Luke Keith’s 1888 Diary

                                    1888 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH, JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Very Blustrous a regular Dacota Blizzard. H. A. Brown,[2] Ethan, Hannah,[3] Claud & Bess,[4] went up to Tip Towns.[5]

Jan 2 – Took Nancy[6] and girls down to Mrs Browns.[7] I went up to Mrs Fords got Mates[8] wrap.

Jan 3 – Went down to Mrs Browns after Nancy and girls took them over to Burg. They went home. Took the Hams down to Mrs Brown in afternoon.

Jan 4 – Took Hannah down to Mr Mitchels in afternoon. Jim[9] and Arthur Arms[10] cut and drawed wood.

Jan 5 – Took Ina home in morning. Worked on cross head in afternoon. Theodore[11] came down and Babited[12] one side. Fred Franklin got his axhelve.

Jan 6 – Worked in shop on cross head. Theodore and Ethan Babited the other side.

Jan 7 – Went down to Katharines[13] in morning. Ethan and Theodore finished the cross Head. Snowed like fun[14] when we came home.

Jan 8 – About one inch and half snow this morning. Sun came out bright in morning. Will Brown[15] hunting for Hog.

Jan 9 – Cold. Not much done. Drawed one load wood. Took some cobs down to Mrs Brown in morning.

Jan 10 – Very cold and blustrous. Nothing done but chores.

Jan 11 – Went over to burg in morning got calendar. Brot Mr Hawks Bass viol over for repairs. Took the Belly of in afternoon. George Blake and wife[16] called here.

Jan 12 – Cold blustrous day. Worked on bull fiddle. A. Armes called here for Jim. Rained in night.

Jan 13 – 5 abz[17] cold blustring day. Worked on Big fiddle. Young Ogden came after Hannah. Put top on Jims violin. Mr David Freer Died to day.[18]

Jan 14 – Worked on Big fiddle. Cold day. Went over to burg in afternoon got bag bran for cow 30¢. Snowed in night.

Jan 15 – At home all day. Mr Freer Buried to day. Dell, Lois and Ina[19] here in Evening.

Jan 16 – 9 Mercury 9 Below zero this morning. Judson Howlet came after Hannah. Worked on Double Bass viol.

Jan 17 – Worked in shop some on Big Fiddle. Cold day.

Jan 18 – Worked in shop some on Bass viol. Went over got clamps to put Bass viol to gether with.

Jan 19 – Good sleighing. Worked in shop on viol.

 Jan 20 – Cold day. Went over took Mr Buralls clamps home. Glued upper End of top on Bass fiddle.

Jan 21 – Mercury 15 below zero this morning. Hannah and I went to Kalamazoo. Bot suit clothes $12.00. Very much cold day.

Jan 22 – At home. Clara and George[20] came up here. Very nice pleasant day.

Jan 23 – Worked in Kitchen took of plaster and lath leveled up the joists.

Jan 24 – Mercury 9 below. Put back the floor in Kitchen. Cold day. Jim went to Kalamazoo.

Jan 25 – Worked in shop some on Big fiddle. Put top on Bass Viol in part.

Jan 26 – Finished putting the top on Bass viol. Went over to Burg in afternoon. Sarah[21] went down to Mrs Browns. Old Mrs Russell Buried to day.[22]

Jan 27 – Mercury at zero. Worked on Bass Viol. Very nice day. First rate sleighing. Jim worked for Vansickler and Stilson.

Jan 28 – Went over to Burg Bot flooring and ceiling for Kitchen $5.00. Took Bass Viol over Mr Hawks paid $4.00. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Nice day good sleighing. Charley Town[23] brot lumber over.

Jan 29 – Went over to George Blakes to a Spiritual meeting.[24] Had a good time.

Jan 30 – Mercury 28 Abz in morning. Ethan got home at noon. Commenced putting down floor.

Jan 31 – Laying floor in Kitchen put down about half. Fine winter weather first rate sleighing.

Feb 1 – Went over to burg got ceiling of John Allen 160 feet $1.40. Laid floor in afternoon. Ella Chadwick married to night.[25] Very nice day.

Feb 2 – Ethan and Lizzy Brown[26] went to Kalamazoo. I finished laying the floor in Kitchen.

Feb 3 – Hung Kitchen door. Not very well. Ethan putting on ceiling. Henry Webster got the cutter to go to the Dance.

Feb 4 – Worked in Kitchen some not much. Not very well.

Feb 5 – Not very well. At home. Sarah went went over to Forbush Blakes.

Feb 6 – Not much work to day. Ethan putting on ceiling. I put the last tutch on floor. Not well any way.

Feb 7 – Lois came over helped Hannah. Cold bluster, snowed and blowed like fun at night.

Feb 8 – Cold blustring day. Took 4 bushels wheat to mill. Bot paint and oil. Jim and Charley Griffith chopping for H. D. Streator.[27]

Feb 9 – 15, cold blustring. Went over to burg bot paper. Went down to Katharines took her dress down. Cold, mercury 15 below zero 9 oclock in Evening.

Feb 10 – 3 below. Went over after Lois in morning. Bot oil cloth.

Feb 11 – 6 below. Went over to Burg in morning after Lois. Bot tamper for stove in middle room. Changed the stove[?]. Put the carpets down. Ethan finished painting.

Feb 12 – 4 below. At home. Not very well. Sarah went over to Blake. Jesse Earl[28] came down here made a short visit. Nice day. Woods folks no come down.

Feb 13 – At home. Not very well. Chored round some.

Feb 14 – Went over to burg. Got letter from Nell Gillett.[29]

Feb 15 – D. and Lou[30] came home to day. Not very cold.

Feb 16 – D and Lou went to W^m Ralphs.[31] D and Lou here. Jim went up to Augusta after oats. I bot 5 bushels $1.90¢. I mended chair and small table for Mrs Brown. Filed saw for C. Town.

Feb 17 – Lou and D. here. Not much work to day. Cleared out shop.

Feb 18 – Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo to sign papers for nut lock.[32] Ethan stayed Jim came home. D and Lou went over to Burg.

Feb 19 – Rained some. D. and Lou here all day. Em and Cora[33] came down. Rained quite hard.

Feb 20 – D. and Lou went home on 11.55 run. Some what blustrous.

Feb 21 – Went over to Burg at noon. No mail from Walter and Nell. They came on Nine Oclock Accommodation Evening. Theodore and Allice[34] here in afternoon and Evening.

Feb 22 – Went over to Burg. No mail from Walter and Nell.[35] They came on 9 oclock train in Evening.

Feb 23 – Ethan Jim went after Katharine. She came stayed all night. Nice day.

Feb 24 – Lee[36] came up after Katharine in afternoon. Ethan went over got Lois and Ina. They stayed all night. Rainy night.

Feb 25 – Ethan took Lois and Ina home in morning. Rained and snowed and Blowed, some Blustrous day. Ethan, Jim, Hannah, Walter and Nell went over to Lois. Stayed all day.

Feb 26 – At home. Walter and Nell here. Cold blustring day.

Feb 27 – Ethan, Hannah, Jim, Walter and Nell went to Kalamazoo. Cold blustring day. They had Cap Rowlands team.

Feb 28 – Ethan stayed all night. Hannah went down to Mr Randals. Cull Towns Boy Born this morning.[37]

Feb 29 – Took Hannah over to Burg. Bot half Bushel Potatoes 55 cts. Rained in night.

Mar 1 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. I turned D. Ball club. Very muddy, snow most gone.

Mar 2 – At home. Not very well. Charley Town and Fanny[38] here in Evening. Had a circle.[39]

Mar 3 – Went to mill took two bushels wheat. Bot 30 lbs Bran 30 cts. Herb and wife and boy,[40] Theodore and wife here in Evening and a Mr Far. Nancy and girls[41] came up on 6 oclock run.

Mar 4 – Nancy & girls went down to Mrs Browns.

Mar 5 – Nancy and girls went home on 11.55 train. I not very mooch well some not mooch.

Mar 6 – Jim and Charley Grifeth drawed wood. Cold windy day.

Mar 7 – I put top on Calvin Streators[42] violin. Pleasant day. Sarah went up to Hat and Lib Taylors.[43] Jim chopping for Fred Franklin. Mr Russel Died to night Ae. 93 years.[44]

Mar 8 – Not much work to day. Worked in shop some. Done the chores. Charley and Fanny Town here in Evening.

Mar 9 – Chored round. Put finger Board on violin. Henry Winters stayed here all night. Rainy night. Mr Russel buried to day.

Mar 10 – Rainy day. Jim worked for H. D. Streator. I Bot 4 bushels corn of C. Town 55¢ pr Bushel $2.20 cts.

Mar 11 – At home all day. Sate[45] came over and sewed for Hannah.

Mar 12 – Ethan took Sate home. I am not very well. Choring some. Hannah went up to Tip Towns this Evening.

Mar 13 – Worked in shop some. Sawed out finger board for my violin.

Mar 14 – Put finger board on to the violin. Cold windy day.

Mar 15 – Not very well. Took Fan[46] up to Flanders[47] to get Jersey calf. Nice day. Eunice Town brot Hannah home afternoon.

Mar 16 – Worked round in shop some. Nice day. T. B. Lord died to day Ae. 74 years & 5 months and one day.[48]

Mar 17 – Went over to burg in morning got some things, new bacin. Went up to Herbs got some cucumber pickles.

Mar 18 – Went over to Geo Blakes had a first rate time. Lois, Hannah and Sate went. Mr T. B. Lord buried to day.

Mar 19 – Mended the girls clothes bars. Jim & Hannah went to Kalamazoo. Some rainy in afternoon.

Mar 20 – Hannah went down to Mrs Streators.[49] Very much rainy day.

Mar 21 – Made wash Bench for Hat & Lib Taylor. Cold wind.

Mar 22 – 6 Abz in morning, cold blustring day, snow flies Lively. Filed saw for Taylor girls. Lee got the wash Bench.

Mar 23 – Mercury 3 below zero. Went over to burg. Took Ethans Binder castings over to Foundry. They are fitting them up. Bot half Bushell potatoes of Turney 55 cts.

Mar 24 – Cold blustring day very cold. Wing got the Alphadelphia Association[50] Books from Taylors. The girls moved over to the Burg to day. Mr Brower moved to day into the girls House.

Mar 25 – 16 Abz cold wind all day, fine snow some rain. Mrs Josh Wheaton Died to day.[51]

Mar 26 – Hannah went up to W^m Ralphs to work. Ethan over to Foundry.

Mar 27 – Mended frame to Hat and Libbies hanghing[?] Lamp. Some cool day.

Mar 28 – Went over to foundry after Ethans castings. Took the girls Lamp frame over. They let Lockhart have the Horse & carriage to day. Mrs Wheaton Buried.

Mar 29 – Made some whiffletrees[52] for Charley Town.

Mar 30 – Made small pan for Will Brown. Clara Millham came up to day.

Mar 31 – Hannah went to Kalamazoo to work in shop for Mrs William. Jim went to Shelbyville[53] to work for D Harris. I went over to burg 3 times.

Apr 1 – At home all day. No one here.

Apr 2 – Nice day for town meeting. Went over in afternoon. Evva Blake here a while in afternoon. Set Wiandot Hen on 13 Eggs this afternoon. Mrs Julia Johnson found dead to day.[54]

Apr 3 – Chored round not much work. Had a chase after Fan and Jim. They went up to Culls wheat.

Apr 4 – Went down to Katharines. Nice day. Got some warm shugar. Mrs Johnson buried to day.

Apr 5 – At home doing chores and helping Sally[55] what I can.

Apr 6 – Tinkering in shop some. Filed saw for Mr Caywood one for Dod Sumner. Lois came over stayed all night.

Apr 7 – Ethan and Lois went down to Katharines. I went up to Jesse Earls to see Herbs Buggy wheels. De boxes am brake.[56]

Apr 8 – Went down to Mrs Browns held the meeting there. Woods, Chichesters, Wilsons, Keiths, Streators, Blakes, Cyrus Streator.[57] M. O. Streator, Ambrose Brown, T. Ford & Susan Giddings all there and talked some.[58]

Apr 9 – Went down to Mr Streators to see if I could get some hay. Rainy afternoon. Got two galons cyrup of Will Brown.

Apr 10 – Went over to Burg after medicine and boxes for Herbs wheels no got some. Cold windy day rain some not much.

Apr 11 – Lizzie and Ray[59] here all day. She paid ten Dollars. I went up to E O Umphrys farm bot Hay. Nice day some wind.

Apr 12 – Mr Laurence Brot one tun Hay $10.00. Went up to Laurences fore noon Bot ½ tun Hay. Laurence brot it down in afternoon pd $15.79 cts.

Apr 13 – Worked in shop cut out stuff for Hannahs square.

Apr 14 – Went to burg took over two bushels wheat and 9½ Doz Eggs bot Bran 35 cts. Hannah came home worked on squair marked it of.

Apr 15 – Went over to Harry Wilsons to a Spiritual meeting.

Apr 16 – Took Hannah over to burg. She went to Kalamazoo on the 11.15 train.

Apr 17 – Charley Tousley got the Jack varnished W. H. Knaps pattern. Harry Crawford[60] here all day. He left on the nine oclock train for Chicago. Cullen Town commenced cultivating the south lot for oats.

Apr 18 – Went over to burg bot one bushel and 3 pecks clover seed $7.81 cts paid $2.00. Cul Town cultivating the ground for oats.

Apr 19 – Went over got Lois. Took over 3.¾ lbs Butter 20 cts per lb. Snowed some. Cull commenced sowing oats. Bot clover seed one Bushel and 3 pecks 4.50 pr B. 7.88 cts paid $2.00.

Apr 20 – Went over to burg after Lois. Cullen Town commenced sowing oats. Snowed some.

Apr 21 – Cull finished sowing oats. Nice day. He sowed fourteen acres.

Apr 22 – At home. No one here. Turned Bill[61] out in East lot.

Apr 23 – Set Boxes in Herbs wheels. Fine day. The Potatoes came to night to the Burg. Fire in Burg this morning Gus Osgoods store Burned out the inside left the shell standing.

Apr 24 – Went over to burg got 2 bbls Potatoes. They came from Perry N.Y. Frank and Walter[62] sent them. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Sarah went down to Mrs Streator.

Apr 25 – Herb got his wheels this morning. R. E. Strait here this morning. I cleaned yard some. Nice day quite warm in afternoon.

Apr 26 – Cleaned out yard chored round wheeled out some dirt.

Apr 27 – Will Brown plowed potato ground and garden. Ethan and Charley Town went to Kalamazoo. Set Major at night on 15 Eggs.

Apr 28 – 94 Mercury 94 four Abz. I sick to day. Will dragged the tatoe ground and garden. Drew two loads polls. Very hot and dry.

Apr 29 – At home. Nice day. No one here. I not much well some.

Apr 30 – Very cold wet rain all day. Not much work out, to wet.

May 1 – Sent Mrs Streator some potatoes. Charley Town got ashes. I plowed garden and potatoe ground planted my Dacota taters. Ethan planted potatoes, corn, onions, peas, parsnips and varius things.

May 2 – Fine day not very warm. Planted potatoes south of Barn. Dexa and Bell[63] at the Burg on their way to York State to west Oneonta.

May 3 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot shoes for Sarah $1.00. Cleaned yard some. Ethan took the old Binder to peaces to get the bolts for the new one.

May 4 – Worked round house and yard. Hannah and Vern[64] came home.

May 5 – Went over to Burg. Nancy and Lelah and Bes[65] came up on noon train. I went over got Bes.

May 6 – Very nice warm day. Mr James Powers and wife, George Blake and wife, Mrs. Brown and Charley Town here. Had a good time. Mr James Lawler Buried to day.[66]

May 7 – Rainy. I took Hannah down to Mrs Streators. Hannah, Nancy and the girls went home on noon train. Charley Town commenced plowing the East lot.

May 8 – Went over to Burg got boards for the Binder apron. Filed two saws for G. P. Oatman. Had a heavy shower some thunder. Went up to Herbs after cabbage plants no got him.

May 9 – Nice warm morning looks rainy. Not very well. Chored round as usual.

May 10 – Mrs Frank Hodgman Died this morning.[67] Mrs Will Johnson Died.[68] Went over to burg got cabbage plants.

May 11 – Dug some Sassafras grubs in forenoon. Ethan and Charley making corn planter. Had big rain all night.

May 12 – Cool strong wind in forenoon. Mrs Flora Hodgman Buried to day. Mrs Will Johnson Buried to day. Grant Oatman got his saws he paid 40 cts.

May 13 – Cool and windy all day. Mr McLewis and Lady called to see Hannah.

May 14 – Mercury 39 cool, snowed some in morning.

May 15 – Grubbed out the Blackberry bushes in west garden. Mrs Leonard Evvins Buried to day.[69] Ethan and Charley working on corn planter.

May 16 – Sarah went over to Lois. Mrs Brockway there. Hannah there making a Dress for Mrs B.

May 17 – Worked in garden. Went over to burg bot cabbage and tomato plants.

May 18 – Worked some in garden. Not very well.

May 19 – Charley finished planting East lot.

May 20 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo.

May 21 – Plowed out strawberries and cabbage, peas and onions and oder dings.[70] Charley Clark[71] came here stayed all night.

May 22 – Warm morning. Charley left for home on seven twenty seven run A M.

May 23 – Went to mill took 2 bushels wheat. Bot 2 bushels corn of Schroder and Olin 65 cts pr bushel. Took the girls a few potatoes. Bot violin string of Dick Lamkin 10 cts. Bot one Bottle medicine of W. A. Burdick.

May 24 – Nice warm day. Hoed some in garden. Dick called here. Charley and Ethan working on planter.

May 25 – Choring not much work. Hoed some in garden. Went over to burg.

May 26 – Went over to burg after Mary and Claud they came up with Will Brown. Mary Ozlumm.[72]

May 27 – Some rainy in morning. Ethan, Hannah and Mary went down to Mrs Browns after Dinner. Hannah went up to Cull Towns. Rained in night.

May 28 – Took Mary over to the 9 oclock train. Rainy day. Claud went on noon train.

May 29 – Went over to Mr Ralphs in forenoon got some tomato plants and some cabbage plants.

May 30 – Went to Kalamazoo. Lou and children[73] came down to Nancys. Got home just at dark. Rainy night. Mr Elwood planting in corn and lots of others.

May 31 – Cool cloudy in forenoon. Schram planting corn where the water washed it out.

Jun 1 – Went over to burg in morning after Sate. Went up to Herbs got some cabbage plants. Cora Harris[74] here all day.

Jun 2 – Not very well. Not much work to day. Went over to burg in afternoon. Got wire screen for south door. Took over some Butter to Mrs Barber 5 lbs. Sate here.

Jun 3 – Very nice morning. Went over to Geo Blake to meeting. Had a very good time.

Jun 4 – Fine day. Took Hannah over to the train she went to Kalamazoo. I hoed some potatoes. Went up to Herbs got some cabbage plants, sweet corn and Beet seed.

Jun 5 – Put up Screen doors. Warm day. Kate, Jesse and Blanch[75] came on the Bobtail train.

Jun 6 – Not very well. Not much work to day. Went over to burg in the morning after Kates trunk. Bill run and broke the wagon. I started for Mich 51 years to day.[76]

Jun 7 – I started Plowed out the East part of the garden in afternoon. Cool wind. Jesse went back to school.

Jun 8 – Not very well. No work. Kate and Blanch here.

Jun 9 – Kate and Hannah sewing for Jesse all the times.

Jun 10 – At home. No one here Excep Kate and Blanch.

Jun 11 – Worked some, hoed potatoes part of the day. Some warm day.

Jun 12 – Finished hoing potatoes and garden. Mr John Sager buried to day. Went over to burg after Jesse.

Jun 13 – Rainy morning some thunder rained hard. George Newton stopt through the shower. Went over to burg.

Jun 14 – Took Jesse over to the train in morning. Not very well. Very warm.

Jun 15 – 98 in shade. Not much work to day. Took package over to send to Jesse. 51 years to night I landed here on this place.

Jun 16 – 98 in shade very hot, no work. Sent package to Jesse.

Jun 17 – 94 hot day. At home. Ethan and Hannah went down to Caywoods.

Jun 18 – 90 and upwards very hot. Went over to Express office no package. Henry Crawford[77] came stayed all night.

Jun 19 – 98 in shade. Took Kate over to train she went to Kalamazoo. The package came. I went to Blakes while she was gone to town. Took Henry over to train. Hank Brown called here.

Jun 20 – 100 in shade 2 PM. Kate and Blanch started for home. Went to Kalamazoo to stay there until Saturday then take the afternoon train for Chicago.

Jun 21 – Hannah went to Caywoods. Took Sarah over to Lois. Kate and Jesse went home.

Jun 22 – Not very well. Hoed some cut some grass. Very hot. Sate and Hannah sewing.

Jun 23 – Cut some grass chored round. Went over to burg. Sate here.

Jun 24 – At home. The girls sewing some. Tip was coming down but no came. Sate went home.

Jun 25 – Worked some in orchard. Put up some hay. Sprinkled some bugs.

Jun 26 – Went over to burg in morning. Sprinkled Bugs most all day. Ina came over.

Jun 27 – Drew in some hay. Rany day some and cool. Not much work.

Jun 28 – Not very well. Hoed some in garden. Lou and children came home.

Jun 29 – Not much work to day. Turned 4 pins for Harry. Charley brot the trucks over.

Jun 30 – Made reach and hounds for trucks. Hot day.

Jul 1 – At home all day. Lou and children here. Nice day.

Jul 2 – Ground knife and turned six pins for N. L. Randal,[78] went over to Burg after Lois at noon. George Youmans came over in afternoon.

Jul 3 – 94 in morning, hot morning.

Jul 4 – Took 3 bushels wheat to mill. Lou and children went over to Lois.

Jul 5 – Went over to Foundry. Got some work done for Binder. Jim came home to day. Cory Meridith[79] came with him.

Jul 6 – Hoed some in garden. Not very well. Very hot.

Jul 7 – Hoed in garden. Very hot. D came on B T[80] train. Nancy and girls come home. Lou and Stell and Mary went up to Em Schuylers.

Jul 8 – Put Binder in Barn. Jesse Earl came down. Eliza Ridler started for Rochester to day.

Jul 9 – D. Went home on 8.48 train. Claude went on same train. Hannah went to Caywoods. Some sprinklum.

Jul 10 – Worked in garden some. Cut some grass.

Jul 11 – Not much done. Charley Town came over and tried the Binder.

Jul 12 – Raked up grass in orchard hoed some sprinkled potatoes.

Jul 13 – Worked in garden some. Went over to Burg.

Jul 14 – Took Hannah over to Lois in morning. Hoed some. Went down to Mrs Browns after Nancy and girls. Effie Frazer came with them.

Jul 15 – I went down to Marts.[81] Nancy and girls went home. Will took them.

Jul 16 – 88 in shade ½ past 3 PM. Cut grass around the cornfield. Charley Town drawing wheat.

Jul 17 – Worked in garden and chored round as usual. Hannah at Caywoods.

Jul 18 – Hannah at home. I cut some grass hoed some set around some. Hannah went up to Mr Fishers in Evening. Had a shower just at dark.

Jul 19 – Nice day cloudy not very hot. Choring round.

Jul 20 – Hoed garden and chored around. Ethan working on Binder.

Jul 21 – Took Fan up to Mr Flanders to get Jersey calf.[82] Took Sarah over to Lois in afternoon.

Jul 22 – At home. Some cloudy rain some very ledle mite not much. Andrew Krom Died to day.[83]

Jul 23 – Worked in garden some. Some cooler very dry.

Jul 24 – Not much work to day. Very hot and dry. Charleys sow and pigs in garden in night.

Jul 25 – 97 in shade. Ayers Raymond Died this morning.[84] Got up between two and three oclock AM drove sow an pigs out of garden. They tore down lot of corn. Took Sarah up to Theodores in forenoon. 41 years to day I attended a wedding.[85]

Jul 26 – Chored around hoed some cut weeds in west garden and road. Hot day. Hannah came home from _____.

Jul 27 – Took Hannah up to Gates. Ayres Raymond buried to day. Very warm day getting very dry. Went over to Burg in Evening to hear the Whitney Band.

Jul 28 – Went over to Burg. Got some irons made for Binder. Got cold chisel sharpened.

Jul 29 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Hot day. Mary Flanders[86] and Ed Harmon called in Evening. I repaired cradle in Evening for J. Vandercook 25¢.

Jul 30 – 104 in shade. Took Hannah over to Lois in morning. Very dry. Cullin cutting the oats.

Jul 31 – Had a thunder shower in morning. Cul cutting oats some.   Had a big rain and thunder storm just at night.

Aug 1 – 94 in shade. Took Jim up to Mr Flanders in morning to get Jersey calf. Left her up there. Went over to burg took Eight Doz eggs 13¢ pr doz.

Aug 2 – Thunder shower in morning. Not much work to day. Chored round hoed some in garden.

Aug 3 – Ethan working on Binder. I saw some wood do some chores.

Aug 4 – Went down to Mrs Browns got some apples. Went over to Foundry got wheel bored for Binder. Took stranger down to Caywoods. Mrs John Powers[87] here all day from Scotts. Lizzie Brown here in Evening.

Aug 5 – At home all day.

Aug 6 – Hannah went to Mate Fords to day.

Aug 7 – Hannah went to Mary Flanders to day. Lois went up to Shelbyville. Lou sick. Made Tail Piece for D. Lamkins violin.

Aug 8 – Hannah went to Neal Commings this morning. I went over to post office at noon. Dick got violin Bow.

Aug 9 – At home. Tried the Binder this morning. Ed Galusha called to see the Binder work. He not work first rate.

Aug 10 – Worked in garden and shop some. Warm for this time of the year. Went to Kalamazoo to Nancys. Mrs Gaffing sick.

Aug 11 – At home. Worked in garden and shop some. Nice day had a nice shower in Evening. I went over to post office in the rain.

Aug 12 – At home all day. No one here but Bess.

Aug 13 – Looked over the wire fence found some staples gone put in new ones. Alvin and Charley Lee and wife and wives sister here to day.[88]

Aug 14 – At home. Worked in shop. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Finished Dicks tail piece.

Aug 15 – Working round some in garden. Hannah came home from W^m Blakes. She went to Gull Corners to sew for Mrs Read.

Aug 16 – Went over to Burg in morning after mail. Went to mill in afternoon. Went and saw Celia Cooley roof she had just got painted.

Aug 17 – Ethan went over and got Lois, Sate and Ina. The men came over and painted the west lean to roof in afternoon. Paid 2$ two Dollars. Cyrus and Mrs Streator called here.

Aug 18 – At home. Choring around as usual. Warm and very dry. Hannah came home from Gull.

Aug 19 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Alvin Lees. Mercury runs high.

Aug 20 – Hannah went over to Commings. Hoed some in garden and in shop some. Very dry. Mercury run high 93.

Aug 21 – Went over to Burg in morning. Got some apples to Lois. Warm. Hannah at S. Kinsleys. Mrs. S. J. Gallegan Died to day.[89]

Aug 22 – Went over to Burg in morning after mail. Neal Commings brot Hannah home about noon. I went down to Katharines in afternoon. Ethan took Hannah over to Lois in Evening. Brot Bes Back.

Aug 23 – At home getting ready to go up to Shelbyville. Old Mrs Powlison Died to day Ae. 99 years and 23 days. Catharine Van Arsdale was Born in Pluckemin Somerset Co New Jersey July 26^th 1789.[90]

Aug 24 – West up to Shelby to D. Harris. Found them all well. Very hot and dry.

Aug 25 – At Lous. William and Em Ralph came in afternoon.

Aug 26 – At Lous.

Aug 27 – At Lous.

Aug 28 – At Lous.

Aug 29 – At Lous.

Aug 30 – Came home from Shelby Ville. D and Lou went to Gun Lake to a Masonic picknick. Brot $200 Dollars to Schroder & Olin for D D Harris.

Aug 31 – At home. Ethan took Nancy and children home.

Sep 1 – At home. Not doing some ding not much. Very hot and dry. Randal Rumry carried of Ethans rule.

Sep 2 – Very hot. No one here to day only tramp called in for a drink of water. Theodore and Allice called here in Evening.

Sep 3 – I went over to burg in morning. Paid Schroder and Olin five Dollars and Eighty Eight cents for clover seed bot 19^lb of April.

Sep 4 – Took up platform to well put down sill. Ethan throwed out the sawdust. Hannah went up to Mr Flanders in Evening.

Sep 5 – Drew oats from Cull 44 bushels. Worked some on platform.

Sep 6 – Worked some in shop some on platform. Chored around generaly. Very warm and dry. Went down to Katharines. Very dusty.

Sep 7 – Went over to mill carried 4½ bushels wheat. Turned leggs for Verns table. Mrs Blake and Mrs Harry Wilson came over. Rained in night.

Sep 8 – Finished platform. Hannah at home all day. Lizzie Allerton[91] called here in afternoon.

Sep 9 – Mercury 85 in shade very dry. Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo.

Sep 10 – Ethan and Hannah came home. Eugene Crawford and family[92] came this Evening. H. A. Brown came up with them.

Sep 11 – Very warm and dry. Went down to Mrs Browns. Hank took a view of the place one of Tom. I drew Eight Thousand Shingles from Schroder and Olins paid Eighteen Dollars $18.00 for them. I went to Burg 4 times to day.

Sep 12 – Ethan & Jim went to Jackson to state fair. Eugene and family left for home on the twelve 35 train. I went over to Burg three times today.

Sep 13 – Rec^d 5 Dollars of Levy Wilson. Took Hannah over to Mr Olmsteads in morning. Dressed out four slats for Charls Towns machine. Made table for Laverne. So much dry some ding dont grow some.

Sep 14 – Went over to Burg in morning Bot tickets for Perry $16.70 cts. Went up to Mr Flanders in afternoon to see about Jim took Hannah down to Mrs Streators. Ethan worked on corn cutter for C. A. Town.[93]

Sep 15 – Jim gone to Kalamazoo after Cora she no come. Stell came with him. Rained all night heavies rain since June.

Sep 16 – Rainy all the forenoon rained hard.

Sep 17 – Started for Perry N Y. Went to Richland took cars for Perry 1 oclock. Rained hard when we started rained in afternoon. Arrived Toledo about P.M.

Sep 18 – I arrived in Perry at four P.M. all right. Found the folks all well.

Sep 19 – At Tomlinson House[94] and around town all day. Called on Charles Nobles.

Sep 20 – Frank[95] and I went to Rochester. Went up to Mt Hope and over the city. Went through the Powers Art Gallary, water works, New York Central Depo and down to the falls.

Sep 21 – Went into the Royes Reaper shops and up to the Salt Block and Ice House. Saw Mr Need Ham at the Ice House.

Sep 22 – Frank and I went out in the country after Butter got some to Mr Hathaways. Nice day looked very much like rain but he no come some.

Sep 23 – At Tomlinson House. Went to church in Morning. Went down the outlet in the afternoon to the Devils Den a very wild looking place.

Sep 24 – Sick with headache. Nice warm day. Lots teams to the mill to day.

Sep 25 – At Tomlinson House. Nothing done of any account.

Sep 26 – Went to Fowlerville, Moscow, Greggs ville and Pifford. Saw the salt shaft a big institute[?] One 900 Horse Power Engine. Some letle rain. The shaft is 16×20 feet 1000 feet deep. They take out Eight hundred tons pr day.

Sep 27 – The Town Fair commences to day, a cold cloudy day some rain.

Sep 28 – Pleasant day. Lots out to the Fair to day. Saw Mr Henry Olmsted and Mr Morgan of Leroy.

Sep 29 – Pleasant day. Frank, Nell,[96] Hannah, Grace, Carl and Ruth went to Pavilion[97] to day. They got home just at night. Rained and snowed some rather cool wind. Recd letter from Nancy.

Sep 30 – Pleasant but cool. Went to church in morning. Rained all night.

Oct 1 – Rainy morning. Patty[98] and I looked over Elder Berries in fore noon.

Oct 2 – Rainy morning. George and I went through the Knitting Mill. Cold lousy day. Took dinner with Walter and Nell. Snowed some. Bot rubbers 75 cts.

Oct 3 – The Engine came to day. Cool morning no rain. George and I went up to the Log cabbin drove around among the cotages and through the Tabernacle. Went into the ice House saw them load ice. George sold the calf $9.60 6 cts pr lb.

Oct 4 – Cool damp morning some sprinkle not much. Put the Engine in its place this AM.

Oct 5 – Marion[99] and I went to Pavilion stayed to Mary and Fanny. Snows all night rained all night. Had a good visit.

Oct 6 – Rainy day. Went up to the vilage in morning. Called on Mrs Buckingham then on Mary Nobles,[100] Mrs Cyntha Sprague,[101] went over to S. Youngs took dinner then went and saw Clarissa and Almyra Starr, then went back to Perry in the rain, called on Chancy Pond.

Oct 7 – Pleasant morning. At home. Not go to church some. Frank and Hannah went up to the spring and got the Belt.

Oct 8 – George started the engine to day. George Sprague[102] came up to day. Cold rainy afternoon.

Oct 9 – Cold day. Engine no work first rate, pump no go. Had to take it of and go to the machine shop got him fix so he run nice.

Oct 10 – Went down to Mr Gilletts and Gipsonville also to the mouth of the outlet and old paper mill. Crossed the stream five times. Walter, Nell, Hannah, Carl & Grace[103] went to the salt shaft. Mrs Polly Earl Died this Evening.[104]

Oct 11 – At Tomlinson House. Some rainy. Mrs Julia An Tomlinson came to day. Frank went to Fowlerville. Rained in night.

Oct 12 – Karl and Grace left on 6.55 A M train for home. Rainy day. Engine run all day. Frank bot some wheat paid One Dollar Ten.

Oct 13 – Rainy morning. Cut Georges Hair. Went up to the falls and bridge. Was on Bridge at four PM. Got home about 8 PM. Two trains went over one under on the valley road. Rained. Stayed with Nell.

Oct 14 – Went to church. Mr Randolph preach^d of Bloomfield. Went to church in Evening.

Oct 15 – At Tomlinson House. Jo Tomlinson and daughter there. Started for home on four thirty PM train went Buffalo and cars for salamancacds[?] cars for Toledo. From Toledo to Augusta got home about six PM

Oct 16 – At home all day Got to Toledo about half past ten A.M. Ca__ded cars for Augusta. Got home about 7 PM. Trunk carried by.

Oct 17 – At home all day. Nice pleasant day. Harry Streator Brot 12 bushels Potatoes. Charley Lee called here in Evening. Nancy came home to day.

Oct 18 – Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Mart went to town. George and Lee[105] digging potatoes. Guy Nichols was there. Took Hannah over to Lois in morning. Bot Boots of Trabert $3.45 cts.

Oct 19 – Took Hannah over to Lois in morning. Bot Boots of Trabert $3.45 cts. Some windy day. Ras and Tip[106] called here to see Hannah.

Oct 20 – At home. Not very well. Went down to Hanks in afternoon stayed all night.

Oct 21 – At Hanks. Went to the Galery had a negative taken. Came home in Evening.

Oct 22 – Took Hannah over to Nells. Got some shoes for Sarah $2.00. Rained in afternoon. Mr Isaac Poulison Died to day in his sixty seventh year.[107]

Oct 23 – Cloudy day not very cold. Done a short job for Will Caywood. Theodore and Mr Crossfield[108] called in a while. Charley took Hannah up to Ras Towns in Evening. Dark as tar.

Oct 24 – At home. Choring around. Nice day some Indian summer. Put up stagen on west side house.

Oct 25 – Fine warm weather. Choring around the house and garden. Went over to burg.

Oct 26 – Went over to burg in At home. Dig some potatoes. Nice day warm.

Oct 27 – Went over to burg in morning. Jim went to Kalamazoo to Republican doings. Went over at noon with Ethan. He went to Kalamazoo. Paid Schroder $2.00 for shoes. Bot 15 lbs nails 60 cts.

Oct 28 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Nice day.

Oct 29 – Commenced shingling the south part of the house. Theodore helped in afternoon. Fine weather. Filed saw for C. Town.

Oct 30 – Shingling. Theodore and Barber worked in afternoon. Warm nice day. Hannah went to C Fords in morning.

Oct 31 – Jim and I shingled alone. Fine day warm some Indian summer. Charles Lee called here. Albert Allen was killed to day by the cars on GR&J Road.

Nov 1 – Theodore came down in morning finished at noon. Charley Clark came stayed all night.

Nov 2 – Mercury 64 had a nice rain in morning. Charley went home.

Nov 3 – Not much done. Chored around.

Nov 4 – At home all day. Charley Lees folks not come up.

Nov 5 – Worked on roof some put on one roof board. Rained some in afternoon. Jim worked for Ford. Charley Lee called here a while in forenoon.

Nov 6 – Went over to Burg to Election.[109] Alvin and Charley Lee called here. Alvins Horse pulled the Horse Block down, no damage done.

Nov 7 – Worked on Quins gun some. Filed one saw for Mr T. Hill two for Allen Simmons. Not very cold. Charley Lee started for Australia to day.

Nov 8 – Repaired Quins gun. Rainy day. Ethan working on Yeomans patterns.

Nov 9 – Finished Quins gun. He and Harry went hunting. He paid me one Dollar. Worked on Stells cane. Mr Hill got his saw. Jim went to Shelbyville.

Nov 10 – Worked on Finished Stells cane. Rainy day. Not much work to day. Hannah came home this Evening.

Nov 11 – At home all day. No one here.

Nov 12 – Took Sarah over to Lois in afternoon. Nice day. Publicans had a Blowout at Battle Creek.

Nov 13 – Fine day. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Mart making Cider. Publicans had a Blowout to Kalamazoo.

Nov 14 – Very nice pleasant day. Went down to Mrs Browns in afternoon. Mr & Mrs Wood, Mrs Streator & Quin there. Had a good time. Publicans had a Blowout at the Burg.

Nov 15 – Filed Buck saw for C. Town. Shingled up around the shop chimney. Jim went up to scots. We went and got Jersey. Jim home in afternoon. Mr Flanders very sick.

Nov 16 – Worked round fixed well. Jim got load sawdust to put in well.

Nov 17 – Spect C. F. Lee and family sailed to day. Theodore came down helped shingle. We shingled west leanto. Sold Jersey Jim to Mr Aaron Car he paid $20 Dollars for her.

Nov 18 – Mercury 36. Ethan took Jim to Kalamazoo he started for Chicago. Snowed like fun.

Nov 19 – Mercury 33. Mr Car got Jersey Jim. George Yeoman came over.

Nov 20 – West to Kalamazoo to see Lou. She was at Nancys.

Nov 21 – Repaired two violins for D. Lamkins. Nice pleasant weather.

Nov 22 – Went down to Marts got some corn ground. Hannah came home from Scots.

Nov 23 – Put boards on roof under the frieze. Took Sarah up to Herbs. Hannah came home this Evening. Nice day.

Nov 24 – Went over to Burg after Nancy and girls. I not very well.

Nov 25 – Ida, Emma and Nina Allen[110] here to day. Clara Milham came in afternoon. Cool wind shiny day all the same.

Nov 26 – Nancy and girls went home on noon train. Nice day.

Nov 27 – Mr Joseph Flanders Died this morning.[111] I went down to Marts got six bushels apples 10 cts pr bushel.

Nov 28 – Took 4 bushels wheat to mill. Bot sieve 25¢. Claude came over with me. Put some shingles on cornhouse.

Nov 29 – Went up to Mr Flanders in morning. Mr Flanders Buried to day. Funral one oclock PM. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Nice day. Not cold but cloudy.

Nov 30 – At home. Not very well. Picked up apples out west of house.

Dec 1 – Put up the Eave trough on wes leanto. Charley Town finished drawing the corn from East lot.

Dec 2 – Mercury 32 Abz in morn. Mabel brot Hannah down about dark. She went back to Mr Flanders.

Dec 3 – Went up to Theodores. Load sawdust put it in Both wells. Hannah came down from Mr Flanders.

Dec 4 – At home choring. Ollie Walt chopping. Nice day cool wind.

Dec 5 – Walt chopt a while in morning. Rained and snowed in forenoon. Walt went over to burg at noon. He no chop in afternoon.

Dec 6 – Went over to burg after Sate in morning. Saw Dick Lamkins. He came over and drew wood in afternoon he draw 4 loads. Pleasant day.

Dec 7 – Worked in shop hewed out and shaved two axhelves for A Caywood. Dr Homer O Hitchcock died to day.[112]

Dec 8 – Worked on road. Went over to burg in morning after Lois and Ina. Mercury 45.

Dec 9 – 36 Mercury. Went down to Katharines. Fine day fair roads some mud. Hannah went to H. Gilsons.

Dec 10 – Went over to burg at noon took some mail over to the office. Went and saw Charley Davis about chopping.

Dec 11 – Davis and Tenbroke came over and cut wood. Paid them One Dollar Each. Very nice day not cold no snow.

Dec 12 – Went down to Alvin Lees. Nice day. One of Rhodas girls there. Julia very comfortable.

Dec 13 – Worked round house fixed up cellar window. Some cold wind.

Dec 14 – Mercury 14 Abz. Went over to Burg in morning carried some mail matter over one letter to Sanfrancisco Cal. Fan got out. I went all over the woods no find her. She came home. Bot Buck saw 40¢.

Dec 15 – Fixed up the cellar windows. Took Sarah over to Geo Blakes at noon. Rained had quite a shower. Will Brown brot some fish in Evening. Rainy night.

Dec 16 – Mercury 46. At home all day. Not very well. Rainy day. No one here to day. Rained some night.

Dec 17 – Mercury 34 in morning. Finished Caywoods axhelve. Carried shingles down cellar. Rain some ledle some fine snow.

Dec 18 – Chored around house. Cut appletree out near Barn cut it up piled the brush.

Dec 19 – Mercury 18 Abz. Picked up and burnt brush in orchard. Went down to Mrs Browns just at night. Some cold wind little snow in the air. Geo Yeoman came over in morning.

Dec 20 – Mercury 36 Abz cold wind but sunshine no snow. Very good wheeling. Hannah up to Ed Childs. Mr Amos D. Allen Died to day.[113]

Dec 21 – Mercury 24 Abz. Fixed up well room. Chored round house and shop. Cold north west wind.

Dec 22 – Mercury 14 Abz pleasant stout south wind. Stranger chopping wood. Will Clark[114] got home from Colorado.

Dec 23 – Very nice pleasant day. Went down to Katharines. Mart gone to attend Mr Amos D. Allens funral.

Dec 24 – Went over to Burg saw Will.  Mr Caywood got axhelve he paid 50 cts. Sold Skinner 3 doz eggs 60 cts. Mr Daniels called to see Hannah about go to Gull. Hannah went to Shelby.[115]

Dec 25 – Mercury 47. Christmas all over to day. Took top of Albert Chases violin. Went over to burg in afternoon got postal from G Tomlinson one from Clara Milham.

Dec 26 – Mercury 52 Abz. Worked on violin some. Nice day wen Rainy day cold wind.

Dec 27 – Mercury 37 cool wind north west. Worked in shop some. Chicken Died. Mercury 24 at night.

Dec 28 – Mercury. Went down to Marts to mill. Katharine some better. Shiny day cold west wind. Will Clark came over. Orny Schram called here. Will Brown drawed some wood.

Dec 29 – Nice day. At home. Worked in shop some. Will drawed some wood in afternoon. Lou and children came home.

Dec 30 – At home. Ethan and Lou went down to Katharines. Rained in night. Allice Williams Died to night.[116]

Dec 31 – Mercury 34. Went over to Burg after Nancy she came up on the 10:30 train AM. Ethan went to Kalamazoo in afternoon. Not very cold.

——-

[1] Charles Luke Keith Jr., known better, and referred to, as Luke

[2] His son-in-law, Henry “Hank” Brown

[3] His son and daughter, Ethan and Hannah Keith

[4] His grandchildren, Claude and Bess Brown

[5] Neighbor, Eunice (Wood) Towne

[6] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[7] Matilda (Allen) Brown, his neighbor, and the mother of his son-in-law Henry Brown

[8] Believe he is referring to his neighbors, Adelia (Tompkins) Ford and her daughter-in-law, Mary Ann “Mate” (Thompson) Ford

[9] His son, James Clinton Keith

[10] Hank Brown’s paternal first cousin

[11] Theodore Earl, his neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[12] To add an alloy of tin with some copper and antimony (a brittle silvery-white metalloid) making a lining for bearings that reduces friction

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

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

[15] Hank Brown’s brother, Willis Brown

[16] Believe he is referring to his neighbors, George & Mary Evelyn “Eva” (Forbush) Blake

[17] Above zero

[18] Michigan death records show that David Freer, age 80, died at Pavilion, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Cook Cemetery in Pavilion

[19] His son-in-law, daughter and granddaughter, Adelbert, Lois (Keith) Clark, and Ina Skinner

[20] Believe he is referring to Clara and George Milham, the two oldest children of his late niece, Lucy (Lee) & Martin Milham

[21] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[22] Michigan death records reveal that Lorenda (Vanguilder) Lewis Russell died in Comstock, Michigan on January 24, 1888; however, no burial information has been found at this time

[23] Neighbor, Charles Towne

[24] Both the Brown and Keith families, as well as several of their neighbors, were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances

[25] Michigan marriage records show that Ella Chadwick married Adrian Annes on February 1, 1888 in Galesburg, Michigan. Sadly, she passed away a little over a year later on March 15, 1889 at the age of 31

[26] Will Brown’s wife, Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown

[27] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” D. Streator

[28] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[29] Nellie (Tomlinson) Gillett. Nell was the granddaughter of Luke’s sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[30] His son-in-law and daughter, Daniel “D” & Louese (Keith) Harris

[31] Neighbor and uncle of D Harris

[32] One of Ethan’s inventions

[33] Most likely Emaline (Stone) Ralph (D’s aunt; wife of William Ralph) and Cora Belle Harris (D’s sister)

[34] Neighbors and “shirttail relatives,” Theodore & Alice (Vandercook) Earl

[35] Walter Gillett, Nell’s husband (see footnote to February 14^th entry)

[36] Ansel “Lee” Milham, the son of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[37] Harold Towne, the son of Cullen & Sarah Antoinette “Nettie” (Adams) Towne. Cullen was the brother of Charley and Fanny Towne

[38] Frances Towne, neighbor and Charley Towne’s sister

[39] A seance

[40] Herbert, Luella (Farr) and Royal Earl. Herbert and Theodore were brothers

[41] Nancy’s daughters, Lela and Bess Brown

[42] Calvin Streator was the son of Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator, and the brother of Harry Streator; however, he died October 16, 1863 at the age of 25. Perhaps this violin had once belonged to Calvin

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

[44] Michigan death records show that Almon Russell died in Galesburg, Michigan on March 8, 1888 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was the husband of Lorenda (Vanguilder) Lewis Russell who died January 24, 1888 (see footnote to January 26^th entry)

[45] Sarah Skinner, the sister of Adelbert Skinner, Luke’s son-in-law

[46] His cow

[47] His neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[48] Michigan death records show that Bishop Lord died in Comstock in March of 1888. FindAGrave.com confirms that Thomas Bishop Lord died March 16, 1888 and is buried in the Comstock Cemetery

[49] Neighbor, Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

[50] The Alphadelphia Association was an experiment in socialism which Luke, and many of his neighbors, participated in. More about the Alphadelphia Association can be seen at https://oldfamilyletters.wordpress.com/?s=alphadelphia and http://evermore.imagedjinn.com/blg/alphadelphia-association/

[51] Michigan death records confirm that Cordelia (Murray) Wheaton died on March 25, 1888 and FindAGrave.com reveals she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[52] 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

[53] Shelbyville, Michigan, where D Harris owned and ran the general store

[54] FindAGrave.com confirms that Julia (Chichester) Johnson died April 2, 1888 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[55] Nickname for his wife Sarah

[56] Luke often uses silly words in his diaries; in this case, the boxes are broke

[57] These were the neighbors who attended the seance

[58] These were the departed souls who apparently were contacted

[59] Will Brown’s wife and son, Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown and Ray Brown

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

[61] His horse

[62] John Frank Tomlinson and Walter Gillett, the grandson and grandson-in-law of Luke’s sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[63] Dexa (Strait) Harris and her daughter, Isabelle Harris, who were the wife and child of D Harris’ brother, Jay Harris

[64] His granddaughter, LaVerne Harris, the daughter of Louese & D Harris

[65] His granddaughters, Lela and Bess Brown, the daughters of Nancy & Hank Brown

[66] Michigan death records show that James Lawler died May 4, 1888 and FindAGrave.com, although it shows a date of death as May 1, 1888, shows that he is buried in the Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[67] FindAGrave.com reveals that Florence (Comings) Hodgman died May 10, 1888 in Comstock and she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[68] Ida Mae (Ralph) Johnson. Michigan death records confirm that she died on May 10, 1888 in Comstock and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[69] Athaline (Hunt) Evans. According to FindAGrave.com, she died May 12, 1888 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[70] Other things

[71] His grandson, Charles Clark

[72] Apparently this was the name of Claude’s friend

[73] LaVerne and Floyd Harris

[74] D Harris’ sister

[75] Katherine (Atcheson), Jessie and Blanche Crawford, the wife and daughters of Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[76] From Covington, New York

[77] His wife Sarah’s brother

[78] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[79] Jim’s girlfriend. They married June 10, 1891

[80] Bobtail train? (see June 5^th entry)

[81] Martin Milham, who was the husband of Luke’s late niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham

[82] In other words he took his cow to the bull

[83] Michigan death records confirm that Andrew Krom died June 22, 1888 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[84] According to FindAGrave.com, Ayres B. Raymond died July 25, 1888 in Comstock, Michigan and is buried in Ford Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[85] July 25, 1847, Luke married Jerusha Crittenden. He had been engaged to her, but then Minerva Payson came to town and Luke broke his engagement to Jerusha and married Minerva. Minerva died just four years after they were married. He then married his first love, Jerusha, who died just a little over a year later. Luke then married Sarah Crawford. In the evenings Luke would go to the cemetery and play his violin at the graves of his first two wives

[86] Believe he is referring to his neighbor, Mary (Smith) Flanders, the wife of Edwin Flanders

[87] Margaret “Maggie” (Kirchbaum) Powers

[88] Alvin and Charles Jedediah Lee were the sons of Luke’s first cousin, Charles Lee & Juliana Davis. Charles Jedediah Lee (C. J. Lee) was married to Mary Webb and her sister was Ada Webb. Charles, Mary and Ada lived in Australia and were visiting family. There are many letters written by C. J. Lee to Ethan in 1889 regarding the binder

[89] FindAGrave.com shows that Sarah Jane Galligan, wife of Charles P. Galligan, died August 21, 1888 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[90] Former neighbor, Catherine (Van Arsdale) Powlison, who by 1885 was living with her son Isaac Powlison’s family in Cass County, Dakota Territory. FindAGrave.com confirms that she died August 23, 1888 and is buried in Wheatland Cemetery, Wheatland, Cass County, North Dakota

[91] Neighbor, Elizabeth Caroline Allerton. She would marry Luke’s grandson, William Clark, on December 24, 1896

[92] His wife Sarah’s nephew Eugene & Minnie (Crooks) Crawford and their children, Eugene and Grace

[93] Cullen Albert Towne, Charles Towne’s brother

[94] His niece and her family, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

[95] John Frank Tomlinson, George & Marion’s son

[96] Nellie (Tomlinson) Gillett, George & Marion’s daughter

[97] Pavilion, New York

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

[99] His niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[100] Believe this to be Mary C. Nobles, a cousin of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha Crittenden

[101] Believe this to be Cynthia (Bishop) Sprague, the wife of William Sprague who was a cousin of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha Crittenden

[102] Cousin of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha Crittenden

[103] Karl & E. Grace (Tomlinson) Jewett; Grace was George Tomlinson’s niece

[104] Polly was a nickname for Mary (Clapp) Earl. Michigan death records show that she died in Comstock on October 20 (not the 10^th), 1888, which could be a typo. FindAGrave shows that she is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[105] George and Ansel “Lee” Milham

[106] Neighbors, Erasmus & Eunice (Wood) Towne

[107] Former neighbor, Isaac Powlison, who by 1885 was living in Cass County, Dakota Territory. FindAGrave.com confirms that he died October 22, 1888 and is buried in Wheatland Cemetery, Wheatland, Cass County, North Dakota

[108] Believe this to be Frank Crossfield, the husband of Theodore Earl’s sister, Alva (Earl) Crossfield

[109] Grover Cleveland won a plurality of the popular vote, but Republican Benjamin Harrison won the election with a majority in the Electoral College, becoming the 23^rd President of the United States. Harrison swept almost the entire North and Midwest

[110] Believe these to be neighbors, daughters of the late John & Amanda (Worden) Allen

[111] Michigan death records confirm that he died November 27, 1888 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. 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 Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda

[112] Michigan death records confirm that Dr. Homer Hitchcock died December 7, 1888 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo

[113] Michigan death records confirm that Amos Allen died in Kalamazoo on December 20, 1888 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[114] His grandson, William Clark

[115] Shelbyville, Michigan

[116] Michigan death records confirm that Alice Williams, age 22, died in Pavilion, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan and an accompanying obituary states she died of Typhoid Fever

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Luke Keith’s 1887 Diary

1887 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Mercury 2 Abz.[2] Jim[3] went to Kalamazoo after Sarah.[4] Very cold day good sleighing. I not very well.

Jan 2 – Mercury 22 below zero. At home all day. Ethan and Hannah[5] went down to Marts.[6]

Jan 3 – Mercury 5 Abz. Went over to burg.[7] Went to Mr Ralphs. Bot violin strings 50¢. Hannah went up to cals[?].

Jan 4 – Mercury 5 below. Made wood box. Charley Rowland here in afternoon.

Jan 5 – Mercury 19 Abz. Pleasant. Hannah went over to Mr Ralphs. Lois[8] came over. Lizzie Crawford[9] came to H A Browns[10] to day from Chicago.

Jan 6 – Went down to Mrs Streators[11] took Hannah down there. Cold stormy day. Bes[12] here. Went down to Mrs Browns.[13]

Jan 7 – Mercury 15 below. Jim and Henry Webster went to scotts[14] to sell his Buggy. He no see Webster not much.

Jan 8 – Jim went to Kalamazoo took stove down to H A Browns. Cold day. Bessy here. Mr Clapp Died to night.[15]

Jan 9 – Jim and Henry Webster went up to Scots. Stor[m]ing day snowed all day. Some folks out to church.

Jan 10 – Mercury 8 Abz. No work to day. Cold day. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Jan 11 – Mercury 10 below cold and blustrous quite a blizzard. Theodore[16] called in in fore noon. Cold blustring day. Mr E. M. Clapp buried to day. Ethan came home.

Jan 12 – Mercury 26 Abz in morning. Jim went up to scotts to take Harness to Webster.

Jan 13 – Mercury 33 Abz. Went over to burg in forenoon got Ethans shoes mended. Not so very cold some rain this Evening.

Jan 14 – At home. Not much work. Liz Crawford came.

Jan 15 – Went over to burg got my boots tapt 60¢. Henry Crawford[17] came from Jackson.

Jan 16 – Henry and Lizzie here. Hannah at home. George Blake and wife[18] here in Evening.

Jan 17 – Mercury 26 Abz stormy been mooch wind, snow flies, very much bluster. Henry went back to Jackson.

Jan 18 – Mercury 10 below. Cleaned up wheat. Very cold blustring day. Lizzie here. Lots snow hard sleighing. Gallusha braking road.

Jan 19 – Old Mr Schroder Died this morning.[19] Cap Rowlands sister Buried to day.[20] Went over to Mill took 5½ bushels wheat. Jerusha Rowland.

Jan 20 – Went over to burg in morning after grist. Ethan went over in afternoon. Bill[21] got down in snow drift broke harness.

Jan 21 – Went over in afternoon got harness mended. Old Mr Schroder buried to day. Jim and Lizzie went over to a dance.

Jan 22 – At home. No work to day. Not very well. Snow melting very fast.

Jan 23 – Mercury 53 Abz. Rainy day, very sloppy, snow running very fast.

Jan 24 – Hannah and Lizzy went to Kalamazoo.

Jan 25 – Went over to burg bot medicine 1.00. Not very well.

Jan 26 – Ethan went over to Burg. Paid Beckwith 1.00 one dollar for medicine Jo Smith chopping to day.

Jan 27 – Went over to burg in morning bot some lard and pork. Jo chopping. Lizzie came back to day.

Jan 28 – Jo chopping. Not very cold.

Jan 29 – Wright & Jim drew wood in afternoon. Nice day. Mr Flanders[22] got ax helves. Mrs Brown and Lizzie here.

Jan 30 – Mercury 19 Abz snows and blows like the mischief. No one here but Lizzie.

Jan 31 – No work. Not very well.

Feb 1 – Cold windy day. Took Lizzie over to cars. She went to Battlecreek to Mrs Grahams. Jim went to Kalamazoo.

Feb 2 – No work. Jim chopping for Mrs Brown.

Feb 3 – Went down to Marts. Nice day some wind. Mart grinding. Got letter from D.[23] Jay[24] very sick.

Feb 4 – Mercury 11 Abz. Jim took Hannah to Kalamazoo she went up to Shelby.[25] Jay very sick. Lois went up to Shelby. Edwin Flanders[26] brot me a Wiandot Rooster.

Feb 5 – Mr Right drew wood in fore noon paid him 75 cts. Hannah up to Shelby.

Feb 6 – At home. Rainy day. Jim went down to Alvin Lees[27] to see Julian Darling.

Feb 7 – Went over to burg after Hannah. She no come. Jay no better. Rany day no work.

Feb 8 – Mercury 55 Abz rainy day. Went over to the office got no letter. Hannah no come. Jim went up to Howlands Burg after Nellie Giddings. Some thunder in morning. Stranger got his violin.

Feb 9 – Mercury[28] very nice pleasant day. Went up to Levy Woods with Cyrus Streator. Nice October day.

Feb 10 – Went over to burg after Hannah. She no come. Fifty years to night I bot my violin paid $30.00.[29]

Feb 11 – Cold stormy day. Went to Shelby Ville. Found Jay no better.

Feb 12 – At Shelby Ville. Jay no better. Jay Died about five oclock P.M.[30]

Feb 13 – At Shelby. Cold day. Nancy[31] and Lois here.

Feb 14 – Left for home half past Twelve noon for home. Nancy went on Eight oclock train. D. started with Jay at twelve noon got home a bout six Evening.

Feb 15 – Jay Buried to day up East on the Old Flanders farm.[32] Ethan paid Mr Lewis $2.00 the minister.

Feb 16 – Pleasant cold day. Ethan, Jim and Lizzy went to Kalamazoo. Ethan and I went up to Jays grave in morning. Ethan paid Oatman $2.00 & Labit[33] $4.00. Mrs Rumry Buried to day.

Feb 17 – Not very well no work. Rainy day. No one here.

Feb 18 – Went up East to grave yard all right. Cold and stormy. Bot coffeepot of Dick Lamkins 80 cts.

Feb 19 – At home all day. Hard cold no work. Hannah came home in Evening.

Feb 20 – At home. No one here. Cool cloudy day.

Feb 21 – Not very well hard cold. Went over to burg in morning. Came around by the grave yard.

Feb 22 – Nice day not very cold. Went up to Levy Woods. Heard from Jay.[34] Old Mrs Olin buried to day. Mary Allerton Married.[35]

Feb 23 – Rather a cool day. Took Ethan over to burg he went up to Shelby Ville. Peat[36] one year old to day. Ed Schram got his ax.

Feb 24 – Not very well. No work but chores. Ethan and Jim up to Shelby Ville.

Feb 25 – Took Sarah over to Lois. No snow some wind.

Feb 26 – Cold stormy day. Hannah came home with Ed Flanders. I went over to burg with Ed after the mail.

Feb 27 – Mercury 13 Abz. At home. Cold blustring day. Mrs Quays team ranaway ran between the cherry tree and fence and stopt them. Schuyler had them.

Feb 28 – Mercury 11 Abz nice pleasant day. Harry[37] took Hannah to Kalamazoo.

Mar 1 – Mercury 46 Abz nice pleasant still day. Jim came home from Shelby Ville. Lou[38] and children[39] all right.

Mar 2 – Not very well no work. Ethan up to Lous.

Mar 3 – Jim went down to Kalamazoo after Hannah and Nancy. Very nice day.

Mar 4 – Pleasant day. Marenas Caywood Killed to day.[40] His horses run with him.

Mar 5 – Not very well no work. Ethan to Lous yet. Jim and Hannah down to Mrs Browns.

Mar 6 – Mr Orra Bush Died.[41] Marenas Caywood buried to day. Jim and Hannah went to funeral. Sate[42] stayed all night.

Mar 7 – I not very well. Jim drew load wood for A. R Skinner.[43] Jim took Sate home this morning.

Mar 8 – Took Nancy over to burg she went home. Took Hannah over to Nells at noon. Mr Lewis called here. Sold him some hens. Nice day. Henry W. Beohr[44] Died to day.

Mar 9 – Took five hens over to Mr Lewis this morning. Hannah went to Allertons.

Mar 10 – At home no work. Jim at home.

Mar 11 – Not very well. Ethan working on moddle.

Mar 12 – No work not much done.

Mar 13 – Cold windy day. Expected Hellen and Adelpha[45] here. No come.

Mar 14 – Hannah went up to Ras Towns.[46] I filed saw for John Wright one for Hat & Libby Taylor.[47]

Mar 15 – Nice pleasant day. Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo. Jim started for Dacota. Took Peter[48] up to culls to Bull.

Mar 16 – Went over to office get no letter from Lou. Floyd[49] some better. Rial Coe died to day.

Mar 17 – Went over to burg. Cold wind some dusty. Pleasant and dry. Ethan making moddle for Whitford.

Mar 18 – Cut some lims of the old apple tree. Went over to burg after mail. Cold wind. Ethan finished moddle.

Mar 19 – Not very well. Not much work but chores. Pleasant weather dry and dusty.

Mar 20 – At home. Pleasant day. Ethan, Hannah and Lelah went up to cemetry where Jay was buried.

Mar 21 – Some colder, rain some in afternoon. Went over to burg. Hannah went to Caywoods this morning.

Mar 22 – Took Sarah to Kalamazoo she went up to Lous. Cold wind disagreable day to be out.

Mar 23 – Pleasant morning. At home not very well. Went over to burg in afternoon.

Mar 24 – No work to day. Cold wind. Sarah up to Lous. Hannah down to Mr Caywoods.

Mar 25 – Cool wind. Went down to Marts to Mill. Hellen and Adelpha. Saw Ruthann York.[50] A. Simmonds paid 25¢.

Mar 26 – At home. No one here but Ethan and my self. Hannah came home in Evening.

Mar 27 – Cold blustring day, snow and wind.

Mar 28 – Mercury 7 Abz. Hannah went up to Net Towns in morning. I put top on violin.

Mar 29 – Cold, mercury 1 below zero at six morning. Ground covered with snow. Clara[51] came down in afternoon.

Mar 30 – Clara went home. Sarah came home. Got one bushel potatoes of Town. Jesse Crawford[52] came up in Evening.

Mar 31 – Not very well no work. Pleasant nice weather.

Apr 1 – Went over to burg. Del and Lois went out to their farm.

Apr 2 – Went over to burg after the mail. Jesse here.

Apr 3 – At home. Hellen, Clara and Adelpha came up.

Apr 4 – At home. Very blustrous, snows and blows like the mischief.

Apr 5 – Cold wind. No work. Jesse here.

Apr 6 – Jesse went home. Claud[53] here. Sate and Delpha came. Sate came over to help Hannah.

Apr 7 – Very nice pleasant day. Albert Town[54] here with Claud. Ethan took Delpha down to Katharines.

Apr 8 – Trimed Trees. Nice pleasant day. Got letter from Lou. Children better. Set Hen to day.

Apr 9 – Nice pleasant morning. At home all day. No work. Not very well. Mary Randal Died to day.[55]

Apr 10 – Went down to Katharines. Nice day. Had some warm Shugar.

Apr 11 – Nice pleasant day. Mary Randal Buried to day.

Apr 12 – Chored round. Repaired pump at barn. Nice warm day. Bot clover seed $2.25 cts.

Apr 13 – Nice pleasant day. Mr W^m Scott Buried to day.[56] Dell came over ground tools. Ethan sowed clover seed.

Apr 14 – At home. Trimed some trees. Went over got Lois. Expected Katharine up she no come. Charley Cory came over.

Apr 15 – Lois here. Trimed some trees. Not much work. Not ver well.

Apr 16 – Not much done but chores. No one here.

Apr 17 – Went to Kalamazoo to Lou she was at Nancys. Some cool wind.

Apr 18 – Pleasant Except cold north East wind.

Apr 19 – Cut some brush in orchard. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Nettie Bradley died in night.[57]

Apr 20 – Del came over and got out manure. Some rain not much.

Apr 21 – Trimmed and grubed out some old peach trees. Ethan went to Kalamazoo with C. Town.[58] Nancy sick.

Apr 22 – Nettie Bradley Today buried to day. Mr Ogden got my Buggy. Hannah went to Pattersons. Whitford got the Eggs $1.30¢ 13 Doz.

Apr 23 – Blustrous morning some snow.

Apr 24 – At home all day. No one here. All well as usual. Nancy sick.

Apr 25 – Not much work chored round some milk cow feed de pig. Cold wind.

Apr 26 – Went to Kalamazoo. Nancy some better.

Apr 27 – Worked roun. Repaired door out the Barn yard. Will Brown[59] plowed garden. Pleasant day.

Apr 28 – Pleasant nice day. Went up to Mr Flanders in afternoon.

Apr 29 – Cleaned up orchard. Took out berry bushes and trimed some trees.

Apr 30 – Burned Apple Tree brush. Charley commenced plowing for corn. Mr Buthere Beckwith buried to day.[60]

May 1 – Had some thunder this morning rained some ledle.

May 2 – Dell came over in afternoon helped draw manure. Nice warm day.

May 3 – Dell came over in morning got the horse and wagon to draw manure.

May 4 – Warm day. Ethan and Hannah went down to Kalamazoo to see about Jesses dress. Put handle on fork.

May 5 – Worked round garden and in shop some. Spread manure on west garden.

May 6 – Charleys man plowed west garden. Ethan painting Blinds for Lois.

May 7 – Fan calve some time. Worked in garden some and went over got carriage repaired. Ethan finished painting Blinds.

May 8 – Mr Cornell Died this morning. I took Bess down to Mrs Browns. Will and Claud went fishing got some trout.

May 9 – Pleasant morning. Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo to see Nancy. Lelah came home with them. Charley planted corn. Mr Byington Died in night.[61]

May 10 – Ethan cultivated strawberries this morning. Mr Cornell buried to day. Nancy had a Sirgical operation performed to day.[62]

May 11 – Not very well to day. Mr Imus buried to day.[63] Jesse Crawford here to day to have her dress made. She went home on 9 30 train.

May 12 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo after Lou. Nancy some better. Warm day.

May 13 – Went over to burg in morning after Lous Trunk and cab. Not much done to day.

May 14 – Hoed in garden in forenoon. Warm day. Mr George Stewart took morphine. He Died Ten Oclock P.M.[64]

May 15 – At home. Very warm and dry. Lou here. Very dry. Want rain. Ina[65] came over.

May 16 – Went over to burg got Postal from Mrs Brown. Nancy better. George Stewart Buried to day.

May 17 – Went over to burg hoed some not much.

May 18 – Plowed out garden and hoed it. Warm and dry we want rain. Wheat begins to show the want of rain.

May 19 – Sarah went to Kalamazoo to take care of Nancy. She went down with Will and Lizzy Brown.[66]

May 20 – Mercury 99 in shade nice warm morning. Hannah went down to Mr Franklins.

May 21 – Mercury 100 in shade at 2 PM. Went over to burg bot groceries. Hannah went to Isherwoods. Whitford got Eggs 9 Doz 90 cts.

May 22 – Mercury 98 in shade. Katharine and Clara came up. Had a nice shower in night. Lou and I went up to cemetry.

May 23 – Mercury 80 in shade some rainy day. Fan dropt a nice Jersey Heifer calf 10 oclock AM. Fan went 290 days.

May 24 – Lou here. I worked in garden. Warm day.

May 25 – Hoed some, killed some bugs. D. came over a while in afternoon. He went home on night train. Hannah came home from Tip Towns.[67]

May 26 – Lou and children went up to Em Ralphs.[68]

May 27 – Hoed some in garden. Cleaned out the cistern. Went over after Lois. Ina came over they stayed all night.

May 28 – Repaired fence up on west line west side of corn. Whitford got 6½ Doz Eggs 65¢. Lois one Doz 10¢. Lou went down to Mr Browns.

May 29 – Sarah came home Ethan went after her. Hiram[69] came with them.

May 30 – At home. Hiram here he left on night train for home.[70]

May 31 – I went and took Sarah back to Kalamazoo. Nancy was getting a long first rate.

Jun 1 – At home. Lou here. Not much done rainy day. Hannah over to Nells.

Jun 2 – Rainy. Lou and the children went over to Mr Ralphs and Lois.

Jun 3 – At home. Sarah down to Kalamazoo. Hoed some in garden. Got some cabbage plants of Hat and Lib.

Jun 4 – Shelled some corn cleaned out corn house. Whitford got 3 Doz and 4 Eggs 33 cts. H. D. Streator[71] paid 25 cts.

Jun 5 – At home all day. No one here. Sarah to Nancys yet. Nancy no better. Rained some in night.

Jun 6 – Mercury 84 in shade rainy some. Ethan and Lois went to Kalamazoo. Lee Milham came up after the long Ladder. 50 years to day I started for Michigan.[72]

Jun 7 – At [home] hoed some chored round. Got two bushels wheat of Charley Town took it to the new mill. Rained in night lightning struck Mr Smiths house.

Jun 8 – Went down to Katharines to see Hellen. She goes to Idaho.[73] Rainy day some.

Jun 9 – Cloudy some mist cool wind.

Jun 10 – At home. Hoed some in garden. Very warm.

Jun 11 – Some hot. Every thing growing very fast. Ina here. Lois to Kalamazoo.

Jun 12 – At home. Warm day, Ethan and Hannah went down to Alvin Lees.

Jun 13 – Very hot. Hoed potatoes. Some dry.

Jun 14 – Finished hoing potatoes in west lot. Will Brown and Fred Kranklin shearing sheep for Charley Town.

Jun 15 – Mercury 94 in shade very hot. Mr David Carson Buried to day.[74]

Jun 16 – Edna Henry and Loulu Crawford[75] came here. Warm very hot.

Jun 17 – Edna and Lu Lu here. Lizzie Crawford came. Had a rain and wind storm. Alvin and George called here.

Jun 18 – Lizzie and Lou went over to Lois stayed all night. Kate Crawford[76] came on noon train.

Jun 19 – Kate and Edna here. Lizzie and Lou over to Lois.

Jun 20 – Edna, Lizzie and Lu Lu here. Very warm. Old Mrs Smith buried to day.

Jun 21 – Cloudy. Lois and Ina here. Mr Peter Johnson Buried to day.[77]

Jun 22 – Edna, Lizzy and Lu Lu went to Battlecreek to day.

Jun 23 – Sarah and I went down to Nancys. Cool day. Nancy is doing well rather on the gain.

Jun 24 – Pleasant and cool in morning.

Jun 25 – Took Ednas trunks over to burg. The girls went up to Lous.

Jun 26 – Nice morning. Finished putting poison on the potatoes this morning.

Jun 27 – Took Sarah over to Lois. I hoed potatoes, cabbage and beans. Ground siccle for Mr Randal.

Jun 28 – Choring. Charley cutting wheat. Started the new Binder. Fixed spear for Morry Randal.

Jun 29 – At home. Not much done. Ethan and Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Hot day.

Jun 30 – Charley Ford cut the wheat East of Barn. Fine day shower in afternoon.

Jul 1 – Hoed some in garden. Warm day.

Jul 2 – Henry Webster and Clarence Thresher Drew in the wheat. Had a nice shower.

Jul 3 – Some rain warm. No one here.

Jul 4 – Went over to burg in forenoon after Lois. Took over 10¾ lbs Butter 10¢ pr lbs. N. L. Randal[78] paid 30¢.

Jul 5 – Very hot. Sarah went down to Mr Randals. I drew in six shocks wheat. Went over to burg.

Jul 6 – Worked in garden some. Lois and Charley[79] came over in afternoon.

Jul 7 – Went down to Mrs Browns got my plow. Ethan plowed out potatoes.

Jul 8 – Very hot. Not much done but chores.

Jul 9 – Hoed in garden some. Willie Giddings raked wheat stubble. Had a nice shower. Whitford got 11 Doz Eggs 10 cts pr Doz.

Jul 10 – At home all day. Not much done.

Jul 11 – Mercury 100 very hot. Hoed some. Very dry. Mr Isted cut Taylor girls wheat. Charley Ford drew in the rakings.

Jul 12 – Mercury 104 in shade. Went over to burg in morning. Got the Ring bolt to buggy mended 20¢.

Jul 13 – Mercury 106 in shade. Worked in shop some painted springs. Took out tooth for Theodore. Ethan, Will Brown and the girls went to Gull.[80] Lizzie Crawford started for Iowa on night train.

Jul 14 – Very hot and dry. Not much done. Dixie Harris[81] came over. D and Lou here. Hank and Nancy came up on Six oclock train.

Jul 15 – Nancy here feeling very comfortable. Very hot and dry Mercury runs from 93 to 104 now days.

Jul 16 – Mercury 105 in ___. Not much work now days. Pastures getting very dry.

Jul 17 – Mercury 108 in shade. Nancy and children here.

Jul 18 – Whitford got Eggs 10½ Doz 1.05. {Robbie Henry died to day.}[82] Hoed some in garden. Mr Pattersons Barns burnt this morning.

Jul 19 – Sick. No work to day. Very dry. Grass in yard all dried up.

Jul 20 – Mercury 100 in shade. Not very well.

Jul 21 – Took some corn to mill. Very hot. Not much done. Worked on cradle some.

Jul 22 – Finished cradle. Put springs on wagon seat. Nancy down to Mrs Browns.

Jul 23 – Nancy down to Mrs Browns. Hoed some in garden. Went over to burg at noon. Hot and very dry.

Jul 24 – Mercury 85 some wind. Hannah at home to day. Hannah went to Caywoods.

Jul 25 – 94 in shade. Went over to burg got tyre set on one of the carriage wheest [wheels] 80¢. Bot Horse Net 75¢. 40 Years to day Jerusha Cruttenden and I wer married in Covington Gensee Co. N Y.[83]

Jul 26 – Worked round house and garden. Very hot and dry hardly a green thing to be seen. Pastures all dried up.

Jul 27 – Cut drilled corn in forenoon. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. No rain yet some. Mercury runs high.

Jul 28 – Very hot 100 in shade. Not much work to day. Nancy and bes here. Ethan casting chain links for machine.

Jul 29 – 98 in shade hot and dry no rain. Pastures dry as a Powder house.

Jul 30 – 100 in shade. Mrs Freer here. I hoed some in garden.

Jul 31 – 100. Mrs Streator called here. Very hot day. All at home.

Aug 1 – 106. No work. Gefired hot. No signs of rain. Hannah over to Fans sewing for Nell Wilkins.

Aug 2 – 100 very dry hot as ever. Worked on Jims violin repairing top making it thinner. Went over brot Lois over.

Aug 3 – 98 very hot. Nancy went down to Mrs Browns at night. Hank came up. Ina over here.

Aug 4 – 100. Went down to Mrs Browns repaired her tables. Had a little shower.

Aug 5 – Repaired pump at Barn. Cooler in afternoon. Cloudy looks some like rain.

Aug 6 – Not much done. Worked in shop. Some cooler to day.

Aug 7 – At home all day. Worked on Jims violin.

Aug 8 – Took Eggs over 11 Doz 11 cts pr Doz. Bot Hat 20¢.

Aug 9 – 103, 2 PM in shade. Worked in Barn repairing floor. Hannah went up to Mr Powers. Mrs Randall here in Evening. Coes Barns Burnt this morning.

Aug 10 – 104, 2 PM in shade. Repairing Barn floor. Shortened Harry Streators Gun Stock. Had a nice rain in night.

Aug 11 – 80 in shade. Worked in barn. Cloudy rain some.

Aug 12 – Worked in Barn repairing floor. Warm and dry. Nancy came just at night.

Aug 13 – Will Johnson thrashed my wheat in afternoon 58 bushels. Nice day.

Aug 14 – Mrs Gilson Brot Hannah home. Had a heavy shower rained hard. Soaked the ground good.

Aug 15 – Nancy and children here. Choring round. Not very well.

Aug 16 – Cleaned up some wheat.

Aug 17 – Went to Mill. Worked round house and shop some.

Aug 18 – Worked in shop on Charleys wagon pole. Nice day.

Aug 19 – Went up to Augusta with Dell[84] to see a farm he talks of trading for.

Aug 20 – Put straw in Barn. Fine day.

Aug 21 – Nancy and children here. Claude not very well. Rained some. Hoed the cabbage.

Aug 22 – Worked in shop some on wagon pole. Hank and Will Plank[85] came on comodation at night.

Aug 23 – Took Hannah down to Katharines. Will and Hank went home. Rained some at night.

Aug 24 – Took Sarah and Nancy over to Barbers.[86] Nice cool day.

Aug 25 – Nancy and children over to Lois they came home at night. Hannah went up to Dar Russels.

Aug 26 – Dug my Early Rose potatoes. Katharine and children came up to day. Hannah came home. Stella came down just at night.

Aug 27 – All here Nancy and children. Nice day.

Aug 28 – Fine day. No one here except famlee &c.

Aug 29 – Went over to burg three times. Hannah went to Shelby Ville.

Aug 30 – Warm day. Cut weeds on East road up the hill. Taylor Girls thrashed their wheat and oats.

Aug 31 – Will Brown thrashed to day. Warm day. Nancy went home. Right got his saw 25¢. Mr Forbush Died in night.[87]

Sep 1 – The Boys cut the corn south of orchard to day.

Sep 2 – Some ledle rain this morning. Not much done. Mr Forbush buried to day.

Sep 3 – Choring round. Not very well.

Sep 4 – Went up to cemetry to Jays grave and to Lois.

Sep 5 – Went over to R. G Smiths office got some writing done.

Sep 6 – Ed Rowland got Eggs 8 doz 90¢. Sarah went up to Hats in afternoon.

Sep 7 – Took Sarah over to Hoags[88] in afternoon. Charly finished cutting the corn.

Sep 8 – Not much done fixed cutter and painted some. Nice pleasant day. Bina Earl[89] here in afternoon.

Sep 9 – Some rainy in morning. Not much work.

Sep 10 – At home. Went over to burg in fore noon.

Sep 11 – At home all day. Went down to Will Browns in morning he went to Kalamazoo.

Sep 12 – Went over to burg in morning at noon and at night got.

Sep 13 – Went over to burg. Got grapes of Mrs Blake. Went over at noon got thill[90] for carriage 40¢. Jo York hurt today.

Sep 14 – Put thill into the carriage. Mrs Hall called here. Ed Rowland go[t] 5 doz & 3 Eggs 63 cts.

Sep 15 – Fine day. Worked on cutter and carriage thill. J. M. York Died To day.[91]

Sep 16 – Put trimmings on carriage thill and painted cutter. Shanyard called here I gave him 20 cts.

Sep 17 – Painting some and choring round.

Sep 18 – At home. No one here to day.

Sep 19 – Painted cutter thills. Went over to burg at noon. Sold some Butter to Cord Beach for cash no trade.

Sep 20 – Pleasant morning. Working round choring and doing nothing.

Sep 21 – Went to Kalamazoo called on Jess Turner.[92] Rained some. Ida Newton Died this Morning.[93]

Sep 22 – Ida Newton buried to day. Pleasant afternoon.

Sep 23 – Nice day. Worked on road shoveled dirt all day.[94]

Sep 24 – Worked in shop on Caywoods machine. Worked on road in afternoon. Went over to Burg in Evening to Colin Concert[?].

Sep 25 – Went down to Katharines. Some cool. All well.

Sep 26 – Worked on road. Finished triming the trees on the crossing down near the Bridge.

Sep 27 – Worked round house and Barn. Husked some ledle corn.

Sep 28 – Sarah went over to Fan Towns.[95] I dug potatoes in afternoon.

Sep 29 – Not very well. Went up to Mr Flanders[96] got load Apples. Rainy night. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns.

Sep 30 – Not much work. Rainy day.

Oct 1 – Rainy not very cold. At home. All well.

Oct 2 – Sate came over at night to help Hannah.

Oct 3 – Went over to burg in morning after Lois. She came over to help Hannah.

Oct 4 – Hannah started for Ohio went with the Olin Excursion. She went to Ravana.

Oct 5 – Worked on hog pen. Ethan went to Kalamazoo with Charley Town after lumber for Binder frame. No got some.

Oct 6 – Very nice day. Worked in hog pen. Went over to burg in morning. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to Fair. Sold 7½ lbs Butter to Beach 20¢ pr lb.

Oct 7 – Mercury 74 in shade rainy forenoon. Sarah went over to Forbush.[97] I worked on Hogpen. Nice afternoon.

Oct 8 – Mercury 72 at noon. Put Dick in pen. I set glass in windows at school House in afternoon. Set 10 lights.

Oct 9 – At home all day. Not go to church to day. Rained hard all day.

Oct 10 – Went to Mill took four bushels wheat.

Oct 11 – Drew in corn and husked some. George Tomlinson[98] came stayed all night.

Oct 12 – Took George to Kalamazoo he went to Allegan.[99] We went up to the Asylum saw William Tomlinson.[100] Mary Plank[101] came up with _____.

Oct 13 – Husked some corn drew the pumpkins cut some wood and drew it down. Fine day. Sarah cleaning house. Took up and cleaned the carpet.

Oct 14 – Bot nine clamps 45¢. Dug potatoes in forenoon. Went over to burg. Let Beach have Butter and Eggs 7 Doz 15¢ pr doz Butter. Mary came up here.

Oct 15 – No work lame Back. Nice day. Mary went down to Mr Simmons in afternoon. I am 74 years old to day Got potatoes of from ____.

Oct 16 – At home Went to down to Katharines.

Oct 17 – Worked round barn husked some corn.

Oct 18 – Choring Around getting ready to go to Shelby Ville.

Oct 19 – Ethan took us to Kalamazoo. We went up to Lous in Evening.

Oct 20 – At the Harris House in Shelby Ville all right.

Oct 21 – At the Harris house. Split some wood done some chores.

Oct 22 – At Lous. Mrs Plank[102] came down on the One Oclock train.

Oct 23 – At the Harris House. Some windy. Mrs Plank here. Wind blew very hard in Evening.

Oct 24 – Mrs Plank went home on morning train. Nice day. Split some wood.

Oct 25 – At D. D. Harris in Shelby Ville. Boles making cheese. Ball play at Shelby to day.

Oct 26 – Split some wood carry some up stairs. Split some for Engin.

Oct 27 – Working on cupboard and doing chores. Nice day. Mr and Mrs Wood came down a while.

Oct 28 – Working on cupboard some. Warm day.

Oct 29 – Work on cupboard. All well as usual. Cheese factory shut down to day.

Oct 30 – Went up to Mr Woods had a good visit. Went home by the way of Selkirk Lake.

Oct 31 – Started for home on noon train. Went to Kalamazoo stayed to Nancys.

Nov 1 – Ethan came down with the horse. We came home with the horse. Ethan came on the cars.[103]

Nov 2 – I took Lois home in morning. No work to day but chores.

Nov 3 – At work round house and barn. Cut some wood drawed some down.

Nov 4 – Went down to Katharines. Put up her partition in parlor.

Nov 5 – Not mutch done. Very nice weather Indian summer. Very smoky.

Nov 6 – At home. No one here. Fine day. Hannah went up to Mr Flanders in Evening.

Nov 7 – Mrs Elan Huntington buried to day.[104] Worked in barn some. Made plant stand for Mrs Randal 50¢. Went over to burg in Evening to hear Mr Blair lecture.

Nov 8 – Took the old Farming Mill to peaces. Nice dry weather, smoky.

Nov 9 – Went up to the Mill. Got Theodores wrenches to repair the pump. Rain some. Fixed stables so could put the cows in.

Nov 10 – Sorted the Apples. Charley drew in corn and corn fodder. Cold wind.

Nov 11 – Nice pleasant day. Worked round barn. Stoped up some holes put on some shingles.

Nov 12 – Filed saw for I D L Schram.[105] Went up to the mill got load sawdust to put in well.

Nov 13 – Mr Daniels called here a while. Ethan and Hannah went down to H. A. Browns Kalamazoo. Nice pleasant day.

Nov 14 – Fixed the well at the Barn. Very nice day rained just at night. Drawed load of wood.

Nov 15 – Worked round barn some fixed pump. Hannah sewing for Mrs Olmsted.

Nov 16 – [no entry]

Nov 17 – Cut some wood. Went over to burg. Fix pump.

Nov 18 – Went over to burg got plank for platform. Lou came on six forty train.

Nov 19 – Filed saw for Mr Randal 15¢ one for Dod Sumner 15¢. Snowed in the night.

Nov 20 – 28 Abz about 3 inches snow. Nancy, Lelah, Lou, Vern and Floyd here. Mrs T. B. Lord died in the night.[106]

Nov 21 – Nancy and Lelah went home on 11.40 train. Cold wind.

Nov 22 – 38 Abz nice day, smoky. Put rivet in Jays knife one in Lous curling iron. H. D. Streator paid me 25 cts for cutting of gun stock.

Nov 23 – Lois and Sate here all day. Ethan took them home in Evening. Mrs T. B. Lord buried to day.

Nov 24 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot pork 1 barrel of Jo Smith 1.50. Some rainy day.

Nov 25 – Took Lou over to burg in forenoon. Jim came home to day.

Nov 26 – Rainy morning. Jim took Hannah down to Galushas in morning. I went over to burg at night after Lou. Rained hard all night.

Nov 27 – Snowed and rained stormy day. Oscar Caton Carleton and wife[107] called here to see Hannah.

Nov 28 – Cold wind snow some. Jim cut some wood. I drew two loads. Jim went down got cask to seald pigs in.

Nov 29 – Nice day. Killed Dick pig he weighed 282 lbs. Took cask home.

Nov 30 – Chored round. Jim cut some wood. I drawed two loads. Cold wind.

Dec 1 – Took Plymoth Rock Rooster over to Fanny Town and one Wyandot Rooster over for Erastus Town.[108] Charley and Mate Ford[109] here in Evening.

Dec 2 – Got Ethans watch. I cut of Fred Franklins gun stock. He paid 50¢. Went over to Burg at noon took letters over. Rainy day. Robert Emmet played at the Rink to night. Saw Jim Holden.

Dec 3 – Rainy day. Hannah went to Gus Gates to work. Jim cut some wood. I drew two loads wood.

Dec 4 – 54 Abz some sprinkly. Warm for December. Old Mrs Forbush Died this morning.[110] Emily McCausey Died this morning.[111]

Dec 5 – Tim Whitcomb brot 1970 lbs Hay. Nice day for Gustavus Gates.

Dec 6 – Very fine day. I paid Mr Gus Gates $11.75 cts for Hay delivered yesterday. Got Charleys Mill and cleaned up wheat. Mrs Em McCausey Buried to Day.

Dec 7 – Went to Mill took 4 bushels wheat. Bot midlings 75¢. Went to Mrs Forbush funeral in afternoon. Very nice day.

Dec 8 – Oat Hill and Jim chopping. Cut big oak tree. Nice day.

Dec 9 – Jim cut some wood I drew three loads. Nice day. Took Sarah down to Mrs Streators in afternoon. Mrs Hubbard Lewis Died.[112]

Dec 10 – Very stormy rained all day. Jim helped Will Brown Butcher. Mrs H Lewis Buried to day. Snowed in night. Galesburg Bank Burglarised. One man shot. Charley Cory shot one fo [sic] the gang.

Dec 11 – 34 snows some. At home all day. Big times at the burg to day.

Dec 12 – At home choring some. Ethan took Rooster down to Mrs Browns.

Dec 13 – Oat and Jim chopping. Fine weather. Shaved out helve for Fred. Mart called here in Evening Et supper.

Dec 14 – Oat and Jim chopping. Nice day. Went down to Mrs Browns took Hanks cask down to put his Beef in.

Dec 15 – Took [S]arah over to Lois. Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo. Ethans Knife came from Toledo.

Dec 16 – Jim Huling wood for Will Brown. Will Brown brot quater Beef this Evening. Jim Lawrence the Bank Robber that Charley Cory shot in the Burg Died to day.

Dec 17 – Drawed two loads wood. Jim worked for Arthur Armes.[113] The man that Cory shot went Anarbor on the night Express.

Dec 18 – Jim went to Augusta. Ethan went over to Lois.

Dec 19 – Drawed, worked round, worked round barn and house. The Burglar went to Anarbor to day.

Dec 20 – Went over to Burg took over Butter 4½ lbs 18¢ pr lb 1.91 cts for Butter and cream.

Dec 21 – B. Vosburg Died to day.[114] Went over to Burg in morning after Lois. Nice windy day very much cold. Hannah came home Mr H Gilson brot her.

Dec 22 – Cold snowey Blustring day. Dodings but chores to day. Charley Town got Peater to day. Peter had a calf to day.

Dec 23 – Cold blustrous day. Not much done to day.

Dec 24 – Took Hannah up to Mr Flanders this morning. Drawed two loads wood in afternoon. Barnard Vosburg Buried to day.

Dec 25 – At home all day. Not very cold.

Dec 26 – Worked on Theodores cross head. Bess came up here. Mary Ann and Inez[115] came. Charley Town paid $30 Dollars for Pete.

Dec 27 – 33. Took Mary up to Mrs Bateys[116] in morning. Went over to burg in afternoon. Snowed like fun.[117] Got sack Graham flour 25 ____ ____. Arthur Arms Killed Ring to day.

Dec 28 – 10 Abz very Blustrous day snows and blows snow flies. Drew two loads wood. Very cold day. Very few teams moving. Bes came up stayed all night.

Dec 29 – Lizzie came up after Bes. Went over to Burg Bot btl salt $1.00 Bot 88 Diary 25¢. Paid my Tax $7.71 cts.

Dec 30 – At home. Worked in shop some and chored round.

Dec 31 – Put cutter thills on. Went down after Bes. Mr Caywoods Brother road with me as far as Mrs Browns. Rainy afternoon.

MEMORANDA

Sir William Keith 3d Vol 186 Page

——-

[1] Charles Luke Keith Jr., known better, and referred to, as Luke

[2] Above zero

[3] His son, James Clinton Keith

[4] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[5] His son and daughter, Ethan Bradley Keith and Hannah Jerusha Keith

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

[7] Galesburg, Michigan

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

[9] Believe he is referring to Melissa Crawford, his wife Sarah’s niece. Melissa was referred to as Lizzie and was the daughter of Robert and Louisa (McCann) Crawford

[10] His son-in-law, Henry Ambrose Brown

[11] Neighbor, Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

[12] His granddaughter, Bess Brown

[13] Henry Brown’s mother, Matilda (Allen) Brown

[14] Scotts, Michigan

[15] FindAGrave.com shows that Edwin M. Clapp died January 8, 1887 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

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

[17] His brother-in-law, Henry Clay Crawford

[18] Believe he is referring to George & Mary (Forbush) Blake

[19] Michigan death records reveal that William Schroder died in Comstock on January 19, 1887 and Oak Grove Cemetery records show his name as Wilhalm Schroder

[20] Oak Grove Cemetery records show that Jerusha Rowland died in 1887 and is buried in Lot 164; also buried in Lot 164 are Ezra C. (2-21-1824 – 11-25-1908) and Daniel T. (1825-1885). Since her brother Daniel was listed as “insane” in the 1880 census, it is assumed that her brother Ezra is the one referred to as Cap

[21] His horse

[22] His neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[23] His son-in-law, Daniel D. Harris, Jr., known as D or D.D.

[24] His grandson, Jay Keith Harris

[25] Shelbyville, Michigan, where his daughter Lou’s family lived

[26] Edwin Flanders, the son of Joseph Flanders (see footnote to January 29^th entry)

[27] The son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee. Charles Lee was Luke’s paternal first cousin

[28] Luke didn’t enter the reading of the thermometer

[29] Worth about $800.00 in 2019

[30] Jay Keith Harris was 3 years 10 months old when he died of scarlet fever. Michigan death records record his date of death as February 14, 1887 contrary to Luke’s entries. Jay was originally buried on “the Old Flanders farm” but later moved to Oak Grove Cemetery. Family story is that the quinine (I think it was) that they gave Jay during his illness preserved his body. Why they opened the coffin during the move is unknown, but his body was perfectly preserved. They wanted Louese to come and see him, but she refused

[31] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[32] According to the Riverside Cemetery records on RootsWeb.com, Joseph & Amanda Flanders were the pioneer homesteaders of the property

[33] Henry Labbitt, the undertaker. See copy of his ad from the 10-30-1880 Galesburgh Express attached

[34] The Keith family, as well as several of their neighbors, were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances, so it is presumed Luke is referring to his grandson who died on February 12^th. See Nancy Brown’s February 26^th letter which also seems to refer to this

[35] Michigan marriage records show that Mary Allerton married Addison Irving Plank in Galesburg, Michigan on February 22, 1887

[36] Luke’s diary entry for February 23, 1886 reads: Fan had a calf to day it droped 12 noon.

[37] Neighbor Harry Streator

[38] His daughter, Louese (Keith) Harris

[39] LaVerne and Floyd Harris

[40] Michigan death records confirm that Marenus Caywood died on March 4^th in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows he was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan. Sadly, Marenus died only six months after his marriage to Mary Fisher

[41] Michigan death records show that Orra Bush died on March 7 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and FindAGrave.com reveals that he is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[42] Sarah Skinner, the sister of Adelbert Skinner, Luke’s son-in-law

[43] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner

[44] Hard to decipher the last name. Could possibly be Beach

[45] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York, and her daughter, Marion Adelphia York. Helen was the daughter of Luke’s sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley York, and her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[46] Neighbor Erasmus Towne

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

[48] See footnotes to February 23 and December 22

[49] His grandson, Floyd Harris

[50] Ruth Ann (Fletcher) York was the widow of Edwin York. Edwin and Helen (Bradley) York’s husband, Joseph York, were brothers

[51] Clara (Youngs) Clark, the wife of his grandson, Charles Clark

[52] His wife Sarah’s niece, the daughter of Hiram Crawford, Jr.

[53] His grandson, Claude Keith Brown

[54] His neighbor, Albert Towne

[55] Michigan death records reveal that Mary Randall, the 28-year-old daughter of Nathan & Jane Randall, died April 9, 1887 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[56] Michigan death records show that William Scott died in Galesburg of consumption at the age of 56 on April 18, 1887; this conflicts with Luke’s entry that he was buried on the 13^th of April

[57] Michigan death records show that Nettie Bradley, the 16-year-old daughter of Samuel & Harriett (Burgess) Bradley, died of rheumatism of the heart on April 7 in Comstock. Rheumatism of the heart is a complication of rheumatic fever in which the heart valves are damaged. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that begins with strep throat

[58] Neighbor Charles Towne, who was the son of Albert Towne (see footnote to April 7^th entry)

[59] Hank Brown’s brother, Willis Brown

[60] Michigan death records show that Berthier Beckwith died in Charleston, Michigan on April 28, 1887 and FindAGrave.com, although it gives his date of death as May 1, 1887, shows that he is buried in Augusta Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[61] Michigan death records show that Randall Byington died May 8, 1887 in Galesburg, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg

[62] A note written by Nancy’s granddaughter, Dorothy (Recoschewitz) Langmayer, noted that Nancy had one of the first hysterectomies (perhaps in the area). It was performed with the use of chloroform in May of 1884 when she was 32 years of age. Seven doctors assisted in the operation which was performed in Henry and Nancy’s living room. While Nancy was 32 years old in 1884, it is not known if this is the surgical operation Luke wrote about and that Dorothy was mistaken with her information, or if this was some other operation

[63] FindAGrave.com reveals that Alonzo Imus died May 9, 1887 and is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[64] The Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, May 14, 1887, p.2, reported that George Stewart, “age about 70”, died in Galesburg, Michigan, from an overdose of morphine. FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery

[65] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner

[66] Willis & Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown; Willis was Hank Brown’s brother and Matilda Brown’s son (see footnotes to January 5^th and 6^th entries)

[67] Eunice (Wood) Towne, the wife of Erasmus Towne

[68] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

[69] His wife Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[70] Chicago, Illinois

[71] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” Streator

[72] From New York

[73] According to the [September 1887] obituary of Helen’s husband, Joseph M. York, “His health was poor, and he went to Colorado eight years ago, and came here to Idaho with poor health. Mrs. York had remained in Michigan with her daughter all these years, partly to take care of her aged mother and sister’s children, hoping that Mr. York would regain his health and get located so that they would have a home to go to. The daughter had poor health and they made arrangements to come to Idaho, and arrived at Kuna on the 2nd of July last.”

[74] FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[75] Edna (Crawford) Henry and Lulu Crawford were the daughters of his wife Sarah’s brother, Robert & Louisa (McCann) Crawford

[76] Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, the wife of Hiram Crawford Jr. who was the brother of his wife Sarah

[77] FindAGrave.com shows that Peter Johnson died in Galesburg, Michigan on June 18, 1887 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg

[78] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[79] His grandson (and daughter Lois’ son), Charles Clark

[80] Gull Lake

[81] Believe he is referring to Dexa (Strait) Harris, who was the sister-in-law of D. D. Harris (see footnote to February 3^rd entry)

[82] Robert E. Henry, the four-year-old son of Edna (Crawford) and Emmett Henry, and the grandson of Robert & Louisa (McCann) Crawford, died in LeClaire, Scott County, Iowa, from Summer Complaint, which was a major cause of childhood death in the late 1800s. It was usually the result of drinking spoiled milk and caused watery diarrhea and vomiting, bringing on severe dehydration. It occurred chiefly between the months of April and October

[83] Luke was engaged to Jerusha Crittenden/Cruttenden, but then Minerva Payson came to town and Luke broke his engagement to Jerusha and married Minerva on April 23, 1839. They had two children: Lois and Henry. Minerva died just four years after they were married. He then married his first love, Jerusha, on July 25, 1847, however she died just a little over a year later. Luke then married Sarah Crawford on November 14, 1849 and they had six children: Ethan, Nancy, William (died in infancy), Hannah, Louese and James. In the evenings Luke would go to the cemetery and play his violin at the graves of his first two wives

[84] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner

[85] The son of William & Harriett (Groat) Plank who had been neighbors of the Keiths in Comstock until they moved to Grand Rapids in 1873

[86] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[87] Michigan death records show that George Forbush died in Galesburg, Michigan on August 31, 1887 at the age of 81 and FindAGrave.com reveals he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg

[88] Abel & Sarah “Jane” (Mason) Hoag. Luke’s wife Sarah and Jane were good friends

[89] Neighbor, Albina Earl, who was the daughter of neighbors and “shirt tail relative,” Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

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

[91] Joseph M. York, the husband of his niece, Helen (Bradley) York (see footnote to June 8^th entry). According to his obituary, he was attempting to “fix his shoe to the hind wheel of the front wagon. While fixing the shoe to make the wheel run onto it, his horses started and in attempting to catch hold of the lines he made a misstep and fell under the wagon so that the hind wheel of his front wagon and both forward and hind wheels of the trail wagon ran over his legs, partially lengthwise, crushing both bones of his right leg just below the knee and crushing the thigh bone of the left leg. The wheels all ran over his legs in the same place, each one doing its terrible work in grinding the bones and flesh to a jelly. His right arm was caught some way, probably by the shoe, and the flesh torn on the inside from the elbow to the wrist, laying the cords all bare.”

[92] His maternal first cousin

[93] Ida (Lee) Newton, the granddaughter of his first cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[94] The men of Comstock were required to work on the roads a certain number of days based on how many acres they owned. To see more, go to https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2018/06/16/luke-keiths-road-tax

[95] His neighbor, Frances Towne

[96] His neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[97] Assume he means Almira (Dane) Forbush, whose husband George had recently died (see footnote to August 31^st entry)

[98] The husband of Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson, who lived in Perry, Wyoming County, New York

[99] Allegan, Michigan

[100] William’s relationship to George Tomlinson is unknown at this time; research continues

[101] The sister of William Plank (see footnote to August 22^nd entry)

[102] Harriett (Groat) Plank. (See footnotes to August 22^nd and October 12^th entries)

[103] Railroad train cars

[104] Minnesota death records show that Rebecca (Galusha) Huntington died November 4, 1887 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[105] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[106] Even though Michigan death records show the date of death as November 25, 1887, the grave marker has the date of death as November 20, 1887, which corresponds with Luke’s entry. FindAGrave.com shows that Mary (Hawes) Lord, the wife of Thomas B. Lord, died in Comstock and she is buried in Comstock Cemetery

[107] Neighbors, Oscar & Alzina (Rosier) Carleton

[108] Erasmus was the brother of Fanny and Charley, who were all children of Albert Towne

[109] Neighbors, Charles & Mary Ann (Thompson) Ford

[110] Michigan death records show that Almira (Dane) Forbush died in Galesburg, Michigan on December 4, 1887 and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg

[111] No death record was found for Emily McCausey; however, the notes at FindAGrave.com for her husband, Charles McCausey, show he married Emily Wheaton in May of 1865. Her date of death was listed as December 4, 1884, but believe this to be a typo

[112] Michigan death records show that Mrs. A. M. Lewis, a widow, died of Typhoid Malaria on December 9, 1887 in Galesburg, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that Adeliza (Hubbard) Lewis is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg. However, Luke noted in his diary on March 14, 1886 that “Mrs Hubberd Lewis marred to day” to Charles Rimmey in Galesburg. It is unknown why she was referred to as Mrs. Lewis rather than Mrs. Rimmey; research continues

[113] Arthur Arms, paternal first cousin of Hank Brown

[114] Michigan death records show that Barnard Vosburg died in Comstock, Michigan on December 21, 1887 and FindAGrave.com reveals he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[115] Mary Ann (Batey) Keith and her granddaughter, Inez Randall. Mary Ann was the wife of Luke’s nephew, James “Oscar” Keith

[116] Eliza “Betsey” (Olds) Batey, Mary Ann’s mother

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

1885 diary of Charles Luke Keith Jr.

1885 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 18 were first written in the back of his 1884 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1885 diary. Anything from 1884 that clarifies the 1885 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Mercury 2 Abz[2] Blustring. D & Lou [and children][3] came on noon train. Nancy [and children came over. Hank no come],[4] Will Brown and Lizzy,[5] Charley, Lois & Clara & Mrs Youngs,[6] Ella Allen.[7]

Jan 2 – 2 Abz. Went got Lous trunk. [Got Charleys pork barrel.] Ethan,[8] D., Hannah[9] & Jim[10] went down to Mrs Browns[11] in Evening.

Jan 3 – 12 Abz. D. & Lou here. Old Mrs Williams buried to day.[12] Dell[13] got ax in Evening. Em & W^m Ralph[14] here.

Jan 4 – Mercury 23 Abz. At home all day. [Mrs Youngs, Clara and Charley came down.] D. & Lou went up to W^m Ralphs. [Charley and Mrs Youngs went round the squair.]

Jan 5 – Mercury 34 Abz. Cut up Peter.[15] Went over to Burg got oil. [Lou and Jay and Vern.] D. went home. Dell paid for ax $1.00.

Jan 6 – Mercury 38 Abz. Took Hannah down to top of [Browns] Hill. Met Caywood he took her down to his House. Made two pulleys for Theodore.[16] [He sayed to supper. Theodore, Ethan and Jim went over to the Rink to see Burroughs, Austin, Wilson and Durkee skate.]

Jan 7 – Mercury 32 Abz. Sarah[17] and Lou went down to Mrs Browns. Got out stuf for Skinners Pie tongs.[18] [Made one. No storm some to day.]

Jan 8 – Mercury 34 Abz. Worked on tongs. Sarah and Lou went up to Claras. Lois came over after sausage cutter.

Jan 9 – Mercury 34 Abz. Worked on pie tongs. Cool wind no snow on ground.

Jan 10 – Mer 28 Abz. Went over to burg. Took Lou to Mr Ralphs. Got my glasses mended. Mr Randal paid 15¢.

Jan 11 – Mercury 37 Abz in mor. Took Hannah over to over to Lois in morning. Jim and Clark went down to Marts.[19] Rainy day.

Jan 12 – Mer 27 Abz [snows some. Mercury 40 in afternoon.] Went up to mill after oil [no got some]. Shelled some corn. Lou came home in Evening.

Jan 13 – Mercury 8 Abz. Snows some. Jim went up to Frank Bronsons after Hanks Horses. Cold day.

Jan 14 – Mercury 8 Abz. Jim went to Howlands mills. [No snow. Mrs Youngs, Clara, Lois and Charley here in afternoon.] Charley Town[20] drew some straw. Mrs Hitchcock Died [in night.][21]

Jan 15 – Mer 20 Abz. Snowed in night [snow about 4 inches. Went over to burg in morning to help Lou of.] Lou went Home. Hank went to Kalamazoo with her. [Got calendar. Ethan turned Herbs[22] Stand top.]

Jan 16 – Mercury 16 Abz. [Ethan went over to burg in morning to see about moulding his patterns.] Herb came down with his canvasing Book. Cold Blustring Eight inches snow.

Jan 17 – Mercury 10 Abz. Snows and blows snow about 12 inches on level. Cold rough day.

Jan 18 – Mercury 10 below zero. Very cold Blustring day. Mrs Hichcock Buried to day. [Bad day for man or beast to be out, say nodings aboud de vimmins.][23]

Jan 19 – Mercury 10 below zero. Took Hannah over to Lois in morning. Cold. Will Clark[24] called here at noon.

Jan 20 – Mercury 15 below zero. At home all day. Theodore and Ethan went to Burg in afternoon. Very cold day.

Jan 21 – Mercury 3 below. No clouds, pleasant, sun came out clear. Went over to Burg in afternoon. Cold and snows. Quite a blustring day.

Jan 22 – Mercury 10 below zero. Took up pork out of Barrel. Put some in crock. Made two Pie raisers. Very much winter.

Jan 23 – Mercury 8 Abz. At home most of the day. Went over to burg in afternoon. Uncle Pat Smith Died to night.[25]

Jan 24 – Mercury 26 Abz. Went over after Nancy in morning. C. I. Clark[26] went to Jackson.

Jan 25 – Mercury 16 Abz. Went down to Katharines.[27] Not very cold, good sleighing. Mrs Bee buried to day.

Jan 26 – Mercury 2 below. Very cold & blustring. Mr W^m Simonds buried to day.[28] Rough day to be out. No work to day a regular Perry[29] day.

Jan 27 – Mercury 3 below. Chored round some. Went over to burg.

Jan 28 – Mercury 11 below 7 P.M. Worked in shop on Herbs Book Box. Will Brown here making tent.

Jan 29 – Mercury 10 Abz in morning. Worked in shop some on Herbs Book box. Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.[30]

Jan 30 – Mercury 24 Abz. Worked on Box. Herb here. Cut out stuff for Box.

Jan 31 – Mercury 4 Abz. Turned pulley for Theodore. Worked on Box. Dick Lamkin came over got rags.

Feb 1 – Mercury 4 Abz. At home. Dell came over. Bess[31] here came over with Hannah last Evening. Pleasant.

Feb 2 – Worked some on Herbs Box.

Feb 3 – Ethan went down to Coes. Not very cold. Worked in shop on Box. Sarah went over to Mr Forbush.

Feb 4 – Mercury 32 Abz. Worked on Box put Box together. Shelled corn.

Feb 5 – Mercury 1 below at 7 PM. Put the Buttens in Herbs Box and smoothed it up. Sarah went over to Lois.

Feb 6 – Mercury 2 below zero. Cleaned out shop and moved the bench. Herb brot clasp for Box.

Feb 7 – Mercury 22 Abz. Jim went to mill. Snowed hard. Chored round. Fastened down Bench. Mr John Milham Died.[32]

Feb 8 – Mercury 7 Abz. Clara and Edna[33] came down. George and Clara Milham[34] came up. Very nice day any way.

Feb 9 – Mercury 4 Abz. Very blustring lots snow. No work but chores. Bad day to be out.

Feb 10 – Mercury at zero. Snows and blows very rough day. Mr John Milham buried to day.

Feb 11 – Mercury 24 below zero. Gefired cold day. No work to day. Snow from one to five feet deep round the house and Barn.

Feb 12 – Mercury. Very cold. At home. No got out some no how.

Feb 13 – Mercury 24 Abz. At home. Shoveled snow dug a road to Mrs Jones. Very cold day. Mr Merryman stayed all night.

Feb 14 – Mercury 22 below. Went up to mill got tongs to fix pump. Went over to burg. Ed Rumery Buried to day.[35]

Feb 15 – Mercury 24 Abz. Went Down to Katharines. Snowed all day. Came home at night.

Feb 16 – Mercury 14 below zero. Theodore came down in morning. Verry bad day, snows, blows. No teams out to day.

Feb 17 – Mercury 18 below in morning. Very blustrous, cold wind. Edwin Flanders[36] Brot glass for schoolhouse.

Feb 18 – Mercury 13 below zero. Shoveled path to Barn. Very much bluster, big snow.

Feb 19 – Mercury 5 below zero. Took Hannah down to Katharines. Very cold, south west wind.

Feb 20 – Mercury 12 below. No work not much. Filed cross cut saw for Jim.

Feb 21 – Mercury 14 below. Took Sarah over to burg. Set glass in school House in morning. Went over after her in evening. Mercury 17 below in Evening.

Feb 22 – Mercury 9 below. Pleasant day. Hanks folks went over to Mrs Browns. Ida Lewis Died about ten oclock PM.[37]

Feb 23 – Mercury 18 below. Spliced Bob pole for Will Brown. Took Hams down to Mrs Browns to smoke.

Feb 24 – Mercury 10 below. Made boulsters for Theodore. I went over to burg. Ida Lewis buried.

Feb 25 – Mercury at zero in morning. Took Sarah over to Hoags in morning. Repaired cutter.

Feb 26 – Mercury 26 Abz. Snowed some in forenoon. Thawing some.

Feb 27 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went up to mill. Theodores Brace and some bolts to Repair cutter beams[?]. Very nice day.

Feb 28 – Worked round. Done chores. Went over to burg. Took Sarah over to Mr Austins.

Mar 1 – Mercury 34 Abz. Went down to Katharines. Quite Blustrous. Dick Lamkins here in Evening.

Mar 2 – Mercury 26 Abz. Put trimmings on Herbs Box. Fixed Hallocks violin Box & and Bow.

Mar 3 – Mercury 15 Abz. Worked on violin and Bow some on Herbs Box.

Mar 4 – Mercury 33 Abz. Worked on Box oiled and varnished.

Mar 5 – Mercury 23 Abz. Varnished Herbs Box and smoothed it. Herb got his Box. Took Sarah up to Claras.

Mar 6 – Mercury 36 Abz. Mended chair some. Snowed. Went up to Claras in afternoon. Pulled Ethans tooth.

Mar 7 – Mercury 17 Abz. Went up to Hat & Libs.[38] Extracted tooth for Libby. Hannah came home. Hallock got his violin 50 cts.

Mar 8 – Mercury at zero. Very pleasant. Mrs Youngs and Clara came down.

Mar 9 – Mercury 24 Abz. Mr Chipman came down after Hannah. Will Clark sold his house to Jane Galligan.

Mar 10 – Mercury 17 Abz. Went over to Burg after Bob pole. Chored round. Dug ditch to Mrs Jones 4½ feet.

Mar 11 – Mercury 5 Abz. Took Hannahs trunk over to burg. She went up to Lous. Dell went up to Ceresco.[39]

Mar 12 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went down to Mrs Browns in morning. Took the Butter. Edna and Madge[40] came here.

Mar 13 – Mercury 21. At home. No work not much. Edna here.

Mar 14 – Mercury 22. Took Sarah and Edna over to Nancys. Edna went home on noon train.

Mar 15 – Mercury 21 Abz. Pleasant day. At home all day, no one here. Verien Youngs and wife[41] at Charleys.

Mar 16 – Mercury 7 Abz. Made whiffletree[42] for Austin Potts 25¢. Ethan went over to Burg got his patterns. Charley Towns man called here.

Mar 17 – Mercury 6 below zero. Made large pulley for Theodore. Cleaned up some wheat to send to mill. Ethan went to Comstock.

Mar 18 – Mercury 16 Abz. Took wheat down to Browns. Jim gone to mill. Charley went to Jackson.

Mar 19 – Mercury. At home, chores. Lois here coloring. Sarah went up to Rogers. Lois went to Charleys.

Mar 20 – Mercury 10 below. John Schroder came over after Lois. Nancy sick. Took Sary[43] over afternoon. Cold day. Lots snow.

Mar 21 – Mercury 13 below. Chores mostly to day. Cold raw weather very windy.

Mar 22 – Mercury. At home. Clara and Maud Addams here.

Mar 23 – Mercury At zero. Drew three loads Hay from Charleys. Went over to burg. Nancy was better. Ethan go castings.

Mar 24 – Mercury 29 Above. Snows and blows regular Blizzard. Mrs Philo Buried to day,[44] Sam Carsons Daughter.

Mar 25 – Mercury 10 Above. Ethan took castings over to Burg.

Mar 26 – Mercury 29 Above. Worked on violin some. Dell came over stayed all night.

Mar 27 – Mercury 38 Above. Worked on violin some. Ethan went to Comstock after castings. Clara and Mrs Youngs came stayed. Mrs Con Youngs Buried.[45]

Mar 28 – Mercury 33 Abz. Chored round cut some wood. Mrs Youngs and Clara here.

Mar 29 – Mercury 35 Abz. At home. Pleasant day.

Mar 30 – At home. Worked on violin some.

Mar 31 – Mercury 34 Abz. Choring round. Mrs Youngs and Clara here. Pleasant day.

Apr 1 – Mercury 31 Abz. Worked in shop some. Mrs Youngs and Clara here getting ready. Took goods over to Burg.

Apr 2 – Mercury 34 Abz. Took Mrs Youngs and Clara over to burg. They went to Jackson. Rained in Evening. Took the Beadstead up to the girls.

Apr 3 – Mercury 28 Abz. Took Sarah over to Burg in morning.

Apr 4 – Mercury 34. Went over to burg in morning. Got one Barrel salt $1.25. Saw D. Harris.

Apr 5 – Mercury __3. Pleasant day. At home. No one here. Strung new violin.

Apr 6 – Mercury 40. Went to town meeting. No work to day but cut one load wood.

Apr 7 – Mercury 35. Went up in the woods drawed one load wood two loads rails.

Apr 8 – Mercury 32 Abz. Took Sarah over to Nancys in morning. Cold North ____wind.

Apr 9 – Mercury 3__. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to get key seats cut. Charley Town drawed straw.

Apr 10 – Mercury 35. Went over to burg in morning. Took castings over. Got Charleys buggy down.

Apr 11 – Mercury 40. Cool damp wind. Charley Town commenced plowing south lot for oats.

Apr 12 – Mercury 34 cold north wind. Went over to Hanks, all there. Hank starts for Galesburg Ill on the 12.20 train Evening.

Apr 13 – Mercury 28. Went over to burg at noon after ___ stuf. Drawed some cornfodder. Charleys man plowing.

Apr 14 – Mercury 31. Cleaned out stable. Put cutter up over stable. Took one load out stable one out of the bay. Snowed like fun.[46]

Apr 15 – Mercury 49 snow about 2 inches deep this morning, all gone before night. Ethan got castings over for the binder.

Apr 16 – Not very well. No work, choring.

Apr 17 – Mercury 32. Went over to burg at noon after the stuff. Drawed some corn fodder. Charleys team plowing. Mr W^m Carey died to day.[47] Not very well. Work round barn.

Apr 18 – Mercury 31. Cleaned out stable. Put cutter up over stable. Drawed one load stuf from out the Bay to a ___. Went over to burg in morning. Went over after Nancy. Nancy and children came.

Apr 19 – Mercury 50. At home all day. Made Hammer Handle for Mrs Brown. Nice warm spring day.

Apr 20 – Mercury 81. Went over to burg. Took Binder castings over to foundry. They put Cell Straits[48] Engine in to Foundry.

Apr 21 – Mercury 66. At home. Worked round barn and garden. Florence and Ray[49] came to Kalamazoo.

Apr 22 – Mercury 75. Worked in shop some in yard and garden. Put some straw in Barn.

Apr 23 – Went over to burg bot ½ Bushel clover seed __3 oz. Charley sowed oats. Hannah and Lou came. Rained some in Evening.

Apr 24 – Charley Clark here to day. I made hoop for Verns[50] Jumping Jack.

Apr 25 – Worked on Herbs Boxes all day.

Apr 26 – At home all day. No one here.

Apr 27 – Worked on Herbs Boxes. Fine day.

Apr 28 – Worked on Herbs Box. Very fine day. Florence and Ray came to day.

Apr 29 – Finished Herbs Boxes this morning. Took Lou over to Mr Ralphs in morning.

Apr 30 – At home. Worked round done chores &c.[51]

May 1 – At home. Went over to burg. Not very well. Sowed clover seed on south lot.

May 2 – At work as usual around. Drawed some old rails of the hill. Put Fan in pasture to day.

May 3 – D. came over after Lou. Mrs John Luce buried to day.[52]

May 4 – D went home left Lou. Florence went home. D. took her down to Kalamazoo.

May 5 – Took Lous trunk over to burg. Rained hard. I went to Kalamazoo with Lou. She went home.

May 6 – Took Hannah over to Mr Ralphs. Bot cloths line 65 cts.

May 7 – Mercury 40 Abz. At home no work. Took finger board of the old violin raised it some higher. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns. Very high wind.

May 8 – Cut walnut tree on hill on road. Hannah and Lois came home. Snowed and blowed. High wind, cold. A Potter died.

May 9 – Cold wind, snows some. Worked round shop and house.

May 10 – Lois and Ina[53] here. Cold wind. Not very nice day.

May 11 – Went over to burg with Nancy. She went over to pay Interest on Mortgage.

May 12 – Went down to Caywoods got strawberry plants. Went down to M. O. Streators[54] got potatoes.

May 13 – At home working round house and garden.

May 14 – Working in garden some choring. Went over to burg.

May 15 – Went over to burg. Working as usual all around the yard and garden.

May 16 – Went down to Charley Fords got six hundred lbs Hay 40 cts pr Hundred ___ 40 cts. Fan went to Bull.

May 17 – Fine day. Went down to Katharines.

May 18 – Went and got Theodore to come down and repair Pumps.

May 19 – Theodore put down W^m Ralphs well. Took Nancys couch over to Burg in morning. Took chairs over at noon. Hat, Lib, Mrs Rogers and Mrs Bradshaw here. Charley Town planted corn.

May 20 – Went over to burg got some things from Hanks.

May 21 – Went over to burg in morning got loads of traps[?] from Hanks, some cider. Jim got stove. Got bark for Bill.

May 22 – Some ledle rainy. Not much work.

May 23 – At home working in garden some not much.

May 24 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Marts. Hailed & rained some, high wind.

May 25 – Mercury __8. Jim and Dell drew rails built fence across East lot at foot of big Hill.

May 26 – Skinner helped me draw rails and lay up fence around the south lot on hill. Jim and Hannah, Nancy and Mrs Brown went to Kalamazoo.

May 27 – Pleasant. Nancy came up here.

May 28 – Cleaned up 5 bushels wheat to take to mill. Went over to burg.

May 29 – Rainy day no go to mill. Went over to burg got screws for Lois doors. Got Ethans patterns.

May 30 – Rainy morning. Went up to Cooks to mill.

May 31 – At home all day. Two tramps stayed here all night. Some rainy day.

Jun 1 – Hot day. Took carpet yarn over to Mrs Atkins. Went round by Staffords. Went over after Sarah in Evening.

Jun 2 – At home. Worked in garden and shop some.

Jun 3 – Made some Lamberqua[?] shelves. Made soap down to Mrs Browns in afternoon.

Jun 4 – Painted chairs and two Boxes. Rained some in afternoon and Evening.

Jun 5 – Not much work. Went over to burg. Took Nancy over. Got lumber for Rack 3.24.

Jun 6 – Worked in garden some. Hot day.

Jun 7 – Hot day. Went up to Levy Woods had a good time. Mr Streator, Syrus and Mrs Streator and Mrs Brown went.

Jun 8 – Cut Dock in East lot and planted sunflower seeds. Went over to burg at noon.

Jun 9 – Worked in garden and round barn.

Jun 10 – Worked in garden and chored round.

Jun 11 – Hoed some. Painted screen doors for Lois. Went down to M. O. Streators to see Rack.

Jun 12 – Choring round. Went down to Mrs Browns got cultivator. Mrs Potts here. Fanny Town[55] called.

Jun 13 – Went on up to mill. Got plank for sawhorses. Went to burg. Hung Lois screen doors.

Jun 14 – Mercury 96. At home all day. No one here. Very hot day.

Jun 15 – Katharine and Mrs Gaffing came up. Jim and Florence came home from Shelby.[56]

Jun 16 – Worked on road[57] in afternoon on hill up by Schrams.

Jun 17 – Worked in garden some. Nancy and children left for Galesburg Ill.[58] Ethan went down brot Hellen[59] up. Florence went Home.

Jun 18 – Went over to Mrs Atkins to see about carpet.

Jun 19 – Warm nice weather. Worked in shop and garden. Went over to burg. Made sawhorses.

Jun 20 – Worked on Ed Rowlands violin. Sarah & Hellen went down to Mrs Browns. Mrs Sylvester Mills Buried to day.[60]

Jun 21 – Nice morning. Had a big rain at noon. Mr Osborns came in storm. Blowed hard.

Jun 22 – Worked on Rack. Went over to burg. Hellen here.

Jun 23 – Went over got bolts and straps. Put rack to gether. Nice day. Lois and Ina came over.

Jun 24 – Went over to burg got bolts. Finished Rack. Lois and Ina went down to Browns.

Jun 25 – Put Paris green[61] on potatoes. Hoed some in garden.

Jun 26 – Went down to Mr Streators to invite them _____ here sunday. Levi Woods and wife are coming down.

Jun 27 – Cut some grass in orchard. Chored round. Went over to burg to see Blake and Forbush. Mrs Burgess Buried to day.

Jun 28 – Mr Levy Wood and wife, Mr Pease and Miss Swift, Mr Streator & wife and Mrs Brown, Mrs Barber all here.

Jun 29 – Jim commenced cutting hay. Will Barber worked. Will mowed on hill. Mr G. F. Warren Buried to day.[62] Lydia Milham died.[63]

Jun 30 – Jim mowed west lot commenced East lot. Ground Mr. Randals knife and turned some pins and filed saw 160¢.

Jul 1 – Went down to Katharines with Hellen. Jim Drawing hay. Lydia Milham Buried to day.

Jul 2 – Went over to burg at noon. Mrs Forbush and Eva Blake came here.

Jul 3 – Mrs Brown went to Reed city.[64] George King Died this morning.[65] Marion Rice died this morning.[66]

Jul 4 – Went over to Burg. D. and Lou came. I bot Hat $1.75.

Jul 5 – George King Buried to day. Marion Rice Buried to day.

Jul 6 – Went over to Burg in morning. Got Jays[67] hair cut. D. went home. Rained hard at noon.

Jul 7 – Jim finished mowing drawed in some. John Williams Brot Bed spring 3.75 cts.

Jul 8 – Took Lou to Kalamazoo she went home. Jim finished Drawing in Hay.

Jul 9 – Chored round done most nodings some vend over mit Burg.[68]

Jul 10 – Charley Town cut some wheat to day. Some warm day. Made churn cover and dash for Katharine. Ethan and Hannah went to Burg.

Jul 11 – Cut some grass in hill lot, hoed some. Hat and Libby, Nell Steel and boy called here.

Jul 12 – Went down to Katharines. Fine day.

Jul 13 – Drawed in some hay from hill.

Jul 14 – Cut weeds round the wire fence. Lois came over.

Jul 15 – Worked round. Lois here. Got some stuf for [didn’t finish entry].

Jul 16 – Made mortar bed. Very hot day. Hannah came home in Evening. Jim left Bill[69] here.

Jul 17 – Sick some not much no work but chores.

Jul 18 – Drawed two loads sand.

Jul 19 – At home all day. Some little shower. Charles Whitcome came over to let me know that Martin Turner was dead.[70]

Jul 20 – Mercury 102 in shade at 2 oclock P.M. Went over to Burg got lime and sieve. Went down to Katharines after Hellen. Martin Turner Buried.

Jul 21 – Mercury 96 in shade. Made mortar.

Jul 22 – Mercury 99. Hoed in garden some. Jeneral U. S. Grant Died Eight forty oclock this morning.

Jul 23 – 96 Abz. Jeneral U S Grant Died 8.40.[71] Worked in garden some.

Jul 24 – Mercury 104 in shade. Not much work to hot. Hoed some. Ground Reaper Knife for N. L. Randal.

Jul 25 – Mercury 94. Took Sarah over to burg in forenoon. Got tyre set on one of the carriage wheels. Had a fine shower just at night. Cow went over the River.

Jul 26 – Mercury 90. Lee Milham came up here. Hellen over to Lois.

Jul 27 – 94. Took plastering of the front room. Jim helped some.

Jul 28 – Mercury 100. Finished cleaning out mortar. Jim and Hannah went to Kalamazoo. Harvey Keith Killed.[72]

Jul 29 – Mercury 102. W^m Ralph thrashed to day. Set some bean poles. Alvin Lee, Julia and Rhoda[73] and her boys here.

Jul 30 – Mercury 97. Set bean poles, hoed some. Went over to burg in Evening to Jim McLary. Very dry.

Jul 31 – Mercury 103 hot and dry. Hoed in garden some. Charley Town cut the oats.

Aug 1 – Worked over the mortar. Had a nice shower between ten & Eleven AM.

Aug 2 – At home all day. Very much rainy day.

Aug 3 – Jim came over put on first coat mortar. Rainy forenoon. Went over to burg at night to mill. Got Lime & stuco.

Aug 4 – Prepaired my Lime for my hard finish.

Aug 5 – No work except chores. Rainy. Charley Town drew the oats.

Aug 6 – Rained some. Not very well.

Aug 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Got paper. Took Sarah to Kalamazoo. She went to Shelby. Went to Katharines took dinner.

Aug 8 – Not very well. No work in particular. Had a heavy thunder shower in night. U. S. Grant Buried.

Aug 9 – Mercury 87. Ethan, Dell and Jim went to Gull Lake. Will Clark, Bill went up to W. W. R___.

Aug 10 – Jim came over put on the finishing coat of mortar. Paid him two Dollars.

Aug 11 – Mercury 100 at noon. Took Went over got Lois at noon. Took Hellen down to Marts in afternoon. Ethan putting on paper.

Aug 12 – Mercury 93. Ethan and Hannah papering front Room. Went over to burg at noon. Clara, Edna & Sam[74] came.

Aug 13 – Mercury 98. Went over to Burg took sive[?] home. B. A. Wing left for Hudson. Bina Earl[75] came down here in afternoon.

Aug 14 – Hellen and I went to to Shelby ville got there ½ past one P.M. Cool day.

Aug 15 – At Shelby. Not very well.

Aug 16 – At Harris House. Myron Rawson preaced there. We went up threw the Indian setlement.

Aug 17 – Went to Wayland to see the Rawson family. Saw Dr Wightman.[76]

Aug 18 – At Harris House. Went over to the mill. Saw them saw. Mr Dunning Died.[77]

Aug 19 – At Harris House as usual. They finished sawing cut all their Logs.

Aug 20 – At Harris House some. Not very well. Rather dull not mutch trade.

Aug 21 – At Harris House. Set some glass. Went up to Mr Woods in afternoon. Had a first rate visit.

Aug 22 – Left Shelby for home. Got home about ½ past three. Fine day rained in night.

Aug 23 – At home. Rainy day. Clara and Edna here.

Aug 24 – Rainy morning. No work. Harry Crawford[78] came here.

Aug 25 – Nice morning. Went over to burg with Clara. Harry left for home on two oclock run.

Aug 26 – At home. Not much work. Not very well.

Aug 27 – At home some nice weather.

Aug 28 – Choring round some work not much. Repairing Eds violin.

Aug 29 – Work on violin put strings on.

Aug 30 – Fine day. Went down to Katharines. All well. Will Brown and Lizzie at home.

Aug 31 – Nice day. Jim commenced plowing west lot. Hannah went to Mrs Browns.

Sep 1 – Very pleasant morning. No work. Not well.

Sep 2 – Sick. No work but chores. Lois and Ina came over.

Sep 3 – Lois and Ina here. Not much work. Lois and Ina went home.

Sep 4 – Not much done. Jim took load hay over to Cap Rowland.

Sep 5 – No work. At home. Mrs Skinner and Sate[79] came to Lois on Evening train. Em got Bedstead.

Sep 6 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went over to Lois. Sate and Lois went to church.

Sep 7 – Mercury 76 in shade. Hannah went to Mate Fords.[80] Ethan and I repaired wire fence in forenoon. Mrs Barlow Died to day.[81]

Sep 8 – Rainy morning cool wind. At home.

Sep 9 – Rainy day. Took Sarah over to Lois. Eleven telegraph men came here stayed all night.

Sep 10 – Jim drew one load wood. Eleven men here to Breakfast. Went over to burg in morning. Dell came back with me. Made Pie lifter.

Sep 11 – Went over to burg in morning after satchel. The boys are digging telegraph holes.

Sep 12 – Hannah went up to Earls. Went down to Schoolhouse got Blackboard cut it off. Mr Fullerton and Mr Nye plastering the House. Telegraph poles set to day _____.

Sep 13 – Mercury 76. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Rained in Evening.

Sep 14 – Went to Mr Flanders[82] in afternoon. Fine day.

Sep 15 – Mrs Streator came down in afternoon. Mr Streator went to burg.

Sep 16 – Nice day. Went up in woods got poles for fence steaks. Ina here. Ethan went over in Evening after Lois.

Sep 17 – Fine day. Ethan, Lois & Hannah went down to Kalamazoo to State Fair.

Sep 18 – Drawed some old rails from south fence laid some bottom rails. Went over to burg in Evening took some eggs 10 Doz & 9 ___ pr Dozen.

Sep 19 – Fine morning. Went to Kalamazoo after florence. She gone up on cars.

Sep 20 – Mercury 84. Florence here. Katharine, Adelpha[83] and George came up. Alvin and Julia called in.

Sep 21 – Mercury 84. Laid up some fence. Nice day. Went to burg after Hannah. She came from Lois.

Sep 22 – Mercury 84. Made some fence. Went over to Burg after Lou. Laid up some fence. Took Hannah up to Mr Flanders.

Sep 23 – Mercury 36. Hannah left for Galesburg Ill. Fine day. First frost. Florence came over.

Sep 24 – I took Florence to Kalamazoo. Nice day. Took dinner at Mr Ketchums.[84]

Sep 25 – Mercury 81. Very warm day. Not much work.

Sep 26 – At home choring. Lou and children here.

Sep 27 – Mercury 84. At home all day. Jim McGrady cut corn to day for me.

Sep 28 – Mercury 84. Picked up scatering corn. Jim finished sowing wheat. Lou went home.

Sep 29 – Mercury 89. Very dry. Sowed some grass seed. Toped some corn. Warm day.

Sep 30 – Mercury 85. Very warm & dry. Bound some corn and toped some. Finished in afternoon.

Oct 1 – Finished binding cornfodder. Rained some ledle mide.

Oct 2 – Took Sarah over to Hoags.[85] Went up to mill no see bub. Rained in night.

Oct 3 – Rainy morning. Went up to mill got some barposts. Went to the woods got some posts.

Oct 4 – At home. Some rainy. Jim had Hannahs carriage went up to Scots.[86]

Oct 5 – Cleaned up wheat. Went to mill.

Oct 6 – Made some bars to East lot. Cool day. Paid Charley Ford $2.40 cts for hay.

Oct 7 – Drew two loads pumpkins. Mary Austin and Mrs Gilbert called in afternoon. Rainy.

Oct 8 – At home. No work done Except chores.

Oct 9 – Nice day. Went to Kalamazoo to see Florence and Carry[87] they left on 2.15 train for home. Telegraph line cut. Heavy frost some ice.

Oct 10 – Pleasant. Picked one load corn.

Oct 11 – Warm pleasant day. Dod Sumners Baby buried to day. Telegraph wire repaired to day.

Oct 12 – Worked round barn some. Will and Lizzy went home to Reed City.

Oct 13 – Went down to Mrs Browns to get apples. To wet no got some. Jim drew two loads wood. Sarah went to Lois. Rainy day.

Oct 14 – Cleared out corn House. Husked load corn. Nice day.

Oct 15 – Not much work chored round. My Birth day 72 years old ___.

Oct 16 – Work round most Evry thing. Put apples in cellar. Went over to the Rink in Evening first time. Lou sent Neck tie. Sylvester sisters.

Oct 17 – Mercury 70. W^m Ralph picke the apples. Took them to cider mill. Very nice day. Mr Raneys team run a way.

Oct 18 – Very nice day. At home all day. No one here. Lots folks went to church.

Oct 19 – Rainy day. Worked in barn cleared out stable for new floor.

Oct 20 – Some rainy. No work out side. Took 10.85 lbs hay over to A. Hoag ½ ct pound $5.42½ cts.

Oct 21 – Went over to Burg in morning after Lois she no come over. Went over to burg in Evening got pay for hay. Paid Williams $3.75. Hoag paid $5.00.

Oct 22 – Went over after Lois she came over. Mrs Skinner and Sate came here. Drew two loads corn. Barkers went to Jackson to day.[88]

Oct 23 – Took Mrs Skinner, Lois and Sate over to burg. Husked some corn picked one load and drew it in. Very fine day.

Oct 24 – Finished picking corn drew it into the Barn. Very nice day.

Oct 25 – Very nice day. Sarah and I went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Oct 26 – Dug some potatoes. Husked ten Baskets corn put into cornhouse. Very nice day.

Oct 27 – Husked Eight Bushels corn put in cornhouse. Went up to Mr Flanders got load apples. Nice day.

Oct 28 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Sold 5 doz Eggs 15 cts pr Doz. Bot 1 bunch shingles 37½ cts put some on cornhouse. Went up to Flanders took Hannah home. Howell died to day.[89]

Oct 29 – Mr Howell taken to Battle Creek. Dell came over. I put some shingles on cornhouse. Worked some on inside.

Oct 30 – Worked on cornhouse in forenoon. Finished husking the corn in barn. Put some shingles on in afternoon.

Oct 31 – Worked on cornhouse in afternoon put on battens on inside. Nice day. Mr Woods folks came down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 1 – First snow 2 inches this morning. Went down to Mrs Browns had a seance.[90] Quin Streator[91] there. Mr Wood & wife there.

Nov 2 – Mercury 36. Dug out west end of stable. This is Fathers[92] 104^th Birth day. We have had sunshine, snow & rain a number of times to day.

Nov 3 – Mercury 47. Put down stable floor. Dell over here to day. Made some pye lifters.

Nov 4 – Mercury 56. Worked in barn in forenoon. Drew one load pumpkins two loads cornfodder. Rained some.

Nov 5 – Mercury 45. Put up cornfodder and pulled turnips. Rainy day. Put Hors and cow in sable.

Nov 6 – Mercury 46 rainy day. Pulled some turnips. Dell over here.

Nov 7 – Mercury 54. Chored round. Went down to Mrs Browns. Jim brot log jack here. Dell dug potatoes.

Nov 8 – Mercury 43. At home all day. Cool cloudy misty day. Sally,[93] my self and Ethan alone to day no one here.

Nov 9 – Mercury 44. Went down to river after prickley ash[94] no find him. Churned most of the day.

Nov 10 – Mercury 48. Went over to burg in morning after pattern timber. Sawed out stuff for Jims log jack.

Nov 11 – Mercury 61. Chored round in forenoon. Went down to M. O. Streators in afternoon. Got some apples.

Nov 12 – Went down to Marts in afternoon came home in Evening dark and rainy. Run into Franklins potato patch. D. A. Frink died at six AM.[95]

Nov 13 – Mercury 34 cold wind. Churned for four hours. Pedler here to dinner. Got two spools linnen cotton thread. Jim brot wood.

Nov 14 – Mercury 32. Chored round. Went over to burg in afternoon. Snow 2½ inches. Jim brot load wood.

Nov 15 – Mercury 32. Sloppy some snow.

Nov 16 – Worked for Skinner in forenoon. Worked on Jims log jack in afternoon.

Nov 17 – Mercury 35. Went to Kalamazoo for Mrs Brown, sent some Apples to Will.

Nov 18 – Mercury 55. Went over to burg in morn. Rainy day. Took my boots over got them tapt 70 cts. Very sloppy bad day.

Nov 19 – Mer 38. Worked in shop making axhelves for Mr Flanders. Mary Flanders[96] called here got some plants.

Nov 20 – Went up to Hat & Libs. Jesse Earl came home with me. Extracted two teeth for him. I went up to Herbs house.

Nov 21 – Mercury 38. Went over & got Lois in morning. I cut out some helves for Mr J Flanders. Will Clark here.

Nov 22 – Mercury 36 pleasant & clear in morning. Went down to Mrs Browns all hands. Cold wind.

Nov 23 – Mercury 35. Cleaned up wheat. Cool and cloudy. Jim took load hay over to Mr Smith Thomas.

Nov 24 – Took 5 bushels wheat to mill. Lois came over. Got corn of Wm Rogers. Changed corn with him.

Nov 25 – Mercury 25. Took corn and wheat over to mill. Got meal & and graham. Lois went home. Nice day.

Nov 26 – Put in thill[97] for Jim. Not feeling very well. Nice day.

Nov 27 – Worked on thill and whiffletree. Painted thill. Solomon Kingsley called here a few moments.

Nov 28 – Made lever to Jims lifting jack. Very fine day. Will Clark helped Jim draw cornfodder.

Nov 29 – Turned handle for Lous pie lifter. Hellen and Clara came here.

Nov 30 – Mercury 50. At home choring around as usual. Very pleasant day. Theodore came down.

Dec 1 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Oscar and Mary[98] came here. Hannah came home. Cool damp day.

Dec 2 – Mercury 34. Oscars folks went up to Mrs Bateys.[99] Lois came over. No snow.

Dec 3 – Mercury 30. Sawed out door stops for Mrs Browns doors. Oscar called here. Mrs Brown came up.

Dec 4 – Mercury 34. Hannah & Lois went down to Mrs Browns. I put sawdust in well. Mrs Bradshaw came down. Snowed just at night. Hannah went to M. O. Streators.

Dec 5 – Made table for Mr Caywood and chored round. Snowed and blowed like fun all night.

Dec 6 – Mercury 5 Abz at 5. At home. Very blustring. Snowed and blowed all day.

Dec 7 – Mercury 9 Below zero. At home. Snowed and blowed some not much. Hannah went to Kaywood.

Dec 8 – Mercury 13 Abz. Snowed very little. Will Clark came over. Rainy afternoon and Evening. Wm Vanderbilt died.[100]

Dec 9 – Mercury 43 in morning. Cold windy day. Went down to Mrs Browns. Put on door stops. Filed saw for Gallusha[?]. Cold night. Jim drew 5/8 cord wood.

Dec 10 – Mercury 18 Abz. Turned Plunger for Charley Towns cistern pump. Dell came over made some pie lifters.

Dec 11 – Mercury 10 Abz. Worked on pie lifters some. Cut out axhelve for Walter Thomson.

Dec 12 – Mercury 12 Abz. Cold day. Skinner came over in morning got his lifters. Two wagons broke down on hill in afternoon.

Dec 13 – Mercury 17. At home. Hannah sick. Cold some sleighing.

Dec 14 – Mercury 2__ Abz. Worked in shop. Made axhelve for Walt Thompson.

Dec 15 – Mercury 23. Made axhelve for mesilf _____ finished Jims log jack.

Dec 16 – Mercury 24. Finished Walts Axhelve. Went down to Marts afternoon. Not very cold.

Dec 17 – Mercury 29 in morning. ____ set saw. Sawed some wood. Went over to burg forenoon. Mercury 35 at night. Put front pannel in cutter.

Dec 18 – Mercury 35. Finished Streators cutter. Walter Thompson choped in afternoon. Nice day.

Dec 19 – Mercury 30. Fine day. Put in glass at schoolhouse in fore noon. Flanders paid one Dollar. Went over to see about tax 7.35.

Dec 20 – Mercury 3. At home. Nice day. Hannah went down to Caywood at night. Mr Hopkins buried to day, a colored man. Elder Hamlin Died.[101]

Dec 21 – Mercury 36 in morning. Very pleasant. Drawed one load wood. Not much sleigh.

Dec 22 – Mercury 39. Drawed one load corn from the field.

Dec 23 – Mercury 49 in morn. Took Hannah over to Lois. Fixed well at the Barn. Very nice day. Elder Hamlin Buried. Snow all gone.

Dec 24 – Mercury 23. Worked on well in afternoon. Took Sarah over to Hoags. Old Mrs Brigham died to day.[102]

Dec 25 – Mercury 20. Worked on well. Cold day. Finished well room. No snow on ground.

Dec 26 – Mercury 9 Abz. Went to Mrs Brighams funeral in forenoon. Went over to Burg in afternoon.

Dec 27 – Mercury 38. At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Nice day no snow.

Dec 28 – Mercury 34. Went to Kalamazoo after Lou. Saw Lum Robinson. Lost whip. Very foggy.

Dec 29 – Mercury 37. Went over to burg after Lous trunk. Drawed one load wood some corn. Some rainy.

Dec 30 – Mercury 36. Went over to burg. Chored round. Nice day.

Dec 31 – Mercury 36. Went took Sarah & Lou down to Mrs Browns. Went over to Burd after. Paid my tax 7.35 cts.

——-

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

[2] Above zero

[3] His daughter’s family, Daniel D. & Louese (Keith) Harris and their children, Jay and LaVerne

[4] His daughter’s family, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown and their children, Claude, Lela and Bess

[5] Hank Brown’s brother and sister-in-law, Willis & Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown

[6] His grandson, Charles Clark; his daughter (and Charley’s mother), Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner; Charley’s wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark; and Clara’s mother, Rhoda (Wood) Youngs

[7] Ella was Hank Brown’s maternal first cousin, the daughter of his Uncle Wilson Allen

[8] His son, Ethan Keith

[9] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[10] His son, James Clinton Keith

[11] Matilda (Allen) Brown; his neighbor and the mother of Hank and Will Brown

[12] FindAGrave.com shows that Louisa (Andrews) Williams died January 1, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[13] His son-in-law (Lois’ husband), Adelbert Skinner

[14] Neighbors, Emaline (Stone) & William Ralph

[15] His hog

[16] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[17] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[18] Apparatus for lifting hot pies out of the oven

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

[20] Neighbor, Charles Towne

[21] While the Michigan death records indicate that Sarah (Ridler) Hitchcock died in Pavilion, Michigan on January 23, 1885, FindAGrave.com shows her date of death as January 14, 1885, which agrees with Luke’s entry

[22] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Herbert Earl, who was the brother of Theodore Earl (see footnote to January 6^th entry)

[23] To say nothing about the women

[24] His grandson, the son of his daughter Lois

[25] While no death record has been found, FindAGrave.com shows that Patrick Smith died January 24, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Luke often referred to the parents of a husband or wife of a family member, or the parent of a neighbor, as Aunt or Uncle

[26] Charles Ira Clark (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

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

[28] No death record has been found, but FindAGrave.com shows that William Simonds died January 25, 1885 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[29] Believe he is referring to Perry, New York, where his niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson, lived

[30] Father of Theodore and Herb Earl (see footnotes to January 6^th and 15^th entries)

[31] His granddaughter, Bess Brown (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[32] The father of Martin Milham. Michigan death records show that he died February 7, 1885 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, also in Kalamazoo

[33] His great-granddaughter, the daughter of Charles & Clara (Youngs) Clark

[34] The children of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham (see footnote to January 11^th entry)

[35] Michigan death records reveal that Edmond M. Rumery, the 18-year-old son of Isaac & Cynthia Rumery, died on February 11, 1885 in Pavilion, Michigan. It is unknown where he is buried

[36] His neighbor

[37] While no death record has been found, FindAGrave.com and cemetery records show that Ida M. Lewis, the 21-year-old daughter of F(ranklin) R. & A(deliza Hubbard) M. Lewis, died February 22, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

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

[39] Ceresco, Michigan

[40] Edna (Crawford) Allen and her daughter, Madge Allen. Edna was the daughter of Edwin Crawford, the late brother of Luke’s wife, Sarah

[41] Varian & Libbie Youngs. Varian was the son of Rhoda (Wood) Youngs and brother of Clara (Youngs) Clark (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[42] 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

[43] His wife Sarah

[44] Oak Grove Cemetery (Galesburg, Michigan) records show that Martha Rebecca (Carson) Philow died March 21, 1885; she was the wife of Joseph Philow

[45] While no death record was found, FindAGrave.com revealed that Jennie M. Young, wife of Converse T. Young, died March 25, 1885 and is buried in Augusta Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan. Census records for Converse Young, living in Comstock, Michigan, list his wife as Jane in 1870 and Mary J. in 1880

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

[47] Michigan death records confirm that William C. Caray died in Charleston, Michigan on April 17, 1885

[48] Neighbor, Lacelle Strait

[49] His daughter-in-law and grandson, Florence (Stall) Keith and Arthur Raymond Keith

[50] His granddaughter, LaVerne Harris

[51] Etc.

[52] No death record was found, but FindAGrave.com shows that she died May 1, 1885 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan. A marriage record shows that Mary Pilot married John Luce on April 2, 1879 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan

[53] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner

[54] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[55] Neighbor, Frances “Fanny” Towne, Charley Towne’s sister

[56] Shelbyville, Michigan, where D. & Lou Harris lived

[57] See “Luke Keith’s Road Tax,”

https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2018/06/16/luke-keiths-road-tax

[58] According to a November 8, 1885 letter from Sarah Keith to Oscar & Mary Ann Keith: Henry Brown went to Galesburg Ill. Nancy and children followed in June. Henry lived out in a gallery for twenty five $25 per week for one year.

[59] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[60] Michigan death records show that Louisa (Terry) Mills died June 18, 1885 in Benton, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[61] A poisonous emerald-green powder used as a pigment, insecticide, and wood preservative

[62] FindAGrave.com reveals that Julius F. Warren (believe Luke mistakenly wrote a G instead of J), who had been a neighbor of Luke’s, died June 27, 1885 in Petoskey, Michigan and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[63] While the Michigan death record shows that Lydia (Turner) Milham died June 1, 1885 in Pavilion, Michigan, information at FindAGrave.com, along with the headstone, confirms that she died on June 29, 1885 and is buried in Indian Fields Cemetery, Portage, Michigan. Portrait and Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan and Van Buren Counties, Michigan, (Chicago, Chapman Brothers 1892, Page 235 & 236) states the following: Mr. [Ambrose] Milham was married May 18, 1854, to Miss Lydia Turner, who was a true and tender wife to him and devoted mother to their children, and their neighbors found in her a kind and sympathizing friend. She was born near Rochester, N.Y., December 29, 1829, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1843. She died June 29, 1885, after a happy married life of thirty-one years.

[64] Reed City, Michigan, about 125 miles north of Galesburg

[65] Michigan death records confirm that George T. King died July 3, 1885 in Galesburg, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com reveals he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, also in Galesburg

[66] Michigan death records confirm that Marion (Wolcott) Rice died July 3, 1885 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com reveals she is buried in Riverside Cemetery, also in Kalamazoo. Marion was Luke’s maternal first cousin

[67] His grandson, Jay Harris

[68] Luke quite often used silly language in his diaries. Possibly here it seems to mean something along the line of done most nothing, some went over to the burg

[69] The family horse

[70] While Michigan death records show his death as June 19, 1885, Riverside Cemetery records confirm that he died on July 19, 1885. Clipped newspaper obituaries show that he died on a Sunday — June 19, 1885 was a Friday; July 19, 1885 was a Sunday

[71] Ulysses S. Grant, 18^th President of the United States

[72] His grand-nephew, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith. See newspaper accounts of his murder and the ensuing murder trial at https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/a-foul-murder

[73] Alvin Lee; his mother, Juliana (Davis) Lee (the wife of Luke’s first cousin, Charles Lee); and his sister, Rhoda (Lee) Wilcox

[74] His granddaughter-in-law, Clara (Youngs) Clark, and her daughter, Edna Clark; however, it is unknown at this time who Sam was

[75] Albina Earl, daughter of Jesse Earl (see footnote to January 29^th entry)

[76] His neighbor, George Ransom Wightman

[77] Levi Dunning. No death record has been found. While the online entry for FindAGrave.com shows he died August 18, 1886, the picture of his marker clearly shows the year as 1885. He is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[78] The son of Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford; Hiram was the brother of Luke’s wife Sarah

[79] Adelbert Skinner’s (see footnote to January 3rd entry) mother and sister, Sarah (Knight) Skinner and Sarah “Sate” Skinner

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

[81] Believed to be Helen (Lindsay) Barlow. While no death record was found, FindAGrave.com shows Helen Barlow died in 1885 and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Jackson, Michigan. 1880 census records show Sidney & Helen Barlow living in Comstock, Michigan

[82] After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. 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 Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda

[83] His sister Catherine’s granddaughter, Marion Adelphia York

[84] Justus Ketchum, the stepfather of his daughter-in-law, Florence (Stall) Keith

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

[86] Scotts, Michigan, which was about 8 miles south of Galesburg

[87] Believe this is referring to Florence’s sister, Carrie Stall

[88] October 22, 1885 Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph coverage of the murder of Harvey Keith relate that Marshall Barker was sentenced to “hard labor at Jackson for the rest of his natural life,” and his brother, William Barker, was sentenced to 25 years in the state prison

[89] Presumed to be Lavander S. Howell. FindAGrave.com shows that Lavander S. Howell died on October 29, 1885 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, Michigan

[90] Both the Brown and Keith families, as well as several of their neighbors, were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances

[91] Neighbor, John Quincy Streator, the son of Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[92] Charles Luke Keith Sr.

[93] Nickname for his wife, Sarah

[94] Northern prickly ash bark and berries were used to make medicine to treat blood circulation problems, joint pain, cramps, low blood pressure, fever, swelling, toothache, sores, ulcers, and cancer, also for sweating out a fever

[95] FindAGrave.com shows that Daniel A. Frink died in Kansas City, Missouri on November 11, 1885; no death record has been found to date. According to the 1860 census, Daniel Frink had been Luke’s neighbor in Comstock, but by 1870 was living in Kansas City

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

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

[98] His nephew and his wife, James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[99] Mary Ann’s mother, Eliza “Betsey” (Olds) Batey

[100] The American railroad magnate and philanthropist who nearly doubled the Vanderbilt family fortune

[101] Michigan death records show that E. H. Hamlin, a Baptist minister, died in Comstock, Michigan on December 20, 1885; no burial record has been found

[102] FindAGrave.com reveals that Marinda (Cole) Brigham, died December 25, 1885 at the age of 89 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

Luke Keith’s 1878 Diary

1878 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Went over to burg[2] after Hannah.[3] Henry[4] came down went over got Nancy.[5] Jim[6] went over got Hank[7] at night. All here to supper. Davis Stafford and Mr Giddings called here.

Jan 2 – Drawed 4 loads wood. Carried Hannah down to Caywoods in morning. Ed Phelps buried to day.[8] Cold day, no snow.

Jan 3 – Pleasant clear morning, mercury 14 Abz[9] in morning. Went over to burg[10] in forenoon with M. O. Streator.[11] Bot two Diarys 40¢ one for Ethan.[12]

Jan 4 – Went to Comstock[13] to mill carried 4 bushels corn, two bushels wheat, two of Buckwheat. Snowed quite hard. Mr Barton[14] thrashed some wheat. Harry Streator[15] drawed load wood.

Jan 5 – Mr Barton thrashing. Mercury 12 Abz at noon. Worked in shop some. Put sills together. Some snow. Mr Burgess little boy buried to day.[16] Went over to burg got Katharines[17] carpet 7.85.

Jan 6 – Snows like fun[18] this morning. At home all day. Charley Whiting[19] got Ernests[20] cutter.

Jan 7 – Mr Barber[21] finished thrashing had Eight bushels wheat. Went up to Foundry in afternoon.

Jan 8 – Cleaned out Barn and chored round. Fastened[?] up north cellar windows. Spect Ida Allerton was married to day[22] dont know sartin.[23]

Jan 9 – Not very cold mercury 31 Abz at ten AM. Some sleighing. Dell and Lois[24] called here on their way to _____. Rained some.

Jan 10 – No sleighing, not very cold. Not very well. No work to day.

Jan 11 – No work, hard cold. Not much done, at home all day.

Jan 12 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah and Mrs Betts[25] went over. Claud[26] came over with us. Mrs Betts stayed. Went down to Katharines just at night. Carried her carpet down. Stayed all night.

Jan 13 – At Katharines stayed all day. Came home at night. Snowed hard. Not very cold. Very good wheeling. Not much mud.

Jan 14 – Went over to burg in morning after Mrs Betts. Not much snow, not very cold. Sarah[27] went over to Hanks in Evening with Browns folks.[28] Mrs McKinney[29] there.

Jan 15 – Worked on boddy some. Not verry cold. Barber drawed some manure. Put one side on boddy.

Jan 16 – Worked in shop on boddy put sides on.

Jan 17 – Went to Comstock to mill carried 3 bushels wheat. Got my Buckwheat flour. Come back by Kates. Got some fresh meat. Dell and Lois came stayed all night. Fine day.

Jan 18 – Fine day. Not much done to day. Skinners[30] went home. Carried Sarah over to burg at night. Very pleasant day no snow.

Jan 19 – Worked in shop on Simmons buggy boddy. Not verry well. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in Evening. Not very cold. Rained in night. Mercury 48 Abz. Stopt milking the cow.

Jan 20 – Rainy, Mercury 38 Abz in morning. Muddy as the Devil not verry deep however. Went over to burg took Hannah over got Sarah and Mrs Betts. Rainy night.

Jan 21 – Rainy morning. Jim commenced going to School to _____ at the burg. Carried Hannah machine over to burg. Paid N. L. Randal[31] two Dollars for order.

Jan 22 – Worked in shop. Put seat bottom together. Not very well. Snows some. Not very well. Went down to Browns. Got some Hogs heads &c.[32]

Jan 23 – XX Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. No get some money. No work in shop much. Filed saw for Jo Flanders.[33] He brot some beef down. Freight train broke into on Prairie just at night.

Jan 24 – Worked on seat. Put the flare on seat bottom. Very pleasant day. Not very well now a days.

Jan 25 – Worked in shop some on Henrys thill.[34] Allen Simmons called here to see his buggy boddy. Bot shelf to stove pipe. Gave two bushels corn for it. Nice day, no snow.

Jan 26 – Put thills together. Fine day. Browns folks and Arthur Arms and wife,[35] Hank and Nancy all here in Evening. Josefine Whiting died in night at 12 oclock.[36]

Jan 27 – At home all day. Mr Barber and Ida[37] came over. Brot Mrs Betts home. Henry came down.

Jan 28 – Nice day. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Henry came down brot money from Frank sent for belts. Josefine Whiting brot in from Chicago and buried.

Jan 29 – Worked in shop. Finished Henrys thill.

Jan 30 – Mercury 27 Abz. Very cold windy day. Worked on seat. No snow on ground. Hard on wheat.

Jan 31 – Worked in shop on boddy. Fine day. Snowy day.

Feb 1 – Went over to burg after money no get it. Worked in shop on buggy boddy.

Feb 2 – Went over and moved Hank into Schroeders house. Received of Township Treasurer 56 fifty six Dollars. Paid Minnie Randall 40 forty Dollars.

Feb 3 – At home all day. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Harry Streator. Mart, Lucy[38] and Jo York[39] came up after Hannah. Mercury 6 below zero.

Feb 4 – Mercury 10 below zero in morning. Filed saw for Erve Hall.[40] Went over to burg in afternoon.

Feb 5 – Drawed one load wood. Mr someboddy put shelf on Nancys stove.

Feb 6 – Worked in shop some. Made jacks for Simmons buggy. Charley Howlet called here from Perry.[41] Said the folks wer all well.

Feb 7 – Worked in shop some. Not very cold.

Feb 8 – Went to Comstock to mill. Carried 4 bushels buckwheat. Snowed like fun afternoon and Evening. Barbers folks[42] over here.

Feb 9 – Blustrous day. Sawed and drawed two loads wood. Hank and Nancy came over stayed all night. Dick Lamkins came down left his violin.

Feb 10 – Cold. Henry called here. He went up to Jo Flanders.[43] Ethan went over to Nancys.

Feb 11 – Worked on buggy pole for Will Brown.[44] Not very cold mercury at zero.

Feb 12 – Worked in shop some on pole. Dick Lamkin got his violin. Went down to A. Browns in afternoon. Some Snow. Folks draw some logs. Mrs Jane Sunderland died to day.[45]

Feb 13 – Fine morning mercury 28 A. Carried Sarah over to burg. Carried Alfleda[46] down to Browns. Worked in shop some. Had Ernests cutter. Ernest had my sleigh to go to Kalamazoo.

Feb 14 – Finished Simmons box to day. Not much sleighing. Filed saw for N. L. Randall. Hung ax for Ernest Whiting. Mrs Jane Sunderland was buried to day at Waukegan Illinois.

Feb 15 – Worked on my wheels. Put the bolt through the floor to hold wheels down. Mrs Sam Kingsley buried to day.[47]

Feb 16 – Went down to browns. Ground axes. Went up in woods sawed some wood. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Sarah Dunning. M O Streator and wife[48] here in Evening. Ethan came home.

Feb 17 – At home. Rain some snow some. Not very cold. No sleighing. Mart and Lucy called here in Evening on their way home from Jims and Puts.

Feb 18 – Went over to burg in morning after oil and paint for Simmons. Hung ax for E Whiting. Got hogs head and shoulder of Whiting. Went down to A Browns in Evening. Saw Skinner at burg.

Feb 19 – H. A. Taylor[49] came down here in morning. Hat and Lib[50] came down in afternoon. Jo York brot Hannah home. Painted buggy boddy.

Feb 20 – Jo went down to Katharines. Went over to burg. Hannah went over to Nancys. Painted buggy box over. Nigger concert at the Methods Epikettle Church this Evening.

Feb 21 – Rainy day. Not much done. Fixed new fiddle some. To paid T C Ford[51] $16 sixteen Dollars. Rained all night. Hank Johnson called here just at night. Rain. W^m Aldrich little Boy buried.[52]

Feb 22 – Rainy morning. Hank Johnson called her at night. Worked in shop some.

Feb 23 – Drawed three loads wood. Not very cold.

Feb 24 – At home all day. Henry came down. Hannah went down to Jacksons.

Feb 25 – Snowed some. Nancy and Claud came over stayed all day.

Feb 26 – Worked in shop on wheels. Fine day.

Feb 27 – Fine day. Finished my wheels. Eugene[53] came to Hanks.

Feb 28 – Very fine day. Went down to Comstock after my grist. Me no get him. Edna[54] came on noon train. Eugene came over with me. Sarah and hannah went over to burg.

Mar 1 – Went over to burg after the girls Nancy, Hannah and Edna. Drawed one load straw to Browns one for myself. Fine day. Ernest got my wagon to go to Kalamazoo with some beef.

Mar 2 – Carried Nancy home. Edna Crawford went home. Chored round all day. Mr Perry Cornell died to day.

Mar 3 – At home all day. Eugene here. All well. Claud went home. Will Brown carried him over. Mr Cornell buried to day.

Mar 4 – Eugene went to day. Ethan went over to burg with him. I choped all day. Fine pleasant day. Rev. Russell Tomlinson of Plymouth Mass Died to day.[55]

Mar 5 – Drawed some wood. Sarah went up in woods.

Mar 6 – Sawed wood in forenoon. Very fine day. Made blocks for Theodore at noon. Rained in afternoon.

Mar 7 – Chopt wood. Cut down black oak. Fine day.

Mar 8 – Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Barber came over. We pulled up the currant bushes. Warm day. Jim went down to Katharines.

Mar 9 – Mercury 74 Abz at noon. Worked in hogpen. Warm day. Went down to Browns at noon got butter and milk. Mart and Lucy came up got some pictures. Ida Barber came over stayed all night. Lucy stayed.

Mar 10 – At home 66 Abz. Lucy and Ida here. Alvin and Ida Lee[56] here. Went over to burg at night after Sarah and Mrs Betts. Ida went home. Rained like fun.

Mar 11 – ____ cut currant bushes in fore noon. Carried Lucy and Hannah over to burg at noon. Verry warm day.

Mar 12 – Worked round. Drawed apple brush out of the orchard. Ethan put up wind mill.

Mar 13 – Went up to Jo Flanders after currant and raspberry bushes. Took dinner at Flanders. Rained some. Ernest got his buggy. Left Skeleton buggy and took my watch.

Mar 14 – Worked round garden. Set currant bushes. Worked in shop some on wheelbarrow. Claud came over helped set currant brush.

Mar 15 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg up in woods. Drawed some wood. Filed saw for Ernest.

Mar 16 – Made fence around west garden. Some misty. Mrs Ralph[57] here all day. Ernest got his Skeleton. Bot 21 lbs Soap grease of Whiting.

Mar 17 – Cloudy morning. Henry here. Hank Brown came over just at night.

Mar 18 – Drawed some wood. Chored round. Worked in shop some. Browns folks here in Evening.

Mar 19 – Trimed appletrees. Fine day. Had a big time at the burg red Ribbon gathering.

Mar 20 – Fine. Pleasant morning. Drawed brush out orchard[?]. Rained some in night.

Mar 21 – Shelled some corn. Turned cloths stick for Nancy. Libby and Emma Allen[58] here to day. They went up to Jim Milhams[59] at night.

Mar 22 – Cloudy morning. Went up to Henrys to mill. Ethan and Claud went. Carried five bushels corn. Very fine day. Jim went down to Howlets schoolhouse to hear Mr Ross read.

Mar 23 – Went over to burg after Nancy. Mrs Betts went over with me. Went to Comstock after my Buckwheat. Fine day. Lois and Will came. Henry came down stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Will carried Mrs Betts over to church. Cold day some snow flying. Henry went up to Mr Flanders. Jim and Will went down to A Browns. Jim got Kicked by a colt.

Mar 25 – Cold morning. Chored round. Allen Simmons brot wheels here to have boxes set. Lois and Will here. Made over Fathers[60] old Jack plane.

Mar 26 – Went over to burg in morning. Got rimmer. Set boxes in wheels. Night Express off the track between Galesburg and Kalamazoo.

Mar 27 – Went over. Carried rimmer home. Got Nancy and Claud. Simmons got wheels. Carried our folks down to A Browns. Warm day. Pulled grubbs some in afternoon west of garden.

Mar 28 – Snowed like fun. Not much done. Lois went over to Nancys at noon. Will went up to Harts. Miner Bellringers in galesburg to night. Blocked out axhelves.

Mar 29 – Worked in shop some. Pulled grubs west of garden. Broke whiffletrees.[61] Sarah went to burg. Lois and Will came back. The publicans caucus to day.

Mar 30 – James went down to Browns got his team. Rolled west lot. Finished pulling grubs in west lot. Democratic caucus to day. Snowed like fun in afternoon.

Mar 31 – At home all day. Lois and Will went home. Not very cold. Isaac Hizer came down to see about trading buggy for watch.

Apr 1 – Went over to burg in afternoon to town meeting. Mrs Betts went over. Fine day. Hannah went down to A. Browns.

Apr 2 – Made soap in forenoon. Burnt brush in afternoon. Very nice day. Went up to mill. Got load bark.

Apr 3 – Pleasant morning. Made soap in forenoon. Chored round in afternoon. Went up to mill. Put in guide. Got some posts. Fine day.

Apr 4 – Worked round. Went up to mill. Put in guide. Got some posts. Went down to Katharines.

Apr 5 – Mended Browns drag. Jo York, Hellen[62] and Katharine came up here. Very fine day. Perry A Pier died this Friday night.

Apr 6 – Went over to burg in morning. Got two ^2/” Dollars for Alfleda four ^4/” for Sarah. Doc Burrows paid me $19.50¢ for county order. Went over to burg at noon. Alfleda went to Waverly. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Apr 7 – Fine day. Carried Claud home just at night. Mrs Nancy B. Betts of Galesburg came home with me. Rev Platt Betts Lady formaly of Omro Wisconsin.[63]

Apr 8 – Pleasant morning. Made guides for Theodore[64] in morning. Went down to M O. Streators got four bushels wheat paid him ten Dollars. Rained in night.

Apr 9 – Rainy morning. Went to Comstock to mill. Rained. Carried four 4 bushels wheat 5½ five and half corn.

Apr 10 – Drawed brush in west lot. Hannah and Nancy came over in morning. Mrs Brown and Jule[65] came up here. Got Whiffletrees mended. Nell Tomlinson married to day.[66]

Apr 11 – Worked round yard and garden. Carried Nancy home at night. Extracted two teeth for Mr George Ralph he paid me two one Dollar.

Apr 12 – Killed my pigs. A Brown helped me. Fine day. Cut up the pigs. Will Wagner here. Jim and Abby had a flare up.

Apr 13 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried Hanks barrels over. Made some soap. Salted my pork. Went over to burg in Evening after Hank and Nancy. They came over stayed all night.

Apr 14 – Hank and Nancy here. Henry came down. I carried Hannah down to Katharines in afternoon. Rained all the while I was gone. Carried Nancy and Claud home in Evening.

Apr 15 – Got out manure. Very fine day. G. A. Lockhart and Will started for Kansas. Lou Bristol[67] went with them. Mrs Randal and Mrs Wagner here in Evening.

Apr 16 – Got out manure. Nice day. Mrs Wagner went home. Mr Browns folks went over to burg in Evening. Jim went over after medicine.

Apr 17 – Pleasant day. Mr Daniels called here to see Ethan. Finished getting our manure. Mr C. S. Haskins brot trees and Raspberries paid him $1.65.

Apr 18 – Set out trees. Barber came over. We plowed gardens. Warm day. Mrs Forbush and Mrs Blake came over here in afternoon.

Apr 19 – Worked round garden. Set out rasberry bushes.

Apr 20 – Cleaned out yard. Cultivated garden. Dug out Elder roots. Mercury 85 Abz 80 Abz.

Apr 21 – Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Warm morning. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Nancy here. Hank and Claud went up to Armes.

Apr 22 – Cloudy looks like rain. Jim plowed in forenoon. Rained in afternoon. No plow.

Apr 23 – Rainy. Went over to burg in morning. Bot springs for wagon seat 2.25. Bot oil and lead 65¢. Bot one bottle Kenady 1.25. Warm.

Apr 24 – Warm. Some rain. Worked round. Painted wheelbarrow. Rany.

Apr 25 – Worked in shop some. Tinkered round house and garden.

Apr 26 – Not much done to day. Worked round choring &c. Wet.

Apr 27 – Some rainy. Drawed out Buckwheat straw. Put it on hill South East of barn.

Apr 28 – Cloudy and some rainy. At Home all day. No one here. All well as usual. No bellyache. All able to eat Heggs[?] &c.

Apr 29 – Charles Lee[68] and Alvin came up in morning. Extracted tooth for Charles. Alvin got one helve. Jim got Tom Brown and plows in forenoon. Brown planted potatoes down North.

Apr 30 – Went down to Charles Lees got 4½ bushels potatoes ½ bushel beets ½ bushel turnips. Got some sage roots of old Mrs King. Dick Barber got two bushels corn he paid one Dollar. Will Brown got Eight bushels corn.

May 1 – Very pleasant morning. Worked round house and garden.

May 2 – Dragged garden west side house. Seeded croquet ground and draged it. Harry Streator and Hellen Randall married this Evening.[69]

May 3 – Planted some potatoes. Henry and Davis Stafford called here. Some rain. Hannah and Katharine came up. Barber plowed some.

May 4 – George plowing some. Planted potatoes up south. No rain to day. Claud and Nancy here. Hank came over. They went down to Mr Browns. Henry came down stayed all night.

May 5 – Henry here to day. I carried Katharine home in afternoon. Cool wind. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in morning.

May 6 – Dug out five stumps south of barn. Barber plowed. Cow calved in night.

May 7 – Chored round. Burnt cornstalks out by barn. Barber plowing. Rain some. Jim went to work for Mr Streator.

May 8 – Rainy morning some thunder. Filled up stump holes South of Barn. Sarah went over to burg with Barber. Claud here. He came over with me in morning.

May 9 – Work round. Split up oak timber. The jobs let to day to fill up north sluice this side river and build bridge across mill brook by Jesse Earls.[70] McLewis builds bridge $153.00. W^m Aldrich fills sluice $16.50 (16.50).

May 10 – Put heads in mawl. George Ives called here. Went up in woods cut some wood. Barber finished plowing. Fine day. Hannah went up to T Fords stayed all night.

May 11 – Frost this morning. Cut some wood drawed two loads. Mrs Betts went over to burg with Doc Wightman[71] in afternoon. Tamer[72] carried Hannah over to Nancys.

May 12 – At home all day. Went over to burg at night after Hannah and Mrs Betts. Browns folks here in Evening. Frost this morning.

May 13 – Frost this morning. Hoed in garden some. Barber draging. Cool day. Mrs Wightman[73] here. Ida Wing came up after Hannah.

May 14 – Chored round in forenoon. Barber draging. Went to Mr Simmons raising in afternoon. He raised a big barn.

May 15 – Chored round. Worked in garden and shop some. Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to Mr Browns.

May 16 – Marked corn ground East of house. Jim came home from Streators. Barber planted corn. Went up to Foundry to see waterwheel.

May 17 – Finished marking corn ground and planted East of house. Barber finished planting. Carried Nancy and Claud home.

May 18 – Went to Kalamazoo to attend a Greenback Convention.[74] Fine day. Rained in Evening. Rainy night.

May 19 – At home. No one here. Some rainy. Hank came over in afternoon.

May 20 – Marked Jims corn ground and planted it. Made calf yard. Hoed strawberries and currant bushes.

May 21 – Worked round hoed some and tinkered round generaly.

May 22 – Repaired wheel. Put in two felloes and set tire.

May 23 – Went up in woods. Sawed some wood. Hoed corn and beans. Jim Ralph brot his buggy down. Worked on that some. Bot suspenders 50¢. Gloves 1.35.

May 24 – Drawed 3 three loads wood. Finished Ralphs spring bar. Painted windmill. Mr Brown got some cabbage plants.

May 25 – Hoed in garden some. Went over to burg. Received twenty 21 one Dollars of Township Treas. Hannah came home. Nancy came over stayed all night.

May 26 – Pleasant. Hank and Nancy went down to Browns.

May 27 – Went up on hill got load sand. Went over to burg. Got lime and hair.[75] Mrs Betts went over to burg.

May 28 – Went over to burg. Got link twister made. Mrs betts came home. Sarah went over. Claud came home with me. Went over at night. Brown plowing south lot.

May 29 – Went over to burg after chain and link twister 30¢. Rained hard. Not well.

May 30 – Sick. Hard cold. No work to day.

May 31 – Shelled lot corn. Went over to burg. Got link hook made. Went down to Browns. Got some wheat 64 and 72 bags in all.

Jun 1 – Fine morning. Went to Comstock to mill 5½ corn 2 Wheat. Mr Brown finished plowing west lot. Went over to burg at night. Took Hank, Hannah & Claud over.

Jun 2 – Cloudy look like rain. At home all day. Not very well. Hard cold.

Jun 3 – Sick. Not much done. Jim plastered corn. Eugene went home on night Express Eugene came on

Jun 4 – Jim cultivated corn. Made new side piece to cultivator. Eugene went home on night Expr. Henry and Davis called. Ethan sent moddle to Washington. Claud went to Coggins to party.

Jun 5 – Hoed some. Plastered corn in garden. Douglass drawed logs for Henry. Mr Brown sowed Hungarian grass. Mrs Skinner and Mr Smiths folks went up to Mr Flanders.

Jun 6 – Worked round house and garden. Went down to Browns got buggy. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jun 7 – Went out to Skinners. Rained some. Found them well. Sarah sick. To paid Susan Giddings $5 five Dollars.

Jun 8 – Dell and I went up to Marshall.[76] I saw the Cleveland wheel. Rainy day.

Jun 9 – Dell and I went over to Whites station and Ceresco.[77] Saw lots of big wheat. Lois and I went over to Mr Coles just at night.

Jun 10 – Traded watch and wheel for buggy. Started for home. Sarah went on cars from Ceresco to Galesburg. I came with the buggys. Got home about 4 oclock. Sarah stayed to burg. Mrs Deyo buried to day.[78]

Jun 11 – Went over to burg after Sarah in morning. Worked in garden some.

Jun 12 – Went over to burg. Got Harness repaired 1.20¢. Hoed some.

Jun 13 – Cultivated corn East of house. Hannah came home.

Jun 14 – Finished cultivating corn. Hoed. Jim put plaster on his corn. He paid Abby Jackson 16 sixteen Dollars.

Jun 15 – Sick. No work. Pedler here to dinner. Lois, Will and Ina[79] came out brot 2 pigs. Mrs Ford, Mrs Perry and daughter called here. Had a fine shower. Warm night.

Jun 16 – Fine morning. Mercury 75 Abz. Lois and Will here.

Jun 17 – Stephen Daken died to day.[80] Hoed corn some. Lois and Will went home. Took calf and wheels.

Jun 18 – Painted buggys. Hoed some corn. Barber cultivating.

Jun 19 – Painted buggy. Stephen Daken buried to day. Mr Browns cousin George Wells[81] here.

Jun 20 – Rainy morning. Worked on buggys.

Jun 21 – Finished varnishing buggy. Rainy day. Put pigs in yard. Harry Streator got hurt. Fell from a tree. Cow went to Bull.

Jun 22 – Rainy morning. Mrs Betts sic. Went over to burg in morning. Old Mrs Beakes[82] Died this morning. Nancy came over.

Jun 23 – Ida Wing came here brot Hannahs things. Hank and Nancy here. Henry came down got violin. Will Brown got his buggy. Nice day. Mrs Betts sick yet.

Jun 24 – Fine morning. Jim gone down to Mr Kings to work. Mr Wells started for home, Mr Browns cousin.

Jun 25 – Mowed grass along the fence up to the woods. Hoed some corn. Went up to mill with Mr Flanders. Saw Mr Cleveland. Went over to burg in Evening. Got Tea from New York.

Jun 26 – Cloudy morning. Hoed some. Ridler got. Went to Kalamazoo in afternoon with Jim. He went down to get some cloths.

Jun 27 – Worked round. Hoed some corn. Barber Sowed Buckwheat. Very hot day 90 in shade. Ethan oiled harness.

Jun 28 – Went up in woods. Got poles to poll beans. Drawed down hay up towards the woods. Mercury 94 in shade.

Jun 29 – Mercury 99 in shade noon. Finished hoing East of house. Ethan went to Mill. Hannah went over to Nancys. George and Marion[83] came on noon train.

Jun 30 – George and Marion here. Carried George down to Katharines. He goes to Chicago. Mrs Barnum died.[84]

Jul 1 – Put Poison on potatoes. Plowed some corn hoed some potatoes. Rained in night. Marion here.

Jul 2 – Rainy morning. Went down to M O. Streator got Six bushels wheat. Shelled some corn. Mrs Barnum buried.

Jul 3 – Rainy. Went to Comstock to mill 4 bushels wheat 8 corn.

Jul 4 – Plowed and hoed corn. Worked round garden. Marion here. Had no doings to Galesburg. Jim and Ethan went to Kalama[zoo].

Jul 5 – Finished plowing corn in East lot. Went up to Henrys mill with Marion. Charley Town[85] cutting wheat.

Jul 6 – Worked round. Went down to Browns in morning got some peas. Old Mrs Lord Died.[86] Carried Marion down to Katharines in afternoon.

Jul 7 – Rainy morning. Mrs Lord buried to day. Henry Rogers called here a while.

Jul 8 – Put Parris Green on potatoes. Had a heavy shower. Lou Burgess drove into Barn. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jul 9 – Mercury 94 at noon. Ethan took Hannah over to burg. Hoed corn and potatoes on hill. Bela Wright cutting wheat. Had a wind storm in night. W^m Blake started his self Binder.

Jul 10 – Hoed some in East end of corn. Put poison on potatoes.

Jul 11 – Went over to burg in fore noon. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Mrs Lydia barber[87] here to dinner.

Jul 12 – Went down to Katharines. Very hot day. Marion here.

Jul 13 – Marion goes to Vicksburg. Plowed out corn and potatoes on hill. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Tamer Ford here. Ethan went over to burg after the whimmen. Charley Baker called here in Evening.

Jul 14 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went over to burg just at night. Hot day. Blake cutting wheat with the Gordon binder.

Jul 15 – Cloudy morning. Finished plowing Jims corn. Plowed some of mine.

Jul 16 – Mercury 98 100. Hoed in garden in forenoon. Had a heavy thunder shower in afternoon. Rained very hard blowed corn down.

Jul 17 – Mercury 98. Spliced my old violin bow made two rings. Barber came over. Hannah went over to Nancys at night.

Jul 18 – Hoed some. Very hot day. Wright drawing wheat. Went down to A Browns got some peas. Jule not much better. Made ring. Went over to burg.

Jul 19 – Mercury 96. Hoed corn in south lot on hill. Went over to burg took over butter and Eggs.

Jul 20 – Hoed corn on hill. Very hot day. Albert Warren called here to see about getting a leg repaired.

Jul 21 – Cool wind. Went down to Katharines after some vinegar. Went up to mill. Saw new waterwheel run. Went by burg took Hannah home.

Jul 22 – Chored round in forenoon. Worked on Albert Warrens leg. Warren here to supper. Mercury 84.

Jul 23 – Finished Warrens peg leg in forenoon. Not very hot 86 in shade at noon.

Jul 24 – Big show at Kalamazoo. Hank Brown and Hannah had Bill[88] and buggy to go to Kalamazoo to show. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jul 25 – Hoed corn all day, finished. Sarah, Mrs Betts and Alfleda went down to Browns. Hot day. Put in cradle finger for Mark Simmons. Rained aall night.

Jul 26 – Rainy morning. Cleared off in afternoon. Went over to burg bot cloth for overhalls. Got big Pictures of Sarah and Luke.[89]

Jul 27 – Pleasant morning. Mercury 79. Plowed out potatoes and corn on hill. Ethan and Henry went down to Katharines. Hannah and Claude came over. Stayed all night. Cool.

Jul 28 – Cool. Mercury 75 in morning. At home. Went over to burg after Sarah.

Jul 29 – Worked round shop and house. Went over after Sarah. Hannah and Claud went home.

Jul 30 – Cleared out old shop and chored round. Went over to burg in Evening after hoop iron.

Jul 31 – Put hoop on pork barrel. Chored round. Put beam in Browns two shovel plow. Cut grass for bill.

Aug 1 – Worked round garden and house. Went up in woods got load wood. Ethan and Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Aug 2 – Went down to Katharines after Blackberries. Got a good lot. Very hot day. Mart cutting grass.

Aug 3 – Not much work to day. Henry Crawford[90] came on noon train. Ethan and Henry went over to Nancys in Evening. Jim went up to Shermans lake to a picknic.

Aug 4 – At home. Henry Crawford here. Very warm day. Carried Henry Crawford to Kalamazoo in afternoon.

Aug 5 – Hoed corn in East lot and pulled weeds. Went over to burg in Evening. Bot boots $3.75 three Dollars and seventy five cents.

Aug 6 – Hoed and pulled weeds. Hank and Nancy came over just at night. Had Isaac Odells Horse and buggy.

Aug 7 – Hoed corn East of garden. Henry got Bill and Buggy to go to Marshall.

Aug 8 – Hoed some in forenoon. Took west side of from west well house. Had a nice shower in afternoon. Mr Flanders took lumber up for Drum to waterwheel.

Aug 9 – Hoed corn East of garden. Henry got home with Bill and buggy. Lois and Dell came out.

Aug 10 – Finished hoeing. Dell, Lois and Harts folks went up to Flanders. I went down to Kings after Jim.

Aug 11 – At home all day. Henry down here. Dell went home. Lois over to Hanks. Dell and Lois no come here.

Aug 12 – No work to day. Not very well. Henry called here. Mr Isaac Clark called here a while. Not very well. Went over to burg in Evening to temperance lecture. Fred Farland lectured. I D L Schram[91] thrashed wheat.

Aug 13 – Worked round house and garden. Nancys girl[92] Born to day about noon. Bird Abbott called here to see about putting in pump. Jim Bayl came with him.

Aug 14 – Carried Sarah over to Nancys. Claud and Ina here. Went up to mill. Got some plank for platform to well. Mrs Betts leg very big some.

Aug 15 – Worked round. Mrs Burdick and Mrs Blake called here. Went over to burg in Evening after rollers. Baker Stilsons[?] Barns burned to day.

Aug 16 – Went up to A. McLarrys after rollers. Got some plank up to Earls. Went up to Henrys in afternoon to see water wheel. A. Brown thrashed wheat.

Aug 17 – Got some wood. John Allen[93] came down to Mr Towns.[94] Tried the Lansing plow. Went down to Kings after Jim.

Aug 18 – Cloudy morning. At home all day. Mrs Betts went to burg. Ethan took her over.

Aug 19 – Barber came over and helped move the old cornhouse. Jim stayed and helped.

Aug 20 – Worked round cornhouse. Went over to Andrew McLarys. Carried rollers up in Evening. Carried Jesses plank home. Henry went to Marshall.

Aug 21 – Worked on buggy house. Put in floor at south End. Ethan went over to burg. I. D. L. Schram had bill to go to Picknic to Shermans Lake. Warm day.

Aug 22 – Mr Norman Durgy Died this morning. Blocked up buggy house. Mr Schram came down to see if he could get Bill to go to Kalamazoo. Mrs Bronson here. Mrs Barber and Ida[95] came over to see about going to Schoolcraft. Becky P[96] died to day. Brown drawed in Hungarian grass.

Aug 23 – Worked round house and buggy house. Wheeled some dirt. O. D. Schram[97] had Bill and wagon to go to Kalamazoo with load onions. Fine day. Mr Durgy buried to day.

Aug 24 – Cloudy morning. Worked round. Got ready to go to Schoolcraft. Fine day. Henry came down stayed all night. Rebecca Plank buried to day. Stephen Loveland[98] died to day.

Aug 25 – Henry and Stafford here. Went over to Schoolcraft to spiritual meeting. Went to Mr Arms,[99] left horses, took the cars to Schoolcraft. Speakers York, Mrs Shephard, Farland, Doctor Thomas, &c. Got home about Eleven. Brown, Streator, Mrs Barber and Ida.

Aug 26 – Ethan went down to Browns after Hannah. Took her over to Nancy. Very fine morning. Stephen Loveland buried to day.

Aug 27 – Went over burg in morning. Carried papers over to Vanburen. Shelled some corn. Repaired wagon wheel. Went over in Evening after Sarah and Lois.

Aug 28 – Went to Comstock to mill. Lois and Ina went down to Katharines. Had a good shower. Got wet some. Got home noon. Lavina York[100] died this morning 5 oclock Am.

Aug 29 – Went to Kalamazoo with Lois. Bot plasters for Ethan and Hannah. Stopt to Katharines. Bird Abbott put in pump.

Aug 30 – Went down to graveyard down by Daleys. Vinny York buried to day. Went over to burg in Evening. Mrs Blake, Mrs Forbush and Mrs Henry Rogers here in afternoon.

Aug 31 – Rainy morning. Not much done to day. Went down to Henry Kings after Jim. Bus carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Claud came over stayed all night.

Sep 1 – Fine morning no rain. Went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Sep 2 – My office Expired as Assessor. Went over to burg. Got money on post office order $20.00. Received of Township Treasurer 48.25¢ forty Eight Dollars and twenty five cents. Paid Abby Jackson forty Dollars. To paid C. L. Keith[101] $2 Dollars. Helped Brown get up clover seed. Dell called here.

Sep 3 – Warm morning. Lois went home. Ethan took her over to burg. Paid T. C. Ford six Dollars and twenty five cents 6.25.

Sep 4 – Went up to Augusta to the Pionere picnic. Lois and Dell went home. Had a nice time. Fine day. Uncle Isaac Clarks Barn burnt, two buggys, lot wheat, &c.

Sep 5 – Pleasant day. Ethan carried some timber up to mill for Henry. Filed saw for Erve Hall.

Sep 6 – Not very well. Chored round. Went over to burg in Evening. Very hot day. Mercury 96 in shade. Ethan finished car.

Sep 7 – Worked on buggy house. Went over to burg at noon after Hite.[102] He no come. Went to see lumber man. Very hot day. Ethan took car over to Hank. Extracted tooth for J. Flanders. Mr Allerton[103] thrashing with steamer.

Sep 8 – Very hot. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg in morning to hear the gospel preached. Went over after Mrs Betts at night.

Sep 9 – Some cooler. Made tightner frame for Theodore Earl. Had a good shower in night. Steamer Billy Rice thrashing for Mr Simmons.

Sep 10 – Some rainy this morning. Went up to sawmill got two loads wood. Carried tightner up. Went down to M. O. Streators got some apples.

Sep 11 – Steamer Billy Rice at Towns to day. Went over to burg to see Barton about cutting corn. Went over after Nancy and Hannah. Fine day. Steamer went up to Jesse Earls.

Sep 12 – Dave and Jay cutting corn. Steamer Billy Rice thrashing up to Jesse Earls. Made steps to East door. Finished cutting corn. Fine day. Paid Barton $2.00 for cutting corn.

Sep 13 – Went over to burg in morning. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over. Got some nails. Went over at noon. Got some butter for Mrs Brown. Rained some. Carried Nancy down to Browns. Uncle Isaac Clark had my buggy to go to Kalam[azoo].

Sep 14 – Worked round. Got Ernests buggy. Hiram and family[104] came on night Express. Fine weather but dry.

Sep 15 – Hite and I went around the squaire. Went to Mr Flanders. Nice day.

Sep 16 – Went up to Henrys in forenoon. All went over to Nancys in afternoon. Hite went down on Night Express. Warm and dry. Bill Blake sowing wheat on North side.

Sep 17 – Went down to Katharines in forenoon. Hot and dry. Went over to burg in Evening after Kate and Hannah.

Sep 18 – Went up to uncle Isaac Clark in morning to carry harness. Carried Hannah up to Jesse Earls. Took Kate around the square. D. C. Crawford and family[105] came and Edna Crawford[106] from Omro.[107]

Sep 19 – Went over to burg. Got D. C. Crawfords Trunk. Hot day. No work.

Sep 20 – No work to day. Cloudy, some rain, high wind. David, Amanda[108] and Kate went to Kalamazoo.

Sep 21 – Nice day. Hannah and Edna went over to Hanks. I took Kate up to Scots station. She went to South bend.[109]

Sep 22 – Fine morning. David and I went up to Yorkville and gul Corners. Took dinner at Benja____ Fox.

Sep 23 – At home. Ethan and David went over to burg. Jim at home. A Brown commenced plowing west lot. Brown sold his hogs.

Sep 24 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over. Carried Amanda and one trunk came back took David and trunk over. They all left for Dowagiac[110] on 12:52 train. Went over in Evening after Sarah. Fide Barber Died.

Sep 25 – Will Barber[111] cut Buckwheat. Rainy day. Edna here. Hannah sewing for Mrs Jesse Earl.[112] Mrs Henry Rogers[113] Died 2 oclock AM.

Sep 26 – Pleasant morning. Will finished cutting Buckwheat. Not very well. Not much work. Went over to burg in Evening after Edna.

Sep 27 – Ethan, Hannah and Edna went to County fair to Kalamazoo. Mrs Henry Rogers buried to day funeral at Methodist Church. Rev Henderson preached. The first time I was in the church.

Sep 28 – Edna Crawford started for Dowagiac Eleven oclock Am. Nice day mercury 65. Ethan, Hannah and Jim went over to Nancys. A. Brown carried some wheat wheat to mill. Will Brown sowed the west lot.

Sep 29 – Went down to Katharines. Came home by Bart gibbs and Flanders. Fine day. Frank Tomlinson[114] came.

Sep 30 – Went over to burg in morning with Frank. Helped J. T. Allerton drive sow and pigs over bridge. Frank and Hannah went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Oct 1 – Will and George Barber[115] came over and got some corn. Frank and Hannah got home before noon. Frank and Ethan went up to Henrys at noon. Mercury 88 At noon. Rained hard in night.

Oct 2 – Fine morning. Frank left on Accomodation 7 oclock 9 minutes AM. Herb Earl[116] brot wheelbarrow wheel down to be repaired. Carried Sarah over to burg at noon. Went up to Henrys mill. Henry came down with me.

Oct 3 – Rimed Jesse Earls wheelbarrow wheel. Jim cut up corn on the hill. Henry went up to Marshall. Mrs Earl and Theodore[117] started for Wisconsin to see Elva.[118] Henry went up to Marshall to see Mr Cleveland.

Oct 4 – Went down and helped Mart fix his cider mill. Cut of the vat. Mr Caywood made cider over to Comstock. Pleasant day.

Oct 5 – Rainy. Overhauled lumber in old shop to get floring. Went over to burg after Salla towards night. Hank and Nancy came over to Browns. Claud went down with Mr Brown.

Oct 6 – Pleasant morning. At home all day. Hank and Nancy came stayed all night.

Oct 7 – Went over to burg in morning after money on post office order. Abbot and Bolls came down and turned pump tops. Went over to burg. Took Nancy home.

Oct 8 – Went down to Brown in forenoon. Picked up apples. Will Barber came over and thrashed Buckwheat. Carried Hannah over to burg at night. She started for Chicago. Rained some.

Oct 9 – Worked round. Cleaned up Buckwheat. Had Eleven bushels. Hannah gone to Chicago. Jim dug potatoes. Fine weather.

Oct 10 – Went over to burg in morning. Got money on order from the boys $30.00. Put casing on wagon _____. Browns folks here in Evening. Went over to Bartons just at night. Rained in night. Jim helping Harry pick apples.

Oct 11 – Some rainy in morning. Hung the Doors to carriage house and put sill at the bottom.

Oct 12 – Ethan tore out Egg cupboard. I tore up floor to stoop and the top to cistern. Carried Sarah over to Nancys at noon. Kit Arms[119] came there. Went over after her in Evening. Jim picked Apples to Streators. Quin[120] came home.

Oct 13 – Went over to burg in morning to see if Hannah came home. Rained some. Mart came up. Katharine and Clara[121] came with him. Hannah came over with Mr Brown, Arthur and Kit.

Oct 14 – Went over to burg in morning. Got money on County Order $19.50¢. Nancy came home. Went up to sawmill got stick timber.

Oct 15 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot lumber siding, sheeting and seeling six Dollars fortyfive cents 6.45. Dave Barton[122] drawed it over. Bot lumber for Skinners wagon box $1.00. I am Sixty five years old to day.

Oct 16 – Window lime and nails 2.55. Went down to Marts after ladder. Jim went down to work. Claud went down to Mr Browns. Went over to burg. Got one stick timber, 4 sticks scantling (4×4) and joist (8×8) $1.40, one Door 150.

Oct 17 – Worked on frame. Framed sill and studding. Drawed some rails on hill put on fence. Solomon Youngs here to dinner. Henry came down stayed all night. Mrs Brown called in.

Oct 18 – Carried Sarah down to Mr Browns. She went to Kalamazoo. Bot stove four Dollars 4.00. Drawed two loads sand. Tore of lath and plaster under stoop.

Oct 19 – Went over to burg in morning. Got bolt to put through sill 20¢. Claud came home with me. Barber put up wall under stoop.

Oct 20 – Put in the studding. Ethan and Hannah, Claud went down to Charles Lees. Henry went up to Mr Flanders.

Oct 21 – Went over to burg. Got lumber studding and one joist, one plank for window sills, boards for casings $__.44¢. Put on sheeting. Mrs Elizabeth Starr came here.

Oct 22 – Went over to burg. Bot nails and irons for sills 36¢ thirty six cents. Finished sheeting and laid some floor. Rainy. Mrs Starr went over to see Cilia Newman.

Oct 23 – Went over to burg. Bot lock buts and screws 33 cents, three lbs nails 10¢ ““.[123] Carried Mrs Starr down to Katharines. Paid Barber fifty cents.

Oct 24 – Went over to burg in morning after Mr Byington. He came over and worked to day. Fine day.

Oct 25 – Hung doors. Went over to burg. Got one 4×4 scantling 16 cents, six lbs nails 21 ““. Carried Byington home in Evening. Paid Byington $2.00. Will and George drawed in buckw.

Oct 26 – Rainy day. Put on water table and sealed up East side of room. Jim came home. Snowed some just at night. Henry putting up his Cidermill at Theodores mill.

Oct 27 – At home all day. Stormy, snow fell about three inches, very damp. Corn all out, some potatoes not dug. Looks quite wintery.

Oct 28 – Went over to burg. Bot nails, can paint and putty 1.16, two bunches Lath. Bot soap and strap 22¢. Lois and Will came. Wiped my ass with a snowball the first time this fall.

Oct 29 – Saw Lind Matthews. Cold morning. Will and Lois here. Went over to burg. Paid for Lath 25¢. Saw quins Lamp. Lois and Alfleda went over to burg. Went down to A. Browns. Bot 12 bushels wheat 87 pr bushel.

Oct 30 – Sarah and Lois went down to T Fords. I worked worked on windows got them rady to case. Rainy afternoon snow all gone.

Oct 31 – Worked on room cased one window and put down base. Cyrus Streator and Franks girl called here. Cold windy day. Lois and Will went down to Katharines. Cap Hodges Buried.[124]

Nov 1 – Went up to Isaac Clarks to rais Barn. Mate Thompson here to day. Mrs Betts came over packed up her goods. She is going to live at the burg. Mr S. Streator called here. Lois here to night.

Nov 2 – Moved Mrs N. B Betts over to Burg. She moved into John Freers house. Pleasant day.

Nov 3 – Fine shiny day. Lois and Will started for home.

Nov 4 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah went over to Nancys. Went up to Mr Flanders got load apples. Pleasant day.

Nov 5 – Made cider in forenoon. Went to Election in afternoon. Very fine day, pleasant. Went down to A. Browns got five bushels wheat.

Nov 6 – Went to Comstock to mill. Rained some. Katharine came up. Finished digging potatoes. Carried five bushels wheat, ½ bushel corn, two bushels buckwheat. Mrs Oakly died.[125] Katharine came up.

Nov 7 – Cut and drawed two loads wood in forenoon. Drawed three loads dirt. Put in the well.

Nov 8 – Drawed two loads dirt put in the well. Carried Sarah and Katharine over to burg. Mrs Oakly buried. Put on some siding. Barber and Will, Mrs King.

Nov 9 – Finished siding the house. Cloudy not very cold. Barber and Will husking. Quin Streator bot out Gus Osgood hook and line.

Nov 10 – At home. Went down to Milhams. Took Katharine and Hannah home. Brot sewing machine home from Mr Streators. Not very cold. Jim went back to Marts to work.

Nov 11 – Rainy day. Went up to pump shop. Got some boards for draft board. Got some vinegar. Came round by the burg. Bot paint brush 50¢. Mortered up hatchway. Went down to Browns got some lime.

Nov 12 – Put up stove in shop. Pointed wall outside and in celler. Went over to burg. Got lumber 16 feet 28. Got some for draft board for Ethan 16 feet 28¢. Paid R. G. Smith one Dollar and fifty cents one years subscription to Kal Gazette.

Nov 13 – Put some shingles on wagon house. Put down platform over well. Carried Sarah down to A. Browns. Went down after her at night. Will Brown drawing apples to cider mill.

Nov 14 – Drawed load dirt to back up well. Got load sand to plaster. Mary Crawford[126] came in afternoon. Nancy here. Hank came over stayed all night. Very pleasant day.

Nov 15 – Hank went Fox hunting in morning. See him Fox, no get him. Carried Sarah and Mary over to burg in morning. Bot two ventilators 75¢.

Nov 16 – Rainy day. Got out stuff for windows. Put stops in one window.

Nov 17 – At home all day. Put stops in one window. Warm day Mercury 46 about noon.

Nov 18 – Drawed in some corn. Carried Sarah over to burg in morning. Charles Lee died Went over to burg after Sarah at night. Turned out some plugs for Herb Earl in Evening. Herb pd me 75 cent for wheelbarrow wheel.

Nov 19 – Went up to shop with Henry in morning. Got some vinegar. Henry helped me put shingles on barn in afternoon. Warm day. Charles Lee died in night.[127]

Nov 20 – Went up to mill got bunch Shingles. Put some on barn. Henry went to Marshall. Sate[128] came here.

Nov 21 – Paid A. Brown fifty cents. Went over to burg. Bot some plastering hair 12¢, bot vest 1.50. Saw Dell. Sate went home. Went down to Charles Lees funeral in afternoon. Rainy. Saw Orrin Lee.[129] Mr dun preached mormon.

Nov 22 – Went over to burg in morning bot Put ventilators in to day. Mixed up mortar. Put the hair in. Ethan went over to Hanks.

Nov 23 – Went over to burg in morning after Barber. He came over plastered the new room.

Nov 24 – Went down to Katharines. Saw Orrin Lee. He gave me a picture of Marks[130] house. Bill runaway, broke the wagon. Jim took us home.

Nov 25 – Cleared of barn floor so Barber could put in the cornfodder. Fine day. Brown hulling Clover had the Steamer Billy Rice.

Nov 26 – Mr Brown finished his clover. Will and George Barber drawn in cornfodder. Cold raw wind. Henry came down from Marshall went up to Mr Flanders. Henry brot a pair of chickens.

Nov 27 – Went up to Henrys mill with Henry. Got some plank to repair wagon. Rained, snowed in afternoon. Not very cold. Henry went to Mr Flanders just at night. Got wall paper 76¢ cts.

Nov 28 – Some sleighing. Thanksgiving. Git no turkee. Sarah and Alfleda went over to Nancys. Henry came down. I went up to mill helped him load up his things. He moved to Marshall. I got iron wheel and vice screw. Went over to Hanks in Evening to an Oyster supper.

Nov 29 – Worked round house and barn. Put board on south end of Barn to shut Doves out. Filed saw for Erve Hall 20¢. Jim came home. Ethan over to Hanks. Hank went to Battle Creek. Not much sleighing.

Nov 30 – Jim and I went up in woods sawed and drawed two loads wood. Ethan came home. Jim went over to burg in afternoon.

Dec 1 – At home all day. Not very cold. Some snow on ground, no sleighing. Hank and Nancy went down to Kates. They had got the well one hundred and forty one feet.

Dec 2 – Husked corn. Cleared out the barn. Not very cold.

Dec 3 – Carried corn into cornhouse in morning. Drawed in corn in afternoon. Filled barn floor. Rained just at night. Not very cold.

Dec 4 – Husked corn. Cleared the barn. Very good day. Had 12½ bushels I think.

Dec 5 – Will and George came over and thrashed Buckwheat had 4½ bushels. We drawed in corn 24 stooks.

Dec 6 – Husked corn. Snowey day snowed all day. Claud here. Not very cold. Very rough day to be out.

Dec 7 – __s cut down tree on south line. Sawed two loads wood.

Dec 8 – Snowed and blowed all day. Carried Jim down to Katharines. He is going to school.

Dec 9 – Worked round house and shop. Filed saw for A. Brown. Put moulding on arch in East room. Shelled corn. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Jim commenced school to day.

Dec 10 – Worked in shop some. Put moulding on arch in East room. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Shelled some corn in afternoon Went to Comstock to mill.

Dec 11 – Went to Comstock to mill in forenoon. Got Buckwheat flour. Got corn ground. Not very good Sleighing not very good. Cut and drawed two loads wood.

Dec 12 – Worked in shop some. Filed and set two saws for Peter Hall, one for A. Brown, one of my own. Put base down in East room. Not very good sleighing.

Dec 13 – Worked round house. Chored round s [incomplete]

Dec 14 – Cut blackoak tree out the North East corner of my woods. Dam thing fell across the fence and broke it down &c.

Dec 15 – At home all day. Jim brot Hannah home. Orrin Lee came up with them.

Dec 16 – Went over to burg. Ethan and Orrin went. We went up to shop to get pattern plank. Orrin got negative. Bot oil and Turpentine 20¢ cents. Ethan painted some. I drawed load wood.

Dec 17 – Went over to burg in morning. Got glass 40 cts for south window. Orrin went up to Mr Flanders. I painted south Door. Henry came home stayed all night. Paid my tax $6.23 cents.

Dec 18 – Mercury 8 Abz cold day. Worked in shop some. Mad frame for small dore in Chamber. Henry went home. Very good sleighing.

Dec 19 – Mercury 14 in morning Abz. Put Door frame in up stairs. Very cold day. Ethan made Will Browns spear. Filed crosscut and buck saws for Will Brown.

Dec 20 – Went up in woods cut one load wood. Went down to A. Browns got Hogs heads and feet. Went over to burg in Evening. Carried 12 Doz Eggs 16 cts pr Doz.

Dec 21 – Very snowey day. Worked in shop made seat for sleigh.

Dec 22 – Went down to Katharine. Carried Jims Trunk. Storing blustring day snowed all day. Marts folks gone to Vicksburg. Orrin went with them.

Dec 23 – Mercury 4 below zero, very cold blustrous day. Not much driving about. One cutter went East. Will Brown drawed one load wood over to Hank.

Dec 24 – Cold and blustrous. No work but chores. Very rough.

Dec 25 – Still it keeps cold. No stirring around. Went down to A. Browns to a Christmas dinner. Very blustrous. Will Planks little girl died to day.

Dec 26 – Went up in woods cut some wood an shoveled snow to get to woods.

Dec 27 – Cold and snows like fun. Shoveled snow and drawed three or four loads wood. Bad day to be out. Ethan went over to burg.

Dec 28 – Worked round house and so forth. Cold day.

Dec 29 – At home all day. Fine day.

Dec 30 – Went to Kalamazoo. Cold day. Bot stovepipe, beadslead. Brot up frames for Hank. Henry came down from Marshall.

Dec 31 – Carried Hanks things over this morning. Went up to sawmill in afternoon. Carried up cross head. Sawed out pattern timber and cutter beams. Henry went over to burg.

Memoranda

Property traded to A R Skinner for Buggy

One silver watch $50.00

One set buggy wheels $14.00

One violin $25.00

One calf $4.00

One wagon box $6.00

——-

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

[2] Galesburg, Michigan

[3] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[4] His oldest son, Henry Lindsey Keith, by his first wife, Minerva Payson

[5] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[6] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[7] Nancy’s husband, Henry Brown

[8] Luke’s 1877 diary entries show that on December 25^th, Ed’s “gun burst, blowed britch pin into his head.” He died December 31^st. FindAGrave.com reveals he was buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[9] Above zero

[10] Galesburg, Michigan

[11] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[12] His son, Ethan Keith

[13] Comstock, Michigan

[14] Neighbor, Samuel Barton

[15] Neighbor, the son of M. O. Streator

[16] FindAGrave.com shows that Willie A. Burgess died January 2, 1878, at the age of 7, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. He was the son of neighbors, Erastus & Hattie (Shattuck) Burgess

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

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

[19] The son of his neighbors, George & Jane Whiting

[20] Believe this to be his neighbor, Ernest Whiting

[21] His neighbor, Richard Barber

[22] Michigan Marriage Records confirm the marriage date; she married Aaron H. Carr in Galesburg, Michigan

[23] Certain

[24] His daughter and son-in-law, Lois and Adelbert Skinner. Lois was his daughter by his first wife, Minerva Payson

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

[26] His grandson, Claude Brown, son of his daughter Nancy

[27] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[28] Hank’s parents, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

[29] Mary (Stephenson) McKinney, a former neighbor of Hank & Nancy Brown from when they lived in Lawton, Michigan, in 1876

[30] Lois and Adelbert Skinner.

[31] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[32] Etc.

[33] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[34] The long shaft between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[35] Arthur & Caroline “Kitty” (Lockwood) Arms; Arthur was the nephew of Ambrose Brown

[36] FindAGrave.com reveals that Josephine (Whiting) Higgs died in Chicago, Illinois, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. Josephine was the sister of Ernest Whiting who is mentioned quite frequently in Luke’s diaries

[37] Richard Barber and his daughter, Ida Barber

[38] His niece (Katharine’s daughter by her second husband, George Clinton Lee) and husband, Lucy (Lee) & Martin Milham

[39] Joseph York, the husband of Katharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York, by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[40] Believe this to be his neighbor, Irwin I. Hall

[41] Perry, New York, where George & Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson lived; Marion was his niece

[42] Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber’s family

[43] After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. 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 Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda

[44] Ambrose & Matilda’s son, Willis Brown

[45] Jane (Comfort) Nelles Sunderlin was his mother-in-law Nancy Betts’ sister

[46] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of Luke’s brother, Harvey Keith

[47] Michigan Death Records show that Betsy (Judson) Kingsley died February 13, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan

[48] Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[49] Neighbor, Hannibal “Hat” A. Taylor

[50] Betsey (Clapp) Taylor

[51] Neighbor, Thomas Clark Ford

[52] FindAGrave.com records show that Fay Aldrich (born June 16, 1876), the son of William & Henrietta Aldrich, died on February 19, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan (which agrees with Luke’s entry and the Oak Grove Cemetery records) and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. However, Michigan Births & Christening Index records show his date of birth as August 14, 1876, and Michigan Vital Records reveals that Fay C. Aldrich, same parents and same date of birth, died in Comstock from croup on February 14, 1879

[53] Eugene Crawford, the son of his wife Sarah’s late brother, Edwin Crawford and his first wife, Louisa Hall

[54] Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of his wife Sarah’s late brother, Edwin Crawford and his second wife, Mary Hamilton

[55] Massachusetts Death Records confirm that Reverend Russell Tomlinson died in Plymouth, Massachusetts on March 4, 1878

[56] Alvan Lee was his first cousin and it is believed that Ida Lee was Alvan’s niece, the daughter of his deceased brother, John Warren Lee

[57] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

[58] The daughters of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[59] James Milham was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for February 3^rd entry)

[60] His late father, Charles Luke Keith Sr.

[61] 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

[62] His niece, and Katharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York

[63] Presume he is being funny or sarcastic in regard to his mother-in-law. Rev. Platt Betts was her second husband; he died December 29, 1861

[64] Believe he is referring to his neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Theodore Earl,

[65] Matilda Brown’s sister, Julia Allen

[66] Nellie was the daughter of Luke’s niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson; she married Walter Gillette

[67] Louis Bristol was Ambrose Brown’s grand-nephew

[68] His paternal first cousin, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[69] Michigan Marriage Records confirm that Henry “Harry” Streator and Helen Randall were married May 2, 1878 in Comstock, Michigan

[70] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[71] Neighbor, George Ransom Wightman

[72] Mary Tamer Ford, the daughter of neighbors Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford

[73] Believe he is referring to Doc Wightman’s wife, Mary (Crandall) Wightman

[74] The Greenback movement (c. 1868–88) was a political campaign, largely by persons with agrarian interests, to maintain or increase the amount of paper money in circulation. Between 1862 and 1865, the U.S. government issued more than $450,000,000 in paper money not backed by gold (greenbacks) to help finance the Union cause in the American Civil War. After the war, fiscal conservatives demanded that the government retire the greenbacks, but farmers and others who wished to maintain high prices opposed that move. The party ran candidates in three presidential elections—in the elections of 1876, 1880, and 1884

[75] Lime plaster was used for exterior plastering and was composed of sand, water, and lime. Horse hair was added for reinforcement

[76] Marshall, Michigan

[77] Ceresco, Michigan

[78] Michigan Death Records show that Kezia (Lester) Deyo died in Richland, Michigan on June 9, 1878 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Richland, Michigan

[79] Lois’ children: William Byron Clark (by her first husband, Byron Clark), and Ina Mary Skinner (by her second husband, Adelbert Skinner)

[80] FindAGrave.com shows that Maj. Stephen M. Dakin died June 17, 1878 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[81] Ambrose Brown’s aunt, Rhobe Brown, was married to a Joseph Wells; however, have not been able to make a connection between Ambrose Brown and George Wells or between Joseph & Rhobe Wells and George Wells

[82] Michigan death records show that Eliza Beakes, a widow, age 85, died in Comstock on June 22, 1878

[83] His niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

[84] Michigan death records show that Fanny (Taber) Barnum died July 1, 1878 in Pavilion, Michigan

[85] Neighbor, Charles; his daughter Hannah’s future husband

[86] FindAGrave.com records reveal that Prudence (Bishop) Lord died July 6, 1878 and is buried in the Comstock Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[87] Neighbor, Lydia (McClary) Barber, wife of Lewis Barber

[88] His horse

[89] Referring to his wife and himself

[90] His brother-in-law, Henry Clay Crawford

[91] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[92] His granddaughter, Lela Mae Brown

[93] Neighbor, John S. Allen

[94] Neighbor, Albert H. Towne, who was the father of Charles Towne (see footnote to July 5^th entry)

[95] Mary (Knowles) Barber and her daughter, Ida Barber

[96] Michigan Death Records show that Rebecca Plank, age 27, died of consumption on August 22, 1878, and FindAGrave.com reveals that she is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Plank family had been neighbors until they moved to Grand Rapids in April 1873

[97] Neighbor, Orrin D. Schram, who was the father of Isaac D. L. Schram (see footnote to August 12^th entry)

[98] Michigan Death Records confirm that Stephen Loveland, age 60, died of consumption in Comstock on August 24, 1878

[99] See footnote to January 26^th entry

[100] Helen Lavinia York was the granddaughter of his sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee. FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in the Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Vicksburg, Michigan

[101] Himself

[102] Nickname for his wife Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[103] Neighbor, John T. Allerton

[104] Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford Jr., and their two children, Harry and Jessie

[105] His wife Sarah’s brother, David Caleb “D.C” Crawford, his wife, Amanda (Thornton) Crawford, and their daughter, Ida Louise

[106] Edna Irene Crawford, the daughter of his wife Sarah’s brother, Robert Crawford

[107] Omro, Wisconsin

[108] See footnote to September 18^th entry

[109] His wife Sarah’s brother (and Edna’s uncle), Henry Clay Crawford, lived in South Bend, Indiana, so presume Edna was going to visit thei family

[110] Dowagiac, Michigan, to attend the wedding of Edna Alice Crawford, the daughter of Edwin (deceased) & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford. She married Oscar M. Allen, Jr. on September 25, 1878

[111] William H. Barber, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[112] Mary (Clapp) Earl

[113] FindAGrave.com and Riverside Cemetery records show that Lucy (Harris) Rogers died September 26, 1878 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[114] Frank John Tomlinson, the son of Luke’s niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

[115] The sons of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[116] Neighbor, Herbert Earl, the son of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[117] Neighbors, Mary (Clapp) Earl and her son, Theodore Earl

[118] Daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl; she married Frank Crossfield in 1877 and the 1880 census shows them living in Oakland, Wisconsin

[119] See footnote to January 26^th entry

[120] Neighbor, John Quincy Streator, the son of Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

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

[122] Neighbor, David Barton

[123] The “ditto marks” were used to indicate a repetition of the word on the line above, which was “cents”

[124] FindAGrave.com reveals that George S. Hodges had been a captain during the Civil War and that he died of consumption on October 29, 1878 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[125] FindAGrave.com shows that Charlotte (TenBrook) Oakley died November 5, 1878 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[126] Believe he is referring to Mary (Hamilton) Crawford, the widow of his brother-in-law, Edwin Crawford

[127] His paternal first cousin, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee; Michigan Death Records confirm that he died of pneumonia in Comstock, Michigan on November 19, 1878

[128] Believe he is referring to Sarah “Sate” Skinner, the sister of his son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner

[129] Charles Lee’s nephew, Orrin Strong Lee, the son of Ezekiel & Elizabeth (Strong) Lee

[130] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s earlier diaries and it is believed Luke 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 lived with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee, until the Spring of 1870 when he moved to Utah

Luke Keith’s 1877 Diary

1877 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

 Jan 1 – At Tomlinson House.[2] Very blustring. Frank[3] and I took a ride out East in afternoon. Mercury 14 Abz.[4]

Jan 2 – Snows some. George[5] gone over to Mount Morris after Nell.[6] Bot this Diary in Perry.[7] Nell came home about two oclock. Went over to Nobles in Evening, saw fountain.

Jan 3 – Snows and blows, snow piled up, Mercury 14 Abz. Mr Braughton and Lady here. Marion[8] and I went to see the Waubinoes performe.

Jan 4 – Cold morning. Left Perry one oclock P.M., went over to Gainesville, took the cars[9] for Buffalo, arrived about six P.M., left Buffalo half past one for Detroit.

Jan 5 – Got to Detroit about 12 noon, left Detroit half past six, got to Galesburg about twelve night, got home about one.

Jan 6 – At home all day. Not very well. Found the folks all well. Mercury 45 Abz.

Jan 7 – Went down to Katharines.[10] All well. Not very cold.

Jan 8 – Went up to Skinners. Del[11] over to burg[12] to attend a lawsuit. All well. Sent letter to Patty.[13]

Jan 9 – Cold, mercury 4 below zero. At home, no one here. Filed three saws for Ernest 60 cts. Browns folks[14] here in Evening. Mrs Calkins[15] here with them.

Jan 10 – Went over to burg, carried Jims[16] Boots over, paid 60 cts. Mrs Ralph[17] here.

Jan 11 – Not very well. Went over to burg, got Jims Boots. Snowed like fun.[18]

Jan 12 – Cold, 2 below zero. Filed my Bucksaw. Major[19] killed to day. Hog hunt here.

Jan 13 – Cold day, Mercury 8 Abz above zero. Went up in woods, cut down one tree, drawed two loads wood. Snow very deep in woods.

Jan 14 – Ed Childs and wife here. Went down to Katharines in Evening. Henry[20] here stayed all night.

Jan 15 – Went up to Mr Flanders[21] with Henry. Snowed and blowed like the mischief.

Jan 16 – Very pleasant day. Shelled 3 bushels corn.

Jan 17 – Earnest[22] killed my hogs. Went over to burg after grist, no get him. Mercury 30 Abz. Went down to Browns in Evening. Mr Morrison and wife there.

Jan 18 – Mercury 30 Abz, ledle some rain in morning.

Jan 19 – Mr Ives and George called here. Sarah[23] and Mrs Betts[24] went to burg. Went to Barbers[25] in Evening. Put hair in one End of bow.

Jan 20 – Cold and blustrous Mercury 16 Abz morning. At home. Mrs Emeline Bradley[26] died to day.

Jan 21 – At home all day. Ethan[27] and Henry went up to Foundry. Cold day Mercury 2 below.

Jan 22 – Mercury 18 Abz in morning.

Jan 23 – Went over to burg with Henry. Mart, Ansil and Lucy[28] here. I went down to M. O. Streators[29] to see if I could get some straw.

Jan 24 – Pleasant cold day. Made saw Buck for Earnest Whiting.

Jan 25 – At home all day. Not much done.

Jan 26 – Went down to Katharines. Mrs Betts and Sarah went down to Browns.

Jan 27 – Drawed Straw from M. O. Streators, two loads for Brown, one for my self. Went up to Nathan Lamkins in Evening with Browns folks. Mrs Betts went over to Burg.

Jan 28 – Fine pleasant day Mercury 34 Abz.

Jan 29 – Drawed some wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. No find him.

Jan 30 – Drawed two loads Straw from Streators. Went over to burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. Got him this time. Mr and Mrs Streator[30] called here no stop long. Rained in night. Sleighing thin.

Jan 31 – Not very cold snow melting. Drawed two loads wood. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer one hundred and four dollars. Lois[31] came down.

Feb 1 – Went to Foundry. Boys making Cider. Got mawl.

Feb 2 – Carried Hannah[32] up to Mr Ralphs.[33] Went up to Foundry. Boys making cider. Filed saw for A Brown[34] by golly. Hall sent timber for two ax helves.

Feb 3 – Went up to Foundry. Got three bushels wheat of H. A. Taylor[35] 1.35¢ pr bus, paid him 3.05¢. Carried it over to burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. Carried Lois down to Browns.

Feb 4 – At home. Mrs Benjamin came down after Lois. Hannah went down with her. Not very cold. Went over to burg after Sarah and Mrs Betts.

Feb 5 – At home. Worked in shop some.

Feb 6 – Worked in shop on violin some.

Feb 7 – Worked in shop on violin. Charley called here to see about his violin. Fine day.

Feb 8 – Pleasant morning. Put Charley Gillis violin together. Ethan and Hannah went down to Mr Randal.[36] Ethan fixed their melodian.

Feb 9 – Cut wood, cut one tree. Ethan and Hannah went up to T. C. Fords[37] in Evening.

Feb 10 – Worked in woods cutting wood. Charley Gillis got his violin. He paid me two Dollars.

Feb 11 – At home all day. Put new finger board on my violin. Mrs Betts went to burg with Jacksons folks.

Feb 12 – Worked in woods cutting grubbs &c.[38] Fine day.

Feb 13 – Worked in woods. Ansil Lee called here. I cut his hair. Pleasant day. Two of Isaac Odels girls died to

Feb 14 – Pleasant day. Went up to woods, got one load wood. Filed saw for A. Brown. Ella and Minnie Randall, they stayed in Evening. Two of Isaac Odels girls Died to day.[39]

Feb 15 – Worked in woods some sawed some wood. Cut some grubbs. Odells girls buried to day. Pleasant day. Jim lost cold chisel. Ethan up to shop.

Feb 16 – Fine day no snow. Cut some grubs in after noon. Ethan up to shop.

Feb 17 – Ethan drawed wood. I shelled some corn and acarried corn and oats to mill. Carried Mrs Betts and Sarah over to burg. Fine day.

Feb 18 – Pleasant day mercury 27 Abz in morning. At home.

Feb 19 – Worked round shop some. At home.

Feb 20 – Worked in shop. Made cross head for Theodore Earl.[40] Fine day.

Feb 21 – Went up to Swaddles. Mrs Betts stayed up there. Warm day. Roads nice, dusty.

Feb 22 – Very smoky. Choped wood. Warm day. Cut some trees in in grove on hill South East of barn. Ebenezar Flanders died this morning.[41] Mercury 53 Abz.

Feb 23 – Went down to Catharines[42] to Auction sale. Bot ax and Iron mortar[?] of Ansil Lee. Went over to Henry Rogers[43] in Evening. Had a big time, lots there.

Feb 24 – Cloudy morning. Ethan drawing wood. Jule Allen[44] came up with Browns folks stayed the Evening. Ebenezer Flanders buried to day.

Feb 25 – At home all day. Jim went down to Katharines. Nice day. Rass[45] folks and Mrs Totty to Browns to day. Henry came here stayed all night.

Feb 26 – Fine pleasant morning Mercury 30 Abz in morning. Henry and Ethan gone up to shop.

Feb 27 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg. Got pole for Streators wagon. Fine day. Went down to Browns in Evening Whitcom Blake Forbush &c.

Feb 28 – Put in pole for Streator. He paid me one Dollar $1.00. Very nice day. A. R. Shere to dinner. Sent Lois ham bone, sent Ina[46] sum nuts.

Mar 1 – Pleasant morning mercury 23 Abz in morning. Worked in shop some on violins. Rained in night. ____ Rowland buried to day.[47] Hannah went up to Lois to sewing.

Mar 2 – Worked on violins. Rainy day, snowed some, not very cold.

Mar 3 – Cold morning mercury 27 Abz. Put tops on two violins Talsimers[?] and Keans. Snowed all day snow fell 8 inches.

Mar 4 – Pleasant morning mercury 18 Abz in morning, lots snow.

Mar 5 – Carried two bushels corn to mill. Lost my tie strap. Mart called here. Carried hams down to Browns. Browns folks came up here in Evening.

Mar 6 – Mercury 14 Abz, cold, some sleighing. Made Herbert Earls[48] Oars. Worked some on violins.

Mar 7 – Worked in shop on patterns for binder. Rained in night. Made Ina a wash board. Mrs Betts got mad because Sarah let her hand go but she felt better after it. Rested[?] first rate.

Mar 8 – Worked on patterns. Snowed and blowed all day Mercury 17 Abz. Verry good sleighing. Hannah up to Lois to work.

Mar 9 – Cold snowy blustrous day. Making patterns. Mercury 15 Abz. Filed _____ saw for Ernest _____ Whiting brot it down. Jim went to burg with him.

Mar 10 – Mercury 6 Abz in morning. Rather a fine day. Worked on patterns in fore noon. Went over to burg in afternoon. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over. They went to uncle peats. They stayed all night in burg. Bot Box in post office 25 for one year Box 86[?].

Mar 11 – Fine day. Ansel and Katharine came up here. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts and Sarah. Henry here.

Mar 12 – Warm morning Mercury 31 Abz. One foot snow on ground. Worked on patterns. Snows and blows very blustrous day. Henry and davis Stafford called here. They had been to cut tree for shaft ____ water wheel.

Mar 13 – Very pleasant morning Mercury 5 Abz, not very cold. Went up to Lois in Evening. 13 inches snow. Carried Ina her washboard. Snowed in night.

Mar 14 – Snows some, blustrous morning, 14 inches snow. Worked in shop some. Drawed some wood. Will Planks[49] Girl born to day.[50]

Mar 15 – Fine day. Went up to Marshall with Dell Skinner to see his farm. Stayed all night. Found them well.

Mar 16 – Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to Browns[?]. Snows like fun. Dell went and saw Mr Stage abut taking the Hull farm. Left for home not far from 12 noon. Snowed hard. Called at Luke Smith took dinner. Got to Skinners about seven Evening. Ethan came up after me. Got home about Eight oclock.

Mar 17 – Fine morning mercury 7 Abz in morning. Worked in shop on patterns.

Mar 18 – Snowed in morning like fun. Not very well hard cold. Mrs Oakly[51] buried to day. Lots snow on ground.

Mar 19 – Snowing Mercury18 Abz at ten oclock A.M.

Mar 20 – Worked on patterns some. Filed saw for Win. Mart called here. Snowed hard. Dell and Lois drove in here. Drawed two loads wood. Snow very deep. Thundered and lightened in afternoon.

Mar 21 – Pleasant, sun came out, lots snow on ground, nearly 2 feet. Worked in shop on patterns. Henry here to dinner. Dell and Lois called here. Not very cold. Extracted two teeth for Mrs Wolcots hired man Emmet Emmons. He paid 50¢.

Mar 22 – Worked on patterns. Thawed all day. Win got saw. Sarah and Browns folks went over to tabernacle in Evening. Mr Sherwood Died this morning.[52]

Mar 23 – Worked in shop on patterns. Henry came down stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Worked in shop. Drawed two loads wood. Lots snow in woods. Stormy day. Mr Sherwood buried to day. Carried Mrs Betts and Sarah over to burg. Sarah rode home with Brown. Sylvester Mead[53] died 7 AM to day.

Mar 25 – At home. Snowey day. Went down to Katharines in afternoon stayed all night.

Mar 26 – At Marts. Mart scalded sap bucketts. Jo York came after Adelpha.[54] Got home about two Pm. Dave Barton[55] brot load hay, wheelbarrow &c. Sylvester Mead buried to day.

Mar 27 – Worked in shop some on wagon neap.[56] Turned some acorns for I. D. L. Schram.[57] Fine day. Hannah came home with him. Ina came with her.

Mar 28 – Worked in shop some. Drawed two loads wood. Went up to H. A. Taylors. Got one bushel potatoes paid one Dollar. Bot 4 bushels wheat paid 4 Dollars. Jo Kean paid me one Dollar.

Mar 29 – Worked in shop made neap for A. R. Skinners wagon. George ives called and got Taloimers violin. He paid 2.25. Ina here.

Mar 30 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah went bot table spread. Sent letter for seeds. Sawed out stuf for wheelbarrow. Rained all night.

Mar 31 – Worked on wheelbarrow some. Filed saw for E Whiting. Rained in morning. Will Clark[58] came with two horses. Dell and Lois called got Ina. They went down to Browns stayed all night. Ida Barber[59] came over stayed all night. Mrs Betts went to Burg.

Apr 1 – Rained some in morning. At home all day. Dell and Lois came up just at night.

Apr 2 – Went over to Town meeting. Dell and I went up to Blanchards.[60] Got load stalks, straw and hay. Went after Sarah and Mrs Betts at night.

Apr 3 – Worked in shop some. Put rockers on Hat Taylors chair. Dell went to Kalamazoo. Ethan, Lois and Hannah went down to Katharines.

Apr 4 – Went up to Blanchards with Lois. They left for Marshall. Ethan went with them. Rained in Evening. Paid Hat Taylor 1.60 one Dollar and sixty cents.

Apr 5 – Ethan and Will came back from Marshall. Made pick handle for Herb Earl. Fixed Browns handle.

Apr 6 – Fine morning. Jim and Will left for Marshall. Went down to Katharines. Sarah and Mrs Betts went to eat new shugar, got some.

Apr 7 – Worked in shop on patterns. Mrs Betts went over to burg to hear the gospel preached. Ethan and Bill went down to Katherines. Henry went a long. Fine day.

Apr 8 – Warm looks some like rain, considerable wind. Mrs Betts came home.

Apr 9 – Ethan went up to Foundry. Sarah went over to burg stayed all day. Old Mr King[61] Died this morning. I worked on Skinners wheel barrow. Fine day high wind.

Apr 10 – Ethan gone up to shop after chain wheel pattern. Repaired Skinners wheel barrow.

Apr 11 – Will Brown[62] commenced plowing. Worked round house. Fixed my stove boat. Old Mr King buried to day. Elder Gage called on Mrs Betts. Went over to burg in Evening. Sarah went to Hoags.[63] I waited bout a our and half in the road.

Apr 12 – Made soap. Painted Dells wheelbarrow, Jims slead. Uncle Daniels lost wagon tyre. Cleaned out cellar. Looked over apples &c. Mrs Betts put her ward robe in her room. Mr Brown plowing to day.

Apr 13 – Worked round house and yard. Dell came down to Harts.

Apr 14 – Worked in yard trimmed some trees. Went down to Katharines in Evening. Browns folks went. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Henry stayed all night. Bill sick. Skinner called here got his wheelbarrow.

Apr 15 – At home all day. Henry went up to Flanders.[64] Fine day very dry.

Apr 16 – Worked in shop on patterns. Sarah went over to Janes[65] Stayed all night.

Apr 17 – Went over to burg after Sarah. Went over after Alfleda.[66] Mrs Calkins came home with her. Had a rainy night. Mrs Hennika[67] Died to day.

Apr 18 – Carried Mrs Calkins over to burg. Rained. Carried Hannah down to Browns. Rained hard. Filed saw for Erve Hall[68] 20¢. Man called here canvasing for Diary.

Apr 19 – Worked in shop on patterns. Charley Town[69] called in.

Apr 20 – Worked on patterns. Carried Hannah over to Barbers. Bot midlings[?] over to mill[?] 50¢. Bot one Bushel potatoes, one Dollar to be paid in work. Manne Hennikas[70] wife buried to day.

Apr 21 – Worked in shop on patterns. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Apr 22 – At home all day. No one here.

Apr 23 – Worked in garden pulled grubbs. Hot day. Brown sowed oats. Carried Hannah over to aunt Peets. Sarah went over to Janes stayed all night.

Apr 24 – Went over to burg in morning after Sarah. Put fellow[71] in one wheel. Split some wood in afternoon. McNaughten boy[72] buried to day.

Apr 25 – Worked round. Got out manure. George Barber[73] helped all day.

Apr 26 – Got out two loads manure. Chored round. Spread manure on East garden. Cyrus Streator and Laura called here just at night.

Apr 27 – Carried some corn over to mill 2½ bushels. Spread manure on west garden. Earnest Whiting plowed garden. Rained just at night. Henry came down. Jo Kean paid 50¢ cts.

Apr 28 – Rained in morning. Not much done. Went over to burg in Evening after hannah. Got my meal.

Apr 29 – At home all day. Rainy day. Henry came down stayed all night. Snowed in night. Hailed in afternoon.

Apr 30 – Ethan and Henry gone up to shop. Hannah went over to Mr Johnsons.

May 1 – Cool day snowed and blowed some. Split some wood. Will Ridler[74] commenced plowing. Hannah came home. Got some lumber of Theodore.

May 2 – Commenced hen yard. Ethan went up to shop. Fine day froze ice.

May 3 – Cool, ice this morning. Put the cow in Browns lot to day. Ethan gone up to shop.

May 4 – Worked on hen yard. Fine day. Ridler plowing. Went up to Jim Spires[75] to raise Barn, big Barn.

May 5 – Worked on hen yard. Very pleasant day. Will Ridler finished plowing. Mrs Betts went over to burg to hear the gospel preached in the Babtist Church.

May 6 – At home all day. No one here.

May 7 – Trimed trees south side road. Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Betts came home.

May 8 – Worked round hen yard and house. Frost this morning.

May 9 – Went up to Foundry. Got chissel made for Binder. Got my grubb ax repaired. Mr daniels lost tire of one wheel. Fine day, cool wind, frost this morning.

May 10 – Frost this morning. Worked on hen yard some.

May 11 – Worked round yard and in garden.

May 12 – Worked on got two bushels potatoes of H A Taylor. Got some lumber up to mill 5 boards 14 feet long. Not very good. Went up to foundry after Ethan. Jim came home. Mrs Betts went to burg.

May 13 – Went down to Katharines. Jo Darling[76] maried to day. John Darling[77] was there. Fine day.

May 14 – Worked on hen yard. Will Ridler planted corn in south west lot. Herbert Earl helped him. Mrs Betts came home.

May 15 – Worked on hen yard put the gate up. Ernest plowed in afternoon. Jim went back to Marshall. Brown planting. Considerable wind.

May 16 – Rained in morning. Brown planting. I trimed some trees. Warm day. Brown put Snap and buggy in Barn.

May 17 – Went up to shop in morning with Ethan. Mr Ford and M O Streator came down and made out release on Mortgage. I went up to Streators. Got seed corn some potatoes of Brown.

May 18 – Mercury 90 in shade. Went up to shop in morning. Ground gr____ Ax. Hot day. Draged some of my corn ground. Jesse Earl[78] planting.

May 19 – Hot day. Carried Ethan up to shop. Finished draging corn ground. Jesse Earl planting. Ernest plowing his corn ground. Burnt brush East of Barn. Barber came over and started the plow.

May 20 – Very hot day Mercury 85 in shade. At home. No one here.

May 21 – Made corn Markers. Marked ground one way. Rained in afternoon. Paid Minnie Randall twenty Dollars.

May 22 – Rainy day. Barber came over. Plowed some moved old cornstalks. Went up to shop after Ethan at night.

May 23 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Barber plowing. Berban Jacobs and Brother called here a while in forenoon. Commenced planting corn East of house. Fine day cold East wind.

May 24 – Cold North East wind. Went up to Foundry. Mercury 50 Abz. Planted corn.

May 25 – Finished planting. Old Mrs Youngs buried to day. Henry Earl died this morning.[79]

May 26 – Went up to shop in morning with Ethan. Worked on hen yard some. Hoed in garden. Went up after Ethan at night. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg stayed all night.

May 27 – Fine morning. Sun came out nice.

May 28 – Worked round garden. Went over to burg. Went up to Ridlers to see him about road work.

May 29 – Went up to shop in morning. Hoed some in garden. Went up to shop in afternoon. Hannah and Ida Barber went. Elward Agent called on the boys to see Binder.

May 30 – Working on road. Hot day. Went up to Foundry.

May 31 – Worked round garden. Worked on road.

Jun 1 – Hoed in garden. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Wi___ans to strawberry festival. Barber put on plaster in front room. Conk Smith here stayed all night.

Jun 2 – Hoed corn, beans and potatoes. Cultivated cabbage ground. Went up to Foundry after Ethan. He had gone by the burg have rode with Ed Flanders.[80]

Jun 3 – Some cloudy, no rain yet, very dry. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Hannah stayed. Little Dutch man stayed here all night.

Jun 4 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Marked out potatoe ground. Barber planted in some corn. Rained in night. Conk Smith stayed here all night.

Jun 5 – Cloudy some mist. Ethan set out some plants.

Jun 6 – Planted in corn. Mrs Betts went to Dowagiac.[81] Sarah went over to burg. Theodore put in bridge. Ethans patent papers came or a part of them.

Jun 7 – Finished planting corn. Put handle on Mr Taylors hoe. Hoed in garden some. Water wheel busted. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon.

Jun 8 – Ethan and Henry at work on patterns. Plowed out potatoes. Rained in afternoon. Barber brot over some more ashes for corn.

Jun 9 – Cloudy morning, rainy day. Not much done. Cow out. Filed saw for Whiting.

Jun 10 – Cool wind Mercury 53 in morning. Went down to Katharines. Mrs Gaffing there.

Jun 11 – Put ashes on corn. Rainy afternoon. Ridler came down to work in corn.

Jun 12 – Cool morning Mercury 62. Went down to Katharines. Expected to go to Kalamazoo but no go. Came home and finished ashing my corn. Ezekiel Lee Died to day.[82]

Jun 13 – Hoed in garden some. Barber commenced plowing for Buckwheat. Ethan finished patterns. Cow out to night. Rainy night. Brown and I went to find Cattle no find him.

Jun 14 – Rainy morning. Found Cattle over by Rail Road. Had been in Whitbecks wheat. Worked in garden some. H. A. Taylor brot his buggy down to paint.

Jun 15 – Worked on Barbers cultivator. A. Browns folks came up in Evening. Mrs Semer came with them. Had a heavy shower rained all the Evening. They went home in the rain.

Jun 16 – Went up to Foundry. Henry went up to Battle Creek with patterns.

Jun 17 – At home all day. Mr Henry Rogers and wife[83] and Mrs Wilson here. Ethan carried Hannah down to Katharines. Dell came stayed all night.

Jun 18 – Dell went to Kalamazoo, had Bill.[84] Dell and Henry stayed all night. Finished Barbers Cultivator. George put ashes on corn. Painted cultivator. I painted Taylors buggy boddy.

Jun 19 – Painted Taylors buggy. Hoed in garden some.

Jun 20 – Rainy day. Not much done.

Jun 21 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Ansil, Catharine and Hellen[85] came up here. Ansil and I went up after Ethan.

Jun 22 – Fine morning. Henry came down to have pattern alterd some.

Jun 23 – Carried Ethan up to shop. I cultivated turnip ground. Barber Cultivated corn one way. Brown plowed Buckwheat ground. Henry got Castings. Lois came home in Evening. Went down to Browns in Evening. Alfleda down to Browns.

Jun 24 – At home. Mr Daniels called here a while. He went down to Browns. Ethan went down to Katharines carried some things to Hannah. Lois went with him. Had a heavy shower.

Jun 25 – Went up to shop. Very hot. Hoed in garden some.

Jun 26 – Went over to burg. Got wire for hen yard. Bot one Barrel plaster paid one Dollar for it.

Jun 27 – Put wire round Hen yard. Hot day. Sarah went down to Browns. Carried Hannah up to Mr Flanders. Ina here.

Jun 28 – Barber sowed Buckwheat. Hoed some in garden. Dell and Lois went home took Ina.

Jun 29 – Went up to shop with Ethan. Brown sowed Buckwheat. Hot day. I hoed potatoes. Got ½ bushel potatoes of H. A. Taylor. Ridler plowed out corn in south west lot. Mrs Benagar Dean[86] died.

Jun 30 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Sarah went to burg. I plowed potatoes and corn. Very high wind all day.

Jul 1 – Wind continues to blow. Mrs Dean buried to day also Mr Enoch Nap[87] of Comstock. Mart and Lucy came up here. I had a chill.

Jul 2 – Not very well to day. Went over to burg. Got dress for Hannah. Put new bridge on new violin. Rained a little in afternoon.

Jul 3 – Worked some in shop and garden.

Jul 4 – At home all day. Sarah went over to burg. Ethan and Hannah went over in Evening to see fireworks.

Jul 5 – Varnished Taylors buggy and turned some pins for _____. Had a hard blow in afternoon, blowed down our Locust tree in front yard.

Jul 6 – Finished Taylors buggy. Turned 6 pins for Jim Millham.[88] Hoed corn in afternoon some. Went over to burg after Sarah.

Jul 7 – Pleasant morning. Went up to shop. Took Mr Taylors buggy home. Hoed corn some. Hank and Nancy came home.

Jul 8 – Hank and Nancy* here. Ethan took Hannah down to Katharines. Hank and Nancy went down to Mr Browns.

Jul 9 – Worked in corn some.

Jul 10 – Plowed and hoed corn. Mrs Betts came home to day.

Jul 11 – Hoed corn. Brown cut wheat in west lot. Mr Barber commenced cutting wheat.

Jul 12 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Plowed and hoed corn.

Jul 13 – Finished hoing corn. Brown drawed one load wheat.

Jul 14 – Cleaned out Barn. Worked in potatoes some. Put paris green on them. Hot day Mercury 91 Abz.

Jul 15 – Very hot. Ethan took Mrs Betts over to burg. Ethan went after Mrs Betts at night.

Jul 16 – Went to Kalamazoo after Louese. Had Ernest buggy. Cows got in Whitbecks lot. Sold calf to Whitbecks for 4.00. Bot set Spokes $3.00 pr _____.

Jul 17 – Chored round house and garden. Run after cows and fixed fence.

Jul 18 – Made wheelbarrow for Claud K. Brown Esqr of Chicago.[89]

Jul 19 – Went Kalamazoo with Hank. He went to Chicago. Bot coat and pants $3.00. Dell and Lois came here. Mart and Lucy called here. Hannah went to Caywoods. Sis[90] went up to Milhams.

Jul 20 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Corked barn floor in forenoon.

Jul 21 – Hoed[?] corn some. Barton[?] thrashed some. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jul 22 – At home all day. Lois came back. Dell went home. Mr Clark called in a while.

Jul 23 – Barton[91] thrashed some. I plowed corn. Very hot. Ridler plowed corn. Finished plowing.

Jul 24 – Hot day. Plowed corn. Emma Allen[92] here. Twelve here to dinner.

Jul 25 – Rainy morning. Headache. Hoed some potatoes. Tamer Ford[93] here. Barber plowed some corn. Lois went up to Jo Flanders.

Jul 26 – Some cooler this morning. Spect had rain somewhere. Finished plowing corn. Mr Flanders came down got all the whimmen[94] took them up to their house. Had a heavy shower, rained and blowed hard. Mr Flanders had to drive in _____.

Jul 27 – Cloudy morning. Laid up fence in forenoon. Carried all the wimmin down to A. Browns in afternoon. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer 36 Dollars. Rained hard in night. Adda Ralph here to day.

Jul 28 – Sun came out in morning, fine day, rained some in afternoon. Cow went to Bull. Mrs Betts went to burg.

Jul 29 – Hot day. Went down to Katharines. All well. Mrs Gaffing there.

Jul 30 – Made Ex for Skinners Democrat[?]. Jim came home. Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Betts came home. Mrs G____ preached at burg this Evening.

Jul 31 – At home. Worked worked in shop some.

Aug 1 – Worked on spokes some. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon.

Aug 2 – Worked on spokes. Repaired Huntings guitar. Lois went home.

Aug 3 – Worked in corn some. Drove some spokes in afternoon.

Aug 4 – Drove some spokes in morning. Catharine and Mrs Gaffing came up. Mrs G. went up to Jim Milhams. Estella came down stayed all night. Hoed corn in afternoon.

Aug 5 – Katharine here. Hank and Nancy came up. Warm day.

Aug 6 – Hank moved his things over. Hoed corn. Sarah and Katharine went up to Jim Milhams. Hannah went down to A. Browns. Rained a very little towards night.

Aug 7 – Cloudy morning looks like rain. Finished hoing corn and potatoes. Katharine went home. Mrs Betts went to burg. Dr Upham came here stayed all night from Elkhart, Ia. Hot and dry.

Aug 8 – Cut weeds in yard hoed some. Sarah went to burg to meeting. Ethan came home in morning. Hot day. Babtist Association at Burg.

Aug 9 – Chored round. Belas calf got in corn lot. Went round woods put up some fence. Hoed some. Will Clark came. Ethan sick in night. Mrs Betts came home. A____ closed to day.

Aug 10 – Fine morning. Went up in woods. Plowed out the potatoes. Cut some grubbs in cornfield side road. Will Clark here.

Aug 11 – Hunt preaches in D K Rogers Saloon this morning. He paid five Dollars for the room. Drawed one load wood. Not feeling very well. Jim and Will went up to Henrys.

Aug 12 – Fine morning some cloudy. At home all day. Mrs Betts went burg on her own hook I guess some mad spose.[95] Peer Whitcomb brot her home. Hank and Nancy came up stayed all night.

Aug 13 – Some cloudy. Will Clark went home. I cultivated my corn one way. Had a good shower in afternoon rained hard. Nancy and Claud here all day. A. Browns folks went to Kalamazoo to Seance at Wagners.

Aug 14 – Killed 3 fowls, one white Rooster, old Speckled hen, one yellow hen. Nice morning. Went down to Katharines got 25 lbs flour. Had a heavy shower, rainy afternoon, rained all night.

Aug 15 – Rainy morning. Picknic at South Haven. Jim gone.

Aug 16 – Put rims on wheels. Ethan worked up to shop. Charles Lees[96] folks here came up with they new buggy. Mrs Betts, Nancy and Mrs Brown and Jule went up to Mr Ralphs.

Aug 17 – Work round, cut some wood, chored round. Mr Barber plowed corn. Sate Skinner[97] went up to Flanders. Henry came down in Evening.

Aug 18 – Pleasant morning. Cut some wood. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to Burg to stay all night.

Aug 19 – At home all day. Very hot Mercury 92 in shade. Alvin, Ida and Henrys _____ _____ _____ ____ and Louese went over to Burg after Sarah and Mrs Betts.

Aug 20 – Not very well. Drawed one load wood. Nancy and Claud went down to Ambrose and Matildas to attend to business &c.

Aug 21 – Worked round garden pulled weeds in Strawberry patch. Rained in night.

Aug 22 – Went up to sawmill in morning. Some rainy. Worked round house and shop. Rainy afternoon and night. Ethan & Louese calculated to went down to Katharines but no go, to much rain.

Aug 23 – Rainy. Jim went over to Barbers after umbrella. Carried Ethan up to shop. Got Whitings buggy. Wedged two axes for E Whiting and mended pruning shears. Rainy day and night.

Aug 24 – Rainy morning. Mrs Skinner[98] and Sate came here stayed all night. Henry came down in Evening. Fixed Whitings buggy wheels.

Aug 25 – Went over to burg. Bot sack flour 90 cts. Bot oil, cheese, paper, Envelopes. Mrs Skinner and Sate went home. Henry here. W^m Gleason[99] died this morning. Went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Aug 26 – Went to Kalamazoo, took the cars. Went to Schoolcraft. Attended a Spiritual meeting. Left my horse to Jesse Turners.[100] Came back. Went up to Katharines stayed all night. Alfleda went down to Charles Lees. Mr W^m Gleason buried to day.

Aug 27 – Rained some. Came home at noon. Hank here to work. Not much done in the work line.

Aug 28 – Some misty. Not very well. Not much work don to day. Rained hard in night.

Aug 29 – Worked in shop some on cross head. Mart and Lucy, Delpha come up. Louese went home with them. I went over to burg in morning. Received of township treasurer $3.70 cts.

Aug 30 – Finished cross head. Went up to saw mill. Hannah went down to Browns. Mr Brown thrashed his wheat. Saw Mr Dilenbeck from Yorkstate. Martin Turner and wife[101] called here just at night. Brown thrashed.

Aug 31 – Hot morning Mercury 83 Abz. Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Louese came back with me. Rained some. Stoped to Browns.

Sep 1 – Cool morning. Town[e] thrashing. Chored round, drawed two loads wood. Louese and Stella went up to Sherwoods in afternoon. Rained some in night. Cool days.

Sep 2 – Henry came down in morning. Rainy.

Sep 3 – Chored round. Went up to Mr Flanders. Bot one bushel corn 60. Claud went with me. Jim helping Streator thrash.

Sep 4 – Went to Comstock to mill, carried 4 bushels wheat, one corn. Mrs Betts and Mrs Keith went over to burg on a visit.

Sep 5 – Chored round. Split some wood. Cool day. Ethan carried patterns up to shop. Rained some in afternoon. Commenced (indecipherable). Extracted two teeth for Herbert Earl.

Sep 6 – Pleasant morning but hot. Pioneer Picknick at Augusta. Drawed one load wood. Mr Browns folks and Mr Wagner here in Evening had a Circle. The Old Preach came Che Che would not let him talk.[102]

Sep 7 – Henry and Louese gone up to Marshall. Had Bill. Worked in shop some. Cut out sides for wheelbarrow. Ethan worked up to shop.

Sep 8 – Stript some corn. Nancy here. Ridler commenced cutting corn.

Sep 9 – All well at home. Hank and Nancy here.

Sep 10 – _____ worked in shop on mold pattern. Mart and Lucy came up. Rainy. Mart went to burg with Sewing Machine.

Sep 11 – Finished mold pattern. Rained in afternoon. Barber came up and cut some corn. I went down to Browns to tea. Hank and Will topping corn.

Sep 12 – Worked in corn. Mrs Betts and Nancy came back. Homes girl died.[103] Henry got home with Bill. Ridler cutting corn.

Sep 13 – Lottie Holmes buried to day. Ethan and Henry went up to shop. I toped corn all day. Ridler finished cutting. Barber cutting. Sarah, Mrs Betts and Nancy went up to Hanibals in afternoon. Boys made some cider.

Sep 14 – Pleasant morning. Finished cutting corn in fore noon. Set up cornfodder in afternoon. Hot day. Ancil got back from Salt Lakecity.

Sep 15 – Nice morning. Browns folks gone to Plainwell. Will came up to ___s after Louese. Ethan gone up to shop.

Sep 16 – At home all day. Ethan down to Browns. Mrs Betts went to burg. Louese came home from Marshall. Ancil and Lucy came up here in afternoon. Rainy night.

Sep 17 – Rainy morning. Sarah went over to burg in morning. Took old buggy to pieces. Went after Sarah and Mrs Betts. Mrs Betts (indecipherable) Eat to much Honey. Dell called here.

Sep 18 – Pleasant morning. Chored round. Made fire under Kettle[?]. Sarah colored lot cloth for Louese. Took the old buggy wheels to pieces. _____ up hubbs to get the _____ out. Ethan went up to shop. Sent my patterns _____.

Sep 19 – Made rack[?] for Cart to draw corn _____ on. Drawed some _____. Louese went up to _____ stayed all night. _____ stayed here with Jim.

Sep 20 – Sprinkled some. Took Ethan over to burg. He went to Jackson to State fair. Drawed two loads wood in forenoon. Went over Ethan in Evening.

Sep 21 – Hank and Will cut the Buckwheat. I made Claud a husking ____. Worked on wringer.

Sep 22 – Fine morning. Hank, Jim, Jule and Nancy gone to Skinners. Ethan gone up to shop. Mrs Betts gone to burg. Sarah and I went down to Katharines. Stayed all night.

Sep 23 – Went Came home in Evening all right.

Sep 24 – Worked round shop, cleaned out old shop. Barber husked little corn. Hank and all hands got home. Mrs Betts came home from burg.

Sep 25 – Ethan went shop. I husked some corn in forenoon. Sawed out felloes for Barbers wheel. Mr Orrin Case called here at noon to see about Sam Chichester stealing[?] hogs of Father.

Sep 26 – Finished Barbers wheel at noon. Ethan went up to shop. I worked round, picked apples up at the corner then went down to Jacksons. Stayed all night.

Sep 27 – Pleasant morning. Ethan went up to shop. I stript some corn leaves in forenoon. Mercury 88 at one oclock, very hot. Mrs Betts went over to burg Ethan took her over to hear the gospel preached once more in her life. Rained hard up to _____.

Sep 28 – Henry and Ethan went up to shop. Cloudy morning. Worked on wheel some. Asel left for home Titusville Pennsylvania.

Sep 29 – Worked on wheel finished one wheel. Husked some corn. Mr and Mrs Ira Clark[104] here to Dinner. Fine day. Claud went up to Rass Towns with Mr Brown, got some peaches.

Sep 30 – At home. Hank and Nancy here, Henry here. I went down to Katharines just at night after tea and butter.

Oct 1 – Sarah went over to burg in morning with Ethan. I put bottom in three peck basket. Picked lot corn. Hot day. Mercury 94 at one PM in shade. Husked some corn.

Oct 2 – Picked sixteen rows corn. Earnest brot Hogs head down in morning. Sarah, Mrs Betts and all the girls went up to Jesse Earls. I set tire on Barbers wheel. Very hot and dry.

Oct 3 – Warm and dry, 89 in shade. Repaired rake wheel for Jesse Earl in morning. Cut popcorn in west garden in fore noon. Jim and George Barber gone down to Jacksons to gather butternuts. Went down to Jackson after walnuts. Rained in night.

Oct 4 – Some rainy and very high wind. Picked some corn and husked some. Barber finished cutting Buckwheat.

Oct 5 – Carried Ethan up to Henrys. They went to Marshall, had Whitings buggy. I picked and husked some corn, drawed one load wood.

Oct 6 – Jim and I husked corn. Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to A. Browns. Mrs Betts was so lame she could not stay at home. She had been housed up for for four days, had not been visiting in four days. She thought it would do her good.

Oct 7 – At home all day. Not much rain.

Oct 8 – Worked round done chores &c. Went over to burg at noon. Sarah went over to get pattern for Hannah. We went down to Katharines stayed all night. Rained most all night.

Oct 9 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sarah Expected to go to Chicago.[105] There was no Excursion Train going so she no go. Came home in forenoon. Dell here to dinner. He went to Kalamazoo Sis went with him. Ethan came home.

Oct 10 – Rainy day. Husked some corn carried it in to corn house. Dell and Ethan went to burg in forenoon.

Oct 11 – Husked some corn. Ethan worked on patterns. Hank and Nancy moved over to burg. I carried over two loads.

Oct 12 – Hank cleaned out gallery. Worked round house and barn.

Oct 13 – Hank carried one load over to gallery. I finished husking my ____ corn. Ridler and Barber husking. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Ethan went up to Foundry.

Oct 14 – Hannah and I went around the Squair. Saw Bronsons, Burgess and Peet Milhams houses for the first time. Henry Rogers and wife and Mrs Wilson came over here.

Oct 15 – Cleared out corn house and sorted corn. Sarah went over to burg in morning. Barber husked some. I am Sixty four years old to day.

Oct 16 – Sorted corn some. Barber put in some. Nancy and Claud here to day. Ethan and girls went over to Nancys in Evening.

Oct 17 – Sorted corn. Ridler brot one load. Barber thrashed Buckwheat. Rained in afternoon. Brown Drawed his Buckwheat. Ridler finished drawing my corn.

Oct 18 – Sorted corn. Ridler took one load home the last. Minnie Randall here in Evening. Mrs Corkins came from Battle Creek. Rainy night.

Oct 19 – Rainy day. Sorted corn. Took Mrs Corkins over to burg at noon she went home on the 12.55 train. Mart and Jay Barton[106] thrashed wheat.

Oct 20 – Worked in corn some sorted some corn.

Oct 21 – Went down to Katharines after some butter.

Oct 22 – Chored round house and barn.

Oct 23 – Fixed up bin in cornhouse. Sorted some corn. Went over to burg. Got potato hook mended.

Oct 24 – Mr Chapin Died[107] to day. Took Hannah up to Jesse Earls and Ethan up to shop. Went down to M. O. Streators. Dug potatoes. Barber thrashed Buckwheat. I get three bushels B.wheat. To Browns to buy eleven bushels potatoes.

Oct 25 – Went down dug 3 bushels. Mr Streator raised his Hog pen and corn house. Floral[?] Hall burnt on the Galesburg Fair ground in Evening.

Oct 26 – Went over to burg in morning after Louese. Rained some. Barber came over and shelled some corn.

Oct 27 – Dug my potatoes up at the corner and put them in the cellar. Ethan, Hannah and Louese went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Oct 28 – Pleasant, nice day, some wind, Mercury 70 Abz at noon in shade.

Oct 29 – Husked corn some. Fine day. Husked about fifteen baskets and put it in corn house.

Oct 30 – Finished husking. Louese started for Chicago.[108] Sorted corn.

Oct 31 – Worked round house and barn. ____ some all day. Went up to shop with Ethan.

Nov 1 – Went up to mill got load _____ for fence got some steaks for fence.

Nov 2 – Went up to shop with Ethan. Rainy day. Brot sewing machine home from Earls. Carried it over to burg. Sarah went over bot warp for Katharines carpet.

Nov 3 – Carried Sarah down to Katharines. Clarra came home with me. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Made fence around the Strawberries. Susan Giddings[109] here to day. Whiting brot his cutter down.

Nov 4 – Carried Hannah and Clarra down to Katharines. Sarah came home. Rained quite hard when we came home.

Nov 5 – At home. Snowey day. Not much done but move stoves. Put stove in shop and in middle room. Cold night. Ethan and Jim went over to burg. Jim got boots. Mrs Betts came home.

Nov 6 – Not very well hard cold. Mercury 3 Abz in morning. No work to day.

Nov 7 – Mercury 10 Abz in morning. Husked popcorn &c. Rather disagreable day. Ethan went up to shop. Rained all night. Jim went up to Milhams stayed the night.

Nov 8 – Rainy. No work to day hard cold. Eugene Powlisons wife died.[110] Elva Earl Married[111] to day spec so maby some.

Nov 9 – Cut and drawed two loads wood. Hank and Nancy came over stayed all night. Walter Barton died to day.[112]

Nov 10 – Nancy gone down to Mr Browns. Fine morning. Put handle and heads in my mawl. Mrs Powlison buried to day. Fine pleasant day. Not much done, hard cold.

Nov 11 – Nice day. At home all day, not very well. Walter Barton buried to day.

Nov 12 – Went down to Katharines after tea and Hannahs cloths. Mrs Gaffing started for Tennessee.

Nov 13 – Pried up well room in forenoon. Worked on road in afternoon. Picked stone on the hill. Fine day.

Nov 14 – Patched the roof some. Chored round. Banked house some. Mr Mitchel called here. Dell and Lois drove in did not get out of the carriage. Rained some in after noon. Mr R Ransom died this morning.[113]

Nov 15 – Some rainy. Ethan went over got Nancy. I put up shelf on back roof to put iron ware on. Shelled some corn. Ethan made water spout.

Nov 16 – Went to Comstock to Mill got Buckwheat and corn ground.

Nov 17 – Went over to Burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. Sarah started for South bend.[114]

Nov 18 – Went over to burg after Hank and Nancy. Henry came down. Herbert Clark and Jimmy Millham[115] came down here. Very nice day. All well as usual.

Nov 19 – Fine day. Worked on Skinners buggy. Mr Barton and David thrashed. Lois and Hannah went down to Mr Browns. Ross Ingersoll died to day.[116]

Nov 20 – Nice morning. Lois and Hannah went over to Nancys. Mrs Betts came home to get ready to go over to Galesburg. Finished Skinners buggy.

Nov 21 – Repaired my wagon wheel in forenoon. Carried Alfleda down to Katharines. Rainy afternoon, rained in night.

Nov 22 – Cloudy morning, Ross Ingersoll buried to day.

Nov 23 – Lois and Will went home. I went up to James Ralphs. Took up two bushels Buckwheat, got almost three bushels and a half potatoes. Henry came down. Ethan went up to shop in Evening. Bot stove pipe. Old Mrs __oo___ died.

Nov 24 – Warm morning. Went up in woods got load wood. Went over to burg after Nancy. Mrs Betts went over with me. Extracted tooth for Jenny Giddings.[117] Had head ache in afternoon.

Nov 25 – Mercury 51 Abz nice warm morning. Mr Brown called in. Claud went home with him. Hank came over. Will and Jule came up here. Claud went down home with Jule stayed all night.

Nov 26 – Warm, mercury 49 Abz rainy morning. Cow gone, found her down on Randals. Dressed out cutter Knees. Rainy day. Claud went home this morning.

Nov 27 – Mercury 38 Abz in morning. Rained some in morning. Ethan went over to burg.

Nov 28 – Mercury 28 Abz in morning. Fixed up hatch way in forenoon. Snowey and blowey. Fixed up high chair in afternoon. Allen Simmons called here to get buggy boddy made. Cold day.

Nov 29 – Mercury 15 Abz in morning, cold and Blustrous, no snow. Filed buck saw for Whiting.

Nov 30 – Worked in shop on cross Head. Stormy.

Dec 1 – Finished cross Head in forenoon. Sawed out cutter Beams in afternoon. Mrs Betts went over to burg with A. Brown.

Dec 2 – Pleasant, Mercury 17 Abz. At home all day. Claud stayed here all night.

Dec 3 – Pleasant, sun out all day, warm. Carried Claud home. Mrs Betts came home. Drawed two logs down from the corner on sleigh.

Dec 4 – Rainy morning, not very cold, some snow. Worked in shop some on wheel barrow.

Dec 5 – Went up to mill in the morning. Worked on road some. Windy, not very cold. Jesse Earl and Burgess and Ed Schram worked. Drawed some dirt.

Dec 6 – Worked on road in forenoon. Snowey day. Went over after Sarah, she no come.

Dec 7 – Worked in woods in fore noon. Cut maple tree. Went over after Sarah, she come. Drawed some wood.

Dec 8 – Snowey. Jim and I cut some wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Hank and Nancy. Ethan carried Hannah down to Caywoods. She came home at night. Ambrose and Matilda here in Evening.

Dec 9 – At home. Hank and Nancy here. Fine day. Mart brot Alfleda home. Katharine came with them.

Dec 10 – Worked on bob patterns some. Barber came over shelled some corn.

Dec 11 – Took the carpet rags over to Mrs Semer. Katharine and Sarah went to Nancys. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Burdicks. Barber came over. I hung ax for him. He cut stub down for _____. I went over (indecipherable). Bot Horse Blankets.

Dec 12 – Fine day, mercury ____ Abz. Went up in woods cut some wood. Katharine, Sarah and Alfleda went up to Nichols. Byron Allen and wife, Cora, Ida and Emma[118] here in Evening. Henry took Claud home.

Dec 13 – Drawed three loads wood in fore noon. Went down to Marts. Katharine and Hannah went home. No snow, cold wind.

Dec 14 – Pleasant morning. Worked in woods, cut wood.

Dec 15 – Cut wood in forenoon, drawed some. Went over to burg carried Mrs Betts over. Sarah went down to Kalamazoo with Nancy to get stove and furniture. Jim went over got his over coat.

Dec 16 – Pleasant day. At home all day.

Dec 17 – Repaired guitar for Harry Streator.[119] Bot _____ of Whiting 8½ lbs 5 cts pr pound. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts. Warm day.

Dec 18 – Rainy morning. Worked in shop. Commenced Simmons buggy boddy. Browns folks and Sarah went over to Hanks in Evening. Rained in Evening.

Dec 19 – Cloudy, mercury 55 Abz in morning. Not much done to day. Worked in shop some.

Dec 20 – Sick, no work. Mercury 66 Abz.

Dec 21 – Fine day. Worked in shop in afternoon. Ernest brot shank. Plained board for Ernest.

Dec 22 – Not any work to day. Ethan carried Mrs Betts over to burg.

Dec 23 – At home. Not very well. Went down to Katharines. Took Hannahs things down, got tea. Lost Martingale ring. Warm day, rained in Evening.

Dec 24 – Worked some in shop on sills. Went over to burg with N. L. Randall. Received of Township Treasurer 40 forty Dollars. Paid Minnie Randall 40 forty Dollars.

Dec 25 – Rainy morning, not very cold, Mercury 46[?] Abz in morning. Went down to Browns in Evening. Ed Phelps got hurt, gun burst, blowed britch pin into his head.

Dec 26 – Worked in shop some. Carried Nancy home. Alfleda went over. Mrs Betts came home. Old cow out, found her at Blakes barn in galesburg. Filed saw for Erve Hall 15.

Dec 27 – Worked in shop some. Not very cold, 20.

Dec 28 – Filed saw for Erve Hall 20. Put in cross bar in Rand___ saw frame and filed saw 20. No frost, Mercury 50 Abz.

Dec 29 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in Evening. Mrs Betts went over with me. Hank and Nancy came over.

Dec 30 – Henry came down. Carried Hank and Nancy home in Evening. Mrs Betts came home.

Dec 31 – Worked in shop in forenoon. Mart came up with Hannah. Went over to burg, paid my tax 7.69 cts. Ed Phelps Died this morning.[120] Hannah stayed over to Nancys.

——-

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

[2] Luke had taken a trip back to New York and was presently staying with his niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

[3] George & Marion’s son, Frank John Tomlinson

[4] Above zero

[5] George Tomlinson

[6] George & Marion’s daughter, Nellie Tomlinson

[7] Perry, New York, where the Tomlinsons lived

[8] His niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[9] Train

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

[11] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner

[12] Galesburg, Michigan

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

[14] Neighbors, and his daughter Nancy’s in-laws, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

[15] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Mary (Allen) Calkins

[16] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[17] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

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

[19] Believe this is one of his farm animals

[20] Henry Lindsey Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[21] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders. After his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. 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 Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda

[22] Neighbor, Earnest Whiting

[23] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

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

[25] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[26] FindAGrave.com shows that Emeline (Bigelow) Bradley is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pavilion, New York

[27] His son, Ethan Keith

[28] Luke’s niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham, her husband, Martin Milham, and her uncle, Ansel Lee

[29] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

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

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

[32] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[33] Neighbor, William Ralph

[34] Ambrose Brown

[35] Neighbor, Hannibal “Hat” A. Taylor

[36] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[37] Neighbor, Thomas Clark Ford

[38] Etc.

[39] Michigan Death Records confirm that both Jane Ann (Odell) Olin, age 30, and her sister Ellen Odell, age 25, died of consumption on February 13, 1877, and FindAGrave.com shows they are both buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[40] Luke’s cousin

[41] FindAGrave.com confirms that Ebenezer Flanders died February 22, 1877 and is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[42] In all his previous diaries up until 1875, Luke has spelled his sister’s name as Catharine. Since then he sometimes spells it starting with a K, as can be seen in previous entries for January, and other times starting with a C

[43] Neighbor, Henry D. Rogers

[44] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Julia Allen. She lived with Ambrose and Matilda

[45] Neighbor, Erasmus Towne

[46] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, the daughter of Lois & Del Skinner

[47] Michigan Death Records reveal that Harry M. Rowland, age 14, the son of Henry C. & Delilah Rowland, died February 27, 1877, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[48] Luke’s cousin, and brother of Theodore Earl

[49] The Plank family had been Luke Keith’s neighbors in Comstock, Michigan, but on April 3, 1873, Luke noted in his diary that they had left for Grand Rapids, Michigan

[50] A search of the Michigan, Births, 1867-1902 index and images on Family Search listed a Gertie Plank born in 1877 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to William Plank and Mary Plank. The 1880 Census does not show Gertie so it is assumed that she had died

[51] FindAGrave.com records show that Emma (Scofield) Oakley, wife of Walter E. Oakley, died March 16, 1877 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[52] FindAGrave.com reveals that Cyrus Gould Sherwood died March 22, 1877 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[53] Michigan Death Records confirm that Sylvester Mead died March 24, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Schoolcraft, Michigan

[54] Joseph and Marion Adelpha York, the husband and daughter of Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[55] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[56] The pole or tongue of a cart or wagon drawn by two animals side by side

[57] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[58] His grandson, William Byron Clark, the son of Lois and her first husband, Byron Clark

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

[60] Samuel & Lucretia (Judson) Blanchard

[61] Michigan Death Records reveal that Samuel A. King, age 72, died April 9, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[62] The son of Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

[63] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[64] Neighbors, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[65] Neighbor, Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[66] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith

[67] Michigan Death Records confirm that Elwilda Henika, age 21, died April 17, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[68] Believe this to be his neighbor, Irwin I. Hall

[69] Neighbor, Charles Towne. In 1891 Charles married Luke’s daughter Hannah

[70] Manuel Henika, the husband of Elwilda (see April 17 entry)

[71] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel

[72] Michigan Death Records show that Lafayette P. McNaughton, the 14-year-old son of Peter & Flora McNaughton, died on April 22, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[73] The son of neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[74] Neighbor, William Ridler

[75] Neighbor, James Spier

[76] Census and FindAGrave.com records show that Joseph Darling was married to Anna, however no marriage record was found

[77] Joseph Darling’s father

[78] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[79] FindAGrave.com shows that Henry L. Earl died May 24, 1877 and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan. Henry was the nephew of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[80] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[81] Dowagiac, Michigan, where she had once lived and where her late son Edwin Crawford’s family lived

[82] His paternal first cousin

[83] Neighbors, Henry & Lucy (Harris) Rogers

[84] His horse

[85] His niece, and sister Catharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York

[86] Michigan Death Records show that Angeline (Murray) Dean, the wife of Benajah Dean, died June 29, 1877 in Pavilion, Michigan with FindAGrave.com showing she is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[87] FindAGrave.com reveals that Enoch S. Knapp died June 29, 1877 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[88] Neighbor; James was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for January 23 entry)

* His son-in-law and daughter, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown

[89] His 2-year-old grandson, Claude Keith Brown, Nancy & Hank Brown’s son

[90] Nickname for his daughter Louese

[91] His neighbor, Samuel Barton

[92] The daughter of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[93] Mary Tamer Ford, the daughter of neighbors Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford

[94] Women

[95] Some mad I suppose

[96] The family of his cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[97] His daughter Lois’ sister-in-law, Sarah “Sate” Skinner

[98] His daughter Lois’ mother-in-law, Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[99] Michigan Death Records show that William Gleason died August 25, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[100] His maternal first cousin, Jesse W. Turner

[101] His maternal first cousin (and Jesse Turner’s brother) and wife, Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner

[102] Both the Brown and Keith families were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances, or “circles.” Don’t know who the “Old Preach” was, but Chee Chee was Ambrose Brown’s Indian Spirit Guide

[103] Michigan Death Records reveal that Charlotte Holmes, the 16-year-old daughter of Hamlin & Jane (Abbott) Holmes, died September 11, 1877 from Typhoid Fever in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[104] Believe this to be Ira & Angeline Clark, the parents of Lois’ first husband, Byron Clark

[105] Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr., and his family lived in Chicago so perhaps she was going to visit them

[106] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[107] Michigan Death Records reveal that Henry Chapin died October 23, 1877 in Battle Creek, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan

[108] Louese was attending school in Chicago and staying with her uncle and aunt, Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford Jr.

[109] Neighbor, Susan (Ford) Giddings, the widow of Augustus Giddings

[110] Michigan Death Records show that Sarah (Wheeler) Powlison, age 27, died November 8, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows she was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[111] Michigan Marriage Records shows that Elva Earl married Frank Crossfield on November 8, 1877 in Galesburg, Michigan. Elva was the daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[112] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton. Michigan Death Records confirm that Walter died November 9, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, at the age of 21

[113] Michigan Death Records reveal that Roswell Ransom died November 13, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[114] Sarah’s brother, Henry Clay Crawford, and his family lived in South Bend, Indiana

[115] Believe this to be neighbor, James Edgar Milham, the son of James & Ellen (Adams) Milham

[116] Michigan Death Records confirm that Ross A. Ingersoll, age 29, died November 19, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[117] Neighbor, the daughter of Augustus & Susan (Ford) Giddings

[118] Byron (& his wife, Ida Chittenden), Cora, Ida and Emma Allen, were the children of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[119] Neighbor, and the son of Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[120] Michigan Death Records confirm that Edward Payson Phelps, age 19, died December 31, 1877 from explosion of gun (see December 25^th entry) and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

Luke Keith’s 1875 Diary

1875 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1] 

The entries from January 1 through June 28 were written in the back of his 1874 diary. There were no entries for June 29 until July 22 when he bought his 1875 diary.

Jan 1 – Jointed box boards. Ethan and Hannah[2] went down to Catharines.[3] Lois[4] came down in afternoon. Del[5] went to burg.[6]

Jan 2 – Worked in shop. Not very cold but blustrous.

Jan 3 – At home. Catharine and Jim Payne came up here.

Jan 4 – Cut some wood. Ethan drawed three loads. Cold, snowed some.

Jan 5 – Cold, mercury 7 below zero. Worked on box.

Jan 6 – Put cleets on box. Cold day.

Jan 7 – Cold. Not very well. Hard cold.

Jan 8 – Worked some in shop on chest.

Jan 9 – Worked on chest some. Mercury 10 Abz below in morning.

Jan 10 – Mercury 13 below zero, very cold. Found Jimme dead in the coop this morning. No sleighing, very little snow.

Jan 11 – Worked on chest. Very cold. Cut some wood.

Jan 12 – Worked in shop. Cut dovetails on chest. Cold day, snowed some. Went up to Flanders. Got plank of Streator,[7] one of Brown.[8]

Jan 13 – Snowy. Put chest together. Went over to burg in Evening, got oil 20¢

Jan 14 – Mercury at zero in morning. Worked on chest. Cold day.

Jan 15 – Made base and upper band for chest.

Jan 16 – Worked on chest some. Henry[9] came down. Filed saw. Went up in woods, sawed wood, drawed two loads.

Jan 17 – Mercury 13 Abz.[10] Very good sleighing.

Jan 18 – Worked in shop. Put base and band on chest. Henry and Ethan sawed wood. I drawed two loads.

Jan 19 – Worked in shop.

Jan 20 – Went over to burg. Got rabbit plane of Robinson. Made panels for chest lid. Staring paid 4 Dollars.

Jan 21 – Put lid together. Put Rave on bob for A. Caywood.

Jan 22 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went over to burg. Paid my Tax $12.46¢. Theodore Earl paid $5.00.

Jan 23 – Filed two Saws for A. Brown and finished his wringer. He paid me 12/-. Young Pomeroy Brown born this morning.[11] Sarah[12] went to Lawton[13] on night Express.

Jan 24 – Mercury 29 Abz. Snowing some in morning. Ethan and Louesa[14] went down to Catharines.

Jan 25 – Worked in shop some on chest. Ethan went to Lawton on Evening Express.

Jan 26 – Carried two bushels corn to mill. Hung chest lid on. Ida Lee[15] came up here. Louesa went driging[?] with her. Went down to Marts.[16] Alfleda[17] went down to A. Browns.

Jan 27 – Snows like fun.[18] Ethan came home in Evening.

Jan 28 – Snows this morning. Went down to A. Browns, carried hams down. Went over to burg, got meal. Went up to J. Flanders,[19] got 5 five bushels wheat. Good sleighing.

Jan 29 – Cold, 3 below zero. Went to Comstock to mill.

Jan 30 – Went over to burg. Got band bent for chest lid. Sarah came home from Lawton.

Jan 31 – Cold, 10 Abz.

Feb 1 – Finished Eds Chest.

Feb 2 – Went down to Katharines,[20] hung door. Rained when we came home.

Feb 3 – Not much done. Very windy day, very blustering night, snow blowed Everywhere.

Feb 4 – Cold, 10 below zero, very blustring. Mr. Seaman Bristol died to day in Marys Ville Kansas.[21]

Feb 5 – Took out butry and put up lathe. Traded my cutter to Henry for his watch and chair.

Feb 6 – Cleaned turning lathe, turned some.

Feb 7 – 13 below zero. At home. Sis[22] and Stella[23] went down to Katharines. Very still and cold. David Simonds Died.[24]

Feb 8 – Shoveled snow to get to woods. Spli____ sleigh neap to Flanders sleigh. Filed saw for Erve Hall.[25]

Feb 9 – 31 below zero in morning. Drawed some wood. Not very well. David Simonds buried to day.

Feb 10 – Henry brot seat down. Snows some, 2 below zero.

Feb 11 – Finished seat. Henry went over to burg with it. Ed got his chest. Very blustring. Mrs Ralph and Em[26] here.

Feb 12 – 14 below zero. Shoveled snow some. Drawed two loads wood.

Feb 13 – Very cold, 10 below zero. Worked in shop some. Ed Childs and wife came down, stayed all night.

Feb 14 – Very cold. At home all day. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Feb 15 – 14 below zero in morning. Drawed some wood.

Feb 16 – Very cold, 13 below. Worked in shop. Finished henrys seat. Took it over to burg.

Feb 17 – 2 Abz. Worked on my wagon wheels.

Feb 18 – 22 below zero in morning. Worked on wheels some. Sarah went down to Fords.

Feb 19 – Worked in shop some. Henry came down.

Feb 20 – M. O. Streator paid me ten Dollars for bobs. Put rave on A. Browns bob sleigh.

Feb 21 – 21 below. At home. Hannah came home from Lawton with Mr Browns folks. Lois and Dell called here in Evening.

Feb 22 – 24 Abz in morning, rained some. Sarah went down to Dells in Eve.

Feb 23 – Rained some. Sawed some wood in Evening afternoon. Dell called here in Evening. Some thunder in Evening.

Feb 24 – Sarah came home. Barbers folks[27] here to day. Finished my old wheels. Lots of water. Mrs A. L. Mason buried to day.[28]

Feb 25 – Not much done in shop. Sawed out thill[29] for wagon.

Feb 26 – Drawed three loads wood. Broke sleigh shoe. Went over to burg, got it mended. Got cutter from paint shop.

Feb 27 – Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Cold day. Will Starr came up here.

Feb 28 – At home all day. Cold day.

Mar 1 – Made crutch for Jo Lee.[30] Will Starr went home.

Mar 2 – Sawed and drawed some wood.

Mar 3 – Very blustring day. Went over to burg after money for Teacher, no get him. Brot violin home to repair.

Mar 4 – Went down to Katharines after Hannah. Carried Jo his crutch. Went over to burg. Received 100 Dollars of Treasurer. Paid Carrie E. Austin[31] 80 Dollars. Paid Dr Finch $15 Dollars.

Mar 5 – Snowes some, lots snow on ground.

Mar 6 – At home all day. Cut some wood in road.

Mar 7 – At home. Katharine and Jim Payne here.

Mar 8 – Cut some wood in road.

Mar 9 – At home. Went down to A. Browns in Evening. Carley and Tamer Ford[32] here in Evening.

Mar 10 – Hannah went to Battlecreek. Made finger board for my violin.

Mar 11 – Not much done. Put strings on violin. Charly stayed all night. Rainy day.

Mar 12 – Pleasant in morning. Browns[33] and Streators folks[34] here in Evening.

Mar 13 – Worked in shop some. Ethan went down to Catharines. Stayed all night.

Mar 14 – Pleasant mornng, snow running of fast. Jim[35] and Sis came up, she went back.

Mar 15 – Chored round some. Water running all round, lots water.

Mar 16 – Very blustring day. Snowd and blowed like fun. Rough time. Mr S Wood Died.[36]

Mar 17 – Very blustring, no teams of any account out to day. Looked over apples.

Mar 18 – Quite comfortable, no wind but lots of ice. Gus Giddings Died to day.[37]

Mar 19 – Drawed some wood. Edwin Flanders,[38] George Ives[?] and Henry came here. Mrs S Wood Died.[39]

Mar 20 – Snows and blows this morning. Gus Giddings buried to day. Edna Crawford[40] came here. Hank[41] came in Evening.

Mar 21 – Pleasant, mercury 4 below zero. Went down to Catharines after Louesa. Mr and Mrs Wood buried to day. Sarah and Edna went with Mrs Ford.[42]

Mar 22 – Worked in shop some. Edna went home.

Mar 23 – Worked in shop some. Carried Sarah over to burg in Evening. Snowed and blowed.

Mar 24 – Went over to burg, got stuf for washing machine.

Mar 25 – At home all day. Worked in shop some. Went up to Flanders. Got 5 bushels wheat, 3 bushels potatoes.

Mar 26 – Worked on machine all day.

Mar 27 – Worked in shop. Went up in wood cut some wood. Stella and Jimmy here.

Mar 28 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.

Mar 29 – Went over to burg, bot dress and odder dings[43] for Hannah. Turned out rollers for Caywoods machine. Skinner traded faring with Franklin.

Mar 30 – Pleasant morning. Worked on machine.

Mar 31 – Cut down two trees one leaning tree in south part of woods. Finished machine. Rainy day.

Apr 1 – Rained some in morning. Washed with Caywoods machine. Windy.

Apr 2 – At home all day.

Apr 3 – Worked round some, not much done. Skinner moving.

Apr 4 – Lois came down. All at home.

Apr 5 – Went to town meeting. Fine day. Charley[44] came.

Apr 6 – Went to Comstock to mill. Pleasant day. Erve Hall plowing.

Apr 7 – Pleasant morning. Not very well.

Apr 8 – Carried machine down to Browns. Went up to Skinners in Evening with Henry.

Apr 9 – Went up to Flanders. Got some warm shugar.

Apr 10 – At home. Worked round some. Got out some whiffletrees[45] for A. Brown.

Apr 11 – At home. Ethan, Hannah and Charley and Sis went down to Katharines.

Apr 12 – Finished Browns whiffletrees. Hannah went to the Creek. Barber[46] came over and took corn ground.

Apr 13 – Cool. At home.