1885 diary of Charles Luke Keith Jr.

1885 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 18 were first written in the back of his 1884 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1885 diary. Anything from 1884 that clarifies the 1885 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Mercury 2 Abz[2] Blustring. D & Lou [and children][3] came on noon train. Nancy [and children came over. Hank no come],[4] Will Brown and Lizzy,[5] Charley, Lois & Clara & Mrs Youngs,[6] Ella Allen.[7]

Jan 2 – 2 Abz. Went got Lous trunk. [Got Charleys pork barrel.] Ethan,[8] D., Hannah[9] & Jim[10] went down to Mrs Browns[11] in Evening.

Jan 3 – 12 Abz. D. & Lou here. Old Mrs Williams buried to day.[12] Dell[13] got ax in Evening. Em & W^m Ralph[14] here.

Jan 4 – Mercury 23 Abz. At home all day. [Mrs Youngs, Clara and Charley came down.] D. & Lou went up to W^m Ralphs. [Charley and Mrs Youngs went round the squair.]

Jan 5 – Mercury 34 Abz. Cut up Peter.[15] Went over to Burg got oil. [Lou and Jay and Vern.] D. went home. Dell paid for ax $1.00.

Jan 6 – Mercury 38 Abz. Took Hannah down to top of [Browns] Hill. Met Caywood he took her down to his House. Made two pulleys for Theodore.[16] [He sayed to supper. Theodore, Ethan and Jim went over to the Rink to see Burroughs, Austin, Wilson and Durkee skate.]

Jan 7 – Mercury 32 Abz. Sarah[17] and Lou went down to Mrs Browns. Got out stuf for Skinners Pie tongs.[18] [Made one. No storm some to day.]

Jan 8 – Mercury 34 Abz. Worked on tongs. Sarah and Lou went up to Claras. Lois came over after sausage cutter.

Jan 9 – Mercury 34 Abz. Worked on pie tongs. Cool wind no snow on ground.

Jan 10 – Mer 28 Abz. Went over to burg. Took Lou to Mr Ralphs. Got my glasses mended. Mr Randal paid 15¢.

Jan 11 – Mercury 37 Abz in mor. Took Hannah over to over to Lois in morning. Jim and Clark went down to Marts.[19] Rainy day.

Jan 12 – Mer 27 Abz [snows some. Mercury 40 in afternoon.] Went up to mill after oil [no got some]. Shelled some corn. Lou came home in Evening.

Jan 13 – Mercury 8 Abz. Snows some. Jim went up to Frank Bronsons after Hanks Horses. Cold day.

Jan 14 – Mercury 8 Abz. Jim went to Howlands mills. [No snow. Mrs Youngs, Clara, Lois and Charley here in afternoon.] Charley Town[20] drew some straw. Mrs Hitchcock Died [in night.][21]

Jan 15 – Mer 20 Abz. Snowed in night [snow about 4 inches. Went over to burg in morning to help Lou of.] Lou went Home. Hank went to Kalamazoo with her. [Got calendar. Ethan turned Herbs[22] Stand top.]

Jan 16 – Mercury 16 Abz. [Ethan went over to burg in morning to see about moulding his patterns.] Herb came down with his canvasing Book. Cold Blustring Eight inches snow.

Jan 17 – Mercury 10 Abz. Snows and blows snow about 12 inches on level. Cold rough day.

Jan 18 – Mercury 10 below zero. Very cold Blustring day. Mrs Hichcock Buried to day. [Bad day for man or beast to be out, say nodings aboud de vimmins.][23]

Jan 19 – Mercury 10 below zero. Took Hannah over to Lois in morning. Cold. Will Clark[24] called here at noon.

Jan 20 – Mercury 15 below zero. At home all day. Theodore and Ethan went to Burg in afternoon. Very cold day.

Jan 21 – Mercury 3 below. No clouds, pleasant, sun came out clear. Went over to Burg in afternoon. Cold and snows. Quite a blustring day.

Jan 22 – Mercury 10 below zero. Took up pork out of Barrel. Put some in crock. Made two Pie raisers. Very much winter.

Jan 23 – Mercury 8 Abz. At home most of the day. Went over to burg in afternoon. Uncle Pat Smith Died to night.[25]

Jan 24 – Mercury 26 Abz. Went over after Nancy in morning. C. I. Clark[26] went to Jackson.

Jan 25 – Mercury 16 Abz. Went down to Katharines.[27] Not very cold, good sleighing. Mrs Bee buried to day.

Jan 26 – Mercury 2 below. Very cold & blustring. Mr W^m Simonds buried to day.[28] Rough day to be out. No work to day a regular Perry[29] day.

Jan 27 – Mercury 3 below. Chored round some. Went over to burg.

Jan 28 – Mercury 11 below 7 P.M. Worked in shop on Herbs Book Box. Will Brown here making tent.

Jan 29 – Mercury 10 Abz in morning. Worked in shop some on Herbs Book box. Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.[30]

Jan 30 – Mercury 24 Abz. Worked on Box. Herb here. Cut out stuff for Box.

Jan 31 – Mercury 4 Abz. Turned pulley for Theodore. Worked on Box. Dick Lamkin came over got rags.

Feb 1 – Mercury 4 Abz. At home. Dell came over. Bess[31] here came over with Hannah last Evening. Pleasant.

Feb 2 – Worked some on Herbs Box.

Feb 3 – Ethan went down to Coes. Not very cold. Worked in shop on Box. Sarah went over to Mr Forbush.

Feb 4 – Mercury 32 Abz. Worked on Box put Box together. Shelled corn.

Feb 5 – Mercury 1 below at 7 PM. Put the Buttens in Herbs Box and smoothed it up. Sarah went over to Lois.

Feb 6 – Mercury 2 below zero. Cleaned out shop and moved the bench. Herb brot clasp for Box.

Feb 7 – Mercury 22 Abz. Jim went to mill. Snowed hard. Chored round. Fastened down Bench. Mr John Milham Died.[32]

Feb 8 – Mercury 7 Abz. Clara and Edna[33] came down. George and Clara Milham[34] came up. Very nice day any way.

Feb 9 – Mercury 4 Abz. Very blustring lots snow. No work but chores. Bad day to be out.

Feb 10 – Mercury at zero. Snows and blows very rough day. Mr John Milham buried to day.

Feb 11 – Mercury 24 below zero. Gefired cold day. No work to day. Snow from one to five feet deep round the house and Barn.

Feb 12 – Mercury. Very cold. At home. No got out some no how.

Feb 13 – Mercury 24 Abz. At home. Shoveled snow dug a road to Mrs Jones. Very cold day. Mr Merryman stayed all night.

Feb 14 – Mercury 22 below. Went up to mill got tongs to fix pump. Went over to burg. Ed Rumery Buried to day.[35]

Feb 15 – Mercury 24 Abz. Went Down to Katharines. Snowed all day. Came home at night.

Feb 16 – Mercury 14 below zero. Theodore came down in morning. Verry bad day, snows, blows. No teams out to day.

Feb 17 – Mercury 18 below in morning. Very blustrous, cold wind. Edwin Flanders[36] Brot glass for schoolhouse.

Feb 18 – Mercury 13 below zero. Shoveled path to Barn. Very much bluster, big snow.

Feb 19 – Mercury 5 below zero. Took Hannah down to Katharines. Very cold, south west wind.

Feb 20 – Mercury 12 below. No work not much. Filed cross cut saw for Jim.

Feb 21 – Mercury 14 below. Took Sarah over to burg. Set glass in school House in morning. Went over after her in evening. Mercury 17 below in Evening.

Feb 22 – Mercury 9 below. Pleasant day. Hanks folks went over to Mrs Browns. Ida Lewis Died about ten oclock PM.[37]

Feb 23 – Mercury 18 below. Spliced Bob pole for Will Brown. Took Hams down to Mrs Browns to smoke.

Feb 24 – Mercury 10 below. Made boulsters for Theodore. I went over to burg. Ida Lewis buried.

Feb 25 – Mercury at zero in morning. Took Sarah over to Hoags in morning. Repaired cutter.

Feb 26 – Mercury 26 Abz. Snowed some in forenoon. Thawing some.

Feb 27 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went up to mill. Theodores Brace and some bolts to Repair cutter beams[?]. Very nice day.

Feb 28 – Worked round. Done chores. Went over to burg. Took Sarah over to Mr Austins.

Mar 1 – Mercury 34 Abz. Went down to Katharines. Quite Blustrous. Dick Lamkins here in Evening.

Mar 2 – Mercury 26 Abz. Put trimmings on Herbs Box. Fixed Hallocks violin Box & and Bow.

Mar 3 – Mercury 15 Abz. Worked on violin and Bow some on Herbs Box.

Mar 4 – Mercury 33 Abz. Worked on Box oiled and varnished.

Mar 5 – Mercury 23 Abz. Varnished Herbs Box and smoothed it. Herb got his Box. Took Sarah up to Claras.

Mar 6 – Mercury 36 Abz. Mended chair some. Snowed. Went up to Claras in afternoon. Pulled Ethans tooth.

Mar 7 – Mercury 17 Abz. Went up to Hat & Libs.[38] Extracted tooth for Libby. Hannah came home. Hallock got his violin 50 cts.

Mar 8 – Mercury at zero. Very pleasant. Mrs Youngs and Clara came down.

Mar 9 – Mercury 24 Abz. Mr Chipman came down after Hannah. Will Clark sold his house to Jane Galligan.

Mar 10 – Mercury 17 Abz. Went over to Burg after Bob pole. Chored round. Dug ditch to Mrs Jones 4½ feet.

Mar 11 – Mercury 5 Abz. Took Hannahs trunk over to burg. She went up to Lous. Dell went up to Ceresco.[39]

Mar 12 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went down to Mrs Browns in morning. Took the Butter. Edna and Madge[40] came here.

Mar 13 – Mercury 21. At home. No work not much. Edna here.

Mar 14 – Mercury 22. Took Sarah and Edna over to Nancys. Edna went home on noon train.

Mar 15 – Mercury 21 Abz. Pleasant day. At home all day, no one here. Verien Youngs and wife[41] at Charleys.

Mar 16 – Mercury 7 Abz. Made whiffletree[42] for Austin Potts 25¢. Ethan went over to Burg got his patterns. Charley Towns man called here.

Mar 17 – Mercury 6 below zero. Made large pulley for Theodore. Cleaned up some wheat to send to mill. Ethan went to Comstock.

Mar 18 – Mercury 16 Abz. Took wheat down to Browns. Jim gone to mill. Charley went to Jackson.

Mar 19 – Mercury. At home, chores. Lois here coloring. Sarah went up to Rogers. Lois went to Charleys.

Mar 20 – Mercury 10 below. John Schroder came over after Lois. Nancy sick. Took Sary[43] over afternoon. Cold day. Lots snow.

Mar 21 – Mercury 13 below. Chores mostly to day. Cold raw weather very windy.

Mar 22 – Mercury. At home. Clara and Maud Addams here.

Mar 23 – Mercury At zero. Drew three loads Hay from Charleys. Went over to burg. Nancy was better. Ethan go castings.

Mar 24 – Mercury 29 Above. Snows and blows regular Blizzard. Mrs Philo Buried to day,[44] Sam Carsons Daughter.

Mar 25 – Mercury 10 Above. Ethan took castings over to Burg.

Mar 26 – Mercury 29 Above. Worked on violin some. Dell came over stayed all night.

Mar 27 – Mercury 38 Above. Worked on violin some. Ethan went to Comstock after castings. Clara and Mrs Youngs came stayed. Mrs Con Youngs Buried.[45]

Mar 28 – Mercury 33 Abz. Chored round cut some wood. Mrs Youngs and Clara here.

Mar 29 – Mercury 35 Abz. At home. Pleasant day.

Mar 30 – At home. Worked on violin some.

Mar 31 – Mercury 34 Abz. Choring round. Mrs Youngs and Clara here. Pleasant day.

Apr 1 – Mercury 31 Abz. Worked in shop some. Mrs Youngs and Clara here getting ready. Took goods over to Burg.

Apr 2 – Mercury 34 Abz. Took Mrs Youngs and Clara over to burg. They went to Jackson. Rained in Evening. Took the Beadstead up to the girls.

Apr 3 – Mercury 28 Abz. Took Sarah over to Burg in morning.

Apr 4 – Mercury 34. Went over to burg in morning. Got one Barrel salt $1.25. Saw D. Harris.

Apr 5 – Mercury __3. Pleasant day. At home. No one here. Strung new violin.

Apr 6 – Mercury 40. Went to town meeting. No work to day but cut one load wood.

Apr 7 – Mercury 35. Went up in the woods drawed one load wood two loads rails.

Apr 8 – Mercury 32 Abz. Took Sarah over to Nancys in morning. Cold North ____wind.

Apr 9 – Mercury 3__. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to get key seats cut. Charley Town drawed straw.

Apr 10 – Mercury 35. Went over to burg in morning. Took castings over. Got Charleys buggy down.

Apr 11 – Mercury 40. Cool damp wind. Charley Town commenced plowing south lot for oats.

Apr 12 – Mercury 34 cold north wind. Went over to Hanks, all there. Hank starts for Galesburg Ill on the 12.20 train Evening.

Apr 13 – Mercury 28. Went over to burg at noon after ___ stuf. Drawed some cornfodder. Charleys man plowing.

Apr 14 – Mercury 31. Cleaned out stable. Put cutter up over stable. Took one load out stable one out of the bay. Snowed like fun.[46]

Apr 15 – Mercury 49 snow about 2 inches deep this morning, all gone before night. Ethan got castings over for the binder.

Apr 16 – Not very well. No work, choring.

Apr 17 – Mercury 32. Went over to burg at noon after the stuff. Drawed some corn fodder. Charleys team plowing. Mr W^m Carey died to day.[47] Not very well. Work round barn.

Apr 18 – Mercury 31. Cleaned out stable. Put cutter up over stable. Drawed one load stuf from out the Bay to a ___. Went over to burg in morning. Went over after Nancy. Nancy and children came.

Apr 19 – Mercury 50. At home all day. Made Hammer Handle for Mrs Brown. Nice warm spring day.

Apr 20 – Mercury 81. Went over to burg. Took Binder castings over to foundry. They put Cell Straits[48] Engine in to Foundry.

Apr 21 – Mercury 66. At home. Worked round barn and garden. Florence and Ray[49] came to Kalamazoo.

Apr 22 – Mercury 75. Worked in shop some in yard and garden. Put some straw in Barn.

Apr 23 – Went over to burg bot ½ Bushel clover seed __3 oz. Charley sowed oats. Hannah and Lou came. Rained some in Evening.

Apr 24 – Charley Clark here to day. I made hoop for Verns[50] Jumping Jack.

Apr 25 – Worked on Herbs Boxes all day.

Apr 26 – At home all day. No one here.

Apr 27 – Worked on Herbs Boxes. Fine day.

Apr 28 – Worked on Herbs Box. Very fine day. Florence and Ray came to day.

Apr 29 – Finished Herbs Boxes this morning. Took Lou over to Mr Ralphs in morning.

Apr 30 – At home. Worked round done chores &c.[51]

May 1 – At home. Went over to burg. Not very well. Sowed clover seed on south lot.

May 2 – At work as usual around. Drawed some old rails of the hill. Put Fan in pasture to day.

May 3 – D. came over after Lou. Mrs John Luce buried to day.[52]

May 4 – D went home left Lou. Florence went home. D. took her down to Kalamazoo.

May 5 – Took Lous trunk over to burg. Rained hard. I went to Kalamazoo with Lou. She went home.

May 6 – Took Hannah over to Mr Ralphs. Bot cloths line 65 cts.

May 7 – Mercury 40 Abz. At home no work. Took finger board of the old violin raised it some higher. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns. Very high wind.

May 8 – Cut walnut tree on hill on road. Hannah and Lois came home. Snowed and blowed. High wind, cold. A Potter died.

May 9 – Cold wind, snows some. Worked round shop and house.

May 10 – Lois and Ina[53] here. Cold wind. Not very nice day.

May 11 – Went over to burg with Nancy. She went over to pay Interest on Mortgage.

May 12 – Went down to Caywoods got strawberry plants. Went down to M. O. Streators[54] got potatoes.

May 13 – At home working round house and garden.

May 14 – Working in garden some choring. Went over to burg.

May 15 – Went over to burg. Working as usual all around the yard and garden.

May 16 – Went down to Charley Fords got six hundred lbs Hay 40 cts pr Hundred ___ 40 cts. Fan went to Bull.

May 17 – Fine day. Went down to Katharines.

May 18 – Went and got Theodore to come down and repair Pumps.

May 19 – Theodore put down W^m Ralphs well. Took Nancys couch over to Burg in morning. Took chairs over at noon. Hat, Lib, Mrs Rogers and Mrs Bradshaw here. Charley Town planted corn.

May 20 – Went over to burg got some things from Hanks.

May 21 – Went over to burg in morning got loads of traps[?] from Hanks, some cider. Jim got stove. Got bark for Bill.

May 22 – Some ledle rainy. Not much work.

May 23 – At home working in garden some not much.

May 24 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Marts. Hailed & rained some, high wind.

May 25 – Mercury __8. Jim and Dell drew rails built fence across East lot at foot of big Hill.

May 26 – Skinner helped me draw rails and lay up fence around the south lot on hill. Jim and Hannah, Nancy and Mrs Brown went to Kalamazoo.

May 27 – Pleasant. Nancy came up here.

May 28 – Cleaned up 5 bushels wheat to take to mill. Went over to burg.

May 29 – Rainy day no go to mill. Went over to burg got screws for Lois doors. Got Ethans patterns.

May 30 – Rainy morning. Went up to Cooks to mill.

May 31 – At home all day. Two tramps stayed here all night. Some rainy day.

Jun 1 – Hot day. Took carpet yarn over to Mrs Atkins. Went round by Staffords. Went over after Sarah in Evening.

Jun 2 – At home. Worked in garden and shop some.

Jun 3 – Made some Lamberqua[?] shelves. Made soap down to Mrs Browns in afternoon.

Jun 4 – Painted chairs and two Boxes. Rained some in afternoon and Evening.

Jun 5 – Not much work. Went over to burg. Took Nancy over. Got lumber for Rack 3.24.

Jun 6 – Worked in garden some. Hot day.

Jun 7 – Hot day. Went up to Levy Woods had a good time. Mr Streator, Syrus and Mrs Streator and Mrs Brown went.

Jun 8 – Cut Dock in East lot and planted sunflower seeds. Went over to burg at noon.

Jun 9 – Worked in garden and round barn.

Jun 10 – Worked in garden and chored round.

Jun 11 – Hoed some. Painted screen doors for Lois. Went down to M. O. Streators to see Rack.

Jun 12 – Choring round. Went down to Mrs Browns got cultivator. Mrs Potts here. Fanny Town[55] called.

Jun 13 – Went on up to mill. Got plank for sawhorses. Went to burg. Hung Lois screen doors.

Jun 14 – Mercury 96. At home all day. No one here. Very hot day.

Jun 15 – Katharine and Mrs Gaffing came up. Jim and Florence came home from Shelby.[56]

Jun 16 – Worked on road[57] in afternoon on hill up by Schrams.

Jun 17 – Worked in garden some. Nancy and children left for Galesburg Ill.[58] Ethan went down brot Hellen[59] up. Florence went Home.

Jun 18 – Went over to Mrs Atkins to see about carpet.

Jun 19 – Warm nice weather. Worked in shop and garden. Went over to burg. Made sawhorses.

Jun 20 – Worked on Ed Rowlands violin. Sarah & Hellen went down to Mrs Browns. Mrs Sylvester Mills Buried to day.[60]

Jun 21 – Nice morning. Had a big rain at noon. Mr Osborns came in storm. Blowed hard.

Jun 22 – Worked on Rack. Went over to burg. Hellen here.

Jun 23 – Went over got bolts and straps. Put rack to gether. Nice day. Lois and Ina came over.

Jun 24 – Went over to burg got bolts. Finished Rack. Lois and Ina went down to Browns.

Jun 25 – Put Paris green[61] on potatoes. Hoed some in garden.

Jun 26 – Went down to Mr Streators to invite them _____ here sunday. Levi Woods and wife are coming down.

Jun 27 – Cut some grass in orchard. Chored round. Went over to burg to see Blake and Forbush. Mrs Burgess Buried to day.

Jun 28 – Mr Levy Wood and wife, Mr Pease and Miss Swift, Mr Streator & wife and Mrs Brown, Mrs Barber all here.

Jun 29 – Jim commenced cutting hay. Will Barber worked. Will mowed on hill. Mr G. F. Warren Buried to day.[62] Lydia Milham died.[63]

Jun 30 – Jim mowed west lot commenced East lot. Ground Mr. Randals knife and turned some pins and filed saw 160¢.

Jul 1 – Went down to Katharines with Hellen. Jim Drawing hay. Lydia Milham Buried to day.

Jul 2 – Went over to burg at noon. Mrs Forbush and Eva Blake came here.

Jul 3 – Mrs Brown went to Reed city.[64] George King Died this morning.[65] Marion Rice died this morning.[66]

Jul 4 – Went over to Burg. D. and Lou came. I bot Hat $1.75.

Jul 5 – George King Buried to day. Marion Rice Buried to day.

Jul 6 – Went over to Burg in morning. Got Jays[67] hair cut. D. went home. Rained hard at noon.

Jul 7 – Jim finished mowing drawed in some. John Williams Brot Bed spring 3.75 cts.

Jul 8 – Took Lou to Kalamazoo she went home. Jim finished Drawing in Hay.

Jul 9 – Chored round done most nodings some vend over mit Burg.[68]

Jul 10 – Charley Town cut some wheat to day. Some warm day. Made churn cover and dash for Katharine. Ethan and Hannah went to Burg.

Jul 11 – Cut some grass in hill lot, hoed some. Hat and Libby, Nell Steel and boy called here.

Jul 12 – Went down to Katharines. Fine day.

Jul 13 – Drawed in some hay from hill.

Jul 14 – Cut weeds round the wire fence. Lois came over.

Jul 15 – Worked round. Lois here. Got some stuf for [didn’t finish entry].

Jul 16 – Made mortar bed. Very hot day. Hannah came home in Evening. Jim left Bill[69] here.

Jul 17 – Sick some not much no work but chores.

Jul 18 – Drawed two loads sand.

Jul 19 – At home all day. Some little shower. Charles Whitcome came over to let me know that Martin Turner was dead.[70]

Jul 20 – Mercury 102 in shade at 2 oclock P.M. Went over to Burg got lime and sieve. Went down to Katharines after Hellen. Martin Turner Buried.

Jul 21 – Mercury 96 in shade. Made mortar.

Jul 22 – Mercury 99. Hoed in garden some. Jeneral U. S. Grant Died Eight forty oclock this morning.

Jul 23 – 96 Abz. Jeneral U S Grant Died 8.40.[71] Worked in garden some.

Jul 24 – Mercury 104 in shade. Not much work to hot. Hoed some. Ground Reaper Knife for N. L. Randal.

Jul 25 – Mercury 94. Took Sarah over to burg in forenoon. Got tyre set on one of the carriage wheels. Had a fine shower just at night. Cow went over the River.

Jul 26 – Mercury 90. Lee Milham came up here. Hellen over to Lois.

Jul 27 – 94. Took plastering of the front room. Jim helped some.

Jul 28 – Mercury 100. Finished cleaning out mortar. Jim and Hannah went to Kalamazoo. Harvey Keith Killed.[72]

Jul 29 – Mercury 102. W^m Ralph thrashed to day. Set some bean poles. Alvin Lee, Julia and Rhoda[73] and her boys here.

Jul 30 – Mercury 97. Set bean poles, hoed some. Went over to burg in Evening to Jim McLary. Very dry.

Jul 31 – Mercury 103 hot and dry. Hoed in garden some. Charley Town cut the oats.

Aug 1 – Worked over the mortar. Had a nice shower between ten & Eleven AM.

Aug 2 – At home all day. Very much rainy day.

Aug 3 – Jim came over put on first coat mortar. Rainy forenoon. Went over to burg at night to mill. Got Lime & stuco.

Aug 4 – Prepaired my Lime for my hard finish.

Aug 5 – No work except chores. Rainy. Charley Town drew the oats.

Aug 6 – Rained some. Not very well.

Aug 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Got paper. Took Sarah to Kalamazoo. She went to Shelby. Went to Katharines took dinner.

Aug 8 – Not very well. No work in particular. Had a heavy thunder shower in night. U. S. Grant Buried.

Aug 9 – Mercury 87. Ethan, Dell and Jim went to Gull Lake. Will Clark, Bill went up to W. W. R___.

Aug 10 – Jim came over put on the finishing coat of mortar. Paid him two Dollars.

Aug 11 – Mercury 100 at noon. Took Went over got Lois at noon. Took Hellen down to Marts in afternoon. Ethan putting on paper.

Aug 12 – Mercury 93. Ethan and Hannah papering front Room. Went over to burg at noon. Clara, Edna & Sam[74] came.

Aug 13 – Mercury 98. Went over to Burg took sive[?] home. B. A. Wing left for Hudson. Bina Earl[75] came down here in afternoon.

Aug 14 – Hellen and I went to to Shelby ville got there ½ past one P.M. Cool day.

Aug 15 – At Shelby. Not very well.

Aug 16 – At Harris House. Myron Rawson preaced there. We went up threw the Indian setlement.

Aug 17 – Went to Wayland to see the Rawson family. Saw Dr Wightman.[76]

Aug 18 – At Harris House. Went over to the mill. Saw them saw. Mr Dunning Died.[77]

Aug 19 – At Harris House as usual. They finished sawing cut all their Logs.

Aug 20 – At Harris House some. Not very well. Rather dull not mutch trade.

Aug 21 – At Harris House. Set some glass. Went up to Mr Woods in afternoon. Had a first rate visit.

Aug 22 – Left Shelby for home. Got home about ½ past three. Fine day rained in night.

Aug 23 – At home. Rainy day. Clara and Edna here.

Aug 24 – Rainy morning. No work. Harry Crawford[78] came here.

Aug 25 – Nice morning. Went over to burg with Clara. Harry left for home on two oclock run.

Aug 26 – At home. Not much work. Not very well.

Aug 27 – At home some nice weather.

Aug 28 – Choring round some work not much. Repairing Eds violin.

Aug 29 – Work on violin put strings on.

Aug 30 – Fine day. Went down to Katharines. All well. Will Brown and Lizzie at home.

Aug 31 – Nice day. Jim commenced plowing west lot. Hannah went to Mrs Browns.

Sep 1 – Very pleasant morning. No work. Not well.

Sep 2 – Sick. No work but chores. Lois and Ina came over.

Sep 3 – Lois and Ina here. Not much work. Lois and Ina went home.

Sep 4 – Not much done. Jim took load hay over to Cap Rowland.

Sep 5 – No work. At home. Mrs Skinner and Sate[79] came to Lois on Evening train. Em got Bedstead.

Sep 6 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went over to Lois. Sate and Lois went to church.

Sep 7 – Mercury 76 in shade. Hannah went to Mate Fords.[80] Ethan and I repaired wire fence in forenoon. Mrs Barlow Died to day.[81]

Sep 8 – Rainy morning cool wind. At home.

Sep 9 – Rainy day. Took Sarah over to Lois. Eleven telegraph men came here stayed all night.

Sep 10 – Jim drew one load wood. Eleven men here to Breakfast. Went over to burg in morning. Dell came back with me. Made Pie lifter.

Sep 11 – Went over to burg in morning after satchel. The boys are digging telegraph holes.

Sep 12 – Hannah went up to Earls. Went down to Schoolhouse got Blackboard cut it off. Mr Fullerton and Mr Nye plastering the House. Telegraph poles set to day _____.

Sep 13 – Mercury 76. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Rained in Evening.

Sep 14 – Went to Mr Flanders[82] in afternoon. Fine day.

Sep 15 – Mrs Streator came down in afternoon. Mr Streator went to burg.

Sep 16 – Nice day. Went up in woods got poles for fence steaks. Ina here. Ethan went over in Evening after Lois.

Sep 17 – Fine day. Ethan, Lois & Hannah went down to Kalamazoo to State Fair.

Sep 18 – Drawed some old rails from south fence laid some bottom rails. Went over to burg in Evening took some eggs 10 Doz & 9 ___ pr Dozen.

Sep 19 – Fine morning. Went to Kalamazoo after florence. She gone up on cars.

Sep 20 – Mercury 84. Florence here. Katharine, Adelpha[83] and George came up. Alvin and Julia called in.

Sep 21 – Mercury 84. Laid up some fence. Nice day. Went to burg after Hannah. She came from Lois.

Sep 22 – Mercury 84. Made some fence. Went over to Burg after Lou. Laid up some fence. Took Hannah up to Mr Flanders.

Sep 23 – Mercury 36. Hannah left for Galesburg Ill. Fine day. First frost. Florence came over.

Sep 24 – I took Florence to Kalamazoo. Nice day. Took dinner at Mr Ketchums.[84]

Sep 25 – Mercury 81. Very warm day. Not much work.

Sep 26 – At home choring. Lou and children here.

Sep 27 – Mercury 84. At home all day. Jim McGrady cut corn to day for me.

Sep 28 – Mercury 84. Picked up scatering corn. Jim finished sowing wheat. Lou went home.

Sep 29 – Mercury 89. Very dry. Sowed some grass seed. Toped some corn. Warm day.

Sep 30 – Mercury 85. Very warm & dry. Bound some corn and toped some. Finished in afternoon.

Oct 1 – Finished binding cornfodder. Rained some ledle mide.

Oct 2 – Took Sarah over to Hoags.[85] Went up to mill no see bub. Rained in night.

Oct 3 – Rainy morning. Went up to mill got some barposts. Went to the woods got some posts.

Oct 4 – At home. Some rainy. Jim had Hannahs carriage went up to Scots.[86]

Oct 5 – Cleaned up wheat. Went to mill.

Oct 6 – Made some bars to East lot. Cool day. Paid Charley Ford $2.40 cts for hay.

Oct 7 – Drew two loads pumpkins. Mary Austin and Mrs Gilbert called in afternoon. Rainy.

Oct 8 – At home. No work done Except chores.

Oct 9 – Nice day. Went to Kalamazoo to see Florence and Carry[87] they left on 2.15 train for home. Telegraph line cut. Heavy frost some ice.

Oct 10 – Pleasant. Picked one load corn.

Oct 11 – Warm pleasant day. Dod Sumners Baby buried to day. Telegraph wire repaired to day.

Oct 12 – Worked round barn some. Will and Lizzy went home to Reed City.

Oct 13 – Went down to Mrs Browns to get apples. To wet no got some. Jim drew two loads wood. Sarah went to Lois. Rainy day.

Oct 14 – Cleared out corn House. Husked load corn. Nice day.

Oct 15 – Not much work chored round. My Birth day 72 years old ___.

Oct 16 – Work round most Evry thing. Put apples in cellar. Went over to the Rink in Evening first time. Lou sent Neck tie. Sylvester sisters.

Oct 17 – Mercury 70. W^m Ralph picke the apples. Took them to cider mill. Very nice day. Mr Raneys team run a way.

Oct 18 – Very nice day. At home all day. No one here. Lots folks went to church.

Oct 19 – Rainy day. Worked in barn cleared out stable for new floor.

Oct 20 – Some rainy. No work out side. Took 10.85 lbs hay over to A. Hoag ½ ct pound $5.42½ cts.

Oct 21 – Went over to Burg in morning after Lois she no come over. Went over to burg in Evening got pay for hay. Paid Williams $3.75. Hoag paid $5.00.

Oct 22 – Went over after Lois she came over. Mrs Skinner and Sate came here. Drew two loads corn. Barkers went to Jackson to day.[88]

Oct 23 – Took Mrs Skinner, Lois and Sate over to burg. Husked some corn picked one load and drew it in. Very fine day.

Oct 24 – Finished picking corn drew it into the Barn. Very nice day.

Oct 25 – Very nice day. Sarah and I went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Oct 26 – Dug some potatoes. Husked ten Baskets corn put into cornhouse. Very nice day.

Oct 27 – Husked Eight Bushels corn put in cornhouse. Went up to Mr Flanders got load apples. Nice day.

Oct 28 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Sold 5 doz Eggs 15 cts pr Doz. Bot 1 bunch shingles 37½ cts put some on cornhouse. Went up to Flanders took Hannah home. Howell died to day.[89]

Oct 29 – Mr Howell taken to Battle Creek. Dell came over. I put some shingles on cornhouse. Worked some on inside.

Oct 30 – Worked on cornhouse in forenoon. Finished husking the corn in barn. Put some shingles on in afternoon.

Oct 31 – Worked on cornhouse in afternoon put on battens on inside. Nice day. Mr Woods folks came down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 1 – First snow 2 inches this morning. Went down to Mrs Browns had a seance.[90] Quin Streator[91] there. Mr Wood & wife there.

Nov 2 – Mercury 36. Dug out west end of stable. This is Fathers[92] 104^th Birth day. We have had sunshine, snow & rain a number of times to day.

Nov 3 – Mercury 47. Put down stable floor. Dell over here to day. Made some pye lifters.

Nov 4 – Mercury 56. Worked in barn in forenoon. Drew one load pumpkins two loads cornfodder. Rained some.

Nov 5 – Mercury 45. Put up cornfodder and pulled turnips. Rainy day. Put Hors and cow in sable.

Nov 6 – Mercury 46 rainy day. Pulled some turnips. Dell over here.

Nov 7 – Mercury 54. Chored round. Went down to Mrs Browns. Jim brot log jack here. Dell dug potatoes.

Nov 8 – Mercury 43. At home all day. Cool cloudy misty day. Sally,[93] my self and Ethan alone to day no one here.

Nov 9 – Mercury 44. Went down to river after prickley ash[94] no find him. Churned most of the day.

Nov 10 – Mercury 48. Went over to burg in morning after pattern timber. Sawed out stuff for Jims log jack.

Nov 11 – Mercury 61. Chored round in forenoon. Went down to M. O. Streators in afternoon. Got some apples.

Nov 12 – Went down to Marts in afternoon came home in Evening dark and rainy. Run into Franklins potato patch. D. A. Frink died at six AM.[95]

Nov 13 – Mercury 34 cold wind. Churned for four hours. Pedler here to dinner. Got two spools linnen cotton thread. Jim brot wood.

Nov 14 – Mercury 32. Chored round. Went over to burg in afternoon. Snow 2½ inches. Jim brot load wood.

Nov 15 – Mercury 32. Sloppy some snow.

Nov 16 – Worked for Skinner in forenoon. Worked on Jims log jack in afternoon.

Nov 17 – Mercury 35. Went to Kalamazoo for Mrs Brown, sent some Apples to Will.

Nov 18 – Mercury 55. Went over to burg in morn. Rainy day. Took my boots over got them tapt 70 cts. Very sloppy bad day.

Nov 19 – Mer 38. Worked in shop making axhelves for Mr Flanders. Mary Flanders[96] called here got some plants.

Nov 20 – Went up to Hat & Libs. Jesse Earl came home with me. Extracted two teeth for him. I went up to Herbs house.

Nov 21 – Mercury 38. Went over & got Lois in morning. I cut out some helves for Mr J Flanders. Will Clark here.

Nov 22 – Mercury 36 pleasant & clear in morning. Went down to Mrs Browns all hands. Cold wind.

Nov 23 – Mercury 35. Cleaned up wheat. Cool and cloudy. Jim took load hay over to Mr Smith Thomas.

Nov 24 – Took 5 bushels wheat to mill. Lois came over. Got corn of Wm Rogers. Changed corn with him.

Nov 25 – Mercury 25. Took corn and wheat over to mill. Got meal & and graham. Lois went home. Nice day.

Nov 26 – Put in thill[97] for Jim. Not feeling very well. Nice day.

Nov 27 – Worked on thill and whiffletree. Painted thill. Solomon Kingsley called here a few moments.

Nov 28 – Made lever to Jims lifting jack. Very fine day. Will Clark helped Jim draw cornfodder.

Nov 29 – Turned handle for Lous pie lifter. Hellen and Clara came here.

Nov 30 – Mercury 50. At home choring around as usual. Very pleasant day. Theodore came down.

Dec 1 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Oscar and Mary[98] came here. Hannah came home. Cool damp day.

Dec 2 – Mercury 34. Oscars folks went up to Mrs Bateys.[99] Lois came over. No snow.

Dec 3 – Mercury 30. Sawed out door stops for Mrs Browns doors. Oscar called here. Mrs Brown came up.

Dec 4 – Mercury 34. Hannah & Lois went down to Mrs Browns. I put sawdust in well. Mrs Bradshaw came down. Snowed just at night. Hannah went to M. O. Streators.

Dec 5 – Made table for Mr Caywood and chored round. Snowed and blowed like fun all night.

Dec 6 – Mercury 5 Abz at 5. At home. Very blustring. Snowed and blowed all day.

Dec 7 – Mercury 9 Below zero. At home. Snowed and blowed some not much. Hannah went to Kaywood.

Dec 8 – Mercury 13 Abz. Snowed very little. Will Clark came over. Rainy afternoon and Evening. Wm Vanderbilt died.[100]

Dec 9 – Mercury 43 in morning. Cold windy day. Went down to Mrs Browns. Put on door stops. Filed saw for Gallusha[?]. Cold night. Jim drew 5/8 cord wood.

Dec 10 – Mercury 18 Abz. Turned Plunger for Charley Towns cistern pump. Dell came over made some pie lifters.

Dec 11 – Mercury 10 Abz. Worked on pie lifters some. Cut out axhelve for Walter Thomson.

Dec 12 – Mercury 12 Abz. Cold day. Skinner came over in morning got his lifters. Two wagons broke down on hill in afternoon.

Dec 13 – Mercury 17. At home. Hannah sick. Cold some sleighing.

Dec 14 – Mercury 2__ Abz. Worked in shop. Made axhelve for Walt Thompson.

Dec 15 – Mercury 23. Made axhelve for mesilf _____ finished Jims log jack.

Dec 16 – Mercury 24. Finished Walts Axhelve. Went down to Marts afternoon. Not very cold.

Dec 17 – Mercury 29 in morning. ____ set saw. Sawed some wood. Went over to burg forenoon. Mercury 35 at night. Put front pannel in cutter.

Dec 18 – Mercury 35. Finished Streators cutter. Walter Thompson choped in afternoon. Nice day.

Dec 19 – Mercury 30. Fine day. Put in glass at schoolhouse in fore noon. Flanders paid one Dollar. Went over to see about tax 7.35.

Dec 20 – Mercury 3. At home. Nice day. Hannah went down to Caywood at night. Mr Hopkins buried to day, a colored man. Elder Hamlin Died.[101]

Dec 21 – Mercury 36 in morning. Very pleasant. Drawed one load wood. Not much sleigh.

Dec 22 – Mercury 39. Drawed one load corn from the field.

Dec 23 – Mercury 49 in morn. Took Hannah over to Lois. Fixed well at the Barn. Very nice day. Elder Hamlin Buried. Snow all gone.

Dec 24 – Mercury 23. Worked on well in afternoon. Took Sarah over to Hoags. Old Mrs Brigham died to day.[102]

Dec 25 – Mercury 20. Worked on well. Cold day. Finished well room. No snow on ground.

Dec 26 – Mercury 9 Abz. Went to Mrs Brighams funeral in forenoon. Went over to Burg in afternoon.

Dec 27 – Mercury 38. At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Nice day no snow.

Dec 28 – Mercury 34. Went to Kalamazoo after Lou. Saw Lum Robinson. Lost whip. Very foggy.

Dec 29 – Mercury 37. Went over to burg after Lous trunk. Drawed one load wood some corn. Some rainy.

Dec 30 – Mercury 36. Went over to burg. Chored round. Nice day.

Dec 31 – Mercury 36. Went took Sarah & Lou down to Mrs Browns. Went over to Burd after. Paid my tax 7.35 cts.

——-

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

[2] Above zero

[3] His daughter’s family, Daniel D. & Louese (Keith) Harris and their children, Jay and LaVerne

[4] His daughter’s family, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown and their children, Claude, Lela and Bess

[5] Hank Brown’s brother and sister-in-law, Willis & Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown

[6] His grandson, Charles Clark; his daughter (and Charley’s mother), Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner; Charley’s wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark; and Clara’s mother, Rhoda (Wood) Youngs

[7] Ella was Hank Brown’s maternal first cousin, the daughter of his Uncle Wilson Allen

[8] His son, Ethan Keith

[9] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[10] His son, James Clinton Keith

[11] Matilda (Allen) Brown; his neighbor and the mother of Hank and Will Brown

[12] FindAGrave.com shows that Louisa (Andrews) Williams died January 1, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[13] His son-in-law (Lois’ husband), Adelbert Skinner

[14] Neighbors, Emaline (Stone) & William Ralph

[15] His hog

[16] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[17] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[18] Apparatus for lifting hot pies out of the oven

[19] His late niece Lucy (Lee) Milham’s husband, Martin Milham. Lucy was the daughter of his sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[20] Neighbor, Charles Towne

[21] While the Michigan death records indicate that Sarah (Ridler) Hitchcock died in Pavilion, Michigan on January 23, 1885, FindAGrave.com shows her date of death as January 14, 1885, which agrees with Luke’s entry

[22] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Herbert Earl, who was the brother of Theodore Earl (see footnote to January 6^th entry)

[23] To say nothing about the women

[24] His grandson, the son of his daughter Lois

[25] While no death record has been found, FindAGrave.com shows that Patrick Smith died January 24, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Luke often referred to the parents of a husband or wife of a family member, or the parent of a neighbor, as Aunt or Uncle

[26] Charles Ira Clark (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

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

[28] No death record has been found, but FindAGrave.com shows that William Simonds died January 25, 1885 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[29] Believe he is referring to Perry, New York, where his niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson, lived

[30] Father of Theodore and Herb Earl (see footnotes to January 6^th and 15^th entries)

[31] His granddaughter, Bess Brown (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[32] The father of Martin Milham. Michigan death records show that he died February 7, 1885 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, also in Kalamazoo

[33] His great-granddaughter, the daughter of Charles & Clara (Youngs) Clark

[34] The children of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham (see footnote to January 11^th entry)

[35] Michigan death records reveal that Edmond M. Rumery, the 18-year-old son of Isaac & Cynthia Rumery, died on February 11, 1885 in Pavilion, Michigan. It is unknown where he is buried

[36] His neighbor

[37] While no death record has been found, FindAGrave.com and cemetery records show that Ida M. Lewis, the 21-year-old daughter of F(ranklin) R. & A(deliza Hubbard) M. Lewis, died February 22, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[38] Sisters, Harriet and Flora Elizabeth “Libbie” (Taylor) Schram. Libby had been married to Isaac Schram, however by 1880 they were divorced and Hattie and Libby were living together

[39] Ceresco, Michigan

[40] Edna (Crawford) Allen and her daughter, Madge Allen. Edna was the daughter of Edwin Crawford, the late brother of Luke’s wife, Sarah

[41] Varian & Libbie Youngs. Varian was the son of Rhoda (Wood) Youngs and brother of Clara (Youngs) Clark (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[42] 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

[43] His wife Sarah

[44] Oak Grove Cemetery (Galesburg, Michigan) records show that Martha Rebecca (Carson) Philow died March 21, 1885; she was the wife of Joseph Philow

[45] While no death record was found, FindAGrave.com revealed that Jennie M. Young, wife of Converse T. Young, died March 25, 1885 and is buried in Augusta Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan. Census records for Converse Young, living in Comstock, Michigan, list his wife as Jane in 1870 and Mary J. in 1880

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

[47] Michigan death records confirm that William C. Caray died in Charleston, Michigan on April 17, 1885

[48] Neighbor, Lacelle Strait

[49] His daughter-in-law and grandson, Florence (Stall) Keith and Arthur Raymond Keith

[50] His granddaughter, LaVerne Harris

[51] Etc.

[52] No death record was found, but FindAGrave.com shows that she died May 1, 1885 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan. A marriage record shows that Mary Pilot married John Luce on April 2, 1879 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan

[53] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner

[54] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[55] Neighbor, Frances “Fanny” Towne, Charley Towne’s sister

[56] Shelbyville, Michigan, where D. & Lou Harris lived

[57] See “Luke Keith’s Road Tax,”

https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2018/06/16/luke-keiths-road-tax

[58] According to a November 8, 1885 letter from Sarah Keith to Oscar & Mary Ann Keith: Henry Brown went to Galesburg Ill. Nancy and children followed in June. Henry lived out in a gallery for twenty five $25 per week for one year.

[59] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[60] Michigan death records show that Louisa (Terry) Mills died June 18, 1885 in Benton, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[61] A poisonous emerald-green powder used as a pigment, insecticide, and wood preservative

[62] FindAGrave.com reveals that Julius F. Warren (believe Luke mistakenly wrote a G instead of J), who had been a neighbor of Luke’s, died June 27, 1885 in Petoskey, Michigan and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[63] While the Michigan death record shows that Lydia (Turner) Milham died June 1, 1885 in Pavilion, Michigan, information at FindAGrave.com, along with the headstone, confirms that she died on June 29, 1885 and is buried in Indian Fields Cemetery, Portage, Michigan. Portrait and Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan and Van Buren Counties, Michigan, (Chicago, Chapman Brothers 1892, Page 235 & 236) states the following: Mr. [Ambrose] Milham was married May 18, 1854, to Miss Lydia Turner, who was a true and tender wife to him and devoted mother to their children, and their neighbors found in her a kind and sympathizing friend. She was born near Rochester, N.Y., December 29, 1829, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1843. She died June 29, 1885, after a happy married life of thirty-one years.

[64] Reed City, Michigan, about 125 miles north of Galesburg

[65] Michigan death records confirm that George T. King died July 3, 1885 in Galesburg, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com reveals he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, also in Galesburg

[66] Michigan death records confirm that Marion (Wolcott) Rice died July 3, 1885 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com reveals she is buried in Riverside Cemetery, also in Kalamazoo. Marion was Luke’s maternal first cousin

[67] His grandson, Jay Harris

[68] Luke quite often used silly language in his diaries. Possibly here it seems to mean something along the line of done most nothing, some went over to the burg

[69] The family horse

[70] While Michigan death records show his death as June 19, 1885, Riverside Cemetery records confirm that he died on July 19, 1885. Clipped newspaper obituaries show that he died on a Sunday — June 19, 1885 was a Friday; July 19, 1885 was a Sunday

[71] Ulysses S. Grant, 18^th President of the United States

[72] His grand-nephew, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith. See newspaper accounts of his murder and the ensuing murder trial at https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/a-foul-murder

[73] Alvin Lee; his mother, Juliana (Davis) Lee (the wife of Luke’s first cousin, Charles Lee); and his sister, Rhoda (Lee) Wilcox

[74] His granddaughter-in-law, Clara (Youngs) Clark, and her daughter, Edna Clark; however, it is unknown at this time who Sam was

[75] Albina Earl, daughter of Jesse Earl (see footnote to January 29^th entry)

[76] His neighbor, George Ransom Wightman

[77] Levi Dunning. No death record has been found. While the online entry for FindAGrave.com shows he died August 18, 1886, the picture of his marker clearly shows the year as 1885. He is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[78] The son of Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford; Hiram was the brother of Luke’s wife Sarah

[79] Adelbert Skinner’s (see footnote to January 3rd entry) mother and sister, Sarah (Knight) Skinner and Sarah “Sate” Skinner

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

[81] Believed to be Helen (Lindsay) Barlow. While no death record was found, FindAGrave.com shows Helen Barlow died in 1885 and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Jackson, Michigan. 1880 census records show Sidney & Helen Barlow living in Comstock, Michigan

[82] 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

[83] His sister Catherine’s granddaughter, Marion Adelphia York

[84] Justus Ketchum, the stepfather of his daughter-in-law, Florence (Stall) Keith

[85] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah “Jane” (Mason) Hoag

[86] Scotts, Michigan, which was about 8 miles south of Galesburg

[87] Believe this is referring to Florence’s sister, Carrie Stall

[88] October 22, 1885 Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph coverage of the murder of Harvey Keith relate that Marshall Barker was sentenced to “hard labor at Jackson for the rest of his natural life,” and his brother, William Barker, was sentenced to 25 years in the state prison

[89] Presumed to be Lavander S. Howell. FindAGrave.com shows that Lavander S. Howell died on October 29, 1885 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, Michigan

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

[91] Neighbor, John Quincy Streator, the son of Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[92] Charles Luke Keith Sr.

[93] Nickname for his wife, Sarah

[94] Northern prickly ash bark and berries were used to make medicine to treat blood circulation problems, joint pain, cramps, low blood pressure, fever, swelling, toothache, sores, ulcers, and cancer, also for sweating out a fever

[95] FindAGrave.com shows that Daniel A. Frink died in Kansas City, Missouri on November 11, 1885; no death record has been found to date. According to the 1860 census, Daniel Frink had been Luke’s neighbor in Comstock, but by 1870 was living in Kansas City

[96] Neighbor, Mary (Smith) Flanders, wife of Edwin Flanders

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

[98] His nephew and his wife, James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[99] Mary Ann’s mother, Eliza “Betsey” (Olds) Batey

[100] The American railroad magnate and philanthropist who nearly doubled the Vanderbilt family fortune

[101] Michigan death records show that E. H. Hamlin, a Baptist minister, died in Comstock, Michigan on December 20, 1885; no burial record has been found

[102] FindAGrave.com reveals that Marinda (Cole) Brigham, died December 25, 1885 at the age of 89 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

Advertisement

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 W^m 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 W^m 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 19^th 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 2^nd 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 1862 Diary

1862 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 16 were first written in the back of his 1861 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1862 diary. Anything from 1861 that clarifies the 1862 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Father[2] called here. Bot 5 lbs shugar 55¢ ½ lb Tea 40¢.

Jan 2 – Henry[3] & family left. One lb candles 14¢. Put on some seeling. Apple 1¢.

Jan 3 – Hung ax for Wightman 10¢. Sawed out stuf for cutter box.

Jan 4 – Filed saw for A. Austin 10. Lois[4] went home.

Jan 5 – At home all day.

Jan 6 – Filed saw for Williams [received 15¢] paid 15¢. Worked on cutter. Filed saw for Mead 10¢.

Jan 7 – Worked on cutter. Put on fenders. Received letter from Robert.[5]

Jan 8 – Snowes like fun. Made thills[6] to [Milfords] cutter.

Jan 9 – Moved lumber in to the barn. Sarah[7] went over to Fathers.

Jan 10 – [Work on boddy.] Worked on frame to cutter box.

Jan 11 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot Hubbs 1.30 one broom 20¢ shoes for Sarah 1.25.

Jan 12 – At home all day.

Jan 13 – [Running around the burg.] Nothing done to day. Bot clothes pins 5¢. Got Hannah[8] shoe tapt 15. Warner moved his things over here.

Jan 14 – Bot file 16¢ paid Tax 4.84. C. R. [Richardson] Brot 1 & 2/4 cords wood. Filed saw for B. Clark.[9] Filed saw for Warren 10¢. Nancy[10] & Hannah went up to Wesleys.[11]

Jan 15 – Worked on [boddy] cutter box. Wightman paid 10¢. Put handle on fork for Peter Johnson 5. Ethen[12] went down to Catharines.[13]

Jan 16 – Worked on cutter box. Bot screws 10. Bot [Diary] this Book price 38 cts. Sarah went home with Byron.

Jan 17 – Worked on cutter box. Put guards on Richardsons bobs 25¢. Ed Childs making slead.

Jan 18 – Worked on Box some. Ed to work on slead. Filed saw for Mr Smith 10¢. Let Mr Rauson have stick for whiffletree[14] 4¢. Plenty snow.

Jan 19 – Went up to Yorks[15] & Fathers. Called to Milfords.

Jan 20 – Worked on cutter put on dash. Bot nails & screws 9¢. Milford called here in Evening. Let Wesley have $4 & 50 cents.

Jan 21 – Worked on cutter. Finished Milfords cutter. Made pattern for shoes.

Jan 22 – Worked on bobs. Let pond have plank 2.25 cts. Father Brot Beef. Charley got cutter. B. Moore got wheel. Bot two candles 5¢.

Jan 23 – Worked on bobs. Extracted tooth for Elder Austin. Mr Maffit here. Made sausage pessle for D. Lamkin.

Jan 24 – Worked on bobs. Made neap[16] for Charles Richardson 75 cts. Bot one apple 1¢.

Jan 25 – Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Worked on bob neap. Bot paper 3¢.

Jan 26 – Went over to Fathers. Mother[17] went down to Catharines.

Jan 27 – Worked on bobs some. James Millham here. Alvan[18] called. Bot one galon oil 60¢.

Jan 28 – Worked on bobs. Sent letter to Hite[19] 3¢.

Jan 29 – Worked on bobs &c. Good sleighing.

Jan 30 – Put one bob together. Lyman brot his shoes for bobs.

Jan 31 – Sis[20] got hand burnt. Bot salve 25¢. Bot iron & screws 9¢. Made slead for Mrs Hodges. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢.

Feb 1 – Worked on bobs. Received 10.

Feb 2 – Went over to Fathers & up to Milfords.

Feb 3 – Worked on bobs. Sent letter to G. T.[21] 3. Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢. Carried one bob to shop. Richardson Brot one & ¾ stove wood.

Feb 4 – Worked on bob some. Mrs Butterfield buried to day. Lois came home in Evening.

Feb 5 – Finished Earls bobs. Sarah & Lois went over to Mr Halls. Bot salrates[22] 10¢.

Feb 6 – Worked on slead for Mrs Gyle. Got Ethens Boots tapt 37¢ Bot iron & screws 10¢. Richardson Brot one & one Eighth wood.

Feb 7 – Finished Mrs Gyles slead. She paid one Dollar. Bot Lozenges 25¢. Filed saw for Kingsley (25¢).

Feb 8 – Worked in shop some. Chored round. Nancy came down with measles. Hatty Signor died.

Feb 9 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. Lois Ethen and Hannah went in Evening.

Feb 10 – Took down lathe &c. Sawed of some spokes. N. Galt paid one Dollar. Hung ax for Vet Mead 10¢.

Feb 11 – Hung ax for Meads Brotherinlaw 10¢. Set saw for Dutch Smith 10. Went up to Andrew Mc.Clarys. Extracted tooth for his wife 25¢. Garvas Muncil called here.

Feb 12 – Went over to Fathers. Matilda Munsil here in Evening. Stuarts Regiment left Kalamazoo.

Feb 13 – Worked on seat rail. Bot crackers 5¢. Left my boots to Johns to be tapt. Paid 75¢. Received a letter from Hiram.[23]

Feb 14 – Worked in shop some. Bored seat rail. Bot screws 4¢. Henry[24] went home. Ethen & Hannah got the measles.

Feb 15 – Ethen & Hannah got measles. Vet Mead paid 10¢. A. Knight paid 6¢. Bot 5 lbs shugar 63¢.

Feb 16 – At home all day. Benj Hartwell called here. Verry pleasant.

Feb 17 – Pleasant morning. Put seat together for Hartwells buggy. Uncle Jason Wilcut[25] came on the four oclock train went over to Fathers.

Feb 18 – Finished seat put it on to boddy smoothed of boddy. Bot paper 5 one pr comes 1¢.

Feb 19 – Went over to Fathers. Uncle Jason came over & stayed all night.

Feb 20 – Bot salt 25 lbs 31¢. Uncle Jason went over River. Candy 1¢. Worked in shop some finished Hartwells boddy. Richardson Brot 2 & 1/8 stove wood.

Feb 21 – Worked in shop. Mark[26] Catharine & Lucy[27] came up to the Dance in Evening. Got magazine for March.

Feb 22 – Hued some spokes altered over mallet. Eugene Cory paid 10¢. Mrs Hodges paid one Dollar.

Feb 23 – At home all day. Out little young one[28] got the measles.

Feb 24 – Hewed spokes. Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Uncle Jason & T. Flanders[29] here.

Feb 25 – Set saw for A. Austin 5. Jason & Flanders left. Hued spokes. Marshal Austin paid 6¢. Extracted tooth for Earls sawyer 25¢.

Feb 26 – Filed saw for Ely Wightman (10¢). Filed saw for Mr. Minor 20¢. Sawed out gearing for Flanders wagon.

Feb 27 – Sawed out some felloes.[30] Bot paper 5¢. Uncle Jason came over. Got Mrs Wisemans machine.

Feb 28 – Sawed out some felloes. Mended pitman for B. Clark. Bot hive cyrup 5¢.

Mar 1 – Sawed felloes. Bot Book for Hannah 12¢. Filed saw for A. Hoag 20¢. Bot file 10¢.

Mar 2 – Went over to Fathers & up to Yorks. Saw Milfords cutter.

Mar 3 – Filed saw for F. Mead he paid 20¢. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Minor paid 20¢. Nick Galt paid 1.50¢.

Mar 4 – Got out some gearing. Went to corporation Election. Bot rice 10¢ Bot shoes 25¢ Paid postage 26¢. Passenger car broke down.

Mar 5 – Hard cold no work to day. A. McLary paid 25¢. Received letter from Stephen Wilcutt.[31]

Mar 6 – Worked on gearing. Sent letter to uncle Jason postage 3¢. Vacinated Ethen Nancy & Hannah.

Mar 7 – John Kirkwood came this morning. Went after uncle Jason. Came up on the 10.30 train in Evening. Babcock paid $12.25. Filed saw for B. Clark

Mar 8 – No work to day. Got cold. Lois at home.

Mar 9 – At home all day. Byron Emma & Rilly Lee here. Lois went home.

Mar 10 – Rainy. Heard Robbin sing. Mended Fathers wagon put in reach & half crotch. Bot syrup 44¢.

Mar 11 – Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢ Bot oil 25 Bot thread 5¢. Worked on gearing. Filed saw for Mr Smith 10. Henry Crawfords Baby[32] died.

Mar 12 – Worked on gearing. Sarah went to Wisemans. Mr Parker called here. Aunt lib called.

Mar 13 – Worked on gearing & spokes. Father called. J. York brot some spokes. Received letter from Stephen Wolcott.

Mar 14 – Worked on spokes. Cyrus Wheaton brot violin trunk postage 4¢ nitric ascid 5¢.

Mar 15 – Painted B. Hartwells buggy. Bot turpentine 10¢ Bot half galon oil 25¢.

Mar 16 – Ground covered with snow.

Mar 17 – Worked on spokes. Bot gum shelac 14¢ tallow 8¢.

Mar 18 – Made neap to Flanders wagon. Sold P. H. Whitford violin trunk 75¢.

Mar 19 – Made sign for C. P. Galligan 38¢. Bot paint brush 13¢ Bot shugar 13. Got Hannahs shoe tapt 12. Ethen and Hannah went of [sentence incomplete]

Mar 20 – Bot alcohol 3¢ Bot one spool thread 5¢. Flanders brot hay & some straw. Dutch Smith paid 10¢.

Mar 21 – Went over to Fathers. Ground knives for Andrew McLary Recd 19¢. Got some butter.

Mar 22 – Set saw for James Hold__. C. Richardson Brot one & 1/8 stove wood. Bot hoop iron 8¢. James Milham got plank 30¢. Carried two bushels wheat to mill.

Mar 23 – At home. Sarah went to church.

Mar 24 – Worked in shop on gearing. All well. Made block for Wightman spring.

Mar 25 – Filed saw for Joy 20¢. Rounded gearing. John Mooney here. Sarah went to Mrs Stevens.

Mar 26 – Worked on gearing. Filed saw for Jim Eleck 10. Sarah went up to Hoags & Seles. Calvin Streator Left for Ohio.

Mar 27 – Finished gearing. Filed saw for W^m Batt. Got vitrol 1¢.

Mar 28 – Extracted tooth for Albert Johnson. Put in reach for Jesse Earl paid 50¢ Bot paid 10¢. Wesly paid 4.50¢. Went to lecture in Evening.

Mar 29 – Worked in shop on spokes &c. Jim Eleck paid 10¢. Sent letter to Hite 3¢.

Mar 30 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine came up with York.

Mar 31 – Hung ax for D. Lamkin. Hued some spokes. Filed saw for C. Clark. Bot paper _____ 6¢. Paid B. Hartwell 72 cts for J. W. Keith Recd 4¢. Mrs. Tom Kenyon here.

Apr 1 – Went up to J. Yorks. Hannah went over to Fathers rode with James Perry came back with York. Sarah over to Mrs Hodges[Hoages?].

Apr 2 – Rainy morning. Worked in shop some on seeling. Bot chocklate 15¢.

Apr 3 – Mr Noah Starr[33] came this morning went over to Fathers started to go up to A. Chipmans. Flanders brot his hubbs.

Apr 4 – Bot one lb sugar 13¢ Bot licorice 3¢. Worked in shop. Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Bachelder paid 10¢ back charge. Mr. Starr Left For Paw Paw.

Apr 5 – Worked in shop some on banjo. Bot Eggs 16¢ Bot one indelable pencil 25¢.

Apr 6 – At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Apr 7 – No work to day. Went to town meeting. Bot ½ lb crackers 5¢. Richardson brot ¾ cord stove wood. Babcock paid 81.13. Lady Norman Born today.

Apr 8 – Worked in shop. Shaved spokes &c.

Apr 9 – Shaved spokes all day. Bot cloth for capes to shakers 25 Bot spool thread 5¢.

Apr 10 – Finished shaving spokes. Bot lamp wick 1¢. Theadore Earl paid 25¢. Alvan here. Put in reach for Doc Wightman 50¢.

Apr 11 – Worked on hubs. Bot ½ lb Tea 40 Bot on ham 1.94¢ Bot sugar 68¢ thread 2¢. Put Box in trumes cart 5¢. Sutton got his Bangolin.

Apr 12 – Finished mortising hubbs. Extracted tooth for Charles Earl.

Apr 13 – Went over to Fathers found them sick.

Apr 14 – Worked on hubbs some. Put rockers on chair for Sol Kingsley. Flanders brot load straw. Richardson Brot two loads wood. Sarah & Nancy went over to Fathers. Bot oil 3. Got shoe tapt 15¢.

Apr 15 – Put Boxes in Flanders hubbs. Worked on Raymonds wheel. Sarah gone over the river. Ed Drury Brot five loads wood.

Apr 16 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot violin pegs 50¢ strings 80¢ tail piece 50¢ postage 3 Beer 10¢ fare 25¢. Drury Brot two loads wood. Bot Draft for G. T. 94˚93_“29 cts.

Apr 17 – Sent Draft to G. T. 3¢. Drove spokes in raymonds wheel. Joy paid 20¢. Drury Brot two loads wood. Put strings on my new violin. Sarah came home.

Apr 18 – Finished Raymonds wheel. He brot two bushels & 8 lbs wheat 1.70¢ 12½ lbs shugar 125.

Apr 19 – Worked in garden trimed trees cleared out the yard. Filed saw for Wesley. Set out quince trees. Bot oil 25¢.

Apr 20 – Went over to Fathers found them some better. Ethen down to Clarks. Mr. Galligans child[34] buried.

Apr 21 – Rainy morning. Wedged boxes in hubbs. W^m Whitcomb in shop in afternoon.

Apr 22 – Drove spokes in Flanders wheels & commenced rimming. Bot ½ bushel potatoes 12¢. Sent letter to Omro[35] 3.

Apr 23 – Riming wheels. Went down to Lockharts shop. Bored yoke for A. Chipman.

Apr 24 – Worked in shop on wheels putting on rims. A. McLary paid 6¢.

Apr 25 – Worked in shop. Finished Flanders wheels. Flanders paid 25¢ for filing saw.

Apr 26 – Painted Flanders wagon. Extracted tooth for A. Moffit 25.

Apr 27 – Pleasant. Sarah gone to church.

Apr 28 – Worked in garden. Piled up my lumber. Lyman Earl brot five Bushels potatoes.

Apr 29 – Worked in yard. Shelled coffee & Beans. Burnt brush. Bot one dozen Eggs 7¢.

Apr 30 – Worked round garden. Went over & got some early potatoes. L. T. Earl brot 17 fence posts.

May 1 – Went down to Catharines with Mother. Lucy sick.

May 2 – Made bed piece for Ex one boulster for Yorks wagon. Bot saleratas 10. Painted Flanders wagon. Mr Bronson got his gearing.

May 3 – L. T. Earl brot four posts 180 pickets 20 rails. D. Lamkin plowed garden. Plowed garden.

May 4 – Went up to Wesleys. John Wilcut went up to Yorks. Almon Pond[36] married.

May 5 – Worked in garden some. John Wilcut here. Left on the 2 oclock train. Earl brot 250 pickets. Bot dog Eggs 7.

May 6 – Made boulster for hamilton 50 spring bar for Race 39¢. T. Cory paid one Dollar. Lamkins draged garden.

May 7 – Planted onions peas & Radishes potatoes &c.

May 8 – Bot beet seed 5 Lettuce 5. Went over to Fathers. Got some me__ican potatoes. Wesley brot some June potatoes shugar 7.

May 9 – Planted potatoes. Filed saw for Marshal Austin 10.

May 10 – Made yard for pigs & cow &c. D. Hamilton paid 24¢. Paid school bill 1.04.

May 11 – Went up to York ville. Went up the lake.

May 12 – Planted Beans. Not much done to day. Sent letter to Hiram 3¢ one to Henry 3¢ Bot ½ lb Tea 40. Cow out to night.

May 13 – Planted corn and coffee. Filed saw for Mr Hoag 15¢. Rainy.

May 14 – Moved my stringers. Planted cucumbers & mellons. Ethen came home. Hoag paid 15¢. Bot chimney for lamp 10¢. Oatman shot Mrs Stevensons Dog.

May 15 – Worked on A Chipmans wagon. Beach brot his wheelbarrow.

May 16 – Worked on Beaches wheelbarrow. Went down to Circus ground. Bot orrange 5¢ Nancy 2 cents. Hamilton paid 25¢. Circus in Town.

May 17 – Worked on wheelbarrow. Went down to Lockharts. Got four rivets made.

May 18 – Went over to Fathers. Catharine & Mark there. Lois went home. Verry cool day.

May 19 – Snows some cold. Flanders got his wagon. Saw Barny Vosburg. Worked on spokes. Bot one ball wicking 8¢.

May 20 – Heavy frost 3 degrees below freezing point. Worked on spokes. Bot cotton 36 candy 1¢.

May 21 – Shaved spokes for Chipmans wagon. Bot one spool thread 5¢. James Wilber here in Evening.

May 22 – Bot two maple sticks of Pond 15¢. Worked on Exes &c.

May 23 – Worked on Box put box together. Bot screws & nails 18¢. The old man Signor buried to day.

May 24 – Worked on box. Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Bot sundries &c $9.74 Bot Lamp chimney 10¢.

May 25 – At home all day. Sarah & girls went to church.

May 26 – Worked on box &c. Helped T Cory lay his stringers for bridge.

May 27 – Bot fish 18¢. Barny Cory left. Drove spokes in forward wheels put on rim.

May 28 – Finished forward wheels set skeins &c.

May 29 – Worked on hind Ex drove spokes in hind wheels. James S King[37] came on the noon train.

May 30 – Finished Chipmans wheels. Went over to Fathers with King.

May 31 – Let Vanmeter have 154 feet bas boards. Hank paid me 35 cts for scantling. Blanchard paid 25¢. Bot Eggs 6 starch 6.

Jun 1 – Bot 2 & ¼ beef 16 cts. At home all day. King here.

Jun 2 – Painted Chipmans wagon. Baty Brot cultivator. Worked on it some.

Jun 3 – Mended cultivator for Baty 50. Filed saw for Mead 11¢. Bot Eggs 9¢ Bot two combs 15 Drazing 9. Carried wheels down to shop.

Jun 4 – Set skeins & run back and forth to Lockharts. Got wheels & grist brot up 12¢. Beach paid two Dollars.

Jun 5 – Finished Chipmans wagon. James Billings here to dinner.

Jun 6 – Chipman got his wagon paid 8.25. Extracted tooth for Geo Moffit 26¢. Bot cheese 18 Bot Ethens shoes 1.25 one Dollar of his money. Built my Bridge.

Jun 7 – Painted old cradle. Paid Billings for paper 1.00. Went down to Catharines with King. Babcock paid 86.38.

Jun 8 – Came back. Went up by Flanders Wheelers Clapps & Blakes.

Jun 9 – Worked in shop some. Went over to Fathers got some potatoes.

Jun 10 – Shaved spokes. Got boots tapt 37¢ Bot beef 15¢. Father Mother Catharine Lucy & Mark here.

Jun 11 – Went Kalamazoo. Got Draft 88.57/100. Bot _____ shoes 1.25 Tea 38¢. Fare down and back 55¢. King stayed.

Jun 12 – Drove spokes in sulky. Bot paper Envelopes &c 25¢ Bot rice postage 8¢.

Jun 13 – Finished Wightmans wheels. Commenced Austins Ex & thill.

Jun 14 – Put in Ex to austins wagon. Henry came home. Lois & Emma here. Extracted tooth for Austin Chipman 25.

Jun 15 – At home all day. King came back.

Jun 16 – Put in thill & dash in austins wagon.

Jun 17 – Put dash on Als wagon. Bot screws 5¢ Bot saleratas 10 Bot hat 10. Sarah went up to henry Rogers.

Jun 18 – Plowed & hoed my patatoes King went home with Father. Bot Ale 10 Bot Fish 25¢. Sent Catharine some strawberries.

Jun 19 – Dan Rices show in town. Went in in Evening 75¢. Bot cheese & candy 33¢.

Jun 20 – Bot linnen 31 Bot walnut Board for seats 15¢. Worked some on seats.

Jun 21 – Worked on seat. King went over to Fathers. Sold E. Hopkins wheel.

Jun 22 – Went down to Catharines with King. Got Cals violin. Went in swimming.

Jun 23 – Made seat for A. Austin. Bot thread 5¢. Father & King came over. Brot my flour up from the mill.

Jun 24 – Piled lumber in barn. King went over to Kingsleys. Kingsley paid 50¢. Filled tooth for Emmett Cory 25. Went over to Earls took tea.

Jun 25 – Went to Kalamazoo. Got money for Catharine. Bot dinner 15¢ Bot hat for Ethen 32. Went in swimming.

Jun 26 – Cut grass in yard. Bot thread 5 Bot shugar 13¢ Bot Eggs 20¢. Jesse Earl Paid ten dollars.

Jun 27 – Hoed beans &c. Bot stockings & Elastic for girls 50 postage 6¢. Raked up my hay.

Jun 28 – Edwin Childs pd 5.00 A Chipman pd 9.00. Bot beer 5¢. King came back.

Jun 29 – Went over to Fathers. He let me have 25.00.

Jun 30 – Bot coats pants & vest collars & Satchel 15.15¢. Bot beer & candy 14¢. Received 35.10¢.

Jul 1 – Left Galesburg ½ past one AM for Springfield Mass. Fare from G to S 19.70. Bot oysters 25¢ Bot apples 10¢ Cakes 5¢.

Jul 2 – Arrived in Springfield half past 10 AM. Bot cakes 6¢. Went round the Armory ground. Could see the green mountains.

Jul 3 – In Springfield. Went around the City some. Saw their new steam fire Engine work. James & myself got wet some.

Jul 4 – The armory bands formed a procession marched down to City Hall went up to the Armory went on to the tower. Could see Mount tom & green mountains. Fire works in Evening.

Jul 5 – Went down to the car shops up on the fair grounds. Bot oraculum 10¢. Very hot day.

Jul 6 – At George Carletons in East Springfield Mass. Very hot. Went up to the cemetry. Saw some nice yards and monuments &c.

Jul 7 – Very hot. Went on the Arcenal tower 133 steps.

Jul 8 – Went up to Chicopee. Went all through the gun & sword factorys cotton mills &c. Fare up & down 20¢.

Jul 9 – Went up to the water shops. Made out Board bills for G. W. Carleton. Bot mouth glass 25¢.

Jul 10 – Left Springfield. Far to North Hampton 60¢ Hampton to Williams burgh 50¢ Williams burgh to Babylon 30¢. Got to Jesse Wilcutts[38] six P.M. Crackers 5.

Jul 11 – Went up to uncle Joels[39] found them haying. Went down to the Jewel place. Sat down on the rock in front of the old house or where it used to stand. Saw W^m Pinchen.

Jul 12 – Cut my name on tree on town line between Chesterfield & Goshen on uncle Joels farm East of Barn. Went over to the lilly pond on to the old farm where Mother was born. Very smoky.

Jul 13 – Went on to the Corker place & on to the old perry place & the old John Stevens farm south of the Jewell place.

Jul 14 – At uncle Joels. They are Haying. Stayed there all day. Had a shower. Uncl Joel is mowing _____ of putting in most dark.

Jul 15 – Went down to Patrick Bryants Chesterfield hollow went past old uncle ned Keiths[40] place. Got some cider brandy.

Jul 16 – Went down to Jesses Wilcutts and took dinner. Went into Grandfather Keiths[41] house.

Jul 17 – Raked hay for uncle Joel. Went over to Chesterfield hill in Evening to a war meeting. Saw David Beals. Jim shit his Breeches.

Jul 18 – Around the house all day. James & Jason[42] sick. Went over to the old Naremore place.

Jul 19 – Went over to Cole Rain[43] with Jason. Went through Shelburn falls vilage. Got to Cole Rain about 2 PM.

Jul 20 – Went to Leroy Bates and Aunt Catys.[44] Found them well. Rained hard. Went through Greenfield. Bates lives on Deerfield Meadows.

Jul 21 – Went back to uncle Joels. Came through Shelburn. Went into the old Burying ground where Grandfather & Grandmother[45] was buried.

Jul 22 – Went over to Aunt Rhodas[46] & Warren Balls. Found them well.

Jul 23 – At Joels. All his children at home Except three girls. All well.

Jul 24 – Left Joels at seven. Got to Chester ½ past twelve. Martin[47] came with me. Called on Aunt Suzy.[48] Called on old Mrs Dewey.

Jul 25 – Left Chester about 9 Am. Fare to Albany 2.15 cts. Got to Albany at 12 noon. Fare to Rochester 4.58. Got to Rochester ½ 7 Evening.

Jul 26 – At Rochester. Lodging & Breakfast 1.00 Bus fare 20¢ fare to Leroy 70. Arrived ½ past nine Am. Got to Pavilion[49] ½ past twelve noon.

Jul 27 – Went up to uncle Jesse Spragues[50] Orrin Scrantons. Saw Mortimer Maryette & Louisa.

Jul 28 – Went down to Em Kendals. Called on Mr Snows folks. Saw Mary & Julias girl. Heard her play on the malodion.

Jul 29 – At home. Helped George transfer Bees. Went up to Mr Crossmans & uncle Noah Slars.[51]

Jul 30 – Went up to pearl creek.[52] Saw Pond Thomas Miller & Capt Parks John Miller.

Jul 31 – Went up to uncle Sam Curtises[53] & Wyoming. Saw old Mrs Peterson. She was almost 99 yrs of age.

Aug 1 – Left Pavilion half past five got lft Batavia 8.50 Am got to Buffalo 10 Am. Street car & ferry 10 cts fare from Batavia to Detroit $7.70 cts left Buffalo 5 Am or Black Rock rather.

Aug 2 – Left Detroit ½ past 8 Am. Fare to Galesburg 395 py & cheese at Marshal 15¢. Got home 2 PM. All gone from home.

Aug 3 – Went over to Fathers. Found them all well as usual.

Aug 4 – Went over to Fathers. Hannah Nancy went over. Had a terrible hurricane. It blowed down six houses some Barns. Mr Bachelders wife & child[54] was killed.

Aug 5 – Bot steak 12¢. Worked on fence. J M York & Hellen here.

Aug 6 – Worked on fence. Bot pants 1.25 nails 20 candy 1¢. Mr Bachelders child buried.

Aug 7 – Went up to Dilenbecks. Made some fence. Ford got the moddle. Bot four Apples 2¢.

Aug 8 – Made wagon neap for A. Caywood. Paid corporation tax 1.14¢.

Aug 9 – No work to day sick. Bot berries 25¢. Bot 9 lbs shugar 1.00.

Aug 10 – At home all day some sick.

Aug 11 – Went over to Fathers. Mark & Caty Chaffee[55] came home with me. Bot crackers 5¢.

Aug 12 – Bot beef 11¢ Bot Beer 10. Got tug mended 10. Got Nance. Went down to Catharines. Caywood paid 75 cts.

Aug 13 – Went down to Kalamazoo. Bot medicine 50¢.

Aug 14 – Bot goldenseal alum & Borax 5¢ Bot book for Ethen 20¢.

Aug 15 – Piled some wood. Bot codfish 24¢ Bot ½ lb Tea 62 Apples 5¢.

Aug 16 – Bot slate 12¢. Babcock paid 100 & 10.50 cts. Bot shugar 7¢ Bot Geography 25 Bot Extract Blackberry 22¢.

Aug 17 – Went up to Yorks. Got Evensroot. Jo & Hellen came home with me.

Aug 18 – Sent two letters 6. Sent Georges money. Filed saw for James Holden 16¢. Bot tannin 3 Bot Beef 15¢.

Aug 19 – Bot salt 10 Bot panacea 50. Hoed in garden & made door steps.

Aug 20 – Bot glass & putty 24¢. Made jack for D. Lamkins 95. Extracted tooth for Mr Struble 25.

Aug 21 – No work to day. Jo Flanders brot two bushels wheat 2.10¢. Louisa Kingsley here. Alvan called here. Rainy. Mary Townsend Died.

Aug 22 – No work to day. Bot Broom 20¢. Mary Townsend buried. Mr Baty got cultivator. Paid 50¢.

Aug 23 – Hoed in garden some. Miss Toby died. Bot oil 25¢ two Apples 2¢.

Aug 24 – Bot Beef steak 18. At home all day.

Aug 25 – Set up leach. Put up plank for P. Johnson chimney. Bot buts screws & hooks for fish pole box 12¢.

Aug 26 – Worked round. Put water on leach. Got out stuf for box.

Aug 27 – Worked in shop some. Made box for pole. Made lye &c. Bot apple 1¢.

Aug 28 – Made soap. Mowed some weeds. Bot beef 25¢.

Aug 29 – Mowed some weeds. Bot half lb rice 5¢. Repaired fence some.

Aug 30 – Worked round house. Scalded bedsteads &c.

Aug 31 – At home all day. Had a hail storm & rain.

Sep 1 – Went over to Fathers. Bot apples 25 Bot Eggs 24 bot cord 17¢ & lock 17¢.

Sep 2 – Went over to Fathers. He thrashed wheat. Had 107 bushels.

Sep 3 – Worked in shop. Sawed out stuff for Flanders & Bronsons boxes. Bot box matches 5¢ of C. P. Galigan.

Sep 4 – Worked on Flanders Box. Went to hear Huchison Boys sing in Evening. Took Tea down to Beaches.

Sep 5 – Nothing done to day sick not much work to day.

Sep 6 – Went over to Fathers. Bot History for Ethen 50 Bot buttons 9¢.

Sep 7 – At home all day sick. No one here.

Sep 8 – Went after cow in morning. Wesley called here got one Dollar. Went after cow at night.

Sep 9 – Worked on violin some.

Sep 10 – Worked on violin. Dont work much any how.

Sep 11 – Worked on violin put it together.

Sep 12 – Finished violin put on strings. Jo & Hellen here. Had a trotting match in town.

Sep 13 – At home no work. Bot mutton 20¢.

Sep 14 – At home. Went after the cow found her in Sharpsteens lot.

Sep 15 – Sent letter to uncle Joel 3¢ candy & peach 2¢.

Sep 16 – At home round town. Carried most 3 bushels & half wheat to mill.

Sep 17 – Went over to Fathers. Got some veal. Mrs Bachelder[56] died. Mrs Lamb died. Heavy shower in Evening.

Sep 18 – Cloudy & rainy morning. Sent letter to Bob[57] 3¢. Flanders Brot his wagon down. Mrs Bachelder Mrs Lamb & Miss Avery Buried to day.

Sep 19 – Worked on Flanders box.

Sep 20 – Worked on box. Bot thread 3¢. Let Charles Richardson have five Dollars. Sarah went over the river.

Sep 21 – Went over to Fathers. Sarah came home.

Sep 22 – Finished Flanders Box. Bot indigo 6. Filed saw for A Hoag 15¢.

Sep 23 – Mended parasol for Mrs Steel. Sent letter to Jonas Leroy[58] 3. A Hoag paid 15¢.

Sep 24 – Went over to Fathers. Received letter from J. S. King. Went over to Kingsleys. Bot shugar 52¢.

Sep 25 – Worked on Bronsons box. Extracted tooth for Ruth Ann York[59] 25. Mrs Steel paid 25¢. Sent letter to J. S King 3¢. Bot Envelopes 10¢ gum 1¢.

Sep 26 – Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢. Filed saw for Morton 10 filed saw for Morton 10. Bot peaches 25. Cavalry went through. Saw Eugene Ed Drury Chase & Spence Thomas.

Sep 27 – Went over to Fathers in morning. Bronson brot his wagon got 75 lbs bran. Went over to Fathers in Eveing. Evy Clark here. Ethen came home.

Sep 28 – Went over to Fathers. Sarah went to church.

Sep 29 – Worked in shop some on seat and Bronsons Box. Bot meat 15¢ of Morton.

Sep 30 – Went over to Fathers. Went down after Catharine. Mother very sick. Saw Oscar Miles & Harly Seeley.

Oct 1 – Bot file 10 Bot cabbage 10¢. Joseph Lee[60] paid 25. Filed saw for Truax 10¢. Bronson brot runners. Mended clamps & filed saw for Schroder 38¢.

Oct 2 – Schroder paid 38¢. Filed saw for Stranger 10. Filed Joseph Lees saw. Went over and see mother. Put irons on Flanders Box. Recd letter from Hiram.

Oct 3 – Bot 2 lbs steak 14. Patty came this morning. Worked on Bronsons box.

Oct 4 – Worked on Bronsons Box some. Stranger paid 10¢. Oscar called here.

Oct 5 – Went over to Fathers. Mother very sick. I set up with her all night.

Oct 6 – Went over to Fathers with Dr Wightman. Sent letter to G. T. one to uncle Jason 3¢.

Oct 7 – Mother Died half past ten to day. Pattys[61] Trunk came in Evening. Bot chimney for lamp 10¢ salt peter 8¢.

Oct 8 – Old cow in _____. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢ gum 1¢. Mother Buried[62] to day. Had a heavy shower. George Hoges came home.

Oct 9 – Went over to Fathers. Came back with Flanders. B combs 1¢.

Oct 10 – Worked in shop some. Put finger board on violin.

Oct 11 – Worked in shop on box &c. Uncle Jason came. Went over to Fathers.

Oct 12 – Went up to Wesleys with uncle Jason. He went down to Catharines.

Oct 13 – Working on box. Nancy Bot crackers 3¢.

Oct 14 – Put box together. Bot lime 6. Sent letter to Hiram 3. Filed saw for Morton 10 one for Mead 15.

Oct 15 – Bot steak 17¢. Finished Bronsons Box. A. Moffit paid 25¢. Uncle Jason came back.

Oct 16 – Uncle Jason left. Went over to Fathers. Paid Mr Ralph 25¢. Mrs Betts[63] goods came.

Oct 17 – Worked on Flanders seat. Flanders Brot 19 galons cider. Paid Barber 13¢ for draying.

Oct 18 – Finished Flanders seat. Bot chicken 15¢ Bot ribbon for girls hats 62¢ Bot violin string 15.

Oct 19 – Went up to Wesleys got squaw weed. Extracted tooth for Mrs Oatman 25.

Oct 20 – Made pole and roll for D. Lamkins 1.50¢. Sawed out cutter runners in Evening.

Oct 21 – Bristol Brot his wagon. Cut some runners out. Got Bran I guess 150 lbs dont know.

Oct 22 – Worked on Bristols buggy. Made bed peace &c. Bot 43 Eggs of Sol Kingsley 26¢.

Oct 23 – Bot 5 lbs shugar 65¢. Work on Bristols buggy. Made reach.

Oct 24 – Repaired shafts. Hued some spokes. Bot buttons & thread 56¢. Filed saw 10¢. Mrs Guile paid 38¢.

Oct 25 – Went over to Butterfields with hubs. Worked on spokes. Commenced neap for Walter Chipman.

Oct 26 – Went over to Fathers. Went up on hill with Patty & Lucy. Bot 7 lbs pork 42.

Oct 27 – Worked on buggy. Commenced Wightmans wheel. Filed saw for Marshal Austin 10.

Oct 28 – Worked on Wightmans wheel -/17. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Bot colt of S. Kingsley.

Oct 29 – Bot 70 lbs Flour 2.00. Repaired wheel for [blank]. Mrs Betts came.

Oct 30 – Worked on Bristols wheel. Flanders Brot 12 Bushels potatoes.

Oct 31 – Repairing cupboard for Mrs Betts.

Nov 1 – Bot spoon butts & screws for table 55¢. Filander Mead paid 14¢. Bot Bran 36 Bot soup boon 15¢. Ethan went up to Yorks got 2 chicks.

Nov 2 – Shaved some spokes. Lois & Mrs Betts went to church.

Nov 3 – Filed saw for Hoag 5¢ filed saw for Morton 10¢. Took colt up to Flanders. Bot oil 25¢.

Nov 4 – Bot ½ lb Tea 50¢ Bot shugar 25¢. Went to Election.

Nov 5 – Patty & Lucy came over. Bot ginger spice & nutmegs 35¢. Hoag paid 5¢.

Nov 6 – Bot Beef 21¢. Morton paid 10¢. (J. S. King came.) Patty went Back. Bot bran 145 lbs.

Nov 7 – Got pictures made. Went over to Fathers in Evening with Hannah & Nancy.

Nov 8 – Worked round House. King went over to Fathers. Filed saw for Hoag 10.

Nov 9 – Went over to Jesse Earls. Extracted tooth for Mrs Earl 25¢. Went down to Fathers. Patty & Catharine went home with Mark.

Nov 10 – Alvan & Jerome here Kingsley & King. Let King have 20 in gold for 23 pr cent. Let Detroit man have 20 in gold for 28 pct. Bot Beef shank 10. King Left for Home.

Nov 11 – Went over to Fathers. Cut hole through chimney. Dwight Taylor brot load wood for Mrs Betts.

Nov 12 – Worked on Bristols box. Paid school bill 64¢. Boys commenced sawing Mrs Betts wood. Extracted tooth in the night for E. P. Oatman.

Nov 13 – Worked on Bristols Box. Filed saw for Barbers boy one for fry 20. Boys finished sawing wood.

Nov 14 – Worked on box. Patty & Catharine went to Battle Creek.

Nov 15 – Bushed hub for A. Chipman 50¢. Filed saw for Morton 10¢. Bot thread 7¢. Chipman paid 50¢. Stillwell brot corn. Filed saw for A. Hoag 10¢. Bronson Brot wheat.

Nov 16 – Went up to Yorks. Went and got Beechnuts. John Darling and wife there.

Nov 17 – Bot two prs Boots $5.62¢ Bot Bran 45. Oatman paid 50¢. Bot screws 55¢. A. Hoag paid seven cents. Filed saw for A. Lamkins 15¢ one for Earl & Barber 15¢. Bot thread 5¢.

Nov 18 – Worked on Bristols Box. Father Catharine & Patty here. Went up to grave yard.[64] Bot butter 34¢. Wightman got lead pipe. Lois came home.

Nov 19 – Worked on Box put it together put on dash. Went and fixed P. Johnsons stair rail. He got his mittins paid me 75¢.

Nov 20 – Fixed Johnsons Bowl 25. Filed saw for Hoag 10. Made rack for Eugene Cory in Evening 38¢. Shelled corn. Bronson brot shoes for sleigh.

Nov 21 – Filed saw for Mr. Gilbert 15¢ he paid 15¢. Eugene Cory paid 25¢. Went to lecture in Evening. Saw them dance. Bot one lb nails 7¢. Elder Gilbert died.[65]

Nov 22 – Bot brimstone 6¢. Work on Bristols box. Truman Johnson Brot two lbs Butter. Drove spokes.

Nov 23 – At home al day sick. Elder Gilbert buried.

Nov 24 – Went up to Milfords & to Fathers. Hoag paid 10¢. Eugene Cory paid 10¢.

Nov 25 – Got insurance transferred. Worked on box finished wheels[?]. Sold violin timber to George Turner[66] 50¢.

Nov 26 – Filed 3 saws for B. Clark 40¢. Filed one saw for Mrs Geo Stevenson 20¢. Worked on slead. Sarah bot sundries callico &c 4.55¢.

Nov 27 – Bot pork 15¢. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Finished H. Barkers slead. Sawed out some runners. Went over to Austins. Got oyesters in Evening.

Nov 28 – Snows some. Bot file 10¢ Bot thread 4¢. Filed saw for Austin Odell 20¢. Filed saw for A. Austin 15¢. Bot salt 25 Bot beef 15.

Nov 29 – Got out runners. Milford called here. Paid Butterfield 11¢. Charles Richardson Brot one load stalks. Bot chicken 20¢ Bo violin string 15.

Nov 30 – Went over to Fathers. Had roast turkey. Darwin York & Julia Dunning[67] there.

Dec 1 – S. Bristol & Brother Called Ben Hartwell called. Hung ax for P. Johnson 10¢. Getting out Knees & Beams for Bronsons Sleigh.

Dec 2 – Went to Kalamazoo for B. Hartwell. He paid one Dollar 1.00. Bot dinner 10¢. Stephen D. Hall Left.

Dec 3 – Hung ax for P. Johnson 7¢. Bab. paid 23.35¢. Bot shugar 62¢ Bot flannel 28¢ for F. Hawver. Hung Ax for Dea. Cory. Filed and hung new saw for Cory. Patty & Catharine here. Ex^td tooth for Adelphaia York.

Dec 4 – Cut out mittens for Hawer. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Worked on Bronsons sleigh.

Dec 5 – Filed saw for Fry 10 one for Barber 15¢ one for Smith 10 one for Lausen[?] Odel 15. Smoothed up knees and beams runners &c. Patty left for home on the 11.48 train.

Dec 6 – Put Sleigh together hung Ax for Stranger 10¢. Sold him stone 10¢. Barbers boy paid 15¢. Made Adze handle for Austin Odel 25¢. Went over to Fathers in Evening. Got Apples.

Dec 7 – Bot 3-2/4 lbs steak 21¢. At home all day.

Dec 8 – Peter Johnson paid 10¢. Went up to Wesleys Yorks & Fathers. Filed saw for Morton 10¢ filed saw for A. Lamkins 20. Odel paid 50¢. Bot 10 lbs pork 50¢ of Morton.

Dec 9 – Worked in shop. Put seat together. Went up to Wesleys in Evening. Lucy paid 10¢.

Dec 10 – Went up to Wesleys. Got Eight bushels of Ears corn. Worked a little in shop. Alvan cut holes in seat.

Dec 11 – Finished Bristols seat. Worked on bob runners. Bot ½ galon oil 40¢.

Dec 12 – Made springbar for Mr [blank] buggy 50. Barber brot up boards from B. Moores 10¢. Put raves on sleigh.

Dec 13 – Finished Bronsons sleigh. Alvan & Bristol here. Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢ Bot candles 15 Bot sausage 15¢. Nancy & Hannah went up to Wesleys.

Dec 14 – Went over to Fathers. Ethan stayed. Boy Born[68] 9 oclock Evening.

Dec 15 – Warm no snow but muddy. Hoag paid 20¢ Fry paid 6¢. Paid Mrs Ralph 1.00. Bronson brot 71 lbs pork.

Dec 16 – Set shoes on Bronsons sleigh. Bronson brot boards for box. Sawed out stuf for Bronsons box. Filed saw for Walace fry 10¢.

Dec 17 – Worked on Bronsons sleigh box. Bristol got his buggy away. Alvan here. Filed saw for Lauson Odel 15¢.

Dec 18 – Filed saw for John Schroder 15. Worked on sleigh. Bot blewing 5¢.

Dec 19 – Alvan here to dinner. Finished Bronsons sleigh. Commenced whiffletrees.

Dec 20 – Mended Frank Austins slead 10¢. Fry paid 11¢. Finished Bronsons whiffletrees. Paid Sarah Beedle 35¢. Bronson got his sleigh.

Dec 21 – Went over to Fathers. Rather warm thawed some.

Dec 22 – Bot salratas starch & alcohol 23¢. Dick Whiting paid 50¢. Worked on Ned Stevensons slead.

Dec 23 – Finished Ned Stevensons slead. David Bronson Brot four bushels & 20 lbs wheat.

Dec 24 – Piled some spokes. Bot comforter 25 B two pr shoes $2.00. Scudder got bas board 20¢. Bot candy 2¢. One bbl flour found in James Deyoes yard put there by some damd scoundrel or presbyterian Devils to ruin him.

Dec 25 – Sawed out beams & raves for Milfords bobs. Bot matches one Apple 6¢.

Dec 26 – Sawed out two raves for Milfords bobs. Made slead for Ed Gillis 1.25¢. Lois came home. Let James Deyoe have one dollar.

Dec 27 – Worked on bob runners. James Deyoe paid one Dollar. James Flanders brot 8¼ lbs butter.

Dec 28 – Went over to Fathers. Mark brot ten bushels wheat to Catharine. Went up to Yorks. Brot Lucys malodion down.

Dec 29 – Made scate wood. Worked on bobs. Hung ax for Ely Wightman 10¢. Bot lamp 50¢ Bot malassis 60¢ Bot sulphur 6¢ Bot candles 15 candy 1¢.

Dec 30 – Worked in shop some. Could not do much.

Dec 31 – No work to day. Got a great boil on my face. Extracted toth for ruth An York. Ed paid 50¢. Ground Ax for P. Johnson. He paid 10. Postage 3¢.

 

Notes from the back of Luke’s diary:

Petingill McOmber Luke Thayer. I saw their places from the Corker place.

Tell uncle Warren the horse track is plane as Ever in the rock near the corker bars and those little studs at the bottom of the rock in the field. William Wilcutt lives near uncle Joels on the old Zebulon Wilcutt[69] place he preaches.

[July] 15 went past the place that Father & John Wilcutt laid wall and never got their pay.

[July] 21 went & saw the _____ in Goshen it is near the burying ground.

Warren Ball lives on the old Williams or Lyons place.

Aunt Rhoda was up to the old Adam Beals place picking berries.

Joel Wilcutt Chesterfield Hampshire Co. Mass.

Uncl Joel has twenty Grand Children.[70]

Malinda Ebenezar Shaw[71]

Mary William Wells[72]

Rhoda Russel B Packard[73]

Lydia Elexas Wells[74]

Lucretia Henry M Dyer[75]

Clarrissa Alvan Daman[76]

Jesse ” Mary[77]

Alvin ” Mary ann[78]

Martin ” Malury[79]

Aman Lichfield
Miah Luce
Owns the Corker place
Eustice Wilcutt
Chester Mass
Joel Wilcutt
Cummington Hampshire County Mass

Ogden Tomlinson is in the 10th [or 16th] Wisconsin Volunteers

Mail Trains May 5/62
Going East 12.55
” ” West 2.05

Bliss family setted in the town of Springfield 1645
Jothom Damon
Goshen Mass

——-

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

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

[3] His brother-in-law, Henry Crawford

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

[5] His brother-in-law, Robert Crawford

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

[7] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[8] His daughter, Hannah Keith

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

[10] His daughter, Nancy Keith

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

[12] His son, Ethan Keith

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

[14] 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

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

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

[17] Hannah (Willcutt) Keith

[18] Believe this to be his cousin, Alvin Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[19] Nickname for his brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr

[20] Nickname for his baby daughter, Louese Keith

[21] George Tomlinson, who was married to his niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

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

[23] His brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr

[24] This could be his brother-in-law, Henry Crawford, or his son, Henry Keith

[25] His mother’s brother, Jason Beal Wolcott; many of the Willcutts used the alternate spelling Wolcott

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

[27] His sister Catherine’s daughter by her second husband, George Clinton Lee

[28] Louese Keith

[29] His neighbor, Thomas Flanders

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

[31] His cousin, the son of Jason Wolcott

[32] A letter dated 10-11-1861 from Rev. Platt and Nancy Betts stated they had received a letter from Henry and that they had another boy 9 weeks old when he (Henry) wrote

[33] Noah Starr was the father-in-law of Emma (Sprague) Starr, who was the niece of Luke’s sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) & James Sprague Jr.

[34] FindAGrave.com shows that Rose Galligan, daughter of Charles & Sarah Galligan, died April 19, 1862 and was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery

[35] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts, as well as his brother-in-law, Robert Crawford, lived in Omro, Wisconsin

[36] Ancestry.com shows that Almon Pond married Aleena Griswold in Kalamazoo County on May 4, 1862

[37] His maternal first cousin

[38] His maternal first cousin

[39] Joel Willcutt, Jesse Willcutt’s father

[40] Uncertain as to who this is

[41] Luke Keith

[42] His maternal first cousin, Jason Willcutt King, brother of James S. King

[43] Coleraine, Massachusetts

[44] Catherine (Willcutt) Bates; she was married to Levi Bates so don’t know if Luke was referring to him or some other relative by the name of Leroy

[45] Jesse & Katherine (Beal) Willcutt Jr; they are buried in Center Cemetery in Chesterfield, Massachusetts

[46] Rhoda (Willcutt) Hawks

[47] Most likely Joel’s son, Martin Willcutt

[48] Perhaps his great-aunt, Susannah (Willcutt) Stephenson

[49] Pavilion, New York

[50] The uncle of his first wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[51] Noah Starr; see April 3^rd entry

[52] Pearl Creek, New York

[53] The father-in-law of Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith’s brother, Henry Crittenden

[54] Anna L. Batchelder, age 8, daughter of John D & Lucretia (Woodruff) Batchelder, is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Only Anna died, Mrs. Batchelder died September 17, 1862

[55] His niece, Frances Catherine “Katy” (Keith) Chaffee; believe “Mark” is referring to his cousin (see footnote for February 21^st entry)

[56] Lucretia (Woodruff) Batchelder; see footnote for August 4^th entry

[57] Believe he is referring to his brother-in-law, Robert Crawford

[58] The husband of Luke’s maternal first cousin, Edith (King) LeRoy

[59] Ruth Ann (Fletcher) York, the wife of Joseph York’s brother Edwin

[60] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin

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

[62] She is buried in the Galesburg Old Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

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

[64] Family story is that Luke would often play his violin at the graves of his first two wives

[65] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Newton Gilbert died on November 21, 1862 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[66] His first cousin Jesse Turner’s son

[67] Charles Darwin York and Julia Dunning would marry on June 11, 1863. Charles Darwin York and Joseph York were brothers

[68] His son, James Clinton Keith

[69] His great uncle

[70] The following names are Joel’s children and their spouses

[71] Melinda Willcutt married Ebenezer Shaw on November 27, 1845

[72] Mary Willcutt married William Wells; date unknown

[73] Rhoda Willcutt married Russell Packard on September 16, 1848

[74] Lydia Willcutt married Alexis Wells on December 23, 1851

[75] Lucretia Willcutt married Henry Dyer on January 12, 1855

[76] Clarissa Willcutt married Abner (Alvan) Damon on October 28, 1858

[77] Jesse Willcutt married Mary Dyer on November 10, 1844

[78] Alvin Willcutt married Mary Ann Crosby on January 9, 1850

[79] Martin Willcutt married Millury Shaw on February 9, 1851