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

Advertisement

Luke Keith’s 1864 Diary with some 1865 entries

1864 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

Jan 1 – Verry cold 14 degrees below zero verry freesing. No work to day stayed in the house most of the day. Verry windy.

Jan 2 – Verry cold and blustering 15 below zero high wind. Went over to Fathers.[2] Mrs Peterson & Celia there. Bot cap 5.00¢. L. T Earl brot timber for bob.[3]

Jan 3 – At home all day. Very cold. Lois[4] Byron[5] and Hannah[6] came home.

Jan 4 – Went over to Fathers. Worked in shop some. Hung ax in Evening for D Lamkins in Wesley[7] here in Evening.

Jan 5 – Extracted tooth for John Scramlins boy 25¢. Let Lois Tyler have timber for raves & thills[8] 50¢. Piled Mrs Betts[9] wood. Bot thread 20¢ Bot alcohol 5¢ salt 25. T. Flanders here to night. Put bearing on Wesleys bob. Hat Burdick paid 10¢.

Jan 6 – Work on Lymans bob. T. Flanders left. Finished Harmon Smiths violin. Mrs Peterson Mrs Davis & Celia Newman here.

Jan 7 – Filed saw for Hunting 15¢. Worked on L. T. Earls bob. Ground T. Corys ax ground P. Johnsons ax. L. T. Earl brot 108½ Beef 4.34¢.

Jan 8 – Hunting paid 30¢. Finished L. T. Earls bob.

Jan 9 – Made handle to Huntings saw 25¢ filed saw for Hunting 15¢. Went over to Fathers with Ethen.[10]

Jan 10 – At home all day. Mrs Joy[11] died this morning.

Jan 11 – Cut two pairs mittens for paddy 20. Hunting paid 15¢. Made boulster for D. Hamilton 1.00. Flanders brot load straw. Catharine[12] here. Mrs Joy buried. Bot crackers 25¢.

Jan 12 – P. Johnson paid 25¢. Sold Mrs Betts 10 & ¾ beef 43 she paid 3¢ Beckwith 6. Bot file 15¢. Filed saw for A. Odel 25¢.

Jan 13 – Filed saw for Isaac Smith 25¢ filed saw for Starling 20¢. John R. Scramlin paid 25¢. Bot 50 bbs flour 1.75¢.

Jan 14 – Uncle Chi commenced making whiffletrees.[13] Went over to Fathers. Fixed pump. Filed cross cut saw for Ed Hoges 50¢.

Jan 15 – Isaac Smith paid 30¢. Sold Isaac Johnson one finger board 105¢. Filed saw for A. Austin 25¢. Bot schoes for Jim 55¢.

Jan 16 – Filed saws for Hunting 35. Repaired crutches for Eugene Cory 5¢. Mrs Betts paid 1.00. Mr Dickinson Brot Mrs Betts one cord wood 3.00¢. Worked some on Dicks Box. Mr Brown got his mittens 37¢.

Jan 17 – Went up to Wesleys Yorks[14] Fathers &c.[15] Got some maple bark for ink. Eugene Cory paid 5¢.

Jan 18 – Worked on seats. Bine Durgy paid 25¢. Bot copras 3¢. Filed two saws for J. Flanders 40. Got one bushel apples 40¢. Paid tax 6.30¢. Filed saw for H Scramlin 20. Got boots tapt 65¢.

Jan 19 – Henry Scramlin paid 20¢ Dick Whiting Bot hickory 10¢. Hung ax for Frank Clemens 10¢. Sold rave to stranger 10¢. Made saw buck for A. Austin 20¢.

Jan 20 – Buskirk got bench screw & miter boxes. D Lamkins called here. Filed saw for Hunting __¢. Worked on Lamkins box. A. J. Bradford sick. Went over and washed him and fixed him quite comfortable.

Jan 21 – With Bradford part of the fore noon. Worked on Lamkins buggy box. Myron Rawson paid 37¢.

Jan 22 – Worked on Lamkins box some cut out rizers. Starling paid 20¢. Eugene Bronsons Boddy came on the noon train to day.

Jan 23 – Made rizers for D. Lamkins. Eugene Bronson Buried to day. Father sold Deacon & Bonus weight 3110. Bot one lb nails 7¢.

Jan 24 – At home all day. Sarah[16] & Mrs Betts went to church.

Jan 25 – Put Lamkins seats together. Put in wagon neap[17] for Mr Hopkins 1.00¢. Hung ax for __ Lamkins 10 hung ax for Marshal __ 5¢. Bot oil 35.

Jan 26 – Stranger paid 10¢ for rave. Took felloes[18] of Flanders wheels. Worked on Lamkins box.

Jan 27 – Put Lamkins box together. Bot sandpaper 10¢. Mrs Potts[19] buried to day. James Shafter got his violin.

Jan 28 – Put bottom on Lamkins box and dash posts. Put in wagon neap for Mr Right 1.00¢. Bot two pairs shoes for Hannah & Nancy[20] 2.00.

Jan 29 – Put dash on Box. Race[21] broke over. Mrs Betts went to County house. Bot matches 12¢. Lois Hannah Byron & Mr Hubbard stayed all night. Race broke over fooded my yard.

Jan 30 – Went to mill. Helped clear the race of ice. Sawed some wood.

Jan 31 – At home all day. Lois went home. Byron went East on stock train.

Feb 1 – Bot thread 5¢. Tenanted spokes on Flanders old wheels.

Feb 2 – Filed saw for James Holden 25. Bot file 15. Filed saw for Henry Scramlin 25¢. Sawed out some felloes. Dick Lamkins Brot 140¢ lbs flour.

Feb 3 – Bot thread 10¢. Finished sawing out felloes. Bored and put on one wheel. Huntings boy paid 10¢ for repairs on violin.

Feb 4 – Bored rims on three wheels. Flanders called here. Sawed out reach and jacks for Lamkins buggy. Went to lecture in Evening Mr Hull on spiritualism 25.

Feb 5 – Made reach head block & jacks to Dick Lamkins buggy. Filed saw for Hunting 15¢ filed saw for Isaac Smith 15. Bot box ointment 25¢.

Feb 6 – Sawed up one wheel. Painted Lamkins box. Bot one cake soap 5.

Feb 7 – Went up to Wesleys Yorks & Fathers.

Feb 8 – Rounded two wheels. Extracted two teeth for Bachelder 25¢. Extracted tooth for Miss Powers 25¢. Ground ax for James Holden 15. James Flanders called here.

Feb 9 – Marshall Austin paid 15. Finished Flanders wheels. Riley Bennet & wife called here. Extracted tooth for Frank Bachelder 25¢. Bot Dipthera medicine 50¢.

Feb 10 – Flanders got his wheels. Carried Lamkins box to shop. Made ax helve for Jo Boardman. Et Smith buried to day.

Feb 11 – Put in Bed bottom.[22] Went over to Fathers. Old Mr Henyon buried to day. Extracted tooth for W^m Baxter 25. Bristol brot his buggy wheel broke down.

Feb 12 – Worked on Chipmans wagon. Got some rubber springs for Lounge of A. J. Bradford. Chipman brot some boulster stuff.

Feb 13 – Put crotch in Chips wagon. Sawed out some boulsters. Dressed out one ____. Margaret Brother died. Mrs Aldrich buried to day.

Feb 14 – At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Feb 15 – Finished one boulster. Sawed out swaybars put spring bottom in lounge. Uncle Ames called here.

Feb 16 – Worked on Chipmans hounds & sway bars. Cold as blazes. Put spring bottom in crib for galligan.

Feb 17 – 10 below zero. Went over to Fathers. Verry cold. No work to day.

Feb 18 – Cold 10 below zero. Put in bed bottom for Henry Scramlin. Put in one for Mrs Betts.

Feb 19 – Finished Chipmans wagon. Filed two saws for Hunting 30 filed saw for Oatman 10.

Feb 20 – Bot candy 5. Uncle Tim Mills died. Worked some on Bristols wheel. Got Ethens Boots tapt 50. Ed Hoges paid 50. Bot buttons for Nancy 10.

Feb 21 – Went down to Lois. Mr Mills buried to day. David Gaults wife Brot in to day.

Feb 22 – Made lazy back to Lamkins seat. Made sway bar for Doc Wightman 38 worked on. David Gaults wife buried to day. Newell Cuykendalls wife died. A Chipman got his wagon.

Feb 23 – Got out spokes for Bristols wheel. Bot file 15. Filed saw for E. M. Clap 25.

Feb 24 – Bot screws 6¢ postage 3. Filed saw for Henry Scramlin 10¢. Got out some spokes. Mrs Shafter died.

Feb 25 – Finished Bristols wheel. Filed saw for Frank Clemens 25. Bot pens 5.

Feb 26 – Made two steaks for A. Chipman. Sent letter to J. S. King[23] 3. David Hamilton paid 1.00. Extracted two teeth for Stranger 50¢.

Feb 27 – Morticed hub for D. Lamkins wheel. Repaired T. Coreys cart 25¢. Bot oil 35¢. Father called in shop. Sent letter to H. M. Smith 3¢.

Feb 28 – Went over to Fathers. Cut Oatmans hair 10¢. Father let me have 75.00.

Feb 29 – Set Boxes in Dicks hub. Made crutch for Marsh Austin 10. Filed saw for A. Austin 20. Dressed out spokes for Dicks wheel. Got deed of Barry County for A. J. Bradford 30¢.

Mar 1 – Made crutch for Marshal Austin. Filed saw for W^m Eldred 20¢ filed crosscut saw for Joy 50¢. Eldred paid 20¢. Bot beer 10¢.

Mar 2 – Shaved and filed some spokes drove them and put on rim. Mr Joy paid 50. Bot Shugar 75¢. Filed saw for P. Johnson. Bristol got his buggy 2.00¢. Sarah went down to Bylons.

Mar 3 – Finished Lamkins wheel. Bot pants of Blackburn 3.25¢. Dea Clark called here. A Chipman paid 5.00¢. Clark bot Fulton County Ohio for the use of the ulmer[24] spring bed bottom.

Mar 4 – Put in Bottom for Oatman one for Mary Childs one for Mrs Austin one for Mr Warren. One galen syrup of Austin 1.00.

Mar 5 – Put in 3 spokes for Tousley 75¢. Kingsley paid 62¢ Mr Bristol paid 2.00. A. J. Bradford sold Charleston & Climax to Fred Reading. Wood sawyer got his hand sawed of to day.

Mar 6 – At home all day. Sarah came home. Ain Halls baby buried to day.

Mar 7 – Went over to Fathers. Put in bed Bottom for Mariah pond. Mended mop for P. Johnson 25¢.

Mar 8 – Repaired saw for P Johnson 10¢ Johnson paid 30¢. Bot shoes for Jerusha[25] 80¢. Johnson paid A. Lamkins paid 20¢. Filed saw for Marcy Van Eldred and put one auger handle and bored five 38¢. Filed saw for A. Lamkins 20. Eldred paid 40. Repaired Mrs Hoges gate 25.

Mar 9 – Mrs Betts paid 1.50¢. Tousley paid 50. Worked on spokes and moddle. Bot Elastic ribbon 10¢ wire 3¢.

Mar 10 – Worked on spokes and moddle. Filed saw for Hunting 15¢ Hunting paid 30. Bot wire tacks & screws 14.

Mar 11 – Put in Bed bottom for R. Ransom. Put in one for P. T. Carver[?]. Bot shugar 5¢.

Mar 12 – Put in Bed bottom for C. Addams one for Langford Burdick. Went over to Fathers. D. Lamkins brot over hay. Bot salt 25 Beer 10¢. Received of J. C. Blake 50.00. Joseph Flanders Brot ____ tun hay.

Mar 13 – At home all day. Finished my moddle. Sarah went to church.

Mar 14 – Tousley paid 25¢. Bot indigo 10¢. Worked on spokes. Catharine and Ethen here brot Mrs Betts flour. Old Mrs Warren[26] died 88 yrs. Let A. J. Bradford have my moddle bedstead.

Mar 15 – Trimed up spokes for Flanders wheels. Filed saw for W^m Batt he paid 20¢.

Mar 16 – Split wood over to Fathers from the machine. Mr Soules helped me. Got my Boots tapt 10¢.

Mar 17 – Split wood over to Fathers in fore noon. Wesley drawed me a load over.

Mar 18 – Finished dressing Flanders spokes. Filed and set saw for Batt.

Mar 19 – Drove spokes in Flanders wheels &c. Carried two bushels corn to mill.

Mar 20 – Went over to Fathers. Catharine let me have 15 Dollars and draft for 35 Dollars 15 Dollars in money.

Mar 21 – Went to Kalamazoo got money on Draft 35.00. Sent letter to Jesse Wilcut[27] 3¢. Bot vice and tacks 2.07¢. Fare down and back 50¢. Got 20 Dollars of Mason. Saw General Burnside. 20 of Mrs Betts. Aunt Lilly[28] Died to day.

Mar 22 – Got Deed of Wisconsin $200.00. Paid Mrs Betts 15.00. Worked on wheels. Made churn dash for D. K. Rogers 25. T. Cory paid 10¢. Bot stamps 40¢.

Mar 23 – Worked on wheels finished one. Caty Allerton[29] Buried to day. Saw James Noyes he leves on the 12.15 train for St Louis Mo.

Mar 24 – Worked on wheels. Mr Right paid 1.00. D. K. Rogers paid 25. Man called here from Marshall to get slatts for bed bottoms.

Mar 25 – Finished Flanders wheels. Made churn dash for Mrs. Rogers. G. F. Warren called here to get agency to sell bed Bottoms in Wisconsin. Filed saw for Wesley. Benj Moore got 56 spokes. Flanders got his Wheels.

Mar 26 – Haled over stuf in shop to get Ex stock. Filed saw for P. Johnson. Made wagon box for Mr Pilgrim 1.00. Wesley Brot some wood for Milford. Mrs Bevere[30] buried. Stuarts boy got in the race.

Mar 27 – Pleasant. Sarah went to church. I went over to Fathers in Evening.

Mar 28 – Sawed of my bed slats. Jef Chaffee[31] went through on the noon train. Bot beef 45. Sent letter to J. S. King 3¢. Dan Hunting paid 15¢. Lucy came on the train with Jeff. Puled up my slatts.

Mar 29 – Worked on W^m Johnson Ex. Went down to W^m Eldreds. Lucy went home. Finished Johnsons Ex. Filed saw for P. Johnson.

Mar 30 – Bot file 15¢. Filed two saws for A. B. Sumner 40 one for D. K. Rogers. Sumner paid 40¢. Worked on moddle. Oscar Keith[32] called here.

Mar 31 – Worked on moddle some. Filed saw for P. Johnson. Made arrow for Eugene Cory 10¢. Sarah Rogers here to Dinner. Egene paid 10¢. Bot rubber for moddle 10¢. Oscar went home.

Apr 1 – Went up to Wesleys Fathers Milfords and Jesse Earls. Albina sick. Went into canc___. Sent letter to J. S. King (Tomlinson)[33] 3¢.

Apr 2 – Finished Pilgrims buggy box 2. Wesley came down & killed pig.

Apr 3 – At home all day. Very pleasant sun shown all day.

Apr 4 – Rained all day. Went to town meeting. Elias Sherman & Mr Flanders here to dinner.

Apr 5 – Charley Lee here to dinner. Made ramrod for Frank Bachelder 10¢. Let S. M. Grimes have stick for Evener 10¢. Carried old stove down to Hardwa___ it weighed 208 lbs 1.¼¢ pr pound. Bot Box ointment 25¢.

Apr 6 – Bot gate hangings 90¢ wire 3¢. Hung small gate. Heard Bill Rogers Lucy & Mary Johnson stayed all night. Ethen came over. Bot nails 7¢.

Apr 7 – Filed saw for Bigsby 50¢. Went down to Lois & streator. Got my gate ketch fixd.

Apr 8 – Put ketch & spring on gate. Bot salt 10¢ Bot nails 48¢. Put some rails on fence. Pilgrim paid 2.00. Recd letter from J. S. K.[34] sent letter to D. M. Hall 3¢.

Apr 9 – Went over to Fathers. Ethen came home to stay. Finished puting on fence rails. Bot thread 8¢.

Apr 10 – Bot salearatas[35] 13¢. Finished my moddle. Went over to Fathers. Sarah went to Mrs W^m Aldrich funeral.

Apr 11 – Filed saw for Joseph Lee.[36] Filed saw for Mr seaman 20¢. Set saw for old Mr Adams. Made Evener for Mr _______ 50.

Apr 12 – Bot 2 lbs nails 16¢ one try squair 38¢ Bot books for Ethen 1.50¢. Mr _______ paid 150¢. Filed saw for Wesley. Finished my fence. Milford brot wood.

Apr 13 – Took out butry. Byrons folks snowed in to day. Eight bed bottoms came from D. M. Hall.

Apr 14 – Got Eight bed bottoms freight 50¢. Filed saw for W^m Eldred 25¢. Mrs Hoges paid 25¢. Lathed up the kitchen.

Apr 15 – By[37] plastered up the Kitchen. I worked round house some. Went up to Cummings.

Apr 16 – Carried one bottom over to C. P. Galligans. Carried 5 over to Fathers. Put in bottom for Catharine. Sent letter to Brad 3¢. Pros[38] came up. Oatman paid 10¢. Gave 50¢ to Mrs Dewey that was burnt out. Pros came.

Apr 17 – Went over At home all day. Henry[39] came home.

Apr 18 – Went down to Kalamazoo put in bed bottom for Frank Galligan. Bot cotton cloth two bosoms one pair shoes 75¢. Went & saw white negro 10¢. Bot 105 yards webing 45.96¢. Went to panorama 25.

Apr 19 – Trimed currant bushes. Cleaned up round garden. Made Mrs Austin 5 window sticks. Mrs Smith buried. Got lime to whitewash the kitchen.

Apr 20 – Worked in garden put up leach piled up stone burnt brush. Pros came back from Flanders. Bot lime 15¢.

Apr 21 – Worked round garden piled some wood. Martin Turner[40] called here. Catherine & Lucy[41] here. Got cupboard of Mrs Wiseman. Recd letter from Brad.

Apr 22 – Went up to Luke Chace Joseph Flanders & Ambrose Browns[42] put bed bottoms. D. M. Hall called here. E. P. Oatman paid 5.00 Ezra Mansfield[43] died this morning.

Apr 23 – E. P. Oatman paid 5.00 for bed bottom. Cut Peter Johnsons hair 10¢. Bot buts screws & lock 30. Extracted tooth for Mr Struble 25¢. Pros went up to Battle Creek.

Apr 24 – At home all day. Rained all day. Mr Mansfields funeral to day.

Apr 25 – Mr Mansfield buried. Wiseman paid 10¢. Bot spider 50¢. Made machine to turn buckles on turned some cut some rubber. Pros came back. Sold Galligan two & half bushels apples ___ 2.25¢.

Apr 26 – Turned some buckles. W^m Batt got axhelve 1.00. Made Jack plane for Shed Sheeley. Cut rubber in Evening. J. T. Warren called here to see me to get agency for bed bottoms.

Apr 27 – Worked on planes. Finished Sheds planes finished cutting my rubber. Had 855 springs. Pros went down to the county house.

Apr 28 – Picked up stuff in shop & barn. Sold 171 lbs old iron 2.56¢ 8 lbs nutts 80¢. Bot three dozen Eggs of Father 10¢ pr dozen.

Apr 29 – Piled lumber in barn. Turned 182 buckles for Wiseman turned some 200 buckles for B. Clark. Hiram[44] sent 168 Dollars let Mrs Betts have 15.00¢. Paid school bill 1.03 bot paper 5¢.

Apr 30 – Dressed out some slatts. Filed saw for Darling 20¢. Henry came down. Mr Flanders got his potatoes.

May 1 – At home. Went over to Fathers with By. Henry went home.

May 2 – Dressed some slats. Frank Burlingham called here worked on box some. Bot pants for Ethen 65¢. Sent letter to J. S. King 3¢. Pros let me have one cent. Pros went to Battlecreek.

May 3 – Made wagon box for Wesley. Dressed out slatts. Received letter from Pros. A. J. Bradford came back. Barber brot up B. Clarks grist from mill.

May 4 – Finished Edging slats. Bradford came over put in sond board for A. Austin. Father came over this morning. Bot bar soap 12¢.

May 5 – Ethen came over with Nance. Got out manure. Bot oil 45¢. By came home in the Evening.

May 6 – Worked round yard some. Got out some slats. Put slats out to day. Got out some stuf for guitar box. Thunder shower in night. Filed two saws for Hunting 30¢.

May 7 – Made guitar trunk for Bell Galligan 1.50. Repaired parasol 10. Recd of Gates &c 25¢. Repaired trunk for Mrs Betts.

May 8 – Went over to Fathers. Alvan Lee[45] there.

May 9 – Bot two pairs shoes for the girls 2.50¢. Bot broom 30¢. Wesley brot 170 slats from L. T. Earls. Dressed out 100 slats. Sawmill caut fire in Evening.

May 10 – Dressed some slats. Filed saw for Williams 20¢ filed saw for Barber 15¢. Put Wesleys wagon box together. Extracted two teeth for Mary Clark 50¢.

May 11 – Groved all my slats. Put handle on guitar trunk. Sarah Lois & youngones went over to Fathers. Bot paper 5¢.

May 12 – Went up to L. T. Earls. Got about 200 slats. Tightened box in Bristols buggy wheel.

May 13 – Went over to Fathers got plow plowed my garden. Took plow home. Got grist from mill. Got wheat of Jo Flanders 4 bushels.

May 14 – Bot paper 5¢. Planted peas onions lettauce potatoes & corn.

May 15 – Went up to Flanders. Got my colt took her down to Catharines Mr Cook Darling & Bot paper 5¢.

May 16 – Draged part of garden planted some corn potatoes & beans peas. Mr Bristol paid 25¢. Paid for Mrs Betts bed bottom 5.00.

May 17 – Built Austins fence 2.50. Extracted tooth for Dutch girl 25¢. Sarah Lois & children went up to Swaddles. Mrs Betts went to Kalamazoo.

May 18 – Dressed out some slats. Tinkered violins some. Gave old Mr Adams 50¢. By Clark got home in night.

May 19 – Finished dressing slats. Patent right man here. My End strips came one hundred 8.15¢.

May 20 – Patent right man bot my rubber spring & slat 25¢. Finished groveing slats. Tacked in some rubber.

May 21 – Tacking in rubber. Filed saw for J. B. Holden 30¢ filed saw for J. Jackson 25¢. Mr Flanders & Henry[46] called. Bot buttons 12. Let Sarah have 50¢.

May 22 – Went up north in woods in morning. Sarah went to church.

May 23 – Finished puting in rubber. Bot tacks 70¢. Made roling stick for Gates & Sherwood 25¢.

May 24 – Took bed botom out of J. T. Warrens bed oone out of R. Ransoms bed. Put one into Griffins bed. Tacked some rubber.

May 25 – Tacked in some rubber. Filed saw for Mr. [blank] 20¢. Bot cabbage plants 12¢. Lucy & Kit Matthews here to breakfast & Dinner. Charley Bronson left on the noon train. Eleck got his violin 50¢.

May 26 – Finished rounding my slats. Earls sawyer got his violin paid 1.00. Turned some buckles. All went and saw Benj Moores pictures 50¢.

May 27 – Went up to A. Chipmans put in bed bottom put in one for Mr Ralph. Sent to Kalamzoo by Oatman. Bot one Dog paper 4. oz tacks 40¢. Bent some buckles.

May 28 – Finished my buckles. Tacked in all my springs. Put in bed bottom for Lois. Let Hannah have 10¢. Father called here. Bot beef 60¢.

May 29 – At home all day head ache. Pleasant. Mr Flanders & Henry called here with their new buggy.

May 30 – Finished up buckles. Extracted tooth for Mr Quick 25¢. Filed saw for Mr Olin 25¢. Mr Bradfor & A. A. man called here.

May 31 – Put in buckles in end strips. Mrs Betts went to Kalamazoo got her teeth 25.00. Mr Bradford went to Otsego. Went over to Fathers. Bot butter 45¢.

Jun 1 – Finished my bed bottoms. Brad got me some rubber. Cut stencil plate. Marked my Ends. Bot ticket for Chicago (2.50.

Jun 2 – Went over to Fathers repaired pump. Bot hat for Jim[47] 20¢. Made buckles for moddle. Sawed out stuf for moddle. Mr [blank] paid 25¢. Catharine & Hellen here.

Jun 3 – Bot buts screws & lock glass & putty 52¢ bot steel ring 5¢.

Jun 4 – Mad moddle for By Clark. Paid Rich Blackburn 7.30¢ for pants cloth. Filed saw for Mr Seman 15¢.

Jun 5 – Went over to Fathers with B. Clark Ethen Nancy Hannah & Charley went.

Jun 6 – Went over to Fathers. Cleaned up wheat. Mr Seeley paid 3.00. Got hair cut 20¢.

Jun 7 – Went to Kalamazoo fare 50. Bot hat 3.00 deeds 4.00 cap 75¢ pictur frame 1.25¢ fare 60 _____ Harmen Smith paid 2.00. Sarah bot sundries 19.25¢. Received 20.00.

Jun 8 – Struble paid 25¢. Worked in shop some on box. Wiseman stamped some Ends. Bot lining for my trunk 25¢.

Jun 9 – Mad box for my springs. Bot nails 15¢. Oatman & Wiseman worked on bed bottoms.

Jun 10 – Went to Kalamazoo bot iron 29¢ apple 1¢ fare both ways 50¢ carrier for trunk 2.00. Packed one bunch slats.

Jun 11 – Packed my slats. Harriet Perry & Sarah Miller called here.

Jun 12 – Went over to Celia Newmans. Saw old Mrs Petersons likeness. Went down to burying ground.

Jun 13 – Finished packing my slats and took them to the station.

Jun 14 – Shelled corn and worked round barn. Old cow calved this morning.

Jun 15 – Went over to Fathers got some butter and some money he paid 40. Catharine gave me a wallet. Got mony of Catharine 126.00[?].

Jun 16 – Father got calf one Dollar 1.00. Catharine paid 5.00 for bed bottom. A Austin paid 5__ Blackburn paid 15¢. Got boots fixed 20¢. Hunting paid 40¢.

Jun 17 – Went over to Fathers & A. Browns. Bot snuff & candy 5¢. Let Sarah have 5.00 Nancy & Hanna 25¢. Left for Mattawan on the 145 train. Went and saw aunt Electa from there over to Carolines saw uncle Warren. Verry hot.

Jun 18 – Left Carles about noon left Mattawan at three got to Niles about five. Found Henry[48] in shop.

Jun 19 – At Niles. Went over to Mr Vincents. Saw a patent plow a nice thing it was.

Jun 20 – Left Niles fifteen minutes to five got to Chicago about nine left at ten carrying trunk 50 fare to Milwaukee 2.50¢ _____ carried trunk up to hotel 50¢.

Jun 21 – Went over into city saw tim Matthews. Payed freight 6.87 one groce screws 85¢. Put in one bed bottom at Niagara Hotel 6.00

Jun 22 – Went over in city. Put in bed bottom in one of Matthews bedsteads. Bot inkstand and pen holder 30¢ one package Envelopes 10¢ letter 3¢ paper 5¢.

Jun 23 – Went up to the Lacrosse Depoe went to Matthews Store. Sent letter to J. S. King. Sold bed bottom to Matthews 5.00. Bot collars 40.

Jun 24 – Carried my slatts up to Lacrosse Depo 75¢. Went to Omro[49] got there about eight. Fare from Milwaukee to Omro 3.65 apples 5¢.

Jun 25 – Got my trunk carried up to Roberts[50] 25¢. At Roberts all day. Robert came home in Evening. Verry hot and dry.

Jun 26 – At home all day until most night. Went over to Coffees saw Mr & Mrs Coffee.

Jun 27 – Freight on Bed Bottoms from Milwaukee to Omro 2.37. Sent letter to Sarah 9¢. Took my bottoms up to Roberts. Put in one in to Cabinet shop Mr Hunters. Robert went over to Winneconne.[51]

Jun 28 – Put in one to Roberts. Sent letter to J. S. King 3. Louesa[52] gone a visiting. I am not very well. Went down town. Some rainy. The first rain they had had in over two months.

Jun 29 – Runing around Omro. Rained some. Went over to Coffes. Sent letter to Henry 3¢. I went over to Mr Bunkers with Louesa & Syntha.[53]

Jun 30 – Went down town in morning. Went into shingle factory. Put in bed bottom for Bardwell Omro. Hoed corn some after noon.

Jul 1 – Not very well at Roberts. Hoed corn some. Went up to Coffes took dinner.

Jul 2 – Went down town in the morning. Most sick head ache and back ache. No work to day.

Jul 3 – At roberts. We went over to Coffees just at night and down to the Boat Omro.

Jul 4 – Robert went over to Winneconne. Sent letter to Sarah 3¢. Went up to Coffees. Stayed at Roberts most of the day. Not very well. A big house burned here afternoon in lower[?] town.

Jul 5 – Hoing corn this morning in Omro. Went down town. Bot shaving cup of Mr Bardwell 25¢. Darwin and Mariah here to day. Yanky Robinsons show in town to day. Went down to show ground bot candy 5¢.

Jul 6 – Went down town and over to Coffees took dinner then went down town with Coffee.

Jul 7 – Went down to post office sent letter to J. S. K. 3¢. Went round the squair on Bunker Street. Lady broke slat to moddle. Mad another at Hunters shop.

Jul 8 – At all day. Picked black rasberries & currants. Robert came home. Recd a letter from Ethen. Went over to Coffees at night.

Jul 9 – Picked berries and picked over currants. Went over to Winneconne after Robbert had Mr Coffees team.

Jul 10 – At home all day. Robert and I went to hear a woman lecture in Evening on spiritualism.

Jul 11 – Went over to Winneconne. Put in two bed bottoms one for Mr Peterson one for Mr Webster. Mr Peterson paid 3.00¢. Sent letter to Sarah 3¢.

Jul 12 – Went to Delhi Eureka and Waukau. Py and cake at Eureka 25¢. Found Horse shoe gave it to Mr Bishop. Went on foot and walkers line 15 miles.

Jul 13 – At home all day. Not very well. Went up to Coffees and down town twice. Some home sick.

Jul 14 – Went up to Eureka put in two bottoms one for Mr Bromley 6.00 one for Mr Leonard 6.00. Hired wagon of livery .75.

Jul 15 – At Roberts all day. Not very well. Kind of a diavol___ boulous. Robert came home.

Jul 16 – Robert went to Winneconne. Mr Webster paid 6.00 Mr Peterson paid 3.00 Mr Bardwell paid 5.75¢.

Jul 17 – Went up to Eureka with Robert and Coffee. Took dinner at Mr Stones.

Jul 18 – At home all day. Went down town in morning. Robert went to Winneconne. Rained some. Sick with cold.

Jul 19 – Went down town in morning. Sent letter to Sarah 3¢. Not very well. Made chain and ball.

Jul 20 – Went over to Coffees. They drawed in hay. I stayed took dinner. Coffee plowed Roberts garden. I put in bed bottom to Roberts.

Jul 21 – Put in bed bottom for Coffee he paid 5.00. Hoed corn in fore noon. Packed slats for Depere.[54] Bot candy 5¢.

Jul 22 – Went to Oshkosh. Took dinner with Aunt Mary. Put in bed bottom for Lyman Rumry 6.00. Went to Depere. Fare from Oshkosh to Depere 1.55. Got to Kings[55] about one in the night. Found them well.

Jul 23 – Went over to the depo with King got trunk & one bottom. Put in bottom to Burnells.[56] Raked hay some.

Jul 24 – At Burnells all day. Very warm.

Jul 25 – Worked some in hay field spread and raked hay. Very hot.

Jul 26 – Went up to Kings place stoped and took dinner with Edith Leroy.[57] Mowing for Burnell. Received letter from Lois. Went to Depere with Leroy[58] and Burnell. Sent letter to Sarah 3¢.

Jul 27 – Went over to little falls with King and Leroy. Went down to Barneses after goos berries. Very hot.

Jul 28 – Went over to Mr Torreys and to a funeral at Mr McDonalds child. Very hot day. Got home about dark.

Jul 29 – Went over to Mr Woodards in forenoon to Mr Phelps in after noon. King traded Horses. Very hot.

Jul 30 – Hot. At Burnells all day. No work to day. Hotest weather I have seen in a long time. Sweat sweat al the time.

Jul 31 – Very hot morning. At Bernells all day. They went to church.

Aug 1 – Went up on Kings farm round Bernells place. Found some nice blackberries. Jonas & Edith here to tea.

Aug 2 – Went to Depere with King. He sold a heifer. Sent letter to Sarah 3¢. Recd one from home. All well.

Aug 3 – At Kings. Went up to Leroys. Burnell took bridge to build. I went to Depere with King. Made a bargain with King. Sold him Fond Dulac & Brown Countys. Bot violin & cloths wringer.

Aug 4 – Went to Mr Newtons with King Edith & Sarah had a good visit. Quite warm. Doc Adams and lady there.

Aug 5 – Hunting bees and round home. Very hot and dry.

Aug 6 – Hunting Bees again. All went up to Leroys to dinner. Went and picked some Black berries after noon. Stayed there to tea. Very warm.

Aug 7 – At Kings all day. Very hot and dry. Burnell and Sarah went over to Glenmore to meeting.

Aug 8 – Alfired hot day. Made part of moddle for King. Burnell commenced his job on bridge.

Aug 9 – Worked on moddle some. Went Black berrying in after noon. Very hot.

Aug 10 – Went to Depere. Put in bed bottom for Tom Jackson. Took wringer to peaces. Very hot night.

Aug 11 – Hot as ever very dry. At Burnells all day. Recd letter from Sarah. Wrote to Ethen.

Aug 12 – Went down to the Bay. Saw Luke Whitcomb. Went to Mr Bobottoms took dinner. Had a heavy shower got wet.

Aug 13 – Very warm morning. Worked on Kings moddle got it done all but the loops & dressing the slats.

Aug 14 – At home all day. Went up to Leroys in the Evening. Quite cool.

Aug 15 – At home all day. Went out picked some Blackberries &c.

Aug 16 – Went to Depere put in Bed bottom for Mr Baldwin Freight Agent. Put in one for J. S. King. Sent letter to Sarah 3¢. Bot stamps 25¢ candy 5¢ Leroy 5¢.

Aug 17 – Worked on violin box. Sawed out slats for moddle some extra ones for mine &c.

Aug 18 – Went to Green Bay got my pattern. Bot stamps 25 screws 13¢. Had headache[?] _____. Ed Newton came here.

Aug 19 – Went to Depere put in bed bottom for Mr _____ one for Mr March. Jim bot tools of Mr Buck. Bot brads 5.

Aug 20 – Finished my box to put violin in. King went to the Bay got iron to make buckles on. No rain yet.

Aug 21 – At home all day. Went up to Leroys in Evening. Had some melons.

Aug 22 – Worked on Jims trunk to carry moddle in. Went to Depere. Bot stamps ___ Bot envelopes 18¢. Sent letter to Henry 3¢. Received letter from Sarah.

Aug 23 – Finished Kings moddle and finished trunk. Worked some on bench. Mr Torrey and Lady here to dinner. All went up to Leroys and took tea. Rainy day.

Aug 24 – Work on bench to turn buckles on. Sent Sarah five Dollars 5.00¢ letter 3¢.

Aug 25 – Worked on Kings trunk. Mr Hood[?] Mrs Phelps Mrs Kiper and Mrs Scott here to dinner and Tea.

Aug 26 – Went to Depere and Mr Newtons Mr Wisharts and Mr Barths. Saw Ed Newton.

Aug 27 – Varnished Kings moddle. Cleaned up Revolver. ___ King worked on road in fore noon. Rained some.

Aug 28 – At home all day. Rather home sick. Dont know what I shall do next.

Aug 29 – Went with King and Leroy out to Popple______ Krishborns and others. Came home by the big falls the hardest road I ever traveled. Burnell commenced digging his well. Mr Wishart digs it.

Aug 30 – Round home all day. _____ violin ___inger and made case for violin bow.

Aug 31 – Went down Devil river to Rick[?] Monroes. Got some turnips. Took watch of King. Went over to Mr Torrys with Burnell. Got cow.

Sep 1 – Made box for Burnell to draw dirt out of well. King and I drawed out dirt in afternoon.

Sep 2 – Went to Green Bay with Jim. Bot ink paper and pens & cakes 30¢. King got his trunk covered. I received letter from Sarah.

Sep 3 – Went over to Mr Torreys put in bed bottom for Roscoe Torry. Went to Depere. King got his tool box.

Sep 4 – Round home most of the day. Went up to Leroys had some melons.

Sep 5 – At Burnells all day. Streaked of Kings moddle trunk. Had the blues all day. Made out Kings Deed.

Sep 6 – At Burnells not doing much. King paid 200 Dollars.

Sep 7 – Made board for King to grove slats on. Worked on well some in morning. Rained most all day.

Sep 8 – At Burnells. Worked some on well. Packed my trunk and so forth. Went up to Leroys in Evening. Eat mellons. Sent letter to Sarah 3¢.

Sep 9 – Left Kings half past four for Omro fare 1.55 licence 6.67 second hand 25¢ dray carying trunk 25 fare from Oshkosh to Omro 60¢ dinner 50¢. Got to Roberts about five after noon. Quite a thunder shower in Evening.

Sep 10 – At Roberts. Hard head ache all day. Recd a letter from Henry. Robert was of thrashing.

Sep 11 – At Roberts. Wrote letter to Sarah. Went over to Coffees just at night. All well.

Sep 12 – Sent letter to Sarah 3¢. Put hair in violin Bow for Edward Cass. He worked for John Wilcox nurseryman Omro. Split wood.

Sep 13 – Rainy morning at Roberts. Split all the wood. Went over to Coffees. Robert got letter from his mother. Louesa had a girl[59] born about nine in Evening.

Sep 14 – Went to Oshkosh fare down 60¢. Let Robert have five Dollars $5.00. Dinner 25. Went & saw Mrs Mary Whickersham.[60]

Sep 15 – Supper lodging & Breakfast 1.00¢. Went to Appleton fare 75¢. Fare from Neenah 50 to Oshkosh.

Sep 16 – Put in two bed bottoms for Joseph Neglar 10.00 bot one pr gloves 1.00. Got Hair cut 20¢. Supper Lodg^ing Breakfast 1.00 fare from Oshkosh to Omro 50¢ one groce screws 87¢.

Sep 17 – Went over north side river saw the best fountain I ever saw. Went and saw Robert thrash at Mr Soddies. Bot small Bottle camphor 15¢. Rained like fun while at post office in Evening.

Sep 18 – Rather cool morning. At Roberts all day. Robert & Coffee went and saw the fountain. I was sick took a smartweed sweat. Robert paid $5.00. Let him have one Dollar.

Sep 19 – Went down to Hunters. Got bed bottom put it in to Mr Russels bed. Bot stamps and candy 14¢.

Sep 20 – Went up to Waukau fare up and back 50¢ supper 35¢. Went all over Waukau sold nary bottom.

Sep 21 – At Roberts all day. Some rainy. Not very well. Went down town in morning. Mrs Coffee here a visiting.

Sep 22 – Rained in morning. Robert went over river to thrash. I was sick all day hard head ache.

Sep 23 – Some better head ache some. Bot vial for ink 5¢. Stayed at Roberts all day. Sent letter to Sarah 3.

Sep 24 – Went over to Rices stayed all night. Very windy. Rice commenced plowing.

Sep 25 – Rices folks went over to Roberts stayed until most night. Went out to the old place where the Elder[61] used to live.

Sep 26 – At Roberts. Took Bottom out of Russels bed. Went up to Eureka fare 30¢. Stayed all night.

Sep 27 – Rainy. Supper lodging and breakfast and fare to Berlin 1.50¢ fare from Berlin to Junction 35¢ lay at Junction from one until eight in evening fare to Omro 70¢.

Sep 28 – At Roberts. Packed up my slats and end strips. Went over to Coffees and down to station. Sent letter to Sarah 3¢.

Sep 29 – At Roberts all day. Rocked cradle most of the time. Put arm and post in little chair. Sick with cold.

Sep 30 – At Roberts. Pleasant. Doing nothing. About sick with hard cold. Robert came home in evening.

Oct 1 – At Robert Crawfords in Omro. Hard cold home sick doing nothing and no prospect of doing any thing in Omro. Recd letter from Sarah.

Oct 2 – Went over to Coffees stayed to dinner. Robert & Louesa went over.

Oct 3 – Lft Omro about 9 A.M. went to Oshkosh. Mrs Coffee and Henry went with us. Left 15 Bed bottoms eighteen end strips with Joseph Nagler to sell at $5.00 each. Left Oshkosh about six PM fare to Chicago 6.80¢.

Oct 4 – Got to Chicago half past six in morning bus charge 150 crackers candy and apple cakes &c 55¢ fare from Chicago to Galesburg 4.55¢. Got home one oclock AM.

Oct 5 – At home all day. Lois very sick. John R and wife here. Mark Lee[62] here.

Oct 6 – At home sick. Hellen[63] here. Lois some better. Mark came over. Let Mrs Betts have ten Dollars.

Oct 7 – Went over to Fathers stayed all day. Rainy. Lucy came home with me stayed all night.

Oct 8 – At home all day. Very cold snowed some.

Oct 9 – At home all day not very well.

Oct 10 – Went over the river with sheep. Went down to Fathers. Topt some sorgum. Catharine came over with me.

Oct 11 – Made one pair mittens for P. Johnson. Extracted tooth for Larry Lamkins 50¢. Bot ointment 4¢ Corporation tax 21¢.

Oct 12 – At home doing nothing. Sent letter to J. S. King 3¢. Alfleda[64] went home on the two oclock train. She gave me 5¢.

Oct 13 – At home. Filed saw for A. L. Mason 25¢. Bot candy 5¢. Mark Lee called here. Saw Ozro Blakeslee.

Oct 14 – Went over to Fathers. Took pipe out of my well. Gave Hannah and Nancy 20.

Oct 15 – At home dug some potatoes and finished my gloves.

Oct 16 – Went down to Cooks to see my colt. Went down to Charles Lees[65] found Mark there.

Oct 17 – Payed Uncle Chi 1.50 for chairs. Went over to Fathers got load pumpkins. Oscar came here.

Oct 18 – Orvil Wilcox and wife here. Went over to Fathers dug some potatoes picked some apples. Filed saw for Nelson Mills 25¢.

Oct 19 – Went over to Fathers picked up apples. Mills paid 25¢. Saw A. J. Bradford. Put in three small boxes in Wightmans wagon.

Oct 20 – Went over to Fathers dug potatoes. Jo York[66] lost one of his horses.

Oct 21 – Finished diging Fathers potatoes. Got four bushels potatoes some apples. Bot one Bushel turnips 50. Glued Bass viol 50.

Oct 22 – Spalding got Bass viol. Filed saw for Souls 50. Got end strips for King. Cut 2 prs gloves for W^m Ralph 25. Bot file 25. Sherwood paid 1.03¢ one dollar of King.

Oct 23 – At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Oct 24 – Sent letter to Robert 3. Filed saw for Souls 50 filed saw for Whiting 50 Souls paid 50. Filed saw for Jo Lee 25. Cut gloves for Ristor.

Oct 25 – Filed saw for Marshal Austin 25. Paid A. J. Bra $100. One Hundred Dollars. Filed saw for Starling 30 Whiting paid 30¢. Bradford left. John Lees boy[67] was buried to day.

Oct 26 – Sent letter to J. S. King 3. Went over to Fathers came back dug some potatoes.

Oct 27 – Filed saw for Stranger lives over by Williams 25. Went over to Fathers.

Oct 28 – Went down to Comstock with load shuger cane. Wallace McLallen paid 3.00¢.

Oct 29 – Made pen for pig. Mr Billings called here. Rainy. Spalding got Bass viol he paid 50¢.

Oct 30 – At home all day nothing turned uncommon.

Oct 31 – Husked corn for Father. He killed a pig. Mark was there.

Nov 1 – Husked corn finished carried load pumpkin over home. Hiram came.

Nov 2 – Carried of one hundred and six bushels wheat for Father.

Nov 3 – Went up to Hartwells. Made 57 galons cider paid 55¢. Hiram left. Snowed fell some 5 inches.

Nov 4 – Snowey. Filed saw for Holden 20¢ set saw for Hunting 10¢. Clark paid 1.50¢.

Nov 5 – Went over to Fathers got two bushels wheat 3.60. Went down to Comstock after syrup no get him.

Nov 6 – At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Nov 7 – Worked in shop some on P. Johsens cutter. Bot one pair Boots 7.00 2 pairs shoes 4.00 one pound crackers 15. P. Johnson paid 50¢.

Nov 8 – Went to election. Bot one Bottle Dipthera medicine 50 Bot one Box caps 10¢.

Nov 9 – Rainy some thunder rained hard most all day. Worked in shop sawed out stuff for cutter box. David Henyon and Dick Whiting called here.

Nov 10 – Worked in shop some on cutter. Bot soap 8¢.

Nov 11 – Worked on cutter got out knees and beams mortised runners. Bot oil 50¢. Snowey day.

Nov 12 – Worked in shop all day repairs on bo_____ 80. Snowey and cold rather dugl____ weather.

Nov 13 – Cold raw weather. Oscar started for home. I went over to Fathers. Old Mr Wheaton[68] died to day.

Nov 14 – Worked on Johnsons cutter. By went to Kalam[69] bot pair thills 1.00¢. Mr. Wheaton buried to day.

Nov 15 – Went up to Milfords. Went to Comstock got syrup.

Nov 16 – Worked in shop put cutter together. Addis Wilcutt[70] here left for home. Oscars folks came. Milford brot 7/8 cord blocks.

Nov 17 – Worked in shop on cutter. Bot load straw of Swaddle ___ 1.00¢.

Nov 18 – Worked on cutter. Filed saw for Hunting 20. He paid 18.

Nov 19 – Made circle and whiffletrees for Jesse Earls Buggy 1.75. He paid 1.50¢.

Nov 20 – At home all day. Ethen came over.

Nov 21 – Worked in shop on cutter. Bot screws and nails 65¢. Filed saw for Hunting 25¢ Hunting paid 20¢.

Nov 22 – Worked on cutter. Bot screws and nails 23¢. Ed Gillis paid 25.

Nov 23 – Worked on cutter box all day.

Nov 24 – Finished cutter. P. Johnson paid 50. Sarah went over to Fathers. Old Mrs Berge & Columbus Palmer stayed all night.

Nov 25 – Tinkering in shop some made Jimmy a slead. Mark Lee and Geo. Turner[71] called here.

Nov 26 – Worked in shop. Made bell box for Albert Wightman 75¢. Starling paid 30¢.

Nov 27 – Went over to Fathers. Edgar Howlett[72] buried to day.

Nov 28 – Worked in shop casing windows. Paid out 5¢. Mr Austin and wife came here.

Nov 29 – Casing windows. Bot nails 40 beer 10. Saw Blackburn he called here.

Nov 30 – Made new pipe to to pump and put it in well. Let Nancy have 5¢. Mr Austins folks left.

Dec 1 – Worked in shop casing windows. Bot 25 lbs Flour 1.25¢ bot two files 50. Jesse Earl paid 25¢.

Dec 2 – Casing windows some. Filed saw for Odell 50¢ pd filed saw for Hunting 25 pd filed saw for Souls 30¢ filed saw for Scramlin 40.

Dec 3 – Finished casing my windows. Stoped up sellar window. Lois came home.

Dec 4 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. Uncle Sam Percival[73] died this evening.

Dec 5 – Filled leach. Filed saw for Odell 40¢. Souls paid 30¢.

Dec 6 – Filed 2 saws for D. K. Rogers 80¢. Sold B. Moore 300 spokes. He paid 4.00. Halled over lumber in barn. Uncle Sam buried to day.

Dec 7 – Went over to Fathers up to Wesleys and Yorks. D. K. Rogers paid 75¢. Bot thread 15¢.

Dec 8 – Very cold and blustering. Went up to Harreits. Got five bushels corn 5.00¢.

Dec 9 – Fixed door sill. Cut out bob runners &c. Cold 6 below zero. Went down to B. Moores shop in evening. Got volin bow.

Dec 10 – Worked in shop some. Filed saw for Marshal Austin 30¢. Bot 100 bbs bean 1.15¢ Bot Ethen cap 75 Bot paper 5¢.

Dec 11 – At home. All well as usual.

Dec 12 – Put in two knees in bob for W^m Eldred 1.50.

Dec 13 – Repaired Violin Box for Ed Gillis 25¢. Hung ax for Pilgrim he paid 10¢. Mended comb for Lucy. Catharine and Lucy here. Sawed out some runners. Paid W^m Batt $1.00. Bot one paper brads 15¢. Galligan got his cutter.

Dec 14 – Worked in shop some. W^m Eldred pd 1.50 Scramlin pd 50. Bot wood 4.50 Bot box 25¢. Filed saw for Hunting 25¢.

Dec 15 – Snows this morning. Bot thread 15¢ Bot file 25¢. Ed Gillis paid 50¢. Went over to Fathers got syrup 1.25¢. Albert Wightman Brot home on the night train.[74]

Dec 16 – Filed saw for Lankford Burdick 50 filed saw for Williams 50. Bot sulpher 10¢ Bot salearatas 15¢. Made craw to hang lamp on. Cut one pr mittens for Jo Flanders.

Dec 17 – Filed saw for Souls 25. Burdick paid 50. Moved my bench.

Dec 18 – At home all day. Albert Wightman Buried to day.

Dec 19 – Filed saw for Mr Stevenson 40. Hunting paid 25¢. Sent contract to George Tomlinson 3¢.

Dec 20 – Worked in shop some. Bot cinnamen 30.

Dec 21 – Hung ax for Benedict 10. Clark filed saw. No work to day. Ed and Mary[75] came up to day.

Dec 22 – Made well hook for Mrs Hodges 25. Eds folks went home on evening express. Let Hannah have 5¢ Nancy 5¢.

Dec 23 – Worked on Halls Moddle. Fred Reading called in. Bob Aldrich was buried to day.

Dec 24 – Went up to Yorks went down West hunting got one turky. Had a long chase after him.

Dec 25 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. Clarks folks went up to Brady. Nancy went with them.

Dec 26 – Worked in shop some on moddle. Made cross bar to C. P. Galligans cutter thills 75¢. Benj Moore paid __.00. Sent letter to J. S. King 3¢. Ethen brot 1½ bushels corn 1.50¢.

Dec 27 – Made pitman to By Clarks saw mended comb for Mrs Wiseman. Clark brot load hay.

Dec 28 – Worked in shop on bob. Stevenson paid 40. Kit Matthews here. Lois went up to Flanders.

Dec 29 – Carried 1½ bushels corn to mill. Bot thread 10. Paid D. K. Rogers 75¢ for tapping Ethens Boots. D. M. Hall got his moddle he paid 3.00. Paid 75 cts for tapping Sarahs shoes.

Dec 30 – No work to day sick with cold.

Dec 31 – Mended comb for Ella Wiseman mended knife for Lois filed saw for Stevenson filed cross cut saw for Mr Burgess 75. Bot candy 10¢.

——-

The following 1865 entries were written in the back of Luke’s 1864 diary:

Jan 1 – Went over to Fathers all well. Sarah went to church in evening. Cecil Flowers buried to day.

Jan 2 – Worked in shop on bob. Sent letter to John Bissel 3¢.

Jan 3 – Bot crackers 15¢. Crackers 15. Killed my hogs 2.75. Worked on bob.

Jan 4 – Let Nancy have 10. Souls paid 25.

——-

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

[2] Charles Luke Keith Sr., who was also referred to as Luke

[3] A bobsleigh, or bobsled

[4] His daughter, Lois (Keith) Clark

[5] Lois’ husband, Byron Clark

[6] His daughter, Hannah Keith

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

[8] Raves are the vertical side pieces to a wagon body and the thills are the long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

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

[10] His son, Ethan Keith

[11] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Harmenia Joy died January 10, 1864 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

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

[13] 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

[14] Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was his niece

[15] Et cetera

[16] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

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

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

[19] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Fanny Potts died January 25, 1864 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[20] His daughter, Nancy Keith

[21] An artificial channel or bed of a stream leading water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, such as a mill or a mining claim

[22] At one point, Luke spent quite a bit of time on the road selling “bed bottoms”, a form of rubberized bedsprings

[23] James S. King, his maternal first cousin

[24] Ulmer’s Spring Bed Bottom

[25] His daughter, Louese Jerusha Keith

[26] A search of FindAGrave.com showed that Sarah, the wife of Joseph Warren, died March 14, 1864 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[27] Perhaps his maternal first cousin who lived in Cummington, Massachusetts

[28] His mother’s sister, Lilly (Willcutt) King

[29] Kate Allerton, age 12, was the sister of Elizabeth Allerton who would become the wife of Luke’s grandson, William Byron Clark

[30] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Lucina (Camp) Bevier, wife of Henry Bevier, died March 24, 1864 and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

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

[32] His nephew, James Oscar Keith

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

[34] James S. King, his maternal first cousin

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

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

[37] His son-in-law, Byron Clark

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

[39] His son, Henry Keith

[40] His maternal first cousin

[41] Catharine’s daughter, Lucy Irene Lee

[42] His neighbor; Ambrose’s son, Henry Brown, would marry Luke’s daughter, Nancy, in 1872

[43] A search of FindAGrave.com revealed that Ezra Mansfield died April 22, 1864 and is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

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

[45] The grandson of Luke’s aunt, Rhoda (Keith) & Charles Lee

[46] Henry and his sister, Lois, were the children of Luke and his first wife, Minerva Payson. Minerva died nine days after Henry’s birth. It appears that Lois lived temporarily with Minerva’s parents and Henry lived with Luke’s good friends and neighbors, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders. The Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like he lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L. Flanders,” who I believe was actually Henry L. Keith, age 16, living with Joseph & Amanda

[47] His son, James Clinton Keith

[48] His brother-in-law, Henry Crawford

[49] Omro, Wisconsin

[50] His brother-in-law, Robert Crawford

[51] Winneconne, Wisconsin

[52] Robert’s wife, Louisa (McCann) Crawford

[53] Believe he is referring to Louisa’s sister, Cynthia McCann

[54] De Pere, Wisconsin

[55] His uncle, James Hunt King, the husband of Lilly (Willcutt) King

[56] Luther & Sarah (King) Burnell; Sarah was Luke’s maternal first cousin, the daughter of James & Lilly (Willcutt) King

[57] Edith (King) LeRoy; Edith was also Luke’s maternal first cousin, the daughter of James & Lilly (Willcutt) King

[58] Edith’s husband, Jonas LeRoy

[59] Nothing further is known of this daughter. Since the 1870 census does not list a child born in 1864, it would appear that she died before 1870

[60] Mary (Comfort) Wickersham, who was his wife Sarah’s aunt

[61] Believe he is referring to Sarah’s stepfather, Elder Platt Betts

[62] “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

[63] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York

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

[65] Believe he is referring to Mark Lee’s father-in-law

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

[67] William Wallace Lee, the son of Nancy (Taylor) and John Warren Lee

[68] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that William Wheaton died November 13, 1864 and is buried in Wheaton Cemetery, Comstock, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

[69] Kalamazoo, Michigan

[70] Addis E. Wolcott, his maternal first cousin

[71] The grandson of Luke’s aunt and uncle, Lydia (Willcutt) & Asa Turner

[72] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Edgar Howlett died November 25, 1864 and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

[73] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Samuel Percival died October (rather than December) 4, 1864 and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Believe that the term Uncle was an honorary one as no relationship has been found at this time

[74] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Charles Albert Wightman died December 14, 1864 in Chicago, Illinois, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

[75] Believe this to be his brother-in-law and wife, Edwin & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford