Luke Keith’s 1870 Diary

1870 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

Jan 1 – At home all day. Cut up my hogs some. Carried Catharine[2] up to Wesleys.[3] Went down to M. O Streators[4] in evening.

Jan 2 – Went down to Jo Lees.[5] Took Nancy[6] down to see the Doctor.

Jan 3 – Went over to burg [Galesburg]. Brot shears home for Dick Blackburn. Mr Ralph paid for bed Bottom[7] $5.00. Bill[8] ran a way with me smashed up the sleigh some. Catharine came back with C. J. Lee.[9]

Jan 4 – Went over to burg. Carried over shears brot home by shears. Lois[10] came home to day. Bot this Diary 40 cts. Cold some snow.

Jan 5 – Went over to burg with Mark.[11] Carried Dicks shears over. Mr. Hawkins choped some wood. Cora Allen stayed here all night.

Jan 6 – Took A Browns[12] spoke irons of some of my sleigh. Not much work to day. Washing day. Cold not much snow.

Jan 7 – Went over to burg got my Boots tapt and Louesas[13] shoes. Some snow. Rode over with H. A. Taylor.

Jan 8 – Went down to M F Lees. Very blustrous. Lois stayed there. Had Jim.[14] Helped Mr Plank load one load hay in morning.

Jan 9 – Cold day. At home all day except I went down to A Browns with Jim horse.

Jan 10 – Cut up my hogs. Ida Clark[15] came here. Hank Brown[16] came home.

Jan 11 – Worked round choring some. Get Jims[17] Boots mended. Lois went to A. Kaywoods.

Jan 12 – Went over to burg with Jo Lee. He left his Bugy here to be repaired.

Jan 13 – Made axhelve for Isaac Schram. Mr Wisemans folks here in evening. Youngones went down to Catharines. No sleighing all ice.

Jan 14 – Put in Browns bugy pole. Hung ax for Schram.

Jan 15 – Very [i]cy. Hawkins choping some. Drawed 3 loads wood in fore noon. Deed coming from Washington.

Jan 16 – Went down to Catharines with Nancy. Had Jim. Rained in Evening.

Jan 17 – Went over to mill. Carried ___ bushels wheat. No work in shop.

Jan 18 – Cold ___ Abz.[18] Mark came up. Sarah[19] went to burg with him. Made _______________________.

Jan 19 – Worked on Browns Exes.

Jan 20 – Worked on Browns Exes.

Jan 21 – Finished Exes. Jo Lee came up here worked on his box put in ____. Ethan[20] went down to Catharines.

Jan 22 – Choped and drawed some wood. Went down to Mr Randalls in Evening. Rainy. Pixley & Grannis at the burg this Evening.

Jan 23 – At home all day. Not very well.

Jan 24 – Finished Jo Lees buggy. Put Browns Exes in. Worked some on moddle. T. Flanders[21] Died in the night.[22]

Jan 25 – Cold no snow. Saw Edwin Flanders[23] this morning. He cam from the County house. Worked on moddle.

Jan 26 – Worked on moddle some. Went over to the County house to T. Flanders Funeral. Snowey day. Sarah and Nancy went down to Catharines with Jo Lee. He got his buggy.

Jan 27 – Finished moddle. Hank Brown went to Marshall with it. Spliced stand leg. Put bottom on Bird cage. Isaac Schram bored hole in his mawl.

Jan 28 – Made wagon pole for M. O. Streator. Put Jims sheep on the trucks. Put hair in violin bow for King. Dick Lamkins here to tea. Moved sound post in his violin.

Jan 29 – Cut & drawed some wood. Went over to burg. Lois came home in Evening.

Jan 30 – At home all day. Mark & Henry Lee[24] here. Sarah came home.

Jan 31 – Worked on cupler most of the day. S. A. Brown[25] here to Tea had no Tea but cider. Ida Barber[26] came over.

Feb 1 – Cold 4 Abz in morning. Mrs Rogers & Sarah[27] here. Worked on wheel.

Feb 2 – Finished rounding felloes[28] on my wagon and painted them.

Feb 3 – W^m G. Springstead called here. Derias and Mary B_____ came here. Drawed in some corn. M. O. Streator got his wagon tong.

Feb 4 – Mary and Derias left for Burlington. Cold morning 19 Abz. Went down to Catharines stayed all night.

Feb 5 – Went to Kalamazoo with Mark and Lucy.[29] Took dinner with Ed Wilcutt.[30]

Feb 6 – At home. Charley Lee here.

Feb 7 – Cut grubs on the line btween my land and Catharines. Mr Hichhock buried to day. Prayer meeting at brother Randals for the benefit of this neighbor hood.

Feb 8 – Carried 3 bushels wheat to mill. Worked around house and barn.

Feb 9 – Went over to burg. Went up to station. Went to Charly Tousleys shop. Put up leach.[31] Willy Bestor[32] Died.

Feb 10 – [illegible]

Feb 11 – Will Bestor buried. Made soap. Nancy went down to Cates in Evening. Hank took her down. Paid S. A. Brown $45.00 Dollars to apply on order. Trimed some trees.

Feb 12 – Cold snowes some. Hank Brown went up to Armes[33] only he did not. Broke spoke out of wheel. I put in one. Fixed sheep shed.

Feb 13 – No snow. At home all day. No one here. Rained some in the night.

Feb 14 – Cloudy looks like rain. Went over to burg. Carried Dick Bottle Cider. Put up Hites[34] potatoes and apple cider &c.[35]

Feb 15 – Made axhelve for I. O. D. Schram. Carried Hites potatoes over to burg. No snow on ground. Mart Milham[36] came up with two horses on buggy.

Feb 16 – Drawed two loads straw from M O Streator. Rufus Taylor got my wagon to go over to Indian Lake fishing. Fine day.

Feb 17 – Choped some wood up in woods. Ethan sick. Snowey and blustering. Dug some sassafras for Ethan.

Feb 18 – Cut some wood and grubs in north west corner of woods.

Feb 19 – Hank Brown brot up 3 saws to file. Got letter from Higgins. Got the old clock cleaned 1.50. Snowey. John Earl and boy here brot violin to be repaired. Lois came home.

Feb 20 – At home all day. Cold at zero. All well as usual.

Feb 21 – Cold 9 below zero. Drawed two loads wood on corn. Went up to H. A. Taylor after thill straps. Young ones all went down to Mrs Skinners in Evening.

Feb 22 – Cold 10 Abz. Some snow on ground. George and Marion[37] came. Catharine and Lucy came with them. Went up to Jo Flanders[38] in Evening.

Feb 23 – Not very cold. George gone up to Wesleys. Sarah, Marion and Lois Went up to Wesleys. I went up in Evening.

Feb 24 – George and Marion went to Brady. I went up to Wesleys. Lost my glasses. Went over to Burg got form for Deeds 50¢ stamp 25¢.

Feb 25 – Went to Kalamazoo to get Deeds $3.00.

Feb 26 – Cut and drawed some wood. Went over to burg. Extracted Tooth for Carry Plank.[39] Extracted two teeth for Hurby Earl 25¢. Mrs Streator, Nell and Harry here in Evening. Rainy Evening.

Feb 27 – Rains some, lots water on ground. Went over to R. G. Smiths to see about Deeds.

Feb 28 – Went over to burg. Sent letter to J. E. Higgins. Mark came after Lois.

Mar 1 – Some snow on ground. Put Eaph Earls[40] violin together. Some wind to day.

Mar 2 – Worked round house. Went over to burg. Got Deeds sent 3 to J Higgins. Got money for _____ purposes 110.21.

Mar 3 – Bent cane for Henry Lee. Eaph Earl got his violin paid 2.00. Party to M. O. Streators, youngones all went.

Mar 4 – Some snow on ground. School closes to day.

Mar 5 – Paid S. A. Brown 63 dollars 54 for last order 9 on the first. Went down to Catharines. Snowed in the night. S. A. Brown stayed here all night.

Mar 6 – Cold 2__ Abz _____. Harry Streator[41] joins the Brick Church to day.

Mar 7 – Went over to Mill. Carried 2 bushels wheat. Cut some wood.

Mar 8 – Went over after my grist. Extracted one tooth for Herb Earl. Filed saw for Spence Thomas. Brot my pole from burg. Henry Lee here to day. Louesa went home with them.

Mar 9 – Worked round house. S. A. Brown left for Chicago. Cut some wood.

Mar 10 – Lewis Planks[42] folks started for Iowa.[43] At home most of the day.

Mar 11 – Went over to Burg got step made for E. Lees[44] cane $.1.00. Bot shoes for Jim 1.75¢.

Mar 12 – Cold and blustrous 20 Abz all day. Snowed in night. Expect Suky left for Chicago.

Mar 13 – Cold 20 Abz lots snow on ground. Went down to Catharines hard going no tracks. Went over to Mrs Cross with Mark to see cow.

Mar 14 – Came home hard walking. Nancy came up with Wesley. Mr & Mrs Plank[45] here in Evening and Mr & Mrs Hawkins.

Mar 15 – Lots snow, snows and blows like fun.[46] Hank Brown and George Sutherland called here. Made plate and cut Dr E. Lees name on it for his cane.

Mar 16 – Cold lots snow 2 Abz. Worked on cupler. Cold. Ethan and Planks al hands went sleighride.

Mar 17 – Worked on cupler. Mark, Mart and Henry came up. Ethan went down to Catharines with them. Traded violin for rifle with Mark. Hank and Dell Skinner[47] went sleigh ride, had Flanders bobs.

Mar 18 – Pleasant morning. Went Down to Marks stayed all night. Mark and Henry started for Salt Lake in night. Charley[48] went to Chicago.

Mar 19 – Called on Charles Lees[49] folks. Very sloppy.

Mar 20 – At home picked up corn in road. Lots water. Nancy went down to Catharines.

Mar 21 – Went down to Catharines with Ethan. Cold. Mart went to Kalamazoo.

Mar 22 – Went over to burg got my boots mended. M O Streator brot wheel here to be mended. David Tomkins stayed all night.

Mar 23 – Pleasant morning. David left. Worked on Hank Browns Boat. Extracted tooth for O. D. Schram.[50] Select[?] party to Planks. Paid John Sherman 22. Dollars and fifty cents for shool wood 22.50.

Mar 24 – Heard first Robbin for the season. Worked on boat and wheel.

Mar 25 – Drove spokes in Streators wheel. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Hannah[51] went down to Mr T. Fords with Mary Plank.[52]

Mar 26 – Cut out felloes for wheel. Rainy day. Cleaned sewing machine.

Mar 27 – Went down to Catharines. Got some warm shugar. Rainy day.

Mar 28 – Worked on boat some. Put tip on Skinners bugy pole.

Mar 29 – Worked on boat and Skinners whiffletrees.[53] George Sutherland and Hank brown here in Evening. Nancy came home. Jo Lee sick. Mrs Plank here in afternoon.

Mar 30 – Carried Sarah down to Jo Lees. Jo some better. Rained some.

Mar 31 – Worked on boat some. Rainy day. Put boat together.

Apr 1 – Worked on boat. Hank came up. Put boat up.

Apr 2 – Finished boat. Sarah went to burg in Evening.

Apr 3 – Went down to Catharines. Sap run some. Ethan and Mart boiling.

Apr 4 – Hank got his boat. Went over to town meeting. Traded rifle for Marts watch. Pleasant day.

Apr 5 – Carried 300 cucumbers over to burg. Sold to Mr Williams. Cut some wood.

Apr 6 – Made steps to doors and stoop. Cleaned up some round yard. Dance to A. Browns in Evening. Mended up old wheelbarrow.

Apr 7 – Worked round yard all day. Carry Wiseman[54] came home with Sis.[55]

Apr 8 – Worked around yard and shop. Raked up some.

Apr 9 – Work round house and yard. Went over to burg. Hannah went down to Skinners. Jo and Hellen[56] called here.

Apr 10 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy day. Heard from Mark.

Apr 11 – Went to burg in morning. Bot Sis shoes 1.60¢. Came back. Went down to schoolhouse. School commenced. Went over to burg with Mart. Got school money. Bot barrel salt $3.00. David Tomkins stayed here all night.

Apr 12 – Pleasant morning. Drawed corn and worked round yard.

Apr 13 – Finished drawing corn. Trimmed appletrees. Mrs Hawkins here to dinner.

Apr 14 – Burnt apple brush. Cleaned up round yard. Mr Schram called here with a man to look at my place.

Apr 15 – Went down after Ethan. Rainy. Brot home shugar.

Apr 16 – Husked some corn. Went down to school house, moved seats. Stormy day. Got Mr Schrams saw. Snowed like fun.

Apr 17 – Quite pleasant. Snow all gone. At home all day.

Apr 18 – Moved stove in to the kitchen. Sawed some wood in afternoon. Received letter from M. F. Lee.[57] Miss _____ came to night, new teacher came to board.

Apr 19 – Rainy morning. Finished husking corn. Sawed some wood. Coly Durgy and stranger here looking for a farm.

Apr 20 – Made churn dash for Mrs Hawkins. Sawed some wood. Rainy afternoon. Party over to Mr Planks this Evening.

Apr 21 – Sawed wood some, split some.

Apr 22 – Finished sawing up trees. Hat and Elizabeth Taylor here to day. Mrs Plank came over. Lucy came up. Fran calved to day I think.

Apr 23 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Ed. He was gone to Battlecreek. Mr Butler stayed all night. Lois came home. Went up in woods. Got Fran and her calf down in morning. Mr Butler and boy came here.

Apr 24 – Mr Butler here at home all day.

Apr 25 – Mr Butler here, boy sick. Tightened box in one of his wheels.

Apr 26 – Mr Butler left. I went to Kalamazoo. Sarah went to Catharines.

Apr 27 – Spaded up onion bed. Made pitman for A. Caywood in afternoon. Had a shower in Evening. Byron Allen & Hank Childs called here while it rained.

Apr 28 – Cool morning. Filed saw for Mr Sherman. Repaired door at barn yard.

Apr 29 – Ethan went to mill. Henry Lee came here, left bottle painkiller. Cleared out old shop. Pleasant day. Mart called here.

Apr 30 – Chored round. Mr Plank drawed over some hay.

May 1 – Went down to Catharines. Harrison Sprague came here.

May 2 – Went over to Climax and to Dry Prairie with Harrison to find place to start a hardware store. Stayed all night. Ethan commenced plowing.

May 3 – Left Dry Prairie this morning all right. Called on Jesse Turner.[58] Took Dinner. Got home about six.

May 4 – Put out some onions. Plowed some. Commenced plowing on hill.

May 5 – Got Schrams buggy. Went to Kalamazoo to see Ed Wolcot. Del Smith[59] Killed. Warner boy shot him.

May 6 – Took Schrams buggy home. Some rain. Planted corn in west garden. Got potatoes out of cellar.

May 7 – Planted potatoes in west garden. Mrs Wiseman and Carry Ella[60] and Cornells girl over here. Ida barber came over. Uncle Jason[61] Died to day.

May 8 – Pleasant day. Ida Barber here. Not very well.

May 9 – Work round house and garden. Ethan plowing.

May 10 – Ethan plowing. I work hoing garden some.

May 11 – Ethan dragging corn ground. I am sick, no work. Worked some on potatoes markers. Sarah went down to Catharines.

May 12 – Ethan marked out corn ground. Worked some in shop on marker.

May 13 – Got half bushel seed corn of A. Brown. Commenced planting corn. Fine day. Finished planting corn on hill.

May 14 – Planted potatoes in East garden. Sowed beet seed. Ethan & Hannah went up to Jesse Earls[62] woods on river to A picknick in afternoon. Lois came home.

May 15 – At home all day. Fine day. Hannah went down to see Nancy with Harry Streator.

May 16 – Planted potatoes and sowed some corn.

May 17 – Finished sowing corn and sowed buckwheat. Catharine came up. Ethan helped Hank Brown plant corn.

May 18 – Went over to Wakeshma to Jesse Turners. Got there about noon.

May 19 – Started for home after noon. Went to Ed Childs, stayed all night. Had a shower.

May 20 – Started about two PM for home. Ed came down. Got my potato marker to plant his potatoes. Got home about four. Rained in night.

May 21 – Pleasant morning. Set out 88 cabbage plants. Planted beans & coffee peas.

May 22 – At home all day. Not very well.

May 23 – Rainy. Jesse & Sally[63] called here. Set a few cabbage plants.

May 24 – Pleasant. Bill got into planks lot. Got small load hay of M. O. Streator. Not much work done to day. Mrs Butterfield Buried to day.

May 25 – Circus and caravan to Kalamazoo 4. Paws. Went over to Burg.

May 26 – Hoed corn and potatoes in west garden. Mrs Barber[64] and Ida came over here.

May 27 – Cool 52 Abz in morning. Cut up some wood brot down some chips. Jesse Turner and Miss Roberts came here. Catharine, Mart and Lucy went to Wakeshma. Ethan went down to Catharines.

May 28 – Made clout bars in forenoon. Got load chips. Went over to burg sold Jan Hoag 10¾ butter $2.00. Bot Hannah sum shoes $2.00.

May 29 – Fine morning birds singing. Young ones farting and a general time any way.

May 30 – Worked in shop on Mr Shermans wheel. Hot and dry. Ethan plastered corn.

May 31 – Working on road on hill.

Jun 1 – Worked on road finished at noon. Went over to mill in afternoon. Carried 3 bushels wheat. One of the young sheep had a lamb.

Jun 2 – Took tire of my wheels and trimed spokes. A. Brown washed his sheep. Old sheep came down with lamb.

Jun 3 – Jo, Lois and Julia Lee[65] came up. Took my wheels over van set tire. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Bot charts for school $22.50¢.

Jun 4 – Hoeing some in garden. Carry Wiseman here. Mr and Mrs Wiseman cleaned schoolhouse. Ethan cultivated corn East of barn. Will Clark[66] came home. Had a shower.

Jun 5 – At home all day. Had a shower in morning. Warm day. Harry Streator here to tea.

Jun 6 – Went up to Dick Lamkins and burg.

Jun 7 – Hoed in garden some. Sawed out felloes for Shermans wheel.

Jun 8 – Put rim on Shermans wheel. Finished wheel. Had a fine shower.

Jun 9 – Rained some this morning. _____ _____ buggy spoke put it in all right. Boy stopted here with race horse from three rivers, the Sea Gull. Ethan went down to A Browns after some cabbage plants.

Jun 10 – Put worked on cupler some.

Jun 11 – Worked on cupler. Hoed some in garden.

Jun 12 – Went down to Cates. Fine day. Cate had 10 pigs.

Jun 13 – Rainy day. Finished cupling. Stepen Wilcut and wife[67] came here. Rained all night.

Jun 14 – Rainy morning, rainy day. Stephen and I went up to Uncle Warrens old place.[68]

Jun 15 – Went to Kalamazoo with Stephen. Stayed to Catharines all night.

Jun 16 – [illegible] Ethan cultivated corn. I went over to burg with my cupling.

Jun 17 – Stephen and Cory came here to dinner. They started for home. I went to burg in after noon. Very hot. Went up to Hartwells with Corys shawl.

Jun 18 – Ethan cultivated corn on hill. I hoed in garden. Mr Miner sheared one sheep. Went to burg in Evening. Carried my cupling over. Very hot day.

Jun 19 – Went down to Catharines. Nancy came home. Hannah went down to Catey. Went in swimming.

Jun 20 – Mr Miner sheared my sheep. Hot day.

Jun 21 – Hoed in garden out by the barn and corn west of House. The old hen commenced sitting on 15 Eggs.

Jun 22 – Made calf pen. Made soap and hoed in garden some. Drawed load wood for Hawkins. Dick Lamkins called here. Mr Plank commenced cutting hay.

Jun 23 – Set some tomatoe plants out by hogpen. Dick Lamkins cut grass. Very hot.

Jun 24 – [illegible]

Jun 25 – Finished drawing in hay. Went over to burg. Paid Wiseman 4.00 for cleaning school house.

Jun 26 – At home. Very hot. Jesse Turner and wife[69] here, going to Kalamazoo. Very hot 112 Abz in sun.

Jun 27 – Ethan cultivated potatoes. I hoed some in garden. Very hot. Some showers round in sight, no rain here.

Jun 28 – Ethan cultivated corn some. Had some rain. 118 in sun.

Jun 29 – Chored round. Went over to burg in afternoon.

Jun 30 – Rained some. Ed Childs here to dinner. Ethan went down to Catharines after Hannah. Mrs Covil struck with lightning in Charleston.

Jul 1 – Rainy. Sowed _____ cut and hoed some in garden.

Jul 2 – Went over to burg to mill. Got last of my corn ground. Sold calf to George Whiting. Saw John Winchy[?]. Went down to Catharines. $6.00 for calf.

Jul 3 – Went over to East lake with Mart. Got no fish. Came home in Evening.

Jul 4 – Extracted tooth for Carry plank. Went over to burg. Went over in Evening with Marts team.

Jul 5 – Went over to burg in morning to see the show come in, 4 Paws show in burg. Got pay for calf.

Jul 6 – Cut some wheat.

Jul 7 – Brown here in forenoon with machine. Cut south part. Cradled some.

Jul 8 – Cradled some wheat. Ethan worked for Brown in forenoon. At home in afternoon. Jennie Upjohn[70] Died this morning.

Jul 9 – Finished cutting my wheat. Went to mill in afternoon. Mrs Wiseman rode over with me.

Jul 10 – Pleasant, some wind. Jennie Upjohn buried to day. Went up to Covils with Mart Milham.

Jul 11 – George turner[71] came up here. Went up to Augusta with Mart. Stayed judgment for Milham in favor of P. S. Carmen.

Jul 12 – Sarah went over to Wisemans. Sold my wool to W^m Blass 65 lbs 40 cts pr pound 26.00. twenty six Dollars. Bot poke for Bill.

Jul 13 – Sick all day, no work. Sent cupler to Utica. Some rain.

Jul 14 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg. Took old cow down to Catharines. Got some _____ of Mrs Wiseman. Took old cow down to Catharaines. Not well.

Jul 15 – Rainy morning. Lots wheat out. Mr Plank got two pigs 2.00 Each $4.00.

Jul 16 – Mr Miner got one pig 2.00. Set out wheat, drawed in some wheat.

Jul 17 – Very hot day. Got in all my wheat. Had a heavy shower just at night.

Jul 18 – Not much done to day. Went over to burg. Paid for poke 2.00.

Jul 19 – Went down to Cates. A very hot day. Mart stacked wheat for Mr Carleton.

Jul 20 – Worked some on Charles Lees crutches.[72]

Jul 21 – Worked on crutches. Ethan helped Hank move fence. James Jelley called here. Bot Box pills 25.

Jul 22 – Worked on crutches for C. Lee.

Jul 23 – Went over to burg to mill. Went down to Catharines. Sent after Dr Finch for Hannah.

Jul 24 – Had a fine shower this morning, some hail. Jo and Lois Lee came up here.

Jul 25 – Warm morning. Dr Finch came here to see Hannah. I paid him $5.00.

Jul 26 – Sick, no work. Catharine came up here. Ethan carried Lois down to Catharines. Wesley here to tea.

Jul 27 – Very hot. Andrew Turner[73] and Mary Babcock called here. B. Hartwell called here.

Jul 28 – Mr Riley Bennet called here in morning. Went over to burg in afternoon. Heard from cupling. Jo Lee came up, left his buggy. Del Skinner paid 50. Ethan went Holleberying.

Jul 29 – Jo came up, got his buggy. Ethan went home with him. Doc Finche came up.

Jul 30 – Went to Kalamazoo for B. Hartwell. Expected _____ to have a suit with A. McLary. Adjourned to Aug 29^th Monday.

Jul 31 – Fine day. Went up to Schrams. Mr and Mrs Schram went up to [illegible].

Aug 1 – Repaired wheel for Mr Randall. Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night.

Aug 2 – Went down to Charles Lees there to dinner. Had a shower. Came home. Mr Allen thrashed. Ethan helped him.

Aug 3 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg. Not much done.

Aug 4 – Sick all day. Mrs Ralph here. Charles Harris came over here to see Ethan about the Band.[74] Took their first lesson.

Aug 5 – Made wagon Ex for Mr Randall. Ethan helped Mr Randall thrash.

Aug 6 – Thrashed my wheat. Had 40 bushels. Paid $5.25.

Aug 7 – Brother Randal had my wagon to go to church.

Aug 8 – Mr Randal got his wagon. Ethan helped Mr Taylor thrash.

Aug 9 – Went to Kalamazoo. Carried George to see his mother. Mr Schram got felloes and thills[75] for his buggy. Mr Ash Paid one Dollar ____ back yet.

Aug 10 – Charles Lee brot his crutches up. I put ferrels[76] on bottom. Bot box ointment 10¢.

Aug 11 – Worked round shop some. Not much done.

Aug 12 – Put Schrams thills together. Went to mill. Had a hard chill after I got home.

Aug 13 – Sick all day, did not sit up much. George turner came up. He paid 15.00.

Aug 14 – At home all day. Jesse Lee and wife[77] here. George went home with them. I am sick.

Aug 15 – Sick, no work to day. Ethan cut some corn fodder.

Aug 16 – No work to day. Ethan, Hank went over to burg to make out papers for patent.[78]

Aug 17 – Sick, no work.

Aug 18 – Sick, no work.

Aug 19 – Went up to B Hartwells to take a level of river Between bridge and dam.

Aug 20 – No work to day. Ethan and Hank work on jack.

Aug 21 – At home all day. Went up to Jesse Earls in Evening.

Aug 22 – Went to Kalamazoo for Hartwell. No witnesses sworn in the case. Bot cotton cloth 32 yds — pr yard, one whip 35¢, one mule bit 35¢.

Aug 23 – Went over to burg got some medicine of Lou Beckwith, some sage of Mrs Wiseman. David Tomkins came over here bot some thill straps 35¢.

Aug 24 – Sick, no work.

Aug 25 – Sick, no work. Ethan and Hank went to Kalamazoo.

Aug 26 – Went over to burg. Carried Schroders saw over. Went over to Ben Hartwells to see if he could make some cider.

Aug 27 – No work to day. George Turner came up stayed all night. Uncle Pat Hamilton[79] died to day.

Aug 28 – Went down to Catharines with George.

Aug 29 – Went up to Mr Schrams got a few peaches. They were digging a well.

Aug 30 – Went up to Schrams. Not much work.

Aug 31 – Took rims of Schrams wheels. Went over to burg in Evening. George Turner came up.

Sep 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Went down to Catharines. Mart commenced his cider mill. Had a shower.

Sep 2 – Not much don at home all day. Went over to burg.

Sep 3 – Made 31 galens cider. Went over to burg to caucus.

Sep 4 – Went up to Mr Taylors spring. Eberly and Nate called here. Jim sick. Warm day.

Sep 5 – Worked in shop some on wheels. Oscar Keith[80] came here.

Sep 6 – Went over to burg to mill. Went down to Catharines. Oscar started for home. Becky Plank[81] sick in night.

Sep 7 – Worked some in shop. Went up to Mr Kirbys in after noon. Carried some cider up to Schrams. Very hot 94 in shade.

Sep 8 – Work on spokes for Schrams wheel. Ethan cuting up corn. 94 in shade half past ten. Jim sick.

Sep 9 – Worked on wheels some. Cows in Browns lot all day.

Sep 10 – Went down to see W^m Lee.[82] Warm day.

Sep 11 – Went down to Charles Lees, Joes and Catharines. Got 30. Dollars of W^m Lee for six months.

Sep 12 – Worked on wheels some. Mr Plank commenced to thrash. Had Ague[83] some.

Sep 13 – Worked on Schrams wheels some.

Sep 14 – Had ague in afternoon.

Sep 15 – Not much done. Ethan sick to day. Mr Ralphs horses run away with load pumpkins. Mr Schram stoped them just East of My House. Had a nice shower.

Sep 16 – Went over to burg. Had Ague, no work to day. Ethan had a chill.

Sep 17 – Went down and got the old cow. Mr Flanders came home with ten head young cattle.

Sep 18 – Went down to Catharines with George Turner.

Sep 19 – No work to day. Ethan got ague.

Sep 20 – Went over to burg. Old Mrs Signor died 2 oclock this morning. Mrs Signor buried. Cow in Browns lot all day.

Sep 21 – Went over to burg in morning. Band went to Picknick. S. Strubles girl[84] died this morning.

Sep 22 – Sick, no work round house.

Sep 23 – Worked some. Cut some Buckwheat. Worked on wheels some.

Sep 24 – Finished Schrams wheels. Ethan went down to Catharines. Rained some.

Sep 25 – At home. George and I striped some husks for Young Turners bed.

Sep 26 – Set up buckwheat. Went over to burg in Evening.

Sep 27 – Finished cutting and puting up Buckwheat. Fine day. George got ague.

Sep 28 – Ethan cultivated some on hill. I drawed in two loads corn. Mr Schram got his wheels. Mr Elias Sherman[85] Died half past nine this morning.

Sep 29 – Mr Sherman Buried to day. Mr Day preach. Warm and pleasant as June.

Sep 30 – Worked round, husked some corn. Not very well. Ethan gone to the fair.

Oct 1 – Drawed in some corn. Ethan cultivated some. Went over to burg after Louesa in morning. The boys patent papers came to day.

Oct 2 – At home all day. George Turner here all day.

Oct 3 – Round home, not very well. Husked some corn.

Oct 4 – Went to mill. Had a shower. Husked some corn. Drawed in two loads corn.

Oct 5 – Husked corn some. Plowed on hill. dra

Oct 6 – Plowing on hill. Husked some, drawed one load corn. Commenced sowing wheat. Fine day.

Oct 7 – Husked some corn. Finished sowing wheat. Ethan cultivated. Nice day.

Oct 8 – Finished cultivating wheat in fore noon. Husked some corn. Very pleasant day. Jo an Hellen came here.

Oct 9 – Fine day. Joes folks went home. Had oysters for supper. George Turner here.

Oct 10 – Drawed in some corn. Fine day. Drove hogs up to the woods 5 times. Rained in night.

Oct 11 – Rained some this morning. Thrashers went to Browns. Sarah Turner[86] and sister came up. I went over to burg after them.

Oct 12 – Went over to burg. Saw Mr Gillet. Let him have my cupler. The Boys let him have their jack.

Oct 13 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg with Ethan and Hank. They went to play for the _____ fair.

Oct 14 – Rained in morning. Ethan gone to the fair. I drawed lot wood. Pleasant after noon. Sarah here yet.

Oct 15 – Fine day. Sarah Turner went home on the two oclock train. My Birth day 57. Nancy went down to Mr Simmons to stay with Lois.

Oct 16 – Warm and pleasant as summer. Jim Holden and Dan Jacobs called here to see cow. Dr Lamburn came here, stayed all night.

Oct 17 – Lamburn left. Rainy day. Made bottom for A. Browns wagon box. Cut Mary Planks hair. Nancy cut _____ hair.

Oct 18 – Pleasant day. Sarah and Mrs Plank went down to Skinners.

Oct 19 – Finished Browns bottom to his wagon. Commenced raining about noon. Had a wet afternoon. No work.

Oct 20 – Not much done. Carried in my buckwheat.

Oct 21 – Thrashed buckwheat. Ethan picked up apples.

Oct 22 – Finished drawing buckwheat. Thrashed some.

Oct 23 – George came over. Made gocart for George. He went down to Catharines in afternoon. Jo and Hellen there. Pleasant day.

Oct 24 – Pleasant day. Finished thrashing buckwheat. Had about 15 bushels.

Oct 25 – Drawed in corn fodder and popcorn. Husked out popcorn.

Oct 26 – Made bin in cornhouse. Ethan traded horns with Geo Chase. George Turner and and Mr Shafer came over here.

Oct 27 – Moved my bench into old shop. Ethan dug potatoes in East garden.

Oct 28 – Went over to burg. Got mortar at new schoolhouse. Got some sand on hill. George and one of the Masons came over in Evening and put it on Mr Shafer.

Oct 29 – Buried some morter and moved some things. Made Evener for Mr Allens buggy. Went down to Catharines, stayed all night. Had a heavy shower in the night.

Oct 30 – At Catharines. Rainy day. Just saw Mr Withey. Got home after dark.

Oct 31 – Set out six peachtrees and two pear trees. St. Jo[87] man brot them. Paid $3.30 cts.

Nov 1 – Husked corn. Fine day. Drawed in one load. Ethan went over to Mr Chases in Evening.

Nov 2 – Pleasant day. Husked corn. Hank Brown saw Eight wild turkeys.

Nov 3 – Husked corn. Fine day. Drawed in corn and fodder.

Nov 4 – Husked corn on hill. Pleasant day.

Nov 5 – Went to mill and drawed some wood.

Nov 6 – At home all day. Ethan went down to Catharines with Delphia.[88] Mended my gloves.

Nov 7 – Cleared out shop. Ethan carried Lois and Will down to Catharines. Fine day.

Nov 8 – Went to burg to Election. Rainy in fore noon.

Nov 9 – Went over to mill. Carried Mr Hawkins stove over. Got Jims cap. Sharpened two pair shears for R. Blackburn.

Nov 10 – Husked corn some. Fine day. S. Bristol called here.

Nov 11 – Husking corn. Fine day, good weather. Seaman Bristol called here. Went down to A. Browns in Evening.

Nov 12 – Husked corn all day. Sarah went over to burg.

Nov 13 – Sarah and I went over to S Bristols. Pleasant but cool.

Nov 14 – Went over to S Bristols. Pleasant and cool. Drawed in some corn. Snowed in night very little.

Nov 15 – Husked corn part of the day. George Turner came here to supper. Commenced boarding.

Nov 16 – Drawed in corn and cornfodder. Cleared the bot. Snowed like fun.[89] Not very cold.

Nov 17 – Went over to schoolhouse. Got 3 barrels of shavings for Geo Turner.

Nov 18 – Put down floor on back stoop. Seaman S. Bristol called here. Went down to Catharines. Skinners folks here in Evening.

Nov 19 – Went over to Bristols in morning. Georges stoves and lumber came about 2 oclock P.M. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catarines.

Nov 20 – Catharine came up with Ethan. At home all day.

Nov 21 – Catharine went home. I work on partition.

Nov 22 – Working on partition. Pleasant day. Galesburg Band went to Augusta.

Nov 23 – Work on partition. Sarah papered some. Galesburg Band went up to Augusta in Evening. Nice day no snow. Isaac Schram moved his house. Hank and Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Nov 24 – Pleasant. Ethan and Hank Brown went to Kalamazoo after Turners things. Sarah Turner came here. Had oysters for supper.

Nov 25 – Hung door to closset. Harry Streator here to dinner.

Nov 26 – Put on door casing to pantry door &c.

Nov 27 – At home all day. Pleasant as June mercury 64 Abz. Jo and Lois Lee here. Hat Mead came over. Turner and Hat went up to Earls mill.

Nov 28 – Went up to Bristol place. Fine day. Went over to burg.

Nov 29 – Worked round. Dug out well. Fine day. Band Boys here in Evening. Schram paid $5..10.

Nov 30 – Warm day, pleasant morning. Made platform to Barn well. Went over to Burg with Mr Wright to see Uncle Peat Johnson.[90] Schram and Libby Taylor married,[91] I spec so sum.

Dec 1 – Finished platform. Went over to Burg. Bot Boots 4.75. Fine day, pleasant as June, fine weather.

Dec 2 – Fine day. One oclock mercury 50 Abz. Sarah sold old cow to Johnny Tyson for 40.00 Dollars.

Dec 3 – Made spout for to carry water to barn yard. Pleasant as summer.

Dec 4 – Very pleasant morning, mercury 52 Abz at 9 AM. Had but very little frost yet. 57 at 2 P.M. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Killed Robert Rooster.

Dec 5 – Husked corn some. Rainy day, warm as April.

Dec 6 – Went over to Burg. Bot Boots for Jim 2.75, one pair for Ethan 5.75, pair shoes for sis.

Dec 7 – Snows some this morning.

Dec 8 – Went down to Catharines after Catharine. She did not come.

Dec 9 – Got in my cabbage. Pleasant 42 Abz at 2 PM. Got some straw over to Planks.

Dec 10 – Pleasant, no snow. Mr Plank went to Kalamazoo with load potatoes for Lyman Gates. Mercury 60 in sun, 45 in shade at 2 PM.

Dec 11 – Went over to burg after Doc Wightman. Snowed some, high wind. Jim sick. Catharine came up here. Snowed like fun.

Dec 12 – Mercury 32 Abz, snow about 2½ inches deep. Jim some better.

Dec 13 – Work round house. Snows some. Ethan went to Augusta in Evening.

Dec 14 – Sarah Turner went back to Kalamazoo. Georgy went with her. Nancy went down to stay a few days. Catharine went up to Wesleys. Jesse Turner 71 years old to day.[92]

Dec 15 – Not very cold, some snow on ground. J. Jackson called here.

Dec 16 – At home all day. Not very cold. Wesleys folks here in Evening.

Dec 17 – Carried Catharine home. Nancy came home. Lois came home with me. Mrs Jacobs Died to day.[93] Very little snow on ground.

Dec 18 – Not very cold. Sarah went over to Mr Jacobs.

Dec 19 – Mrs Jacobs buried to day, funeral 2 oclock. Lois went over to Joes. Snowed some.

Dec 20 – Snows some, snowed all day, snow fell 6 inches.

Dec 21 – Cold 4 Abz. George Turner sent his things back to Kalamazoo. Rufus Taylor carried them. I traded my Rifle to George for his stove.

Dec 22 – Put my bench in house this morning. Snowed ½ inch. Mr Streator got his saw. Joel James[94] came here, stayed all night. Mercury 4 Below zero.

Dec 23 – Mercury 10 Below zero. Joel left. I went over to Burg with him. Cold and some wind.

Dec 24 – Cold 3 below zero. Drawed three loads of wood. Paid N. L. Randal 30 thirty Dollars out of school fund. Paid my Tax 12.18. Snow fell 2 inches in night.

Dec 25 – Cold, one Degree Below zero, snowed some, blusterous day, snow fell, snowed in night.

Dec 26 – Snowd about two inches. Tincured in shop. Moved stove and my chest. Cold and blustring, 2 inches snow. Potter Eldred buried to day.[95]

Dec 27 – 10 Abz. Alfred Signor came over and got my iron carriage for Engine lathe.

Dec 28 – 20 Abz. Worked in pantry. Put up some shelves and base shelf.

Dec 29 – Cold 13 Below zero. Worke in shop some.

Dec 30 – 24 Abz. _____ went to Kalamazoo with A. Brown. Bot stuff for cutter 2.25. Went and saw George Turner.

Dec 31 – Went over to Burg. Got money of town treasurer, paid Miss Lovel 45.00 Dollars out of mill tax. Wesley called here in Evening. Mrs Potter Eldred died this morning.[96]

——-

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

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

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

[4] A neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[5] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin, the son of Charles and Rhoda (Keith) Lee, and the brother of Charles Lee

[6] His daughter, Nancy Catherine Keith

[7] Luke sold “bed bottoms,” a form of rubberized bedsprings, and was quite often gone for months at a time

[8] His horse

[9] Charles Jedediah Lee, the son of Luke’s cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

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

[11] His cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind to run his father’s farm and was living with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[12] A neighbor, Ambrose Brown, whose son Henry would become the husband of Luke’s daughter Nancy

[13] His daughter, Louese Keith

[14] Another one of his horses

[15] The niece of Lois’ late husband, Byron Clark. She was the daughter of Loren & Amanda (Taylor) Clark

[16] Henry Brown, the son of Ambrose Brown

[17] His son, James Keith

[18] Above zero

[19] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[20] His son, Ethan Bradley Keith

[21] A neighbor, Thomas Flanders

[22] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Thomas W. Flanders died December 26, 1869 and is buried in Kalamazoo County Poor Farm Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. While the date does not agree with Luke’s entries, his mention of the “County house” would seem to confirm that this is the same Thomas W. Flanders

[23] Thomas Flanders’ nephew

[24] Believe he is referring to his cousin, William Henry Lee

[25] Believed to be Susie A. Brown, sometimes referred to as Suky Brown and/or Decatur Susie Brown. The September 6, 1869 entry shows that she was the school teacher

[26] A neighbor

[27] Neighbors, Eliza (Beadle) Rogers, and her sister, Sarah Beadle

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

[29] His niece, Lucy Irene Lee, the daughter of his sister Catharine

[30] Edward G. Wolcott, his first cousin

[31] Wood ashes through which water is passed to carry away soluble portions

[32] A search of Ancestry.com shows that Willie B. Bester, age 14, the son of Horatio & Sarah Bester, died of scarlet fever on February 9, 1870

[33] Hank’s aunt and uncle, Cynthia (Brown) & William Arms

[34] His brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[35] Et cetera

[36] Martin Milham, the husband of his niece, Lucy Irene (Lee) Milham

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

[38] Joseph Flanders, a neighbor; brother of Thomas Flanders (see January 24 entry)

[39] Caroline G. Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[40] Believe he is referring to a neighbor, Ephraim Earl

[41] Son of Marius O. Streator (see January 1 entry)

[42] The brother of William Plank (see March 14 entry)

[43] The 1870 Census shows Lewis and family living in Waterloo, Iowa

[44] Ezekiel Lee, Mark’s father, and Luke’s first cousin

[45] Believed to be William & Harriet (Groat) Plank, and parents of Mary (see March 25 entry) and Carrie (see February 26 entry)

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

[47] Adelbert Skinner, Luke’s future son-in-law; he married Lois November 18, 1871

[48] Charles Jedediah Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[49] Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee; Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee, the brother of Joseph W. Lee and the father of Charles Jedediah Lee

[50] A neighbor, Oran D. Schram

[51] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[52] The daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

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

[54] The daughter of his neighbors, Joseph & Caroline Wiseman, who was 16 years old

[55] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith, who was 9 years old

[56] Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was Luke’s niece, the daughter of his sister Catherine by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[57] Believe he is referring to Mark Lee, who was visiting his family in Salt Lake City, Utah

[58] His maternal first cousin

[59] A search of Ancestry.com shows Adelbert Smith was killed by gunshot on May 25, 1870; however, on May 5, 1870, Nilson Smith, age 22, the son of William & Harriet Smith, was also killed by gunshot. The 1870 Census Mortality Schedule shows Nelson Smith was murdered on May 5, 1870. Nothing further was found. It would appear that Luke mistakenly wrote Del Smith instead of Nilson/Nelson Smith

[60] Neighbors, Caroline Wiseman, and her daughter, Ella, age 14

[61] Jason Beal Wolcott

[62] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[63] Jesse & Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner

[64] Mary (Knowles) Barber

[65] Luke’s paternal first cousin, Joseph & Lois (French) Lee, and Mark Lee’s wife, Julia Ann Lee

[66] His grandson, William Byron Clark

[67] His maternal first cousin, Stephen Hoxie & Coralin (Underhill) Wolcott

[68] Warren Wolcott, who had lived in Comstock, Michigan, from about 1834 until sometime in the 1850s when he moved to Almena, Michigan

[69] Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner

[70] A search at Ancestry.com shows that Virginia Upjohn, the daughter of Uriah & Maria (Mills) Upjohn, died July 9, 1870 from “congestion of the brain.” She was 25 and worked as a teacher and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[71] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner

[72] The March 3^rd entry mentions working on Henry Lee’s cane, and the March 11th & 15^th entries refer to Dr. Ezekiel’s cane. In a letter from William Henry Lee to his son, Ezekiel Lee, who lived in Idaho, was the following: “…very glad to hear from you once more and to learn of your welfare, but very sorry of hear of Orrin’s [his youngest brother] mis-fortune. It seems that mother’s boys are all to be cripples in their old age. Father [Dr. Ezekiel Lee] was a cripple when he died and a good many years before. Mark [his brother] and now Orrin will very likely be a cripple the rest of his days….” (Courtesy of Margaret Williams, 3^rd great-grandfather of William Henry Lee)

[73] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner

[74] According to the History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan (1880), the Galesburg Cornet Band was organized August 4, 1870. Charles Harris was the leader and he played the E-flat cornet. Ethan played the 2^d E-flat cornet

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

[76] A ferrule is a ring or cap usually of metal put around a slender shaft (such as a cane or a tool handle) to strengthen it or prevent splitting

[77] Jesse & Julia (Toupence) Lee; Jesse was Luke’s cousin and the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[78] Ethan and Hank were granted a patent for their Improvement in Coupling-Jacks on September 27, 1870. According to the patent, they “have invented certain Improvements in the Mode of Transmitting Motion to Shafts, adjustable to any desired angle with the leading shaft, which invention we call ‘A Universal Coupling-Jack.’”

[79] The term “uncle” was often used for older relatives, especially in-laws of various relatives. Patrick Hamilton was the father of Mary (Hamilton) Crawford, who was the widow of Edwin Crawford, who was the brother of Luke’s wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[80] His nephew James “Oscar” Keith

[81] Rebecca W. Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[82] The son of Luke’s cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[83] A form of malaria characterized by stages of chills, fever, and sweating

[84] A search of Ancestry.com revealed that Alice Struble, age 14, died September 20, 1870; she was the daughter of Selim & Cynthia Struble

[85] A search of Ancestry.com revealed that Elias Sherman, age 75, died September 28, 1870

[86] Sarah Frances (Roberts) Turner, the wife of Luke’s cousin, George Turner

[87] St. Joseph, Michigan

[88] Marion Adelpha York, the daughter of Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York

[89] Quickly, or vigorously

[90] A neighbor, Peter Johnson; does not appear to be any relation to Luke

[91] A search of Ancestry.com reveals that Isaac D. L. Scram married F. Elizabeth Taylor in Galesburg, Michigan, on November 30, 1870

[92] FindAGrave.com shows his birthdate as November 13, 1799; also Luke’s 1894 entry for November 13 states “Jesse Turner 95 years old to day”

[93] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Julia A. Jacobs, age 38, wife of B. Jacobs, died December 17, 1870, and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[94] His maternal first cousin

[95] A search of Ancestry.com shows that Potter Eldred of Charleston, Michigan, died December 24, 1870, of Typhoid Pneumonia, at the age of 78; FindAGrave.com reveals that he is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[96] Ancestry.com reveals that Hannah (Cook) Eldred died just four days after her husband, on December 29, 1870, also of Typhoid Pneumonia, at the age of 70; she is also buried in Roof Cemetery, which shows her date of death as December 30, 1870

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Luke Keith’s 1857 Diary

1857 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1[2] – Went over to Alfledas.[3] Drawed one load wood.

Jan 2 – Finished W. W. Earls car.

Jan 3 – Snows like fun. Carried Earls car over.

Jan 4 – Thomas Flanders here. Carried him over to H. Clintons.

Jan 5 – Cut one pr gloves for Caray. Went down to Alfledas and appraised her farm.

Jan 6 – Went over [the river] and got one board [of W. W. Earl]. Stimpsons House burned down in the Evening.

Jan 7 – Worked in the shop. Made a door. Cold as greenland.

Jan 8 – Went over [the river] and cut some straw. Got my plank. Isaac Cory and wife here this Evening.

Jan 9 – Mother here.[4] Got a rib of A. K. [Alfleda]. Father[5] came after mother.

Jan 10 – Worked in the shop.

Jan 11 – At home. Lois[6] came home in the Evening. Tyson and Toots came with her.

Jan 12 – Got 17 Hundred hay of Bennet 40 cts per hundred $6.80 cts. Got some sleigh crooks of D. B. [Bronson].

Jan 13 – Went over and got one load of hubs and other traps. Let J. York[7] have fifty Dollars. Alfleda here.

Jan 14 – Worked in the shop on my sleigh. Lasher traded horses with Bennet. Gave fifty Dollars to Bob.

Jan 15 – Pleasant and cold, 15 Degrees Below zero. Worked in the shop. Jo and Hellen[8] here to supper.

Jan 16 – Worked in the shop [on my sleigh]. Rogers, Warren and Stimpson there.

Jan 17 – Went over the river. Crid[9] came home with me. Got two Brooms. Made a Bale starter. Sold my gun to Solmon Stevens.

Jan 18 – Cold morning 27 Below zero. Got a watch of D[ick] Lamkins.

Jan 19 – Pleasant 4 Below zero. Drawed one load wood. Killed a pig.

Jan 20 – 12 Above zero. Worked in the shop. L____ Clark drawed load wood.

Jan 21 – Worked in the shop on sleigh.

Jan 22 – 6 Below zero. In the shop to day.

Jan 23 – Drawed one load wood. [Broke my thill.][10] Lasher drawed wood out of the bottom land. Bot this Book. 4 Below zero 9 Evening.

Jan 24 – Worked in the shop finished my sleigh bottom. Cold and blustrous.

Jan 25 – At home. Rather pleasant. Sarah[11] went to church to the method E. P.

Jan 26 – Carried my sleigh to the shop. Sent a letter to J. S. King.[12] Received a letter from G. T.[13] Ten Dollars in it. Quite warm. Stimpsons Ben[efit].

Jan 27 – Went over to Fathers. Sarah and children[14] went. They they Killed Hogs. Thawed some in the road. Stimpsons Benefit.

Jan 28 – Very pleasant. Worked in the shop. Alvan Turner[15] cam over in the Evening and operated on me with his battry.

Jan 29 – Pleasant morning 4 Above zero at Eight. Worked in the shop made a beam for R Tuttles slead and _____. Evening 24 Above zero.

Jan 30 – Pleasant 19 Above zero. Went over to Lashers. Sarah & children. Drawed load wood. Went over after them took tea with them.

Jan 31 – Worked in Blacksmith shop. Fitted the Braces on my sleigh. Bot one pound candles 18 cts. Groing cold fast.

Feb 1 – Cold wind 2 Above zero cloudy snows some. Stayed at home.

Feb 2 – Worked in the shop made an adze handle for E. Childs 25 cts. Made a sleigh neap[16] for Simmons. He paid me one Dollar. R. Tuttle paid me seventy five cents. Pleasant not very cold.

Feb 3 – Received a letter from E. ____. Not very cold 22 Above zero. Sarah went over to Oscars.[17] I worked in the shop. Got my Boards for my box. Bot half lb Tea 25 cts. H. N. Tulls[?] 2 whiffletrees[18] 50 cts.

Feb 4 – Quite warm. Worked in the shop. Goot my sleigh from the shop. Crid was in the shop. 34 Above zero Evening.

Feb 5 – Quite warm 36 Above zero heavy rain some thunder. Worked on my sleigh box. Got my screws and corner irons 30 cents.

Feb 6 – Worked in the shop made my sleigh box. Got 6 lbs shugar ½ lb Tea 8/- ____ 2 lbs nails 10 ___. 57 Above zero Evening. Sarahs gone over to J.O.K.[19] Oscars gal[20] Born.

Feb 7 – Rainy quite warm 57 Above zero snow all gone. Bridge gone some part of the plank. Sarah came home. Lois at home.

Feb 8 – Very cold 14 Above zero. At home. Some snow. Mr. Roulands child buried to day. Very cold Evening.

Feb 9 – Went over the river and got some potatoes. Left dol[21] at the Bridge. Very cold.

Feb 10 – Cold 2 Below zero. Made my sleigh seat. Bot 2 lbs candles. Alvan came here in the night. Received a letter from Omro[22] Mrs. N. B. C.[23]

Feb 11 – Cold 1 Below zero morning. Went over to fathers with my [s]leigh. Scoured[?] the shoes first rate.

Feb 12 – Not very cold 20 Above zero cloudy. Went over the river got two bushels Buck wheat. Sent it to mill. Let Stimpson have my siding.

Feb 13 – Cloudy 28 Above zero. Worked in the shop some. Lashers folks here. Drawed ice for D Beach. Deyos violin here.

Feb 14 – 41 Above zero cloudy some rain. Went up to Hellens. Got 2 lbs butter 20 pr lb 40 cents. Made a finger board for J Deyos _______ bridge.

Feb 15 – Warm 54 Above zero rainy day. My hogs got out of the pen got them back again.

Feb 16 – Rainy 57 Above z not very cold. Worked in the shop on Tuttles wheelbarrow. Bot one comb hairpins 15 cts.

Feb 17 – Warm 59 Above zero. Worked in the shop made H. Keith one ax helve, worked on R Tuttles wheelbarrow. Some rain in the morning.

Feb 18 – Cloudy 48 Above zero some misty. Worked in the shop. Commenced my violin top. Oscar & Drayton here.

Feb 19 – 27 Above zero snows some. In the shop. Deyo & wife here in the Evening. Ed Childs here.

Feb 20 – Stormy 30 Above zero some snow. Made axhelves. B. Brown[24] here.

Feb 21 – 30 Above zero cloudy. Worked in the shop painted my sleigh box & seat. Killed a pig.

Feb 22 – 31 Aove zero cloudy. Cloudy no rain to day. Athome all day no one here.

Feb 23 – Pleasant 36 Above z clear and Shiny. Painted my sleigh. Attended a lecture on physiology. A letter from J. S. King.

Feb 24 – Rainy 58 Above zero. Worked in the shop some. Went overt Fathers. Got some potatoes. Attend a lecture 50.00.

Feb 25 – Pleasant 50 Above ze. Painted my Sleigh. Bot 3¼ lbs Butter 20 cts. Harvey got the planer[?]. Attende a lecture.

Feb 26 – Colder cloudy 26 Ab zero. Worked in the shop. Attended lecture in the Evening.

Feb 27 – 28 Above zero. Worked in the shop. Harvey[25] & Oscar there. Attended lecture in the Evening. Snowed smartly.

Feb 28 – At home. Worked in the shop some. Harvey got the hatchet or hand ax. 26 Above zero. Mended the mop iron.

Mar 1 – Morning 26 Above zero cold and snowey. At home. Cold night.

Mar 2 – Pleasant 2 below zero some snow. Finished ax helves. Jef drawed one load wood. Received a letter from J. Sprague.[26]

Mar 3 – Cold some snow 22 Ab zero. Went over the river. Byington turned my hub for wheel barrow. Meeting here to in the evening.

Mar 4 – Not very cold. Worked in the shop afternoon. Drove the spokes in wheel barrow wheel. Mrs wisemans child Born.

Mar 5 – 29 Above zero cool wind. Worked in shop. Bot curry comb 25 cts. Lois came home. Evening party up to D. Bronsons. Flanders in the shop.

Mar 6 – 16 Above zero cool. Went over and got 2 bushels wheat of Fathers. Lois at home.

Mar 7 – Cold 16 Above zero. Worked in the shop. D. Smith here. Finished tuttles wheel.

Mar 8 – Rather cool 20 Above z. D. Smith here. Took the glass away with him.

Mar 9 – Some snow not very cold 22 Above z. Lois here she went home. Ethen[27] went with her. Mr Ludington Buried to day. Cars run together Below Lumston.

Mar 10 – 4 Above zero some sleighing. Killed my sow. Bot 19 lbs salt 23 cts of W. March.

Mar 11 – Pleasant 20 Above zero. Elias Sherman one ax helve one ax helve to W. S. March. Sold my Pigs to March 99 lbs 4.00. Mrs Cridlands cousin came.

Mar 12 – Pleasant 3 Above zero. Went up to Farmers ville to see Wm Browns[28] timber.

Mar 13 – Pleasant 14 Above z. Went up to J. Yorks. Sarah & children stays to Fathers. Cars of the track evening.

Mar 14 – Received a line from G. T. Cloudy 27 Above zero. Sarah came home. James Howard had my Buggy. Carried my watch to Sternes for Repairs.

Mar 15 – Pleasant 24 Above zero. At home. Buggy came home.

Mar 16 – Pleasant 20 Above zero. Worked in the shop. Cut my thumb in the Evening. Rogers commenced his frame.

Mar 17 – 36 Above zero cloudy. Sowed my Lettauce seed. Stimpson Brot back my siding. Sold G. B. 500.04 feet $12 pe thousand.

Mar 18 – 24 Above zero. Worked in the shop. Finished R. Tuttles wheelbarrow. Received 6 Dollars of G. Brown.

Mar 19 – 26 Aove zero snow on the ground cloudy morning cool at noon. Dresed Spokes. Warmer at night. Tuttle got his wheelbarrow.

Mar 20 – Pleasant 32 Above zero Sun Shine no Storm pleasant middle comfortable at night. Filled 2 teeth for Clara Johnson 38 cts 2 for Dan Earl 50 cts.

Mar 21 – Pleasant 34 Above zero snowy. Went Down to Catharines.[29] Quite warm.

Mar 22 – Rainy morning snow and hail afternoon. Hellen and jo ______ shugared of twice Boiled sap some.

Mar 23 – Warm. Came home. Flanders fetched down some runners and Axhelve _____ Rogers folks here. Father traded wagons.

Mar 24 – Rainy morning 44 Above zero Cloudy. Went over to Fathers. Bot 11¼ lbs Lard of March 1.38 cts Bot one pr Shoes $1.25. Filled teeth for Reading girl 75 cts.

Mar 25 – Cool 28 Above zero. D. Smith here. Worked in the shop.

Mar 26 – 22 Above zero. D. Smith left. Bot 4 lbs shugar 50 cts. Sent letter to __ H. Crawford.[30] Pleasant. Extracted 2 teeth for Mr Watts 25 cts. Cleared of Hog pen.

Mar 27 – 26 Above zero Pleasant. Dug stumps some. Made trunk cover for Cridland. Received a letter from Pavilion. York brot his violin Down.

Mar 28 – Pleasant 26 Above zero. Went and got my pump and some potatoes one lb Tea 44 cts. Lightning train run of the track above Augusta.

Mar 29 – Pleasant 35 Above zero some frost on the ground. Went over to Fathers twice. Went over to Lashers.

Mar 30 – Pleasant 51 Above zero at noon. Worked in the Shop. Post Office moved over to Hydes again. Prust Bennet here.

Mar 31 – Cloudy 32 Above zero. Bot 24 Doz Buttons 10 cts. Worked in the shop some. Went up to Shermans. James Sprague Died to Day[31] About sun down.

Apr 1 – 39 Above zero windy some snow. George Simmons[32] Died this morning About seven oclock. Bot a lot of traps for the children cost most 3 Dollars.

Apr 2 – Pleasant 16 Above zero quite cold. Simmons Buried to day. Frederick Partrige came here to day. Luddingtons son Died to day. Lois came home.

Apr 3 – 30 Above zero cloudy. F. Partrige left to day. Received a letter from G. T. told of J. Spragues Death. Mr Ludingtons son Buried to day.

Apr 4 – Cool 6 Above zero. Transplanted my rose bushes and other things. Stranger eat supper here. Shower in the Evening. E. M. Clap Buggy to day.

Apr 5 – 34 Above zero cloudy. Went over to Fathers. Snowed some. ______ Caray there.

Apr 6 – 19 Above zero snows in the morning. Went down to Comstock with S. Bristol. Cold and snowed like fun. Came back on Hand car 3 Oclock P.M. 21 Above zero. Fred came this Evening.

Apr 7 – Pleasant 19 Above zero. Fred here. Snowey. Went over to Fathers. Got some potatoes. Tom Camel married this Evening.

Apr 8 – 36 Above zero. Fred gon to work for chair company. Worked in shop.

Apr 9 – 30 Above zero Pleasant. Went and got my Potatoes over. Toot was here.

Apr 10 – Pleasant 26 Above zero. Worked in the shop. Bot pr shoes for Lois 93 cts thread 10 cts. Let C. Baker have 10 cents.

Apr 11 – Snows 36 Above zero snowed all day. Put Yorks violin together.

Apr 12 – 29 Above zero thaws some. Fred here. Went up to the Bridge with Fred. By____ here in the evening to see our darter.

Apr 13 – 34 Above zero snows some. Fred Left to day. Lois went over to Lashers. Fred paid me 2 Dollars. Mended my gloves. Snowey very muddy.

Apr 14 – 35 Above zero snows. Mended my mittens. Very bad weather. Lasher traded horses with Eldred gave 15 Dollars.

Apr 15 – 22 Above zero snows about three inches on the ground ice in the watter pail. Bot wood 2.94 cts 5 lbs butter of Flanders one sack Flour of Babcock $1.75 cts.

Apr 16 – 30 Above zero snows cold. Got some nitric acid. Flanders pulled stumps. Brot me some hay. Two chains mended at Bennets. G. Matthews left.

Apr 17 – 26 Above zero. Lamkins drawed my wood. Mended wagon for bush 75 cts paid 25 cts. Got link in large chain hook on small chain.

Apr 18 – 29 Above zero snows like fun about 2 inches deep morning stormy day.

Apr 19 – 37 Above zero snow on the ground cleared of pleasant after noon good sap weather.

Apr 20 – Got shingles of Rogers. Pleasant 31 Above zero froze quite hard. Worked in shop made reach for A. Brown[33] 50 cts. Sent a letter to G. Tomlinson. 5 candles 25.

Apr 21 – Pleasant 30 Above zero. Made Axletree for A. Lamkins wagon $2.00. Snowed some in the Evening.

Apr 22 – Pleasant 33 Above. Went up to Yorks and down to Oscars loaded load of goods Oscar moved Mary[34] come over to our house.

Apr 23 – Pleasant 30 A. Mary An here. Made H. Potts dash. Mary An left for Paw Paw.

Apr 24 – 31 Above Pleasant. Pots paid me 18 cts. Worked in the shop. Flanders Paid me 20 Dollars.

Apr 25 – 40 Above zero cloudy. Went over the river and got some eggs. Catharine Harriet and Uncle Warren[35] came over. 60 Above at noon.

Apr 26 – Rainy 41 Above. Toot and Lois here.

Apr 27 – 33 A. snows very little Pleasant after noon. Uncle Warren here to dinner. Worked in the shop on Claps bugy boddy.

Apr 28 – 30 A Pleasant. Worked on Claps boddy. Harvey & Oscar here. Got a letter from Pros Crawford.[36] Calope in town.

Apr 29 – Pleasant 38 A. Harvey here this morning. Went over the river with Sarah and children. Circus at Kalamazoo.

Apr 30 – 56 Above Pleasant. Went over to cooks and __unyons to look at some cows. Got Fathers wagon ___ moved his things.

May 1 – 56 Rainy. Mary Brown here. Went over to Cridlands got some sedar an Lilack trees. Bot a lot of sedars.

May 2 – Pleasant 34 Above. Got my sedars and pines and set them out. Lois came home from Lashers. Got half lb Tea 25 cts.

May 3 – Pleasant 32 Ab morning. Sarah gone to church. Marked Stetsins Box of Shugar. White tailed hen commenced setting on 13 Eggs. Went up to Gull with Cridland.

May 4 – 50 Above cloudy. Went over to Cridlands got some Lilack and Siberian crab. Carried Lois and young ones over. Made a reach for Mr. Watts 50 cts. Rainy day.

May 5 – 36 Abz[37] some rain some snow. Put in one felly[38] for Dea White 38 cts. Commenced corn plants. Watts paid 50 cts.

May 6 – 37 Abz Pleasant. Went over to Byingtons got 22 feet white wood boards. Got two Hubs turned. Mended wagon for D. Beach 38 cts.

May 7 – Pleasant 49 Abz. Worked in shop on Claps buggy boddy. Got cotage Beadstead of Pond on Byingtons Ate $5.00.

May 8 – Pleasant 37 Abz at 4 afternoon 86. Fired my stumps. Commenced putting on my hubs[?] on my violin. Warm night.

May 9 – Pleasant 70 Abz morning About 2 oclock we had a terrible Hail storm brok lots of glass round town blowed over some fence for me. Got my watch.

May 10 – Cloudy rather cool 40 Abz. Dol 23 years old to Day. Went over to Fathers. Got two Pine trees on Harveys old place. Went over and got Mrs Cridland.

May 11 – Pleasant 28 Abz. Mrs Crid left this morning. Went over and got Early potatoes & two bushels wheat of Father 10/- Flanders Brot two bushels wheat 10/- six lbs Butter. Got Journal of Alphadelphia.[39] Sold Cory som potatoes 1/-.

May 12 – Pleasant 36 Abz. Made a reach for poopy Watts tightened a box for H. Potts. Cridland left in the evening. Gave me a basket. Let Wiseman have some Early potatoes.

May 13 – Pleasant 39 Abz. Worked in shop on Claps seats. Pots paid 50 cts. Bot Hannah[40] 1 pr shoes 4/- 9 cts. Rainy afternoon. Extracted tooth for Wightmans boy.

May 14 – Rainy 44 Abz rather dark. Worked in shop some. Went over to Fathers. Got wheel barrow wheel of Cridland. Moses Mix came in town. Brainard & V. M. Tuttle came.

May 15 – Rainy 46 Abz. Finished Clapps seats. 50 Abz at night. Sold D. Johnson some potatoes 25 cts. Got flour of A Lamkins $2.00 56 lbs.

May 16 – Pleasant 32 Abz morning. Made my Wheelbarrow. Got 4 bushels Flour Bot 6 & ¼ lbs Fish 44 cts Bot 1 lb nails 5 cts. Lois & Henry[41] at home.

May 17 – Pleasant 34 Abz. At home. Sarah went to church. Nancy[42] went over to Fathers with Lois. East wind.

May 18 – Pleasant 40 Abz East wind. Wheeled ashes on my garden. Took Clapps Buggy down to the shop.

May 19 – Pleasant 45 Abz East wind. Wheeled ashes & chip manure on the garden. Fathers heifer came in.

May 20 – Pleasant 34 Abz some wind. Went over the river. Left dol in pasture. Commenced taking down my stable.

May 21 – Pleasant 35 Abz. Moved my stable and corn. Let Father have _____ bushels. 72 Abz after noon. Mrs. Wiseman here. Harriet and Edith here.

May 22 – Pleasant 42 Abz. Wesley[43] & Lasher plowed my garden. Some folks are planting corn.

May 23 – Pleasant 54 Abz. Worked in shop on cornplanter. Bot hoe 62½ cts. E. M. clap Paid me eight Dollars cash three Dollars yet due to be paid in Shugar 1/- per lb.

May 24 – Pleasant 68 Abz some wind. Went over to Fathers and saw my cow & calf.

May 25 – Pleasant 60 Abz morning. Finished cornplanter. John Crittenden[44] came. Had a fine shower evening.

May 26 – Cloudy some rain 58 Abz morning. Went over and got Dol. She started for concord this morning half past nine. Got one thill of ____. Got my cow home. Bot pail 75 cts.

May 27 – Couldy some rain 54 Abz. Sheled some corn. Bot half lb. Tea 50 cts. Rany after noon heavy shower in evening.

May 28 – Cloudy 53 Abz. Mrs Flanders sister came this morning. Some rain. Mad a cross bar for Freers bugy pole 50 cts. T. Flanders came. Planted some early potatoes.

May 29 – Pleasant 44 Abz. Planted Mexican potatoes. Bot garden line 15 cts Brass hooks 38 cts. Flanders here one paper Beet seed 5 cts.

May 30 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Flanders here sowed my Beets parsnips Radish onions pop corn & mellon seeds. T. Flanders here. Had a fine shower.

May 31 – Some cloudy 63 Abz. Stayed at home. Put the lining into my violin. Lois came home. John Tyson came after her.

Jun 1 – Cloudy 60 Abz some lite rain. Went over to Lashers raised the Barn. Bot Ethens hat (15 cts). Paid Father 22 Dollars. Rcd ten Dollars for Cridland. Freer paid me 50 cts. Bot _____ 25 cts.

Jun 2 – Pleasant & cool 50 Abz. Sold Bennet ½ bushel potatoes (50 cts). Bennets Friends came from Stafford[?]. Had a fine shower in the afternoon. Killed my Rooster. Flanders took Tea here. Sent G. T. a letter 24 lb _________

Jun 3 – Cloudy 48 Abz. Finished planting potatoes. Worked in garden. Mark[45] came here. T. Flanders here stayed all night. Sent 2 papers to J. O. Keith 2 cts.

Jun 4 – Cloudy 46 Abz. Bot cloth for Ethens pants 86. Father cam over and Sarah and young ones went over with him. Flanders here. Brot my pump pipe over.

Jun 5 – Pleasant 40 Abz. Worked round the house. Put in my pump. T. Flanders here. Mortised my small hubs. Got a letter from David.[46]

Jun 6 – Pleasant 38 Abz Pleasant. Pon and J. Built fence. Flanders here. Pulled 2 teeth one for Mrs Bennet one for Mrs. fisk. Received a letter from Cridland. Flanders left.

Jun 7 – Pleasant 60 Abz. At home all day. Went down to the river and went in swiming. Put my violin together. Young Clark[47] was buried to day. Had a fine shower in the night. Fisk left.

Jun 8 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Commenced building my Bridge. Flanders folks here to dinner. 30 lbs shugar of Flanders.

Jun 9 – Pleasant 69 Abz very hot day. Worked on the road. Let A. Lamkins have one bushel corn $1.00. Chicken commenced sitting.

Jun 10 – Pleasant 57 Abz. Worked on road. Mason Book came to day. Had a find shower in the evening.

Jun 11 – Some cloudy 58 Abz. Let A. Lamkins have bushel corn. Worked on road in the foornoon. Hoed corn in the afternoon. Bot one lb candles 18 cts. Had a shower in the night.

Jun 12 – Rainy 58 Abz. Circus teams along this morning. Worked round the house. Lois & Ethen went over to Fathers. Henry Clinton at the shop.

Jun 13 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Built my Bridge. Got some corn ground. Bot Nancys shoes 81 cts. Got my Hubbs land___ 62 cts.

Jun 14 – Cloudy 55 Abz. At home. Ethen over to Fathers. Sharpsteens child dead. Rainy day rained all night.

Jun 15 – Rainy morning 60 Abz. Worked in shop. Filed up bands on small hubbs. Rainy afternoon some thunder Rainy Night. Sent a letter to Jenkins Cridland. Jenkins old buggy came.

Jun 16 – Cloudy 70 Abz looks like rain. Mended fathers wheel. Went over to Byingtons. Hung a door for Rogers. Had a heavy shower.

Jun 17 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Went over to Fathers after Ethen. Rogers paid me 50 cts. Had a shower afternoon. Got strings for my violin 50 cts.

Jun 18 – Rains some 54 Abz. Hoed in garden. Rainy. Bennets folks got home ____ ____ my hand screws march paid me fifty cts. Boston Boys here. Sent letters to Ed & Pros.[48]

Jun 19 – Cloudy 55 Abz some mist in morning. Hoed in garden. Had a shower at night. Wind blowed quite hard 60 Abz. Fisk here. Warm July.

Jun 20 – Rainy 55 Abz. Went over to Fathers put up one _____. Some rain. Bot hat 2.50 cts. W. A. Blake paid me $1.25 cts. Shower in evening. Frank Fisk left. Wet August some hot weather about middle of ______

Jun 21 – Cloudy 58 Abz cool air for September. At home all day. Boston Mason Preached at the Methodist church. Had a shower in the evening.

Jun 22 – Pleasant 48 Abz. Work in shop. Boston Mason left. Bot ½ lb Tea 25 cts. Commenced Jenkins seats.

Jun 23 – Pleasant 44 Abz. Got plank of Sutherland. Worked in shop. Negro here. Lois at home. Lasher was here.

Jun 24 – Cloudy 64 Abz morning. Worked on Jenkins Buggy Boddy. Pleasant day. Bot one lb nails 5 cts.

Jun 25 – Cloudy 71 Abz morning. Worked in shop. 90 Abz at noon. Went over and got my banisters of Byington got fifty 18 cts pr Doz.

Jun 26 – Pleasant 61 Abz at six morning. Worked in shop on seats. 90 at noon. Bennets folks gone to Lansing.

Jun 27 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Worked in shop. Sarah & children went over to Fathers. Jenkins Brot some fence boards. Had a fine shower in the evening some Thunder 103. Abz 3 P.M.

Jun 28 – Cloudy 72 Abz. White Bear and Grampas in White Eagle in. Broke down. Had a heavy shower. Went over after Sarah. Flanders came and Brot us home.

Jun 29 – Pleasant 59 Abz at six. Worked in shop. Comfortable day. J. Sherman there. Received a letter from Mrs. Cridland. F Sherman & the Lion had a Brush.

Jun 30 – Pleasant 56 Abz. Worked in shop. Went over Jesse Earls and pulled tooth for Polly Received 25 cts.

Jul 1 – Cloudy 53 Abz. In shop mended cultivator for Lefever 50 cts. Jenkins Brot load fence Boards. Rainy afternoon. Henry came home stayed all night.

Jul 2 – Cloudy 56 Abz. Finished Jenkins Buggy. Filed saw and _____ _____ for __ Jackson 25 cts. __________________ to day. Sent letter to Mrs Cridland. Railroad company commenced the foundation of Freight House.

Jul 3 – Pleasant 49 Abz. Hoed potatoes. Filed a saw for Mr Joy 50 cts. Had a shower. Got some strawberries of S. Bristol.

Jul 4 – Pleasant 54 Abz. Hoed corn & potatoes. Mr Bennet Moved to day. Great Day in Kalamazoo.

Jul 5 – Pleasant 63 Abz. Went over to Fathers with J Deyo to see cow.

Jul 6 – Rainy 63 Abz cleared of. Went over to byingtons. Got wheelbarrow hub turned. H. Clinton Brot som spokes (for Deyo) 25 cts and stuf for cultivator. H. Stevens had a Brush. Heavy shower in the night.

Jul 7 – Cloudy 66 Abz. Worked in shop some. Got feet oak plank of T. Clark. Deyo paid 40 cts.

Jul 8 – Pleasant 64 Abz. In shop some. Deyo paid 30 cts. A Lamkins paid 1.00. I paid Mason Balance on Hat one Dollar. Bot 3 lbs Sal. Soda 30 cts.

Jul 9 – Pleasant 66 Abz. Hoed some. Worked in shop on spokes for my small wheels.

Jul 10 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked round some. Cleaned out sellar. 93 Abz 2 oclock. Verry hot. Mrs Bennet here in morning.

Jul 11 – Pleasant 66 Abz. Shaved spokes for my cart wheels. Bot one lb candles of Poopy Reading 17 cts.

Jul 12 – Pleasant 73 Abz. At home. Went down to the river to swim. Deyo went with me. Hurt my foot.

Jul 13 – Pleasant 70 Abz. Took the calf of to day. Deyo got cow to day. Received a letter of G. T. Had a shower after noon. Maude mot[her?] here in evening. Left for Wisconsin.

Jul 14 – Rainy 7__ Abz. Worked on cultivator some. Shower afternoon.

Jul 15 – Cloudy & misty 70 Abz. Worked on cultivator.

Jul 16 – Cloudy 65 Abz. Went up to J. Yorks. Bot violin string 10 cts.

Jul 17 – Pleasant 72 Abz. Worked in shop some. Had a shower afternoon.

Jul 18 – Pleasant 72 Abz. New Engine Pequon Milwaukee & Superior R.R. West wind. Brother Father was here. Had a heavy thunder storm in the evening.

Jul 19 – Pleasant 70 Abz. At Home. Had headache all day.

Jul 20 – Pleasant 66 Abz. Circus at Kalamazoo. Mended Clarks cradle. Horse tamer in town. Bot ½ lb Tea 31 cts. Shower in the night. Clinton got cultivator 2.50 cts.

Jul 21 – Cloudy cool 69 Abz. Sick. Mose brot his skeins. Clark got his cradle 38 cts. Got my shoe mended 5 cts. Lamkins and Flint had a brush.

Jul 22 – Cloudy cool 62 Abz. Sick. Father & mother here. Bot Bottle Bitters 75. Silk & _____ 14 cts. Had a heavy shower.

Jul 23 – Cloudy 68 Abz. Catharine & folks here. Henry Lee[49] left here. Lois at home. Had a shower at night. Folks haying & harvesting.

Jul 24 – Pleasant 64 ABZ. Mended cradle for ___ White. Lois went home. Wesley here in evening.

Jul 25 – Pleasant 64 Abz. Set skeins for Mix. Father came over. Carried corn to mill. Got one Bag 30 cts. _____ paid 3.45 cts. Finished the wall to the ware house in Galesburg.

Jul 26 – Pleasant 72 Abz. At home 96 at 4 oclock P.M. Thrashing machine here for B. B. Fox.

Jul 27 – Looks like rain 74 Abz. Drove spokes in my cart wheels. Had a shower in the afternoon. Oscar called here. Commenced on _____ sills ____________.

Jul 28 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Got flour of Flanders one Dollar cash. Got leather & awl for making Hannahs shoes. Bot one small auger one shilling.

Jul 29 – Pleasant 65 Abz. Finished my wheels. Henry Lee here. Left on the 9.45 train. I raised the under ____ to the ware house.

Jul 30 – P. 67 Abz. Worked in shop seting skeins for Mix. Bot Bottle bitters 75 cts.  Received a letter from C. R. Cridland. Raising the ware house.

Jul 31 – P. 71 Abz. A dash of rain. Set the tire on my cart wheels. Caty Chaffee[50] here. Bot beef and cucumbers 35. Bot cocoa 10 cts. Nancy has the whoping cough.

Aug 1 – P. 65 Abz. Painted my cart wheels. Bot brush 10 cts. Repaired Caywoods cradle 25 cts.

Aug 2 – P. 63 Abz. At home. Sarah went to church. Went swiming. Cut ring of Mrs. L. Burdicks finger. Walter hunting down here.

Aug 3 – P. 64 Abz. Repaired Beehive for S. Newman 95 cts. Hat & shoes 14/-. Father & mother here. They went to the show. Sarah went with them. I went in the evening. Saw Barnes the cripple.

Aug 4 – Rainy 74 Abz. Sick. Bot one lb Tea 62 cts. Hive syrup 5 cts turpentine. Rained afternoon. Oscar over here. George Wheeler died 11 oclock to day.

Aug 5 – P. 64 Abz. Father Brot some flour. George Wheeler Buried to day. Received a letter from C. R. Cridland. Received 20 Dollars of J. York.

Aug 6 – P. 59 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Horace Clark[51] Died this morning.

Aug 7 – P. 67 Abz. At home doing nothing. Sent Cridland map. Horace Clark Buried to day. Henry at home.

Aug 8 – Cloudy 74 Abz. Doing nothing. Bot one lb coffee 18 cts one hat 11 cts. Finished raising the Freight House.

Aug 9 – P. 64 Abz. At home all day. Wrote two letters one to G. T. and J. S. K.

Aug 10 – Cloudy 69 Abz. Mended Parasol for E Childs 10. Extracted tooth for Wights girl 25 cts. Oscar paid postage on papers. Sent letter to G. T. on[e] to J. S. King on[e] to Heath NY city. Bot one lb candles 18 cts.

Aug 11 – Foggy 64 Abz. Lasher came over. Carried my calf over to Fathers. Let Lasher have Earls note.

Aug 12 – Cloudy 78 Abz. Went over to byingtons and turned my Box patterns one bottle Hive syrup 5 cts.

Aug 13 – Pleasant 78 Abz. Half yard silk 56 cts. Repaired wheel for Brown 75 cts. Went over to Byington.

Aug 14 – Cloudy 78 Abz. Went Down to Catharines. All well. Rained in the night.

Aug 15 – Rainy 60 Abz. Mark went to town. We started for home 2 oclock. Went up to flanders. Bot Bottle Bitters 75 cts. Henry came home from pawpaw. James McNinch buried.

Aug 16 – Rainy 59 Abz. At home all day. Wrote a letter to Bob. Thunder shower in the evening.

Aug 17 – Misty 64 Abz. Went over to Fathers and carried Lois. Some stormy. A Lamkins paid me one Dollar. Sent a letter to R. Crawford.[52] Recd one from Dr Heath NY city.

Aug 18 – Cloudy 64 Abz. Mended Car___s R_____ 25 cts. Bot 24 penny stamps.

Aug 19 – Pleasant 64 Abz. Filed saw for H Cook 12½ cts. Mended parasol for C Beckwith 12 cts. Put hoop on Johnsons pail. Varnished my violin. Bot some medicine for Hannah 15 cts.

Aug 20 – Pleasant 49 Abz. Sent letter to Heath NY city 2 Dollars. Received a letter & likeness from Pavilion. Bot 3 lbs mutton 15 cts. Went over to Fathers with them.

Aug 21 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Having new potatoes. Sawed out some Bob runners. Got some pine plank for boddy. Had a heavy shower in the night. Bennet moved.

Aug 22 – Cloudy 65 Abz. Made a box for D. K. Rogers 12 cts. Extracted one tooth for Mrs Frost 25 cts. Bot 11½ lbs beef 25 cts. Showrey through the day.

Aug 23 – Pleasant 54 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Indian there. Went over to Lashers.

Aug 24 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Sent a letter to C. R. C. Bot file (10). Rains a very little noon. Cal Streator here. Made spring for my cart. Bot 2 botts 4 cts.

Aug 25 – Pleasant 54 Abz. At home. Worked in shop some on my spring. Sarah went down to Bennets. Young Stevens Born.

Aug 26 – Cloudy 61 Abz. Came of plesant. Went to Kalamazoo on the cars. Cost 55 cts. Took my patterns down to get my Boxes cast.

Aug 27 – Rainy 71 Abz. Went over the river and got some green corn. Received a letter from Omro. Traded Lamkins watch for a violin with Flint. Had a shower.

Aug 28 – Pleasant 63 Abz. Mended Fathers seat. Got my cart Boxes from Kalamaz eight 20 cts. T. Flanders here. D. K. Rogers open shop to day. Medicine from N York.

Aug 29 – Pleasant 56 Abz. Set Boxes in my wheels. Done small bob for Lamkins. Setled with R. Bennet. Bal over Due $37.23. T. Flanders left celia. Paid 75 cts.

Aug 30 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Went and got some _____ _____ for hannah. Pulled two teeth for T. Whitings child 2 years old.

Aug 31 – Pleasant 51 Abz. Mose made the skeins for my cart. Put them in. Got the shoulder bands.

Sep 1 – Pleasant 56 Abz. Worked in shop. Set my skeins. Hot and dry.

Sep 2 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Hot now. Deacon Corys[53] wife[54] died this morning. Sarah & children went up to Yorks. Jo took my violin. I went up in the Evening.

Sep 3 – Pleasant 63 Abz. All up to Yorks. Charley Richardson Brot us home. Mrs Cory Buried to day. Hot and dry.

Sep 4 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked on cart Boddy. Bot screws & Bolts 10 cts. Henry came home. Father got wagon seat. Very hot 90 afternoon. S. W. Beason here from Niles.

Sep 5 – Pleasant 71 Abz morning. Made whiffletree for B. Clark 38 cts. Bot Cake shaving soap 6 cts. Bot Braces for my cart 5 cts. Rainy afternoon.

Sep 6 – Pleasant and cool 52 Abz. At home. Deyo & I Ethen went round the squair after the cows.

Sep 7 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Worked in shop some. D. Smith here all night.

Sep 8 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Worked in shop some. Worked on Roulands Drill. B. Clark paid me 38 cts. Bot 2 lbs Beef $15. Jo Rivenburg sold out.

Sep 9 – Pleasant 54 Abz. Worked in shop. Finished Roulands Drill. Worked on cart Box. Received a letter from C. R. Cridland.

Sep 10 – Pleasant 66 Abz. Sarah went over to Fathers. Worked on my Box. Extracted two teeth for Clark 50 cts. Rouland 1.50.  Received a letter from J. S. King.

Sep 11 – Pleasant 74 Abz. Finished my cart Boddy. Sarah came home. Sold milk to Dutch 20 cts.

Sep 12 – Pleasant 64 Abz. Pulled my Beans. Painted my cart. Bot flour 93 cts. Bot mellon 15 cts. Bot Peaches 20 cts. Charles ____ paid 50 cts. The Engine Grampus Blowed up in the night just went of Marshall.

Sep 13 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Used my cart. At home. Very hot 87 at noon shade 99 in the sun. Mr Flanders and Henry here. Paid me ___5 cts for mormon book.

Sep 14 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Henry here. Worked round the house. Bot 61 lbs Bran 45 cts. Went over to Fathers House. Went in the cart. Sarah went down to Bennets.

Sep 15 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked in shop some on Yorks wheel. Bot 2 quarts oil 62 cts.

Sep 16 – Cloudy 57 Abz. Worked on spokes. Painted my cart Box. Martin Turner[55] at the shop. Clap got my level. Had a shower night.

Sep 17 – Cloudy & misty 73 Abz. Worked in shop. Clara Johnson here. Bot one lb candles 18 cts. Had a shower in the Evening. York at the shop.

Sep 18 – Cloudy and some rainy 59 Abz. One tooth for Stranger 25 cts. Going to _____. One tooth for Ed Baty 25 cts. Rainy. Got 2 bushels wheat of J. York.

Sep 19 – Rainy 50 Abz. Rainy day. Mr Ferris[56] died last Evening. Flints cow killed to day. Bot ½ lb Tea 25 cts. Made boulster for H. M. Shafter 75 cts. Ha_____ here to day. Bot mutton 25 cts.

Sep 20 – Pleasant 48 Abz. Mr Ferris buried to day. Mark & Lucy here. Went over to Fathers. Got some Lard. Saw __terner church.

Sep 21 – Pleasant 44 Abz. Levi J. Norths circus in town. Saw the Lady walk the wire. Rained some in the evening. Bot Hogs head 38 cts. Mended Fathers wagon thills.

Sep 22 – Pleasant 52 Abz some rainy. Went over to Lashers. Laid Barn floor. E. Crawford and wife[57] came to day. Lent George York $3 Three Dollars. Michigan Insurance B.K.

Sep 23 – Pleasant 44 Abz. Went over and got Crids broom press. Sarah Ed & Mary went over to Mr. Halls. 72 at _____.

Sep 24 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Ed & Mary Went home. John Hasey here. Received letters from David & Robert. D. K. Rogers Paid me $5.00. Bot cider 10 cts.

Sep 25 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Bot wallet 62 cts cups 25. Mrs Gleason started for Morganville. Hasey left. Ed Wilcut[58] here.

Sep 26 – Pleasant 54 Abz. Did not work much had headache. Recd a letter from H. Crawford. Lasher Brot 20 Bushel wheat 90 cts.

Sep 27 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Lois at home. B. Clark[59] here.

Sep 28 – Pleasant 51 Abz. Made John Chroders Box. Set Box for _____ 25 cts. Bot six yds cotton 80 cts, one lb candles 19 cts.

Sep 29 – Cloudy 44 Abz some rain. Made wagon neap for D. Lamkins $1.25. Lamkins paid 1.25.

Sep 30 – Pleasant 40 Abz. Worked in shop on Beaches wagon. Bennets folks here all night. Rainy.

Oct 1 – Rainy 58 Abz. Bennets folks left. Rainy day. Worked on D. Beach wagon. Oatman Discharged from M.C.R.R.

Oct 2 – Rainy 51 Abz. D. Beach Paid me 4 Dollars. Setting Boxes for Mix. Got gouge mended. Got note of Luther Eldred. T. Flanders here.

Oct 3 – Cloudy 40 Abz. Lots of Dutch this morning. Got Bottoms for Nancys shoes 12½ cts. Schroder paid me one Dollar & 25 cts. Alfleda came here.

Oct 4 – Cloudy 53 Abz. Alfleda left. Sarah & children went over to Fathers. Bot 3 lbs ___ steak 25 cts. Got my hair cut.

Oct 5 – Cloudy 55 Abz. Worked in shop on Mix skeins. Calvin Streator Brot some spokes. Got smooth plain of Deyo. Sarah went to Allertons.

Oct 6 – Pleasant 43 Abz. Set Boxes for mix. Bot smooth plane of J. Deyo. Bot Butts Lock & Handle for Schroders trunk. Warm Day.

Oct 7 – Pleasant 44 Abz. Made Schroders Box. Set Boxes. Cross now some spokes. Sarah went down to S. Newman.

Oct 8 – Pleasant 38 Abz. Set skeins. Moved some things. Bot peck peaches 1__ cts. Mrs Sumner here.

Oct 9 – Pleasant 42 Abz. Finished Mix Skeins and Boxes sand board. Bot one lb candles of Wilkeson. Bot mutton of E. Parsons 14 cts.

Oct 10 – Cloudy 43 Abz. Streators wheel came to day. Bot 4¼ lbs tallow of E. Parsons. Bot 50 lbs Bran 30 cts. No cow to night.

Oct 11 – Pleasant 45 Abz. Cow this morning. Went over to Fathers. Deyo & Hannah went. Mrs Carpenter left in the night.

Oct 12 – Some Rain 62 Abz. Worked on Streators wheel. Ethen went home with Father. Sent Letter to G. T. one to C. R. Crid.

Oct 13 – Pleasant 36 Abz. Finished Streators wheel 3.50. Made whiffletree for Chapin 25 cts. 7 lbs tallow of E. Parsons. Cross moved his _____.

Oct 14 – Pleasant 36 Abz. Moved my traps out of the shop. Sold Box to D. K. Rogers. Bot ½ Bushel Peaches 25 one Bushel apples 50 & Half Bushel 62 cts.

Oct 15 – Pleasant 34 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Streator Brot me 2 Bushels wheat, 2 bushels apples. Sarah gone up to Swaddles. Went over to Hartwels. Father made cider. Lois went to Clarks to a _____.

Oct 16 – Cloudy 49 Abz. Commenced digging potatoes. Sarah came home. Went over to Hartwells. Got Crids Barrel for Broom machine.

Oct 17 – Pleasant 40 Abz. Dug potatoes. Bot bag salt 25 cts one lb saleratus[60] 10 cts.

Oct 18 – Cloudy 34 Abz. Went over to Fathers & J. Yorks. Some rainy in the Evening.

Oct 19 – Misty morning 42 Abz. Dug some potatoes. Some snow after noon quite a snow storm in the Evening. Sold my fiddle to J. York 25.00. 30 lbs nails 1.50.

Oct 20 – Cloudy 26 Abz snow went of. Moved my weels[?]. Dug some potatoes after noon Sarah went to a bee up to Elder shepherd. Bot 30 lbs nails 12/-.

Oct 21 – Pleasant 26 Abz. Dug potatoes. Mrs Deyo here to dinner James also.

Oct 22 – Pleasant 32 Abz. Bot 25 lbs Bran of D. K. Rogers 12 cts. Dug potatoes 14 bushels. Boy lost. Rained some Evening. Show in town.

Oct 23 – Cloudy 43 Abz. Mrs Chapins came here. Finished diging potatoes. J. York brot some lumber. Sent letter to N. B. C. Made candles. Saw John Hasey on cars.

Oct 24 – Sprinkles prospects of _____ _____. Went over to Byingtons. Got Broom Roll turner. Carried over Bench screw. Rained in the Evening.

Oct 25 – Cloudy 43 Abz rainy about noon. Went over after Nancy. Saw __terner church sick at Lashers.

Oct 26 – Cloudy 36 Abz. Made Crids Bearings for Broom machine. Recd a letter from G. T.  T. Flanders came here.

Oct 27 – Pleasant 26 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Lasher drawed sills for barn. Got my screw of Byington. Got 41 lbs Bran of Lyon. D. K. Rogers paid me $10.00.

Oct 28 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Finished Crids traps & put them on the cars. Wes Brot load pumpkins. Bot one pound Tea __5/-.

Oct 29 – Cloudy 36 Abz. Worked Deyo dressed fence pickets for Barber fence. Bot one lb crackers [?] of D. K. Rogers 10. Mrs Bennet here. Ethen sick.

Oct 30 – Cloudy 32 Abz. Bennet went. Finished the fence pickets at noon went down to Barbers afternoon. Bot half hogs head 12 cts. Lasher got wheat for __terner church.

Oct 31 – Cloudy 31 Abz. Worked down to Barbers. James Flanders Brot some shingles.

Nov 1 – Cloudy 38 Abz. At home. Cal got his violin. Father came over with Lois.

Nov 2 – Pleasant 40 Abz. Worked down to Barbers. Got a letter from C. R. C. Got Barrel cider of B. Hartwell. Sarah had 11/- got dress. Ext one tooth for Mrs Rogers.

Nov 3 – Cloudy 37 Abz. Finished Barbers fence. Sarah went to Robers to a sewing bee.

Nov 4 – Some cloudy 44 Abz. Commenced framing my Barn. Got shingles of Byington. Clarks folks here to dinner. E. B. Seeley here. Lasher went after lumber.

Nov 5 – Rainy 55 Abz. Finished framing my sills. Showrey. Dance at Potts.

Nov 6 – Pleasant 48 Abz. Got one load studing of Powers. Went over to Lashers an cut sleepers. Paid D. Johnson 30 cts. Rainy night. Took tea at ___ Wiseman.

Nov 7 – Rainy 42 Abz. Set glass. Bot oil 7⁽. Bot Spanish white 4⁽. Taylor Brot load stone.

Nov 8 – Cloudy and warm 62 Abz. Stayed at home. Put lock on Johnsons Box.

Nov 9 – Cloudy 33 Abz. Lasher Brot over the sleepers. Got load lumber of A. Powers. Sent Ed a letter & one to David. Bot 10 yds _______________.

Nov 10 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Raised the boddy of my barn. Chapin paid me 25 cts. Johnson paid me 10 cts. Put locks on box.

Nov 11 – Pleasant 29 Abz. Worked on my barn. Father came over. Sarah went to D Harris. Got Bran of Lyon 23 lbs. Raining in the Night.

Nov 12 – Cloudy 38 Abz. Put Roof boards and rafters on my barn. Rainy some snow. Moved locker in front room.

Nov 13 – Cloudy 31 Abz. Put in the sleepers to the barn & laid some floor.

Nov 14 – Pleasant 20 Abz. Banked house. Tailors girls moved. B 2 lbs box 13 cts. Killed cat.

Nov 15 – Pleasant 18 Abz. At home all day. My Barn ready to side.

Nov 16 – Snows 32 Abz. Set glass. Lasher Brot my siding 962 feet. Bot one lb whiting 6 cts.

Nov 17 – Cloudy 33 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Henry Stevens took Dinner here. Bot bushel turnips of E. flanders.[61] Bot 6 lbs pork of Earl 47 cts.

Nov 18 – Pleasant 31 Abz. Put some siding on the Barn. Commenced snowing at night. Father came over. Joseph York making pint cups[?].

Nov 19 – Cold and snowey 22 Abz some two or three inches deep. Snowed and blowed all day. Bot Boots 4.00. Recd letter from Ed one from Cridland.

Nov 20 – Snows 18 Abz. Race[62] Brok. Water all over. Duce of a time. Snowed & blowed all day. Stayed at home. Moved down stairs to night.

Nov 21 – Snows 19 Abz Blows cold snow flies. Lasher drawed one load stalks. Flanders one load. Got my plank. Bot saleratas 10 cts.

Nov 22 – Cold 17 Abz dont snow this morning. Stayed at home.

Nov 23 – Pleasant 13 Abz. Went over to the mill. Went up to Yorks. Got windows at Crids place. Bot shoes for Sarah 11/-.

Nov 24 – Cold 6 Abz. Snows some. Put on some siding. Worked over to Cross shop some on steel runners.

Nov 25 – Cold & pleasant 18 Bel zero. Tinkered round home. Got the snow of my Barn. Bot 7 lbs Beef 28 cts. Lois came home.

Nov 26 – Cold 7 Below zero pleasant. Mark & Henry here. Sarah went up to Hellens. Commenced shingling my Barn. Got a letter from G. Tomlinson.

Nov 27 – Pleasant zero. Shingling. Quite warm and comfortable. Went over to Lashers in the Evening. Started the mill.

Nov 28 – Pleasant 26 Abz. Finished shingling my Barn. Laid floor. Lasher worked half day. Carried 2 bushels wheat to mill. Shafter brot me some wheat. 3 lbs nails. Warm.

Nov 29 – Pleasant 46 Abz. At home. Rainy afternoon and Evening.

Nov 30 – Cloudy 52 Abz. Worked on Barn finished siding. Made one door. Jesse Earl Brot some ax helve timber. Bot 2 lbs nails 25. Mark Lee here at noon.

Dec 1 – Pleasant 34 Abz. Lasher Brot 50 Bushels corn. Made bin. Rained in Evening warm. Bot 2 lbs rot[?] nails 25 cts one pr hinges 66 cts 13 cts screws[?].

Dec 2 – Cloudy 42 Abz. Made my doors for Barn. Got hasp for door 25 cts. Bot thread 10 cts.

Dec 3 – Cloudy 30 Abz. Went over to Father. Catharine came up. Put up stones to Clintons & James graves. Mark & Henry helped.

Dec 4 – Pleasant 28 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Drawed corn fodder 2 loads for York 2 for my self. Took dinner with Jo.

Dec 5 – Pleasant 26 Abz. Went over and drawed corn fodder. Brot one load home. Rained in the Evening.

Dec 6 – Rainy 42 Abz. Ella Taylor here. D. Lamkins here in the Evening. Old Mrs Earl died.

Dec 7 – Pleasant 32 Abz. Worked round the Barn put in window. Sarah & children went over to Fathers. Stuck steaks for my shop.

Dec 8 – Pleasant 31 Abz. Mrs Munsel here. Smoky in the morning. Made manger made small door. George York pd me $3.25 ct. Sarah & children gone. Mrs Earl buried to day. Rainy night.

Dec 9 – Misty morning 43 Abz. All alone. Sarah went to Fathers. Sarah came home. Mark Brot them home. Cordelia Earl here. Got the old freight House moved. Pluto came on the new side track.

Dec 10 – Some snow & Blowes 28 Abz. Matilda Munsel here. Went home on the cars. Bot ½ lb Tea 25 cts. D. K. Rogers Bot file 13 cts. Recd letter from R. Crawford.

Dec 11 – Snows very little 28 Abz. Worked round got ready to work on my shop sills. Killed rooster.

Dec 12 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Commenced my sills. Got them partly fraimed. Deyo & wife here to supper. York here in morning.

Dec 13 – Pleasant 26 Abz no snow yet. Went over to Fathers. Ground bear. Mr Taylor and wife here in Evening. Sarah went to church.

Dec 14 – Pleasant 39 Abz. Went over and moved Ethen Bradleys[63] Bonens. Took them to Galesburg. Mark & Henry Lees & Jo York. Warm & Pleasant as Summer.

Dec 15 – Pleasant 31 Abz. Finished framing my shop sills. Gave Powers his order on Mrs H. Clark.

Dec 16 – Pleasant 31 Abz. Went up to Yorks. He was gone.

Dec 17 – Pleasant 32 Abz. Went up to Yorks. Got out my sleepers and blocks. Ed Crawford came out. Rained in the night.

Dec 18 – Rainy 36 Abz. Ed went over to Lashers. Looked at the Farm. Ed left at six 15 Evening. Set foundation to shop.

Dec 19 – Cool 26 Abz. Framed sleepers for shop. Put on the sills. Received a letter from Sherwoods folks.

Dec 20 – Pleasant 16 Abz no snow nice fall weather. Stayed at at home. Extracted one tooth for Emma Clark 25 cts.

Dec 21 – Cloudy 24 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Commenced snowing. Lasher gone to Kalamazoo. Girls moved their Bed up stairs. Sent letter to G. T.

Dec 22 – Cloudy 30 Abz snow 2 or 3 inches deep round here to day. Sent letter to C. R. Cridland one to J. S. King.

Dec 23 – Pleasant 24 Abz some snow. Went over to Byingtons. Jesse & Polly Earl here to tea party. Over to W^m Aldrich in the Evening.

Dec 24 – Pleasant 22 Abz. Went over to Lashers. Not much sleighing.

Dec 25 – Pleasant 3 Abz. Went over to Jos Wisemans to supper.

Dec 26 – Pleasant 20 Abz. Bot hair dye 20 cts. Made pattern for J. C. Blake. Gals took tea had goose.

Dec 27 – Pleasant 22 Abz. Sarah gone to church. Cordelia Earl here. At home all day. D. Lamkins here in Evening.

Dec 28 – Pleasant 33 Abz. Set & filed saw for H. Cook. Some snow thaws 42 Abz at noon. Went over to Fathers. Got Barlows violin.

Dec 29 – Pleasant 18 Abz nice morning. Flanders Brot load straw. Got some lumber from the mill. Lasher Brot _________ 162½ lbs. Stimpson folks here.

Dec 30 – Cloudy 36 Abz. Framed my studs. Raised my shop. Went over to Deyos. Took tea.

Dec 31 – Snows 29 Abz. Worked on shop frame. Put in the girts[?]. Henry came home.

 

Entries for January 1 – 16, 1858 which were entered in the back of this diary are listed with the 1858 diary entries.

 

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

[2] The entries from January 1 through January 24 were first written in the back of his 1856 diary and are basically identical to what he wrote in his 1857 diary. Anything from 1856 that clarifies the 1857 entries are noted in brackets

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

[4] Hannah (Willcutt) Keith

[5] Charles Luke Keith Sr., who was also known as Luke

[6] His daughter, Lois Keith, by his first wife, Minerva Payson

[7] Joseph York, husband of his niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[8] Helen (Bradley) & Joseph York

[9] Charles R. Cridland

[10] One of the long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

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

[12] James S. King, his first cousin

[13] George Tomlinson, husband of his niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[14] Ethan, Nancy and Hannah Keith

[15] His first cousin

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

[17] James Oscar Keith, son of his brother Harvey and Alfleda (Starr) Keith, who went by the name of Oscar

[18] 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

[19] James Oscar Keith

[20] Jessie J. Keith

[21] His horse

[22] Omro, Wisconsin

[23] His mother-in-law, Nancy B. (Comfort) Crawford

[24] Believe he is referring to Ballou Brown, whose grandson (Henry Brown) would eventually be married to Luke’s daughter Nancy

[25] Presume this to be Oscar’s brother, Harvey Keith

[26] Believe he is referring to James Sprague Jr., who was married to his sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[27] His son, Ethan Keith, who was six years old

[28] Believe he is referring to Ballou Brown’s son

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

[30] His brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford

[31] James Sprague Jr. actually died March 30, 1857

[32] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that George Simmons died at the age of 42 years 10 months and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery. It is unknown if there is any relationship between Luke and George

[33] Ambrose Brown, Ballou Brown’s son

[34] Oscar’s wife, Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[35] Warren Wolcott

[36] His brother-in-law, Lucius Prosper Crawford

[37] Above zero

[38] Felly or felloe is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes

[39] The Alphadelphia Association; more More information on the Alphadelphia Association can be seen here.

[40] His daughter, who was not quite two years old

[41] His son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[42] His daughter, not quite five years old

[43] Believe he is referring to his adopted brother, Wesley Keith

[44] The brother of his second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

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

[46] Believe he is referring to his brother-in-law, David “D.C.” Crawford

[47] A search of FindAGrave.com shows S. G. Clark died at the age of 23 years 2 months 1 day, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery. It is unknown if there is any relationship between Luke and S. G. Clark

[48] His brothers-in-law, Edwin and Pros Crawford

[49] Luke’s cousin, William Henry Lee; see also footnote #45. Henry and Mark were brothers

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

[51] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Horace Clark died at the age of 39 years 1 month 19 days, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery. It is unknown if there is any relationship between Luke and Horace

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

[53] Joseph Cory

[54] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Gratia (Whitney) Cory died at the age of 54 years 2 months 5 days, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg. It is unknown if there is any relationship between Luke and Gratia

[55] His first cousin

[56] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Allen Ferris was born in 1803, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery. It is unknown if there is any relationship between Luke and Allen

[57] His brother-in-law and wife, Edwin and Mary (Hamilton) Crawford

[58] Edward G. Wolcott, his first cousin

[59] Believe he is referring to Byron Clark, his daughter Lois’ future husband

[60] Sodium or potassium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent; baking soda

[61] Edwin and Mary Flanders took in Luke’s son, Henry, and possibly his daughter, Lois, after the death of his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith, for a period of time

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

[63] His sister Catherine’s first husband