1875 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]
The entries from January 1 through June 28 were written in the back of his 1874 diary. There were no entries for June 29 until July 22 when he bought his 1875 diary.
Jan 1 – Jointed box boards. Ethan and Hannah[2] went down to Catharines.[3] Lois[4] came down in afternoon. Del[5] went to burg.[6]
Jan 2 – Worked in shop. Not very cold but blustrous.
Jan 3 – At home. Catharine and Jim Payne came up here.
Jan 4 – Cut some wood. Ethan drawed three loads. Cold, snowed some.
Jan 5 – Cold, mercury 7 below zero. Worked on box.
Jan 6 – Put cleets on box. Cold day.
Jan 7 – Cold. Not very well. Hard cold.
Jan 8 – Worked some in shop on chest.
Jan 9 – Worked on chest some. Mercury 10 Abz below in morning.
Jan 10 – Mercury 13 below zero, very cold. Found Jimme dead in the coop this morning. No sleighing, very little snow.
Jan 11 – Worked on chest. Very cold. Cut some wood.
Jan 12 – Worked in shop. Cut dovetails on chest. Cold day, snowed some. Went up to Flanders. Got plank of Streator,[7] one of Brown.[8]
Jan 13 – Snowy. Put chest together. Went over to burg in Evening, got oil 20¢
Jan 14 – Mercury at zero in morning. Worked on chest. Cold day.
Jan 15 – Made base and upper band for chest.
Jan 16 – Worked on chest some. Henry[9] came down. Filed saw. Went up in woods, sawed wood, drawed two loads.
Jan 17 – Mercury 13 Abz.[10] Very good sleighing.
Jan 18 – Worked in shop. Put base and band on chest. Henry and Ethan sawed wood. I drawed two loads.
Jan 19 – Worked in shop.
Jan 20 – Went over to burg. Got rabbit plane of Robinson. Made panels for chest lid. Staring paid 4 Dollars.
Jan 21 – Put lid together. Put Rave on bob for A. Caywood.
Jan 22 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went over to burg. Paid my Tax $12.46¢. Theodore Earl paid $5.00.
Jan 23 – Filed two Saws for A. Brown and finished his wringer. He paid me 12/-. Young Pomeroy Brown born this morning.[11] Sarah[12] went to Lawton[13] on night Express.
Jan 24 – Mercury 29 Abz. Snowing some in morning. Ethan and Louesa[14] went down to Catharines.
Jan 25 – Worked in shop some on chest. Ethan went to Lawton on Evening Express.
Jan 26 – Carried two bushels corn to mill. Hung chest lid on. Ida Lee[15] came up here. Louesa went driging[?] with her. Went down to Marts.[16] Alfleda[17] went down to A. Browns.
Jan 27 – Snows like fun.[18] Ethan came home in Evening.
Jan 28 – Snows this morning. Went down to A. Browns, carried hams down. Went over to burg, got meal. Went up to J. Flanders,[19] got 5 five bushels wheat. Good sleighing.
Jan 29 – Cold, 3 below zero. Went to Comstock to mill.
Jan 30 – Went over to burg. Got band bent for chest lid. Sarah came home from Lawton.
Jan 31 – Cold, 10 Abz.
Feb 1 – Finished Eds Chest.
Feb 2 – Went down to Katharines,[20] hung door. Rained when we came home.
Feb 3 – Not much done. Very windy day, very blustering night, snow blowed Everywhere.
Feb 4 – Cold, 10 below zero, very blustring. Mr. Seaman Bristol died to day in Marys Ville Kansas.[21]
Feb 5 – Took out butry and put up lathe. Traded my cutter to Henry for his watch and chair.
Feb 6 – Cleaned turning lathe, turned some.
Feb 7 – 13 below zero. At home. Sis[22] and Stella[23] went down to Katharines. Very still and cold. David Simonds Died.[24]
Feb 8 – Shoveled snow to get to woods. Spli____ sleigh neap to Flanders sleigh. Filed saw for Erve Hall.[25]
Feb 9 – 31 below zero in morning. Drawed some wood. Not very well. David Simonds buried to day.
Feb 10 – Henry brot seat down. Snows some, 2 below zero.
Feb 11 – Finished seat. Henry went over to burg with it. Ed got his chest. Very blustring. Mrs Ralph and Em[26] here.
Feb 12 – 14 below zero. Shoveled snow some. Drawed two loads wood.
Feb 13 – Very cold, 10 below zero. Worked in shop some. Ed Childs and wife came down, stayed all night.
Feb 14 – Very cold. At home all day. Went down to Browns in Evening.
Feb 15 – 14 below zero in morning. Drawed some wood.
Feb 16 – Very cold, 13 below. Worked in shop. Finished henrys seat. Took it over to burg.
Feb 17 – 2 Abz. Worked on my wagon wheels.
Feb 18 – 22 below zero in morning. Worked on wheels some. Sarah went down to Fords.
Feb 19 – Worked in shop some. Henry came down.
Feb 20 – M. O. Streator paid me ten Dollars for bobs. Put rave on A. Browns bob sleigh.
Feb 21 – 21 below. At home. Hannah came home from Lawton with Mr Browns folks. Lois and Dell called here in Evening.
Feb 22 – 24 Abz in morning, rained some. Sarah went down to Dells in Eve.
Feb 23 – Rained some. Sawed some wood in Evening afternoon. Dell called here in Evening. Some thunder in Evening.
Feb 24 – Sarah came home. Barbers folks[27] here to day. Finished my old wheels. Lots of water. Mrs A. L. Mason buried to day.[28]
Feb 25 – Not much done in shop. Sawed out thill[29] for wagon.
Feb 26 – Drawed three loads wood. Broke sleigh shoe. Went over to burg, got it mended. Got cutter from paint shop.
Feb 27 – Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Cold day. Will Starr came up here.
Feb 28 – At home all day. Cold day.
Mar 1 – Made crutch for Jo Lee.[30] Will Starr went home.
Mar 2 – Sawed and drawed some wood.
Mar 3 – Very blustring day. Went over to burg after money for Teacher, no get him. Brot violin home to repair.
Mar 4 – Went down to Katharines after Hannah. Carried Jo his crutch. Went over to burg. Received 100 Dollars of Treasurer. Paid Carrie E. Austin[31] 80 Dollars. Paid Dr Finch $15 Dollars.
Mar 5 – Snowes some, lots snow on ground.
Mar 6 – At home all day. Cut some wood in road.
Mar 7 – At home. Katharine and Jim Payne here.
Mar 8 – Cut some wood in road.
Mar 9 – At home. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Carley and Tamer Ford[32] here in Evening.
Mar 10 – Hannah went to Battlecreek. Made finger board for my violin.
Mar 11 – Not much done. Put strings on violin. Charly stayed all night. Rainy day.
Mar 12 – Pleasant in morning. Browns[33] and Streators folks[34] here in Evening.
Mar 13 – Worked in shop some. Ethan went down to Catharines. Stayed all night.
Mar 14 – Pleasant mornng, snow running of fast. Jim[35] and Sis came up, she went back.
Mar 15 – Chored round some. Water running all round, lots water.
Mar 16 – Very blustring day. Snowd and blowed like fun. Rough time. Mr S Wood Died.[36]
Mar 17 – Very blustring, no teams of any account out to day. Looked over apples.
Mar 18 – Quite comfortable, no wind but lots of ice. Gus Giddings Died to day.[37]
Mar 19 – Drawed some wood. Edwin Flanders,[38] George Ives[?] and Henry came here. Mrs S Wood Died.[39]
Mar 20 – Snows and blows this morning. Gus Giddings buried to day. Edna Crawford[40] came here. Hank[41] came in Evening.
Mar 21 – Pleasant, mercury 4 below zero. Went down to Catharines after Louesa. Mr and Mrs Wood buried to day. Sarah and Edna went with Mrs Ford.[42]
Mar 22 – Worked in shop some. Edna went home.
Mar 23 – Worked in shop some. Carried Sarah over to burg in Evening. Snowed and blowed.
Mar 24 – Went over to burg, got stuf for washing machine.
Mar 25 – At home all day. Worked in shop some. Went up to Flanders. Got 5 bushels wheat, 3 bushels potatoes.
Mar 26 – Worked on machine all day.
Mar 27 – Worked in shop. Went up in wood cut some wood. Stella and Jimmy here.
Mar 28 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.
Mar 29 – Went over to burg, bot dress and odder dings[43] for Hannah. Turned out rollers for Caywoods machine. Skinner traded faring with Franklin.
Mar 30 – Pleasant morning. Worked on machine.
Mar 31 – Cut down two trees one leaning tree in south part of woods. Finished machine. Rainy day.
Apr 1 – Rained some in morning. Washed with Caywoods machine. Windy.
Apr 2 – At home all day.
Apr 3 – Worked round some, not much done. Skinner moving.
Apr 4 – Lois came down. All at home.
Apr 5 – Went to town meeting. Fine day. Charley[44] came.
Apr 6 – Went to Comstock to mill. Pleasant day. Erve Hall plowing.
Apr 7 – Pleasant morning. Not very well.
Apr 8 – Carried machine down to Browns. Went up to Skinners in Evening with Henry.
Apr 9 – Went up to Flanders. Got some warm shugar.
Apr 10 – At home. Worked round some. Got out some whiffletrees[45] for A. Brown.
Apr 11 – At home. Ethan, Hannah and Charley and Sis went down to Katharines.
Apr 12 – Finished Browns whiffletrees. Hannah went to the Creek. Barber[46] came over and took corn ground.
Apr 13 – Cool. At home.
Apr 14 – Worked in shop some. Not very well.
Apr 15 – Cut out some felloes[47] for Mr Taylors wheel.
Apr 16 – Cold and blustrous. Sarah and Nancy[48] went over to Barbers in afternoon. Snowed like fun. Browns folks went over in Evening.
Apr 17 – Snow about 2 inches, mercury 18 Abz in morning.
Apr 18 – At home. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines Browns.
Apr 19 – Hank and Nancy went home.
Apr 20 – Worked on wheel some. Ruel Starr died to day.[49]
Apr 21 – Finished Taylors wheel. Ethan and Lois went down to Catharines.
Apr 22 – Cool and pleasant. Put stove out of shop.
Apr 23 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Dan Harris Died this Evening.[50]
Apr 24 – Went up to Skinners in Evening. Mr Smith Died to day.
Apr 25 – Went down to Katharines. Saw Zeak and Kate Davison.
Apr 26 – Went up to Skinners and burg. Set hen. Got Duck Eggs up to Skinners.
Apr 27 – Put hen on Duck Eggs. Pleasant. Moved fence.
Apr 28 – Moved fence on road. Zeak and Kate here and Mrs Brown and Jule.[51]
Apr 29 – Rainy day. No work to day.
Apr 30 – Pleasant. Went up in woods, sawed some logs. Henry came up there. Ethan went home with him.
May 1 – Rainy day. No work. Edwin and Henry have turned some balls for Ed Flanders. Henry stayed all night.
May 2 – Ground covered with snow. Henry and Charley went up to Skinners.
May 3 – Went up in wood, split and drawed wood out of woods. Barber came and got plow to get it repaired.
May 4 – Got tire set on wheels.
May 5 – Went over to burg, got thill iron mended 15¢, setting tire 2.00. Rainy afternoon.
May 6 – Barber brot wheels over. I painted gearing over. Sarah went up to Mr Ralphs.[52] Rained in night.
May 7 – Rainy morning. Made Bracket for Comb. Painted wagon.
May 8 – Painted wagon wheels over in afternoon. Got out manure in forenoon. Heard first whipporwill.
May 9 – At home. Jim went up to Skinners. Rainy day.
May 10 – At home. Work round garden and
May 11 – Barber plowing some. Cold wind. Repaired washer for Wm Ralph.[53]
May 12 – Barber plowing. Mrs Barber[54] came over.
May 13 – Burnt Brush up at the corner. Went down to Kates, stayed all night. Rainy.
May 14 – Came home in morning. Sarah stayed there.
May 15 – At home. Barber plowing.
May 16 – Went down to Katharines. Sarah came home.
May 17 – Mr Barton commenced plowing.
May 18 – Barton and Barber plowing.
May 19 – Finished plowing. Brown Draging, Ethan planted some for him. Sawed some wood. Pleasant.
May 20 – At home. Work in garden some.
May 21 – Work in garden and shop some. Eugene Beckwith Died in night.[55]
May 22 – Barber planted corn. Went over to Barbers. He plowed his garden.
May 23 – Went down to Katharines. Kate some better. Eugene Beckwith buried.
May 24 – Planted hog yard to potatoes.
May 25 – Went down to Browns. Got Ethans wheat, some sweet corn to plant. Barber planting.
May 26 – Finished Taylors Table. Went over to burg twice, bot pail.
May 27 – Pleasant morning, cool. Work round, repaired A. Browns table.
May 28 – Hannah came home. Barber sowed corn. Had a big rain.
May 29 – Put up Door to Barnyard. Barber finished planting.
May 30 – Went down to Katharines. Carried Jo Lees pants and books. Ethan & Hannah went up to Skinners.
May 31 – Worked round garden some. Went over to burg. Mrs Streator[56] here.
Jun 1 – Paid Wm Hodges 3.50. Had a fine shower. Painted wagon. Sarah went over to Hoags.[57]
Jun 2 – Laid up fence on hill. Had a nice shower.
Jun 3 – Worked round garden some. Went up to Flanders, got 5 bushels wheat, 77 feet Bas Board.
Jun 4 – Went to Comstock to mill. Catharine came home with me.
Jun 5 – Sawed out boards for wagon box. Browns folks came up in Evening.
Jun 6 – At home. Jo Lee came up here.
Jun 7 – Went up to Skinners. Got here. Rained some.
Jun 8 – Worked in shop some and garden.
Jun 9 – Carried Catharine home. Jo came up with me.
Jun 10 – Worked on fence East side. Oscar[58] came here.
Jun 11 – Worked on fence and pulled grubs East of house. Jo here. Oscar went home.
Jun 12 – Finished fence and grubs.
Jun 13 – Carried Jo home.
Jun 14 – Worked on road.
Jun 15 – Worked on road.
Jun 16 – Burnt Brush East of house.
Jun 17 – Planted potatoes and drawed some old rails. Joh Chandler buried to day.[59]
Jun 18 – At home. Some work round garden.
Jun 19 – Went up to Skinners.
Jun 20 – At home all day.
Jun 21 – At home. Will Plank and wife[60] here.
Jun 22 – Will Plank left.
Jun 23 – Filed saw for Ernest Whiting.[61] Turned 4 pins for Jesse Earl.[62]
Jun 24 – Went up to Jo Flanders. Got one & ½ bushels potatoes. Had a heavy shower. Got pig of Streator.
Jun 25 – Worked round garden and house.
Jun 26 – Made pig pen. Ethan and Henry went to Kalamazoo, had Bill.[63]
Jun 27 – Went down to Kates. Rained some.
Jun 28 – Cultivated, sowed corn and gardens. Went down to Browns. Got stick for Ex to horse Rake.
[No entries for June 29 through July 21]
Jul 22 – Went over to burg to mill. Got drill for Ethan. Got sand band mended. Bot this Diary, paid 40 cents for it. Sarah went down to A. Browns.
Jul 23 – Not very well. Mrs Barber came over, picked some currants. Nancy came up just at night. Not very hot. Bell Tolled for some one, Old Mrs Wheeler.[64]
Jul 24 – Went to Streators. Got Browns Rake. Raked wheat stubble. Hannah came home. Lois came down stayed all night. Went over after Hannahs trunk in Evening.
Jul 25 – At home. All here. Toot[65] and Charlie came up here. Lois came down. Old Mrs Wheeler buried to day.
Jul 26 – Went over to burg in morning. Went over at noon with Hanks Trunk. Hank and Nancy went home on the twelve oclock run in night.
Jul 27 – Went up to mill. Put in cross head. Put in finger to cradle for A. Caywood. Filed saw for Whiting. Had a good shower. Got in some Rakings.
Jul 28 – Drawed Worked round garden some and in shop some and some no where.
Jul 29 – Made handle for O. D. Schrams[66] grub hoe. Finished drawing in the rakings. Went over to burg in Evening got Almond Oil. Mercury 88 in shade.
Jul 30 – Pleasant morning. Sick all day. No work. Ethan drawed wood. Hannah and I went up to Skinners in Evening. Cool night.
Jul 31 – Cool, East wind in morning. Ethan drawed wood in fore noon. I went up to Schrams got some Onions. Went up to Mill, got some Baswood boards 100 feet. Rained in night.
Aug 1 – Rainy morning. At home. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Charley came home with them.
Aug 2 – Worked round some in shop and made box for Ernest Whiting.
Aug 3 – Worked in shop on wagon box, put in bottom, made dash. Charly here. Henry called here. Had green corn for dinner.
Aug 4 – Worked in shop some and round barn. Repaired barn floor.
Aug 5 – Repaired Ernests meat Box in morning. Thrashed rakings. Hannah went to H a Taylors[67] in afternoon. Rained some in night. Heard the first fall cricket this Evening.
Aug 6 – Cloudy in morning. Cleaned up wheat. Went to mill. Rainy day, some snow in the air. Charly went up to Dels. Carried 2 bushels.
Aug 7 – Cloudy, some mist in morning, cool. Went up to Skinners after Lois. Ethan, Lois and Charly went to Kalamazoo to Charlys cloths. Charley went to Lawton. Lois stayed all night here.
Aug 8 – Carried Lois home. Fine day.
Aug 9 – Cleaned out Barn. Ethan helped Randal[68] thrash in forenoon. Machine went to Towns.[69] Henry Rogers here in afternoon. Worked in shop some.
Aug 10 – Worked in barn and shop some. Mrs Brown and Jule here. Rained some. Made cradle for Lucy.[70] Rained hard in forenoon. Mr Brown came up in morning to plow. Rained and blowed like the mischief. Mr Brown no get went, not a bit of it. He came in as dry as he could be.[71]
Aug 11 – Worked in shop, made corner blocks to wagon box. Mr Schram got bill, went to Wakeshma.
Aug 12 – Put dash on box. Thrashed wheat, had 87 bushels. Charley came back from Lawton. Pioneer Picknic at Vicksburg.
Aug 13 – Pleasant morning. Cleaned up wheat. Carried Sarah over to burg. Went over after her in Evening.
Aug 14 – Painted wagon box and cradles. All went down to Browns in Evening Cheche and John Defoe. Had a shower in afternoon. Ed Flanders called here in shower.
Aug 15 – Fine pleasant morning. Went down to Catharines. Mart came up in Evening after Louise. Carried cradle home.
Aug 16 – Painted wagon box. Went up to Skinners with Hannah. Carried my boots over to burg in Evening, paid $1.15¢ for mending them.
Aug 17 – Repaired cribb for Lois. Went down to A. Browns and up to Skinners after Hannah. Got my Boots.
Aug 18 – Cloudy. Ethan gone to Kalamazoo with Brown. Erve Hall got load Straw. Went down to Browns, got Hannahs trunk. Put rub irons on wagon box. Henry here. Charly went home with him. They are going to brady.
Aug 19 – Worked around some in shop and garden.
Aug 20 – Erve Hall got one Load Straw. Chored round. Cut some cornfodder some in shop. Fine day.
Aug 21 – Worked round house and shop some. Went over to burg. Ed Childs stayed here all night.
Aug 22 – Went over to burg with Ed. Came back, tok hannah over. Carried Sarah down to Browns. She went to Kalamazoo to Spiritual grove meeting on Winslows Island. Went over after hannah. Went down to Browns after Sarah just at night. Lois and Sate[72] came down.
Aug 23 – Painted Sleigh over and lumber wheels. Went over to burg with Ed Flanders. Got $51.91 of Treasurer. Paid Carrie E. Austin fifty one Dollars.
Aug 24 – Put in reach for Edwin flanders. Carried Hannah and Sarah over to burg. Hannah went to Lawton. Went up to Lois in Evening. Ina[73] sick.
Aug 25 – Went to mill, carried 4 four bushels wheat. Sarah went down to Katharines. Susan Ford rode home with me. Jo Lee went over with me.
Aug 26 – Jo came up. I put seat on his buggy and spring bars, fixed thill. Went over to burg with him. Fine day.
Aug 27 – Cut up the _____ corn. Very hot and dry, mercury 96 in shade.
Aug 28 – Hot day, 92 in shade. Bound up corn. Went down to Katies after Louese just at night, stopt to Browns. Rained in night some.
Aug 29 – At home all day. Hot day. Ethan carried Louese down to Katies.
Aug 30 – Made ridge boards for House. Went over to burg, bot 6 lbs nails 30¢.
Aug 31 – Went over to burg, got Hind spring mended, one Dollar. Hot and dry. Want rain very much some.
Sep 1 – At home. Chored some. Not very well. Ethan went up to Lois. Cleaned sewingmachine.
Sep 2 – Went down to Charles Lees.[74] Hot day. He is building a barn.
Sep 3 – Sawed out rizers for stairs to cornhouse. Rained some.
Sep 4 – Chored round some. Took the Clark seat to pieces. Charly and Warren birge came here in afternoon. They went down to Caywood, stayed all night.
Sep 5 – Windy morning. Chimney burnt out this morning. Went down to Katharines.
Sep 6 – Buckwheat cut to day. Hot day. Made seat to waggon. Henry and Ethan went up to Skinners to try Drill. Went schoolmeting. Edwin Flanders Elected moderator, C. L. Keith[75] Assessor. Voted to raise 100.00.
Sep 7 – Worked round. Lois came down to pack Charleys trunk.
Sep 8 – Worked in shop some. Sarah and Lois went down to Browns. I went down in Evening. Lois Lee came and said Jo would move yet to Salt Lake.[76]
Sep 9 – Rainy day. Charley started for Ohio.[77] Lois went home. Rained in night.
Sep 10 – Worked for Edwin Flanders putting down floor on back stoop over cistern. Fine day. Barber cut some corn south of orchard.
Sep 11 – Worked for Flanders. Ethan went down to Marts stayed all night. Mrs Flanders taken sick. Mrs Johnson came down to see her.
Sep 12 – Fine day. Not very hot. Mr Dunnings Nephew called here, took Breakfast. Jim went up to Skinners.
Sep 13 – Worked for Flanders, made rinck and dressed out stuff for trough &c.[78] Jim went to Jacksons to work.
Sep 14 – Went up to Flanders. Went back home then went down to Katharines. Caroline, Marion and Kate were all there. Had a big time.
Sep 15 – Worked for Flanders, finished up. Fine day. Ed paid me $5.00.
Sep 16 – Rainy morning. Cut corn some.
Sep 17 – Cut corn in East lot. Jo Lee came up here. Cold night, had big frost.
Sep 18 – Cut corn in East lot. Browns folks here in Evening.
Sep 19 – At home. Rainy day. No one here.
Sep 20 – Cut corn, finished it. Went down to Katharines just at night.
Sep 21 – Worked in shop some. Hung two axes for Ernest Whiting 20¢. Jo Lee came up here. Went over to burg in Evening. Went up to Flanders, got some flooring.
Sep 22 – At home. Worked in shop, turned hubs for Inas wagon &c. Put floor down by East door.
Sep 23 – Worked round shop some and turned hubs.
Sep 24 – Went over to burg. Bot hoop Iron hoop pork barrel. Jason Durkee got some hoop poles. Bot springs for wagon seat 2.00. Nell Tomlinson[79] came here in afternoon.
Sep 25 – Rained some in morning. Round home all day.
Sep 26 – At home. No one here, nothing going on.
Sep 27 – Worked in shop and house _____ wagon for Ina.
Sep 28 – Working round house and shop.
Sep 29 – Worked on wagon. Went down to Kates just at night with Patty Sprague.[80] Ethan and Mr Miner drawed in Buckwheat. E. P. Flanders and Mary E. Smith married this day I spec so.
Sep 30 – Ethan, Hannah and Nellie Tomlinson went to Comstock. Had H. A. Taylors buggy. Rained some. Miner and Powers thrashed Buckwheat.
Oct 1 – At home. Finished Buckwheat. Had 46½ bushels.
Oct 2 – Miner and Rogers dug potatoes. They had 43 bushels.
Oct 3 – At home. Patty here. Nell went to Kalamazoo to church with Henry. Mart came up after Patty and Katharine. Lois and Dell came down. Ethan went up to Harve Warrens with Dell.
Oct 4 – Went over to burg after Nancy. Got strap iron for wagon box. Bot 7½ lbs beef of Whiting 75¢.
Oct 5 – Put iron on wagon box. Rainy. Ethan, Hannah and Nell gone to Vicksburg. Rained all night.
Oct 6 – Rainy day. Worked in shop. Made board to put seat on. Husked black corn. _____ _____ _____ here from Mr Flanders. Henry gone to Battlecreek. Ethan and girls got home at night.
Oct 7 – Went over to burg. Bot boots for seat, oil and so on.
Oct 8 – Went down to Katharines. Sarah went and Jim went to Kalamazoo. Got Jim suit cloths. Stayed there all night.
Oct 9 – Helped Mart set horsepower and fix cider mill. Came home in Evening. Rained like fun.
Oct 10 – Rainy morning some. Henry came down. Nan[81] came back. Hiram Loveland married to night.[82]
Oct 11 – Went to mill, carried 4 four bushels wheat. Snowed some. Patty came home with me.
Oct 12 – Dug potatoes in East lot under the hill.
Oct 13 – Finished diging in East lot. Carried Patty down to Kates.
Oct 14 – Put potatoes in cellar. Carried the girls and their mam down to A. Browns. Dug some potatoes. Rained. Went down to Browns after um. It rained.
Oct 15 – Some rainy in morning. Dug some potatoes and chored roung.
Oct 16 – Dug potatoes. Finished the south lot. Sarah went over to burg. Nancy went down to Browns.
Oct 17 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.
Oct 18 – Worked round home. Chored round barn.
Oct 19 – Cleaned out cornhouse and chored round some. Went down to Katharines. Brot Patty and Hellen York[83] up.
Oct 20 – All hands went up to Lois, Patty, Katharine, Sarah, Alfleda[84] and Hellen &c. Fine day. Del and Henry drawing corn. Barber and Barton husking.
Oct 21 – Pleasant morning. James Hoxie called here. Went over to burg after mail. Drawed one load corn 12 baskets.
Oct 22 – At home. Worked round house and yard. Drawed some corn.
Oct 23 – Went down to Catharines. All hands had a family visit. Kate and Harry[85] came out on Eleven oclock run. Pleasant day.
Oct 24 – Fine morning. At home all day.
Oct 25 – Drawed some corn and worked round shop.
Oct 26 – Took out closset in shop. Mr Hobbs came here to see about getting some bobs made. Went down to Katharines to see patty. She gave me ten Dollars. Rainy and cold.
Oct 27 – Patty and Nell started for home. Made neap for M. O. Streators wagon. Put stove up in shop.
Oct 28 – Husked some corn. Put corn in cornhouse. Went over to burg. Got letter from Dr. A. S. Finch. Saw Mr Benjamin about my place. M. O. Streat got his wagon pole. Rained in night.
Oct 29 – Warm morning, 60 Abz, rained in morning. Ethan made cider. Sarah and Kate went up to Skinners. Had a heavy thunder shower. Sent Dr. Finch $10 ten Dollars. Filed saw for Erve Hall.
Oct 30 – At home. Working round shop.
Oct 31 – At home all day. All well.
Nov 1 – Worked in shop some ___.
Nov 2 – Worked in shop on wheel. Mr Hobbs came up here. Sarah and Kate went to Lawton.
Nov 3 – Finished wheel. Went up to Flanders after some lumber for bobbs. Got none.
Nov 4 – Put corn up in corn house. Went over to burg at noon after gals. No come. They came on the 6 oclock freight.
Nov 5 – Worked in shop some. Sawed out bob knees.
Nov 6 – Went to Kalamazoo after bob runners and and lumber for Coburns box.
Nov 7 – Went down to Kates after Hannah.
Nov 8 – Worked in shop some. Del brot lumber and runners down. Jo Lee came up got his saw filed.
Nov 9 – Sorted corn in corn house.
Nov 10 – Worked in shop on bobs.
Nov 11 – Worked on bobs all day.
Nov 12 – Went to mill carried 4 bushels wheat 4 bushels Buckwheat 1 corn. Fine day.
Nov 13 – Snows this morning. Worked. Went to Comstock to mill. Cold, stormy.
Nov 14 – At home all day.
Nov 15 – Worked in shop on bobs
Nov 16 – Worked in shop and round house.
Nov 17 – Worked in shop on bobs &c.
Nov 18 – Worked in shop on bobs and [nothing further]
Nov 19 – Worked on bobs. Not very cold.
Nov 20 – Went over to burg. Got piece plank for bobs. Hiram Crawf[ord][86] came in on Evening Express. Fine day, mercury about 60. Gave me an ulster over coat.
Nov 21 – Cooler this morning. Hite[87] here. Lois came down. Mart brot Hannah home.
Nov 22 – Worked in shop on bobs. Hiram here. He went over to burg. Hiram left on night Express. Fine day.
Nov 23 – Worked in shop. Pleasant day but cold.
Nov 24 – Worked in shop. Kate and Harry left for South bend.[88] Ethan carried them over to Scots Station. Nice day. Jo Lee brot Hannah home. Alfleda went home with Jo.
Nov 25 – Went over to burg to see about getting some timber for frame to bobs. Hannah went to Battle Creek on the Eleven twelve run. A very pleasant day. Jim husked corn for A. Brown.
Nov 26 – Went over to burg. Got timber for bob frame.
Nov 27 – Went up to Mr Flanders to get length of bob frame. Sarah went down to A. Browns.
Nov 28 – At home. Dell and Lois came down. Loues went home with them.
Nov 29 – Finished bobs. Worked round shop some. Gefired cold day.
Nov 30 – Worked on Coburns box. Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Alfleda came back with me.
Dec 1 – Very pleasant morning, mercury 28 Abz in morning.
Dec 2 – Worked on box. Riley and Horace Hobbs came and got Bobs. He paid me Seventeen Dollars and 17.50 fifty cents.
Dec 3 – Worked on box not much cut and sawed wood. Very pleasant day.
Dec 4 – Worked on box. Fine warm day, some misty. Went over to burg. Paid George Brown for timber 20 cts. Mercury about 50, rained all night.
Dec 5 – Cloudy and warm, mercury 43 Abz. At home all day.
Dec 6 – Finished and painted over Coburns box. Rained in night, very foggy.
Dec 7 – Foggy morning, not very cold. Worked in shop some. Carried Sarah over to Janes.[89] Went over in Evening to see R. G. S.
Dec 8 – Dressed out boards for Ernests Whiting. Went over to burg after Sarah. Browns folks came up in Evening.
Dec 9 – Pleasant morning, not very cold. Worked in shop.
Dec 10 – Worked on Whitings box some. Went over to burg with Engine. Ethan drawed load wood. Broke whiffletree.
Dec 11 – Snowey day. Went down to Kates, stayed all day. Stoped to Browns when we came home. Wopeo[?] came the first time.
Dec 12 – At home all day. Edwin Flanders and wife and Henry went up to Skinners. Rather cool day. Herb Clark[90] came here in morning.
Dec 13 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in afternoon. Paid my Tax $9.50 nine Dollars and fifty cents.
Dec 14 – Worked in shop on box for Ernest. Not very cold.
Dec 15 – Worked in shop some. Not very well. Hannah went down to Browns.
Dec 16 – Snowey day. Worked on Ernests box. Put one partition in and base and pilaster. Stellie Milham here to night.
Dec 17 – Carried machine down to Browns. Snows and blows. Went over to burg got oil. Brown butchered his hogs. Went down to E. Whitings Slaughter house. Got two lbs Tallow 16¢/4 8 pr pound so said Whitland. Del and Coburn got Box.
Dec 18 – Worked in shop some. Cold day.
Dec 19 – At home. Will brot Hannah up in sleigh. Lois came down.
Dec 20 – Went down to Browns. Got pig weighed 70[91] lbs. Mr Flanders got wagon. Went over to burg in afternoon. Ethan got 14 Dollars at Bank for making Box. Not very cold.
Dec 21 – Not very cold, no snow.
Dec 22 – Made cross head for Theodore. Went over to burg. Bot diary 25¢, one violin string 25. Drawed two loads cornfodder. Very pleasant day.
Dec 23 – Went up to mill. Put in crosshead. Warm day, mercury 54 Abz at noon. Drawed in cornfodder in afternoon.
Dec 24 – Rainy. Carried peter down to Browns. Went up to mill got 58 feet 3×3 scantling of Theodore Earl.
Dec 25 – Very pleasant day. Browns folks here. Charles and Julia came up. Julia stayed all night. Browns folks stayed in Evening.
Dec 26 – Rainy day, not very cold, very little snow. At home all day. Ida came up after Julia.
Dec 27 – Went up in woods cut some wood. Went over to burg in afternoon. Received of Town ship Treasurer seventy five Dollars. Very pleasant day.
Dec 28 – Went to mill in afternoon. Carried 4 bushels wheat 4 of Buckwheat. Pleasant day. Cut some wood. Katharine came home with me.
Dec 29 – Fine pleasant morning. Filed one saw for Whitting. Worked in shop some.
Dec 30 – Drawed two loads wood. Worked on box some. Went over to burg just at night. Kate and Sarah went. Browns folks here in Evening. Warm day.
Dec 31 – Fine morning, 61 Abz in morning at sunrise. Went over to burg after Nancy. Jo Lee and Mr Elwood called here. Filed saw for Jo. Warm day.
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[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke
[2] His son, Ethan Keith, and daughter, Hannah Keith
[3] His sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[4] Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith
[5] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner, who was married to his daughter Lois
[6] Galesburg, Michigan
[7] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator
[8] Ambrose Brown, his neighbor and father-in-law of his daughter Nancy
[9] Henry Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith
[10] Above zero
[11] His grandson, Claude Keith Brown, the son of Nancy & Hank Brown. There is a birth announcement for “Pomeroy” Brown, however, that is the only time the name of Pomeroy is used
[12] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[13] Lawton, Michigan, where Nancy & Henry Brown lived
[14] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith
[15] His cousin, Ida Mae Lee, the daughter of Joseph Warren Lee and Nancy E. Taylor
[16] Martin Milham, husband of Lucy (Lee) Milham. Lucy was the daughter of his sister Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[17] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith
[18] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”
[19] Neighbor. After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. The Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda
[20] In all his previous diaries, Luke has spelled his sister’s name as Catharine. It now appears that he is sometimes spelling it starting with a K, or it is possible he is referring to somebody else
[21] Seaman S. Bristol Sr. and his wife, Abigail “Nabby” Harris, were the uncle and aunt of Daniel D. Harris who would marry Luke’s daughter, Louese, in 1882
[22] Nickname for his daughter Louese
[23] Believe he is referring to neighbors, Stella Milham who was the daughter of James & Ellen (Adams) Milham
[24] Neighbor. A search at FindAGrave.com confirms that he died February 7, 1875 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan
[25] His neighbor, Irwin Hall
[26] Presumably neighbors, Hetta (Burgess) Ralph and her daughter-in-law, Emeline (Stone) Ralph
[27] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[28] A search at FindAGrave.com reveals that Jannette Mason died February 21, 1875 and is buried at Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan
[29] The long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon
[30] His first cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)
[31] Neighbor, the daughter of Franklin Benjamin & Gertrude (Quick) Austin. Perhaps she was the teacher that Luke referred to in his March 3rd entry
[32] Neighbors, Charles and Mary Tamer Ford, the children of Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford
[33] Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown
[34] Neighbors, Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator
[35] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith
[36] Simeon Wood Jr.; from the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, Monday evening, March 22, 1875 – Mr. Simon Wood, a farmer living some four miles east of Galesburg in Charleston, died on Wednesday evening, the 17th inst. bilious pneumonia, and his wife died the next day. They were worthy people and were somewhat advanced in years at the time of their death
[37] The Michigan Deaths and Burials Index confirms that Agustus Giddings, age 34, died on March 18, 1875 in Comstock, Michigan. FindAGrave.com records show that he is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan
[38] Neighbor, the son of Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders
[39] Reliance E. (Brown) Wood. See footnote for March 16th entry. Reliance was the sister of Ambrose Brown
[40] It is uncertain as to whether this was Edna Irene Crawford, the daughter of Sarah’s brother Robert & Louesa (McCann) Crawford, of Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of Sarah’s late brother, Edwin & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford
[41] His son-in-law Henry Brown’s nickname
[42] Neighbor, Adelia (Tompkins) Ford
[43] Other things
[44] Most likely his grandson, Charles Ira Clark, the son of Lois and her first husband, Byron Clark
[45] The pivoted horizontal crossbar to which the harness traces of a draft animal are attached and which is in turn attached to a vehicle or an implement
[46] Richard Barber
[47] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel
[48] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown
[49] FindAGrave.com indicates that Ruel Starr died April 19, 1875 and is buried in Old City Cemetery, Valparaiso, Indiana. Ruel was Alfleda (Starr) Keith’s brother
[50] The Michigan Deaths and Burials Record indicates that Daniel D. Harris Sr. died April 23, 1875 in Comstock, Michigan at the age of 49 and FindAGrave records show that he is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. He was the father of Daniel D. Harris Jr. who would marry Luke’s daughter Louese
[51] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Julia Allen, who lived with Ambrose & Matilda
[52] Most likely his neighbor, George Ralph
[53] His neighbor, the son of George & Hetta (Burgess) Ralph, and husband of Emeline (Stone) Ralph
[54] Mary (Knowles) Barber
[55] Michigan Death Records reveal that Arthur Beckwith, age 21, died May 20, 1875 in Comstock, Michigan. FindAGrave records show he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[56] Marius Streator’s wife, Laura (Rawson) Streator
[57] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag
[58] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr) Keith
[59] The Michigan Deaths and Burials Index shows that John F. Chandler died June 15, 1875 in Comstock, Michigan at the age of 45
[60] Believe he is referring to William H. and Martha (Marvin) Plank. William H. was the son of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank. The Plank family had been neighbors, but on April 3, 1873, Luke noted in his diary that they had left for Grand Rapids, Michigan
[61] Neighbor, the son of George & Jane Whiting
[62] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”
[63] His horse
[64] The Michigan Deaths and Burials Index reveals that Nancy Wheeler, aged 86, died in Comstock, Michigan on July 22, 1875
[65] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham, daughter of his sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[66] Neighbor, Orrin D. Schram
[67] Neighbor, Hanibal A. Taylor
[68] Believe this to be his neighbor, Nathan L. Randall
[69] Neighbors, Albert & Pamelia (Hosley) Towne; their son Charles would later marry Luke’s daughter Hannah
[70] His niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham
[71] Both the Brown and Keith families were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances. The story that has been passed down is that Ambrose’s Indian spirit guide, Chee Chee, held a blanket over him so that he could complete his plowing
[72] His daughter Lois’ sister-in-law, Sarah Skinner
[73] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner
[74] His paternal first cousin. Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee
[75] Himself
[76] Since Joseph Lee’s wife, Lois (French) had died October 17, 1871, it would seem that this is referring to a seance that the Browns and Keiths had where they called on Lois who told them that Jo would follow the rest of the Lee families, who were Mormons, and had moved to Salt Lake City
[77] Charley’s other grandparents were living in Dover, Ohio in the 1870’s so perhaps he was going for a visit
[78] Etc.
[79] The daughter of his niece, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson
[80] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague
[81] His daughter, Nancy
[82] Michigan County Marriage Records show that Hiram Loveland married Emeline Crowell on October 10, 1875
[83] This could be his niece, Helen (Bradley) York, or Helen’s daughter, Helen Lavinia York
[84] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith
[85] Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, the wife of Luke’s brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr., and their son, Harry Crawford (see November 17, 1875 letter)
[86] His wife Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr.
[87] Hiram’s nickname
[88] Sarah’s other brother, Henry Clay Crawford, and his family lived in South Bend, so it is possible Kate and Harry were going to make them a visit
[89] Neighbor, Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag
[90] Herbert Clark was the nephew of Lois’ first husband, Byron Clark
[91] Hard to tell if this was 70 or 90 pounds
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 