Luke Keith’s 1871 Diary

1871 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

 Jan 1 – 29 Abz.[2] Went down to Catharines[3] with Wesleys[4] folks.

Jan 2 – Cold, snowed and blowed in forenoon. Worked in shop on sleigh.

Jan 3 – Blustring forenoon. Worked on sleigh.

Jan 4 – 10 Abz. Worked on sleigh. Mart and Lucy[5] went to burg.[6] Got Claras[7] picture taken. Drawed some wood.

Jan 5 – Went over to burg. Some warmer, south west wind. Bot this Book 40 cents. Rode over with Jo Boardman. Snow 1 inch. Went over to burg in Evening. Got galen oil. Sent letter to Suky Brown.[8] Received paper of David.[9]

Jan 6 – About one inch snow, 20 Abz. Sis[10] and Will had a fight on snow bank East side house. Went over to burg. Got thills[11] mended 50. Sold boiler. Got Elbow and cornpopper. Snowed ½ inch.

Jan 7 – Worked on Marts whiffletree[12] and put bottom on sleigh. Mr and Mrs Chapin here to get the Bristol House. 12 Abz in morning. Snowed all night.

Jan 8 – Snows like fun[13] this morning. Snowed 5 inches.

Jan 9 – Put sleigh box together. Went over to burg. School in the new schoolhouse at the burg to day for the first. Snow fell about ½ inch.

Jan 10 – Carried Lois[14] up to John Ralphs. Good sleighing. 40 Abz. Mrs Hawkins here.

Jan 11 – Went over to mill and to see Mr Chapins about selling the Bristol place.[15] Snow going of fast. Chapin moved to day. Went down to A. Browns[16] in Evening to see Zeak & W^m Davison, Streator, Ford & Jackson ___.

Jan 12 – Snow about gone, 53 Abz. Sent letter to S Bristol and a $2.00 Greenback and two stamps. Noon mercury 60 Abz, sun shine, warm. Sarah[17] went down to Cates with Mart.

Jan 13 – Pleasant morning 50 Abz. Went down to Catharines. Made 60 galens cider. Rainy day, bad time to get home. Sarah down to Catharines. Snowed and rained all night. Got Cates & Zeaks pictures.

Jan 14 – Some colder 26 Abz, sleet and snow &c[18] in morning. Hank Brown[19] here. Snow and rain all day. Made shead for sheep. Snow fell 3 inches.

Jan 15 – Snow and sleat, 28 Abz in morning. Snowed all day. Snow fell 4 inches.

Jan 16 – Not very cold 18 Abz, quite pleasant, sun shown most of the day.

Jan 17 – 20 Abz. Cut some wood. Went down to Jo Lees[20] after Sarah. Had a big run after bill.[21]

Jan 18 – 16 Abz. Worked round house. Carried some cider over to Planks.[22]

Jan 19 – Mart came up and killed a pig. Good sleighing.

Jan 20 – Cut and drawed wood. 28 Abz morning, thawed some.

Jan 21 – Went over to burg. Saw those men about Bristols accounts. Sent letter to S. S. Bristol. Battlecreek Band came down to day. Ida and Libby Allen[23] here to day.

Jan 22 – Ethan,[24] Lois and Hannah[25] went down to Catharines. Snowed some. Made feed box for Bill. Snowed all day.

Jan 23 – 10 Abz, snow 4 inches. Went Kalamazoo to get mortgage recorded 75 cts. Sarah stayed with Lois Lee[26] all night.

Jan 24 – Went down to Joes after Sarah. Went and got Catharine to stay with Lois while Jo went after Finch. Ethan went down to see the Doctor. He no come. Sarah Skinner[27] stayed all night.

Jan 25 – Ethan went down to Jo Lees to see Finch, he saw him. Lois and Sate[28] went home with him. Cold and good sleighing. Bot broom 25 cts of pedler.

Jan 26 – 10 Abz in morning. Went over to burg. Carried corn 3 bushels. Snow fell 1½, 20 Abz at 2 oclock.

Jan 27 – Work round house and shop. Went down to Jo Lees in Evening. Some cold. Lois some better.

Jan 28 – Cold. Good sleighing. Put shelves in butry.

Jan 29 – Went down to Catharines. Osgood and wife there. Good sleighing.

Jan 30 – Finished up butry. Moved into the middle room. Thawed some, rainy night.

Jan 31 – Rainy morning. Worked in shop some. Carried Sarah over to burg. Some blustering.

Feb 1 – Worked in shop on cutter. Snow ½ inch. Went over to burg after Sarah in morning. Tamer Ford here.

Feb 2 – Worked in shop some on cutter bottom. Snow fell ½ inch.

Feb 3 – Drawed some wood. Worked in shop some.

Feb 4 – Made stool for Jule Lees girl. Went over to burg. Mrs Skinner and Sate here. _____ _____ up here to tea. Mr Burrels Boy hurt on cars. Went down to Catharines in Evening. Burrels Boy Died in the night. Went down to Jo Lees in Evening.

Feb 5 – At home all day. Cold and windy, mercury at 12 Abz. Depo at Galesburg Burnt this Evening.

Feb 6 – Pleasant day. Filed cross cut saw for A. Brown and Repaired violin for W^m Wheeler of Climax.

Feb 7 – Wheeler sent for his violin paid 50¢. Carried Sarah over to Oyster supper. Galesburg Band Boys gave _____ supper.

Feb 8 – Not very cold. Worked in shop some. Cleaned out stable. Mrs Hawkins here. Sarah _____ _____ dress. Nancy[29] went down to A. Browns. Neck tye party at Mr Hu___ this Evening.

Feb 9 – New snow this morning, three inches 3 in. Went over to Mr Planks in Evening. Browns and Skinners there.

Feb 10 – Went over to Burg after Sarah and George,[30] they no come. Got rods for old stove. New schoolhouse dedication at Galesburg. Cold and blustring.

Feb 11 – 13 Abz, good sleighing. Moved old stove to the middle room. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to get some medicin of Dr Finch. Snowed some in night.

Feb 12 – Snowing. Snow fell 3 inches 19 Abz. Mrs Plank came over here this morning full of trouble.

Feb 13 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine and Lucy sick. Sarah stayed there. Good sleighing.

Feb 14 – Went up to Kirbys and Chapins. Cut some wood.

Feb 15 – Went down to Kalamazoo after Sarah an Georgie.[31] Thawed some. Brown and Skinners folks here in Evening. George came over. Catharine and Lucy sick.

Feb 16 – Not very cold 28 Abz. Went over to burg in morning. Cut some wood. X Mr and Mrs Schram X here in Evening. George came over and stayed all night. Edith came down and stayed all night.

Feb 17 – Stormy, snow and rain, not very cold, 36 Abz. Worked in shop some. Mr Plank and wife here in Evening.

Feb 18 – Worked in shop some on cutter bottom. Snow fell 2½ inches. Turner came over stayed all night.

Feb 19 – Pleasant morning, sun came out. Went down to Catharines, some better. Had oysters for supper. George Turner brot them over.

Feb 20 – Went up in woods, cut down _____.

Feb 21 – 18 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo with Sarah and George. Pleasant day. Snow fell 1¼.

Feb 22 – 12 Abz, pleasant morning. Went over to burg. Got table to P. Schrams. Willie Hoges[32] Died to night. Went up to Schrams in Evening.

Feb 23 – Cut some wood. Went down to school house to put on lock. Went up to McCains Corners with Mart. Hoges Boy buried to day. Lyda Barber came over here.

Feb 24 – Worked on cutter some. Bent the raves[33] back. Party at Skinners in Evening. Snow about gone.

Feb 25 – Pleasant morning. _____ put lock on school house. Prepared table for P. Johnson. Snow all gone in road.

Feb 26 – Snows like fun. Snow fell 6½ inches. Blackburns child buried.

Feb 27 – Cut maple tree out drawed down. Jesse Lee[34] called here after Hannah. Snowed very little. Lois came home.

Feb 28 – Went down to Catharines and Jo Lees. Lois and Will[35] went. Snow all went of. June Hoag here. Barber finished drawing Planks corn. Heavy wind all night.

Mar 1 – Windy and pleasant, 33 Abz. Went up in woods. Got pole to hang Cate[36] on. James Crom called here.

Mar 2 – Thunder shower this morning. Calculated to Kill Cate. Killed Cate. Had a big rain and heavy thunder.

Mar 3 – Cut and salted Cate. She weighed 475 lbs. Pleasant day. Party to A. Browns in Evening.

Mar 4 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Catherines. Drawed sap buckets into bush set kettle on. Pleasant. Saw bright sun day.

Mar 5 – Pleasant morning. No snow on ground.

Mar 6 – Moved bench out into old shop.

Mar 7 – Went down to Catharines. Worked on spouts burned out 240.

Mar 8 – Trimed spouts cut of End of stone trough. Mart went to town. I came home. Rained.

Mar 9 – Rainy morning. Went over to mill. Cold.

Mar 10 – Went down and tapt bush. Sap run some. Rained and snowed in the night. Party at Keiths.

Mar 11 – Ella Taylor[37] Died to day. Gathered sap. Commenced boiling. Came home. Mrs Chapin Died. Snow fell one inch.

Mar 12 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Catharines. Gathered sap, had 7 barrels. Sarah went down to Jo Lees. Snowed when we came home.

Mar 13 – Snow 2½ inches. Went down to Marts. Worked in bush. Ella Adams[38] buried. Mrs Chapin Buried.

Mar 14 – Shugered of for the first time. Rainy night. Boiled sap in Evening. Syruped down.

Mar 15 – Shugared of to day. Went over to Comstock. Saw Mr Burlingham. Got $100 Dollars and check on first National Bank for $50.00.

Mar 16 – Rainy morning. Went down to shuger bush. Gathered Eleven barrels sap. Boiled in Evening. Some rain. Paid N. L. Randal $30.00. Ike and Libby busted to night.

Mar 17 – Cool, some fine snow this morning. Syrupt down. I came home. Axach Howard at Catharines.

Mar 18 – Not very well. At home all day. Sarah went up to Mr Taylors in afternoon. Pleasant day. Repaired violin for Mr Grover. Let Mary Plank[39] lot popcorn.

Mar 19 – At home all day. Cold. Not very well.

Mar 20 – Went down to Catharines. Gathered sap and boiled in Evening. Syruped down.

Mar 21 – Shugered of this morning. Ed Yorks boys[40] there. Had two pans full. Came home. Dell, Sate, Nell and Eberle here in Evening. Hank Brown also.

Mar 22 – Cold wind. Choped some. Went over to Mr Chapins in afternoon. Winter term of school closed. Paid A. R. Lovel $55.00.

Mar 23 – Went down to Marts. Gathered and boiled sap. Boiled in Evening.

Mar 24 – Boiled sap all day. Gathered the bush twice. X Band boys came down in Evening. Shugered off for them.

Mar 25 – Boiled sap, shugered off this morning.

Mar 26 – Repaired arch. Boiled sap, syruped down and shugered off. I came home. No snow on ground.

Mar 27 – Went down to woods. Boiled sap, syruped down, shugered off just at night. Pleasant day, cold.

Mar 28 – Fine day. No sap on hand. Cut down elm stub in morning. Gound axes. Mart went to town. I came home. Mr Hawkins moved. Galesburg Band[41] had a shugar party in Evening.

Mar 29 – Went down to bush. Sarah went down to Catharines. Boiled sap.

Mar 30 – Father Labell[42] died this morning. Shugered off. Jo and Lois Lee was there. I came home. Gathered some sap.

Mar 31 – Pleasant morning. Went down to bush. Had some moleses. Came home. Brot 2 cakes shugar and some lases.

Apr 1 – Pleasant day. Sowed clover seed. Mr Hawkins got four bushels corn. Extracted two teeth for Old Mr Hawkins.

Apr 2 – Not very well. At home most of the day. Went down to Catharines. Got 6 lbs cloverseed. Saw Ambrose and Lydia Milham.[43] Young Spires[44] died this morning.

Apr 3 – Rainy. Finished sowing clover seed this morning. Went to town meeting. Mr Stevenson Died this morning. Paid James Jackson one dollar of my money.

Apr 4 – Went to Kalamazoo. Went to Martin Turners.[45] Took Dinner. Went back to bush, gathered sap, boiled in sap. Mr Phelps[46] Died to day.

Apr 5 – Gathered buckets and made molasses. Mart went to Mr Kings Auction. Scalded out buckets. Had a shower in Evening. Old Mrs McLary[47] died to day.

Apr 6 – Came home. Mart came after Hannah. Brot home shugar. Warm day. Raked of garden. Made 550 lbs shugar.

Apr 7 – Warm morning. Worked round house and garden. Trimed some appletrees.

Apr 8 – Trimed some trees. Cows got on Allens wheat. Dry weather. Amos Rogers wife[48] died to night.

Apr 9 – Pleasant and dry. Went down to Catharines after sis.

Apr 10 – Rainy morning, cool, rained all day. No work. School commenced.

Apr 11 – Cold and windy. Put poke on fan. Snowed some, cold night.

Apr 12 – Pleasant morning. Snow ¼ inch. Trimed some trees. Eberly and Nellie left for Iowa.

Apr 13 – Cloudy and cool. Drawed brush out of orchard. Trimed currant bushes. Mrs A. Brown[49] here. Mart here to dinner and supper.

Apr 14 – Sick, not much done. Tool old wagon to pieces. Extracted tooth for Harvey. Sarah, Ethan and Nancy went over to Wisemans.[50] Stranger bot bushel corn of Will Plank.[51] Pleasant and cool. Drawed chip manure.

Apr 15 – Drawed chip manure. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Carried Nancy and Ida up to Allens. Lois and Hannah came home. Young sleeper[?] called here to see Mr Plank.

Apr 16 – Turned out set mallets and balls for Ethan and Will Plank. At home all day. W^m and Alvin Lee[52] here.

Apr 17 – Turned Balls and mallets. Gerome Chadwick[53] Died in night.

Apr 18 – Chored round. Hat Taylor and Maud Adams here. Mart and Lucy called here.

Apr 19 – Went to Kalamazoo with Lois. She went to Ohio.[54] Had a heavy shower. Wind blowed John Mills Barn roof of. Mr Chadwick Buried to day.

Apr 20 – Not much work to day round home. Cows bothered some.

Apr 21 – Finished turning balls. The boys painted them. Rainy.

Apr 22 – Went over to burg after tacks and screws for shades. Put up 3 shades in schoolhouse. Cold wind. Sate Skinner stayed here all night. R. Blackburn packed up to day.

Apr 23 – Pleasant morning, some frost. Went down to Charles Lees[55] to pay W^m paid $31.84. Sate went home with us. Went to Jo Lees.

Apr 24 – Fine day. Sowed plaster on clover south and west of house. Drawed out some manure. Went over to Blackburns in Evening.

Apr 25 – Got out manure. Ethan drawed some wood and chips. Cloudy and warm. Heard the first Whipporwill this Evening.

Apr 26 – Cloudy morning, looks like rain. Gotout some manure.

Apr 27 – Rainy. Took manger and sleepers out of stable. Ethan painted Balls and Mallets.

Apr 28 – Ethan went over to mill. _____ called here. Mary Plank went down to Jo Lees to see Hannah.

Apr 29 – Worked in stable. Made manger for Bill. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Hannah came home with him. Mary Plank came with them. Mrs Henry Clinton came home.

Apr 30 – Pleasant morning. Ethan went down to Charles Lees. R. Blackburn came over.

May 1 – Went up to Ed Corys and Mr Rights. Saw S Bristol. He paid 2.00. Went over to burg. Got shoes for Hannah. Went down to Jo Lees in Evening.

May 2 – Got out manure. Cory Allen[56] and Ida Barber[57] here. Perkins had a Horse stolen.

May 3 – Rainy day. Sick, no work. Traded cows with A. Brown.

May 4 – Some rain. W^m Plank plowed garden and commenced plowing corn ground. I got out some manure. Burnt brush in East lot and old Hubs. Stella Millham[58] here this week.

May 5 – Cloudy and some rain in morning. Not very well. Will Plank plowing.

May 6 – Not well, lame, cant work. Pleasant day. Mr Taylor planting his corner lot.

May 7 – Fine day. At home all day. Ethan, Nancy and Ida Barber went down to Jo Lees to see Hannah.

May 8 – Went over to Burg after Oil Hemlock for Hannah. Went to Doc Wightmans.[59] Got my Early potatoes. Pleasant day, cold East wind. Frost this morning.

May 9 – Cold East wind, some frost. Went down to Cataharines. Carried Bedstead and corn to Mart. Mart carried Bedstead down to Kalamazoo. Hard frost.

May 10 – Planted corn for Plank. Warm day. Jim droped for me. Tin pedler from Wakeshma called here Layton by name. Pedler from Leonidas[60] stayed all night.

May 11 – Planted corn for Plank. Warm day. Finished west lot. No frost.

May 12 – No frost this morning. Repaired sulky spring. Mrs Wiseman, Carry and Ella[61] here. Hot day.

May 13 – Planted corn for Plank. Will[62] plowed in afternoon. Warm and dry. Mrs P. T. Lane died to day.

May 14 – Cloudy and cool this morning. At home all day. Ethan went down to Jo Lees.

May 15 – Sick, no work. Miss Lovel came here to board. Mrs P. T. Lane buried.

May 16 – Planted corn and sorgum for Plank. Dry and warm.

May 17 – Cool morning, North East wind. Sowed corn in East garden. Went down to A. Browns. Got some eggs to set hen. _{1 day} Will finished plowing to day and draged some.

May 18 – Set the Ginny Eggs. _½ Will draged corn ground in forenoon. I marked it one way in afternoon.

May 19 – Paid Miss Lovel twenty 25.00 five Dollars. Warm day, very dry. Planted some potatoes.

May 20 – Planted sorgum and some corn in East Lot. Hot day, 102 in sun. Hank Childs and Will Plank went up to Yorkville. Hannah and Cory Allen went. Jo & Lois Lee came up here.

May 21 – Pleasant morning. Carried Hannah down to Jo Lees. Rained some.

May 22 – Pleasant morning. Planted corn. Fine day. Jo Lee came up and helped me in afternoon. Finished before night.

May 23 – Some frost this morning. Planted potatoes &c, some squash seeds.

May 24 – Warm day. Went up in woods. Cut log for garden roller.

May 25 – Warm forenoon. Sarah went down to A. Browns. Jo Lee brot Hannah home. I dressed out pillows for Cutter Boddy. Had a thunder shower in afternoon, rained hard. Went down to Catharines. Rained hard in night.

May 26 – Pleasant day. Came home at night. Called to Jo Lees. Mart went to town to mill.

May 27 – Went down to A browns. Got bedstead. Put up curtains in schoolhouse in forenoon. Altered over bedstead in afternoon. Youngones had a picnic up in Fords woods in afternoon. Planted some cucumbers.

May 28 – At home all day. Wes folks went down to Catharines. Very hot.

May 29 – Went up to Wesleys. Got some bittersweet. Got my bed springs of Schram. Had a nice shower just at night. Rained in night.

May 30 – Not much work done. Not very well. Hot day.

May 31 – Sarah went over to burg. Made form, bent pillows for Cutter Box. Hot day. W^m Ralphs little girl[63] died to day.

Jun 1 – Hot day, 108 in sun. Put knees in runners. Mart and Lucy came up to day. Carry Ralph Buried to day.

Jun 2 – Went over to burg. Bot 200 lbs plaster 70¢. Plastered some corn. Warm day.

Jun 3 – Hot day. Finished plastering corn. Horse fair at burg. Stella and Mary Milham[64] here. Rained some. Frank Goodrich called here in rain.

Jun 4 – Warm morning. Carried Sarah and hannah down to Jo Lees. Went down to Catharines, got Nancy. Mr and Mrs Gates was Drownded in Gull Lake to day.[65]

Jun 5 – Chored round some. Went down to Joes after Sarah. John Darling came along here. Sent some seed corn down to Mart. Planted Beans.

Jun 6 – Ethan cultivated corn. I hoed some in garden. Planted some corn over.

Jun 7 – Went up and saw John Sherman to get him to wash my sheep. Went down to river and repaired sheep yard.

Jun 8 – Fine day. Washed my sheep. Lois came home. Mr Plank bargained his place to Mr Town. Went down to Catharines. Got some beans. Old Mrs Haws buried died to day.

Jun 9 – Cold morning, no frost. Cultivated some corn and chored round. Planted specled beans.

Jun 10 – Put raves on Cutter, made sky brace for Cutter. Had a shower. Stranger called here from Yorkville. Mrs Haws buried to day. Wesley paid for buckwheat 3.50.

Jun 11 – Cold morning. At home all day.

Jun 12 – Worked on Cutter. Made sky brace. Mrs Lamkin called and got violin bow. Turned stick for Jim Milham.[66] He paid 75 cents.

Jun 13 – Worked on road up by Earls bridge. Very windy. Freight House and Methodist Church burned down in Galesburg to day.

Jun 14 – Worked on road. Took Tea with Jesse Earl.[67] Windy and dry. Mr Schram got runaway with while gone to Kalamazoo.

Jun 15 – Worked on road in forenoon. Finished road and hoed sorgum. Sarah went down to Skinners.

Jun 16 – Worked on cutter some. Willard mills cut some grass. Ethan went up to Fields for Mr Plank.

Jun 17 – Finished cutting grass. Rainy. Put up some hay for A Brown. Catharine and Lucy came up here. Turned some pins for Hank Brown.

Jun 18 – Went down to Jo Lees and Catharines. All well.

Jun 19 – Put up hay in west part of lot. Warm day.

Jun 20 – Had a shower in morning. Ethan went to mill. Worked on cutter some. Rebecca Plank stayed here all night, had a fit.

Jun 21 – Pleasant morning. Got in hay of west part of lot. Got very tired.

Jun 22 – Finished drawing hay. Warm day. Had a nice lot of hay.

Jun 23 – Rainy morning. Got sheep down to shear. Brown heifer had a white calf. Miner sheared my sheep. Had 62 lbs. Fine day.

Jun 24 – Sold my wool to W^m Blass for 52½ cents pr pound. Had 62½ lbs $32.81 cts. Mrs Flanders here. Lois came home. Del Skinner here to tea.

Jun 25 – Cloudy morning. At home all day.

Jun 26 – Put cutter together and chored round. Took up floor in old shop and put my staple down to hold wheels. George Clinton Lee Milham[68] Born this morning 3½ minitz to seven zacly.[69]

Jun 27 – Mr Plank finished plowing Buckwheat ground. A. Brown and Mr Plank helped me kill two hogs. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jun 28 – Cut up my Hogs this morning. Went over to burg. Bot one bbl salt 2.50 one Hat 25¢. Went down to Catharines.

Jun 29 – Cool morning. Worked round shop and garden.

Jun 30 – Worked on sulky wheels for Jim Milham. Went down to A. Browns. Got 3 pecks buckwheat. Mr Plank sowed Buckwheat. Cool and windy.

Jul 1 – Finished Milhams Wheels. Went up to Jo Flanders[70] in afternoon. Got some berries. They finished haying.

Jul 2 – Went down to Catharines and Jo Lees after hannah. Went in swimming. Warm day.

Jul 3 – Warm day. Went over to burg. Bot Calf Boots 4.50, one piece cotton and six cans &c 6.61. Worked on cutter dash. Went over to see Miner in Evening. Had a shower, rained hard in night.

Jul 4 – Worked on cutter dash frame some. Not much done. Hannah went over and got pictures taken.

Jul 5 – Went over to burg to see show come in, nice show. Ethan helped Skinner get in wheat in afternoon.

Jul 6 – Had a nice shower in morning. Worked on cutter some.

Jul 7 – Commenced cutting wheat. Hot day. Nancy & Hannah went down to Fords & Skinners. Thysa Pond here to tea.

Jul 8 – Cut wheat on hill. Hot day.

Jul 9 – Sick. Hot day. Ethan and Sarah went down to Catharines.

Jul 10 – Cut wheat on hill. Warm day.

Jul 11 – Finished cutting wheat and drawed it in in afternoon. Will and Ida Barber[71] here.

Jul 12 – Very hot day. Glued front dash to cutter. Mart Milham called here. One Hundred and twenty five in sun mercury 125 in sun.

Jul 13 – Hot day. Went down to A Browns. Got his rake. Made whiffletree. Mercury 100 in shade about noon. Mr Eastman Died. He was found dead in his bed.

Jul 14 – Ethan raked wheat stubble. Drawed in rakins. Mrs Dick Barber here. Mr Eastman buried.

Jul 15 – Repaired cradle for Jesse Earl. Turned some pins for Mr Allen.

Jul 16 – Carried Hannah down to Jo Lees. Went down to Catharines.

Jul 17 – Ethan plowed corn. I hoed in garden some. Went up to John Shermans to have my account allowed.

Jul 18 – Warm morning. Mr Plank and I went up to the Bristol place in afternoon. Saw Chapin.

Jul 19 – Put in boulster for John Sherman in forenoon. Had a fine rain. Thrashed some rakings in afternoon. Ethan cultivated corn.

Jul 20 – Thrashed some in morning. Went to mill. Hoed some.

Jul 21 – Worked round, hoed some. Fine day. Mr and Mrs Plank here to tea.

Jul 22 – Hoed some beans in forenoon. Jo and Hellen came here. Warm day. Went down to Jo Lees. Stayed all night.

Jul 23 – Went down to Catharines. Jim Milhams folks came down. Charley Bronson called there. Came home in Evening.

Jul 24 – Hoed Beans in forenoon. Quite warm. Cows got into Mr Schrams corn. Hoed some potatoes.

Jul 25 – Hoed Potatoes all day. Eugene and Edna[72] came here to day. Warm day.

Jul 26 – Fine morning, some thunder in the distance. Finished hoing potatoes. Had a shower. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jul 27 – Fine morning. Hoed round cornfield. Catharine, Lucy and Mart came up. Nice day. Had green corn for dinner.

Jul 28 – Fine day. Ethan, Eugene, Nancy, Hannah and Edna went to Kalamazoo. I wheeled wood down to road in woods. Sarah washed.

Jul 29 – Dr John King of Chicago here to dinner. Mrs Wiseman, Carry and Ella here.

Jul 30 – At home all day. Warm day.

Jul 31 – Went down to Charles Lees. A Brown drawed some oats.

Aug 1 – Rainy forenoon. Brown drawed one load oats. Ethan, Eugene and the girls went down to A Browns in afternoon.

Aug 2 – Warm morning. Not much work to day. Brown got in all his oats. Had Ethan, Eugene and girls. Went down to Mr Randals. Very hot, mercury 112 in sun.

Aug 3 – Worked round ____ very hot. Ethan, Eugene, Hannah and Nancy, Edna went over to Mr Planks. S. A. Brown[73] came here in Evening. Had a nice shower.

Aug 4 – No work to day. All well as usual. Mary and Carry Plank,[74] Ella Randal here. Had a heavy shower.

Aug 5 – Warm day. Edna went home. Ethan and Eugene went to Kalamazoo.

Aug 6 – At home all day. Ed Childs called here. S. A. Brown here.

Aug 7 – Eugene and I went up to Chapins.

Aug 8 – At home all day. Mist[?] Went down to Mr Streators, took dinner. Went Skinners. Carried a letter to Lois.

Aug 9 – Warm morning. Went up to Hartwells. Ethan [and Eugene?] went to Kalamazoo. Sarah, Mrs Plank and Suky went down to Mr Randals. Put neck on Mr Wheelers violin.

Aug 10 – Eugene started for Grand Rapids. Worked on cutter some puting on dash. Sarah, Mrs Plank and Suky went down to Mr Randals. Wheeler got his violin.

Aug 11 – Put top of dash on cutter. Henry[75] came home. Mr Flanders Brot his cultivator to be repaired.

Aug 12 – Mrs Betts[76] came on the noon train. I went down to Catharines just at night. Suky Brown here. Mr Yates[77] found to day, had been dround some ten weeks.

Aug 13 – Fine morning, warm. Mrs Yates[78] found to day, had been drund some ten weeks.

Aug 14 – Worked on cutter some. Very warm day. Repaired Mr Flanders cultivator.

Aug 15 – Worked on cutter front some. Oscar[79] came here. We went up to Chapins in afternoon. Henry came here, stayed all night.

Aug 16 – Went up to Mr Taylors. Got some timber to make balls and mallet. Oscar and I went up to Chapins. Oscar went down to Streators.

Aug 17 – Turned some balls and mallets for Mrs Randal. Oscar and I went up to see Mr Kirby. Oscar went up to Mr Balys.

Aug 18 – Mr Streator brot some elm boards. I turned some mallets. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines. Hannah and Lois came home with them. Oscar started for home.[80]

Aug 19 – Turned some mallets. Lois, Henry and all at home. Bent some fenders. Mrs Betts went over to Mr L. Burdicks.

Aug 20 – Went up to Mr Flanders and down to Catharines and Jo Lees. Jo very lame.

Aug 21 – Went to Kalamazoo. Saw ____ge. Henry started for home.[81]

Aug 22 – Went over to Jo Yorks and over to Finleys. Saw Oscar York. Champlin Harris[82] Died in night.

Aug 23 – Went over to Ed Yorks. Heard Oscar and Ed play the violin. Left Joes about Eleven. Got home about four. Ed Childs came down after Suky Brown.

Aug 24 – Finished up dash on cutter. Tamer ford came here. Turned two balls for Mrs Randals Croka set. Warm day. Mr Harris Buried to day.

Aug 25 – Thrashed some wheat.

Aug 26 – Put fender on Cutter. Bent one. Mrs plank here. Brown came back from Ed Childs. Warm and dry.

Aug 27 – Warm morning. I went up to Schrams. Old Mr Sherwood[83] Died to day. Mrs Betts went to church with Mr Planks folks.

Aug 28 – Eugene and Charley Hall came here. Old Mr Sherwood buried to day. Went over to Mr R_____. Had a nice shower.

Aug 29 – Went over to burg. Got my grist. Rainy day. Charley Hall went over to Hoags, stayed all night. Heifer went to Bull.

Aug 30 – Round home most of the day. Tinkered in shop some. Nancy sick. Cut a little wood.

Aug 31 – Choped some wood. Not very well.

Sep 1 – Went down to Catharines. Carried ciderbarrel. Got some peaches and tomatoes to Jo Lees. Eugene went to Dowagiac.[84] Mrs A. Brown, Miss S. A. Brown and Mrs Plank here.

Sep 2 – Got some peaches of Del Skinner. Went over to burg. Bot 2 galen jug. Got some water at Warrens well. Taken sick to night.

(No entries for September 3 through October 11)

Oct 11 – Mr Schram got old cow. Mr Wiseman and wife left.

Oct 12 – (no entry)

Oct 13 – Sold stove to Fidelya Brown. He paid four Dollars, he pays 10 for stove.

Oct 14 – Rainy morning. Frank[85] came up to get money of carmen[?]. A very windy night, some rain.

Oct 15 – Ethan and Frank went down to Catharines.

Oct 16 – I went down to Catharines. Mrs Betts went with us.

Oct 17 – Rained some in forenoon. Came home at night. Called to Jo Lees.

Oct 18 – Ethan and Frank Husking Corn.

Oct 19 – Frank Tomlinson left. Went down to Catharines. Lois Lee[86] died about ten AM. Patty[87] sent $5.00 ___ five Dollars.

Oct 20 – Went over to burg. Bot pants six Dollars. Sarah and Mrs Betts went up to Mr Ralphs. Jim Perry[88] Died this morning.

Oct 21 – Went to Lois Lees funeral. Went down to Catharines. Mrs Betts left for home. Buildings on the corner set on fire in night. _____ had two chickens 4½ lbs.

Oct 22 – Pleasant day, some wind. Jim Perry buried. Eat Breakfast alone this morning. Patty and Catharine started for home. Aunt Electa[89] died about seven P.M.

Oct 23 – No one here. Not as well to day. Thieves around in the night, stole cider.

Oct 24 – Cool morning. Oscar and Alfleda[90] came to day.

Oct 25 – Oscar and Sarah went up to Chapins.

Oct 26 – Oscar and Sarah went up to Gull to see Mr Right.

Oct 27 – Sarah and Alfleda went down to Jo Lees. Cold wind.

Oct 28 – Ethan husking corn

Oct 29 – Ethan went down to Marts. Sarah went, came home. Mrs Sherman died.

Oct 30 – Ethan cut some wood.

Oct 31 – Rainy day. Mrs Sherman buried to day.

Nov 1 – Pleasant day. Rebecca Plank came over here. Darias Austin stayed here all night. He was moving some things, had a cow.

Nov 2 – Austin left. Pleasant morning. Nancy & Hannah went down to Jo Lees. Ethan got Sorgum, had 14 Galens.

Nov 3 – Ethan husking corn. Fine day.

Nov 4 – Pleasant day, warm. I went over to burg to Mr Planks. Merideth came up here.

Nov 5 – Pleasant day. Old Mr & Mrs Ralph called here. Alvin Lee brot Alfleda here.

Nov 6 – Cool wind. Went down to Catharines with Meridith. Called to Jo Lees took dinner. Snowed in night ¼ inch.

Nov 7 – Fine day, plasant, had a little snow. Ethan and Meridith husking corn. Ida Lewis[91] buried to day.

Nov 8 – Finished husking corn about ten AM. Cloudy, not very cold.

Nov 9 – Went down to Jo Lees. Rainy afternoon. Mr Howlet Died about Eight AM. Jo Lee went to Kalamazoo after Coffin.

Nov 10 – Came home. Got some walnuts.

Nov 11 – Mr Howlet buried to day. Very pleasant day.

Nov 12 – Fine day. George Turner[92] came up here got his boring machine. Ethan went down to Jo Lees.

Nov 13 – Cloudy morning, rainy afternoon and night. Ethan working on moddle cupler. Mrs Keith here. Mr Boin[93] Died. Lived near Mr Swaddles.

Nov 14 – Rainy.

Nov 15 – Pleasant, cool. Ethan making cupler.

Nov 16 – Pleasant day. Went over to burg. Got some wine. Hard frost.

Nov 17 – Pleasant, hard frost this morning. Nancy and Hannah came home.

Nov 18 – Ethan cut some wood and went over to burg. Eb, Harry and Nell here in Evening. Rained in night. Skinner & Clark[94] maried to day.

Nov 19 – Nancy went down to Jo Lees. Louesa[95] came home. Alfleda here.

Nov 20 – Ethan working on cupler. Cold day.

Nov 21 – Ethan boiling cider. Snows some. Ethan finished cupler.

Nov 22 – Snowy day, snow fell 2 inches, cold and windy.

Nov 23 – Ethan, Sarah and Alfleda went down to Catharines. Pleasant day. Mr Plank thrashing Buckwheat. Dick Lamkins here in Evening. Snowed like fun, snow fell 3 inches. Sarah Borrowed six Dollars of Alvin Lee.

Nov 24 – Mr Plank finished the Buckwheat, had 22 bushels.

Nov 25 – Ethan cut some wood. Mr Schram called, paid for cider $3.20¢.

Nov 26 – Some misty and foggy. Ethan went down after Hannah.

Nov 27 – Cold and windy. Ethan made reach[96] for Theodore Earl.[97] Hannah commenced going to school. Ethan put Buckwheat straw in barn.

Nov 28 – Snowed some about ½ in. Ethan and girls went down to Streators in Evening. Cold.

Nov 29 – Cold morning 3 Abz. Mince called here to sell some grave stones. Sarah and Nancy went over to Mr Planks. Hawkins got stove. Doctor Burner lectured at burg.

Nov 30 – Mince got Birges bobs. Snows some. Quin brot his cutter. Eb, Harry and Nell here in Evening.

Dec 1 – Paid Mr Sherwood $10.00 ten Dollars. Went down to Jesse Lees. Went down to Catharines, stayed all night.

Dec 2 – Went to Jo Lees, stayed all night.

Dec 3 – Came home. Snowed like fun. Saw Mrs Skinner.

Dec 4 – Snows and blows like fury, snowed 3½ inches. Harry Streator[98] came here.

Dec 5 – Cold and blustering, good sleighing.

Dec 6 – Cold and blutering, 3 Abz. Quin got his cutter. Not so well, rather lame. Orrin Scranton[99] Died this Evening.

Dec 7 – Thawing some this morning. Lame, cant hardly get around.

Dec 8 – Cold and blustring. Mrs Plank here. Alfleda came up from Jacksons. A. A. Dodge called here.

Dec 9 – Went over to burg. Drawed one Hundred Dollars $100. of Town Treasurer. Eb and Nell and Harry came here. Eb and Nell stayed all night. Mart, Cate and Meridith came up here. Lois, Sate & Mrs Skinner. Extracted tooth for Mrs Skinner. Orrin Scranton buried to day.

Dec 10 – Mart, Cate and Meridith came up here. Lois, Sate & Mrs Skinner called. Extracted tooth for Mrs Skinner.

Dec 11 – Criss chopping some wood. Ethan commenced going to school. Sis sick.

Dec 12 – Paid Isaac Schram six Dollars and twenty five cents. Sis sick. Cate and Meridith here. Catharine got home.

Dec 13 – Meridith went down to Catharines. Snow fell ½ inch.

Dec 14 – Catharine, Lucy and Mart came up to day. Mrs Jackson called here. Alfleda went down to Jacksons with Marts folks when they went home. Hank Brown working in shop this Evening.

Dec 15 – Pleasant day. Mr Brown and Hank drawed one load straw. Mr Brown got hurt. Hank and Nancy went over to burg. Nancy went down to Browns stayed all night.

Dec 16 – Ethan, Hank, Nancy and Hannah went over to Vicksburg to Yorks. I done the chores for the first time since last summer.

Dec 17 – Cloudy, not much snow on ground. Ethan and girls came home from Yorks. All well.

Dec 18 – Snows some. Brown drawed one load straw.

Dec 19 – Swept out corn house. Cold, snow 1½ one inch and half. Ethan Eye sore.

Dec 20 – Cold and windy, 2 below zero, in Evening Eigh oclock 15 below zero. Paid school teacher fifty Dollars 50.00

Dec 21 – Cold morning, 6 below zero this morning.

Dec 22 – Carried sleigh over to burg. Cold and snowey, snow fell one inch 1 inch, rained all night.

Dec 23 – Rainy. Let A. Brown have $30 thirty dollars. Heavy wind. Wesley got home this morning.

Dec 24 – Pleasant day. A. Brown called here. Carried Wills pants home.

Dec 25 – No one here to day. Ethan went down to M O Streators.[100] George Sutherland[101] Died to night.

Dec 26 – Went over to burg. Carried 50 lbs Buckwheat flour to Dr Merril. Nice wheeling, no snow on ground or not much. Bot bottle of medicine of Mr VanBuren $1.00. Ethan & girls went down to Skinners.

Dec 27 – Cold and snowey, blustring. Worked on sleigh shoe pattern. About one inch of snow. Will Plank stayed all night.

Dec 28 – Went over to burg. Carried over pattern for sleigh shoes. Mart and Meridith came up. Ethan repaired Ely Wightmans melodion.

Dec 29 – Went over to burg with Jo Lee. Bot Diary 45 cts. Pleasant day. Went down to Jo Lees, stayed all night.

Dec 30 – Went down to Catharines, stayed all night. Mart thrashed his clover. Had Elevn bushels.

Dec 31 – Came home. Alfleda came up from M. O. Streators. Hank Brown and Alice Byington came up here in Evening.

——-

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

[2] Above zero

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

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

[5] His niece and her husband, Martin & Lucy Irene (Lee) Milham

[6] Galesburg, Michigan

[7] Mart & Lucy’s daughter, Clara Almyra Milham, who was two years old

[8] Susie A. Brown, sometimes referred to as Suky Brown and/or Decatur Susie Brown

[9] Believe he is referring to his brother-in-law, David “D.C.” Crawford, who lived in Golden, Colorado

[10] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith

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

[12] 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

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

[14] Lois (Keith) Clark, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[15] See January 8, 1871 letter from Seaman Bristol Jr. to Luke

[16] His neighbor, Ambrose Brown

[17] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[18] Et cetera

[19] Ambrose Brown’s son, Henry Brown; Hank would marry Luke’s daughter, Nancy, in 1872

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

[21] His horse

[22] Believed to be his neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[23] Neighbor children, the daughters of John Allen

[24] His son

[25] His daughters

[26] Lois (French) Lee, the wife of his cousin, Joseph Lee

[27] A neighbor, Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[28] Sarah Skinner, the daughter of Sylvester & Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[29] His daughter, Nancy Catherine Keith

[30] His cousin, George & Sarah (Roberts) Turner

[31] Believe this is George & Sarah Turner’s baby son

[32] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Willie Hodges, the son of Edward & Adeline Hodges, died February 22, 1871, at the age of 4, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[33] The vertical side pieces to a wagon body

[34] His cousin, Jesse Earl Lee

[35] His grandson, and Lois’ son, William Byron Clark

[36] One of his pigs

[37] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Ella (Taylor) Adams, age 22, wife of Milo Adams, died March 11, 1871 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[38] See March 11^th entry

[39] The daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[40] Edwin & Ruth Ann (Fletcher) York had four boys: Frank (b: about 1856), Arthur (b: 1858), Fred (b: 1862), and George (b: about 1871; Edwin was Joseph York’s brother

[41] According to the History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan (1880), the Galesburg Cornet Band was organized August 4, 1870. Charles Harris was the leader and he played the E-flat cornet. Ethan Keith played the 2^d E-flat cornet

[42] The Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Anthony Labell, a priest, died in Kalamazoo at the age of 55

[43] Ambrose & Lydia (Taylor) Milham; it is believed that Ambrose was a half-brother of Martin Milham

[44] Oak Grove Cemetery records show that Frank C. Spier was born February 21, 1848 and died April 2, 1871

[45] His maternal first cousin

[46] Avery Martin Phelps, age 49, died in Charleston, Michigan, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[47] A search of the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com shows that Gertrude McLary, age 82, died April 4, 1871 in Charleston, Michigan

[48] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Julia Ann (McFarland) Rogers, age 27, died April 18, 1871 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[49] Ambrose Brown’s wife, Matilda (Allen) Brown

[50] Neighbors, Joseph & Caroline (Williams) Wiseman

[51] Believe he is referring to William H. Plank, the son of his neighbors, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[52] His paternal first cousins, William and Alvan Lee, the sons of Charles Lee (see April 23^rd entry)

[53] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Jerome C. Chadwick died April 17, 1871 and is buried in Indian Fields Cemetery, Portage, Michigan

[54] Lois had lived in Spring Hill (now Tedrow), Ohio, with her first husband, Byron Clark; however, after he died, she returned to Michigan. Apparently her in-laws convinced her to leave her son Charley with them (see the May 13, 1866 letter), so she was probably going back to visit

[55] His paternal first cousin. Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee, the brother of Joseph W. Lee and the father of Charles Jedediah Lee

[56] Daughter of John Allen and sister of Ida and Libby Allen (see January 21^st entry)

[57] Neighbor, daughter of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[58] Daughter of James Milham, Martin Milham’s half brother

[59] George Ransom Wightman

[60] Leonidas, St. Joseph County, Michigan

[61] Carrie and Sarah Ella Wiseman, daughters of Joseph & Caroline (Williams) Wiseman (see April 14^th entry)

[62] Believe he is referring to his grandson, Will Clark

[63] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Caroline B. Ralph, age 3, the daughter of William and & Emaline (Stone) Ralph, died May 31, 1871, and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[64] Daughter of James Milham, Martin Milham’s half brother

[65] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Robert D. & Jane Eliza (Caldwell) Gates died in Gull Lake, Michigan, and are buried in Cressey Cemetery, Barry County, Michigan

[66] Martin Milham’s half brother

[67] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[68] Son of Martin & Lucy Irene (Lee) Milham

[69] Exactly

[70] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[71] Neighbors, children of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[72] Eugene and Edna Crawford, the children of his wife Sarah’s late brother, Edwin Crawford

[73] Susie A. Brown, sometimes referred to as Suky Brown, Decatur Susie Brown and S. A. Brown

[74] The daughters of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[75] His son by his first wife, Minerva Payson.

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

[77] Robert D. Gates drowned in Gull Lake, Michigan; see June 4^th entry

[78] Jane Eliza (Caldwell) Gates drowned in Gull Lake, Michigan; see June 4^th entry

[79] Believe he is referring to his nephew, James “Oscar” Keith

[80] Oscar lived in Deerfield, Michigan

[81] After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith, died, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders took in their children, Henry and Lois Keith. From letters from that time, it would appear that Lois was then sent to Minerva’s parents while Henry lived with the Flanders family. 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” (believed to actually be Henry L. Keith), age 16, living with Joseph & Amanda

[82] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Champlin Harris died August 23, 1871 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[83] A search of Ancestry.com shows that Stephen B. Sherwood died August 28, 1871 in Comstock, Michigan, and Oak Grove Cemetery records show he is buried there

[84] Dowagiac, Michigan

[85] His grandnephew, Frank John Tomlinson, the son of George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[86] Jo Lee’s wife, Lois (French) Lee; she is buried in Indian Fields Cemetery, Portage, Michigan

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

[88] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that James Perry died October 20, 1871 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[89] His aunt, Electa (Damon) Wolcott, the widow of his Uncle Warren Wolcott

[90] His sister-in-law, Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother, Harvey Keith, and the mother of James “Oscar” Keith

[91] Ida May Lewis, the daughter of Maxon & Mary Lewis, died of croup at the age of 4, on November 4, 1871

[92] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner

[93] A search of the 1870 census shows L. & Lucinda Bowen listed immediately after S[amuel] Swaddle; FindAGrave.com shows Lucius Bowen, the husband of Lucinda Congdon, died in 1871 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[94] His daughter, Lois (Keith) Clark, married Adelbert Skinner

[95] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith, usually referred to as Sis

[96] A pole that connected the front axle and the rear axle of a wagon

[97] The son of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl; see June 14^th entry

[98] A neighbor

[99] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Orrin Scranton, died December 6, 1871 in Perry, New York, and is buried in Pearl Creek Cemetery, Pearl Creek, New York. The 1850 census shows Orrin living in Covington, New York, which is where Luke lived before coming to Michigan

[100] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator; the father of Harry Streator (see December 4^th entry)

[101] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that George Sutherland died December 25 and is buried in Newbre Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan

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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