Luke Keith’s 1862 Diary

1862 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 16 were first written in the back of his 1861 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1862 diary. Anything from 1861 that clarifies the 1862 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Father[2] called here. Bot 5 lbs shugar 55¢ ½ lb Tea 40¢.

Jan 2 – Henry[3] & family left. One lb candles 14¢. Put on some seeling. Apple 1¢.

Jan 3 – Hung ax for Wightman 10¢. Sawed out stuf for cutter box.

Jan 4 – Filed saw for A. Austin 10. Lois[4] went home.

Jan 5 – At home all day.

Jan 6 – Filed saw for Williams [received 15¢] paid 15¢. Worked on cutter. Filed saw for Mead 10¢.

Jan 7 – Worked on cutter. Put on fenders. Received letter from Robert.[5]

Jan 8 – Snowes like fun. Made thills[6] to [Milfords] cutter.

Jan 9 – Moved lumber in to the barn. Sarah[7] went over to Fathers.

Jan 10 – [Work on boddy.] Worked on frame to cutter box.

Jan 11 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot Hubbs 1.30 one broom 20¢ shoes for Sarah 1.25.

Jan 12 – At home all day.

Jan 13 – [Running around the burg.] Nothing done to day. Bot clothes pins 5¢. Got Hannah[8] shoe tapt 15. Warner moved his things over here.

Jan 14 – Bot file 16¢ paid Tax 4.84. C. R. [Richardson] Brot 1 & 2/4 cords wood. Filed saw for B. Clark.[9] Filed saw for Warren 10¢. Nancy[10] & Hannah went up to Wesleys.[11]

Jan 15 – Worked on [boddy] cutter box. Wightman paid 10¢. Put handle on fork for Peter Johnson 5. Ethen[12] went down to Catharines.[13]

Jan 16 – Worked on cutter box. Bot screws 10. Bot [Diary] this Book price 38 cts. Sarah went home with Byron.

Jan 17 – Worked on cutter box. Put guards on Richardsons bobs 25¢. Ed Childs making slead.

Jan 18 – Worked on Box some. Ed to work on slead. Filed saw for Mr Smith 10¢. Let Mr Rauson have stick for whiffletree[14] 4¢. Plenty snow.

Jan 19 – Went up to Yorks[15] & Fathers. Called to Milfords.

Jan 20 – Worked on cutter put on dash. Bot nails & screws 9¢. Milford called here in Evening. Let Wesley have $4 & 50 cents.

Jan 21 – Worked on cutter. Finished Milfords cutter. Made pattern for shoes.

Jan 22 – Worked on bobs. Let pond have plank 2.25 cts. Father Brot Beef. Charley got cutter. B. Moore got wheel. Bot two candles 5¢.

Jan 23 – Worked on bobs. Extracted tooth for Elder Austin. Mr Maffit here. Made sausage pessle for D. Lamkin.

Jan 24 – Worked on bobs. Made neap[16] for Charles Richardson 75 cts. Bot one apple 1¢.

Jan 25 – Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Worked on bob neap. Bot paper 3¢.

Jan 26 – Went over to Fathers. Mother[17] went down to Catharines.

Jan 27 – Worked on bobs some. James Millham here. Alvan[18] called. Bot one galon oil 60¢.

Jan 28 – Worked on bobs. Sent letter to Hite[19] 3¢.

Jan 29 – Worked on bobs &c. Good sleighing.

Jan 30 – Put one bob together. Lyman brot his shoes for bobs.

Jan 31 – Sis[20] got hand burnt. Bot salve 25¢. Bot iron & screws 9¢. Made slead for Mrs Hodges. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢.

Feb 1 – Worked on bobs. Received 10.

Feb 2 – Went over to Fathers & up to Milfords.

Feb 3 – Worked on bobs. Sent letter to G. T.[21] 3. Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢. Carried one bob to shop. Richardson Brot one & ¾ stove wood.

Feb 4 – Worked on bob some. Mrs Butterfield buried to day. Lois came home in Evening.

Feb 5 – Finished Earls bobs. Sarah & Lois went over to Mr Halls. Bot salrates[22] 10¢.

Feb 6 – Worked on slead for Mrs Gyle. Got Ethens Boots tapt 37¢ Bot iron & screws 10¢. Richardson Brot one & one Eighth wood.

Feb 7 – Finished Mrs Gyles slead. She paid one Dollar. Bot Lozenges 25¢. Filed saw for Kingsley (25¢).

Feb 8 – Worked in shop some. Chored round. Nancy came down with measles. Hatty Signor died.

Feb 9 – At home all day. Sarah went to church. Lois Ethen and Hannah went in Evening.

Feb 10 – Took down lathe &c. Sawed of some spokes. N. Galt paid one Dollar. Hung ax for Vet Mead 10¢.

Feb 11 – Hung ax for Meads Brotherinlaw 10¢. Set saw for Dutch Smith 10. Went up to Andrew Mc.Clarys. Extracted tooth for his wife 25¢. Garvas Muncil called here.

Feb 12 – Went over to Fathers. Matilda Munsil here in Evening. Stuarts Regiment left Kalamazoo.

Feb 13 – Worked on seat rail. Bot crackers 5¢. Left my boots to Johns to be tapt. Paid 75¢. Received a letter from Hiram.[23]

Feb 14 – Worked in shop some. Bored seat rail. Bot screws 4¢. Henry[24] went home. Ethen & Hannah got the measles.

Feb 15 – Ethen & Hannah got measles. Vet Mead paid 10¢. A. Knight paid 6¢. Bot 5 lbs shugar 63¢.

Feb 16 – At home all day. Benj Hartwell called here. Verry pleasant.

Feb 17 – Pleasant morning. Put seat together for Hartwells buggy. Uncle Jason Wilcut[25] came on the four oclock train went over to Fathers.

Feb 18 – Finished seat put it on to boddy smoothed of boddy. Bot paper 5 one pr comes 1¢.

Feb 19 – Went over to Fathers. Uncle Jason came over & stayed all night.

Feb 20 – Bot salt 25 lbs 31¢. Uncle Jason went over River. Candy 1¢. Worked in shop some finished Hartwells boddy. Richardson Brot 2 & 1/8 stove wood.

Feb 21 – Worked in shop. Mark[26] Catharine & Lucy[27] came up to the Dance in Evening. Got magazine for March.

Feb 22 – Hued some spokes altered over mallet. Eugene Cory paid 10¢. Mrs Hodges paid one Dollar.

Feb 23 – At home all day. Out little young one[28] got the measles.

Feb 24 – Hewed spokes. Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Uncle Jason & T. Flanders[29] here.

Feb 25 – Set saw for A. Austin 5. Jason & Flanders left. Hued spokes. Marshal Austin paid 6¢. Extracted tooth for Earls sawyer 25¢.

Feb 26 – Filed saw for Ely Wightman (10¢). Filed saw for Mr. Minor 20¢. Sawed out gearing for Flanders wagon.

Feb 27 – Sawed out some felloes.[30] Bot paper 5¢. Uncle Jason came over. Got Mrs Wisemans machine.

Feb 28 – Sawed out some felloes. Mended pitman for B. Clark. Bot hive cyrup 5¢.

Mar 1 – Sawed felloes. Bot Book for Hannah 12¢. Filed saw for A. Hoag 20¢. Bot file 10¢.

Mar 2 – Went over to Fathers & up to Yorks. Saw Milfords cutter.

Mar 3 – Filed saw for F. Mead he paid 20¢. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Minor paid 20¢. Nick Galt paid 1.50¢.

Mar 4 – Got out some gearing. Went to corporation Election. Bot rice 10¢ Bot shoes 25¢ Paid postage 26¢. Passenger car broke down.

Mar 5 – Hard cold no work to day. A. McLary paid 25¢. Received letter from Stephen Wilcutt.[31]

Mar 6 – Worked on gearing. Sent letter to uncle Jason postage 3¢. Vacinated Ethen Nancy & Hannah.

Mar 7 – John Kirkwood came this morning. Went after uncle Jason. Came up on the 10.30 train in Evening. Babcock paid $12.25. Filed saw for B. Clark

Mar 8 – No work to day. Got cold. Lois at home.

Mar 9 – At home all day. Byron Emma & Rilly Lee here. Lois went home.

Mar 10 – Rainy. Heard Robbin sing. Mended Fathers wagon put in reach & half crotch. Bot syrup 44¢.

Mar 11 – Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢ Bot oil 25 Bot thread 5¢. Worked on gearing. Filed saw for Mr Smith 10. Henry Crawfords Baby[32] died.

Mar 12 – Worked on gearing. Sarah went to Wisemans. Mr Parker called here. Aunt lib called.

Mar 13 – Worked on gearing & spokes. Father called. J. York brot some spokes. Received letter from Stephen Wolcott.

Mar 14 – Worked on spokes. Cyrus Wheaton brot violin trunk postage 4¢ nitric ascid 5¢.

Mar 15 – Painted B. Hartwells buggy. Bot turpentine 10¢ Bot half galon oil 25¢.

Mar 16 – Ground covered with snow.

Mar 17 – Worked on spokes. Bot gum shelac 14¢ tallow 8¢.

Mar 18 – Made neap to Flanders wagon. Sold P. H. Whitford violin trunk 75¢.

Mar 19 – Made sign for C. P. Galligan 38¢. Bot paint brush 13¢ Bot shugar 13. Got Hannahs shoe tapt 12. Ethen and Hannah went of [sentence incomplete]

Mar 20 – Bot alcohol 3¢ Bot one spool thread 5¢. Flanders brot hay & some straw. Dutch Smith paid 10¢.

Mar 21 – Went over to Fathers. Ground knives for Andrew McLary Recd 19¢. Got some butter.

Mar 22 – Set saw for James Hold__. C. Richardson Brot one & 1/8 stove wood. Bot hoop iron 8¢. James Milham got plank 30¢. Carried two bushels wheat to mill.

Mar 23 – At home. Sarah went to church.

Mar 24 – Worked in shop on gearing. All well. Made block for Wightman spring.

Mar 25 – Filed saw for Joy 20¢. Rounded gearing. John Mooney here. Sarah went to Mrs Stevens.

Mar 26 – Worked on gearing. Filed saw for Jim Eleck 10. Sarah went up to Hoags & Seles. Calvin Streator Left for Ohio.

Mar 27 – Finished gearing. Filed saw for W^m Batt. Got vitrol 1¢.

Mar 28 – Extracted tooth for Albert Johnson. Put in reach for Jesse Earl paid 50¢ Bot paid 10¢. Wesly paid 4.50¢. Went to lecture in Evening.

Mar 29 – Worked in shop on spokes &c. Jim Eleck paid 10¢. Sent letter to Hite 3¢.

Mar 30 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine came up with York.

Mar 31 – Hung ax for D. Lamkin. Hued some spokes. Filed saw for C. Clark. Bot paper _____ 6¢. Paid B. Hartwell 72 cts for J. W. Keith Recd 4¢. Mrs. Tom Kenyon here.

Apr 1 – Went up to J. Yorks. Hannah went over to Fathers rode with James Perry came back with York. Sarah over to Mrs Hodges[Hoages?].

Apr 2 – Rainy morning. Worked in shop some on seeling. Bot chocklate 15¢.

Apr 3 – Mr Noah Starr[33] came this morning went over to Fathers started to go up to A. Chipmans. Flanders brot his hubbs.

Apr 4 – Bot one lb sugar 13¢ Bot licorice 3¢. Worked in shop. Filed saw for Bachelder 10¢. Bachelder paid 10¢ back charge. Mr. Starr Left For Paw Paw.

Apr 5 – Worked in shop some on banjo. Bot Eggs 16¢ Bot one indelable pencil 25¢.

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

Apr 7 – No work to day. Went to town meeting. Bot ½ lb crackers 5¢. Richardson brot ¾ cord stove wood. Babcock paid 81.13. Lady Norman Born today.

Apr 8 – Worked in shop. Shaved spokes &c.

Apr 9 – Shaved spokes all day. Bot cloth for capes to shakers 25 Bot spool thread 5¢.

Apr 10 – Finished shaving spokes. Bot lamp wick 1¢. Theadore Earl paid 25¢. Alvan here. Put in reach for Doc Wightman 50¢.

Apr 11 – Worked on hubs. Bot ½ lb Tea 40 Bot on ham 1.94¢ Bot sugar 68¢ thread 2¢. Put Box in trumes cart 5¢. Sutton got his Bangolin.

Apr 12 – Finished mortising hubbs. Extracted tooth for Charles Earl.

Apr 13 – Went over to Fathers found them sick.

Apr 14 – Worked on hubbs some. Put rockers on chair for Sol Kingsley. Flanders brot load straw. Richardson Brot two loads wood. Sarah & Nancy went over to Fathers. Bot oil 3. Got shoe tapt 15¢.

Apr 15 – Put Boxes in Flanders hubbs. Worked on Raymonds wheel. Sarah gone over the river. Ed Drury Brot five loads wood.

Apr 16 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot violin pegs 50¢ strings 80¢ tail piece 50¢ postage 3 Beer 10¢ fare 25¢. Drury Brot two loads wood. Bot Draft for G. T. 94˚93_“29 cts.

Apr 17 – Sent Draft to G. T. 3¢. Drove spokes in raymonds wheel. Joy paid 20¢. Drury Brot two loads wood. Put strings on my new violin. Sarah came home.

Apr 18 – Finished Raymonds wheel. He brot two bushels & 8 lbs wheat 1.70¢ 12½ lbs shugar 125.

Apr 19 – Worked in garden trimed trees cleared out the yard. Filed saw for Wesley. Set out quince trees. Bot oil 25¢.

Apr 20 – Went over to Fathers found them some better. Ethen down to Clarks. Mr. Galligans child[34] buried.

Apr 21 – Rainy morning. Wedged boxes in hubbs. W^m Whitcomb in shop in afternoon.

Apr 22 – Drove spokes in Flanders wheels & commenced rimming. Bot ½ bushel potatoes 12¢. Sent letter to Omro[35] 3.

Apr 23 – Riming wheels. Went down to Lockharts shop. Bored yoke for A. Chipman.

Apr 24 – Worked in shop on wheels putting on rims. A. McLary paid 6¢.

Apr 25 – Worked in shop. Finished Flanders wheels. Flanders paid 25¢ for filing saw.

Apr 26 – Painted Flanders wagon. Extracted tooth for A. Moffit 25.

Apr 27 – Pleasant. Sarah gone to church.

Apr 28 – Worked in garden. Piled up my lumber. Lyman Earl brot five Bushels potatoes.

Apr 29 – Worked in yard. Shelled coffee & Beans. Burnt brush. Bot one dozen Eggs 7¢.

Apr 30 – Worked round garden. Went over & got some early potatoes. L. T. Earl brot 17 fence posts.

May 1 – Went down to Catharines with Mother. Lucy sick.

May 2 – Made bed piece for Ex one boulster for Yorks wagon. Bot saleratas 10. Painted Flanders wagon. Mr Bronson got his gearing.

May 3 – L. T. Earl brot four posts 180 pickets 20 rails. D. Lamkin plowed garden. Plowed garden.

May 4 – Went up to Wesleys. John Wilcut went up to Yorks. Almon Pond[36] married.

May 5 – Worked in garden some. John Wilcut here. Left on the 2 oclock train. Earl brot 250 pickets. Bot dog Eggs 7.

May 6 – Made boulster for hamilton 50 spring bar for Race 39¢. T. Cory paid one Dollar. Lamkins draged garden.

May 7 – Planted onions peas & Radishes potatoes &c.

May 8 – Bot beet seed 5 Lettuce 5. Went over to Fathers. Got some me__ican potatoes. Wesley brot some June potatoes shugar 7.

May 9 – Planted potatoes. Filed saw for Marshal Austin 10.

May 10 – Made yard for pigs & cow &c. D. Hamilton paid 24¢. Paid school bill 1.04.

May 11 – Went up to York ville. Went up the lake.

May 12 – Planted Beans. Not much done to day. Sent letter to Hiram 3¢ one to Henry 3¢ Bot ½ lb Tea 40. Cow out to night.

May 13 – Planted corn and coffee. Filed saw for Mr Hoag 15¢. Rainy.

May 14 – Moved my stringers. Planted cucumbers & mellons. Ethen came home. Hoag paid 15¢. Bot chimney for lamp 10¢. Oatman shot Mrs Stevensons Dog.

May 15 – Worked on A Chipmans wagon. Beach brot his wheelbarrow.

May 16 – Worked on Beaches wheelbarrow. Went down to Circus ground. Bot orrange 5¢ Nancy 2 cents. Hamilton paid 25¢. Circus in Town.

May 17 – Worked on wheelbarrow. Went down to Lockharts. Got four rivets made.

May 18 – Went over to Fathers. Catharine & Mark there. Lois went home. Verry cool day.

May 19 – Snows some cold. Flanders got his wagon. Saw Barny Vosburg. Worked on spokes. Bot one ball wicking 8¢.

May 20 – Heavy frost 3 degrees below freezing point. Worked on spokes. Bot cotton 36 candy 1¢.

May 21 – Shaved spokes for Chipmans wagon. Bot one spool thread 5¢. James Wilber here in Evening.

May 22 – Bot two maple sticks of Pond 15¢. Worked on Exes &c.

May 23 – Worked on Box put box together. Bot screws & nails 18¢. The old man Signor buried to day.

May 24 – Worked on box. Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Bot sundries &c $9.74 Bot Lamp chimney 10¢.

May 25 – At home all day. Sarah & girls went to church.

May 26 – Worked on box &c. Helped T Cory lay his stringers for bridge.

May 27 – Bot fish 18¢. Barny Cory left. Drove spokes in forward wheels put on rim.

May 28 – Finished forward wheels set skeins &c.

May 29 – Worked on hind Ex drove spokes in hind wheels. James S King[37] came on the noon train.

May 30 – Finished Chipmans wheels. Went over to Fathers with King.

May 31 – Let Vanmeter have 154 feet bas boards. Hank paid me 35 cts for scantling. Blanchard paid 25¢. Bot Eggs 6 starch 6.

Jun 1 – Bot 2 & ¼ beef 16 cts. At home all day. King here.

Jun 2 – Painted Chipmans wagon. Baty Brot cultivator. Worked on it some.

Jun 3 – Mended cultivator for Baty 50. Filed saw for Mead 11¢. Bot Eggs 9¢ Bot two combs 15 Drazing 9. Carried wheels down to shop.

Jun 4 – Set skeins & run back and forth to Lockharts. Got wheels & grist brot up 12¢. Beach paid two Dollars.

Jun 5 – Finished Chipmans wagon. James Billings here to dinner.

Jun 6 – Chipman got his wagon paid 8.25. Extracted tooth for Geo Moffit 26¢. Bot cheese 18 Bot Ethens shoes 1.25 one Dollar of his money. Built my Bridge.

Jun 7 – Painted old cradle. Paid Billings for paper 1.00. Went down to Catharines with King. Babcock paid 86.38.

Jun 8 – Came back. Went up by Flanders Wheelers Clapps & Blakes.

Jun 9 – Worked in shop some. Went over to Fathers got some potatoes.

Jun 10 – Shaved spokes. Got boots tapt 37¢ Bot beef 15¢. Father Mother Catharine Lucy & Mark here.

Jun 11 – Went Kalamazoo. Got Draft 88.57/100. Bot _____ shoes 1.25 Tea 38¢. Fare down and back 55¢. King stayed.

Jun 12 – Drove spokes in sulky. Bot paper Envelopes &c 25¢ Bot rice postage 8¢.

Jun 13 – Finished Wightmans wheels. Commenced Austins Ex & thill.

Jun 14 – Put in Ex to austins wagon. Henry came home. Lois & Emma here. Extracted tooth for Austin Chipman 25.

Jun 15 – At home all day. King came back.

Jun 16 – Put in thill & dash in austins wagon.

Jun 17 – Put dash on Als wagon. Bot screws 5¢ Bot saleratas 10 Bot hat 10. Sarah went up to henry Rogers.

Jun 18 – Plowed & hoed my patatoes King went home with Father. Bot Ale 10 Bot Fish 25¢. Sent Catharine some strawberries.

Jun 19 – Dan Rices show in town. Went in in Evening 75¢. Bot cheese & candy 33¢.

Jun 20 – Bot linnen 31 Bot walnut Board for seats 15¢. Worked some on seats.

Jun 21 – Worked on seat. King went over to Fathers. Sold E. Hopkins wheel.

Jun 22 – Went down to Catharines with King. Got Cals violin. Went in swimming.

Jun 23 – Made seat for A. Austin. Bot thread 5¢. Father & King came over. Brot my flour up from the mill.

Jun 24 – Piled lumber in barn. King went over to Kingsleys. Kingsley paid 50¢. Filled tooth for Emmett Cory 25. Went over to Earls took tea.

Jun 25 – Went to Kalamazoo. Got money for Catharine. Bot dinner 15¢ Bot hat for Ethen 32. Went in swimming.

Jun 26 – Cut grass in yard. Bot thread 5 Bot shugar 13¢ Bot Eggs 20¢. Jesse Earl Paid ten dollars.

Jun 27 – Hoed beans &c. Bot stockings & Elastic for girls 50 postage 6¢. Raked up my hay.

Jun 28 – Edwin Childs pd 5.00 A Chipman pd 9.00. Bot beer 5¢. King came back.

Jun 29 – Went over to Fathers. He let me have 25.00.

Jun 30 – Bot coats pants & vest collars & Satchel 15.15¢. Bot beer & candy 14¢. Received 35.10¢.

Jul 1 – Left Galesburg ½ past one AM for Springfield Mass. Fare from G to S 19.70. Bot oysters 25¢ Bot apples 10¢ Cakes 5¢.

Jul 2 – Arrived in Springfield half past 10 AM. Bot cakes 6¢. Went round the Armory ground. Could see the green mountains.

Jul 3 – In Springfield. Went around the City some. Saw their new steam fire Engine work. James & myself got wet some.

Jul 4 – The armory bands formed a procession marched down to City Hall went up to the Armory went on to the tower. Could see Mount tom & green mountains. Fire works in Evening.

Jul 5 – Went down to the car shops up on the fair grounds. Bot oraculum 10¢. Very hot day.

Jul 6 – At George Carletons in East Springfield Mass. Very hot. Went up to the cemetry. Saw some nice yards and monuments &c.

Jul 7 – Very hot. Went on the Arcenal tower 133 steps.

Jul 8 – Went up to Chicopee. Went all through the gun & sword factorys cotton mills &c. Fare up & down 20¢.

Jul 9 – Went up to the water shops. Made out Board bills for G. W. Carleton. Bot mouth glass 25¢.

Jul 10 – Left Springfield. Far to North Hampton 60¢ Hampton to Williams burgh 50¢ Williams burgh to Babylon 30¢. Got to Jesse Wilcutts[38] six P.M. Crackers 5.

Jul 11 – Went up to uncle Joels[39] found them haying. Went down to the Jewel place. Sat down on the rock in front of the old house or where it used to stand. Saw W^m Pinchen.

Jul 12 – Cut my name on tree on town line between Chesterfield & Goshen on uncle Joels farm East of Barn. Went over to the lilly pond on to the old farm where Mother was born. Very smoky.

Jul 13 – Went on to the Corker place & on to the old perry place & the old John Stevens farm south of the Jewell place.

Jul 14 – At uncle Joels. They are Haying. Stayed there all day. Had a shower. Uncl Joel is mowing _____ of putting in most dark.

Jul 15 – Went down to Patrick Bryants Chesterfield hollow went past old uncle ned Keiths[40] place. Got some cider brandy.

Jul 16 – Went down to Jesses Wilcutts and took dinner. Went into Grandfather Keiths[41] house.

Jul 17 – Raked hay for uncle Joel. Went over to Chesterfield hill in Evening to a war meeting. Saw David Beals. Jim shit his Breeches.

Jul 18 – Around the house all day. James & Jason[42] sick. Went over to the old Naremore place.

Jul 19 – Went over to Cole Rain[43] with Jason. Went through Shelburn falls vilage. Got to Cole Rain about 2 PM.

Jul 20 – Went to Leroy Bates and Aunt Catys.[44] Found them well. Rained hard. Went through Greenfield. Bates lives on Deerfield Meadows.

Jul 21 – Went back to uncle Joels. Came through Shelburn. Went into the old Burying ground where Grandfather & Grandmother[45] was buried.

Jul 22 – Went over to Aunt Rhodas[46] & Warren Balls. Found them well.

Jul 23 – At Joels. All his children at home Except three girls. All well.

Jul 24 – Left Joels at seven. Got to Chester ½ past twelve. Martin[47] came with me. Called on Aunt Suzy.[48] Called on old Mrs Dewey.

Jul 25 – Left Chester about 9 Am. Fare to Albany 2.15 cts. Got to Albany at 12 noon. Fare to Rochester 4.58. Got to Rochester ½ 7 Evening.

Jul 26 – At Rochester. Lodging & Breakfast 1.00 Bus fare 20¢ fare to Leroy 70. Arrived ½ past nine Am. Got to Pavilion[49] ½ past twelve noon.

Jul 27 – Went up to uncle Jesse Spragues[50] Orrin Scrantons. Saw Mortimer Maryette & Louisa.

Jul 28 – Went down to Em Kendals. Called on Mr Snows folks. Saw Mary & Julias girl. Heard her play on the malodion.

Jul 29 – At home. Helped George transfer Bees. Went up to Mr Crossmans & uncle Noah Slars.[51]

Jul 30 – Went up to pearl creek.[52] Saw Pond Thomas Miller & Capt Parks John Miller.

Jul 31 – Went up to uncle Sam Curtises[53] & Wyoming. Saw old Mrs Peterson. She was almost 99 yrs of age.

Aug 1 – Left Pavilion half past five got lft Batavia 8.50 Am got to Buffalo 10 Am. Street car & ferry 10 cts fare from Batavia to Detroit $7.70 cts left Buffalo 5 Am or Black Rock rather.

Aug 2 – Left Detroit ½ past 8 Am. Fare to Galesburg 395 py & cheese at Marshal 15¢. Got home 2 PM. All gone from home.

Aug 3 – Went over to Fathers. Found them all well as usual.

Aug 4 – Went over to Fathers. Hannah Nancy went over. Had a terrible hurricane. It blowed down six houses some Barns. Mr Bachelders wife & child[54] was killed.

Aug 5 – Bot steak 12¢. Worked on fence. J M York & Hellen here.

Aug 6 – Worked on fence. Bot pants 1.25 nails 20 candy 1¢. Mr Bachelders child buried.

Aug 7 – Went up to Dilenbecks. Made some fence. Ford got the moddle. Bot four Apples 2¢.

Aug 8 – Made wagon neap for A. Caywood. Paid corporation tax 1.14¢.

Aug 9 – No work to day sick. Bot berries 25¢. Bot 9 lbs shugar 1.00.

Aug 10 – At home all day some sick.

Aug 11 – Went over to Fathers. Mark & Caty Chaffee[55] came home with me. Bot crackers 5¢.

Aug 12 – Bot beef 11¢ Bot Beer 10. Got tug mended 10. Got Nance. Went down to Catharines. Caywood paid 75 cts.

Aug 13 – Went down to Kalamazoo. Bot medicine 50¢.

Aug 14 – Bot goldenseal alum & Borax 5¢ Bot book for Ethen 20¢.

Aug 15 – Piled some wood. Bot codfish 24¢ Bot ½ lb Tea 62 Apples 5¢.

Aug 16 – Bot slate 12¢. Babcock paid 100 & 10.50 cts. Bot shugar 7¢ Bot Geography 25 Bot Extract Blackberry 22¢.

Aug 17 – Went up to Yorks. Got Evensroot. Jo & Hellen came home with me.

Aug 18 – Sent two letters 6. Sent Georges money. Filed saw for James Holden 16¢. Bot tannin 3 Bot Beef 15¢.

Aug 19 – Bot salt 10 Bot panacea 50. Hoed in garden & made door steps.

Aug 20 – Bot glass & putty 24¢. Made jack for D. Lamkins 95. Extracted tooth for Mr Struble 25.

Aug 21 – No work to day. Jo Flanders brot two bushels wheat 2.10¢. Louisa Kingsley here. Alvan called here. Rainy. Mary Townsend Died.

Aug 22 – No work to day. Bot Broom 20¢. Mary Townsend buried. Mr Baty got cultivator. Paid 50¢.

Aug 23 – Hoed in garden some. Miss Toby died. Bot oil 25¢ two Apples 2¢.

Aug 24 – Bot Beef steak 18. At home all day.

Aug 25 – Set up leach. Put up plank for P. Johnson chimney. Bot buts screws & hooks for fish pole box 12¢.

Aug 26 – Worked round. Put water on leach. Got out stuf for box.

Aug 27 – Worked in shop some. Made box for pole. Made lye &c. Bot apple 1¢.

Aug 28 – Made soap. Mowed some weeds. Bot beef 25¢.

Aug 29 – Mowed some weeds. Bot half lb rice 5¢. Repaired fence some.

Aug 30 – Worked round house. Scalded bedsteads &c.

Aug 31 – At home all day. Had a hail storm & rain.

Sep 1 – Went over to Fathers. Bot apples 25 Bot Eggs 24 bot cord 17¢ & lock 17¢.

Sep 2 – Went over to Fathers. He thrashed wheat. Had 107 bushels.

Sep 3 – Worked in shop. Sawed out stuff for Flanders & Bronsons boxes. Bot box matches 5¢ of C. P. Galigan.

Sep 4 – Worked on Flanders Box. Went to hear Huchison Boys sing in Evening. Took Tea down to Beaches.

Sep 5 – Nothing done to day sick not much work to day.

Sep 6 – Went over to Fathers. Bot History for Ethen 50 Bot buttons 9¢.

Sep 7 – At home all day sick. No one here.

Sep 8 – Went after cow in morning. Wesley called here got one Dollar. Went after cow at night.

Sep 9 – Worked on violin some.

Sep 10 – Worked on violin. Dont work much any how.

Sep 11 – Worked on violin put it together.

Sep 12 – Finished violin put on strings. Jo & Hellen here. Had a trotting match in town.

Sep 13 – At home no work. Bot mutton 20¢.

Sep 14 – At home. Went after the cow found her in Sharpsteens lot.

Sep 15 – Sent letter to uncle Joel 3¢ candy & peach 2¢.

Sep 16 – At home round town. Carried most 3 bushels & half wheat to mill.

Sep 17 – Went over to Fathers. Got some veal. Mrs Bachelder[56] died. Mrs Lamb died. Heavy shower in Evening.

Sep 18 – Cloudy & rainy morning. Sent letter to Bob[57] 3¢. Flanders Brot his wagon down. Mrs Bachelder Mrs Lamb & Miss Avery Buried to day.

Sep 19 – Worked on Flanders box.

Sep 20 – Worked on box. Bot thread 3¢. Let Charles Richardson have five Dollars. Sarah went over the river.

Sep 21 – Went over to Fathers. Sarah came home.

Sep 22 – Finished Flanders Box. Bot indigo 6. Filed saw for A Hoag 15¢.

Sep 23 – Mended parasol for Mrs Steel. Sent letter to Jonas Leroy[58] 3. A Hoag paid 15¢.

Sep 24 – Went over to Fathers. Received letter from J. S. King. Went over to Kingsleys. Bot shugar 52¢.

Sep 25 – Worked on Bronsons box. Extracted tooth for Ruth Ann York[59] 25. Mrs Steel paid 25¢. Sent letter to J. S King 3¢. Bot Envelopes 10¢ gum 1¢.

Sep 26 – Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢. Filed saw for Morton 10 filed saw for Morton 10. Bot peaches 25. Cavalry went through. Saw Eugene Ed Drury Chase & Spence Thomas.

Sep 27 – Went over to Fathers in morning. Bronson brot his wagon got 75 lbs bran. Went over to Fathers in Eveing. Evy Clark here. Ethen came home.

Sep 28 – Went over to Fathers. Sarah went to church.

Sep 29 – Worked in shop some on seat and Bronsons Box. Bot meat 15¢ of Morton.

Sep 30 – Went over to Fathers. Went down after Catharine. Mother very sick. Saw Oscar Miles & Harly Seeley.

Oct 1 – Bot file 10 Bot cabbage 10¢. Joseph Lee[60] paid 25. Filed saw for Truax 10¢. Bronson brot runners. Mended clamps & filed saw for Schroder 38¢.

Oct 2 – Schroder paid 38¢. Filed saw for Stranger 10. Filed Joseph Lees saw. Went over and see mother. Put irons on Flanders Box. Recd letter from Hiram.

Oct 3 – Bot 2 lbs steak 14. Patty came this morning. Worked on Bronsons box.

Oct 4 – Worked on Bronsons Box some. Stranger paid 10¢. Oscar called here.

Oct 5 – Went over to Fathers. Mother very sick. I set up with her all night.

Oct 6 – Went over to Fathers with Dr Wightman. Sent letter to G. T. one to uncle Jason 3¢.

Oct 7 – Mother Died half past ten to day. Pattys[61] Trunk came in Evening. Bot chimney for lamp 10¢ salt peter 8¢.

Oct 8 – Old cow in _____. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢ gum 1¢. Mother Buried[62] to day. Had a heavy shower. George Hoges came home.

Oct 9 – Went over to Fathers. Came back with Flanders. B combs 1¢.

Oct 10 – Worked in shop some. Put finger board on violin.

Oct 11 – Worked in shop on box &c. Uncle Jason came. Went over to Fathers.

Oct 12 – Went up to Wesleys with uncle Jason. He went down to Catharines.

Oct 13 – Working on box. Nancy Bot crackers 3¢.

Oct 14 – Put box together. Bot lime 6. Sent letter to Hiram 3. Filed saw for Morton 10 one for Mead 15.

Oct 15 – Bot steak 17¢. Finished Bronsons Box. A. Moffit paid 25¢. Uncle Jason came back.

Oct 16 – Uncle Jason left. Went over to Fathers. Paid Mr Ralph 25¢. Mrs Betts[63] goods came.

Oct 17 – Worked on Flanders seat. Flanders Brot 19 galons cider. Paid Barber 13¢ for draying.

Oct 18 – Finished Flanders seat. Bot chicken 15¢ Bot ribbon for girls hats 62¢ Bot violin string 15.

Oct 19 – Went up to Wesleys got squaw weed. Extracted tooth for Mrs Oatman 25.

Oct 20 – Made pole and roll for D. Lamkins 1.50¢. Sawed out cutter runners in Evening.

Oct 21 – Bristol Brot his wagon. Cut some runners out. Got Bran I guess 150 lbs dont know.

Oct 22 – Worked on Bristols buggy. Made bed peace &c. Bot 43 Eggs of Sol Kingsley 26¢.

Oct 23 – Bot 5 lbs shugar 65¢. Work on Bristols buggy. Made reach.

Oct 24 – Repaired shafts. Hued some spokes. Bot buttons & thread 56¢. Filed saw 10¢. Mrs Guile paid 38¢.

Oct 25 – Went over to Butterfields with hubs. Worked on spokes. Commenced neap for Walter Chipman.

Oct 26 – Went over to Fathers. Went up on hill with Patty & Lucy. Bot 7 lbs pork 42.

Oct 27 – Worked on buggy. Commenced Wightmans wheel. Filed saw for Marshal Austin 10.

Oct 28 – Worked on Wightmans wheel -/17. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Bot colt of S. Kingsley.

Oct 29 – Bot 70 lbs Flour 2.00. Repaired wheel for [blank]. Mrs Betts came.

Oct 30 – Worked on Bristols wheel. Flanders Brot 12 Bushels potatoes.

Oct 31 – Repairing cupboard for Mrs Betts.

Nov 1 – Bot spoon butts & screws for table 55¢. Filander Mead paid 14¢. Bot Bran 36 Bot soup boon 15¢. Ethan went up to Yorks got 2 chicks.

Nov 2 – Shaved some spokes. Lois & Mrs Betts went to church.

Nov 3 – Filed saw for Hoag 5¢ filed saw for Morton 10¢. Took colt up to Flanders. Bot oil 25¢.

Nov 4 – Bot ½ lb Tea 50¢ Bot shugar 25¢. Went to Election.

Nov 5 – Patty & Lucy came over. Bot ginger spice & nutmegs 35¢. Hoag paid 5¢.

Nov 6 – Bot Beef 21¢. Morton paid 10¢. (J. S. King came.) Patty went Back. Bot bran 145 lbs.

Nov 7 – Got pictures made. Went over to Fathers in Evening with Hannah & Nancy.

Nov 8 – Worked round House. King went over to Fathers. Filed saw for Hoag 10.

Nov 9 – Went over to Jesse Earls. Extracted tooth for Mrs Earl 25¢. Went down to Fathers. Patty & Catharine went home with Mark.

Nov 10 – Alvan & Jerome here Kingsley & King. Let King have 20 in gold for 23 pr cent. Let Detroit man have 20 in gold for 28 pct. Bot Beef shank 10. King Left for Home.

Nov 11 – Went over to Fathers. Cut hole through chimney. Dwight Taylor brot load wood for Mrs Betts.

Nov 12 – Worked on Bristols box. Paid school bill 64¢. Boys commenced sawing Mrs Betts wood. Extracted tooth in the night for E. P. Oatman.

Nov 13 – Worked on Bristols Box. Filed saw for Barbers boy one for fry 20. Boys finished sawing wood.

Nov 14 – Worked on box. Patty & Catharine went to Battle Creek.

Nov 15 – Bushed hub for A. Chipman 50¢. Filed saw for Morton 10¢. Bot thread 7¢. Chipman paid 50¢. Stillwell brot corn. Filed saw for A. Hoag 10¢. Bronson Brot wheat.

Nov 16 – Went up to Yorks. Went and got Beechnuts. John Darling and wife there.

Nov 17 – Bot two prs Boots $5.62¢ Bot Bran 45. Oatman paid 50¢. Bot screws 55¢. A. Hoag paid seven cents. Filed saw for A. Lamkins 15¢ one for Earl & Barber 15¢. Bot thread 5¢.

Nov 18 – Worked on Bristols Box. Father Catharine & Patty here. Went up to grave yard.[64] Bot butter 34¢. Wightman got lead pipe. Lois came home.

Nov 19 – Worked on Box put it together put on dash. Went and fixed P. Johnsons stair rail. He got his mittins paid me 75¢.

Nov 20 – Fixed Johnsons Bowl 25. Filed saw for Hoag 10. Made rack for Eugene Cory in Evening 38¢. Shelled corn. Bronson brot shoes for sleigh.

Nov 21 – Filed saw for Mr. Gilbert 15¢ he paid 15¢. Eugene Cory paid 25¢. Went to lecture in Evening. Saw them dance. Bot one lb nails 7¢. Elder Gilbert died.[65]

Nov 22 – Bot brimstone 6¢. Work on Bristols box. Truman Johnson Brot two lbs Butter. Drove spokes.

Nov 23 – At home al day sick. Elder Gilbert buried.

Nov 24 – Went up to Milfords & to Fathers. Hoag paid 10¢. Eugene Cory paid 10¢.

Nov 25 – Got insurance transferred. Worked on box finished wheels[?]. Sold violin timber to George Turner[66] 50¢.

Nov 26 – Filed 3 saws for B. Clark 40¢. Filed one saw for Mrs Geo Stevenson 20¢. Worked on slead. Sarah bot sundries callico &c 4.55¢.

Nov 27 – Bot pork 15¢. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Finished H. Barkers slead. Sawed out some runners. Went over to Austins. Got oyesters in Evening.

Nov 28 – Snows some. Bot file 10¢ Bot thread 4¢. Filed saw for Austin Odell 20¢. Filed saw for A. Austin 15¢. Bot salt 25 Bot beef 15.

Nov 29 – Got out runners. Milford called here. Paid Butterfield 11¢. Charles Richardson Brot one load stalks. Bot chicken 20¢ Bo violin string 15.

Nov 30 – Went over to Fathers. Had roast turkey. Darwin York & Julia Dunning[67] there.

Dec 1 – S. Bristol & Brother Called Ben Hartwell called. Hung ax for P. Johnson 10¢. Getting out Knees & Beams for Bronsons Sleigh.

Dec 2 – Went to Kalamazoo for B. Hartwell. He paid one Dollar 1.00. Bot dinner 10¢. Stephen D. Hall Left.

Dec 3 – Hung ax for P. Johnson 7¢. Bab. paid 23.35¢. Bot shugar 62¢ Bot flannel 28¢ for F. Hawver. Hung Ax for Dea. Cory. Filed and hung new saw for Cory. Patty & Catharine here. Ex^td tooth for Adelphaia York.

Dec 4 – Cut out mittens for Hawer. Filed saw for Hoag 10¢. Worked on Bronsons sleigh.

Dec 5 – Filed saw for Fry 10 one for Barber 15¢ one for Smith 10 one for Lausen[?] Odel 15. Smoothed up knees and beams runners &c. Patty left for home on the 11.48 train.

Dec 6 – Put Sleigh together hung Ax for Stranger 10¢. Sold him stone 10¢. Barbers boy paid 15¢. Made Adze handle for Austin Odel 25¢. Went over to Fathers in Evening. Got Apples.

Dec 7 – Bot 3-2/4 lbs steak 21¢. At home all day.

Dec 8 – Peter Johnson paid 10¢. Went up to Wesleys Yorks & Fathers. Filed saw for Morton 10¢ filed saw for A. Lamkins 20. Odel paid 50¢. Bot 10 lbs pork 50¢ of Morton.

Dec 9 – Worked in shop. Put seat together. Went up to Wesleys in Evening. Lucy paid 10¢.

Dec 10 – Went up to Wesleys. Got Eight bushels of Ears corn. Worked a little in shop. Alvan cut holes in seat.

Dec 11 – Finished Bristols seat. Worked on bob runners. Bot ½ galon oil 40¢.

Dec 12 – Made springbar for Mr [blank] buggy 50. Barber brot up boards from B. Moores 10¢. Put raves on sleigh.

Dec 13 – Finished Bronsons sleigh. Alvan & Bristol here. Bot ½ lb Tea 40¢ Bot candles 15 Bot sausage 15¢. Nancy & Hannah went up to Wesleys.

Dec 14 – Went over to Fathers. Ethan stayed. Boy Born[68] 9 oclock Evening.

Dec 15 – Warm no snow but muddy. Hoag paid 20¢ Fry paid 6¢. Paid Mrs Ralph 1.00. Bronson brot 71 lbs pork.

Dec 16 – Set shoes on Bronsons sleigh. Bronson brot boards for box. Sawed out stuf for Bronsons box. Filed saw for Walace fry 10¢.

Dec 17 – Worked on Bronsons sleigh box. Bristol got his buggy away. Alvan here. Filed saw for Lauson Odel 15¢.

Dec 18 – Filed saw for John Schroder 15. Worked on sleigh. Bot blewing 5¢.

Dec 19 – Alvan here to dinner. Finished Bronsons sleigh. Commenced whiffletrees.

Dec 20 – Mended Frank Austins slead 10¢. Fry paid 11¢. Finished Bronsons whiffletrees. Paid Sarah Beedle 35¢. Bronson got his sleigh.

Dec 21 – Went over to Fathers. Rather warm thawed some.

Dec 22 – Bot salratas starch & alcohol 23¢. Dick Whiting paid 50¢. Worked on Ned Stevensons slead.

Dec 23 – Finished Ned Stevensons slead. David Bronson Brot four bushels & 20 lbs wheat.

Dec 24 – Piled some spokes. Bot comforter 25 B two pr shoes $2.00. Scudder got bas board 20¢. Bot candy 2¢. One bbl flour found in James Deyoes yard put there by some damd scoundrel or presbyterian Devils to ruin him.

Dec 25 – Sawed out beams & raves for Milfords bobs. Bot matches one Apple 6¢.

Dec 26 – Sawed out two raves for Milfords bobs. Made slead for Ed Gillis 1.25¢. Lois came home. Let James Deyoe have one dollar.

Dec 27 – Worked on bob runners. James Deyoe paid one Dollar. James Flanders brot 8¼ lbs butter.

Dec 28 – Went over to Fathers. Mark brot ten bushels wheat to Catharine. Went up to Yorks. Brot Lucys malodion down.

Dec 29 – Made scate wood. Worked on bobs. Hung ax for Ely Wightman 10¢. Bot lamp 50¢ Bot malassis 60¢ Bot sulphur 6¢ Bot candles 15 candy 1¢.

Dec 30 – Worked in shop some. Could not do much.

Dec 31 – No work to day. Got a great boil on my face. Extracted toth for ruth An York. Ed paid 50¢. Ground Ax for P. Johnson. He paid 10. Postage 3¢.

 

Notes from the back of Luke’s diary:

Petingill McOmber Luke Thayer. I saw their places from the Corker place.

Tell uncle Warren the horse track is plane as Ever in the rock near the corker bars and those little studs at the bottom of the rock in the field. William Wilcutt lives near uncle Joels on the old Zebulon Wilcutt[69] place he preaches.

[July] 15 went past the place that Father & John Wilcutt laid wall and never got their pay.

[July] 21 went & saw the _____ in Goshen it is near the burying ground.

Warren Ball lives on the old Williams or Lyons place.

Aunt Rhoda was up to the old Adam Beals place picking berries.

Joel Wilcutt Chesterfield Hampshire Co. Mass.

Uncl Joel has twenty Grand Children.[70]

Malinda Ebenezar Shaw[71]

Mary William Wells[72]

Rhoda Russel B Packard[73]

Lydia Elexas Wells[74]

Lucretia Henry M Dyer[75]

Clarrissa Alvan Daman[76]

Jesse ” Mary[77]

Alvin ” Mary ann[78]

Martin ” Malury[79]

Aman Lichfield
Miah Luce
Owns the Corker place
Eustice Wilcutt
Chester Mass
Joel Wilcutt
Cummington Hampshire County Mass

Ogden Tomlinson is in the 10th [or 16th] Wisconsin Volunteers

Mail Trains May 5/62
Going East 12.55
” ” West 2.05

Bliss family setted in the town of Springfield 1645
Jothom Damon
Goshen Mass

——-

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

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

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

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

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

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

[7] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[8] His daughter, Hannah Keith

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

[10] His daughter, Nancy Keith

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

[12] His son, Ethan Keith

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

[14] 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

[15] Joseph and Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was Luke’s niece

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

[17] Hannah (Willcutt) Keith

[18] Believe this to be his cousin, Alvin Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[19] Nickname for his brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr

[20] Nickname for his baby daughter, Louese Keith

[21] George Tomlinson, who was married to his niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

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

[23] His brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr

[24] This could be his brother-in-law, Henry Crawford, or his son, Henry Keith

[25] His mother’s brother, Jason Beal Wolcott; many of the Willcutts used the alternate spelling Wolcott

[26] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s diaries and it is believed that he is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind to run his father’s farm and was living with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[27] His sister Catherine’s daughter by her second husband, George Clinton Lee

[28] Louese Keith

[29] His neighbor, Thomas Flanders

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

[31] His cousin, the son of Jason Wolcott

[32] A letter dated 10-11-1861 from Rev. Platt and Nancy Betts stated they had received a letter from Henry and that they had another boy 9 weeks old when he (Henry) wrote

[33] Noah Starr was the father-in-law of Emma (Sprague) Starr, who was the niece of Luke’s sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) & James Sprague Jr.

[34] FindAGrave.com shows that Rose Galligan, daughter of Charles & Sarah Galligan, died April 19, 1862 and was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery

[35] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts, as well as his brother-in-law, Robert Crawford, lived in Omro, Wisconsin

[36] Ancestry.com shows that Almon Pond married Aleena Griswold in Kalamazoo County on May 4, 1862

[37] His maternal first cousin

[38] His maternal first cousin

[39] Joel Willcutt, Jesse Willcutt’s father

[40] Uncertain as to who this is

[41] Luke Keith

[42] His maternal first cousin, Jason Willcutt King, brother of James S. King

[43] Coleraine, Massachusetts

[44] Catherine (Willcutt) Bates; she was married to Levi Bates so don’t know if Luke was referring to him or some other relative by the name of Leroy

[45] Jesse & Katherine (Beal) Willcutt Jr; they are buried in Center Cemetery in Chesterfield, Massachusetts

[46] Rhoda (Willcutt) Hawks

[47] Most likely Joel’s son, Martin Willcutt

[48] Perhaps his great-aunt, Susannah (Willcutt) Stephenson

[49] Pavilion, New York

[50] The uncle of his first wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[51] Noah Starr; see April 3^rd entry

[52] Pearl Creek, New York

[53] The father-in-law of Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith’s brother, Henry Crittenden

[54] Anna L. Batchelder, age 8, daughter of John D & Lucretia (Woodruff) Batchelder, is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Only Anna died, Mrs. Batchelder died September 17, 1862

[55] His niece, Frances Catherine “Katy” (Keith) Chaffee; believe “Mark” is referring to his cousin (see footnote for February 21^st entry)

[56] Lucretia (Woodruff) Batchelder; see footnote for August 4^th entry

[57] Believe he is referring to his brother-in-law, Robert Crawford

[58] The husband of Luke’s maternal first cousin, Edith (King) LeRoy

[59] Ruth Ann (Fletcher) York, the wife of Joseph York’s brother Edwin

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

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

[62] She is buried in the Galesburg Old Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

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

[64] Family story is that Luke would often play his violin at the graves of his first two wives

[65] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Newton Gilbert died on November 21, 1862 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[66] His first cousin Jesse Turner’s son

[67] Charles Darwin York and Julia Dunning would marry on June 11, 1863. Charles Darwin York and Joseph York were brothers

[68] His son, James Clinton Keith

[69] His great uncle

[70] The following names are Joel’s children and their spouses

[71] Melinda Willcutt married Ebenezer Shaw on November 27, 1845

[72] Mary Willcutt married William Wells; date unknown

[73] Rhoda Willcutt married Russell Packard on September 16, 1848

[74] Lydia Willcutt married Alexis Wells on December 23, 1851

[75] Lucretia Willcutt married Henry Dyer on January 12, 1855

[76] Clarissa Willcutt married Abner (Alvan) Damon on October 28, 1858

[77] Jesse Willcutt married Mary Dyer on November 10, 1844

[78] Alvin Willcutt married Mary Ann Crosby on January 9, 1850

[79] Martin Willcutt married Millury Shaw on February 9, 1851

Advertisement

Luke Keith’s 1860 Diary

1860 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Cold 11 Below zero. At home all day.

Jan 2 – Cold 7 Below zero. Bot this Book 62¢ Bot Soap 15¢. Put in Boulster for __. Kingsley.

Jan 3 – Pleasant 11 Abz. Bot iron for slead 61¢. Book came. Screws 20. Paid E. Beckwith 50.

Jan 4 – Cold 12 Abz. Express _____ 14¢. Went over to Fathers[2] Bot Beef 14 got tea Kettle repaired 15¢ Bot one lb candles 16¢. Deyoes[3] moved.

Jan 5 – Snows a little 13 Abz. Got my sled. Sarah[4] went to donation party. Bot ½ lb tea 31¢ one Dollar for work on sled.

Jan 6 – Cloudy 20 Abz. Worked in shop made axhelve for Byington. Rainy day.

Jan 7 – Cloudy 34 Abz. Henry[5] came home. Put the irons on my slead. Bot 3 lbs pork 22¢ Bot screws 7¢.

Jan 8 – Cloudy 36 Abz. At home all day. Henry & Lois[6] at home. Sleighing most gone.

Jan 9 – Cloudy 29 Abz. Killed my pig. Paid Earl 50¢. Bot 50 lbs Flour 11/-.[7]

Jan 10 – Cloudy 32 Abz. Went over to Fathers got pig. Hat Taylor stayed here all night. Bot one lb candles 1__. Snowed in the night.

Jan 11 – Snowey 16 Abz. Made axhelve for Eben Flanders. Bot one old Red Lead 11¢. Bot 15 lbs salt 20.

Jan 12 – Pleasant 7 Abz. Worked in shop some painted sled hued some spokes. Bot stuff for pain Killer 73.

Jan 13 – Pleasant 11 Abz. Worked in shop some. Wesley called here _____ drawed 3 cords wood.

Jan 14 – Cloudy 7 Abz. Worked in shop some Wesley[8] called here.

Jan 15 – Cloudy 30 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Ed York paid me two Dollars. Lois went home.

Jan 16 – Snows some 34 Abz. Sorted my corn. Miss Hoxie & Mrs Bevere here Mrs Earl & Mary Ett here.

Jan 17 – Snows some 23 Abz. Went up to Yorks. Mr & Mrs Carleton to Fathers. Bot five comb 10¢. J. Flanders here.

Jan 18 – Snows some 26 Abz. Hued spokes. Paid my tax 23.70¢. Flanders got his ax.

Jan 19 – Pleasant 20 Abz. Shelled corn. Race[9] broke away down at the old ashry.

Jan 20 – Pleasant 28 Abz. Father & mother[10] Catharine[11] & Mark[12] here. Denormandy[13] here opened Lois Breast.

Jan 21 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Hued spokes for Jesse Earls buggy. Isaac Smith paid 10¢. Bot Envelope to send to George Tomlinson[14].

Jan 22 – Pleasant 31 Abz. At home all day. Hat Taylor & Mary Childs here & S. Newman.

Jan 23 – Pleasant 24 Abz. Worked in shop. Sent G. T.[15] one hundred & 45 Dollars. Lois went home. Sent letter 3¢.

Jan 24 – Cloudy 48 Abz. Worked on Richardsons Wheels. Miles got my violin.

Jan 25 – Cold ground froze 30 Abz. Worked in shop sawed out felloes[16] for Charleys wheels. Lois came home. Flanders Brot load hay. Sent slead up to Henry.

Jan 26 – Cold 24 Abz snowey day. Worked in shop. Got meal from mill. Water over garden race over flows.

Jan 27 – Snows 19 Abz. Worked in shop got out spokes. Race over flowed my yard.

Jan 28 – Cloudy 30 Abz. Water all over my yard. Shaved spokes & put on sand board. Bot one lb candles 22¢.

Jan 29 – Pleasant 20 Abz. At home all day. Mrs Warner buried to day.

Jan 30 – Pleasant 22 Abz. Drove spokes in Charleys wheels.

Jan 31 – Snows 10 Abz. Finished Charleys wheels. Sarah went down to Mr Mansfields. Water higher than ever almost up to cellar window.

Feb 1 – Cold 2 Abz. Went over to Fathers & down to Clarks yard ful of ice good skating.

Feb 2 – Cold & pleasant 9 Abz. Worked in shop & cut some mittens. Wesley here.

Feb 3 – Snowes some 15 Abz. Worked in shop some. Sent letter to Mrs. Betts[17]. Wesley & J. C. Blake here.

Feb 4 – Cloudy 24 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Jo & Hellen[18] there. Came home with Father. Alvan[19] here. Worked in shop some. Bot shoes for hannah[20] 75¢. One pound saleratas 10¢.

Feb 5 – Snows some 30 Abz. At home all day. Sarah went to church.

Feb 6 – Cloudy 32 Abz. Lois came home. Bot 10 lbs shugar 1.00 one lb Tea __2¢ 2 lbs candles 42. Mark got his Buggy. Hannah went over to Fathers. Lois came home.

Feb 7 – Storms some 24 Abz. Worked in shop some. Sarah went over to Fathers. Lois went home. Bronson & Streator here. Bot cloth for shirt 40¢.

Feb 8 – Pleasant 21 Abz. Tinkered round house carried corn to mill. Bot 50 lbs Flour 1.38¢ one apple 1¢. Bohaim Clark Buried to day.

Feb 9 – Cloudy 36 Abz. Charley Brot Load wood. Bot cloth for drawers 31¢ one violin string 25¢ pop corn 1¢.

Feb 10 – Pleasant 4 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Bot coat & Hat and ribbon & Broom 1502.

Feb 11 – Snowed some 19 Abz. No work in shop to day excep sawed of spokes. Bot Sarah shoes 1.13¢.

Feb 12 – Pleasant 17 Abz. Went up to Wesleys Yorks & Fathers.

Feb 13 – Pleasant 34 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Mark here. Bronson Brot 4__ wheat. Bot Boots 5 shoes 75.

Feb 14 – Pleasant. Bot one light glass 7¢. Left home 12 at noon got to Johns[21] 4 PM. Fair from G. to C.[22] 1.30.

Feb 15 – Cold & stormy. Went over to uncle Jasons[23] got there at one P.M. Found them well.

Feb 16 – Very cold. Some head ache. Went over to John Bissels saw Catharine[24].

Feb 17 – Cold. Went over to Lashers[25] from there to Mr Kirkwoods saw Irene[26]. Snowed all night.

Feb 18 – Cold snows. Stayed at Jasons all day. Went down to John Bissels in the Evening.

Feb 19 – Went and saw Lasher.

Feb 20 – Left uncle Jasons half past nine got to uncle Ozens[27] quater past three. Fare from Jonesville[?] to Hudson 65 cts.

Feb 21 – Left uncle Ozens 12. at noon. Got to Adrian[28] half past two. Found aunt Whitmore[29]. Saw Fred Partrige.

Feb 22 – Pleasant. Saw Emmet Crittenden. Bot gloves 25¢. Left Adrian half past 2. Fare from Adrian to Buffalo 9.00.

Feb 23 – Left Buffalo 6 AM arrived in Pavilion[30] quarter past one. Fare from B. to __. 1.00. Breakfast 25. Mending ring 10.

Feb 24 – Cold. Sent letter to Sarah 7¢. Saw uncle Noah[31] and many others donation at the tavern.

Feb 25 – Cold. At home[32] all day. George Sprague & wife[33] here. Saw Mr Gilmore.

Feb 26 – Cold & snows some. Mr Baly Preached. Sylvenas Young called on me.

Feb 27 – Cloudy. Went over the farm & up to the Burying ground[34].

Feb 28 – Rainy. At home. Nelly[35] sick. Saw W^m Sprague. Sarah Crittenden[36] came down.

Feb 29 – Some rainy. Went down to Chaddocks[37]. Carried Sarah. Mrs Kendall visited _____.

Mar 1 – Rainy. Mended stove. Went up to shop with Dr Sprague[38]. Nelly very sick with scarlet fever.

Mar 2 – Pleasant & windy. Horse Excitement at the village. Saw a number of old friends.

Mar 3 – Rainy morning. Nelly no better. Sent letter to Sarah one Dollar in it. Received a letter from Sarah.

Mar 4 – Pleasant. Dr Sprague & Mr Nobles[39] came down.

Mar 5 – Went up to P. Creek[40]. Saw W^m Miller & many other friends. Stayed to O. Scrantons. Went up to the burying ground[41].

Mar 6 – Pleasant. Went Back to Pavilion. Mrs Nobles here.

Mar 7 – Cloudy & cool. At home. Claressa Starr here in the Evening. Nelly not much Better.

Mar 8 – Pleasant. Nelly a bout as usual. Cut down some Locus trees. Received letter from Sarah. Mr Belden[?] & wife here.

Mar 9 – Cold & windy. Mr Belden[?] left. Cut some more trees. Finished Nellys _____.

Mar 10 – Snows cold as greeland. Nelly some better. Patty[42] sick all night.

Mar 11 – Pleasant. At home all day. George & Susan[43] here.

Mar 12 – Snow 3 inches & snows like fun snowed all day.

Mar 13 – Snowey. Sleighs run. Mr Beldon & wife came down went up to the store & got some silk. Susan came down.

Mar 14 – Pleasant. Went down to Emilys. Received letter from home.

Mar 15 – Pleasant. Went to uncle Jesses[44] & Wyoming. Saw old Mrs Peterson she will be 97 in Aug next. Heard Elder H Earls[?] lecture in the Evening.

Mar 16 – Pleasant. Went up to uncle Samuel Curtis[45]. All well.

Mar 17 – Pleasant. Bot Bosom for shirt 44¢. Went up to Mr Starrs after noon.

Mar 18 – Pleasant. Dr Sprague & S. Youngs here in the morning. George & susan here.

Mar 19 – Bot silk for dress and trunk 13.75. Went over to Clarissa Stars. Rained some.

Mar 20 – At home went up to the store. George had a sick turn. Priest here. Hugh Brooks here.

Mar 21 – Very stormy cold & snows like fun. George sick.

Mar 22 – Left Pavilion 6 am got to Leroy[46]. Took the cars went up to ______ came back to Leroy. Left Leroy half past seven Evening. Fare to Buffalo one Dollar 1.00. Arrived in Buffalo 11.20 Bus ticket.

Mar 23 – Leave Buffalo at 9 Am. Fare to Detroit[?] 7.00[?] cost 1.50. Breakfast lodging costing[?] 1.50. Book and plates 35. Got home 4 oclock am.

Mar 24 – Pleasant. At home. Went over to Fathers.

Mar 25 – Snows some. Henry came home. Jo Sherman here.

Mar 26 – Pleasant. At home. At home all day. Alvan here.

Mar 27 – Pleasant morning. Worked in shop some. Byington Brot his Exes. Lois came home. Azeo here. Sent letter to George 3¢.

Mar 28 – Pleasant. Worked on gearing for Byington. Lois at home.

Mar 29 – Pleasant 39 Abz. Worked in shop. Sarah went over the river. Very dry. Sarah had fifty cents.

Mar 30 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on Byingtons gearing. Driest time I ever new in March. Went over to Fathers. Bot ½ lb Tea 30¢. Charley Brot one & 2/4 cords wood. Received _____ J. M. York[47] one gold ring $.10.00.

Mar 31 – Smoky. Worked in shop. Finished hewing Bronsons spokes. Bronson here. Bot on lb candles 22¢.

Apr 1 – Pleasant 34 Abz. Sarah went to church. Painter Smiths wife babtised. Lois at home. 31 cents for Sarah Beedle[?].

Apr 2 – Pleasant 22 Abz. Went to town meeting. Went over to Fathers. Bot 10 lbs shugar 1.00. Watts paid his note 45.45. Paid Cory 59 cents.

Apr 3 – Pleasant 42 Abz. Finished Byingtons gearing. Sarah went over to Wisemans.

Apr 4 – Rainy 52 Abz. Paid school Bill 1.08. Bronson Brot plank. Jake Hill here in Evening.

Apr 5 – Smoky 42 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo. Bot one set Hubbs 1.95 one set rims 1.50. Mrs Tubbs here Evening.

Apr 6 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Went over to H Browns. Made a Deed for Blass. Gave up Masons Deed & mortgage. Received pay 5.50.

Apr 7 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked in shop on Dr Wightmans wagon. Bot Beads for Sarah 10 cm stick candy. Galt paid 1.20.

Apr 8 – Cloudy 52 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Mark there. Rainy night.

Apr 9 – Rainy 44 Abz. Worked in shop. Got out pipe for Mr Warren. Mr Stimpson Brot here & buried. Thunder & hail in the night.

Apr 10 – Pleasant 44 Abz. Finished Warrens pipe. Race Brot his Buggy. Mrs Butterfield here. Lois came home. Bot one box matches 6¢. Paid one Dollar for plats[?].

Apr 11 – Some cloudy 38 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo got Deeds Recorded. Bass Deed 7/- Tomlinsons 7/- C. L. Keiths 6/-. Fare on cars 25 Bot Dress for Sarah 11/- 5 yds pink 5/- 4.25.

Apr 12 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Went over to Fathers to make bargain for farms. Paid Catharine 25¢ bot cord 2¢.

Apr 13 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Finished Races Buggy. Bot one lb nails 5 3 sheets sand paper 3.

Apr 14 – Snowed some 34 Abz. Race got his Buggy 2.00. Cleaned out shop some mended fence. Lent C Richardson 5.00.

Apr 15 – Pleasant cool air 30 Abz. At home Edwin Henry & Dwight stayed here. Sarah went to church.

Apr 16 – Cloudy 50 Abz. Worked in shop put in two spokes for D. Lamkins.

Apr 17 – Pleasant 43 Abz. Worked in shop on spokes. Bot one yard _________ 12½ two lbs candles 44¢ candy 3.

Apr 18 – Pleasant 28 Abz. Worked on spokes. Bot vial of silver plating 25.

Apr 19 – Pleasant 36 Abz. Worked on felloes. Got my Boots Tapt 75¢. Bot one Dearing Knife 75¢ Beer 10¢. Rained in the Evening.

Apr 20 – Cloudy 62 Abz. Shaved felloes. Bot file 62¢ whetstone 14¢ Buttons 5¢.

Apr 21 – Rains 65 Abz. Shaved spokes. Bot spool thread 5¢. Moses Scranlin here. C. Richardson paid 5.00.

Apr 22 – Cloudy 40 Abz. At home all day. Wrote letter to J S King[48] one to E. M. Stratton NY.

Apr 23 – Pleasant 32 Abz. Repaired wheelbarrow wheel for B. Clark[49]. Bot one lb Tea 50 one geography 50 one lb _________ 12 two letters 6 one _____ thread 5.

Apr 24 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Worked in garden. Bot two lbs nails 9¢.

Apr 25 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Worked round garden picked up brush raked up front yard.

Apr 26 – Cloudy 37 Abz. Shaved spokes. Got Ethens Boot mended 25¢.

Apr 27 – Pleasant 28 Abz. Finished shaving spokes for Jesses Buggy. Bot cloth for Ethens apron 25¢ Bot of a ___ Galt _________ &c $3.75 cts.

Apr 28 – Pleasant 32 Abz. D. Lamkins plowed garden. Mr & Mrs Hall here. Aurilly Lee[50] here. Bot vial of stick tile of Mrs Deyoe 25¢. Recd letter from N.Y. E. M. Stratton.

Apr 29 – Pleasant 44 Abz. At home. Henry came home. Lois at home. By got his wheel. Swaddles Boy died.[51]

Apr 30 – Cloudy 58 Abz. Moved Hogpen. Got one number of the coach makers magazine. Bot 3 lbs nails 15¢.

May 1 – Pleasant 31 Abz. Planted some peas & potatoes. Mark Lee & Ed Wilcut[52] & Eugene Bronson[?] here. Let John Flint have 75. Dollars.

May 2 – Pleasant 30 Abz. Worked in garden some. Went over to Fathers. Bot 6 lbs & 6 oz Shugar of E. W. Gale 57¢ ½ lb sulphur[?] 6¢ five apples 5¢ Bot Bible of Mills 1.40¢.

May 3 – Pleasant 41 Abz. Worked in well. Bot one spool thread 5¢ ½ lb crackers 5¢ one paper 5¢. Ethen sick.

May 4 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Planted Lettuce onions & potatoes. Paid Mr Deyoe 25¢.

May 5 – Cloudy 58 Abz. Got some mortar of Stevenson 5¢. Planted potatoes. E. W. Gale paid one hundred & six Dollars & fifty cents.

May 6 – Pleasant 56 Abz. Went up to Wesleys & Yorks.

May 7 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Wesley came and worked on well. Mr Flanders Brot 1 & ½ Bush _____. D. Lamkin Brot 1 & ½ Doz Eggs. Rained some. Some Thunder Evening.

May 8 – Cloudy 68 Abz. Finished bricking up my well. Got 195 brick of T. Cory. Extracted tooth for Mrs Johnson 25 cts. Rained in the night. Flanders Brot over half bush potatoes & some onion sets.

May 9 – Cloudy looks like rain 57 Abz. Planted potatoes onions &c[53]. Mrs Wiseman & children here to Tea. Pulled tooth for Mrs Johnson 25¢.

May 10 – Pleasant 49 Abz. Fixed pump pipes. Sowed some peas. Went over to Fathers got some potatoes.

May 11 – Pleasant 45 Abz. Sowed Raddish & Pepper grass. Planted potatoes. Made platform to well. Bot two lbs nails 10¢. Sarah went to A Hoags.

May 12 – Cloudy 57 Abz. Finished my well. Planted some Beans. Bot fish 40¢. Wesley Brot his rake fingers[?].

May 13 – Cloudy 59 Abz. Sarah went to church. I went down to the river just at night caught 4 fish and got a lecturing for so doing.

May 14 – Pleasant 55 Abz. Made Bedsted for Ethen. Calvin Streator left. Richardson Brot some wood 7/8 of a cord. Sent letter to E. M. Straton 3¢. Lois at home in Evening.

May 15 – Pleasant 55 Abz. Moved beds up stairs. Bot two bushels wheat of Bronson 2.38 two spools thread 10. Alvan called here.

May 16 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked in shop. Bot 4 yds cotton 28¢ One paper cucumber seed 5¢.

May 17 – Pleasant & some like rain 60 Abz. Dressed out spokes for Bronsons wheels. Bot one stick candy. Deyoe & children here to supper.

May 18 – Cloudy 55 Abz. Filed saw for Mead 10¢. Sawed out gearing for Bronsons wagon. Deyoe moved into the Tubbs House his wife gone. Bot file 12.

May 19 – Rains some 49 Abz. Worked in shop fixing _______ 2.00. Whiting Hat 25¢ half lb starch 6¢ one Dollar for sundries. Beckwith Died.[54]

May 20 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Went up north with children. Mr Beckwith Buried. Rained after noon & night. Mrs Deyo came home.

May 21 – Cloudy 56 Abz. Bot 50 cabbage plants 10¢. Let Parker have 10¢. Sent letter to G. T. 3¢. Put in Boulster for H. Chipman 50¢.

May 22 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Worked in shop some. Wrote letter for Parker lent him ten Dollars.

May 23 – Pleasant 45 Abz. Worked in shop some on Jesses gearing. Went to Fathers. Rained in night.

May 24 – Cloudy 60 Abz. Worked in shop Bot one lb tea 50¢ ½ lb pepper 5¢ 2½ lbs veal steak 15¢.

May 25 – Cloudy 60 Abz. Worked in shop. George Hopkins Died. Sarah & Lois went to Adelines.

May 26 – Pleasant 70 Abz. Bot one lb coffee 18¢ two thimbles 5¢ _____ Parker _____ one bushel corn. Mended N. Galts waggon Box 25¢. Ely Wightman Paid 25¢.

May 27 – Pleasant 51 Abz. At home went down to the river. George Hopkins Buried.

May 28 – Pleasant 48 Abz. Made violin neck for Parker. Bot 10 lbs Butter of A. Chipman. Sent letter to J. S. King 3.

May 29 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked on seat for A. Chipman. Mrs S___tin here to tea. Rained just at night.

May 30 – Some cloudy 62 Abz. Worked on seat. Sawed out thill. Bot 5 posts 60¢ 5 lbs nails 20¢. Bot one lb nails 5¢.

May 31 – Cloudy 49 Abz. Uncle Amos got his seat. Made some fence. Paid Father $.3.50. Lois came home.

Jun 1 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Finished my cross fence. Bot 2 lbs nails 10¢ one stick braid 6¢. Bot two bushels wheat of J. Flanders 2.50.

Jun 2 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Hoed potatoes. Harvey came here went over to Fathers saw Alfleda[55]. Rained in the Evening.

Jun 3 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Went in swimming. Harvey got grind stove. Rained in the night.

Jun 4 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Repaired wheel for M. O. Streator[56] 1.00.

Jun 5 – Cloudy 56 Abz. Catharine & Mark here. Pulled two teeth for Sarah. Bot 2 lbs candles 44¢ one lb salratas[57] 10 one paper cucumbers 5¢. Two bushels wheat of M. O. Stre[ator].

Jun 6 – Cloudy 56 Abz. Made form to bend wheel rims for Buggy _______. Rained some. Volina here to tea. Sundries of Gale 50¢.

Jun 7 – Cloudy 58 Abz. __________ for Wightman boys. Bot 10 lbs shugar _____ cloth for Ethen 80¢ file _____. Went down to Catharines. Put thill in Fathers wagon.

Jun 8 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo. Bot cotten cloth 5 prs shoes. Bonnets for girls dress lining &c 15.56 one pair spectacles.

Jun 9 – Pleasant & cloudy 48 Abz. Hoed garden. Sarah went over to Mr Halls. Bot strawberries 10¢ one button 2¢. Myron S. Coe[58] buried. Bot cloth of Galt 1.50 Hdkf 25¢ belts 38¢.

Jun 10 – Pleasant 48 Abz. At home. Went up north. Sarah & children went.

Jun 11 – Pleasant 45 Abz. Drove spokes in hubs for rake got out some of the gearing. Chipman brot one & half bushels potatoes 56¢.

Jun 12 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked on rake. Bot fringe Hooks & Eyes thread &c.

Jun 13 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Got plank of Cross sawed out stuf for boddy to Earls buggy. Lois came home. Celia Newman & Mary Durham here.

Jun 14 – Cloudy 64 Abz. Worked on boddy. Took tea over to Rogers. Bot watch of Parker .3.56 cents. Bot half lb shugar 8¢.

Jun 15 – Cloudy 62 Abz. Worked in shop some. Went to the school celebration. Jo Lees folks[59] here to tea. Bot violin string 13¢.

Jun 16 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked in shop. Sent letter to Hank 3¢.

Jun 17 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Went down to Catharines. Lois went with me.

Jun 18 – Rainy 64 Abz. Worked in shop on Jesses buggy Box. Wesley here paid 3 Dollars.

Jun 19 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked in shop on Earls bugy Boddy. Mrs Kenyon & Mrs Chapman here to dinner. Babtist association. Wesley paid 3 Dollars.

Jun 20 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Br Jones church Burned this morning 3 oclock. Sarah & children went over to Fathers. Worked on rake some.

Jun 21 – Pleasant 53 Abz. Worked in shop some. Sarah came home. Deyo taken up on charge of Burning church.

Jun 22 – Pleasant 57 Abz. Worked on road. Mrs Deyo & children here to tea.

Jun 23 – Foggy 52 Abz. Worked on the road. Mrs Deyoe went to Kalamazoo to see James. Ethen bot some nuts 1¢.

Jun 24 – Cloudy 66 Abz. At home all day. Sarah & children went to church.

Jun 25 – Pleasant 68 Abz. Worked in shop. Bot half lb Tea one lb crackers one lb & 6 oz chees 55¢. Shed Seeley[60] & Mr Struble arrested for burning church. Mrs Hoges lost two shirts.

Jun 26 – Rains some 73 Abz. Worked in shop on rake. Jo Flanders here to dinner.

Jun 27 – Rains some 68 Abz. Worked in shop. Climax constable after L. Beach run for the woods. Bot spool Thread 5¢. Sarah went over to Wisemans.

Jun 28 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Worked on Boddy. Watered my garden for the first time. Paid postage on magazine 12¢. Rained hard in the night.

Jun 29 – Rainy 72 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo to court adjourned. Saw David Smith. Mark & Jo here. _____ 50¢ beer 5¢. Got bag bran of Affleck.

Jun 30 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Got _____ set on rake wheels. Vandusen here to Austins. Bronson brot his Boxes.

Jul 1 – Cloudy 60 Abz. Sarah & children went to church. I went over to Fathers.

Jul 2 – Rainy 72 Abz. Picked some cherries. Started to go to Kalamazoo. Jo York came & got cheries. Shed Seeley came home. Rainy night.

Jul 3 – Rains 70 Abz. Worked in shop some. Mended cradle for J. C. Blake. Henry Crawford[61] came. Bot 5 lbs shugar ½ lb ginger 60.

Jul 4 – Pleasant 72 Abz. Mended cradle for J C B. Henry Crawford went to Battle creek. Bot cradle finger 12¢ bunch fire crackers 8 two lemons 10¢ two violin strings 28¢.

Jul 5 – Pleasant 68 Abz. Mended Kingsleys wheels 75¢. Hellen York came down Jo here to tea. Henry went to Battle creek.

Jul 6 – Rains some 65 Abz. Worked in shop fixed Clarks wheel. Henry went home. Bot Beef shank 10¢. Hellen went home.

Jul 7 – Pleasant 56 Abz. Worked in shop some hoed some. Harriet Perry & Celia Newman here. George Hoges child buried.

Jul 8 – Rainy 69 Abz. All stayed at home. Had diarhea. Had string Beans for supper. Nancy[62] came home from Clarks.

Jul 9 – Pleasant 66 Abz. Diarhea not much work. Backed of Bronsons spokes.

Jul 10 – Cloudy 65 Abz. Not very well. Lockhart got axletree for Earls bugy. Bot seat spindles 75¢ Bot crystal for my watch 25¢ Bot ½ yd cotten 5¢ Bot spool thread 5¢.

Jul 11 – Pleasant cool wind 59 Abz. Set boxes in Earls Hubs. Sent letter to Omro[63] to Mrs Betts 3¢.

Jul 12 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Drove spokes in to Earls hubs. Alvan here. Got Parkers violin.

Jul 13 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Worked on wheels. Mrs Gaffery here. Sarah went down to Barbers.

Jul 14 – Pleasant 65 Abz. Put felloes on to Earls wheels. Bot 3 bands for whipstalk. Edith came down here.

Jul 15 – Cloudy 64 Abz. At home. Alvan here. Mr Deyo came to have tooth pulled. Edith went home.

Jul 16 – Pleasant 68 Abz. Finished Earls wheels. Bot one lb Tea 63¢ five sheets sand paper 5.

Jul 17 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Painted Earls wheels & gearing.

Jul 18 – Pleasant 76 Abz. Worked in shop got circle for pole. Lois came over. Had a heavy shower.

Jul 19 – Pleasant 73 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo to court. Bot one pr shoes 1.50 one pr 75¢ fare 30¢ dinner 23. Sarah bot sundries 42.

Jul 20 – Pleasant 62 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo. Bot hat 1.00 dinner 25 got ring mended 11 thread & gum 3 fare to Kalamazoo 25.

Jul 21 – Cloudy 74 Abz. Worked in shop some. Charly Brot load wood. Bot 5 lbs shugar 50¢.

Jul 22 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Sarah & girls went to church. Ethen & I went over to Fathers just at night.

Jul 23 – Cloudy 65 Abz. Made wagon neap[64] for C. Richardson 200¢ Bot silk thread 5¢.

Jul 24 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked in shop on Earls buggy seats & pole. Bot seven quarts __________ berries 35¢.

Jul 25 – Pleasant. Made pole & whiffletrees[65]. Bot broom 25¢. Sarah went down to Ed Childs.

Jul 26 – Some cloudy 65 Abz. Worked in shop some. Worked on wiffletrees. Went over to Fathers let him have 1.25¢. Saw Mr Moffet.

Jul 27 – Pleasant 59 Abz. Worked on seats. Sarah went to Hoags.

Jul 28 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked in shop. Sarah stayed to Rogers with Sarah Beedle. Had a very violent thunder storm in the night. Set the telegraph office on fire. Bot Bottle of medicine and _____ sleeve buttons.

Jul 29 – Cloudy 73 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Saw Mark & Catharine. Lois there.

Jul 30 – Very foggy 64 Abz. Put Earls box to gether. Flanders brot his Bob shoes down. Parker went to Niles[66].

Jul 31 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked on Earls Boddy & seats. Bot shawl 8.75. Bot screws & beads 38¢.

Aug 1 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Worked in shop some. went over to Fathers. Got some corn & Apples. Bot pair pants of Blackburn 4.50.

Aug 2 – Cloudy 65 Abz. Worked at _____. Bot alcohol 5¢ licorice 1¢. Heavy shower in the night.

Aug 3 – Cloudy 71 Abz. Filed saws & worked on spokes. Bot lat[h]e of Parker let him have violin & 4 Dollars. Bot silk & buttons 6¢.

Aug 4 – Pleasant 70 Abz. Bot Ethen pants 1.62. Barber brot my lathe 12. Sarah went down to Lois with Mrs Earl. Lois came home. Charly sick in the night.

Aug 5 – Pleasant 64 Abz. At home all day. Lois went home.

Aug 6 – Pleasant 69 Abz. Put Bottom on Earls box. Bot spool Thread 5¢. Very hot 95 in shade at noon.

Aug 7 – Pleasant 74 Abz. Worked in shop made boulster for Eugene Bronson.

Aug 8 – Pleasant 70 Abz. Made neap for D. B. wagon. Mr. Parkers folks moved to Battle Creek. Circus teams passed this morning.

Aug 9 – Pleasant 64 Abz. Worked in shop on Bronson gearing. Sarah went over to Fathers to help thrash.

Aug 10 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Went over to Fathers. They thrashed his wheat 307 bushels. Sarah came home. Bot one lb candles 22¢.

Aug 11 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Schuyler Harris & wife here to dinner. Went over to Fathers. Bot Beef 20¢ Bot salt 20¢ Bot shugar 55¢ Bot Butter 25¢ Bot violin string 15¢ cloth for under sleves 25¢.

Aug 12 – Rainy 60 Abz. At home all day. Wrote letter to G. Tomlinson.

Aug 13 – Pleasant 50 Abz. Worked on gearing. Sent letter to G. Tomlinson.

Aug 14 – Pleasant 42 Abz. Worked in shop some. Deyoe came home from Kalamazoo. Bot sundries for the girls 1.13.

Aug 15 – Pleasant 47 Abz. Shaved spokes. Bot coat for Ethen 2.50¢ Bot trimming for the girls raglins 25¢. Wes Boy Born[67] in the night.

Aug 16 – Cloudy 52 Abz. Shaved spokes. Went over to Ben Hartwells to raise cider press.

Aug 17 – Pleasant 64 Abz. Shaved spokes. Went over to Fathers. Stayed all night.

Aug 18 – Went down to Catharines. Sarah went to Kalamazoo. Bot sundries 7.24¢. Henry came home at night. Ethen stayed with Catharine.

Aug 19 – Cloudy 60 Abz. Henry here. Henry went home. Went over the river with James. Alvan went up to Flanders to painting.

Aug 20 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Worked in the shop some. Bronson got boulster. Hand organ at station 5.

Aug 21 – Pleasant 58 Abz. Worked in shop. T. Flanders called in. D. K. Rogers & family left for G. T. City. Bot ½ lb tea 31¢. Bronson Brot 68 lbs Flour.

Aug 22 – Pleasant 61 Abz. Worked in shop on seat risers. Bot 2 lbs mutton beef 13¢ beer 5. Sarah stayed with Mrs Hoag.

Aug 23 – Cloudy rainbow 67 Abz. Put seat together and put straps on bottom of boddy. Bot hoop iron and screws 25. Alvan[?] called here. Mary Childs here. Bot one lb Butter of Mrs Austen 12¢.

Aug 24 – Pleasant 59 Abz. Worked on seats. Bot paper tacks 5¢. Sarah sick. Lois came home in the Evening.

Aug 25 – Pleasant 53 Abz. Finished seat & painted boddy. Mark here to dinner. went over to Fathers. Sarah sick. J____ Sherman got a bit to put in his Dulcimer _____. Bot one lb nails 7¢.

Aug 26 – Pleasant 60 Abz. Sarah sick at home. Sarah sick. Painted Earls Box over.

Aug 27 – Pleasant 57 Abz. Finished Jesse Earls seats. Wesley here. Sarah had the ague.

Aug 28 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Pulled my onions. Bot half gallon whiskey 20¢. Mark & Catharine here. Bot cherries 6¢.

Aug 29 – Pleasant 52 Abz. Painted engine frame & fly wheel. Sent letter to Niles 3¢. Sarah sick as fury. Got tight on onions & whiskey.

Aug 30 – Pleasant 53 Abz. Tinkered round home. Uncle Ozens folks came. Bot half lb crackers 5¢.

Aug 31 – Pleasant 54 Abz. At home. Sarah took quinine. Sick all night. Bot cloth for pants 1.00 Bot quinine 25¢ Butter 11¢ Pears 3.

Sep 1 – Pleasant 46 Abz. Father & mother here got their pictures taken 1.00. Lois came home. 3 candles 6¢ cloth for Ethen Apron 25¢.

Sep 2 – Pleasant 48 Abz. Went over to Fathers got a chicken. Wrote letter to G. Tomlinson.

Sep 3 – Pleasant 53 Abz. Bot sal soda 2¢. Worked round house helped wash. Paid Mrs Earl for making pants 35. Sent letter to G. T. one to E. W. C.[68] 6¢.

Sep 4 – Cloudy 70 Abz. Took my hog over to Fathers 25¢. Bot 4 lbs shugar 44 salratas & Blacking 15¢.

Sep 5 – Cloudy 66 Abz. Left for Dowagiac[69] 2 oclock P.M. Fare to Dowagiac 3.12. Bot _____ & suspenders 2.00. Paid _____ 125 Mrs Austin for B_____. Got Eds[70] about 4 P.M. Bob suspenders 50¢ Bot _____ 3¢. Engine Westwind.

Sep 6 – Cloudy. Helped _____ draw wheat. Bot comb 15. Read wheat 103 pr bushel.

Sep 7 – Had a fine shower. Ed sick with ague. Went over to town with Ed at night. Carried Sarahs pin & left it to be mended.

Sep 8 – Rainy morning. Left Eds 2 oclock P.M. Fare 1.00. Got pin mended 10¢. Got to Henrys[71] about 5 PM. Engine Racer.

Sep 9 – Pleasant. At Niles. Went over the town saw some nice locations. Went up to the school House.

Sep 10 – Pleasant. Sarah not very well. Bot stick gum 1¢ 5 Apples 5¢. Sent letter to Robert[72] 4¢ Whipple 1¢. At Niles.

Sep 11 – Pleasant. At Niles. Moved up by the church[?]. Bot cheese crackers cookies and pop corn 48¢.

Sep 12 – Pleasant. At Niles. Went over the city of Niles. Went up to Burg. Bot soap 10¢.

Sep 13 – Left Henry 3 oclock. Went to station. Fare to Chicago 6.75 one Book 25¢ apples 3¢ _____. Fare to Oshkosh 15.50 crackers ___ _____ 20¢. Got to Oshkosh 7 P.M. Hannah sick.

Sep 14 – Cloudy. _____ at Hotell 2.50 _____ 75¢ crackers _____ 20. Fare to Omro _____ _____. Got to Roberts about seven in Evening. Hannah sick.

Sep 15 – Rainy. At Roberts. Hannah some better. Went over to Omro in Evening. Bot tooth brush 25¢ candy 5.

Sep 16 – Cloudy rains some. Prosper[73] came to Roberts. Elder Betts & lady[74] came. All well.

Sep 17 – Pleasant. All well. Sent letter home. Bot stamps 13¢. Elder Betts & Lady went home. Ethen went with them.

Sep 18 – Pleasant. Went over North west saw them thrash. Rained like fun. Went in to a house waited until it held up. Got wet.

Sep 19 – Pleasant. Went over to Mr Betts. He sold his farm. I went home with Roberts folks. Had a shower. Called at Bunkers. Sarah & children stayed.

Sep 20 – Pleasant. Went to Oshkosh to the County fair. Saw old Mr. Bath. Bot dinner and gum & ticket 38¢. Went to Mr Betts. Had a shower.

Sep 21 – Pleasant day. At Mr Betts. No rain to day. Sarah made satchel for Mrs Betts.

Sep 22 – Pleasant. Went over to Mr Blackmers with Mr Betts. Saw some nice land. Prosper came home. Sarah had the ague.

Sep 23 – Pleasant morning had a thunder shower very hard shower sharp lightning heavy thunder. Pros went home.

Sep 24 – Cloudy cool. Ethen sick. Sarah sick. Stayed at Mr Betts.

Sep 25 – Pleasant. Sarah some Better. Ethen & I went over to Roberts. Got there at noon. Bob of thrashing.

Sep 26 – Pleasant. Ethen has the ague. Steam Boat Enterprise just passed. Went over to Mr McCans[75] took tea. Robert came home at night.

Sep 27 – Pleasant morning. Stayed to Bobs til noon. Mr Betts came over went home with him. Bot 20 grains quinine 20¢.

Sep 28 – Pleasant morning. Well as could be expected. Sarah sick all night. Mrs Wait here. Shot near the vilage of Omro between 9 & 10 oclock P.M. John Sullivan some Eighty rods west of the Bridge in said village.

Sep 29 – Cloudy morn. Went over to Roberts. Bot apples & shoe strings 6. Pros came to Roberts. Went and Examined mills. Saw some good Engines. Got Lois letter.

Sep 30 – Cloudy & cool. Let Robert Crawford have 26 Dollars. Went over to Mr Betts found Sarah some better. Ethen stayed to Roberts.

Oct 1 – Cloudy. At Mr Betts. Nothing new going on. Sent letter to King.

Oct 2 – Cloudy. All well as usual. Went over to Roberts. All well. Bob came home in the Evening.

Oct 3 – Rains some. Went over to Mr Betts after Sarah. Nancy sick. Had a shower _____. Stayed all night.

Oct 4 – Went Back to Roberts. Some rainy. Nancy sick. Bot medicine for Nancy vermifuge[76] & camphor 35¢.

Oct 5 – Cloudy. Nancy better. Mr Betts came over & got Mrs. Betts. Left half past two P.M. Due from Babcock $83.92.

Oct 6 – Pleasant morning. Bot cloth for Ethens pants 1.15 paper & Envelopes 24¢. Pros came over to Roberts.

Oct 7 – Pleasant. Went over to Coffees & Stuarts. Aunt Mary[77] came up.

Oct 8 – Cloudy morning. Went over to Blackburns. Mr Stuarts folks over to Roberts.

Oct 9 – Left Bobs half past 4 AM. Left Oshkosh 7 AM fare from O. to Depere[78] 4.40¢ Apples 10¢ Apples & cider 10¢ Apples 10¢. Got to Kings half past Eight Evening.

Oct 10 – Pleasant. Went over to Credens. Rainy day. Went to Leroys[79] took tea.

Oct 11 – Pleasant. Went to Leroys took dinner & tea. All well as usual.

Oct 12 – Cool & cloudy. At Kings. At Kings. Went & saw the small falls.

Oct 13 – Pleasant. Went down to Depere. Bot boots 1.75 Comb & needles 15¢ Candy 10¢.

Oct 14 – Pleasant. Nancy sick. Went out to the big falls with Mr Leroy. Saw some good country. Saw where a Bear scratched a tree.

Oct 15 – Nancy some better. Worked on the house some. Sarah washed.

Oct 16 – Pleasant. Put in door frame. Took dinner & supper with Leroy.

Oct 17 – Pleasant. At Leroys most of the day. Husked corn.

Oct 18 – Pleasant. Went over to Mr Newtons.

Oct 19 – Pleasant. Went to the Bay. Bot rubbers 1.00 Candy 10¢ Apples 5¢. Took tea at Mr Newtons[?] farm. Stayed all night. Map making at the Bay in Evening. Govonor Randal[80] there.

Oct 20 – Cloudy. At Kings all day. Had headache. Sarah had a touch of the ague. Governor Randal at Depere.

Oct 21 – Cloudy. Nancy went to Depere to church. Stayed with Leroy. Sarah & Ethen down sick.

Oct 22 – Cloudy rained some. Sarah & Ethen had the ague. Stormy. Stayed at Kings all day.

Oct 23 – Rainy. Left Kings half past four got to Depere in AM take the Boat. Fare from Depere to Oshkosh 3.50 cts. Got to Oshkosh at six left ½ past 7. Fare to Chicago 15.00.

Oct 24 – Lft Chicago 7 AM. Fare to Niles 6.75. Omnibus 70¢. Got to Niles 10 A.M.

Oct 25 – Pleasant. At Niles. Milk 5. Left Niles ½ past 11 AM. Got to Eds one oclock. Fare from Niles to Dowagiac 1.00. Sarah sick. Engine 5¢.

Oct 26 – Pleasant. Sarah sick.[81] Left Dowagiac ½ past 11. Fare to Galesburg 3.15. Shugar 5 lbs 47 tea 31. Lois came home. Wesley there. Patty came over.

Oct 27 – Cloudy. At home. Went over to Fathers. Ethen sick. School Bill 1.96¢ milk 5¢.

Oct 28 – Rainy. Called Wightman. Ethen very sick. Patty came over stayed all night.

Oct 29 – Pleasant. Father came over. Bot Butter 25¢ Bot candy 32¢ crackers 5¢. Went up to Yorks & Wesleys.

Oct 30 – Pleasant. Ethen sick. Henry came down. Mr[s?] Flanders here to dinner. Left some cider. Dug potatoes. Richardson brot ½ cord wood.

Oct 31 – Rainy Morning. Thrashed my Beans. Henry went home. Mrs Brainard Brot some cider. Bot Envelopes 8¢ postage 3¢.

Nov 1 – Rainy Morning. Cleaned Beans. Patty came over. Bot Beef 25¢ Violin strings 11. Hiram Beach[82] Died.

Nov 2 – Rainy. Lois came home. Bot rice 21¢ Postage 3. Cut out mittens for B Clark.

Nov 3 – Rainy. Patty went over to Fathers. Picked apples.

Nov 4 – Pleasant. Milk 2¢. Lois went home. I went over to Fathers. Uncle Thomas Flanders there.

Nov 5 – Cloudy & Cool. Postage 3¢. Snowed. Bot gloves for Sarah. Dug some potatoes.

Nov 6 – Snow on the ground. Went over to Fathers stayed all night.

Nov 7 – Pleasant. Over to Fathers. Sarah came home. Richardson Brot ½ cord wood. Bot spool thread 5¢.

Nov 8 – Cloudy morning. York helped me dig potatoes.

Nov 9 – Rainy day. Went to Kalamazoo fare 50 one violin string 10. Alvan called here. Bronson Brot Load wood.

Nov 10 – Cloudy. Went over to Fathers & Yorks. Chored round. Bot candy 3¢.

Nov 11 – Pleasant. At home all day. Henry came down cut his hair. Cut Wisemans hair. Sarah went to church.

Nov 12 – Cloudy looks like rain. Oil up stove in shop. Went over to Hartwells. Made cider 39¢.

Nov 13 – Pleasant morning. Went over to Fathers got milk B ½ lb. spice 8¢ one lb candles 22¢.

Nov 14 – Pleasant. Worked in shop on Flanders Bobs. Amos Chipman at the shop.

Nov 15 – Pleasant morning. Worked on Bobs. Sarah went over to Fathers. I went over at night.

Nov 16 – Pleasant morning. Worked on bobs. Bot stuf for Hoods & cap[?] border &c 1.60¢.

Nov 17 – Pleasant morning. Put in spoke for A Chipman. Bot 6½ lbs Butter of Chipman. Patty & Catharine Hellen Mother & Mrs York[83] here. Bot Beef 32¢ Tea 30¢ Matches 6¢ gum 1¢.

Nov 18 – Pleasant. Sarah went to church. I went over to Fathers. Rained hard.

Nov 19 – Went to Kalamazoo. Bot Book 1.25. Fare to K. & Back 50 Cloth 62¢. Paid on judgement 216/16.__.

Nov 20 – Snows like fun. Worked on Bobs. Bot album & postage 5¢.

Nov 21 – Snows fast. Went up to Flanders. Bot 2½ lbs pork 25¢.

Nov 22 – Pleasant. Went over to Fathers. Worked in shop some.

Nov 23 – Went to Kalamazoo Fare 50. Bot cloth 31 Bot Shugar 1.00 apples 4 2 lbs candles 92. Interest on judgement ___34¢.

Nov 24 – Snows 8 Abz. Nothing dun of any account. Bot 50 lbs flour 1.38¢. Babcock paid 88.85¢.

Nov 25 – Cloudy 8 Abz. Went over to Fathers. Cold stormy day.

Nov 26 – Cold snows 19 Abz. Worked on bobs. Flanders Brot timber for racks. Richardson Brot load wood.

Nov 27 – Cloudy 25 Abz. Worked on bobs. Went over to Brainards took tea. Bot Bank note Reporter 1.00.

Nov 28 – Pleasant. Worked on bobs. Bronson Brot ½ cord wood. Bot bottle _______ Bronson 1.00[?] Boots 3.75.

Nov 29 – Pleasant. Alvan here. Lois home. Mrs Birge & Mrs Clark here. Mark called. Alvan stayed all night.

Nov 30 – Cloudy. Worked on bobs. Bot thread 5¢.

Dec 1 – Pleasant. Worked on bobs. Filed two saws Smiths & Schroeder[?] 20. Attended a meeting for the purpose of getting Galesburg incorporated. Bot violin of A. R. Turner.

Dec 2 – Snows some. Went over to Fathers.

Dec 3 – Some stormy. Bot one pr gloves of John D_____ 1.25 crackers 20. Father & Mother & Patty here.

Dec 4 – Cloudy worked on bobs. Flanders here. Sarah went over to Wisemans took tea. Paid Mrs Sprague 10[?].

Dec 5 – Cold. Worked on bobs finished bobs. Alvan left for York state. Bot tea candles 22¢ _______ 10.

Dec 6 – Cloudy cold. Went up to Yorks moved over one load of goods. Sent letter to GT 3.

Dec 7 – Left Galesburg. Moved all things out of the house. Richardson Brot wood. Bot golden seal 3¢.

Dec 8 – Round home. Went over to the burg. Brot the old cat over & forks hoes & rakes.

Dec 9 – Pleasant. At home all day.

Dec 10 – Went over & painted bobs all right. Beckwith moved one load in to the house. Snowey day. Got plank of Eugene Bronson.

Dec 11 – Changed stoves. Put ours in the Kitchen. Went over & got one load brot my Boyler over.

Dec 12 – Cold & snowey. Split up my wood. Stayed at home. One Dollar for butter of mother.

Dec 13 – Cold good sleighing. Choped wood some. Went over and took my bench down.

Dec 14 – Chopped wood. Father & mother went down to Catharines. Patty & Catharine came up with them.

Dec 15 – Pleasant. Patty & Catharine went up to Hellens. Brot my tool chest over & some other traps. Bot Book for Ethen 12¢.

Dec 16 – At home. Carried Sarah over to church. Went up to Yorks & got Patty. M. O. Streator & wife[84] here in Evening.

Dec 17 – Pleasant. Helped wash. Harvey came up with Mark. Went over to the burg. Flanders got his bobs.

Dec 18 – Rains some. Sarah went to the Burg to Benajah Aldrich funeral. Rainy day & night. Whiting moved.

Dec 19 – Rainy. Cleared the Cridland House. Went up to Yorks in the Evening. Lois came home. Sent letter to G. T.

Dec 20 – Cloudy Rained some. Went over to the Burg got my Bench over. Richardson drawed it over.

Dec 21 – Snows like fun. Worked up to the shop. Stormy day snowed & blowed all day.

Dec 22 – Moved my stuff out of the shop. York helped me. Carried Patty & Mother up to Hellens.

Dec 23 – Pleasant. At home all day. Wesley came down & cut my hair.

Dec 24 – Very cold. York came down went & drawed my lumber over.

Dec 25 – Snows. Went over and got my potatoes. B two prs shoes 1.50 and skein thread 5.

Dec 26 – Pleasant. Worked in shop. Put up bench. Bot book 25 paper 10. Sent letter to Omro 3 licorice 1.

Dec 27 – Worked in shop commenced Charleys sleigh.

Dec 28 – Cold. Killed nine hens. Bot chisel 50 clasp for door 12 Bill for attending _______ 25 one chamber 35 half lb tea 25. 1.50. Carried Miss Hoxie down to Raywoods.

Dec 29 – Stormy. Richardson Brot load wood. Worked in shop some. Sarah & Patty went over to Celia Newmans.

Dec 30 – Cold day. At home all day.

Dec 31 – Pleasant and cold. Killed my pig. Wesley helped me.

——-

Notes in back of diary:

Henry Cruttenden[85] Died Sept 15 1854 Ae 52 years

Composition tooth filling
2 parts silver
5 parts tin

Francis Mulvy
Bridget Cooney
Wm Matthews
Rachelle or Gag___ wagon

Magazin
E. M. Stratton
No. 106 Elizabeth Street
New York
Smith & Bosworth
Linden Geenesee Co. N.Y.

Dr Harris called at Chatham Columba county N.Y. stayed with Mr Betts & preached on the sabbath

David Crawfords[86] post office address
Mountain City or
Dunivan City
Denver City R.T.

Bank of Southern Illinois Bolton

The diary also contains ledger entries for the year and diary entries for January 1-13, 1861 (see the 1861 diary transcription).

——-

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

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

[3] James & Paulina Deyoe

[4] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[5] His son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

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

[7] /- is the symbol used for shilling. A shilling was a coin of Colonial America and varied between 12¢ and 16¢

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

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

[10] Hannah (Willcutt) Keith

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

[12] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s diaries and it is believed that he is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind with the Keith family to run his father’s farm.

[13] Luke refers to a Dr. DeNormandy several times in his 1859 diary

[14] George Tomlinson, husband of Luke’s niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[15] George Tomlinson

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

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

[18] His niece and her husband, Helen (Bradley) and Joseph York

[19] His maternal first cousin, Alvin Turner

[20] His daughter

[21] Believe this to be John Crittenden, the brother of his second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith.

[22] Concord, Michigan, which is where John Crittenden lived

[23] Jason Wolcott

[24] The granddaughter of Luke’s Uncle Jason Wolcott; Catherine was the daughter of John and Waity Catherine (Wolcott) Bissell

[25] While “Lasher” is referenced repeatedly in Luke’s diaries and also in letters to Luke from Charles Cridland, the only evidence found regarding his first name, Joseph, was a receipt in the back of Luke’s 1858 diary dated December 6, 1858 for the payment of Comstock real estate taxes

[26] John and Irena (Wolcott) Kirkwood. Irena was Luke’s maternal first cousin

[27] Ozen Keith

[28] Adrian, Michigan

[29] Martha (Keith) Whitmore

[30] Pavilion, New York

[31] Noah Starr, the father-in-law of Luke’s brother, Harvey Keith

[32] From future entries it appears that he was staying with George Tomlinson

[33] George and Susan (Tomlinson) Sprague. George was the maternal first cousin of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[34] Most likely Pavilion Cemetery where several members of the Crittenden and Sprague families were buried

[35] Nelly Tomlinson, the daughter of George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson. Nelly was about five years old at the time

[36] Sarah (Curtis) Crittenden. Sarah was the widow of Luke’s second wife Jerusha’s brother, Henry Crittenden

[37] Joseph and Sarah (Crittenden) Chaddock

[38] William M. Sprague, who was a cousin of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[39] John Nobles, who was married to Mary “Polly” Sprague, another cousin of Jerusha’s

[40] Pearl Creek, New York

[41] Most likely Pearl Creek Cemetery where many Sprague family members were buried

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

[43] George and Susan (Tomlinson) Sprague; George was another of Jerusha’s cousins

[44] Jesse Sprague, George Sprague’s father and Jerusha’s uncle

[45] Father-in-law of Jerusha’s brother, Henry Crittenden

[46] LeRoy, New York

[47] Joseph M. York, who was married to Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York

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

[49] His daughter Lois’ husband, Byron Clark

[50] Aurilla Lee, the granddaughter of his aunt and uncle, Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee

[51] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Freddie Swaddle died April 30, 1860. He is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan, and the inscription reads: Little Freddie Fell Asleep, 8y

[52] Edward G. Wolcott, his maternal first cousin, the son of Warren and Electa (Damon) Willcutt

[53] Et cetera

[54] A search of FindAGrave.com shows a William Beckwith died in 1860 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[55] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey

[56] Marius O. Streator

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

[58] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Myron Coe died June 7, 1860 and is buried in Prairie Home Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[59] Joseph and Lois (French) Lee and their son, Ansel Lee

[60] Shedrick Seeley

[61] His wife Sarah’s brother

[62] His daughter, Nancy Keith

[63] Omro, Wisconsin

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

[65] 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

[66] Niles, Michigan

[67] James Harvey Keith

[68] His wife Sarah’s brother, Edwin W. Crawford

[69] Dowagiac, Michigan

[70] The family apparently was staying with Edwin

[71] Sarah’s brother, Henry Clay Crawford

[72] Sarah’s brother, Robert Crawford

[73] Sarah’s brother, Lucius Prosper “Pros” Crawford

[74] Sarah’s mother, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts, and her second husband, Platt Betts

[75] Robert Crawford’s father-in-law, John McCann

[76] Medicine used to destroy or expel intestinal worms

[77] Possibly Nancy Betts’ sister, Mary (Comfort) Wickersham

[78] De Pere, Wisconsin

[79] Jonas & Edith Ann (King) LeRoy

[80] Alexander Randall was the sixth governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1858 – 1861

[81] The family was visiting relatives from September 5^th through October 26^th and Luke mentions quite often that Sarah was sick. Since their daughter, Louese, was born July 3, 1861, it is quite possible that at least some of Sarah’s sick times were due to morning sickness

[82] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Hiram Beach is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. He was born in 1841 to David and Sarah (Bassett) Beach.

[83] Presume he is referring to Joseph York’s mother, Dorothy (Boardman) York

[84] Neighbors, Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[85] The brother of his second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith

[86] His brother-in-law, also known as D. C. Crawford