1881 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]
Jan 1 – Went over to Burg[2] in morning Evening. Bot sack Buckwheat flour.
Jan 2 – Went down to Marts[3] in afternoon. Not so very cold. Ed Hoges came over to see Pete.[4]
Jan 3 – Carried Sarah[5] down to Mrs Browns[6] to help Butcher, they no Butcher some. I went down just at night got 4 four bushels wheat.
Jan 4 – Received a letter from Mrs Whitmore of Cal-a. Carried Sarah down to Mrs Browns, they Butchered. Carried wheat to mill. Mrs Betts[7] went over to Nancys[8] to see Doctor, she saw him some.
Jan 5 – Jim[9] commenced work for Harry Streator.[10] He took Pete with him. Went over to Burg in afternoon to see Nancy. Old Mrs Ralph came here. Extracted two teeth for Mr Ralph.
Jan 6 – Went over to Burg. Got county order. Not much done only chores.
Jan 7 – Cold and some Blustring. Drawed six loads wood and chored round. Alfleda[11] sick unto life, me spec so sum.
Jan 8 – Mercury one below zero at seven Am. Not much done but chores. Went over to Burg in Evening got oil. Nancy some better.
Jan 9 – At home all day. Mercury 4 below zero in morning. Very good sleighing about 4 inches snow. Alfleda sick. Hannah[12] over to Nancys.
Jan 10 – Drawed two loads wood in forenoon. Mercury 18 B. Went over to burg in afternoon. Old Mrs Stannard buried to day. Dee Dee Harris[13] left on night train for Phoenix.[14]
Jan 11 – Went down to Browns in morning. Mercury 4 below zero.
Jan 12 – Mercury 10 below zero. Worked in shop on patterns.
Jan 13 – Worked in shop on patterns.
Jan 14 – Worked in shop on patterns. Catharine[15] came up stayed all night.
Jan 15 – Carried Mrs Betts over to Hoags. Worked on patterns. Sarah, Katharine and Ethan[16] went over to burg in Eve.
Jan 16 – Mercury 2 below zero in morning. took down Went down to Katharines carried her home.
Jan 17 – Worked on patterns in afternoon. Cleaned out stovepipe in forenoon.
Jan 18 – Carried Sarah over to burg in morning went after her at night. Mrs Dick Barber[17] very sick.
Jan 19 – Wm Batt called here. Filed crosscut saw for Ayres Raymond. Strait here. I worked on patterns in afternoon. Charley, Mate and Tamer[18] here in Evening.
Jan 20 – Worked on patterns. Finished core Box. Mr Knapp came over. Ethan and Sarah went over to burg in Evening. Took Lelah[19] home.
Jan 21 – Worked some on patterns. Turned 33 pump tops for Theodore.[20] Hawley turned the Lathe. Barber[21] came over.
Jan 22 – Worked on patterns all day. George Barber[22] came over to see patterns. Mrs Barber some better to day.
Jan 23 – At home. Julia and Alvin Lee[23] here. Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to A. Browns[24] with them when they went home. Good Sleighing.
Jan 24 – Snowey day. Raised the Lathe Power in fore noon. Chored round. Cut some wood in afternoon. Yound Doc Upjohn[25] called here.
Jan 25 – Snowey. Went over to burg in morning took Hannah over. Hung ax for Mr Wm Batt. Snowey day very good sleighing.
Jan 26 – Worked round chored &c.[26]
Jan 27 – Cut wood in forenoon drawed two loads in afternoon. Went over to burg after Hannah.
Jan 28 – Worked on patterns. Pleasant, good sleighing.
Jan 29 – Made door for Alfledas Room. Carried Sarah over to Burg in Evening. Mrs Holcomb Died to night.
Jan 30 – Rial French came here. I went down to Katharines, Rial went down with me. Went over after Sarah.
Jan 31 – Cut wood in forenoon drawed wood in afternoon. Carried Hannah down to A Browns. Ethan went up to Staffords.
Feb 1 – Very Blustrous day. Went over to Burg in morning Bot one Barrel Salt $135 cts. Brot Mrs Browns Sister Margaret[27] over took her down to Browns.
Feb 2 – Made stall for for the Cow in west End of stable. Very cold.
Feb 3 – Cut oak tree in road up towards the corner. Made wash bench in Evening. Claud[28] here. Mercury 11 below zero in Evening.
Feb 4 – Very cold mercury 22 Abz.[29] Went up in woods. Cut wood in forenoon, drawed wood.
Feb 5 – Chored around. Carried Mrs Betts over to Burg in afternoon.
Feb 6 – Went over to Burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. Went down to Mrs Browns in Evening.
Feb 7 – Nancys girl Born this morning about five oclock. Rainy day. Name Bessey Ray.[30] Rainy day. Jim stayed home to cut wood, no cut some.
Feb 8 – Went over to Burg in morning. Rainy. Cut and drawed some wood.
Feb 9 – Don nodings[31] all day cept went up to valley garden got some cabbage 85 heads one cet pr head. Rainy day rained hard in night.
Feb 10 – Rainy. Fan calved a Bull clf about half past Eight this morning.
Feb 11 – Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to the burg in morning. Hawley chopping. I chopped in afternoon cut up two trees on hill. Very icy.
Feb 12 – Cut Road to wood that Hawley and I cut in fore noon. Drawed four loads wood in afternoon. Went over to Burg in Evening after Sarah. Mrs Betts no come home. Old Mr York died to day.[32]
Feb 13 – Cold and Blustring. Jim home a while. Harry went to church.
Feb 14 – Worked on patterns for Strait worked 7 hours.
Feb 15 – Worked in shop on patterns worked 7 hours.
Feb 16 – Worked in shop on patterns worked 7½ hours. Whiting got the calf.
Feb 17 – Worked on spider pattern. Bot fence lock. Ed Wilcot[33] came here stayed all night. Snowed in the night.
Feb 18 – Snowing like fun.[34] Ethan carried Ed down to Marts. I went over to Burg in Evening. Whiting paid for the calf.
Feb 19 – Split wood and chored around in fore noon drawed four loads wood in afternoon. Some cold.
Feb 20 – At home all day. No one here.
Feb 21 – Drawed four loads wood. Worked worked in shop some.
Feb 22 – Worked on spider in forenoon. Charley Town[35] filed his saw. Barber drawed some corn. Made frame for picture for Mr Jackson.
Feb 23 – Worked on patterns in forenoon 1½ hour. Charley Clark[36] came over in afternoon.
Feb 24 – Worked round house and shop. Charley Clark came over here.
Feb 25 – Worked in shop some. Went over after Clara Clark.[37] Jeddadiah Walker of Covington Genesee Co N.Y. died to day Ae. 71 Years.[38]
Feb 26 – Worked round sawed some wood. Got 31 Heads cabbage of Herbert Earl[39] got them out of the snow.
Feb 27 – At home all day. Rainy day. Charley and Clarra here.
Feb 28 – No work much to day. Charley and Jim choped some. Marvin Pond called here in afternoon.
Mar 1 – Chored round. No do much work some where.
Mar 2 – Cleaned out Barn. Spected load straw, he no cum. Charley went over to burg. Jim let me have twelve shillings.[40]
Mar 3 – Some thunder and Lightning, snows like fun. Harry Streator Brot load straw. I went down to Streators in afternoon got four bushels wheat paid $2.00 on it.
Mar 4 – Lois,[41] Charley and Clara and Ina[42] went up to Mr Lemuel Bronsons. Mr O. D. Schram Died this morning.[43] Old Mrs Thomas Died this Evening.[44]
Mar 5 – Went up to Howlands to mill in forenoon. Snowes like fun.
Mar 6 – At home all day. Lois and Charleys folks came back to day. Very Pleasant day. Mr O. D. Schram Buried to day.
Mar 7 – Went over to Burg in morning got boards plain for Jules cradle.[45] Made cradle. Charles, Lois and Clarra went down to Marts. Old Mrs Thomas Buried to day.
Mar 8 – Chored round drawed some wood. Carried Lois and Hannah up to Mr Flanders.[46]
Mar 9 – Sarah went down to Mrs Browns. I brot cradle back cut it off one foot, took it back. Charly went to Kalamazoo.
Mar 10 – Carried Lois, Hannah and Louese,[47] Clarra down to Mrs Browns in morning.
Mar 11 – Not very well. Mrs Browns Auction to day. Cold wind. Mr J. D. Adams died this morning.[48]
Mar 12 – Snows like fun very Blustrous. Lois and Ina went home to day.
Mar 13 – Went down to Katharines went with sleigh.
Mar 14 – Cut down cherrytree East of house. Charley and Ethan cut it. Filed crosscut saw for Harry Streator 25 bucksaw for N. L. Randall[49] 15¢.
Mar 15 – At home all day not much done. Charley left for Jackson. Mrs Woolcuts Auction to day.
Mar 16 – Hawley chopped wood for me to day. I got out rim for Hawleys wheel.
Mar 17 – Choped wood to day. Hawley worked with us cut two large trees. Filed saw for Will Brown.[50] Set saw for Mr Taylor. Mrs Isaac Cory Died.[51]
Mar 18 – Chored round. Sawed some blocks of the cherry tree.
Mar 19 – Stormy day snowed and rained all day.
Mar 20 – Some snow some rain. Hannah came home. Will Brown went over after Hank[52] and Nancy.
Mar 21 – Not much work done to day. Henry[53] came home to day went up to Mr Flanders in Evening.
Mar 22 – Went over to Burg in afternoon. Got our pictures taken for Henry.
Mar 23 – Went over to burg got pictures taken.
Mar 24 – Em Daken married to night at home. Sawed out stuff for herbs stuff for frames. Net Rowland married to night.[54] Henry and Florence Stahl married this Evening.[55]
Mar 25 – Dressed out stuff for frames. Henry and Florence here to day. Pleasant day muddy as fury. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Ed Flanders.[56]
Mar 26 – Finished Herbs frames. Henry and wife went to Kalamazoo in Evening.
Mar 27 – At home all day. Sold Jim my glass. Ethan, Hannah and Louese went down to Katharines. Stella and Mary[57] went down.
Mar 28 – Choring round. Snow most all gone off. Went over to burg in Evening got money for Alfleda on order.
Mar 29 – Pleasant morning sun came out nice. Mr David Snow Died to day at Pavilion NY Ae. 88 years.
Mar 30 – At home no work to day not very well. Snow fell about 3 inches not very cold thawes some. Ethan went over to burg to send letter to West.[58]
Mar 31 – Drawed some wood on sleigh. Went down to Mrs Browns.
Apr 1 – Worked in shop some. Not very cold. Mrs Lankford Burdick Died this morning.[59] Snow running some.
Apr 2 – Nell had a calf this morning. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to pay L. C. West $25.00 for patent which Henry agreed to pay.
Apr 3 – Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to Mrs Burdick funeral. Snowed like fun not very cold. Went over after them towards night.
Apr 4 – Went over to town meeting. Cold wind.
Apr 5 – Worked round shop and house some.
Apr 6 – Went over to burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to see the Bramah girl.
Apr 7 – Chored round. Sarah washed to day I helped make water. Charley Town got hurt to day by a lim falling from a Tree.
Apr 8 – Pleasant morning. Worked in shop some.
Apr 9 – Went up in woods in morning. Cut road. Drawed load wood. Went over to burg after Nancy. Harry got Nells calf.
Apr 10 – Jim and Nancy went down to Katharines. Jesse Earl[60] called in here he was going over to see Charley Town. He got hurt by a lim of a tree.
Apr 11 – Went over to burg in morning. Sold Nell to Mrs Brown Will took her a way. Katharine and Hannah and Lou[61] came home. Snowed in night.
Apr 12 – Drawed load wood on sleigh this morning. Carried Sarah over to Nancys. Went over after them in Evening. Sarah went and Stayed with Jule all night.
Apr 13 – Mr Schuyler husking corn over in Browns lot. Carried Katharine home in afternoon. Pleasant day. Harry Streator brot Mrs Betts ½ cord wood.
Apr 14 – Chored round. Went over to burg.
Apr 15 – Snowed and rained. Drawed load wood. Carried Hannah and Lou to the burg in Evening. Henry sent Sarah 3 Dollars.
Apr 16 – Had a big run after the cow. She got in a darn Bulling Scrape. Lois and Dell[62] came stayed all night.
Apr 17 – Lois and Dell went home. Rainy morning rainy afternoon. Mrs Ellen Milham Died in night.[63]
Apr 18 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Lucy[64] and children came up. Went up to Jims.[65]
Apr 19 – Pleasant morning. Went to Ellen Milhams Funeral. She was buried in Oak Grove Cemetry.
Apr 20 – Very pleasant day. Drawed some wood. Got some boards of Theodore 60 feet Beech boards.
Apr 21 – Made Sparagrass ro bed set one hundred roots. Ethan took Lous trunk over to burg in Evening.
Apr 22 – Pleasant morning. Lou went to Chicago[66] went on 9.9 train AM. Alfleda went down to Bloomingdale.[67] Nice day. Julia Allen died eight oclock this Evening.[68]
Apr 23 – Carried Mrs Betts over to Burg. Went down to Browns after Sarah.
Apr 24 – Julia Allen Buried to day. Very hot day. Mrs Hicks of Battlecreek officiated.
Apr 25 – Went over to burg to see Dick Lamkins to get him to plow. He sick. Went up to Erve Halls got him and John Isherwood. Got out manure some. Erve went down to Streators.
Apr 26 – Erve and John commenced plowing. I got out manure. Fine day.
Apr 27 – Pleasant. Boys are plowing. Got out manure.
Apr 28 – Went down to Streators to get Drill. Got out some manure. Mr Simmons raised Barn. Got Mr Simmons Drill.
Apr 29 – Boys sowed oats and clover seed. Fine day. Finished sowing.
Apr 30 – Went down to streators. Carried Oats and Bags home. Got some potatoes of Mrs Brown. Hank, Nancy & Hannah went to Kalamazoo to show.
May 1 – Made casket for Ida Lees Baby. Will Johnson carried it down. Ethan and Jim went up to Staffords to see Steamer Lacell start for Battle Creek.
May 2 – Chored round. Drawed some wood. Went over to Burg took Back clover seed. Bot 3 bushels & 15 lbs wheat of Mrs Brown took it to mill.
May 3 – Worked round house and garden. Carried Hannah up to Jesse Earls. Got my grist. Sowed sum grass seed round East lot. Mart came up with colt. Had Bill[69] to go up to Jims.
May 4 – Carried Mrs Betts over to cars she go to Chicago. Cool wind. Fred came up got Bill to Plow left Caty. I went over to Burg after Sarah drove Caty. Burnt brushheap in south lot.
May 5 – Cloudy morning. Worked round house and garden.
May 6 – Spread manure in garden. Took up carpets helped round house. Ethan painted bedroom.
May 7 – Took up carpet in grannys[70] room put it down in our bedroom. Sarah and Ethan papered bedroom. Very hot Mercury 105 in sun at 2 oclock. Went down to Marts stayed all night.
May 8 – At Marts some. Hot day. Came home at night. Rained som ledle not much.
May 9 – Went over to burg got some cloverseed sowed it. M. O. Streator[71] plowed East garden. Hank traded of Caty Bine Durgy Cat Mrs Browns colt. Streator, Fred and Mrs Summers Father here during shower. Fine shower in Evening. Theodore and Bools[?] called.
May 10 – Cloudy some sprinkle in morning. Worked round house and garden took fence down south side orchard.
May 11 – Worked round garden and chored round generally &c.
May 12 – Went over to burg. Worked round house. Very hot some.
May 13 – Carried Sarah down to Mrs Browns to do some coloring. Went over to Burg bot tun Plaster of Ira Rogers $5.00 paid for the same. Mrs Brown paid $7.50 on heifer.
May 14 – Cleaned out cellar in forenoon. Hot day.
May 15 – Hank and Jim had Bill to go to Hickory corners. Jesse Earl and I went down to Marst after some Elicornpane.[72]
May 16 – John Isherwood and Erve Hall plowed my corn ground four acres $4.00 $1.60 cts back on oats. Put cow into Herbs pasture.
May 17 – Got Caty Brown and the float went over my corn ground. Mr Ford, John McNaughten covering J. T. Allertons[73] Barns.
May 18 – Marked my corn ground one way and part of it the other. Mrs Hank Potts[74] and Mrs John Freeer[75] here visiting to day. Hot dry.
May 19 – Finished marking my corn ground in fore noon. Went down to Mrs Browns got some seed corn. Jim planting corn finished planting before night.
May 20 – Planted some potatoes. Chored round. Mr Fisher came after Hannah just at night. Very dry.
May 21 – Thomas A. Scott Died to night. Went down to Mrs Browns got some potatoes brot sewing machine home. Ethan and I planted potatoes plowed a patch for Burbank Potatoes. Cow gone to night.
May 22 – Cow came home this morning. Hot & dry. I went up by Mr Ralphs. Wheelers and Flanders and Streators called at Browns. Arthur and Kit[76] there.
May 23 – Planted my Burbank potatoes. Erve & John sowed plaster on the oats. Very Hot and dry.
May 24 – Carried Sarah and Hannah over to Burg in morning went after them in Evening. Mary Fisher called here. Kate Cummings Died to day.[77] Hot and dry. Sent Dutch Cheese to Kate C.
May 25 – Hot morning. Fixed up Grape vine. Went over to burg at noon after Mrs Betts she came on one oclock train. Went over got 300 lbs salt $1.05.
May 26 – Very hot. Cut off rails to Hat Taylors Bedstead in fore noon. Kate Cummings buried to day. To hot for me to work out. Daniel Raymond Died to day in South Warsaw Wyoming County N.Y.
May 27 – Chored round. Very hot and dry.
May 28 – Drawed brush and chunks of wood up in woods and drawed 3 loads wood.
May 29 – Carried Mrs Betts over to church. Went up to D. J. Harts to see Lois. Mercury 105 in sun.
May 30 – Sowed plaster on corn in forenoon. Jim carried Sarah over to burg in morning. Cow got out lot. Went over to burg in Evening after Sarah, Mrs Betts and Hannah. Decoration day. Gefired hot.
May 31 – Cloudy morning. Finished sowing Plaster on corn ground. Very hot had a glorious rain rained all night.
Jun 1 – Some ledle rain this morning. Worked round. Got cabbage and tomotoe plants set them.
Jun 2 – Planted in corn. Very hot. Rained in night.
Jun 3 – Went over to Burg in morning after Lois. Worked on road in forenoon planted in corn in afternoon.
Jun 4 – Warm morning. Lois here. Went over to burg after Lois she came over stayed all night.
Jun 5 – Carried Mrs Betts Betts over to burg. Lois came over with Hank. Hank and Nancy went to Kalamazoo. Went over after Mrs Betts.
Jun 6 – Went over to burg after cultivator. Cultivated corn in afternoon. Rained all night. 44 years to day I started for Mich.[78]
Jun 7 – Rainy morning. Hank gone to Lawton.[79] Went down to Mrs Browns got some potatoes.
Jun 8 – Made cultivator frames for Herb Earl. Cool day. Ann McLellen Died ½ past nine P.M.
Jun 9 – Went down to Mrs Browns after boards to make Box for Jules Bureau. Edna Allen[80] came up on noon train went back on 9.
Jun 10 – Cultivated corn south of orchard. Ethan cultivated garden. Charley Town moving his Barn.
Jun 11 – Finished cultivating in forenoon. Worked on box in afternoon. Mrs Betts went over to burg to sell stove.
Jun 12 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went down to Marts. Rained in night some thunder. Ann McLellen Buried to day.
Jun 13 – Nice morning. Plastered corn. Ethan went over after Mrs Betts she no come no find him.
Jun 14 – No work to day not much. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts got him. Finished Mrs Browns Box.
Jun 15 – Went over to the burg Bot Paris Green. Carried Box down to Mrs Browns got Bureau down. Cultivated corn in afternoon sum. Back very much lame.
Jun 16 – Went down to Mrs Browns in morning. Nailed up Box sent it of to Iowa. Cultivated corn in forenoon. Very hot day. Ethan and Nancy went over to Burg in Evening.
Jun 17 – Fred Billington cultivated corn all day he finished one way.
Jun 18 – Plowed out Burbank potatoes hoed in garden sum. Hank and Claud came from Lawton. took Hank & Nancy down to Mrs Browns.
Jun 19 – Took Hank & Nancy down to Mrs Browns in morning. Hank cut my Hair. Jim and Bill went to Gull Lake.
Jun 20 – Worked round house and garden shop some. went up to Mr Flanders got some wheat.
Jun 21 – Worked in shop some on cradle. Went to mill.
Jun 22 – Mended Caywoods cradle. Carried Nancy down to Mrs Browns.
Jun 23 – Cultivated corn all day.
Jun 24 – Will Brown cut grass in forenoon I raked it up in afternoon.
Jun 25 – Rainy morning. Nancy went to Lawton on one oclock run. Mrs Brown and Mrs Cook[81] came home from Allegan on one oclock train.
Jun 26 – At home all day. Warm day. Put up my hay.
Jun 27 – Chored round. Turned out Break for wind mill.
Jun 28 – Very hot day. Went over to burg in morning after medicine. Mrs Brown and Mrs Cook here in afternoon. Mrs Cook left for Home[82] on night train.
Jun 29 – Had shower this morning Early. I bunched up my hay cocks before the shower. The Willard Tower on Paw Paw Hill Blowed down this morning.
Jun 30 – Will Brown finished cutting my grass in forenoon. The Propeller Lacelle passed here about ten oclock on her way to Long Lake. Captain Strait and Enginere Austin on Board.
Jul 1 – Went over to Burg in morning bot Rake 25 finished Raked up my Hay in afternoon. The folks ____ went up to Mr Ralphs.
Jul 2 – Went over to Burg in morning bot Rake 25 cts. Drawed in my Hay in afternoon.
Jul 3 – Jim took Mrs Betts over to burg. Sarah and I went down to Katharines. Mart and John drawed hay. I raked after the wagon &c. Berness Clark Died to day.
Jul 4 – Ethan took Hannah over to burg. Mrs Betts came home. Cows got of the lot went and got them back. Mrs Earl paid 40 cts for mending chair.
Jul 5 – Chored round. Very hot. Hoed some.
Jul 6 – Not very well. Hot and dry. Charley Town repairing Barn these days.
Jul 7 – Worked round picking Potatoe bugs. Rainy day.
Jul 8 – Worked round garden hoed some. So hot not so much.
Jul 9 – Not much work. Very hot day. Charley Town cutting wheat.
Jul 10 – At home. Hot as Blazes. Katharine, Clara and George[83] came up.
Jul 11 – Mrs Betts had a bad spell this morning. Carried Hannah down to Mrs Browns in afternoon.
Jul 12 – Very hot Mercury 112 in sun at nine am. Mate Ford[84] had a Boy this morning.[85] Strait came over.
Jul 13 – Went to Kalamazoo after Harry he came on the 1.38 Express.
Jul 14 – Took cow to Bull this morning. Repaired fence on river. Worked on Herb Earls cultivator some. Went down to Mrs Browns. Bessey sick.
Jul 15 – Worked on Herbs cultivators put the big one together. Went down to see Bessey in afternoon she got measles. Carried frames down. Deacon Havens Died.[86]
Jul 16 – Worked round. Finished Herbs cultivators. Filed saw for Theodore. Went over to burg in Evening bot Linnen pants 1.25 cts. Bot Oil Stove for Katharine Price $11.00 Eleven Dollars .
Jul 17 – Carried Katharines Stoves down to them. Deacon Jesse Havens buried to day.
Jul 18 – Worked in garden some hoed, plowed potatoes
Jul 19 – Worked in corn. Hot day.
Jul 20 – Worked in corn in forenoon. Turned out Steeples for Charley Towns Barn. Calvin turned the Lathe. Rainy afternoon. Mabel Powers Died.[87]
Jul 21 – Worked round. Barnums Show in Kalamazoo.
Jul 22 – Hank, Ethan, Nancy and Hannah went to Battlecreek to the great show. Mabel Powers buried to day. Worked some on Door frame.
Jul 23 – Worked on door frame some. Went over to Burg got Bolts one ¼ inch auger one small file 38 cts.
Jul 24 – Hank came over and got Bill to go up to Tip Towns.
Jul 25 – Worked on Door frame. John commenced cutting the oats with Royes Reeper.
Jul 26 – Mrs Corkins came here. Finished Door frame. Mr Streator got his Door. The Boys cutting oats. Bill Schroder put his Binder in just at night.
Jul 27 – Hoed potatoes in south lot. Dick finished cutting oats in forenoon. Put Rocker on Lelahs chair.
Jul 28 – Not very well. Went over to Burg got some Bolts to put in cross bar to Buggy thills[88] put them in.
Jul 29 – Repaired Theodores tacle Block in afternoon. Dick Lamkins and D. Wit Olin Drawed in the oats. Fine day.
Jul 30 – Sarah, Mrs Betts and Hannah went down to Mrs Browns in afternoon. I tinkered up one wheel to the wagon. Harry, Mr Rawson and Jim went to Gull Lake fishing.
Jul 31 – At Home. Warm day. I went in swimming to day. Had Geen corn for Dinner.
Aug 1 – Went over to Burg in afternoon to see Horse Show Professor Bristol.
Aug 2 – Chored round. Went over to Towns. Filed two saws for Charley Town set one for Mr Taylor. Went over to Burg in Evening.
Aug 3 – Tore up some things round the back stoop fixing to put in new sill. Went down to Mrs Browns to get wagon to hall my lumber on we get him. Augusta Burnt this morning.
Aug 4 – Worked round house in shop some. Went over to Burg in forenoon got stock timber for sill to back stoop and some boards &c.
Aug 5 – Barber helped put in sill and cleaned the old Rubbish. Very hot day Mercury in shade. Ethan and Sarah went over to Burg in Evening.
Aug 6 – Rainy morning. No work on cistern to day. Went up Theodores got stick for sill.
Aug 7 – Went down to Alvin Lees in afternoon. Took Nancy home in Evening.
Aug 8 – Went over to burg with Wm Ralph he brot over two Barrels lime, one stone, one water, Stone $1.15 cts, water 2.00. Went over got Mrs Betts.
Aug 9 – Ethan carried Mrs Betts over to burg in morning. Barber to work on cistern. I drawed two loads sand.
Aug 10 – Barber to work on cistern. Fine day. I draw sand &c.
Aug 11 – Barber to work on cistern. I draw sand &c. Went over to burg at night after children. Hank and Nancy gone to Battle Creek.
Aug 12 – Went over to burg in morning got one bunch shingles 50 cts. Myself, Barber and Ethan shingled Back Stoop. Went over in Evening got more lime. Joh Cary Died. Joh Cary Died to day.[89]
Aug 13 – Worked on cistern plastered wall to cistern.
Aug 14 – At home all day. Jim and Harry went to Goguac Lake to Spiritual Camp Meeting.[90]
Aug 15 – Put the water Lime cement on cistern. I went over to Burg got plank to cover cistern $1.75 cts
Aug 16 – Worked round. Leveled the dirt round house. Bessy sick.
Aug 17 – Worked round house. Went over to burg at noon to see if I could get floor boards Planed some day. Put Evetrough[91] through well house.
Aug 18 – Worked round house, cistern and oderdings.[92]
Aug 19 – Worked round on cistern. Put in joists.
Aug 20 – Leveled up joists put down some floor. Louese and Jesse[93] came on noon train.
Aug 21 – Daniel Whitmore came. Hannah and Jim went to Goguac Lake to Spiritual Camp Meeting. Fine day.
Aug 22 – Mrs Sarah Ralph died to day.[94] Went down to Katharines in morning with Daniel. Mart thrashing to Smiths. Mamy Young Died.[95] Hank, Nancy and Hannah came home on noon train. Carried Daniel over to Hanks. He goes on the 9 oclock run.
Aug 23 – Laid some floor in back room. Went up to mill got pump.
Aug 24 – Laying floor. Took pump back to get it finished.
Aug 25 – Went down to M O Streators. Got five bushels wheat took it to mill. Went over to burg in Evening 11 doz ½ eggs 12¢ pr doz.
Aug 26 – Worked round house laid some floor. Theodore put in cistern pump.
Aug 27 – Put up the Doors and some partition. Went over to burg in morning after Nancy. Ethan carried Mrs Betts over to burg.
Aug 28 – At home all day. Harry Streator called here just at night got some mellon. Mrs Brown came up in Evening. Mrs Hartwell died this morn.
Aug 29 – Put down threshhold to well room door. Chored round. Went over to burg in Evening got joists for back stoop. Mrs Betts came home. Sent Alfledas trunk of.[96] Old Mrs Hartwell buried to day.
Aug 30 – Worked round put joists in back stoop. Cleaned up Barn floor.
Aug 31 – Thrashers here thrashed oats had 206 bushels. Put straw in Barn in afternoon.
Sep 1 – Jim came down and helped put in straw. Raind some. Got it all in in forenoon. Jim and Harry cut some corn. Amos Rogers girl died.[97]
Sep 2 – Put down floor on back stoop. Harry[98] and Jesse went home to day went on the 11.11 run AM.
Sep 3 – Worked on floor sum. Made trap doors to cistern. Lelah here. Hank came over got oil stove. Claud stayes all night.
Sep 4 – Had a time with granny this morning she got mad as a Cheshier Cat. Sarah and I went down to Katharines. Rained a little in morning.
Sep 5 – Very hot and dry Mercury 105 at noon in shade.
Sep 6 – Went to Kalamazoo after Frank & Hatty.[99] Very hot day. They stayed with Katharine all night.
Sep 7 – Mart brot Frank & Hat up to day. Mart stayed to dinner. Bessy very sick.
Sep 8 – Frank & Hatty left for Concord on the one oclock train. Will Brown commenced plowing to day for wheat in west lot. Hanks folks came over. Bessey sick.
Sep 9 – Worked round house and garden.
Sep 10 – Worked in shop some and chored round.
Sep 11 – At home all day. Mart and Katharine came up here.
Sep 12 – Barber and I cut corn in forenoon. Barber had Bill in afternoon to draw some wood. E. K. Haviland Died to day Ae. 81.
Sep 13 – Cut some corn and chored round. Some hot. Jeneral Ambrose E. Burnside Died to day.[100]
Sep 14 – Went over to Burg after Mrs Powers she came over stayed all day carried her Home at night. Mrs Brown came up. I cut some corn. Nancy and children went down to Mrs Browns.
Sep 15 – Rainy morning. No work to day chored round.
Sep 16 – Cut some corn. Very dry and hard. M Nancy down to Mrs Browns. Bessy sick a gain.
Sep 17 – Cut corn. Theodore down here to try his Gun he nice gun some.
Sep 18 – Sarah down to Mrs Browns. Mrs Betts went over to Burg. Ethan and Jim went down to Alvin Lees.
Sep 19 – Finished Cutting corn in fore noon. Made gun rod for Theodore. Hannah went over to Nancys. James A. Garfield Died 10 Oclock this Evening.[101] Mrs Betts came home.
Sep 20 – Went over to burg in morning took Lou over. Ethan and Hannah went to Loises. Will Brown sowed wheat.
Sep 21 – Worked round stoop some chored round.
Sep 22 – Carried Sarah over to burg in morning. Sis[102] came back with me. Worked on back stoop.
Sep 23 – Worked in shop some. Cleaned some cranberry beans. Paired on some apples. Hot day. carrie
Sep 24 – Chored round. Mr Maffit and Andrew called here. Theodore got his gun rod. Carried Mrs Betts over to Burg.
Sep 25 – Hanks folks went up to John Freers.[103] Alvin and Julia came here. Ethan and Hannah came on the 11.11 train. Katharine and Lucy came up just at night. I went to Augusta with Mr Streator to hear Burnham lecture.
Sep 26 – Had a nice shower this morning. Carried Sarah over to Burg. She and Jim went to Grand Rappids to Mrs Wm Planks.[104] Carried Jim over they went on the one oclock run. James A. Garfield Buried to day.
Sep 27 – Husked come ledle corn.
Sep 28 – Got Shingles twelve Bunches $6.00. Nancy came over. Mrs Blake and Mrs Forbush here in afternoon. Put up stagen on west side.
Sep 29 – Cut old Back House down. Not much work to day.
Sep 30 – Had a nice shower in morning. Teacher called in whilst it rained.
Oct 1 – Not much work to day. Sarah and Jim came home on the One Oclock train.
Oct 2 – At home all day. Rainy day.
Oct 3 – Cloudy no rain yet. Fixed roof some. Ed came over after Lou. Nancy sick. Went over after Mrs Betts. Old Mrs Luddington Buried to day.[105]
Oct 4 – Not much done to day not very well.
Oct 5 – Very fine day frost this morning first of the season. Worked on Herbs lap boards. Went up to J. Ridlers and over to burg. Fanny Whiting buried.
Oct 6 – Went up in woods cut some steaks. Worked on Herbs Lap Boards.
Oct 7 – Finished Herbs big lap boards. Cut out stuff for two small ones.
Oct 8 – Rainy morning. Worked round drawed two loads wood. Theodore and Alvin Holmes here.
Oct 9 – Went to Kalamazoo to get midicine for A. R. Skinner.[106] Saw Jesse Turner.[107] He had just got Home from Massachusetts.
Oct 10 – Work on cros Head for Theodore. Dont feel very well some.
Oct 11 – Made Herbs small Lap boards. Pleasant day. Ethan changed Mr Knapps Wheel. Bina Earl[108] here in afternoon. Em Allen[109] came stayed all night. Rainy night.
Oct 12 – Filed three saws for Erastus Stuart three for my self. Herb got his Lap boards. Em Allen went home in Evening. Very warm. Mrs Harry Rowland Died.[110] Rainy night.
Oct 13 – Cloudy damp day. Went down to Mr Streators got five bush wheat.
Oct 14 – Ethan carried or rather took Louese up to Put Milhams. Rainy afternoon. Carried wheat to mill. Mrs Betts went over. Mrs Harry Rowland buried to day.
Oct 15 – Rainy. Went over to mill got my grist. Sarah went over to Nancys. I am 68 years old to day.
Oct 16 – At home rainy. Hanks folks came over to Mrs Browns. I Killed Rooster. Went down to Marts in Evening very much dark.
Oct 17 – Rainy. Went over to burg. Filed saw for chroder & Olin.
Oct 18 – Went over to burg in forenoon took Hannah over. Nancy sick. Drawed some wood.
Oct 19 – Worked round at various kinds of work.
Oct 20 – Chored round until about 11 oclock then carried Sarah down to Katharines. They went to Bloomingdale to see Alfleda.
Oct 21 – Commenced shingling west leanto. Pleasant day.
Oct 22 – Finished shingling west side. Fine day.
Oct 23 – Took Mrs Betts over to burg. Nancy came over took Nancy home at night. Rainy. Mrs Betts came back.
Oct 24 – Rainy day. Went down to Marts after Sarah. Mart went to Kalamazoo after Katharine & Sarah got back 7 Evening. Stayed all night.
Oct 25 – Came home this morning. Went up to Ridlers he drew down load wood for Mrs Betts. Hannah and Lou went down to Mrs Browns.
Oct 26 – Pleasant. Drawed load wood. Put up stagen East side House.
Oct 27 – Shingled part of East wing. Put hair in two violin Bows for Ephraim Earl.[111]
Oct 28 – Put top on my new violin. Rainy day. Earl got his Bows they Play at Mr Maloneys to night.
Oct 29 – Chored round not much done. To wet to husk corn no shingle some nother. Earl brot violin Bow to put Hair in. Hank and Nancy stayed all night.
Oct 30 – Put Hair in bow and varnished new violin. Jim and Louese went down to Katharines.
Oct 31 – Not very cold. Patched corn House roof. Earl got his Bow.
Nov 1 – Jim and Will Brown drawed corn. Nice day. Ethan making machine for Hanks camry.[112]
Nov 2 – Patching cornhouse and Barn Roofs.
Nov 3 – Rainy day. Got new corn ground. Old cow over to Burg. Snowed some in night.
Nov 4 – Not much done to day. Snowey day about 3 inches snow very sloppy mud and water.
Nov 5 – Chored round as usual. Took Mrs N. B. Betts over to Burg brot Lelah back. Nancy and Claud went to Lois Skinners.
Nov 6 – At home all day. Jim at home he is done work for Harry. Ethan went over after Mrs Betts. Pleasant day not cold.
Nov 7 – Cleaned out cornhouse and chored round. Went over to Burg. Nancy and Claud came on Evening Train.
Nov 8 – Went over to Burg Sarah went over stayed. Repaired windows. Mrs Betts went down to Mrs Browns. Rainy afternoon. Paid for the Galesburg Express.[113]
Nov 9 – Worked round husked some.
Nov 10 – Shingled East side House. Bot some Shingles of Charly Town. Lucy came up. Our Knives and forks came from Toledo.
Nov 11 – Mr Ira Clark died.[114] Patched roof some. Snowed like fun in forenoon. Lucy went to burg. Rained hard in afternoon and Evening. Mary Crawford[115] came here in rain.
Nov 12 – Nice pleasant morning. Drawed some wood. Mary Crawford went home over to Nancys stayed all night. O. M. and Edna[116] called here.
Nov 13 – Mr Ira Clark buried. Mary Crawford went home to day. Lucy went to Jim Milhams.[117] Mart came up after them. Jesse Earl called here this Evening to day. Stormy Evening.
Nov 14 – Jim and Will finished drawing wood. Got some cabbages of Herb. I do not much some to day husked som corn. Went over to burg came back with Hank. He had O. M.s Horse.
Nov 15 – Worked on road in forenoon. Patched roof some. Nice day. Ethan and Hannah went over to burg in Evening. I am 800 & 17 months old to day.
Nov 16 – Worked round husked some corn.
Nov 17 – Husked corn some. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns. I went after her. Rained so hard we stayed all night. Jim up to Skinners.
Nov 18 – Came home this morning. Husked corn. Snowed in afternoon. Rained in Evening.
Nov 19 – Not very pleasant morning some snow on the ground. Old Mrs Stone[118] died this morning Em Ralphs[119] mother Ae 82. Jim came home on noon run. Rough blustrous afternoon.
Nov 20 – Pleasant some snow on ground. At Home all day. Jim went down to Mr Franklins to go to school.
Nov 21 – Chored round Husked some corn repaired manger. Put armes in Wily Beeches chair.
Nov 22 – Old Mrs Stone was buried to day at McCains Corners. I went as one of the Pall bearers, James Milham, Oreb Williams, & Nathan L Randall.
Nov 23 – Got sleigh out of cornhouse. Went over to burg Lois and Will came on 11.11 train. Not much dun. Hannah went up to Fishers. Snowed some.
Nov 24 – Worked round husked some and chored round. Went over to Hanks to dinner.
Nov 25 – Not much done no particular work. Mr Carmer and wife came over Brot Mrs Bennet over.
Nov 26 – Went over to burg brot Nancy over. Carried her home in Evening. Mrs Bennet went over to County House in Evening.
Nov 27 – At home all day. Jim and Will Clark[120] went up to Demus Jabus Harts.[121]
Nov 28 – Pleasant morning. Old Mrs Isaac Mason Died this morning.[122] Husked corn some. Fine day. Mrs Betts had a Cotillion to day on the soup Ladle. Mrs Town[123] died 10 oclock P.M.
Nov 29 – Rainbow this morning no rain much. Took Lois over to Nancys. Took Mrs Betts over to Mrs Masons Funeral. Went over after her at night.
Nov 30 – Husked some corn chored round. Fine day. Lois, Will and Ina[124] here up to Harts. Old Mrs Ives[125] Died to day at Vicksburg.
Dec 1 – Mrs Town Buried to day. D. K. Rogers Died this morning.[126]
Dec 2 – Went over to Burg in morning got meal. Husked some. Nice day not very cold no snow. Lois and Ina here Will also.
Dec 3 – Drawed corn. Fine Day. Ethan, Lou, Jim and Will Clark went down to Mrs Browns.
Dec 4 – Ethan and Lou went down to Katharines. Lucy and Delpha[127] came up here. D. K. Rogers Buried to day.
Dec 5 – Worked round husked corn &c.
Dec 6 – Drawed in corn. Not very cold no snow.
Dec 7 – Went over to burg got Nancy. Finished drawing in corn. Mrs Allerton[128] here. Carried Nancy home in Evening. Broke the Buggy.
Dec 8 – Some colder. Filed saw for Rily French one for Win Ford.[129]
Dec 9 – Worked on cradle, filed saw, dressed out stuf for cradle.
Dec 10 – Worked on Lelahs cradle. Filed saw for Rily French not very cold. Lois and Will went down to Katharines stayed all night.
Dec 11 – At home all day. Finished Lelahs cradle. Lois and Will came home. Snow some rained hard in night.
Dec 12 – Filed saw for N. L. Randall. Husk some corn. Rained in Evening not very cold.
Dec 13 – Worked round. Carried Lois over to burg.
Dec 14 – Went over to Burg in morning Hannah went over. Lois went home. Lockhart fixed Buggy Ex and thill 75 cts.
Dec 15 – Will Clark chopping. I went down to Mrs Browns got two Bushels wheat carried it to mill 1.25 or 30 cts pr bushel.
Dec 16 – Choped some grubs Nice day. Will Clark chopping. Mr Abijah Ives Died to day Ae. 75 yrs.[130]
Dec 17 – Chopping grubbs. Fine day. Ethan went to Battle Creek. Jim went to Kalamazoo to see Uncle Toms cabbin played.
Dec 18 – At home all day. Ethan took Mrs Betts over to church. Lucy and Youngens[131] here. Very fine day.
Dec 19 – Cut grubs. Pleasant nice day no snow Indian summer weather.
Dec 20 – Made Pole for Ayers Raymond. Rained some. Went up to Mr Taylors to see table. Herb Earl brot table down to get made into an Extencin table.
Dec 21 – Worked on Gunstock. Husked some corn. Rainy day not very cold
Dec 22 – Went over to Burg to Milhams Auction. Rained all day. Bid of cutter for Ethan and Jim twenty five Dollars $25.00.
Dec 23 – Went over to Burg in morning. Mr Brownell brot cutter over. He came over after ceder Tree for Christmass tree. Husked some in afternoon. Will Clark went to Kalamazoo.
Dec 24 – Went over to burg in morning to see Milham. Paid tax $5.03. Herb Earl here. No work sum not much. Husked some. Carried Hannah over to burg at night theater at M. E. Church this Evening.
Dec 25 – At home. Jim carried Mrs Betts over to Burg. Hanks folks went down to Mrs Browns. Hank Brot Mrs Betts home. I got cider Pitcher and neck tye presented by Claud an Lelah.
Dec 26 – Went over to Burg gave note for cutter. Hannah went up to Mr Flanders this Evening.
Dec 27 – Will and I choped some. Rained in afternoon. Will went down to Franklins. Rainy night.
Dec 28 – Choped round repaired stable floor some. Ed Gillis married this Evening to Miss Ida Milham.[132]
Dec 29 – Repaired stable floor. Jim and Will Clark went up to Jim Milhams.
Dec 30 – Drawed some wood on sleigh in forenoon. Will Clark went to Gasper to day. Snowed some to day.
Dec 31 – Snowey day. Not much work to day not very well. Took top off new violin. About two inches snow.
Memoranda
Cure for cancer one pint Skoke Berry juice put into one pint whiskey
Hugh McKee Kalamazoo Box 485
——-
[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke
[2] Galesburg, Michigan
[3] Martin Milham, husband of Lucy Lee, daughter of his sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[4] Believe Pete might be his horse
[5] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[6] Matilda (Allen) Brown, his daughter Nancy’s mother-in-law
[7] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts
[8] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown
[9] His youngest son, James Keith
[10] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” Streator
[11] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, widow of his brother, Harvey Keith. Harvey died in 1851 and the 1880 census shows Alfleda living with Luke and his family
[12] His daughter, Hannah Keith
[13] Future husband of his daughter, Louese Keith
[14] Phoenix, Michigan, where the Harris family had a general store
[15] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee. Sometimes he spells her name with a C and other times with a K
[16] His son, Ethan Keith
[17] Neighbor, Mary (Knowles) Barber
[18] Neighbors, Charles G. Ford, his wife, Mary Ann (Thompson) Ford, and his sister, Mary Tamer Ford
[19] His granddaughter, Lela Brown, the daughter of Hank & Nancy
[20] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Theodore Earl
[21] Neighbor, Richard Barber
[22] Neighbor, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[23] Possibly Julia (Davis) Lee and her son, Alvin Lee. Julia (also known as Juliana), was married to Charles Lee, Luke’s first cousin
[24] Ambrose Brown, his daughter Nancy’s father-in-law; Ambrose died October 27, 1880
[25] “Young Doc Upjohn” referred to his neighbor, Henry Upjohn, who was the son of Dr. Norah Upjohn
[26] Etc.
[27] Margaret (Allen) Stinehart, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister
[28] Claude Brown, his daughter Nancy’s son
[29] Above zero
[30] His granddaughter, Bess Rae Recoschewitz
[31] Means perhaps “done nothing”
[32] Samuel J. York, father-in-law of his niece, Helen (Bradley) York
[33] Edward G. Wolcott, his maternal first cousin
[34] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”
[35] Charles Towne was Luke’s neighbor in Comstock; he would marry Luke’s daughter Hannah in 1891
[36] Charles Ira Clark, his daughter Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner’s son by her first husband, Byron Clark
[37] Charles Clark’s wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark
[38] FindAGrave.com records show that Jedediah Walker died on February 23, 1881 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York
[39] Neighbor and “shirttail” relative
[40] A shilling was a coin of Colonial America and varied between 12¢ and 16¢
[41] His daughter, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner, by his first wife, Minerva Payson
[42] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner, Lois’ daughter by her second husband, Adelbert Skinner
[43] FindAGrave.com records confirm that Orrin David Schram died on March 4, 1881 and that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[44] Oak Grove Cemetery records show that Jane (Havens) Thomas, the wife of John Thomas, died in 1881 and a search of Ancestry.com reveals an obituary for Mrs. John Thomas confirming the date of death
[45] Julia Allen, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister. Julia had breast cancer and this cradle was built for her as she found the rocking motion soothing. At times the pain would be so intense that she left fingernail marks in the cradle
[46] After Luke’s first wife, Minerva, died, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders took care of Luke’s son Henry until Luke remarried; it is believed that his daughter Lois went to live with Minerva’s parents during that same time
[47] His youngest daughter Louese Keith, also referred to as Lou or Sis
[48] Michigan death records reveal that Jervis D. Adams died March 11, 1881 in Climax, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Prairie Home Cemetery in Climax, Michigan
[49] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall
[50] Willis Brown, the son of Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown
[51] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Eunice (Brown) Corey died March 17, 1881 and is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Cedar Springs, Michigan
[52] Henry Brown, Nancy’s husband, and the son of Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown
[53] Henry Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva Payson
[54] Michigan marriage records show that Annette Rowland married Cyrus W. Utley on March 24, 1881 in Galesburg, Michigan. Annette was the daughter of Henry “Harry” & Delilah (Dawley) Rowland
[55] Michigan marriage records confirm that his son Henry married Florence Stahl on March 24, 1881
[56] Edwin P. Flanders, the son of Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders (see footnote for March 8 entry)
[57] Daughters of James and Ellen (Adams) Milham, his neighbors in Comstock. James was the half-brother of Martin Milham (son-in-law of his sister Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee, and Ellen (Adams) Milham was the sister of Charlana (Adams) Meredith, the grandmother of Cora Meredith who would marry Luke’s son James Keith in 1891
[58] Attorney Lucius C. West, who filed patents for Ethan
[59] Michigan death records confirm that Caroline (Toby) Burdick died April 1, 1881 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Lawler Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan
[60] Neighbor and “shirttail” relative, and father of and Theodore Earl (see footnote for January 21st entry) and Herbert Earl (see footnote for February 26th entry)
[61] Nickname for his daughter Louese; also referred to as Sis
[62] Adelbert Skinner, Lois’ second husband
[63] Ellen (Adams) Milham (see footnote to March 27th entry). No death record has been found but a search of FindAGrave.com shows that James & Ellen Milham are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan, however, no dates are included. A transcript of Oak Grove Cemetery records lists Ellen O. (Adams) Milham, wife of James, born May 31, 1832, died April 18, 1884. It is possible that there was a mistake in the records and/or that the stone did not have a date or was weather worn. Since Luke’s entries are so detailed as to her funeral and that she is buried in Oak Grove I have to assume that the year of 1884 is wrong
[64] His niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham
[65] Assume this is his son, James Keith. The 1880 Census shows him living in the household of Adelbert & Lois Skinner (Jim’s half-sister) and working as a farm laborer
[66] Louese had been attending school in Chicago and staying with her uncle and aunt, Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford so presumably she was returning for more schooling
[67] Her son’s family lived in Bloomingdale, Michigan
[68] Michigan death records confirm the date of death and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Ford Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan
[69] His horse
[70] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts
[71] His neighbor, Marius O. Streator, and father of Henry “Harry” Streator (see footnote to January 5th entry)
[72] Perhaps the herb Elecampane, the root of which was used to make medicine. It was used for lung diseases including asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough and also to prevent coughing, especially coughing caused by tuberculosis
[73] Neighbor, John T. Allerton
[74] Neighbor; believe this is the second wife of Henry Potts, Elizabeth (Reed) Gillis Potts
[75] Neighbor, Georgianna (Potts) Freer, the daughter of Henry Potts and his first wife, Eliza (Marks) Potts
[76] Arthur & Caroline “Kitty” (Lockwood) Arms. Arthur was the nephew of Ambrose Brown (see footnote to January 23rd entry)
[77] Neighbor, Catherine Comings. Michigan death records confirm that Kate Comings, age 22, died of consumption on May 24, 1881 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[78] He left New York on June 6, 1837
[79] Lawton, Michigan. Hank & Nancy had lived there in 1876
[80] Edna (Crawford) Allen, the daughter of Edwin and Mary (Hamilton) Crawford, was the granddaughter of Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts
[81] Matilda Brown’s sister, Margaret (Allen) O’Brien Stinehart Cook
[82] The 1880 census shows Margaret living in Kenny, DeWitt County, Illinois
[83] Clara and George Milham, Lucy and Mart Milham’s children
[84] Mary Ann (Thompson) Ford
[85] Thomas C. Ford
[86] FindAGrave.com confirms that Jesse Havens died on July 15, 1881; he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan
[87] Michigan death records show that Mabel Powers, age 7, died of diphtheria in Galesburg, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[88] The two poles between which a horse is hitched to a wagon
[89] Michigan death records confirm that John Caray died August 12, 1881 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[90] Both the Brown and Keith families, as well as several of their neighbors, were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances
[91] An eavestrough is a roof gutter
[92] Other things
[93] Assume that since Louese had been staying with Hiram & Kate Crawford, that this is their daughter, Jessie Crawford, who was 9 years old
[94] Michigan death records show that Sarah Ann (Tyson) Ralph, age 43, died of heart disease in Charleston, Michigan on August 22, 1881 and FindAGrave.com indicates that she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[95] Michigan death records confirm that Mamie Young, age 21, died of Typhoid Fever in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in Augusta Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan
[96] It appears that Alfleda is moving to live with her son James “Oscar” Keith
[97] A search of Michigan birth and death records reveals that Mary E. Rogers, the daughter of Amos and Mary (Batt) Rogers, was born October 2, 1877, and died from diphtheria in Comstock, Michigan on September 1, 1881; FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan
[98] Luke’s July 13th entry tells that he went to pick up Harry from the train; on August 20 Jessie came with Louese when she returned home, so it is assumed that this entry refers to Harry and Jessie Crawford, the children of Hiram & Kate Crawford
[99] His grand-nephew and wife, Frank & Harriet (Root) Tomlinson, who lived in Concord, Michigan
[100] From Encyclopedia Virginia: Ambrose E. Burnside was a major general in the Union army during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Instantly recognizable for his bushy sideburns (the term itself is derived from reversing his last name), [when] Burnside … did take command of the army, he led it into disaster at the Battle of Fredericksburg (1862), perhaps the Union’s most lopsided defeat of the war. After his corps was badly defeated at the Battle of the Crater (1864) he went home on a leave of absence from which he was never called back to duty. Burnside’s dismal reputation is probably unfair, however. He was an innovative engineer but an unlucky general who was often made a scapegoat for larger failures. He died on September 13, 1881, in Bristol, Rhode Island.
[101] The assassination of James Abram Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, began when he was shot at 9:30 a.m. on July 2, 1881, less than four months into his term as President, and ended in his death 79 days later on September 19, 1881. He was shot by Charles J. Guiteau at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C., and died in Elberon, New Jersey. Guiteau’s motive was revenge against Garfield for an imagined political debt. Focused on finding and removing the bullet, the doctors stuck their unwashed fingers in the wound and probed around, without applying any anesthetic. In late 19th century America, such a search was common medical practice for treating gunshot wounds. The doctors tortured the president with more digital probing and many surgical attempts to widen the three-inch deep wound into a 20-inch-long incision, beginning at his ribs and extending to his groin. It soon became super-infected and pus-ridden. Guiteau was later found guilty of murder and sentenced to death, even though he was one of first high-profile cases in American history to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. He was hanged on June 20, 1882, in Washington D.C. There is, indeed, a grain of truth to the assassin Guiteau’s claim “the doctors killed Garfield, I just shot him.” (Taken from Wikipedia and PBS websites)
[102] Nickname for his daughter Louese Keith
[103] Neighbor. Also, from Luke’s November 2, 1878 diary entry: “Moved Mrs N. B Betts over to Burg. She moved into John Freers house. Pleasant day.”
[104] Harriet (Groat) Plank, widow of William Plank. The Planks were Luke’s former neighbors
[105] Michigan death records reveal that Sally (Dunn) Luttenton died on April 2, 1881 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[106] His son-in-law, Adelbert R. Skinner (see footnote for April 16th entry)
[107] His maternal first cousin
[108] Believe he is referring to Albina Earl, the daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl (see footnote to April 10th entry)
[109] Emeretta Allen, the daughter of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen
[110] Michigan death records show that Delilah (Dawley) Rowland died on October 12, 1881 in Comstock and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[111] Nephew of Jesse Earl (see footnote for April 10th entry)
[112] Camera
[113] The local newspaper
[114] The father of Luke’s daughter Lois’s first husband. Unable to confirm date or place of death
[115] Luke’s wife Sarah’s sister-in-law, Mary (Hamilton) Crawford. She was the widow of Sarah’s brother Edwin Crawford
[116] Oscar M. and Edna Alice (Crawford) Allen. Edna was the daughter of Edwin & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford
[117] The half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for January 2nd entry)
[118] Michigan death records confirm that Eleanor (Ward) Stone died November 19, 1881 in Comstock and FindAGrave.com records reveal that she is buried in Boughton Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Luke’s reference to her being buried at McCain’s Corners is unclear at this time
[119] Emaline (Stone) Ralph, was the aunt of D. D. Harris (Louese Keith’s future husband)
[120] His grandson, William Byron Clark, son of his daughter Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner
[121] In previous diaries Luke refers to him as D. J. Hart
[122] Michigan death records reveal that Charlotte Mason died November 27, 1881; research continues
[123] Pamelia (Hosley) Towne, mother of Charles Towne (Hannah Keith’s future husband). Michigan death records confirm that she died November 28, 1881 in Comstock and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[124] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, daughter of his daughter Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner
[125] Michigan death records confirm that Ann Marie Ives died November 30, 1881, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in the Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Vicksburg, Michigan. She was the wife of Abijah Ives (see footnote to December 16th entry)
[126] Michigan death records show that David K. Rogers died in Comstock on December 1st and FindAGrave.com records show that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[127] Marion Adelpha York, daughter of Joseph and Helen (Bradley) York. Helen was the daughter of Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[128] Neighbor, Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton
[129] Neighbor, Winthrop John Ford
[130] Michigan death records confirm that Abijah Ives died December 16, 1881, and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Vicksburg, Michigan. His wife Ann died just two weeks prior (see footnote to November 30th entry)
[131] At this point, Lucy (Lee) Milham had five children ranging in age from 13 years on down
[132] Michigan marriage records confirm the date of marriage; Ida Eva Milham was the daughter of Richard & Hannah (Goodrich) Milham and Richard was the brother of James Milham (see footnote to the November 13th entry) and the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote to the January 2nd entry)
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 