1874 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]
The entries from January 1 through June 10 were first written in the back of his 1873 diary. He copied the entries of January 1 through February 5 into his 1874 diary and they are basically identical to what he originally wrote in his 1873 diary. Anything from 1874 that clarifies or adds to the 1873 entries is noted in brackets. He then had entries in his 1874 diary on August 30 and September 1 and finally daily entries from September 22 through December 31.
Jan 1 – At home. Ethan[2] and girls[3] went down to Lois.[4] Ed Wilcut and wife[5] came here, stayed all night.
Jan 2 – Eds folks went home. No snow [but very] muddy.
Jan 3 – Quite warm 60 Abz.[6] [Not much done but chores.]
Jan 4 – At home. 60 Abz in morning, cool at night 30 Abz. Hannah[7] went to Battlecreek to learn Dress Makers trade. [All well.]
Jan 5 – Cool, no snow, 20 Abz in morning. [Choring round.]
Jan 6 – At home. Not much work [but chores].
Jan 7 – Hank and Nancy[8] moved to Lawton.[9] Fine day.
Jan 8 – Pleasant morning, 30 Abz. Went over to burg.[10] Bot Lock for schoolhouse 30 cts.
Jan 9 – Filed saw for [N. A.] Randal 10¢.
Jan 10 – At home. Mrs [Hat] Hawleys[11] Father and Brother came [here in afternoon, stayed all night].
Jan 11 – At home. Cold, no snow. Henry Semer paid me Nine Dollars.
Jan 12 – Mr Abbot and son[12] left. Went over to burg. Paid my tax 16.87 cts.
Jan 13 – Cool, no snow. At home. Catharine,[13] [Mrs] Gaffing and Jo Lee[14] here.
Jan 14 – Cold. Hannah came home. Snowed [some].
Jan 15 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Cool and blustering, snow 2¼.
Jan 16 – Cold, 7 Abz in morning. At home [no work] not very well.
Jan 17 – At home. Worked in shop some.
Jan 18 – Not very cold. Ethan & Hannah [went down to Streators] went over to Barbers[15] in Evening.
Jan 19 – At home. Went down to Streators[16] in morning.
Jan 20 – Went down to Catharines, stayed all night. Thrashers came to [____] thrash clover [seed]. Mart and Lucy[17] went to town. Rainy night.
Jan 21 – Rained in afternoon. Came home in Evening. Rainy. Lois here.
Jan 22 – Rainy morning. [No work but chores.]
Jan 23 – Worked on bob rods and neap. Paid D. S. Bronson fifteen Dollars. Ethan & Hannah went up to S[am] Whites to a Dance. [Hiram Lovelands wife Died to day.][18]
Jan 24 – Snows some. At home. All well.
Jan 25 – At home. Ethan & Hannah went up to Wesleys.[19]
Jan 26 – Finished Bobs. Went down to A. Browns[20] in Evening. Cold, no snow.
Jan 27 – Rainy morning. [Not much work.]
Jan 28 – At home. Worked in shop some.
Jan 29 – Went down to M O Streators, got five 5 bushels wheat. Mrs Semer paid one Dollar.
Jan 30 – 28 cold and snowy. No work. Very blustring.
Jan 31 – Pleasant morning 2 below zero. Went over to burg got Louesas[21] shoes mended 60. Alfleda[22] came back.
Feb 1 – 11 Abz, pleasant morning. Traded harness for sleigh.
Feb 2 – At home. Not much work.
Feb 3 – Went to Comstock[23] to mill. Fine day.
Feb 4 – Made saw frame for Mrs Semer.
Feb 5 – Went over to burg at noon. Carried hams down to A. Browns. J. R. Towsley Buried. Mart and toot[24] came here. Posted up to here.[25]
Feb 6 – Snows this morning. At home.
Feb 7 – At home. Worked round shop and home.
Feb 8 – At home for day.
Feb 9 – Went down to Lois in Evening. All right.
Feb 10 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine came home with me. Went over to burg in Evening. Streator came up in Evening. Wes and Harriet[26] here. Alfleda _____
Feb 11 – Fine day. Went up in woods, got load wood. Carried Catharine home. Streator and T Ford here in Evening.
Feb 12 – At home. Not very well. Rainy night.
Feb 13 – Repaired hand slead. Snow all gone.
Feb 14 – At home. Worked round house and shop some. No snow.
Feb 15 – At home. All Well.
Feb 16 – At home. Cut some wood.
Feb 17 – Sawed some wood. Cold, no snow.
Feb 18 – Went to Kalamazoo. $4.00 paid four Dollars on Sewing machine note.[27]
Feb 19 – Sarah[28] and Alfleda went down to Streators. Stormy.
Feb 20 – At home. Work in barn. Husked corn.
Feb 21 – Sarah went over to burg. Hannah went up to Battlecreek. Oscar[29] called here in morning. Had been to Lansing. No snow.
Feb 22 – Fine day. 29 Abz in morning. At home all day. Hawleys folks went up to Ridlers.[30] Alfleda and Oscar came back just at night. Oscar went home.
Feb 23 – Put top on my new violin. Very blustring day.
Feb 24 – Went down to Skinners, got some apples. Hawley[31] got a fart crosswise and blowed a perfect gale.
Feb 25 – Cold, not much wind in morning. At home. Cut some wood.
Feb 26 – At home. Choring round. All well. Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.[32] Turned balance wheel for Ethans Engine.
Feb 27 – Turned balance wheel for Ethans Engine.[33] Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.
Feb 28 – Cut wood. Pleasant day. Eugene[34] came up in Evening.
Mar 1 – Cloudy, no snow.
Mar 2 – At home. Finished husking corn. Caroline Earl[35] came here. Ethan went down to Marts.[36] Nancy came home.
Mar 3 – Carried Caroline over to burg. Rained some.
Mar 4 – Round home, fine day.
Mar 5 – Sawed wood, got quite a pile.
Mar 6 – Went over to burg. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines. M. O. Streator and wife[37] here. Sold the bobs to Streator. He paid $.00 ten Dollars.
Mar 7 – Some wind in morning. Rough day, blustrous.
Mar 8 – Hank and Nancy here. They went down to Browns. George Maffit Died.[38]
Mar 9 – Cold. At home. Hank and Nancy went home. Not much work.
Mar 10 – Maffit buried. Went to Comstock to mill. Very cold. Stopt to Catharines. Got letter from Carry Plank.[39]
Mar 11 – Cold morning, no snow.
Mar 12 – At home. No work out doors.
Mar 13 – Went over to burg twice. Went up to Durkees. Received 88 Dollars of Township Treasurer. Paid Miss Davis 88 Dollars. Aunt Linda Hobbs Died.
Mar 14 – Went to Kalamazoo with Dell.[40] Paid A. B. Sumner thirteen Dollars 13.00. Nice day. Sarah went to ARS.
Mar 15 – Catharine here.
Mar 16 – Went over to burg. Went down to Skinners. Got his wagon.
Mar 17 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sold Ira Carlton twenty and half bushels corn fifteen Dollars and 37½ cts. Rained in Evening, Thundered. First thunder storm. Paid Doc Finch ten Dollars. Sarah and Catharine went up to Wesleys.
Mar 18 – At home. Worked round. Got some wood, got Peacock.
Mar 19 – Worked round some in shop some.
Mar 20 – Went down to Kalamazoo with Wesley. Traded my watch with Wes for his Buggy and Harness. Martin Turner[41] stayed here all night. Theodore, Elva and Hurb Earl[42] here in Evening.
Mar 21 – Went over to burg with A. Brown. Tild and Jule[43] here in afternoon. Went over to burg in Evening after Azros and wife. They stayed all night.
Mar 22 – Pleasant. Azros folks went up to Wesleys.
Mar 23 – Went over to burg. Received of Town Treasurer forty Nine and Ninety nine/100 Dollars 49.99. Cold wind.
Mar 24 – Painted wheelbarrow. Ethan went down to Catharines.
Mar 25 – Lois, Sate and Mrs Skinner[44] came down here. Rained some. Jim[45] went up to Mr Flanders, got Pea hen. Henry[46] came brot Boiler.
Mar 26 – Trimed some appletrees and choped some. Cut one tree up in woods.
Mar 27 – Jo Lee and Catharine came up here. Jim and Harvey went down to Catharines.
Mar 28 – Cold and windy. At home.
Mar 29 – Went down to Catharines. Orson Starr and wife came up there. Had some new shugar.
Mar 30 – Helped A. Brown clean up wheat. Sarah came home with him.
Mar 31 – Cold wind. Major commenced to set. She had 14 Eggs.
Apr 1 – Split some logs for wood. Henry came down. They fired up Engine. Martin Turner here to dinner. Hannah came home.
Apr 2 – Wesleys Auction to day. Went up to Wes Auction. Cold, snowed some.
Apr 3 – Went up to Wesleys, got bedstead. Went up agan, got buggy. Ethan, Hannah and sis[47] went up in afternoon. Henry came down. He went up to Wesleys. Snowed like fun.[48]
Apr 4 – Cold morning, 9 Abz in morning. District No. 7 paid C. L. Keith[49] one Dollar $1.00.
Apr 5 – At home.
Apr 6 – Went to town meeting.
Apr 7 – At home. All well.
Apr 8 – Sarah went over to Hoags,[50] Lois Barbers. I went over to Dicks in Evening. Cut wood. Ethan drawed some.
Apr 9 – Tinkered in shop some and round house.
Apr 10 – Went up to Wesleys. Helped him pack his things. He took them to the burg. Harvey and Ellis[51] stayed all night. Ethans Engine went the first time.
Apr 11 – Ellis and Harvey here.
Apr 12 – Mart and Lucy came, Lucy stayed.
Apr 13 – Put in crosbar in M O 50 Streators buggy thills.[52] Made pole for Hawley 1.00 one Dollar. Rained in Evening. Ethan Drawed wood.
Apr 14 – Cloudy. At home. Made Evener for Hawley 25¢.
Apr 15 – At home. Toot here _____. Chored round, cleaned door, yard, piled wood.
Apr 16 – Fixed up kettle for making soap. Toot went up to Jims.[53]
Apr 17 – Cloudy. Hawley took load stalks. Made soap.
Apr 18 – At home. Not very well. No work.
Apr 19 – At home. Fine day, cold wind.
Apr 20 – Worked round in garden and yard.
Apr 21 – Went to Kalamazoo to probate Court.
Apr 22 – Went to Comstock to mill. Got three bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Harriet stayed here.
Apr 23 – Went over to burg, carried Harriet and children over. Mr Murphy died.[54]
Apr 24 – Drawed manure, put round appletrees. Setled up with Hawley.
Apr 25 – Lame, no work to day. Fine day.
Apr 26 – At home all day. Fine weather.
Apr 27 – Finished trimming currant brush. Catharine here. Ethan packed over Engine.
Apr 28 – Snow 1 inch and ¼ deep this morning.
Apr 29 – Hawley left this morning, he was very sick. Soing machine miller here. Catharine went home. Bely Right paid over first payment on the land.
Apr 30 – Drawed manure from Hogpen. Henry came down here.
May 1 – Fine morning. At home all day. Went down to Skinners just at night.
May 2 – Went to Kalamazoo. Borrowed twenty five Dollars of Jule Allen. Paid miller for machine 30 Dollars.
May 3 – At home. Mart and Lucy came up. Wes and family here.
May 4 – Worked round yard and garden. Went over to burg in Evening. Wesley and family left for Kansas on the Eleven fifty Eight run. Nancy came home.
May 5 – At home, fine day. Alfleda went up to A. Browns. Henry came down.
May 6 – Moved fence south of orchard and west side of lane. Will Plank[55] came in Evening.
May 7 – Pleasant morning. Ridler commenced plowing in south lot.
May 8 – Repaired A. Browns Roller in morning. Ridler plowing. Heard the first Whipporwill.
May 9 – Put handles in Ridlers plow. Ethan got Bill Brown to plow garden. Hank came home.
May 10 – Fine warm day. At home.
May 11 – Plowed gardens. Will Plank went home. Burnt brushheap. Mrs Delia Birge died.[56]
May 12 – Worked round garden. Drawed some roots and brush of plowed ground. Hank went home. Ethan planted for A. Brown.
May 13 – Put cover in Browns churn. Hot day. Will Barber[57] commenced plowing in East lot. Mrs Birge buried to day.
May 14 – Sarah and Nancy went down to Skinners. Ethan planted corn for Dell. Ridler planting in South lot.
May 15 – Went down to M. O. Streators got some potatoes. Rained in afternoon and night. Finished planting South lot.
May 16 – Rainy morning. Worked round garden and and shop.
May 17 – At home. All right. No one here.
May 18 – Planted potatoes. Ed Childs stayed Marked potatoe ground. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Barber and Dell plowed.
May 19 – Planted potatoes. Ed Childs stayed here all night. Rained.
May 20 – Went down to Charles Lees.[58] Sarah Stayed.
May 21 – Went to Kalamazoo to attend Browns & Allertons lawsuit.[59]
May 22 – Went to Kalamazoo. Was sworn on suit.
May 23 – Went to Kalamazoo. Browns Suit Ended. Brown got judgment of 26 Dollars. Ida Barber[60] came home sick.
May 24 – At home. All right.
May 25 – Chored round. Went over to burg. Got Wheel for hank. Hank and Nancy went home. Went down to Skinners just at night.
May 26 – Worked round garden and shop.
May 27 – Worked in shop and chored round.
May 28 – Made Hogyard. Put hogs in. One of them sick.
May 29 – Jo Lee here all day. Altered hog, put rings in his nose. I went down to Catharines, carried Lucy home. Alfleda went with Jo Lee.
May 30 – Went to Kalamazoo as witness on uncle Isaac Pierce Estate.[61] Giddings baby[62] buried to day.
May 31 – Went over to Mrs Wilson in Evening to Spiritual circle.[63]
Jun 1 – Worked on Hanks wheel. Went over to burg in Evening.
Jun 2 – Finished Hanks wheel.
Jun 3 – Not very well. At home. Barber brot thills over to be made.
Jun 4 – Worked in shop some on thills.
Jun 5 – Hued out thills. Barber and Ridler cultivating. Had a fine shower in afternoon
Jun 6 – Cut out rockers for chair. Went over to burg, sent Hanks wheel to him. Ethan and Henry turned mallets and balls for Ed flanders.[64] Had a heavy rain in Evening. Went down to Lois just at night.
Jun 7 – At home. Alvin and Ida Lee[65] came up here.
Jun 8 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Had a heavy shower. Went over to burg in afternoon. Saw Doc. Johnson.
Jun 9 – Hot morning. Took felloes[66] of Wightmans wheels.
Jun 10 – Went over to burg to see show come in.
[End of 1874 entries in his 1873 diary, then two entries in 1874 diary on August 30 and September 1]
Aug 30 – Judge Bazel Harrison[67] Died to day Ae 100 & 3 years.
Sep 1 – Judge Bazel Harrison Buried to day.
[No entries for September 2-21]
Sep 22 – Husked corn in East lot. Nancy came home. Ethan came home in Evening.
Sep 23 – Carried Sarah down to Catharines. Received twenty four Dollars of Town Treasurer $20, primary $4 Library. Husked pop corn, had one bushel of Ears.
Sep 24 – Husked corn, put in the barn. Warm day.
Sep 25 – Husked corn. Finished husking Barbers corn, had 37 thirty seven bushels of Ears. Drawed in seven shock of Ridlers, had seven and half bushels. Hot and dry.
Sep 26 – Rainy forenoon. Drawed in some corn in afternoon. Went down to Catharines after Sarah, stayed all night. Had a heavy shower in Evening. Charley Harris[68] Died this morning.
Sep 27 – At Catharines. Came home in Evening. All right.
Sep 28 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Skinners, got some peaches. Went over to burg in Evening. Paid Emma Sumner[69] forty three Dollars $43.
Sep 29 – Husked corn. Pleasant day. Carried 2½ wheat over to mill. Nancy put on her quilt.
Sep 30 – Pleasant morning, no frost yet. Husked corn. Hannah came home. Mrs Brown and Jule here quilting.
Oct 1 – Husked corn. Ethan and Jim went to Fair at Kalamazoo.
Oct 2 – Husking corn. Finished South lot. Fine day.
Oct 3 – Carried up corn into Cornhouse, 38 bushels. Browns folks here in afternoon quilting. Hank came in Evening. Lois came down in afternoon, helped Nancy quilt.
Oct 4 – Cool, first frost, 31 Abz, pleasant day. Ethan and Hannah, Hank and Nancy, Sis and Jim all gone down to Browns. Mr Spires Died this Evening.
Oct 5 – Drawed corn in forenoon, husked in afternoon. Had a shower. Henry and Sate came in the rain. They were going up to Battle Creek to get Dol doctered.
Oct 6 – Cloudy but warm. Jim and I husked corn. Ethan and Hank went over to Mr Arms.[70] Mrs Brown and Jule up here, got quilt of. Lucy called here, she went to burg. Henry and Sate came back. Mr Spires buried to day.
Oct 7 – Husked corn, drawed in some. Hank and Nancy went home. Had some squirels for dinner. Cullin Town married to night.[71]
Oct 8 – Finished drawing in corn in forenoon. Finished husking my corn. Got hard cold.
Oct 9 – Sick with cold. Jim husking corn for A. Brown. Ethan picking apples. Fine day.
Oct 10 – Fixed Hog pen so I could put hogs in. Ethan and Sarah went down to Orsons. High wind part of the day.
Oct 11 – Rainy morning. Put Hogs in pen this morning. Stormy day. Frank Lee Shot himself to day.[72] He was hunting in Jacksons woods.
Oct 12 – Durkee called and got report for supervisor to Assess on District No. 7 for incidental Expences.
Oct 13 – Shelled two bushels new corn to take to mill. Chored around house and barn. Ethan and Sarah went down to Charles Lees[73] to Franks funeral. Fine day. Ambrose Fields[74] brot in on cars[75] to night. He Died in Ohio.
Oct 14 – Put box on stove boot. Got some apples up to the corner. Brot some wood of the hill.
Oct 15 – Went to mill to Comstock. Carried two bushels new corn, got one ground into _____, the other fine meal. Joel James[76] came here, Stayed all night. Nice day. He was selling washing machines Territory.
Oct 16 – Carried Joel over to burg. Came back and picked some tomatoes and carried them over to Barbers. Sarah went over. Ethan picking apples down to Browns. Jim went down to Catharines. Carried petition over to An Eliza Deckers.
Oct 17 – Dug potatoes. Fine day. Ethan and Jim husking for Brown. Received letter from Oscar.
Oct 18 – Fine morning, very little frost. Charley and Will[77] here. Sarah and I went up to Flanders,[78] went round by Brick School house.
Oct 19 – Dug potatoes. Ridler husked corn in South lot. Ethan and Jim husked corn for Brown. Brot Apples up at night.
Oct 20 – Dug some potatoes. Carried sis down to Catharines.
Oct 21 – Dug potatoes. Fine day. Ethan and Jim husking for Brown. Went down to Browns in Evening. Repaired Blinds for Mr. Ralph.
Oct 22 – Dug potatoes. Boys husking to Browns. Mr Ralph got his Blinds. House Warming to Shimdts. Warmed up the Big House. Ridler and Will husking, finished the South lot. Fine day.
Oct 23 – Sarah went up to Mr Ralphs. Jo Lee came up here. Finished diging my potatoes. Alfleda came home. They had a concert at Methodist Church in Evening. Brownell got the Jack Knife.
Oct 24 – Carried potatoes down cellar. Warm day. Went over to Burg, bot Beef bone, got Alfledas watch cleaned[?]. Rained in the night.
Oct 25 – Warm day. Went down to Catharines after Louesa.
Oct 26 – Took wagon to pieces. Made steps to East Door. Ridler finished drawing his cornfodder, cleared both lots. George Tomlinson[79] called here in afternoon bout a our. Rained some.
Oct 27 – Repaired Em Ralphs chair. Drawed pumpkins. Jesse Earl, Martin turner, and Mr Latta called here in afternoon. A. Brown finished husking corn to day.
Oct 28 – Rainy. Ethan and Jim went down to Browns to work. No work to day, sick, head, back and belly ache.
Oct 29 – Sick, no work. Ethan and Jim to Browns drawing cornfodder. Cold, high wind.
Oct 30 – Cold, some snow flying. Ethan down to Browns. Filed saw for A. Caywood. Snowed some, stormy night.
Oct 31 – Snow two inches deep this morning. Dillenbecks Auction to day. Cold raw day. Not well. Went over to burg in afternoon. Snowed and rained, cold, bad storm.
Nov 1 – Cold wind. Jim gone down to Catharines. Sis over to Allens.[80] Jim & Stella Milham[81] here in afternoon. Jim came down to see the binder. Jim went down to Catharines.
Nov 2 – Pleasant, but cold wind. Not very well.
Nov 3 – Went over to burg to Election. Not very weell.
Nov 4 – Carried Sarah over to Hoags. Went up to Schrams[82] to get horse and wagon.
Nov 5 – Got Schrams Horse and wagon. Went down to Marts. Made some cider 34 galons. Fine day. Jo Lee sick.
Nov 6 – Took Horse and wagon home. Cleaned up some wheat got of Mart, took it over to mill. Sarah went home. Ethan and Jim went up to Flanders after Walnuts.
Nov 7 – Mary Ann and Nettie, Glen and Hobert[83] came here. Jim Went to Lawton.
Nov 8 – Not very cold, 59 Abz, rains some. Went down to Catharines. Jo sick there.
Nov 9 – Went down to Catharines. Hannah went with me. Carried stool to Jo. Libby Clark[84] stayed with Sis. Went over to burg, bot shoes for Hannah and odder dings &c.[85]
Nov 10 – Carried Sarah over to Hoags. Carried one pair shoes back to Shroeder and Olins.
Nov 11 – Worked round house and shop. Went after Sarah in Evening. Net came back.
Nov 12 – Cut maple tree by the west stoop. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Cold, snowed some. Jo no better. Libby Allen[86] came here, stayed all night.
Nov 13 – Cold, pleasant morning. Mary Ann and youngones came down. Stayed all night. Sarah and Mary Ann went over to Evys.
Nov 14 – Cold wind. Mary Ann Started for home. Cold wind. Jim came home from Lawton.
Nov 15 – Went down to Catharines to see Jo. He was no better. Pleasant day, no snow yet. Charles Lee sick.
Nov 16 – At home, not much done, not very well. Went over to burg, got ax fixed, 50. Rainy.
Nov 17 – Chored round. Not very well to day.
Nov 18 – Cut down two trees in woods, drawed two loads wood.
Nov 19 – Went up to Henry Clintons. Carried some things to send Mrs Wiseman.[87] Went to burg when we came back. Bot some red paint and blue vitrol.
Nov 20 – Moved bench in to South room. Snowey day. Cut holes in seat for Skinners privy. Henry came down here, stayed all night. Snow 3½ inches.
Nov 21 – Put thill in Sleigh. Drawed load wood on Sleigh. First snow. Henry went home. A. Brown brot quarter Beef, 90 lbs. Henry and I went over to burg.
Nov 22 – Not very cold, looks some like rain in morning. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Rained hard when we came home.
Nov 23 – Rainy and cold. Carried Sis to school. Not much work to day. Snowed and blowed like the old nick, afternoon and Evening. Ethan went after Sis at night.
Nov 24 – Cold, snows some. Worked in shop some. Put batten on crack in well room. Cold blustrous day. Not very well.
Nov 25 – Lois came down, stayed all night. Worked in shop some.
Nov 26 – Went down to A. Browns to turkey dinner. Mr Hubbard and boy was there. Lois went home. Stormed some in Evening.
Nov 27 – Worked on portable partition. Snowed some. Sarah colored Sis and Alfledas Dresses.
Nov 28 – Snowes like fun this morning.
Nov 29 – Ethan and I went down to Catharines with Sleigh. Cold day.
Nov 30 – Shelled and carried three bushels corn over to burg mill. Went down to Mrs Simmons to see about stove.
Dec 1 – Cold. Very good sleighing. Made Shovel and tongs box.
Dec 2 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg with sleigh. Not much sleighing now, snow about all gone. Made Lois lap board.
Dec 3 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg, got grist. Went with buggy. Henry here. Dick Barber and Mr Allen called here.
Dec 4 – Pleasant, no snow, fine October weather. Worked on gearing.
Dec 5 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg in Evening. Sarah went to Jane Hoags.[88] Ethan up to Flanders. Pleasant day. Got first Rilegio[?].
Dec 6 – At home, fine day, Mercury 40 Abz. Pleasant as spring almost. Cut Will Browns hair.
Dec 7 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg. Got pattern of Mary Mason. Sarah went to Lawton on night train.
Dec 8 – Went up to Jo Flanders. Got three bushels wheat, took it over to mill. Fine day, no snow. 13 bushels wheat $1.5¢ pr bushel.
Dec 9 – Went over to burg, got my grist. Cold but pleasant. Worked on gearing some.
Dec 10 – Very pleasant but cool. Went over to burg after Sarah but she no come. Worked in shop some. Staring got ten bushels corn 40 lbs $.4.00.
Dec 11 – Very pleasant day. Roads dusty. Worked in shop. Went down to Browns got ____tting for sand board. Ethan worked for Brown. Will Clark stayed here all night.
Dec 12 – Pleasant morning. Drawed pole to hang hogs on. One load wood. Edwin Flanders brot boards to make tool chest of Mr Flanders. Got Hay Knife. Pleasant and dusty.
Dec 13 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy day. Jo some better. Came home in Evening, got wet. Jim went with me.
Dec 14 – Cold, some snow on ground. Worked in shop. Received letter from Hiram.[89]
Dec 15 – Went up in woods, cut down tree. Ethan drawed two loads wood. Finished waggon gearing. Plasant day.
Dec 16 – Went over to burg at noon. Sarah came home from Lawton. Rainy night.
Dec 17 – Worked in shop on cross head for Theodore Earl. Fine weather.
Dec 18 – Worked on cross head. Pleasant and cold. Put up stove in shop. Henry, Mr. Ives and George Ives called here in afternoon to see my new violin.
Dec 19 – Killed hogs. A. Brown helped. Pleasant day. Theodore got crosshead. Killed two hogs. Lois went to Mary Jane Birges[90] funeral, left Inez[91] here. Mr Flanders called here in Evening.
Dec 20 – At home all day, not very well. Cool day.
Dec 21 – Chored round house and barn &c. Went down to Catharines in Evening. Snowed like fun when we came home. Went up to Mr Flanders to pick out boards for wagon box.
Dec 22 – Snow 2 inches deep this morning. Cut up hogs and salted them. Mart, Catharine and Lucy called here in Evening. They went over to burg. Sarah went with them.
Dec 23 – Not very cold. Work on A. Browns wringer. Ethan drawed some wood.
Dec 24 – Worked on wringer. Made Lapboard for Mrs Flanders,[92] one for Mary Mason.
Dec 25 – Worked on wringer some in forenoon. Dick Barber and wife here to dinner. Fine day, not much snow.
Dec 26 – Pleasant morning. Worked on wringer and chored round. Charles and Julia Lee[93] came up here. Went over to burg with Charles.
Dec 27 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy. Ethan went up to Mr Flanders, stayed all night.
Dec 28 – Worked in shop some. Henry came down, stayed all night.
Dec 29 – Cold morning, 15 Abz, fine snow.
Dec 30 – Worked in shop on wagon box some. Got out cleats. Henry here making stool.
Dec 31 – Henry came down, finished stool. I dressed out some stuff for box cleats under box. Hannah came home.
——-
[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke
[2] His son, Ethan Keith
[3] His daughters, Nancy, Hannah and Louese
[4] Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith
[5] His maternal first cousin and cousin’s wife, Edward G. & Sarah (Bliss) Wolcott
[6] Above zero
[7] His daughter, Hannah Keith
[8] His son-in-law and daughter, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown
[9] Lawton, Michigan
[10] Galesburg, Michigan
[11] Neighbor, Harriet (Abbott) Hawley
[12] Harriet Hawley’s father and brother
[13] His sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[14] His first cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)
[15] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[16] Neighbors, Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator
[17] His niece and her husband, Lucy (Lee) & Martin Milham
[18] FindAGrave.com confirms that Elizabeth Loveland died January 23, 1874; she was buried in the Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Michigan Marriage Records show that her maiden name was Russell
[19] John Wesley Keith, his adopted brother
[20] Ambrose Brown, neighbor and father-in-law of his daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown
[21] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith
[22] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith
[23] Comstock was the town he lived in
[24] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham, daughter of Luke’s sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[25] The entries up to this date had been copied over to his 1874 diary
[26] Wesley Keith’s wife, Harriet (Blakslee) Keith
[27] He made the following entry in his 1873 diary: Jun 5 – Bot Sewing Machine $60. Paid twenty, gave note for forty payable in Eight Months
[28] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[29] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr) Keith
[30] Neighbors, James & Mary (Croak) Ridler
[31] His neighbor, Byron Hawley
[32] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”
[33] Ethan was an inventor; this was one of the projects he was working on
[34] Sarah’s nephew; Eugene was the son of her late brother, Edwin Crawford, and his first wife, Louisa Hall
[35] His cousin, Caroline (Wolcott) Earl, the sister of Edward Wolcott
[36] Martin Milham, husband of Lucy (Lee) Milham. Lucy was daughter of his sister Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[37] Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator
[38] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that George Maffit, age 38, died from pneumonia on March 9, 1874 in Lawton, Michigan, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Lawton, Michigan
[39] Caroline Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank. The Plank family had been neighbors, but on April 3, 1873, Luke noted in his diary that they had left for Grand Rapids, Michigan
[40] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner, who was married to his daughter Lois
[41] His cousin
[42] Neighbors, the sons and daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl
[43] Ambrose Brown’s wife and sister-in-law, Matilda and Julia Ann Allen
[44] His daughter Lois, and her sister- and mother-in-law, Sarah Skinner and Sarah (Knight) Skinner
[45] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith
[46] Henry Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith
[47] Nickname for his daughter, Louese
[48] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”
[49] He’s referring to himself
[50] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag
[51] Wesley’s sons, Ellis and James Harvey Keith
[52] Two poles between which a horse is hitched to a wagon
[53] Not sure who this is; his son, Jim, was only 12 at the time
[54] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Levi T. Murphy died in Kalamazoo on April 23, 1873 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo. Michigan Death Records also show that he died in 1873, so it is unclear why Luke added this in 1874
[55] The son of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank
[56] A search at FindAGrave.com reveals that Fidelia (Bronson) Birge, age 43, died May 11, 1874 and is buried in McKain Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan
[57] Neighbor, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[58] His paternal first cousin. Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee
[59] Luke and Nancy & Hank Brown all wrote in their 1873 diaries of the Brown and Allerton lawsuit. There was a judgment entered on March 6, 1873 awarding Ambrose Brown $22.00 plus costs. It is unknown whether this was a new lawsuit or if John Allerton had requested a retrial
[60] Neighbor, the daughter of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[61] Michigan Death Records show that Isaac Pierce died in Climax, Michigan, on July 12, 1873
[62] Michigan Death Records show that Adelia Giddings, age 1, died of spinal meningitis on April 29, 1874
[63] A seance
[64] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders
[65] His paternal first cousin, Alvan Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee. Ida Lee’s father, Joseph Warren Lee (Alvan’s brother), died April 4, 1864 in an Army hospital from wounds received in battle in Tennessee during the Civil War. Her mother, Nancy E. Taylor, remarried July 29, 1864 to William Count, but died three months later on October 1, 1864. The step-father relinquished his rights to the children and they went to live with their grandparents, Charles & Juliana Lee, in Comstock
[66] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel
[67] From the Kalamazoo County Sesquicentennial Committee marker: Bazel and Martha Harrison are buried in the Harrison cemetery south of this marker. He led a party of 21 who were the first permanent settlers on Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo County, where they arrived on November 5, 1828. One thousand people attended his funeral on September 1, 1874 because he was admired, esteemed, respected and loved by all who knew him.
[68] Michigan Death Records reveal that Charles Harris, age 28, died of Typhoid Fever on September 26, 1874; FindAGrave.com shows that he was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[69] Neighbor; the 1880 Census shows that she was a school teacher so perhaps she was teaching in 1874 and that was her payment for services rendered
[70] Believe he is referring to Hank’s uncle, William Arms, Cynthia Brown’s husband
[71] Michigan Marriage Records show that Cullen Towne married Sarah Antoinette Adams in Comstock, Michigan on October 7, 1874
[72] The Michigan Death Records reveal that Francis Lee died October 11, 1874 from accidental discharge of gun
[73] Charles Lee (1797-1878), Francis Lee’s grandfather
[74] FindAGrave.com shows that Ambrose Field died October 10, 1874 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[75] The train
[76] His maternal first cousin
[77] His grandsons, Charles and William Clark
[78] Neighbors, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders. After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith, died, Joseph & Amanda took in their children, Henry and Lois Keith. From letters from that time, it would appear that Lois was then sent to Minerva’s parents while Henry lived with the Flanders family. According to Carol (Boyer) Stafford, 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 he lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” who I believe was actually Henry L. Keith, age 16, living with Joseph & Amanda
[79] The husband of Luke’s niece, Marion Sprague
[80] Neighbor, John S. Allen
[81] Believe he is referring to neighbors, James Milham and his daughter, Stella. James was Martin Milham’s half brother
[82] Neighbors, Isaac & Olive Ellen (Atkinson) Schram
[83] James “Oscar” Keith’s wife and children, Mary Ann (Batey), Glen and John Herbert Keith; Oscar and Mary Ann had two daughters, Jessie and Catherine, but it is unclear if either one of them went by that nickname
[84] The daughter of Loren & Amanda (Taylor) Clark. Loren was the brother of Lois (Keith) Clark Skinners’ first husband, Byron Clark
[85] Other things, etc.
[86] The daughter of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen
[87] Former neighbor, Caroline (Williams) Wiseman. An October 11 entry in Luke’s 1871 diary reported that “Mr Wiseman (Joseph) and wife left,” and a December 28, 1871 letter from Mrs. Wiseman shows they were living in Utica, Kansas. Another letter dated January 16, 1876 shows they were living in Spring Side, Kansas
[88] Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag
[89] Most likely his brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr.
[90] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Mary Jane (Bronson) Birge, age 38, died December 17, 1874 in Brady, Michigan, and was buried in McKain Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan
[91] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, who was born June 13, 1874
[92] Neighbor, Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders
[93] Charles (see footnote for May 20) & Juliana (Davis) Lee
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 