Luke Keith’s 1868 Diary

1868 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

Jan 1[2] – Snows some about 3 in 24 Abz.[3] Went over to Burg[4] Bot Ethan[5] suit cloths 23 Dollars. Paid taxes 31.65 stamps 10¢. Party at Jesse Earls.

Jan 2 – Put in wagon ex for Jesse Earl. Pleasant day

Jan 3 –  Put in ____ for Jo Lee[6] he paid ____ 50¢. _____________. Wes[7] Boy[8] Born.

Jan 4 – Lamkins called here. Made spoke _____. Wes got ____ foot boards whitewood inch.

Jan 5 – At home all day.

Jan 6 – Made spoke. Went to burg got braces for Dick Lamkins. Bot _____ and _____ 13¢. Went over in Evening Bot shoes for girls 4.50 oil 35. _____ came to board.

Jan 7 – Helped York[9] butcher two pigs. Good day.

Jan 8 – Took Sis and Jim[10] up to Yorks. Lamkins got his _____. Ethan and girls went to Simmons to a party.

Jan 9 – Worked in shop made seat for sleigh. Very cold and blustering 1 Abz.

Jan 10 – 4 Abz blustering. Went up to Yorks after Sis. Worked in shop some on small slead.

Jan 11 – Cut and drawed some wood. Ethan went down to Catharines.[11] Let Ethan have 25¢ Nancy[12] 5¢. Put slead together. Went up to Schrams after some potatoes got none. Mr Schrams sister started for home. _____ my sleigh. Ethan went down to Catharines.

Jan 12 – At home all day. Went over to burg just at night after girls.

Jan 13 – Cold 4 Abz. Good sleighing. Went over to burg got bar soap salearatas[13] 40¢ candy 6¢. Got Ethans Boots tapt 1.00. Filed saw for Ridler.

Jan 14 – Cold. Finished Jims slead. Cold.

Jan 15 – At home. Tinkered run bot balls &c.[14] Andrew Aldrich[15] died.

Jan 16 – Shelled some corn and chored round. Went up to Yorks in morning.

Jan 17 – Went down to Catharines. Lucy[16] sick. Andrew Aldrich buried.

Jan 18 – Cold Abz. Good sleighing. Went over to burg. Got tub at Blackburns.

Jan 19 – At home all day. Ethan and girls went down to Catharines. Wing got the last of his corn.

Jan 20 – Went to Comstock to mill 4 bushels wheat 4 corn. Got sack buckwheat flour. Went to the new mill Browns.

Jan 21 – Worked on tub for Stranger to burg

Jan 22 – Finished tub. Got seven bushels potatoes of Mr Schram. Dicks Taylor came over to see about his job. Went over to burg in Evening. He paid 30__.

Jan 23 – Round home all day.

Jan 24 – Cut and drawed some wood. Shaved out axhelve for Ridler.

Jan 25 – Shot pig. Shelled some corn. Mrs Courtney here. Ethan and girls go a sleighing to Kalamazoo.

Jan 26 – Went down to Catharines.

Jan 27 – 16 Blz.[17] Cut down wood. Went over to burg. Sent 3 Dollars by Mrs Barber.

Jan 28 – Hung ax for O. D. Schram. Mr Courtny came over to see what I asked for my farm. Mended Jim Thorntons mittens.

Jan 29 – Cut one load wood. D. Lamkins got his violin. Very cold and blustrous.

Jan 30 – At home. Cut some wood. Very cold day.

Jan 31 – Carried Lois[18] down to Catharines. Toot[19] considerable better. Went up to Marks[20] got a few turnips.

Feb 1 – 3 below zero. Drawed two loads wood. Went up to schrams went over to Burg.

Feb 2 – 24 Abz. At home all day.

Feb 3 – Cold 26 Below zero. Worked on car coupler.

Feb 4 – 20 Abz. Went up to Wes after pickles. Left Lousea. Went over to burg bot spool thread 10.

Feb 5 – Took Dicks violin apart and glued top. Mark & Lasher came up here with Alvans[21] Colts.

Feb 6 – 20 Abz. Put Dicks violin together. Uncle Tommy came here. Wiseman brot sewing machine here.

Feb 7 – At home all day. Flanders here.

Feb 8 – Cut one tree drawed one load wood. Went over to burg. T Flanders[22] left. Snowey afternoon.

Feb 9 – Lots snow not very cold 24 Abz.

Feb 10 – Cold 21 Below zero. Worked on machine for Blackburns man. Some on bob Tung.

Feb 11 – Finished Browns bob Tung. Dick got his violin George Rogers with him.

Feb 12 – Worked on machine for Blackburns man. Rade down to A Browns.[23] Went over to Burg got albums and shawl of Mrs Barber.

Feb 13 – Hung ax for Ethan. Finished machine for Young. Went over to burg carried machine over bot vest 3.00. Got 4 for making machine.

Feb 14 – Went up to Wesleys to get him to go to burg. Sarah[24] went up to Yorks.

Feb 15 – Went over to burg with Hogs sold six weighed 720 lbs 4 cts 28.80 cts. Carried Sarah over to D. K.s. Harry Streator stayed all night.

Feb 16 – Pleasant 20 Abz. Went over to burg after Sarah.

Feb 17 – Worked on machine for Dicks man. Went over after some brads & tacks[?].

Feb 18 – 4 Abz pleasant. Went to Kalamazoo bot copper plate 1.25. Sarah went down to Marks.

Feb 19 – Finished machine carried it over in Evening. Young paid 2.00. Bot pants cloth 6.00.

Feb 20 – Worked in shop on moddle some. Cleaned up wheat 4 bushels 1½ corn.

Feb 21 – Went to Comstock to mill carried 4 bushels wheat 1½ corn.

Feb 22 – Worked in shop. Hued some whiffletrees[25] and sawed of spokes. Mr Williams here made bargain for farm. Cold.

Feb 23 – Cool 8 Abz snows some wind blows hard blustering day.

Feb 24 – 24 Abz. Went over to burg. Sarah went to Barbers. Mark got his glass. Went over in Evening after Sarah. Mr Schram here.

Feb 25 – Worked in shop on car cuplers made plates hued some spokes.

Feb 26 – Went up to B Hartwels. Snow. Went up to Wesleys. Mr Schram and Issac down here to file saw. Toot Lee SKrewd to night I guess so.[26]

Feb 27 – Killed captain pig Mr Courtny helped. Stormy day.

Feb 28 – Snowey day. Went over to Burg. Oscar[27] came up. Frank Clark buried to day.

Feb 29 – Went over to burg got irons forged. Caty[28] came. Alfleda[29] went to the creek with Oscar. Mr Griffin buried to day.

Mar 1 – Went down to Catharines with Caty Chaffee. Very Blustering the hardest storm we have had.

Mar 2 – ___ Abz very Blustrous hard storm lots snow. Went over to burg after Oscar he no come.

Mar 3 – M O. Streator came to see if I had sold. Went over to burg. Oscar came back. Had a rade in Evening. Cold night.

Mar 4 – Cold 11 below zero. Went over to burg made some irons. Caty went over to Manda Clarks. George Rogers brot machine.

Mar 5 – Went over to burg got my irons finished[?]. Alfleda came on mail train. Oscar went home. Rainy Evening.

Mar 6 – Rainy day snow went of. Mr Schram made whiffletree. Worked on my cupler.

Mar 7 – Rainy morning. Worked on cupler some. Lois went down with Mart Millham.[30]

Mar 8 – Pleasant day. Very high water upper bridge went off.

Mar 9 – Worked on cupler some. Catharine came up. Alfleda here. Mr Streator called.

Mar 10 – Sent letter to Patty.[31] Worked on cupler.

Mar 11 – At home. Worked on cupler some. Sarah went up to Milfords. Mr Burgess called here to take some land.

Mar 12 – Worked on cupler some. Catharine here. Recd letter from Henry Crawford an from H. Keith.

Mar 13 – Worked on cupler most of the day.

Mar 14 – Sarah went up to Wesleys. Finished one cupler. George Tomlinson[32] came here from Kalamazoo.

Mar 15 – Went down to Catharines with George and York.

Mar 16 – Extracted one tooth for and filled one for George Rogers he paid 50¢. Went up to John Ralphs to see his Colts.

Mar 17 – Mr Schram shelled some corn.

Mar 18 – At home. George here. Wes went over to Barry after McAlister.

Mar 19 – Setled up the matters here. Bot 35 acres of the old farm. April pleasant snowed in fore part of day.

Mar 20 – George started for home. May pleasant fore part of the month stormy latter part first part cool. Got letter from Battlecreek.

Mar 21 – Pleasant and cool June sun came out in the morning snowed some. Mr Thayer called in morning got money.

Mar 22 – Sarah went to burg. Ida Barber here. Pleasant.

Mar 23 – Went up to Yorks got saw. Lucy here. Mart came over and stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Mr Burgess came over let him have East lot to plant. ____ Matthews here in afternoon.

Mar 25 – Rainy morning. Sarah went down to Catharines. I made saw buck. Mr Burgess drawed some manure. Sarah went down to Catharines.

Mar 26 – Worked on cupler. Put ax together. Went over to burg got my belt 1.50 bot violin string 30¢.

Mar 27 – Made long handle to chisel to trim appletrees. Went down to Catharines.

Mar 28 – Came home. Stoped to Jo Lees got dinner. Pleasant day. Shugar party to Mr Randalls over to Jesse Earls.

Mar 29 – Pleasant moring. Found Wills boots. Went up to Wes and Yorks. Pleasant.

Mar 30 – Worked around yard. Carried Cate up to Wesleys. Tried to make soap. Warm day.

Mar 31 – Pleasant and warm. Worked up to corners some. Drawed some rails.

Apr 1 – Went down to Marks and Charles Lees to see Alvans colt. Recd letter from C R Cridland.[33] Pleasant day.

Apr 2 – Worked round home. Lois came home.

Apr 3 – Put rockers on Mrs Courtneys chair. Made wheels for carts. Sent 2 bushls wheat to mill one of corn.

Apr 4 – At home. Worked in shop some.

Apr 5 – At home all day.

Apr 6 – Went to burg to town meeting.

Apr 7 – Went to Kalamazoo to look after a team. Him sold. No see um.

Apr 8 – Worked in shop on carts for Courtney. Cool.

Apr 9 – Worked on carts finished them. Bot stencil plate for Sarah 20. Mrs Courtney bot one of Roberts Gale by Herd[?].

Apr 10 – Went up to Milfords helped load two loads goods. Mr Courtney moved. Pleasant day.

Apr 11 – Went down to Marks to see about colts. Rained hard.

Apr 12 – At home all day. Harry Streator here all day.

Apr 13 – Cut down one locust tree trimed some. Went up to Wesleys. Carra and Ella Wiseman here. Milford & Lu Ward left.

Apr 14 – Worked in shop some.

Apr 15 – Started to go down to Marks met Mark & Alvin. Came back and tried the colts on plow. Rainy.

Apr 16 – Stormy afternoon. Went to burg to see harness. Made whiffletrees for Mr Schram.

Apr 17 – Rainy morning. Went down to Charles Lees. Bot span colts of Alvan Lee paid 2.50.

Apr 18 – Run out my land. M O Streator and Wes helped. Babcock had a sale I bot harness of Carmer 45 dollars. Sarah went over to Burg stayed all night.

Apr 19 – All well. Went over to burg just at night after Sarah.

Apr 20 – Ethan got out manure. I made me some whiffletrees for my sef ____ warm day.

Apr 21 – Pleasant morning. Miss Brown came here stayed all night.

Apr 22 – Worked round home. Went up to B. Hartwells. Got neck yoke turned.

Apr 23 – Cut some wood and fence blocks. Got Nancys box.

Apr 24 – Went down west with Nancy to distribute her things.

Apr 25 – Cut and burnt up some old logs on the hill south of barn. Ancil Birge[34] died.

Apr 26 – Cam & Zett came up after Lois. Warm day. Andrew & Sally Turner[35] came here.

Apr 27 – Went over to burg got my neck yoke & whiffletrees. Made part of boat.

Apr 28 – Finished my boat. Drawed brush out of orchard. Rained all night made grass & wheat look well.

Apr 29 – Luke Whitcomb[36] buried. Went down to Catharines with colts. Let Birg have 5 bushls wheat. Shaved out wagon neap.[37] Some rainy.

Apr 30 – Cloudy morning. Worked on fence on side hill East side of farm on the road.

May 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Drawed some brush.

May 2 – Drawed some brush. Went up to Wesleys. Drawed some rails. Jim cut up some.

May 3 – At home. Set some stakes on line in woods. Very warm.

May 4 – At home all day working round home. Got Cate home.

May 5 – Laid up fence on the west line and north.

May 6 – Mark and Ann came up here. Drawed some rails.

May 7 – Thursday plowed garden drawed some rails.

May 8 – Ethan helped Birge plant potatoes. Carried Mark home. Plowed som west of orchard. Got 8 bushels corn.

May 9 – Drawed some rails. Plowed some. Ethan went to Niles.[38] Done Yorks chores.

May 10 – Done Yorks chores. Lois and Sam came up went over to burg with Sam. T Flanders came.

May 11 – Planted corn for Birge in forenoon he plowed for me. Laid up fence in afternoon. T Flanders left.

May 12 – Cloudy morning. Laid up some fence. Ethan came home. Rained all night.

May 13 – Rainy day. Carried 2 bushels wheat to mill one of corn. No work to day. Rainy night.

May 14 – Rainy. Laid up some fence on hill.

May 15 – Drawed some rails and finished my fence on hill south of orchard. Rainy and warm. Took Tea to R. Barbers.

May 16 – Went up to Phill Martins to see about patent agency &c. Had a heavy shower. Lucy here. Nancy went over to Burg.

May 17 – At home all day. Went up in woods. Had a heavy shower. Ira Joy brot Brown over in rain.

May 18 – At home to work. Moved west fence to lane south barn.

May 19 – A. Brown had Jim plowed him all day. Cultivated garden with Bill.[39]

May 20 – Plowed all day west of orchard. Colts went first rate. Warm day.

May 21 – Warm day. Plowed west of orchard finished plowing.

May 22 – Dragged corn ground in forenoon. Rained. Mrs Ash cleaned kitchen. John took my strawcutter to Kalamazoo.

May 23 – Worked some on corn marker.

May 24 – Carried Lois down to Marks. Brot up Julias[40] churn.

May 25 – Finished corn Mark marked corn ground. Got some seed corn of Wes planted some. Old Mrs Brown[41] Died in night.

May 26 – Finished planting. Rained some. Sarah went down to Mr Streators.

May 27 – Moved fence East lane fence. Rainy day. Old Mrs Brown buiried to day.

May 28 – Planted corn for York finished planting the field.

May 29 – Moved stumps and stuf where fence stood.

May 30 – York plowed the old lane south of barn. Sent 2 bushels wheat to mill. Pleasant day.

May 31 – At home all day. Hannah[42] came home from burg sick.

Jun 1 – Went over to burg got Wightman over to see hannah. Dragged lane. Catharine came down.

Jun 2 – Planted potatoes in old lane south of barn.

Jun 3 – Planted beans and chored round.

Jun 4 – Mark came up and helped fix well. Went down to Ed Hoges old place got sulky.

Jun 5 – Rainy day. Put pump in well and fixed for the platform.

Jun 6 – Rainy in morning. Mr Birge came over to look at farm. Plastered corn. Fixed Eve troughs for H. A. Taylor.

Jun 7 – At home most of the day. Went down to A Browns with old cow no find Bull.

Jun 8 – Went over to Burg got boots tapt. Let Bill Chroder have six dollars worth pennies. Sarah stayed with Adeline.[43]

Jun 9 – Mrs Schram died.[44] Schram[45] started for Ohio.[46] Went over to burg got boots 1.00. Got some slats of Blackburn. Put springs into Adelines bed. She died. Commenced cultivating corn.

Jun 10 – Finished cultivating one way. Mrs Ash drove her hogs down this morning. Went over to Burg got gin. Cut figures for W. A. Blake. Lois here in Evening.

Jun 11 – Pleasant morning. At home choring round.

Jun 12 – Hoed garden. Went up to E M Clapps to rasing. Raised old barn a gain.

Jun 13 – Hoed some in garden. Jo Lee and wife[47] here awhile. Birge planted corn in garden.

Jun 14 – Warm 83 in shade morning 104 in sun. Carried Lois down to Marks.

Jun 15 – Went up to H Clintons. Had a shower in morning. 31 years to day I landed in Comstock. Went to burg bot Dress for Sarah and hoops hat 10.

Jun 16 – Had a shower in morning. Went up to Dick Lamkins. Mowed yard and some in orchard.

Jun 17 – Mowed orchard. Very warm day.

Jun 18 – Raked up hay did not get it in got some wet.

Jun 19 – Worked on road. Had a heavy shower in fore noon. Pleasant afternoon some rain middle of July.

Jun 20 – Worked on road in forenoon. Very warm. Went over to burg got Nancys box goods from Boston. Cloudy and cool some rain latter part of Aug.

Jun 21 – At home. Cool and wet fore part of day. Joy brot Brown home.

Jun 22 – Went up to Dick Lamkins in morning. Cut some grass up to Wes in afternoon side road.

Jun 23 – Mowed round my grass in forenoon. Mr Butler called here. Ethan worked for Plank in afternoon.

Jun 24 – Drawed load of hay down from Wesleys.

Jun 25 – Raked up some hay out north on Browns. Ethan cultivated corn.

Jun 26 – Set brush heap on fire. Drawed two loads wood. Ethan cultivated corn. Plank getting up his hay.

Jun 27 – Cut some grass for Bill. Ethan finished cultivating. Mr Thayer called here. Sarah went in to burg stayed all night.

Jun 28 – Went up to Yorks milked his cows. Doc Lambern called here. Very hot.

Jun 29 – Mowed grass in lot north.

Jun 30 – Mowed all day. Warm.

Jul 1 – Cutting grass. Very hot.

Jul 2 – Finished mowing on Browns. Had a heavy shower.

Jul 3 – Raked up hay. T. Flanders came here.

Jul 4 – Went over to burg in Evening. Went down to A Browns got pail of peas. Ethan gone to Kalamazoo. Hot 100 in shade.

Jul 5 – T. Flanders left. Stowel girl called here with Isaac Wings hired man french or dutch dont know which.

Jul 6 – Drawed in my hay from Browns lot one load for York. Had Yorks wagon gefired hot day.

Jul 7 – Hoed potatoes south of barn.

Jul 8 – Went up to Wesleys to see about hay. Went over in Milhams wheat field. Cut some grass in south lot.

Jul 9 – Went over to burg. Caravan & circus there.

Jul 10 – Hoed potatoes and beans south of barn.

Jul 11 – About sick. Drawed hay from south lot. Ethan cultivated corn. Very hot 98 in shade.

Jul 12 – Went in swimming. 100 in shade. Very hot. Catharine went home.

Jul 13 – Cut grass up to Wesleys. Very hot day. Mr Schram cut wheat.

Jul 14 – Worked up to Wes cutting hay. Very hot.

Jul 15 – Mr Thayer and Oscar here to Breakfast. Very hot. Not well. Had a shower. Ethan to work for Jo in wheat.

Jul 16 – Very hot no work to day. A Miss Johnson took dinner from Maumee Ohio going to Paw Paw. Ethan up to Yorks. Repaired violin for Charley ____.

Jul 17 – Very hot. Sarah gone up to Mr Swaddles. Had first cucumbers to day. Nancy and Hannah went down to Marks.

Jul 18 – Very hot 101 in shade. Took Old Cow down to A. Browns this morning. Ethan worked for York.

Jul 19 – Warm and dry 84 in shade in morning. Oscar here all day.

Jul 20 – Went to mill. Mart and Lucy stayed here all night. Jo finished cutting wheat.

Jul 21 – Cate had 14 pigs to day. Rained a little. Ethan to work for Brown drawing wheat in to barn.

Jul 22 – Cleared out old cornhouse. Ethan helped York draw wheat.

Jul 23 – Went up to Wes in morning. York drawing wheat. Bill kicked me.

Jul 24 – Ethan helping Mr Randal draw wheat. I finished mowing up to Wesleys. My cattle got into Mr Planks corn.

Jul 25 – Put up my hay up to Wesleys. John Cruttenden[48] killed by a stroke of lightning.

Jul 26 – Oscar here went up to Yorks went down to Catharines in afternoon.

Jul 27 – Drawed two loads hay from Wesleys. Jim had two cotilions[?].

Jul 28 – Working in corn some. Brown came home this morning.

Jul 29 – Went to Kalamazoo. Got Bounty money. My tax 14.51 Fathers 43.17.

Jul 30 – Went to burg made out papers for my place. Oscar went home. Rained some.

Jul 31 – Went over to burg. Sent of Nancys tickets. Sent Patty 10 Dollars 75 cents. Heavy shower. Mr Evers and girl called here.

Aug 1 – Not much done to day. Jo Lee and Lois called here.

Aug 2 – Went down to Catharines with Yorks folks.

Aug 3 – Hoed out Potatoes Beans &c. Ethan drawed Jim in sulky the first time he was Ever down a lane.

Aug 4 – Cleared out shop. Ethan cut ________ in pasture. Harnessed up Jim put him forward of sulky the first time.

Aug 5 – Went up to W^m Johnsons got two shovel plow on Lois account $7.00. Plowed corn with Jim first time.

Aug 6 – Plowing corn. Mr White got Beans & grindstone for Oscar. Lydia Barber and Mrs Quick here.

Aug 7 – Worked in corn some. Rained some. Lois and Nancy went over to burg.

Aug 8 – Worked in corn some. Made poke[49] for Bill. T Harden came here. Went down to Catharines.

Aug 9 – T Flanders went up to H. Clintons. We came home.

Aug 10 – Worked in corn in fore noon. Finished Bills poke. Rainy afternoon. Got some poles for Tomatoes.

Aug 11 – Rainy morning. Worked on corn some.

Aug 12 – Filed and set saw & put auger handle on for W^m Cook. He pd 50¢. Hoed corn.

Aug 13 – No work. Ethan finished plowing out corn. I made set whiffletrees for Jim & Will. Gaffing here.

Aug 14 – Made whiffletrees. Pleasant day. Dance up to Yorks last Evening. Went over to burg in Evening. Bot sundries 6.00.

Aug 15 – Lois went down to Jeffs.[50] Not much work to day.

Aug 16 – At home all day. Cool.

Aug 17 – Work round home.

Aug 18 – Carried two bushels wheat to mill.

Aug 19 – Went over to mill. Bot grindstone hangings 1.50. Made frame. Sarah went down to Streators. Bot Barrel salt 3.00.

Aug 20 – Hoed some corn. Finished grindstone frame. Horse show at burg.

Aug 21 – Worked in corn. Finished hoing.

Aug 22 – Went to Kalamazoo in afternoon with A. Brown. Bot Buggy pole and irons 2.45 shackles 1.50 hooks and ferrels 20¢.

Aug 23 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. Mr & Mrs Seaman here.

Aug 24 – Round home. A. Brown brot his churn.

Aug 25 – Worked on churn frame. Jim[51] sick all night.

Aug 26 – Warm and dry. Dr Wightman came over to see Jim. Finished Browns churn frame. Went over to burg in Evening. Ethan bot Boots.

Aug 27 – Mrs Betts[52] came to day. Ethan helped Mr Plank thrash. I done noting. Very hot.

Aug 28 – Hot and dry. Mr Comfort[53] came here stayed all night. Rained some. Ethan helped Mr Plank & A Brown.

Aug 29 – Comfort left this morning. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Aug 30 – Comfort came back. Wiseman came over. I cut his hair.

Aug 31 – Carried two bushels corn to mill. Comfort started for home. Rainy day. No work to day sick.

Sep 1 – Cloudy. At home sick no work.

Sep 2 – Sick no work.

Sep 3 – Sick no work. Commenced plowing south lot.

Sep 4 – Sick. Finished plowing.

Sep 5 – Sick.

Sep 6 – Sick.

Sep 7 – Sick.

Sep 8 – Sick.

Sep 9 – Sick.

Sep 10 – Sick.

Sep 11 – Sick.

Sep 12 – Sick.

Sep 13 – Sick.

Sep 14 – Sick.

Sep 15 – Old cow in. Ethan drawed some manure.

Sep 16 – Mr Birge cut up corn. Cool. Ethan drawed manure.

Sep 17 – Ethan drawing manure. Some frost this morning. Hannah came home. E Flanders got 3 pigs $3.00.

Sep 18 – Ethan cut some corn.

Sep 19 – Ethan cutting corn some.

Sep 20 – Mrs Betts went over to Burg with Mrs Ralph. Louesa[54] came home.

Sep 21 – Ethan cutting corn. Charley McCausy had my wagon to get his _____ with.

Sep 22 – Sarah went over to burg after Mrs Betts and some other traps.

Sep 23 – Nailed Ethans boots. T Flanders called here. Ethan finished cutting corn.

Sep 24 – Ethan drawed of corn. Bust__ and Alvan Lee called here.

Sep 25 – Lois came here. Ethan drawed corn.

Sep 26 – Finished drawing corn.

Sep 27 – At home all day. Jesse Earl came down brot his pants.

Sep 28 – Ethan drawed of pumpkin vine.

Sep 29 – Drawing manure. Sarah & Mrs Betts over to Planks. Lois up to Wes.

Sep 30 – Catharine and Hellen[55] here. Catharine went home. Rainy day.

Oct 1 – At home all day.

Oct 2 – Ethan work on wheat ground.

Oct 3 – To work on wheat ground. Pleasant.

Oct 4 – Pleasant day. Mrs Ash came up got her sow and pigs she paid 9 dollars.

Oct 5 – Pleasant day. Bot nine bushels wheat of A. Brown 22 dollars and 32 cents. Brown sowed the wheat.

Oct 6 – Ethan dragged all day. Nice day. Alfred Signor husked corn for Mr Birge.

Oct 7 – Rainy. Ethan finished dragging wheat. Lois came home from Streators.

Oct 8 – Cool day. Louesa and Mrs Betts gone to fair at Galesburg.

Oct 9 – Birge pulled his beans. Ethan went to the fair.

Oct 10 – I drawed one load wood carried sorgum barrels down to Fords. Went into the new schoolhouse. Ethan husked corn. Went down to Catharines.

Oct 11 – Sarah went to church.

Oct 12 – Ethan and the girls went over to Turners Island[?] Wakeshma.

Oct 13 – Ethan and girls came back. Rainy day.

Oct 14 – Worked round some. Went down to Catharines.

Oct 15 – Husked corn all day. Birge drawed one load corn.

Oct 16 – Husked corn all day. Birge drawed one load corn.

Oct 17 – Husked corn all day. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Mr Ralph.

Oct 18 – Cool and cloudy. At home all day.

Oct 19 – Husked corn.

Oct 20 – Husked corn. T. Flanders came over he husked.

Oct 21 – Husked corn. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. T Flanders left.

Oct 22 – Husked some corn. Got sorgum 39 galons. Ethan to work for Mr Birge digging pots drawing some.

Oct 23 – Husking som. Ethan digging potatoes for Birge.

Oct 24 – Dug scotch gray potatoes.

Oct 25 – Carried Mrs Betts over to Burg. Very fine day.

Oct 26 – Pleasant day. Finished husking corn. Ethan digging potatoes.

Oct 27 – Went over to Burg after Mrs Betts. Carried Bushel corn to mill. Sarah and Betts went up to Yorks.

Oct 28 – Mrs Earl Lib Hat Mrs Plank and Mrs Randal here. Made yard for pigs.

Oct 29 – Went down to Catharines had Birges team. Lois came up.

Oct 30 – Went to Kalamazoo to Mass Meeting with A. Brown. Horses got frightened run and broke buggy pole.

Oct 31 – Picked up some apples. Birge put his corn in barn.

Nov 1 – Sarah and Mrs Betts went to church. Picked up some apples.

Nov 2 – Mrs Betts left for Dowagiac.[56] Worked some on Browns Buggy pole.

Nov 3 – Went to Election.[57] Pleasant day. Worked on pole some.

Nov 4 – Carried 2 bushels wheat to mill. Birge finished digging potatoes.

Nov 5 – Made room for the hens in hog pen.

Nov 6 – All hands went down to Marks hunting an so forth.

Nov 7 – Dug some potatoes. Ethan went down to Catharines.

Nov 8 – Warm and rainy ten oclock morning stands at fifty Eight 58.

Nov 9 – Rainy. Worked on cupler.

Nov 10 – I finished digging potatoes. Birge finished husking corn.

Nov 11 – Snowey. Got cabbage into cellar. Birge came over and got his corn.

Nov 12 – Worked on cupler. Fine day.

Nov 13 – Worked on cupler in fore noon. Went down to Charles Lee[58] in afternoon. Went up to Jo Lees stayed all night.

Nov 14 – Went to Kalamazoo with Jo Lee bot leather for mittens. Pleasant day got

Nov 15 – Came home to day. Warm and pleasant. Got letter from L. L. King.[59]

Nov 16 – Worked on cupler some. Anna Stiles[60] died this morning.

Nov 17 – Anna was buried to day. Worked on cupler some.

Nov 18 – Worked on cupler. Charly Lee[61] here. Ethan and Charley choped wood some.

Nov 19 – Snowey. Worked on cuplers. Ethan and Charley choped wood. Sent 2 bushels wheat one of corn to mill.

Nov 20 – Worked on cuplers. Charley went home.

Nov 21 – Set cupler to Washington. Got Eight sheep of A. Brown let him have charley.

Nov 22 – Made cupler for Charley to take to Chicago.

Nov 23 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo with cupler. I went up to Robert Matthews to see cow.

Nov 24 – Put the cows in browns lot. Drawed two loads dirt from top of the big hill.

Nov 25 – At home to work in shop some on buggy pole.

Nov 26 – Worked on buggy pole some.

Nov 27 – Went down to Marks and Catharines. Pleasant day.

Nov 28 – Went to Kalamazoo with Jo and Mark. Rainy and snowey.

Nov 29 – Came home. Catharine came up with me. York brot up the blinds.

Nov 30 – Worked on well some fixed pump. Ethan drawed some wood. Went over to burg. Bristol gone.

Dec 1 – Went over to burg. Sent letter to Washington.

Dec 2 – Went over to burg. Sent letter to Washing ton.

Dec 3 – Made mittens. Thrashed my Beens. Not very cold.

Dec 4 – Windy morning snowey. Thrashed Birges Beans.

Dec 5 – Warm thaws some. Worked round House and Barn.

Dec 6 – At home all day.

Dec 7 – Worked round house some. School commenced. Went over to Burg.

Dec 8 – Went up to Mr Shermans put up his doors. Cold and Blustering. Carried girls to shool. Got Book.

Dec 9 – Blusterous. Went to mill 3 bushels wheat 1½ corn. Filed saw for Ridler. Carried girls to school.

Dec 10 – Cold went over to wmill got my grist. Carried girls to school.

Dec 11 – Cold 2 Below zero. Made frame for Mr Simmons slate. Sold my lever water to Charles Lee for slead. Sold my Revolver to Alvin Lee $25.

Dec 12 – Cold 2 Degrees below zero. Went down to Charles Lee after slead. Good sleigh.

Dec 13 – Snowes some. Killed two chickens.

Dec 14 – At home work in shop some painting. Emily Kendall died to day.

Dec 15 – Tinkering round home.

Dec 16 – Painting Blinds for Catharine.

Dec 17 – Painting blinds. Lucy came up here.

Dec 18 – Sarah went up to Wesleys. I painted Blinds. Went over to burg in Evening heard Bungay lecture on the coming ______.

Dec 19 – Sarah went over to Wisemans. Got Neckyoke mended. Bot paint Brush 75¢. Drawed load wood.

Dec 20 – Snow gone some in road windy morning.

Dec 21 – Painting blinds. Cold.

Dec 22 – Painting blinds.

Dec 23 – Painting blinds. Cold.

Dec 24 – Finished painting second coat. Lois came home. Very cold. Nancy sick. Mart got turkey.

Dec 25 – Cold 14 Abz in morning. Painting.

Dec 26 – Painted some. Cut down tree south of Barn. Jo and Lois Lee here. Cold. Nancy sick.

Dec 27 – Sarah went down to Catharines. Toot had a gal.[62] Doc Finch Brot Sarah home. Mr & Mrs Barber here in Evening.

Dec 28 – Nancy sick. Went up to Jim Ralphs no one at home. Decatur Susie Brown came over.

Dec 29 – Went up to Ralphs in morning got some cranberries. Went over to burg got Wightman[63] over to see Nancy. Wightman came over.

Dec 30 – At home no work. Cold winter weather. Wightman came over.

Dec 31 – Pleasant. Mark came up here. Doc came over.

Jan 1^st 69 – Cold and Brustring. Ethan went down to Charles Lees.

Note in back of diary: Hiram Crawford[64] 430 North Clark St Chicago

——-

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

[2] The entries for January 1 through 26 were in the back of his 1867 diary

[3] Above zero

[4] Galesburg, Michigan

[5] His son, Ethan Keith

[6] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin

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

[8] Grant Wesley Keith

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

[10] His two youngest children, Louesa and James Clinton Keith

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

[12] His daughter, Nancy Keith

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

[14] Etc.

[15] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Andrew C. Aldrich died January 15, 1868 and is buried at Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[16] His niece, and Catherine’s daughter, Lucy Irene Lee

[17] Below zero

[18] His daughter by his first wife, Minerva Payson

[19] Lucy Lee’s nickname

[20] “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

[21] His cousin, Alvan Lee

[22] Thomas Flanders, a neighbor

[23] Neighbor, Ambrose Brown, the father of Henry Brown, who would marry Luke’s daughter, Nancy

[24] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[25] 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

[26] Apparently his reference to the marriage of Lucy Lee to Martin Milham

[27] His nephew, James Oscar Keith

[28] His niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[29] His brother Harvey’s wife, Alfleda (Starr) Keith

[30] His niece Lucy (Lee) Milham’s husband

[31] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[32] George was married to Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[33] Charles R. Cridland

[34] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Ansel H. Birge died April 26, 1868 and is buried in McKain Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[35] His cousins, Andrew J. Turner, and Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner (Andrew’s mother)

[36] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Luke Whitcomb died April 27, 1868 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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

[38] Niles, Michigan

[39] Believe Jim and Bill were his horses

[40] Mark’s wife, Julia Ann Lee

[41] Ambrose Brown’s mother (and Henry Brown’s grandmother), Rhoba (Mason) Brown

[42] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[43] Adeline L. (Ferguson) Schram

[44] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Adeline L. (Ferguson) Schram died June 9, 1868 and is buried in S. O. M. Road Cemetery (previously Willoughby Center Cemetery), Willoughby, Ohio

[45] Adeline’s husband, Isaac Schram

[46] Since Adeline is buried in Ohio, he apparently was taking her remains there

[47] Lois (French) Lee

[48] The brother of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith. From an unknown newspaper: Mr. John Cruttenden, a prominent and much respected citizen of Concord, was instantly killed on Saturday last by a stroke of lightning. Mr. C. was in the harvest field at the time of the sad occurrence, and was standing about ten feet from his reaper when the bolt descended. One of his horses was killed, and the driver, sitting upon the reaper between Mr. C. and the team, was stricken insensible and did not recover for several hours. Mr. Cruttenden’s skull was broken and his left side, arm and leg badly mutilated. He was sixty-eight years old

[49] A poke consisted of a leather strap which went around the horse’s neck and was attached to a hinged wooden bar which hung down in front of the horse. The hinge allowed the horse to graze, but kept the horse from getting through a fence

[50] Thomas Jefferson Chaffee Jr., the husband of Luke’s niece, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[51] His son, James Clinton Keith

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

[53] Most likely Nancy Betts’ brother, either Francis or Stephen Comfort

[54] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith

[55] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[56] Dowagiac, Michigan

[57] Ulysses S. Grant, who ran against Horatio Seymour, became the 18^th President of the United States

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

[59] His cousin, Levi Lincoln King

[60] Michigan, Deaths & Burials Index shows Anna Maria Styles, daughter of Nathan Styles, died November 16, 1868 at the age of 24

[61] Most likely Charles Jedediah Lee, the son of Charles Lee (see November 13 footnote). He and Ethan were very close in age

[62] Clara Almyra Milham, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[63] Dr. George Wightman

[64] His wife Sarah’s brother

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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