25] His mother’s brother, Jason Beal Wolcott; many of the Willcutts used the alternate spelling Wolcott

[26] “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

[27] His sister Catherine’s daughter by her second husband, George Clinton Lee

[28] Louese Keith

[29] His neighbor, Thomas Flanders

[30] A felloe, or felly, is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes

[31] His cousin, the son of Jason Wolcott

[32] A letter dated 10-11-1861 from Rev. Platt and Nancy Betts stated they had received a letter from Henry and that they had another boy 9 weeks old when he (Henry) wrote

[33] Noah Starr was the father-in-law of Emma (Sprague) Starr, who was the niece of Luke’s sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) & James Sprague Jr.

[34] FindAGrave.com shows that Rose Galligan, daughter of Charles & Sarah Galligan, died April 19, 1862 and was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery

[35] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts, as well as his brother-in-law, Robert Crawford, lived in Omro, Wisconsin

[36] Ancestry.com shows that Almon Pond married Aleena Griswold in Kalamazoo County on May 4, 1862

[37] His maternal first cousin

[38] His maternal first cousin

[39] Joel Willcutt, Jesse Willcutt’s father

[40] Uncertain as to who this is

[41] Luke Keith

[42] His maternal first cousin, Jason Willcutt King, brother of James S. King

[43] Coleraine, Massachusetts

[44] Catherine (Willcutt) Bates; she was married to Levi Bates so don’t know if Luke was referring to him or some other relative by the name of Leroy

[45] Jesse & Katherine (Beal) Willcutt Jr; they are buried in Center Cemetery in Chesterfield, Massachusetts

[46] Rhoda (Willcutt) Hawks

[47] Most likely Joel’s son, Martin Willcutt

[48] Perhaps his great-aunt, Susannah (Willcutt) Stephenson

[49] Pavilion, New York

[50] The uncle of his first wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[51] Noah Starr; see April 3^rd entry

[52] Pearl Creek, New York

[53] The father-in-law of Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith’s brother, Henry Crittenden

[54] Anna L. Batchelder, age 8, daughter of John D & Lucretia (Woodruff) Batchelder, is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Only Anna died, Mrs. Batchelder died September 17, 1862

[55] His niece, Frances Catherine “Katy” (Keith) Chaffee; believe “Mark” is referring to his cousin (see footnote for February 21^st entry)

[56] Lucretia (Woodruff) Batchelder; see footnote for August 4^th entry

[57] Believe he is referring to his brother-in-law, Robert Crawford

[58] The husband of Luke’s maternal first cousin, Edith (King) LeRoy

[59] Ruth Ann (Fletcher) York, the wife of Joseph York’s brother Edwin

[60] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin

[61] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[62] She is buried in the Galesburg Old Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[63] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts

[64] Family story is that Luke would often play his violin at the graves of his first two wives

[65] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Newton Gilbert died on November 21, 1862 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[66] His first cousin Jesse Turner’s son

[67] Charles Darwin York and Julia Dunning would marry on June 11, 1863. Charles Darwin York and Joseph York were brothers

[68] His son, James Clinton Keith

[69] His great uncle

[70] The following names are Joel’s children and their spouses

[71] Melinda Willcutt married Ebenezer Shaw on November 27, 1845

[72] Mary Willcutt married William Wells; date unknown

[73] Rhoda Willcutt married Russell Packard on September 16, 1848

[74] Lydia Willcutt married Alexis Wells on December 23, 1851

[75] Lucretia Willcutt married Henry Dyer on January 12, 1855

[76] Clarissa Willcutt married Abner (Alvan) Damon on October 28, 1858

[77] Jesse Willcutt married Mary Dyer on November 10, 1844

[78] Alvin Willcutt married Mary Ann Crosby on January 9, 1850

[79] Martin Willcutt married Millury Shaw on February 9, 1851

Luke Keith’s 1860 Diary

1860 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Cold 11 Below zero. At home all day.

Jan 2 – Cold 7 Below zero. Bot this Book 62¢ Bot Soap 15¢. Put in Boulster for __. Kingsley.

Jan 3 – Pleasant 11 Abz. Bot iron for slead 61¢. Book came. Screws 20. Paid E. Beckwith 50.

Jan 4 – Cold 12 Abz. Express _____ 14¢. Went over to Fathers[2] Bot Beef 14 got tea Kettle repaired 15¢ Bot one lb candles 16¢. Deyoes[3] moved.

Jan 5 – Snows a little 13 Abz. Got my sled. Sarah[4] went to donation party. Bot ½ lb tea 31¢ one Dollar for work on sled.

Jan 6 – Cloudy 20 Abz. Worked in shop made axhelve for Byington. Rainy day.

Jan 7 – Cloudy 34 Abz. Henry[5] came home. Put the irons on my slead. Bot 3 lbs pork 22¢ Bot screws 7¢.

Jan 8 – Cloudy 36 Abz. At home all day. Henry & Lois[6] at home. Sleighing most gone.

Jan 9 – Cloudy 29 Abz. Killed my pig. Paid Earl 50¢. Bot 50 lbs Flour 11/-.[7]

Jan 10 – Cloudy 32 Abz. Went over to Fathers got pig. Hat Taylor stayed here all night. Bot one lb candles 1__. Snowed in the night.

Jan 11 – Snowey 16 Abz. Made axhelve for Eben Flanders. Bot one old Red Lead 11¢. Bot 15 lbs salt 20.

Jan 12 – Pleasant 7 Abz. Worked in shop some painted sled hued some spokes. Bot stuff for pain Killer 73.

Jan 13 – Pleasant 11 Abz. Worked in shop some. Wesley called here _____ drawed 3 cords wood.

Jan 14 – Cloudy 7 Abz. Worked in shop some Wesley[8] called here.

Jan 15 – Cloudy 30 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Ed York paid me two Dollars. Lois went home.

Jan 16 – Snows some 34 Abz. Sorted my corn. Miss Hoxie & Mrs Bevere here Mrs Earl & Mary Ett here.

Jan 17 – Snows some 23 Abz. Went up to Yorks. Mr & Mrs Carleton to Fathers. Bot five comb 10¢. J. Flanders here.

Jan 18 – Snows some 26 Abz. Hued spokes. Paid my tax 23.70¢. Flanders got his ax.

Jan 19 – Pleasant 20 Abz. Shelled corn. Race[9] broke away down at the old ashry.

Jan 20 – Pleasant 28 Abz. Father & mother[10] Catharine[11] & Mark[12] here. Denormandy[13] here opened Lois Breast.

Jan 21 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Hued spokes for Jesse Earls buggy. Isaac Smith paid 10¢. Bot Envelope to send to George Tomlinson[14].

Jan 22 – Pleasant 31 Abz. At home all day. Hat Taylor & Mary Childs here & S. Newman.

Jan 23 – Pleasant 24 Abz. Worked in shop. Sent G. T.[15] one hundred & 45 Dollars. Lois went home. Sent letter 3¢.

Jan 24 – Cloudy 48 Abz. Worked on Richardsons Wheels. Miles got my violin.

Jan 25 – Cold ground froze 30 Abz. Worked in shop sawed out felloes[16] for Charleys wheels. Lois came home. Flanders Brot load hay. Sent slead up to Henry.

Jan 26 – Cold 24 Abz snowey day. Worked in shop. Got meal from mill. Water over garden race over flows.

Jan 27 – Snows 19 Abz. Worked in shop got out spokes. Race over flowed my yard.

Jan 28 – Cloudy 30 Abz. Water all over my yard. Shaved spokes & put on sand board. Bot one lb candles 22¢.

Jan 29 – Pleasant 20 Abz. At home all day. Mrs Warner buried to day.

Jan 30 – Pleasant 22 Abz. Drove spokes in Charleys wheels.

Jan 31 – Snows 10 Abz. Finished Charleys wheels. Sarah went down to Mr Mansfields. Water higher than ever almost up to cellar window.

Feb 1 – Cold 2 Abz. Went over to Fathers & down to Clarks yard ful of ice good skating.

Feb 2 – Cold & pleasant 9 Abz. Worked in shop & cut some mittens. Wesley here.

Feb 3 – Snowes some 15 Abz. Worked in shop some. Sent letter to Mrs. Betts[17]. Wesley & J. C. Blake here.

Feb 4 – Cloudy 24 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Jo & Hellen[18] there. Came home with Father. Alvan[19] here. Worked in shop some. Bot shoes for hannah[20] 75¢. One pound saleratas 10¢.

Feb 5 – Snows some 30 Abz. At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Feb 6 – Cloudy 32 Abz. Lois came home. Bot 10 lbs shugar 1.00 one lb Tea __2¢ 2 lbs candles 42. Mark got his Buggy. Hannah went over to Fathers. Lois came home.

Feb 7 – Storms some 24 Abz. Worked in shop some. Sarah went over to Fathers. Lois went home. Bronson & Streator here. Bot cloth for shirt 40¢.

Feb 8 – Pleasant 21 Abz. Tinkered round house carried corn to mill. Bot 50 lbs Flour 1.38¢ one apple 1¢. Bohaim Clark Buried to day.

Feb 9 – Cloudy 36 Abz. Charley Brot Load wood. Bot cloth for drawers 31¢ one violin string 25¢ pop corn 1¢.

Feb 10 – Pleasant 4 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Bot coat & Hat and ribbon & Broom 1502.

Feb 11 – Snowed some 19 Abz. No work in shop to day excep sawed of spokes. Bot Sarah shoes 1.13¢.

Feb 12 – Pleasant 17 Abz. Went up to Wesleys Yorks & Fathers.

Feb 13 – Pleasant 34 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Mark here. Bronson Brot 4__ wheat. Bot Boots 5 shoes 75.

Feb 14 – Pleasant. Bot one light glass 7¢. Left home 12 at noon got to Johns[21] 4 PM. Fair from G. to C.[22] 1.30.

Feb 15 – Cold & stormy. Went over to uncle Jasons[23] got there at one P.M. Found them well.

Feb 16 – Very cold. Some head ache. Went over to John Bissels saw Catharine[24].

Feb 17 – Cold. Went over to Lashers[25] from there to Mr Kirkwoods saw Irene[26]. Snowed all night.

Feb 18 – Cold snows. Stayed at Jasons all day. Went down to John Bissels in the Evening.

Feb 19 – Went and saw Lasher.

Feb 20 – Left uncle Jasons half past nine got to uncle Ozens[27] quater past three. Fare from Jonesville[?] to Hudson 65 cts.

Feb 21 – Left uncle Ozens 12. at noon. Got to Adrian[28] half past two. Found aunt Whitmore[29]. Saw Fred Partrige.

Feb 22 – Pleasant. Saw Emmet Crittenden. Bot gloves 25¢. Left Adrian half past 2. Fare from Adrian to Buffalo 9.00.

Feb 23 – Left Buffalo 6 AM arrived in Pavilion[30] quarter past one. Fare from B. to __. 1.00. Breakfast 25. Mending ring 10.

Feb 24 – Cold. Sent letter to Sarah 7¢. Saw uncle Noah[31] and many others donation at the tavern.

Feb 25 – Cold. At home[32] all day. George Sprague & wife[33] here. Saw Mr Gilmore.

Feb 26 – Cold & snows some. Mr Baly Preached. Sylvenas Young called on me.

Feb 27 – Cloudy. Went over the farm & up to the Burying ground[34].

Feb 28 – Rainy. At home. Nelly[35] sick. Saw W^m Sprague. Sarah Crittenden[36] came down.

Feb 29 – Some rainy. Went down to Chaddocks[37]. Carried Sarah. Mrs Kendall visited _____.

Mar 1 – Rainy. Mended stove. Went up to shop with Dr Sprague[38]. Nelly very sick with scarlet fever.

Mar 2 – Pleasant & windy. Horse Excitement at the village. Saw a number of old friends.

Mar 3 – Rainy morning. Nelly no better. Sent letter to Sarah one Dollar in it. Received a letter from Sarah.

Mar 4 – Pleasant. Dr Sprague & Mr Nobles[39] came down.

Mar 5 – Went up to P. Creek[40]. Saw W^m Miller & many other friends. Stayed to O. Scrantons. Went up to the burying ground[41].

Mar 6 – Pleasant. Went Back to Pavilion. Mrs Nobles here.

Mar 7 – Cloudy & cool. At home. Claressa Starr here in the Evening. Nelly not much Better.

Mar 8 – Pleasant. Nelly a bout as usual. Cut down some Locus trees. Received letter from Sarah. Mr Belden[?] & wife here.

Mar 9 – Cold & windy. Mr Belden[?] left. Cut some more trees. Finished Nellys _____.

Mar 10 – Snows cold as greeland. Nelly some better. Patty[42] sick all night.

Mar 11 – Pleasant. At home all day. George & Susan[43] here.

Mar 12 – Snow 3 inches & snows like fun snowed all day.

Mar 13 – Snowey. Sleighs run. Mr Beldon & wife came down went up to the store & got some silk. Susan came down.

Mar 14 – Pleasant. Went down to Emilys. Received letter from home.

Mar 15 – Pleasant. Went to uncle Jesses[44] & Wyoming. Saw old Mrs Peterson she will be 97 in Aug next. Heard Elder H Earls[?] lecture in the Evening.

Mar 16 – Pleasant. Went up to uncle Samuel Curtis[45]. All well.

Mar 17 – Pleasant. Bot Bosom for shirt 44¢. Went up to Mr Starrs after noon.

Mar 18 – Pleasant. Dr Sprague & S. Youngs here in the morning. George & susan here.

Mar 19 – Bot silk for dress and trunk 13.75. Went over to Clarissa Stars. Rained some.

Mar 20 – At home went up to the store. George had a sick turn. Priest here. Hugh Brooks here.

Mar 21 – Very stormy cold & snows like fun. George sick.

Mar 22 – Left Pavilion 6 am got to Leroy[46]. Took the cars went up to ______ came back to Leroy. Left Leroy half past seven Evening. Fare to Buffalo one Dollar 1.00. Arrived in Buffalo 11.20 Bus ticket.

Mar 23 – Leave Buffalo at 9 Am. Fare to Detroit[?] 7.00[?] cost 1.50. Breakfast lodging costing[?] 1.50. Book and plates 35. Got home 4 oclock am.

Mar 24 – Pleasant. At home. Went over to Fathers.

Mar 25 – Snows some. Henry came home. Jo Sherman here.

Mar 26 – Pleasant. At home. At home all day. Alvan here.

Mar 27 – Pleasant morning. Worked in shop some. Byington Brot his Exes. Lois came home. Azeo here. Sent letter to George 3¢.

Mar 28 – Pleasant. Worked on gearing for Byington. Lois at home.

Mar 29 – Pleasant 39 Abz. Worked in shop. Sarah went over the river. Very dry. Sarah had fifty cents.

Mar 30 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on Byingtons gearing. Driest time I ever new in March. Went over to Fathers. Bot ½ lb Tea 30¢. Charley Brot one & 2/4 cords wood. Received _____ J. M. York[47] one gold ring $.10.00.

Mar 31 – Smoky. Worked in shop. Finished hewing Bronsons spokes. Bronson here. Bot on lb candles 22¢.

Apr 1 – Pleasant 34 Abz. Sarah went to church. Painter Smiths wife babtised. Lois at home. 31 cents for Sarah Beedle[?].

Apr 2 – Pleasant 22 Abz. Went to town meeting. Went over to Fathers. Bot 10 lbs shugar 1.00. Watts paid his note 45.45. Paid Cory 59 cents.

Apr 3 – Pleasant 42 Abz. Finished Byingtons gearing. Sarah went over to Wisemans.

Apr 4 – Rainy 52 Abz. Paid school Bill 1.08. Bronson Brot plank. Jake Hill here in Evening.

Apr 5 – Smoky 42 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo. Bot one set Hubbs 1.95 one set rims 1.50. Mrs Tubbs here Evening.

Apr 6 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Went over to H Browns. Made a Deed for Blass. Gave up Masons Deed & mortgage. Received pay 5.50.

Apr 7 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked in shop on Dr Wightmans wagon. Bot Beads for Sarah 10 cm stick candy. Galt paid 1.20.

Apr 8 – Cloudy 52 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Mark there. Rainy night.

Apr 9 – Rainy 44 Abz. Worked in shop. Got out pipe for Mr Warren. Mr Stimpson Brot here & buried. Thunder & hail in the night.

Apr 10 – Pleasant 44 Abz. Finished Warrens pipe. Race Brot his Buggy. Mrs Butterfield here. Lois came home. Bot one box matches 6¢. Paid one Dollar for plats[?].

Apr 11 – Some cloudy 38 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo got Deeds Recorded. Bass Deed 7/- Tomlinsons 7/- C. L. Keiths 6/-. Fare on cars 25 Bot Dress for Sarah 11/- 5 yds pink 5/- 4.25.

Apr 12 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Went over to Fathers to make bargain for farms. Paid Catharine 25¢ bot cord 2¢.

Apr 13 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Finished Races Buggy. Bot one lb nails 5 3 sheets sand paper 3.

Apr 14 – Snowed some 34 Abz. Race got his Buggy 2.00. Cleaned out shop some mended fence. Lent C Richardson 5.00.

Apr 15 – Pleasant cool air 30 Abz. At home Edwin Henry & Dwight stayed here. Sarah went to church.

Apr 16 – Cloudy 50 Abz. Worked in shop put in two spokes for D. Lamkins.

Apr 17 – Pleasant 43 Abz. Worked in shop on spokes. Bot one yard _________ 12½ two lbs candles 44¢ candy 3.

Apr 18 – Pleasant 28 Abz. Worked on spokes. Bot vial of silver plating 25.

Apr 19 – Pleasant 36 Abz. Worked on felloes. Got my Boots Tapt 75¢. Bot one Dearing Knife 75¢ Beer 10¢. Rained in the Evening.

Apr 20 – Cloudy 62 Abz. Shaved felloes. Bot file 62¢ whetstone 14¢ Buttons 5¢.

Apr 21 – Rains 65 Abz. Shaved spokes. Bot spool thread 5¢. Moses Scranlin here. C. Richardson paid 5.00.

Apr 22 – Cloudy 40 Abz. At home all day. Wrote letter to J S King[48] one to E. M. Stratton NY.

Apr 23 – Pleasant 32 Abz. Repaired wheelbarrow wheel for B. Clark[49]. Bot one lb Tea 50 one geography 50 one lb _________ 12 two letters 6 one _____ thread 5.

Apr 24 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Worked in garden. Bot two lbs nails 9¢.

Apr 25 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Worked round garden picked up brush raked up front yard.

Apr 26 – Cloudy 37 Abz. Shaved spokes. Got Ethens Boot mended 25¢.

Apr 27 – Pleasant 28 Abz. Finished shaving spokes for Jesses Buggy. Bot cloth for Ethens apron 25¢ Bot of a ___ Galt _________ &c $3.75 cts.

Apr 28 – Pleasant 32 Abz. D. Lamkins plowed garden. Mr & Mrs Hall here. Aurilly Lee[50] here. Bot vial of stick tile of Mrs Deyoe 25¢. Recd letter from N.Y. E. M. Stratton.

Apr 29 – Pleasant 44 Abz. At home. Henry came home. Lois at home. By got his wheel. Swaddles Boy died.[51]

Apr 30 – Cloudy 58 Abz. Moved Hogpen. Got one number of the coach makers magazine. Bot 3 lbs nails 15¢.

May 1 – Pleasant 31 Abz. Planted some peas & potatoes. Mark Lee & Ed Wilcut[52] & Eugene Bronson[?] here. Let John Flint have 75. Dollars.

May 2 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Worked in garden some. Went over to Fathers. Bot 6 lbs & 6 oz Shugar of E. W. Gale 57¢ ½ lb sulphur[?] 6¢ five apples 5¢ Bot Bible of Mills 1.40¢.

May 3 – Pleasant 41 Abz. Worked in well. Bot one spool thread 5¢ ½ lb crackers 5¢ one paper 5¢. Ethen sick.

May 4 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Planted Lettuce onions & potatoes. Paid Mr Deyoe 25¢.

May 5 – Cloudy 58 Abz. Got some mortar of Stevenson 5¢. Planted potatoes. E. W. Gale paid one hundred & six Dollars & fifty cents.

May 6 – Pleasant 56 Abz. Went up to Wesleys & Yorks.

May 7 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Wesley came and worked on well. Mr Flanders Brot 1 & ½ Bush _____. D. Lamkin Brot 1 & ½ Doz Eggs. Rained some. Some Thunder Evening.

May 8 – Cloudy 68 Abz. Finished bricking up my well. Got 195 brick of T. Cory. Extracted tooth for Mrs Johnson 25 cts. Rained in the night. Flanders Brot over half bush potatoes & some onion sets.

May 9 – Cloudy looks like rain 57 Abz. Planted potatoes onions &c[53]. Mrs Wiseman & children here to Tea. Pulled tooth for Mrs Johnson 25¢.

May 10 – Pleasant 49 Abz. Fixed pump pipes. Sowed some peas. Went over to Fathers got some potatoes.

May 11 – Pleasant 45 Abz. Sowed Raddish & Pepper grass. Planted potatoes. Made platform to well. Bot two lbs nails 10¢. Sarah went to A Hoags.

May 12 – Cloudy 57 Abz. Finished my well. Planted some Beans. Bot fish 40¢. Wesley Brot his rake fingers[?].

May 13 – Cloudy 59 Abz. Sarah went to church. I went down to the river just at night caught 4 fish and got a lecturing for so doing.

May 14 – Pleasant 55 Abz. Made Bedsted for Ethen. Calvin Streator left. Richardson Brot some wood 7/8 of a cord. Sent letter to E. M. Straton 3¢. Lois at home in Evening.

May 15 – Pleasant 55 Abz. Moved beds up stairs. Bot two bushels wheat of Bronson 2.38 two spools thread 10. Alvan called here.

May 16 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked in shop. Bot 4 yds cotton 28¢ One paper cucumber seed 5¢.

May 17 – Pleasant & some like rain 60 Abz. Dressed out spokes for Bronsons wheels. Bot one stick candy. Deyoe & children here to supper.

May 18 – Cloudy 55 Abz. Filed saw for Mead 10¢. Sawed out gearing for Bronsons wagon. Deyoe moved into the Tubbs House his wife gone. Bot file 12.

May 19 – Rains some 49 Abz. Worked in shop fixing _______ 2.00. Whiting Hat 25¢ half lb starch 6¢ one Dollar for sundries. Beckwith Died.[54]

May 20 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Went up north with children. Mr Beckwith Buried. Rained after noon & night. Mrs Deyo came home.

May 21 – Cloudy 56 Abz. Bot 50 cabbage plants 10¢. Let Parker have 10¢. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢. Put in Boulster for H. Chipman 50¢.

May 22 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Worked in shop some. Wrote letter for Parker lent him ten Dollars.

May 23 – Pleasant 45 Abz. Worked in shop some on Jesses gearing. Went to Fathers. Rained in night.

May 24 – Cloudy 60 Abz. Worked in shop Bot one lb tea 50¢ ½ lb pepper 5¢ 2½ lbs veal steak 15¢.

May 25 – Cloudy 60 Abz. Worked in shop. George Hopkins Died. Sarah & Lois went to Adelines.

May 26 – Pleasant 70 Abz. Bot one lb coffee 18¢ two thimbles 5¢ _____ Parker _____ one bushel corn. Mended N. Galts waggon Box 25¢. Ely Wightman Paid 25¢.

May 27 – Pleasant 51 Abz. At home went down to the river. George Hopkins Buried.

May 28 – Pleasant 48 Abz. Made violin neck for Parker. Bot 10 lbs Butter of A. Chipman. Sent letter to J. S. King 3.

May 29 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked on seat for A. Chipman. Mrs S___tin here to tea. Rained just at night.

May 30 – Some cloudy 62 Abz. Worked on seat. Sawed out thill. Bot 5 posts 60¢ 5 lbs nails 20¢. Bot one lb nails 5¢.

May 31 – Cloudy 49 Abz. Uncle Amos got his seat. Made some fence. Paid Father $.3.50. Lois came home.

Jun 1 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Finished my cross fence. Bot 2 lbs nails 10¢ one stick braid 6¢. Bot two bushels wheat of J. Flanders 2.50.

Jun 2 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Hoed potatoes. Harvey came here went over to Fathers saw Alfleda[55]. Rained in the Evening.

Jun 3 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Went in swimming. Harvey got grind stove. Rained in the night.

Jun 4 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Repaired wheel for M. O. Streator[56] 1.00.

Jun 5 – Cloudy 56 Abz. Catharine & Mark here. Pulled two teeth for Sarah. Bot 2 lbs candles 44¢ one lb salratas[57] 10 one paper cucumbers 5¢. Two bushels wheat of M. O. Stre[ator].

Jun 6 – Cloudy 56 Abz. Made form to bend wheel rims for Buggy _______. Rained some. Volina here to tea. Sundries of Gale 50¢.

Jun 7 – Cloudy 58 Abz. __________ for Wightman boys. Bot 10 lbs shugar _____ cloth for Ethen 80¢ file _____. Went down to Catharines. Put thill in Fathers wagon.

Jun 8 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo. Bot cotten cloth 5 prs shoes. Bonnets for girls dress lining &c 15.56 one pair spectacles.

Jun 9 – Pleasant & cloudy 48 Abz. Hoed garden. Sarah went over to Mr Halls. Bot strawberries 10¢ one button 2¢. Myron S. Coe[58] buried. Bot cloth of Galt 1.50 Hdkf 25¢ belts 38¢.

Jun 10 – Pleasant 48 Abz. At home. Went up north. Sarah & children went.

Jun 11 – Pleasant 45 Abz. Drove spokes in hubs for rake got out some of the gearing. Chipman brot one & half bushels potatoes 56¢.

Jun 12 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked on rake. Bot fringe Hooks & Eyes thread &c.

Jun 13 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Got plank of Cross sawed out stuf for boddy to Earls buggy. Lois came home. Celia Newman & Mary Durham here.

Jun 14 – Cloudy 64 Abz. Worked on boddy. Took tea over to Rogers. Bot watch of Parker .3.56 cents. Bot half lb shugar 8¢.

Jun 15 – Cloudy 62 Abz. Worked in shop some. Went to the school celebration. Jo Lees folks[59] here to tea. Bot violin string 13¢.

Jun 16 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked in shop. Sent letter to Hank 3¢.

Jun 17 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Went down to Catharines. Lois went with me.

Jun 18 – Rainy 64 Abz. Worked in shop on Jesses buggy Box. Wesley here paid 3 Dollars.

Jun 19 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked in shop on Earls bugy Boddy. Mrs Kenyon & Mrs Chapman here to dinner. Babtist association. Wesley paid 3 Dollars.

Jun 20 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Br Jones church Burned this morning 3 oclock. Sarah & children went over to Fathers. Worked on rake some.

Jun 21 – Pleasant 53 Abz. Worked in shop some. Sarah came home. Deyo taken up on charge of Burning church.

Jun 22 – Pleasant 57 Abz. Worked on road. Mrs Deyo & children here to tea.

Jun 23 – Foggy 52 Abz. Worked on the road. Mrs Deyoe went to Kalamazoo to see James. Ethen bot some nuts 1¢.

Jun 24 – Cloudy 66 Abz. At home all day. Sarah & children went to church.

Jun 25 – Pleasant 68 Abz. Worked in shop. Bot half lb Tea one lb crackers one lb & 6 oz chees 55¢. Shed Seeley[60] & Mr Struble arrested for burning church. Mrs Hoges lost two shirts.

Jun 26 – Rains some 73 Abz. Worked in shop on rake. Jo Flanders here to dinner.

Jun 27 – Rains some 68 Abz. Worked in shop. Climax constable after L. Beach run for the woods. Bot spool Thread 5¢. Sarah went over to Wisemans.

Jun 28 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Worked on Boddy. Watered my garden for the first time. Paid postage on magazine 12¢. Rained hard in the night.

Jun 29 – Rainy 72 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo to court adjourned. Saw David Smith. Mark & Jo here. _____ 50¢ beer 5¢. Got bag bran of Affleck.

Jun 30 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Got _____ set on rake wheels. Vandusen here to Austins. Bronson brot his Boxes.

Jul 1 – Cloudy 60 Abz. Sarah & children went to church. I went over to Fathers.

Jul 2 – Rainy 72 Abz. Picked some cherries. Started to go to Kalamazoo. Jo York came & got cheries. Shed Seeley came home. Rainy night.

Jul 3 – Rains 70 Abz. Worked in shop some. Mended cradle for J. C. Blake. Henry Crawford[61] came. Bot 5 lbs shugar ½ lb ginger 60.

Jul 4 – Pleasant 72 Abz. Mended cradle for J C B. Henry Crawford went to Battle creek. Bot cradle finger 12¢ bunch fire crackers 8 two lemons 10¢ two violin strings 28¢.

Jul 5 – Pleasant 68 Abz. Mended Kingsleys wheels 75¢. Hellen York came down Jo here to tea. Henry went to Battle creek.

Jul 6 – Rains some 65 Abz. Worked in shop fixed Clarks wheel. Henry went home. Bot Beef shank 10¢. Hellen went home.

Jul 7 – Pleasant 56 Abz. Worked in shop some hoed some. Harriet Perry & Celia Newman here. George Hoges child buried.

Jul 8 – Rainy 69 Abz. All stayed at home. Had diarhea. Had string Beans for supper. Nancy[62] came home from Clarks.

Jul 9 – Pleasant 66 Abz. Diarhea not much work. Backed of Bronsons spokes.

Jul 10 – Cloudy 65 Abz. Not very well. Lockhart got axletree for Earls bugy. Bot seat spindles 75¢ Bot crystal for my watch 25¢ Bot ½ yd cotten 5¢ Bot spool thread 5¢.

Jul 11 – Pleasant cool wind 59 Abz. Set boxes in Earls Hubs. Sent letter to Omro[63] to Mrs Betts 3¢.

Jul 12 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Drove spokes in to Earls hubs. Alvan here. Got Parkers violin.

Jul 13 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Worked on wheels. Mrs Gaffery here. Sarah went down to Barbers.

Jul 14 – Pleasant 65 Abz. Put felloes on to Earls wheels. Bot 3 bands for whipstalk. Edith came down here.

Jul 15 – Cloudy 64 Abz. At home. Alvan here. Mr Deyo came to have tooth pulled. Edith went home.

Jul 16 – Pleasant 68 Abz. Finished Earls wheels. Bot one lb Tea 63¢ five sheets sand paper 5.

Jul 17 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Painted Earls wheels & gearing.

Jul 18 – Pleasant 76 Abz. Worked in shop got circle for pole. Lois came over. Had a heavy shower.

Jul 19 – Pleasant 73 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo to court. Bot one pr shoes 1.50 one pr 75¢ fare 30¢ dinner 23. Sarah bot sundries 42.

Jul 20 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo. Bot hat 1.00 dinner 25 got ring mended 11 thread & gum 3 fare to Kalamazoo 25.

Jul 21 – Cloudy 74 Abz. Worked in shop some. Charly Brot load wood. Bot 5 lbs shugar 50¢.

Jul 22 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Sarah & girls went to church. Ethen & I went over to Fathers just at night.

Jul 23 – Cloudy 65 Abz. Made wagon neap[64] for C. Richardson 200¢ Bot silk thread 5¢.

Jul 24 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked in shop on Earls buggy seats & pole. Bot seven quarts __________ berries 35¢.

Jul 25 – Pleasant. Made pole & whiffletrees[65]. Bot broom 25¢. Sarah went down to Ed Childs.

Jul 26 – Some cloudy 65 Abz. Worked in shop some. Worked on wiffletrees. Went over to Fathers let him have 1.25¢. Saw Mr Moffet.

Jul 27 – Pleasant 59 Abz. Worked on seats. Sarah went to Hoags.

Jul 28 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked in shop. Sarah stayed to Rogers with Sarah Beedle. Had a very violent thunder storm in the night. Set the telegraph office on fire. Bot Bottle of medicine and _____ sleeve buttons.

Jul 29 – Cloudy 73 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Saw Mark & Catharine. Lois there.

Jul 30 – Very foggy 64 Abz. Put Earls box to gether. Flanders brot his Bob shoes down. Parker went to Niles[66].

Jul 31 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked on Earls Boddy & seats. Bot shawl 8.75. Bot screws & beads 38¢.

Aug 1 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Worked in shop some. went over to Fathers. Got some corn & Apples. Bot pair pants of Blackburn 4.50.

Aug 2 – Cloudy 65 Abz. Worked at _____. Bot alcohol 5¢ licorice 1¢. Heavy shower in the night.

Aug 3 – Cloudy 71 Abz. Filed saws & worked on spokes. Bot lat[h]e of Parker let him have violin & 4 Dollars. Bot silk & buttons 6¢.

Aug 4 – Pleasant 70 Abz. Bot Ethen pants 1.62. Barber brot my lathe 12. Sarah went down to Lois with Mrs Earl. Lois came home. Charly sick in the night.

Aug 5 – Pleasant 64 Abz. At home all day. Lois went home.

Aug 6 – Pleasant 69 Abz. Put Bottom on Earls box. Bot spool Thread 5¢. Very hot 95 in shade at noon.

Aug 7 – Pleasant 74 Abz. Worked in shop made boulster for Eugene Bronson.

Aug 8 – Pleasant 70 Abz. Made neap for D. B. wagon. Mr. Parkers folks moved to Battle Creek. Circus teams passed this morning.

Aug 9 – Pleasant 64 Abz. Worked in shop on Bronson gearing. Sarah went over to Fathers to help thrash.

Aug 10 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Went over to Fathers. They thrashed his wheat 307 bushels. Sarah came home. Bot one lb candles 22¢.

Aug 11 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Schuyler Harris & wife here to dinner. Went over to Fathers. Bot Beef 20¢ Bot salt 20¢ Bot shugar 55¢ Bot Butter 25¢ Bot violin string 15¢ cloth for under sleves 25¢.

Aug 12 – Rainy 60 Abz. At home all day. Wrote letter to G. Tomlinson.

Aug 13 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked on gearing. Sent letter to G. Tomlinson.

Aug 14 – Pleasant 42 Abz. Worked in shop some. Deyoe came home from Kalamazoo. Bot sundries for the girls 1.13.

Aug 15 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Shaved spokes. Bot coat for Ethen 2.50¢ Bot trimming for the girls raglins 25¢. Wes Boy Born[67] in the night.

Aug 16 – Cloudy 52 Abz. Shaved spokes. Went over to Ben Hartwells to raise cider press.

Aug 17 – Pleasant 64 Abz. Shaved spokes. Went over to Fathers. Stayed all night.

Aug 18 – Went down to Catharines. Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Bot sundries 7.24¢. Henry came home at night. Ethen stayed with Catharine.

Aug 19 – Cloudy 60 Abz. Henry here. Henry went home. Went over the river with James. Alvan went up to Flanders to painting.

Aug 20 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked in the shop some. Bronson got boulster. Hand organ at station 5.

Aug 21 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked in shop. T. Flanders called in. D. K. Rogers & family left for G. T. City. Bot ½ lb tea 31¢. Bronson Brot 68 lbs Flour.

Aug 22 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Worked in shop on seat risers. Bot 2 lbs mutton beef 13¢ beer 5. Sarah stayed with Mrs Hoag.

Aug 23 – Cloudy rainbow 67 Abz. Put seat together and put straps on bottom of boddy. Bot hoop iron and screws 25. Alvan[?] called here. Mary Childs here. Bot one lb Butter of Mrs Austen 12¢.

Aug 24 – Pleasant 59 Abz. Worked on seats. Bot paper tacks 5¢. Sarah sick. Lois came home in the Evening.

Aug 25 – Pleasant 53 Abz. Finished seat & painted boddy. Mark here to dinner. went over to Fathers. Sarah sick. J____ Sherman got a bit to put in his Dulcimer _____. Bot one lb nails 7¢.

Aug 26 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Sarah sick at home. Sarah sick. Painted Earls Box over.

Aug 27 – Pleasant 57 Abz. Finished Jesse Earls seats. Wesley here. Sarah had the ague.

Aug 28 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Pulled my onions. Bot half gallon whiskey 20¢. Mark & Catharine here. Bot cherries 6¢.

Aug 29 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Painted engine frame & fly wheel. Sent letter to Niles 3¢. Sarah sick as fury. Got tight on onions & whiskey.

Aug 30 – Pleasant 53 Abz. Tinkered round home. Uncle Ozens folks came. Bot half lb crackers 5¢.

Aug 31 – Pleasant 54 Abz. At home. Sarah took quinine. Sick all night. Bot cloth for pants 1.00 Bot quinine 25¢ Butter 11¢ Pears 3.

Sep 1 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Father & mother here got their pictures taken 1.00. Lois came home. 3 candles 6¢ cloth for Ethen Apron 25¢.

Sep 2 – Pleasant 48 Abz. Went over to Fathers got a chicken. Wrote letter to G. Tomlinson.

Sep 3 – Pleasant 53 Abz. Bot sal soda 2¢. Worked round house helped wash. Paid Mrs Earl for making pants 35. Sent letter to G. T. one to E. W. C.[68] 6¢.

Sep 4 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Took my hog over to Fathers 25¢. Bot 4 lbs shugar 44 salratas & Blacking 15¢.

Sep 5 – Cloudy 66 Abz. Left for Dowagiac[69] 2 oclock P.M. Fare to Dowagiac 3.12. Bot _____ & suspenders 2.00. Paid _____ 125 Mrs Austin for B_____. Got Eds[70] about 4 P.M. Bob suspenders 50¢ Bot _____ 3¢. Engine Westwind.

Sep 6 – Cloudy. Helped _____ draw wheat. Bot comb 15. Read wheat 103 pr bushel.

Sep 7 – Had a fine shower. Ed sick with ague. Went over to town with Ed at night. Carried Sarahs pin & left it to be mended.

Sep 8 – Rainy morning. Left Eds 2 oclock P.M. Fare 1.00. Got pin mended 10¢. Got to Henrys[71] about 5 PM. Engine Racer.

Sep 9 – Pleasant. At Niles. Went over the town saw some nice locations. Went up to the school House.

Sep 10 – Pleasant. Sarah not very well. Bot stick gum 1¢ 5 Apples 5¢. Sent letter to Robert[72] 4¢ Whipple 1¢. At Niles.

Sep 11 – Pleasant. At Niles. Moved up by the church[?]. Bot cheese crackers cookies and pop corn 48¢.

Sep 12 – Pleasant. At Niles. Went over the city of Niles. Went up to Burg. Bot soap 10¢.

Sep 13 – Left Henry 3 oclock. Went to station. Fare to Chicago 6.75 one Book 25¢ apples 3¢ _____. Fare to Oshkosh 15.50 crackers ___ _____ 20¢. Got to Oshkosh 7 P.M. Hannah sick.

Sep 14 – Cloudy. _____ at Hotell 2.50 _____ 75¢ crackers _____ 20. Fare to Omro _____ _____. Got to Roberts about seven in Evening. Hannah sick.

Sep 15 – Rainy. At Roberts. Hannah some better. Went over to Omro in Evening. Bot tooth brush 25¢ candy 5.

Sep 16 – Cloudy rains some. Prosper[73] came to Roberts. Elder Betts & lady[74] came. All well.

Sep 17 – Pleasant. All well. Sent letter home. Bot stamps 13¢. Elder Betts & Lady went home. Ethen went with them.

Sep 18 – Pleasant. Went over North west saw them thrash. Rained like fun. Went in to a house waited until it held up. Got wet.

Sep 19 – Pleasant. Went over to Mr Betts. He sold his farm. I went home with Roberts folks. Had a shower. Called at Bunkers. Sarah & children stayed.

Sep 20 – Pleasant. Went to Oshkosh to the County fair. Saw old Mr. Bath. Bot dinner and gum & ticket 38¢. Went to Mr Betts. Had a shower.

Sep 21 – Pleasant day. At Mr Betts. No rain to day. Sarah made satchel for Mrs Betts.

Sep 22 – Pleasant. Went over to Mr Blackmers with Mr Betts. Saw some nice land. Prosper came home. Sarah had the ague.

Sep 23 – Pleasant morning had a thunder shower very hard shower sharp lightning heavy thunder. Pros went home.

Sep 24 – Cloudy cool. Ethen sick. Sarah sick. Stayed at Mr Betts.

Sep 25 – Pleasant. Sarah some Better. Ethen & I went over to Roberts. Got there at noon. Bob of thrashing.

Sep 26 – Pleasant. Ethen has the ague. Steam Boat Enterprise just passed. Went over to Mr McCans[75] took tea. Robert came home at night.

Sep 27 – Pleasant morning. Stayed to Bobs til noon. Mr Betts came over went home with him. Bot 20 grains quinine 20¢.

Sep 28 – Pleasant morning. Well as could be expected. Sarah sick all night. Mrs Wait here. Shot near the vilage of Omro between 9 & 10 oclock P.M. John Sullivan some Eighty rods west of the Bridge in said village.

Sep 29 – Cloudy morn. Went over to Roberts. Bot apples & shoe strings 6. Pros came to Roberts. Went and Examined mills. Saw some good Engines. Got Lois letter.

Sep 30 – Cloudy & cool. Let Robert Crawford have 26 Dollars. Went over to Mr Betts found Sarah some better. Ethen stayed to Roberts.

Oct 1 – Cloudy. At Mr Betts. Nothing new going on. Sent letter to King.

Oct 2 – Cloudy. All well as usual. Went over to Roberts. All well. Bob came home in the Evening.

Oct 3 – Rains some. Went over to Mr Betts after Sarah. Nancy sick. Had a shower _____. Stayed all night.

Oct 4 – Went Back to Roberts. Some rainy. Nancy sick. Bot medicine for Nancy vermifuge[76] & camphor 35¢.

Oct 5 – Cloudy. Nancy better. Mr Betts came over & got Mrs. Betts. Left half past two P.M. Due from Babcock $83.92.

Oct 6 – Pleasant morning. Bot cloth for Ethens pants 1.15 paper & Envelopes 24¢. Pros came over to Roberts.

Oct 7 – Pleasant. Went over to Coffees & Stuarts. Aunt Mary[77] came up.

Oct 8 – Cloudy morning. Went over to Blackburns. Mr Stuarts folks over to Roberts.

Oct 9 – Left Bobs half past 4 AM. Left Oshkosh 7 AM fare from O. to Depere[78] 4.40¢ Apples 10¢ Apples & cider 10¢ Apples 10¢. Got to Kings half past Eight Evening.

Oct 10 – Pleasant. Went over to Credens. Rainy day. Went to Leroys[79] took tea.

Oct 11 – Pleasant. Went to Leroys took dinner & tea. All well as usual.

Oct 12 – Cool & cloudy. At Kings. At Kings. Went & saw the small falls.

Oct 13 – Pleasant. Went down to Depere. Bot boots 1.75 Comb & needles 15¢ Candy 10¢.

Oct 14 – Pleasant. Nancy sick. Went out to the big falls with Mr Leroy. Saw some good country. Saw where a Bear scratched a tree.

Oct 15 – Nancy some better. Worked on the house some. Sarah washed.

Oct 16 – Pleasant. Put in door frame. Took dinner & supper with Leroy.

Oct 17 – Pleasant. At Leroys most of the day. Husked corn.

Oct 18 – Pleasant. Went over to Mr Newtons.

Oct 19 – Pleasant. Went to the Bay. Bot rubbers 1.00 Candy 10¢ Apples 5¢. Took tea at Mr Newtons[?] farm. Stayed all night. Map making at the Bay in Evening. Govonor Randal[80] there.

Oct 20 – Cloudy. At Kings all day. Had headache. Sarah had a touch of the ague. Governor Randal at Depere.

Oct 21 – Cloudy. Nancy went to Depere to church. Stayed with Leroy. Sarah & Ethen down sick.

Oct 22 – Cloudy rained some. Sarah & Ethen had the ague. Stormy. Stayed at Kings all day.

Oct 23 – Rainy. Left Kings half past four got to Depere in AM take the Boat. Fare from Depere to Oshkosh 3.50 cts. Got to Oshkosh at six left ½ past 7. Fare to Chicago 15.00.

Oct 24 – Lft Chicago 7 AM. Fare to Niles 6.75. Omnibus 70¢. Got to Niles 10 A.M.

Oct 25 – Pleasant. At Niles. Milk 5. Left Niles ½ past 11 AM. Got to Eds one oclock. Fare from Niles to Dowagiac 1.00. Sarah sick. Engine 5¢.

Oct 26 – Pleasant. Sarah sick.[81] Left Dowagiac ½ past 11. Fare to Galesburg 3.15. Shugar 5 lbs 47 tea 31. Lois came home. Wesley there. Patty came over.

Oct 27 – Cloudy. At home. Went over to Fathers. Ethen sick. School Bill 1.96¢ milk 5¢.

Oct 28 – Rainy. Called Wightman. Ethen very sick. Patty came over stayed all night.

Oct 29 – Pleasant. Father came over. Bot Butter 25¢ Bot candy 32¢ crackers 5¢. Went up to Yorks & Wesleys.

Oct 30 – Pleasant. Ethen sick. Henry came down. Mr[s?] Flanders here to dinner. Left some cider. Dug potatoes. Richardson brot ½ cord wood.

Oct 31 – Rainy Morning. Thrashed my Beans. Henry went home. Mrs Brainard Brot some cider. Bot Envelopes 8¢ postage 3¢.

Nov 1 – Rainy Morning. Cleaned Beans. Patty came over. Bot Beef 25¢ Violin strings 11. Hiram Beach[82] Died.

Nov 2 – Rainy. Lois came home. Bot rice 21¢ Postage 3. Cut out mittens for B Clark.

Nov 3 – Rainy. Patty went over to Fathers. Picked apples.

Nov 4 – Pleasant. Milk 2¢. Lois went home. I went over to Fathers. Uncle Thomas Flanders there.

Nov 5 – Cloudy & Cool. Postage 3¢. Snowed. Bot gloves for Sarah. Dug some potatoes.

Nov 6 – Snow on the ground. Went over to Fathers stayed all night.

Nov 7 – Pleasant. Over to Fathers. Sarah came home. Richardson Brot ½ cord wood. Bot spool thread 5¢.

Nov 8 – Cloudy morning. York helped me dig potatoes.

Nov 9 – Rainy day. Went to Kalamazoo fare 50 one violin string 10. Alvan called here. Bronson Brot Load wood.

Nov 10 – Cloudy. Went over to Fathers & Yorks. Chored round. Bot candy 3¢.

Nov 11 – Pleasant. At home all day. Henry came down cut his hair. Cut Wisemans hair. Sarah went to church.

Nov 12 – Cloudy looks like rain. Oil up stove in shop. Went over to Hartwells. Made cider 39¢.

Nov 13 – Pleasant morning. Went over to Fathers got milk B ½ lb. spice 8¢ one lb candles 22¢.

Nov 14 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on Flanders Bobs. Amos Chipman at the shop.

Nov 15 – Pleasant morning. Worked on Bobs. Sarah went over to Fathers. I went over at night.

Nov 16 – Pleasant morning. Worked on bobs. Bot stuf for Hoods & cap[?] border &c 1.60¢.

Nov 17 – Pleasant morning. Put in spoke for A Chipman. Bot 6½ lbs Butter of Chipman. Patty & Catharine Hellen Mother & Mrs York[83] here. Bot Beef 32¢ Tea 30¢ Matches 6¢ gum 1¢.

Nov 18 – Pleasant. Sarah went to church. I went over to Fathers. Rained hard.

Nov 19 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot Book 1.25. Fare to K. & Back 50 Cloth 62¢. Paid on judgement 216/16.__.

Nov 20 – Snows like fun. Worked on Bobs. Bot album & postage 5¢.

Nov 21 – Snows fast. Went up to Flanders. Bot 2½ lbs pork 25¢.

Nov 22 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Worked in shop some.

Nov 23 – Went to Kalamazoo Fare 50. Bot cloth 31 Bot Shugar 1.00 apples 4 2 lbs candles 92. Interest on judgement ___34¢.

Nov 24 – Snows 8 Abz. Nothing dun of any account. Bot 50 lbs flour 1.38¢. Babcock paid 88.85¢.

Nov 25 – Cloudy 8 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Cold stormy day.

Nov 26 – Cold snows 19 Abz. Worked on bobs. Flanders Brot timber for racks. Richardson Brot load wood.

Nov 27 – Cloudy 25 Abz. Worked on bobs. Went over to Brainards took tea. Bot Bank note Reporter 1.00.

Nov 28 – Pleasant. Worked on bobs. Bronson Brot ½ cord wood. Bot bottle _______ Bronson 1.00[?] Boots 3.75.

Nov 29 – Pleasant. Alvan here. Lois home. Mrs Birge & Mrs Clark here. Mark called. Alvan stayed all night.

Nov 30 – Cloudy. Worked on bobs. Bot thread 5¢.

Dec 1 – Pleasant. Worked on bobs. Filed two saws Smiths & Schroeder[?] 20. Attended a meeting for the purpose of getting Galesburg incorporated. Bot violin of A. R. Turner.

Dec 2 – Snows some. Went over to Fathers.

Dec 3 – Some stormy. Bot one pr gloves of John D_____ 1.25 crackers 20. Father & Mother & Patty here.

Dec 4 – Cloudy worked on bobs. Flanders here. Sarah went over to Wisemans took tea. Paid Mrs Sprague 10[?].

Dec 5 – Cold. Worked on bobs finished bobs. Alvan left for York state. Bot tea candles 22¢ _______ 10.

Dec 6 – Cloudy cold. Went up to Yorks moved over one load of goods. Sent letter to GT 3.

Dec 7 – Left Galesburg. Moved all things out of the house. Richardson Brot wood. Bot golden seal 3¢.

Dec 8 – Round home. Went over to the burg. Brot the old cat over & forks hoes & rakes.

Dec 9 – Pleasant. At home all day.

Dec 10 – Went over & painted bobs all right. Beckwith moved one load in to the house. Snowey day. Got plank of Eugene Bronson.

Dec 11 – Changed stoves. Put ours in the Kitchen. Went over & got one load brot my Boyler over.

Dec 12 – Cold & snowey. Split up my wood. Stayed at home. One Dollar for butter of mother.

Dec 13 – Cold good sleighing. Choped wood some. Went over and took my bench down.

Dec 14 – Chopped wood. Father & mother went down to Catharines. Patty & Catharine came up with them.

Dec 15 – Pleasant. Patty & Catharine went up to Hellens. Brot my tool chest over & some other traps. Bot Book for Ethen 12¢.

Dec 16 – At home. Carried Sarah over to church. Went up to Yorks & got Patty. M. O. Streator & wife[84] here in Evening.

Dec 17 – Pleasant. Helped wash. Harvey came up with Mark. Went over to the burg. Flanders got his bobs.

Dec 18 – Rains some. Sarah went to the Burg to Benajah Aldrich funeral. Rainy day & night. Whiting moved.

Dec 19 – Rainy. Cleared the Cridland House. Went up to Yorks in the Evening. Lois came home. Sent letter to G. T.

Dec 20 – Cloudy Rained some. Went over to the Burg got my Bench over. Richardson drawed it over.

Dec 21 – Snows like fun. Worked up to the shop. Stormy day snowed & blowed all day.

Dec 22 – Moved my stuff out of the shop. York helped me. Carried Patty & Mother up to Hellens.

Dec 23 – Pleasant. At home all day. Wesley came down & cut my hair.

Dec 24 – Very cold. York came down went & drawed my lumber over.

Dec 25 – Snows. Went over and got my potatoes. B two prs shoes 1.50 and skein thread 5.

Dec 26 – Pleasant. Worked in shop. Put up bench. Bot book 25 paper 10. Sent letter to Omro 3 licorice 1.

Dec 27 – Worked in shop commenced Charleys sleigh.

Dec 28 – Cold. Killed nine hens. Bot chisel 50 clasp for door 12 Bill for attending _______ 25 one chamber 35 half lb tea 25. 1.50. Carried Miss Hoxie down to Raywoods.

Dec 29 – Stormy. Richardson Brot load wood. Worked in shop some. Sarah & Patty went over to Celia Newmans.

Dec 30 – Cold day. At home all day.

Dec 31 – Pleasant and cold. Killed my pig. Wesley helped me.

——-

Notes in back of diary:

Henry Cruttenden[85] Died Sept 15 1854 Ae 52 years

Composition tooth filling
2 parts silver
5 parts tin

Francis Mulvy
Bridget Cooney
Wm Matthews
Rachelle or Gag___ wagon

Magazin
E. M. Stratton
No. 106 Elizabeth Street
New York
Smith & Bosworth
Linden Geenesee Co. N.Y.

Dr Harris called at Chatham Columba county N.Y. stayed with Mr Betts & preached on the sabbath

David Crawfords[86] post office address
Mountain City or
Dunivan City
Denver City R.T.

Bank of Southern Illinois Bolton

The diary also contains ledger entries for the year and diary entries for January 1-13, 1861 (see the 1861 diary transcription).

——-

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

[2] Charles Luke Keith Sr., who was also better known and referred to as Luke

[3] James & Paulina Deyoe

[4] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[5] His son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

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

[7] /- is the symbol used for shilling. A shilling was a coin of Colonial America and varied between 12¢ and 16¢

[8] His brother, John Wesley Keith who, according to the family Bible, was adopted

[9] An artificial channel or bed of a stream leading water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, such as a mill or a mining claim

[10] Hannah (Willcutt) Keith

[11] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[12] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s diaries and it is believed that he is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind with the Keith family to run his father’s farm.

[13] Luke refers to a Dr. DeNormandy several times in his 1859 diary

[14] George Tomlinson, husband of Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[15] George Tomlinson

[16] A felloe, or felly, is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes

[17] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts

[18] His niece and her husband, Helen (Bradley) and Joseph York

[19] His maternal first cousin, Alvin Turner

[20] His daughter

[21] Believe this to be John Crittenden, the brother of his second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith.

[22] Concord, Michigan, which is where John Crittenden lived

[23] Jason Wolcott

[24] The granddaughter of Luke’s Uncle Jason Wolcott; Catherine was the daughter of John and Waity Catherine (Wolcott) Bissell

[25] 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

[26] John and Irena (Wolcott) Kirkwood. Irena was Luke’s maternal first cousin

[27] Ozen Keith

[28] Adrian, Michigan

[29] Martha (Keith) Whitmore

[30] Pavilion, New York

[31] Noah Starr, the father-in-law of Luke’s brother, Harvey Keith

[32] From future entries it appears that he was staying with George Tomlinson

[33] George and Susan (Tomlinson) Sprague. George was the maternal first cousin of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[34] Most likely Pavilion Cemetery where several members of the Crittenden and Sprague families were buried

[35] Nelly Tomlinson, the daughter of George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson. Nelly was about five years old at the time

[36] Sarah (Curtis) Crittenden. Sarah was the widow of Luke’s second wife Jerusha’s brother, Henry Crittenden

[37] Joseph and Sarah (Crittenden) Chaddock

[38] William M. Sprague, who was a cousin of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[39] John Nobles, who was married to Mary “Polly” Sprague, another cousin of Jerusha’s

[40] Pearl Creek, New York

[41] Most likely Pearl Creek Cemetery where many Sprague family members were buried

[42] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[43] George and Susan (Tomlinson) Sprague; George was another of Jerusha’s cousins

[44] Jesse Sprague, George Sprague’s father and Jerusha’s uncle

[45] Father-in-law of Jerusha’s brother, Henry Crittenden

[46] LeRoy, New York

[47] Joseph M. York, who was married to Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[48] James S. King, his maternal first cousin

[49] His daughter Lois’ husband, Byron Clark

[50] Aurilla Lee, the granddaughter of his aunt and uncle, Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee

[51] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Freddie Swaddle died April 30, 1860. He is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan, and the inscription reads: Little Freddie Fell Asleep, 8y

[52] Edward G. Wolcott, his maternal first cousin, the son of Warren and Electa (Damon) Willcutt

[53] Et cetera

[54] A search of FindAGrave.com shows a William Beckwith died in 1860 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

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

[56] Marius O. Streator

[57] Saleratus; sodium or potassium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent; baking soda

[58] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Myron Coe died June 7, 1860 and is buried in Prairie Home Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[59] Joseph and Lois (French) Lee and their son, Ansel Lee

[60] Shedrick Seeley

[61] His wife Sarah’s brother

[62] His daughter, Nancy Keith

[63] Omro, Wisconsin

[64] The pole, or tongue, of a cart

[65] 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

[66] Niles, Michigan

[67] James Harvey Keith

[68] His wife Sarah’s brother, Edwin W. Crawford

[69] Dowagiac, Michigan

[70] The family apparently was staying with Edwin

[71] Sarah’s brother, Henry Clay Crawford

[72] Sarah’s brother, Robert Crawford

[73] Sarah’s brother, Lucius Prosper “Pros” Crawford

[74] Sarah’s mother, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts, and her second husband, Platt Betts

[75] Robert Crawford’s father-in-law, John McCann

[76] Medicine used to destroy or expel intestinal worms

[77] Possibly Nancy Betts’ sister, Mary (Comfort) Wickersham

[78] De Pere, Wisconsin

[79] Jonas & Edith Ann (King) LeRoy

[80] Alexander Randall was the sixth governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1858 – 1861

[81] The family was visiting relatives from September 5^th through October 26^th and Luke mentions quite often that Sarah was sick. Since their daughter, Louese, was born July 3, 1861, it is quite possible that at least some of Sarah’s sick times were due to morning sickness

[82] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Hiram Beach is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. He was born in 1841 to David and Sarah (Bassett) Beach.

[83] Presume he is referring to Joseph York’s mother, Dorothy (Boardman) York

[84] Neighbors, Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[85] The brother of his second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[86] His brother-in-law, also known as D. C. Crawford