Luke Keith’s 1882 Diary

 1882 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1] 

Jan 1 – Aron Vandusen called here. We all went over to Hanks.

Jan 2 – Shelled corn and carried it to mill.

Jan 3 – Choped and drawed wood. About two inches snow. Jim[2] & Will Brown[3] went to Kalamazoo. Bot this Diary 35 cts.

Jan 4 – Pleasant day Mercury 5 Abz[4] in morning. Jim commenced choping for Hank.[5] Went over to burg[6] got potatoes $1.00. Sarah[7] found five Dollars. Cold windy day.

Jan 5 – Husked corn. Cold day. Jim chopping. No sleighing but very little snow on ground.

Jan 6 – Went down to Mrs Browns[8] got three bushels wheat carried it to mill paid $2.50. Not much work to day. Herb Earl[9] brot down a piece of Elm for hoop to his billiard board.

Jan 7 – Went over to burg after grist. Hanks folks[10] came over stayed all night. Rainy night. Solomon Youngs Died to day.[11]

Jan 8 – Rainy day. Hank & Nancy went up to Scots[12] to see Mrs Powers. I carried Hannah[13] down to Katharines.[14] Very windy day.

Jan 9 – Chored round. Husked some cut some wood.

Jan 10 – Worked on Herbs biliard table worked 4¼ Hours. Jim went down and got his Books. Snowed like fun[15] in afternoon. Jim went over to the Lyceum[16] in Evening.

Jan 11 – Cut and drawed three Loads wood. Worked in shop some. The slides came for Earls Table.

Jan 12 – Worked in shop on Billiards Table. Turned some for Theodore.[17] Turned two boxes split one. Jim and Charley Camp chopping down to Browns. Some sleighing. About 3 inches snow on ground.

Jan 13 – Went up to sawmill got huing block. Went over to burg to carry Nancys dress. Worked 6½ hours on Herbs Biliard Board. Rained some.

Jan 14 – Husked some chored round worked some on Earls board 1 Hour. Harry and Nell[18] here in Evening.

Jan 15 – Not very cold mercury 40 Abz in morning. Ethan[19] and Hannah went down to Katharines.

Jan 16 – Painted Herbs Board. Chored round. Not work much. Jim chopping with Rial French up to Win Fords. Clarrissa Turner Died this Evening.[20]

Jan 17 – Cold day. Painted Board over again finished turning the cues. Fanny Town[21] came over this afternoon a while.

Jan 18 – Worked in shop. Took table to pieces. Jesse Earl[22] came down a while. Boardman Chipman called here with one of Cate Isherwoods girls. James Ralph Died to night.[23]

Jan 19 – Went to Kalamazoo to Attend Clarrissa Turners Funeral. Fine day. Saw Jane Robinson, Silva Johnson and her two children. Charles and Rheoba got cutter (shoe $1.14 cts.

Jan 20 – Worked in shop. Made machine for striking an Elipsis. Very nice day not much snow on ground. Theodore brot Blackwalnut rail to repair table with.

Jan 21 – Made Axhelves[24] for Jim. Not very cold. Ethan and Jim got down some wood.

Jan 22 – At home all day. Very cold and blustring considerable like winter.

Jan 23 – Went over to burg in morning. Mrs Betts[25] went over. Painted Herbs board over. Went over to Burg in Evening. Took cutter over to get shoes put on.

Jan 24 – Worked on table 6½ Hours. Went over to burg in Evening got Bottle ink. Sent papers to George Tomlinson.[26] Mercury 2 Abz in morning. Sent papers to George.

Jan 25 – Worked in shop on Table 7½ Hours. Rained most all day. Hannah went up to Mr Earls to sewing.

Jan 26 – Worked in shop on table. Rainy day Mercury 53 Abz no snow. Mr Holmes Buried to day.[27] Austin Odell Buried to day.[28] Very muddy High wind this Evening.

Jan 27 – Went over to burg in morning bot oil and cake soap. Very nice day. Worked two Hours on Table. Herb came down. Mr Knapp came over here. Ethan went over to burg in afternoon. Harry called here.

Jan 28 – Worked on Table. Painted Herbs Board. Went down to Katharines. Cold wind. I got hurt. Wind blowed Barn Door against me hurt me good deal some.

Jan 29 – Came home at night. Broke Buggy spring. Cold west wind. Lucy[29] came up after Hannah.

Jan 30 – No work to day. Very lame. Pleasant day no snow on ground. Jim chopping for Hank. Jim joined the Templers this Evening.

Jan 31 – Pleasant day this morning. Worked on Board 1½. Herb brot some Turnips and carrots. No snow.

Feb 1 – Mercury 40 Abz. No work to day. Nice sunny day no snow nice october weather. Jim helping Harry Hall clover to day. Fine day for February first.

Feb 2 – No work to day lame as ever. Fine pleasant day no signs of snow nice fall weather. Ethan and Jim gone over to burg this Evening to Strait and Barber about patenting his machine.[30]

Feb 3 – Very Pleasant day. Worked on Table 6½ Hours. Jim went to mill got 1½ of wire Brown one bushel and half. Ethan went over to burg carried 2½ bushels wheat to mill.

Feb 4 – Worked some on Table. Very fine day. I am quite lame yet.

Feb 5 – At home all day. Pleasant as June.

Feb 6 – Went to Kalamazoo to get moddle. Roads nice and dusty. Very warm for February.

Feb 7 – Mrs Betts went to Chicago. Nice day. Sarah went over to Nancys stayed all day. Ethan went over after her in Evening show to Winslow Opera House. Hank went to Three Rivers. Worked on Table 5½ Hours.

Feb 8 – Worked in shop on Table. Mr Taylor got our Sausage Grinder.

Feb 9 – Worked on Sub Treasury Box. Finished the cues to the Trivoli Board. Sarah went down to M. O. Streators[31] in the afternoon. Very pleasant nice day.

Feb 10 – Put pictures on board for Herb. Sarah went over to Fanny Towns. Very fine day good October weather. Jim chopping to Taylors. Harry here in Evening.

Feb 11 – Not much work to day. Went over to burg in morning got some violin Timber. Saw Mr Signor, Mate Ford[32] and Mary ___ter here in afternoon. Nice day Mercury 56 Abz.

Feb 12 – Warm Mercury 53 Abz. Went up to Mr Hardy. Very fine day. Had a Thunder shower in night.

Feb 13 – Worked on Table 5 Hours. Nice day. Herb got his Trivoli Board.

Feb 14 – Worked on Herbs Box. Very fine day. Sarah went over to burg stayed all night.

Feb 15 – Worked on Herbs Box. Mercury 57 Abz. Worked in shop with door open very comfortable. Ida Barber Married to day to C Ugene How Editor of Galesburg Express.[33]

Feb 16 – Worked some on Box. Very fine day Mercury 52. Sarah came home this Evening. Smoky some like Indian Summer. El Cary Died to day.[34]

Feb 17 – Turned two table legs. A little cooler no snow. Last Club Dance in the night. Mrs Dr Upjohn Died to day.[35]

Feb 18 – Finished Herbs Box. Some colder cold East wind. Nancy came over. Mr George Sumner Died this Evening.[36]

Feb 19 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines.

Feb 20 – Chored round not much done. Rained some not very cold. Mrs Youngs called here.

Feb 21 – Worked on Table 6½ Hours just on the legs. Very blustrous snowed most all day very wintery. Mr Summer Buried to day. Mrs Youngs came here Stayed all night.

Feb 22 – Rough stormy day. Hank, Nancy, Jim and Lou went up to Scotts [Michigan] to a dance stayed all night.

Feb 23 – Young ones came home this morning. Not very cold snowed some. Nancy went down to Mrs Browns. Went over to Mill in afternoon.

Feb 24 – Went over to burg in morning got cutter fixed. Pleasant day not much sleighing. Carried Sarah, Mrs Brown and Nancy up to Mate Fords.

Feb 25 – Theodore came down in forenoon. Cleaned out shop in afternoon. Will Brown brot ash log for wiffletrees.[37] No sleighing snow most all gone.

Feb 26 – Not very cold no snow plenty wind. Lucy and Hellen[38] came up here.

Feb 27 – Worked on table some. Not very well some lame. Made rack for table leaves. Frank Tomlinsons Boy Born to day no live long.[39]

Feb 28 – Finished Table. Rainy day. Mrs Willard Mills Died at 12 Oclock to day.[40]

Mar 1 – Pleasant day mercury 60 Abz. Herb got Table. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns in afternoon. Mr Flanders[41] got croper tools.

Mar 2 – Jesse Earl paid me $9.00. Went to Kalamazoo to get Spring Mended. Jesse Earl went with me. Mrs Betts came home went over to Burg after Mrs Betts. Rial and Jim Chopping. Mrs Mills Buried.

Mar 3 – Chored round. Rial French choped with Jim.

Mar 4 – Theodore came down. Cut some washers for buggy. Rainy day.

Mar 5 – At home all day. Jim and Nancy went down to Marts.[42] Not very cold.

Mar 6 – Worked in shop made wiffletrees for Will Brown. Cool wind. Jim worked for Will Brown.

Mar 7 – Some cooler this morning no Snow.

Mar 8 – Worked in shop some glued dumb Bell together. Went over to burg bot pants 1.25. Ethan Turned heads for Charley Towns[43] Filter.

Mar 9 – Turned Dum bells. Rainy day rather cool. Dr Spinney Lecturing in Burg.

Mar 10 – Went down to Marts after Hannah. Took her over to burg. Mrs Betts went over with Mrs Brown.

Mar 11 – Went over to burg in afternoon girls all went to Lecture. Carried Jay Harris[44] pattern over. He paid 75 cts. Snowed in night.

Mar 12 – About two inches snow this morning. Went over to burg just at night. Took Hannah over brot Mrs Betts home. Very much muddy some.

Mar 13 – At home chored round worked in shop some. Sarah went over to Spinneys Lecture. Made stain.

Mar 14 – Made some stain to stain violin with. No good.

Mar 15 – About two inches snow. Went over to burg got some cochineal. Tried my luck a gain no get it right some no how. Jim went to work for Ed Flanders.[45]

Mar 16 – About two inches snow this morning Worked on violin some. Turned roller for Theodore $_____.

Mar 17 – Carried Sarah down to Mrs Browns to quilting. Nancy, Mrs Betts, Hannah and Lou went. Theodore and Jim Bartlett came down. Turned Brass pipe.

Mar 18 – Carried Sarah down to Mrs Browns to get quilt of. Mrs Siniska Tuttle Warren calld here.

Mar 19 – Ethan carried Hannah down to Katharines.

Mar 20 – Rainy day some. Swap Eggs with Patty[?] Earl. Saw Ciniska there.

Mar 21 – Hen commenced Sittin on the Earl Eggs. Snows and Blows quite hard.

Mar 22 – Around home choring some not much done. Went over to burg some.

Mar 23 – Worked round house and shop some. Not very well.

Mar 24 – Grubed out west garden along the road fence. Went over to burg in Evening to hear the Hurtt children sing.

Mar 25 – Went over to burg after Hannah Comfort.[46] Cold and snowey.

Mar 26 – At home all day. Hank and Nancy here. Rainy day. They stayed all night.

Mar 27 – Carried Nancy and children home in morning went over twice. Went down to Mrs Browns. No work some not much.

Mar 28 – Carried Katharine home in afternoon. Pleasant day. Smith Carleton and John Darling[47] making shugar sap run like fun.

Mar 29 – Carried Hannah over to Burg in morning. Chored round. Not very well hard cold.

Mar 30 – Rial French helped me draw wood. Cold wind.

Mar 31 – Made mallet for Allan Simmons.

Apr 1 – Chored round in forenoon. Grubed out Sassafras along the road West of garden. Ayres Raymond paid me 1.25 cts.

Apr 2 – Very warm day mercury 76 in shade at one o clock P.M.

Apr 3 – Went to Kalamazoo on Biz Niz. Fine Day. Jesse James the Train and Bank Robber Killed to day by Robert and Charles Ford[48] at St Joseph Missouri.

Apr 4 – Went over to burg to see D. Lamkin. Hen commenced setting on the Taylor Eggs. Will Brown commenced plowing for Oats. Rained all the afternoon and night.

Apr 5 – Rainy morning. Hannah Comfort went over to Nancys stayed all night. Dee Harris[49] came to day.

Apr 6 – Hannah Comfort started for home[50] this morning.

Apr 7 – Worked on box some. Ethan went over to burg. Charles P. Galligan Brot up to Galesburg and Buried.[51]

Apr 8 – Worked on Box put some Irons on side boards. Rainy.

Apr 9 – Jim went over brot Emma Allen[52] over. I went down to Mrs Browns. Mrs Albert Chase buried to day.[53]

Apr 10 – Worked in west garden raked up weeds and leaves burnt up the weeds and leaves.

Apr 11 – Worked in garden cleaned out sage roots.

Apr 12 – Worked in shop some on Box. Louese Married to day.[54] Fine day. Mr Van Blake came over in Evening. Carried Sarah over to Law Suit.

Apr 13 – Went over to Burg in morning. Worked in shop on Box. Will Brown plowing south lot for Oats.

Apr 14 – Worked on wagon Box some. Very nice day.

Apr 15 – Finished Box. Will Sowed the Oats. Lois and Ina[55] came on the noon train.

Apr 16 – Lois came over this morning. Fine day.

Apr 17 – Went down to Caywoods with Lois. Went up to Mr Flanders got some potatoes. Jim came home in Evening to see Lou and D.D.

Apr 18 – Went over to burg in morning with Trunk. D.D. and Lou started for Phoenix Northern Michigan in the copper mines.[56]

Apr 19 – Worked round some in shop in garden. Rainy and very windy.

Apr 20 – Some cold rainy and very windy some not much. Painted wagon box.

Apr 21 – Finished Wills Box. Fine pleasant day. Will plowed some. Lois went over to Nancys. Found calf in Barn this morning.

Apr 22 – Went over to Burg in morning carried Mrs Betts over. Will plowing. Very windy. Will got his Box. Cold bad day to be out. Lois went home[57] to day.

Apr 23 – At home all day. Went over to burg at night after Mrs Betts. Got 4 four bushels clover Seed of Mr Flanders.

Apr 24 – Dick Lamkins came over. Got out manure. Went over at noon with Hannah. She went to Vicksburg. Mrs Mary Crawford Died to day.[58] Dick had one bag corn.

Apr 25 – Dick and Boy drawing manure. Let Dick have one bag corn and fifty cents cash.

Apr 26 – Went down to M O Streators got some Turnips. Went over to burg in afternoon. Rained some.

Apr 27 – Sowed Clover seed on wheat lot south west. Mary Crawford Buried to day. Pleasant day. H. M. Shafter Died This Evening.[59]

Apr 28 – Finished Sowing clover Seed. Cold wind.

Apr 29 – Not much work to day. H. M. Shafter Buried to day. Cold wind in afternoon.

Apr 30 – At home all day. Nancy came over. Dick got bag corn.

May 1 – Worked round. Cold wind. Made some stove Boat[?]. Got some Rasberry roots of H. A. Taylor.

May 2 – Worked on Oats violin 2 Hours. Carried 1½ Bu corn to Mill.

May 3 – Pleasant day. Worked on violin. Let Dick have one Bag Corn. Went over to burg with Ed Flanders. See _____. Oscars Katey Died this Morning.[60] Rainy night.

May 4 – Rainy day. Went down to Mrs Browns in morning. Went over to burg in afternoon. Rainy got some wet. Planted potatoes in East garden.

May 5 – Nancy and Matilda Brown here. Cold wind. Planted some corn in west garden. Charley Town commenced planting to day.

May 6 – Went up to Scots after Hannah. Rained and hailed some.

May 7 – Went down to Katharines. All well. No rain.

May 8 – Went up to Mr Jo Flanders got 2½ bushels potatoes. Harry and Jo Darling plated and Harrowed corn ground. Charley Atkins Rolled East lot. Had a heavy rain.

May 9 – Went up to Mr Flanders got ½ bushel climax potatoes. Harry Draged and marked corn ground.

May 10 – Chored round. Some rainy day.

May 11 – Not much done. Cold rainy day. Wind North East.

May 12 – No work. Cold rainy day. Wind North East. Went over to burg in afternoon.

May 13 – Went over to Burg in morning to carry Hannahs cloak and Rubbers[?] over. Cold and rainy. North wind. Charley Camp Planting corn.

May 14 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Cold north East wind.

May 15 – Planted corn in west Lot. Harry, Oscar Darling, Ethan and meselfe soing Be Jabbers.[61] Will Brown sold Caty here in my yard for $90 Dollars. Swap Eggs with Fanny Town. Set hen.

May 16 – Put in back _____ Handle for Theodore. Got 12 bolts of Theodore. Pleasant day. Ethan and Hannah papering. Planted some potatoes. Thysa Youngs stayed here all night.

May 17 – Finished planting potatoes. Warm nice day.

May 18 – Hoed some in garden. Chored round generally.

May 19 – Worked round garden some. Went over to burg. Sarah went over to burg stayed all night.

May 20 – Went over to burg in morning after Sarah. Went over at noon to help Hank. He had got floor laid.

May 21 – Carried Mrs Betts over to Burg in morning to church to hear the gospel preached.

May 22 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Put in shelves in pantry. Hanks folks moving. Patty[62] came to day on noon train.

May 23 – Went over to burg got Pattys Trunk. Cold wind. No corn up yet not much.

May 24 – Frost this morning and some ice. Went over to burg. Mrs Browns Horses gone. Will had Bill[63] to find them. Carried Patty down to Katharines. Cold west wind. Had Jesse Earls ______ seat.

May 25 – Pleasant morning. Worked on violin some.

May 26 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Put up shelf for Nancy. Finished Oats violin. Rainy night.

May 27 – Rainy day. No work to day out side.

May 28 – Went down to Katharines to see Patty and all the rest. Fine day.

May 29 – Warm day. Put the cow into Theodores Pasture. Planted cranberry Beans in west garden. Hoed some corn in East garden.

May 30 – Hoed potatoes. Fine day. Edwin Flanders brot some lumber for his rack. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns. Mrs Betts went over to Burg.

May 31 – Rained some in forenoon. Went down to Katharines in forenoon to carry letter and paper to Patty. Went over to Hanks fixed Screen doors. Mr Josiah Loveland Buried to day.[64]

Jun 1 – Went over to burg. Finished Hanks doors in forenoon. Harry cultivated corn. I hoed some in garden.

Jun 2 – Rainy day some. Cut out some stuf for Eds Rack 3 Hours. Rained all night.

Jun 3 – Rainy day. Not much work to day. Ethan carried Mrs Betts over to Burg to conveniest meeting.

Jun 4 – Rainy and cold wind.

Jun 5 – Cut out stuf for Eds Rack. Hoed some.

Jun 6 – 45 Years to day Started for Michigan.[65] Bot gold ring of __. Clark Batai___ worked on road north of corners. Fine day.

Jun 7 – Worked on road. Warm day west wind all day. Ethan went down to Katharines to carry Pattys mail.

Jun 8 – Worked on road in forenoon. Cut weeds. Hoed some in garden.

Jun 9 – Worked round garden some. Nells Baby Died to day noon[?].[66]

Jun 10 – Hoed garden and chored round.

Jun 11 – At home. Alvin and his Mother[67] came up. Patty and Katharine came up here.

Jun 12 – Went over to burg in morning. Hoed garden and chored round.

Jun 13 – Went over to burg in morning after Nancy. Went back got mail.

Jun 14 – Worked on Rack and Box some. Old cow out. Went to Burg.

Jun 15 – Went up to Mr Ralphs to see rack. Carried Patty over to burg. Went over to burg in Evening. Sold lot Iron to Dick Lamkin. I came to Comstock Forty Five Years to day.

Jun 16 – Went over to burg in morning after Patty. Hatty and Frank[68] came to day. Katharine came up with them.

Jun 17 – Frank and Hat left for home. Not much _____ work to day.

Jun 18 – Patty and I went down to Katharines. Sarah Sick. Mr Hoover Died in night.[69]

Jun 19 – Carried Pattys Trunk over to Burg in morning. Went over at noon with Patty. She left for home on 12.30 train.

Jun 20 – Worked in shop some. Hoed some.

Jun 21 – Hoed East garden. Worked in shop some not much. Mr Hoover buried. Hot day.

Jun 22 – Went up to Mr Flanders in morning put cleats on box. Went over to burg in afternoon got some bolts and screws. Drayton Smith called here in afternoon. Very Hot 96 Abz.

Jun 23 – Cloudy and warm after the rain. Worked in shop on Rack.

Jun 24 – Worked in shop on Eds Stock Rack. Some rain in afternoon had a thunder shower in night.

Jun 25 – At home all day. Jim carried Mrs Betts over to Burg in morning. Jim and Charley Camp went up to York ville to see Gull Lake.

Jun 26 – Went over to Burg in morning after Box irons no get him. Went over at noon got some. Bot violin string of Wilson 25¢. Worked on box some.

Jun 27 – Warm morning. Went over to Burg Sarah went over. Ethan carried Mrs Betts down to Mrs Browns. Ida Barber How moved to Lansing.

Jun 28 – Worked in shop on Rack. Hot day.

Jun 29 – Will Brown commenced cutting clover in East Lot. Ethan and Mrs Betts Crawford Comfort went down to Katharines. Rained in night.

Jun 30 – Guiteaus a____ Rainy morning. Put Rack together. Mr Fisher Brot Hannah home. Big Necktye[?] Social at Washington.

Jul 1 – Worked in shop on Rack. Ethan took Mrs Betts over to Burg.

Jul 2 – At home all day. No one here.

Jul 3 – Worked on Rack. Mr Flanders came down. Had a shower in afternoon. Commenced painting Rack.

Jul 4 – Finished Rack put it on wagon. A. Hoag, Mary Mason and Mrs Hale called here. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Frank Austins Boy died to day.[70]

Jul 5 – Worked round shop and garden. Mr Flanders got the Rack.

Jul 6 – Went over to Burg in morning Brot Nancy over. Marion and Nell Bristol[71] came over here. Fred Austin Buried to day. Will Drawed in hay. Old cow out found her at ______ Barn.

Jul 7 – Will cutting and drawing hay. Had a shower in afternoon. Will Wightman Buried to day.[72]

Jul 8 – Rainy Day. Went up to Marshall to see Lois and the rest of the folks found them all well. Dell and I went to Ceresco in afternoon. Saw Mr Cole.

Jul 9 – At Skinners. Went over to Mrs Halls. Very Hot. Jimmy Goodrich Buried to day.[73]

Jul 10 – Went and saw Mr Coles folks in forenoon. Started for home ¼ past one P.M. go home about seven P.M. all right.

Jul 11 – Ethan took Hannah up to Em Ralphs.[74] He went to the burg. Will finished drawing hay in forenoon.

Jul 12 – Some rainy. Got 110 plants of Herb Earl. Turned 8 pins for Ayres Raymond 15 for Harry Streator.

Jul 13 – Chored round. Hoed some in garden &c.[75] Show in burg in Evening.

Jul 14 – Show went up the Hill[?]. Chored round. Hoed some in garden.

Jul 15 – Turned 35 pins for Jim Milham,[76] Orrin Knapp and John Culver. Cut wheat on hill south of corn.

Jul 16 – Mrs Abraham Lincoln Died to day. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg to hear and see the gospel preached. Went after her at noon. Charly Town commenced cutting wheat cross the road. Turned Fan and Bill in East Lot.

Jul 17 – Made soap in forenoon. Made fence East side of the Barn. Charly finished cutting this afternoon. Nice harvest weather dry not very hot.

Jul 18 – Hoed strawberries in the forenoon. Jim Milham got his pins. Put in cradle hinges[?] for Mr Flanders. Got Boards for door step.

Jul 19 – Hoed in garden some. Chored round. Mrs Abraham Lincoln Buried to day.

Jul 20 – Worked on door step some in afternoon. Will Brown drawed in the wheat.

Jul 21 – Finished Door step. Not very hot. Ethan went over to burg. Lelah[77] came home with him.

Jul 22 – Worked on Door frame some.

Jul 23 – At home all day. Ethan carried Hannah down to Katharines.

Jul 24 – Work on Door frame. Barber came over.

Jul 25 – Finished door frame put wire on. Went over to burg in Evening. Marion Bristol started for Massachusetts on one oclock train. Pet Beckwith married to night.[78]

Jul 26 – Very hot and dry. N. L. Randel[79] thrashing.

Jul 27 – Cut grass in orchard. Put paper on Mrs Betts room over head. Had a nice shower rained most of the night Thunder and Lightning.

Jul 28 – Put up Screen Door this morning. Chored round. Cow got out. Finished papering Mrs Betts room. Old cow went to Bull about 4 oclock P.M. sharp.

Jul 29 – Repaired cow poke. Old cow got out. Had a Divle of a time to get her. Found her up by Davis Staffords in Evening. Grange Meeting at Bert Staffords. Jesse Crawford[80] came.

Jul 30 – At home all day. Kept Fan in Barn all day. Ethan went down to Marts after Hannah.

Jul 31 – Cut hole into west Leanto attic. Rainy some rained some in night. Hannah went Down to Streators in Evening to make Dress for Mrs Streator.[81]

Aug 1 – Put frame into the Partition. Rainy afternoon warm. Ban Jacobs hors in pasture.

Aug 2 – Worked round shop and house. Sawed out violin tops. Rained in night.

Aug 3 – Put violin top together. Rainy day some. Not feeling very well.

Aug 4 – Cloudy some sprinkle not much. Cats came back this morning.

Aug 5 – Worked on violin top some. Nancy and children came over. Nel Bristol came over with them.

Aug 6 – Ed Flanders paid me $5.00. Rainy afternoon. Jim carried Mrs Betts over to Burg. Jim went up to Jo Smiths in afternoon.

Aug 7 – Worked in shop some. Chored round. Some rainy.

Aug 8 – Went down to Mrs Browns got Horse and wagon. Went over to Burg got lumber to seel the west bedroom over head. Mr Kent commenced cutting the oats. Charley Town cutting Oats.

Aug 9 – Went over to Burg in morning got paint and paper for Bedroom. Mr Kent cutting oats. Some rain.

Aug 10 – Put on seeling. Kent finished cutting oats. Old Mr Patterson Died.[82] Cool wind cloudy.

Aug 11 – Repaired Bills Poke in morning.

Aug 12 – Finished putting on seeling. Worked in shop some. Florence and Boy called here in Evening.

Aug 13 – At home all day. Hank here to Breakfast. Carried Mrs Betts over to Burg. Ethan and Hannah went down to Mrs Browns.

Aug 14 – Went over to burg in morning after mortar no got some. Whittled some on violin neck. Charley Town thrashed his wheat. Austin Potts was de man.

Aug 15 – Went over to burg after mortar got him. Very hot. Got Barbers trowel.

Aug 16 – Put on mortar. Mary Flanders[83] and Florance came here. Mr Flanders here to tea.

Aug 17 – Painted some in west bedroom &c.

Aug 18 – Went over got oil. Painted seeling in west bedroom &c. Thysa Youngs and Daughter Elsie called here.

Aug 19 – Painted sash &c. Rained in afternoon. Went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Aug 20 – Went over to Mr Elwoods in fore noon with Mart came home at night.

Aug 21 – Painted seeling in west Bedroom. Whittled some on violin. Theodore and Orrin Schram drawed away the stone pile out by the Buggy House.

Aug 22 – Went over to burg got my new trowziz [trousers?]. Nell Bristol came over and helped paper the west Bedroom. Rained in the Evening warm rain.

Aug 23 – Cloudy 73 Abz in morning. Chored round. Worked in shop some. Florence came down just at night.

Aug 24 – Florence here. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to see Dr. Spinney. Florence went over to Nancys just at night. Bessy sick.

Aug 25 – Worked in shop some. Chored around some.

Aug 26 – Went over to burg in morning. No work to day. Hiram and family[84] came to day. Hite[85] sick.

Aug 27 – Hite some sick. Ethan gone after Nancy. Bessy sick she no come. Jim and Florence went up to Gull Lake. Edwin and Mary and children[86] went also.

Aug 28 – Hites folks started for home left here about ten A.M.

Aug 29 – At home. Chored round. Went down to Katharines in afternoon with Hannah. She went down to fit Clarras[87] dress.

Aug 30 – Choring around. Paint some.

Aug 31 – Went up to Mr Flanders carried some cucumber. Got some apples. Ed & Mary and Mabel went to Vicksburg to Pioneer Picknic. Nell Stanford[88] here.

Sep 1 – Carried Mrs Betts over to burg she went up to Augusta. Carried Sarah over in Evening she stayed all night. Paint some. Mrs Jones killed two Cats.

Sep 2 – Cut corn in garden. Painted seat to Mrs Jones.

Sep 3 – At home all day. Rained in afternoon.

Sep 4 – Hannah went to Mr Franklins. Mrs Betts came home from Augusta. I went over to burg after her.

Sep 5 – Chored around. Worked on Blackboard some. Fine weather. Edwin Flanders called here in Evening.

Sep 6 – Worked round shop some. Went over to burg. Worked on Green board some.

Sep 7 – Put cleats on Green board. Turned out box for Town pump at Galesburg.

Sep 8 – Ethan, Mrs Brown, Nancy, Hannah and Nell Bristol went over to Schoolcraft to Spiritualist Meeting.[89]

Sep 9 – Foggy. Worked round house. Painted Kitchen and some oder dings.[90]

Sep 10 – Foggy morning. At home all day. Ethan took Mrs Betts over to burg to hear the Gospel talked about.

Sep 11 – Commenced Topping corn. Fine warm day.

Sep 12 – Topping corn some. Fine day.

Sep 13 – Topping corn and choring round. Florence and her mother came here stayed all night. Edwin and Mary came down.

Sep 14 – Topping corn. Florence and mother went home over to burg in afternoon.

Sep 15 – Toped corn. Warm day very dry.

Sep 16 – Toped corn. Hot and dry. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns. Mrs Betts went over to Burg with Mr Bronson.

Sep 17 – Hank and Ethan went up to Edmon Chase[91] after crab Apples. They went with Bill. Very hot and dry.

Sep 18 – Worked in corn some. Fine day.

Sep 19 – Went over to burg. Got Hook made for stone boat.[92] Mr Taylor sick.

Sep 20 – Topt some corn. Chored round.

Sep 21 – Topt corn put in stack[?]. A. R.[93] and Lois came stayed all night. Will Brown thrashed wheat and oats had 48 Bushels wheat 60 bushels oats.

Sep 22 – A. R. went to _____. Ethan went down and got Nancy and Hannah. Took up the Milham Note $26.32 cent. Got the money of Hank Brown.

Sep 23 – Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo to see Florence. Cut some corn. Nell came over. Nancy went home. Mrs Ira Clark Died this Morning.[94]

Sep 24 – At home all day. Edwin and Mary Flanders called here just at night.

Sep 25 – Topt corn. Warm day. _____ paid Hank $___.00 cash.

Sep 26 – Finished my corn. Cut up sweet corn. Quite warm.

Sep 27 – Made cross Head for Theodore. Dick Lamkins brot his organ over had it cleaned and new knees well made. He and his wife here to dinner. They went after Elder berries.

Sep 28 – Pickd beans. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Florence left for California. Louese and D. came on Evening freight.

Sep 29 – Went over to Burg in morning to mill. Got slating for Black board. Went over to burg after Louese. Not much rain.

Sep 30 – Some cloudy. Went over to burg in morning got glass and putty. Set glass in windows at School House. Lois and Ina came in Evening.

Oct 1 – At home all day. Lois and Ina here, D. and Lou, Hank and Nancy.

Oct 2 – At home. Put slating on Black Board. Cow got out went after her at night.

Oct 3 – Lou and I went to find cow went up to Nelt Blasses in forenoon up to Oatmans in afternoon no find her.

Oct 4 – I went up East in forenoon found her at Marhops. Dug some potatoes in afternoon.

Oct 5 – Dug some potatoes. Very warm and dry. Erve Stilwell thrashed his Buckwheat on Wrights place had 126 Bushels. Jim came home sick some. No work.

Oct 6 – Dug potatoes. Warm and dry very much. Lou up to Mr Ralphs. Mr Wm Blass Died to day[95] been out of health some time some _____. Not much done.

Oct 7 – Dug some potatoes husked some corn. Ethan and Nell went to Kalamazoo. Mrs Betts went over to burg Stayed all night to Hanks.

Oct 8 – Hank and Nancy, D. and Lou, Hannah and Jim went up to Scotts. Nell and Lelah & Bessy stayed here. Mr Wm Blass Buried to day.

Oct 9 – Made Box for stone Boat. Ethan dug potatoes in afternoon.

Oct 10 – Finished Box. Mr Knapp came over. Drawed down the potatoes. Ethan dug some in forenoon. Barber here to dinner. Had a good rain in afternoon.

Oct 11 – Dug potatoes drawed some down put them in cellar.

Oct 12 – Drawed down some potatoes. Dug in afternoon. Ethan took Sarah over to burg. Lelah came back with him. Cora Harris[96] came stayed all night. Mr John Allen Died.[97]

Oct 13 – Dug potatoes and drawed down some. Had a heavy shower. Dug some in afternoon.

Oct 14 – Finished digging potatoes got them in the cellar. Ethan went over after Sally[98] in Evening. Mr John Allen buried to day.

Oct 15 – Went over to burg in morning after Hoops for Mary Fisher. D.D.[?] came home this morning. I got a nice present This morning from the children a nice Nicle plated clock as a Birth day Present. I am 69 years old this fifteenth day of October 1882.

Oct 16 – Worked round barn and house. Shelled sunflower seeds.

Oct 17 – Ethan went to Chicago. Put some batten[99] on corn house. Went over to burg in morning.

Oct 18 – Went over to burg in morning. Worked on corn house put on battens patched roof some. Smith Carleton came up after Sarah in night for Lucy.

Oct 19 – Went over to burg. Took Hannah over to Erve Blakes. Toots[100] girl Born This morning.[101] Husked some corn.

Oct 20 – Husked corn. Fine day. Went down after Sarah.

Oct 21 – Husked corn part of the day. Went to mill. Took Lou over to burg in Evening and Hannah down to Mrs Browns. Ethan got home from Chicago.

Oct 22 – At home all day. Newton McLarry buried to day.[102]

Oct 23 – Husking corn. Warm and dry.

Oct 24 – Husking corn. Warm.

Oct 25 – Sick no Husk to day. Warm nice day.

Oct 26 – Husking corn. Edna Allen came here to day. Nice pleasant weather.

Oct 27 – Husked corn. Fine day.

Oct 28 – Husking corn. Edna here.

Oct 29 – At home all day. Edna here.

Oct 30 – Husked corn picked some. Rainy night.

Oct 31 – Warm mercury 66. Finished picking corn. Took Lous things over to burg. Lou moved to Shelbyville[103] to day.

Nov 1 – Husked corn some & cut some wood.

Nov 2 – Drawed some wood. Fine day. Ethan carried Mrs Betts down to Mrs Browns to see Lois.

Nov 3 – Finished Husking corn. Very pleasant weather. Plained out step for Nancys plant stand in Evening.

Nov 4 – Chored round. Not much work done. Went over to burg.

Nov 5 – Went down to Katharines. Some cold. Went over to Burg after I got home after Mrs Betts.

Nov 6 – Worked in shop made mallet for Mr Chester[?]. Cold rainy day some.

Nov 7 – No work to day. Went over to Election. Broke Buggy thill.[104] Ethan went over in Evening carried Tools over to do some work for Hank.

Nov 8 – Shelled some corn. Picked out some spokes for my wheels. Mr Jacob Fancher buried to day in Galesburg cemetry. He died in dacota.

Nov 9 – Drawed some lidle wood. Got my hickory stick out East side of East lot. Theodore went out with me. Turned some for Theodore. Mr Flanders brot ____ rack. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns to see Lois.

Nov 10 – Went over to burg in morning. Got thill for buggy. Sick all day and all night. Mr Streator (illegible). Jim husked corn. Warm day.

Nov 11 – Harry got home they all came down. Husked in forenoon. Harry finished in afternoon. Not very well. Went and put stops in windows at schoolhouse. Ethan and Sarah went over to burg in afternoon.

Nov 12 – Jim took Mrs Betts over to church in morning. He went up to Scotts.

Nov 13 – Not very well no work to day only chores.

Nov 14 – Went over to burg to mill carried wheat and corn. Mrs Brown got home.

Nov 15 – Stephen Withey[?] Died to day. Choring. Hannah came home from Gibsons. Ethan took her down to Caywoods. Not cold. David Powlison Died This morning.[105]

Nov 16 – Went over to burg after meal. Broke thill iron again. Mr Flanders brot wagon down. Rainy night.

Nov 17 – Carried Sarah over to burg got flour. Not much work to day. David Powlison buried to day.

Nov 18 – Mr Flanders brot Lois and Ina down. Chored round.

Nov 19 – Lois, Jim and Will here today. Pleasant day no snow no frost in ground.

Nov 20 – Worked in shop some. Put thill in buggy.

Nov 21 – Worked in shop some. Chored round. Ethan made some castings.

Nov 22 – Carried Lois over to burg in morning. Turned out some pump stops for Theodore.

Nov 23 – Some rainy. Ethan, Sarah, Lois and Hannah gone to Kalamazoo. I filed buck saw.

Nov 24 – Worked in shop some (illegible). Broke _____ on auger. Elva Crossfields here. Herb came down in Evening.

Nov 25 – Drawed some wood in sleigh. Abrose Milham and wife,[106] Zeak and Kate Davison called here awhile.

Nov 26 – At home all day. Lois and Ina here. About 4 inches snow.

Nov 27 – Lois and Ina went home. Hank & Nancy Home. Ethan, ____, ____ and Jim went to Kalamazoo to theater in Evening. Bessie stayed here all night Lelah went to Shelbyville. James Nobles died to day.[107]

Nov 28 – Ethan took Hannah down to Mate Fords.[108] Took ____ over to Burg in forenoon.

Nov 29 – Not very well not much work but chores. James Nobles buried to day.

Nov 30 – Worked round barn cleared out so as to put fodder in.

Dec 1 – Jim and Will got in corn fodder. Warm day. Mr Charles Dibble Buried to day.[109]

Dec 2 – Went over to burg in morning got auger mended. No sleighing. Jim sawing wood for Bill Ralph. Will to work for Harry Streator cleaning wheat.

Dec 3 – At home all day. Clarra, George and Lee came up here to day. Not very cold no snow of any account.

Dec 4 – Shelled some corn carried it to mill. Jim and Will went hunting.

Dec 5 – Went over to mill in fore noon. Took the old wagon wheels to pieces. Mrs Clinton here in afternoon. Bot Diary for 1883 45 cts.

Dec 6 – At Home. Some cold. Carried some potatoes over to Hanks. Snowed in night.

Dec 7 – Mercury 6 Abz. Finished boring standards for rack. Snows about 4 inches deep.

Dec 8 – Mercury 5 below zero in morning.

Dec 9 – Worked in shop some chored round.

Dec 10 – At home all day no one here. Mrs Betts went to Burg to church.

Dec 11 – Worked in shop some ledle unto. Cold some sleighing. Mended Clauds skate.

Dec 12 – Went over to burg in morning with cutter. Sarah went over stayed to Nancys. Went over after her in Evening.

Dec 13 – Cold and blustrous. Carried Hannah down to M. O. Streators in afternoon. Hat Allen left for Niles.

Dec 14 – Went over to Burg after Nancy. Chored round worked in shop some.

Dec 15 – Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Cold snowed some. Jim and Will chopping. Very good sleighing.

Dec 16 – Shelled corn in forenoon carried corn and oats to mill. Repaired violin for Young Fay. Paid my Tax $5.82.

Dec 17 – At home all day. Jim went over to Burg. Took Nancy and Bessey out riding.

Dec 18 – Mercury 9 Below zero. Jim and Will drawed wood. Ethan casting.

Dec 19 – Mercury 20 Above zero. Went over to Burg after grist. Bot Mittens 50 cts. Rained some in Evening.

Dec 20 – Mercury 30 Ab zero. Jim and Will chopping. Rainy day some.

Dec 21 – Not much work but chores. Snow all gone.

Dec 22 – Not very well. Worked some in shop not much.

Dec 23 – Went over to Burg carried over my Receipt for High way work. Lou & Cory came on the noon Train. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Dec 24 – Carried Mrs Betts over to Burg to Bap Church. Brot Lelah and Bessy over took them Back at night. Jim took Charley Camp up to Scotts.

Dec 25 – Went over to Hanks to dinner. Very much wet snow. Had a Lottery sold two Bibles. Oat Hill got the Large one $.12 Burt Warren the other.

Dec 26 – Good sleighing this morning. Went over to burg in morning got Bessey. Bot Boots paid 4.00.

Dec 27 – Went over to burg took Bessey home. Old Mrs Ralph came here. Dell & Mr Smith here to Dinner. Mr Ralph took dinner. Sarah & I went up to Mr Flanders in Evening.

Dec 28 – Worked in shop some on Jims Violin Trunk. Hannah sewing to Mr Towns.

Dec 29 – Worked on Trunk all day. Not very cold. Hannah came home to night.

Dec 30 – Worked round some in shop some on corn shelter[?]. Not very good sleighing. Took Lou up to Mr Ralphs in Evening.

Dec 31 – At home all day. D. came this morning. He went after Lou in Evening. Stella Milham[110] and Emma Allen called here to see Lou in afternoon.

Memoranda

Cure for Small Pox
Sulphate of Zinc 1 Grain
Fox Glove 1 Grain
Half Teaspoon Sugar mix with two Tablespoonful water
when thoroughly mixed ad four ounces water
Take a Spoonfull every Hour. For a child – smaller dos according to age

To Kill Cabbage Worms Persian Insect Powder

325 Bushels Oats from 3 & ¼ acres of ground the Oats was of the Blu___ or Poland variety

——-

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

[2] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[3] Willis Brown, the son of Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown and the brother-in-law of Luke’s daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[4] Above zero

[5] Henry Brown, his daughter Nancy’s husband

[6] Galesburg, Michigan

[7] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith; the 2019 equivalent of $5.00 is just under $125.00

[8] Neighbor, Matilda (Allen) Brown (see footnote to January 3rd entry)

[9] Neighbor and “shirttail” relative

[10] Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown and their three children: Claude, Lela and Bess

[11] No records confirming his death or burial were found

[12] Scotts, Michigan

[13] His daughter, Hannah Keith

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

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

[16] Lyceums flourished in the U.S. before and after the Civil War. During this period hundreds of informal associations were established for the purpose of improving the social, intellectual, and moral fabric of society. The lyceum movement featured lectures, dramatic performances, class instructions, and debates, by noted lecturers, entertainers and readers. They would travel the “lyceum circuit,” going from town to town or state to state to entertain, speak, or debate in a variety of locations, never staying in one place for too long. Their appearances were open to the public, which caused them to contribute significantly to the education of the adult American in the 19th century

[17] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Theodore Earl, and brother of Herb Earl (see entry of January 6th)

[18] Neighbors, Harry Streator (son of Marius & Laura [Rawson] Streator), and his first cousin, Nellie (Underwood) Stanford

[19] His son, Ethan Keith

[20] No death record was found for Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner, however FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[21] Neighbor, Frances Towne, the sister of Charles Towne who would become Hannah Keith’s husband

[22] Neighbor and “shirttail” relative; father of Herbert and Theodore Earl mentioned earlier

[23] Michigan death records list James Ralph’s date of death as January 9, 1882 (not January 18) in Pavilion, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan, showing his date of death as “Jun” 9, 1882

[24] Ax handles

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

[26] The husband of Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[27] Michigan death records show that Hamlin Holmes died in Comstock, Michigan on January 24, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[28] Michigan death records show that Austin Odell died in Comstock, Michigan on January 24, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[29] His niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham

[30] For more about the binder machine see my blog post at https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2018/11/15/ethan-keith-inventor

[31] His neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[32] Neighbor, Mary Ann (Thompson) Ford

[33] Michigan marriage records show that C. Eugene Howe and Ida Barber were married in Galesburg, Michigan on February 15, 1882

[34] FindAGrave.com shows that Ananias E Caray (A. Ell Caray in the 1880 census) died February 16, 1882 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[35] Michigan death records show that Maria (Mills) Upjohn died February 17, 1882 in Richland, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[36] Michigan death records confirm that he died on February 18, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[37] A whiffletree is 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

[38] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York. Lucy and Helen were half-sisters, both daughters of Luke’s sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[39] Frank was Luke’s grand-nephew, the son of George & Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson. No records confirming the birth/death or name of the baby were found

[40] Maria (Root) Mills. FindAGrave.com confirms her date of death as February 28, 1882; she is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[41] Most likely his neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[42] Martin Milham, the husband of his niece, Lucy Lee

[43] Neighbor Charles Towne, who would marry his daughter Hannah

[44] Neighbor Jay Ralph Harris

[45] Edwin Flanders, son of Joseph Flanders (see footnote to March 1st entry)

[46] Nancy Betts’ niece, Hannah Marie Comfort

[47] Neighbors, Smith Carlton and John Darling

[48] Jesse James was shot to death by Robert Ford, a member of his gang who hoped to collect the bounty on Jesse’s head. Charley was Robert’s younger brother and also a member of the James Gang

[49] Neighbor, Daniel D. Harris Jr. He was referred to as D.D. or D.

[50] Ontario, Canada

[51] Michigan death records show that he died in Waverly, Michigan on September 13, 1880; FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[52] Neighbor Emeretta Allen

[53] Possibly Louisa (Stewart) Chase, the widow of Albert Chase; research continues

[54] His daughter, Louese, married Daniel D. Harris Jr. (see footnote to April 5th entry)

[55] His granddaughter (Lois’ daughter), Ina Skinner

[56] D.D.’s family had a general store in Phoenix and he and Louese were moving there to work the store

[57] Ceresco, Michigan which was about 25 miles from Comstock/Galesburg

[58] Mary was the widow of Edwin Crawford who was the brother of Luke’s wife Sarah. FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac, Michigan

[59] Michigan death records confirm that Hugh M. Shafter died on April 27, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Shafter Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[60] Catherine (Keith) Randall, the daughter of Luke’s nephew, James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith. Michigan death records reveal that she died at the age of 20 of consumption on May 3, 1882 in Bloomingdale, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in Covert Cemetery, Covert, Michigan

[61] Bejabbers is a euphemistic alteration of bejesus (or by Jesus), and was used as a mild oath expressing astonishment, dismay, disbelief, or the like

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

[63] His horse

[64] Michigan death records show that Josiah Loveland died in Comstock, Michigan on May 29, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[65] From Covington, Genesee County, New York

[66] Unknown at this time; research continues

[67] His cousins, Alvin Lee and Juliana (Davis) Lee

[68] Frank & Harriet (Root) Tomlinson

[69] Oak Grove Cemetery records show that John J. Hoover died June 18, 1882

[70] Michigan death records reveal that Fred Austin, age 17, the son of Franklin & Gertrude (Quick) Austin, died on July 4, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[71] Sisters, Marian and Helen “Nellie” Bristol, were cousins of Henry Brown

[72] Michigan death records reveal that William Wightman died July 6, 1883, however FindAGrave.com gives his year of death as 1882, which agrees with Luke’s diary entry, and shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[73] Michigan death records show that James Goodrich, age 33, died in the asylum in Kalamazoo County, Michigan on July 8, 1883; however, FindAGrave.com gives his year of death as 1882, which agrees with Luke’s diary entry, and shows he is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[74] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

[75] Etc.

[76] Neighbor, and half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for March 5th entry)

[77] His granddaughter, Lela Brown

[78] Michigan marriage records show that Alice Bell Beckwith married Richard Wesley Wells in Galesburg, Michigan on July 25, 1882; Alice was the daughter of neighbors Ezra & Amelia (Anderson) Beckwith

[79] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[80] Jessie Crawford, the daughter of Luke’s brother-in-law, Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford

[81] Neighbor, Laura (Rawson) Streator, the wife of Marius O. Streator (see footnote to February 9th entry)

[82] Michigan death records reveal that Orrin Patterson, 70, died of pneumonia in Comstock on August 10, 1882. FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[83] Mary (Smith) Flanders, wife of Edwin Flanders

[84] His brother-in-law and family: Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, and their children, Harry, Jessie and Blanche

[85] Nickname for Hiram

[86] Edwin, Mary, Mabel and Wilbur Flanders

[87] Possibly Catherine’s granddaughter, Clara Milham, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[88] Nellie (Underwood) Stanford

[89] Both the Brown and Keith families, as well as several of their neighbors, were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances

[90] Other things

[91] Edmund Chase, Henry Brown’s uncle

[92] A type of sled for moving heavy objects such as stones or hay bales

[93] Adelbert R. Skinner

[94] Angeline Clark, the mother of Luke’s daughter Lois’s first husband, Byron Clark. Unable to confirm date or place of death

[95] Michigan death records confirm that William Blass died in Comstock on October 6, 1882. His cause of death was listed as softening of the brain. FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[96] D.D. Harris’ sister

[97] Michigan death records confirm that John S. Allen died in Comstock on October 12, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[98] Nickname for his wife Sarah

[99] A long, flat strip of squared wood or metal used to hold something in place or as a fastening against a wall

[100] Lucy (Lee) Milham’s nickname

[101] Gertrude Irene Milham

[102] Michigan death records confirm that John N. McClary died in Detroit, Michigan on October 20, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[103] Shelbyville, Michigan

[104] The long shaft between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[105] Michigan death records confirm that David Powlison died in Comstock, Michigan on November 15, 1882 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[106] Ambrose & Lydia (Turner) Milham. Ambrose and James Milham (see footnote to July 15th entry) were brothers and they were half-brothers to Martin Milham

[107] FindAGrave.com shows that James Nobles died in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York on November 27, 1882 and is buried in Maplewood Cemetery, also in Pavilion. James was a cousin of Luke’s wife Sarah

[108] Neighbor, Mary Ann “Mate” (Thompson) Ford

[109] FindAGrave.com reveals that Charles Dibble died November 28, 1882 and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[110] The daughter of James Milham (see footnote to July 15th entry) & Ellen Adams

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Luke Keith’s 1878 Diary

1878 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Went over to burg[2] after Hannah.[3] Henry[4] came down went over got Nancy.[5] Jim[6] went over got Hank[7] at night. All here to supper. Davis Stafford and Mr Giddings called here.

Jan 2 – Drawed 4 loads wood. Carried Hannah down to Caywoods in morning. Ed Phelps buried to day.[8] Cold day, no snow.

Jan 3 – Pleasant clear morning, mercury 14 Abz[9] in morning. Went over to burg[10] in forenoon with M. O. Streator.[11] Bot two Diarys 40¢ one for Ethan.[12]

Jan 4 – Went to Comstock[13] to mill carried 4 bushels corn, two bushels wheat, two of Buckwheat. Snowed quite hard. Mr Barton[14] thrashed some wheat. Harry Streator[15] drawed load wood.

Jan 5 – Mr Barton thrashing. Mercury 12 Abz at noon. Worked in shop some. Put sills together. Some snow. Mr Burgess little boy buried to day.[16] Went over to burg got Katharines[17] carpet 7.85.

Jan 6 – Snows like fun[18] this morning. At home all day. Charley Whiting[19] got Ernests[20] cutter.

Jan 7 – Mr Barber[21] finished thrashing had Eight bushels wheat. Went up to Foundry in afternoon.

Jan 8 – Cleaned out Barn and chored round. Fastened[?] up north cellar windows. Spect Ida Allerton was married to day[22] dont know sartin.[23]

Jan 9 – Not very cold mercury 31 Abz at ten AM. Some sleighing. Dell and Lois[24] called here on their way to _____. Rained some.

Jan 10 – No sleighing, not very cold. Not very well. No work to day.

Jan 11 – No work, hard cold. Not much done, at home all day.

Jan 12 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah and Mrs Betts[25] went over. Claud[26] came over with us. Mrs Betts stayed. Went down to Katharines just at night. Carried her carpet down. Stayed all night.

Jan 13 – At Katharines stayed all day. Came home at night. Snowed hard. Not very cold. Very good wheeling. Not much mud.

Jan 14 – Went over to burg in morning after Mrs Betts. Not much snow, not very cold. Sarah[27] went over to Hanks in Evening with Browns folks.[28] Mrs McKinney[29] there.

Jan 15 – Worked on boddy some. Not verry cold. Barber drawed some manure. Put one side on boddy.

Jan 16 – Worked in shop on boddy put sides on.

Jan 17 – Went to Comstock to mill carried 3 bushels wheat. Got my Buckwheat flour. Come back by Kates. Got some fresh meat. Dell and Lois came stayed all night. Fine day.

Jan 18 – Fine day. Not much done to day. Skinners[30] went home. Carried Sarah over to burg at night. Very pleasant day no snow.

Jan 19 – Worked in shop on Simmons buggy boddy. Not verry well. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in Evening. Not very cold. Rained in night. Mercury 48 Abz. Stopt milking the cow.

Jan 20 – Rainy, Mercury 38 Abz in morning. Muddy as the Devil not verry deep however. Went over to burg took Hannah over got Sarah and Mrs Betts. Rainy night.

Jan 21 – Rainy morning. Jim commenced going to School to _____ at the burg. Carried Hannah machine over to burg. Paid N. L. Randal[31] two Dollars for order.

Jan 22 – Worked in shop. Put seat bottom together. Not very well. Snows some. Not very well. Went down to Browns. Got some Hogs heads &c.[32]

Jan 23 – XX Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. No get some money. No work in shop much. Filed saw for Jo Flanders.[33] He brot some beef down. Freight train broke into on Prairie just at night.

Jan 24 – Worked on seat. Put the flare on seat bottom. Very pleasant day. Not very well now a days.

Jan 25 – Worked in shop some on Henrys thill.[34] Allen Simmons called here to see his buggy boddy. Bot shelf to stove pipe. Gave two bushels corn for it. Nice day, no snow.

Jan 26 – Put thills together. Fine day. Browns folks and Arthur Arms and wife,[35] Hank and Nancy all here in Evening. Josefine Whiting died in night at 12 oclock.[36]

Jan 27 – At home all day. Mr Barber and Ida[37] came over. Brot Mrs Betts home. Henry came down.

Jan 28 – Nice day. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Henry came down brot money from Frank sent for belts. Josefine Whiting brot in from Chicago and buried.

Jan 29 – Worked in shop. Finished Henrys thill.

Jan 30 – Mercury 27 Abz. Very cold windy day. Worked on seat. No snow on ground. Hard on wheat.

Jan 31 – Worked in shop on boddy. Fine day. Snowy day.

Feb 1 – Went over to burg after money no get it. Worked in shop on buggy boddy.

Feb 2 – Went over and moved Hank into Schroeders house. Received of Township Treasurer 56 fifty six Dollars. Paid Minnie Randall 40 forty Dollars.

Feb 3 – At home all day. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Harry Streator. Mart, Lucy[38] and Jo York[39] came up after Hannah. Mercury 6 below zero.

Feb 4 – Mercury 10 below zero in morning. Filed saw for Erve Hall.[40] Went over to burg in afternoon.

Feb 5 – Drawed one load wood. Mr someboddy put shelf on Nancys stove.

Feb 6 – Worked in shop some. Made jacks for Simmons buggy. Charley Howlet called here from Perry.[41] Said the folks wer all well.

Feb 7 – Worked in shop some. Not very cold.

Feb 8 – Went to Comstock to mill. Carried 4 bushels buckwheat. Snowed like fun afternoon and Evening. Barbers folks[42] over here.

Feb 9 – Blustrous day. Sawed and drawed two loads wood. Hank and Nancy came over stayed all night. Dick Lamkins came down left his violin.

Feb 10 – Cold. Henry called here. He went up to Jo Flanders.[43] Ethan went over to Nancys.

Feb 11 – Worked on buggy pole for Will Brown.[44] Not very cold mercury at zero.

Feb 12 – Worked in shop some on pole. Dick Lamkin got his violin. Went down to A. Browns in afternoon. Some Snow. Folks draw some logs. Mrs Jane Sunderland died to day.[45]

Feb 13 – Fine morning mercury 28 A. Carried Sarah over to burg. Carried Alfleda[46] down to Browns. Worked in shop some. Had Ernests cutter. Ernest had my sleigh to go to Kalamazoo.

Feb 14 – Finished Simmons box to day. Not much sleighing. Filed saw for N. L. Randall. Hung ax for Ernest Whiting. Mrs Jane Sunderland was buried to day at Waukegan Illinois.

Feb 15 – Worked on my wheels. Put the bolt through the floor to hold wheels down. Mrs Sam Kingsley buried to day.[47]

Feb 16 – Went down to browns. Ground axes. Went up in woods sawed some wood. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Sarah Dunning. M O Streator and wife[48] here in Evening. Ethan came home.

Feb 17 – At home. Rain some snow some. Not very cold. No sleighing. Mart and Lucy called here in Evening on their way home from Jims and Puts.

Feb 18 – Went over to burg in morning after oil and paint for Simmons. Hung ax for E Whiting. Got hogs head and shoulder of Whiting. Went down to A Browns in Evening. Saw Skinner at burg.

Feb 19 – H. A. Taylor[49] came down here in morning. Hat and Lib[50] came down in afternoon. Jo York brot Hannah home. Painted buggy boddy.

Feb 20 – Jo went down to Katharines. Went over to burg. Hannah went over to Nancys. Painted buggy box over. Nigger concert at the Methods Epikettle Church this Evening.

Feb 21 – Rainy day. Not much done. Fixed new fiddle some. To paid T C Ford[51] $16 sixteen Dollars. Rained all night. Hank Johnson called here just at night. Rain. Wm Aldrich little Boy buried.[52]

Feb 22 – Rainy morning. Hank Johnson called her at night. Worked in shop some.

Feb 23 – Drawed three loads wood. Not very cold.

Feb 24 – At home all day. Henry came down. Hannah went down to Jacksons.

Feb 25 – Snowed some. Nancy and Claud came over stayed all day.

Feb 26 – Worked in shop on wheels. Fine day.

Feb 27 – Fine day. Finished my wheels. Eugene[53] came to Hanks.

Feb 28 – Very fine day. Went down to Comstock after my grist. Me no get him. Edna[54] came on noon train. Eugene came over with me. Sarah and hannah went over to burg.

Mar 1 – Went over to burg after the girls Nancy, Hannah and Edna. Drawed one load straw to Browns one for myself. Fine day. Ernest got my wagon to go to Kalamazoo with some beef.

Mar 2 – Carried Nancy home. Edna Crawford went home. Chored round all day. Mr Perry Cornell died to day.

Mar 3 – At home all day. Eugene here. All well. Claud went home. Will Brown carried him over. Mr Cornell buried to day.

Mar 4 – Eugene went to day. Ethan went over to burg with him. I choped all day. Fine pleasant day. Rev. Russell Tomlinson of Plymouth Mass Died to day.[55]

Mar 5 – Drawed some wood. Sarah went up in woods.

Mar 6 – Sawed wood in forenoon. Very fine day. Made blocks for Theodore at noon. Rained in afternoon.

Mar 7 – Chopt wood. Cut down black oak. Fine day.

Mar 8 – Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Barber came over. We pulled up the currant bushes. Warm day. Jim went down to Katharines.

Mar 9 – Mercury 74 Abz at noon. Worked in hogpen. Warm day. Went down to Browns at noon got butter and milk. Mart and Lucy came up got some pictures. Ida Barber came over stayed all night. Lucy stayed.

Mar 10 – At home 66 Abz. Lucy and Ida here. Alvin and Ida Lee[56] here. Went over to burg at night after Sarah and Mrs Betts. Ida went home. Rained like fun.

Mar 11 – ____ cut currant bushes in fore noon. Carried Lucy and Hannah over to burg at noon. Verry warm day.

Mar 12 – Worked round. Drawed apple brush out of the orchard. Ethan put up wind mill.

Mar 13 – Went up to Jo Flanders after currant and raspberry bushes. Took dinner at Flanders. Rained some. Ernest got his buggy. Left Skeleton buggy and took my watch.

Mar 14 – Worked round garden. Set currant bushes. Worked in shop some on wheelbarrow. Claud came over helped set currant brush.

Mar 15 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg up in woods. Drawed some wood. Filed saw for Ernest.

Mar 16 – Made fence around west garden. Some misty. Mrs Ralph[57] here all day. Ernest got his Skeleton. Bot 21 lbs Soap grease of Whiting.

Mar 17 – Cloudy morning. Henry here. Hank Brown came over just at night.

Mar 18 – Drawed some wood. Chored round. Worked in shop some. Browns folks here in Evening.

Mar 19 – Trimed appletrees. Fine day. Had a big time at the burg red Ribbon gathering.

Mar 20 – Fine. Pleasant morning. Drawed brush out orchard[?]. Rained some in night.

Mar 21 – Shelled some corn. Turned cloths stick for Nancy. Libby and Emma Allen[58] here to day. They went up to Jim Milhams[59] at night.

Mar 22 – Cloudy morning. Went up to Henrys to mill. Ethan and Claud went. Carried five bushels corn. Very fine day. Jim went down to Howlets schoolhouse to hear Mr Ross read.

Mar 23 – Went over to burg after Nancy. Mrs Betts went over with me. Went to Comstock after my Buckwheat. Fine day. Lois and Will came. Henry came down stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Will carried Mrs Betts over to church. Cold day some snow flying. Henry went up to Mr Flanders. Jim and Will went down to A Browns. Jim got Kicked by a colt.

Mar 25 – Cold morning. Chored round. Allen Simmons brot wheels here to have boxes set. Lois and Will here. Made over Fathers[60] old Jack plane.

Mar 26 – Went over to burg in morning. Got rimmer. Set boxes in wheels. Night Express off the track between Galesburg and Kalamazoo.

Mar 27 – Went over. Carried rimmer home. Got Nancy and Claud. Simmons got wheels. Carried our folks down to A Browns. Warm day. Pulled grubbs some in afternoon west of garden.

Mar 28 – Snowed like fun. Not much done. Lois went over to Nancys at noon. Will went up to Harts. Miner Bellringers in galesburg to night. Blocked out axhelves.

Mar 29 – Worked in shop some. Pulled grubs west of garden. Broke whiffletrees.[61] Sarah went to burg. Lois and Will came back. The publicans caucus to day.

Mar 30 – James went down to Browns got his team. Rolled west lot. Finished pulling grubs in west lot. Democratic caucus to day. Snowed like fun in afternoon.

Mar 31 – At home all day. Lois and Will went home. Not very cold. Isaac Hizer came down to see about trading buggy for watch.

Apr 1 – Went over to burg in afternoon to town meeting. Mrs Betts went over. Fine day. Hannah went down to A. Browns.

Apr 2 – Made soap in forenoon. Burnt brush in afternoon. Very nice day. Went up to mill. Got load bark.

Apr 3 – Pleasant morning. Made soap in forenoon. Chored round in afternoon. Went up to mill. Put in guide. Got some posts. Fine day.

Apr 4 – Worked round. Went up to mill. Put in guide. Got some posts. Went down to Katharines.

Apr 5 – Mended Browns drag. Jo York, Hellen[62] and Katharine came up here. Very fine day. Perry A Pier died this Friday night.

Apr 6 – Went over to burg in morning. Got two 2/” Dollars for Alfleda four 4/” for Sarah. Doc Burrows paid me $19.50¢ for county order. Went over to burg at noon. Alfleda went to Waverly. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Apr 7 – Fine day. Carried Claud home just at night. Mrs Nancy B. Betts of Galesburg came home with me. Rev Platt Betts Lady formaly of Omro Wisconsin.[63]

Apr 8 – Pleasant morning. Made guides for Theodore[64] in morning. Went down to M O. Streators got four bushels wheat paid him ten Dollars. Rained in night.

Apr 9 – Rainy morning. Went to Comstock to mill. Rained. Carried four 4 bushels wheat 5½ five and half corn.

Apr 10 – Drawed brush in west lot. Hannah and Nancy came over in morning. Mrs Brown and Jule[65] came up here. Got Whiffletrees mended. Nell Tomlinson married to day.[66]

Apr 11 – Worked round yard and garden. Carried Nancy home at night. Extracted two teeth for Mr George Ralph he paid me two one Dollar.

Apr 12 – Killed my pigs. A Brown helped me. Fine day. Cut up the pigs. Will Wagner here. Jim and Abby had a flare up.

Apr 13 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried Hanks barrels over. Made some soap. Salted my pork. Went over to burg in Evening after Hank and Nancy. They came over stayed all night.

Apr 14 – Hank and Nancy here. Henry came down. I carried Hannah down to Katharines in afternoon. Rained all the while I was gone. Carried Nancy and Claud home in Evening.

Apr 15 – Got out manure. Very fine day. G. A. Lockhart and Will started for Kansas. Lou Bristol[67] went with them. Mrs Randal and Mrs Wagner here in Evening.

Apr 16 – Got out manure. Nice day. Mrs Wagner went home. Mr Browns folks went over to burg in Evening. Jim went over after medicine.

Apr 17 – Pleasant day. Mr Daniels called here to see Ethan. Finished getting our manure. Mr C. S. Haskins brot trees and Raspberries paid him $1.65.

Apr 18 – Set out trees. Barber came over. We plowed gardens. Warm day. Mrs Forbush and Mrs Blake came over here in afternoon.

Apr 19 – Worked round garden. Set out rasberry bushes.

Apr 20 – Cleaned out yard. Cultivated garden. Dug out Elder roots. Mercury 85 Abz 80 Abz.

Apr 21 – Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Warm morning. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Nancy here. Hank and Claud went up to Armes.

Apr 22 – Cloudy looks like rain. Jim plowed in forenoon. Rained in afternoon. No plow.

Apr 23 – Rainy. Went over to burg in morning. Bot springs for wagon seat 2.25. Bot oil and lead 65¢. Bot one bottle Kenady 1.25. Warm.

Apr 24 – Warm. Some rain. Worked round. Painted wheelbarrow. Rany.

Apr 25 – Worked in shop some. Tinkered round house and garden.

Apr 26 – Not much done to day. Worked round choring &c. Wet.

Apr 27 – Some rainy. Drawed out Buckwheat straw. Put it on hill South East of barn.

Apr 28 – Cloudy and some rainy. At Home all day. No one here. All well as usual. No bellyache. All able to eat Heggs[?] &c.

Apr 29 – Charles Lee[68] and Alvin came up in morning. Extracted tooth for Charles. Alvin got one helve. Jim got Tom Brown and plows in forenoon. Brown planted potatoes down North.

Apr 30 – Went down to Charles Lees got 4½ bushels potatoes ½ bushel beets ½ bushel turnips. Got some sage roots of old Mrs King. Dick Barber got two bushels corn he paid one Dollar. Will Brown got Eight bushels corn.

May 1 – Very pleasant morning. Worked round house and garden.

May 2 – Dragged garden west side house. Seeded croquet ground and draged it. Harry Streator and Hellen Randall married this Evening.[69]

May 3 – Planted some potatoes. Henry and Davis Stafford called here. Some rain. Hannah and Katharine came up. Barber plowed some.

May 4 – George plowing some. Planted potatoes up south. No rain to day. Claud and Nancy here. Hank came over. They went down to Mr Browns. Henry came down stayed all night.

May 5 – Henry here to day. I carried Katharine home in afternoon. Cool wind. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in morning.

May 6 – Dug out five stumps south of barn. Barber plowed. Cow calved in night.

May 7 – Chored round. Burnt cornstalks out by barn. Barber plowing. Rain some. Jim went to work for Mr Streator.

May 8 – Rainy morning some thunder. Filled up stump holes South of Barn. Sarah went over to burg with Barber. Claud here. He came over with me in morning.

May 9 – Work round. Split up oak timber. The jobs let to day to fill up north sluice this side river and build bridge across mill brook by Jesse Earls.[70] McLewis builds bridge $153.00. Wm Aldrich fills sluice $16.50 (16.50).

May 10 – Put heads in mawl. George Ives called here. Went up in woods cut some wood. Barber finished plowing. Fine day. Hannah went up to T Fords stayed all night.

May 11 – Frost this morning. Cut some wood drawed two loads. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Doc Wightman[71] in afternoon. Tamer[72] carried Hannah over to Nancys.

May 12 – At home all day. Went over to burg at night after Hannah and Mrs Betts. Browns folks here in Evening. Frost this morning.

May 13 – Frost this morning. Hoed in garden some. Barber draging. Cool day. Mrs Wightman[73] here. Ida Wing came up after Hannah.

May 14 – Chored round in forenoon. Barber draging. Went to Mr Simmons raising in afternoon. He raised a big barn.

May 15 – Chored round. Worked in garden and shop some. Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to Mr Browns.

May 16 – Marked corn ground East of house. Jim came home from Streators. Barber planted corn. Went up to Foundry to see waterwheel.

May 17 – Finished marking corn ground and planted East of house. Barber finished planting. Carried Nancy and Claud home.

May 18 – Went to Kalamazoo to attend a Greenback Convention.[74] Fine day. Rained in Evening. Rainy night.

May 19 – At home. No one here. Some rainy. Hank came over in afternoon.

May 20 – Marked Jims corn ground and planted it. Made calf yard. Hoed strawberries and currant bushes.

May 21 – Worked round hoed some and tinkered round generaly.

May 22 – Repaired wheel. Put in two felloes and set tire.

May 23 – Went up in woods. Sawed some wood. Hoed corn and beans. Jim Ralph brot his buggy down. Worked on that some. Bot suspenders 50¢. Gloves 1.35.

May 24 – Drawed 3 three loads wood. Finished Ralphs spring bar. Painted windmill. Mr Brown got some cabbage plants.

May 25 – Hoed in garden some. Went over to burg. Received twenty 21 one Dollars of Township Treas. Hannah came home. Nancy came over stayed all night.

May 26 – Pleasant. Hank and Nancy went down to Browns.

May 27 – Went up on hill got load sand. Went over to burg. Got lime and hair.[75] Mrs Betts went over to burg.

May 28 – Went over to burg. Got link twister made. Mrs betts came home. Sarah went over. Claud came home with me. Went over at night. Brown plowing south lot.

May 29 – Went over to burg after chain and link twister 30¢. Rained hard. Not well.

May 30 – Sick. Hard cold. No work to day.

May 31 – Shelled lot corn. Went over to burg. Got link hook made. Went down to Browns. Got some wheat 64 and 72 bags in all.

Jun 1 – Fine morning. Went to Comstock to mill 5½ corn 2 Wheat. Mr Brown finished plowing west lot. Went over to burg at night. Took Hank, Hannah & Claud over.

Jun 2 – Cloudy look like rain. At home all day. Not very well. Hard cold.

Jun 3 – Sick. Not much done. Jim plastered corn. Eugene went home on night Express Eugene came on

Jun 4 – Jim cultivated corn. Made new side piece to cultivator. Eugene went home on night Expr. Henry and Davis called. Ethan sent moddle to Washington. Claud went to Coggins to party.

Jun 5 – Hoed some. Plastered corn in garden. Douglass drawed logs for Henry. Mr Brown sowed Hungarian grass. Mrs Skinner and Mr Smiths folks went up to Mr Flanders.

Jun 6 – Worked round house and garden. Went down to Browns got buggy. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jun 7 – Went out to Skinners. Rained some. Found them well. Sarah sick. To paid Susan Giddings $5 five Dollars.

Jun 8 – Dell and I went up to Marshall.[76] I saw the Cleveland wheel. Rainy day.

Jun 9 – Dell and I went over to Whites station and Ceresco.[77] Saw lots of big wheat. Lois and I went over to Mr Coles just at night.

Jun 10 – Traded watch and wheel for buggy. Started for home. Sarah went on cars from Ceresco to Galesburg. I came with the buggys. Got home about 4 oclock. Sarah stayed to burg. Mrs Deyo buried to day.[78]

Jun 11 – Went over to burg after Sarah in morning. Worked in garden some.

Jun 12 – Went over to burg. Got Harness repaired 1.20¢. Hoed some.

Jun 13 – Cultivated corn East of house. Hannah came home.

Jun 14 – Finished cultivating corn. Hoed. Jim put plaster on his corn. He paid Abby Jackson 16 sixteen Dollars.

Jun 15 – Sick. No work. Pedler here to dinner. Lois, Will and Ina[79] came out brot 2 pigs. Mrs Ford, Mrs Perry and daughter called here. Had a fine shower. Warm night.

Jun 16 – Fine morning. Mercury 75 Abz. Lois and Will here.

Jun 17 – Stephen Daken died to day.[80] Hoed corn some. Lois and Will went home. Took calf and wheels.

Jun 18 – Painted buggys. Hoed some corn. Barber cultivating.

Jun 19 – Painted buggy. Stephen Daken buried to day. Mr Browns cousin George Wells[81] here.

Jun 20 – Rainy morning. Worked on buggys.

Jun 21 – Finished varnishing buggy. Rainy day. Put pigs in yard. Harry Streator got hurt. Fell from a tree. Cow went to Bull.

Jun 22 – Rainy morning. Mrs Betts sic. Went over to burg in morning. Old Mrs Beakes[82] Died this morning. Nancy came over.

Jun 23 – Ida Wing came here brot Hannahs things. Hank and Nancy here. Henry came down got violin. Will Brown got his buggy. Nice day. Mrs Betts sick yet.

Jun 24 – Fine morning. Jim gone down to Mr Kings to work. Mr Wells started for home, Mr Browns cousin.

Jun 25 – Mowed grass along the fence up to the woods. Hoed some corn. Went up to mill with Mr Flanders. Saw Mr Cleveland. Went over to burg in Evening. Got Tea from New York.

Jun 26 – Cloudy morning. Hoed some. Ridler got. Went to Kalamazoo in afternoon with Jim. He went down to get some cloths.

Jun 27 – Worked round. Hoed some corn. Barber Sowed Buckwheat. Very hot day 90 in shade. Ethan oiled harness.

Jun 28 – Went up in woods. Got poles to poll beans. Drawed down hay up towards the woods. Mercury 94 in shade.

Jun 29 – Mercury 99 in shade noon. Finished hoing East of house. Ethan went to Mill. Hannah went over to Nancys. George and Marion[83] came on noon train.

Jun 30 – George and Marion here. Carried George down to Katharines. He goes to Chicago. Mrs Barnum died.[84]

Jul 1 – Put Poison on potatoes. Plowed some corn hoed some potatoes. Rained in night. Marion here.

Jul 2 – Rainy morning. Went down to M O. Streator got Six bushels wheat. Shelled some corn. Mrs Barnum buried.

Jul 3 – Rainy. Went to Comstock to mill 4 bushels wheat 8 corn.

Jul 4 – Plowed and hoed corn. Worked round garden. Marion here. Had no doings to Galesburg. Jim and Ethan went to Kalama[zoo].

Jul 5 – Finished plowing corn in East lot. Went up to Henrys mill with Marion. Charley Town[85] cutting wheat.

Jul 6 – Worked round. Went down to Browns in morning got some peas. Old Mrs Lord Died.[86] Carried Marion down to Katharines in afternoon.

Jul 7 – Rainy morning. Mrs Lord buried to day. Henry Rogers called here a while.

Jul 8 – Put Parris Green on potatoes. Had a heavy shower. Lou Burgess drove into Barn. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jul 9 – Mercury 94 at noon. Ethan took Hannah over to burg. Hoed corn and potatoes on hill. Bela Wright cutting wheat. Had a wind storm in night. Wm Blake started his self Binder.

Jul 10 – Hoed some in East end of corn. Put poison on potatoes.

Jul 11 – Went over to burg in fore noon. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Mrs Lydia barber[87] here to dinner.

Jul 12 – Went down to Katharines. Very hot day. Marion here.

Jul 13 – Marion goes to Vicksburg. Plowed out corn and potatoes on hill. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Tamer Ford here. Ethan went over to burg after the whimmen. Charley Baker called here in Evening.

Jul 14 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went over to burg just at night. Hot day. Blake cutting wheat with the Gordon binder.

Jul 15 – Cloudy morning. Finished plowing Jims corn. Plowed some of mine.

Jul 16 – Mercury 98 100. Hoed in garden in forenoon. Had a heavy thunder shower in afternoon. Rained very hard blowed corn down.

Jul 17 – Mercury 98. Spliced my old violin bow made two rings. Barber came over. Hannah went over to Nancys at night.

Jul 18 – Hoed some. Very hot day. Wright drawing wheat. Went down to A Browns got some peas. Jule not much better. Made ring. Went over to burg.

Jul 19 – Mercury 96. Hoed corn in south lot on hill. Went over to burg took over butter and Eggs.

Jul 20 – Hoed corn on hill. Very hot day. Albert Warren called here to see about getting a leg repaired.

Jul 21 – Cool wind. Went down to Katharines after some vinegar. Went up to mill. Saw new waterwheel run. Went by burg took Hannah home.

Jul 22 – Chored round in forenoon. Worked on Albert Warrens leg. Warren here to supper. Mercury 84.

Jul 23 – Finished Warrens peg leg in forenoon. Not very hot 86 in shade at noon.

Jul 24 – Big show at Kalamazoo. Hank Brown and Hannah had Bill[88] and buggy to go to Kalamazoo to show. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jul 25 – Hoed corn all day, finished. Sarah, Mrs Betts and Alfleda went down to Browns. Hot day. Put in cradle finger for Mark Simmons. Rained aall night.

Jul 26 – Rainy morning. Cleared off in afternoon. Went over to burg bot cloth for overhalls. Got big Pictures of Sarah and Luke.[89]

Jul 27 – Pleasant morning. Mercury 79. Plowed out potatoes and corn on hill. Ethan and Henry went down to Katharines. Hannah and Claude came over. Stayed all night. Cool.

Jul 28 – Cool. Mercury 75 in morning. At home. Went over to burg after Sarah.

Jul 29 – Worked round shop and house. Went over after Sarah. Hannah and Claud went home.

Jul 30 – Cleared out old shop and chored round. Went over to burg in Evening after hoop iron.

Jul 31 – Put hoop on pork barrel. Chored round. Put beam in Browns two shovel plow. Cut grass for bill.

Aug 1 – Worked round garden and house. Went up in woods got load wood. Ethan and Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Aug 2 – Went down to Katharines after Blackberries. Got a good lot. Very hot day. Mart cutting grass.

Aug 3 – Not much work to day. Henry Crawford[90] came on noon train. Ethan and Henry went over to Nancys in Evening. Jim went up to Shermans lake to a picknic.

Aug 4 – At home. Henry Crawford here. Very warm day. Carried Henry Crawford to Kalamazoo in afternoon.

Aug 5 – Hoed corn in East lot and pulled weeds. Went over to burg in Evening. Bot boots $3.75 three Dollars and seventy five cents.

Aug 6 – Hoed and pulled weeds. Hank and Nancy came over just at night. Had Isaac Odells Horse and buggy.

Aug 7 – Hoed corn East of garden. Henry got Bill and Buggy to go to Marshall.

Aug 8 – Hoed some in forenoon. Took west side of from west well house. Had a nice shower in afternoon. Mr Flanders took lumber up for Drum to waterwheel.

Aug 9 – Hoed corn East of garden. Henry got home with Bill and buggy. Lois and Dell came out.

Aug 10 – Finished hoeing. Dell, Lois and Harts folks went up to Flanders. I went down to Kings after Jim.

Aug 11 – At home all day. Henry down here. Dell went home. Lois over to Hanks. Dell and Lois no come here.

Aug 12 – No work to day. Not very well. Henry called here. Mr Isaac Clark called here a while. Not very well. Went over to burg in Evening to temperance lecture. Fred Farland lectured. I D L Schram[91] thrashed wheat.

Aug 13 – Worked round house and garden. Nancys girl[92] Born to day about noon. Bird Abbott called here to see about putting in pump. Jim Bayl came with him.

Aug 14 – Carried Sarah over to Nancys. Claud and Ina here. Went up to mill. Got some plank for platform to well. Mrs Betts leg very big some.

Aug 15 – Worked round. Mrs Burdick and Mrs Blake called here. Went over to burg in Evening after rollers. Baker Stilsons[?] Barns burned to day.

Aug 16 – Went up to A. McLarrys after rollers. Got some plank up to Earls. Went up to Henrys in afternoon to see water wheel. A. Brown thrashed wheat.

Aug 17 – Got some wood. John Allen[93] came down to Mr Towns.[94] Tried the Lansing plow. Went down to Kings after Jim.

Aug 18 – Cloudy morning. At home all day. Mrs Betts went to burg. Ethan took her over.

Aug 19 – Barber came over and helped move the old cornhouse. Jim stayed and helped.

Aug 20 – Worked round cornhouse. Went over to Andrew McLarys. Carried rollers up in Evening. Carried Jesses plank home. Henry went to Marshall.

Aug 21 – Worked on buggy house. Put in floor at south End. Ethan went over to burg. I. D. L. Schram had bill to go to Picknic to Shermans Lake. Warm day.

Aug 22 – Mr Norman Durgy Died this morning. Blocked up buggy house. Mr Schram came down to see if he could get Bill to go to Kalamazoo. Mrs Bronson here. Mrs Barber and Ida[95] came over to see about going to Schoolcraft. Becky P[96] died to day. Brown drawed in Hungarian grass.

Aug 23 – Worked round house and buggy house. Wheeled some dirt. O. D. Schram[97] had Bill and wagon to go to Kalamazoo with load onions. Fine day. Mr Durgy buried to day.

Aug 24 – Cloudy morning. Worked round. Got ready to go to Schoolcraft. Fine day. Henry came down stayed all night. Rebecca Plank buried to day. Stephen Loveland[98] died to day.

Aug 25 – Henry and Stafford here. Went over to Schoolcraft to spiritual meeting. Went to Mr Arms,[99] left horses, took the cars to Schoolcraft. Speakers York, Mrs Shephard, Farland, Doctor Thomas, &c. Got home about Eleven. Brown, Streator, Mrs Barber and Ida.

Aug 26 – Ethan went down to Browns after Hannah. Took her over to Nancy. Very fine morning. Stephen Loveland buried to day.

Aug 27 – Went over burg in morning. Carried papers over to Vanburen. Shelled some corn. Repaired wagon wheel. Went over in Evening after Sarah and Lois.

Aug 28 – Went to Comstock to mill. Lois and Ina went down to Katharines. Had a good shower. Got wet some. Got home noon. Lavina York[100] died this morning 5 oclock Am.

Aug 29 – Went to Kalamazoo with Lois. Bot plasters for Ethan and Hannah. Stopt to Katharines. Bird Abbott put in pump.

Aug 30 – Went down to graveyard down by Daleys. Vinny York buried to day. Went over to burg in Evening. Mrs Blake, Mrs Forbush and Mrs Henry Rogers here in afternoon.

Aug 31 – Rainy morning. Not much done to day. Went down to Henry Kings after Jim. Bus carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Claud came over stayed all night.

Sep 1 – Fine morning no rain. Went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Sep 2 – My office Expired as Assessor. Went over to burg. Got money on post office order $20.00. Received of Township Treasurer 48.25¢ forty Eight Dollars and twenty five cents. Paid Abby Jackson forty Dollars. To paid C. L. Keith[101] $2 Dollars. Helped Brown get up clover seed. Dell called here.

Sep 3 – Warm morning. Lois went home. Ethan took her over to burg. Paid T. C. Ford six Dollars and twenty five cents 6.25.

Sep 4 – Went up to Augusta to the Pionere picnic. Lois and Dell went home. Had a nice time. Fine day. Uncle Isaac Clarks Barn burnt, two buggys, lot wheat, &c.

Sep 5 – Pleasant day. Ethan carried some timber up to mill for Henry. Filed saw for Erve Hall.

Sep 6 – Not very well. Chored round. Went over to burg in Evening. Very hot day. Mercury 96 in shade. Ethan finished car.

Sep 7 – Worked on buggy house. Went over to burg at noon after Hite.[102] He no come. Went to see lumber man. Very hot day. Ethan took car over to Hank. Extracted tooth for J. Flanders. Mr Allerton[103] thrashing with steamer.

Sep 8 – Very hot. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in morning to hear the gospel preached. Went over after Mrs Betts at night.

Sep 9 – Some cooler. Made tightner frame for Theodore Earl. Had a good shower in night. Steamer Billy Rice thrashing for Mr Simmons.

Sep 10 – Some rainy this morning. Went up to sawmill got two loads wood. Carried tightner up. Went down to M. O. Streators got some apples.

Sep 11 – Steamer Billy Rice at Towns to day. Went over to burg to see Barton about cutting corn. Went over after Nancy and Hannah. Fine day. Steamer went up to Jesse Earls.

Sep 12 – Dave and Jay cutting corn. Steamer Billy Rice thrashing up to Jesse Earls. Made steps to East door. Finished cutting corn. Fine day. Paid Barton $2.00 for cutting corn.

Sep 13 – Went over to burg in morning. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over. Got some nails. Went over at noon. Got some butter for Mrs Brown. Rained some. Carried Nancy down to Browns. Uncle Isaac Clark had my buggy to go to Kalam[azoo].

Sep 14 – Worked round. Got Ernests buggy. Hiram and family[104] came on night Express. Fine weather but dry.

Sep 15 – Hite and I went around the squaire. Went to Mr Flanders. Nice day.

Sep 16 – Went up to Henrys in forenoon. All went over to Nancys in afternoon. Hite went down on Night Express. Warm and dry. Bill Blake sowing wheat on North side.

Sep 17 – Went down to Katharines in forenoon. Hot and dry. Went over to burg in Evening after Kate and Hannah.

Sep 18 – Went up to uncle Isaac Clark in morning to carry harness. Carried Hannah up to Jesse Earls. Took Kate around the square. D. C. Crawford and family[105] came and Edna Crawford[106] from Omro.[107]

Sep 19 – Went over to burg. Got D. C. Crawfords Trunk. Hot day. No work.

Sep 20 – No work to day. Cloudy, some rain, high wind. David, Amanda[108] and Kate went to Kalamazoo.

Sep 21 – Nice day. Hannah and Edna went over to Hanks. I took Kate up to Scots station. She went to South bend.[109]

Sep 22 – Fine morning. David and I went up to Yorkville and gul Corners. Took dinner at Benja____ Fox.

Sep 23 – At home. Ethan and David went over to burg. Jim at home. A Brown commenced plowing west lot. Brown sold his hogs.

Sep 24 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over. Carried Amanda and one trunk came back took David and trunk over. They all left for Dowagiac[110] on 12:52 train. Went over in Evening after Sarah. Fide Barber Died.

Sep 25 – Will Barber[111] cut Buckwheat. Rainy day. Edna here. Hannah sewing for Mrs Jesse Earl.[112] Mrs Henry Rogers[113] Died 2 oclock AM.

Sep 26 – Pleasant morning. Will finished cutting Buckwheat. Not very well. Not much work. Went over to burg in Evening after Edna.

Sep 27 – Ethan, Hannah and Edna went to County fair to Kalamazoo. Mrs Henry Rogers buried to day funeral at Methodist Church. Rev Henderson preached. The first time I was in the church.

Sep 28 – Edna Crawford started for Dowagiac Eleven oclock Am. Nice day mercury 65. Ethan, Hannah and Jim went over to Nancys. A. Brown carried some wheat wheat to mill. Will Brown sowed the west lot.

Sep 29 – Went down to Katharines. Came home by Bart gibbs and Flanders. Fine day. Frank Tomlinson[114] came.

Sep 30 – Went over to burg in morning with Frank. Helped J. T. Allerton drive sow and pigs over bridge. Frank and Hannah went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Oct 1 – Will and George Barber[115] came over and got some corn. Frank and Hannah got home before noon. Frank and Ethan went up to Henrys at noon. Mercury 88 At noon. Rained hard in night.

Oct 2 – Fine morning. Frank left on Accomodation 7 oclock 9 minutes AM. Herb Earl[116] brot wheelbarrow wheel down to be repaired. Carried Sarah over to burg at noon. Went up to Henrys mill. Henry came down with me.

Oct 3 – Rimed Jesse Earls wheelbarrow wheel. Jim cut up corn on the hill. Henry went up to Marshall. Mrs Earl and Theodore[117] started for Wisconsin to see Elva.[118] Henry went up to Marshall to see Mr Cleveland.

Oct 4 – Went down and helped Mart fix his cider mill. Cut of the vat. Mr Caywood made cider over to Comstock. Pleasant day.

Oct 5 – Rainy. Overhauled lumber in old shop to get floring. Went over to burg after Salla towards night. Hank and Nancy came over to Browns. Claud went down with Mr Brown.

Oct 6 – Pleasant morning. At home all day. Hank and Nancy came stayed all night.

Oct 7 – Went over to burg in morning after money on post office order. Abbot and Bolls came down and turned pump tops. Went over to burg. Took Nancy home.

Oct 8 – Went down to Brown in forenoon. Picked up apples. Will Barber came over and thrashed Buckwheat. Carried Hannah over to burg at night. She started for Chicago. Rained some.

Oct 9 – Worked round. Cleaned up Buckwheat. Had Eleven bushels. Hannah gone to Chicago. Jim dug potatoes. Fine weather.

Oct 10 – Went over to burg in morning. Got money on order from the boys $30.00. Put casing on wagon _____. Browns folks here in Evening. Went over to Bartons just at night. Rained in night. Jim helping Harry pick apples.

Oct 11 – Some rainy in morning. Hung the Doors to carriage house and put sill at the bottom.

Oct 12 – Ethan tore out Egg cupboard. I tore up floor to stoop and the top to cistern. Carried Sarah over to Nancys at noon. Kit Arms[119] came there. Went over after her in Evening. Jim picked Apples to Streators. Quin[120] came home.

Oct 13 – Went over to burg in morning to see if Hannah came home. Rained some. Mart came up. Katharine and Clara[121] came with him. Hannah came over with Mr Brown, Arthur and Kit.

Oct 14 – Went over to burg in morning. Got money on County Order $19.50¢. Nancy came home. Went up to sawmill got stick timber.

Oct 15 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot lumber siding, sheeting and seeling six Dollars fortyfive cents 6.45. Dave Barton[122] drawed it over. Bot lumber for Skinners wagon box $1.00. I am Sixty five years old to day.

Oct 16 – Window lime and nails 2.55. Went down to Marts after ladder. Jim went down to work. Claud went down to Mr Browns. Went over to burg. Got one stick timber, 4 sticks scantling (4×4) and joist (8×8) $1.40, one Door 150.

Oct 17 – Worked on frame. Framed sill and studding. Drawed some rails on hill put on fence. Solomon Youngs here to dinner. Henry came down stayed all night. Mrs Brown called in.

Oct 18 – Carried Sarah down to Mr Browns. She went to Kalamazoo. Bot stove four Dollars 4.00. Drawed two loads sand. Tore of lath and plaster under stoop.

Oct 19 – Went over to burg in morning. Got bolt to put through sill 20¢. Claud came home with me. Barber put up wall under stoop.

Oct 20 – Put in the studding. Ethan and Hannah, Claud went down to Charles Lees. Henry went up to Mr Flanders.

Oct 21 – Went over to burg. Got lumber studding and one joist, one plank for window sills, boards for casings $__.44¢. Put on sheeting. Mrs Elizabeth Starr came here.

Oct 22 – Went over to burg. Bot nails and irons for sills 36¢ thirty six cents. Finished sheeting and laid some floor. Rainy. Mrs Starr went over to see Cilia Newman.

Oct 23 – Went over to burg. Bot lock buts and screws 33 cents, three lbs nails 10¢ ““.[123] Carried Mrs Starr down to Katharines. Paid Barber fifty cents.

Oct 24 – Went over to burg in morning after Mr Byington. He came over and worked to day. Fine day.

Oct 25 – Hung doors. Went over to burg. Got one 4×4 scantling 16 cents, six lbs nails 21 ““. Carried Byington home in Evening. Paid Byington $2.00. Will and George drawed in buckw.

Oct 26 – Rainy day. Put on water table and sealed up East side of room. Jim came home. Snowed some just at night. Henry putting up his Cidermill at Theodores mill.

Oct 27 – At home all day. Stormy, snow fell about three inches, very damp. Corn all out, some potatoes not dug. Looks quite wintery.

Oct 28 – Went over to burg. Bot nails, can paint and putty 1.16, two bunches Lath. Bot soap and strap 22¢. Lois and Will came. Wiped my ass with a snowball the first time this fall.

Oct 29 – Saw Lind Matthews. Cold morning. Will and Lois here. Went over to burg. Paid for Lath 25¢. Saw quins Lamp. Lois and Alfleda went over to burg. Went down to A. Browns. Bot 12 bushels wheat 87 pr bushel.

Oct 30 – Sarah and Lois went down to T Fords. I worked worked on windows got them rady to case. Rainy afternoon snow all gone.

Oct 31 – Worked on room cased one window and put down base. Cyrus Streator and Franks girl called here. Cold windy day. Lois and Will went down to Katharines. Cap Hodges Buried.[124]

Nov 1 – Went up to Isaac Clarks to rais Barn. Mate Thompson here to day. Mrs Betts came over packed up her goods. She is going to live at the burg. Mr S. Streator called here. Lois here to night.

Nov 2 – Moved Mrs N. B Betts over to Burg. She moved into John Freers house. Pleasant day.

Nov 3 – Fine shiny day. Lois and Will started for home.

Nov 4 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah went over to Nancys. Went up to Mr Flanders got load apples. Pleasant day.

Nov 5 – Made cider in forenoon. Went to Election in afternoon. Very fine day, pleasant. Went down to A. Browns got five bushels wheat.

Nov 6 – Went to Comstock to mill. Rained some. Katharine came up. Finished digging potatoes. Carried five bushels wheat, ½ bushel corn, two bushels buckwheat. Mrs Oakly died.[125] Katharine came up.

Nov 7 – Cut and drawed two loads wood in forenoon. Drawed three loads dirt. Put in the well.

Nov 8 – Drawed two loads dirt put in the well. Carried Sarah and Katharine over to burg. Mrs Oakly buried. Put on some siding. Barber and Will, Mrs King.

Nov 9 – Finished siding the house. Cloudy not very cold. Barber and Will husking. Quin Streator bot out Gus Osgood hook and line.

Nov 10 – At home. Went down to Milhams. Took Katharine and Hannah home. Brot sewing machine home from Mr Streators. Not very cold. Jim went back to Marts to work.

Nov 11 – Rainy day. Went up to pump shop. Got some boards for draft board. Got some vinegar. Came round by the burg. Bot paint brush 50¢. Mortered up hatchway. Went down to Browns got some lime.

Nov 12 – Put up stove in shop. Pointed wall outside and in celler. Went over to burg. Got lumber 16 feet 28. Got some for draft board for Ethan 16 feet 28¢. Paid R. G. Smith one Dollar and fifty cents one years subscription to Kal Gazette.

Nov 13 – Put some shingles on wagon house. Put down platform over well. Carried Sarah down to A. Browns. Went down after her at night. Will Brown drawing apples to cider mill.

Nov 14 – Drawed load dirt to back up well. Got load sand to plaster. Mary Crawford[126] came in afternoon. Nancy here. Hank came over stayed all night. Very pleasant day.

Nov 15 – Hank went Fox hunting in morning. See him Fox, no get him. Carried Sarah and Mary over to burg in morning. Bot two ventilators 75¢.

Nov 16 – Rainy day. Got out stuff for windows. Put stops in one window.

Nov 17 – At home all day. Put stops in one window. Warm day Mercury 46 about noon.

Nov 18 – Drawed in some corn. Carried Sarah over to burg in morning. Charles Lee died Went over to burg after Sarah at night. Turned out some plugs for Herb Earl in Evening. Herb pd me 75 cent for wheelbarrow wheel.

Nov 19 – Went up to shop with Henry in morning. Got some vinegar. Henry helped me put shingles on barn in afternoon. Warm day. Charles Lee died in night.[127]

Nov 20 – Went up to mill got bunch Shingles. Put some on barn. Henry went to Marshall. Sate[128] came here.

Nov 21 – Paid A. Brown fifty cents. Went over to burg. Bot some plastering hair 12¢, bot vest 1.50. Saw Dell. Sate went home. Went down to Charles Lees funeral in afternoon. Rainy. Saw Orrin Lee.[129] Mr dun preached mormon.

Nov 22 – Went over to burg in morning bot Put ventilators in to day. Mixed up mortar. Put the hair in. Ethan went over to Hanks.

Nov 23 – Went over to burg in morning after Barber. He came over plastered the new room.

Nov 24 – Went down to Katharines. Saw Orrin Lee. He gave me a picture of Marks[130] house. Bill runaway, broke the wagon. Jim took us home.

Nov 25 – Cleared of barn floor so Barber could put in the cornfodder. Fine day. Brown hulling Clover had the Steamer Billy Rice.

Nov 26 – Mr Brown finished his clover. Will and George Barber drawn in cornfodder. Cold raw wind. Henry came down from Marshall went up to Mr Flanders. Henry brot a pair of chickens.

Nov 27 – Went up to Henrys mill with Henry. Got some plank to repair wagon. Rained, snowed in afternoon. Not very cold. Henry went to Mr Flanders just at night. Got wall paper 76¢ cts.

Nov 28 – Some sleighing. Thanksgiving. Git no turkee. Sarah and Alfleda went over to Nancys. Henry came down. I went up to mill helped him load up his things. He moved to Marshall. I got iron wheel and vice screw. Went over to Hanks in Evening to an Oyster supper.

Nov 29 – Worked round house and barn. Put board on south end of Barn to shut Doves out. Filed saw for Erve Hall 20¢. Jim came home. Ethan over to Hanks. Hank went to Battle Creek. Not much sleighing.

Nov 30 – Jim and I went up in woods sawed and drawed two loads wood. Ethan came home. Jim went over to burg in afternoon.

Dec 1 – At home all day. Not very cold. Some snow on ground, no sleighing. Hank and Nancy went down to Kates. They had got the well one hundred and forty one feet.

Dec 2 – Husked corn. Cleared out the barn. Not very cold.

Dec 3 – Carried corn into cornhouse in morning. Drawed in corn in afternoon. Filled barn floor. Rained just at night. Not very cold.

Dec 4 – Husked corn. Cleared the barn. Very good day. Had 12½ bushels I think.

Dec 5 – Will and George came over and thrashed Buckwheat had 4½ bushels. We drawed in corn 24 stooks.

Dec 6 – Husked corn. Snowey day snowed all day. Claud here. Not very cold. Very rough day to be out.

Dec 7 – __s cut down tree on south line. Sawed two loads wood.

Dec 8 – Snowed and blowed all day. Carried Jim down to Katharines. He is going to school.

Dec 9 – Worked round house and shop. Filed saw for A. Brown. Put moulding on arch in East room. Shelled corn. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Jim commenced school to day.

Dec 10 – Worked in shop some. Put moulding on arch in East room. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Shelled some corn in afternoon Went to Comstock to mill.

Dec 11 – Went to Comstock to mill in forenoon. Got Buckwheat flour. Got corn ground. Not very good Sleighing not very good. Cut and drawed two loads wood.

Dec 12 – Worked in shop some. Filed and set two saws for Peter Hall, one for A. Brown, one of my own. Put base down in East room. Not very good sleighing.

Dec 13 – Worked round house. Chored round s [incomplete]

Dec 14 – Cut blackoak tree out the North East corner of my woods. Dam thing fell across the fence and broke it down &c.

Dec 15 – At home all day. Jim brot Hannah home. Orrin Lee came up with them.

Dec 16 – Went over to burg. Ethan and Orrin went. We went up to shop to get pattern plank. Orrin got negative. Bot oil and Turpentine 20¢ cents. Ethan painted some. I drawed load wood.

Dec 17 – Went over to burg in morning. Got glass 40 cts for south window. Orrin went up to Mr Flanders. I painted south Door. Henry came home stayed all night. Paid my tax $6.23 cents.

Dec 18 – Mercury 8 Abz cold day. Worked in shop some. Mad frame for small dore in Chamber. Henry went home. Very good sleighing.

Dec 19 – Mercury 14 in morning Abz. Put Door frame in up stairs. Very cold day. Ethan made Will Browns spear. Filed crosscut and buck saws for Will Brown.

Dec 20 – Went up in woods cut one load wood. Went down to A. Browns got Hogs heads and feet. Went over to burg in Evening. Carried 12 Doz Eggs 16 cts pr Doz.

Dec 21 – Very snowey day. Worked in shop made seat for sleigh.

Dec 22 – Went down to Katharine. Carried Jims Trunk. Storing blustring day snowed all day. Marts folks gone to Vicksburg. Orrin went with them.

Dec 23 – Mercury 4 below zero, very cold blustrous day. Not much driving about. One cutter went East. Will Brown drawed one load wood over to Hank.

Dec 24 – Cold and blustrous. No work but chores. Very rough.

Dec 25 – Still it keeps cold. No stirring around. Went down to A. Browns to a Christmas dinner. Very blustrous. Will Planks little girl died to day.

Dec 26 – Went up in woods cut some wood an shoveled snow to get to woods.

Dec 27 – Cold and snows like fun. Shoveled snow and drawed three or four loads wood. Bad day to be out. Ethan went over to burg.

Dec 28 – Worked round house and so forth. Cold day.

Dec 29 – At home all day. Fine day.

Dec 30 – Went to Kalamazoo. Cold day. Bot stovepipe, beadslead. Brot up frames for Hank. Henry came down from Marshall.

Dec 31 – Carried Hanks things over this morning. Went up to sawmill in afternoon. Carried up cross head. Sawed out pattern timber and cutter beams. Henry went over to burg.

Memoranda

Property traded to A R Skinner for Buggy

One silver watch $50.00

One set buggy wheels $14.00

One violin $25.00

One calf $4.00

One wagon box $6.00

——-

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

[2] Galesburg, Michigan

[3] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[4] His oldest son, Henry Lindsey Keith, by his first wife, Minerva Payson

[5] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[6] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[7] Nancy’s husband, Henry Brown

[8] Luke’s 1877 diary entries show that on December 25th, Ed’s “gun burst, blowed britch pin into his head.” He died December 31st. FindAGrave.com reveals he was buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[9] Above zero

[10] Galesburg, Michigan

[11] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[12] His son, Ethan Keith

[13] Comstock, Michigan

[14] Neighbor, Samuel Barton

[15] Neighbor, the son of M. O. Streator

[16] FindAGrave.com shows that Willie A. Burgess died January 2, 1878, at the age of 7, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. He was the son of neighbors, Erastus & Hattie (Shattuck) Burgess

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

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

[19] The son of his neighbors, George & Jane Whiting

[20] Believe this to be his neighbor, Ernest Whiting

[21] His neighbor, Richard Barber

[22] Michigan Marriage Records confirm the marriage date; she married Aaron H. Carr in Galesburg, Michigan

[23] Certain

[24] His daughter and son-in-law, Lois and Adelbert Skinner. Lois was his daughter by his first wife, Minerva Payson

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

[26] His grandson, Claude Brown, son of his daughter Nancy

[27] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[28] Hank’s parents, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

[29] Mary (Stephenson) McKinney, a former neighbor of Hank & Nancy Brown from when they lived in Lawton, Michigan, in 1876

[30] Lois and Adelbert Skinner.

[31] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[32] Etc.

[33] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[34] The long shaft between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[35] Arthur & Caroline “Kitty” (Lockwood) Arms; Arthur was the nephew of Ambrose Brown

[36] FindAGrave.com reveals that Josephine (Whiting) Higgs died in Chicago, Illinois, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. Josephine was the sister of Ernest Whiting who is mentioned quite frequently in Luke’s diaries

[37] Richard Barber and his daughter, Ida Barber

[38] His niece (Katharine’s daughter by her second husband, George Clinton Lee) and husband, Lucy (Lee) & Martin Milham

[39] Joseph York, the husband of Katharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York, by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[40] Believe this to be his neighbor, Irwin I. Hall

[41] Perry, New York, where George & Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson lived; Marion was his niece

[42] Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber’s family

[43] 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

[44] Ambrose & Matilda’s son, Willis Brown

[45] Jane (Comfort) Nelles Sunderlin was his mother-in-law Nancy Betts’ sister

[46] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of Luke’s brother, Harvey Keith

[47] Michigan Death Records show that Betsy (Judson) Kingsley died February 13, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan

[48] Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[49] Neighbor, Hannibal “Hat” A. Taylor

[50] Betsey (Clapp) Taylor

[51] Neighbor, Thomas Clark Ford

[52] FindAGrave.com records show that Fay Aldrich (born June 16, 1876), the son of William & Henrietta Aldrich, died on February 19, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan (which agrees with Luke’s entry and the Oak Grove Cemetery records) and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. However, Michigan Births & Christening Index records show his date of birth as August 14, 1876, and Michigan Vital Records reveals that Fay C. Aldrich, same parents and same date of birth, died in Comstock from croup on February 14, 1879

[53] Eugene Crawford, the son of his wife Sarah’s late brother, Edwin Crawford and his first wife, Louisa Hall

[54] Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of his wife Sarah’s late brother, Edwin Crawford and his second wife, Mary Hamilton

[55] Massachusetts Death Records confirm that Reverend Russell Tomlinson died in Plymouth, Massachusetts on March 4, 1878

[56] Alvan Lee was his first cousin and it is believed that Ida Lee was Alvan’s niece, the daughter of his deceased brother, John Warren Lee

[57] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

[58] The daughters of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[59] James Milham was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for February 3rd entry)

[60] His late father, Charles Luke Keith Sr.

[61] 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

[62] His niece, and Katharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York

[63] Presume he is being funny or sarcastic in regard to his mother-in-law. Rev. Platt Betts was her second husband; he died December 29, 1861

[64] Believe he is referring to his neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Theodore Earl,

[65] Matilda Brown’s sister, Julia Allen

[66] Nellie was the daughter of Luke’s niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson; she married Walter Gillette

[67] Louis Bristol was Ambrose Brown’s grand-nephew

[68] His paternal first cousin, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[69] Michigan Marriage Records confirm that Henry “Harry” Streator and Helen Randall were married May 2, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan

[70] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[71] Neighbor, George Ransom Wightman

[72] Mary Tamer Ford, the daughter of neighbors Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford

[73] Believe he is referring to Doc Wightman’s wife, Mary (Crandall) Wightman

[74] The Greenback movement (c. 1868–88) was a political campaign, largely by persons with agrarian interests, to maintain or increase the amount of paper money in circulation. Between 1862 and 1865, the U.S. government issued more than $450,000,000 in paper money not backed by gold (greenbacks) to help finance the Union cause in the American Civil War. After the war, fiscal conservatives demanded that the government retire the greenbacks, but farmers and others who wished to maintain high prices opposed that move. The party ran candidates in three presidential elections—in the elections of 18761880, and 1884

[75] Lime plaster was used for exterior plastering and was composed of sand, water, and lime. Horse hair was added for reinforcement

[76] Marshall, Michigan

[77] Ceresco, Michigan

[78] Michigan Death Records show that Kezia (Lester) Deyo died in Richland, Michigan on June 9, 1878 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Richland, Michigan

[79] Lois’ children: William Byron Clark (by her first husband, Byron Clark), and Ina Mary Skinner (by her second husband, Adelbert Skinner)

[80] FindAGrave.com shows that Maj. Stephen M. Dakin died June 17, 1878 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[81] Ambrose Brown’s aunt, Rhobe Brown, was married to a Joseph Wells; however, have not been able to make a connection between Ambrose Brown and George Wells or between Joseph & Rhobe Wells and George Wells

[82] Michigan death records show that Eliza Beakes, a widow, age 85, died in Comstock on June 22, 1878

[83] His niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

[84] Michigan death records show that Fanny (Taber) Barnum died July 1, 1878 in Pavilion, Michigan

[85] Neighbor, Charles; his daughter Hannah’s future husband

[86] FindAGrave.com records reveal that Prudence (Bishop) Lord died July 6, 1878 and is buried in the Comstock Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[87] Neighbor, Lydia (McClary) Barber, wife of Lewis Barber

[88] His horse

[89] Referring to his wife and himself

[90] His brother-in-law, Henry Clay Crawford

[91] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[92] His granddaughter, Lela Mae Brown

[93] Neighbor, John S. Allen

[94] Neighbor, Albert H. Towne, who was the father of Charles Towne (see footnote to July 5th entry)

[95] Mary (Knowles) Barber and her daughter, Ida Barber

[96] Michigan Death Records show that Rebecca Plank, age 27, died of consumption on August 22, 1878, and FindAGrave.com reveals that she is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Plank family had been neighbors until they moved to Grand Rapids in April 1873

[97] Neighbor, Orrin D. Schram, who was the father of Isaac D. L. Schram (see footnote to August 12th entry)

[98] Michigan Death Records confirm that Stephen Loveland, age 60, died of consumption in Comstock on August 24, 1878

[99] See footnote to January 26th entry

[100] Helen Lavinia York was the granddaughter of his sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee. FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in the Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Vicksburg, Michigan

[101] Himself

[102] Nickname for his wife Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[103] Neighbor, John T. Allerton

[104] Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford Jr., and their two children, Harry and Jessie

[105] His wife Sarah’s brother, David Caleb “D.C” Crawford, his wife, Amanda (Thornton) Crawford, and their daughter, Ida Louise

[106] Edna Irene Crawford, the daughter of his wife Sarah’s brother, Robert Crawford

[107] Omro, Wisconsin

[108] See footnote to September 18th entry

[109] His wife Sarah’s brother (and Edna’s uncle), Henry Clay Crawford, lived in South Bend, Indiana, so presume Edna was going to visit thei family

[110] Dowagiac, Michigan, to attend the wedding of Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of Edwin (deceased) & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford. She married Oscar M. Allen, Jr. on September 25, 1878

[111] William H. Barber, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[112] Mary (Clapp) Earl

[113] FindAGrave.com and Riverside Cemetery records show that Lucy (Harris) Rogers died September 26, 1878 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[114] Frank John Tomlinson, the son of Luke’s niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

[115] The sons of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[116] Neighbor, Herbert Earl, the son of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[117] Neighbors, Mary (Clapp) Earl and her son, Theodore Earl

[118] Daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl; she married Frank Crossfield in 1877 and the 1880 census shows them living in Oakland, Wisconsin

[119] See footnote to January 26th entry

[120] Neighbor, John Quincy Streator, the son of Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[121] Clara Almyra Milham, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[122] Neighbor, David Barton

[123] The “ditto marks” were used to indicate a repetition of the word on the line above, which was “cents”

[124] FindAGrave.com reveals that George S. Hodges had been a captain during the Civil War and that he died of consumption on October 29, 1878 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[125] FindAGrave.com shows that Charlotte (TenBrook) Oakley died November 5, 1878 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[126] Believe he is referring to Mary (Hamilton) Crawford, the widow of his brother-in-law, Edwin Crawford

[127] His paternal first cousin, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee; Michigan Death Records confirm that he died of pneumonia in Comstock, Michigan on November 19, 1878

[128] Believe he is referring to Sarah “Sate” Skinner, the sister of his son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner

[129] Charles Lee’s nephew, Orrin Strong Lee, the son of Ezekiel & Elizabeth (Strong) Lee

[130] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s earlier diaries and it is believed Luke is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind to run his father’s farm and lived with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee, until the Spring of 1870 when he moved to Utah

Luke Keith’s 1877 Diary

1877 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

 Jan 1 – At Tomlinson House.[2] Very blustring. Frank[3] and I took a ride out East in afternoon. Mercury 14 Abz.[4]

Jan 2 – Snows some. George[5] gone over to Mount Morris after Nell.[6] Bot this Diary in Perry.[7] Nell came home about two oclock. Went over to Nobles in Evening, saw fountain.

Jan 3 – Snows and blows, snow piled up, Mercury 14 Abz. Mr Braughton and Lady here. Marion[8] and I went to see the Waubinoes performe.

Jan 4 – Cold morning. Left Perry one oclock P.M., went over to Gainesville, took the cars[9] for Buffalo, arrived about six P.M., left Buffalo half past one for Detroit.

Jan 5 – Got to Detroit about 12 noon, left Detroit half past six, got to Galesburg about twelve night, got home about one.

Jan 6 – At home all day. Not very well. Found the folks all well. Mercury 45 Abz.

Jan 7 – Went down to Katharines.[10] All well. Not very cold.

Jan 8 – Went up to Skinners. Del[11] over to burg[12] to attend a lawsuit. All well. Sent letter to Patty.[13]

Jan 9 – Cold, mercury 4 below zero. At home, no one here. Filed three saws for Ernest 60 cts. Browns folks[14] here in Evening. Mrs Calkins[15] here with them.

Jan 10 – Went over to burg, carried Jims[16] Boots over, paid 60 cts. Mrs Ralph[17] here.

Jan 11 – Not very well. Went over to burg, got Jims Boots. Snowed like fun.[18]

Jan 12 – Cold, 2 below zero. Filed my Bucksaw. Major[19] killed to day. Hog hunt here.

Jan 13 – Cold day, Mercury 8 Abz above zero. Went up in woods, cut down one tree, drawed two loads wood. Snow very deep in woods.

Jan 14 – Ed Childs and wife here. Went down to Katharines in Evening. Henry[20] here stayed all night.

Jan 15 – Went up to Mr Flanders[21] with Henry. Snowed and blowed like the mischief.

Jan 16 – Very pleasant day. Shelled 3 bushels corn.

Jan 17 – Earnest[22] killed my hogs. Went over to burg after grist, no get him. Mercury 30 Abz. Went down to Browns in Evening. Mr Morrison and wife there.

Jan 18 – Mercury 30 Abz, ledle some rain in morning.

Jan 19 – Mr Ives and George called here. Sarah[23] and Mrs Betts[24] went to burg. Went to Barbers[25] in Evening. Put hair in one End of bow.

Jan 20 – Cold and blustrous Mercury 16 Abz morning. At home. Mrs Emeline Bradley[26] died to day.

Jan 21 – At home all day. Ethan[27] and Henry went up to Foundry. Cold day Mercury 2 below.

Jan 22 – Mercury 18 Abz in morning.

Jan 23 – Went over to burg with Henry. Mart, Ansil and Lucy[28] here. I went down to M. O. Streators[29] to see if I could get some straw.

Jan 24 – Pleasant cold day. Made saw Buck for Earnest Whiting.

Jan 25 – At home all day. Not much done.

Jan 26 – Went down to Katharines. Mrs Betts and Sarah went down to Browns.

Jan 27 – Drawed Straw from M. O. Streators, two loads for Brown, one for my self. Went up to Nathan Lamkins in Evening with Browns folks. Mrs Betts went over to Burg.

Jan 28 – Fine pleasant day Mercury 34 Abz.

Jan 29 – Drawed some wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. No find him.

Jan 30 – Drawed two loads Straw from Streators. Went over to burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. Got him this time. Mr and Mrs Streator[30] called here no stop long. Rained in night. Sleighing thin.

Jan 31 – Not very cold snow melting. Drawed two loads wood. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer one hundred and four dollars. Lois[31] came down.

Feb 1 – Went to Foundry. Boys making Cider. Got mawl.

Feb 2 – Carried Hannah[32] up to Mr Ralphs.[33] Went up to Foundry. Boys making cider. Filed saw for A Brown[34] by golly. Hall sent timber for two ax helves.

Feb 3 – Went up to Foundry. Got three bushels wheat of H. A. Taylor[35] 1.35¢ pr bus, paid him 3.05¢. Carried it over to burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. Carried Lois down to Browns.

Feb 4 – At home. Mrs Benjamin came down after Lois. Hannah went down with her. Not very cold. Went over to burg after Sarah and Mrs Betts.

Feb 5 – At home. Worked in shop some.

Feb 6 – Worked in shop on violin some.

Feb 7 – Worked in shop on violin. Charley called here to see about his violin. Fine day.

Feb 8 – Pleasant morning. Put Charley Gillis violin together. Ethan and Hannah went down to Mr Randal.[36] Ethan fixed their melodian.

Feb 9 – Cut wood, cut one tree. Ethan and Hannah went up to T. C. Fords[37] in Evening.

Feb 10 – Worked in woods cutting wood. Charley Gillis got his violin. He paid me two Dollars.

Feb 11 – At home all day. Put new finger board on my violin. Mrs Betts went to burg with Jacksons folks.

Feb 12 – Worked in woods cutting grubbs &c.[38] Fine day.

Feb 13 – Worked in woods. Ansil Lee called here. I cut his hair. Pleasant day. Two of Isaac Odels girls died to

Feb 14 – Pleasant day. Went up to woods, got one load wood. Filed saw for A. Brown. Ella and Minnie Randall, they stayed in Evening. Two of Isaac Odels girls Died to day.[39]

Feb 15 – Worked in woods some sawed some wood. Cut some grubbs. Odells girls buried to day. Pleasant day. Jim lost cold chisel. Ethan up to shop.

Feb 16 – Fine day no snow. Cut some grubs in after noon. Ethan up to shop.

Feb 17 – Ethan drawed wood. I shelled some corn and acarried corn and oats to mill. Carried Mrs Betts and Sarah over to burg. Fine day.

Feb 18 – Pleasant day mercury 27 Abz in morning. At home.

Feb 19 – Worked round shop some. At home.

Feb 20 – Worked in shop. Made cross head for Theodore Earl.[40] Fine day.

Feb 21 – Went up to Swaddles. Mrs Betts stayed up there. Warm day. Roads nice, dusty.

Feb 22 – Very smoky. Choped wood. Warm day. Cut some trees in in grove on hill South East of barn. Ebenezar Flanders died this morning.[41] Mercury 53 Abz.

Feb 23 – Went down to Catharines[42] to Auction sale. Bot ax and Iron mortar[?] of Ansil Lee. Went over to Henry Rogers[43] in Evening. Had a big time, lots there.

Feb 24 – Cloudy morning. Ethan drawing wood. Jule Allen[44] came up with Browns folks stayed the Evening. Ebenezer Flanders buried to day.

Feb 25 – At home all day. Jim went down to Katharines. Nice day. Rass[45] folks and Mrs Totty to Browns to day. Henry came here stayed all night.

Feb 26 – Fine pleasant morning Mercury 30 Abz in morning. Henry and Ethan gone up to shop.

Feb 27 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg. Got pole for Streators wagon. Fine day. Went down to Browns in Evening Whitcom Blake Forbush &c.

Feb 28 – Put in pole for Streator. He paid me one Dollar $1.00. Very nice day. A. R. Shere to dinner. Sent Lois ham bone, sent Ina[46] sum nuts.

Mar 1 – Pleasant morning mercury 23 Abz in morning. Worked in shop some on violins. Rained in night. ____ Rowland buried to day.[47] Hannah went up to Lois to sewing.

Mar 2 – Worked on violins. Rainy day, snowed some, not very cold.

Mar 3 – Cold morning mercury 27 Abz. Put tops on two violins Talsimers[?] and Keans. Snowed all day snow fell 8 inches.

Mar 4 – Pleasant morning mercury 18 Abz in morning, lots snow.

Mar 5 – Carried two bushels corn to mill. Lost my tie strap. Mart called here. Carried hams down to Browns. Browns folks came up here in Evening.

Mar 6 – Mercury 14 Abz, cold, some sleighing. Made Herbert Earls[48] Oars. Worked some on violins.

Mar 7 – Worked in shop on patterns for binder. Rained in night. Made Ina a wash board. Mrs Betts got mad because Sarah let her hand go but she felt better after it. Rested[?] first rate.

Mar 8 – Worked on patterns. Snowed and blowed all day Mercury 17 Abz. Verry good sleighing. Hannah up to Lois to work.

Mar 9 – Cold snowy blustrous day. Making patterns. Mercury 15 Abz. Filed _____ saw for Ernest _____ Whiting brot it down. Jim went to burg with him.

Mar 10 – Mercury 6 Abz in morning. Rather a fine day. Worked on patterns in fore noon. Went over to burg in afternoon. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over. They went to uncle peats. They stayed all night in burg. Bot Box in post office 25 for one year Box 86[?].

Mar 11 – Fine day. Ansel and Katharine came up here. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts and Sarah. Henry here.

Mar 12 – Warm morning Mercury 31 Abz. One foot snow on ground. Worked on patterns. Snows and blows very blustrous day. Henry and davis Stafford called here. They had been to cut tree for shaft ____ water wheel.

Mar 13 – Very pleasant morning Mercury 5 Abz, not very cold. Went up to Lois in Evening. 13 inches snow. Carried Ina her washboard. Snowed in night.

Mar 14 – Snows some, blustrous morning, 14 inches snow. Worked in shop some. Drawed some wood. Will Planks[49] Girl born to day.[50]

Mar 15 – Fine day. Went up to Marshall with Dell Skinner to see his farm. Stayed all night. Found them well.

Mar 16 – Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to Browns[?]. Snows like fun. Dell went and saw Mr Stage abut taking the Hull farm. Left for home not far from 12 noon. Snowed hard. Called at Luke Smith took dinner. Got to Skinners about seven Evening. Ethan came up after me. Got home about Eight oclock.

Mar 17 – Fine morning mercury 7 Abz in morning. Worked in shop on patterns.

Mar 18 – Snowed in morning like fun. Not very well hard cold. Mrs Oakly[51] buried to day. Lots snow on ground.

Mar 19 – Snowing Mercury18 Abz at ten oclock A.M.

Mar 20 – Worked on patterns some. Filed saw for Win. Mart called here. Snowed hard. Dell and Lois drove in here. Drawed two loads wood. Snow very deep. Thundered and lightened in afternoon.

Mar 21 – Pleasant, sun came out, lots snow on ground, nearly 2 feet. Worked in shop on patterns. Henry here to dinner. Dell and Lois called here. Not very cold. Extracted two teeth for Mrs Wolcots hired man Emmet Emmons. He paid 50¢.

Mar 22 – Worked on patterns. Thawed all day. Win got saw. Sarah and Browns folks went over to tabernacle in Evening. Mr Sherwood Died this morning.[52]

Mar 23 – Worked in shop on patterns. Henry came down stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Worked in shop. Drawed two loads wood. Lots snow in woods. Stormy day. Mr Sherwood buried to day. Carried Mrs Betts and Sarah over to burg. Sarah rode home with Brown. Sylvester Mead[53] died 7 AM to day.

Mar 25 – At home. Snowey day. Went down to Katharines in afternoon stayed all night.

Mar 26 – At Marts. Mart scalded sap bucketts. Jo York came after Adelpha.[54] Got home about two Pm. Dave Barton[55] brot load hay, wheelbarrow &c. Sylvester Mead buried to day.

Mar 27 – Worked in shop some on wagon neap.[56] Turned some acorns for I. D. L. Schram.[57] Fine day. Hannah came home with him. Ina came with her.

Mar 28 – Worked in shop some. Drawed two loads wood. Went up to H. A. Taylors. Got one bushel potatoes paid one Dollar. Bot 4 bushels wheat paid 4 Dollars. Jo Kean paid me one Dollar.

Mar 29 – Worked in shop made neap for A. R. Skinners wagon. George ives called and got Taloimers violin. He paid 2.25. Ina here.

Mar 30 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah went bot table spread. Sent letter for seeds. Sawed out stuf for wheelbarrow. Rained all night.

Mar 31 – Worked on wheelbarrow some. Filed saw for E Whiting. Rained in morning. Will Clark[58] came with two horses. Dell and Lois called got Ina. They went down to Browns stayed all night. Ida Barber[59] came over stayed all night. Mrs Betts went to Burg.

Apr 1 – Rained some in morning. At home all day. Dell and Lois came up just at night.

Apr 2 – Went over to Town meeting. Dell and I went up to Blanchards.[60] Got load stalks, straw and hay. Went after Sarah and Mrs Betts at night.

Apr 3 – Worked in shop some. Put rockers on Hat Taylors chair. Dell went to Kalamazoo. Ethan, Lois and Hannah went down to Katharines.

Apr 4 – Went up to Blanchards with Lois. They left for Marshall. Ethan went with them. Rained in Evening. Paid Hat Taylor 1.60 one Dollar and sixty cents.

Apr 5 – Ethan and Will came back from Marshall. Made pick handle for Herb Earl. Fixed Browns handle.

Apr 6 – Fine morning. Jim and Will left for Marshall. Went down to Katharines. Sarah and Mrs Betts went to eat new shugar, got some.

Apr 7 – Worked in shop on patterns. Mrs Betts went over to burg to hear the gospel preached. Ethan and Bill went down to Katherines. Henry went a long. Fine day.

Apr 8 – Warm looks some like rain, considerable wind. Mrs Betts came home.

Apr 9 – Ethan went up to Foundry. Sarah went over to burg stayed all day. Old Mr King[61] Died this morning. I worked on Skinners wheel barrow. Fine day high wind.

Apr 10 – Ethan gone up to shop after chain wheel pattern. Repaired Skinners wheel barrow.

Apr 11 – Will Brown[62] commenced plowing. Worked round house. Fixed my stove boat. Old Mr King buried to day. Elder Gage called on Mrs Betts. Went over to burg in Evening. Sarah went to Hoags.[63] I waited bout a our and half in the road.

Apr 12 – Made soap. Painted Dells wheelbarrow, Jims slead. Uncle Daniels lost wagon tyre. Cleaned out cellar. Looked over apples &c. Mrs Betts put her ward robe in her room. Mr Brown plowing to day.

Apr 13 – Worked round house and yard. Dell came down to Harts.

Apr 14 – Worked in yard trimmed some trees. Went down to Katharines in Evening. Browns folks went. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Henry stayed all night. Bill sick. Skinner called here got his wheelbarrow.

Apr 15 – At home all day. Henry went up to Flanders.[64] Fine day very dry.

Apr 16 – Worked in shop on patterns. Sarah went over to Janes[65] Stayed all night.

Apr 17 – Went over to burg after Sarah. Went over after Alfleda.[66] Mrs Calkins came home with her. Had a rainy night. Mrs Hennika[67] Died to day.

Apr 18 – Carried Mrs Calkins over to burg. Rained. Carried Hannah down to Browns. Rained hard. Filed saw for Erve Hall[68] 20¢. Man called here canvasing for Diary.

Apr 19 – Worked in shop on patterns. Charley Town[69] called in.

Apr 20 – Worked on patterns. Carried Hannah over to Barbers. Bot midlings[?] over to mill[?] 50¢. Bot one Bushel potatoes, one Dollar to be paid in work. Manne Hennikas[70] wife buried to day.

Apr 21 – Worked in shop on patterns. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Apr 22 – At home all day. No one here.

Apr 23 – Worked in garden pulled grubbs. Hot day. Brown sowed oats. Carried Hannah over to aunt Peets. Sarah went over to Janes stayed all night.

Apr 24 – Went over to burg in morning after Sarah. Put fellow[71] in one wheel. Split some wood in afternoon. McNaughten boy[72] buried to day.

Apr 25 – Worked round. Got out manure. George Barber[73] helped all day.

Apr 26 – Got out two loads manure. Chored round. Spread manure on East garden. Cyrus Streator and Laura called here just at night.

Apr 27 – Carried some corn over to mill 2½ bushels. Spread manure on west garden. Earnest Whiting plowed garden. Rained just at night. Henry came down. Jo Kean paid 50¢ cts.

Apr 28 – Rained in morning. Not much done. Went over to burg in Evening after hannah. Got my meal.

Apr 29 – At home all day. Rainy day. Henry came down stayed all night. Snowed in night. Hailed in afternoon.

Apr 30 – Ethan and Henry gone up to shop. Hannah went over to Mr Johnsons.

May 1 – Cool day snowed and blowed some. Split some wood. Will Ridler[74] commenced plowing. Hannah came home. Got some lumber of Theodore.

May 2 – Commenced hen yard. Ethan went up to shop. Fine day froze ice.

May 3 – Cool, ice this morning. Put the cow in Browns lot to day. Ethan gone up to shop.

May 4 – Worked on hen yard. Fine day. Ridler plowing. Went up to Jim Spires[75] to raise Barn, big Barn.

May 5 – Worked on hen yard. Very pleasant day. Will Ridler finished plowing. Mrs Betts went over to burg to hear the gospel preached in the Babtist Church.

May 6 – At home all day. No one here.

May 7 – Trimed trees south side road. Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Betts came home.

May 8 – Worked round hen yard and house. Frost this morning.

May 9 – Went up to Foundry. Got chissel made for Binder. Got my grubb ax repaired. Mr daniels lost tire of one wheel. Fine day, cool wind, frost this morning.

May 10 – Frost this morning. Worked on hen yard some.

May 11 – Worked round yard and in garden.

May 12 – Worked on got two bushels potatoes of H A Taylor. Got some lumber up to mill 5 boards 14 feet long. Not very good. Went up to foundry after Ethan. Jim came home. Mrs Betts went to burg.

May 13 – Went down to Katharines. Jo Darling[76] maried to day. John Darling[77] was there. Fine day.

May 14 – Worked on hen yard. Will Ridler planted corn in south west lot. Herbert Earl helped him. Mrs Betts came home.

May 15 – Worked on hen yard put the gate up. Ernest plowed in afternoon. Jim went back to Marshall. Brown planting. Considerable wind.

May 16 – Rained in morning. Brown planting. I trimed some trees. Warm day. Brown put Snap and buggy in Barn.

May 17 – Went up to shop in morning with Ethan. Mr Ford and M O Streator came down and made out release on Mortgage. I went up to Streators. Got seed corn some potatoes of Brown.

May 18 – Mercury 90 in shade. Went up to shop in morning. Ground gr____ Ax. Hot day. Draged some of my corn ground. Jesse Earl[78] planting.

May 19 – Hot day. Carried Ethan up to shop. Finished draging corn ground. Jesse Earl planting. Ernest plowing his corn ground. Burnt brush East of Barn. Barber came over and started the plow.

May 20 – Very hot day Mercury 85 in shade. At home. No one here.

May 21 – Made corn Markers. Marked ground one way. Rained in afternoon. Paid Minnie Randall twenty Dollars.

May 22 – Rainy day. Barber came over. Plowed some moved old cornstalks. Went up to shop after Ethan at night.

May 23 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Barber plowing. Berban Jacobs and Brother called here a while in forenoon. Commenced planting corn East of house. Fine day cold East wind.

May 24 – Cold North East wind. Went up to Foundry. Mercury 50 Abz. Planted corn.

May 25 – Finished planting. Old Mrs Youngs buried to day. Henry Earl died this morning.[79]

May 26 – Went up to shop in morning with Ethan. Worked on hen yard some. Hoed in garden. Went up after Ethan at night. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg stayed all night.

May 27 – Fine morning. Sun came out nice.

May 28 – Worked round garden. Went over to burg. Went up to Ridlers to see him about road work.

May 29 – Went up to shop in morning. Hoed some in garden. Went up to shop in afternoon. Hannah and Ida Barber went. Elward Agent called on the boys to see Binder.

May 30 – Working on road. Hot day. Went up to Foundry.

May 31 – Worked round garden. Worked on road.

Jun 1 – Hoed in garden. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Wi___ans to strawberry festival. Barber put on plaster in front room. Conk Smith here stayed all night.

Jun 2 – Hoed corn, beans and potatoes. Cultivated cabbage ground. Went up to Foundry after Ethan. He had gone by the burg have rode with Ed Flanders.[80]

Jun 3 – Some cloudy, no rain yet, very dry. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Hannah stayed. Little Dutch man stayed here all night.

Jun 4 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Marked out potatoe ground. Barber planted in some corn. Rained in night. Conk Smith stayed here all night.

Jun 5 – Cloudy some mist. Ethan set out some plants.

Jun 6 – Planted in corn. Mrs Betts went to Dowagiac.[81] Sarah went over to burg. Theodore put in bridge. Ethans patent papers came or a part of them.

Jun 7 – Finished planting corn. Put handle on Mr Taylors hoe. Hoed in garden some. Water wheel busted. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon.

Jun 8 – Ethan and Henry at work on patterns. Plowed out potatoes. Rained in afternoon. Barber brot over some more ashes for corn.

Jun 9 – Cloudy morning, rainy day. Not much done. Cow out. Filed saw for Whiting.

Jun 10 – Cool wind Mercury 53 in morning. Went down to Katharines. Mrs Gaffing there.

Jun 11 – Put ashes on corn. Rainy afternoon. Ridler came down to work in corn.

Jun 12 – Cool morning Mercury 62. Went down to Katharines. Expected to go to Kalamazoo but no go. Came home and finished ashing my corn. Ezekiel Lee Died to day.[82]

Jun 13 – Hoed in garden some. Barber commenced plowing for Buckwheat. Ethan finished patterns. Cow out to night. Rainy night. Brown and I went to find Cattle no find him.

Jun 14 – Rainy morning. Found Cattle over by Rail Road. Had been in Whitbecks wheat. Worked in garden some. H. A. Taylor brot his buggy down to paint.

Jun 15 – Worked on Barbers cultivator. A. Browns folks came up in Evening. Mrs Semer came with them. Had a heavy shower rained all the Evening. They went home in the rain.

Jun 16 – Went up to Foundry. Henry went up to Battle Creek with patterns.

Jun 17 – At home all day. Mr Henry Rogers and wife[83] and Mrs Wilson here. Ethan carried Hannah down to Katharines. Dell came stayed all night.

Jun 18 – Dell went to Kalamazoo, had Bill.[84] Dell and Henry stayed all night. Finished Barbers Cultivator. George put ashes on corn. Painted cultivator. I painted Taylors buggy boddy.

Jun 19 – Painted Taylors buggy. Hoed in garden some.

Jun 20 – Rainy day. Not much done.

Jun 21 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Ansil, Catharine and Hellen[85] came up here. Ansil and I went up after Ethan.

Jun 22 – Fine morning. Henry came down to have pattern alterd some.

Jun 23 – Carried Ethan up to shop. I cultivated turnip ground. Barber Cultivated corn one way. Brown plowed Buckwheat ground. Henry got Castings. Lois came home in Evening. Went down to Browns in Evening. Alfleda down to Browns.

Jun 24 – At home. Mr Daniels called here a while. He went down to Browns. Ethan went down to Katharines carried some things to Hannah. Lois went with him. Had a heavy shower.

Jun 25 – Went up to shop. Very hot. Hoed in garden some.

Jun 26 – Went over to burg. Got wire for hen yard. Bot one Barrel plaster paid one Dollar for it.

Jun 27 – Put wire round Hen yard. Hot day. Sarah went down to Browns. Carried Hannah up to Mr Flanders. Ina here.

Jun 28 – Barber sowed Buckwheat. Hoed some in garden. Dell and Lois went home took Ina.

Jun 29 – Went up to shop with Ethan. Brown sowed Buckwheat. Hot day. I hoed potatoes. Got ½ bushel potatoes of H. A. Taylor. Ridler plowed out corn in south west lot. Mrs Benagar Dean[86] died.

Jun 30 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Sarah went to burg. I plowed potatoes and corn. Very high wind all day.

Jul 1 – Wind continues to blow. Mrs Dean buried to day also Mr Enoch Nap[87] of Comstock. Mart and Lucy came up here. I had a chill.

Jul 2 – Not very well to day. Went over to burg. Got dress for Hannah. Put new bridge on new violin. Rained a little in afternoon.

Jul 3 – Worked some in shop and garden.

Jul 4 – At home all day. Sarah went over to burg. Ethan and Hannah went over in Evening to see fireworks.

Jul 5 – Varnished Taylors buggy and turned some pins for _____. Had a hard blow in afternoon, blowed down our Locust tree in front yard.

Jul 6 – Finished Taylors buggy. Turned 6 pins for Jim Millham.[88] Hoed corn in afternoon some. Went over to burg after Sarah.

Jul 7 – Pleasant morning. Went up to shop. Took Mr Taylors buggy home. Hoed corn some. Hank and Nancy came home.

Jul 8 – Hank and Nancy* here. Ethan took Hannah down to Katharines. Hank and Nancy went down to Mr Browns.

Jul 9 – Worked in corn some.

Jul 10 – Plowed and hoed corn. Mrs Betts came home to day.

Jul 11 – Hoed corn. Brown cut wheat in west lot. Mr Barber commenced cutting wheat.

Jul 12 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Plowed and hoed corn.

Jul 13 – Finished hoing corn. Brown drawed one load wheat.

Jul 14 – Cleaned out Barn. Worked in potatoes some. Put paris green on them. Hot day Mercury 91 Abz.

Jul 15 – Very hot. Ethan took Mrs Betts over to burg. Ethan went after Mrs Betts at night.

Jul 16 – Went to Kalamazoo after Louese. Had Ernest buggy. Cows got in Whitbecks lot. Sold calf to Whitbecks for 4.00. Bot set Spokes $3.00 pr _____.

Jul 17 – Chored round house and garden. Run after cows and fixed fence.

Jul 18 – Made wheelbarrow for Claud K. Brown Esqr of Chicago.[89]

Jul 19 – Went Kalamazoo with Hank. He went to Chicago. Bot coat and pants $3.00. Dell and Lois came here. Mart and Lucy called here. Hannah went to Caywoods. Sis[90] went up to Milhams.

Jul 20 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Corked barn floor in forenoon.

Jul 21 – Hoed[?] corn some. Barton[?] thrashed some. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jul 22 – At home all day. Lois came back. Dell went home. Mr Clark called in a while.

Jul 23 – Barton[91] thrashed some. I plowed corn. Very hot. Ridler plowed corn. Finished plowing.

Jul 24 – Hot day. Plowed corn. Emma Allen[92] here. Twelve here to dinner.

Jul 25 – Rainy morning. Headache. Hoed some potatoes. Tamer Ford[93] here. Barber plowed some corn. Lois went up to Jo Flanders.

Jul 26 – Some cooler this morning. Spect had rain somewhere. Finished plowing corn. Mr Flanders came down got all the whimmen[94] took them up to their house. Had a heavy shower, rained and blowed hard. Mr Flanders had to drive in _____.

Jul 27 – Cloudy morning. Laid up fence in forenoon. Carried all the wimmin down to A. Browns in afternoon. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer 36 Dollars. Rained hard in night. Adda Ralph here to day.

Jul 28 – Sun came out in morning, fine day, rained some in afternoon. Cow went to Bull. Mrs Betts went to burg.

Jul 29 – Hot day. Went down to Katharines. All well. Mrs Gaffing there.

Jul 30 – Made Ex for Skinners Democrat[?]. Jim came home. Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Betts came home. Mrs G____ preached at burg this Evening.

Jul 31 – At home. Worked worked in shop some.

Aug 1 – Worked on spokes some. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon.

Aug 2 – Worked on spokes. Repaired Huntings guitar. Lois went home.

Aug 3 – Worked in corn some. Drove some spokes in afternoon.

Aug 4 – Drove some spokes in morning. Catharine and Mrs Gaffing came up. Mrs G. went up to Jim Milhams. Estella came down stayed all night. Hoed corn in afternoon.

Aug 5 – Katharine here. Hank and Nancy came up. Warm day.

Aug 6 – Hank moved his things over. Hoed corn. Sarah and Katharine went up to Jim Milhams. Hannah went down to A. Browns. Rained a very little towards night.

Aug 7 – Cloudy morning looks like rain. Finished hoing corn and potatoes. Katharine went home. Mrs Betts went to burg. Dr Upham came here stayed all night from Elkhart, Ia. Hot and dry.

Aug 8 – Cut weeds in yard hoed some. Sarah went to burg to meeting. Ethan came home in morning. Hot day. Babtist Association at Burg.

Aug 9 – Chored round. Belas calf got in corn lot. Went round woods put up some fence. Hoed some. Will Clark came. Ethan sick in night. Mrs Betts came home. A____ closed to day.

Aug 10 – Fine morning. Went up in woods. Plowed out the potatoes. Cut some grubbs in cornfield side road. Will Clark here.

Aug 11 – Hunt preaches in D K Rogers Saloon this morning. He paid five Dollars for the room. Drawed one load wood. Not feeling very well. Jim and Will went up to Henrys.

Aug 12 – Fine morning some cloudy. At home all day. Mrs Betts went burg on her own hook I guess some mad spose.[95] Peer Whitcomb brot her home. Hank and Nancy came up stayed all night.

Aug 13 – Some cloudy. Will Clark went home. I cultivated my corn one way. Had a good shower in afternoon rained hard. Nancy and Claud here all day. A. Browns folks went to Kalamazoo to Seance at Wagners.

Aug 14 – Killed 3 fowls, one white Rooster, old Speckled hen, one yellow hen. Nice morning. Went down to Katharines got 25 lbs flour. Had a heavy shower, rainy afternoon, rained all night.

Aug 15 – Rainy morning. Picknic at South Haven. Jim gone.

Aug 16 – Put rims on wheels. Ethan worked up to shop. Charles Lees[96] folks here came up with they new buggy. Mrs Betts, Nancy and Mrs Brown and Jule went up to Mr Ralphs.

Aug 17 – Work round, cut some wood, chored round. Mr Barber plowed corn. Sate Skinner[97] went up to Flanders. Henry came down in Evening.

Aug 18 – Pleasant morning. Cut some wood. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to Burg to stay all night.

Aug 19 – At home all day. Very hot Mercury 92 in shade. Alvin, Ida and Henrys _____ _____ _____ ____ and Louese went over to Burg after Sarah and Mrs Betts.

Aug 20 – Not very well. Drawed one load wood. Nancy and Claud went down to Ambrose and Matildas to attend to business &c.

Aug 21 – Worked round garden pulled weeds in Strawberry patch. Rained in night.

Aug 22 – Went up to sawmill in morning. Some rainy. Worked round house and shop. Rainy afternoon and night. Ethan & Louese calculated to went down to Katharines but no go, to much rain.

Aug 23 – Rainy. Jim went over to Barbers after umbrella. Carried Ethan up to shop. Got Whitings buggy. Wedged two axes for E Whiting and mended pruning shears. Rainy day and night.

Aug 24 – Rainy morning. Mrs Skinner[98] and Sate came here stayed all night. Henry came down in Evening. Fixed Whitings buggy wheels.

Aug 25 – Went over to burg. Bot sack flour 90 cts. Bot oil, cheese, paper, Envelopes. Mrs Skinner and Sate went home. Henry here. Wm Gleason[99] died this morning. Went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Aug 26 – Went to Kalamazoo, took the cars. Went to Schoolcraft. Attended a Spiritual meeting. Left my horse to Jesse Turners.[100] Came back. Went up to Katharines stayed all night. Alfleda went down to Charles Lees. Mr Wm Gleason buried to day.

Aug 27 – Rained some. Came home at noon. Hank here to work. Not much done in the work line.

Aug 28 – Some misty. Not very well. Not much work don to day. Rained hard in night.

Aug 29 – Worked in shop some on cross head. Mart and Lucy, Delpha come up. Louese went home with them. I went over to burg in morning. Received of township treasurer $3.70 cts.

Aug 30 – Finished cross head. Went up to saw mill. Hannah went down to Browns. Mr Brown thrashed his wheat. Saw Mr Dilenbeck from Yorkstate. Martin Turner and wife[101] called here just at night. Brown thrashed.

Aug 31 – Hot morning Mercury 83 Abz. Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Louese came back with me. Rained some. Stoped to Browns.

Sep 1 – Cool morning. Town[e] thrashing. Chored round, drawed two loads wood. Louese and Stella went up to Sherwoods in afternoon. Rained some in night. Cool days.

Sep 2 – Henry came down in morning. Rainy.

Sep 3 – Chored round. Went up to Mr Flanders. Bot one bushel corn 60. Claud went with me. Jim helping Streator thrash.

Sep 4 – Went to Comstock to mill, carried 4 bushels wheat, one corn. Mrs Betts and Mrs Keith went over to burg on a visit.

Sep 5 – Chored round. Split some wood. Cool day. Ethan carried patterns up to shop. Rained some in afternoon. Commenced (indecipherable). Extracted two teeth for Herbert Earl.

Sep 6 – Pleasant morning but hot. Pioneer Picknick at Augusta. Drawed one load wood. Mr Browns folks and Mr Wagner here in Evening had a Circle. The Old Preach came Che Che would not let him talk.[102]

Sep 7 – Henry and Louese gone up to Marshall. Had Bill. Worked in shop some. Cut out sides for wheelbarrow. Ethan worked up to shop.

Sep 8 – Stript some corn. Nancy here. Ridler commenced cutting corn.

Sep 9 – All well at home. Hank and Nancy here.

Sep 10 – _____ worked in shop on mold pattern. Mart and Lucy came up. Rainy. Mart went to burg with Sewing Machine.

Sep 11 – Finished mold pattern. Rained in afternoon. Barber came up and cut some corn. I went down to Browns to tea. Hank and Will topping corn.

Sep 12 – Worked in corn. Mrs Betts and Nancy came back. Homes girl died.[103] Henry got home with Bill. Ridler cutting corn.

Sep 13 – Lottie Holmes buried to day. Ethan and Henry went up to shop. I toped corn all day. Ridler finished cutting. Barber cutting. Sarah, Mrs Betts and Nancy went up to Hanibals in afternoon. Boys made some cider.

Sep 14 – Pleasant morning. Finished cutting corn in fore noon. Set up cornfodder in afternoon. Hot day. Ancil got back from Salt Lakecity.

Sep 15 – Nice morning. Browns folks gone to Plainwell. Will came up to ___s after Louese. Ethan gone up to shop.

Sep 16 – At home all day. Ethan down to Browns. Mrs Betts went to burg. Louese came home from Marshall. Ancil and Lucy came up here in afternoon. Rainy night.

Sep 17 – Rainy morning. Sarah went over to burg in morning. Took old buggy to pieces. Went after Sarah and Mrs Betts. Mrs Betts (indecipherable) Eat to much Honey. Dell called here.

Sep 18 – Pleasant morning. Chored round. Made fire under Kettle[?]. Sarah colored lot cloth for Louese. Took the old buggy wheels to pieces. _____ up hubbs to get the _____ out. Ethan went up to shop. Sent my patterns _____.

Sep 19 – Made rack[?] for Cart to draw corn _____ on. Drawed some _____. Louese went up to _____ stayed all night. _____ stayed here with Jim.

Sep 20 – Sprinkled some. Took Ethan over to burg. He went to Jackson to State fair. Drawed two loads wood in forenoon. Went over Ethan in Evening.

Sep 21 – Hank and Will cut the Buckwheat. I made Claud a husking ____. Worked on wringer.

Sep 22 – Fine morning. Hank, Jim, Jule and Nancy gone to Skinners. Ethan gone up to shop. Mrs Betts gone to burg. Sarah and I went down to Katharines. Stayed all night.

Sep 23 – Went Came home in Evening all right.

Sep 24 – Worked round shop, cleaned out old shop. Barber husked little corn. Hank and all hands got home. Mrs Betts came home from burg.

Sep 25 – Ethan went shop. I husked some corn in forenoon. Sawed out felloes for Barbers wheel. Mr Orrin Case called here at noon to see about Sam Chichester stealing[?] hogs of Father.

Sep 26 – Finished Barbers wheel at noon. Ethan went up to shop. I worked round, picked apples up at the corner then went down to Jacksons. Stayed all night.

Sep 27 – Pleasant morning. Ethan went up to shop. I stript some corn leaves in forenoon. Mercury 88 at one oclock, very hot. Mrs Betts went over to burg Ethan took her over to hear the gospel preached once more in her life. Rained hard up to _____.

Sep 28 – Henry and Ethan went up to shop. Cloudy morning. Worked on wheel some. Asel left for home Titusville Pennsylvania.

Sep 29 – Worked on wheel finished one wheel. Husked some corn. Mr and Mrs Ira Clark[104] here to Dinner. Fine day. Claud went up to Rass Towns with Mr Brown, got some peaches.

Sep 30 – At home. Hank and Nancy here, Henry here. I went down to Katharines just at night after tea and butter.

Oct 1 – Sarah went over to burg in morning with Ethan. I put bottom in three peck basket. Picked lot corn. Hot day. Mercury 94 at one PM in shade. Husked some corn.

Oct 2 – Picked sixteen rows corn. Earnest brot Hogs head down in morning. Sarah, Mrs Betts and all the girls went up to Jesse Earls. I set tire on Barbers wheel. Very hot and dry.

Oct 3 – Warm and dry, 89 in shade. Repaired rake wheel for Jesse Earl in morning. Cut popcorn in west garden in fore noon. Jim and George Barber gone down to Jacksons to gather butternuts. Went down to Jackson after walnuts. Rained in night.

Oct 4 – Some rainy and very high wind. Picked some corn and husked some. Barber finished cutting Buckwheat.

Oct 5 – Carried Ethan up to Henrys. They went to Marshall, had Whitings buggy. I picked and husked some corn, drawed one load wood.

Oct 6 – Jim and I husked corn. Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to A. Browns. Mrs Betts was so lame she could not stay at home. She had been housed up for for four days, had not been visiting in four days. She thought it would do her good.

Oct 7 – At home all day. Not much rain.

Oct 8 – Worked round done chores &c. Went over to burg at noon. Sarah went over to get pattern for Hannah. We went down to Katharines stayed all night. Rained most all night.

Oct 9 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sarah Expected to go to Chicago.[105] There was no Excursion Train going so she no go. Came home in forenoon. Dell here to dinner. He went to Kalamazoo Sis went with him. Ethan came home.

Oct 10 – Rainy day. Husked some corn carried it in to corn house. Dell and Ethan went to burg in forenoon.

Oct 11 – Husked some corn. Ethan worked on patterns. Hank and Nancy moved over to burg. I carried over two loads.

Oct 12 – Hank cleaned out gallery. Worked round house and barn.

Oct 13 – Hank carried one load over to gallery. I finished husking my ____ corn. Ridler and Barber husking. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Ethan went up to Foundry.

Oct 14 – Hannah and I went around the Squair. Saw Bronsons, Burgess and Peet Milhams houses for the first time. Henry Rogers and wife and Mrs Wilson came over here.

Oct 15 – Cleared out corn house and sorted corn. Sarah went over to burg in morning. Barber husked some. I am Sixty four years old to day.

Oct 16 – Sorted corn some. Barber put in some. Nancy and Claud here to day. Ethan and girls went over to Nancys in Evening.

Oct 17 – Sorted corn. Ridler brot one load. Barber thrashed Buckwheat. Rained in afternoon. Brown Drawed his Buckwheat. Ridler finished drawing my corn.

Oct 18 – Sorted corn. Ridler took one load home the last. Minnie Randall here in Evening. Mrs Corkins came from Battle Creek. Rainy night.

Oct 19 – Rainy day. Sorted corn. Took Mrs Corkins over to burg at noon she went home on the 12.55 train. Mart and Jay Barton[106] thrashed wheat.

Oct 20 – Worked in corn some sorted some corn.

Oct 21 – Went down to Katharines after some butter.

Oct 22 – Chored round house and barn.

Oct 23 – Fixed up bin in cornhouse. Sorted some corn. Went over to burg. Got potato hook mended.

Oct 24 – Mr Chapin Died[107] to day. Took Hannah up to Jesse Earls and Ethan up to shop. Went down to M. O. Streators. Dug potatoes. Barber thrashed Buckwheat. I get three bushels B.wheat. To Browns to buy eleven bushels potatoes.

Oct 25 – Went down dug 3 bushels. Mr Streator raised his Hog pen and corn house. Floral[?] Hall burnt on the Galesburg Fair ground in Evening.

Oct 26 – Went over to burg in morning after Louese. Rained some. Barber came over and shelled some corn.

Oct 27 – Dug my potatoes up at the corner and put them in the cellar. Ethan, Hannah and Louese went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Oct 28 – Pleasant, nice day, some wind, Mercury 70 Abz at noon in shade.

Oct 29 – Husked corn some. Fine day. Husked about fifteen baskets and put it in corn house.

Oct 30 – Finished husking. Louese started for Chicago.[108] Sorted corn.

Oct 31 – Worked round house and barn. ____ some all day. Went up to shop with Ethan.

Nov 1 – Went up to mill got load _____ for fence got some steaks for fence.

Nov 2 – Went up to shop with Ethan. Rainy day. Brot sewing machine home from Earls. Carried it over to burg. Sarah went over bot warp for Katharines carpet.

Nov 3 – Carried Sarah down to Katharines. Clarra came home with me. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Made fence around the Strawberries. Susan Giddings[109] here to day. Whiting brot his cutter down.

Nov 4 – Carried Hannah and Clarra down to Katharines. Sarah came home. Rained quite hard when we came home.

Nov 5 – At home. Snowey day. Not much done but move stoves. Put stove in shop and in middle room. Cold night. Ethan and Jim went over to burg. Jim got boots. Mrs Betts came home.

Nov 6 – Not very well hard cold. Mercury 3 Abz in morning. No work to day.

Nov 7 – Mercury 10 Abz in morning. Husked popcorn &c. Rather disagreable day. Ethan went up to shop. Rained all night. Jim went up to Milhams stayed the night.

Nov 8 – Rainy. No work to day hard cold. Eugene Powlisons wife died.[110] Elva Earl Married[111] to day spec so maby some.

Nov 9 – Cut and drawed two loads wood. Hank and Nancy came over stayed all night. Walter Barton died to day.[112]

Nov 10 – Nancy gone down to Mr Browns. Fine morning. Put handle and heads in my mawl. Mrs Powlison buried to day. Fine pleasant day. Not much done, hard cold.

Nov 11 – Nice day. At home all day, not very well. Walter Barton buried to day.

Nov 12 – Went down to Katharines after tea and Hannahs cloths. Mrs Gaffing started for Tennessee.

Nov 13 – Pried up well room in forenoon. Worked on road in afternoon. Picked stone on the hill. Fine day.

Nov 14 – Patched the roof some. Chored round. Banked house some. Mr Mitchel called here. Dell and Lois drove in did not get out of the carriage. Rained some in after noon. Mr R Ransom died this morning.[113]

Nov 15 – Some rainy. Ethan went over got Nancy. I put up shelf on back roof to put iron ware on. Shelled some corn. Ethan made water spout.

Nov 16 – Went to Comstock to Mill got Buckwheat and corn ground.

Nov 17 – Went over to Burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. Sarah started for South bend.[114]

Nov 18 – Went over to burg after Hank and Nancy. Henry came down. Herbert Clark and Jimmy Millham[115] came down here. Very nice day. All well as usual.

Nov 19 – Fine day. Worked on Skinners buggy. Mr Barton and David thrashed. Lois and Hannah went down to Mr Browns. Ross Ingersoll died to day.[116]

Nov 20 – Nice morning. Lois and Hannah went over to Nancys. Mrs Betts came home to get ready to go over to Galesburg. Finished Skinners buggy.

Nov 21 – Repaired my wagon wheel in forenoon. Carried Alfleda down to Katharines. Rainy afternoon, rained in night.

Nov 22 – Cloudy morning, Ross Ingersoll buried to day.

Nov 23 – Lois and Will went home. I went up to James Ralphs. Took up two bushels Buckwheat, got almost three bushels and a half potatoes. Henry came down. Ethan went up to shop in Evening. Bot stove pipe. Old Mrs __oo___ died.

Nov 24 – Warm morning. Went up in woods got load wood. Went over to burg after Nancy. Mrs Betts went over with me. Extracted tooth for Jenny Giddings.[117] Had head ache in afternoon.

Nov 25 – Mercury 51 Abz nice warm morning. Mr Brown called in. Claud went home with him. Hank came over. Will and Jule came up here. Claud went down home with Jule stayed all night.

Nov 26 – Warm, mercury 49 Abz rainy morning. Cow gone, found her down on Randals. Dressed out cutter Knees. Rainy day. Claud went home this morning.

Nov 27 – Mercury 38 Abz in morning. Rained some in morning. Ethan went over to burg.

Nov 28 – Mercury 28 Abz in morning. Fixed up hatch way in forenoon. Snowey and blowey. Fixed up high chair in afternoon. Allen Simmons called here to get buggy boddy made. Cold day.

Nov 29 – Mercury 15 Abz in morning, cold and Blustrous, no snow. Filed buck saw for Whiting.

Nov 30 – Worked in shop on cross Head. Stormy.

Dec 1 – Finished cross Head in forenoon. Sawed out cutter Beams in afternoon. Mrs Betts went over to burg with A. Brown.

Dec 2 – Pleasant, Mercury 17 Abz. At home all day. Claud stayed here all night.

Dec 3 – Pleasant, sun out all day, warm. Carried Claud home. Mrs Betts came home. Drawed two logs down from the corner on sleigh.

Dec 4 – Rainy morning, not very cold, some snow. Worked in shop some on wheel barrow.

Dec 5 – Went up to mill in the morning. Worked on road some. Windy, not very cold. Jesse Earl and Burgess and Ed Schram worked. Drawed some dirt.

Dec 6 – Worked on road in forenoon. Snowey day. Went over after Sarah, she no come.

Dec 7 – Worked in woods in fore noon. Cut maple tree. Went over after Sarah, she come. Drawed some wood.

Dec 8 – Snowey. Jim and I cut some wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Hank and Nancy. Ethan carried Hannah down to Caywoods. She came home at night. Ambrose and Matilda here in Evening.

Dec 9 – At home. Hank and Nancy here. Fine day. Mart brot Alfleda home. Katharine came with them.

Dec 10 – Worked on bob patterns some. Barber came over shelled some corn.

Dec 11 – Took the carpet rags over to Mrs Semer. Katharine and Sarah went to Nancys. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Burdicks. Barber came over. I hung ax for him. He cut stub down for _____. I went over (indecipherable). Bot Horse Blankets.

Dec 12 – Fine day, mercury ____ Abz. Went up in woods cut some wood. Katharine, Sarah and Alfleda went up to Nichols. Byron Allen and wife, Cora, Ida and Emma[118] here in Evening. Henry took Claud home.

Dec 13 – Drawed three loads wood in fore noon. Went down to Marts. Katharine and Hannah went home. No snow, cold wind.

Dec 14 – Pleasant morning. Worked in woods, cut wood.

Dec 15 – Cut wood in forenoon, drawed some. Went over to burg carried Mrs Betts over. Sarah went down to Kalamazoo with Nancy to get stove and furniture. Jim went over got his over coat.

Dec 16 – Pleasant day. At home all day.

Dec 17 – Repaired guitar for Harry Streator.[119] Bot _____ of Whiting 8½ lbs 5 cts pr pound. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts. Warm day.

Dec 18 – Rainy morning. Worked in shop. Commenced Simmons buggy boddy. Browns folks and Sarah went over to Hanks in Evening. Rained in Evening.

Dec 19 – Cloudy, mercury 55 Abz in morning. Not much done to day. Worked in shop some.

Dec 20 – Sick, no work. Mercury 66 Abz.

Dec 21 – Fine day. Worked in shop in afternoon. Ernest brot shank. Plained board for Ernest.

Dec 22 – Not any work to day. Ethan carried Mrs Betts over to burg.

Dec 23 – At home. Not very well. Went down to Katharines. Took Hannahs things down, got tea. Lost Martingale ring. Warm day, rained in Evening.

Dec 24 – Worked some in shop on sills. Went over to burg with N. L. Randall. Received of Township Treasurer 40 forty Dollars. Paid Minnie Randall 40 forty Dollars.

Dec 25 – Rainy morning, not very cold, Mercury 46[?] Abz in morning. Went down to Browns in Evening. Ed Phelps got hurt, gun burst, blowed britch pin into his head.

Dec 26 – Worked in shop some. Carried Nancy home. Alfleda went over. Mrs Betts came home. Old cow out, found her at Blakes barn in galesburg. Filed saw for Erve Hall 15.

Dec 27 – Worked in shop some. Not very cold, 20.

Dec 28 – Filed saw for Erve Hall 20. Put in cross bar in Rand___ saw frame and filed saw 20. No frost, Mercury 50 Abz.

Dec 29 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in Evening. Mrs Betts went over with me. Hank and Nancy came over.

Dec 30 – Henry came down. Carried Hank and Nancy home in Evening. Mrs Betts came home.

Dec 31 – Worked in shop in forenoon. Mart came up with Hannah. Went over to burg, paid my tax 7.69 cts. Ed Phelps Died this morning.[120] Hannah stayed over to Nancys.

——-

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

[2] Luke had taken a trip back to New York and was presently staying with his niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

[3] George & Marion’s son, Frank John Tomlinson

[4] Above zero

[5] George Tomlinson

[6] George & Marion’s daughter, Nellie Tomlinson

[7] Perry, New York, where the Tomlinsons lived

[8] His niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[9] Train

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

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

[12] Galesburg, Michigan

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

[14] Neighbors, and his daughter Nancy’s in-laws, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

[15] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Mary (Allen) Calkins

[16] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[17] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

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

[19] Believe this is one of his farm animals

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

[21] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders. After his 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

[22] Neighbor, Earnest Whiting

[23] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

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

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

[26] FindAGrave.com shows that Emeline (Bigelow) Bradley is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pavilion, New York

[27] His son, Ethan Keith

[28] Luke’s niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham, her husband, Martin Milham, and her uncle, Ansel Lee

[29] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[30] Marius O. & Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

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

[32] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[33] Neighbor, William Ralph

[34] Ambrose Brown

[35] Neighbor, Hannibal “Hat” A. Taylor

[36] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[37] Neighbor, Thomas Clark Ford

[38] Etc.

[39] Michigan Death Records confirm that both Jane Ann (Odell) Olin, age 30, and her sister Ellen Odell, age 25, died of consumption on February 13, 1877, and FindAGrave.com shows they are both buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[40] Luke’s cousin

[41] FindAGrave.com confirms that Ebenezer Flanders died February 22, 1877 and is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[42] In all his previous diaries up until 1875, Luke has spelled his sister’s name as Catharine. Since then he sometimes spells it starting with a K, as can be seen in previous entries for January, and other times starting with a C

[43] Neighbor, Henry D. Rogers

[44] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Julia Allen. She lived with Ambrose and Matilda

[45] Neighbor, Erasmus Towne

[46] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, the daughter of Lois & Del Skinner

[47] Michigan Death Records reveal that Harry M. Rowland, age 14, the son of Henry C. & Delilah Rowland, died February 27, 1877, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[48] Luke’s cousin, and brother of Theodore Earl

[49] The Plank family had been Luke Keith’s neighbors in Comstock, Michigan, but on April 3, 1873, Luke noted in his diary that they had left for Grand Rapids, Michigan

[50] A search of the Michigan, Births, 1867-1902 index and images on Family Search listed a Gertie Plank born in 1877 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to William Plank and Mary Plank. The 1880 Census does not show Gertie so it is assumed that she had died

[51] FindAGrave.com records show that Emma (Scofield) Oakley, wife of Walter E. Oakley, died March 16, 1877 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[52] FindAGrave.com reveals that Cyrus Gould Sherwood died March 22, 1877 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[53] Michigan Death Records confirm that Sylvester Mead died March 24, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Schoolcraft, Michigan

[54] Joseph and Marion Adelpha York, the husband and daughter of Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[55] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[56] The pole or tongue of a cart or wagon drawn by two animals side by side

[57] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[58] His grandson, William Byron Clark, the son of Lois and her first husband, Byron Clark

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

[60] Samuel & Lucretia (Judson) Blanchard

[61] Michigan Death Records reveal that Samuel A. King, age 72, died April 9, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[62] The son of Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

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

[64] Neighbors, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[65] Neighbor, Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

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

[67] Michigan Death Records confirm that Elwilda Henika, age 21, died April 17, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[68] Believe this to be his neighbor, Irwin I. Hall

[69] Neighbor, Charles Towne. In 1891 Charles married Luke’s daughter Hannah

[70] Manuel Henika, the husband of Elwilda (see April 17 entry)

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

[72] Michigan Death Records show that Lafayette P. McNaughton, the 14-year-old son of Peter & Flora McNaughton, died on April 22, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[73] The son of neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[74] Neighbor, William Ridler

[75] Neighbor, James Spier

[76] Census and FindAGrave.com records show that Joseph Darling was married to Anna, however no marriage record was found

[77] Joseph Darling’s father

[78] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[79] FindAGrave.com shows that Henry L. Earl died May 24, 1877 and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan. Henry was the nephew of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[80] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[81] Dowagiac, Michigan, where she had once lived and where her late son Edwin Crawford’s family lived

[82] His paternal first cousin

[83] Neighbors, Henry & Lucy (Harris) Rogers

[84] His horse

[85] His niece, and sister Catharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York

[86] Michigan Death Records show that Angeline (Murray) Dean, the wife of Benajah Dean, died June 29, 1877 in Pavilion, Michigan with FindAGrave.com showing she is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[87] FindAGrave.com reveals that Enoch S. Knapp died June 29, 1877 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[88] Neighbor; James was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for January 23 entry)

* His son-in-law and daughter, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown

[89] His 2-year-old grandson, Claude Keith Brown, Nancy & Hank Brown’s son

[90] Nickname for his daughter Louese

[91] His neighbor, Samuel Barton

[92] The daughter of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[93] Mary Tamer Ford, the daughter of neighbors Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford

[94] Women

[95] Some mad I suppose

[96] The family of his cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[97] His daughter Lois’ sister-in-law, Sarah “Sate” Skinner

[98] His daughter Lois’ mother-in-law, Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[99] Michigan Death Records show that William Gleason died August 25, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[100] His maternal first cousin, Jesse W. Turner

[101] His maternal first cousin (and Jesse Turner’s brother) and wife, Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner

[102] Both the Brown and Keith families were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances, or “circles.” Don’t know who the “Old Preach” was, but Chee Chee was Ambrose Brown’s Indian Spirit Guide

[103] Michigan Death Records reveal that Charlotte Holmes, the 16-year-old daughter of Hamlin & Jane (Abbott) Holmes, died September 11, 1877 from Typhoid Fever in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[104] Believe this to be Ira & Angeline Clark, the parents of Lois’ first husband, Byron Clark

[105] Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr., and his family lived in Chicago so perhaps she was going to visit them

[106] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[107] Michigan Death Records reveal that Henry Chapin died October 23, 1877 in Battle Creek, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan

[108] Louese was attending school in Chicago and staying with her uncle and aunt, Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford Jr.

[109] Neighbor, Susan (Ford) Giddings, the widow of Augustus Giddings

[110] Michigan Death Records show that Sarah (Wheeler) Powlison, age 27, died November 8, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows she was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[111] Michigan Marriage Records shows that Elva Earl married Frank Crossfield on November 8, 1877 in Galesburg, Michigan. Elva was the daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[112] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton. Michigan Death Records confirm that Walter died November 9, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, at the age of 21

[113] Michigan Death Records reveal that Roswell Ransom died November 13, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[114] Sarah’s brother, Henry Clay Crawford, and his family lived in South Bend, Indiana

[115] Believe this to be neighbor, James Edgar Milham, the son of James & Ellen (Adams) Milham

[116] Michigan Death Records confirm that Ross A. Ingersoll, age 29, died November 19, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[117] Neighbor, the daughter of Augustus & Susan (Ford) Giddings

[118] Byron (& his wife, Ida Chittenden), Cora, Ida and Emma Allen, were the children of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[119] Neighbor, and the son of Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[120] Michigan Death Records confirm that Edward Payson Phelps, age 19, died December 31, 1877 from explosion of gun (see December 25th entry) and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

Luke Keith’S 1876 Diary

 1876 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Paid Clarrie E. Austin[2] order $11.00. Rained some in morning, mercury 60 fifteen minutes to nine, sun shone out warm. Went down to Browns[3] in afternoon stayed in evening. Hank[4] came home. Barbers folks came over. High wind all night.

Jan 2 – Pleasant morning, 39 Abz.[5] At home all day.

Jan 3 – Cut some wood in forenoon. Went to mill in afternoon. Got my Buckwheat flour. Cold, froze some. Henry[6] came down stayed all night. Hank and Nancy[7] here.

Jan 4 – Cold morning 18 Abz at nine oclock. Sarah,[8] Nancy and Hannah[9] went over to Barbers. I went up to Mr. Benjamins. Lois[10] came home with me stayed all night.

Jan 5 – Rained some in morning. Went up in woods cut one tree down. Drawed two loads wood. Browns folks came up here in Evening. Lois went home.

Jan 6 – Cool to snow ground, not froze any. Went over to burg[11] got paint for Katie. Went down to Kates[12] stayed all night.

Jan 7 – Went to work on closset. Worked all day. Fine day.

Jan 8 – Worked on closset. Work all day. Warm day. Old Mr Nelson died.

Jan 9 – Worked on closset. Rainy. Worked all day. Blowed and snowed all night, high wind. Mr Nelson buried.

Jan 10 – Wind blows yet. Put shelves in cellerway. Painted closset and door below. Came home. Very cold. Mart[13] took sawing machine in woods. Darling helped him saw.

Jan 11 – At home. Cold morning. Hannah gone up to Mr Taylors[14] to work on dress. Went over to burg, bot some dings.[15] Cold, snowed some. Had headache.

Jan 12 – Cold morning. Cut some wood. Hat, Libby[16] and their aunt Mrs Taylor here in afternoon. A. Brown and family here in Evening. Mr J Allen and girls here, Cora and Ida.[17] Mr Hu___ died at L. Barbers.

Jan 13 – Cold morning. Worked round choring mosof the day. Commenced lap board for girls.

Jan 14 – Not very well. Nancy and Hannah went to Lawton[18] on the one thirty seven run. Sarah went over to burg.

Jan 15 – Not very cold. Put gudgeons in Schrams machine rollers. Not very well, headache, hard cold. Old Mrs Sherwood[19] brot in and buried to day.

Jan 16 – At home. Not well, hard cold. No snow on ground, rained some.

Jan 17 – Damp day. No work to day. Mercury 49 Abz. Hard cold.

Jan 18 – Rainy morning, 51 Abz, rained all day. Husked some corn. Went over to burg in afternoon. Very muddy.

Jan 19 – Some colder, no snow. Mr Flanders[20] brot his wagon down to be mended.

Jan 20 – Pleasant day. No work. Not very well. Carried Sarah over to burg she stayed all night.

Jan 21 – Carried Sarah over to burg she stayed all night with Jane.[21]

Jan 22 – I went over to burg after Sarah. Rained. Not very well yet, cold hangs on yet. Not very cold, no snow.

Jan 23 – At home. All well but I.

Jan 24 – Went up in woods, sawed some wood. Went over to burg, bot Barrel salt $1.75 cts. Not very cold, ground froze. Rather rough wheeling.

Jan 25 – Pleasant but cool, no snow. Went down to Katharines[22] stayed all night.

Jan 26 – Painted closset in forenoon. Went to Kalamazoo in afternoon to see B. M. Austin. Fine day.

Jan 27 – Painted front room up stairs in fore noon. Came home in afternoon. Rained in night some. Went over to burg in Evening, got oil and Sellers cough syrup. Ancil Lee[23] came to Jos.[24]

Jan 28 – Some rainy in morning. Made cross head block for Theodore.

Jan 29 – Split and drawed wood some.

Jan 30 – At home all day. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Jan 31 – Fine pleasant day. Worked in shop. Put in reach in Flanders wagon. John Kirkwood and wife came here.

Feb 1 – Pleasant morning, mercury 36 Abz in morning. Went down to Katharines. Snowed and blowed when we came home. Saw Ancil Lee.

Feb 2 – Cold 3 Abz in morning. Alfleda[25] went down to M. O. Streators.[26] Frank called and got her. I finished Flanders reach.

Feb 3 – Worked on Earnests box all day. Browns folks here in Evening.

Feb 4 – Sick, no work to day. Snowed some.

Feb 5 – Pleasant day. Sawed and drawed some wood on sleigh.

Feb 6 – At home all day. Henry Rogers[27] here a while. Not very cold.

Feb 7 – Fine day. Went to Kalamazoo with Engine. Saw B. M. Austin and Gipson their fore man.

Feb 8 – Worked on Whitings box all right. Not very cold.

Feb 9 – Rainy day, some thunder, warm for the season.

Feb 10 – Worked on box some. Carried Sarah over to burg. Went over after her in Evening. Rainy, some thunder, mercury 60 Abz, some very sharp lightning.

Feb 11 – Sold cow to Earnest Whiting for $33.00 and if she weighs over 550 lbs he pays me 6¢ pr pound for what is over that weight. Mercury 44 Abz. Jo & Ancil Lee came up here. Jim Krom called here.

Feb 12 – Jo and Ancil here. Worked in shop some. Made churn cover for A. Brown. Put heads on Joes crutches. Browns folks here in Evening. Fine day.

Feb 13 – Pleasant, no snow, mercury 45 Abz in morning. Ancil and Jo went home. Mercury 63 2 oclock P.M.

Feb 14 – Finished Whitings box. The cow weighed 568 pounds.

Feb 15 – Cut one tree, drawed two loads wood. Snowed some, cold day, froze some.

Feb 16 – Snowed some. Went down to Fords to see cow. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Feb 17 – Worked round house some and shop some. At home all day.

Feb 18 – Went up in woods, cut some wood in forenoon. Nice day. Ernest brot some lard down in Evening 11½ eleven and half pounds.

Feb 19 – Pleasant morning, mercury 36 Abz. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer $80.50.

Feb 20 – Went down to Katharines, Alfleda stayed. Warm day.

Feb 21 – Went over to burg. Came back with Charly and Em Spire. Paid Emma Spire one hundred and twelve Dollars 112.00.

Feb 22 – Went up to Skinners to see cow, made bargain for her. Cold night.

Feb 23 – Went up to Skinners, got cow, paid $35.00. Pleasant but cold wind.

Feb 24 – Went out to Taylors and Earls in morning. Carried Sarah went up to Earls. I went up to Mr Earls in Evening. Pleasant day. Drawed some wood.

Feb 25 – Fine morning. Paid Z. C. Durkee twenty 24.50 four Dollars and fifty cts.

Feb 26 – Warm and pleasant. Husked and drawed corn, drawed four loads. George Barber came over here. Jim[28] and Will Brown[29] went fishing up to East Lake. Rained in night.

Feb 27 – Stormy morning. Trees and fences covered with sleet and ice. A hard storm for cattle that have to be out, for Marts any way.

Feb 28 – Husked corn. Snowey day, not very cold. Wm Ralphs folks[30] here in Evening.

Feb 29 – Husked corn in morning. Finished what was in the barn. Snows some, not very cold, the most snow we have had any one time this winter. Went over to burg. Went down to Browns in Evening with sleigh.

Mar 1 – Snowes like fun.[31] Carried Sarah over to Burg.

Mar 2 – Shelled corn and put up grist 4 bushels wheat. Went over to Henry Rogers in Evening with Browns folks. Had a circle.[32]

Mar 3 – Went to mill in morning. Carried 4 bushels wheat, 4 Buckwheat, 2 corn. Nice sleighing. Carried Louese[33] up to Mr Ralphs.

Mar 4 – Fine day, snow most gone. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Mar 5 – At home. Lois and Will[34] came down here. Rained some.

Mar 6 – Snow about gone, rained some in morning.

Mar 7 – Not much done to day. Alfleda sick. Went down to Browns in Evening. No snow, all gone, freezing some bot[?].

Mar 8 – Got meat of Ernest 77¢. Worked round.

Mar 9 – Ancil and Jo came up. Went over to burg to buring ground.[35] Jim went home with them.

Mar 10 – Fine warm day. Drawed in and husked corn. Warm as summer, rained in night, some thunder.

Mar 11 – Ancil and Lucy[36] came up here stayed all night. Lois came down. Browns folks came up in Evening.

Mar 12 – Ancil went back. Snowed and blowed some.

Mar 13 – Carried Lucy up to Skinners. Cold wind. Got 8½ lbs Beef of Whiting 9¢ pr pound.

Mar 14 – Ernest had my wagon to go to Kalamazoo.

Mar 15 – Carried Lucy home. Very windy day. All right.

Mar 16 – At home, rainy day, hard storm, very icy.

Mar 17 – Not very cold, snowed. Went over to burg, got strap for Sis,[37] trunk patterns for Hannah. Louese left for Chicago,[38] stopt to Lawton.

Mar 18 – Pleasant day. Carried corn up in cornhouse, drawed some wood. Went down to Browns in Evening. Frank Tomlinson[39] came in Evening.

Mar 19 – I went up to Lois with Frank. Cold wind. Ethan[40] and Frank went down to Marts stayed all night.

Mar 20 – Ethan and Frank came home. Snowey day, cold.

Mar 21 – Frank left for Allegan. Went up to Lois, Ethan went with him. Pleasant day. Jim and I sawed some wood.

Mar 22 – Drawed some wood on sleigh.

Mar 23 – Finished drawing in corn. Fine day. Jim went up to Sherman Lake with Brown after Ice, got none.

Mar 24 – Finished husking corn. Snowed in afternoon and Evening, very damp snow.

Mar 25 – Carried corn in cornhouse. Some 4 inches snow.

Mar 26 – At home all day. Not very cold.

Mar 27 – Cleared out cornhouse. Theodore came down wanted crosshead made.

Mar 28 – Made crosshead for Theodore. Very stormy day, snowed all day, very blustring.

Mar 29 – Snows like fun. At home.

Mar 30 – Drawed one load wood. Not much work. Shelled 12 bushels corn. Skinner got two bags corn.

Mar 31 – Went over to Comstock to mill. Sarah went down to Katharines.

Apr 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Drawed one load wood. Browns and Streators[41] folks here in Evening.

Apr 2 – Pleasant and cold, lots snow.

Apr 3 – Went to townmeting. Very good day, some snow and very muddy.

Apr 4 – Cut and drawed some wood. Warm day.

Apr 5 – Fine day, very high wind.

Apr 6 – At home all day. Working round house and barn.

Apr 7 – Worked in shop some, chored round.

Apr 8 – Went to Comstock to mill. Pleasant day. Hannah and Nancy came home. Mr Rogers, Forbushs and Browns folks here in Evening.

Apr 9 – Ethan and Hannah, Jim went down to Katharines. Pleasant day.

Apr 10 – At home all day. Solomon Youngs and wife[42] here to Tea.

Apr 11 – Went down to Marts. Fine day, warm. Got some new shugar. Barton[43] got out manure.

Apr 12 – Sarah and Nancy, Ethan went up to Skinners. Rained in morning. Paid John Schroder 3 Dollars. Rained in night, some thunder. Mr Barton got out manure.

Apr 13 – Pleasant and hot. At home, all right.

Apr 14 – Hannah and Nancy here.

Apr 15 – Hank came up on 6 oclock freight.

Apr 16 – At home to day, not very well. Sarah and all went down to Browns. Ethan and Hannah went up to Skinners.

Apr 17 – Hank and girls went back on Evening freight. Went down to see Jo Lee. Cate came home with me.

Apr 18 – Went up to Skinners. Moved machine down to Foundry.

Apr 19 – Went down to Katharines to see about money of Jo Lee. Jo York[44] came here, stayed all night.

Apr 20 – Jo went home. Went up to Foundry and burg. Jo got malodion. Went over to burg with Eggs and after Ethan. Fine day.

Apr 21 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Fine day. Mr Barton commenced sowing oats.

Apr 22 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Jim and I sawed some wood. Pleasant day.

Apr 23 – At home all day. Pleasant.

Apr 24 – Worked round house and shop.

Apr 25 – Sorted over potatoes. Sold Mr Barton 3 three bushels corn.

Apr 26 – Went to Kalamazoo got $300 Dollars of Jo Lee. Pleasant day. Bot suit cloths $8.00, one Hat $2.00.

Apr 27 – Went over to burg after Mrs Betts[45] goods. Mr Barton bot them over. Went up to Skinners after Mrs Skinner[46] and Lois.

Apr 28 – Cut and drawed some wood. Went down to Lawton on Evening Freight got there about Eleven P.M.

Apr 29 – Went over to Paw Paw in morning. Paid C. P. Galligan[47] 285.84 to apply on mortgage. Went down to furnace in afternoon.

Apr 30 – At Hanks all day or most of the day. Went up to the Coal bins saw them Coal one Engine.

May 1 – At Lawton. Went up to Iron Works and run around town.

May 2 – Left Lawton on the 10.10 train got off at Kalamazoo. Went to Registers office got mortgage and note. Got home about 6 P.M. all right.

May 3 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Sarah went over to burg.

May 4 – At home. Worked in shop some. Filed saw for N. L. Randal,[48] one for Whiting & Smith. Browns folks here in afternoon. Rainy night.

May 5 – Rainy day. No work out side.

May 6 – Went over to burg after mortar. Barber came over, plastered bed room. Went over to train after Mrs Betts. She came on the 11.12 train. Let Mr Barton have 4 bushels corn.

May 7 – Cloudy and warm. At home all day.

May 8 – Rainy. plowed croca ground rained some. Mr Barton plowed in afternoon. At home. Cut some wood. Put cow in Browns lot[49] to day.

May 9 – Cloudy. Took boxes to pecies. Plowed croquet ground. Rained some. Mr Barton plowed in afternoon.

May 10 – Cloudy morning, rain. Worked round in shop some.

May 11 – Made bedstead for Jim, turned lathe some. Pleasant.

May 12 – Fine day. Plowed garden, had Bill Brown.

May 13 – Worked in shop. Killed Jenny.

May 14 – Lois and Mrs Skinner here.

May 15 – Worked in shop some on patterns. All well.

May 16 – Barton planting. Warm day.

May 17 – Barton planting. Worked on patterns. Had a heavy shower.

May 18 – Warm and cloudy. Worked in shop some on patterns.

May 19 – Worked on patterns some. Warm day. Shelled some corn.

May 20 – Worked on patterns. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Let Barton have two bushels corn.

May 21 – Very hot day. Barton planting. Barton had seed corn, one bushel and half.

May 22 – Went to mill carried 4 wheat, 3 corn. Sarah went down to Katharines.

May 23 – Warm day. Made cover to flour barrel. Planted Early Vermont potatoes.

May 24 – Worked in shop on patterns. Fine day.

May 25 – Finished up patterns this morning. Warm. Barton commenced plowing for Hungarian grass.

May 26 – Worked on crosshead. Went up to Foundry.

May 27 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Cut some wood. Received $40.00 Forty dollars of township treasurer. Paid Sate Beckwith $25.00 twenty five Dollars.

May 28 – At home. Del[50] and Lois here.

May 29 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Warned folks out on road. George Ives tried his new plow.

May 30 – Worked on road.[51] Sarah and Mrs Betts went to Mr Ralphs.

May 31 – Worked on road. Had a fine shower.

Jun 1 – Worked on road some, picked out stone and leveled same, 4 hours. Went down to Katharines after Bedstead. Rained some.

Jun 2 – Cloudy morning. Worked round shop and garden.

Jun 3 – At home. Worked round house and shop. Hank came in Evening. Draged my potatoe ground.

Jun 4 – At home all day. Hank left for Birmingham.

Jun 5 – Dragged my corn and potatoe ground. Bushed my ground.

Jun 6 – Planted potatoes. Very hot day.

Jun 7 – Went up to foundry. Mrs Betts went over to burg got her teeth repaired.

Jun 8 – Went up to foundry in morning. Mrs Betts came home. She gave me one Dollar. Worked on patterns. Rained all night.

Jun 9 – Cloudy morning, cool wind. Worked round garden and in shop some. Mr Austin Wolcott[52] died this morning. Mrs Betts went to Lawton.

Jun 10 – Went up to Foundry. Varnished some patterns. They run of a heat.

Jun 11 – Went down to Katharines. Mr Wolcott buried to day. Very hot day.

Jun 12 – Sowed my corn. Hot day. Jim commenced work for ARS.[53] Jo Lee came up here after his pants. Sowed my corn.

Jun 13 – Cultivated and marked out my bean ground. Hoed garden. Had a heavy Shower in afternoon.

Jun 14 – Planted beans and pop corn and sow forth and some.

Jun 15 – Went down to Marts. Got some timber for slats for Binder. Went up to Foundry. Sawed out slats. Had a heavy shower, got wet.

Jun 16 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Some rainy. Not very well. Got letter from Hank Nancy.

Jun 17 – Went up to Foundry. Had a heavy shower. Del came here in rain.

Jun 18 – At home all day. Not very well.

Jun 19 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Ethan at work on Binder.

Jun 20 – Worke on binder. Ethan up to Foundry.

Jun 21 – Went up to Foundry. Not very well.

Jun 22 – Bent slats for Binder. Tried to make soap. Jo Lee came up here.

Jun 23 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Went over to Burg at noon after Mrs Betts, she no come. Had a wind and rain storm.

Jun 24 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Saw Rufus Clapp. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jun 25 – At home. Mrs Semer came here. She paid me 50 cts. Browns folks came up in Evening.

Jun 26 – Carried Mrs Semer over to burg in morning. Worked in garden, plowed out potatoes, plastered corn in west garden. Had a shower. Went over to burg in Evening. Had a thunder shower, rainy night.

Jun 27 – Worked round garden some. Went over to burg after Hannah. Cars run of track at Comstock. No one hurt.

Jun 28 – Hung East door. Worked on Hills violin. Went over after Hannah, no come.

Jun 29 – Went up to Foundry in morning with Ethan. Not much work. Worked on Hills violin. Hannah came home.

Jun 30 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Put violin together to day. Hoed in garden.

Jul 1 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Not much work. Not well. Some rainy. Charley Town[54] bored his hubbs. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jul 2 – At home all day. Had a heavy shower. Lewis Barber and wife[55] here just at night.

Jul 3 – Fine morning, cool wind, sun came out, had a heavy shower in afternoon. Mr Rogers sowed Buckwheat. Cut down tree, drawed one load wood. Charley Town commenced cutting wheat.

Jul 4 – Rainy morning. Carried Sarah and Alfleda over to burg in morning, went over after them in afternoon. Carried Hannah over just at night.

Jul 5 – Put up leach. Carried Ethan up to Foundry in morning, went around by burg got Hannah. Hank and Nancy came home. High wind, no rain to day. Mrs Hank Potts[56] Buried to day.

Jul 6 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Cut out Gloves for D. D. Harris.[57] Very hot day. Nancy went down to Browns. Mr Brown commenced cutting wheat. Stafford cuting wheat.

Jul 7 – D. D. got his Gloves. At home. Went up to Foundry in morning. Hot 98 in shade.

Jul 8 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry.  Very hot 98 in Shade. Went up to Foundry at night, took machine home. Lois came down, stayed all night. Hannah, Nancy and all at home.

Jul 9 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Hot 95 in Shade. Del came down after Lois. Jim went down to Jacksons to work.

Jul 10 – Very warm. Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Nancy here. Went after him at night. Claud[58] went with me. Jim to work for Jackson.

Jul 11 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Claud went up with me. Carried Sarah, Mrs Betts, Nancy and Hannah down to A. Browns in forenoon. Mrs Barton[59] came over, picked currants. Hot, had a shower.

Jul 12 – Very hot. Went up to Foundry. Very hot all day.

Jul 13 – Round home. Went up to Foundry. Worked in shop some on cart.

Jul 14 – Went up to Foundry. Plowed potatoes, beans and pop corn. Mrs Barber, Ida,[60] Mrs Brown and Jule[61] here. Brown finished his wheat.

Jul 15 – Plowed out, Sowed corn and some potatoes. Carried Sarah, Nancy and Mrs Betts over to burg. Went down to Browns in Evening. Hot day.

Jul 16 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went up to Skinners. Hank and Nancy went down to Katharines.

Jul 17 – Hank went home. Drove cow. I went up to mill to find timber to repair bridge and up to Schrams. Went over to burg in morning after Mrs Betts. Got Boiler.

Jul 18 – Went down to Mitchels. Alfleda went down to Katharines. Nancy went home.

Jul 19 – Went up to foundry in afternoon. Built fence around bridge. H. A. Taylor helped me.

Jul 20 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry in morning. Hoed some in garden, put up grist, shelled 3½ bushels corn. Paid Stella Milham five Dollars $5.00.

Jul 21 – Went to mill to Comstock. Carried 3 & ¼ bushels wheat, 3-2/4 corn. Ida Barber came over in Evening with Will Brown.

Jul 22 – Ethan went to Foundry. Hannah went home to Lawton. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Louese Crawfords girl Born to day.[62]

Jul 23 – At home all day. Jesse Earl[63] and R. S. Clapp here.

Jul 24 – Took Ethan to Foundry. Mr Barton cutting _____ oats.

Jul 25 – Went up to Foundry. Worked in garden some. Went over to burg and up to Foundry. Got new Boiler.

Jul 26 – Put flange on pattern. Went up to Foundry in morning. Mr Barton finished cutting oats. Went to Foundry, went to burg. Got five Dollars on postal order from Henry Crawford.[64]

Jul 27 – Went down to Katharines. Paid Jo Lee three hundred and seven Dollars and fifty cts $307.50. Had a fine shower.

Jul 28 – Went up to Foundry in morning and Evening.

Jul 29 – Carried Ethan to shop. They put Binder on machine. Mr Ives brot wheel to be repaired. Worked on road some, finished bridge.

Jul 30 – At home all day. Lois down here.

Jul 31 – Worked on Mr Ives wheel. Got out spokes and drove them.

Aug 1 – Went up to Foundry. Finished Mr Ives wheel. Mrs Clinton here. Carried her up when I went after Ethan.

Aug 2 – Went up to Foundry. The Boys cider press came. John Ives got his wheel, he paid 1.50. Paid Osgood 20 cts for repairing glasses.

Aug 3 – Went to Foundry in morning. Put in Plow handle for Caywood. Went after Ethan. Henry came down with us. He went up home. Mr Hobbs called here. Sawed out Marts runners.

Aug 4 – Went up to Foundry in morning.

Aug 5 – Went up to Skinners in Morning. Head ache all day. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg, stayed all night.

Aug 6 – Let Bill[65] out in lot this morning. Went over to burg after the Whimmin[66] after noon.

Aug 7 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry in morning. Chored round. Went down to Browns. Made Claude Ball & Mallet. Sent them with carpet. Hot day.

Aug 8 – Went to Foundry. Chored round some. Mr Allen cutting grass. Hot day.

Aug 9 – Ethan worked on pattern. Allen finished cutting grass. I no do mutch. Hot day.

Aug 10 – Went up to Foundry and Skinners. Carried some apples. The Boys clearing out old press. Barton and Rogers put up hay. Had a fine shower in Evening.

Aug 11 – Rainy morning. Worked round shop and garden. Went up to Foundry.

Aug 12 – Went up to Foundry. Barton drawed hay. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Johnsons _____.

Aug 13 – At home all day. Lois went down to Katharines. Jim came home. Mr Terry came here, stayed all night.

Aug 14 – Went up to Foundry, came back. Carried Terry down to Mr Browns. Had a fine Shower. Mr Barton Seated two Chairs 75 cts. Ed Flanders[67] girl born.[68]

Aug 15 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Terry went up to Nathan Lamkins.

Aug 16 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Carried Osgood ½ bushel apples.

Aug 17 – 54.39. Carried Ethan to Foundry. Hot day. Paid Sate Beckwith $45 Dollars. Received of township Treasurer fifty four Dollars and thirty nine cts. Got some ash plank of Earl.

Aug 18 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Pulled black beans.

Aug 19 – Worked round repaired Miss Jones &c[69] Henry c

Aug 20 – At home all day. Lois came down.

Aug 21 – Worked on Skinners buggy. No go to Foundry to day.

Aug 22 – Worked on Ives violin some. Repaired Skinners buggy Boddy.

Aug 23 – Finished Skinners buggy, painted it some. Worked on violin. B. Hartwell called here. Hot day.

Aug 24 – Went over to Burg. Saw George Browns cancer.[70] Worked on Ives violin. Very hot.

Aug 25 – Duglass thrashed Bartons oats had 85 bushels. Very comfortable day. Finished Browns wheat. Charly Town paid 25 cts.

Aug 26 – Worked round shop and house. David Barton[71] drawed straw home.

Aug 27 – Went to Winslows Island to a Spiritual Meeting. Fine day.

Aug 28 – Chored round. Mr Ives brot violin to be repaired. Dave Barton got out manure. Jim and George Barber cut some corn fodder. Fine day. Douglass took his machine away. Had a good rain in night.

Aug 29 – Worked on violin some and had a good rain in night.

Aug 30 – Went up to Foundry. Carried some boards for apple gatherer. Mrs Hawver here to day. Turned wheel for Clauds wheelbarrow.

Aug 31 – Ethan went up to Foundry. Bot fingerboard for Ives violin. Got Bathric violin to Repair. Mrs Betts left for Chicago.[72]

Sep 1 – Worked on violin some. Ethan went up to Foundry. Had a heavy shower.

Sep 2 – Got five bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Went to mill. Cleaned out Jo Lees stove &c. Jimmie Milham[73] stayed here all night.

Sep 3 – Rainy morning. At home all day.

Sep 4 – Worked round house and shop on violin.

Sep 5 – Went down to Marts. Got one bushel grass seed 1.75¢. Went up to foundry. Ethan stayed all night.

Sep 6 – Sawed out Herbert Earls oars. Put finger board on Mr Ives violin. Had a big rain.

Sep 7 – Went up to Foundry and Skinners. Got some crabbapples. Del gave me five Dollars.

Sep 8 – Went to Foundry with Ethan. Worked round. Dave finished sowing wheat.

Sep 9 – Went up to Foundry and down to A. Browns.  Repaired buggy wheel for M. O. Streator. Browns folks went to Lawton on Evening freight. Some rain.

Sep 10 – Cloudy damp morning. At home all day.

Sep 11 – Worked round shop and house. Worked on violin. Ethan went up to Foundry.

Sep 12 – Worked on violin some. Mr Ives called here. Ethan went to Foundry. Sarah, Alfleda and Bill went to Skinners.

Sep 13 – Worked on guitar and Bathrics violin. Ethan up to shop. Rainy night.

Sep 14 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Rainy. Worked on violin.

Sep 15 – Went up to Foundry in morning.

Sep 16 – Went up to shop. Went over to burg at noon after Mary and Carry Plank.[74] Frank Bird Died to day.

Sep 17 – Went to Foundry. Mary and Carry here. At home all day.

Sep 18 – Ethan went to Foundry. Carry and Mary went to Allertons.[75]

Sep 19 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Worked in shop some.

Sep 20 – Worked on Bartons box. Went up to Foundry.

Sep 21 – Went up to Foundry. Made Henry scraper they commenced making Cider. Layed up the first cheese. Finished Bartons box $2.00.

Sep 22 – Went to Foundry. Worked on Box, finished.

Sep 23 – Went up to Foundry. Got Strawberry plants of Charly Macomb.

Sep 24 – Went down to Marts. Mart and Lucy came up here. Lois here.

Sep 25 – Went to Foundry. Dave Barton made cider. Bot shingles for house 3.45 ct. Carry and Mary came back in Evening. Bot 5 lbs nails 5 cts. pr pound.

Sep 26 – Went up to sawmill got load slabs. Put on some shingles. Had a shower just at night.

Sep 27 – Shingling House. Had a shower at night. Girls went down to Browns. Finished Shingling.

Sep 28 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo to fair. Went up to Skinners in morning. Put on ridge boards and done some patching. Will Plank[76] came.

Sep 29 – Rainy morning. Ernest brot cider down. Got Whitings buggy.

Sep 30 – Went over to Vicksburg. Rainy day. Got there about sundown.

Oct 1 – At Jo Yorks. Went over to Old Mr Yorks[77] in Evening. Heard Oscar and Frank play the violin. Cow had a calf. Spect so.

Oct 2 – Came home. Fine day. Got home before night. Will, Mary and Carry Plank went home.

Oct 3 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Henry came home with us at night. Sarah went over to burg.

Oct 4 – At home. Chored round. Went up to Foundry. Sawed out stuf for steps to cornhouse. Put shingles on Barn and hogpen.

Oct 5 – Went up to shop. Drawed lot slabs from mill. Sent things to Hank.

Oct 6 – Went to shop in morning. Rainy day. No work to day. Patty[78] came at noon. I went over got her trunk. Went after Ethan at night.

Oct 7 – Cleaned out corn house and chored round some. Ethan not well.

Oct 8 – Went down to Katharines. Found Jo Lee sick.

Oct 9 – Made axhelves for Mart. Henry Seymore here.

Oct 10 – Went up to shop in morning. Joseph W. Lee Died this morning about Six. Hannah went up to Mr Taylors to work. Went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Oct 11 – Came home this morning in day. Went up after Ethan. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Oct 12 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Katharines. Jo Lee buried[79] to day. Ansel Lee came.

Oct 13 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Worked in shop some.

Oct 14 – Went up to Shop. Worked round house and barn. Chored.

Oct 15 – At home all day. Skinners folks called here. They went down to Browns. I am 63 years old to day.

Oct 16 – Barton got load apples for cider. Skinner sent load _____ down. Fine day.

Oct 17 – Went down to Charles Lees.[80] Catharine and Patty went down. Patty came home with us. Very fine day.

Oct 18 – Put up Stairs to corn house. Fine day. Ethan gathered apples. Pleasant.

Oct 19 – Not much done to day. At home.

Oct 20 – Worked round house and barn. In shop some.

Oct 21 – Worked in shop some and round barn. Lois brot Ina[81] here. She stayed all night.

Oct 22 – Lois and Dell went up to Flanders stayed all night.

Oct 23 – Worked in shop on cutter.

Oct 24 – Worked on cutter got out runners.

Oct 25 – Mortised runners. Ansel and Lucy came up. Went over to burg.

Oct 26 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg. Lucy had teeth Extracted six. Lois came down stayed all night.

Oct 27 – Worked in shop on cutter. Lucy went home. Ansel came after her.

Oct 28 – Worked on cutter. Skinner Brot load hay. Lois went home. Mrs. Betts came home to day. Mercury 62 Abz.

Oct 29 – Cloudy morning. At home all day. Not well.

Oct 30 – Worked on cutter some. Went down to Marts. Patty came home with me.

Oct 31 – Worked on cutter. Mrs Betts went to Kalamazoo with Browns folks. Very fine day 78 Abz. Rained in the night.

Nov 1 – Cloudy morning. Worked in shop all day.

Nov 2 – Rainy forenoon. Ansel and Lucy came up to get her _______ _______ filled. Sarah went to burg with them.

Nov 3 – Worked in shop all day on cutter. Fine day. Repaired Jo Keenes violin.

Nov 4 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried new corn over to mill. Carried Jo Keenes violin over he paid me 75 cts. Osgood paid for Bathrics violin. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Nov 5 – At home. Nancy went up to Rass Towns.[82]

Nov 6 – Worked in shop. Rainy day.

Nov 7 – Cool morning. Went over to burg to Election.[83] Got 4 four bushels wheat of Taylor 1.20¢ pr. Carried it to mill.

Nov 8 – No work in shop to day. Dr McKinneys[84] folks came up here. Fine day, cool.

Nov 9 – Fine morning. Sun came out nice and warm.

Nov 10 – Worked on cutter worked on road. Mrs McKinney[85] went home.

Nov 11 – Worked in shop all day. Mrs Betts went over to burg to stay over the Sabbath and go and hear the gospel preached. Fine day.

Nov 12 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Marts.

Nov 13 – Worked in shop on cutter.

Nov 14 – Worked in shop. Good weather.

Nov 15 – Worked in shop some.

Nov 16 – Worked in shop. Patty and Lucy came up here.

Nov 17 – Worked in shop all day. Charly Clark[86] _____ up to Skinners.

Nov 18 – Worked in shop on cutter.

Nov 19 – Finished Marts Cutter. Dell, Lois and Charley came down here. Rainy.

Nov 20 – At home all day. Dave and Walt[87] cut some wood. Cut the big maple in south part of the woods.

Nov 21 – Started for Perry.[88] Left Kalamazoo 2.40 PM, left Detroit 7 PM. Rainy night. Battlecreek 3 P.M., Marshall quater to four 4, Jackson quater past “[89] 4.

Nov 22 – Arrived in Buffalo ½ 5 AM. Rains. Left Buffalo 7.25 AM arrived in Perry ½ past 11 AM. Rained some, some flakes snow. Frank and George[90] working at cider mill.

Nov 23 – At Perry. Went down to Scrantons office in morning. Cool. Sent Postal home to day. Sarah Chaddock[91] Died This Evening about Eleven P.M.

Nov 24 – At Perry. Went up to Cidermill. Helped Frank screen some Beans. Mr Crane and wife came in in Evening.

Nov 25 – Snows some, quite cold. Went out through the country with Frank buying Apples. Snowey day Snowd hard in afternoon.

Nov 26 – Snows some, snow about 3 inches deep. Folks gone to church. Sarah Chaddock Buried to day.

Nov 27 – Churned in forenoon. Helped Frank Screen Beans in afternoon. Snowed some, not very cold.

Nov 28 – Nice morning, not very cold. At the Tomlinson House. Cut anchor for Nellie T.[92] Had oysters for dinner.

Nov 29 – At Perry. All well. Helped Frank Screen beans in afternoon. Rather cool.

Nov 30 – Mercury 18 Abz in morning. All well. Eight oclock Engine fireing up for the usual trip to Gainesville, leave nine fifteen A.M. arrive Eleven thirty 11.30 AM.

Dec 1 – Helped Scren Beans. Very cold, mercury 4 Abz in morning. Sent letter home to day.

Dec 2 – Screened Beans in forenoon. Went Down to Wykof & Olins Reaper Shops. Pleasant but cold. Washed in morning.

Dec 3 – At the Tomlinson House. Folks all gone to church. Hat Holbrook here. Mercury 17 Abz in morning.

Dec 4 – Frank and I went to Portage Bridge. Eat our lunch at lower falls at 12 noon. Went to middle fall. Saw Letchworths residence. Went up to Bridge across it, under it and all around. Went down onto the piers. From piers to deck 200 steps. Length of middle pier 200 feet.

Dec 5 – Cool morning. Went down to the High Banks with George in afternoon. Not well. George and Marion[93] went down to Leroy[94] just at night. Susan S[95] was faling fast.

Dec 6 – Went up to Been House helped Frank load car and Screen some beans. Hiram May[96] Died to day Aged 79 years.

Dec 7 – Helped Frank some at been house. Snowed some. George and marion dont get home.

Dec 8 – Snowed quite hard in morning. Mercury 20 Abz. Went up to beanhouse and cidermill. Had the last cheese on the press. Cold rainy night.

Dec 9 – Washing to day. Snows and blows, mercury 4 Abz. No cars[97] out this morning. Got a dispatch from George Sprague[98] Susan is gone.

Dec 10 – At Tomlinson House. Cold wintry day. George and Marion at Leroy.

Dec 11 – Pleasant morning Mercury 3 below zero. Got a dispatch from George that Willie[99] was dead.

Dec 12 – Susan and Willie buried to day.[100] George and Marion came home _____.

Dec 13 – Went over to warsaw saw Robers snow. Went to Pearlcrrk[101] saw T. Miller, Chancy Pond, then went on, saw Frank Clow. Went down to George Starrs[102] stayed all night. Went down past the Cruttenden home.

Dec 14 – Went over to Jasper Starrs saw aunt Polly. Went and see Mrs Crosman then went and saw Wm Crosman. Took dinner with him then went over to the old home then to Pavilion. Went to Mr Nobles found them all right then went over to Perry, got there 7 PM all right.

Dec 15 – Cool morning. Not very well hard headache in forenoon. Helped Screen Beans in afternoon. Quite cold. Man building stairs in bean House.

Dec 16 – Washed in forenoon. Very blustrous mercury 4 Abz in morning, very bad day. Cars no run, 4 below in afternoon and Evening.

Dec 17 – At Tomlinson House. At zero in morning. Folks all gone to church. Fine snow falling, are full frost.

Dec 18 – Screened Beans. Very blustrous. All at home. Mercury at zero in morning. Cold night. Cars could not get through. Mail went through on sleigh.

Dec 19 – Very blustring, mercury 12 Abz in morning, snow flying. At home all day. Made cloths stick. George Brown died to day.

Dec 20 – Not so cold. Went into mill. Repaired Mrs Jones door. Mr Rice came here. Went to Pavilion in afternoon. Stayed to Mr Nobles all night. Found them all well. George Brown buried.

Dec 21 – Went down to Crosmans shop. Saw sam. Called on Clarrissa Starr. Went into Burying ground. Went down to Mr Snows stayed all night. Saw Mary, Mr and Mrs Snow and Mrs How &c. Saw Dr Sprague.[103]

Dec 22 – Went down to Emeline Bradleys, saw her family, found them well. Called on Wm Bradley. Saw Esther Hill, called on Mr Gillmore, Mrs Syntha Sprague.[104] Left Mr Nobles about three P.M. for Perry, got there half past five P.M. Saw the Engine.

Dec 23 – Washing day. All well. Not as cold as some other Satur.[105] At home all day not much going on. Frank and Nell at church fixing for concert.

Dec 24 – Got present handkerchief. At home all day. Cold day. Went to Christmas Eve in Perry. Had a nice time. Concert went of firstrate. Heard the big Organ.

Dec 25 – Fine day, cloudy, not very cold. Nell gone to Rochester to see her chap.[106] George went to Leroy. Mrs Crack and Lizzy here to dinner spent the Evening.

Dec 26 – Very fine day. Frank and I Screened beans in forenoon.

Dec 27 – At home. Went up to bean house worked some. Went to see Mrs Cady and Mrs Scranton and Louisa in Evening, Mr Lewis. All well.

Dec 28 – Helped put the new Safe in the mill in fore noon. Nice one, weight 4000, cost $230 less than half price. Marion and I went over to Gainesville to Charles Browns, saw Lucinda. Found them well as usual.

Dec 29 – At Tomlinson house. Very blustrous. Worked in bean house Screened beans. Went to see the Wabinoes in Evening. Had a good show. A very stormy night, worse than they often see, snow just piled up.

Dec 30 – Washing. Very rough day. No getting out. As rough a storm as they see on the mountains of the west. At home all day, to stormy to be out.

Dec 31 – Very blustrous. No church to day. Mr Crane came in in the forenoon.

 

Memoranda
Occidental = western quarter of the hemisphere
Oriental = Eastern part of hemisphere

Hesperian
Western home

Farm Ballads
Farm Legends
By
Will Carleton[107]

Whittiers Poems

Macleans
Manual of the
Antiquity of man

Tomlinson made 4700 bbls cider 3000 on hand December 1st 1876. 40 cts pr Barrel for making. Sold 1700 bbls vinegar since January 76 ¢7 pr cask

One tank 16 feet high x 16 feet Bottom 600 bbls 3 thousand bushels apples made into cider

Hercules 325 feett long 97 feet circumference

Cars leave Perry 9.15 AM Leve 2.45 PM

Arrive 11.30 AM
Arrive 5.30 PM

Holloways Pills for Kidney Diseased ointment rubed on

Esther Allen[108] Died
August 3rd 1834 Ae 90 yrs

Abiah Sprague[109] Died
April 13 1841 Ae 77 yrs

James Sprague[110] Died
Oct 9th 1849 Ae 82 yrs

Dan Sprague[111] Died
March 31 1859 Ae 58 yrs

Elsie Smith[112] Died
April 7th 1841 Ae 27 yrs

Eunice Cruttenden[113] Died
July 1 1847 Ae 74

Jairus Cruttenden[114] Died
June 22d 1843 Ae 69 yrs

A. E. Cruttenden[115] Died
January 28th 1845 Ae

James Sprague Jr[116] Died
March 30th 1857
Ae 58 yrs

Ben Vail[117] Died
Sept 16 1834 Ae 29 yrs

——-

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

[2] Neighbor, Clara Austin

[3] Neighbors, and daughter Nancy’s in-laws, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

[4] His son-in-law, Henry Brown

[5] Above zero

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

[7] His daughter, and Hank’s wife, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[8] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[9] His daughter, Hannah Keith

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

[11] Galesburg, Michigan

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

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

[14] Neighbor, Hannibal A. Taylor

[15] Things

[16] Hannibal Taylor’s daughters, Harriett and Flora Elizabeth Taylor

[17] The daughters of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[18] Lawton, Michigan, where Nancy & Hank lived

[19] FindAGrave.com reveals that Clarissa (Wilcox) Sherwood died January 10, 1876 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[20] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[21] Neighbor, Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[22] In all his previous diaries up until 1875, Luke has spelled his sister’s name as Catharine. It now appears that he is sometimes spelling it starting with a K

[23] His paternal first cousin, Ansel Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)

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

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

[26] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[27] Neighbor, Henry D. Rogers

[28] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[29] Willis Brown, the son of Ambrose & Matilda Brown

[30] Neighbors, William & Emaline (Stone) Ralph

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

[32] Both the Brown and Keith families were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances, or “circles”

[33] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith

[34] His daughter, Lois, and her son, William Byron Clark

[35] Believe this is referring to the Galesburg City Cemetery where Ansel and Joe Lee’s mother, Rhoda (Keith) Lee, and their brother and his son, George Clinton Lee and James Sprague Lee, are buried

[36] His niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham, the daughter of his sister Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[37] Nickname of his daughter Louese

[38] Louese lived with her uncle and aunt, Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, while attending school in Chicago

[39] Frank John Tomlinson, the grandson of Luke’s sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[40] His son, Ethan Keith

[41] Marius & Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

[42] Solomon & Theresa (Pond) Young

[43] Neighbor, Samuel Barton

[44] Joseph York was married to Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York

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

[46] His daughter Lois’ mother-in-law, Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[47] Neighbor, Charles P. Galligan

[48] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[49] Ambrose Brown owned a lot basically across the road from Luke’s home

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

[51] The men were required to work on the roads a certain number of days based on how many acres they owned. For more information, see https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2018/06/16/luke-keiths-road-tax

[52] Michigan Death Records reveal that Austin W. Wolcott, aged 49, died of “softening of the brain” on June 9, 1876, and FindAGrave.com indicates he was buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery, Richland, Michigan. Many diseases were labeled as softening of the brain including stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s

[53] Adelbert Reuben Skinner

[54] Neighbor, Charles Towne. In 1891 Charles married Luke’s daughter Hannah

[55] Neighbors, Lewis J. & Lydia (McClary) Barber

[56] Michigan Death Records show that Eliza Potts, wife of Henry Potts, died July 3, 1876; FindAGrave.com reveals that she is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[57] Neighbor, Daniel D. Harris, who married Luke’s youngest daughter, Louese, in 1882

[58] His grandson, Claude Keith Brown, the son of Nancy & Hank Brown

[59] Presume this is Samuel Barton’s wife, Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[60] Mary (Knowles) Barber and her daughter, Ida Barber

[61] Matilda (Allen) Brown and her sister, Julia Allen

[62] Lulu Crawford was born to Luke’s brother-in-law Robert & Louisa (McCann) Crawford

[63] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[64] His brother-in-law

[65] His horse

[66] Women

[67] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[68] Mabel Ellena Flanders

[69] Etc.

[70] George Brown’s death record shows that he died of consumption

[71] The son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[72] According to the October 1, 1876 letter from Robert Crawford, Nancy was living with Hiram & Kate Crawford in Chicago

[73] Believe this is referring to James Edgar Milham, the son of neighbors James & Ellen (Adams) Milham. James was the brother of Martin Milham

[74] The Planks had been Luke’s neighbors, but moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1873

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

[76] William Plank; Mary and Carrie’s brother (see September 18 entry)

[77] Believe he is referring to Joseph York’s father, Samuel York, who had lived in Comstock until 1870 when he moved to Vicksburg, Michigan

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

[79] FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Indian Fields Cemetery, Portage, Michigan

[80] His cousin, the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee

[81] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, the daughter of Lois & Del Skinner

[82] Erasmus Towne, the brother of Charles Towne

[83] Rutherford B. Hayes ran against Samuel Tilden and became the 19th President of the United States

[84] Hank & Nancy’s neighbors from Lawton, Michigan, Martin VanBuren McKinney and his wife and son, Mary (Stephenson) and Don Clyde McKinney

[85] Mary (Stephenson) McKinney

[86] His grandson, Charles Ira Clark

[87] The sons of neighbors Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[88] Perry, New York, where his sister Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague and her daughter and son-in-law, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson, lived

[89] He used ditto mark to reference the word “four” from the line above

[90] Frank John Tomlinson and his father, George Tomlinson

[91] Sarah (Crittenden) Chaddock was the niece of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith. Michigan death records confirm that she died November 23, 1876 in Allegan, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com reveals that she is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Allegan, Michigan

[92] George & Marion Tomlinson’s daughter, Nellie

[93] His niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[94] LeRoy, New York

[95] George Tomlinson’s sister, Susan (Tomlinson) Sprague

[96] Michigan Death Records reveal that Reverend Hiram May died December 7, 1876 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York, and is buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Pavilion, Genesee County, New York. Since Luke was originally from New York, it is assumed that he knew Rev. May

[97] Trains

[98] George Finley Sprague, Susan’s husband

[99] William Tomlinson Sprague, the two-year-old son of George & Susan (Tomlinson) Sprague

[100] FindAGrave.com shows that both Susan and Willie are buried in Pearl Creek Cemetery, Pearl Creek, New York

[101] Pearl Creek, New York

[102] George Noah Starr was the half-brother of Alfleda (Starr) Keith (see February 2nd entry). George lived in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York

[103] Believe he is referring to Dr. William Bishop Sprague, a cousin of his second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[104] Believe his is referring to Cynthia (Bishop) Sprague, a cousin of his second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith, and the mother of Dr. William Bishop Sprague

[105] Saturday

[106] Nellie Tomlinson married Walter Gillett on April 10, 1878 so assume this is who Luke is referring to

[107] According to Wikipedia.com, William McKendree Carleton (October 21, 1845 – December 18, 1912) was an American poet from Michigan. Carleton’s poems were most often about his rural life. It also noted that with the Public Act 51 of 1919, the Michigan legislature required teachers to teach at least one of his poems to their students, and October 21 was officially named as Will Carleton Day in Michigan. Schools in Michigan named for him include Will Carleton Academy in Hillsdale, and Will Carleton Middle School in Sterling Heights. A section of the M-99 in Hillsdale is dubbed Will Carleton Road. The village of Carleton in Monroe County, Michigan, is named for him, and the road on Carleton’s northern border, separating Monroe and Wayne counties, is Will Carleton Road

[108] FindAGrave.com confirms that Esther (Hutchinson) Sprague Allen died August 3, 1834 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York. Esther was the wife of William Sprague

[109] FindAGrave.com confirms that Abiah (Carpenter) Sprague, the wife of “Capt” James Sprague, died and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York

[110] FindAGrave.com confirms that “Capt” James Sprague died October 9, 1849 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York. James was the son of William & Esther (Hutchinson) Sprague

[111] FindAGrave.com confirms that Dan Sprague died March 31, 1859 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York. Dan was the son of Capt. James & Abiah (Carpenter) Sprague, and the husband of Mary (Collins) Sprague

[112] FindAGrave.com confirms that Elsie (Crittenden) Smith died April 7, 1841 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York. Elsie was the daughter of Jairus & Eunice (Sprague) Cruttenden, and the wife of Homer B. Smith

[113] FindAGrave.com confirms that Eunice (Sprague) Cruttenden died July 1, 1847 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York. Eunice was the daughter of William & Esther (Hutchinson) Sprague and the mother of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[114] FindAGrave.com confirms that Jairus Cruttenden died June 22, 1843 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York. Jairus was the husband of Eunice, and the father of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha

[115] Unable to find any information on this person

[116] FindAGrave.com confirms that James Sprague Jr. died March 30, 1857 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York. James was the son of Capt. James & Abiah (Carpenter) Sprague, and the husband of Luke’s sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[117] FindAGrave.com confirms that Benjamin Vail died September 16, 1834 at the age of 29 and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York. He was the husband of Mary (Derby) Vail, but any relationship to Luke is unknown at this time

Luke Keith’s 1874 Diary

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

Henry Brown’s 1873 Diary

1873 DIARY OF HENRY A. BROWN[1]

Jan 1x[2] – I have taken 2 gems[3] to day, 3 groop, 3 Gems of Clark Wheeler. Got a pair of Suspenders. Nancy[4] is sick to day. Went over to father Browns[5] and stayed all night. Took our bird over there. It was a very pleasant day. Hannah[6] was to our house to day.

Jan 2x – Started for Benton Harbor to day. Took dinner at Grand Junction and had to wait until 8 oclock so went all over the City. We[7] arrived in Benton H about ½ past 9 o’clock. Put up at the American House. It has been a very bad stormy day and I am tired now and sleepy to.

Jan 3 – It is an awful unpleasant day, rains and friezes as fast as it falls. Went up to St Joseph this forenoon, came back to Benton about 11 oclock. Made arangements with H. C. Morton (Nem). Left Benton 1 oclock and 10 minutes, arived at Grand Junction 3 oclock (min) /2.

Jan 4 – Pleasant day to day. I had to sleep alone last night. I have taken 4 gems and 2 neg’s. Nancy is over to Father Browns yet and I go over there to night. Subscribed 50 cts for Lecture course to day. I choped mince meat and apples this evening for Mother.[8]

Jan 5x – Paid Aunt Julia[9] 50 cts and have paid her 5.00 besides which makes 5.50. Will[10] brought us down to Father Keiths[11] to day. Ethan[12] came and brought us home in the evening. Nancy was sick and we went to bed about 7 oclock. Pleasant.

Jan 6x – Pleasant. Nancy was sick this morning, did not get up until ten oclock, and then she was up and down all day. Took one negative to day. Byron[13] came up to day and I paid him 35 cts for team use.

Jan 7 – Pleasant. I went to Kalamazoo to day on Accomidation, came back on Mail. Nancy was sick all day to day. Took more baby pictures to day than I ever took in one day before. Met Cousin Oscar Yates[14] at Kalamazoo.

Jan 8x – Tryed to be pleasant to day but made out to be most awful cold and blustering. Nancy was sick again to day, is better now so that she is stringing beads. Printed to day. Making molasses candy to night.

Jan 9 – Very Blustering to day and cold. Have not taken any pictures to day except One Neg. Nancy was sick to day. Ethan and Henry[15] were here to day. Father drew me a load of wood.

Jan 10x – Very Cold and Blustering again to day, worse than yesterday. Did not take any pictures to day. Nancy sick. Mr Van Buren Lectures to night. Subject “Labor.”

Jan 11x – Wether modarate. Took a negative of Ma[16] to day, she was here a visiting to day. Did not take any pictures to day. Father and Will were here.

Jan 12 – Pleasant. Stayed at home all day, no one here to day. I went down to the depo and saw two new palace cars. Nancy took a napp.

Jan 13x – Stormy and warm. Have been busy all day. Opened Arthurs[17] box and took out a frame and mat and Looking glass and hung them up. Put some pictures in the mat.

Jan 14 – Pleasant but cloudy. Printed to day. We went to Mr Barbers[18] this evening, had a circle.[19] Mr Bailey and wife[20] were there, Pa and Ma, Father & Mother, Mr & Mrs Streator[21] were there. Pa went to Howlands burg to mill to day.

Jan 15 – Very unpleasant to day, rainy and icey. Hannah came up here this morning and stayed all day. Ida[22] came this afternoon. Dalenbeck is haveing a Law sute about stolen wheat. J Shafter, G & J Strubal and another man are arested.

Jan 16x – Snowed all day, there was about one foot of snow fell to day, cleared off about four oclock. Ida Allen[23] was here to day. Nancy was sick abed part of the time.

Jan 17x – Pleasant to day. I printed to day. Father, Pa & Ma have been here, did not stay any. We went to the Lecture this evening, a Mr. Frazer, Supt of Kalamazoo Schools.

Jan 18 – Quincy Streator[24] came this (home) morning. It has been a pleasant day to day but cold. Have taken one picture to day. Nancy went over home with Pa to day and I went over at night. Nancy is sick with the headache. Will Plank[25] came home to day.

Jan 19x – Stormy and cold. At Pa’s to day. Henry & Ethan were at home to day. Ethan is stopping at Aunt Kates.[26] We all ate at Mr. Planks.[27] Mrs Plank[28] and me had a very lively discussion on religion this evening. Fred Allerton[29] ate at Planks to day. Will went home with him.

Jan 20x – Pleasant but cold. Will Plank and Carrie & Mary[30] came over and got a groop taken. Carrie, Mary & Hannah visited at our house to day. Will went back to day. Nancy did not get home until one oclock.

Jan 21 – Pleaseant. In an hour snowed all day, warm. Took two pictures for Charley Haywood to day. Nancy has had a head ache all day. I brought 1½ bu of Patatoes to day. Paid 1.12 for them.

Jan 22 – Pleasant. Henry Keith and Pa were here to day. Emma Allen[31] was here to supper. The Allens, Ida Barber and us went over to Pa’s. We had Mr Barbers horse and Buggy cutter. Got home about 11 oclock.

Jan 23x – Cold and stormy. We ate Breakfast by lamp light this morning for the first time in my married life. I took my first lesson in inking to day on Mr Evans.

Jan 24 – Pleasant. Henry, Louis[32] & Sate[33] were here to day. I took 4 Gems for Sate and Louis to gather. Father, Mother and Aunt Julia were here to night. Will and Mary Plank and Sis[34] went to the Lecture. J. A. B. Stone Lectured.

Jan 25 – Pleasant. James[35] was here to day. Eberly Underwood[36] came up here and stayed almost two hours. Henry was comeing after us to go home with him but did not come. Nancy & me have both been sick to day.

Jan 26xx – Pleasant. We have been at home all day to day. Moly and her Amos did not go to church. I wrote two letters to day, one to Uncle Sidney[37] & one to E. P. Wightman.[38] Father, Mother and Will were here to night.

Jan 27 – Pleasant. I took another ink lesson to day. Took 1 neg and 2 Tin types. Nancy has been sick all day. I contracted 6 cords of wood to day of Henry Covil at 200 per cord. Loaded up.

Jan 28 – Rail Road Colision this morning at three oclock. I got up and went down. It was on the switch. Pleasant but cold. Nancy went to Mr Potts Funelel[39] with Ida Barber.

Jan 29 – Cold. Nancy has been sick all day. Took one negative to day.

Jan 30 – Cold. Pa was up to see us a little while this morning. Came over with Alvin and Jess Lee.[40] They were Breaking Colts.

Jan 31 – Pleasant. Dull day for Pictures. I inked all day on Mr Evans[?] Picture. Father and Will came down and went to the lecture. We did not go to the lecture because Nancy was sick.

Feb 1x – Pleasant but cold. Nancy went over to Pa’s this morning and Will came over and I came home with him, stoped and got Nancy. Mrs White was at our house, stayed all night. Took 2.40 worth of Gems.

Feb 2x – Pleasant But cold. Will and Nancy & me went down and got Hannah. Pa, Ma & James came up and got her in the evening. Nancy is sick. White went home this after noon.

Feb 3 – Stormy. I went to Kal[41] with Fathers team. Went down on the north side of the river came back on the south side, got home half past twelve. Helped shell corn and draw wood. Nancy is sick.

Feb 4 – Pleasant. We are at Fathers yet. Nancy is sick, she has gone to bed. I have taken one dollar and seventy five cents worth of gems to day. Helped Amos move his book case to day.

Feb 5 – Pleasant. We are at home again and Hannah is with us. I have been very busy to day printing and takeing gems. Nancy is sick to day. I went down town this evening a little while.

Feb 6 – Warm and pleasant. Hannah is at our house yet. Wrote to Dr. Sullings to day. Printed and took 2 gems. I have got my prints all mounted. Nancy and Hannah have gone to bed. Pa was here to day. Ethan is sick.

Feb 7 – Warm and Pleasant. Nancy has had a very hard headache all day. Galesburg was favored with an auction store to day. I bought me a pair of boots and Nancy a pair of slippers.

Feb 8x – Stormy and warm, grew cold on toward night. Nancy is a little better to night but pretty tired. I went down to the band room to night, bought Nancy a pair of shoes.

Feb 9x – Pleasant and warm. Hannah went home to night with Pa and Louesa[42] is going to stay over here a few days. Nancy is beter to day than she has been in two weeks most.

Feb 10 – Pleasant. Business dull. Sis is here yet. I went over to the auction store to night and made them give me a Blacking brush. Went to bed about seven o’clock.

Feb 11 – Pleasant. I have printed to day. Mr Burgess came up to night and said print the rest of those photos. Sad affair happened to night. Miss Carrie Homles sent her picture back.

Feb 12 – Pleasant. Printed to day one picture of Will McColum. Nancy is sick to day. I took two negatives of the M. E. church to day. Took 2 gems and a negative of Guss Hiney to day.

Feb 13x – Cloudy and snowed a little, cold. I have not done any thing to day but sit around and gap and stretch and stretch and gap and gap and stretch and stretch and gap and, and, and, and, and, and.

Feb 14 – Pleasant. Dull day, did not have any thing to do to day But Print and only a few prints to make.

Feb 15 – Pleasant to day. Had more gems to take to day than I have had before in many a day. Father was here this evening and so were Pa & Ma, Mary and Carrie Plank. Louesa went home to night.

Feb 16xx – Pleasant but cloudy. We have been alone to day for the first time in most two weeks. Father and Mother were here this evening a little while. Nancy is better to day than she has been in two or three days.

Feb 17 – Most a splendid day. I have took quite a lot of pictures to day But to day has been the worse day that I ever saw with me. Every thing has went ass end foremost, a topsy turvey. Will was over to night to ask us to go up to Mr Fords tomorrow evening.

Feb 18 – Pleasant. Louis was here to day. Nancy went up home with her so to go to Mr Flanderes[43] to night. She was sick and had to go to bed. Miss Earl and Miss Allerton were there. We stayed all night.

Feb 19 – Pleasant. Henry brought us home this morning and I have done some business since if I know myself. Miss Mary Warren commenced work in my room to day. Nancy is better. Letters from Loyd & Ely.

Feb 20x – Pleasant in the forenoon but snowed in the afternoon. Printed to day. Henry Keith starts for New York to night. I expect Allice Carey was here this afternoon a little while. Got a letter from Walzl (?) to day.

Feb 21- Pleasant part of the day and stormy the rest of it. I cleaned my show case to day. Took 2 gems of Misty Chafey.[44] Kate & Louis were here to day with Pa, did not stay very long.

Feb 22 – Stormy and cold. Printed a little to day and have got it mounted. Have not done any bussiness to day, only took in 1.50. Nancy has got sore lips. I have had a headache ever since last night, better.

Feb 23x – Stormy, very cold and some blustering. Father came over to night and brought us some apples and butter and some egg, two pies, some cabage cut up cold, amen.

Feb 24 – Cold and blustering but some warmer than it was yesterday. I have not done much work to day. Took one neg of Zell Glligan and two gems. Ethen stoped here to day when he went to Kal to take his lesson. He said Ma was coming over tomorrow.

Feb 25 – Pleasant. No business to day but John Carey and wife and they are business if I know any thing about business. I have taken four or five negatives a piece of them and now I dont expect they will be suited.

Feb 26x – Cloudy. Comenced snowing about four oclock and snows yet (9 o’clock). Not very cold. Pa and Ma were here to day. Last night after we got to bed, Will, Ed and Chub, Louesa, Stella ang Clara came to visit us.

Feb 27x – Snowed all day. Father came over to day to get the horses shod and mother came along and they stayed all of the afternoon. I have taken one baby’s picture to day. Mary was here to day.

Feb 28 – Cloudy and warm to day. No business at all. Received a letter from E. P. Wightman to day. Pa went up to Howlands to mill to day. Nancy got 3 yds of Calico to day and 5# Sugar.

Mar 1 – Cloudy and some dull. Vilage caucus to day, some excitement at the caucus about officers. Nancy went over to Pa’s today and I went over at night and Ethan took us down to Fathers.

Mar 2x – Cloudy and sunshiney by spells. I got one hundred a fifty dollars of Aunt Julia to day and gave my note payable on demand at “10 pr ct”. Father signed it with me. Dated tomorow. Hannah is sick abed to night. (back)

Mar 3 – Pleasant. Lection to day of Vilage officers. I took 4 gems and 2 negatives to day. Father came over to night and got Nancy and me to go to Kalamazoo to morrow to that law suit. Nancy is going to stay to Pa’s tomorow.

Mar 4 – Pleasant to day but cold. Fathers and Allertons[45] suit comenced to day. I went over home last night and stayed all night to Fathers and in the morning I went and took N down to Pa’s and got him and took him to K.

Mar 5 – Pleasant and a little warmer than yesterday. At law to day again. Got done takeing testamony today and the lawyers got through talking law to the judge. We went home before they adjourned.

Mar 6 – Pleasant an warmer again to day but it was the coldest morning we have had an at leaste it froze the hardest in our rooms last night. Verdct renderd to day. Gave Father 22 dollars and all of the costs. Nancy came home to night.

Mar 7 – Pleasant. A dull day to day. Printed to day, did not have very good luck. Will Plank was here to day. He was out here on Allertons law sute, went home to day.

Mar 8 – Pleasant but windy. Eb was here to day and said he would go in with me if he could get the money. I have taken nine negatives to day. Jacks[46] people are here to night.

Mar 9 – Snowed last night and all day to day. Snow is now 6 or 8 in deap. I have worked all day to recouching negatives and fixing up things around a little.

Mar 10 – Pleasant But not much business.

Mar 11 – Pleasant part of the day. Printed to day and took in seven dollars. Father was here to day a little while. He went to Howlands burg to mill today. Mrs Alfred talked some of buying me out to day.

Mar 12 – Pleasant. Mrs Alfred is talking some of buying me out to day again but dont think she will hardly do it. I have taken two neg’s to day and three tin types.

Mar 13 – Pleasant. I printed to day and sold out to Mrs Alfred in part to day. Busines has been prety lively to day. Went to the bell ringers to night.

Mar 14 – Pleasant. Hannah and Ida were a visiting this afternoon and they and Mary P., Ethan and Henry were here to supper to night. Will was here this evening a little while.

Mar 15 – Rainey and windy. Eberly was here to day and we comenced takeing an Inventory of property that I am to put into trade. James was here to day. We came prety near haveing a fire in town to night.

Mar 16 – Pleasant to day and I printed. Last night the wind blew so hard that it shook the house. Will came over to day and went to church. He took our dirty cloths home with him.

Mar 17 – Not very pleasant to day nor very bad weather. Finished up pictures all day to day. Comenced haveing a sore throat to day but did not think it would amount to much. I went down to see about some lumber but did not buy any.

Mar 18 – Cloudy. I got up this morning and built two fires and loped around till after breakfast and then took two neg’s for Dalenbeck of his wind mill, then went to bed stayed all day. Ma, Pa, Father, Jim, Becky[47] & Mrs Plank were here to day.

Mar 19 – Cloudy. Ma stayed to Mr Hoags all night, came here and stayed to night. Father and Mother were here to day. I was sick all day. Nancy she did not feel very well. Ethan started to come over after Ma to night and Bill[48] ran away, broke the wagon all up.

Mar 20 – Cloudy and some stormy. Ma went home with Lowis before breakfast as she was over to bring the boys to take the Cars for Plainwell. Nancy is sick to day and I am better. Hannah came over to day with Father. Ethan was here also.

Mar 21 – Cloudy and blustering. Mrs Alfred comenced moveing in to day. Will came over to see how we were this morning and Ethan this afternoon. “We are.” Nancy worse, I am beter. Hannah is here yet. I must go to bed as I am tired. Worked to day.

Mar 22 – Pleasant. Mrs Alfred took her first pictures to day in this room. Father and Will were here to day. Ethan was here to night. Hannah is here yet. Eberly was here to day, spoke to Hannah to day.

Mar 23 – Pleasant. We have been packing up to day so to moove tomorrow. Hannah is here. Our people were here to night, all but Will and Arthur was with them. Father is comeing down tomorrow to moove us.

Mar 24 – Cloudy. We mooved to day. Mooved part of our things over to Pa’s and part over to Fathers. Nancy is not very well.

Mar 25 – Cloudy. I took three negatives of Ethan too day and two of Allie Wightman. Nancy is sick to day. Ethan got some rice and I got a beef bone and we had soop for supper.

Mar 26 – Cloudy. Nancy is sick, had Dr Alfred over to see her this morning. He said she only had the sore throat. Printed to day with Mrs Alfred, had very good luck. Rode home with Wolcott.

Mar 27 – Pleasant. I came over this morning and mounted my prints and retuched them and Eli took 6 home of Allie. Nancy had a trance[49] this evening and she felt better after it.

Mar 28 – Pleasant in the forenoon and rainey in the afternoon. I went to Battle Creek to day. Nancy is better to day and I am worse. I did not have any success at Battle Creek.

Mar 29 – Cloudy and some rainey to day. I stayed to home to day all day. Nancy and me were both worse to day. Ethan and me sawed wood to day a little while and then I went to bed.

Mar 30 – Pleasant part of the day and rainey part of the day. We were at Pa’s yet, have been here ever since last Monday night and dont know how long we shall remain here. Mr Planks people were at Pa’s to dinner to day.

Mar 31 – Pleasant but mudy and weather raw. I went to Vixburg to day. Went down to Kalamazoo on Accomidation at 9.53 A.M. and started from K. to V. at 4.15 P.M., started from V. to K. 7.10 P.M., started from K. to G. 9.30 P.M., got home at 11.00 oclock P.M.

Apr 1 – Rainey part of the day. I went to Augusta to day to see about getting a set of rooms to photograph in but did not succeed. We have been at Pas one week and a day and now we are at Fathers to stay a week or two.

Apr 2 – Stormy. I went over to the burg and got some pictures an other traps and mooved them over to our folkses. I cracked some black walnuts and butternuts to day. I was told to get some things at Pas but forgot them.

Apr 3 – Pleasant. I went down to Pas in the morning to get some things and ask Ethan to go with me up to Mr Flanderes and we went in the after noon. Aunt Mary Crawford[50] came to day. We went down to see her in the Evening with Pa.

Apr 4 – Pleasant. Ben Harthy came here last night to go to work to day. We commenced mooveing fence but we only mooved one load and then the sawyers came and we had to saw in the afternoon. I went up and got Skinners[51] hired man at noon.

Apr 5 – Pleasant. I helped saw again to day but was so lame that I could not do much but drive, so I quit at 3 o’clock and went to the burg. Pa and Ma went up to Aunt Kates to day. Miss Yawger was here to night.

Apr 6 – Stormy. Nancy, Hannah and myself went up to Aunt Kates to day. Aunt Kate is layd up with a burnt arm. She fell into a pot of boiling sugar. Lucy[52] is sick with epizoot. Hellen York[53] and her children[54] were there.

Apr 7 – Stormy. Town meeting to day. Father and me both staid away from town meeting. I went to the burg and got two loads of goods this forenoon and sawed wood in the afternoon. Got through.

Apr 8 – Stormy. Will an me went up to Fords to take up a load of traps for Boardman. I went to gales burg and got 32 yds calico for a tent and dress for Nancy and some other things, amt 4.72.

Apr 9 – Stormy. I sewed on the tent in the forenoon and Nancy helped me. She worked on it alone in the afternoon and I went up in the woods and choped a load of wood and then came down and got the team and drew it down to Pas.

Apr 10 – Pleasant. Went downd to Pa’s to day and went to ceeping house. I went over to the burg this morning and got some glass and pictures and some other things. Hannah went up to Fords to day “quilting.”

Apr 11 – It comenced raining last evening and rained some all night and a little this morning. Hannah got home this morning. I tinkerd all day on things to Photo ___ with. Pleasant this afternoon.

Apr 12 – Snowed last night about one inch. I went down to Fathers this morning and got some things and then went to the burg and got some groceries and chemicals. Went to the burg again this afternoon and got some meat.

Apr 13 – A very pleasant day to day. I wrote a letter to Loyd to day. Jimmie[55] and me went a guming to day up in Schrams woods. Pa went and took Ethan and Han up to Aunt Katies. Father and Mother went up to Uncle Woods[56] to day.

Apr 14 – Pleasant. I worked all day most trying to take pictures and working Cheimicals. Found that my dark tent was too light so went over to the Burg and got twelve yds more calico.

Apr 15 – Cloudy and some rainey to day. I worked on tent all of the forenoon and tried it and it worked first rate. I made envelopes this afternoon. Jimmie went to the Burg this forenoon and stayed all of the forenoon.

Apr 16 – Cloudy but not so bad as yesterday. I made 44 sticks for Nancy to curl her hair on. Went to the Burg in the afternoon and when I got back Ethan and me mooved the Privy. Father and Will Plowed to day.

Apr 17 – Stormy most of the time to day. Will Plank came here to day. Ethan, Will and me played crochet to day. Father went up to Mr Samples Auction to day. Will went to the Burg this afternoon. Nancy and me have got the toothache.

Apr 18 – Cloudy and raw. I played crochet with Will P., Ethan an Lou. I went to the Burg to day and got some cod fish oil, cloth and some thill[57] straps. Made the straps my self. Nancy and me bothe got the tooth ache to night.

Apr 19 – Pleasant. Very. I albumenized some glass to day and took some pictures. Took one picture of Laton and his peddle wagon. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to day and got some lines and a mane strap. Paid 95 cts for them.

Apr 20 – Pleasant but Some cloudy and a raw wind. Looked some like a storm. It snowed a little and rained a little. Henry and Will were here to day. Ethan and me were down to Fathers a little while.

Apr 21 – Cloudy and raw. We went down to Fathers to day. I took a negative of the house to day. I helped Will tar the boat to day and the tar got a fire. I played 5 games of crochet with Hannah this morning.

Apr 22 – Snow storm last night and this morning. It fell about six inches deep but it is almost gone now. Ethan has been working all day on patent right street car starter.[58] He and me went to the Burg this afternoon.

Apr 23 – Pleasant to day. I printed to day in the forenoon and plowed in the afternoon for Father. Mounted my prints about half past four in the afternoon. Ethan went over to the Burg this afternoon. He rode with H. D. Streeter Esq.[59]

Apr 24 – Pleasant. I finished up pictures this forenoon and helped wash. Went over to Galesburg in the afternoon. I go so Creisote[60] to put on my tooth. Ethan has been at work on modle all day.

Apr 25x – Pleasant. Henry came home from Elkhart last night and stoped at Pa’s and stayed all night and untill about noon to day. Ethan has been at work at modle. I have been loafing all day. Nancy is sick some to day.

Apr 26 – Not Very Pleasant to day but still it was not so bad that Ethan and me went to Kalamazoo. I had my tooth pulled to day. Got 2# Nitric and 2#Muriatic acid, One box Concentrated Lye. We stoped at Aunt Kates and got supper.

Apr 27 – Pleasant. Ethan and me went a guming to day. Will went to church to day on town. We had a mess of greens to day and three Roosters. Hannah and Ethan went up to the woods to day.

Apr 28 – Cloudy and sprinkled some. I went out a little while to day and tryed to get a job but could not so I came home again. Was gone from home six hours. I agreed to go and help Father to morrow.

Apr 29 – Pleasant. I comenced working for Father to day, worked all day. Ethan has got his modle done. John T. Allerton licked and drove his gray mare all the forenoon in a shamefull manner.[61] Ida Barber stayes with Hannah to night.

Apr 30 – Pleasant. I plowed for Father to day. He and mother and Will went to Kalamazoo to day. Ethan and Hellen Randall went with them. Will stayed all night with Charley Flecher.

May 1 – Cold this forenoon and Rained this afternoon. I worked untill ten o’clock and then turned out on account of the rain. Put the team in Pas barn until after dinner and then went down to Fathers with the team.

May 2 – Rainey in the morning but pleasant in the afternoon. I went down to Fathers, helped him run through a load of wheat for market and then I went up in the woods and split fence stakes until noon. Afternoon helped run through another load of wheat and then went to the Burg.

May 3 – Rainey in the morning but cleared off about nine o’clock. I worked in garden in the forenoon. Worked for Father in the afternoon at plowing. Mr Warren came over to see me about getting my life Insured.

May 4 – Pl