1867 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]
Jan 1 – Went over to burg got some lumber for cutter beams. Got two bushels wheat ground. Drawed some wood down for school.
Jan 2 – Went up to Yorks[2] and Wesleys[3] carried Lois[4] to Wesleys. Went up to J C Blakes. Sarah[5] went to burg. Mr Ames Wilson[6] Died this morning.
Jan 3 – Split school wood. Went to Mr Wilsons funeral in afternoon. Went up to Yorks in Evening. Sarah went up to Mr Scrams.[7]
Jan 4 – Sarah up to [S]crams this morning they had a girl born.[8] I went up to Wesleys with Scram after Lois. Ida Barber and Angela Mason here. Nancy[9] went home with them.
Jan 5 – Drawed wood most of the day. Catharine[10] came down found calf this morning in the stable. Mr Taylor carried 5 bushels wheat for Oscar.[11]
Jan 6 – At home all day all well. Lois at Scrams to work.
Jan 7 – Went over to burg. Bot cloth for Jims[12] pants 1.50¢. Bot calf skin 50¢. Wesley came down to see old cow. Sent for Tribune 1.50¢.
Jan 8 – Went down to M F. Lees. Brot Mark[13] up to see old cow. Went up to Mr Scrams. Got 5 bushels Buckwheat 5.00.
Jan 9 – Went over to mill. Bot calfskin of George Jenkins 50. Went over in Evening bot medicine for old cow 75¢. Old George the old station Horse died to day Age 44/yrs.
Jan 10 – Worked in shop some. Went up to Mr Scrams and Yorks.
Jan 11 – Worked in shop put cutter to gether. Went up to Scrams and Yorks in Evening after the girls.
Jan 12 – Cut out mittens for Mr Johnson and my self. Went over to mill. Ethan[14] Nancy and Hannah[15] went to show 50. 11 Degrees below zero at six this morning.
Jan 13 – At home all day.
Jan 14 – Went over to burg. Bot Barrel Salt 3.50. Worked in shop some.
Jan 15 – Went over to burg. Carried Ethans boot paid 25¢. Mrs Barber came over. Worked in shop some on cutter. Bot pork 1.00.
Jan 16 – Jane Hoag here. Went and carried her home in Evening. Very cold. Got Ethans boot. Bot candy 5¢.
Jan 17 – Worked in shop finished cutter for J. C. Blake.
Jan 18 – Went over to burg. Bot oil 38. Bot plasterparis -5. Finished my mittens. Spencer Thomas came here bot Oxen.
Jan 19 – Drove Tom and Jerry over to burg. They weighed 2740 lbs at 6¢ per pound. J. C. Blake paid for cutter bottoms 12.00.
Jan 20 – Went up to Yorks and Wesleys.
Jan 21 – Butchered my hogs. Mark and Wes helped me.
Jan 22 – Went over to burg. Blake paid 176.40. I paid Mrs McLellen 10. Dollars. P. T. Lane paid five Dollars $5.00. Bot thread 25¢.
Jan 23 – Went up to past Mr Ralphs and Mr Pincheons. Saw Mr Brenson told him not to go to Kalamazoo.
Jan 24 – Got out wheelbarrow arms. Mrs Beech and Selia Newsman here. I went over to burg with them.
Jan 25 – Went to Kalamazoo to court for Hartwell. Bot salearatas[16] 15. Went down with D. Bronson. Very stormy day cold lots snow.
Jan 26 – Repaired cornsheller for Mr Allerton. Cold day not many trains out to day.
Jan 27 – Winter in earnest now a days.
Jan 28 – Went up to Yorks drawed two loads wood. Went over to burg in Evening. Bot hoops 1.25 candy 5¢ other traps 5.00.
Jan 29 – Went to Kalamazoo Dinner 40¢ horses to hay 25¢.
Jan 30 – Went to Kalamazoo Dinner 15.
Jan 31 – Went to Kalamazoo Dinner 5. Stranger Stayed here all night. Ethan went of with Dodge.
Feb 1 – Went to Kalamazoo dinner 10¢. Gave in my Evidence on the Hartwell case. Stranger left Ethan came back.
Feb 2 – At home drawed one load wood. The McLary and Hartwell case decided to day in favor of Hartwell. Dodges team here.
Feb 3 – At home. Charles Lees folks here. Dodges team here. Catharine and Hellen[17] and Mrs Darling here. Ethan went down to Mark.
Feb 4 – Allerton paid 1.25 (violin) Cary got. Went over to burg with Dodges team. Ethan went of with Dodge. Bot oil 38¢. Paid Dr Wightman Fathers[18] Doctor bill 4.0 four Dollars. Let him have 15 (6) dollars.
Feb 5 – Paid Lois 20 Dollars. Sarah and Lois went up to Yorks. I drawed two loads wood. Jef Chaffee[19] called here. I let him have five Dollars.
Feb 6 – Went up to the Pavilion mill carried 3 bushels wheat 4 bushels corn.
Feb 7 – At home. Catharine here all day. Shelled Catharines corn. York got home.
Feb 8 – Went over to burg got Nancys shoes 30¢. Paid Bullock and Shefflers Note 102 one Hundred and two Dollars. Bot candy 5¢.
Feb 9 – Made clothesbars. Not very well.
Feb 10 – At home all day. Oscar came over here after some fur to make a hat for Glen Keith their new boy.[20]
Feb 11 – Let Mr Scram have my sleigh to go to Kalamazoo. Went over and got Mary Ann.[21] Albert Brown died.
Feb 12 – Carried 5 bushels corn to mill to day. Wesley got cornsheller. Bot file 25¢. Albert Brown buried. Rainy day. Mary Ann went up to Yorks.
Feb 13 – Worked in shop. Made cart tung sawed out thills[22] for wagon.
Feb 14 – Wes brot sheller home. Worked on thills. Went over to burg. Nancy and Hannah went over to Mr Barbers. Got iron mended. York got wheat. Made soap.
Feb 15 – Cold freezing morning no sleighing. Went up and got my syrup to Fords 4.75. Dance up to Yorks this Evening. Rainy day.
Feb 16 – Very windy this morning some ice in the roads. Finished thills made cart tung.
Feb 17 – Went down to Catharines place. Isaac Wing there. Pleasant day. Uncle Jim King[23] died to day 20 minutes to Four P.M.
Feb 18 – Pleasant day. Cut tree for fence posts. Went up to Yorks drawed 3 loads wood.
Feb 19 – Went over to mill got one bag meal. Bot salearatas 15¢ Buttons for dress 15. Cold wind no snow.
Feb 20 – Worked in shop some on wheelbarrow.
Feb 21 – Made violin neck. Went over to burg after cate. Bot cloves and cinnamon 35¢. Cate and Zeak Davison here in Evening.
Feb 22 – Oscar here this morning. Cate Chaffee[24] here. Worked on violin neck some.
Feb 23 – Went over to burg. Sarah went over to stay all night. Got harness mended 25¢.
Feb 24 – Went over after Sarah. Went to Oscars. Got letter from J. S. King.[25]
Feb 25 – Carried Lois over to burg. Bot one but for Catharines chest 5¢ Bot thread 20¢. Went up on hill and split some wood.
Feb 26 – Split some wood in forenoon. Carried Lois and Sarah down to the A. Browns.[26] Man called here to by Jason. Very pleasant. Oscar left.
Feb 27 – Worked round house. Went over to mill got two bags meal. Caty went up to Yorks.
Feb 28 – Made clothes bars for Caty Chaffee.
Mar 1 – Millford moved to day. Choped some in forenoon up in woods. Went up to Yorks. Sarah and Lois went up to Mr Scrams. Ethan came home. Put neck on violin.
Mar 2 – Went up to Yorks in morning. Set sound post in Charley Bronsons violin. Sarah and Lois went up to Yorks.
Mar 3 – At home all day. Put finger board on violin.
Mar 4 – Drawed wood. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Caty Chaffee here. Wesley brot saw down to get filed.
Mar 5 – Cut tree for fence posts. Ethan bot oil 30.
Mar 6 – Went down to Jo Lees.[27] Jeff came out after Cate.
Mar 7 – At home all day. Catharine down here. Edith here stayed all night. Louesa[28] went up to Yorks.
Mar 8 – Jo York went and carried Jefs folks home. Cut down three trees for wood. T Flanders[29] came here. Bot Tea 75. Blind peddler stayed here all night.
Mar 9 – T. Flanders left. Not much done headache. Went up to Yorks after Louesa.
Mar 10 – At home all day rainy. Wes came down drawed tooth for him. Headache all day.
Mar 11 – Went over to mill carried 32 bushels wheat 3 of my corn.
Mar 12 – Went over to Burg got grist sold eggs 8 doz & 9 1.09. Bot callicoe 80 one lb shugar 15 salratas 15 needles 10¢ shoe strings 5¢ camphor 20¢ pens 15¢ Hannahs shoes 1.00.
Mar 13 – Not much work to day.
Mar 14 – Worked in shop some made axhelves for Chub got out spokes for wheel barrow &c.[30] Put rivet in T Flanders Knife. Very cold 9 Above zero.
Mar 15 – Worked in shop got out stuf for wheelbarrow put bottom in well bucket the job of the Kind I ever done.
Mar 16 – 10 Abzero.[31] Worked in shop some. Drawed some wood. Went up to Yorks after saw. Harry Streator stayed the night.
Mar 17 – At home all day. Wes here in Evening. Got Chubs axhelve. Cold day blustering 10 Abz.[32]
Mar 18 – Went up to Yorks got saw. 10 Abzero in morning. Sawed three logs for fence posts. Mrs Eaton shot herself.
Mar 19 – Very pleasant all day no signs of a storm. Went up to Earls mill. School out to day. Carried vinegar keg down to Fords.
Mar 20 – Mark here windy day. Went and carried stove up to Marts place for Mr Seaman. Sarah went to burg. Mrs Eaton buried. Catharine stayed all night.
Mar 21 – Moved Sam Seaman. Snows some this morning some wind cloudy windy all day some stormy. June will be a wet month. A good deal cloudy weather in June not a good hay month.
Mar 22 – Loid Higgins stayed all night. Taped some trees carried Kettle in to the woods. Mr Samuel Swaddle and wife here. Dick Lamkins and girl here. Dick brot rake.
Mar 23 – Tapt some trees to day. Wesley brot cornsheller home. T. Flanders called here went home with James got his knife. Caucas at the burg.
Mar 24 – Snowed and rained. Gathered sap in morning.
Mar 25 – Boiled sap in forenoon. Tapt 4 trees in afternoon. Mended some pans.
Mar 26 – Boiled sap in the forenoon. Snowed all afternoon. Went up to Seaman House and got two loads wood in cart.
Mar 27 – Choped wood in the forenoon by the boiling place made molasses in afternoon. Went up to Wesleys in Evening.
Mar 28 – Went up to Yorks. Ground ax in forenoon. Choped in afternoon. Set up buckels and pans sap run some. David Tomkins here. Lucy[33] came down.
Mar 29 – Pleasant. Sarah went up to Yorks. I cut some small trees for spokes. Ella Randall Elva Earl here. Dick Lamkins brot his slead down to get a runner put in.
Mar 30 – Pleasant morning. Boiled sap all day. Mart Millhams wife[34] buried to day. Fine day. Wesley got load straw.
Mar 31 – Nice morning. Boiled sap all day. Mr Bristol here. Pleasant day.
Apr 1 – Sent letter to Pavilion bot stamps 9¢. Bot shoes for Louesa 1.25. Went to townmeeting. Extracted tooth for Milford Matthews 25¢. Fine day.
Apr 2 – Boiled sap most all day. Mr Scram came down to the boiling place. Snow the peddler stayed here all night. Pleasant day.
Apr 3 – Pleasant day. Boiled sap in forenoon. Shugared of in afternoon. Sarah went up to H. A Taylors. Fathers cow calved to day. Made some shugar. Ida Barber here.
Apr 4 – Carried 3 bushels corn 2 of wheat to mill. Bot callico 20¢ ½ lb ginger 20¢. Sold C. P. Galligan 4 doz eggs 51.
Apr 5 – Made box for Mr Shermans washing machine 1.00. Went over to burg got grist. Bot oil and tape needle 31¢ got Ethans Boots 1.00.
Apr 6 – Pleasant day. Cut some logs and put around Kettle to Boil sap. Made mop handle.
Apr 7 – Boiled sap all day. Dick Blackburn here.
Apr 8 – Went over to the burg in morning. Bot 18 yds cloth for girls dresses 18 cts for yard 3.97¢.
Apr 9 – Gathered in my sap buckets and spouts. Put up some fence. Repaired seat in back house. Cut some bushes up to Crid house. Scram got 60 feet board.
Apr 10 – Rainy day. Dick came down went up to mill. Got plank for rave[35] stick for rake head. Sawed out runner for Dicks slead. Lucy stayed all night.
Apr 11 – Put in runner and rave to Dicks slead. Catharine came down. Addy and Ella Swaddle came over. Mrs Allerton here. Filled up Crids well.
Apr 12 – Went up to Wesleys. Worked on slead some. T. Flanders came here. Oscar came.
Apr 13 – Went up to Scrams. Sarah went to burg. Oscar went home. Mr Scram shelled corn. I went over to mill got corn ground. Mr Flanders and Ethan husked corn.
Apr 14 – Mark came up we went over to the burg got door. Sarah came home with me. It rained some. Gave Mark door and window. Recd letter from Geo Tomlinson.[36]
Apr 15 – Husked corn all day. Rained all day. Ethan gone down to Marks.
Apr 16 – Husked corn in forenoon. Went down to Marks in afternoon. Stayed all night.
Apr 17 – Helped Mark in forenoon got home about 2 P.M. Finished husking corn. Sarah went up to Mr Ralphs Yorks.
Apr 18 – Went up to Wesleys got his team commenced plowing west of orchard. Sarah came home. Sarah went to Mr Ralphs. Trimmed some trees.
Apr 19 – Got out some manuer. Ethan plowing.
Apr 20 – Plowed in afternoon. Ethan went to Kalam[37] with Henry Brown.[38] Finished plowing the west lot.
Apr 21 – At home all day.
Apr 22 – Went over to burg. Carried Mr Scramlin some potatoes. Left Nancys shoes. P. T Lane paid 5.00.
Apr 23 – Went over after shoes 65¢ salearatas 15 shoestrings 5¢.
Apr 24 – Left for Oscars went on cars to Lawton foot & walkers line to Paw Paw from there to Coloma by stage. Got to Oscars about 4 P.M.
Apr 25 – At Oscars in Deerfield Township Mich. Set out cherry tree on Oscars place. Went and saw some land north of schoolhouse. Rained some. Milford got 5 bushels corn.
Apr 26 – Went down to the Lake went up on groaning Knob. Rained some. Went to Mr Judsons Winchels Teachouts &c. Oscar bot molasses. We had some shugar.
Apr 27 – Left Oscars about seven morning walked up to waters ___t stage to Paw Paw 2.00. Walked from “ “ [Paw Paw] to Lawton. Came up on cars got home about half past ten Evening.
Apr 28 – Pleasant day at home. Ed York brot Catharine up. Ethan got sheat music & Dasy Deane S Bristol here let him take spy glass home.
Apr 29 – Carried corn from Barn to cornhouse 88 bushels. T. Flanders came over he picked up some corn.
Apr 30 – Went up to Wesleys in morning. T Flanders went up to Yorks. Mrs Dick & Mrs Luis Barber here. Filled up cellar on corner.
May 1 – Worked up to corner in forenoon. Shoveled dirt in cellar. Quite cool wind.
May 2 – Took A A. Dodge team home. Went over to burg. Nancy & Hannah went up to Mr Swaddles. Saw Mr Dodge. Bot Broom. Sold eggs 7 doz 10¢ pr Doz. Bot Nails 8¢.
May 3 – Went over to burg with Dodges team. Henry[39] & Hiram[40] came. Went over after girls. Bot Tea & coffee 1.10¢.
May 4 – At home. Henry & Hiram here. Rainy day. Went up to Yorks.
May 5 – At home. Dick called here. Jo Lee and Lois came up here. Henry and Hiram left for home. A A Dodge called here.
May 6 – Ethan goes of with Dodge to day. Went over to burg. Sold Butter to Mrs Morton 8¾ 1.75. Measured lot with Bristol. Julia Lee[41] here to get work done.
May 7 – Cold 32 Abz in morning. Went over to burg. P. T. Lane paid 5.00¢ Dr Wightman paid note $16.00. Went down to Marks with Catharine in afternoon.
May 8 – Burnt bush in orchard. Mr Bristol came over and made out papers for house and lot at Galesburg he paid 52.00.
May 9 – Bot Hat 2.50¢. Went over to burg in morning. Carried hubbs to get banded. Went over in Evening. Bot oil sold Egs.
May 10 – Mark came up an cut 3 Boars 3 bulls. Got two chairs. Harriet and Edith[42] here in afternoon. A A Dodge and Ethan came. Dodge paid .75¢ for Lamkins.
May 11 – Drawed some wood. Went up to Wesleys. Went over to burg in Evening. Saw A A Dodge.
May 12 – At home all day. Cut Wisemans hair. Dick Lamkins called here got his organ board that holds his book.
May 13 – Some rainy. School commenced to day. Ethan went down to Catharines place with Jo to drive a cow. I let Jo York have 3 bushels corn. No work to day.
May 14 – Went over to burg. Got some traps from shop. Bot orrange for Jim 5¢. Catharine here.
May 15 – Went up to Houlands burg saw Mr A. Pond. He is going to cut me out one set felloes[43] for a two horse wagon. Rained some pleasant afternoon.
May 16 – John Ash plowed garden in forenoon. Went down to Marks in afternoon. Got some seed corn.
May 17 – Went over to burg. B[ot] 6 photographs 1.00 Bot Bottle Kenedays Medicine 1__0¢. Moved stove in to Kitchen.
May 18 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot one pr shoes paid for one. Bot one tick 5.00. Got Jims boots tapt 40. Went over in Evening bot book for Louesa 20. Heard from Crid.
May 19 – Some rainy. Catharine here &c. C. Lee here.
May 20 – Ethan went up to Battlecreek. Went over to burg bot fish and dogwood 85¢. Went and got Wesleys team. Rainy night. Got old wagon.
May 21 – Rainy and cool. Got old wagon up to H. A. Taylors. Ethan came home.
May 22 – Rained some. Went to mill. Got photographs 1.50 paid school bill 3.47¢. Took Wesleys team home. David Henyons wife Died this Evening.
May 23 – Over to burg got load stuff from shop. Bot salearatas and thread 25¢. Mr Rowe Buried to day. Got morter of Isaac Scram. Pleasant day.
May 24 – Drgged and cultivated corn ground. Rained some. Went over to burg. Sold 4 doz Eggs 8.13 oz butter 20¢ pr ___.
May 25 – Went over to burg. Sold 4 doz Eggs 8 lbs and 13 oz butter 20¢ per lb.
May 26 – Lamkins Brot violin. Went up to Wesleys took level of his ground from old well to lane North from his house found 2 feet & 6 inches fall.
May 27 – At home not much done.
May 28 – Charley Lee came up to see violin. Rained.
May 29 – Put Affecks violin together. Sarah went up to Yorks.
May 30 – Snow stayed all night. Went over to burg in morning. Went up to Yorks and got chairs. Carried them over to burg. Saw Jewit Holden. Libby Taylor came over.
May 31 – Got team to drag finished draging marked out one way almost.
Jun 1 – Marked some. Ethan planted a few rows corn. Sarah sick. Went after the Doctor. He came over twice. Went up to Yorks after vinegar. Rained in the night.
Jun 2 – Pleasant and warm in forenoon. Mrs Barber came over.
Jun 3 – Went over to mill carried 3 bushels wheat 2 corn. Carried Afflecks violin. Bot 10 lbs shugar 1.50. Planted some corn. Harriet stayed all night.
Jun 4 – Went to Kalamazoo in afternoon with Wesley. Left my watch. Let Wes have $2.00.
Jun 5 – Planted corn. Lois came home. Very hot. Marked out some ground. 88 in shade.
Jun 6 – Finished planting corn. Planted potatoes. Mrs Ash here to Tea.
Jun 7 – Planted some in garden corn peas onions.
Jun 8 – Went over to burg. Sold 5 Doz Eggs 62¢ 7 lbs butter 18¢ pr pound. Callicoe 36¢ silk 85¢.
Jun 9 – Very hot day. Went down to Catharines place saw Wings folks. Marks folks came up.
Jun 10 – Went over to burg. Bot Dresses for girls 5.55. Planted some corn in East garden some cucumbers.
Jun 11 – Planted potatoes in West garden. Charles Lee and Mr Smith here. Mrs Sumner called here.
Jun 12 – Mark got Bureau and bedstead. Cultivated some corn in west lot. Went to burg in Evening got Hats for girls bot shoes for Hannah & Nancy 4.00.
Jun 13 – Cultivating corn. Hannah gone to picknick to burg. Lucy here. Mowed some grass for Nance.
Jun 14 – Cultivated and hoed corn.
Jun 15 – Rainy. Mr John Clark and wife came here this morning. No work to day. Ethan went to burg.
Jun 16 – Went down to Mr Browns. Got wool box.
Jun 17 – Went over to the burg. Bot sythe and swath 3.00. Worked on wool box some. T. Flanders came.
Jun 18 – Finished wool box. Jesse Earl came down. T. Flanders went up to Yorks. Mowed yard and some in Orchard.
Jun 19 – Worked on road. Cut bushes up south by Durkees.
Jun 20 – Ethan cultivated corn some. I took Lamkins rake to peaces.
Jun 21 – Worked on road on town line up near Mr Ridlers.
Jun 22 – Mr Scram shelled some corn. I commenced wagon box. Drawed in hay from orchard. Jo Lee and Ann[44] came up here. Very hot.
Jun 23 – Hot morning. Mr Byington here.
Jun 24 – Hoed in garden. Drawed load wood. Worked on violin some.
Jun 25 – Put violin together the Boston fiddle. Went over to burg got chairs 1.50 & photographs for Catharine 1.00. Sold Mrs Morton 7. Lbs Butter 1.10 lb.
Jun 26 – Mowed on the hill south of orchard lot. Ethan cultivated corn.
Jun 27 – Went over to mill 2 bus wheat. Went up to Hartwells got wheelbarrow hub turned. Z. Butterfield turned it. Bot salearatas 15¢. S. Bristol gave me a hattan and crusible. Got some traps from shop.
Jun 28 – Made wagon for Henry Rogers called here. I sgned for book. Plowed out corn and potatoes in garden. Wallace Earl got home.
Jun 29 – Sick to day. Mr and Mrs Streator called here. Jo Flanders called here he paid me 10.50¢. Went over to burg just at night. Drawed in some hay from hill south orchard.
Jun 30 – At home all day not well.
Jul 1 – Sick to day. Went down to Marks in afternoon. Charles Lees folks here. Sarah Sumner came here to board. Byington cut some hay.
Jul 2 – Paid Morton for fish 30 bot fish 30¢ paid 25¢. Went over to burg. Bot coat for Ethan 2.00 cap 1.75¢ cloth for pants 1.50¢ one violin string 40¢.
Jul 3 – Went over to mill in morning. Went over in Evening. Bot coat 3.00 vest 1.00 cloth for Jim 60¢. Mr Byington took home load hay. Got some straw to fill Beds. Jo Lee brot Catharine home.
Jul 4 – Went over to burg in Evening. Bot two set h___ 1.00. Let Ethan have 1.00 Nancy 10¢ Hannah 10¢. Rainy day.
Jul 5 – Went up to Hartwells bored Horse rake head. Came round by burg got trowell of Mr Stevenson. Rained some.
Jul 6 – Finished Lamkins Horse rake he got it made him a dividing board for mower. Sarah made my linnen pants. Lois went up to Yorks. Hannah went.
Jul 7 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.
Jul 8 – Catharine moved down to her old home. Mowed in forenoon. Drawed in some hay in afternoon.
Jul 9 – Went over to mill carried 2 bushels wheat for Catharine one corn. Sarah & Lois went over to Mr Scramlins. Bot stamps 6¢.
Jul 10 – Drawed hay mowed some. Nance sick. Good weather.
Jul 11 – Went down to Catharines. Carried some flour meal clock etc.
Jul 12 – Went over to burg. Bot one package Sloans condition pouders 25¢.
Jul 13 – Went over to mill. Carried 2 bushels wheat. Bot shugar 1.00. Commenced cutting wheat. Cradled around the lot. Saw Wallace Earl.
Jul 14 – Warm day at home all day. Wes came down. Mark came up brot some potatoes. Lois went home with him.
Jul 15 – Went up to Dick Lamkins fixed his organ. Recd letter from A A Dodge. Sent letter to G. T.[45] Mrs Courtney picked currants. Bot rake 35¢.
Jul 16 – Drawed two loads hay. Mrs Wiseman and girls here. Catharine and Lucy came up. Got some things. Put in cradlefinger for Doc Babcock 38¢.
Jul 17 – Went up to Dick Lamkins saw his reaper go. Went up horsback.
Jul 18 – Lamkins came down and cut my wheat. Mr Byington bound Rufus Taylor Bou__t a while. Lonzo Ash set up wheat all day. Recd letter from A. L. Keith.[46]
Jul 19 – Got Wesleys team drawed in my wheat had 8 loads.
Jul 20 – No work to day about used up. Went over to burg in Evening. Sarah went over stayed all night. Lois came home. Aunt Sinda Percival[47] died. Recd letter from C. R. Cridland.[48] Ethan went down to Catharines.
Jul 21 – Went up to Mr Scrams saw Mr __urgis. Went in swimming.
Jul 22 – Mr Scram put his wheat in Barn. Isaac patched barn roof put on morter in front room. Went to the burg. Bot shoes 4.00 bot Bot door Knob and lock 75¢ nails 16¢.
Jul 23 – Helped Wesley draw wheat. Very hot day.
Jul 24 – Hung front door. Mrs Aash cleaned house. Ethan helped Wesley draw wheat. Ella Randall stayed here all night. Louesa went to Allertons. Sam Seaman died to day.
Jul 25 – Rainy morning. Went up to Mrs Ash to see calf. Rainy day. Mr Bristol came over.
Jul 26 – Went over to burg. Got clock. Bot oil and salearatas 45¢. Saw A. J. Bradford. Went down to Catharines.
Jul 27 – Went to Kalamazoo got my watch 2.00. Bot two tumblers 30¢ rusks and cheese 10¢ muzzle 25¢. Wes paid 2.00. Bot needles. Emeretta Cory and Dr Wightmans girls here.
Jul 28 – Had a fine shower this morning.
Jul 29 – Ethan cultivated corn. Had Mrs Ashes horse. I hoed some.
Jul 30 – Had Ashes horse. I went over to burg. Took dinner to Wisemans. Ethan cultivated corn. Got ring mended. Carried 3 bushels wheat to mill.
Jul 31 – Rained this morning. Went up to Yorks. Harriet came down after some wheat let them have 1½ bushels. No work sick or lazy. John got his horses a way.
Aug 1 – Ethan and Nancy gone after berries with Mrs Courtney. I cultivated corn some.
Aug 2 – No work to day. Jo Lee and Lois came up in afternoon. Ethan cultivated corn.
Aug 3 – Ethan cultivated corn. I done nothing sick. Milow Bostwick[49] died. Mr Ransom got 2 loads hay.
Aug 4 – At home all day. No one here. Not very well.
Aug 5 – Not very well. Ethan to work in corn. Paid Byington 3.00¢ for days work binding wheat. Very hot.
Aug 6 – Went down to Catharines and Marks. Ethan worked for Mr Courtney thrashing his wheat. Very hot.
Aug 7 – Went over to burg saw A. J. Bradford. Carried some butter to Mrs Morton 4.3/6 lbs. Bot shirt bosom 30¢ thread 10¢. Marks girl[50] Born to day.
Aug 8 – Went over to burg after Brad he no come. Bot 6 lbs shugar of P. T. Law 16¢ 9 lb. Mrs Ralph here. Mark came up after Nancy. Went up to the Seamans got our Bead.
Aug 9 – Went over to burg after Brad he no come. Bot ½ lb tea 70¢. Went up to Mr Shurmans to get him to draw log up to stump pile.
Aug 10 – Round home no work to day.
Aug 11 – At home all day. Mrs Ash took old horse down.
Aug 12 – Got calf of Mrs Ash. Helped Wesley thrash in afternoon. Mr Sheffield and Warren left.
Aug 13 – Helped Wesley thrash in fore noon. Thrashed Jo Yorks in afternoon.
Aug 14 – Wesley brot wheat down. Jo Lee came up with Nancy. Mr Scram thrashed some wheat. Went over to burg in Evening. Carried 12 doz eggs 13¢ doz.
Aug 15 – Went over to mill. Bot Sarahs dress. Mr Bristol came over with Mr Streator.
Aug 16 – Thrashed my wheat had 94 bushels. Paid Judson 5.00¢. Helped Courtney some in the afternoon.
Aug 17 – Went down to Marks. Net Gafnee came here. Ethan helped Mr Randal thrash. Net Gaf.
Aug 18 – Ethan and Nancy went to campmeeting over in Wakeshma went with Hank Brown.[51] Jo Lee came up with Lois.
Aug 19 – Went over to burg. Let Brad have my moddle. Bot nails 15¢. Rained some in the afternoon.
Aug 20 – Round home no work sick. Nothing going on of any account.
Aug 21 – Sarah Harriet and Volina went down to Catharines. Went over to burg.
Aug 22 – At home no work to day. Mr Scram thrashing. Mrs Gafing here. T Flanders came over here.
Aug 23 – No work to day. Jim went up to ____. T Flanders left.
Aug 24 – Made seat to day for Dick Lamkins. I sold Mr Scram sow and pigs $.6.00¢.
Aug 25 – Mr Scram got sow and six pigs. Mark brot Lois home. Very warm and dry. Dick Barber and wife called here.
Aug 26 – Altered Dicks seat and painted it. Mr Scram took his straw away. Jo Lee brot pig up got one of mine. Very hot day.
Aug 27 – Went over to burg with Lois and Sarah. Went to Barbers to Dinner. Bot bot co____ 5 Bot elm bark 15¢. Went up to Yorks. Sold 7 doz eggs 7/- 4 lbs butter 25¢ pr pound.
Aug 28 – Pigsley and Grassins at burg. Went over to burg in Evening saw man perform on tight rope. Got some things out of shop. H. A. Taylors cows in corn all night.
Aug 29 – Went and cut some steaks and fixed fence west of garden. Catharine and Hellen here in afternoon.
Aug 30 – Painted Dicks sulky in forenoon. No work in afternoon.
Aug 31 – Rainy day. Chased pigs most of the day. Made squair and rule for Dick Blackburn.
Sep 1 – At home all day. R. Blackburn came over. Mr & Mrs Seaman here.
Sep 2 – Went over to burg bot shoestrings thread pins needles robbie ____ &c 78¢. Paid Mart Millham 1.50. Nancy went to pick hops.
Sep 3 – Rainy day. Carried sow and pigs up to Seamans $6.00. Extract tooth for Wiseman.
Sep 4 – Went over to mill carried 2 bushels wheat one of corn. Pedler show here to dinner. Hannah went down to pick hops.
Sep 5 – Went over to burg.
Sep 6 – Helped Wesley draw manre. Got out 20 loads.
Sep 7 – Wesley drawed rails in fore noon. I laid up fence across the pasture south.
Sep 8 – Went down to Catharines after Lousea. Mr Scram finished plowing corn lot.
Sep 9 – Cleaned up and burnt stuff where fence stood. Finished laying up fence. T. Flanders came over.
Sep 10 – T. Flanders left. Went up to Wesleys. The two Mrs Scrams here in afternoon.
Sep 11 – Made corncutter and cut corn in garden. Went over to burg got Bed Bottoms.
Sep 12 – Went over to Mr Tuttles auction bot fork and iron bar 1.85 one Dollar Eighty five cts.
Sep 13 – At home all day. Jo Lee and Lois here. Went up to brady with Lois Clark. Ben Ha___ called here. Rained some. Shaved out whiffletrees[52] for Milford. Wes bot box matches 10¢.
Sep 14 – Pleasant morning. Went up to Benjamin Hartwells to raising.
Sep 15 – Went down to Catharines with Jo York. Hannah and May starling came home with us. Rained some.
Sep 16 – Went up to Hartwells in afternoon to help raise his shop put up one ______ ______ ______. Went to school meeting in Evening. Hop pickers had a dance in Evening at Bennet house Galesburg.
Sep 17 – Went down to Jo Lees gone all day. Went to Catharines.
Sep 18 – Cut up corn. Sarah went up to Wes. Jo Lee called here. Mrs Barber and Ida came over. Ethan went fishing in Evening.
Sep 19 – Went over to B. Hartwells finished raising his building. Cont with corn.
Sep 20 – Cut corn in forenoon ____ made a horse to set up corn by. Went over to burg Bot Boots 5.00. Sold 7 doz eggs.
Sep 21 – A. Brown picking up apples to make cider. Went over to burg after Patty[53] and Henry. No come. John Wilcut and wife[54] came.
Sep 22 – At home Jesse Turner[55] and family called here. Went over to burg in morning after Patty. No come.
Sep 23 – John and ______ went up to D. Bristols place got corn peaches and grapes. Ethan & Hank Brown made cider. To Comstock made
Sep 24 – John and Clem went up to Yorks. Patty came.
Sep 25 – Went down to Catharines with John and Clem. Henry came. Mr Scram commenced sowing wheat in south lot. Carried up 5 bushels.
Sep 26 – Carried 4½ bushels wheat up in lot this morning. Cut corn. Larry Griffin came over. Henry stayed all night. Sarah went down to Catharines with Jo and Hellen.
Sep 27 – Cutting corn. Henry whent up to Mr Flanders. Ethan went down to Charles Lees after a mast for their boat.
Sep 28 – Finished cutting my corn. Went over to mill carried 2 bushels wheat. Let R. Blackburn have 44. galens cider.
Sep 29 – At home all day. Pleasant cool wind.
Sep 30 – Drawed in some corn. Went over to burg got one load lumber out of shop. Went up to Wesleys. John and Clem came back.
Oct 1 – Pleasant morning cool wind. Had Wesley team dawed 4 loads from shop. John and Clem went home.
Oct 2 – Finished drawing my lumber from burg. Charly came on the noon train from Jackson.
Oct 3 – Went down to Catharines after Patty. She no come home with me. Sarah went down to Mr Browns and Allertons _____ children here. Went up to Riddlers after a _____.
Oct 4 – Went over to burg after some things in barn. Lois brick machine. Bot box pills 25¢. Mrs Courtney got quilt frames.
Oct 5 – Went up to S. Bristols got 2 bushels peaches 1.30¢. Laid floor in hog pen.
Oct 6 – At home all day.
Oct 7 – At home worked in hogpen. Shut up old sow.
Oct 8 – Husked corn south of orchard. Went to burg Bot Boots for Ethan 5.00.
Oct 9 – Rainy morning. Killed pig over to Courtney. Went up to Wesleys got some pumpkin. Patty came up from Catharines.
Oct 10 – Drawed in some corn fodder. Rainy afternoon.
Oct 11 – Went up to Wesleys. Carried two pigs. Cloudy and cold. Catharine and Hellen came down.
Oct 12 – Carried Sarah and Patty up to Wesleys. Catharine and Lois went. Bot violin string 40¢ Bot Potatoe hook of A. O. D. Schram 1.50. Mrs Tim Mills buried. Ada Bennet[56] died this morning.
Oct 13 – Catharine went home took sorgum barrel. Wes came down. Fine day Patty here Henry here.
Oct 14 – Went over to burg got Cider Barrel to Blackburn. Cleaned up some wheat for Wesley husked some.
Oct 15 – Husked some cleaned up wheat. Wes took one load to burg 2.50 pr bush. Sarah Patty and Lois went up to Yorks.
Oct 16 – Went down to David Simonds in morning. Finished claning up Wes wheat. Wes sold load wheat 2.50 pr bushel.
Oct 17 – Went down to david Simonds. Husked corn. _______ Cook called here. Hannah Nancy and Louesa went down to Allertons. I signed a petition.
Oct 18 – Drawed some corn fodder. Went over to mill. Bot shugar 1.00 coffee 30 shirt bosoms 30 thread 20¢. Killed 2 hens.
Oct 19 – All hands went down to Catharines Wes & Harriet Jo & Hellen Sarah Patty and Lois. Very warm and dry.
Oct 20 – Mercury 80 in shade hot and dry.
Oct 21 – At home no work to speak of.
Oct 22 – Went over to burg. Carried over cider to Beckswith seven galons 7/-.[57]
Oct 23 – Made 72. galons cider. Let Whitford have two galons 25¢. Let Mrs Rogers have 28. galons 3.50¢.
Oct 24 – Dug some potatoes. Ethan went down to Catharines after Patty. Wesley went to Kalamazoo. Lois went.
Oct 25 – Carried Sarah Patty and Catharine over to Celia Newmans. Bot Brown 35¢ tea _______ & 82¢. Got Books from Chicago 4.50.
Oct 26 – Boiled cider all day. Got kettle to Allertons. Carried sail down to Randalls. Rainy day.
Oct 27 – At home all day. Catharine went home.
Oct 28 – Went over to burg got thing to make Evetrogh one of Ed Gillis to fix. Went up to S. Bristols with Patty. Bristol came over and made out Deed for Patty. Mrs Hart died.
Oct 29 – Carried Gillis machine home. A Chipman called here. Carried Mrs Allertons kettle home. Pleasant day. Recd letter from Breece of Kalamazoo.
Oct 30 – At home. Made pully to draw up corn fodder. Snowey day. ____ gone to Kalamazoo.
Oct 31 – At home not much done. Patty here. Made Brace to Wes wagon.
Nov 1 – Went over to mill got 2 bushels wheat g____ing. Got brace mended on wagon 20¢. W. B. Spalding paid 45.77¢. Went down to Catharines with Patty.
Nov 2 – Went up to Bristols. He paid up interest on mortgage up to Aug 11th 1868.
Nov 3 – At home. Issac Wing called here. Nancy went down to Catharines with Yorks folks. Rainy.
Nov 4 – Sarah and I Patty and Catharine went up to Jesse Turners in Wakeshma.
Nov 5 – We came home. Had Earls Buggy Wesleys horses.
Nov 6 – Went to Deerfield with Jo York. Got to Oscars about 8 PM.
Nov 7 – At Deerfield went round the squaire with Mr York[58] and Jo. Oscar came home.
Nov 8 – At the Lake about noon high wind no sail in sight. Very smokey high wind rained towards night.
Nov 9 – Left Oscars about 8 AM got to Paw Paw about noon. Dinner 50¢. Pleasant day. Got home about 8 Evening. All well.
Nov 10 – At home. Went up to Yorks in morning. Jesse Earls Charly horse died to day. Mr M. O. Streator called here. Extracted tooth for H. _____.
Nov 11 – Drawed some cornfodder. Wes came down. Killed a pig. Went to a School Meeting in Evening.
Nov 12 – Some cloudy in morning. Went over to burg. Bot (illegible).
Nov 13 – Went over to burg in morning. Went over to burg in Evening. Husked corn afternoon. Dud Imus paid up his note.
Nov 14 – Husked corn all day. Wallace Earl died about 12 oclock in Evening.
Nov 15 – Finished husking corn in lot. Pleasant day.
Nov 16 – Went to Kalamazoo with Jo and Mark Lee. Wallace Earl buried to day.
Nov 17 – Went up to Wesleys and Yorks. Patty and Catharine came up with Jo. Pleasant day.
Nov 18 – Killed a pig. Patty Catharine Harriet and Hellen Lucy & Henry all here.
Nov 19 – Patty & Henry started for hom on the 11.20 Train.
Nov 20 – Went over to burg carried 2 bushels wheat ½ corn for ______. Brot Jane Hoag over with me. Pleasant day. Bot books 3.00.
Nov 21 – Took the old cow down to Fords in morning. Drawed cornfodder in afternoon. Very fine weather.
Nov 22 – Got Wes team took apples up to Cider ___. Made 104 114 galons cider 1.75¢. Let Mr Schram have 48 gals cider 1/- per galon.
Nov 23 – Put up cornfodder in forenoon. Carried Sarah over to burg in Evening. Rained in the night some thunder.
Nov 24 – At home. Mark & Ann came up. Mark cut frank calf. Warm day.
Nov 25 – Made platform for Catharine. Painted thills to wagon.
Nov 26 – Put top on my machine. Sarah went up to Jesse Earls. I went up in Evening. Saw R. S. Clapp.
Nov 27 – Took Fathers cow down to Fords bull. Cloudy not very cold. Charles Lee and wife[59] here to Dinner.
Nov 28 – At home all day not much work done to day.
Nov 29 – Moved stove into front room. Went up to Wesleys and Yorks.
Nov 30 – Snowey cold first winter day. Drawed some wood. Went over to burg in Evening. Carried pants over to A. Hoags. Bot vitrol and gum 5¢.
Dec 1 – Cold morning 13. Abz at home.
Dec 2 – At home all day. Jo Lasher came here stayed all night. Went up to Milfords in Evening. B. F. Orcut shot this Evening.
Dec 3 – Lasher went up to J. Smiths. Andrew Turner and mother[60] here to dinner. Some snow on the ground.
Dec 4 – Went down to Catharines. Carried her platform down.
Dec 5 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Mr Giddings. Bot cotton 6.20¢ gloves for Ethan 1.25 candy 10. Lasher came back.
Dec 6 – Chopped some wood chored round.
Dec 7 – Went over to burg. Cut and split some wood. Lasher came up from Catharines.
Dec 8 – Made axhelve for Lasher. He went down to Catharines.
Dec 9 – Went to mill carried one bushel corn two of wheat.
Dec 10 – Went over to burg. Carried over old iron. Bot file. Issac Wing here. Shelled some corn. Jo Lee called here.
Dec 11 – At home. Sarah and Lois went down to Mr Randalls. I went down and took Tea. Jim Courtney here in Evening. Mark called here.
Dec 12 – Cold morning 14 Abz. Went over to burg with Lois. She went out to Jackson. Brot Wanda Clark and children over to Mr Taylors. B. F. Orcut died.[61]
Dec 13 – Cold morning 5 below zero. Cut some wood.
Dec 14 – Went down to Catharines with sleigh. Made mittens for Lasher in Evening. R. S. Clapp left for home.
Dec. 15 – At home all day. 7 below zero in morning. Edith came Down. Lasher stayed all night.
Dec 16 – Lasher commenced chopping for Allerton. Went over to Burg with Mr Howlet. Bot brush 10¢ Thread 10¢. B. F. Orcut buried to day.
Dec 17 – Chopped and drawed wood. Not very cold.
Dec 18 – Drawed one load wood. Filed cross cut saw for Riddler and Wes. Wesley got lumber out by barn.
Dec 19 – Made boulster for Allerton he paid 50¢.
Dec 20 – Cut some wood. Put my lumber in old shop.
Dec 21 – Extracted tooth for C ____. At home all day. Shelled some corn got some spokes out of hogpen. Charles Lee and wife called here. Tried to drive hogs over to burg. Rainy afternoon and Evening.
Dec 22 – Cold at home all day. Lasher came up here in Evening.
Dec 23 – Cleaned out shop. Choped some in afternoon. Chub came down to get me to go and help butcher.
Dec 24 – Went over to burg. Carried 2. bushels wheat 2 of corn. Bot pop gun for Jim.
Dec 25 – Helped Wesley kill hogs. Rainy afternoon. Dick Lamkins here in Evening.
Dec 26 – Went down to Charles Lees. Got one bushel potatoes and sausage cutter.
Dec 27 – Went up to Blakes to see about hogs.
Dec 28 – Cut tree in south lot for wood to butcher with.
Dec 29 – Went up to Wesleys to see about butchering.
Dec 30 – Wes and Jo helped butcher. Killed 3 hogs. Cut up and salted pork. Jesse Earl brot his wagon down.
Dec 31 – Worked in shop some. Dick Lamkins here. Worked on dash some. Snowed in night.
——-
[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke
[2] Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was his niece
[3] His brother, John Wesley Keith, who, according to the family Bible, was adopted
[4] His daughter by his first wife, Minerva Payson
[5] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[6] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Amos Willson died January 2, 1867 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[7] Neighbor, Isaac Schram
[8] The 1880 census lists Olive Schram as being born in 1867
[9] His daughter, Nancy Keith
[10] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[11] His nephew, James Oscar Keith
[12] His son, James Clinton Keith
[13] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s diaries and it is believed that he is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind to run his father’s farm and was living with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[14] His son, Ethan Keith
[15] His daughter, Hannah Keith
[16] Saleratus; sodium or potassium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent; baking soda
[17] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York
[18] Charles Luke Keith Sr.
[19] Thomas Jefferson Chaffee Jr., the husband of Luke’s niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee
[20] Glenn Noah Keith, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith, who was born on December 2, 1866
[21] Mary Ann (Batey) Keith
[22] The long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon
[23] James Hunt King
[24] His niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee
[25] James S. King, his maternal first cousin, and son of James Hunt King
[26] Neighbor, Ambrose Brown, the father of Henry Brown, who would marry Luke’s daughter, Nancy
[27] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin
[28] His daughter, Louesa Keith
[29] Neighbor, Thomas Flanders
[30] Etc.
[31] Above zero
[32] Above zero
[33] His niece, Lucy Irene Lee
[34] Clarinda (Goodrich) Milham
[35] The vertical side pieces to a wagon body
[36] George Tomlinson, who was married to Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson
[37] Kalamazoo, Michigan
[38] His future son-in-law
[39] Assume this was his wife Sarah’s brother, Henry Crawford; however, it could have been his son, Henry Keith
[40] His wife Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford
[41] Mark’s (footnote #13) wife, Julia Ann Lee
[42] Believe this was his brother Wesley’s wife and daughter, Harriet (Blakslee) Keith and Edith (Keith) Kellum
[43] A felloe, or felly, is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes
[44] I believe he is referring to Ansell Lee, the son of Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin
[45] George Tomlinson
[46] Aylmer Lot Keith, his paternal first cousin
[47] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Lucinda Percival died July 20, 1867 and is buried at Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[48] Charles R. Cridland
[49] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Milo Bostwick died May 6, 1880; however, his son, Elizur Bostwick, died August 9, 1867. Both men are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Either way, this entry appears to be inaccurate
[50] Mary Jane Lee
[51] Henry Brown
[52] 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
[53] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague
[54] His cousin, John & Juliet Clementine (Clover) Willcutt
[55] His maternal first cousin
[56] Oak Grove Cemetery (Galesburg, Michigan) records show that Ada Bennett, the daughter of H. L. & Levina Bennett, born in 1862, died October 11, 1867
[57] /- is the symbol used for shilling which varied between 12¢ and 16¢
[58] Believe he is referring to Joseph York’s father, Samuel York
[59] Believe he is referring to his cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee
[60] His cousins, Andrew J. Turner and Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner
[61] The December 2nd entry mentions that B. F. Orcut was shot
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 