1886 Diary of Charles Luke Keith Jr.

1886 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH, JR.[1]

Luke wrote his entries for 1886 in three different diaries: it appears that he first wrote the January 1-30 entries in the back of his 1885 diary, then January 31 to March 31 in the back of his 1881 diary. On March 4^th he bought an 1886 diary and started to copy all those entries, but only copied January 1-9, left the following pages blank and then started entering daily on April 1 through the end of the year. As the January 1-9 entries in his 1886 diary are shortened versions, I have used the 1885 version.

Jan 1 – Mercury 36. Very nice day no snow. Went over to Lois[2] to a New Years dinner me self and Sarah,[3] Hannah,[4] Lou,[5] Mrs Brown,[6] Jim,[7] Ethan,[8] Will Clark.[9]

Jan 2 – Mercury 41. Filed saw for Jim. Cut and drew two loads wood and one load corn. Rainy day.

Jan 3 – Mercury 43 no snow, rainy morning. At home all day.

Jan 4 – Mercury 38. No work but chores. Ethan went over to Foundry to work.

Jan 5 – Mercury 30 snowey. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. D.[10] came home with him.

Jan 6 – Mercury 11 Abz.[11] Lou and D. went home. Mr Lanfor Burdick Died Six Oclock this morning.[12] Went down to Mr Randals got Butter. Cold wind. Fanny Town[13] called in.

Jan 7 – Mercury __4. Took Hannah over to the burg[14] in morning. Choring around. Took saw up to Theodores[15] to be gumed[?]. Filed saw for Skinner[16] 25 cts.

Jan 8 – Mercury 16. Not much done. Very windy day. Mr Burdick buried to day.

Jan 9 – Mercury 18. Snowey and Blustring day. Drew two loads wood one corn. Theodore came down here.

Jan 10 – Mercury 14 in morning. At home. Cold snowey day about 4 inches snow. Husked some corn. Mercury 4 four below in Evening.

Jan 11 – Mercury 3 below in morning cold and blustring. Jim and Will Clark posting bills for H. A. Brown.[17]

Jan 12 – Mercury 6 Abz. At home doing chores.

Jan 13 – Choring, no work to amount to much. Cutting some wood. Went down to Randalls.

Jan 14 – Mercury 10 Abz. Cut and drawed three loads wood.

Jan 15 – Rainy. Drawed two loads corn.

Jan 16 – Mercury. Went over to burg in morning got glass for schoolhouse. Went and set them. 4 lights 40 cts. Got 3½ lbs Butter of Fanny Town.

Jan 17 – At home all day. No one here till just at night George and Evva Blake[18] called here.

Jan 18 – Mercury 32. Went up to mill. Ground my ax. Herb Earl and wife[19] stayed in their new House for the first time.

Jan 19 – Mercury 14 Abz. Husked some corn cut some wood. Went over to burg got some nails.

Jan 20 – 9 Abz. Went down to Katharines[20] and M. O. Streators.[21] Very stormy day snow all day.

Jan 21 – Made door to Egg cupboard.

Jan 22 – Mercury 1 below. Stormy. Painted cupboard.

Jan 23 – Mercury 15 below. Took Sarah down to Marts.[22] She went to Kalamazoo to see Ed Allen.[23] Very cold. Plenty snow but not very good sleighing.

Jan 24 – At home all day.

Jan 25 – Mercury 29. Went to Kalamazoo after Sarah. Stoped to Marts saw the mill run. Charley and Clara[24] stayed here.

Jan 26 – Mercury 26 Abz. Jim drawed 3 loads wood one corn. Hank, Lelah and Bes[25] came over they came to Lois.

Jan 27 – 30 Abz. Went over to burg. Took Clara up to Hats.[26] Charley went home. I shelled some corn. Filed saw for N L Randall.[27] Hank to work in galery at the Burg.

Jan 28 – Mercury 22 Abz. Went down to Marts to mill. Got six bushels corn and oats ground. Louese came home.

Jan 29 – Mercury 23 Abz. Took Lou over to burg to get pictures taken. Lou, Clara, Lelah and Bessey here stayed all night.

Jan 30 – At home all day. Lou here she went over and got negatives of the children. D came at night. Cold day.

Jan 31 – Lou went over to burg. Got pictures of the children. D came at night. Cold day.

Feb 1 – Cold good sleighing. No work but chores. Mr Albert Carletons House burned to day.

Feb 2 – Cold day. Took Hannah over to Mrs Sumners. D went up to Scotts.[28] Cold.

Feb 3 – Mercury 32 below zero in morning. Hank went to Kalamazoo. Theodore & Dick Barber[29] came down here. D. & Lou, Ethan and Hannah went down to Mrs Browns.

Feb 4 – Mercury 17 below. D. & Lou went home. Clear and cold. No work but chores.

Feb 5 – Cold day at home. Choring. Old Mr Bennet[30] killd at the burg by the cars.[31]

Feb 6 – At home, cold, bad getting around. Hank left for Galesburg Ill. on Evening Express.

Feb 7 – Mercury. At home. Will Aldrich here. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Mrs Joh Schrader called here.

Feb 8 – Mercury 40 Abz. Went over to Mr Towns[32] got 2¾ lbs butter paid $1.20 cts. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah.

Feb 9 – Mercury 54. Drawed two loads corn. Jim drawed one Load wood. Hank and Nancy[33] came on noon Train.

Feb 10 – Mercury 44. Took sarah over to Mrs Watts[34] Funeral. Husked in fore noon. Went over in Evening got Nancys trunks.

Feb 11 – Mercury 45. Took Nancy down to Mrs Browns in morning. Took Sarah up to Mr Rogers in afternoon. I drew two loads corn in afternoon. Sprinkled some just at night.

Feb 12 – Mercury 35. Husked corn some. Worked round house and shop.

Feb 13 – Mercury 33. Choring, not much work. Hannah came home from Austin Peases place. Hank came home in Evening.

Feb 14 – Mercury 35. Hank, Nancy an children[35] here. Hank and Nancy went down to Mrs Browns.

Feb 15 – Mercury 27. Hank and Nancy went to Kalamazoo. Snows some. Edna Allen came to day.

Feb 16 – Mercury 5 Abz. At home. Took Nancy over to burg she went to Kalamazoo. Georde [sic] Tomlinson[36] came on noon train. Went down to Katharines.

Feb 17 – Mercury 23 Abz. Went over to Burg. George left for home on noon train.

Feb 18 – Mercury 38. At home. Worke in barn fixed stall for fan.[37] Ed and Madge[38] here.

Feb 19 – Mercury 23. Cut and drawed some wood. Cold wind.

Feb 20 – Mercury 12 Abz. Cut some wood. Hannah came home from Caywoods.

Feb 21 – At home. Ed and Mage here. Lelah and Bes here.

Feb 22 – Mercury 23. Took Hannah and girls over to cars. Lelah and Bes went home. Hannah went to Lous. I cut some wood.

Feb 23 – Mercury 21. O. M. Allen[39] came up to see Ed. Fan had a calf to day it droped 12 noon.

Feb 24 – Drawed load wood. Made pen for calf.

Feb 25 – Mercury 15 Abz. Cleaned up some wheat. Cold and snowey, high wind, very blustring.

Feb 26 – At work round Barn. Sawed some wood. Went over to burg went to mill.

Feb 27 – Drawed some wood. Not much snow. Very rough roads.

Feb 28 – At home. No one here Except the Allen family. O. M. came up in afternoon.

Mar 1 – Choring round as usual. Went over to Burg at noon. Got some medicin for Edna. Got Harness oil of Semour Miner.

Mar 2 – At home. Jim had Bill[40] to draw straw.

Mar 3 – Mercury 26. Cut some wood drawed some wood.

Mar 4 – Went to Kalamazoo. Went to Hanks. Bot Diary 75 cts.

Mar 5 – Mercury. Mended Kettle. Chored round. Very pleasant day.

Mar 6 – Cut and Drew two loads wood. Very nice day.

Mar 7 – Nice day. O. M. came up. Doc McBeth came over to see Edna. I went over in Evening after McBeth.

Mar 8 – Snows like fun. Doc came over in morning. Ethan sick.

Mar 9 – Mercury 32. A. R. Skinner cut wood part of the day. Fine day snowed some not very cold.

Mar 10 – Mercury 38. Went over after Lois in morning. Put clasp on Mrs Bradshaws album. Cow sick.

Mar 11 – Went over to burg bot medicine for cow. Drawed some wood and some corn. Cow sick.

Mar 12 – Mercury 38. Ben Smith Died shelby ville.[41] Snowed like Blazez. Went over after Del he came over to see cow. Charley Corey taking down the old Brick on corner.

Mar 13 – 30 Abz. Not very well. Went over to Burg got oil. Cow some better not much.

Mar 14 – At home all day. Mrs Hubberd Lewis marred to day.[42] Mr Benj Smith of Shelby Ville Buried to day.

Mar 15 – Went up to Mr Ridlers to by some wood. He Brot one cord wood $1.75.

Mar 16 – Cow sick. Went over to burg after Hanks things at Galery. Put handle in Spade.

Mar 17 – Went up to Jesse Earls[43] got vice of Theodore. Went to burg got some medicine for cow of Munger $1.00.

Mar 18 – Went down to Mrs Brown & got some potatoes. Glued Mrs Rogers chair. Mrs Bradshaw got her Album 25 cts.

Mar 19 – Mercury 70. Cut some wood. Filed saw for A. Kaywood. Put up iron vice. Clara Milham[44] here.

Mar 20 – At home. Cut some wood.

Mar 21 – At home. Filed saw for Dell Skinner.

Mar 22 – Went down to Mrs Browns got some potatoes. Snowed some cold March wind. Hannah came home from Shelby Ville.[45]

Mar 23 – Went over to burg after Cora Meridith.[46] She came stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Worked on Hat & Libs[47] cupboard. Cora went up to Jim Milhams.[48] Ethan took Hannah down to Smith Carletons.[49] Very nice day.

Mar 25 – Worked on cupboard. Fine day. Ina[50] came over stayed all night.

Mar 26 – Went over to burd [burg] in morning after Lumber to finish cupboard.

Mar 27 – Mercury 32. Worked on cupboard. Very nice day. Charley Town[51] finished fence on north side road. Hannah came home from Carletons.

Mar 28 – Went to Katharines. Cold East wind.

Mar 29 – Changed corn with W^m Rogers. They moved three Loads goods.

Mar 30 – Rainy day. Finished the cupboard. Mended spade for Jim. Jim bot Horse of Taylor Girls.[52]

Mar 31 – Mercury 41. Rainy fore noon. Davis Stafford and Mr Brown came down to see the Binder. I took the girls cupboard up to them. Mr W^m Rogers took the last load goods to day.

Apr 1 – Mercury 34 stormy snowey bad day. Shelled some corn. Doc McBeth[53] here morning and Evening.

Apr 2 – Mercury 24 some snow ground well covered. Filed saw for Jim. Went over to burg after Doc McBeth at noon Ed Allen Blowed out this evening.[54]

Apr 3 – Mercury 20 very pleasant morning. Cut and drew some wood one load corn. Lois came over.

Apr 4 – At home. Ethan took Hannah up to Scotts to Jon Powers.

Apr 5 – Nice pleasant day. Went to town meeting. Ed some better. Doc comes twice a day.

Apr 6 – Mercury 32 the wors Bluster of the season, snowed and blowed a perfect gale all day.

Apr 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot some maple shugar 48 cts.

Apr 8 – Mercury 25. Ethan and Lois went to Kalamazoo. Nancy gone up to Lous. Very nice day. I cut some wood. Bot can Honey of Mr Rainy[?].

Apr 9 – Drew two loads straw two loads corn one wood. Very pleasant day.

Apr 10 – Worked in woods and in shop. Ed not much better.

Apr 11 – Nice day. I husked corn all day. O. M. Allen came up. Rainy day.

Apr 12 – Nice warm day. Laid up fence on hill south of orchard. Went over to Lois just at night.

Apr 13 – Went to Kalamazoo. Lois went to see Nancy. Bot Hat $1.50. Paid for the Telegraph[55] one year $1.50. Nicholas Chilson Died to day Ae 80y.[56]

Apr 14 – Mercury 85 Abz very nice day. Drawed stone in forenoon. Took down some fence up by the woods in afternoon. Hannah came home from Scots.

Apr 15 – Moved some fence. Nice day. Drew some corn.

Apr 16 – Took down fence. Drew one load old rails.

Apr 17 – Husked corn in forenoon. Hot day had a thunder shower just at night. Hannah came from Em Ralphs.[57]

Apr 18 – At home. Ed some better. Bessie here. O. M. no come up to day. Theodore and Hannah went to W^m Rogerses.

Apr 19 – Very warm day. Went over to burg got groceries. Ed Rouland paid two Dollars for Repairing violin.

Apr 20 – Mercury 80 Abz. Drew 3 loads corn one load old rails. Jim commenced plowing on the hill for oats. Nice warm day.

Apr 21 – Mercury 84. Took Lois trunk to the Depo. She went to shelbyville. Husked some corn. Jim plowing. Bot 1½ bushel clover seed $10.50.

Apr 22 – Mercury 84. Husked some corn. Very nice day.

Apr 23 – Mercury 87. Ethan went to Kalamazoo after Nancy. The children came.

Apr 24 – Mercury 84. Jim finished plowing the oat ground drew in the corn all in. I dug out some stumps.

Apr 25 – At home. Nancy and children came up stayed all night. Very pleasant day. O. M. came up in afternoon.

Apr 26 – Nancy went home on 11 oclock run. Jim ploting oat ground. W^m Blake called in to see Jim. Rainy afternoon.

Apr 27 – Went up to M. O. Streators bot six bushels wheat 85 cts pr bushel. Took it over to mill in afternoon.

Apr 28 – Drew some stumps of south lot one load stone. Jim commenced Drilling oats.

Apr 29 – Jim finished drilling oats he plowed the garden.

Apr 30 – Went over to Burg in morning. Draged the garden and potatoe ground.

May 1 – Not mutch work to day. Rainy some. Went over to burg in afternoon.

May 2 – Nice day. Jim, Mrs Brown and Hannah went down to Nancys.

May 3 – Took Edna Allens trunk over to the Depo at noon. Got a draft cashed for her $50.22 cts. She went on the 9.20 train Evening.

May 4 – Went up to Mr Flanders[58] got ½ bushel potatoes 25 cts. Rained quite hard. Sarah went down to Mr Randals a dance to Mike Maloneys new barn.

May 5 – Went up to mill. Turned rooler for Mr Beals of Climax. Went over to Burg got Sarahs Dress and ticking.

May 6 – Husked corn in afternoon. Nice day.

May 7 – Finished husking corn. Mrs Brown and Bessie came up here. Bes stayed all night. Show at the burg I went saw murmaid.

May 8 – At home. Mended wire fence on East road spliced one wire. Rainy night. Hannah over to Nells.

May 9 – Went down to Katharines. Rained some not vey cold.

May 10 – At home. Worked round house and garden.

May 11 – Went over to burg in afternoon to the Band Torniment. Received postal from George.[59]

May 12 – Worked round choring. Went over to burg. Shelled corn in afternoon. Nancy and Mrs Wagner came up in afternoon.

May 13 – Mercury 81 warm day. Sarah went over to Hoags.[60] Ina went to Shelby Ville. I went to Milhams to mill.

May 14 – Mercury. Worked in garden some. Went over to burg. Bes here.

May 15 – Went over to Forbush in afternoon. Rainy.

May 16 – At home all day. Nice day.

May 17 – Went over got the Buggy thill[61] iron mended 85 cts. Lois came home from Shelby.

May 18 – Took Sarah over to Lois. I cut and drew one load wood plowed out corn in the garden went after Sara.

May 19 – Pleasant morning. At home working round house and garden. Jim plowed the corn ground.

May 20 – Went down to Mrs Browns got drag. Draged corn ground and floated it. Very warm day. Lois came over.

May 21 – Very warm day. Marked my corn ground. Went down to M. O. Streators got seed corn.

May 22 – Hot as blazes. Planted corn. Mr & Mrs Streato[62] and Mrs Brown here in Evening. Expected Forbush & Blakes folks here dey no came.

May 23 – Mercury 90 in shade. At home all day. No one here. Ethan took Lois and Ina home in morning.

May 24 – Planted potatoes covered them with straw. Nice day.

May 25 – Planted potatoes. Cool day north wind. Set hen to night in Bills west feed box.

May 26 – Not mutch done. Went over to burg. Nancy and girls came up this morning.

May 27 – Went over to burg in morning. Jesse Earls gray Horse died this morning. Ob Evens and Maty Carson married this Evening.[63]

May 28 – Went over to burg in morn sold 1400 & 60 lbs Hay to Met Thomas 50 cts pr 100. Took some things up to Wm Ralphs to go to Lous. Mr Williams of Berry died.

May 29 – Went over to burg twice. Worked in garden some cultivated corn and potatoes.

May 30 – Went up to Mr Levi woods. Syrus and Moridz Streator went had a good time. Nice day. Very dry.

May 31 – Worked in garden planted beans hoed corn plastered corn.

Jun 1 – Sarah went over to Mr Austins to a crazy quilt party.

Jun 2 – Went to Kalamazoo to get Sarahs teeth Extracted. Bot coat. Nice day very dry.

Jun 3 – Plastered corn. Hot day no rain.

Jun 4 – Painted Jims Buggy. Mr Wood and wife of Shelby here stayed all night. Charles Anderson came he went over to Mr Fords stayed all night.

Jun 5 – Charles came over in morning left on noon train for Battle Creek. Mr Woods folks left for home.

Jun 6 – At home. Very dry. Jesse Earl came down here. Walter Thresher and his uncle came over to see the binder.

Jun 7 – Very warm and dry. Made corn drag. Painted Jims Buggy boddy one coat.

Jun 8 – Mercury 84. Cultivated corn. Very hot and dry. Hannah went up to Mr Deweys at Scotts.

Jun 9 – Worked on buggy. Put last coat on boddy. Very hot and dry.

Jun 10 – Put leathers on thills. Cleaned the dash. Finished the buggy. Went down to Mrs Browns got my buggy.

Jun 11 – Mercury 90 in shade very hot. Cultivated corn. Went over to burg twice.

Jun 12 – Mercury 99 in shade. Cultivated corn in fore noon. Took Sarah down to Mrs Browns.

Jun 13 – Mercury 84. Sprinkle some in forenoon.

Jun 14 – Mercury 104 in shade. Got one tire set on carriage 35. Got Bridle mended 20¢. Charley cut Mrs Wrights grass. Cameron & George Barber[64] here.

Jun 15 – Mercury 90 very hot. Jim commenced cutting the grass in East lot. Had a nice shower just at night.

Jun 16 – Mercury 84. Ethan went to burg to pay Thresher for Enterprise.[65] Jim got cabbage plant.

Jun 17 – Mercury 83 pleasant nice day. Chored round in forenoon. Went down to Katharines in afternoon to see Mart. He is sick had his wens[66] cut out.

Jun 18 – Worked in garden and hay field. Went up to Herbs got cabbage plants.

Jun 19 – Jim finished cutting hay. Tip and Quin called in Evening to see Binder.

Jun 20 – At home. Nancy and Lelah & Bes here. Lois came over.

Jun 21 – Mercury 96. Worked in hay field all day finished. Ethan went to Kalamazoo took Nancy home. Took ook[?] his Knotter down to West.

Jun 22 – Mercury 84. Drew in some hay finished up. Had a nice rain.

Jun 23 – Worked in garden some. Mr Town and Fanny went to Kalamazoo. Hannah went up to Hat & Libs to sew. I cultivated corn some.

Jun 24 – Took Sarah over to Lois had a big rain. Mary Flanders[67] an her cousin Mrs Jackson came in stayed through the shower.

Jun 25 – Hoed in garden some. Plowed corn in afternoon.

Jun 26 – Took Sarah to Kalamazoo she went to Shelbyville. Claud[68] came home with me.

Jun 27 – At home. Lois and Ina came over. I finished plowing corn plowed out the potatoes up by the woods.

Jun 28 – I finished plowing corn plowed out the potatoes up by the woods.

Jun 29 – Hannah to Hats sewing. Hoed in garden some. Set out cabbage plants 77.

Jun 30 – Mercury 80. Hoed cabbage, chore round. Hannah went to Streators. Mr Erastus Stuart Died this afternoon.[69]

Jul 1 – Mercury 8 [sic]. Mr Streator came and got sewing machine.

Jul 2 – Hoed corn some cultivated potatoes up by the woods. Sarah came home from shelbyville. Maria Flanders buried to day.[70] Erastus Stuart buried to day.

Jul 3 – Went over to burg to celebration. Took dinner to Lois. Went over in Evening to the dance in Corey Block and at the rink.

Jul 4 – At home all day. Clara and Lee came up. Hanah went down to M. O. Streators. H. N. Tubbs buried to day.[71]

Jul 5 – Hot morning. Working in garden and choring round.

Jul 6 – Went over to burg. Hoed some. Went to M. O. Streators in morning and afternoon. Mr Streator sick.

Jul 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Sold Eggs 9 Doz. Took zinc back.

Jul 8 – Went to Kalamazoo after Hannah. Mr M. O. Streator Died 15 minutes past twelve noon.[72]

Jul 9 – Mercury 104. Hoed in garden some, chored around, set up wheat.

Jul 10 – Mercury 94. Plowed corn in forenoon and some afternoon. Very hot. Mr Burdick and Mr Wilson called here to show some violins.

Jul 11 – Mercury 90 very hot and dry. Mr M. O. Streator Buried to day.

Jul 12 – Mercury 84. Hoed in garden and chored round. Jim Drew in wheat. Fine day not so hot.

Jul 13 – Jim raked the wheat and

Jul 14 – Jim raked the wheat scatterings and drew them in. The Whiting family at the burg to day. I went over in Evening. Oliver Young died.

Jul 15 – Ethan, Hannah, Jim and Claud went to Kalamazoo to see Barnums show. Nice day Mercury 84.

Jul 16 – Plowed corn. Fine day. Went over to Burg in morning. Cyrus and Quincy Streator[73] called here.

Jul 17 – Hoed corn some in forenoon. Went over to burg at noon. Syrus & Quin called here jus at night. Some cooler.

Jul 18 – Mercury 74 some cooler. Katharine and Lee came up here.

Jul 19 – Lelah and Bess came on noon train. I went over and got them. Lois came over with me.

Jul 20 – Mr. Harry and Ed Rowland called here. Lelah and Bes here. Very smoky.

Jul 21 – Mercury 91. I went up to Levi woods with Cyrus Streator. Mrs M. O. Streator and Quin and Cyrus here to tea. Very dry.

Jul 22 – Mercury 94. Hoed corn and done the chores. Went up to Cullin Towns[74] afternoon.

Jul 23 – Mercury 93 very hot, dry and smoky. Hoed garden.

Jul 24 – Mercury 94. Hoed some corn and cabbage. Very hot day. Nancy came up.

Jul 25 – Mercury 104 in shade. At home all day. Ethan, Hannah and Hanks folk, Lizzie and Will[75] came to Mrs Browns.

Jul 26 – Mercury 69 rainy morning, rainy day. Nancy and girls went home.

Jul 27 – Took Sarah over to Lois. I worked in shop on axhelves.

Jul 28 – Made helve for G. A. Lockhart. Ethan took crank pattern over to Foundry. Rained some this morning.

Jul 29 – Mr Randal cut the oats. Mrs Ed Hoges Buried to day.[76] I worked in shop to day.

Jul 30 – Jim drawed oats. Fine hot day rained just at night.

Jul 31 – Mercury 94. Mr Johnson thrashed the wheat and oats 129 oats 46 wheat. Rained one ledl mite just at night. Very hot.

Aug 1 – Mercury 104. Hannah came home from Howlands Burg. I went down to Katharines. All well.

Aug 2 – Worked in garden some. Chored round most of the day.

Aug 3 – Went over to burg. Worked round house and garden.

Aug 4 – Cut weeds and grubs along the fence up the hill. Hot day. Allerton[77] thrashed. Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo.

Aug 5 – Went down to Mrs Browns. Helped Jim clean up wheat. Rainy forenoon. Cut weed on hill.

Aug 6 – Went up to Mr Flanders in afternoon. Sarah went. Ed took pig down to Rial French.

Aug 7 – Took Fan up to Mr Flanders to get Jersey calf.[78] Went down to Katharines in afternoon after Hannah. Sarah went down to see Minnie Randal.

Aug 8 – Nice day. Jim and Hannah went to Kalamazoo to see Lou.

Aug 9 – At home choring. Not much work to day.

Aug 10 – Took Hannah down to Mate Fords.[79]

Aug 11 – Mercury 96. Mr Joseph Whitford buried.[80] Henry Crawford[81] came here this morning. He went home on the Eleven Oclock train.

Aug 12 – Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo after Lou. Robert Crawford[82] came to day. George Turner Buried to day.[83]

Aug 13 – Robert here. Went over to Burg after Lous trunk. Robert and I went around the squair. Rained in Evening.

Aug 14 – Cloudy some mist. At home. Robert here. Very warm.

Aug 15 – At home. Hot day. Robert and Sarah went over to cemetry.[84] Mary Ellen Allerton[85] and Carrie Plank[86] called here in Evening.

Aug 16 – Took Robert over to the train. Rainy morning. Robert left for Canada.

Aug 17 – Sarah and Lou went down to Mrs Browns. I helped Jim repair the grainry.

Aug 18 – Cut and drawed some wood. Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo to see the Sham Battle. Cord Beach got hurt.

Aug 19 – Took Sarah and Lou up to Em Ralphs. I Repaired chair for Em.

Aug 20 – At home. Went down to Mr Browns in morning.

Aug 21 – Harry Crawford[87] came on 7 Oclock train. Carrie Plank and Mary Allerton here in afternoon. Lois came over. D came. Went over to burg in Evening. Ha[d] a heavy shower rained in night.

Aug 22 – Cloudy looks like rain. Harry Crawford here. All well.

Aug 23 – Not much work to day. Jim commenced plowing East lot. George Hubbards baby died this morning.[88] Carry Plank here.

Aug 24 – Hannah and Carey went down to Mr Allertons. Lou and children went over to Lois. Oat Hills mother Died to day.[89]

Aug 25 – Took Lou over to Mr Ralph. Robert came back from Canada. Glen Keith[90] came on noon train. Mrs Hill buried.

Aug 26 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Harry went with him. Robert went up to Nelt Blass.

Aug 27 – Mercury 102. Took Robert over to burg he went to Chicago. Carrie Plank came here stayed all night.

Aug 28 – Mercury 99. Carrie went up to Gull Lake to attend the Grange Picknic. Jim plowing. Lou here.

Aug 29 – Had a heavy shower. Went down to Katharines.

Aug 30 – Let Jim have six bags full of corn. Mr Hampton here to dinner tin pedler. Hannah took Carrie Plank to Kalamazoo.

Aug 31 – Lou and children here. Jim plowing. Very warm.

Sep 1 – Jim plowing. Nice day. Lou here. I not very well. I commenced my last years work for H Cruttenden[91] 40 years ago to day.

Sep 2 – Took Lou to Kalamazoo. She stayed to Nancys all night. Very nice day.

Sep 3 – Jim plowing. Warm. Working round as usual. Some hot weather.

Sep 4 – Jim plowing. I cut load wood drew it down. Just at night had a heavy thunder storm. Lightning struck Cole Durkees hors Barn burnt it and straw stac.

Sep 5 – Mercury 80. At home. No one here but our own folks. Hannah came home this morning from Streators. She is making Mary Fishers wedding dress.[92]

Sep 6 – Mercury 93. Cut some corn. Jim floted wheat ground. Very hot day.

Sep 7 – Mercury 90. Cutting corn. Jim working for M. Caywood[93] cutting corn spec so.[94]

Sep 8 – Mercury 86. Cleaned wheat. Took 4 bushels to mill. Hot day. Rained in night.

Sep 9 – Mercury 69 some rainy this morning. Went down to Mrs Browns. Jim went to Kalamazoo. Cate Crawford[95] came home with him.

Sep 10 – Chored around house and shop. Not much done. Warm day.

Sep 11 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in afternoon. Cate went over with me. Rained in night.

Sep 12 – Nice morning. At home all day. Kate here.

Sep 13 – Work in shop some. Kate here. Ethan working on Knapps canal power. Got the sewing machine 60 cts Freight.

Sep 14 – Choring around. Cut some corn. Hannah & Nancy went to Jackson. Lelah & Bes came here.

Sep 15 – Took Ethan over to Burg. He went to Jackson to State Fair. Jim took Kate to Kalamazoo. Sarah went over to Mr Ralphs.

Sep 16 – Cut corn some. Fine day some wind. Blowed uncle Isaac Clarks[96] Barn down.

Sep 17 – Cut corn. Choring round.

Sep 18 – Finished cutting corn. Ethan came home.

Sep 19 – At home all day. Nancy came home to day.

Sep 20 – Fine morning. Jim dragging. I cut some wood and d[r]ew it down.

Sep 21 – Mercury 56 some lidle rany. At home. Jim dont be dragging to day some. Mr Franklin brot machine home.

Sep 22 – Mercury 67. Jim draging with spring tooth.[97]

Sep 23 – Went over to Burg in morning. Bot ½ bushel Timothy seed 1.13¢. Rainy lots Lightning & thunder.

Sep 24 – At home. Hannah came home sick from Mr Ogdens.

Sep 25 – Choring around. Put Beens in Barn and done various things. Mr Levy Woods folks came over. Stayed to Mrs Browns all night.

Sep 26 – All hands went up to Mrs Streators. Had a good time. Hannah some better. Rainy night.

Sep 27 – Rainy morning. Helped Jim. I went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Sep 28 – Helped Jim clean up wheat. Mr D. L. Tuttle buried at Galesburg to day.[98]

Sep 29 – Mrs Skinner Died.[99] Mrs Forbush and Eva Blake here in afternoon. Mrs Browns Jersey cow Died.

Sep 30 – Went down to Mrs Browns. Helped bury the cow.

Oct 1 – Cut some wood dug some potatoes. Lumis Robinson came here. He went home on nine oclock run.

Oct 2 – Went to Kalamazoo stayed all night. Went to the Accadamy of music** in Evening. Hank and Nancy went with us.

Oct 3 – Nice weather. At Browns. I went up to the Asylum in forenoon and then Hank and I went over to the water works. We came home at night. Old Mrs Daniels Died to day.

Oct 4 – Mercury 76 in shade. Fine day. Drawing rails for fence south of Barn next to the wheat.

Oct 5 – Laid bottom rails for fence. Fixed two saws for Allan Simmons. Jim and Charley Ford moved Rial French.

Oct 6 – Finished filing Simmons saws and turned driver for Bench Screw. Very nice day. Mercury up in the 70 & 80.

Oct 7 – Went over to burg in morning and down to C. Fords. Ethan picking apples down to Mrs Browns. Very nice weather.

Oct 8 – Mercury 80. Went up in woods cut some steaks. Went over to burg got band for sewing machine. Bot box Buggy greace. Lois came home. Nice weather.

Oct 9 – Mercury 84. Took Sarah over to Lois. I chored a round house and barn.

Oct 10 – At home all day. Lois and Ina came over. George Yeomans and Burt Burrell here.

Oct 11 – Jim came home from Shelby Ville. Jay[100] came home with him. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Oct 12 – Husked some corn. Very nice day very dry. Lum Robinson and wife here in afternoon.

Oct 13 – Built fence south of barn. Very nice day. Mrs Gilfus died to day. Jay here all right.

Oct 14 – Rainy day. No work. Rained and blowed hard all day. Blowed my corn most all down.

Oct 15 – Nice day. Finished my fence. No frost yet of any account. Dell and Sate[101] got home. 73 years old to day.

Oct 16 – Went over to burg. Bess and Jay went over to Lois. Nice day. Not much done. Rather lame. Old Pionere here to dinner.

Oct 17 – Mercury 69 pleasant some wind. Ethan, Hannah, Bes and Jay gone to Kalamazoo. George Yeomans and Burt Burrell here to day.

Oct 18 – Mercury 54 very nice day warm and dry. Husked corn. Jay here. Mr Knap here. Work on propeller.

Oct 19 – Mercury 57 very pleasant and dry. Husked corn. Mr Knap here to day working on propeller.

Oct 20 – Kalamazoo House Burned to day. Drew in my cornfodder in the morning. Went down to Mrs Browns got apples. Rainy. Went over to burg in afternoon. Not cold.

Oct 21 – Warm day. Choped some wood. Aunt Hannah Wilmarth[102] here to dinner stayed the afternoon.

Oct 22 – Nice day. Put apples in cellar. Drawed some wood in afternoon. W. H. Knap & Agent came over in afternoon.

Oct 23 – Fine day. Went to Kalamazoo with Jay. He went home. Claud went with him.

Oct 24 – Picked up Hickory nuts. Nice warm day. Jim went down to Hanks after Hannah. Lois went with him.

Oct 25 – Took the W. H. Knap Propeller up to Butterfield to try the Boats. Husked corn in afternoon. Cold day.

Oct 26 – Cool wind. Husked corn. Ethan dug potatoes. Hannah work for Fanny Town. Jim went to Kalamazoo with wheat.

Oct 27 – Husked corn. Cool day. Put potatoes in cellar. Jim went to Kalamazoo with wheat.

Oct 28 – Went to Mr Isaac Clarks funeral to day. Cool wind.

Oct 29 – Went up to Levy Woods. Mrs Streator and Mrs Green and Cyrus went.

Oct 30 – Husked some. Chored round. Put lights in windows to school House.

Oct 31 – At home. Picked up some Hickory nuts and cut some sage.

Nov 1 – Mercury 54. Finished husking to day. Sate worked for Hannah. Charley Smith came over after Sate.

Nov 2 – Mercury 55 nice warm day. Went over to Election. Levy Wood and wife here, Fanny Town and Mrs Pease.

Nov 3 – Drawed my cornfodder. Very nice day. Went over to burg at noon. Mr Knap an Ethan tried the Boat.

Nov 4 – Ethan and Jim Conky went to Kalamazoo. I dug some roots for Sarah. Cyrus and Mrs Streator. called. Tip Town[103] called.

Nov 5 – Worked round. Lelah and Bes here. Nancy came up. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 6 – Went over to burg. Took Nells dress over. Went to Lois. Saw Mary Hall. Nancy and girls went down to Mrs Browns. Snowed in night the first of the season.

Nov 7 – About ½ inch snow on the ground this morning. Jim Konky came got his camery. Hank came up here.

Nov 8 – Cut some wood. Nancy and girls went down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 9 – Drawed one load wood. Rained then snowed like fun.[104] Made stall for Peter. Not very cold. Will Brown moved to day.

Nov 10 – Doing chores. Made ladder or apart of one. Cold.

Nov 11 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Cut out rounds for ladder. Cleaned up some wheat.

Nov 12 – Went over to mill. Made cloths stick for Nancy.

Nov 13 – Nancy went home. Lou came home. She came up with Jim. I went over to Comstock. Sarah went down to Katharines.

Nov 14 – Pleasant day cool wind. Herb Earls Boy born this morning.[105]

Nov 15 – Put plank down at the west door at barn.

Nov 16 – Took Lou over to Lois and Mr Ralphs. Mr Knap and Ethan tried the Boat. Cold wind.

Nov 17 – Rainy day. Got pig of Jim. Went over to burg at night. Got oil. Lou went up to Jim Milhams.

Nov 18 – Mercury 25 cold and blustrous, snowey, cold. I worked in barn some.

Nov 19 – Lou and children[106] here. Cold wind. Ethan cut some wood. I drew two loads.

Nov 20 – Ethan choped some wood. I jointed boards for East side of barn. Doc Martin and wife called in Evening to see Hannah.

Nov 21 – At home all day. Pleasant. Lou went to Kalamazoo. Levy Wood and wife and Mrs Streator here.

Nov 22 – Boarded up East side barn. Nice day.

Nov 23 – Mercury 58. Repaired pump and well in barn.

Nov 24 – Mercury. Went over to burg got shugar and oder dings,[107] cinnamon and Raisins, oil &c.[108]

Nov 25 – Went over after Lois. Snows. Del came over got Horse and wagon. Took load stone over. Hannah came home.

Nov 26 – Ethan took Hannah down to Mrs Howlets. I got thirty Dozen Eggs of Fanny Town to send to Chicago. Cold day.

Nov 27 – Sent Eggs and Butter to Chicago to Hiram Crawford.[109]

Nov 28 – At home. Hannah went up to Herb Gilsons.

Nov 29 – Mercury 2 Abz. Not much done. Ed Schram called here. I hired him to cut some wood.

Nov 30 – Ethan went over got Lois in morning. She came over to wash. I went over to burg in Evening to get stove for Hanks folks.

Dec 1 – Mercury 8 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo took Hanks stove down to them. Mrs Brown went. Very Blustring. Jim and Bell Starr came up with me. Lum Robinson started for home. Saw Dob Zinsky[?].

Dec 2 – Cut some wood. Put ladder together in Evening. Cold and blustring he snow very hard some.

Dec 3 – Drawed two loads of wood on sleigh. Jim called here said he had sold his team to Will Brown. Ed chopping. Dr Babcock buried to day.[110]

Dec 4 – Ed chopping. Cold day. I drawed wood.

Dec 5 – Mercury 16 Below zero. Went over to burg in morning. Jim shingling for Dell. Ed Schram chopping.

Dec 6 – Mercury 2 blow zero. Went over to burg in morn. Jim shingling for Dell. Ed chopping.

Dec 7 – Drawed wood in forenoon. Went down to Marts in afternoon. Nice day.

Dec 8 – Fine day. Drawed wood. Ed no chop some. Fanny Town came over in afternoon.

Dec 9 – Drawing wood. Not much snow. Very nice weather.

Dec 10 – Drawed wood in forenoon. Got all down that was cut. Snow about gone. Leon[111] here stayed all night.

Dec 11 – Leon went up to Batey.[112] Glen came down with willow[?] in morning. Leon came back stayed all night. Dell put some shingles on Barn.

Dec 12 – Leon and Glen lef for home.[113] Rained some.

Dec 13 – Not much done but chores.

Dec 14 – Snowed and blowed hard. Very rough day. Went down to Caywoods and Mr Flanders. Paid Ed $— for butter. Mate Ford came here.

Dec 15 – Cold snow about — inches deep. Hannah went to Dr Ma– to sew. Took Sarah down to Mrs Browns. Filed saw for Jim. Hung ax for Herb Earl.

Dec 16 – Cold day. Worked in shop some. Smoothed up axhelves. Ethan went to burg in Evening.

Dec 17 – Finished up axhelves and chored round. Sarah went up to Ha–. I went up took tea with them. Snowed and blowed.

Dec 18 – Worked in shop some. Finished up my helves. Ed Schram called here.

Dec 19 – At home. Went over brot Lois over. Some stormy.

Dec 20 – Mercury at zero. Took Hannah over to train she went to Kalamazoo.

Dec 21 – Mercury 34 Abz. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah and Lelah. Shelled corn for feed.

Dec 22 – Mercury 5 Abz. Went down to Mrs Browns. Took letter down to Lizzy with sample in. Hannah went up to W^m Ralphs.

Dec 23 – Went over to burg in morning paid my tax $6.78 cts. Went over at noon got money order cashed. Went over to Lois in Evening.

Dec 24 – Went down to Marts to mill. Took 7½ bushels corn and oats ground. Sent books to Claude, Lelah & Bes, Jay and Verne[114] and Marts children.

Dec 25 – Worked on toboggin for Claude. No good he break some. Not very cold.

Dec 26 – At home. No one here. Cold winter weather. Good sleighing.

Dec 27 – Mercury 13 Abz. Went up to Theodores got board for toboggin. Oscar, Mary Ann[115] and Glen here to day. They left for home.

Dec 28 – Mercury 3 below. Went over to burg. Got shoes for Sarah. Cold day.

Dec 29 – Mercury 3 Abz. Went over to burg in morning got calender. Mrs Beley Wright Died this morning 7 oclock.[116] Went over to burg in Evening.

Dec 30 – Mercury 15 below very much cold day. Sarah & I went to Kalamazoo she stayed to Nancys. Bot articks $1.25. Very cold. D. and Jim came.

Dec 31 – Mercury 13 below. Went over to burg in afternoon. Ina went home. Mrs Bela Wright buried to day. Very cold day. I done nodings not much to day ver mooch goot sleigh plendy snow some. Lou sent me money, pay some money. D went home on noon train.

——-

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

[2] His daughter, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner

[3] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[4] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[5] His daughter, Louese (Keith) Harris

[6] His son-in-law Hank Brown’s mother, Matilda (Allen) Brown, who was also Luke’s neighbor

[7] His son, James Clinton Keith

[8] His son, Ethan Keith

[9] His grandson, William Clark

[10] His son-in-law, Louese’s husband Daniel Harris, Jr.

[11] Above zero

[12] The Michigan death record lists his date of death as January 21 (although it’s possible that the 1 in 21 is actually a 4) and there is a notation “Names added to list by Henry Laffitt [Labbitt] Undertaker Galesburg Michigan.” FindAGrave.com agrees with Luke’s entry of death on January 6, 1886, and shows he is buried in Lawler Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. The January 9, 1886 edition of the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, p.3, noted: The funeral services of the late Langford [sic] Burdick of Galesburg were held in the Baptist church at that place yesterday, Rev. J. S. Boyden officiating, and were largely attended. The remains were interred in the cemetery in Charleston Township.

[13] His neighbor, Frances Towne

[14] Galesburg, Michigan

[15] Theodore Earl, neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[16] His son-in-law, Lois’ husband, Adelbert Skinner

[17] His son-in-law, Nancy’s husband, Henry Brown, who was a photographer. It appears Jim and Will were posting advertisements around town. The February 9, 1886 edition of the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, on page 6, reported the following: Henry A. Brown, photographer, recently of Galesburg, Ill., who has been taking all the pretty prizes in town (if each is left to be sole judge) for the past two weeks, will locate in Kalamazoo in the bank building, on the northwest corner of Main and Burdick streets.

[18] George & Mary Evelyn “Eva” (Forbush) Blake lived in Charleston, Michigan, which is about five miles east of where Luke lived

[19] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Herbert Earl, and his wife, Luella (Farr) Earl. Herb and Theodore (see footnote to January 7^th entry) were brothers

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

[21] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

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

[23] His wife Sarah’s niece, Edna (Crawford) Allen. See also February 23^rd entry

[24] His grandson, Charles Clark, and his wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark

[25] His son-in-law and his daughters, Lela and Bess Brown

[26] Neighbor, Harriet Taylor

[27] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[28] Scotts, Michigan

[29] Neighbor, Richard Barber

[30] Michigan death records show that F. K. Bennett was “run over by cars” in Galesburg, Michigan on February 5, 1866

[31] Train cars

[32] His neighbor, Albert Towne, who was the father of Fanny Towne (see January 6 & 16) and Charley Towne (see March 27)

[33] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[34] Michigan death records reveal that Harriet Watts died February 8, 1886 in Otsego, Allegan County, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Allegan County, Michigan

[35] Claude, Lela and Bess Brown

[36] George Tomlinson, the husband of Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[37] His cow

[38] Edna Allen and her daughter Madge

[39] Edna’s husband, Oscar M. Allen, Jr.

[40] His horse

[41] According to FindAGrave.com, Benjamin Smith died March 11, 1886 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Wayland, Michigan

[42] Michigan marriage records show that Adeliza (Hubbard) Lewis, the widow of Franklin Lewis, married Charles Rimmey in Galesburg, Michigan on March 14, 1886

[43] Neighbor, and father of Theodore (see January 7^th entry) and Herbert Earl (see January 18^th entry)

[44] His great-niece, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[45] Shelbyville, Michigan, where his daughter Louese lived

[46] Cora Meredith, his future daughter-in-law; she would marry his son Jim in June 1891

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

[48] Neighbor, James Milham, who was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote to January 23^rd entry)

[49] Neighbor, Smith Carlton, son of Albert Carlton (see February 1^st entry)

[50] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner

[51] His neighbor, Charles Towne

[52] Hat and Lib Taylor

[53] From an ad in the October 23, 1880 Galesburgh Express: Wm. L. McBeth, M.D., PHYSICIAN & SURGEON. Office at Burdick’s drug store. Residence on Battle Creek street, two doors east of Bennett House. Calls attended to promptly at all hours. Galesburgh, Mich.

[54] Hard to decipher the order of his words as some were squeezed in between lines, so this may not be a true reading

[55] The Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph newspaper

[56] An old neighbor from when Luke lived in Covington, Genesee County, New York. The New York Death Index shows that Nicholas Chilson died in Batavia, Genesee County, New York and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York, although it shows his age as 77

[57] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

[58] His neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[59] George Tomlinson

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

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

[62] Marius O. & Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

[63] Michigan marriage records show that Oliver Evans and Mary Carson were married in Richmond, Michigan on May 27, 1886

[64] His neighbor, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[65] Kalamazoo County Enterprise newspaper

[66] Common fluid-filled growths (cysts) that form from hair follicles that are most often found on the scalp

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

[68] His grandson, Claude Brown

[69] Michigan death records mistakenly show that Erastus Stewart died October 3, 1886 in Comstock, Michigan with the notation “Names added to list by Henry Laffitt  [Labbitt] Undertaker Galesburg Michigan.” Langford Burdick (see footnote to January 6^th entry), likewise added by Henry Labbitt, was also incorrectly entered. The Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph newspaper editions of July 1 and July 6 (both on p. 2) agree with Luke’s entry showing that Erastus Stewart died on June 30, 1886

[70] Maria (nee Thayer), who was the widow of James Flanders (the son on Joseph Flanders, see footnote to May 4th entry), married Victor Gardner. She is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan alongside her first husband, James Flanders

[71] FindAGrave.com reveals that Horatio N. Tubbs died July 2, 1886 and is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, Wayland, Michigan

[72] Michigan death records show that he died in Comstock, Michigan on July 8, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Luke Keith’s diary entry of 10-18-1894 reads: Went down to Mrs Streators with Will Clark they took up Mr M. O. Streators remains and put them in the new cemetry at Galesburg

[73] Believe them to be the brother and son of Marius Streator

[74] Cullen Towne, the son of Albert Towne (see footnote to February 8^th entry)

[75] Willis & Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown; Willis was the son of Matilda Brown (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[76] Michigan death records show that Adeline Hodges died July 27, 1886 in Galesburg, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[77] His neighbor, John T. Allerton

[78] Fan was his cow. Presume he was taking Fan to the bull

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

[80] Michigan death records show that Joseph Whitford died in Charleston, Michigan on August 10, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[81] His wife Sarah’s brother

[82] His wife Sarah’s brother

[83] Michigan death records show that George Turner died in Kalamazoo from a fall from a scaffold on August 10, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[84] Most likely the Galesburg Old Cemetery where their mother, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts, was buried

[85] The daughter of neighbors John & Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton

[86] Carrie Plank was the daughter of William & Harriett (Groat) Plank who had been neighbors of the Keiths in Comstock until they moved to Grand Rapids in 1873

[87] The son of Hiram & Kate (Atcheson) Crawford; Hiram was Sarah’s brother

[88] Michigan death records reveal that Floyd Hubbard, the six-month-old son of George & Alice Hubbard, died in Galesburg, Michigan on August 23, 1886

[89] Michigan death records reveal that Sarah (Watters) Hill died August 23, 1886 in Galesburg, Michigan

[90] His grand-nephew, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[91] On July 25, 1847 Luke married his second wife, Jerusha Crittenden (she died September 23, 1848). Jerusha had a brother Henry; perhaps this is who he is referring to

[92] Mary Fisher married Marenus Caywood in September. Sadly, on March 4, 1887 Marenus was killed when his horses “run with him” according to Luke Keith’s 1887 diary

[93] Neighbor, Marenus Caywood

[94] Expect so

[95] Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, the wife of Hiram Crawford, Jr., Sarah’s brother

[96] No relation is known at this time; however, often the parents of a husband or wife of a family member, or the parent of a neighbor, were referred to as Aunt or Uncle

[97] An outdated piece of farm equipment which used many flexible iron teeth mounted in rows to loosen the soil before planting

[98] FindAGrave.com shows that David Tuttle died in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 25, 1886 and he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[99] Sarah (Knight) Skinner, the mother of Del Skinner (see footnote to January 7^th entry). FindAGrave.com shows she died September 29, 1886 in Ceresco, Michigan and that she is buried in the Quaker Cemetery in Waterloo, New York

** See https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/academy-of-music-kalamazoo-michigan for more info on the Academy of Music

[100] His grandson, Jay Keith Harris, who was 3 years old

[101] Sarah Skinner, the sister of Del Skinner (see footnote to January 7^th entry)

[102] According to the 1880 census, Hannah was the sister of Luke’s neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[103] Neighbor, Eunice (Wood) Towne

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

[105] Royal J. Earl was born to Herbert & Luella (Farr) Earl

[106] Jay (3), LaVerne (just under 2) and Floyd (7 months) Harris

[107] Other things

[108] Etc.

[109] His brother-in-law

[110] FindAGrave.com shows that Isaiah J. Babcock died December 1, 1886 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[111] His grand-nephew, James Leon Keith, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[112] Presumably to visit his grandmother, Betsy (Olds) Batey, in Pavilion, Michigan

[113] Bloomingdale, Michigan

[114] Lou’s children

[115] His nephew’s family; see footnotes to August 25^th and December 10^th entries

[116] Betsy (Fisher) Wright. Michigan death records reveal that she died in Galesburg on December 29 and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

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Luke Keith’s 1863 Diary

1863 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

Jan 1 – Father[2] & Catharine[3] here. Mrs Wiseman & children here to dinner. Thysa Pond had a youngone. Warm and pleasant no snow the same at Green bay.

Jan 2 – Rainy. Bot cloth for Ethan[4] & myself pants 4.35¢. Paid Tax 6.38¢.

Jan 3 – Made heel spikes for Ethans scates 5¢ gin 5¢.

Jan 4 – Rainy morning no snow. At home all day. Mrs Betts[5] took dinner with Mrs Austin.

Jan 5 – Put braces on neap[6] for A. Austin 75¢. Bot this Book 38¢ Bot oil 40¢. Filed saw for Father.

Jan 6 – Tenonded bob knees. Filed saw for B. Clark[7] 25¢. Ed Gilles got slead paid 1.25. Bot camphor 5.

Jan 7 – Went over to Fathers up to Milfords & Wesleys.[8] Milford went up to Tom Durkees after corn got none.

Jan 8 – Wesley helped me kill Hogs. E. Hopkins sent some corn. Isaac Smith paid 25¢. Hawver paid 15¢ lent money.

Jan 9 – Filed saw for Isaac Smith 12. Cut up my pork. Sold Mr Vansielar some timber for slead pins 10.

Jan 10 – Bot one file 13¢. Filed saw for Mead 20¢ filed saw for Troutwine 25¢ filed two for A. R. Turner one for A. Austin 15. Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢ Apples 5¢.

Jan 11 – Went over to Fathers with Ethan. He went over to stay and go to school.

Jan 12 – Bot book for Hannah[9] 18 Bot salt 40¢. Worked in shop some on black board. Extracted tooth for Dea Cory 25.

Jan 13 – Worked on black board some. Cut up beef. Wiseman had 52¼ lbs. Flanders Brot one load hay.

Jan 14 – Finished black Board. Mended saw frame & filed saw for Mrs T. J. Whitting 38¢. Worked on violin some. Milford Brot one load wood.

Jan 15 – Put helve in Wesleys ax. Varnished violin. Frank Whiting paid 35¢.

Jan 16 – Went over to Fathers with Oscar.[10] Worked on bobs some. Put up Deyoes tools. Dick Lamkins brot some hay.

Jan 17 – Filed saw for Richard Barber 20¢ filed saw for Wesley 18¢. Romans paid 90¢ for repairing violin. Barber paid 20¢. Bot one pair mittens 1.00.

Jan 18 – At home most of the day. Went up to Andrew McLarys Extracted tooth for his wife 25¢.

Jan 19 – Went up to Milfords. Charles Richardsons Horses Harness wagon & bobs sold. Horses 175.00 Harness 14.03 Wagon 20.25 Bobs 22.00. Corn 37¢ pr bushel.

Jan 20 – Worked on bobs. Milford called here. Mrs Rogers Sarah Mrs Oatman & Mrs Austin here.

Jan 21 – Worked on bobs. Starling made stool. Father went to Augusty. Made stool for sis.[11] Mead paid 10¢. Bot cabbage 10¢.

Jan 22 – Bot shoes 35¢. Scudder got 100 feet half inch bas boards. Bot 2½ yds cotton 3/- 94¢. Extracted tooth for Nelson Mills 25¢. Worked on pump.

Jan 23 – Finished pump for C. P. Galligan 75. Glued violin for Mr Thomas 25. Bot candles 15. Levy King[12] in on the one oclock Express Evening.

Jan 24 – Put in thill[13] for Peet 75¢. Got Ethens boots tapt 50¢. Mr Thomas paid 16. Deacon Cory paid 20¢.

Jan 25 – Went over to Fathers with Levy King. Wesley cut my hair.

Jan 26 – Very foggy no sleighing yet. Mr Peet paid 80¢. Filed cross cut saw for Elias Sherman 50. Made spring bar for D. Lamkins 25.

Jan 27 – Levy left 7 oclock this morning. Filed saw for D. K. Rogers 20¢. Rounded up bob. Stephen D. Hall in town.

Jan 28 – Filed saw for B. Clark 25¢. Made saw handles for shermans saw 13¢. Bot shoes for Sarah[14] $1.00. Sent letter to J. S. King[15] 3¢. Bot oil 38.

Jan 29 – Worked on bobs some. Repaired saw buck for P. Johnson 20¢. Bot glue & candy 15¢. Snowed in the night.

Jan 30 – Snows like fun some 4 or 5 inches. Put forward bob together. Bot thread 10¢.

Jan 31 – Pleasant. Worked on bobs put hind bob together. Made short tung & roll. P. Flanders called here. Sarah went over to Fathers with him.

Feb 1 – At home all day. Mrs Betts & girls went to church. Cold night.

Feb 2 – Cold & blustering 12 Abz.[16] Filed saw for James Holden 16. Filed one for Dray Barber. Flanders brot roll butter.

Feb 3 – 2 Abz cold. Made boulster and steak for John Pilgrim 75¢. He paid 60¢.

Feb 4 – Worked on bobs put block on boulster for John Pilgrim. Bot scarfs for Nancy[17] & Hannah 40¢. Sarah came home.

Feb 5 – Snows like fun some riding rount. Worked on bobs finished them. Mr Withey called here.

Feb 6 – Fitted shoes on bobs. Traded quaker fiddle for picture frames & pictures with Withey. Bot buttons & filed saw for Troutwine 20¢ one for morton 18.

Feb 7 – No work in shop to day. Payed for medicine 2.10¢ apples 5¢ candy 1 lost one 1. Let Lucy[18] have 3¢. Got Jerushas[19] likeness[20] taken. Filed saw for Mr Seman 15. Dray barber paid 15.

Feb 8 – Went over to fathers. Lucy paid 3¢. Snowed quite hard.

Feb 9 – Rainy day. Worked on bronsons bob some. P. Johnson Brot ash Knott. Went up to grave yard with Mr Tuttle. Cut Joel Wheatons name on paper for a bag mark. Got stick salve 25.

Feb 10 – Bot 7 oz Tea of C. P. Galligan 38¢. Put shoes on slead. Mrs Stevenson took slead. Dea Cory paid 5¢.

Feb 11 – Bot corn popper 25¢. Filed saw for A Austin 15¢. Urigan Tuttle came in on the four oclock Express. Bot filly 3.

Feb 12 – Cut out molls out of ash Knott. Extracted tooth for Lucy. Filed saw for Father. Nancy & Hannah had 10¢. Went to Gales Donation.

Feb 13 – Work on Bronsons bob some. Mr Thomas paid 10¢. Went down to Hank Bennets in evening to a dance.

Feb 14 – Worked on bob. Ayres Raymond called here. Filed saw for Hoag. Rained snow all went off.

Feb 15 – Went over to Fathers. Jo came down. Catharine went home with him.

Feb 16 – Bot 5 lbs shugar 65¢. Mills paid 30¢. Worked on Bronsons bob, let Dean have boulster stick for Moore.

Feb 17 – Repaired wood box. Alvan here. Got Ex stick of Moore. Bristol brot melodeon. Bot salve of Bab 25¢. Sis burnt her hand.

Feb 18 – Made buggy Ex for Mr Peet. Milford got his bobs. D Lamkins brot 4 bushels & 14 lbs wheat. Flanders brot 400 feet bas boards ½ inch. Mr Coots came after Anty.

Feb 19 – Mr Peet paid 2.00. Worked on Milfords Ex. Ed Gale called here. Mrs Betts lost her vail in Evening.

Feb 20 – Worked on Ex some and some on bob. Filed saw for Lankford Burdick 15. Sold ashes.

Feb 21 – Went over to Fathers. Put up Catharines clock. Ethen came over home. Filed saw for Isaac Smith 15¢. Burdick paid 12¢.

Feb 22 – At home all day. All well as usual. No snow but cold. Mrs Swaddle called when she went to Evening meeting. Mrs Betts stayed with Mrs Tom Whiting.

Feb 23 – Pleasant morning. Went to Kalamazoo to get money for Deyoe. Bot cotton 8 yds 2.00 Callico 12 yds 3.00 candy 1¢. Catharine let me have 1.00. Fare to Kal[21] & back 55¢.

Feb 24 – Filed saw for Lance Odell 15. Barber brot grist 13¢. Worked on McLarys Ex some. Lois[22] came home. Mark[23] & Jo Lee[24] here.

Feb 25 – Finished McLarys Ex 2.00. Bot salearatas[25] 13 creamtartar 15¢. S. A. Millards agent called on me.

Feb 26 – Mary Childs paid $11.00. A. McLary paid 2.00. Put three spokes in Bigsbys wheel 50¢. Lois went home. Candy 1¢.

Feb 27 – Finished Bixbys wheel. Cleaned out shop. Mr Bristol paid $15.00 Melodeon. Mrs Stevenson Mrs Whiting Mrs Cross & Mrs Gillis here. Pleasant.

Feb 28 – Worked on Galligans wheelbarrow. Mark & Joseph Lee Brot up Aunt Rhodas[26] remains & buried them side of Clinton.[27]

Mar 1 – Some snow in the morning went of before noon. Went over to Fathers cattle got out.

Mar 2 – Snows like fun. Bot Box matches 13¢. Lent Lankford Burdick 2¢ Burdick paid 5¢. Worked on wheelbarrow. Thysa Pond & Sol Youngs married.[28]

Mar 3 – Pleasant one inch snow. Mrs Stevenson paid 1.70¢. Worked on wheelbarrow. James Flanders here. Vergin Signor here.

Mar 4 – Worked on wheelbarrow. Filed saw for Dray Barber 15¢ filed saw for stranger 15¢. Jo Flanders here. Hank Bennets Father died to day.

Mar 5 – Finished Galligans wheelbarrow. Made boulster for David Hambleton 50¢. He paid 50¢.

Mar 6 – Finished Milfords Ex. Bixby got his wheel. John Pilgrim paid 15. Beer 10¢. Worked on bob. Glued Frank Austins violin.

Mar 7 – Dressed out some fence rails. Father sold the oxen 3150 lbs. Filed saw for A. Austin 15. Bot hoops for girls 1.00. Bot ½ bushel apples 25¢.

Mar 8 – Went over to Fathers. Mark came up. Mrs Voce with them.

Mar 9 – Cold day. A. Austin paid 25¢ for tailpiece. Lent Blackburn 4.20. Bot ½ galen oil 35. Went over to Kingsleys to see Alvan.

Mar 10 – Varnished violin for Withey 75¢. Dressed out fence rails. Got my boots tapt 62¢. Blackburn paid 20. Flanders brot potatoes Hay straw & Butter.

Mar 11 – Put dash on Deyoes cart. Spliced neap for Pilgrim 25¢. Mrs Barber here. Cut down my long pointer. Bot syrup & cinnamon 50¢.

Mar 12 – Dressed some pickets. Put tung in Deyoes cart. Mrs Betts gone up to Mr Ralphs. Calvin Streator came home.

Mar 13 – Made reach for Bixbys wagon. Dressed some pickets. Filed saw for Mrs Lamkins 15¢. Took Tea with D. K. Rogers.

Mar 14 – Jef Chaffe[29] came this morning went over to Fathers with him. Went up to Yorks.[30] Dressed some pickets. Bot of A. Austin & co. 5 lbs shugar 70¢ half lb Tea 62¢.

Mar 15 – At Home all day. Deyoes folks here in evening.

Mar 16 – Made sideboard to C. P. G. wheelbarrow Brown & Aldidge (25. Filed saw for A. Hoag 25¢. Filed Fathers saw. Jesse Turner[31] here to dinner. Withey paid 40¢. A Hoag paid 25¢. Nancy came home.

Mar 17 – Bot screws for table 17. Sent letter to G. T.[32] 3¢. Put spokes in Bixbys wheels.

Mar 18 – Rimmed two wheels for Bixby. B Moore got two boulster sticks. Ethen at home.

Mar 19 – Dressed out pickets finished. Caty Eunice & Jennette Coreys here. Jane Hamilton came home. Bot Apples 5¢.

Mar 20 – Heavy wind. Made fence to my cow yard. Bot wicking 15. Made half crotch for James Ralph and cut up Ex 50¢.

Mar 21 – C. P. Galligan paid 4.00. Weged box for D. Lamkins 25¢. Made half crotch for James Ralph 38¢. J. W. Deyoe Left for Ohio.

Mar 22 – Went over to Fathers he got his foot hurt. Old Mrs Spaulding died. Alvan Turner[33] died half past Eleven Evening.

Mar 23 – Rainy Extracted tooth for Dea Cory 25¢. Put up my smoke house. Went over to Fathers with Mr Streator. Saw Hiram Beals at C. P. Galligan.

Mar 24 – Rainy morning. Got girls shoes tapt 70¢. Alvan Turner Buried to day.

Mar 25 – Got out spokes intended for Jo Flanders buggy. Filed saw for Mrs Whiting 20¢.

Mar 26 – Frank Whiting paid 15. Worked on D. K. Rogers wheelbarrow. Bot ½ inch auger two bolts one pound nails 40.

Mar 27 – Bot cloth for Ethens pants 1.55¢. Bigsby got his wagon he paid 1.00. Filed saw for stranger 25. Worked on D. K.s wheelbarrow.

Mar 28 – Finished D. K. Rogers wheelbarrow. Sawed out thill for F Aldrich wagon. Filed saw for W^m McLary 25¢. Hannah & Nancy went to see panorama 20¢. D. K. Rogers paid 12¢.

Mar 29 – Sarah sick. Went over to Fathers in Evening got stool. Cow calved while I was gone.

Mar 30 – Went over to Fathers. Cut some poles to put up currant bushes. Finished Aldrichs thill 75¢. Filed Fathers saw.

Mar 31 – Snowed like fun very cold. Went up to Flanders saw my colt. Jay Aldrich got his thills he bot seve Dozen Eggs 70¢. Filed saw for Stevenson 20¢.

Apr 1 – Filed two saws for G. F. Warren 35¢. Bot file 13¢. Oiled over table. Got my rimmer from red shop.

Apr 2 – Went to Flanders from there to Kalamazoo. Bot spokes rims & Hubbs for Flanders buggy 8.00. Came home on cars (30¢. Mrs Dea Cory Elizabeth Smith Lucinda Burdick & Catharine here.

Apr 3 – Let Lois have one Dollar. Filed saw for Isaac Smith he paid 30¢. Flanders brot Hubbs spokes & rims. B Clark brot load wood. Lois went home.

Apr 4 – J. F. Warren paid 60¢. Bot 2 & 2/4 lbs shugar 38¢. Cleaned out yard some piled up some wood. Enos Hopkins came down to get tooth extracted.

Apr 5 – At home all day. Pleasant snowed some in the night.

Apr 6 – Snows verry little morning. Bot writing Book 15¢. J. S. K. leter 3. Clock Repaired 50. D. K. Rogers paid 2.00.

Apr 7 – Picked up some lumber. Filed saw for Milford Matthews 25¢. Filled tooth for Mrs Clark 25. Took Clarks buggy to pieces. Worked on Ex some. Milford took his wagon home.

Apr 8 – Filed saw for Austin Odell. Made new cross bar 20¢. Bristol took spy glass home. Thomas Durkee brot maple. Filed saw for Dray Barber 15¢. Fay Aldrich paid 19¢ Eggs. Aunty Sprague & Gusty Lunt married.[34]

Apr 9 – Made cover to Barrel for Peet 12. Filed saw for B. Clark 20. Worked on Races wheel drove the spokes. Mrs Youngs called here. Got Ethens Boots tapt 40. Bot sack salt 25.

Apr 10 – Finished Mr Races wheel. Commenced boulster for Mr Bigsby. Mr A. A. Dodge called here.

Apr 11 – Finished Bixbys boulster 75. Race got his wheel. Worked on Flanders spokes. James Flanders called here. Some rainy. Filed saw for A Austin 15. Uncle Jason[35] came.

Apr 12 – Went over to Fathers with uncle Jason. Henry[36] came down to go to Chicago.

Apr 13 – Worked on spokes some. Henry left for Chicago on the 2.30. Bot one galon molasses 75 paid 20¢.

Apr 14 – Sahaving spokes. Ground Uncle chichesters[37] knife. Mike Tousley buried to day. Filed saw for Mr Stevenson 15 Stevenson paid 25¢. Uncle Jason went to Kalamazoo. E. Hopkins brot ½ galon molasses 38¢.

Apr 15 – Sarah had Wisemans Horse went over to Fathers. Mr Stephen Earl[38] Died 3 P.M. Bot one Doz Apples 10¢. Alfleda[39] came in on the 4. oclock Express.

Apr 16 – Troutwine paid 45¢. Drove spokes in Flanders wheels. Bot ½ lb Tea 50 ½ galon oil 30.

Apr 17 – Made rake handle for A. Odell 15 he paid 15¢. Sarah came home. Put rims on wheels. Stephen Earl buried. Henry came home on night Express.

Apr 18 – Worked on wheels some. Henry went up to Flanders. Blake Carred cattle. Lois called. She paid back one Dollar. Alfleda here she is sick.

Apr 19 – Some rainy. Went over to Fathers. Got some things for Alfleda. Change of cars to day.

Apr 20 – Made one pair thills for Wightman 1.00. Alfleda went home. Fare to Lawton 70 cts.

Apr 21 – Rainy. Bot Book for Hannah 38. Mr Delano paid 5¢. Extracted tooth for Mr Stanards boy 25¢. Hued some spokes. Ben Moore got two magazines. Bot Sulphur 7¢ candy 1¢.

Apr 22 – Got out some manure. Went up to Wesleys. Rainy. Hellens[40] girl[41] Born.

Apr 23 – Moved lumber in Barn. Filed saw for the Old man Stevenson 15¢ filed saw for Dray Barber 15. Mrs John Scramlin & Mrs Jane Hoag here. Moved some spokes.

Apr 24 – Muncil got 296 feet Bas boards. Finished moveing spokes. Lots soldiers went through. Bot two hubbs of Muncil 50.

Apr 25 – Paid school bill 2.21¢. Carried wood into the yard. B. Clark brot load wood for Mrs Betts. Put up leach.

Apr 26 – At home all day. Mrs Scramlin here.

Apr 27 – Withey paid 25¢. Wesley came down and drawed out manure.

Apr 28 – Spread some manure. Made some soap. Raked up front yard. L. T. Earl brot 10. fence posts.

Apr 29 – Wesley came and plowed garden. Jo Flanders brot hay corn & potatoes. Filed saw for B. Clark 25¢.

Apr 30 – Planted some peas put poles under currant bushes. Mended spear for Marshal Austin 2¢. Mr Clark called here.

May 1 – Bot one paper onion seed 30. Sowed some peas & onions. Sawed out thills for B. Clarks lumber wagon.

May 2 – Bot hats for girls 2.00¢. Made pair thills for Byron Clark 2.00¢.

May 3 – At home all day not verry well. Nancy & Hannah over to Fathers.

May 4 – Got boots repaired 15 brimstone 4¢ salearatas 13¢ candy 1¢. Went up to Yorks. Got some potatoes of Father. Bot syrup 75¢.

May 5 – Sent letter to J. S. King 3¢. Let Brown have one Dollar. Wesley came over and cut my hair.

May 6 – Painted Ethens board & made the blocks. Mr Clark got his skeins. Mr Hammon & Stranger called here.

May 7 – Bot ½ oz bluing 5¢. Mrs Betts got 20 Dollars. Set boxes in Clarks wheels worked on Ex. B. Moore called here left 4.00 Dollars for magazine.

May 8 – Bot brimstone 13¢. Sent letter to E. M. Stratton 8¢. Finished Clarks Buggy. Odell paid 15¢.

May 9 – Got some more poles & crotches for currant bushes. Planted Early potatoes. Mrs Squairs got back. Bronson brot some wheat to the mill 4 bushels & 5 lbs.

May 10 – Pleasant morning. All well. Went over to Fathers. Aldrich girl died.

May 11 – Planted corn beans & some potatoes. J. Flanders brot 42 & 3/4 lbs sugar 5.34¢.

May 12 – Butchered calf. Wiseman paid 35¢. H. L. Bennet paid 1.10¢. Barber brot up grist 13¢. Went over to Fathers. Mrs Lankford Burdick here. Huntly paid 17¢.

May 13 – Trimed Celia Newmans trees. Got Stewarts Boy out of the race. Celia paid 50¢. Filed two saws for Henry Scramlin 70¢. Schroder paid 95¢.

May 14 – Henry Scramlin paid 70¢. Planted some beans & potatoes. Made sticks for Mrs Austin. Went over to Fathers. Shelled seed corn. Magazines came.

May 15 – Marked out my corn ground planted some. H. D. Smith paid 25¢.

May 16 – Planted my corn & potatoes over on farm. Bot ribbon for girls hats 75¢.

May 17 – At home all day. Lois here Ethen came over.

May 18 – Filed saw for Hoag 15 Hoag paid 35¢. Wightman brot piles 25¢. Made churn dash for Henry Scramlin 50.

May 19 – Working on Flanders gearing sawed out some. Made patterns for Exes &c.[42]

May 20 – Made two screens for B Johnsons cellar windows. Made covers for chimneys he paid 60¢. Bot Apples 5¢. Mrs Wiseman stayed all night.

May 21 – Worked on Flanders gearing made head block & reaches. Mrs Betts left for Canada on the 1.15 Express Evening.

May 22 – Working on gearing. Flanders brot some Bas Boards for box. Bot one lb Tea 80 one watch chain 25¢ of A. Austin. Lois went home. Bot of Austin 1 & ½ lb _______ 38.

May 23 – Worked on gearing. Made churn dash for Mr Hunting & filed saw 70¢. He sawed wood 50¢. Pros[43] came up on 11.15 train went and saw Yankee Stimson.

May 24 – Bot three doz. Eggs 25¢. Went up to Flanders stopt to Clarks.

May 25 – Planted melons cumbers corn & pyplant lettauce &c. Went a fishing in afternoon with Pros. Rainy had a fine shower in the night.

May 26 – Sawed out sills & box boards for Flanders buggy. Mended saw frame for Frank Warren 15¢. Pros went home on the 11.40 train. Went over to Fathers shelled corn.

May 27 – Bot alum 5¢. Worked on gearing made springbar. Weeks paid 25¢. James Flanders called here.

May 28 – Worked on the road all day worked up the town line north of my place.

May 29 – Filed saw for Hoag 20¢. Worked on road all day. Celia Aurinda & Mrs Crane called in Evening.

May 30 – Put up looking glass for P. Johnson put up curtain hooks & repaired bell. Regulated Mrs. Rogers glass. Went over to Fathers. Walter Chipman paid 1.00. P. Johnson p^d 50¢.

May 31 – At home all day. Took my melodeon all to pieces & cleaned it. Ethen at home.

Jun 1 – Cool & rainy morning. Put in 2 felloes for Mr Se___en 50. Filed Fathers saw. Set & filed Scramlins saw. Sent 3 letters 9¢. Sarah found ripe strawberry.

Jun 2 – Finished Flanders wheels. Mr Ralph called here to get wheel made. Sarah gone dow to A. Hoags.

Jun 3 – Made wheelbarrow wheel for Mr Ralph 1.75¢. Mr Streator brot wheels to be rimed. Babcock paid $56.00. Catharine & Caty called. We moved bed upstairs.

Jun 4 – Carried Ralphs wheel down to shop. Got some plank of Muncil. Sawed out felloes for Streators wheels put in two spokes put on one rim.

Jun 5 – Rimmed one wheel put in two spokes sawed out some felloes for lumber wheels. Streator called. Bristol brot two bottles wine. Henry took colt down to Catharines.

Jun 6 – Cold morning no frost yet. Bot cloth for Ethen 79¢. Mr Ralph paid 1.50¢. Put rims on two wheels. Ralph got his wheel.

Jun 7 – Went over to Fathers & up to Milfords. Looked through their glass. Mark was up.

Jun 8 – Painted Streators wheels. Put hair in violin bow for D. Lamkins 25¢. Benj Moore called in shop. Bot some cabbage plants 15¢.

Jun 9 – Mr Streator got his wheels he paid 5. Dollars. Went over to the saw mill to see some logs. Caty[44] came over. Set out cabbage plants. One galon syrup 75¢.

Jun 10 – Sent letter to G. T. 3¢. Put down carpet. Got bent pole of Ben Moore. Got pole circle of Muncil.

Jun 11 – Made buggy pole. Caty Chaffee left for home. Went over to Fathers. Made drum stick for Ned Stevenson 5¢.

Jun 12 – Mr Flanders called here. Worked on thills. Steve ___edison paid 5¢.

Jun 13 – Worked on whiffletrees.[45] Bot salratas & ale 25¢. Truax called Stewart showed drafts. Ext tooth for Eva Clark.[46] Ground ax & scythe for Father. Kingsley pd 5.30¢.

Jun 14 – At home all day. Verry hot and dry. Picked strawberries.

Jun 15 – Went over to fathers to work in my corn. Nance was gone came back. Hoed beans. Got letter from Hiram.[47] $X Green Back.

Jun 16 – Sent letter to Hiram 3. Dressed out stuf for Flanders Box and seats. Very hot 94. in shade at 4 PM.

Jun 17 – Cultivaled my corn. Very smoky & some wind.

Jun 18 – Bot cloth for pants 2.00. Extracted tooth for John Schroeder 25¢. Glued Gillis violin & Catys Book. Cut letters for D. Bronson 10¢. Mended Bronsons Box. Sarah went down to (Clarks.

Jun 19 – Put spring in Parasol for Adeline Harris[48] 10¢. Worked on Buggy box. Bronson paid 75¢. Bronson brot 4. bushels and 10. lbs wheat.

Jun 20 – Worked on Flanders Buggy Box. Bot wintergreens 3¢. Put screw in shears for Luther Aldrich 10¢. Sarah came home with Flanders. Adeline Harris paid 5¢.

Jun 21 – At home all day. Rather cool. Oatman put Tom Troutwine in the caboose for running Horses.

Jun 22 – Repaired D Lamkins Horse rake 1.00. Gave Stranger 5¢. Sarah went to Kalamazoo with wiseman.

Jun 23 – Bot 18. eggs 15¢. Worked on Flanders Box. Old Mrs Morton came here.

Jun 24 – Bot cloth for Ethen 1.00. Bot nails & screws .52. Bot one dozen screws 5. Put Flanders Box together.

Jun 25 – Cut letters for C. P. Galligan to put on churn. Put bottom in to Flanders box.

Jun 26 – Bot fish 22¢. Let Hannah have 3¢. Worked on seats.

Jun 27 – Worked on seats & boddy got out side mouldings for Boddy. Henry called in Evening.

Jun 28 – Went over to Fathers & up to Jo. Yorks. Wesley was putting up hay. Hellen and Delpha[49] sick.

Jun 29 – Postage and candy 4¢. Extracted tooth for John Schroeder 25¢.

Jun 30 – Put mouldings on to Box made seat rizers. Glued weeks violin 10¢. Extracted tooth for Laury Lamkins 25¢.

Jul 1 – Filed saw for Frank Warren 25¢. Worked on seats and rizers.

Jul 2 – Finished seats. Mrs S. D. Hall here. Henry called in Evening.

Jul 3 – Worked on whiffletrees some. Went in to show 25¢ candy 15 screws 14¢.

Jul 4 – Made whiffletrees. Flanders carried his Buggy to Kalamazoo. P. Johnson had one pint milk 5. Put in finger for T. Cory 15¢. Bot beef shank 20¢. H. Smith called here.

Jul 5 – At home all day very warm. T. Cory paid 15¢.

Jul 6 – Put three fingers and one standard in Batys cradle 60¢. Put two fingers in Flanders cradle 30¢. Worked some on Batys pole.

Jul 7 – Finished Mr Batys Buggy pole. Filled one tooth for Jo. Sherman 40. Made head to Wesleys Buggy rake 50¢.

Jul 8 – Worked in corn. Bot beer 5¢ Bot watch 10¢. Verry hot day.

Jul 9 – Worked in corn. Very warm & smoky. Mr Withey & wife to Fathers.

Jul 10 – Worked in corn. Henry came down let him have 25¢. Hoed and cultivated. Mr Semen commenced cutting wheat.

Jul 11 – Hoed corn. Henry helped us hoe finished hoeing. Ethen came over with Nance & plowed out my potatoes & corn. Filled Jo Shermans tooth over. Bot beef 33.

Jul 12 – At home all day. Lois went home. Bot violin string 30¢.

Jul 13 – Put in two cradle fingers for Jo. Baty 25. Bot poison 3¢. Repaired wheel for Allerton 25¢. Mr Stevenson plastered kitchen.

Jul 14 – Hoed corn beans & potatoes. Worked some on Allertons wheel.

Jul 15 – Finished allertons wheel 1.00. Hoed some potatoes. Cleaned out cellar. Filled tooth for Mr. Johnson. Picked lot cherries.

Jul 16 – Bot beef 25¢ Bot Beeswax & paper 15¢ one paper 5¢. Filed saw for A. Austin 15. Filed my own saw. Put up stove. Picked some cherries.

Jul 17 – Went over to Fathers. Sawed out felloes for Ralphs wheel. Mended Mr Semans cradle.

Jul 18 – Finished J. Ralphs wheel 1.50¢. Bot salt & starch 30¢. Put handles into Mr Batys plow. Bot shoes for the girls 3.15¢.

Jul 19 – Went down to Catharines place to see my colt. Ethen went with me. Went up to Jo Lees.

Jul 20 – A good shower this morning. Repaired Wheatons violin 25¢. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢. Made boulster for Allerton 62¢. Mended umbrella for D Lamkins 5¢.

Jul 21 – Put in swaybar for A. Austin 50¢. Repaired wheel for D. Lamkins 75¢. Mr Baty got his plow and pole he paid 2.50¢.

Jul 22 – Bot indigo & thread 10¢. Filed saw for Frank Whiting 15. Planed some fence posts. Sarah went up to Isaac Corys.

Jul 23 – Finished plaining my fence posts in forenoon. Glued some lining in H. M. Smiths violin.

Jul 24 – Went up to Fay Aldrich got his post auger. Put in plow handle for T. C. Cory 25¢. Allerton paid 1.61¢. Staked out my fence. Mr Warner paid 3.00¢. Filled teeth for Mrs Austin. Bot fish 36¢

Jul 25 – Extracted 2 teeth for A. Sumner 25¢. Wheaton paid 25¢. Made door for H. Scramlin 75¢. Extracted one tooth for Spalding 25¢. Shoes 2.00. J. Ralph paid 1.25. Sarah went over to Fathers.

Jul 26 – At home all day. Shaved of cheese foldover. Sarah came home.

Jul 27 – Put in cradle finger for Ab Lamkins 15¢. Filed saw for Mr Weeks 25¢. Set twelve fence posts. Mrs. Austin left on night train for Canada.

Jul 28 – Put in head block to Dick Lamkins buggy 1.00. file Mr Weeks paid 25¢. Dug holes for fence.

Jul 29 – Worked on fence finished setting posts put on two rails. Sarah bot sundries 1.00. George Brown moved his front door.

Jul 30 – One lb Tea of A. Austin 80¢. Bot 10 lbs nails 70¢. Worked on fence.

Jul 31 – Worked on fence finished putting on the rails. Had a heavy thunder storm just at night.

Aug 1 – Lowered my Bridge. Set kitchen post by the shop. Flanders brot some apples. Henry came down. Mrs Orcut and boys called here.

Aug 2 – Went over the river took sis over in her buggy. Hannah & Nancy went over after meeting. Mr Semen buried five of his hogs they were killed by lightning.

Aug 3 – Nothing done to day. Run round town. Bot one paper 3¢.

Aug 4 – Let Eleck have 14 spoks. Sawed some picketts. Filed saw for Sumner 20¢. Mr Bixby paid 3.50¢. Milford Mathews brot 7/8^ths cords wood. Had green corn.

Aug 5 – Piled my wood. Sawed some picketts. Filed my saw filed Mr Scramlins saw 15¢. Cut Bachelders hair 25¢.

Aug 6 – Finished sawing pickets put on pickets up to gate. Sarah went over to Trumes I went over and took tea.

Aug 7 – Extracted tooth for A. McLarys Boy 25¢. Bot 4 lbs nails 28. Finished putting on my pickets. Heavy shower.

Aug 8 – Went over the river in fore noon. Mended comb for Edith. Sarah went down to Genets Coreys. They laid the tile in ditch. Ground Fathers scythe. Bot beef 25¢.

Aug 9 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. Had a heavy thunder shower.

Aug 10 – Got 300 pickets of C. P. Galligan. Set steaks for fence set two posts. They laid tile under race. Went and see pictures 10¢. Had a heavy shower. They commenced the shead.

Aug 11 – Set my fence posts worked some on gate. Sarah went down to L. J. Barbers.

Aug 12 – Helped Austin set posts. Cleaned out back of Barn. Bot paper and Envelopes 25¢. Sarah gone all day to Beveres & Wheelers.

Aug 13 – Put gate frame together fenced up by the shop. Cut up corn fodder. Sarah went to lib Wheeler Smiths.

Aug 14 – Went over the river in fore noon. Bot oil 30¢. Catharine & Lucy came over.

Aug 15 – Got my hair cut 15¢. Got Jims[50] likeness 50. A. Lamkins paid 15¢. Saw George Earl. Cut up my sweet corn.

Aug 16 – Went down to Catharines saw my colt got some apples. Took dinner with Joseph Lee.

Aug 17 – Dug some potatoes chored round house. Piled Mrs Betts wood. Sent letter to Pavilion to notify them of company.[51]

Aug 18 – Took cow over the river. Fastened up my bars gate ways &c. All went over to Fathers to stay. Mrs Stevenson paid 1.00.

Aug 19 – Put straw in Barn picked up some apples fixed some fence.

Aug 20 – Drove hogs over to burg. Brot over trunk & chairs &c. Father Catharine & Lucy left for York State on the night Express one oclock fifteen minutes.

Aug 21 – All right this morning. Went over to burg got my trunk. Bot violin string 35. Sarah bot sundries 75¢.

Aug 22 – Worked round house and barn hoed some corn. Went over to the burg. Made cheese.

Aug 23 – Went round the squair with B. Clark. Lois went home. Had a heavy shower about noon.

Aug 24 – Went over to the burg got apple rack sweet corn &c. Bot apple pearer 1.00. Mr Seaman cleaned up wheat.

Aug 25 – Filed saw for Mr Seaman. Picked up some apples. Rained some. Made cheese.

Aug 26 – Mowed the grass in the orchard and raked it up. Ida Moore died.

Aug 27 – Drawed hay picked up some apples made cheese. Ida Moore buried.

Aug 28 – Took the cow down to Browns. Had the ague no work to day.

Aug 29 – Made cheese. Sick with ague no work to day. Sarah and Ethen went over to the burg.

Aug 30 – Not verry well. Went up to Yorks. Hellen some better.

Aug 31 – Went over to the burg. Got cider barrel. Picked up some apples went to cider mill made 105. galons 40 for Father I pay for 20. Wesley 20 paid 5.

Sep 1 – At home all day sore face no work to day only chores. Made cheese. John Ralphs child[52] buried.

Sep 2 – Pulled beans and chored round the house & barn.

Sep 3 – Cut up corn stacked beans set up the corn. Went over to the burg got chair 34¢ sold 16 doz & 4 eggs 98¢. Sent four letters 19¢. Eugene[53] Came.

Sep 4 – Cut up corn and put it up put up the beans pulled the coffee &c. Ethen & Eugene went up to Flanders.

Sep 5 – Worked round house. T Flanders came over carried two bushels wheat to mill. Ethen and Eugene went over to County house.

Sep 6 – Eugene went up to Climax with vet Mead. At home all day. T. Flanders here. Lois came down.

Sep 7 – Went over to the burg. Bot Bottle Ague balsam[54] 1.00. Cut onion seed &c. Bot shoe strings 2¢ gum 1¢.

Sep 8 – Pulled onions set out seed onions. Mrs Wiseman & Mrs Thorndyke here. Net Whitaker called in a few minutes. Alvin Burdick[55] Died in the night some time.

Sep 9 – Went over home & cut my corn pulled my beans. Bot rheubarb 10¢. Pulled beans here in garden. Had the ague in the night.

Sep 10 – No work to day not very well foot very sore. Alvin Burdick buried to day.

Sep 11 – Went over to the burg. Bot sent 50 ctz to New York for paper &c postage 6¢. Went up to Mr Flanders. Got some salve & ointment.

Sep 12 – Mr Seaman finished sowing the south lot. Eugene went home. My face very sore. Lois went home in the Evening. Whig Spalding[56] buried to day.

Sep 13 – At home all day. My face some better got a bad sore on my hand. Mr Seaman draged in wheat.

Sep 14 – Mr Seaman commenced topping the corn. Went over to the burg. Bot Bottle ague Balsam one Dollar 1.00. Postage on a return letter 10¢.

Sep 15 – Mr Seaman sowed the west lot. James Billings here to dinner. Paid him one Dollar for magazine 1.00.

Sep 16 – Picked up some apples. Went up to J. Yorks. Went over to the burg.

Sep 17 – Mowed hay repaired pump shelled corn.

Sep 18 – Carried three bushels corn to mill. Bot thread and twist 10¢ got boots tapt 60¢. Sold 8 dozen Eggs 50¢. Bachelder paid 10.

Sep 19 – Went over to the burg got grist. Mrs Betts came. Picked up some apples. Went up to Wesleys got some peaches.

Sep 20 – Mr Seaman had Nance to go to Climax. At home all day.

Sep 21 – Repaired yoke for the old ox. Picked up apples. Mr. C. C. Johnson[57] buried to day. Sarah went to the burg Bot buttons 8¢. I went over to the one 15. train.

Sep 22 – Commenced topping my corn. Went over to the burg. Bot lamp wicks 4¢. Father got home.

Sep 23 – Worked in my corn. Lots folks going the fare. Not verry well. Sarah sick in the night.

Sep 24 – Sarah sick. Cutting my corn finished cutting corn. Henry & Mr Murray came & stayed all night.

Sep 25 – Went over to the burg. Hank went home. Got letter from Ormsby. Lois up here. Picked up some apples.

Sep 26 – Ethen gone to the fare only he did not go. Went up to Wesleys got some peaches.

Sep 27 – Father and myself went down to Catharines place got some peaches. Went to Jo Lees and took dinner. Nancy went down to Mr Clark.

Sep 28 – Went over to the burg and put down Mrs Betts carpet and things &c.

Sep 29 – Dug my potatoes. Cory and Oatman was over here. Paid school bill 97¢.

Sep 30 – Went over to the burg with one load potatoes. Bot suspenders 55¢. Went over in afternoon carried cheese picked up Warners things. Ralph brot 3 bush peaches __1.92.

Oct 1 – Rainy. Went over to the burg in afternoon. Bot Oil and shugar 98¢.

Oct 2 – Put up eve trough and put on some shingles. Dug some potatoes cut some wood. Went over to the burg after Lucy.

Oct 3 – Drawed one load wood. Went up to David Bronsons. By Clark paid 3 Dollars. Went up to J. C. Blakes got four bushels wheat carried it to mill.

Oct 4 – At home all day. Rained some. Catharine went up to Wesleys. Got some peaches.

Oct 5 – Went over to the burg carried some apples. Made fire[?] board &c. Rained some.

Oct 6 – Went up to B. Hartwells. Made 201 galens cider. Paid 2.25¢ received 30¢.

Oct 7 – Moved back to the burg. Dug some potatos. Took old Cow over in the Evening.

Oct 8 – Went over to Fathers picked up apples brot over some winter apples. Bot crib of Mrs Burroughs paid 1.50¢.

Oct 9 – Went over to Fathers picked up apples. Brot over load pumpkins to crib.

Oct 10 – Finished diging potatoes fixed the well picked apples carried in the pumpkins. Spalding paid 25¢.

Oct 11 – At home all day. All well as usual.

Oct 12 – Made cider paid 25¢ carried 52 bushels apples had 198 galons. Let D. K. Rogers have 33 galons.

Oct 13 – Thrashed beans. Carried apples up stairs. Filled straw ticks. Boiled cider &c. D. K. Rogers paid one Dollar fifty 1.50¢.

Oct 14 – Went over to Fathers picked up apples helped him clean up wheat. Brot home load winter apples.

Oct 15 – Mrs. Wiseman had one box pills 25¢. Husked some corn. Filed J. B. Holdens saw 15¢. Bot shank 15¢. Got Ethens boots repaird 20¢. Filed Fathers saw. Bot lamp chimney 10.

Oct 16 – Went over the river. Picked corn. Took buggy home. Calvin Streator[58] died to day.

Oct 17 – Went over and cut corn drawed over two loads. J. M. York drawed one. Bot paper Salearatas 12¢.

Oct 18 – At home all day all well. Mrs Betts and girls went to church.

Oct 19 – Picked and drawed two loads corn. J. B. Holden paid 15¢.

Oct 20 – Got last load corn over. Went to Calvin Streators Funeral. Bot beef shank 20¢. Rainy afternoon.

Oct 21 – Went up to J. M. Yorks. Picked lot apples. Got York to draw load cornfodder.

Oct 22 – Went and helped J. M. York husk corn and dig potatoes. Let Hannah have 5¢. Bot strycknine 5. Race paid 3 Dollars.

Oct 23 – About two inches snow on the ground this morning. Rimed one wheel for James Ralph 1.50¢.

Oct 24 – Went over to Fathers got 3 pigs. Filed one saw for Hunting 15¢. James Ralph got his wheel. Mr Hunting paid 30¢.

Oct 25 – At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Oct 26 – Went over and picked up apples. Finished had 45 bush. Went to Yorks got wagon loaded up the apples.

Oct 27 – Made one Hundred & Eighty Eight galons cider 188. Let Benj Moore have sixty four 64 44 myself Father had 80. James Ralph brot one bushel potatoes 40¢.

Oct 28 – Helped J M York set appletrees we set 31.

Oct 29 – Helped J. M York set appletrees we set 44.

Oct 30 – Filed saw for Mr Hunting 15. Husked corn. Rained all day.

Oct 31 – Took lumber out of the barn. Uncle Ozen[59] came on the Express train. Bot pork 20¢. Went over to Fathers with Ozen. Mr Souls called in Evening told me that uncle Jason was very sick.

Nov 1 – At home all day. Ethen came home.

Nov 2 – Husked corn. Babcock & Barber called. Harmon Smith here to dinner. Uncle Ozen left for home on mail train. Went down to averys in Evening.

Nov 3 – Husked some corn. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢. Bot cudber 10¢ Bot oil 44¢. Went up to Milfords.

Nov 4 – Bot 2^d reader for Hannah 25. Husked corn. Milford brot one cord wood. Old cow sick.

Nov 5 – Went down to Catharines got my colt took it up to Flanders. Bot logwood & cream tartar 8¢. Hiram came in on the night train.

Nov 6 – Got livery team. Went down to Mr Clarks with Hiram. Went down to Mary Childs in Evening. Got new lenses in my spectacles 1.25¢.

Nov 7 – Bot beef 20¢ Bot books 75 Bot spectcle case 50¢. Buried my cabbage. Henry & Ethen & Mrs Watts here to dinner. Hiram left on the one Oclock Express. Hiram gave me 3.00¢.

Nov 8 – At home all day. Mrs Betts & girls went to church.

Nov 9 – Lois at home. Byron brot Mrs Betts 7/8 cord wood. I sorted over corn. Put cow in barn for the first night. Snowed some. Curtis & wife here in Evening.

Nov 10 – Husked corn. Cold. Mrs. Catharine Davison called here. Bot one lb candles 15¢.

Nov 11 – Husked corn all day. Bot broom 25¢. Old Mrs Morton & Mrs Morton & Elder Harris called on Mrs Betts in Evening.

Nov 12 – Husked corn. Filed saw for Hunting 15 Hunting paid 30¢. Bot beef shank 15¢ Bot chicken 23¢. Frank Beech visiting Mrs Betts. Milford brot cord wood.

Nov 13 – Finished husking my corn sorted out some. Went down to Hanks to a dance in Evening. Mrs Betts called on Elder Harris after noon. Went down to stave factory.

Nov 14 – Went down to Truaxes. Put lumber in barn. Filed saw for Wesley 15¢. Mrs Betts went down to Adeline Harris stayed all night.

Nov 15 – At home all day. Lois came home. Hannah went home with them. Sarah went to church in Evening.

Nov 16 – Ethen came over and drawed some listings. Broke whiffletree. Bot books 2.00. Mr Flanders brot knot for P. Johnson.

Nov 17 – Went down to doc Suttons barn. Sold draft to Lynch 50.00¢. Made mawl for P. Johnson. Moved rizers on A. McLarys seats 20¢.

Nov 18 – Went & got one load lists. Stephen Withey called here. Filed three saws. A. Lamkin paid 5¢ Ethen 5.

Nov 19 – Got Truax screw. Raised barn & stoop. H. Scramlin paid 25. Sylvester Mills[60] buried to day. Mrs Betts went to Dowagiac.[61]

Nov 20 – Sold Tom Clemens stick for plane 25¢. Took stove out from under shop. Helped Truman Cory draw wood he drawed some timber to put in race.

Nov 21 – Timbered up race bank cut off stringers and put them down. Bot beef 20¢. Jesse Earl sent 4 bushels Buck wheat 3.00.

Nov 22 – Went over to Fathers in afternoon.

Nov 23 – Moved shop and leveled it up. Mr Clark got umbrella 25. Paid Truax 2.00 P. Johnson paid 25.

Nov 24 – Some rainy. Dug out under shop to get dirt to bank up with.

Nov 25 – Dug under shop & banked up shop. Hung ax for Tom Elliot he paid 10¢.

Nov 26 – Ethen came over and got Sarah & children. Ethen bot cap 1.00 I paid 25¢. Got my hair cut 10. Went over to Fathers.

Nov 27 – Smith got his mittens 50¢. Bot madder and candy 14¢ Bot thread 5¢ Bot file 15.

Nov 28 – Bot violin strings & tail piece 103¢. Filed saw for Ned[?] Nicols 25. Charley Ralph got his mittens 25¢. Made two hammer Handles for G. A. Lockhart 25¢. Filed saw for Hunting 15¢. Got salratas 12¢.

Nov 29 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. I had sick headache.

Nov 30 – Straightened round shop put up lumber. Benjamin Moore Paid 3 Dollars.

Dec 1 – Hunting paid 30¢. Plained out seeling for shop. Bot paper needles 5¢.

Dec 2 – Bot thread 5. Truax got his screws. Moved bench & sealed up same. Bot some pork 19¢.

Dec 3 – Worked in shop put on seeling. Sarah went over to Rogers. I went over took tea.

Dec 4 – Put on seeling. Bot spool thread 10¢. Sent letter to D. C. Crawford[62] 3. Filed saw for W. M. Eldred ____. Mended C. P. Galligans wheelbarrow. Eldred paid 30¢. Extracted tooth for Dutch girl 25.

Dec 5 – Filed saw for Frank Warren 20. Put seeling on the south eng of shop. Paid Father one Dollar.

Dec 6 – Went over to Fathers with Henry. Paid Father one Dollar.

Dec 7 – Made saw buck for D. K. Rogers 50. Repaired wagon for Allerton 25. Extracted tooth for Bell Galligan 30¢. Bot oil 35¢.

Dec 8 – Worked at seeling some. Benj Moore paid 20¢. Put in Ex for L. T. Earl 2.00 he paid two Dollars. Delphene Whitcomb left in the night with stranger.

Dec 9 – Cleared out barn put up corn. Cleared out shop &c. Lois at home. Put pickets and small stuff in barn.

Dec 10 – Put some seeling move some things in shop. Filed saw for Mr Addams 30¢. Shelled corn in Evening.

Dec 11 – Hued out two axhelves. Filed saw for Hunting 15¢. James Dupuy made crank. Move some traps in shop. Put on some seeling. Dwight Taylor called.

Dec 12 – Made axhelve for Father ground Fathers knives to Straw Cutter. Put on some sheeting. Addams paid 30¢.

Dec 13 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. Ethen came home and stayed all night.

Dec 14 – Bot Ethen boots 250¢. Filed saw for Isaac Cory 20 filed saw for Hunting 15¢. Put on some sheeting. Got two bushels meal.

Dec 15 – Work in shop seeling. Some snow on ground rather cool. Commenced on the two cords wood.

Dec 16 – Finished seeling shop. L. T. Earl sent some timber for bob. D. Lamkins called here. Sent letter to Niles 3¢ one stamp 3 indigo 4¢.

Dec 17 – Worked on Earls bob some. Father called got his paper. Extracted tooth for Ann Rogers 25. Henry Scramlin here.

Dec 18 – Made axhelve for Father ground Fathers Knives to Straw Cutter. Put on some sheeting. Worked on L. T. Earls bob. Odell got my violin. Snowed in night.

Dec 19 – Some 5 inches snow. Hunting paid 30. Bot cambric for Ethens vest & silk 17¢. Put handles on 3 augers for L. T. Earl. Earl got his bob. Charley Cory paid 20¢. Worked on E. Hoges thills.

Dec 20 – Went over to Fathers picked out some boards for window casings.

Dec 21 – Put in knee to one of Fay Aldrich bob. Made set cutter thills for Ed Hodges 2.00. Bot beef and Diary 65.

Dec 22 – Filed Fathers saw. Fixed uncle Chis canes. Set one set bob shoes for Mr. Avery 1.00. By Clark brot load coarse wood.

Dec 23 – Made bar & end piece to saw frame for Hunting. Filed saw for Hunting 40. Set one set shoes for A Chipman 50. Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Set chairs & sundry articles 23.90¢.

Dec 24 – Went over to Celia Newm[ans] saw Mrs peterson and Am[os] Chipman. Went over to Fath[ers]. Extracted tooth for Hellen Blakes girl. A. Chipman pa[id] 50¢. Pros came on the 12.15 train. Bot shugar Tea & cinnamon 1.4__.

Dec 25 – Worked in shop some. Fath[er] Catharine Hellen Harriet[63] Lucy Lois Bryon Jo Ethen Hannah Pros &c was here to Christmas. I went to two dances in Evening.

Dec 26 – Cut out one pr mittens for P. Johnson. Tightened one box for Taylor 25 hung ax for T. Cory 10¢ made axhelve for D. Lamkin 50 made mittens for P. Johnson 50¢.

Dec 27 – At home all day. Henry came home. Pros here. P. Johnson paid 50¢.

Dec 28 – Rainy. Cut out mittens for Pros. Bot glue 15¢. Put bob together. Truax here. Snowed & rained.

Dec 29 – Put raves on bob. Sarah made Pros mittens. Oscar came here. Pros left on the 4.10 train. T. Flanders came here. Pros paid 50¢. Bot oil 35¢.

Dec 30 – Finished Bronsons bob. Oscar & Mr Chipman left. Got Sarahs shoes mended 40¢. Sarah went over to Fathers. Sent letter to Hiram 3.

Dec 31 – Lining & blocking Smiths violin. Filed Huntings saw 15¢.

Memoranda – Cash on hand January first 1863 $40.05.

——-

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

[2] Charles Luke Keith Sr., also known as Luke

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

[4] His son, Ethan Keith

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

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

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

[8] His adopted brother, John Wesley Keith

[9] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[10] His nephew, James Oscar Keith

[11] His daughter, Louese Keith

[12] Levi Lincoln King, his maternal first cousin once removed

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

[14] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[15] James S. King, his maternal first cousin

[16] Above zero

[17] His daughter, Nancy Keith

[18] Lucy Irene Lee, his sister Catherine’s daughter

[19] His daughter Louese; her middle name was Jerusha

[20] Photograph

[21] Kalamazoo, Michigan

[22] Lois (Keith) Clark, his daughter by his first wife

[23] “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

[24] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin

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

[26] His aunt, and Joseph Lee’s mother, Rhoda (Keith) Lee

[27] Perhaps he is referring to Rhoda’s son, George Clinton Lee, who died in 1854 and was buried in the Old Galesburg Cemetery

[28] A search of Ancestry.com shows that Solomon Young of Pavilion and Terressa Pond of Galesburg were married on March 2, 1863 at “the home of the bride’s father.” Witnesses were Chas Bailey and S. J. Galagan

[29] Believe this is Thomas Jefferson Chaffee Jr., the husband of Luke’s niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

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

[31] His maternal first cousin

[32] George Tomlinson, who was married to Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[33] Alvin R. Turner, his maternal first cousin

[34] The relationship to Luke is unknown at this time

[35] His mother’s brother, Jason Beal Wolcott; many of the Willcutts used the alternate spelling Wolcott

[36] His son, Henry Keith

[37] The relationship to Luke is unknown at this time

[38] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Stephen Earl died April 16, 1863 and is buried in Ford Cemetery, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

[39] His brother Harvey’s wife, Alfleda (Starr) Keith

[40] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[41] Helen Lavinia York

[42] Etc.

[43] His wife Sarah’s brother, Lucius Prosper Crawford

[44] His niece, Frances Catherine (Keith) Chaffee

[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] His son-in-law Byron Clark’s sister

[47] His brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr.; see letter dated June 7, 1863

[48] Adaline (Ralph) Harris; her son, Daniel “D.D.” Harris, would grow up to marry Luke’s daughter, Louese

[49] Marion Adelphia York, the daughter of Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York

[50] His baby son, James Clinton Keith

[51] See July 28, 1863 letter from George and Marion Tomlinson where Marion writes that they ” are glad to hear our folks think of coming down here. Hope they wont disappoint us.”

[52] Records of Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan, show Hubert Ralph, born in 1861, died in 1863 and is buried in the same section and lot as John Ralph

[53] Believe he is referring to Eugene Crawford, his wife Sarah’s nephew

[54] An internet search showed Dr. Christie’s Ague Balsam (ca. 1856) was a “sure remedy for ague, fever and all bilious diseases”

[55] A search of FindAGrave.com showed Alvin Burdick died September 8, 1863 and is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[56] A search of FindAGrave.com showed Warren Spalding died September 11, 1863 and is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[57] A search of FindAGrave.com showed Charles C. Johnson died September 19, 1863 and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[58] A search of FindAGrave.com showed J. Calvin Streator died in 1863 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[59] Ozen Keith

[60] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Sylvester Mills died November 17, 1863 and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[61] Dowagiac, Michigan, where her son Edwin Crawford and his family lived

[62] His wife Sarah’s brother, David Caleb Crawford

[63] Believe he is referring to Wesley’s wife, Harriet (Blakslee) Keith