Nancy Brown’s 1873 Diary

1873 DIARY OF NANCY (KEITH) BROWN

Jan 1x[1] – Pleasant. Hannah[2] was over to our house to day and spent the afternoon. Father Browns[3] folks went up to Mr Woods[4] to spend the day. They stoped for Hank[5] and I on their way home. We went home with them. Hannah received a letter from Will to day.

Jan 2x – Rainy. Hank & Henry[6] started for Benton Harbor this morning. Father took them down. Miss Yawger went with them. We quilted on my quilt (the churn dasher to day. Father went to the Burg[7] after he got home from Kalamazoo. Mr and Mrs Caywood,[8] Mr and Mrs Armstrong,[9] Mr and Mrs Streetor[10] were here and spent the evening. I am at Fathers staying while Hank is gone. It is splended sleighing.

Jan 3 – Very Windy. Ma[11] and Hannah came down here to quilt. They came in the morning. Pa[12] came down and spent the evening. Mrs Simmons had a party. Mr and Mrs Allerton,[13] Mr and Mrs Sherwood and Mr and Mrs Plank[14] were there. (Sick a gain this morning.)

Jan 4x – Pleasant. Quilted all day got it half off. Father drew corn stalks from the other place this fore noon. Went to the Burg this afternoon. Will[15] was sick to day. Lois[16] is a visiting at Pa,s this afternoon. She and Dell[17] got back from Lima Indianna yesterday. They went last Tuesday. Hank came home with Father to night, got home at eight o.clock and twenty minutes last night. I mended Hanks pants to night. Mrs Vanvleete[18] died two weeks ago to day.

Jan 5 – Pleasant. Will brought Hank and I up to Pa,s this forenoon. Sate Skinner[19] is here. She came down yesterday and stayed all night. Ethan[20] took her home to night. Hannah went with them. When he came back he took Hank and I home.

Jan 6x – Pleasant. I have been sick all day, have not set up but a little. Fred Hawver and Pheobe Armstrong[21] was married yesterday. Hank took a negative[22] for Willis Oatman to day.

Jan 7 – Pleasant. Ethan came after me this morning to go over to Father Browns. I was sick and could not go. Ma and Mrs Plank and Lois, Sate and Mrs Skinner[23] were going to be there to help quilt. Hank went to Kalamazoo to day to see the doctor and get some M[24] for me. Ida Allen[25] called here this afternoon. Hank took a negative of Mr Lays Baby to day. Hannah got a letter from Eberle Underwood[26] this evening.

Jan 8x – Blustering. I have been sick most all day. Ethan and Henry called here to day and also Father Brown. Hank has printed to day and is making candy this evening. Ethan got a letter from Eugene[27] to day. I have been stringing beads this evening. Flora Swaddle[28] died to day aged 17 years.

Jan 9 – Cold and Blustering. Old Mr Joy[29] died this morning. Flora was buried to day, the funeral was at the house. Hank took a negative for a young fellow from Augusta. Henry and Ethan have been here to day. Father Brown brought us a cord and a half of wood. Hank bought me six yards of calico for a polonaise[30] this morning. He has printed again to day. Cora Allen[31] called in here to night.

Jan 10x – Blustering. Isac Odells son[32] died this morning. Mr Vanburen lectures this evening in the Baptist church. Subject Labor.

Jan 11x – Pleasant. Mr Joy,s funeral was to day. It was at the house. He was eighty years old. Ma was over here to day. Pa came over to supper. Father and Will have been here to day. Ethan is down to Aunt Kates.[33] Mart[34] is sick. Hank took a negative of Ma this afternoon.

Jan 12x – Pleasant, but looks like rain. We were a lone all day. Hank went down to the depo to see a couple of engines that was in.

Jan 13x – Rainy, most all of the snow is gone. The Bell tolled again this morning for Mr Evans wifes sister. Uncle Ed Armes[35] has been here to day. Hank got a looking glass and a show mat to day. He is silvering paper this evening. I have been sewing velvet on my brown dress. Hank got me some ventilating garters to night price 40 cts.

Jan 14 – Pleasant but cloudy. Pa called here this morning. He was on the way to Howlandsburg to Mill. Hank has printed to day. We went down to Mr Barbers[36] to night. Mr Bailey and wife,[37] Pa and Ma, Father and Mother and Mr and Mrs Streetor were there. Mr Bailey is a spiritual speaker.[38]

Jan 15 – Rainy and warm. Hannah came over this forenoon and stayed till night. Ida Barber[39] came and spent the afternoon. Pa and Louesa[40] came after them to night. Hank took a negative of a little boy to day. Mr Dillenbee has a lawsuit to night. Father came after Mr Bailey and wife this afternoon.

Jan 16x – Rainey all night, snowed hard all day to day. Ida Allen has been here a visiting to day. I showed her how to make wall baskets out of hoops. I have been sick all day. Mr Baily Lectures to night in School District No 7, Subject Spiritualism. Mr Nick Gault died to day.

Jan 17x – Pleasant & good sleighing. Pa went to Howlands Burg after the grist.[41] Ma went up to Mr Swaddles.[42] Father and Mr Baily called here to day. Baily did not lecture last night on account of its being stormy. He lectures to night. There is also a lecture to night in the Baptist Church. Hank & I intend to go. Professor Fraizer of Kalamazoo lectured. Hank and I went.

Jan 18 – Pleasant but cold. Pa came after me this morning. Hank came over at night and we staid all night. Pa & Hannah went down to Aunt Kates, Hannah stayed all night. Will Plank[43] came home to night. Jimmy[44] went down to Fathers and stayed all night with Will. Fathers folks went up to Mr Powers to take Mr Bailey and wife. Mr Gaults funeral was to day. It was at the house.

Jan 19x – Pleasant to day, snows this evening. It is splended sleighing. We are at Pas. Ethan & Henry came home and spent the day. Hannah came home with Ethan. We all ate supper at Mr Planks to day. Fred Allerton[45] also took supper there. Will went home with him.

Jan 20x – Pleasant. Hank went home this morning. I stayed untill noon then Pa carried me home. Hannah, Mary, Carrie[46] and Will went with me. Will, Mary & Carrie had their pictures taken togather. Will started for Grand Rapids on the two oclock train. The girls spent the afternoon here. Cora Allen called here to see if Hank and I could go over to Pa,s to spend the eve. We did not go. Father was here this evening. They were all at Pa,s a visiting.

Jan 21 – Snows a little to day. Hank has taken a negative of Charley Haywood. I had my picture taken with Hanks clothes on this morning. Hank bought a bushel & a half of Potatoes to night for nine 9. Shillings. They were the Peerless. Pa and Ma and all of Fathers folks were up to Mr Ralphs to day.

Jan 22 – Very Pleasant and warm. Ida Allen called here to night to see if we could go over to Pa,s. Hank went down to Mr Barbers to see if we could get their horse & cutter and to ask Ida to go to. They said we might take it. We expect them with it any minute. Ida, Hank & I went. We went with Mr Barbers team. Byron, Cora, Ida & Libbie[47] also went. Ma and Mrs Plank and Becca[48] were up to Mr Taylors a visiting this after ­noon.

Jan 23x – Blustering and cold. Hank has taken his first lesson in inking this morning he is takeing of Mary Warren. We ate breakfast by lamp light this morning for the first time sinse we were married.

Jan 24x – Pleasant. Lois, Henry and Sate were here a visiting. Dell went to Battle Creek on the eleven oclock train. Father, Mother and Aunt Jule[49] spent the evening here. Will took Louesa and Mary to the lecture at the Congergational Church. Dr J. A. B. Stone Lectured, subject Rome. Edith called here this afternoon for the first time.

Jan 25 – Snows. Henry went to Howlands Burg to Mill. Will came as far as here and stayed while he was gone. We expected him after us to go up to Mr Flanders[50] but he did not come. Jimmy was here to day. Mr Phillip Potts[51] died to day, aged sixty four 64 54. Hank done my hair up this morning. Ida Allen[52] was 18 years old to day.

Jan 26x – Very Pleasant x. We have stayed at home all day. Nothing of importance transpired. Hank made molasses candy to day. Father, Mother & Will were here this evening. They were going up to Mr Drlinbecks. Sarah Rickey was married to day. She married a man by the name of Stratton.

Jan 27 – Pleasant. Hank took another lesson in inking to day. He took a negative of Mr McClary. Marion Bristol[53] called here to night. Pa was here this morning.

Jan 28 – Pleasant but a cold west wind. Mr Potts was buried to day, service at 11 oclock in the Methodist Church. He was born April 10^th 1819. 5 difrent Ministers addressed the congregation. I went with Ida. There was a collision this morning by Mr Whitfords crossing. The Eclipse run into the Lanset. The (E) was a passenger train, the (L) a frieght train. No one hurt. Hank took a neg of Allie Wightman[54] to day he is printing.

Jan 29 – Cold. Have been sick all day. Hank received a box of goods to day. He has taken a neg of Mr Burgeses little boy. I expected Pa after me to day but he did not come. Hank is fixing the stove in the other room. He is moveing the drum in to the operating room.

Jan 30 – Cold. Pa called here to day. He come over with Alvin and Jess Lee.[55] The reason he did not come after me was he broke the sleigh thill[56] Tuesday when they were coming from Uncle C.[57] They were intending to go down to Aunt Katies to day after Ethan but did not go. Henry and Sate have gone to the Creek to see the doctor.

Jan 31 – Pleasant, thaws a little. Father and Will have been here this evening. They are going to the lecture. Mr Austin George lectures to night. Ida B– and Ella Swaddle[58] were here a little while this afternoon. Mrs Barber[59] has gone to Battle Creek a visiting.

Feb 1x – Snowed a little. Pa, Ma & Jimmie came over to our house this morning. I went home with them. Lois also went with us and stayed till afternoon. Will went after Hank to night and we went home with him. Mrs White was there. I have cut carpet rags all day. Ida Allen, Mary and Carrie went down to Mr Randalls a visiting this afternoon.

Feb 2x – Very cold west wind. Will, Hank and I went down to Pa,s this morning after Hannah. I was sick all day. Ma, Pa & Jimmie came down to Fathers in the evening to see how I was. We had a goose for dinner. Mrs White and Clarance were here. Mrs White stayed all night the night before. Helen Carlton and Charley Vanhousen were married to night. Mr Ford married them. Dora Mack and Mrs Lane were also married.

Feb 3 – Rained this afternoon. Hank went to Kalamazoo this forenoon to see the Doctor. He got back about twelve. He went with Fathers team. He & Father shelled corn and drew wood this afternoon

Feb 4 – Very Windy. Mother and Aunt Jule washed. Father went to Howlands Burg to mill. Hank came home with him. Ethan came home to day sick with a hard cold. Mart brought him home. Ma came down to Fathers and stayed till evening. Pa came after her. Helen Fields and Truman Johnson was married to day.

Feb 5 – Warm and pleasant. Father brought me home this fore noon. Hannah came home with me. She stayed with Tamer last night. Pa came over with us. Hank printed to day.

Feb 6 – Warm and pleasant. Hank printed to day. Pa was here to day. Hannah is here yet. Ethan is sick. Hannah had her picture taken with Hanks clothes on.

Feb 7 – Warm. Ma, Pa and Jim were here this evening. I have been sick all day. Will Brown called here after the lecture was through. Hank bought him a pair of boots at the Auction store to night, price four Dollars. He also got me a pair of slippers.

Feb 8 – Snowes. Father and Mother were here to day. Hank got me a pair of shoes to night.

Feb 9x – Pleasant. Pa came after Hannah to night. Mary, Louesa and Jim came with him. They are going to the concert. Sis[60] is going to stay with me a day or two.

Feb 10 – Rained a little this afternoon. Sis is here yet. She went down to Idas and got her sticks for me to do my hair upon. Hank bought me some corsets to night at the auction store.

Feb 11 – Pleasant. Thaws some, not much sleighing though. People go with them yet. Dell came after his new wagon to day. Louesa is not very well, she has got a cold. I got her in a sweat to night and gave her aconite[61] for her fever. Think she will be better by morning. Hank printed to day.

Feb 12 – Pleasant. Hank took a negative of Guss H— to day. There is to be a donation at the Methodist Church for Elder Ingle to night. Hank has taken a picture of the Methodist church to day. Mrs Will Lockhart left her husband last night. They had been married about four weeks. He had been keeping up a corespondance with May Galigan since his marriage and she heard of it and left.

Feb 13x – Snowes a little to day. Cora and Emma Allen[62] called here to night. Have not done any thing of any account to day.

Feb 14 – Pleasant. Ethan was here most all day. Mrs Randall, Miss Biers, Miss Yawger, Ella & Minnie called here this evening. They were going to the lecture. Hank has gone. I was not well enough to go. Clara Spires[63] and Stella Millham[64] called after Sis. She did not go. Hank has printed to day. Father and Will called here this eve., also Carrie and Mary Plank and Ida Clark.[65] They have all gone to the lecture.

Feb 15 – Pleasant. Clarence Wing[66] died this morning Aged 6 years. Sis is here yet. Mary and Carrie Plank visited at Mrs Potts this after­noon. They called here this eve. Pa and Ma came over. Sis went home with them. Father came after us to go over there but we did not go. There is a party up to Mr Clapps[67] to night. Henry & Hannah intend to go.

Feb 16 – Pleasant. Clarence was burried to day. Funeral was at three at the house. Father and Mother was here a little while this evening. Mother brought me some carpet rags to sew. I am reading Edna Browning one of Mrs Holmes writtings.

Feb 17 – Thaws, slighing a bout gone. Hank has taken 3 negatives, one of W– Scott and one of Alice Cary and her husband. Will came over here this evening to see if we could go up to Mr Fords Wednesday eve. to a party. Oscar[68] called here this morning.

Feb 18 – Thaws very fast. Lois called to our house to day. I went home with her. We are going to a party up to Mr Flanders. It is Henrys farewell party. He starts east Thuresday if nothing happens. Byron Allen came up here this afternoon to see if we would go down to Ida Barbers to spend the evening. Of course we did not go.

Feb 19 – Cold. We went to the party. Hank and I stayed all night. Henry brought us home this morning. We came with the buggy. Mr Flanders had thrashers to day. Katie Keith[69] and Louesa came over here to day to have their pictures taken. Edith also called here. Mary Warren was here painting to day. Hank has taken one small negative and one large one to day.

Feb 20 – Snows. Arthur and his Father[70] was here to day. Hank and I printed to day. Mary Keith[71] started for home to day, did not go any farther than Aunt Katies. Tamer and Charley Ford had a party to night. We did not go. Henry starts for Havanna to night at 7 oclock expects to stop at Buffalo and Perry a few days.

Feb 21x – Pleasant but cold, some sleighing. Kate, Mertie[72] and Lois and Pa was here this forenoon. Mertie had her picture taken. Mary is here painting a gain to day. She is painting her mothers portrait. Ebb is down to Mr Osgoods, sick. Hank has got the sick head ache this evening. Mrs Walter Coe[73] died this morning.

Feb 22 – Cold and Blustering. Hank is not much better though he has tryed to print some to day. Ella Swaddle called here to day. She has been to Kalamazoo a visiting. I have put a pocket in my water proof cloak to day. Oscar called here this morning on his way back from East Saganaw. He went there as a delagate for the Odd Fellows.

Feb 23x – Very cold and Blustering. Father came over here this evening. Hank has been reading and I have been pairing apples for sauce. I went to sleep on Hanks lap to day. Mrs Coe was burried to day.

Feb 24 – Pleasant but cold. Sewed carpet rags all day. Hank took a large negative of Bell Galigan to day, also two gems.[74] Ethan went to Kalamazoo to day to take a lesson. He is taking of Professor Van de Sim a German teacher. He pays $1.00 per lesson. Edwin York[75] died to day. He is to be buirried Thuresday.

Feb 25 – Warm and Pleasant. Expected Ma here to day but did not come. Will Brown, Clarra Spires, Ed Scram, Stella Milham, Elis Keith[76] and Louesa spent this evening here. It was their first turnout. Ethan and Dell called here this evening. Father and Mother spent the evening at Pa,s. Ida Barber called here this afternoon.

Feb 26x – Pleasant this forenoon, snowed this afternoon. Ma spent the day here. Ethan went up to Dells to do his chores. Dell and Lois were going up to Brady. Hank bought some Sardines to day.

Feb 27x – Cold and Blustering. Mother and Father came over here this afternoon. We had oysters. It was the first time Father had ate with us.

Feb 28 – Snowed a little. Snow is about 8 inches deep. Pa called here this morning before we had been to breakfast. He was going to Howlands Burg to Mills. Will called here to night. Hank cut his hair. I bought some light calico and sugar to day. Hannah and Jimmie are not very well.

Mar 1 – Cloudy. Pa went to Howlandsburg after the grist. Jimmie came over here and stayd. I went home with them. Hank came over at night. We went down to Fathers to stay all night. Tamer Ford was a visiting at Mr Planks this afternoon. Hannah is not very well.

Mar 2x – Thawed this forenoon, snowed this afternoon. Father took us home to night. We stoped at Pa,s. Hannah is quite sick, has not set up any to day. Ethan was up to Dells. He went to see how Lois was. She has been sick up to Mrs Burges. Dell was going after her to day. Old Mr Amus Chipman[77] was burried to day.

Mar 3 – Cold but Pleasant. Father and Will came over here to night after us. Fathers Law Suit[78] comes off tomorrow. Hank has got to go as witness. Mr Plank was over here to day. He said Hannah was better. We stayed to Fathers to night.

Mar 4 – Thermometer 10 degrees below zero. Hank went down after Pa this morning to go to the lawsuit. I went with him. Ma and Ethan brought me back to Fathers in the evening. Pa did not come any further than Aunt Kates. Hank and Father got home about nine oclock in the eve. Hannah was not as well to night. Carrie Plank came home sick.

Mar 5 – Thawed a little bit, still good sleighing. Courting again to day. The men folks had to be in town at nine in the morning. Got through with the witnesess to day. Will not know whitch beats untill to morrow. Ethan was sick to day.

Mar 6 – Thawed, snow going off pretty fast. Hank went home this morning. Father went to Kalamazoo to see about the law suite. He beat Mr Allerton and I have gained the Pea nuts. Sarah Clark was married to day. Father brought me home to night. We came with the buggy. We called at Pa,s. Ethan is sick.

Mar 7x – Rainy and muddy. Will Plank called here this morning but did not get the Pea nuts. Cora & Ida Allen were here to night. Did not stay but a little while. Harry Streator[79] was her to day.

Mar 8 – Pleasant, snow all gone. Hank has taken 10 neg to day. Father and Will called here this morning. Father went to mill. Will stayed here. Pa called here this afternoon. Ethan is better. Eb Underwood was also here. Mrs Fox, Marion, Nellie and Jack Bristol spent the evening here.

Mar 9x – Snowed all night and most all day. Hank had to retouch negatives to day. Will was here to night. He was going to Union meeting.

Mar 10 – Thawes very fast. Pa was here to day. He said Henry had got back. Mrs Alferd bought Hanks negatives this morning. She paid him 20 dollars. Mrs Lewis Barber and Fannie called here this evening to see if I could learn to make wax wreaths of Mrs Austin. She asks three dollars to learn. Do not know wheather I shall learn or not.

Mar 11 – Rainy toward night. Hank printed to day. He printed over seventy 70 small prints. Took in seven dollars and a half. Father called here this morning he was going to mill. Tip Town was here a little while. Ras[80] had a tooth pulled.

Mar 12 – Pleasant. Hannah came over here to night to stay a day or two. Stellie Millham called here a little while to day. She went up to Mr Allens to stay to night.

Mar 13 – Pleasant and warm. Hannah is here. There is going to be Bell ringers here to night. They played on the street this morning on their horns. There was three girls that played. Ida Barber came up here and stayed while they were playing, also Cora A–. Hank and I went to hear the bell ringers this evening. They were splendid. Hannah went down to Ida,s this afternoon & stayed all night. Lois was here to day. Sold to Mrs Alferd to day.

Mar 14x – Rained a little this noon, pleasant this afternoon. Hannah came back this afternoon. Ida came with her and spent the afternoon. Henry, Ethan, Hannah, Ida and Mary Plank were here to supper. Mary went up to Mr Allens and stayed all night. It has froze every night since the 14 of November till to night.

Mar 15x – Rainy. Eberle and Harry were here to day, also Ethan and Jimmie. Jimmie stayed till night. Pa came after him. Ma is down to Aunt Kates. Lucy is sick a bed. Aunt Kate is almost. Mrs Daniels called here this evening. Eli Wightman has been here to day. He got back Thuresday night. Rained real hard this morning, Thundered a lightened some.

Mar 16 – Pleasant, then wind blew dreadful hard all night, rained some. Hank had to print to day. He has printed about 90 ninety pictures. He has been mounting them this evening. Will has been here to day. He went to church. I heard the robbins sing for the first time this spring to day.

Mar 17 – Cloudy. Ethan was here to day. Hank finished his pictures that he printed to day. Ethan bought some annise[81] for Edna Crawford[82] to day.

Mar 18 – Rained most all day. Hank has been real sick all day. Jimmie came over to have a negative taken to day. Hank was to sick to take it. Ma and Becca were here all day. Mrs Plank was here two or three hours then went to Mrs Potts a visiting. Ma stayed to Mr Hoags to night. Pa and Father were also here.

Mar 19 – Pleasanter than yesterday. Father and Mother came over to day. Ma came back here to day and stayed all night. Hank is worse to day. We had Dr Buroughs for him. Ethan started to come after Ma. Bill[83] run away with him smashed thing up pretty bad.

Mar 20 – Cloudy and some stormy. Ma went home this morning before breakfast. Lois came over to bring Henry and Dell to the cars. They were going to Plainwell. Ma went home with her. Hank is better. I am some sick to day. Ethan and Father came over here to help pack but Hank could not do any thing. Father went home and got Hannah & Mother Mrs (?).

Mar 21 – Cloudy. Mrs Barber called here this morning. Hank is better, I am not as well. Ethan came over to day. Will was here this morning. Mrs Alferd com­menced moveing to day. Ida Barber has been here to day. She stayed all the afternoon. Mrs Phillip Goodrich[84] hung her self last night.

Mar 22 – Pleasant. We are both better. Hannah is here yet. Mrs Alferd took her first picture in this room to day. Hank is packing some things to day. Father and Will were here to day. Cora & Ida Allen and Sate Beckwith called here this morning.

Mar 23 – Pleasant. Hank, Hannah and I have been packing to day. Jimmie and Mary Plank, Father, Mother and Aunt Jule were here to night also Arthur Armes.

Mar 24 – Cloudy. We mooved to day. Took most of our things to Pa,s the rest we took to Fathers. Arthur Armes has been here to day. Hannah and I went with him. Hank rode with Father. I do not feel very well to night. Mr Taylor, Mr Lottie, Ida, Hattie and Libbie spent the evening at Pa,s.

Mar 25 – Cloudy. I am sick abed. Ethan and Hank has gone to the Burg. Hank is going to take a negative of Ethan this morning also one of Lillie Wightman.

Mar 26 – Snowed real hard all day. Hank went over after the Doctor this morning for me. Hank has been to the Burg to day to finish printing. Mrs Plank tied a comforter to day.

Mar 27 – Plasant. I dont feel much better. Lois and Dell has been here this forenoon. Father and Mother went to Kalamazoo to day. They came up here this evening. Louesa went home with them. It is quite good sleighing.

Mar 28 – Pleasant this forenoon rainy this afternoon. Hank went to Battle Creek to day. He does not feel very well. I am better. My Pallet broke this morning think I shall get a long now.

Mar 29 – Cloudy and some rainy. Hank and I layed a bed most all day. Sis came home to day. Mr and Mrs Allerton & Mr and Mrs Simmons were a visiting to Mr Planks to day.

Mar 30 – Rainy and cloudy. We are feeling some better. Mr and Mrs Plank, Rebecca, Mary and Carrie took supper with our folks this afternoon for the last time before they move.

Mar 31 – Some Pleasanter. Hank has gone to VicksBurg. Ethan went as far as Kalamazoo with him to take a lesson. Mr Planks folks commenced packing their good to day. Mary and Carrie stayed with Ida Clark to night. Lind Mathews arrived at Galesburg to day. Emmett Crawford[85] came to our house to day. Aunt Katie fell in to a kettle of hot sugar to day burnt her real bad.

April 1 – Rainy. Mr Allerton and Mr Simmons took Mr Planks goods to Kalamazoo to day. Mary and Hannah went up to Mr Spires a visiting this afternoon. Hank went to Augusta. Mr Planks folks stayed to Mr Allertons to night. Becca is haveing fits. Hank and I came home with Father & Mother tonight.

April 2 – Rainy. Hank cracked some walnuts this forenoon. He and father went to the Burg after the rest of our pictures this afternoon.

April 3 – Cloudy but pleasant. Hank went down to Pa,s this morning to see if Ethan would go up to Mr Flanders with him to get some sugar. They went. Hank brought some home with him and Mother sugared it off. Henry went to Elkhart to day. Aunt Mary Crawford[86] came to our house to day. Father went to Mr Lappins auction. He bought a plow.

April 4 – Rainy. Hank cracked some walnuts and butternuts this fore noon. He and Father went to the Burg after the rest of our pictures this afternoon.

April 5 – Dreadfull warm. The wood sawyers are here yet. Will not get through to day. Henry called here to day. He had been down to Pa,s. They were killing a pig. Will had to stop working this noon and go to bed, he is sick. Pa and Ma went down to Aunt Kates. Ben Jackson has been here to day. Father got a dispatch to night that his brother Williams wife[87] was dead.

April 6 – Pleasant this forenoon rainy this aftenoon. Hannah, Hank & I went down to Aunt Kates to eat warm sugar. She is awful bad off. Lucy is sick. Hellen[88] is there doing the work. They have made about 500 weight of sugar in the past week. Sap still a running.

April 7 – Rainy. Hank finished moveing to day. Joe Boardman came here this noon to finish sawing wood. He went from here to Mr Fords.

April 8 – Rained all night and all day to day. Hank has gone to the Burg. He has got to stop at Pas to do some work. Mother and Aunt Jule washed to day. Mr Streetor was here this forenoon. Hank did not get back till most night. He got twelve yards of black calico and 12 yds of orange calico for a dark room also calico for me a dress. He paid 11½ cents a yard and 16 cents over.

April 9 – Cold west wind. Hank and I sewed on the tent this forenoon then he stoped and got some wood and carried it down to Pa,s. He has just gone after load. Ethan is with him. I kept to work at the tent till three then helped fix the carpet. We expect to moove down to Pa,s to morrow.

April 10 – Pleasant this forenoon rained this evening. We went down to Pa,s this morning. We commenced keeping house to day. Hannah went down to Mr Fords a visiting to day, has not got back yet. Jimmie has gone up to Wesleys[89] to stay to night. Hank has made a bureau to day for his cemicals. James Flanders[90] died one year a go to night.

April 11 – Pleasant. Hannah came home this morning. Charley and Tamer brought her home. They all went to the Burg. Hannah and Tamer stoped to Mr Barbers. We got things arraingd this afternoon. Louesa has gone up to Wesleys. Hattie and Libbie Taylor and Lind Mathews called here to night. Sis and Jim has got home. Father commenced draging to day.

April 12x – Cloudy x. Ma and Hannah washed. Hank went down to Fathers this morning. When he got back he and pa went to the burg. I finished the dark room to day. Dell and Henry stoped here to day. They went to the Burg. Ethan and Hank went with them.

April 13x – Warm and Pleasant. Pa took Hannah and Ethan down to Aunt Katies. Father and Mother went up to Uncle Woods[91] to day. Mr Rogers called here to night. Hank and Jimmie went after gum up in Mr Schrams wood. Hank wrote a letter to Loyd this morning. Ma is writting one to Grandma[92] this eve.

April 14 – Warm and pleasant. Hank took his first picture to day and used his dark room. It was not dark enough. He went to the Burg and got some more black calico to fix it with. Mart came up to night to go to the meeting. Ethan came home with him and went to the Burg. He and Hank did not stay to the meeting.

April 15x – Cold and Rainy. Hank and I worked on the dark room to day. He has taken a picture. It works all right. Jimmie went to the Burg to day, was gone all the forenoon.

April 16 – Cloudy, some warmer than yesterday. Hank made me some sticks to curl my hair on to day. He and Ethan and Pa went to the Burg this afternoon. When they got back they mooved the Privy. Georgie Barber[93] visited Jimmie this forenoon and Stellie Millham visited Louesa this afternoon. Ethan received a letter from Loyd to day also one from George Turner.[94] Florence Plank died one year ago to day aged twenty years. Hansell.[95]

April 17x – Rainy. Ma washed to day. Will Plank came here to day. Pa went to the Burg to night. Hank and Ethan pounded out the clothes for Ma this forenoon. They and Will payed Croquet this afternoon.

April 18 – Rainy this forenoon, pleasant this afternoon. Will and Ethan went up to Mr Fords this afternoon. Hank went to the Burg he bought a Cod fish paid 10 cents a pound. It weighed two pounds and a half. Will stayed to Mr Allertons to day night.

April 19 – Pleasant but cold. Ma and Pa went down to Aunt Kates to day. Lucy is no better. Aunt Kate is on the gain. Nell Whitmore is to work there. Hannah is also there. Ethan went to town with Dell to day. Will went home. Jimmie is down to Dells. He staid all night last night. Louesa, Hank and I are here alone. I played Croquet for the first time to day since I was married.

April 20 – Cloudy. Mart brought Hannah home to day. Clara[96] came with them. Henry and Will are here to day. Hank and Ethan went as far as Fathers when they went home. Father and Mother went up to Mr Armes to day.

April 21 – Pleasant. Hank and I went down to Fathers to day noon. Hank took a negative of Fathers house this afternoon. It snows a very little this afternoon. I have made a Chemise for Clara this afternoon.

April 22 – (no entry)

April 23 – Pleasant. Hank printed this afternoon and plowed for Father this afternoon. Ma and Pa went down to Aunt Kates this afternoon. Lucy sent Hannah and I about three pounds of maple sugar. We sugared off this evening (had snow to wax it on). Libbie Keith stayed here all night to night. Ethan went to the Burg this afternoon. He rode with H Streetor.

April 24 – Snow six (6) inches deep and still a snowing. Father brought us home this morning. Ethan and Hank went to the Burg. Pleasant. Ma and Hannah washed to day. Hank went to the Burg this after­noon. Henry Keith came here from Elkhart. He got here about 11 oclock in the night.

April 25x – Snowed for about three quarters of an hour as has at any time this winter. Henry stayed till about two this afternoon. Jimmie has gone down to Aunt Kates to stay to night. He went to carry some clothes we have been making for Clarie.

April 26 – Pleasant but cold. Hank and Ethan went to Kalamazoo this afternoon. Hannah Ironed this forenoon. Hank had his tooth pulled to day. Dr Sullings pulled it. They stoped to Aunt Kates and got supper.

April 27x – Real pleasant. Hank and Ethan went a gumming to day. They got some cow slips, the first greens we have had this spring. Mr and Mrs Barber and Ida were here a little while to day. Ethan and Hannah went up in the woods. Ethan got some wild flowers to day, the first I have seen this spring.

April 28 – Cloudy, sprinkled a little. Hank got up about five this morning, went down to Fathers after Bill and the buggy. Got back about light. Started off to take pictures about ten got back about four. Give up the buisness. Went and took the team home. Promised to work for Father to morrow. Hannah walked to the Burg to night. She is going to stay with Ida tomorrow. They are going to visit Cora.

April 29 – Pleasant. Hank commenced working for Father to day. I wrote a letter to Alice Crawford.[97] Ma wrote one to Uncle Henry.[98] Hannah came home to night. Ida came with her. Will Barber brought them over. They visited Cora Allen this afternoon. She is expecting to go to York State to be gone a year.

April 30 – Pleasant. Hank plowed for Father to day. He also plowed Pa,s east garden. Father, Mother and Will went to Kalamazoo to day. Ethan and Ella Randall went with them. Will stayed all night with Charley Fletcher. Father got us eight pounds of sugar & a pessle. Ida Barber stayed untill to night. Will came after her this evening.

May 1 – Cold this forenoon, rained this afternoon. Hank and Mr Halley[99] had to quit work on account of its raining. Mr Halley finished plowing this morning and commenced dragging. Ethan has not got home yet.

May 2 – Thunder shower last night, some rainy to day. Ma and Hannah washed. Hank helped Father clean up wheat. Pa and Ma went down to Aunt Kates this afternoon. Mother and Aunt Jule were here a little while this afternoon. Jimmie and Will went a fishing this afternoon. Hank has gone over to the Burg to night. Ethan came home to night.

May 3 – Rainy in the forenoon stoped about nine oclock. Hank and Ethan worked in the garden this forenoon. Hank plowed for Father this afternoon. Henry and Will stayed here to night also Hank Harvey. Eliza Galfus Delano[100] died this afternoon.

May 4x – Pleasant. Ethan, Henry and Hannah went down to Aunt Kates to day. Ethan and Henry went to K– after medicine for Lucy. She is getting worse all the time. The Doctor lanced one of the swellings (the one on her temple. There was nothing but blood come. She seffers everything. Hank wrote to Dr. P. T. Johnson of Ypsilanti to day sent him 1.00 to pay for an examination. Eliza Delano was burried to day.

May 5 – Pleasant. Hank plowed for Father all day. Ma and Hannah washed. School commenced to day. Nettie Quay teaches. Pa, Hannah and Jimmie went to to the Burg to night. Mrs Barber told her I must write to Dr Johnson or he would not make a correct examination.

May 6 – Pleasant. Hank worked for Father to day. Ethan went to town got twelve dollars and a half on patten right.[101] Bought him a pair of pants & a necktie. Henry went to the Burg stoped here and had supper with Hank and I. I wrote to Johnson this morning. Have worked on my dress all day.

May 7x – Rainy. Lois came down this morning stayed all day. Hannah went home with her. Hank plowed untill four in the afternoon. Hank received a letter from Dr Johnson. Eliza Riddle stayed here to night. Jimmie went home with Harvey.

May 8 – Rained all day. Hank and Ethan went to the Burg this morning. They made a Brackett saw to day. Jack Bristol was married to day. He married the widow Burge.[102] I finished my light wrapper to day.

May 9 – Rainy. Hank plowed this forenoon. He and Ethan fixed their Bracket saw this after­noon. Hannah came home to night. I & Hank went down to Fathers and stayed to night. Susan Giddins has got a little girl baby.[103]

May 10 – Some Rainy. Hank burned brush for Father this forenoon. He plowed part of the afternoon and draged the rest. I came home this noon. Libbie Keith was here, she stayed here last night. Guss Giddins came over to see if he could get Hannah to go up there and stay two or three days. She went.

May 11 – Cloudy. Ethan wrote to ________ Grand Rapids to day. Ma wrote to Miss Wiseman.[104] Hank and Ethan went up to Mr Earls mill to night. I wore my light wrapper to day, Sis her dress Edna sent her, Ethan his new pants, all for the first time.

May 12 – Cloudy. Ma washed to day. Pa has been trimming the orchard. Pa sold the heifer for 14 dollars to day. Mr Brockway bought her. Hank has been to work for Father to day. Hannah received a letter from Mary, Louesa one from Carrie, and Ma one from Mrs Plank to day.

May 13 – Pleasant but windy. Hank planted corn for Father to day. Ethan and Pa planted for Mr Halley. Ethan and Hank went to the Burg this evening. Jimmie stayed with Will Brown to night. Mr Ruben Coe[105] died yesterday. The boys heard of it to night.

May 14 – Pleasant but cold. Ma ironed this forenoon. Hank worked for Father to day. Mother, Aunt Jule, Mrs Barber and Ida spent the afternoon here. Father and Will came up to supper. Aunt Jule gave me a Lasup[?] mat. It snowed a very little this morning. Ma has had a bad time with her stomach to day.

May 15 – Cold and cloudy. Hank planted corn for Father, finished to night. They have put in about ten acres. Ma got so she could not lie down about twelve last night. Pa got up & built a fire and steeped hops and vinegar & put on her. I got up and made a bag and put hot brand in in it and put that on her. She got better, does not feel very sick. Mrs Nate Potts[106] died this morning aged twenty four 24.

May 16 – Warm & Pleasant. Hank commenced to work for Father this morning. Stoped about ten on account of the Ague. Ethan worked for Mr Town[107] to day. Mrs Potts was buried to day. Ma colored anoline[?] to day for her carpet. Ed Porssel and Fan Whitting Struble were married yesterday also George Yumans and Nell Russell. I have made a shirt to day.

May 17x – Pleasant. Pa & Hank drove the heifer to the Burg this morning. Ma & Pa have gone down to Aunt Kates this afternoon. Ethan is helping the Town boys[108] again to day. Sis and Libbie have gone over to Mr Allens to day. Jimmie and Will have been a fishing this afternoon. I had another weak spell to day. Hank sent four dollars to Johnson for medicine to day.

May 18 – Pleasant. Hank has had the Ague real hard to day. Father and Mother came up here to night. We went home with them. Ethan went down to Dell to day.

May 19 – Some rainy. Hank and Ethan went to Kalamazoo to day. I went as far as Aunt Kates with them. Hank got some medicine for him self to day of Dr Sill. Lucys head is getting worse.

May 20 – Rainy this forenoon, pleasant this afternoon. Hank had the Ague all night last night and most all day to day. Pa went to the Burg this forenoon. He got my medicine of from Dr Johnson. Ida Barber went to Ypsilanti yesterday.

May 21 – Pleasant. Hank went greening to day down to the bottom land. Ethan plowed the west garden. He plowed up some horse radish. Hank grated it this afternoon. Ma got some greens around the yard. We had a good mess.

May 22 – Rained last night, pleasant this morning. Hank has not had the Ague to day, does not feel very well. He and Ethan went fishing this afternoon. Got a good many fish.

May 23 – Pleasant but windy. Hank worked some to day. Ethan planted corn for Towns people. They had to plant over. Mart, Lucy and Clarie[109] were here this afternoon.

May 24 – Pleasant. I made two lemon pies to day, Ma made some Pumpkins Pies, Hannah baked some cookies. Hannah and Ethan went down to Aunt Kates this afternoon after Nell Whitmore. Louesa went with them, she did not come back.

May 25 – Pleasant. I have not been very well to day. Henry was here a little while to night, also Henry Rogers and girl. Ethan & Hannah took Nell home to night. Louesa came back with them.

May 26 – Very warm. I feel some better to day. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to day. Hank worked for Father.

May 30 – Our Little Boys Born May 30. 1873

Died May 30. 1873

May 31 – (no entries until June 22)

Jun 22 – Very warm. Sprinkled a little about noon. This is the first I have tried to write since my little Babys was born. They were born May 30^th, one about nine and the other about ten oclock in the evening. One was dead when born, the [other] lived a bout two hours. Hank has gone to Lyons, went yesterday, will not be home till tomorrow. I am lonesom to day with out him. If my babys had lived it would not be so bad but that was not to be.

Jun 23 – Rained this afternoon. Hank got home to night about ten in the evening. I do not feel very well. Pa went to Kalamazoo. Henry went back up to Reed City to day.

Jun 24 – Rained this afternoon. Hank does not feel very well. Father is cutting grass for Mr Streator. Ma and Ethan came down here a little while to day. Hank and Father went to the Burg. Hank got some cloth for shirts. Lois brought me home to night. I have been down to Fathers four weeks tomorrow. Hank and I went out to see our Babys grave[110] to night. It was the first time I had seen it.

Jun 25 – Pleasant. Hank is better, I am about sick. Aunt Mary Crawford and Edna[111] came here about twelve oclock last night. They went home to night on the eight oclock freight. Hank commenced packing to day. He went to the Burg to night. He sent ten dollars to Mr J Olmstead. Uncle Joe[112] came after Hannah to go and help Aunt Kate. She went.

Jun 26 – Very warm. Rained real hard last night in the night. I feel pretty well to day. Mrs Seamer is here weaving ma a carpet. Hank went down to Fathers this morning to get the Chromos to pack. Ethan went down to Aunt Kates this afternoon to get some cabbage plants.

Jun 27 – Rained quite hard this noon. Hank worked for Father to day. Ethan worked for Dell. Bill Mathews buried his little boy to day. He was drowned in the cistern yesterday. School was out to day. Mert Quay was teacher. Frank Towsley got his leg broke in jumping from the cars yesterday. Hank is most sick to night. Jimmie stayes with Will B– to night.

Jun 28 – Pleasant. Hank worked for Father. Father and Will went to Kalamazoo this afternoon. Pa and E– have gone to the Burg. Mrs Seamer went with them. Hank went to the Burg to night and got a letter for Ma from Uncle David.[113] They have got a little girl. It was born the 20th of May her name is Ida Susie Louise Crawford.

Jun 29 – Warm and rainy. I do not feel very well. Father called here a little while this morning. Willie Clark[114] has been here all day. Jimmie went home with him to stay all night. Lois, Mrs Skinner and Sate called here just at night. Hannah came home to night. She rode with Wesley and Libbie.[115]

Jun 30 – Pleasant and cool. Hank worked for Father. Louesa has gone to the Burg to stay to night. Hannah is to work on her buff dress. I finished Hanks shirt to day and cut out my apron. Ma is to work on carpet rags.

Jul 1 – (no entry)

Jul 2 – (Wednesday)[116] Hot sun, cool wind & showery. Hank worked for Father. Father went to mill to day. He carried a grist for Pa. Jimmie went to the Burg three times to day. Hank is twenty three years old to day. Hank got two letters from Muir of Mr Jay Olmstead.

Jul 3 – (Thursday) Rainy. Hank took the things to the Burg to send to Muir. Ethan went with him. Arthur Armes was to the Burg. The boys came back with him. I have just finished my light calico apron, the one like my wrapper. Hank and Ethan have gone to the Burg to hear the Band play. Lucy and Mart were here to day.

Jul 4 – (Friday) Uncle Hank, Aunt J–, John and Georgie[117] came to day. 5 They went away to day.

Jul 6 – Pleasant. Pa and Ma went down to Aunt Kates this morning, came home to night. Mrs Seamer came back to night. Ethan went to Dells to day. Father and Mother went to Uncle Eds[118] to day.

Jul 7 – Pleasant untill six to night. Commenced raining then and rained real hard. The boys did not get home till eight. Hank and Ethan worked for Father. Jimmie worked for Mr Randall. Vina Allen[119] is here. She has been up to Mr Sherwoods. Mrs Seamer has been sick to day. Hannah finished her buff dress.

Jul 8 – Cool and cloudy. Ethan has been sick to day. He got some pos____ to night. Hank worked for Father. Ma and Pa went to the Burg to night. Pa got the worp for my carpet. It is the Clarence worp. Sate Skinner stayes here to night.

Jul 9 – Rained this noon. I am 21 years old to day. Hannah went home with Mrs Barber to night. She has been picking berries on Mr Streators to day. Hank worked for Father. He came home to night when Dell came back from the Burg. We went down to F– to stay two or three days. Sate went home to night.

Jul 10 – Rained this noon I Pleasant, cloudy and cool. Hank and Ethan worked for Father. Mother, Aunt Jule & I picked Raspberries this afternoon. It rained some last night in the night. I went out to the Babys grave and stayed a spell. I pulled the weeds all up that was on it and threw them away.

Jul 11 – Very Pleasant and cool. Hank & Ethan worked for Father to day in the harvest fields. I picked 4 quarts of cherries, Aunt Jule picked 2. Mother caned them. Hank and I went out to the Babys little grave to night.

Jul 12 – Warm, lookes like rain to night. Hank and Ethan worked for Father. They finished cutting wheat this forenoon and drew in eight loads. Arthur Armes came down to night. He is going to stay all night. Jimmie went to Aunt K to stay to night. Mother picked eight geese to day. She got two pounds of wool feathers. I went out to our little Babys grave to night and stayed a little while. Aunt Jule is fixing her silk polonaise.

Jul 13 – Pleasant but warm. Father, Hank, Mr Streator, Eberle and Harry drew wheat all day to day. Arthur helped also. Father brought us home to night. Mother and Aunt Jule came with us. Pa took Hannah down to Aunt Kates to day. She expects to stay there this summer.

Jul 14 – Very warm. Hank commenced packing the chest. Went to the Burg this morning. Hank and I went down to Fathers to night. We went with Bill. Father went to the Burg to night. Ethan is working for Dell, does not come home to night.

Jul 15 – Very warm. Hank went away to day.[120] He left the Burg twenty minutes of twelve. Ethan is to work for Dell. I was sick this forenoon. Jimmie took some cans down to Mother. He said she was making Jellie.

Jul 16 – Very warm. Had a very hard rain north of here this forenoon. Mrs Seamer finished Mrs Schroders carpet to day. Mrs Schroder came after it to night. Ma spooled the warp for my carpet this afternoon. Ethan got a letter from Loyd yesterday. He sent his Photograph. He gave Hank and Ethan a blowing up for not answering his last letter.

Jul 17 – Hot sun, cool wind. Ma washed. Louesa helped her for the first time. Mrs Seamer got my carpet in and wove two yards. Jimmie went to the Burg, got two papers for Father, one for Pa. Ethan has not got back yet. He is working for Dell.

Jul 18 – Cool wind. I received a letter from Hank. Father and Mother were here a little while. Father went to the Burg. Louesa went down to Aunt Kates this morning. She went a foot. Do not expect her home till Sunday. Ma received a letter from Grandma.[121] Ethan came home this forenoon. He has got through harvesting.

Jul 19 – Cool. Ma went over to Mr Towns to help Fannie and Nellie[122] make a dress. Mrs Seamer cut out two widths of my carpet and I hemed them and got them partly sewed to gather. Ethan got a letter from Will P– also one from Proffesor Vandesen. Mrs Seamer went to the Burg to stay till monday night. Lois and Dell has gone to the Creek. Pa got me some braids to weave on my hair. He got Ma a pair of shoes. Jimmie got him a new Black straw hat. I commenced writing to Hank.

Jul 20 – Cool this morning, warmer this evening. Ethan has gone down to Aunt K after Hannah and Sis. Elis and Harry was down here a little while. They and Jimmie went in baithing. I finished my letter to Hank. I have not felt very well to day. Father called here this morning. He had been burning stumps down on the bottom lands. Lois and Dell called here to night. Hannah, Ethan and Louesa came home to night. Carrie Chapin Brown died last night.

Jul 21 – Warm. Father, Mother, Aunt Jule, Hannah, Jim, Ethan and I went to Adam Forepaughs show. We We Fathers folks and I went to Jack Bristols[123] and took dinner. Ma went to Mr Towns and finished the girls dresses. Pa and Sis stayed to home alone. Minnie Potts gave birth to a little boy[124] last night. It weighed 8½ pounds.

Jul 22 – Pleasant. Do not feel very well. Lois has been here to day a visiting. Uncle Joe came up here and stayed all day. Hannah is most sick.

Jul 23 – Pleasant. Ethan took Hannah down to Aunt Kates this afternoon. I came as far as Fathers. Aunt Jule and I picked currents to night. Father and Mother went to the Burg. They had to go by the upper bridge. They got a paper for me from Hank.

Jul 24 – Pleasant. Aunt Jule and I picked currents this forenoon. Dell got a letter for me from Hank. He sent his pictures. He sent seven pictures to Ethan.

Jul 25 – Pleasant. Ma, Mrs Seamer and Lucy was down here a visiting this afternoon. I went out to our little Babys grave to night. Pa came down here this morning after Salt Petre for the cow.

Jul 26 – Pleasant and warm. I came home to day with Father and Will when they came to work. I commenced fixing my drab[125] Polenaise. Henry and Dell were here. H– got home Friday night. Edith and the Haines girls were here. Ethan got a letter from Hank. Mrs Seamer finished my carpet to day. I paid her 3.45. She wove 34 yards and a rug.

Jul 27 – Pleasant. I wrote to Hank. Father cut around his oats. He was here about 2 hours to day.

Jul 28 – Pleasant. Ma cleaned the chamber. Mother and Aunt Jule came up here. Mother made my carpet. Rained a little this afternoon. Ethan has gone to Dells to help get in the oats.

Jul 29 – Cool in the morning, very hot and dusty in the afternoon. I went to Kalamazoo with Fathers folks. Got some lace to trim my silk dress also some lining for it and some cloth for pillow shams. Cam back to Aunt Katies and stoped. Uncle Joe went up to Pas. He got a letter and paper for me from Hank. He sent me one dollar.

Jul 30 – Pleasant. Fannie Cook came here this morning and stayed till after dinner. I wove some hair for Lucy. Mart went to town. Hannah and I went down to Uncle Joes to nigh.

Jul 31 – Rained most all day. Hannah Ironed all this forenoon. Lucy commenced a shirt for Mart.

Aug 1 – Pleasant and muggy. Aunt Kate washed some this forenoon. Mart, Lucy, the children, Hannah and I came up to Dells this afternoon. I stayed and the rest went home. Henry went down to Pa,s to stay to night and get Ethan to do some work for him.

Aug 2 – Pleasant, rained real hard in the night last night. I got a letter from Hank and also one from Loyd for Hank. Jimmie is here a visiting Willie. Dell went to town this after­noon. Mr Henry Clinton[126] died last night. Henry came back to Dells to night.

Aug 3 – Pleasant but cold. I wrote to Hank. Ma and Pa went to Aunt Katies. Lois and Dell brought me home this morning. We went up to Aunt Harriets[127] and then over to the Bridg.

Aug 4 – Pleasant and some warmer. Ma washed. Mother came up here and worked on my carpet. She and Father were here to supper. She gave me calico for a skirt. Ethan hlped Father in his oats to day.

Aug 5 – Pleasant. Ethan worked for Father. Aunt Katie, Mart, Clarie and Georgie[128] visited here. We had boiled cabbage for the first time this year. Eugene came here this afternoon. He is keeping books for in Kalamazoo for the Novelity-Iron works. Stellie Milham stayed here to night.

Aug 6 – Pleasant, some warmer. Ma fixed Hannahs lawn[129] polonaise. I worked on my silk dress. Jimmie went to the Burg this morning and got Ma a darning needle. He forgot to go to the Post office. Sate, Lois and Willie called here to night. They had been up to Brady. Henry had a runaway yesterday, smashed up Edwins new buggy.

Aug 7 – Pleasant. Ethan worked for Dell. Ma and I went down to Fathers. He and Ethan went to the Burg. They got me a letter and paper from Hank. He sent me two pictures of the Galery. Rained some this afternoon. We had ripe tomatoes this morning.

Aug 8 – Warm. Father, Mother and Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Ethan got him a valice, paid $5.00. I commenced a letter to Hank.

Aug 9 – Warm. Ma washed some. Mother and Aunt Jule were here this afternoon. I finished my silk dress. Mother finished my big carpet. We commenced Ethans shirt.

Aug 10 – Pleasant, very worm. I wrote to Hank. Ethan wrote to Mary and Frank Tomlinson.[130]

Aug 11 – Very warm. Pleasant. Ethan worked for Dell. Henry came home with him. Pa went to the Burg this morn. Libbie Allen was here this afternoon. Ida Allen went to Edith. Libbie went up to Mr Jacsons to stay too night. Sis stayes with Libbie Keith to night.

Aug 12 – Pleasant. Pa went down to Aunt Katies. I went as far as Fathers and stayed till he came back. Aunt Jule gave me fringe for a stand cloth and I sewed it on while there. Father hired a man yesterdy for fifteen a month his name is Albert Weazner.

Aug 13 – Rained a little last night. There is a picknic up east of Mr Earls to day. Ma, Pa, Jimmie and I went down to Fathers to eat rost pig. Ma & Mother tied a comforter for me. I finished Mothers pillow cases for her. I got a letter from Hank, he sent me $5.00.

Aug 14 – Pleasant. Henry is here, has been here two or three days. Jimmie stays with Harry to night.

Aug 15 – Pleasant. The marsh up south is on fire. People have to fight it to save their houses. Ma washed. Sis went home with Stellie. Henry got me a letter from Hank. He sent me an order for $16.00.

Aug 16 – Pleasant. Mother was here this afternoon. Aunt Fleda[131] came to day. Dr Alfred[132] died to day. He was sixty three. I wrote to Hank. Lois is 33 years to day.

Aug 17 – Pleasant. Mart brought Hannah a Delpha[133] up here to day. Father, Mother and I went to the Dr funeral. It was a grand affair. The Masons came from Allegan, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek & Jackson. Elder Jingle preached the sermon.

Aug 18 – Pleasant. Will Plank and Carrie came here to day. Will is 21 to day. Henry is as here to day.

Aug 19 – Pleasant. Father and Mother came her this morning. Mother stayed here all day. She helped me pack. Pa and Father carried our good over to the cars. There was 970 weight. I went over to Idas with Pa to stay all night. I got me a postminie[?] and some lace and muslin, also two pie plates. I got a letter from Hank. I got the money Hank sent me to day.

Aug 20 – Very warm. Ida and I went down to the post office. I wrote a letter to Hank and sent him the bill of goods. I ordered a bonnet made to Mrs Morton. Henry and Lois came after me. Lois stayes here to night. Hannah and Carrie stays with Tamer, Sis and Delpha with Stellie.

Aug 21 – Hard rain and hail storm. Lois, Hannah, Ethan and I went up to Ediths this afternoon. Sis and Delpha was there.

Aug 22 – Pleasant. Hannah & I went home with Father this noon. They had rost pig for dinner. Ma washed to day. I got a letter from Hank. Mrs Streaters visited here this afternoon. Uncle Ed and Mrs Sherman stayed here to night. Carrie Plank was here.

Aug 23 – Pleasant, warm. I wrote to Hank. We went home this afternoon with F– when he went to work. Mrs Streator[134] and Nell[135] visited here this afternoon. Ethan got my bonnet.

Aug 24 – Pleasant. Ida Barber came over and stayed last night. Edith and Dell and Lois was here to day, also Fathers folks this evening.

Aug 25 – Looked like rain when I left home. Father brought me her to Kalamazoo this morning. Ethan and Hannah came with us. I got to Mr Planks half past three.

Aug 26 – Pleasant. I left GR at ten this forenoon, got to Muir half past 12. Hank and I took dinner at the Olmstead house. Our goods came about three this afternoon. We got the bedroom carpet down and the bed put up so we slept at home, also ate supper at home.

Aug 27 – Pleasant. Put down the big carpet to day and got partly settled. We wrote to our folks to day.

Aug 28 – Pleasant. We washed the wood work to day. I went down to the galery this afternoon.

Aug 29 – Pleasant. There was a smash up on this rail road this morning about six oclock. The freight engine Ontario run in to the passenger train, killed three. An other died in the after noon. Three or four more not expected to live. I helped at the hotel. Hank and I went and looked at the crops this evening.

Aug 30 – Pleasant. Mr Dickens came down after us to night. We went home with him. Mr Holbrook rod home with us.

Aug 31 – Rained last night and till about ten this morning. We all went over to Marys to day. Uncle George and Aunt Lizebeth[136] brought us home to night. We went over to the Iron bridge to night.

Sep 1 – Pleasant, very cold last night. I made my black dress skirt to day. Hank has got the blues. He got som beats tonight, paid five cents for a peck.

Sep 2 – Pleasant. I have baked bread and cake. Hank feels pretty bad this morning. I wrote to Mary Plank to day. Hank got me some baking powder. Lucy gave birth to a little girl.[137]

Sep 3 – Pleasant this forenoon, rainy this afternoon. We got a letter from Ma & Ethan this morning. Hank and I took a walk up on the hill last night. It is the first I had been up there.

Sep 4 – Pleasant. Hank took in $4.50 to day. He got a peck of Onions and a pound of crackers. He commenced a letter to F– folks.

Sep 5 – Pleasant this forenoon, looks like rain this afternoon. We finished writing to our folks. Hank feels pretty bad. I feel sorry for him. Jimmie Sylvester[138] was killed while playing with the flat cares to night, aged nine years. Hank got two clocks to night, one for the galery and one for the house.

Sep 6 – Pleasant. I baked pies and cake this forenoon. Went down to the galery this afternoon. Stayed till about 4, came to the house and Ironed some.

Sep 7 – Rained a very little. I do not feel very well. Took a sit bath last night. Jimmie Sylvester was burried this forenoon. We did not attend the funeral. I was not well enough. Hank and I went over to Mr Abbys lumber yard this evening. I wrote to Pas folks to day.

Sep 8 – Pleasant. Have been to the galery most all day. Hank sent our letter to Pa and a paper to Father, also a letter to Dr Foot. Mr Long has had two gems taken this afternoon. I burnt three of my fingers this morning by steam.

Sep 9 – Pleasant. Baked pie to day. Went back to the galery with Hank at noon. We got a letter from Father and Mother also one from Loyd. He is going to be married this month. Lucy has got a little girl born last tuesday.

Sep 10 – Pleasant. Stayed to the galery most all day. Hank took in five dollars and took a 4 x 4 negative of Mrs Probascus little girl which will be three dollars more.

Sep 11 – Pleasant. Baked bread, jelee cake & tarts this forenoon. Went to the gallery this afternoon and wrote to Ida Barber. Hank bought me 8 pairs of fine white stockins at a bankrupt sale for $1.00.

Sep 12 – Pleasant this forenoon, rainy this afternoon. Hank printed. Had 125 prints to make but could not make only about 100 of them. Hank got two pairs of shears for twenty five cents at the auction.

Sep 13 – Pleasant and cooler. Baked this forenoon. Hank got a book from Dr Foot. I got a letter from Mary Plank.

Sep 14 – Pleasant but awful cold. We went to church for the first time since we I came to Muir. We wrote to Fathers folks. Hank had a chill and fever all night.

Sep 15 – Cold and some rainy. We mooved the stove into the front room. Hank had to buy $4.35 worth of stove pipe. Mary Holbrock took dinner with us. Hank was sick all night, was light headed part of the time. Tom Thumb was married the 31st of May to Miss Vinton of Bridgeport Ct.[139]

Sep 16 – Cool but warmer than yesterday and day before. The express train run off at Lowel last night in the night. Two killed & seven wounded, three very bad. Hank is getting ready to take a picture of Mr Ely. He wants Photographs. Mr Burt caught a fish to day that weighed 24 lb and 14 oz. Hank & I went fishing to night and lost the line. We bought a fish for 30 cents. We got a letter from Ma & Sis. Ethan & Hannah went to the Rapids to day.

Sep 17 – Rainy. I made a pie and fixed my waterproof cloak this forenoon. Went to the galery this afternoon. Hank soaked his feet and had three mustard plasters on his lungs last night.

Sep 18 – Pleasant and warm. Stayed to the house this forenoon. Went to the galery this afternoon.

Sep 19 – Pleasant. We printed this forenoon. Had fifty four prints card size and two 4/4. Hank mounted them this evening.

Sep 20 – Pleasant. Mr Dickerson brought us some butter, green tomatoes, a few aples and som butter milk this morning. I made some pickles this forenoon, also baked pies and bread. Hank has just taken a picture of a Negro man. We looked for Ethan but he did not come.

Sep 21 – Pleasant. Ethan came about two oclock this morning. He and Hank has been up to the Wreck. Ethan does not feel very well, has gone and laid down. Hank has gone to the post office. Ethan brought me a silver thimble, Henry sent it to me.

Sep 22 – Rainy. Ethan went on the freight. Left Muir half past eleven this forenoon. Hank has got an awful bad cold in his head. Ethan, Hannah and Fred Allerton expect to go home to night. Will get there about eleven (11) to night if they have good luck.

Sep 23 – Cloudy. J. E. Warner has a show here to day. I have got an awful cold sore throt. Hank and I went to the show. It was the best we ever attended.

Sep 24 – Cloudy. We wrote to Fathers folks to day. There is a horse tamer in town. He drove all around the streets without any lines. Hank & I have got real hard colds. Sprinkled a little to night.

Sep 25 – Cold & cloudy. I have baked some this afternoon. Hank has had his whiskers shaved off from the side of his face. I do not feel very well.

Sep 26 – Rained a little this morning. Pleasant but windy the rest of the day. Hank has taken a negative of Mr & Mrs Burt also one of Mrs Bements. We have printed some to day.

Sep 27 – Pleasant but very warm. Hank took in eight dollar and a half today. I put up five gems. I made two custard pies. Hank bought some sugar and cheese.

Sep 28 – Rainy. I was sick all night. Hank got up at two oclock and built a fire and laid hot cloths across me that made me feel some better. We are printing some to day. Hank got a letter from Uncle Hite[140] to night.

Sep 29 – Rainy. I worked on my black calico dress and went to the galery and staid this afternoon.

Sep 30 – Pleasanter. We got a letter from Ethan this morning. He and Hannah did not get home from G Rapids till the next week Wednesday. I finished my dress to night.

Oct 1 – Pleasant. I wrote to Ethan. We got a letter from Mother. Hank commenced packing this morning.

Oct 2 – Pleasant. Hank finished packing at the galery to day and commenced packing a little at the house. Hank went to Ionia.

Oct 3 – Rainy this afternoon. We packed in good earnest to day, got most packed. Expect to start for home to morrow night.

Oct 4 – Rainy. Finished packing. Mr Philp took the goods to the depot. We left Muir five minutes after five, got to Lyons. The cars was behind time, waited seven hours. Got to Lansing about three left there about five.

Oct 5 – Pleasant. We got to Jackson about six this morning. Went to the American house got breakfast and I went to bed & Hank went to the depo. We went to a resturant this afternoon and got supper. Started for home at five this evening.

Oct 6 – Pleasant. We got to Pas at nine last evening all safe. We went down to Fathers this morning. Ma went over to Mrs Hoags to sit up with her.

Oct 7 – Pleasant. Our trunk came to day. Arthur Lilly stayed here last night. Hannah is here to day. She has got a fellon.[141] We came back to Pas to night.

Oct 8 – Pleasant. Hank & I washed the first time since I was married. We went to keeping house to the burg one year ago to day. It is a year this morning since Will Plank lost his hand.[142]

Oct 9 – Pleasant. Hank and I took Aunt A– down to Aunt Kates. We stayed till three, stoped to Loises a little while. I stoped to Fathers. Hank took Bill home and then came come back to Fathers.

Oct 10 – Pleasant. I am fixing Hanks shirts. Went down to Pas a little while. Lois was there. Ma had gone down to Aunt Kates with Mr and Mrs Harris. Ambrose Field and Carrie Holmes[143] was married this evening.

Oct 11 – Pleasant. Aunt Jule washed. Hank, Father and Will and Fred went to the Burg. I went down to Pa,s and stayed till they came back. Ethan went with them. Pa lanced Hannahs fellon this evening. Mrs Earl, Hattie & Libbie visited here to day.

Oct 12 – Pleasant. I finished Hanks shirts. Tip and Rass went up to Mr Chases. Ida and Mrs Barber called here to day.

Oct 13 – Pleasant. Hank and I went to the Burg this forenoon. I got Hannah a brown calico dress. Hank went to Chicago to night. Father, Mother and Will came up to Pas to night.

Oct 14 – Pleasant. I dont feel very well. I done my ironing to day. Hannahs fellon is a little better.

Oct 15 – Pleasant. Ma & I washed. I expected to get a letter from Hank but did not.

Oct 16 – Some rainy. I went down to Fathers to night (Pa took me, did not get any from Hank. Ma wrote to Uncle Hite.

Oct 17 – Rainy. Put my quilt on this morning. We quilted some to day. I got a letter from Hank. He has got a job for 1.75 or two dollars per day.

Oct 18 – Pleasant. We quilted till four then I came up to Pas. Ed Willcott[144] was here. Ethan went to the Burg, got me some sugar to make jelly.

Oct 19 – Pleasant. I wrote to Hank. Mr Hawleys folks went up to their fathers. Ethan, Hannah and Louesa went down to Aunt Kates.

Oct 20 – Pleasant. Ethan got me some grapes. Ma & I made jellie. I got jellie a letter from Hank.

Oct 21 – Snowed a little last night and this forenoon. Thawed most as fast as it fell. Ma, Hannah & I went down to Fathers to quilt on my Album quilt. I stayed.

Oct 22 – Cold and rainy. We finished my quilt this evening. Charley Clark[145] stoped here this morning. He came last night.

Oct 23 – Pleasant and cold. Jimmie brought me down some sewing this morning. I got a letter from Hank. Eva Bronson and Mr More were married to night.[146]

Oct 24 – Pleasant. I bought finished my drawers this forenoon and commenced my chemise. Mother and I sent a letter to Hank.

Oct 25 – Warm & Pleasant. Father and Mother went to Kalamazoo. Mother got me eight yards of cotton. Ma & Pa went down to Aunt Katies. Aunt Jule & I went a beach nutting. Father, Mother, Will & I went to the Phrenalogical[147] lecture. I came home to night. I finished my chemise. I went out to our little Babys grave tonight.

Oct 26 – Rainy. Charley came down here to day. Lois and Dell went up to Brady after Will last night. Mr & Mrs Hawley[148] have gone away to day. I wrote to Alice Crawford.[149] Pa & Ma got home to night.

Oct 27 – Rainy. Ma and Hannah have been to work on her brown calico dress. Jimmie went to the Burg. Ma got a letter from Grandma. She answered it this evening. I am not very well.

Oct 28 – Snow three inches deep this morning, the first we have had to amount to any thing. Charley is here to day. Willie did not come home. Jimmie went to the Burg. Mr Hawley started for Hastings this morn. He went with the horse and wagon. I got a letter from Hank and answered it this evening.

Oct 29 – Some rain and snow. Pa & Louesa went down to Aunt Kates. Pa got a pig of Mart. Sis did not come home. Mr Hawley got home to night.

Oct 30 – Snowed. Charley came down here. He and Jimmie went to the Burg. I sent Hank a Muir paper.

Oct 31 – Cold and blustering. I commenced ____ a chemise this evening.

Nov 1 – Snowed some. Ethan and Charley went to the Burg. Ethan got Charley a pair of Boots. I finished my chemise.

Nov 2 – Rainy. Lousesa came home to night. Ma went back with Mart. The Baby is not expected to live. Grandpa Keith[150] would 91 years old to day if he had lived.

Nov 3 – Warm and pleasant. Hannah and I finished Wolfe Dark to day. Sis worked on her black calico dress. Ethan went to the Burg and got a lamp chimney. He and Pa picked up the apels for cider.

Nov 4 – Pleasant. Pa & Ethan drew corn in to the barn. I got a letter from Hank. Hannah tried to sew on her brown dress but had to give it up. Sis went to the Burg to take some patterns to Mary Mason.

Nov 5 – Pleasant. Pa & Ethan husked corn. Uncle Joe Lee brought Ma & Aunt Alfleda home this afternoon. Lucy Baby died to day at 10 AM. She was one hour younger than Johney.[151] Her name was Catharine Cemantha but they called her Kittie. Hannah & Uncle Joe Lois went home with Uncle J. I wrote to Hank. I washed to day. Hannah is sick.

Nov 6 – Pleasant. Ma & I made Jimmie an over coat & a pair of pants. We did not go to bed till most midnight. Pa & Ethan husked corn.

Nov 7 – Cold. Lucys baby was burried to day funeral at one oclock. Ma, Hannah & I stayed at the house, the rest all went to the grave. Lucy fells pretty bad. We did not come home till after supper. It rained most all the way home. It is thirty two (32) years to day since Father and Mother were married.[152]

Nov 8 – Cloudy. Ma washed. Mrs Gaffney came down here to day. Ida Clark called here to night. Father got a letter from Hank.

Nov 9 – Stormy this afternoon. Jimmie & I walked to the Burg. I stayed all night with Ida. Jimmie came home. Mrs Barber made Ida a hat to day. Miss Mary C Scramblin and Mr John Farmer of Battle Creek were married to day.[153]

Nov 10 – Cloudy & cold. Ida went to the Creek on the five oclock train this morning. Mr Barber went up to Mr Streator to work. I rode home with him. I commenced a letter to Hank. Pa went to the Burg & got a barrel of salt paid $2.25. He got a box of goods for Aunt A. Father got a letter for me from Hank.

Nov 11 – Snowed some. I wrote to Hank to day. Ethan wrote to Henry Keith. Willie C– was here to day.

Nov 12 – Some snow. Ethan brought me down to Fathers. Louesa went up to Jim Milhams[154] to stay with Stellie.

Nov 13 – Snowed hard all day. I am at Fathers. Mother is making her calico dress. I have red Margeret Oakley to day. Hobert Jackson called here this morning to wait for Will to go to school. Father went to the Burg this evening.

Nov 14 – Pleasant but a good deal of snow. Father went to Kal. Mother finished her calico dress. Father took Aunt Jules teeth with him to get them fixed but could not. I commenced Mas tida[155] this morning, got it little more than half done. Will got a magazine for Hank to night, there was twenty five cents postage due on it.

Nov 15 – Thawed. Snow most gone. Father went to the burg this afternoon. I went down to Pa,s with him. Louesa went to the Burg & came back with him. He got a letter from Hank. He sent an order for twenty five dollars, eleven going to Mother for butter for Uncle Hite. Pa killed his pig this forenoon. Lois went up to Brady with Charley. He is going to stay a week. I learned Aunt Jule to make barley corn to night.

Nov 16 – Pleasant. Lucy, Hannah & Georgie went up to Pa,s. Ethan came down after me. When they went home I came back to Fathers. Dell was here and took dinner. Mr Streetor came down toward night and got ten dollars of Aunt Jule.

Nov 17 – Rained a little. Father and Ethan went after our goods. The freight on them was $10.84 from Muir to Kalamazoo. Harry Streetor and Nellie Stanford[156] started for Ohio to night. Harry is going to Canton and Nellie to Randolph.

Nov 18 – Snow and rain. We opened to safe & fruit box. Things were all right. I commenced writting to Hank this morning. Got a letter from Hank and one from Ida Barber.

Nov 19 – Cold. I finished Hanks letter. Father went to the Burg. I went as far as Pa,s. Took my Bureau and bed down there. I came back with him. I forgot to take Hanks letter. I got a letter from Nellie Tomlinson.[157]

Nov 20 – Cold. I wrote a little more to Hank this morn. Will took the letter to the Burg. I finished Hanks shirt and Mas tidy and fixed my gloves. Ethan came down after the quilting frames. He brought my quilt. I cut out some blocks and pieced some. Father killed two sheep. He had a chill to night

Nov 21 – Warm and pleasant. I quilted, fixed Aunt Jules Bonnet. Hank came hom Father and I went to the Burg. I got some calacoe for my quilt. I called at Pas.

Nov 22 – Cold and some stormy. I fixed Aunt Jules bonnet. Hank came home to night sick with a hard cold. Aunt Jule gave me a pair of glove warmers. Will went to the Burg to get Frank shod. He got a letter for Hank from Loyd.

Nov 23 – Snow. Hank is sick to day. Will has gone down to Pa,s after the Balsam for Hank. We are going to sleep in Mothers room to night.

Nov 24 – Snow. Hank was real sick last night. He is all broken out with the Measles. He is pretty sick to day. Father went after his trunk. I went down to Pas after some things. Ma has got the star quilt on. She has got a real lame back. Father killed eight geese and the old gobler to day.

Nov 25 – Pleasant. Hank is a little better. Father has gone to Kalamazoo. He took the fowls and some wheat. Mother has washed. Ida Allerton is twenty one (21).[158]

Nov 26 – Pleasant. Hank is better. We went up stairs to sleep to night. Uncle Ed Armes and Mrs Sherman came here to day, are going to stay all night. Mother cooked the goose.

Nov 27 – Snow this morning, it is good sleighing. Hank and I went down to Pa,s with Will. It is Thanksgiving. Fathers folks are going to have oysters. Pas folks had chickens. Will had a tooth pulled.

Nov 28 – Cold & blustering. We stayed to Pas last night. Henry came down to day. Ma & I washed. Ethan took us down to Fathers this evening.

Nov 29 – Pleasant. Father, Mother and Will went to Kalamazoo to get Will a suit of cloths. They cost twenty four dols. Mother got me some calicos & Zephyr. Ida Barber is 21.

Nov 30 – Pleasant. Will is not feeling well. Uncle Edmund & Aunt Hannah came here this afternoon.

Dec 1 – A little rainy. Hank & I went to Augusta, got lost coming home. Will Plank and Ethan road from the Burg with us. Will came out Saturday. Will and Ethan came down this evening. It rained when they went home.

Dec 2 – Rained all this afternoon. Father killed seven (7) hogs for Mr Caywood. Hank wrote to the Post Master at Lawton to night. Snow is all gone.

Dec 3 – Real warm, seems like spring, commenced raining toward night. Hank went to the Burg. Father and I went up to Pas. Pa cut around my tooth and got the turnkee on it but it sliped off so I would not let him try again. I had the tooth ache real hard all night last night. Will has commenced breaking out with the measles. Hank got a letter from Lawton.

Dec 4 – Dreadful windy all night all at and all day to day. Freezing hard all the time. Hank went to Lawton on the mail. Will is broken all out with the measles. Father is most sick.

Dec 5 – Wind went down about midnight. Pleasant and warm to day. The wind done a good deal of damage, blew down homes and took the iron roof off of the Detroit Depo. Will is pretty sick. Will P– and Ethan went down to Aunt Kates to stay all night

Dec 6 – Pleasant. Will is better. Hank got home about 10 last evening. Dell told me Lucy was sick with the Rheumatism.

Dec 7 – Rainy this forenoon. Hank and I went down to Aunt Kates this afternoon. Lucy is no better. Aunt Kate got home from Joes yesterday.

Dec 8 – Pleasant. Mother and Aunt Jule washed. Hank and father killed six pigs to day. Will commenced to go to school to day.

Dec 9 – Pleasant. Hank brought me home this morning Mr Hank and Father Butchered six pigs to day.

Dec 10 – Pleasant. Hank took me down to Pas this morning. Mrs Hawley was sick, had been sick all night and all day yesterday. I am going to fix my black alpaca dress.

Dec 11 – (no entry)

Dec 12 – (no entry)

Dec 13 – Snow. Hank and Ethan got wood this forenoon. Father went to the Burg this afternoon, stoped for us when he went home. We went home with him

Dec 14 – Snow. I wrote to Ida Barber. Will went to the concert to night. Old Mr Watts died this morning. He fell down seller last night and killed himself.

Dec 15 – Pleasant. Hank brought me home from Fathers this morning. Jimmie did not go to school to day.

Dec 16 – Pleasant. Ethan went to Comstalk[159] to Mill. Lucy and Mart were here to supper. Aunt Fleda went to the Burg.

Dec 17 – Warm. Hank went down to Fathers to help kill geese. Ma went to Mr Watts funeral. It was at one oclock. Mother sent Ma a goose.

Dec 18 – Pleasant. Hank went down to Fathers to go to Kalamazoo. It is half past seven and he has not got home yet. Am afraid he is not coming to night.

Dec 19 – Snowed this afternoon. Hank did not get home last night. Ma & I went down to Fathers this afternoon. I did not go back. Hank and Father helped Dell kill a beef.

Dec 20 – Pleasant. I finished my black alpaca dress. Ma, Pa and I went up to Dells this morning. Hank came this evening. He and I stayed all night.

Dec 21 – Pleasant. We are to Dells. Pa took Mrs Gaffney down to Aunt K. Hannah came home with him, is not going back. Frank Tomlinson, Henry Keith and Eugene Crawford[160] came to Pas last night. They also had the Harris, Keith and B– families there to spend the evening. Henry and Frank called to Dells this eve.

Dec 22 – Pleasant. Hank, Father and I went to the Burg this forenoon. I went to Mrs Barbers, did not get home till four this afternoon. Frank was there. Eugene went back on the two oclock train. Skinners visited Pas this eve.

Dec 23 – Warm and Pleasant, seems like spring. Father, Mother, Aunt Jule and Ma went to Kalama­zoo. Ma got Hannah a cloak. Aunt J– got her one. I went back with Father when they he brought Ma home. Hank and Hannah, Frank, E– & I visited Flanders this evening. Skinners were there. Hank was sick with a pain in his bowle bowels. Father and mother went up to Mr Fords to see Mary & Tom this eve. Arthur is here.

Dec 24 – Warm, Pleasant. Hank is worse. We are at Fathers. Hannah stayed with Lois last night.

Dec 25 – Pleasant. Christmas. Mother got me a wrapper for a Christmas preasant. Hank is a little better. Father, Mother & Aunt Jule have gone up to Mr Armes to day. Henry K called here this morn, also Jimmie.

Dec 26 – Cold and some snow. Hank was sick all night, better this morning. Ethan called here this afternoon. He had been down to Aunt Kates.

Dec 27 – Snow. Father made cider. Hank and Will made went to the Burg. Will had a tooth pulled.

Dec 28 – Cold. Will took Hank and I down to Pas to night.

Dec 29 – Blustering. We commenced Hannahs underclothes. Uncle David[161] came to our house to day. Had not seen him in 19 years. He brought Ma a set of silver forks and gave her five dollars. Aunt Kate sent her a pair of undersleeves and three collars and a tie.

Dec 30 – Pleasant. Uncle Dave went away to day. Lois, Lucy, Mart and Uncle Joe were here to day. Mr Hawley killed one Pig and Pa two. Fathers folks were here this evening.

Dec 31 – Cold. Ethan went up to Dells. Mrs Skinner and Dell have gone to Lima. Jimmie stays with Willie.

 

Names of those that attended Henry’s farewell Party[162]

Dell Clapp }                 Ida Clark

Mavis  ”     }                 Mart Milham

Thadd ”     }                 Lucy Milham

Mary   ”     }                 Quin Streator

Dell Skinner   }

Lois      ”         }           Addie Raymond

Sate     ”          }           Jennie Hitchcock

Mr Taylor   }                Cullen Town

Hattie  ”     }                Edwin Flanders

Libbie  ”     }                Myron Latty

Mr Earl   }                   Henry Keith

Elva  ”     }                   Henry Brown

Mary Plank  }              Nancy Brown

Carrie   ”      }              Mr Flanders

Charley Ford   }           Mrs Flanders

Tamer     ”       }

Ethan Keith  }

Hannah  ”     }

Fred Allerton    }

Ida        ”          }

 

It has been so cold part of this month (April) that good many have frozen to death in Kansas and other western states

 

Mrs Mary J Holmes works[163]

X Tempest & Sunshine

X English Orphans

Homestead on the Hillside

Lena Rivers

X Meadow Brook

Lora Dean

X Cousin Maud

Marian Grey

Darkness and Daylight

X Hugh Worthington

Cameron Pride

Rose Mather

Ethelyn’s Mistake

Mill Bank

X Edna Browning (new)

Cash Account, January
Date		Received	Paid
1	Silver		.50
7	Medician		.50
9	6 yards calido		.75
13	Ventilating garters		.40
18	Dress buttons		.10
28	Hank gave	2.00
28	Vail		1.00
			2.85

 

Cash Account, February
Date		Received	Paid
3	Medicine		.53
7	Slippers		.50
8	Gaiters		1.60
10	Corsets		.75
22	Alumin[?]		.2
24	From Hank	1.00
28	Light calico		.45
			3.82

 

Cash Account, March
Date		Received	Paid
10	Dr Alferd		1.00

 

Cash Account, April
Date		Received	Paid
8	Calico dress		1.00
8	dress buttons		.23
29	Postage		.3
26	Doctor		.50
			1.76
Cash Account, May
Date		Received	Paid
5	Dr Johnson		1.00

 

Cash Account, July
Date		Received	Paid
29	Lace for dress		3.75
29			5.66

——-

[1] The x’s, which appear at various dates through the first part of the diary, are unexplained. At times they appear to have been erased

[2] Her sister, Hannah Keith

[3] Her in-laws, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown; Nancy refers to her parents, Sarah (Crawford) & Charles Luke Keith Jr., as Ma and Pa, and to Hank’s parents, Matilda (Allen) & Ambrose Brown, as Mother and Father

[4] Believe she is referring to Simeon Woods, the husband of Reliance (Brown) Woods. Reliance was Ambrose Brown’s sister

[5] Her husband, Henry Brown. They were married October 5, 1872

[6] Her half-brother, Henry Keith. He is the son of Charles Luke Keith Jr. by his first wife Minerva (Payson) Keith

[7] Galesburg, Michigan

[8] Neighbors, Andrew & Maria (Eggelston) Caywood

[9] Neighbors, John & Lucina Armstrong

[10] Neighbors, Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[11] Sarah (Crawford) Keith

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

[13] Neighbors, John & Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton

[14] Neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[15] Hank’s brother, Willis Brown

[16] Her half-sister, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner, born to Charles Luke Keith Jr. by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[17] Lois’ second husband, Adelbert Skinner

[18] A search of the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com shows that Henrietta Van Vleet died December 21, 1872, and the Oak Grove Cemetery records reveal that her maiden name was Lockwood

[19] Del Skinner’s sister, Sarah “Sate” Skinner

[20] Her brother, Ethan Keith

[21] Michigan County Marriage Records at Ancestry.com show that Fred Young Hawver and Phebe Armstrong were married in Galesburg on January 5, 1873

[22] Hank was a photographer

[23] Sarah (Knight) Skinner, Adelbert’s and Sate’s mother

[24] Assume she means “medicine”

[25] Neighbors, Byron, Cora, Ida, Libbie and Emma Allen are mentioned throughout the diary. They are the children of John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen. Any possible relationship between them and Matilda (Allen) Brown is unknown at this time

[26] Hannah’s boyfriend. From an entry in Luke’s diary on 12-13-1872 he mentioned that Hannah got a ring from Eberly Underwood

[27] Most likely referring to her maternal first cousin, Eugene Crawford

[28] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Flora Swaddle, age 16, the daughter of William G. Swaddle, died January 8, 1873, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[29] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Ira Joy died January 9, 1873, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[30] An 18th-century dress with the skirt divided in front and worn looped back over an elaborate underskirt

[31] See footnote for January 7^th entry

[32] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Azor Odell, age 19, (the 1860 census lists him as Ezra Odell) died January 8, 1873 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[33] Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee, her father’s sister

[34] Martin Milham, husband of Aunt Kate’s daughter (by her second husband), Lucy (Lee) Milham

[35] Believe this is William E. Arms, the husband of Cynthia (Brown) Arms. Cynthia was Ambrose Brown’s sister. Hank’s diary for this date mentions that he “opened Arthurs box and took out a frame and mat and Looking glass and hung them up.” Arthur was William & Cynthia’s son

[36] Neighbor, Richard Barber

[37] Neighbors, John & Eliza Ann (Young) Bailey

[38] Spiritualism was practiced by some members of both the Keith and Brown families and at times they had seances

[39] Neighbor, daughter of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[40] Her sister, Louese Keith; she is also referred to as Sis or Louesa

[41] Grain to be ground or already ground

[42] Neighbors, William & Celestin Swaddle

[43] The son of neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[44] Her youngest brother, James Clinton Keith

[45] The son of John & Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton

[46] Neighbors, the daughters of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[47] See footnote for January 7^th entry

[48] Rebecca Plank, the oldest daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[49] Julia Allen, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister

[50] A neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[51] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Rev. Phillip Potts died January 25, 1873 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[52] According to Ida’s death certificate she was born January 30, 1856

[53] Granddaughter of Simeon & Reliance (Brown) Wood

[54] Neighbor Alice Wightman, the daughter of Dr. George & Mary (Crandall) Wightman

[55] Her paternal cousins, Jesse and Alvan Lee, the sons of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

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

[57] Cousin Charles Lee (1797-1878), the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee. (See also January 28th entry in C. L. Keith Jr.’s 1873 diary)

[58] Neighbor, Ella Swaddle. Ella was the older sister of Flora. See January 8^th entry

[59] Mary (Knowles) Barber

[60] Sister, Louese Keith

[61] Drug made from the aconite plant, also known as monkshood or wolf’s bane, which is highly poisonous, but used in some medicines. It could be used to induce sweating

[62] See footnote for January 7^th entry

[63] Neighbor, the daughter of Samuel & Hannah (Patton) Spier

[64] Neighbor, daughter of James & Ellen (Adams) Milham; James and Martin Milham (see footnote for January 11^th entry) were half-brothers

[65] The daughter of Loren & Amanda (Taylor) Clark; Loren was the brother of Byron Clark, Lois Keith (Clark) Skinner’s first husband

[66] 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

[67] Neighbor, Edwin M. Clapp

[68] Her cousin, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr) Keith

[69] Catherine E. Keith, the daughter of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[70] Arthur and William E. Arms (see footnote for January 13^th entry)

[71] Believe she means Kate Chaffee; see entries in Luke’s diary

[72] Mertie LaVern Chaffee, the daughter of Thomas & Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[73] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Charlotte Ann (Goodrich) Coe died February 21, 1873 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[74] Small tintype photographs. Tintypes were printed on iron, but called tintype because the metal resembled tin

[75] Neighbor, Edwin R. York, was the brother of Joseph York who was married to Nancy’s cousin, Helen (Bradley) York

[76] Her cousin, Ellis Keith, who was the son of Wesley & Harriet (Blakeslee) Keith

[77] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Amos Chipman died February 27, 1873 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[78] 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

[79] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” D. Streator, the son of Marius O. Streator

[80] Erasmus Town, husband of Eunice (Wood) Town, Ambrose Brown’s niece

[81] Anise, a medicinal herb

[82] Nancy had two cousins who were both named Edna: Edna Irene Crawford, the daughter of Robert & Louisa (Hall) Crawford; and Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of Edwin & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford. Since Emmett Crawford visited on March 31^st and Aunt Mary Crawford visited on April 3^rd, it is assumed that here she is referring to Edna Alice Crawford

[83] Luke Keith’s horse

[84] 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

[85] Her cousin, Emmett Patrick Crawford, the son of her uncle Edwin, and his second wife, Mary (Hamilton) Crawford

[86] Mary (Hamilton) Crawford, the widow of Nancy’s Uncle Edwin Crawford

[87] Laura (Wheeler) Brown, who died April 5, 1873

[88] Helen (Bradley) York, daughter of Aunt Kate and her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[89] Her uncle, John Wesley Keith; Luke Keith’s adopted brother

[90] Neighbor, James R. Flanders, age 36, died April 10, 1872 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Charleston, Michigan

[91] Simeon Woods, husband of Reliance Brown. Reliance was Ambrose Brown’s sister

[92] Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts

[93] Neighbor, son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[94] Nancy’s second cousin, the son of Jesse & Sarah (Davis) Turner

[95] This last word was written sideways in the left hand margin; it is Florence’s married name

[96] Mart and Lucy (Lee) Milham’s daughter

[97] Nancy’s first cousin, the daughter of James & Ann (Rogers) Crawford

[98] Henry Crawford

[99] Neighbor, Byron Hawley; Luke Keith’s diary mentions him frequently

[100] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Eliza (Gilfus) Delano, age 19, died May 3, 1873

[101] One of Ethan’s inventions, a “car starter” (see May 14, 1873 letter)

[102] Michigan Marriage Records at Ancestry.com show that Jackson Bristol married Alta Burge on May 8, 1873 in Galesburg, Michigan

[103] Michigan Birth & Christening Records at Ancestry.com show that Adelia Giddings was born May 10, 1873 to Augustus & Susan Giddings

[104] Caroline (Williams) Wiseman, a neighbor who had moved to Missouri (see December 28, 1871 letter)

[105] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Reuben L. Coe died in 1873 and is buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery, in Climax, Michigan

[106] 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) Odell, 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

[107] Neighbor, Albert Towne

[108] Presumably the sons of Albert & Pamelia (Hosley) Towne: Erasmus, Cullen and Charles

[109] Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham and their daughter, Clara Milham

[110] The twins were buried at the foot of a tree near the horse trough on Ambrose & Matilda Brown’s land

[111] The widow and daughter of Nancy’s Uncle Edwin Crawford

[112] Her cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)

[113] David “D. C.” Crawford, Sarah Keith’s brother

[114] William Byron Clark, the son of Nancy’s half-sister, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner

[115] Wesley’s daughter, Hannah “Libbie” Keith

[116] Nancy mixed up her days and wrote July 2 and 3 on July 3 and 4 respectively, and then July 4 at the end of the July 5 entry

[117] Henry, Virginia (Worley), John and George Crawford

[118] Believe she is referring to Edmund Chase, the husband of Hannah Ballou (Brown) Chase. Hannah was Ambrose Brown’s sister

[119] Neighbor, Lovina Allen, another daughter of John & Amanda Allen (see footnote for January 7^th entry)

[120] See Henry Brown’s 1873 diary. He and Nancy were moving to Muir, Michigan to set up his photography business

[121] Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts

[122] Frances and Helen Towne, the daughters of Albert & Pamelia (Hosley) Towne

[123] Jackson Bristol was the widower of Julia Wood, the daughter of Simeon & Reliance (Brown) Wood. Their children were Marion (see January 27^th and March 8^th entries), Louis, Helen (see March 8^th entry) and Lulu. He then married Alla Birge (see May 8^th entry)

[124] Michigan Death Records show that Warren D. Potts was born July 20, 1873 in Galesburg, Michigan, to Austin & Marian (Wilcox) Potts

[125] A yellow-gray cloth

[126] The Michigan Deaths & Burials Index at Ancestry.com shows that Henry Clinton, age 73, died August 1, 1873 in Charleston, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

[127] Wesley Keith’s wife, Harriet (Blakeslee) Keith

[128] Clara and George with the children of Mart & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[129] A fine thin linen cambric

[130] Frank Tomlinson, the son of George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson. Marion was Nancy’s first cousin. It is unclear who Mary was

[131] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, widow of Harvey Keith (Charles Luke Keith Jr.’s brother)

[132] 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

[133] Marion Adelpha York, daughter of Joseph York and Helen Bradley (Cath­arine (Keith) Bradley Lee’s daughter)

[134] Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator, wife of Marius O. Streator

[135] 1870 census shows Nellie Stanford (age 27) living in the Marius O. Streator household and again in 1880 (age 37) where she is listed as “niece.” In the 1900 and 1920 census records, she is living with her cousin, Henry Streator. Her headstone shows she was the niece of Laura Rawson Streator

[136] Investigation continues as to their identity

[137] Catherine Samantha “Kitty” Milham, born to Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[138] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that James B. Sylvester, age 9, was killed in a railroad accident. He was the son of Henry S. and Mary Sylvester

[139] According to http://www.historytoday.com, Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton) married Lavinia Warren on February 10, 1873. Both worked with the Barnum & Bailey Circus as part of the ‘freak show’

[140] Hiram Crawford Jr.

[141] Felon – deep inflammation on a finger or toe

[142] From Luke Keith’s October 14, 1872 diary entry: Will Plank came home badly hurt had his hand took of smashed coupling cars

[143] Michigan marriage records at Ancestry.com show that they were married November 18, 1873 in Galesburg, Michigan

[144] Believe she is referring to her father’s first cousin, Edward G. Wolcott

[145] Her nephew, Charles Clark, the son of Lois (Keith) and her first husband, Byron Clark

[146] A search at Ancestry.com shows that Eva Bronson married Levi Moore in Galesburg, Michigan, on October 22, 1873

[147] Belief that mental characteristics and powers can be ascertained by measuring and studying the shape and protuberances of the skull

[148] Byron & Harriet (Abbott) Hawley

[149] Her maternal first cousin, the daughter of James & Ann (Rogers) Crawford. Alice lived in Glen Haven, Wisconsin

[150] Charles Luke Keith Sr.

[151] Johnny Milham was Kittie’s older brother who was born June 27, 1872 and died September 24, 1872

[152] Ambrose Brown and Matilda Allen were married in Sodus, Wayne County, New York on November 7, 1841

[153] Michigan Marriage Records at Ancestry.com confirm that Mary C. Scramblin and John Farmer were married in Battle Creek on November 9, 1873

[154] Mart Milham’s half-brother

[155] Tidy – a light detachable covering, as for a chair back. (See also entry for Nov. 20)

[156] 1870 census shows Nellie Stanford (age 27) living in the Marius O. Streator household and again in 1880 (age 37) where she is listed as “niece.” In the 1900 and 1920 census records, she is living with her cousin, Henry “Harry” Streator. Her headstone shows she was the niece of Laura (Rawson) Streator

[157] Nancy’s cousin, the daughter of George & Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[158] Neighbor, the daughter of John & Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton

[159] Comstock

[160] Her maternal first cousin, Eugene Crawford

[161] Sarah (Crawford) Keith’s brother, David Caleb Crawford, better known as D.C., visiting from Colorado

[162] See February 18^th entry

[163] From Wikipedia: Mary Jane Holmes (April 5, 1825 – October 6, 1907) was a bestselling and prolific American author who published 39 popular novels, as well as short stories. Her first novel sold 250,000 copies; and she had total sales of 2 million books in her lifetime, second only to Harriet Beecher Stowe. Portraying domestic life in small-town and rural settings, she examined gender relationships, as well as those of class and race. She also dealt with slavery and the American Civil War with a strong sense of moral justice. Since the late 20th century she has received fresh recognition and reappraisal, although her popular work was excluded from most 19th-century literary histories.

1873-06-21N

 

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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 1872 Diary

1872 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR[1]

Jan 1 – Ethan[2] and girls went down to Catharines.[3] No snow but lots of ice in road. At home all day. Alfleda[4] here.

Jan 2 – Made sleighshoe pattern for A. Brown.[5] Not very cold. M. O. Streator[6] called here he had been up to cidermill.

Jan 3 – Hard cold, head ache. Nothing done. Ethan and girls went over to Mr Planks in Evening.

Jan 4 – Went over to burg.[7] Fitted shoes on my sleigh. Let Vanburen have one Dollar. Mary and Carry Plank[8] here went to school.

Jan 5 – Went up to Schrams to see old cow. Went over and got my sleigh. Bot Jims[9] Boots 2.50.

Jan 6 – Carried Hannah and Nancy[10] up to Wesleys.[11] Hank Brown[12] working on retouching frame. Got two bushels wheat ground.

Jan 7 – At home. Alfleda here. No snow on ground good wheeling.

Jan 8 – Drawed some wood on sleigh. Scoured new shoes. Went down to Catharines.

Jan 9 – Killed my hogs. Mart[13] and A. Brown and Wes helped me. Mr Schram killed my cow.

Jan 10 – Sold J. C. Blake two hogs weight 6.74 lbs 4.85 cts. pr hundred. Got my beef. Carried my cast iron up to B. Hartwells had 300. lbs 1½ pr lb 4.50.

Jan 11 – Went up to Mr Kirbys. Cool wind almost rains. Lois[14] at home a while.

Jan 12 – Went down to Catharines after Nancy. Swaddle girls here Libby Allen here. Mr Plank got some beef.

Jan 13 – Went up to Wesleys. Got a pig. Went over to burg paid my tax 12.53. Will Plank[15] stayed all night Drawed 100. Dollars of town treasurer for District No 7. Dick Lamkins brot violin to be repaired.

Jan 14 – Pleasant morning.

Jan 15 – Snowed some. Went over to burg bot some glue.

Jan 16 – Snowes snow 2½ inches this morning. Sarah[16] went over to Janes. I drawed one load wood. Went over after Sarah in Evening.

Jan 17 – Cloudy not very cold. Put the hair in one End of Dicks bow. Put bottom on chopping bowl. John Sherman broke down had a big load wood.

Jan 18 – Found new lamb this morning, all right.

Jan 19 – Put hair in one End of Lamkins bow. Went over to burg carried over Buckwheat and corn. Sarah and Nancy went over. Bot sis[17] some shoes 2.00. Snowey day snow fell 5½ inches 5½ in.

Jan 20 – Got Schrams saw cut one load wood. Snows some. Jo Lee[18] called here. Hannah went home with him. Rebeca Plank[19] here.

Jan 21 – Put up hog. New snow 2. Went down to Jo Lees, Alfleda went with us.

Jan 22 – Went over to Burg after sis. Went to A. Hoags to see Decon Mason.

Jan 23 – Jane Hoag an Mary Mason came over here. I went down to Catharines after pig.

Jan 24 – Worked on fenders some cold day snow 1¼.

Jan 25 – Cold morning. Went over to burg.

Jan 26 – Went over to burg. Worked on fenders some.

Jan 27 – Paid W^m Johnson $19.50. Put fenders on cutter. Cold day. Went over to burg in Evening got buckwheat flour, bot 3 darning needles.

Jan 28 – Cold 4 Abz[20] Mart, Lucy[21] and Cate Chaffee[22] came here. Stove fell down broke the bottom. A Brown here in Evening.

Jan 29 – Cold 6 Below zero. Very Cold. No work.

Jan 30 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Mr Briggs. Went and see George.

Jan 31 – Cold 9 Abz. Went ofer to burg. Bot Ethans pants 5.50 5.50 A. Browns folks here in Evening. Arthur Arms[23] here with them.

Feb 1 – Cold 8 Below zero. Alfleda went waverly. Stephen D. Hall and wife here all day.

Feb 2 – Cold 16. Below zero. Carried stove over to Burg. Bot one peace of cotton 5.93. Ethan, Nancy and Hannah went down to M O. Streators in Evening. Mr Geo Torry shot himself in Kalamazoo this morning.

Feb 3 – 25 below zero pleasant but cold. Ethan and the girls went up to Swaddles. Carried my stove bottom over got it mended 5/-.[24] Jo Sherman and wife here.

Feb 4 – Some warmer 18 Above zero at 7 AM. Went down to Marts and Jo Lees. Snowed like fun[25] when we came home.

Feb 5 – Snowed all day. Painted my cutter bottom. Went over to burg got stove bottom put stove together.

Feb 6 – Snow 8 inches deep. Carried Nancy down to Skinners.[26] Went up to John Shermans. Nice sleighing. Net Gafre(?) came down with Jim Milham[27] after Stella.[28]

Feb 7 – Cold 17. Below zero. Ethan put slead together. Jo Lee came up here. Ethan went down to Jim Jacksons in Evening. Hannah stayed to A. Browns.

Feb 8 – Cold and pleasant 10 below zero. Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night. Filled tooth for Will Brown[29] this morning.

Feb 9 – Went to Kalamazoo after sis. Pleasant day went and saw Judge Briggs. Came back to Catharines stayed all night.

Feb 10 – Came home. Stoped to Jo Lees. Went down to Charleses with Jo.

Feb 11 – At home all day. Warm thawed snow went fast. No one here.

Feb 12 – Pleasant 14. Abz. No work to day.

Feb 13 – Snowed and blowed all day snowed 1 inch.

Feb 14 – Cold 3 Abz. Went to mill up to Howlands. Snowed like fun. School teacher stayed here all night. Went down to Jo Lees in Evening. He was gone from home. Very cold snow fel one inch 1 in.

Feb 15 – Cold. Went up to Wesleys after Louesa.[30] Sarah went down to Skinners. I went down to Skinners after Sarah. Stopt to A Browns stayed the Evening. Sawed some wood.

Feb 16 – Mr Roberts called here the Galesburg Herald. Sarah and Nancy went over to Barbers. Filed saw for Ridler, sawed some wood. Will Plank came here stayed all night,

Feb 17 – Puttied up cutter dash. Went down to Fords in Evening with Wesley to see about Blackwalnut lumber.

Feb 18 – At home all day. Jo Lee came up here stayed to supper.

Feb 19 – Went over to burg in the morning to see Mr Reynolds about the Bristol place. Freer girl buried [see footnote to November 9th entry]. Jule Bristol[31] died. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines. Ethan and the girls went up to Ridlers to a dance. I vacinated Carry and Mary Plank.

Feb 20 – Carried Sarah and Nancy over to Burg. Snowed like fun.

Feb 21 – At home all day. Mrs Bristol buried to day.

Feb 22 – Carried Hams down to A. Browns this morning.

Feb 23 – Blocked out 3 axhelves.[32] Ethan and girls went up to Wesleys to a dance.

Feb 24 – Dow Haines and cousin called here had their violins with them. They played very well. Mr and Mrs Plank[33] called here to see about geting the house for the summer. Went down to Jo Lees.

Feb 25 – Went down to Catharines, came home. A. Browns family here in Evening.

Feb 26 – Pleasant morning lots ice all over. Painted sleigh over.

Feb 27 – Painted sleigh some. Repairing front room some. Will Plank here all night. Stelly Millham stayed all night.

Feb 28 – Pleasant morning. Worked in shop some on axhelves.

Feb 29 – Painted cutter thills[34] worked on helves some. Pleasant day

Mar 1 – Mr Plank drawed some wood. Ethan and Nancy went over to burg. Mrs Barber sick.

Mar 2 – Went over to burg. Saw Mr Reynolds he no want the place. Will Plank sawed some wood. Started to go down to A. Browns. Bill[35] got a way from me. I got him up to John Shermans barn.

Mar 3 – Cool, no sleighing. Mart and Lucy and Catharine came up.

Mar 4 – Carried some corn over to mill. One inch snow. Mr Plank drawed some wood. Cold wind. I drawed some wood. Catharine here.

Mar 5 – Pleasant 4 below zero. Cut and drawed some woood.

Mar 6 – Went over to burg, got meal. Caroline Earl[36] came here. Mr Plank and Will sawing wood.

Mar 7 – Pleasant morning. Sarah, Caroline and I went up to Wesleys. Carried Caroline over to burg. Went in to barbers, Mrs barber some better. Mr Allen and children[37] here in Evening, Mr Planks young folk, Hank Brown and Hank Childs.

Mar 8 – Snow 2 inches deep this morning. Sawed out some gearing. I Schram[38] called here. I paid him 6 Dollars. Jo Lee Sold his farm.

Mar 9 – Sawed some more of my gearing. Extracted one tooth for Will Brown. Paid A. Brown 30.00 dollars, paid Alice Byington 49.00 & 30. Went Down to Skinners. 49 in afternoon. Saw 79.00 Charley Sutherland.

Mar 10 – Went down to Jo Lees and Catharines. Catharine went home.

Mar 11 – Sawed out wheelbarrow arms. John Sherman paid me 3.50 cts in full of all accounts up to this date.

Mar 12 – Went up to Ell Carys this morning with sleigh. Ethan went to Kalamazoo with Will Plank. Got Mr Barbers sewing machine. Nancy and Sis went up to Mr Allens.

Mar 13 – Went over to Wesleys, down to M O. Steators. Got one bushel potatoes. Went over to burg. Got 35. lbs flour of Mr Plank. Old Mrs Ralph and Em[39] here. Jo Lee came up. Mr Samples girl Buried to day.

Mar 14 – Went up to Wesleys, got one bushel potatoes. Will Plank splitting wood.

Mar 15 – No work to day. At home.

Mar 16 – Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines, stayed all night.

Mar 17 – At home, no one here. Ethan, Nancy came home. Lucy came home with them.

Mar 18 – Lucy went over to burg to get Georgies[40] picture taken. I choped wood in fore noon. Snowed like fun in afternoon. Jo Lee called here. Will Plank here. Snow fell 1 inch one inch.

Mar 19 – Nice morning, sun came out. Cut some wood and drawed it down.

Mar 20 – Pleasant and cold, mercury at zero. Lucy went to burg got picture of Georgie. I hued sum spokes. Mr Allen had an Auction.

Mar 21 – Hued sum spokes. Paid Hawkins six 6. Dollars for cleaning schoolhouse. Cold wind. Old Mr Hutchinson buried to day.

Mar 22 – I sawed out stuf for cloths bars for Catharine. Ethan went down after Hannah. Lucy went home. Cold wind. Hannah came home. Ethan lost the pail. Col Chester Hannan buried to day.

Mar 23 – Cold and blustring, snow 2 inches deep.

Mar 24 – At home all day. Dell[41] and Lois came home, firs time Del was here to tea. Sick all night.

Mar 25 – Sick no work to day. Hard cold, snowed and rained some. Ethan and Sarah carried Mrs Barbers machine.

Mar 26 – Went over to burg got paint and oil, some varnish for Lois table and stand. No snow.

Mar 27 – Commenced painting front room. W^m Cook called here this morning. He was going to Midland City to see his brother. Fine day.

Mar 28 – Painting some in front room. Not well hard cold.

Mar 29 – Painting some.

Mar 30 – Went to Kalamazoo. The Bristol place sold to day. Had a hard rain, some snow and lots of ice. Trees covered with ice. E. Underwood stayed here all night.

Mar 31 – Stormy Nasty day.

Apr 1 – Went over to burg to town meeting. Mr Planks folks moved to day. School commenced to day. Wes and I and Hobe Williams went up to Schrams in Evening.

Apr 2 – Bot five Bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Paid him 4. four Dollars.

Apr 3 – Sick no work to day. Mr Planks folks fixing for Auction.

Apr 4 – Auction. Mr Plank sold his Horses, wagon, Harness and various things.

Apr 5 – Mr Plank make pigpen, Henroost and worked around generally. Rubecca[42] leveled of cro ca [croquet?] ground. I put up fence

Apr 6 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Had a fine shower. Jo York[43] stayed all night.

Apr 7 – Came home at night stoped to Jo Lees. Mr Cook called to Catharines. He gave me some specimines of their mines, copper, silver and lead.

Apr 8 – Pleasant morning.

Apr 9 – At home not much work. Carried some corn to mill. Mr Stafford buried to day. They took James Flanders to the Asylum to day.

Apr 10 – Went over to burg, carried some corn for Mr Plank. Brot home some glasses from Osgood. James Flanders died[44] to night about seven oclock.

Apr 11 – Pleasant morning. Went up to Mr Clarks auction in afternoon. Cut wood in fore noon.

Apr 12 – Went over to burg in morning, got my photograph. Had a shower. Henry[45] came home in afternoon. High wind. Ethan went down to Catharines. Carried glasses back to Osgood. Lois came home.

Apr 13 – Pleasant and dry very high wind. James Flanders buried to day. Very windy. Mr Alonzo Wright died about 4. P.M. to day.

Apr 14 – Went down to Catharines. Carried my photo down to send to Mark[46] by Mr W^m Cook. Jo Lee came home with me. Rained in night.

Apr 15 – Snowey day, snow fell 2. in. Went and took Jo home in afternoon. Rough time.

Apr 16 – Pleasant morning. Put up leach[47] run of Loze(?). Florence Plank[48] Died to day.

Apr 17 – Made soap. Put up some fence. Henry Clinton and wife called here. Put up leach.

Apr 18 – Some rainy this morning. Went up to Wesleys Expecting to go up to Mr Williams but did not. Helped Wes clean up load wheat. Jo and Jesse Lee[49] here.

Apr 19 – Fine day. Made soap to day. Mr Town[50] came over here. First time I spoke to him.

Apr 20 – Went over to burg, carried 8 doz Eggs 1/ pr doz. Went down to Jo Lees. Stayed all night.

Apr 21 – Came home. Mr Randall sick. Rained some in forenoon.

Apr 22 – Put chip manure around currant bushes. Mr Randal some better.

Apr 23 – No work to day. Mr Plank and Caroline[51] left on the Evening Express. Mr Allen went with him.

Apr 24 – Cut some wood, painted windows. Went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Apr 25 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Judge Briggs. Marvin Babcock[52] was buried to day.

Apr 26 – Not very well. Ethan drove team for A Brown to sow plaster.[53] I went down to Cath­arines carried cloths bars. Got Evener[54] of Jo Lee. Rained a little. Cleaned out Barn.

Apr 27 – Cloudy and cool. Burgess Boy called here to get some Early potatoes. Chored around some. Not very well. Bill got into towns lot. Ethan and Will Plank made steps to front door.

Apr 28 – At home. Fine day. Lois and dell came home. I filled 4 teeth for Dell.

Apr 29 – Ethan drawed manure. I cut tree for gateposts. Warm day. Heard the first Whipporwill.

Apr 30 – Put my tool chest in shop, papered kitchen. Mart came up and got corn. Had a wind and rain storm, rained in night.

May 1 – Worked round some. Charles and Alvin[55] called here.

May 2 – Hued out one gate post. Mrs Plank papered kitchen. Sheared one sheep.

May 3 – Ethan went down to Charles Lees and Catharines got some turnips. Hannah came home. Sarah and Nancy went down to A Browns. I went down in Evening. Painted front room. Fanny Town[56] called in to see Mrs Plank. Dea Mason called here.

May 4 – I painted some in kitchen. Ethan plowed garden, had Prince. Brown, Hank and Arthur Arms came over. Will Plank came home in night.

May 5 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.

May 6 – Planted potatoes. Carried my plow down to A. Browns. Sent my photo to Patty.[57] Got potatoes of A. Brown.

May 7 – Cloudy. Went over to burg to see Mr Tousley to let him have some cornground to plant. Went up to Mr Ridlers. Jason Durgy came over and took it. Bot onion seed. Mrs Mason here and Deacon took tea.

May 8 – Put up old log in south lot, set steaks for gate posts. Nancy and Hannah went down to Skinners.

May 9 – Rained some in morning, windy. Sowed onions out by Barn. Ethan and girls went over to burg. Went and got Will Planks trunk.

May 10 – Sowed corn East of currant bushes. Sarah went down to Catharines with Mart, Lucy sick.

May 11 – Ethan and Will Plank went to Kalamazoo. Rainy day. I worked on sulky thill, repaired vice, cut the nut open and put it together.

May 12 – Cloudy and cool. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Nancy & Hannah went down. Sarah came home.

May 13 – Cloudy and cool. Pulled stumps in south lot. Jason Durkee commenced plowing. Ethan and Will went fishing. Doc Babcock came up here to buy the farm.

May 14 – Got a few stone of the south lot. Ethan and I planted corn for A Brown in after­noon. Edwin Flanders[58] and Arthur Arms helped. Will Plank planted for Erastus Town.[59]

May 15 – Rained some in Morning. Will Clark[60] here. Put sulky thill together.

May 16 – Repaired fence up by the woods. Went up to Chapins to see my place. Chapin had cut all the large timber off.

May 17 – Shelled seed corn. Drawed of some stumps from plowed ground. Ethan plowed some for A Brown.

May 18 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Doc babcock. Rained. Jo Lee went down with me. Jesse Earl[61] went down after some long timber. Wes went down.

May 19 – Went down to Catharines after Nancy. Mary Plank went along. Jack Bristols little girl[62] buried to day.

May 20 – Rainy in forenoon. Dell Skinners Horses run a way. A man and woman came here, they was with Dell. No one hurt. Ethan and I and Jim helped A. Brown plant in afternoon. Durgy commenced marking corn ground.

May 21 – Cloudy morning. Put front on Skinners buggy. Durgy commenced planting corn. Catharine and Lucy came up here. Rained in night. Painted Sulky thill.

May 22 – Rainy morning. Rained all day. No work.

May 23 – Painted sulky wheels. Durgy finished planting corn. Took calf down to Catharines. Rained some in night.

May 24 – Chored around. Went up in woods, got some steakes. Lois and Sate[63] here. Jim and Will went down to Skinners stayed all night.

May 25 – I went to Kalamazoo. Lois went down. Jo Lee went along. Jim and Will went down to Catharines stayed all night. I went to Martin Turners.[64] Went down to see Doc Babcock. Ida Barber[65] came over stayed all night.

May 26 – Pleasant morning. At home all day. Had a shower in night. Saw the prettiest rainbow I Ever saw just at night.

May 27 – Built fence up side hill side of corn. Ethan set some cabbage plants.

May 28 – Fine morning. Will Plank washed my sheep. Ethan and Will went to Kalamazoo. I got bushel potatoes of A. Brown. Cut some stakes to stake fence.

May 29 – Pleasant morning. Cut some stakes, repaired fence in front of house. Ethan carried Will Plank up to Erastus Towns. I painted sulky some.

May 30 – Not very well. Picked up some things in shop. Moved stove back.

May 31 – Planted beans and some potatoes, hoed some potatoes, planted over some corn where the hens scratched it up. Mart and Lucy called here. Ethan, Sarah and Nancy went over to burg in Evening to concert.

Jun 1 – Picked potatoe bugs in forenoon. Rained in afternoon. Went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Jun 2 – Went up and got Jo Lee. Stayed until night, came home.

Jun 3 – Picked potatoe bugs in forenoon. Made Dels whiffletrees[66] in afternoon.

Jun 4 – Picked potatoe bugs in forenoon. Ethan drawed wood. Mr Allen called here. Went down and got Jo Lees old buggy. Jo came home with me stayed all night. Aunt Norma Coe[67] died this morning.

Jun 5 – Fixed Lois table in fore noon. Went down to Skinners in afternoon to raising. Carried Jo Lee home. Warm day.

Jun 6 – Smoothed of my stand. Read a letter from Mark. Rained in night.

Jun 7 – Rebecca had a fit this morning. Some rainy. Worked on road in afternoon. Had a shower. Will Plank came home. Cow calved in night.

Jun 8 – Cloudy and some mist. Worked on road. Warm day. J. Earl, Hat Taylor, O. D. Schram, S. Thomas, C. L. Keith, E. B. Keith.

Jun 9 – Warm day. At home. Ethan and Carry and sis went down to Catharines. Mart and Hannah came up here.

Jun 10 – Rainy. A. Brown brot his buggy up to be repaired. Worked on A Browns buggy. Conklin Smith came here stayed all night.

Jun 11 – Put hind Ex to Browns buggy. Jo Lee, Mr Hall and Alvin Lee[68] called here. Ethan went down to Marts to cultivate corn. Had a shower in Evening. Mrs Allerton visiting Mrs Plank.

Jun 12 – Finished A Browns buggy, put in forward Ex. Mr Allen called here. Del and Lois called here brot some milk.

Jun 13 – Rains like fun some thunder. Took Jo Lees buggy to peaces. Rained hard most of the forenoon. Ethan came home. Mart and Wes Stowell caled here. Hank Brown took the buggy over to burg. Got it finished.

Jun 14 – Fine morning. Picked potatoe bugs most of the day. Mrs Skinner, Lois and Sate here. Ethan got his boots fixed to day 2.50. Mrs. Ripley Cummings[69] Buried to day.

Jun 15 – Worked round shop. Varnish Lois table stand &c.[70] Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night.

Jun 16 – Went down to Catharines and over to Chancy Beckwiths, came home.

Jun 17 – Warm day. Went to Kalamazoo with Ethan. He commenced work for the Grand Rapids and Indiana RR Company. Drew on order on town treasurer $.90.50 cts for District No 7.

Jun 18 – Hoed in garden some. Mrs Brown and Jule[71] here.

Jun 19 – Martin Turner here. Went up to Jesse Earls and down to Catharines. Sarah stayed down there.

Jun 20 – Mr Allen sheared sheep. Very hot day. Got letter from Ethan. Sheared sixteen sheep. Mercury 100 and in sun.

Jun 21 – Made standard for shovel plow for Mart Milham. Extracted one tooth for Mr Youngs. Very hot day, Mercury 83 in shade. Went down to Catharines to carry Ethans pants. Hannah came home. John Sherman paid one dollar for Buckwheat. Coburn commenced plowing East lot.

Jun 22 – Very hot 87 Abz. No work, headache. Hoed some onions.

Jun 23 – Went down to Kalamazoo to carry Ethan some things. Found him feeling very well.

Jun 24 – Plowed out potatoes and corn East of barn and gardens, hoed some. A Brown paid 2.00.

Jun 25 – Went over to burg in morning to see about wool. Went down to A. R. Skinners, Lois sick. Got woolbox went over to burg in Evening. A. R. paid 75 cts. Nancy bot dress.

Jun 26 – Working around garden some. Carried Nancy down to A. R. Skinners.

Jun 27 – Picked potatoe bugs. Jo Lee here all day. Mart came up just at night.

Jun 28 – Went over to burg carried corn and wheat for Mrs Plank. Mr Plank got home in Evening.

Jun 29 – Went over to burg. Got Mr Planks truck and grist. Went down to Catharines, carried some things for Ethan. Eb and Harry here. Coburn plowing.

Jun 30 – At home. Very hot day. Went in swimming. Mr Plank and Jim went in.

Jul 1 – Turned 3 pins for J. Allen, three for A. Brown. I tied up my wool had 78½ lbs by my weight.

Jul 2 – Lois came home. Del sowing Buckwheat. Went over to the burg. Very hot 97 Abz in shade 11 oclock AM. Mr Chancy Beckwith[72] Buried.

Jul 3 – Went over to burg sold my wool 60 pr pound 45.00. John Shermans man got Buckwheat one bushel and half 10/-. Went to Kalamazoo to see Ethan. Let him have $2.00. Had a fine shower. Sol Youngs here.

Jul 4 – Went down to Streators with Wesley got three bushels wheat. Carried Browns wool box home. Sis and Beca went down to Skinners. Paid Mr Streator 2 two Dollars. Ethan came home in Evening.

Jul 5 – Warm morning. Went down to river got two barrels water for Mrs Plank to make soap. Went over to burg after potatoes, bot fish. Carried Ethan to Kalamazoo in afternoon.

Jul 6 – Warm morning. Repaired Reel to Skinners Reaper. Mr Right called here. Mr and Mrs Warren Brown here to Mr Planks. Went over to Burg in Evening. Bot ½ bushel potatoes 3/-.

Jul 7 – Warm morning. At home all day. Very dry. James Stowel buried to day.

Jul 8 – Went down to Skinners to get him to cut my grass. Went up to Wesleys. Mr Allerton commenced cutting wheat. Mr Plank to work for him. Hot day 95 in shade.

Jul 9 – Skinner cut my grass. Went over to burg at noon and in Evening went down to M. O. Streators after rake. Raked some hay.

Jul 10 – Finished raking hay. Took rake down to Streators at noon drawed in three loads hay. Ethan came home from Kalamazoo. Hot day.

Jul 11 – Finished drawing hay. Jo Lee here. Very hot day 101 in shade 116 in sun. Will Plank worked for Mr Imus[?].

Jul 12 – Turned six pins for Mr Allen. Went to river got water to wash with. Mr Plank and Will to work for Allerton. Very hot 95 in shade. Sis and Jim went up to Mr Streators woods after berries.

Jul 13 – Warm and dry. Put one felloe[73] in my wagon. Ethan and Nancy and Jim went to Kalamazoo. Had Mr Schrams buggy. Hannah came home with them. Mercury 99 in shade.

Jul 14 – Warm morning. Ethan went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Jul 15 – E went to Kalamazoo to get his pay. Hot day 99 in Shade. I commenced cutting wheat on hill. Had a shower in afternoon, had a heavy Shower in Evening while I was after the cows. Ethan got home. Turned six pins for A Brown.

Jul 16 – Cut wheat cut 100 Bundles. Ethan worked for A. Brown. Sarah had $.00 ten Dollars.

Jul 17 – Turned Seven pins for Mr Allen this morning paid him two Dollars $2.00 cash.

Jul 18 – Went down to river got water to wash. Went over to burg got shugar & tea. Went down to Skinners to help him draw wheat, no help him. Jim fell and hurt him. Mr & Mrs Henry Clinton came down here. Hat and Libby Taylor here. I went up to David Bronsons got one galon wine. Sold the Calf to Mr Hicock for 5 five Do.

Jul 19 – A. Brown drawed his wheat in to my barn. Finished drawing pit.

Jul 20 – Went over to burg in morning got Nails. Put ridgeboards on South part of house. Had a shower in Evening. Will, Mary and Carry came home.

Jul 21 – At home all day. Catharine and Hannah came up just at night. Cows laid out to night.

Jul 22 – Went over to burg bot gloves 60, bot Catharine shoes 2.00. Ethan work for N. L. Randal. Put boards on house. Went over to burg bot gloves 60. Went down to Catharines, Sarah stayed. Will Clark went with me. Had a rainy night.

Jul 23 – Rainy morning. Lois came home. Made pig yoke. Mr Plank had Bill to go to burg. Uncle Pete Johnson[74] came over here to see stove. Turned ball club for Will Clark and seven pins for Mr Allen.

Jul 24 – Cloudy. Commenced shingling west side of house. Put bell on cow. Went over to burg in Evening bot three bunches shingles $3.18, one pair of shoes for sis 1.75. Saw Dick Blackburn.

Jul 25 – Finished Shingling the west side of house about noon. Rainy afternoon.

Jul 26 – Put arm on Jo Lees buggy seat. Went over to burg in Evening, got Catharines glasses. Ethan went down to Dels got some apples.

Jul 27 – Went down to Catharines after Sarah. Mart finished drawing wheat. Mr. D. A. Mc Cullom[75] buried to day. Chan Rittaker at Kalamazoo.

Jul 28 – Went down to Jo Lees and Skinners, carried Lois some wine.

Jul 29 – Headache, no work to day. Hot day.

Jul 30 – Jo Lee came up here. Old Mr Williams[76] buried to day.

Jul 31 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Hibbard, no see him. Rebecca Plank went down to Catharines. Bot Set teaspoons $2.62 cents.

Aug 1 – Drawed some wood. Went up to Raymonds old place to see Mr Hall.

Aug 2 – Worked on Jo Lees buggy box put on sid and End, made Standards to dash. Ethan worked for A Brown. Paid Obe Williams Sixty 63 three Dollars. Fanny Town very sick.

Aug 3 – Worked on dash some. Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night. Went down to Catharines Mr John Milham there came I. D. L. Schram[77] repaired fence round School yard.

Aug 4 – Went down to Catharines. Mr John Milham[78] there. Came home in Evening.

Aug 5 – Put Dash on Jo Lees buggy. Had a heavy shower in afternoon. W^m Ralph and wife and Father[79] came in and stayed through the shower.

Aug 6 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Hibbard and Bruce, all gone from home. Ethan went down to Marts to work.

Aug 7 – Finished Jo Lees dash, put the box on to the gearing, painted some. Jo here went down to Wolcots after the cows. Received a letter from Mark Lee.

Aug 8 – Hot day 95 Abz. Fanny Town some better. Headache, no work. Sarah went over to Barbers in Evening stayed all night.

Aug 9 – Worked on Joes buggy, puttyed up nail holes &c hoed some turnips. Went down to Dels after corn. Went over after Sarah in Evening. Fanny Town very comfortable this morning.

Aug 10 – Painted Jo Lees buggy. Mr and Mrs Riley Bennet came here. Stayed here all night.

Aug 11 – Bennets folks here. Killed two hens. Rained some in afternoon.

Aug 12 – Went to Kalamazoo, went to George Turners,[80] Sarah went had Schrams buggy. Had a heavey shower in night. Saw Bruce Hibbard, Hicock, Doc Finch.

Aug 13 – Rainy took sulky over to burg. Went down to Skinners helped At home all day. Took sulky over to burg.

Aug 14 – We Went down to Skinners in fore noon.

Aug 15 – Went up to gull Prarie to see Mr Wood to sell him the Bristol place. Ed Childs came here in night. Hicock got four sheep paid ten Dollars. Put Cow in Browns lot. Edna Crawford[81] came here.

Aug 16 – Ed Childs went over to burg, carried corn to mill, brot sulky home. Got strap 50. Went down to Catharines after Ethan and Hannah. Henry came home to day.

Aug 17 – Went up to Chapins. Saw Mr Wood made a trade with him. Not very well. Nancy and Edna went over with me. Rained in night.

Aug 18 – Cloudy morning. Killed Bob.[82] At home all day.

Aug 19 – Harry Streator[83] got sulky this morning. Edna went home. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines.

Aug 20 – Sarah went down to A Browns. Made wheel to wheelbarrow. Mr Wood and Pain came over here. No trade. Mercury 97 in shade.

Aug 21 – Very hot. Painted wheel, three chairs and one pail. Went over to burg in Evening. Sis and Becca went. I paid Doc Merrill Six Dollars.

Aug 22 – Hot. Painted chair bottoms, wheelbarrow wheel. Went down to Skinners in Evening. Hank and Frank had a runaway, broke Streators Sulky. Smash him up generaly some.

Aug 23 – Went over to Chapins and B. Vosburgs. Mr Wood and John Pain Came over, made bargain for Bristol place. Repaired saw frame for A. Brown 25.

Aug 24 – At home all day. Jo Lee came up got his buggy. Sate Skinner here. Schram thrashed his wheat had 2.25 bushel.

Aug 25 – At home all day. No one here.

Aug 26 – Not much work to day. Skalawag came here stayed all night. Had a nice shower. Got Schrams buggy.

Aug 27 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sold Bristol place to Benjamin Wood for $1000. Paid Chapin 50, paid Kirby $4.34.36 four hundred and Paid Lucy $100. Tom Meeker Died this morning.

Aug 28 – Cool and cloudy in morning. Put up some fence south of orchard. Tom Meeker buried.

Aug 29 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg bot sis Dress. Jo Lee came up here. Mrs George Blake Died this morning.

Aug 30 – Pleasant and cool. Lois came home. Mr Schram got Bill to go to Wakeshma. I cut some wood sawed five logs. Mr Plank helped T. Ford thrash.

Aug 31 – Pleasant morning. Painted over to Mr Towns in forenoon, painted dining room. Mr Schram brot Bill home about dark. Henry Came home stayed all night.

Sep 1 – Went down to Catharines after Ethan. Ethan and Hannah came up with Marts team. Mr Gould Richardson Died.[84]

Sep 2 – Steamer came here to thrash. Fiered up just at night.

Sep 3 – Finished thrashing about ten oclock forenoon. Fine day.

Sep 4 – Went down to Jo Lees stayed all day. Catharine came with Mrs Youngs. Sick.

Sep 5 – Mr Randal thrashed S. Steamer machine.

Sep 6 – Went over to burg after Nancy then went down to Skinners. Got one bushel peaches. Carried Nancy down to Catharines to go to Vicksburg. Edna Nichols[85] died to night.

Sep 7 – Came back. No work to day at home. Made bow to oiles poke.

Sep 8 – At home not well. Ambros and Tild[86] came up here. Cut big watermelon. Edna Nichols buried to day.

Sep 9 – At home all day. Pulled some beans.

Sep 10 – Worked round house and garden.

Sep 11 – Got in beans and sowed corn. Henry came down. Went up to Schrams got buggy. Had a fine shower.

Sep 12 – Henry and I Started for Deerfield. Some rainy. Stoped in Kalamazoo. Bot hat 2.00, bot blouse 2.00. Went to Carolines stayed all night. Rainy day. Went over to burg in morning. Bot vest 2.50.

Sep 13 – Left Carolines for Oscars.[87] Fine day. Got to Oscars about four in afternoon. Found them well.

Sep 14 – Paid Oscar $300.00 three Hundred Dollars. Paid Alfleda 300.00 one Hundred Dollars $100.00. Henry Meridith went down to the Lake. Oscar and Mary Ann[88] went to Coloma.

Sep 15 – Started for home. Stoped to Glyttenberg with Schuyler Harris. Found them well.

Sep 16 – Left for home, got home about seven in Evening all right.

Sep 17 – Went down to Skinners after sleeve pattern for Hannah. Durgy cutting corn. Had a shower.

Sep 18 – Went down to Kalamazoo after Nancy. Had a hail storm. Stayed to George Turners all night. C Stephen Wilcut[89] stayed here all night.

Sep 19 – Came home to day. Went down to A Browns in Evening to A spiritual Circle.[90]

Sep 20 – Went over to burg to mill. Mr Rickey buried to day.

Sep 21 – No work to day, not very well. Went over to burg just at night, bot broom. Went down to A Browns in Evening, attended a circle. Rained in night. Mr Hudleston Shot this afternoon.

Sep 22 – Not very well. Ethan came up after Hannah. Went down to A. Browns in Evening to attend a circle. Mrs Plank went. Rainy night.

Sep 23 – Commenced my vice. Jo Lee came up here. I went over to burg with him. Mr Planks folks had company, Mr Wordswoorth and wife. He played and sung in Evening.

Sep 24 – Went down to Skinners, got some peaches. Mr Wadsworth left. Ethan came up after Sarah, Toots[91] baby[92] sick. Hank Brown and Farland called here, was here to tea. Rainy afternoon. Farland went to see Jim Hoag. Hank, Nancy, Ida and Farland went to W. Judsons.

Sep 25 – Will Plank left for Grand Rapids. Worked on vice some. Very windy. Sarah Turner and Georgie[93] came here. Cow went to Bull. Lucys baby died fifteen minutes to seven.

Sep 26 – Very windy morning. Ethan brot Sarah home. Finished my vice.

Sep 27 – Went down to Catharines. Lucys baby buried. Carried Sarah Turner down to Mr Davis. Had A. Browns buggy and our horse.

Sep 28 – Carried Sarah down to A Browns. Cut weeds in west garden, cut popcorn, dug a few potatoes. Went down to A Browns after Sarah. Rained some, rainy night, very windy.

Sep 29 – Rainy day, cold wind. Ethan brot Nancy and Hannah home. Very rainy.

Sep 30 – Cool, cloudy and some misty. Pared one bushel apples. Went up in woods. Split five logs for wood. Mrs Allerton visiting Mrs Plank.

Oct 1 – Cloudy and cool, some rain in morning. Went over to burg. Sarah & Mrs Plank went, came back. Jo Lee came up. Nancy and I went over to burg, saw Comodore Foots carriage and poneys. Lois came home. Jim went up to Wesleys stayed all night. Paid I. D. L. Schram 45 cents.

Oct 2 – Drawed 4 loads wood. Jim up to Wesleys cutting corn. Will Clark came down here. Put cow in lot south orchard. Henry called here. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Oct 3 – Cloudy not very cool. Round home all day. Warm and pleasant.

Oct 4 – Went over to burg to see Barber about cutting buckwheat. Loyd Higgins came over with me. Went down to Marts after Ethan.

Oct 5 – Went to Kalamazoo to get some cutter shoes, got none. Nancy and Hank Brown married to night Rev Mr Day married them.

Oct 6 – Rainy morning. Higgins here at home all day. Rainy some.

Oct 7 – Ethan and Loyd gone to Kalamazoo with A. Brown. Jim Millham brot his wheels here to be rimmed.

Oct 8 – Went to Kalamazoo with A Brown. Loyd went to give in his testimony. Bot steel for cutter shoes and linament. Fine day. Barber and Durgy cutting Buckwheat.

Oct 9 – Pleasant morning. Loyd Higgins gave one silver Dollar. He and Ethan went over to burg. I rimed one wheel for Jim Milham. Durgy boys husking corn.

Oct 10 – Cloudy. Barber and Durgy cutting Buckwheat. Ethan and Loyd gone to Streators, Flander and Skinners. Jo Flanders[94] brot some peaches.

Oct 11 – Loyd Higgins Started for home. Ethan went over to burg. I pounded out specled beans. Barber and Durgy cutting Buckwheat. Fine day. Boys husking.

Oct 12 – Went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Oct 13 – Helped Jo Lee move some things and came home. Snowed some

Oct 14 – Pleasant day. Will Plank came home badly hurt. Had his hand took of smashed coupling cars. Nancy moved over to Burg. Bot halter strap 40 cents.

Oct 15 – Carried my cutter over to burg to be Ironed. Mrs Dick Barber here. Barber and Durgy thrashed Buckwheat in afternoon. Paid G. A. Lockhart ten Dollars towards Ironing Cutter.

Oct 16 – Carried Sarah down to A. Browns. Durgy & Barber thrashed Buckwheat cleaned up 17½ bushels. Fine day.

Oct 17 – Carried Sarah over to burg to Nancys. Barber & Durgy thrashing buckwheat. Some smoky. Went over to burg in Evening. Bot some cranberries. Got Sis shoes mended.

Oct 18 – Barber & Durgy thrashing Buckwheat. Fine day. Worked round barn and house. Huron Arms and Ida here to Planks in Evening.

Oct 19 – Made Nancy moulding board. Made lever for Mart. Went down to Marts, Sis and Cary Plank went with me. Warm and dry. They finished on the Buckwheat, had 59 bushels.

Oct 20 – Fine morning, pleasant. Ethan came home. Eb and Nell called here.

Oct 21 – Repaired camry for Hank. Dug some potatoes, drawed some corn. Warm day. John Sherman drawed Plank some wood.

Oct 22 – Dug some potatoes. Mr W^m Johnson drawed Mr Plank load wood. Went over to Nancys in Evening. Warm day, very dry and smoky.

Oct 23 – Fine day. Dug potatoes in west garden. Tild and Jule here in afternoon. Went up to sawmill got some bar posts. D. Bronson there. P. T. Barnums Show at Grand Rapids to day.

Oct 24 – Went to Kalamazoo to see P. T. Barnums show. Fine day. A big croud there.

Oct 25 – Dug potatoes. Fine day. Finished West garden.

Oct 26 – Rainy day. Went over to burg after Nancy. Made some bars to go into Cornfield, put them up just at night. Got wet.

Oct 27 – Pleasant day. Nancy and Hank went down to Browns. Tip, Ras, Yarsky and Totty there or Expected there. Durgy husked corn. Fine day.

Oct 28 – Nice day. Finished digging potatoes, had about 20 bushels. Sis started for Catharines, went as far as Lois.

Oct 29 – Pleasant morning, no frost to hurt any thing. Mrs Plank paid 5.00. Bot shugar, one pr gloves .75 75 cts. Jim husked corn for N. L. Randal.

Oct 30 – Carried Sarah and Mrs Plank down to Skinners. Moved corn in cornhouse. Rainy afternoon. Went down to Jacksons after Sarah and Mrs Plank. Rained like fun. Jim husked for N. L. Randal. Becca husked for Allerton.

Oct 31 – Firing Salutes in town this morning, Colfax Speaks there. Carried Mrs Plank over to take cars for Kalamazoo. Carried some new corn over for sarup. Went down to Catharines. Went over to burg in Evening after Mr Planks folks about ten oclock.

Nov 1 – Went over to burg, got some sarup ground. Bot Jims Boots 3.00. Jim went down to Catharines. Went up to Schrams to Raising, raised his Barn. Went over to Barbers in Evening with A. Browns folks. Some rain.

Nov 2 – Cloudy and cool morning. Went over to Burg. Sis went over to Nancys. Got in one load corn in afternoon. Rained quite hard. Mrs Plank went down to T. Fords. Mr Plank killed a pig. Youngones all away from home.

Nov 3 – Cloudy morning. Unloaded load corn. Went down to Catharines. Henry went with me. Ethan and Catharine came up. Rained a very little, cool.

Nov 4 – Pleasant morning. Drawed one load corn in afternoon. Rainy. Boys finished husking to day.

Nov 5 – Rainy day. Went to Election, Greley and Grant[95] run the heat.

Nov 6 – Got my peach blow potatoes down from south lot. The boys got the last of their cornfodder away. Snowed some in night.

Nov 7 – Snow about ¼ of an inch deep.

Nov 8 – Drawed pumpkins, some fodder. Fine day. Went over to burg just at night.

Nov 9 – Hung ax and filed saw for Del Skinner, filed saw for A Caywood, finished blocks for Theodore Earls Saw. Mrs Freeer[96] Buried to day.

Nov 10 – Fine morning. Went down to Catharines. Got Marts trowel.

Nov 11 – Cut some wood and drawed it. Fine warm day. Went over to burg in Evening.

Nov 12 – Trimed orchard some. Fine day. Dug a few potatoes in south garden. Jo Lee here. Had Smith Carletons buckboard. Harvey stayed here all night with Jim.

Nov 13 – Cool morning, some wind. Round home. Went down to Catharines. They all came up here in Evening, had a time.

Nov 14 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Eugene Crawford[97] came here. Stoped up cellar windows. Cold wind. Filed buck Saw for A. R. Skinner.

Nov 15 – Went down to Catharines with Eugene. Snowed and blowed like fun. Hannah came home with us. Snow fell about 4 inches.

Nov 16 – Pleasant, sun came out, snow fell about 4 inches. Carried Sarah and Hannah and Eugene over to Nancys. No snow to day.

Nov 17 – Mart and Ethan came up home. Eugene here.

Nov 18 – Eugene left for Dowagaic. Cleaned out Hen house. 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.

Nov 19 – Cloudy and cold at [incomplete entry]

Nov 20 – Went over to burg got my cutter. Paid Lockhart 3.00 three Dollars.

Nov 21 – Cut and drawed some wood. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Went over to burg with Sleigh the first time.

Nov 22 – Went over to burg. Bot oil for machine 20. Carried Sarah down to A. Browns. Snows some.

Nov 23 – Went to Kalamazoo with A. Brown to see Hickox about my sheep. Says he dont want them, says I had better sell them if I can. Went and saw Sherwood, Browns lawyer. Snow about gone.

Nov 24 – Quite warm wind in South in morning. Went down to Catharines. Catharine came home with me. Harry Streator came and got money of Ethan.

Nov 25 – Snow all gone. Put turnips in cellar. Went down to Marts. Cold wind.

Nov 26 – Went up to Wesleys. Pleasant day Sarah and Catharine went over to Nancys. Ethan and I cut some wood. Bill began to cough.

Nov 27 – Cold wind but pleasant. Dell Skinner got sheep. Paid $10.00. Very cold, high wind. Bill sick.

Nov 28 – Snows this morning. Went up to Wesleys. Snow fell 2 inches. Bill sick.

Nov 29 – Cold, Snowes some. Went up to Jo Flanders. Cold and blustring. Edwin got Home from Chicago. Snow fell 2 inches. Bill geting worse. Horace Greely Died[98] to day.

Nov 30 – Drawed two loads wood, some cornfodder. Went over to burg. Osgood paid $.50.00. Bot syrup 1.10 one galon. Harold and Mrs Gaffing here visiting. Cold day, mercury 8 Above zero. Bill no better. Snow fell 1½ inches.

Dec 1 – Snowey day. Bill no better, dont run at the nose yet. Snow fell 1½ inches.

Dec 2 – Some warmer, some rain in morning, snowey day. Wes brot Catharine down in morning. Snow fell 2½ inches.

Dec 3 – Went over to burg. Got some shugar, nutmeg and cinnamon. Nancy came home with me.

Dec 4 – Went down to Catharines after the Heifer. Not very cold. Mr Latta and Ida Clark[99] came down to Mr Planks in Evening.

Dec 5 – Turned two knobs for Lois stand. Henry came down. Mr Allerton asked about the hogs, what he told me in regard to the hogs. Fine day. Mr Flanders called here left letter for Henry. A. Brown killed his hogs.

Dec 6 – Henry went home. Worked round house and shop.

Dec 7 – Put up stove in South room. Drawed two loads wood, one load cornfodder. Went over to burg in Evening. Got Jim pair suspenders 35.

Dec 8 – Not very cold, snows some in morning.

Dec 9 – Worked round shop some. Cut out boxboards for cutter. Went over to burg in Evening. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to take lesson. Will Plank went to Grandrappids. He got a situation. Very cold, 8 Abz.

Dec 10 – Went over to burg. Carried Will over to go to work. Nancy came over. Lois came home. Skinner paid me five Dollars. Cold, snows some. Paid W^m Schroder five Dollars on Sarahs Account.

Dec 11 – Fine morning, not as cold as it has been. Went over to burg. Lois went over, got some shoes. I bot Lois shoes for Louesa 2.00. Mrs Skinner & Sate here in afternoon. Dell, Henry and Will Harmony and Hank Brown here in Evening. They rode down hill in Evening.

Dec 12 – Pleasant day. Worked round house and barn. Shelled some corn.

Dec 13 – Went over to burg. Carried 3 bushels Buckwheat, 1½ corn. Mrs Plank went over with me. Made box to Jims slead. Hannah got her ring of E. Underwood.

Dec 14 – Pleasant. Cut some wood, drawed one load.

Dec 15 – At home all day. Pleasant day.

Dec 16 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo to take lesson. I mended Mrs Planks teapot, ours and some pans. Planed out boards for cutter box.

Dec 17 – Went up in woods, cut one load wood, got pole to hang hogs on. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Nancy had a quilting.

Dec 18 – Killed one hog, Mr Plank killed one. Snowey day, Snow fell 3 inches.

Dec 19 – At home all day. Cold. Mr Fitzjerrald moved to Kalamazoo, left some things here. Cold, snowey night, snow fell about five and half inches 5½.

Dec 20 – Put up my hog. Ethan got load wood. Mr Caywood got his bobs. I carried girls to school. Some blustring.

Dec 21 – Went up in woods, cut some wood. Mr Latta came up there, paid Latta $5 five Dollars. Mr Fitzjerald got his things. Went over to burg. Paid my tax 12.57. Very blustring. Mrs Van Vliett[100] died to day. Mercury 2 below zero, cold night. Henry called here got his letter from Buffalo.

Dec 22 – Cold 20 below zero about seven AM, cold and some wind. At home all day. No one here.

Dec 23 – Very cold day, blustring. Carried the girls to school. Ethan gone to Kalamazoo to take lesson. Henry came down in Evening. Cold.

Dec 24 – Cold morning, 27 below zero. Del called here, paid 5.00 five Dollars. He wanted two axhelves. Isaac Schram got hurt by a lim from a tree.

Dec 25 – Cold, no wind, 2 above zero. Went down to Skinners in afternoon, went from there to Catharines, stayed all night. Cold night. Let Del have two Axhelves, hung one ax.

Dec 26 – At Catharines all day. Cold. Mart and Darling cleaned up load wheat. We came home in Evening.

Dec 27 – Cold and pleasant. Dell got two bushels buckwheat. Hung ax for Dell. Charley Smith here with him.

Dec 28 – Went over to burg. Received one Hundred Dollars of Township 100 treasurer. Paid Myron Latta $35 thirty five Dollars. Henry came down after Ethan. He went up to Mr Flanders stayed all night.

Dec 29 – At went up to Wesleys after Lou Hannah went over to burg after Louesa. Dell and Lois came here. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Snow fell one inch. Dow Haines got my melodian.

Dec 30 – Snowey day. Sawed out sills for my cutter box. Snow fell 2 inches. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. There was a dance up to Mr Riddlers.

Dec 31 – Dressed out sills for cutter boddy. Edwin Flanders here to see about cupler. Dell and Lois went to Lima.

——-

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

[2] His son, Ethan Keith

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

[4] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, widow of his late brother, Harvey Keith

[5] Ambrose Brown, neighbor and father of Henry Brown, daughter Nancy’s future husband

[6] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[7] Galesburg, Michigan

[8] Daughters of neighbors William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[9] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[10] His daughters

[11] John Wesley Keith, his adopted brother

[12] Henry (Hank) Brown. Hank marries Nancy in October

[13] Martin Milham, Lucy Lee’s husband. Lucy is Catharine’s daughter

[14] Daughter by first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[15] The son of his neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[16] His third wife, Sarah Crawford

[17] Daughter, Louese

[18] First cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)

[19] The daughter of his neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[20] Above zero

[21] Martin and Lucy (Lee) Milham (daughter of Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee)

[22] Niece (daughter of brother Harvey and Alfleda (Starr) Keith)

[23] Son of Cynthia (Brown) and William Arms. Cynthia was Ambrose Brown’s sister

[24] /- is the symbol used for shilling. A shilling was a coin of Colonial America and varied between 12¢ and 16¢

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

[26] Most likely his daughter and new son-in-law, Lois (Keith) Clark and Adelbert Skinner

[27] James Milham was Martin Milham’s half brother

[28] Jim Milham’s daughter

[29] Willis Brown, Hank Brown’s younger brother

[30] His daughter, known also as Louese or Sis or Lou

[31] Julia (Wood) Bristol (daughter of Simeon & Reliance (Brown) Wood, first cousin of Hank Brown

[32] Ax handles

[33] Neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[34] Two poles between which a horse is hitched to a wagon

[35] His horse

[36] Believe he is referring to his first cousin, Caroline M. (Wolcott) Earl

[37] Neighbor, John Allen, who is mentioned quite frequently as well as some of his children, Byron, Cora, Ida, Libbie and Emma

[38] Isaac Schram, a neighbor

[39] Neighbors, Hetta (Burgess) Ralph and Emaline (Stone) Ralph, the mother and wife of William Ralph

[40] George Clinton Lee Milham, Lucy & Mart Milham’s son

[41] Adelbert Skinner, Lois’ second husband

[42] Believe he is referring to Rebecca Plank, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank’s oldest daughter

[43] Joseph York, husband of Helen (Bradley) York. Helen was daughter of Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[44] Neighbor, James R. Flanders, age 36, buried in Riverside Cemetery, Charleston, Michigan

[45] Son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[46] 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. An entry in Luke’s 1870 diary for March 18 states that “Mark and Henry started for Salt Lake in night”

[47] Wood ashes through which water is passed to carry away soluble portions

[48] Florence (Plank) Hansell, age 20, was the daughter of Lewis & Ann (Groat) Plank. Lewis and William Plank were brothers

[49] Cousin (grandson of Charles Lee and Rhoda Keith, by their son Charles and his wife Juliana Davis)

[50] Albert Towne, the father of Charles Towne who would later marry Hannah Keith in 1891

[51] Caroline Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[52] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Marvin Babcock died April 23, 1872 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[53] Land-plaster, or gypsum, was used as a fertilizer

[54] Apparatus for giving an equal proportion of work to horses in pulling, drawing a load, etc.

[55] Believe he is referring to his cousin, Charles Lee (son of Charles Lee and Rhoda Keith), and Charles’ son

[56] Sister of Charles Towne

[57] His sister, Martha “Patty” Keith Sprague

[58] A neighbor

[59] Erasmus Towne, son-in-law of Ambrose Brown’s sister, Reliance (Brown) Wood. Also referred to as Ras

[60] Grandson, son of Lois (Keith) and her first husband, Byron Clark

[61] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[62] Lula Anna Bristol, who was just shy of four years old, the daughter of Jackson & Julia (Wood) Bristol, died May 17, 1872 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Julia (Wood) Bristol and Henry “Hank” Brown were first cousins

[63] Del Skinner’s sister

[64] First cousin (son of Asa Turner and Lydia Willcutt)

[65] Neighbor, daughter of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[66] A horizontal crossbar to the ends of which the traces of a harness are attached. Also known as a swingletree

[67] Don’t know who he is referring to, but often the parents of a husband or wife of a family member, or the parent of a neighbor, were referred to as Aunt and Uncle

[68] His paternal first cousin, Alvan Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[69] Neighbor, Lucy Jane (Kingsley) Comings, died June 12, 1872 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[70] Etc.

[71] Julia Allen, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister. Julia lived with Ambrose and Matilda for 25 years, until her death in 1881

[72] FindAGrave.com shows that Chauncey Beckwith died July 4, 1872 (so couldn’t have been buried on July 2) and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[73] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel

[74] A neighbor. Believe Luke used the term Uncle as a sign of respect for an older person

[75] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com reveal that David A. McCollum died July 25, 1872 in Comstock, Michigan

[76] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that John W. Williams died July 29, 1872 and is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[77] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[78] Martin Milham’s father’s name was John; perhaps this is him

[79] Neighbors, William & Emaline (Stone) Ralph, and William’s father, George Ralph

[80] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner

[81] This could be Robert Crawford’s daughter, who was about 17 at the time, or Edwin Crawford’s daughter, who was about 14. Both Robert and Edwin Crawford were Luke’s brothers-in-law

[82] Assume this is one of his farm animals

[83] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” D. Streator, the son of Marius O. Streator

[84] A search of FindAGrave.com (as well as the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com) shows that Gould Richardson died September 3, 1872 (not September 1) in Pavilion, Michigan, and is buried in Schoolcraft Township Cemetery, Vicksburg, Michigan

[85] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Edna Nichols, age 18, died September 8, 1872 (not September 6) in Charleston, Michigan. She was the daughter of Nelson & Mary (Earl) Nichols

[86] Ambrose and Matilda Brown

[87] Nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr)

[88] Oscar’s wife, Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[89] Stephen Hoxie Wolcott, his maternal first cousin

[90] A seance

[91] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham

[92] Johnny Milham, who was born June 27, 1872

[93] His cousin George Turner’s wife, Sarah (Roberts) Turner and their son, George Turner

[94] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders; father of James (see April 10 entry), Edwin (see May 14 entry) & Henry Flanders. After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. The Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda

[95] Horace Greeley lost to Ulysses Grant by a landslide

[96] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Jane (Hoag) Freer died November 7, 1872 and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Her daughter, Luthere A. Freer died February 17, 1872 and is also buried in the Cook Cemetery. Luke mentions in his February 19^th entry that the “Freer girl buried”

[97] The son of Luke’s late brother-in-law, Edwin Crawford & Louisa Hall

[98] Horace Greeley, who was devastated by the death of his wife five days before the election (see November 5^th entry), died himself three weeks later, just before the electoral college met

[99] The granddaughter of Ira & Angeline Clark, who were the parents of Luke’s daughter Lois’ first husband, Byron Clark

[100] A search of the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com shows that Henrietta Van Vleet died December 21, 1872, and the Oak Grove Cemetery records reveal that her maiden name was Lockwood

1872-04-09

Luke Keith’s 1870 Diary

1870 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

Jan 1 – At home all day. Cut up my hogs some. Carried Catharine[2] up to Wesleys.[3] Went down to M. O Streators[4] in evening.

Jan 2 – Went down to Jo Lees.[5] Took Nancy[6] down to see the Doctor.

Jan 3 – Went over to burg [Galesburg]. Brot shears home for Dick Blackburn. Mr Ralph paid for bed Bottom[7] $5.00. Bill[8] ran a way with me smashed up the sleigh some. Catharine came back with C. J. Lee.[9]

Jan 4 – Went over to burg. Carried over shears brot home by shears. Lois[10] came home to day. Bot this Diary 40 cts. Cold some snow.

Jan 5 – Went over to burg with Mark.[11] Carried Dicks shears over. Mr. Hawkins choped some wood. Cora Allen stayed here all night.

Jan 6 – Took A Browns[12] spoke irons of some of my sleigh. Not much work to day. Washing day. Cold not much snow.

Jan 7 – Went over to burg got my Boots tapt and Louesas[13] shoes. Some snow. Rode over with H. A. Taylor.

Jan 8 – Went down to M F Lees. Very blustrous. Lois stayed there. Had Jim.[14] Helped Mr Plank load one load hay in morning.

Jan 9 – Cold day. At home all day except I went down to A Browns with Jim horse.

Jan 10 – Cut up my hogs. Ida Clark[15] came here. Hank Brown[16] came home.

Jan 11 – Worked round choring some. Get Jims[17] Boots mended. Lois went to A. Kaywoods.

Jan 12 – Went over to burg with Jo Lee. He left his Bugy here to be repaired.

Jan 13 – Made axhelve for Isaac Schram. Mr Wisemans folks here in evening. Youngones went down to Catharines. No sleighing all ice.

Jan 14 – Put in Browns bugy pole. Hung ax for Schram.

Jan 15 – Very [i]cy. Hawkins choping some. Drawed 3 loads wood in fore noon. Deed coming from Washington.

Jan 16 – Went down to Catharines with Nancy. Had Jim. Rained in Evening.

Jan 17 – Went over to mill. Carried ___ bushels wheat. No work in shop.

Jan 18 – Cold ___ Abz.[18] Mark came up. Sarah[19] went to burg with him. Made _______________________.

Jan 19 – Worked on Browns Exes.

Jan 20 – Worked on Browns Exes.

Jan 21 – Finished Exes. Jo Lee came up here worked on his box put in ____. Ethan[20] went down to Catharines.

Jan 22 – Choped and drawed some wood. Went down to Mr Randalls in Evening. Rainy. Pixley & Grannis at the burg this Evening.

Jan 23 – At home all day. Not very well.

Jan 24 – Finished Jo Lees buggy. Put Browns Exes in. Worked some on moddle. T. Flanders[21] Died in the night.[22]

Jan 25 – Cold no snow. Saw Edwin Flanders[23] this morning. He cam from the County house. Worked on moddle.

Jan 26 – Worked on moddle some. Went over to the County house to T. Flanders Funeral. Snowey day. Sarah and Nancy went down to Catharines with Jo Lee. He got his buggy.

Jan 27 – Finished moddle. Hank Brown went to Marshall with it. Spliced stand leg. Put bottom on Bird cage. Isaac Schram bored hole in his mawl.

Jan 28 – Made wagon pole for M. O. Streator. Put Jims sheep on the trucks. Put hair in violin bow for King. Dick Lamkins here to tea. Moved sound post in his violin.

Jan 29 – Cut & drawed some wood. Went over to burg. Lois came home in Evening.

Jan 30 – At home all day. Mark & Henry Lee[24] here. Sarah came home.

Jan 31 – Worked on cupler most of the day. S. A. Brown[25] here to Tea had no Tea but cider. Ida Barber[26] came over.

Feb 1 – Cold 4 Abz in morning. Mrs Rogers & Sarah[27] here. Worked on wheel.

Feb 2 – Finished rounding felloes[28] on my wagon and painted them.

Feb 3 – W^m G. Springstead called here. Derias and Mary B_____ came here. Drawed in some corn. M. O. Streator got his wagon tong.

Feb 4 – Mary and Derias left for Burlington. Cold morning 19 Abz. Went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Feb 5 – Went to Kalamazoo with Mark and Lucy.[29] Took dinner with Ed Wilcutt.[30]

Feb 6 – At home. Charley Lee here.

Feb 7 – Cut grubs on the line btween my land and Catharines. Mr Hichhock buried to day. Prayer meeting at brother Randals for the benefit of this neighbor hood.

Feb 8 – Carried 3 bushels wheat to mill. Worked around house and barn.

Feb 9 – Went over to burg. Went up to station. Went to Charly Tousleys shop. Put up leach.[31] Willy Bestor[32] Died.

Feb 10 – [illegible]

Feb 11 – Will Bestor buried. Made soap. Nancy went down to Cates in Evening. Hank took her down. Paid S. A. Brown $45.00 Dollars to apply on order. Trimed some trees.

Feb 12 – Cold snowes some. Hank Brown went up to Armes[33] only he did not. Broke spoke out of wheel. I put in one. Fixed sheep shed.

Feb 13 – No snow. At home all day. No one here. Rained some in the night.

Feb 14 – Cloudy looks like rain. Went over to burg. Carried Dick Bottle Cider. Put up Hites[34] potatoes and apple cider &c.[35]

Feb 15 – Made axhelve for I. O. D. Schram. Carried Hites potatoes over to burg. No snow on ground. Mart Milham[36] came up with two horses on buggy.

Feb 16 – Drawed two loads straw from M O Streator. Rufus Taylor got my wagon to go over to Indian Lake fishing. Fine day.

Feb 17 – Choped some wood up in woods. Ethan sick. Snowey and blustering. Dug some sassafras for Ethan.

Feb 18 – Cut some wood and grubs in north west corner of woods.

Feb 19 – Hank Brown brot up 3 saws to file. Got letter from Higgins. Got the old clock cleaned 1.50. Snowey. John Earl and boy here brot violin to be repaired. Lois came home.

Feb 20 – At home all day. Cold at zero. All well as usual.

Feb 21 – Cold 9 below zero. Drawed two loads wood on corn. Went up to H. A. Taylor after thill straps. Young ones all went down to Mrs Skinners in Evening.

Feb 22 – Cold 10 Abz. Some snow on ground. George and Marion[37] came. Catharine and Lucy came with them. Went up to Jo Flanders[38] in Evening.

Feb 23 – Not very cold. George gone up to Wesleys. Sarah, Marion and Lois Went up to Wesleys. I went up in Evening.

Feb 24 – George and Marion went to Brady. I went up to Wesleys. Lost my glasses. Went over to Burg got form for Deeds 50¢ stamp 25¢.

Feb 25 – Went to Kalamazoo to get Deeds $3.00.

Feb 26 – Cut and drawed some wood. Went over to burg. Extracted Tooth for Carry Plank.[39] Extracted two teeth for Hurby Earl 25¢. Mrs Streator, Nell and Harry here in Evening. Rainy Evening.

Feb 27 – Rains some, lots water on ground. Went over to R. G. Smiths to see about Deeds.

Feb 28 – Went over to burg. Sent letter to J. E. Higgins. Mark came after Lois.

Mar 1 – Some snow on ground. Put Eaph Earls[40] violin together. Some wind to day.

Mar 2 – Worked round house. Went over to burg. Got Deeds sent 3 to J Higgins. Got money for _____ purposes 110.21.

Mar 3 – Bent cane for Henry Lee. Eaph Earl got his violin paid 2.00. Party to M. O. Streators, youngones all went.

Mar 4 – Some snow on ground. School closes to day.

Mar 5 – Paid S. A. Brown 63 dollars 54 for last order 9 on the first. Went down to Catharines. Snowed in the night. S. A. Brown stayed here all night.

Mar 6 – Cold 2__ Abz _____. Harry Streator[41] joins the Brick Church to day.

Mar 7 – Went over to Mill. Carried 2 bushels wheat. Cut some wood.

Mar 8 – Went over after my grist. Extracted one tooth for Herb Earl. Filed saw for Spence Thomas. Brot my pole from burg. Henry Lee here to day. Louesa went home with them.

Mar 9 – Worked round house. S. A. Brown left for Chicago. Cut some wood.

Mar 10 – Lewis Planks[42] folks started for Iowa.[43] At home most of the day.

Mar 11 – Went over to Burg got step made for E. Lees[44] cane $.1.00. Bot shoes for Jim 1.75¢.

Mar 12 – Cold and blustrous 20 Abz all day. Snowed in night. Expect Suky left for Chicago.

Mar 13 – Cold 20 Abz lots snow on ground. Went down to Catharines hard going no tracks. Went over to Mrs Cross with Mark to see cow.

Mar 14 – Came home hard walking. Nancy came up with Wesley. Mr & Mrs Plank[45] here in Evening and Mr & Mrs Hawkins.

Mar 15 – Lots snow, snows and blows like fun.[46] Hank Brown and George Sutherland called here. Made plate and cut Dr E. Lees name on it for his cane.

Mar 16 – Cold lots snow 2 Abz. Worked on cupler. Cold. Ethan and Planks al hands went sleighride.

Mar 17 – Worked on cupler. Mark, Mart and Henry came up. Ethan went down to Catharines with them. Traded violin for rifle with Mark. Hank and Dell Skinner[47] went sleigh ride, had Flanders bobs.

Mar 18 – Pleasant morning. Went Down to Marks stayed all night. Mark and Henry started for Salt Lake in night. Charley[48] went to Chicago.

Mar 19 – Called on Charles Lees[49] folks. Very sloppy.

Mar 20 – At home picked up corn in road. Lots water. Nancy went down to Catharines.

Mar 21 – Went down to Catharines with Ethan. Cold. Mart went to Kalamazoo.

Mar 22 – Went over to burg got my boots mended. M O Streator brot wheel here to be mended. David Tomkins stayed all night.

Mar 23 – Pleasant morning. David left. Worked on Hank Browns Boat. Extracted tooth for O. D. Schram.[50] Select[?] party to Planks. Paid John Sherman 22. Dollars and fifty cents for shool wood 22.50.

Mar 24 – Heard first Robbin for the season. Worked on boat and wheel.

Mar 25 – Drove spokes in Streators wheel. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Hannah[51] went down to Mr T. Fords with Mary Plank.[52]

Mar 26 – Cut out felloes for wheel. Rainy day. Cleaned sewing machine.

Mar 27 – Went down to Catharines. Got some warm shugar. Rainy day.

Mar 28 – Worked on boat some. Put tip on Skinners bugy pole.

Mar 29 – Worked on boat and Skinners whiffletrees.[53] George Sutherland and Hank brown here in Evening. Nancy came home. Jo Lee sick. Mrs Plank here in afternoon.

Mar 30 – Carried Sarah down to Jo Lees. Jo some better. Rained some.

Mar 31 – Worked on boat some. Rainy day. Put boat together.

Apr 1 – Worked on boat. Hank came up. Put boat up.

Apr 2 – Finished boat. Sarah went to burg in Evening.

Apr 3 – Went down to Catharines. Sap run some. Ethan and Mart boiling.

Apr 4 – Hank got his boat. Went over to town meeting. Traded rifle for Marts watch. Pleasant day.

Apr 5 – Carried 300 cucumbers over to burg. Sold to Mr Williams. Cut some wood.

Apr 6 – Made steps to doors and stoop. Cleaned up some round yard. Dance to A. Browns in Evening. Mended up old wheelbarrow.

Apr 7 – Worked round yard all day. Carry Wiseman[54] came home with Sis.[55]

Apr 8 – Worked around yard and shop. Raked up some.

Apr 9 – Work round house and yard. Went over to burg. Hannah went down to Skinners. Jo and Hellen[56] called here.

Apr 10 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy day. Heard from Mark.

Apr 11 – Went to burg in morning. Bot Sis shoes 1.60¢. Came back. Went down to schoolhouse. School commenced. Went over to burg with Mart. Got school money. Bot barrel salt $3.00. David Tomkins stayed here all night.

Apr 12 – Pleasant morning. Drawed corn and worked round yard.

Apr 13 – Finished drawing corn. Trimmed appletrees. Mrs Hawkins here to dinner.

Apr 14 – Burnt apple brush. Cleaned up round yard. Mr Schram called here with a man to look at my place.

Apr 15 – Went down after Ethan. Rainy. Brot home shugar.

Apr 16 – Husked some corn. Went down to school house, moved seats. Stormy day. Got Mr Schrams saw. Snowed like fun.

Apr 17 – Quite pleasant. Snow all gone. At home all day.

Apr 18 – Moved stove in to the kitchen. Sawed some wood in afternoon. Received letter from M. F. Lee.[57] Miss _____ came to night, new teacher came to board.

Apr 19 – Rainy morning. Finished husking corn. Sawed some wood. Coly Durgy and stranger here looking for a farm.

Apr 20 – Made churn dash for Mrs Hawkins. Sawed some wood. Rainy afternoon. Party over to Mr Planks this Evening.

Apr 21 – Sawed wood some, split some.

Apr 22 – Finished sawing up trees. Hat and Elizabeth Taylor here to day. Mrs Plank came over. Lucy came up. Fran calved to day I think.

Apr 23 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Ed. He was gone to Battlecreek. Mr Butler stayed all night. Lois came home. Went up in woods. Got Fran and her calf down in morning. Mr Butler and boy came here.

Apr 24 – Mr Butler here at home all day.

Apr 25 – Mr Butler here, boy sick. Tightened box in one of his wheels.

Apr 26 – Mr Butler left. I went to Kalamazoo. Sarah went to Catharines.

Apr 27 – Spaded up onion bed. Made pitman for A. Caywood in afternoon. Had a shower in Evening. Byron Allen & Hank Childs called here while it rained.

Apr 28 – Cool morning. Filed saw for Mr Sherman. Repaired door at barn yard.

Apr 29 – Ethan went to mill. Henry Lee came here, left bottle painkiller. Cleared out old shop. Pleasant day. Mart called here.

Apr 30 – Chored round. Mr Plank drawed over some hay.

May 1 – Went down to Catharines. Harrison Sprague came here.

May 2 – Went over to Climax and to Dry Prairie with Harrison to find place to start a hardware store. Stayed all night. Ethan commenced plowing.

May 3 – Left Dry Prairie this morning all right. Called on Jesse Turner.[58] Took Dinner. Got home about six.

May 4 – Put out some onions. Plowed some. Commenced plowing on hill.

May 5 – Got Schrams buggy. Went to Kalamazoo to see Ed Wolcot. Del Smith[59] Killed. Warner boy shot him.

May 6 – Took Schrams buggy home. Some rain. Planted corn in west garden. Got potatoes out of cellar.

May 7 – Planted potatoes in west garden. Mrs Wiseman and Carry Ella[60] and Cornells girl over here. Ida barber came over. Uncle Jason[61] Died to day.

May 8 – Pleasant day. Ida Barber here. Not very well.

May 9 – Work round house and garden. Ethan plowing.

May 10 – Ethan plowing. I work hoing garden some.

May 11 – Ethan dragging corn ground. I am sick, no work. Worked some on potatoes markers. Sarah went down to Catharines.

May 12 – Ethan marked out corn ground. Worked some in shop on marker.

May 13 – Got half bushel seed corn of A. Brown. Commenced planting corn. Fine day. Finished planting corn on hill.

May 14 – Planted potatoes in East garden. Sowed beet seed. Ethan & Hannah went up to Jesse Earls[62] woods on river to A picknick in afternoon. Lois came home.

May 15 – At home all day. Fine day. Hannah went down to see Nancy with Harry Streator.

May 16 – Planted potatoes and sowed some corn.

May 17 – Finished sowing corn and sowed buckwheat. Catharine came up. Ethan helped Hank Brown plant corn.

May 18 – Went over to Wakeshma to Jesse Turners. Got there about noon.

May 19 – Started for home after noon. Went to Ed Childs, stayed all night. Had a shower.

May 20 – Started about two PM for home. Ed came down. Got my potato marker to plant his potatoes. Got home about four. Rained in night.

May 21 – Pleasant morning. Set out 88 cabbage plants. Planted beans & coffee peas.

May 22 – At home all day. Not very well.

May 23 – Rainy. Jesse & Sally[63] called here. Set a few cabbage plants.

May 24 – Pleasant. Bill got into planks lot. Got small load hay of M. O. Streator. Not much work done to day. Mrs Butterfield Buried to day.

May 25 – Circus and caravan to Kalamazoo 4. Paws. Went over to Burg.

May 26 – Hoed corn and potatoes in west garden. Mrs Barber[64] and Ida came over here.

May 27 – Cool 52 Abz in morning. Cut up some wood brot down some chips. Jesse Turner and Miss Roberts came here. Catharine, Mart and Lucy went to Wakeshma. Ethan went down to Catharines.

May 28 – Made clout bars in forenoon. Got load chips. Went over to burg sold Jan Hoag 10¾ butter $2.00. Bot Hannah sum shoes $2.00.

May 29 – Fine morning birds singing. Young ones farting and a general time any way.

May 30 – Worked in shop on Mr Shermans wheel. Hot and dry. Ethan plastered corn.

May 31 – Working on road on hill.

Jun 1 – Worked on road finished at noon. Went over to mill in afternoon. Carried 3 bushels wheat. One of the young sheep had a lamb.

Jun 2 – Took tire of my wheels and trimed spokes. A. Brown washed his sheep. Old sheep came down with lamb.

Jun 3 – Jo, Lois and Julia Lee[65] came up. Took my wheels over van set tire. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Bot charts for school $22.50¢.

Jun 4 – Hoeing some in garden. Carry Wiseman here. Mr and Mrs Wiseman cleaned schoolhouse. Ethan cultivated corn East of barn. Will Clark[66] came home. Had a shower.

Jun 5 – At home all day. Had a shower in morning. Warm day. Harry Streator here to tea.

Jun 6 – Went up to Dick Lamkins and burg.

Jun 7 – Hoed in garden some. Sawed out felloes for Shermans wheel.

Jun 8 – Put rim on Shermans wheel. Finished wheel. Had a fine shower.

Jun 9 – Rained some this morning. _____ _____ buggy spoke put it in all right. Boy stopted here with race horse from three rivers, the Sea Gull. Ethan went down to A Browns after some cabbage plants.

Jun 10 – Put worked on cupler some.

Jun 11 – Worked on cupler. Hoed some in garden.

Jun 12 – Went down to Cates. Fine day. Cate had 10 pigs.

Jun 13 – Rainy day. Finished cupling. Stepen Wilcut and wife[67] came here. Rained all night.

Jun 14 – Rainy morning, rainy day. Stephen and I went up to Uncle Warrens old place.[68]

Jun 15 – Went to Kalamazoo with Stephen. Stayed to Catharines all night.

Jun 16 – [illegible] Ethan cultivated corn. I went over to burg with my cupling.

Jun 17 – Stephen and Cory came here to dinner. They started for home. I went to burg in after noon. Very hot. Went up to Hartwells with Corys shawl.

Jun 18 – Ethan cultivated corn on hill. I hoed in garden. Mr Miner sheared one sheep. Went to burg in Evening. Carried my cupling over. Very hot day.

Jun 19 – Went down to Catharines. Nancy came home. Hannah went down to Catey. Went in swimming.

Jun 20 – Mr Miner sheared my sheep. Hot day.

Jun 21 – Hoed in garden out by the barn and corn west of House. The old hen commenced sitting on 15 Eggs.

Jun 22 – Made calf pen. Made soap and hoed in garden some. Drawed load wood for Hawkins. Dick Lamkins called here. Mr Plank commenced cutting hay.

Jun 23 – Set some tomatoe plants out by hogpen. Dick Lamkins cut grass. Very hot.

Jun 24 – [illegible]

Jun 25 – Finished drawing in hay. Went over to burg. Paid Wiseman 4.00 for cleaning school house.

Jun 26 – At home. Very hot. Jesse Turner and wife[69] here, going to Kalamazoo. Very hot 112 Abz in sun.

Jun 27 – Ethan cultivated potatoes. I hoed some in garden. Very hot. Some showers round in sight, no rain here.

Jun 28 – Ethan cultivated corn some. Had some rain. 118 in sun.

Jun 29 – Chored round. Went over to burg in afternoon.

Jun 30 – Rained some. Ed Childs here to dinner. Ethan went down to Catharines after Hannah. Mrs Covil struck with lightning in Charleston.

Jul 1 – Rainy. Sowed _____ cut and hoed some in garden.

Jul 2 – Went over to burg to mill. Got last of my corn ground. Sold calf to George Whiting. Saw John Winchy[?]. Went down to Catharines. $6.00 for calf.

Jul 3 – Went over to East lake with Mart. Got no fish. Came home in Evening.

Jul 4 – Extracted tooth for Carry plank. Went over to burg. Went over in Evening with Marts team.

Jul 5 – Went over to burg in morning to see the show come in, 4 Paws show in burg. Got pay for calf.

Jul 6 – Cut some wheat.

Jul 7 – Brown here in forenoon with machine. Cut south part. Cradled some.

Jul 8 – Cradled some wheat. Ethan worked for Brown in forenoon. At home in afternoon. Jennie Upjohn[70] Died this morning.

Jul 9 – Finished cutting my wheat. Went to mill in afternoon. Mrs Wiseman rode over with me.

Jul 10 – Pleasant, some wind. Jennie Upjohn buried to day. Went up to Covils with Mart Milham.

Jul 11 – George turner[71] came up here. Went up to Augusta with Mart. Stayed judgment for Milham in favor of P. S. Carmen.

Jul 12 – Sarah went over to Wisemans. Sold my wool to W^m Blass 65 lbs 40 cts pr pound 26.00. twenty six Dollars. Bot poke for Bill.

Jul 13 – Sick all day, no work. Sent cupler to Utica. Some rain.

Jul 14 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg. Took old cow down to Catharines. Got some _____ of Mrs Wiseman. Took old cow down to Catharaines. Not well.

Jul 15 – Rainy morning. Lots wheat out. Mr Plank got two pigs 2.00 Each $4.00.

Jul 16 – Mr Miner got one pig 2.00. Set out wheat, drawed in some wheat.

Jul 17 – Very hot day. Got in all my wheat. Had a heavy shower just at night.

Jul 18 – Not much done to day. Went over to burg. Paid for poke 2.00.

Jul 19 – Went down to Cates. A very hot day. Mart stacked wheat for Mr Carleton.

Jul 20 – Worked some on Charles Lees crutches.[72]

Jul 21 – Worked on crutches. Ethan helped Hank move fence. James Jelley called here. Bot Box pills 25.

Jul 22 – Worked on crutches for C. Lee.

Jul 23 – Went over to burg to mill. Went down to Catharines. Sent after Dr Finch for Hannah.

Jul 24 – Had a fine shower this morning, some hail. Jo and Lois Lee came up here.

Jul 25 – Warm morning. Dr Finch came here to see Hannah. I paid him $5.00.

Jul 26 – Sick, no work. Catharine came up here. Ethan carried Lois down to Catharines. Wesley here to tea.

Jul 27 – Very hot. Andrew Turner[73] and Mary Babcock called here. B. Hartwell called here.

Jul 28 – Mr Riley Bennet called here in morning. Went over to burg in afternoon. Heard from cupling. Jo Lee came up, left his buggy. Del Skinner paid 50. Ethan went Holleberying.

Jul 29 – Jo came up, got his buggy. Ethan went home with him. Doc Finche came up.

Jul 30 – Went to Kalamazoo for B. Hartwell. Expected _____ to have a suit with A. McLary. Adjourned to Aug 29^th Monday.

Jul 31 – Fine day. Went up to Schrams. Mr and Mrs Schram went up to [illegible].

Aug 1 – Repaired wheel for Mr Randall. Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night.

Aug 2 – Went down to Charles Lees there to dinner. Had a shower. Came home. Mr Allen thrashed. Ethan helped him.

Aug 3 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg. Not much done.

Aug 4 – Sick all day. Mrs Ralph here. Charles Harris came over here to see Ethan about the Band.[74] Took their first lesson.

Aug 5 – Made wagon Ex for Mr Randall. Ethan helped Mr Randall thrash.

Aug 6 – Thrashed my wheat. Had 40 bushels. Paid $5.25.

Aug 7 – Brother Randal had my wagon to go to church.

Aug 8 – Mr Randal got his wagon. Ethan helped Mr Taylor thrash.

Aug 9 – Went to Kalamazoo. Carried George to see his mother. Mr Schram got felloes and thills[75] for his buggy. Mr Ash Paid one Dollar ____ back yet.

Aug 10 – Charles Lee brot his crutches up. I put ferrels[76] on bottom. Bot box ointment 10¢.

Aug 11 – Worked round shop some. Not much done.

Aug 12 – Put Schrams thills together. Went to mill. Had a hard chill after I got home.

Aug 13 – Sick all day, did not sit up much. George turner came up. He paid 15.00.

Aug 14 – At home all day. Jesse Lee and wife[77] here. George went home with them. I am sick.

Aug 15 – Sick, no work to day. Ethan cut some corn fodder.

Aug 16 – No work to day. Ethan, Hank went over to burg to make out papers for patent.[78]

Aug 17 – Sick, no work.

Aug 18 – Sick, no work.

Aug 19 – Went up to B Hartwells to take a level of river Between bridge and dam.

Aug 20 – No work to day. Ethan and Hank work on jack.

Aug 21 – At home all day. Went up to Jesse Earls in Evening.

Aug 22 – Went to Kalamazoo for Hartwell. No witnesses sworn in the case. Bot cotton cloth 32 yds — pr yard, one whip 35¢, one mule bit 35¢.

Aug 23 – Went over to burg got some medicine of Lou Beckwith, some sage of Mrs Wiseman. David Tomkins came over here bot some thill straps 35¢.

Aug 24 – Sick, no work.

Aug 25 – Sick, no work. Ethan and Hank went to Kalamazoo.

Aug 26 – Went over to burg. Carried Schroders saw over. Went over to Ben Hartwells to see if he could make some cider.

Aug 27 – No work to day. George Turner came up stayed all night. Uncle Pat Hamilton[79] died to day.

Aug 28 – Went down to Catharines with George.

Aug 29 – Went up to Mr Schrams got a few peaches. They were digging a well.

Aug 30 – Went up to Schrams. Not much work.

Aug 31 – Took rims of Schrams wheels. Went over to burg in Evening. George Turner came up.

Sep 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Went down to Catharines. Mart commenced his cider mill. Had a shower.

Sep 2 – Not much don at home all day. Went over to burg.

Sep 3 – Made 31 galens cider. Went over to burg to caucus.

Sep 4 – Went up to Mr Taylors spring. Eberly and Nate called here. Jim sick. Warm day.

Sep 5 – Worked in shop some on wheels. Oscar Keith[80] came here.

Sep 6 – Went over to burg to mill. Went down to Catharines. Oscar started for home. Becky Plank[81] sick in night.

Sep 7 – Worked some in shop. Went up to Mr Kirbys in after noon. Carried some cider up to Schrams. Very hot 94 in shade.

Sep 8 – Work on spokes for Schrams wheel. Ethan cuting up corn. 94 in shade half past ten. Jim sick.

Sep 9 – Worked on wheels some. Cows in Browns lot all day.

Sep 10 – Went down to see W^m Lee.[82] Warm day.

Sep 11 – Went down to Charles Lees, Joes and Catharines. Got 30. Dollars of W^m Lee for six months.

Sep 12 – Worked on wheels some. Mr Plank commenced to thrash. Had Ague[83] some.

Sep 13 – Worked on Schrams wheels some.

Sep 14 – Had ague in afternoon.

Sep 15 – Not much done. Ethan sick to day. Mr Ralphs horses run away with load pumpkins. Mr Schram stoped them just East of My House. Had a nice shower.

Sep 16 – Went over to burg. Had Ague, no work to day. Ethan had a chill.

Sep 17 – Went down and got the old cow. Mr Flanders came home with ten head young cattle.

Sep 18 – Went down to Catharines with George Turner.

Sep 19 – No work to day. Ethan got ague.

Sep 20 – Went over to burg. Old Mrs Signor died 2 oclock this morning. Mrs Signor buried. Cow in Browns lot all day.

Sep 21 – Went over to burg in morning. Band went to Picknick. S. Strubles girl[84] died this morning.

Sep 22 – Sick, no work round house.

Sep 23 – Worked some. Cut some Buckwheat. Worked on wheels some.

Sep 24 – Finished Schrams wheels. Ethan went down to Catharines. Rained some.

Sep 25 – At home. George and I striped some husks for Young Turners bed.

Sep 26 – Set up buckwheat. Went over to burg in Evening.

Sep 27 – Finished cutting and puting up Buckwheat. Fine day. George got ague.

Sep 28 – Ethan cultivated some on hill. I drawed in two loads corn. Mr Schram got his wheels. Mr Elias Sherman[85] Died half past nine this morning.

Sep 29 – Mr Sherman Buried to day. Mr Day preach. Warm and pleasant as June.

Sep 30 – Worked round, husked some corn. Not very well. Ethan gone to the fair.

Oct 1 – Drawed in some corn. Ethan cultivated some. Went over to burg after Louesa in morning. The boys patent papers came to day.

Oct 2 – At home all day. George Turner here all day.

Oct 3 – Round home, not very well. Husked some corn.

Oct 4 – Went to mill. Had a shower. Husked some corn. Drawed in two loads corn.

Oct 5 – Husked corn some. Plowed on hill. dra

Oct 6 – Plowing on hill. Husked some, drawed one load corn. Commenced sowing wheat. Fine day.

Oct 7 – Husked some corn. Finished sowing wheat. Ethan cultivated. Nice day.

Oct 8 – Finished cultivating wheat in fore noon. Husked some corn. Very pleasant day. Jo an Hellen came here.

Oct 9 – Fine day. Joes folks went home. Had oysters for supper. George Turner here.

Oct 10 – Drawed in some corn. Fine day. Drove hogs up to the woods 5 times. Rained in night.

Oct 11 – Rained some this morning. Thrashers went to Browns. Sarah Turner[86] and sister came up. I went over to burg after them.

Oct 12 – Went over to burg. Saw Mr Gillet. Let him have my cupler. The Boys let him have their jack.

Oct 13 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg with Ethan and Hank. They went to play for the _____ fair.

Oct 14 – Rained in morning. Ethan gone to the fair. I drawed lot wood. Pleasant after noon. Sarah here yet.

Oct 15 – Fine day. Sarah Turner went home on the two oclock train. My Birth day 57. Nancy went down to Mr Simmons to stay with Lois.

Oct 16 – Warm and pleasant as summer. Jim Holden and Dan Jacobs called here to see cow. Dr Lamburn came here, stayed all night.

Oct 17 – Lamburn left. Rainy day. Made bottom for A. Browns wagon box. Cut Mary Planks hair. Nancy cut _____ hair.

Oct 18 – Pleasant day. Sarah and Mrs Plank went down to Skinners.

Oct 19 – Finished Browns bottom to his wagon. Commenced raining about noon. Had a wet afternoon. No work.

Oct 20 – Not much done. Carried in my buckwheat.

Oct 21 – Thrashed buckwheat. Ethan picked up apples.

Oct 22 – Finished drawing buckwheat. Thrashed some.

Oct 23 – George came over. Made gocart for George. He went down to Catharines in afternoon. Jo and Hellen there. Pleasant day.

Oct 24 – Pleasant day. Finished thrashing buckwheat. Had about 15 bushels.

Oct 25 – Drawed in corn fodder and popcorn. Husked out popcorn.

Oct 26 – Made bin in cornhouse. Ethan traded horns with Geo Chase. George Turner and and Mr Shafer came over here.

Oct 27 – Moved my bench into old shop. Ethan dug potatoes in East garden.

Oct 28 – Went over to burg. Got mortar at new schoolhouse. Got some sand on hill. George and one of the Masons came over in Evening and put it on Mr Shafer.

Oct 29 – Buried some morter and moved some things. Made Evener for Mr Allens buggy. Went down to Catharines, stayed all night. Had a heavy shower in the night.

Oct 30 – At Catharines. Rainy day. Just saw Mr Withey. Got home after dark.

Oct 31 – Set out six peachtrees and two pear trees. St. Jo[87] man brot them. Paid $3.30 cts.

Nov 1 – Husked corn. Fine day. Drawed in one load. Ethan went over to Mr Chases in Evening.

Nov 2 – Pleasant day. Husked corn. Hank Brown saw Eight wild turkeys.

Nov 3 – Husked corn. Fine day. Drawed in corn and fodder.

Nov 4 – Husked corn on hill. Pleasant day.

Nov 5 – Went to mill and drawed some wood.

Nov 6 – At home all day. Ethan went down to Catharines with Delphia.[88] Mended my gloves.

Nov 7 – Cleared out shop. Ethan carried Lois and Will down to Catharines. Fine day.

Nov 8 – Went to burg to Election. Rainy in fore noon.

Nov 9 – Went over to mill. Carried Mr Hawkins stove over. Got Jims cap. Sharpened two pair shears for R. Blackburn.

Nov 10 – Husked corn some. Fine day. S. Bristol called here.

Nov 11 – Husking corn. Fine day, good weather. Seaman Bristol called here. Went down to A. Browns in Evening.

Nov 12 – Husked corn all day. Sarah went over to burg.

Nov 13 – Sarah and I went over to S Bristols. Pleasant but cool.

Nov 14 – Went over to S Bristols. Pleasant and cool. Drawed in some corn. Snowed in night very little.

Nov 15 – Husked corn part of the day. George Turner came here to supper. Commenced boarding.

Nov 16 – Drawed in corn and cornfodder. Cleared the bot. Snowed like fun.[89] Not very cold.

Nov 17 – Went over to schoolhouse. Got 3 barrels of shavings for Geo Turner.

Nov 18 – Put down floor on back stoop. Seaman S. Bristol called here. Went down to Catharines. Skinners folks here in Evening.

Nov 19 – Went over to Bristols in morning. Georges stoves and lumber came about 2 oclock P.M. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catarines.

Nov 20 – Catharine came up with Ethan. At home all day.

Nov 21 – Catharine went home. I work on partition.

Nov 22 – Working on partition. Pleasant day. Galesburg Band went to Augusta.

Nov 23 – Work on partition. Sarah papered some. Galesburg Band went up to Augusta in Evening. Nice day no snow. Isaac Schram moved his house. Hank and Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Nov 24 – Pleasant. Ethan and Hank Brown went to Kalamazoo after Turners things. Sarah Turner came here. Had oysters for supper.

Nov 25 – Hung door to closset. Harry Streator here to dinner.

Nov 26 – Put on door casing to pantry door &c.

Nov 27 – At home all day. Pleasant as June mercury 64 Abz. Jo and Lois Lee here. Hat Mead came over. Turner and Hat went up to Earls mill.

Nov 28 – Went up to Bristol place. Fine day. Went over to burg.

Nov 29 – Worked round. Dug out well. Fine day. Band Boys here in Evening. Schram paid $5..10.

Nov 30 – Warm day, pleasant morning. Made platform to Barn well. Went over to Burg with Mr Wright to see Uncle Peat Johnson.[90] Schram and Libby Taylor married,[91] I spec so sum.

Dec 1 – Finished platform. Went over to Burg. Bot Boots 4.75. Fine day, pleasant as June, fine weather.

Dec 2 – Fine day. One oclock mercury 50 Abz. Sarah sold old cow to Johnny Tyson for 40.00 Dollars.

Dec 3 – Made spout for to carry water to barn yard. Pleasant as summer.

Dec 4 – Very pleasant morning, mercury 52 Abz at 9 AM. Had but very little frost yet. 57 at 2 P.M. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Killed Robert Rooster.

Dec 5 – Husked corn some. Rainy day, warm as April.

Dec 6 – Went over to Burg. Bot Boots for Jim 2.75, one pair for Ethan 5.75, pair shoes for sis.

Dec 7 – Snows some this morning.

Dec 8 – Went down to Catharines after Catharine. She did not come.

Dec 9 – Got in my cabbage. Pleasant 42 Abz at 2 PM. Got some straw over to Planks.

Dec 10 – Pleasant, no snow. Mr Plank went to Kalamazoo with load potatoes for Lyman Gates. Mercury 60 in sun, 45 in shade at 2 PM.

Dec 11 – Went over to burg after Doc Wightman. Snowed some, high wind. Jim sick. Catharine came up here. Snowed like fun.

Dec 12 – Mercury 32 Abz, snow about 2½ inches deep. Jim some better.

Dec 13 – Work round house. Snows some. Ethan went to Augusta in Evening.

Dec 14 – Sarah Turner went back to Kalamazoo. Georgy went with her. Nancy went down to stay a few days. Catharine went up to Wesleys. Jesse Turner 71 years old to day.[92]

Dec 15 – Not very cold, some snow on ground. J. Jackson called here.

Dec 16 – At home all day. Not very cold. Wesleys folks here in Evening.

Dec 17 – Carried Catharine home. Nancy came home. Lois came home with me. Mrs Jacobs Died to day.[93] Very little snow on ground.

Dec 18 – Not very cold. Sarah went over to Mr Jacobs.

Dec 19 – Mrs Jacobs buried to day, funeral 2 oclock. Lois went over to Joes. Snowed some.

Dec 20 – Snows some, snowed all day, snow fell 6 inches.

Dec 21 – Cold 4 Abz. George Turner sent his things back to Kalamazoo. Rufus Taylor carried them. I traded my Rifle to George for his stove.

Dec 22 – Put my bench in house this morning. Snowed ½ inch. Mr Streator got his saw. Joel James[94] came here, stayed all night. Mercury 4 Below zero.

Dec 23 – Mercury 10 Below zero. Joel left. I went over to Burg with him. Cold and some wind.

Dec 24 – Cold 3 below zero. Drawed three loads of wood. Paid N. L. Randal 30 thirty Dollars out of school fund. Paid my Tax 12.18. Snow fell 2 inches in night.

Dec 25 – Cold, one Degree Below zero, snowed some, blusterous day, snow fell, snowed in night.

Dec 26 – Snowd about two inches. Tincured in shop. Moved stove and my chest. Cold and blustring, 2 inches snow. Potter Eldred buried to day.[95]

Dec 27 – 10 Abz. Alfred Signor came over and got my iron carriage for Engine lathe.

Dec 28 – 20 Abz. Worked in pantry. Put up some shelves and base shelf.

Dec 29 – Cold 13 Below zero. Worke in shop some.

Dec 30 – 24 Abz. _____ went to Kalamazoo with A. Brown. Bot stuff for cutter 2.25. Went and saw George Turner.

Dec 31 – Went over to Burg. Got money of town treasurer, paid Miss Lovel 45.00 Dollars out of mill tax. Wesley called here in Evening. Mrs Potter Eldred died this morning.[96]

——-

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

[2] His sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[3] His brother, John Wesley Keith, who, according to the family Bible, was adopted

[4] A neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[5] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin, the son of Charles and Rhoda (Keith) Lee, and the brother of Charles Lee

[6] His daughter, Nancy Catherine Keith

[7] Luke sold “bed bottoms,” a form of rubberized bedsprings, and was quite often gone for months at a time

[8] His horse

[9] Charles Jedediah Lee, the son of Luke’s cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[10] Lois (Keith) Clark, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[11] 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

[12] A neighbor, Ambrose Brown, whose son Henry would become the husband of Luke’s daughter Nancy

[13] His daughter, Louese Keith

[14] Another one of his horses

[15] The niece of Lois’ late husband, Byron Clark. She was the daughter of Loren & Amanda (Taylor) Clark

[16] Henry Brown, the son of Ambrose Brown

[17] His son, James Keith

[18] Above zero

[19] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[20] His son, Ethan Bradley Keith

[21] A neighbor, Thomas Flanders

[22] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Thomas W. Flanders died December 26, 1869 and is buried in Kalamazoo County Poor Farm Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. While the date does not agree with Luke’s entries, his mention of the “County house” would seem to confirm that this is the same Thomas W. Flanders

[23] Thomas Flanders’ nephew

[24] Believe he is referring to his cousin, William Henry Lee

[25] Believed to be Susie A. Brown, sometimes referred to as Suky Brown and/or Decatur Susie Brown. The September 6, 1869 entry shows that she was the school teacher

[26] A neighbor

[27] Neighbors, Eliza (Beadle) Rogers, and her sister, Sarah Beadle

[28] A felloe, or felly, is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes

[29] His niece, Lucy Irene Lee, the daughter of his sister Catharine

[30] Edward G. Wolcott, his first cousin

[31] Wood ashes through which water is passed to carry away soluble portions

[32] A search of Ancestry.com shows that Willie B. Bester, age 14, the son of Horatio & Sarah Bester, died of scarlet fever on February 9, 1870

[33] Hank’s aunt and uncle, Cynthia (Brown) & William Arms

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

[35] Et cetera

[36] Martin Milham, the husband of his niece, Lucy Irene (Lee) Milham

[37] George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson lived; Marion was Luke’s niece

[38] Joseph Flanders, a neighbor; brother of Thomas Flanders (see January 24 entry)

[39] Caroline G. Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[40] Believe he is referring to a neighbor, Ephraim Earl

[41] Son of Marius O. Streator (see January 1 entry)

[42] The brother of William Plank (see March 14 entry)

[43] The 1870 Census shows Lewis and family living in Waterloo, Iowa

[44] Ezekiel Lee, Mark’s father, and Luke’s first cousin

[45] Believed to be William & Harriet (Groat) Plank, and parents of Mary (see March 25 entry) and Carrie (see February 26 entry)

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

[47] Adelbert Skinner, Luke’s future son-in-law; he married Lois November 18, 1871

[48] Charles Jedediah Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[49] Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee; 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

[50] A neighbor, Oran D. Schram

[51] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[52] The daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[53] 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

[54] The daughter of his neighbors, Joseph & Caroline Wiseman, who was 16 years old

[55] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith, who was 9 years old

[56] Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was Luke’s niece, the daughter of his sister Catherine by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[57] Believe he is referring to Mark Lee, who was visiting his family in Salt Lake City, Utah

[58] His maternal first cousin

[59] A search of Ancestry.com shows Adelbert Smith was killed by gunshot on May 25, 1870; however, on May 5, 1870, Nilson Smith, age 22, the son of William & Harriet Smith, was also killed by gunshot. The 1870 Census Mortality Schedule shows Nelson Smith was murdered on May 5, 1870. Nothing further was found. It would appear that Luke mistakenly wrote Del Smith instead of Nilson/Nelson Smith

[60] Neighbors, Caroline Wiseman, and her daughter, Ella, age 14

[61] Jason Beal Wolcott

[62] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[63] Jesse & Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner

[64] Mary (Knowles) Barber

[65] Luke’s paternal first cousin, Joseph & Lois (French) Lee, and Mark Lee’s wife, Julia Ann Lee

[66] His grandson, William Byron Clark

[67] His maternal first cousin, Stephen Hoxie & Coralin (Underhill) Wolcott

[68] Warren Wolcott, who had lived in Comstock, Michigan, from about 1834 until sometime in the 1850s when he moved to Almena, Michigan

[69] Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner

[70] A search at Ancestry.com shows that Virginia Upjohn, the daughter of Uriah & Maria (Mills) Upjohn, died July 9, 1870 from “congestion of the brain.” She was 25 and worked as a teacher and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[71] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner

[72] The March 3^rd entry mentions working on Henry Lee’s cane, and the March 11th & 15^th entries refer to Dr. Ezekiel’s cane. In a letter from William Henry Lee to his son, Ezekiel Lee, who lived in Idaho, was the following: “…very glad to hear from you once more and to learn of your welfare, but very sorry of hear of Orrin’s [his youngest brother] mis-fortune. It seems that mother’s boys are all to be cripples in their old age. Father [Dr. Ezekiel Lee] was a cripple when he died and a good many years before. Mark [his brother] and now Orrin will very likely be a cripple the rest of his days….” (Courtesy of Margaret Williams, 3^rd great-grandfather of William Henry Lee)

[73] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner

[74] According to the History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan (1880), the Galesburg Cornet Band was organized August 4, 1870. Charles Harris was the leader and he played the E-flat cornet. Ethan played the 2^d E-flat cornet

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

[76] 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

[77] Jesse & Julia (Toupence) Lee; Jesse was Luke’s cousin and the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[78] Ethan and Hank were granted a patent for their Improvement in Coupling-Jacks on September 27, 1870. According to the patent, they “have invented certain Improvements in the Mode of Transmitting Motion to Shafts, adjustable to any desired angle with the leading shaft, which invention we call ‘A Universal Coupling-Jack.’”

[79] The term “uncle” was often used for older relatives, especially in-laws of various relatives. Patrick Hamilton was the father of Mary (Hamilton) Crawford, who was the widow of Edwin Crawford, who was the brother of Luke’s wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[80] His nephew James “Oscar” Keith

[81] Rebecca W. Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[82] The son of Luke’s cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[83] A form of malaria characterized by stages of chills, fever, and sweating

[84] A search of Ancestry.com revealed that Alice Struble, age 14, died September 20, 1870; she was the daughter of Selim & Cynthia Struble

[85] A search of Ancestry.com revealed that Elias Sherman, age 75, died September 28, 1870

[86] Sarah Frances (Roberts) Turner, the wife of Luke’s cousin, George Turner

[87] St. Joseph, Michigan

[88] Marion Adelpha York, the daughter of Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York

[89] Quickly, or vigorously

[90] A neighbor, Peter Johnson; does not appear to be any relation to Luke

[91] A search of Ancestry.com reveals that Isaac D. L. Scram married F. Elizabeth Taylor in Galesburg, Michigan, on November 30, 1870

[92] FindAGrave.com shows his birthdate as November 13, 1799; also Luke’s 1894 entry for November 13 states “Jesse Turner 95 years old to day”

[93] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Julia A. Jacobs, age 38, wife of B. Jacobs, died December 17, 1870, and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[94] His maternal first cousin

[95] A search of Ancestry.com shows that Potter Eldred of Charleston, Michigan, died December 24, 1870, of Typhoid Pneumonia, at the age of 78; FindAGrave.com reveals that he is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[96] Ancestry.com reveals that Hannah (Cook) Eldred died just four days after her husband, on December 29, 1870, also of Typhoid Pneumonia, at the age of 70; she is also buried in Roof Cemetery, which shows her date of death as December 30, 1870