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 & Wm 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 Wm 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. Wm 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 Wm 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. Wm 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. Wm 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 Wm 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 11th 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 2d 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 23rd 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 21st 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 14th 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 4th entry
[78] Jane Eliza (Caldwell) Gates drowned in Gull Lake, Michigan; see June 4th 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 14th 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 4th entry)
[101] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that George Sutherland died December 25 and is buried in Newbre Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 