Luke Keith’s 1875 Diary

1875 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1] 

The entries from January 1 through June 28 were written in the back of his 1874 diary. There were no entries for June 29 until July 22 when he bought his 1875 diary.

Jan 1 – Jointed box boards. Ethan and Hannah[2] went down to Catharines.[3] Lois[4] came down in afternoon. Del[5] went to burg.[6]

Jan 2 – Worked in shop. Not very cold but blustrous.

Jan 3 – At home. Catharine and Jim Payne came up here.

Jan 4 – Cut some wood. Ethan drawed three loads. Cold, snowed some.

Jan 5 – Cold, mercury 7 below zero. Worked on box.

Jan 6 – Put cleets on box. Cold day.

Jan 7 – Cold. Not very well. Hard cold.

Jan 8 – Worked some in shop on chest.

Jan 9 – Worked on chest some. Mercury 10 Abz below in morning.

Jan 10 – Mercury 13 below zero, very cold. Found Jimme dead in the coop this morning. No sleighing, very little snow.

Jan 11 – Worked on chest. Very cold. Cut some wood.

Jan 12 – Worked in shop. Cut dovetails on chest. Cold day, snowed some. Went up to Flanders. Got plank of Streator,[7] one of Brown.[8]

Jan 13 – Snowy. Put chest together. Went over to burg in Evening, got oil 20¢

Jan 14 – Mercury at zero in morning. Worked on chest. Cold day.

Jan 15 – Made base and upper band for chest.

Jan 16 – Worked on chest some. Henry[9] came down. Filed saw. Went up in woods, sawed wood, drawed two loads.

Jan 17 – Mercury 13 Abz.[10] Very good sleighing.

Jan 18 – Worked in shop. Put base and band on chest. Henry and Ethan sawed wood. I drawed two loads.

Jan 19 – Worked in shop.

Jan 20 – Went over to burg. Got rabbit plane of Robinson. Made panels for chest lid. Staring paid 4 Dollars.

Jan 21 – Put lid together. Put Rave on bob for A. Caywood.

Jan 22 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went over to burg. Paid my Tax $12.46¢. Theodore Earl paid $5.00.

Jan 23 – Filed two Saws for A. Brown and finished his wringer. He paid me 12/-. Young Pomeroy Brown born this morning.[11] Sarah[12] went to Lawton[13] on night Express.

Jan 24 – Mercury 29 Abz. Snowing some in morning. Ethan and Louesa[14] went down to Catharines.

Jan 25 – Worked in shop some on chest. Ethan went to Lawton on Evening Express.

Jan 26 – Carried two bushels corn to mill. Hung chest lid on. Ida Lee[15] came up here. Louesa went driging[?] with her. Went down to Marts.[16] Alfleda[17] went down to A. Browns.

Jan 27 – Snows like fun.[18] Ethan came home in Evening.

Jan 28 – Snows this morning. Went down to A. Browns, carried hams down. Went over to burg, got meal. Went up to J. Flanders,[19] got 5 five bushels wheat. Good sleighing.

Jan 29 – Cold, 3 below zero. Went to Comstock to mill.

Jan 30 – Went over to burg. Got band bent for chest lid. Sarah came home from Lawton.

Jan 31 – Cold, 10 Abz.

Feb 1 – Finished Eds Chest.

Feb 2 – Went down to Katharines,[20] hung door. Rained when we came home.

Feb 3 – Not much done. Very windy day, very blustering night, snow blowed Everywhere.

Feb 4 – Cold, 10 below zero, very blustring. Mr. Seaman Bristol died to day in Marys Ville Kansas.[21]

Feb 5 – Took out butry and put up lathe. Traded my cutter to Henry for his watch and chair.

Feb 6 – Cleaned turning lathe, turned some.

Feb 7 – 13 below zero. At home. Sis[22] and Stella[23] went down to Katharines. Very still and cold. David Simonds Died.[24]

Feb 8 – Shoveled snow to get to woods. Spli____ sleigh neap to Flanders sleigh. Filed saw for Erve Hall.[25]

Feb 9 – 31 below zero in morning. Drawed some wood. Not very well. David Simonds buried to day.

Feb 10 – Henry brot seat down. Snows some, 2 below zero.

Feb 11 – Finished seat. Henry went over to burg with it. Ed got his chest. Very blustring. Mrs Ralph and Em[26] here.

Feb 12 – 14 below zero. Shoveled snow some. Drawed two loads wood.

Feb 13 – Very cold, 10 below zero. Worked in shop some. Ed Childs and wife came down, stayed all night.

Feb 14 – Very cold. At home all day. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Feb 15 – 14 below zero in morning. Drawed some wood.

Feb 16 – Very cold, 13 below. Worked in shop. Finished henrys seat. Took it over to burg.

Feb 17 – 2 Abz. Worked on my wagon wheels.

Feb 18 – 22 below zero in morning. Worked on wheels some. Sarah went down to Fords.

Feb 19 – Worked in shop some. Henry came down.

Feb 20 – M. O. Streator paid me ten Dollars for bobs. Put rave on A. Browns bob sleigh.

Feb 21 – 21 below. At home. Hannah came home from Lawton with Mr Browns folks. Lois and Dell called here in Evening.

Feb 22 – 24 Abz in morning, rained some. Sarah went down to Dells in Eve.

Feb 23 – Rained some. Sawed some wood in Evening afternoon. Dell called here in Evening. Some thunder in Evening.

Feb 24 – Sarah came home. Barbers folks[27] here to day. Finished my old wheels. Lots of water. Mrs A. L. Mason buried to day.[28]

Feb 25 – Not much done in shop. Sawed out thill[29] for wagon.

Feb 26 – Drawed three loads wood. Broke sleigh shoe. Went over to burg, got it mended. Got cutter from paint shop.

Feb 27 – Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Cold day. Will Starr came up here.

Feb 28 – At home all day. Cold day.

Mar 1 – Made crutch for Jo Lee.[30] Will Starr went home.

Mar 2 – Sawed and drawed some wood.

Mar 3 – Very blustring day. Went over to burg after money for Teacher, no get him. Brot violin home to repair.

Mar 4 – Went down to Katharines after Hannah. Carried Jo his crutch. Went over to burg. Received 100 Dollars of Treasurer. Paid Carrie E. Austin[31] 80 Dollars. Paid Dr Finch $15 Dollars.

Mar 5 – Snowes some, lots snow on ground.

Mar 6 – At home all day. Cut some wood in road.

Mar 7 – At home. Katharine and Jim Payne here.

Mar 8 – Cut some wood in road.

Mar 9 – At home. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Carley and Tamer Ford[32] here in Evening.

Mar 10 – Hannah went to Battlecreek. Made finger board for my violin.

Mar 11 – Not much done. Put strings on violin. Charly stayed all night. Rainy day.

Mar 12 – Pleasant in morning. Browns[33] and Streators folks[34] here in Evening.

Mar 13 – Worked in shop some. Ethan went down to Catharines. Stayed all night.

Mar 14 – Pleasant mornng, snow running of fast. Jim[35] and Sis came up, she went back.

Mar 15 – Chored round some. Water running all round, lots water.

Mar 16 – Very blustring day. Snowd and blowed like fun. Rough time. Mr S Wood Died.[36]

Mar 17 – Very blustring, no teams of any account out to day. Looked over apples.

Mar 18 – Quite comfortable, no wind but lots of ice. Gus Giddings Died to day.[37]

Mar 19 – Drawed some wood. Edwin Flanders,[38] George Ives[?] and Henry came here. Mrs S Wood Died.[39]

Mar 20 – Snows and blows this morning. Gus Giddings buried to day. Edna Crawford[40] came here. Hank[41] came in Evening.

Mar 21 – Pleasant, mercury 4 below zero. Went down to Catharines after Louesa. Mr and Mrs Wood buried to day. Sarah and Edna went with Mrs Ford.[42]

Mar 22 – Worked in shop some. Edna went home.

Mar 23 – Worked in shop some. Carried Sarah over to burg in Evening. Snowed and blowed.

Mar 24 – Went over to burg, got stuf for washing machine.

Mar 25 – At home all day. Worked in shop some. Went up to Flanders. Got 5 bushels wheat, 3 bushels potatoes.

Mar 26 – Worked on machine all day.

Mar 27 – Worked in shop. Went up in wood cut some wood. Stella and Jimmy here.

Mar 28 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.

Mar 29 – Went over to burg, bot dress and odder dings[43] for Hannah. Turned out rollers for Caywoods machine. Skinner traded faring with Franklin.

Mar 30 – Pleasant morning. Worked on machine.

Mar 31 – Cut down two trees one leaning tree in south part of woods. Finished machine. Rainy day.

Apr 1 – Rained some in morning. Washed with Caywoods machine. Windy.

Apr 2 – At home all day.

Apr 3 – Worked round some, not much done. Skinner moving.

Apr 4 – Lois came down. All at home.

Apr 5 – Went to town meeting. Fine day. Charley[44] came.

Apr 6 – Went to Comstock to mill. Pleasant day. Erve Hall plowing.

Apr 7 – Pleasant morning. Not very well.

Apr 8 – Carried machine down to Browns. Went up to Skinners in Evening with Henry.

Apr 9 – Went up to Flanders. Got some warm shugar.

Apr 10 – At home. Worked round some. Got out some whiffletrees[45] for A. Brown.

Apr 11 – At home. Ethan, Hannah and Charley and Sis went down to Katharines.

Apr 12 – Finished Browns whiffletrees. Hannah went to the Creek. Barber[46] came over and took corn ground.

Apr 13 – Cool. At home.

Apr 14 – Worked in shop some. Not very well.

Apr 15 – Cut out some felloes[47] for Mr Taylors wheel.

Apr 16 – Cold and blustrous. Sarah and Nancy[48] went over to Barbers in afternoon. Snowed like fun. Browns folks went over in Evening.

Apr 17 – Snow about 2 inches, mercury 18 Abz in morning.

Apr 18 – At home. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines Browns.

Apr 19 – Hank and Nancy went home.

Apr 20 – Worked on wheel some. Ruel Starr died to day.[49]

Apr 21 – Finished Taylors wheel. Ethan and Lois went down to Catharines.

Apr 22 – Cool and pleasant. Put stove out of shop.

Apr 23 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Dan Harris Died this Evening.[50]

Apr 24 – Went up to Skinners in Evening. Mr Smith Died to day.

Apr 25 – Went down to Katharines. Saw Zeak and Kate Davison.

Apr 26 – Went up to Skinners and burg. Set hen. Got Duck Eggs up to Skinners.

Apr 27 – Put hen on Duck Eggs. Pleasant. Moved fence.

Apr 28 – Moved fence on road. Zeak and Kate here and Mrs Brown and Jule.[51]

Apr 29 – Rainy day. No work to day.

Apr 30 – Pleasant. Went up in woods, sawed some logs. Henry came up there. Ethan went home with him.

May 1 – Rainy day. No work. Edwin and Henry have turned some balls for Ed Flanders. Henry stayed all night.

May 2 – Ground covered with snow. Henry and Charley went up to Skinners.

May 3 – Went up in wood, split and drawed wood out of woods. Barber came and got plow to get it repaired.

May 4 – Got tire set on wheels.

May 5 – Went over to burg, got thill iron mended 15¢, setting tire 2.00. Rainy afternoon.

May 6 – Barber brot wheels over. I painted gearing over. Sarah went up to Mr Ralphs.[52] Rained in night.

May 7 – Rainy morning. Made Bracket for Comb. Painted wagon.

May 8 – Painted wagon wheels over in afternoon. Got out manure in forenoon. Heard first whipporwill.

May 9 – At home. Jim went up to Skinners. Rainy day.

May 10 – At home. Work round garden and

May 11 – Barber plowing some. Cold wind. Repaired washer for W^m Ralph.[53]

May 12 – Barber plowing. Mrs Barber[54] came over.

May 13 – Burnt Brush up at the corner. Went down to Kates, stayed all night. Rainy.

May 14 – Came home in morning. Sarah stayed there.

May 15 – At home. Barber plowing.

May 16 – Went down to Katharines. Sarah came home.

May 17 – Mr Barton commenced plowing.

May 18 – Barton and Barber plowing.

May 19 – Finished plowing. Brown Draging, Ethan planted some for him. Sawed some wood. Pleasant.

May 20 – At home. Work in garden some.

May 21 – Work in garden and shop some. Eugene Beckwith Died in night.[55]

May 22 – Barber planted corn. Went over to Barbers. He plowed his garden.

May 23 – Went down to Katharines. Kate some better. Eugene Beckwith buried.

May 24 – Planted hog yard to potatoes.

May 25 – Went down to Browns. Got Ethans wheat, some sweet corn to plant. Barber planting.

May 26 – Finished Taylors Table. Went over to burg twice, bot pail.

May 27 – Pleasant morning, cool. Work round, repaired A. Browns table.

May 28 – Hannah came home. Barber sowed corn. Had a big rain.

May 29 – Put up Door to Barnyard. Barber finished planting.

May 30 – Went down to Katharines. Carried Jo Lees pants and books. Ethan & Hannah went up to Skinners.

May 31 – Worked round garden some. Went over to burg. Mrs Streator[56] here.

Jun 1 – Paid W^m Hodges 3.50. Had a fine shower. Painted wagon. Sarah went over to Hoags.[57]

Jun 2 – Laid up fence on hill. Had a nice shower.

Jun 3 – Worked round garden some. Went up to Flanders, got 5 bushels wheat, 77 feet Bas Board.

Jun 4 – Went to Comstock to mill. Catharine came home with me.

Jun 5 – Sawed out boards for wagon box. Browns folks came up in Evening.

Jun 6 – At home. Jo Lee came up here.

Jun 7 – Went up to Skinners. Got here. Rained some.

Jun 8 – Worked in shop some and garden.

Jun 9 – Carried Catharine home. Jo came up with me.

Jun 10 – Worked on fence East side. Oscar[58] came here.

Jun 11 – Worked on fence and pulled grubs East of house. Jo here. Oscar went home.

Jun 12 – Finished fence and grubs.

Jun 13 – Carried Jo home.

Jun 14 – Worked on road.

Jun 15 – Worked on road.

Jun 16 – Burnt Brush East of house.

Jun 17 – Planted potatoes and drawed some old rails. Joh Chandler buried to day.[59]

Jun 18 – At home. Some work round garden.

Jun 19 – Went up to Skinners.

Jun 20 – At home all day.

Jun 21 – At home. Will Plank and wife[60] here.

Jun 22 – Will Plank left.

Jun 23 – Filed saw for Ernest Whiting.[61] Turned 4 pins for Jesse Earl.[62]

Jun 24 – Went up to Jo Flanders. Got one & ½ bushels potatoes. Had a heavy shower. Got pig of Streator.

Jun 25 – Worked round garden and house.

Jun 26 – Made pig pen. Ethan and Henry went to Kalamazoo, had Bill.[63]

Jun 27 – Went down to Kates. Rained some.

Jun 28 – Cultivated, sowed corn and gardens. Went down to Browns. Got stick for Ex to horse Rake.

[No entries for June 29 through July 21]

Jul 22 – Went over to burg to mill. Got drill for Ethan. Got sand band mended. Bot this Diary, paid 40 cents for it. Sarah went down to A. Browns.

Jul 23 – Not very well. Mrs Barber came over, picked some currants. Nancy came up just at night. Not very hot. Bell Tolled for some one, Old Mrs Wheeler.[64]

Jul 24 – Went to Streators. Got Browns Rake. Raked wheat stubble. Hannah came home. Lois came down stayed all night. Went over after Hannahs trunk in Evening.

Jul 25 – At home. All here. Toot[65] and Charlie came up here. Lois came down. Old Mrs Wheeler buried to day.

Jul 26 – Went over to burg in morning. Went over at noon with Hanks Trunk. Hank and Nancy went home on the twelve oclock run in night.

Jul 27 – Went up to mill. Put in cross head. Put in finger to cradle for A. Caywood. Filed saw for Whiting. Had a good shower. Got in some Rakings.

Jul 28 – Drawed Worked round garden some and in shop some and some no where.

Jul 29 – Made handle for O. D. Schrams[66] grub hoe. Finished drawing in the rakings. Went over to burg in Evening got Almond Oil. Mercury 88 in shade.

Jul 30 – Pleasant morning. Sick all day. No work. Ethan drawed wood. Hannah and I went up to Skinners in Evening. Cool night.

Jul 31 – Cool, East wind in morning. Ethan drawed wood in fore noon. I went up to Schrams got some Onions. Went up to Mill, got some Baswood boards 100 feet. Rained in night.

Aug 1 – Rainy morning. At home. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Charley came home with them.

Aug 2 – Worked round some in shop and made box for Ernest Whiting.

Aug 3 – Worked in shop on wagon box, put in bottom, made dash. Charly here. Henry called here. Had green corn for dinner.

Aug 4 – Worked in shop some and round barn. Repaired barn floor.

Aug 5 – Repaired Ernests meat Box in morning. Thrashed rakings. Hannah went to H a Taylors[67] in afternoon. Rained some in night. Heard the first fall cricket this Evening.

Aug 6 – Cloudy in morning. Cleaned up wheat. Went to mill. Rainy day, some snow in the air. Charly went up to Dels. Carried 2 bushels.

Aug 7 – Cloudy, some mist in morning, cool. Went up to Skinners after Lois. Ethan, Lois and Charly went to Kalamazoo to Charlys cloths. Charley went to Lawton. Lois stayed all night here.

Aug 8 – Carried Lois home. Fine day.

Aug 9 – Cleaned out Barn. Ethan helped Randal[68] thrash in forenoon. Machine went to Towns.[69] Henry Rogers here in afternoon. Worked in shop some.

Aug 10 – Worked in barn and shop some. Mrs Brown and Jule here. Rained some. Made cradle for Lucy.[70] Rained hard in forenoon. Mr Brown came up in morning to plow. Rained and blowed like the mischief. Mr Brown no get went, not a bit of it. He came in as dry as he could be.[71]

Aug 11 – Worked in shop, made corner blocks to wagon box. Mr Schram got bill, went to Wakeshma.

Aug 12 – Put dash on box. Thrashed wheat, had 87 bushels. Charley came back from Lawton. Pioneer Picknic at Vicksburg.

Aug 13 – Pleasant morning. Cleaned up wheat. Carried Sarah over to burg. Went over after her in Evening.

Aug 14 – Painted wagon box and cradles. All went down to Browns in Evening Cheche and John Defoe. Had a shower in afternoon. Ed Flanders called here in shower.

Aug 15 – Fine pleasant morning. Went down to Catharines. Mart came up in Evening after Louise. Carried cradle home.

Aug 16 – Painted wagon box. Went up to Skinners with Hannah. Carried my boots over to burg in Evening, paid $1.15¢ for mending them.

Aug 17 – Repaired cribb for Lois. Went down to A. Browns and up to Skinners after Hannah. Got my Boots.

Aug 18 – Cloudy. Ethan gone to Kalamazoo with Brown. Erve Hall got load Straw. Went down to Browns, got Hannahs trunk. Put rub irons on wagon box. Henry here. Charly went home with him. They are going to brady.

Aug 19 – Worked around some in shop and garden.

Aug 20 – Erve Hall got one Load Straw. Chored round. Cut some cornfodder some in shop. Fine day.

Aug 21 – Worked round house and shop some. Went over to burg. Ed Childs stayed here all night.

Aug 22 – Went over to burg with Ed. Came back, tok hannah over. Carried Sarah down to Browns. She went to Kalamazoo to Spiritual grove meeting on Winslows Island. Went over after hannah. Went down to Browns after Sarah just at night. Lois and Sate[72] came down.

Aug 23 – Painted Sleigh over and lumber wheels. Went over to burg with Ed Flanders. Got $51.91 of Treasurer. Paid Carrie E. Austin fifty one Dollars.

Aug 24 – Put in reach for Edwin flanders. Carried Hannah and Sarah over to burg. Hannah went to Lawton. Went up to Lois in Evening. Ina[73] sick.

Aug 25 – Went to mill, carried 4 four bushels wheat. Sarah went down to Katharines. Susan Ford rode home with me. Jo Lee went over with me.

Aug 26 – Jo came up. I put seat on his buggy and spring bars, fixed thill. Went over to burg with him. Fine day.

Aug 27 – Cut up the _____ corn. Very hot and dry, mercury 96 in shade.

Aug 28 – Hot day, 92 in shade. Bound up corn. Went down to Katies after Louese just at night, stopt to Browns. Rained in night some.

Aug 29 – At home all day. Hot day. Ethan carried Louese down to Katies.

Aug 30 – Made ridge boards for House. Went over to burg, bot 6 lbs nails 30¢.

Aug 31 – Went over to burg, got Hind spring mended, one Dollar. Hot and dry. Want rain very much some.

Sep 1 – At home. Chored some. Not very well. Ethan went up to Lois. Cleaned sewingmachine.

Sep 2 – Went down to Charles Lees.[74] Hot day. He is building a barn.

Sep 3 – Sawed out rizers for stairs to cornhouse. Rained some.

Sep 4 – Chored round some. Took the Clark seat to pieces. Charly and Warren birge came here in afternoon. They went down to Caywood, stayed all night.

Sep 5 – Windy morning. Chimney burnt out this morning. Went down to Katharines.

Sep 6 – Buckwheat cut to day. Hot day. Made seat to waggon. Henry and Ethan went up to Skinners to try Drill. Went schoolmeting. Edwin Flanders Elected moderator, C. L. Keith[75] Assessor. Voted to raise 100.00.

Sep 7 – Worked round. Lois came down to pack Charleys trunk.

Sep 8 – Worked in shop some. Sarah and Lois went down to Browns. I went down in Evening. Lois Lee came and said Jo would move yet to Salt Lake.[76]

Sep 9 – Rainy day. Charley started for Ohio.[77] Lois went home. Rained in night.

Sep 10 – Worked for Edwin Flanders putting down floor on back stoop over cistern. Fine day. Barber cut some corn south of orchard.

Sep 11 – Worked for Flanders. Ethan went down to Marts stayed all night. Mrs Flanders taken sick. Mrs Johnson came down to see her.

Sep 12 – Fine day. Not very hot. Mr Dunnings Nephew called here, took Breakfast. Jim went up to Skinners.

Sep 13 – Worked for Flanders, made rinck and dressed out stuff for trough &c.[78] Jim went to Jacksons to work.

Sep 14 – Went up to Flanders. Went back home then went down to Katharines. Caroline, Marion and Kate were all there. Had a big time.

Sep 15 – Worked for Flanders, finished up. Fine day. Ed paid me $5.00.

Sep 16 – Rainy morning. Cut corn some.

Sep 17 – Cut corn in East lot. Jo Lee came up here. Cold night, had big frost.

Sep 18 – Cut corn in East lot. Browns folks here in Evening.

Sep 19 – At home. Rainy day. No one here.

Sep 20 – Cut corn, finished it. Went down to Katharines just at night.

Sep 21 – Worked in shop some. Hung two axes for Ernest Whiting 20¢. Jo Lee came up here. Went over to burg in Evening. Went up to Flanders, got some flooring.

Sep 22 – At home. Worked in shop, turned hubs for Inas wagon &c. Put floor down by East door.

Sep 23 – Worked round shop some and turned hubs.

Sep 24 – Went over to burg. Bot hoop Iron hoop pork barrel. Jason Durkee got some hoop poles. Bot springs for wagon seat 2.00. Nell Tomlinson[79] came here in afternoon.

Sep 25 – Rained some in morning. Round home all day.

Sep 26 – At home. No one here, nothing going on.

Sep 27 – Worked in shop and house _____ wagon for Ina.

Sep 28 – Working round house and shop.

Sep 29 – Worked on wagon. Went down to Kates just at night with Patty Sprague.[80] Ethan and Mr Miner drawed in Buckwheat. E. P. Flanders and Mary E. Smith married this day I spec so.

Sep 30 – Ethan, Hannah and Nellie Tomlinson went to Comstock. Had H. A. Taylors buggy. Rained some. Miner and Powers thrashed Buckwheat.

Oct 1 – At home. Finished Buckwheat. Had 46½ bushels.

Oct 2 – Miner and Rogers dug potatoes. They had 43 bushels.

Oct 3 – At home. Patty here. Nell went to Kalamazoo to church with Henry. Mart came up after Patty and Katharine. Lois and Dell came down. Ethan went up to Harve Warrens with Dell.

Oct 4 – Went over to burg after Nancy. Got strap iron for wagon box. Bot 7½ lbs beef of Whiting 75¢.

Oct 5 – Put iron on wagon box. Rainy. Ethan, Hannah and Nell gone to Vicksburg. Rained all night.

Oct 6 – Rainy day. Worked in shop. Made board to put seat on. Husked black corn. _____ _____ _____ here from Mr Flanders. Henry gone to Battlecreek. Ethan and girls got home at night.

Oct 7 – Went over to burg. Bot boots for seat, oil and so on.

Oct 8 – Went down to Katharines. Sarah went and Jim went to Kalamazoo. Got Jim suit cloths. Stayed there all night.

Oct 9 – Helped Mart set horsepower and fix cider mill. Came home in Evening. Rained like fun.

Oct 10 – Rainy morning some. Henry came down. Nan[81] came back. Hiram Loveland married to night.[82]

Oct 11 – Went to mill, carried 4 four bushels wheat. Snowed some. Patty came home with me.

Oct 12 – Dug potatoes in East lot under the hill.

Oct 13 – Finished diging in East lot. Carried Patty down to Kates.

Oct 14 – Put potatoes in cellar. Carried the girls and their mam down to A. Browns. Dug some potatoes. Rained. Went down to Browns after um. It rained.

Oct 15 – Some rainy in morning. Dug some potatoes and chored roung.

Oct 16 – Dug potatoes. Finished the south lot. Sarah went over to burg. Nancy went down to Browns.

Oct 17 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.

Oct 18 – Worked round home. Chored round barn.

Oct 19 – Cleaned out cornhouse and chored round some. Went down to Katharines. Brot Patty and Hellen York[83] up.

Oct 20 – All hands went up to Lois, Patty, Katharine, Sarah, Alfleda[84] and Hellen &c. Fine day. Del and Henry drawing corn. Barber and Barton husking.

Oct 21 – Pleasant morning. James Hoxie called here. Went over to burg after mail. Drawed one load corn 12 baskets.

Oct 22 – At home. Worked round house and yard. Drawed some corn.

Oct 23 – Went down to Catharines. All hands had a family visit. Kate and Harry[85] came out on Eleven oclock run. Pleasant day.

Oct 24 – Fine morning. At home all day.

Oct 25 – Drawed some corn and worked round shop.

Oct 26 – Took out closset in shop. Mr Hobbs came here to see about getting some bobs made. Went down to Katharines to see patty. She gave me ten Dollars. Rainy and cold.

Oct 27 – Patty and Nell started for home. Made neap for M. O. Streators wagon. Put stove up in shop.

Oct 28 – Husked some corn. Put corn in cornhouse. Went over to burg. Got letter from Dr. A. S. Finch. Saw Mr Benjamin about my place. M. O. Streat got his wagon pole. Rained in night.

Oct 29 – Warm morning, 60 Abz, rained in morning. Ethan made cider. Sarah and Kate went up to Skinners. Had a heavy thunder shower. Sent Dr. Finch $10 ten Dollars. Filed saw for Erve Hall.

Oct 30 – At home. Working round shop.

Oct 31 – At home all day. All well.

Nov 1 – Worked in shop some ___.

Nov 2 – Worked in shop on wheel. Mr Hobbs came up here. Sarah and Kate went to Lawton.

Nov 3 – Finished wheel. Went up to Flanders after some lumber for bobbs. Got none.

Nov 4 – Put corn up in corn house. Went over to burg at noon after gals. No come. They came on the 6 oclock freight.

Nov 5 – Worked in shop some. Sawed out bob knees.

Nov 6 – Went to Kalamazoo after bob runners and and lumber for Coburns box.

Nov 7 – Went down to Kates after Hannah.

Nov 8 – Worked in shop some. Del brot lumber and runners down. Jo Lee came up got his saw filed.

Nov 9 – Sorted corn in corn house.

Nov 10 – Worked in shop on bobs.

Nov 11 – Worked on bobs all day.

Nov 12 – Went to mill carried 4 bushels wheat 4 bushels Buckwheat 1 corn. Fine day.

Nov 13 – Snows this morning. Worked. Went to Comstock to mill. Cold, stormy.

Nov 14 – At home all day.

Nov 15 – Worked in shop on bobs

Nov 16 – Worked in shop and round house.

Nov 17 – Worked in shop on bobs &c.

Nov 18 – Worked in shop on bobs and [nothing further]

Nov 19 – Worked on bobs. Not very cold.

Nov 20 – Went over to burg. Got piece plank for bobs. Hiram Crawf[ord][86] came in on Evening Express. Fine day, mercury about 60. Gave me an ulster over coat.

Nov 21 – Cooler this morning. Hite[87] here. Lois came down. Mart brot Hannah home.

Nov 22 – Worked in shop on bobs. Hiram here. He went over to burg. Hiram left on night Express. Fine day.

Nov 23 – Worked in shop. Pleasant day but cold.

Nov 24 – Worked in shop. Kate and Harry left for South bend.[88] Ethan carried them over to Scots Station. Nice day. Jo Lee brot Hannah home. Alfleda went home with Jo.

Nov 25 – Went over to burg to see about getting some timber for frame to bobs. Hannah went to Battle Creek on the Eleven twelve run. A very pleasant day. Jim husked corn for A. Brown.

Nov 26 – Went over to burg. Got timber for bob frame.

Nov 27 – Went up to Mr Flanders to get length of bob frame. Sarah went down to A. Browns.

Nov 28 – At home. Dell and Lois came down. Loues went home with them.

Nov 29 – Finished bobs. Worked round shop some. Gefired cold day.

Nov 30 – Worked on Coburns box. Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Alfleda came back with me.

Dec 1 – Very pleasant morning, mercury 28 Abz in morning.

Dec 2 – Worked on box. Riley and Horace Hobbs came and got Bobs. He paid me Seventeen Dollars and 17.50 fifty cents.

Dec 3 – Worked on box not much cut and sawed wood. Very pleasant day.

Dec 4 – Worked on box. Fine warm day, some misty. Went over to burg. Paid George Brown for timber 20 cts. Mercury about 50, rained all night.

Dec 5 – Cloudy and warm, mercury 43 Abz. At home all day.

Dec 6 – Finished and painted over Coburns box. Rained in night, very foggy.

Dec 7 – Foggy morning, not very cold. Worked in shop some. Carried Sarah over to Janes.[89] Went over in Evening to see R. G. S.

Dec 8 – Dressed out boards for Ernests Whiting. Went over to burg after Sarah. Browns folks came up in Evening.

Dec 9 – Pleasant morning, not very cold. Worked in shop.

Dec 10 – Worked on Whitings box some. Went over to burg with Engine. Ethan drawed load wood. Broke whiffletree.

Dec 11 – Snowey day. Went down to Kates, stayed all day. Stoped to Browns when we came home. Wopeo[?] came the first time.

Dec 12 – At home all day. Edwin Flanders and wife and Henry went up to Skinners. Rather cool day. Herb Clark[90] came here in morning.

Dec 13 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in afternoon. Paid my Tax $9.50 nine Dollars and fifty cents.

Dec 14 – Worked in shop on box for Ernest. Not very cold.

Dec 15 – Worked in shop some. Not very well. Hannah went down to Browns.

Dec 16 – Snowey day. Worked on Ernests box. Put one partition in and base and pilaster. Stellie Milham here to night.

Dec 17 – Carried machine down to Browns. Snows and blows. Went over to burg got oil. Brown butchered his hogs. Went down to E. Whitings Slaughter house. Got two lbs Tallow 16¢/4 8 pr pound so said Whitland. Del and Coburn got Box.

Dec 18 – Worked in shop some. Cold day.

Dec 19 – At home. Will brot Hannah up in sleigh. Lois came down.

Dec 20 – Went down to Browns. Got pig weighed 70[91] lbs. Mr Flanders got wagon. Went over to burg in afternoon. Ethan got 14 Dollars at Bank for making Box. Not very cold.

Dec 21 – Not very cold, no snow.

Dec 22 – Made cross head for Theodore. Went over to burg. Bot diary 25¢, one violin string 25. Drawed two loads cornfodder. Very pleasant day.

Dec 23 – Went up to mill. Put in crosshead. Warm day, mercury 54 Abz at noon. Drawed in cornfodder in afternoon.

Dec 24 – Rainy. Carried peter down to Browns. Went up to mill got 58 feet 3×3 scantling of Theodore Earl.

Dec 25 – Very pleasant day. Browns folks here. Charles and Julia came up. Julia stayed all night. Browns folks stayed in Evening.

Dec 26 – Rainy day, not very cold, very little snow. At home all day. Ida came up after Julia.

Dec 27 – Went up in woods cut some wood. Went over to burg in afternoon. Received of Town ship Treasurer seventy five Dollars. Very pleasant day.

Dec 28 – Went to mill in afternoon. Carried 4 bushels wheat 4 of Buckwheat. Pleasant day. Cut some wood. Katharine came home with me.

Dec 29 – Fine pleasant morning. Filed one saw for Whitting. Worked in shop some.

Dec 30 – Drawed two loads wood. Worked on box some. Went over to burg just at night. Kate and Sarah went. Browns folks here in Evening. Warm day.

Dec 31 – Fine morning, 61 Abz in morning at sunrise. Went over to burg after Nancy. Jo Lee and Mr Elwood called here. Filed saw for Jo. Warm day.

——-

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

[2] His son, Ethan Keith, and daughter, Hannah Keith

[3] His sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[4] Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[5] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner, who was married to his daughter Lois

[6] Galesburg, Michigan

[7] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[8] Ambrose Brown, his neighbor and father-in-law of his daughter Nancy

[9] Henry Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[10] Above zero

[11] His grandson, Claude Keith Brown, the son of Nancy & Hank Brown. There is a birth announcement for “Pomeroy” Brown, however, that is the only time the name of Pomeroy is used

[12] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[13] Lawton, Michigan, where Nancy & Henry Brown lived

[14] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith

[15] His cousin, Ida Mae Lee, the daughter of Joseph Warren Lee and Nancy E. Taylor

[16] Martin Milham, husband of Lucy (Lee) Milham. Lucy was the daughter of his sister Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[17] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith

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

[19] Neighbor. 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

[20] In all his previous diaries, Luke has spelled his sister’s name as Catharine. It now appears that he is sometimes spelling it starting with a K, or it is possible he is referring to somebody else

[21] Seaman S. Bristol Sr. and his wife, Abigail “Nabby” Harris, were the uncle and aunt of Daniel D. Harris who would marry Luke’s daughter, Louese, in 1882

[22] Nickname for his daughter Louese

[23] Believe he is referring to neighbors, Stella Milham who was the daughter of James & Ellen (Adams) Milham

[24] Neighbor. A search at FindAGrave.com confirms that he died February 7, 1875 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[25] His neighbor, Irwin Hall

[26] Presumably neighbors, Hetta (Burgess) Ralph and her daughter-in-law, Emeline (Stone) Ralph

[27] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[28] A search at FindAGrave.com reveals that Jannette Mason died February 21, 1875 and is buried at Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

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

[30] His first cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)

[31] Neighbor, the daughter of Franklin Benjamin & Gertrude (Quick) Austin. Perhaps she was the teacher that Luke referred to in his March 3^rd entry

[32] Neighbors, Charles and Mary Tamer Ford, the children of Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford

[33] Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

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

[35] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[36] Simeon Wood Jr.; from the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, Monday evening, March 22, 1875 – Mr. Simon Wood, a farmer living some four miles east of Galesburg in Charleston, died on Wednesday evening, the 17th inst. bilious pneumonia, and his wife died the next day. They were worthy people and were somewhat advanced in years at the time of their death

[37] The Michigan Deaths and Burials Index confirms that Agustus Giddings, age 34, died on March 18, 1875 in Comstock, Michigan. FindAGrave.com records show that he is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[38] Neighbor, the son of Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[39] Reliance E. (Brown) Wood. See footnote for March 16^th entry. Reliance was the sister of Ambrose Brown

[40] It is uncertain as to whether this was Edna Irene Crawford, the daughter of Sarah’s brother Robert & Louesa (McCann) Crawford, of Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of Sarah’s late brother, Edwin & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford

[41] His son-in-law Henry Brown’s nickname

[42] Neighbor, Adelia (Tompkins) Ford

[43] Other things

[44] Most likely his grandson, Charles Ira Clark, the son of Lois and her first husband, Byron Clark

[45] The pivoted horizontal crossbar to which the harness traces of a draft animal are attached and which is in turn attached to a vehicle or an implement

[46] Richard Barber

[47] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel

[48] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[49] FindAGrave.com indicates that Ruel Starr died April 19, 1875 and is buried in Old City Cemetery, Valparaiso, Indiana. Ruel was Alfleda (Starr) Keith’s brother

[50] The Michigan Deaths and Burials Record indicates that Daniel D. Harris Sr. died April 23, 1875 in Comstock, Michigan at the age of 49 and FindAGrave records show that he is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. He was the father of Daniel D. Harris Jr. who would marry Luke’s daughter Louese

[51] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Julia Allen, who lived with Ambrose & Matilda

[52] Most likely his neighbor, George Ralph

[53] His neighbor, the son of George & Hetta (Burgess) Ralph, and husband of Emeline (Stone) Ralph

[54] Mary (Knowles) Barber

[55] Michigan Death Records reveal that Arthur Beckwith, age 21, died May 20, 1875 in Comstock, Michigan. FindAGrave records show he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[56] Marius Streator’s wife, Laura (Rawson) Streator

[57] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[58] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr) Keith

[59] The Michigan Deaths and Burials Index shows that John F. Chandler died June 15, 1875 in Comstock, Michigan at the age of 45

[60] Believe he is referring to William H. and Martha (Marvin) Plank. William H. was the son 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

[61] Neighbor, the son of George & Jane Whiting

[62] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[63] His horse

[64] The Michigan Deaths and Burials Index reveals that Nancy Wheeler, aged 86, died in Comstock, Michigan on July 22, 1875

[65] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham, daughter of his sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[66] Neighbor, Orrin D. Schram

[67] Neighbor, Hanibal A. Taylor

[68] Believe this to be his neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[69] Neighbors, Albert & Pamelia (Hosley) Towne; their son Charles would later marry Luke’s daughter Hannah

[70] His niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham

[71] Both the Brown and Keith families were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances. The story that has been passed down is that Ambrose’s Indian spirit guide, Chee Chee, held a blanket over him so that he could complete his plowing

[72] His daughter Lois’ sister-in-law, Sarah Skinner

[73] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner

[74] His paternal first cousin. Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee

[75] Himself

[76] Since Joseph Lee’s wife, Lois (French) had died October 17, 1871, it would seem that this is referring to a seance that the Browns and Keiths had where they called on Lois who told them that Jo would follow the rest of the Lee families, who were Mormons, and had moved to Salt Lake City

[77] Charley’s other grandparents were living in Dover, Ohio in the 1870’s so perhaps he was going for a visit

[78] Etc.

[79] The daughter of his niece, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

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

[81] His daughter, Nancy

[82] Michigan County Marriage Records show that Hiram Loveland married Emeline Crowell on October 10, 1875

[83] This could be his niece, Helen (Bradley) York, or Helen’s daughter, Helen Lavinia York

[84] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith

[85] Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, the wife of Luke’s brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr., and their son, Harry Crawford (see November 17, 1875 letter)

[86] His wife Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[87] Hiram’s nickname

[88] Sarah’s other brother, Henry Clay Crawford, and his family lived in South Bend, so it is possible Kate and Harry were going to make them a visit

[89] Neighbor, Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[90] Herbert Clark was the nephew of Lois’ first husband, Byron Clark

[91] Hard to tell if this was 70 or 90 pounds

Advertisement

Luke Keith’s 1861 Diary

1861 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 13 were first written in the back of his 1860 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1861 diary. Anything from 1860 that clarifies the 1861 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Went down to Catharines[2].

Jan 2 – Went to the burg[3]. Bot ten lbs shugar 1.00.

Jan 3 – [Cloudy.] Worked in shop on [sleigh & bobs]. Cut out sleigh runners for C[harles] Richard[son].

Jan 4 – Snows. Worked on Wes[4] bob.

Jan 5 – Worked on R[ichardson]s sleigh. Wesly set shoes. Went to the Burg in evening. Bot starch 10¢ salratas[5] 10¢.

Jan 6 – [Went over to the burg.] Carried Sarah[6] to church.

Jan 7 – Went over to Burg. Bot salt & tallow 2.21¢. [Went up to Jesse Earls.] Fixed pully for Jesse. Richardson Brot ¾ wood. Mary Johnson came to Board.

Jan 8 – Worked in shop. Bot 4 lbs tallow of Wesly 50¢.

Jan 9 – Worked in shop. Jef [Jesse Chaffee] here. Harvey went home.

Jan 10 – [Pleasant.] Worked on [Richardsons] sleigh. [Got out runners.] Ground sausage meat in the evening.

Jan 11 – Snowey & cold. Worked on sleigh. [Charley & Azro called here.] Went to the burg evening got runners. Bot one lb Tea 62 this Book 25 wicking 6 licorice 1.

Jan 12 –Worked on sleigh. Richardson Brot load wood. Austins Boys over here. Lois[7] at home.

Jan 13 – [Pleasant.] At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Jan 14 – Worked on sleigh. Cut out slead runners in evening.

Jan 15 – Worked on sleigh got it ready to set shoes. Went over to the burg in evening. Rained like fun.

Jan 16 – Set shoes on sleigh commenced Box. Went over to the burg in evening. Got Ehens[8] Boots tapt 30¢ Bot iron & screws 29¢ Paper & thread 2¢ flour of Johnson 60 cts.

Jan 17 – Worked on sleigh box. Sarah & Patty[9] went down to Mr Clarks. S. Newman came over. Subscribed for Map of the united States price $.7.00.

Jan 18 – Worked in shop on sleigh box and on land slead. Catharine here. Mr Deyo[10] here in evening. Frank Whitcomb Died[11].

Jan 19 – Worked in shop some on box. Went over to the burg in evening. Got my boot mended.

Jan 20 – Pleasant. Sarah went to church.

Jan 21 – Went to Kalamazoo to court[12]. Bot Deyoes cow 10.00 Bot shoes 1.62 Bot Dolls 20. Frank Whitcomb Died.

Jan 22 – Pleasant 10 Abz[13]. Went to the Burg stayed all day to go to court. Bot beer 5¢ shoe strings 1¢.

Jan 23 – Pleasant morning 18 Abz. Went to Frank Whitcombs funeral. Martin Turner & wife[14] stayed here all night.

Jan 24 – Snows like fun. Martin went home. James L. Earl & wife[15] here. Carried Patty & Catharine up to Yorks[16].

Jan 25 – Cold 8 Abz. Worked in shop some. Finished my slead. Mary came back.

Jan 26 – Cold 8 Blz[17]. Worked in shop. Sarah went to church. Bot Dishes & window papers & cotton $.1.11¢.

Jan 27 – Cold 23 Abz. Sarah gone to church.

Jan 28 – Worked in shop some. Went over to the burg in evening. Bot yarn 50¢ Bot violin string 20¢.

Jan 29 – Cold & blustering. George and Marion[18] came went over to the burg. Bot yarn 31¢ Bot shugar 50¢. George left for Wisconsin.

Jan 30 – Went up to Yorks in evening. Patty & Marion stayed all night.

Jan 31 – Cold morning 6 Abz. Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in evening. Bot coffee 20¢.

Feb 1 – Carring my slead up to Milfords. Went over & got my cow. Rained hard. Patty Marion & Lois here.

Feb 2 – Went over to the burg twice. Patty Catharine & Marion went to Battle Creek. Paid 15.75¢ to Kelly on _____ _____.

Feb 3 – Pleasant 7 Abz. At home. Sarah went to church. Jo & Lois Lee[19] here. B. Hartwell called here.

Feb 4 – Pleasant. York got two loads straw. Mr Marther & wife came down with P. C. & M.[20]

Feb 5 – Cloudy. Mr Marther went home. Patty & Marion went down to Catharines. I went to mill at Pavilion. Made the shoes for my slead up to Milfords[?] shop.

Feb 6 – Cloudy. Worked in shop some. Put shoes on slead. Lois at home. Babcock paid 82.44.

Feb 7 – Cold 4 Abz blustering. Work on gearing. 18 Below zero in evening.

Feb 8 – Cold 5 Blz. Patty & Marion came home. Bot tea 63¢ 5 lbs shugar 55¢.

Feb 9 – Cold Pleasant 10 Abz. Chored round house. Went over to Burg in evening. Bot thread 5¢ Bot candle sticks ___. Thawed fast.

Feb 10 – Warm 50 Abz. Carried Marion up to Mr Yorks. Sarah went to church. Snow went like fun rain in evening.

Feb 11 – Pleasant 55 Abz. Helped wash. Took my engine a part.

Feb 12 – Windy 29 Abz. Worked in shop some. Went over to the burg in evening. Bot Broom 25¢ Bot emery paper 8¢ Hive syrup 5.

Feb 13 – Cloudy snow all gone. Worked in shop. Oscar Mary an[21] & Mrs Baty[22] here.

Feb 14 – Windy morning rained & snowed. Went over to the burg. George came. S. Kingsley paid me 75¢.

Feb 15 – Snows like fun. Went up to Flanders. George went to Colon. Henry[23] carried them. Went up to Yorks after patty. Went to school meeting.

Feb 16 – Cold some snow. Catharine Mark[24] Lucy[25] & Harvey[26] came up.

Feb 17 – Cold snows some. At home. George & Marion came back from Colon.

Feb 18 – Pleasant. George & Marion Patty left for home. C. R. 7/8 wood. Paid George 254.00 16 cents back at this date. Mark & Harvey & Lucy here.

Feb 19 – Alfleda[27] & Catharine here. Went to mill up to Pavilion. Carried two bushels of wheat.

Feb 20 – Cloudy. Alfleda & Catharine here. Worked in shop. Catherine went down to Mr Clarks.

Feb 21 – Cold. Went down to Catharines. Got some hickory timber. Saw Browns calf.

Feb 22 – Storms some thunder. Split some wood. Worked in shop. Richardson Brot 7/8 wood.

Feb 23 – Rainy. Worked in shop. Made cradles for Hannah & Nancy[28]. Cold & windy night.

Feb 24 – Pleasant & cold. Sarah gone to church.

Feb 25 – Worked in shop. Went over to the burg in evening Bot salratas 10¢ Bot shugar 50¢ wick 4¢. Trimbeck Here.

Feb 26 – Worked in shop on gearing. Mr Snow stayed all night.

Feb 27 – Worked on wheel for Richardson 1.75.

Feb 28 – Cloudy. Put up leach & chored round House. Stilwell got his wheel 1.75.

Mar 1 – Cloudy & smoky. Made soap. Pleasant.

Mar 2 – Pleasant. Sarah went to the burg. Carried Deyo some potatoes. Paid Deyo 2 Dollars on cow. Bot one lb Tea 62¢.

Mar 3 – Cloudy. Sarah at home. I went up to Yorks. Took dinner. Went & found some timber.

Mar 4 – Pleasant & cool. Built smoke house. Put my hams to smoking.

Mar 5 – Snows like fun 2½ inches deep. Went over to the burg to election. Got my Key. Bot plank $2.10 Bot matches 5 letter 3.

Mar 6 – Pleasant. Went up to Yorks. Got out some stringers for the race[29] bridge.

Mar 7 – Pleasant. Worked in shop. Put violin together. Eugene there. Cow calved about 2 oclock P.M.

Mar 8 – Cloudy & rainy. Hewed spokes for Fathers[30] wagon. Wesley & D. Taylor here.

Mar 9 – Cloudy. Went up to Yorks. Got some S. elm bark for cow. Worked on spokes some.

Mar 10 – Cloudy. At home all day.

Mar 11 – Pleasant. Put in two boulsters for C. Richardson.

Mar 12 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on spokes. School closed.

Mar 13 – Cloudy rather cool. Ben Mose got Boulster. Sarah went up to Wesleys. Ben Jackson got into the river in Evening. Shaved spokes.

Mar 14 – Pleasant. Shaved spokes for Fathers wagon. Bot thread 10¢.

Mar 15 – Pleasant. Put rim on Fathers wheel. Filled 4 teeth for Lois.

Mar 16 – Cloudy. Worked in shop on gearing. Eugene Bronson brot his violin.

Mar 17 – Pleasant & cold. Put hair in violin bow for Eugene Bronson.

Mar 18 – Pleasant 4½ Abz cold. Went over to the burg. Bot cotton 13.

Mar 19 – Pleasant. Pedler here. Bot plaster & solution 1.25. Got out spokes for Jesse Earls wheel. Pleasant C. R. brot one cord wood. May April

Mar 20 – Snows in morning May. Rimmed Earls wheel. Cold snowey day.

Mar 21 – Pleasant morning June. Worked in shop drove spokes in Fathers wheel.

Mar 22 – Worked in shop rimmed Fathers wheels. Ethen got boot tapt 10.

Mar 23 – Cloudy morning. Painted wheels. Mother[31] went down to Catharines. Ethen went.

Mar 24 – At home all day. B. Clark[32] here after Golden Seal[33].

Mar 25 – Pleasant. Carried wheels up to Milfords. T. Flanders[34] came. Rainy night. Put in half crotch for Jesse Earl.

Mar 26 – Rainy day. Painted wheels over again. Flanders here.

Mar 27 – Snows some. Stranger called took breakfast. Flanders left. Worked on gearing.

Mar 28 – Pleasant. Work on box. Wallace Earl left for California. Lois home. Got my magazine.

Mar 29 – Rainy day. Worked on box. Wesley made saw frames. Mother sick.

Mar 30 – Snow on ground. Worked in shop on ax helves[35]. Catharine came up.

Mar 31 – At home. Jo & Helen Wes & Harriet[36] here.

Apr 1 – Snowey. Went to town meeting. Bot Tea 25¢ Bot salratas 10¢ School Bill 38¢.

Apr 2 – Worked in shop on box. Made helve for A Chipman. Doc Bab here in Evening.

Apr 3 – Pleasant. Went over to burg. Got order of Babcock 89.00. Bot screws 15¢. Ricardson Brot 7/8 wood.

Apr 4 – Pleasant. Painted wagon box. Worked up to Milfords afternoon. Halls Auction. Father bot chair.

Apr 5 – Cloudy. Worked up to Milfords fore noon. Painted box.

Apr 6 – Cloudy. Painted gearing. Made ax helves. Rainy night.

Apr 7 – Rainy morning or misty. Put wagon together. Father went & got Mrs Bundy.

Apr 8 – Rainy. Went over to the burg & up to Wesleys. Killed calf. Rainy afternoon.

Apr 9 – Worked in shop. Made ____ for C. Richardson. Father brot his wagon down. Nelson Nichols ___ to 21.½ lbs veal $1.07.

Apr 10 – Pleasant. Put in wagon neap[37] for Father. Went over to burg. Bot shoes for Nancy 74¢ one paper 5¢.

Apr 11 – Pleasant. Went over to burg. Bot powder 10. Uncle Warren[38] came here. Father got his oxen.

Apr 12 – Cloudy. Went down to Catharines. Husked corn.

Apr 13 – Mark & Catharine & Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Uncle Warren went home. Sarah bot calico & dishes 6.25¢. Mark bot harness.

Apr 14 – Snowed some cold. Came home afternoon.

Apr 15 – Cloudy. Went over to burg. Bot wicking 5¢. Tightened boxes in bugy.

Apr 16 – Commenced moveing. Carried six loads. York & ____ helped.

Apr 17 – Pleasant. Finished moveing. Brot five loads. Bot wheat 3 bushels.

Apr 18 – Cloudy morning. Fixed barn. Rainy day.

Apr 19 – Went over. Got my pig. Got trees grafted. Bot ½ lb tea 25¢. Got my cow home.

Apr 20 – Trimming currant Bush. C. Richardson Brot 1 & 1/16^th cord wood.

Apr 21 – Went over to Fathers. Got the old cat.

Apr 22 – Trimmed trees. They raised a pole in town a number inlisted. Thunder shower in the night. Flanders brot ½ ton hay.

Apr 23 – Pleasant. Fastened my bench & moved things round shop.

Apr 24 – Put in reach[39] for C. Richardson 50¢.

Apr 25 – Pleasant. Cleared out shop. Bot glass 44¢ violin string 15¢. Tenant got stove.

Apr 26 – Pleasant. Worked in yard. Mrs Rexford called here. Extracted tooth for Del Pond (25¢.

Apr 27 – Rainy morning. Scraped my trunk. Bot carpet hook 15¢ & put down carpet.

Apr 28 – Pleasant. At home all day.

Apr 29 – Pleasant. Worked in yard. Bot paper 5¢.

Apr 30 – Pleasant. Went over the river up to Jesses & round by hartwells.

May 1 – Cloudy & cold. Got out manure. Bot window bolts 30¢ Bot mortar 10 postage 4¢ soap 13 Bot tree 20.

May 2 – Pleasant. Plowed garden & planted some potatoes.

May 3 – Worked in garden some. Made ax helve for E. Flanders.[40]

May 4 – Pleasant. Bot lime 3¢ Bot two files 18¢ cts. Filed saw for Oatman.

May 5 – At home. Rained in afternoon & evening. Had headache.

May 6 – Pleasant. Lois came ____ went over to Fathers. Got 3 bushels corn 93¢. Bot curtain paper 30 Boots tapt 50.

May 7 – Bot roll paper 38 Beef 38 Sulpher 6 Molasses 28. Worked on pole & whiffle.

May 8 – Pleasant. Finished pole & whiffletree. Bot shugar 55¢. Mrs Johnson & Mrs Stevenson here.

May 9 – Pleasant morning. Bot pants for Ethen & bonnets for girls shoes for Hannah 2.26¢. Lois Ethen went up to Wesleys.

May 10 – Rained in morning. Got out my timber. Guile sold stove to Tim Mills $.9.00. Wesley Brot 6. bushels potatoes.

May 11 – Cleaned out cellar. Bot apples 19¢. Lois went home.

May 12 – Pleasant. At home. Old Mr Warren[41] died. Van Swaddle died.

May 13 – Rainy. Lois came back. Sent letter to Mr Cridland[42] & one to E. M. Stratta 3.48. Percivals Horses Killed on the Rail Road. Bot matches 5.

May 14 – Cloudy & cool. Drove some spokes. Sent letter to P. Betts[43] 3¢. Richardson brot one cord wood.

May 15 – Cloudy. Finished driving Earls spokes.

May 16 – Cold. Got strawberry vines. Bot ½ lb Tea 35¢. Mrs Pond[44] died. Set out strawberries. Planted onions peas & lettuce.

May 17 – Pleasant. Planted beets pop corn coffee &c. Mrs Pond buried. Bot ribbon 9¢.

May 18 – Pleasant. Planted beens cucumbers & potatoes. Cold backward wether. Some corn planted none up yet.

May 19 – Cloudy. At home all day. Henry came down.

May 20 – Rainy morning cool. Worked in shop on hubbs & spokes. Bot sandpaper 3¢.

May 21 – Pleasant. Planted melons & potatoes. Old Mrs Taylor & lib here. The boys left for Detroit. Bot salratas 10¢.

May 22 – Finished spokes sawed out some felloes[45]. Sarah Beedle here to dinner. Mrs Deyoe[46] here to tea.

May 23 – Cloudy. Went to show afternoon went saw woman 25 saw aztec children 15¢ picture 15 candy 2. Cow out. Wiseman & family here to tea.

May 24 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on wheels. Made ax helve for Wesley 38¢. Bot cotton & thread 40¢.

May 25 – Pleasant. Worked on wheels. Bot grindstone and hangings 3.25 cod fish 25¢. Lois went home. Battle at sands point.

May 26 – Rains. At home all day. Pleasant apart of the day rained in Evening.

May 27 – Cloudy morning. Worked on wheels. Got my magazine & chart. Bot cabbage plants 10¢.

May 28 – Pleasant. Fitted exes to Earls waggon.

May 29 – Pleasant. Harrison Sprague called here. Father & Mother here. Bot nails 8¢ Bot chair painted 38.

May 30 – Pleasant. Finished my fence. Bot 2 lbs nails ___.

May 31 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Got 3 bushels potatoes. Bronson brot [sentence unfinished].

Jun 1 – Rainy morning. Austin raised his barn. Got Sarahs shoe mended 13¢. Got 5 bushels & 40 lbs wheat of Bronson.

Jun 2 – Rainy. Working at home all day.

Jun 3 – Pleasant morning. Set box for D. Bronson. Set boxes in Bronsons Hubbs. Bot Broom 20¢.

Jun 4 – Cloudy. Made grind stone frame. Babcock paid 8.8.13.

Jun 5 – Pleasant. Planted corn for fodder.

Jun 6 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on Bronsons Exes. Truax & A. R. Brown at shop. Post Office moved to J. F. Warrens.

Jun 7 – Foggy morning. Worked on gearing.

Jun 8 – Pleasant. Rimming wheels. Made thill for D. Lamkins. Bot one lb Tea 75¢ Bot reeds 4¢.

Jun 9 – Pleasant and warm. At home all day.

Jun 10 – Hot. Finished Earls wheels. Peck got part of the gearing.

Jun 11 – Warm. G. Signor brot his cart. Painted wheels & gearing. Mark & Catharine here. Tenant paid 10¢. Rained very little.

Jun 12 – Pleasant. Repaired G. Signors cart. Got out spokes for Streators wheel. Sarah & Lois went over to Wisemans.

Jun 13 – Pleasant. Drove spokes. Mrs Watts here most all day. Bot ½ lb glue 14¢. Richardson Brot almost one cord wood. Jef. Chaffee[47] started for the War.

Jun 14 – Pleasant. Finished streators wheel. Bot oil 25¢ Bot sundries for Sarah $4.00. Some thunder & some rain.

Jun 15 – Pleasant. Put the rims on Bronsons wheels. Windy day blew a perfect gale.

Jun 16 – Cloudy & cool. At home all day. Went up to the grave yard[48] just at night.

Jun 17 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Got my plank from Truax. Barber drawed it on dray 12¢.

Jun 18 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Got 5 bushels corn.

Jun 19 – Repaired wheel for A. Chipman 17/-[49] wheel for T. Aldrich 38¢ Bot County Map 5.00.

Jun 20 – Went up to Wesleys to look at some timber. Had a fine shower. Bot Envelope 2¢. Sent letter to G. T.[50] 3¢. Alph Beals & wife came in Evening.

Jun 21 – Went over to Fathers with Beals. Ransom took County Map. Paid me $5.00. Sent 88. Dollars to G. T. by Express.

Jun 22 – Pleasant. Worked on road. Alph Beals called. Cut James Flanders hair.

Jun 23 – Warm. Henry Brot Lois home. Cut Henrys Hair.

Jun 24 – Worked on road. Paid grafter 1.50¢. Verry hot.

Jun 25 – Worked on Chips box. Bot saleratas 10¢. Went up by Swaddles after cow. Rained in the night.

Jun 26 – Worked on Box and repaired wheel for Tay Aldrich 75¢.

Jun 27 – Worked in shop and hoed some. Agent here from New York Act. 145.

Jun 28 – Put in steak for A. Chipman. Worked on box some wood Sawyers left Emma Clark here.

Jun 29 – Worked on box. Truman Dewey here.

Jun 30 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Nancy & Hannah went up to Wesleys. Heavy shower in the night.

Jul 1 – Pleasant. J. York called. Worked on Bronsons wheels. B. Vosburg brot cradle to repair.

Jul 2 – Pleasant. Worked in shop some. Got out seat rails. Bot pants for Ethen 40¢ Bot camphor 10¢ pins 6. Went after Mrs Ralph in Evening.

Jul 3 – Very hot. Took nance home. Girl[51] Born at sun down.

Jul 4 – Pleasant. Great celebration in town. Bot shoes for Ethen 1.00 two pennies to the girls. Hellen & Jo here to dinner. Harvey[52] buiried to day.

Jul 5 – Hot. Helped wash. Mary Childs here. Hoed some. Paid D. Harris[53] one Dollar.

Jul 6 – Received letter from G. T. Repaired cleadle[cradle?] for B. Vosburg. Hoed potatoes.

Jul 7 – Hot. At home. Had a shower in the afternoon.

Jul 8 – Rainy morning. Worked on wheels some & on Box. Vosburg got cradle. Paid 38¢. Sent letter to G. T. Mrs Ralph 1.50.

Jul 9 – Parker here to Breakfast. Mended squair for Dutch tailor. Mark & Catharine & Mr Strong here.

Jul 10 – Pleasant. Filed two saws for barber. Mended cradle for Azro Blakeslee 38¢. Bot Box matches 5. Tailor paid 50¢.

Jul 11 – Pleasant. Bainbridge & frind Smith called. Mended cradle for D. Taylor 15¢. C. Richadson Brot one cord wood. Cow gone.

Jul 12 – Rainy. Cow gone. Mended cradle for Williams 10¢. Set skeins to Earls wagon. Bot candles 10¢.

Jul 13 – Pleasant. Repaired two cradles for J. C. Blake 50¢. Bot Washington map 7.00. Smith paid 10¢.

Jul 14 – Went over to fathers. Alvan[54] there.

Jul 15 – Cloudy. Repaired cradle for W^m Blake 10¢. Hoed potatoes & corn. Bot 5 lbs shugar 45¢. Cow gone. One nipple 10¢.

Jul 16 – Put in two fingers for Williams 20¢. Rimed one wheel. Bot ½ lb Tea 31¢ Beef 16.

Jul 17 – Pleasant. Rimed wheels. Made rake for B. Clark.

Jul 18 – Pleasant. Painted Bronsons wheels. Beckwith paid $5.00.

Jul 19 – Pleasant. Mended rake & cradle for D. Lamkins 50¢. Mr. Mc.Govern here. Got his razor sharpened. Mrs David & Caty Wing here to Tea.

Jul 20 – Pleasant. Worked in shop some. Went down to movies. Bent seat rail &c[55]. Lois went home. Smith paid 10¢ saw.

Jul 21 – Pleasant & dry at home. Del Pond paid 2.5 cts.

Jul 22 – Pleasant cool. Bot pail 25¢. Made patterns for union buggy.

Jul 23 – Pleasant & dry. Worked in shop some on gearing and box.

Jul 24 – Cool & dry. Bot Beef 25¢. Worked on gearing & dash &c.

Jul 25 – Pleasant. Worked on bugy gearing some. Yankee Robinsons show here. Went in Evening 15. Got Baswood board of A. Pond 20 feet.

Jul 26 – Rains this morning had a fine shower. Bent dash & split it. Had head ache after noon. Bot candles 20¢.

Jul 27 – Pleasant. Worked in shop some. Glued dash. Bot 5 lbs salt 5¢. Gyle paid five Dollars. Blackburn 25¢. Rainy night. Isaac Wing called here.

Jul 28 – Rainy morning. At home all day.

Jul 29 – Put up lathe & filled one tooth & extracted one for D. Taylor 50. Dwight paid me 15¢ for fixing cradle. Indian stayed all night. Bot _____ oil 5¢.

Jul 30 – Had a shower morning. Worked in shop some. Bot cloth for apron 25¢ Bot one doz eggs 8¢ crackers 2¢. Very hot 95 _____. By Clark paid 50¢.

Jul 31 – Cloudy. Worked in shop on lathe & dash. Very hot night.

Aug 1 – Hot 80 Abz morning. Put dash on cutter. Put in seat &c. Very hot.

Aug 2 – Hot 80 Abz. Worked on lathe some on cutter thills[56] &c. Very hot.

Aug 3 – Hot 76 Abz. Worked on thills &c. Mark brot Ethen home.

Aug 4 – Hot 85 Abz. At home. At four P.M. in sun 110. In shade 98 & 90 in evening.

Aug 5 – Cloudy. Worked on thills & fender. Dr James Harris[57] called. Bot ½ lb pepper 8¢.

Aug 6 – Pleasant. Corporation tax 24¢. One pr shoestrings 1¢. Went up to J. Flanders. All hands. Had a shower in night.

Aug 7 – Cloudy. Worked on cutter. Put Box on Chipmans wagon. Heavy shower all night.

Aug 8 – Hot morning. Finished Tuttles cutter. Mended Barbers Knife &c.

Aug 9 – Cloudy. Bot screws & Bots 22¢. Worked on table some. Mrs Rogers Sarah & An Eliza old Mrs Austin & Chloe. Guile moved his things.

Aug 10 – Foggy. Finished table. Carried corn to mill. Bot beer 10. Richardson Brot ¼ cord wood.

Aug 11 – Cooler & cloudy. Bot Beef 18¢ Bot ½ lb Tea 38. At home all day. Commenced raining in the night had a heavy rain.

Aug 12 – Rainy morning, Rain Rain. No work to day. Circus here. No meal to day.

Aug 13 – Pleasant. Lois came. Bot Beef 30¢ apple 2¢. Mended Ed Flanders pen. Richardson Brot one cord & 1/8 wood.

Aug 14 – Pleasant. Worked in shop made boulster for J. Flanders. Flanders brot over lumber. Bot saleratas 10. A Chipman brot 4 bushels wheat.

Aug 15 – Made whiffletrees[58] for A Chipman. Had the first green corn. A Chip- Brot 4½ Butter. Bot candles 15. Richardson Brot 1 & ¼ wood. Recd 15 of Night.

Aug 16 – Pleasant. 4 Envelopes 2¢ postage 3¢. Sawed out springs for Earls wagon. Sarah went over river Mrs Deyo & Lois.

Aug 17 – Put irons on Earls Box & John B. White called here. Babcock paid $.18 & 48/100 Dollars. Paid Father $.78 Dollars.

Aug 18 – At home all day. Mended fan for An Eliza Rogers.

Aug 19 – Pleasant. Went up to J. Flanders & Mrs Wheatons. Flanders got three Kittens.

Aug 20 – Cloudy. Put in Ex for C. Richardson 2.00. Sarah & Lois went to A. Hoags.

Aug 21 – Worked in shop on Earls Box. Put finger board on John Fishers violin 10¢. Extracted tooth for J. York. Had a devil of a shower got wet.

Aug 22 – Rainy morning. Went over to Fathers. Sent letter to Omro[59] 3¢. Bot violin string 15¢. Gillis & Oatman here.

Aug 23 – Nice day. Worked in shop on buggy gearing. B. Hartwell called. Went over to Fathers. Bot map of D. K. Rogers 10¢.

Aug 24 – Sawed out buggy gearing. Went down to Catharines. Pleasant day.

Aug 25 – At Catharines. Saw toots[60] melodian. Came home. Lois left.

Aug 26 – Fine morning. Bot 6 lbs salt 6¢. Worked on Earls Box. Earl brot wheel. Riley Bennet & wife here & Mart Fisk. Georges store burnt.

Aug 27 – Worked L. T. Earls wheel. Sarah went over to Wisemans. Received letter from H. Crawford.[61]

Aug 28 – Pleasant. Finished Earls wheel. Great picknick at Kalamazoo.

Aug 29 – Pleasant. Earl got his wheel. Made seats for Earls wagon. Bot paper 10¢. Got magazine.

Aug 30 – Pleasant. Finished Earls wagon. Kalamazoo Rigament left to day. Bot nails 4¢.

Aug 31 – Sick. Not much work done. Sent letter to H. Crawford 3¢.

Sep 1 – At home all day. Bad cold.

Sep 2 – Rainy. Worked on Strubles gun. Bot eggs 5. Recd paper from G. T. Store burnt.

Sep 3 – Went over to Fathers. Finished Strubles gun 2.50. Bot bird seed 3¢. Went to show in evening 50¢.

Sep 4 – Put my lumber in the barn. Sarah went over to Deyoes. Peter Johnson left for the East. Let him have $.50.

Sep 5 – Pleasant. Work in shop. Enos Smith here. Bot candles 7¢. Alvan here all day.

Sep 6 – Pleasant. Worked on buggy gearing some. Alvan made reel. John Fisher got violin is to pay me Eight Dollars.

Sep 7 – Worked on gearing. Bot one fourth pound Tea 25¢ of A. L. Mason.

Sep 8 – Cloudy. Went over to Fathers.

Sep 9 – Earls waggon went to the paint shop. Lois came home. Worked on gearing some.

Sep 10 – Work on Bug gearing. Rains some 10 min to Eleven.

Sep 11 – Cloudy. Pol___ Bronson called A. Powers Brot violin. Bot thread 5. Flanders Brot ½ Bushel apples. Tenanted spokes. Sarah & Lois went to Renfords Coreys.

Sep 12 – Made Box to my cart. Sarah & Lois went to James Coreys Renfords Renfords. Bot candles 14¢.

Sep 13 – Worked on Hartwells Buggy Boddy. Sarah went to T. Whitings.

Sep 14 – Rainy. Worked on Hartwells B. Boddy. Bill Brown called. Lois went home.

Sep 15 – At home all day. Made hog trough in the morning.

Sep 16 – Cloudy. Worked on Boddy. Bot Beef Steak 20¢. Rainy night.

Sep 17 – Cloudy some rain. Worked on Boddy. Bot paper 5¢. Struble paid one Dollar.

Sep 18 – Pleasant. Worked on boddy. Filled tooth for Jake Hill 38¢. Bot screws 6¢.

Sep 19 – Pleasant. Bot salt 11¢ Bot mill _____ & meal 57¢. Put the skeleton Boddy together. Heavy shower in night.

Sep 20 – Cloudy. Worked in shop. Went up to Howlands. Had a _____. Bot pumpkin 4¢.

Sep 21 – Worked on Boddy some. Made penny Box. Bot paper 5¢ one apple 1.

Sep 22 – At home all day.

Sep 23 – Worked in shop on violin. Bot screws & nails 36¢. Gave nancy & Hannah one cent.

Sep 24 – Work on violin. T. Flanders here to dinner. Bot paper 5. Jesse W. Turner[62] called. Bot ¼ lb Tea 25¢.

Sep 25 – Worked on Boddy some and on violins. Bot paper 5¢ Nigger Brot violin.

Sep 26 – Worked on Boddy and violins. A. Powers called. Put L. T. Earls wagon together.

Sep 27 – Went over to Fathers. Got two bushels corn. Sarah & children went over got her shoes. Got Sarahs shoes 50¢. Got wheels painted 50. Schroder paid 20¢. Aldrich paid 1.10.

Sep 28 – Worked in shop some. Put up stove. Bot eggs 8 Bot cap 75¢ Bot thread 5¢.

Sep 29 – Cloudy and cool. Henry came home. Went over to Fathers. Rainy. Ethen went down to Catharines.

Sep 30 – Cloudy & cool. One package Envelopes 10¢. Mr Tuttle paid five Dollars. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢.

Oct 1 – Cut hay in G. Hoges yard. Tinkered in shop some. Bot syrup for sis[63] 25¢.

Oct 2 – Some cloudy. Went over to Fathers.

Oct 3 – Went to Kalamazoo fare 20¢ four peaches 2 ride up to fair ground 5 ticket 25¢. Bot cotton & calcoe 5.45¢. Rainy. E. Beckwith paid 15.00.

Oct 4 – Cloudy. Worked in shop some. N. M. Tuttle left. Saw Jonathan Smith & Richmond Perry. Wesley went to Kalamazoo.

Oct 5 – Some rainy. Bot comb for Hannah 10¢ Bot Bran 22¢. Lois & Mrs Clark[64] here.

Oct 6 – Rainy. Bot seed 3¢. Went up to Yorks. Lois went home.

Oct 7 – Dug my Green Bay potatoes &c. Got meal from the mill. Pleasant. Bot candles & salrates 25¢.

Oct 8 – Pleasant. Got my hay over. Bot pork 16¢. Husked corn.

Oct 9 – Pleasant. Put top on Powers violin. Went up to Milfords. Saw Charleys spy glass.

Oct 10 – Pleasant. Worked in shop some. Henry & Lois at home. Bot calico 108. Sarah went to Geo. Whitings. Richardson Brot ¼ wood. Bot ½ lb Tea 50¢.

Oct 11 – Worked round house in shop some. Killed my hog. James Holden helped me.

Oct 12 – Cut up and salted my hog. Weighed 322. Powers got violin. Paid 2.00. Filed saw for Warren 10. Filed saw for Earl 10¢.

Oct 13 – Went over to Fathers. Had sick hedache.

Oct 14 – Went down to Catharines after apples. John Fisher paid one Dollar. Warm day.

Oct 15 – Pleasant. Got wheat of Bronson. Struble paid 50¢.

Oct 16 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot clamps hubs & rims & one file & crackers one violin string. Beckwith pd 5 ___ Struble one Dollar. Bot two pairs shoes 1.50¢.

Oct 17 – Cloudy morning. Bot cloves & cinnamon & shugar 72¢. P. Johnson paid 51.00. B. Hartwell paid 10.00.

Oct 18 – Cloudy. Made rack to dry apples on. Bot candles 16. Jane Whiting & Addeline Harris[65] here.

Oct 19 – Pleasant. Jane Hoag & Mrs Scramlin here. Dug few potatoes.

Oct 20 – Pleasant. Ethen came home. At home all day.

Oct 21 – Pleasant. Finished digging potatoes. Sent letter to H. Crawford 3¢. Lois & girls came home.

Oct 22 – Bot drilling & thread 18¢ braid 8¢ Book 15¢ Bot hoop iron 4¢. Filed saw for S. Earl 8¢.

Oct 23 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot Shugar 1.00 Bot paper 1.00 Bot hubs 150. Braid 2¢. Showed like fun when we started for home.

Oct 24 – Pleasant. B. Hartwell paid $10.00 Dollars. Richardson brot ½ cd wood. J. C. Blake paid 1.00. W. A. Blake paid 10¢. John Fisher paid 10¢. Mr & Mrs Isaac Corey here to tea.

Oct 25 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot yarn 1.00 bot two pr socks for Ethen 40¢. Went down with Dr. Wightman.

Oct 26 – Put in two spokes & tightened two boxes in Dr Wightmans sulky. Bot one 3/8 socket chisel 44¢. Paid Bachelder two Dollars to apply on S. A. Millards &co Act.

Oct 27 – At home all day.

Oct 28 – Made saw buck for Mr Bachelder 50¢. Bot candles 16¢ Bot bran 20. Mrs Austins Boy[66] Born.

Oct 29 – Pleasant. Worked on thills some & on violin. Mrs Cross children got hurt run over by a team.

Oct 30 – Rainy. Bot delane[?] 11¢. Worked on thills & violin.

Oct 31 – Worked in shop some on thills. Bot one Brace one smooth plane and one Hundred Spindles 3.50¢.

Nov 1 – Bot Book 15¢ one bar soap 10¢. Worked on thills some on violin &c. Rainy

Nov 2 – Rainy. Got Boots tapt 50¢. Let Riley Coe have 25¢. Worked in shop some. Mark here. Henry at home stayed all night.

Nov 3 – At home all day. Lois & By came home.

Nov 4 – Worked in shop on spokes. Paid school bill 2.68¢.

Nov 5 – Shaved spokes. T. Flanders here to dinner. Bot candles & ½ lb Tea 54.

Nov 6 – Worked in shop shaved spokes. Put the filling in violin top for J. Fisher.

Nov 7 – Shaved spokes & put base bar in violin put top on. Bot sand paper & file 22¢ Bot bran 18¢. A. R. Turner painted telegraph pole. C. Richardson wood ¾ cord. Henry Crawford[67] here in Evening.

Nov 8 – Pleasant. Shaved spokes. Went to hear spiritual lecture 6¢.

Nov 9 – Bot broom 13¢. Finished Hartwels spokes. Bot broom 13. Caty Chaffee[68] here.

Nov 10 – Pleasant & smoky. Went over to Fathers. Saw old Mrs Chaffee. Rode home with Ed Hoges.

Nov 11 – Pleasant day. Worked round Barn & cistern. Signor paid one Dollar.

Nov 12 – Sent up to Wesleys & Yorks Fathers & Jesse Earls. Ethen went to show 5.

Nov 13 – Bot glass & nails & putty 39¢. Cleared out for my pig pen. J. Flanders got my cider Barrel. Bot one lb candles 14. Earl Brot lumber.

Nov 14 – Built pig pen. Bot one paper salearatas 10¢. Flanders brot cider 30 gal. Snowed in Evening.

Nov 15 – Grandrapids Cavalry passed half past six. Horses passed at noon. Worked on pig pen & house. Mary Nichols here.

Nov 16 – Worked on house & pen. Extracted tooth for Job Aldrich 25¢. Mr Streator got Cals violin. James Stilwell paid 50¢. Went over to Fathers.

Nov 17 – At home. James Hoxie & A. Caywood called here.

Nov 18 – Bot nails slate logwood and cudbar[?] 27¢. Made bin in barn.

Nov 19 – Went over to Fathers. Brot over my smoke box. Went up to Charles Richardson. Alfleda here. Bot turnips 20¢.

Nov 20 – Put up smoke box. Nailed ridge boards on barn. Bot cope____ 3¢. Alfleda left. Got buck skin of Austin. Austin had 5 gals cider.

Nov 21 – Cut out gloves. Worked on gearing. Bot nails 4¢. C. R. brot 1&¼ wood. Flanders Brot two pigs 2.00. S. Harris called. Bot candles one apple 15.

Nov 22 – Went over to Fathers. Bot thread 5¢. Worked in shop. Let Sarah Beedle[?] have 7¢. Caty Chaffe came over.

Nov 23 – Snows cold. Smoothed up Hartwells gearing & thills.

Nov 24 – Went over to Fathers. Cold & snowey.

Nov 25 – Went over to Hartwells. Bot 13 bushels wheat $11.00. Bot boots for Ethen 2.00.

Nov 26 – Worked on bobs. Got bas board of H. Vanmeter. Cut of Beadstead[?] for C. P. Galligan. Finished my gloves.

Nov 27 – Sold Steve to D. K. Rogers 3.00¢. Worked on bobs saw. Bot lock & whiffletree irons & postage 28¢.

Nov 28 – Filed saw for Austin 10. Repaired pump for Warren 25¢. Put in thill for Wightman 25. Filed saw for Mead 10. Mark Lee here.

Nov 29 – Filed saw for Smith 10¢. Put in crotch for A. Austin 10.00. Bot one lb candles 14.

Nov 30 – Filed saw for Bachelder 10. Sold helve to Tenant. Worked on bobs some. Put top on my new violin.

Dec 1 – Snows. Sarah gone to church. I went over to Fathers in Evening.

Dec 2 – Bot soap 10¢ Bot Tea 40. Henry Scramblin here. Lauriston Cruttenden[69] here left on 7 oclock train.

Dec 3 – Let Scudder have Elm plank 26 feet. Worked in shop rimed out hubbs. Ethen went down to Lois. Got Accordion.

Dec 4 – Drove some spokes. Trimed out hubbs. Bot saffron 19¢ postage 3.

Dec 5 – Pleasant no snow. Drove spokes in B. Hartwells wheels. Bot matches 5 postage 3.

Dec 6 – Put rims on wheels. Spliced Elecks bow. Made tobacco pouch for P. Johnson 15¢.

Dec 7 – Rainy morning. Banked up round shop. Bot thread 5¢ Bot bran 15¢.

Dec 8 – Went up to Wesleys Yorks & Fathers. Bot candles 14¢. Warm & smoky.

Dec 9 – Smoky & warm. Worked on wheels puting on rims. Augusts team got stuck in sand.

Dec 10 – Cloudy & warm. Finished Hartwells wheels. Rainy.

Dec 11 – Cold & pleasant. Worked on boddy. Split back pannel. Eleck paid 51¢. Alvan called here.

Dec 12 – Bent pannel for buggy. W^m Whitcomb here glued for him. Byington here. Bot calico thread & gun _______ 37¢.

Dec 13 – Worked in shop some. Wesley drawed dirt. Babcock paid 24.50.

Dec 14 – Work on ball. Bronson brot 10[?] Bushels corn paid $2 cash. Bot lamp & candles 1.62.

Dec 15 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Catharine & Mark there.

Dec 16 – Worked on Mr Turners thing. Bot canvas 12¢ Brads 12¢ sulpher 12¢ Postage 6. Sent letter to G. T. one to J. S. K.[70] Richardson most 1 cord wood.

Dec 17 – Pleasant. Worked on Buggy box. Put on back pannel. Paid corporation tax 1.67.

Dec 18 – Worked on buggy seat. Bot salearatas 10¢. Wightman paid 5¢.

Dec 19 – Pleasant. Wightman paid 5¢. Worked on bugy Boddy some.

Dec 20 – Went up to Milfords. Matthews made churn dash for C. P. Galligan. Bot violin string 15¢.

Dec 21 – Worked on bobs. Filed saw for Wesley 10¢. D. Lamkin Brot Hay. C. P. Galligan paid 50.

Dec 22 – Went up to Yorks & Fathers. Cold & snowy.

Dec 23 – Went over to Jesse Earls. Got 1376 lbs bran of D. Affleck. Bot oil can 50¢ & oil 39¢.

Dec 24 – Worked in shop on Stove platform &c.

Dec 25 – Bot stove & pipe nails Tacks candy & eggs 9.___. Put up stove. Bronson Brot lumber.

Dec 26 – Worked on runners for York. Sawed out bob runners for B. Clark. Bot hat 1.50¢. Smith paid 10¢.

Dec 27 – Put log on the way. Put on spring bar for Baty 37. Richardson Brot 1&¾ cord wood.

Dec 28 – Got out & bent runners felloes seat rails & fenders. H. Crawford[71] & family came out here.

Dec 29 – Went over to Fathers. Mother sick. Rev. Platt Betts Died this morning.

Dec 30 – Sick no work to day. Bot camphor 10¢. Henry went up to Yorkville.

Dec 31 – Filed saw for Mr Williams 5¢. L. T. Earl & Drayton Smith called.

——-

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

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

[3] Galesburg, Michigan

[4] His brother, John Wesley Keith, who, according to the family Bible, was adopted

[5] Saleratus; sodium or potassium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent; baking soda

[6] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[7] His daughter, Lois (Keith) Clark, by his first wife, Minerva Payson

[8] His son, Ethan Keith

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

[10] James Deyoe

[11] This same entry is also shown on January 21. No information has been found to date regarding Frank Whitcomb, but it would appear that he was related to Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner (see January 23 entry)

[12] Perhaps this is in regards to Mr. Deyo being accused of burning the church (see June 21, 1860 and subsequent entries in Luke’s 1860 diary)

[13] Above zero

[14] Martin and Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner; Martin and Luke were first cousins

[15] James and Caroline (Wolcott) Earl; Caroline and Luke were first cousins

[16] Joseph and Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was Luke’s niece

[17] Below zero

[18] George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson; Marion was Luke’s niece

[19] Joseph and Lois (French) Lee; Joseph and Luke were first cousins

[20] Patty, Catherine and Marion

[21] James “Oscar” and Mary Ann (Batey) Keith; Oscar was Luke’s nephew

[22] Mary Ann’s mother, Betsy (Olds) Batey

[23] His son, Henry Keith, by his first wife, Minerva Payson

[24] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s diaries and it is believed that he is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind with the Keith family to run his father’s farm

[25] Catherine’s daughter, Lucy Irene Lee

[26] His brother, Harvey Keith

[27] Harvey’s wife, Alfleda (Starr) Keith

[28] His daughters

[29] An artificial channel or bed of a stream leading water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, such as a mill or a mining claim

[30] Charles Luke Keith Sr., who was also referred to as Luke

[31] Hannah (Willcutt) Keith

[32] His son-in-law, Byron Clark

[33] Goldenseal, a wild harvested root in high demand in the 1860s used for coughs, digestive upset and pneumonia

[34] Thomas Flanders

[35] An axe handle

[36] Harriet (Blakslee) Keith

[37] The pole, or tongue, of a cart

[38] His mother’s brother, Warren Wolcott (Willcutt)

[39] A pole which was usually a 2-by-4-inch piece of white oak with a hole at the front for connecting the wagon to a hitch

[40] Edwin Flanders

[41] Joseph Warren

[42] Charles R. Cridland

[43] Platt Betts, his step father-in-law

[44] Nancy Pond

[45] A felloe, or felly, is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes

[46] Paulina (Benson) Deyoe

[47] Believe this is Thomas Jefferson Chaffee, the husband of Luke’s niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[48] Family story is that Luke would often play his violin at the graves of his first and second wives

[49] /- is the symbol for shilling

[50] George Tomlinson

[51] His daughter, Louese Jerusha Keith

[52] Believe this is his nephew, Harvey G. Keith

[53] Daniel D. Harris. Luke’s baby daughter, Louese, would grow up and marry Daniel’s son, Daniel Jr.

[54] Believe this is his cousin, Alvin Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[55] Etc.

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

[57] Daniel D. Harris’ father

[58] 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

[59] Omro, Wisconsin, where his wife Sarah’s mother and stepfather lived

[60] “Toots” is mentioned in many of Luke’s diary entries but so far have not been able to figure out who he is referring to

[61] Most likely Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr., who was serving in the Civil War

[62] His maternal first cousin

[63] His daughter, Louese Keith

[64] Lois’ mother-in-law, Angeline Clark

[65] Adaline (Ralph) Harris, the wife of Daniel D. Harris

[66] Walter V. Austin, the son of Almon & Chloe (Wilbur) Austin

[67] His wife Sarah’s brother

[68] His niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[69] The nephew of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith. Lauriston was killed in action during the Civil War on August 11, 1864 in Newtown, Virginia

[70] James S. King, his maternal first cousin

[71] Sarah’s brother, Henry Crawford