Luke Keith’s 1874 Diary

1874 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

The entries from January 1 through June 10 were first written in the back of his 1873 diary. He copied the entries of January 1 through February 5 into his 1874 diary and they are basically identical to what he originally wrote in his 1873 diary. Anything from 1874 that clarifies or adds to the 1873 entries is noted in brackets. He then had entries in his 1874 diary on August 30 and September 1 and finally daily entries from September 22 through December 31.

Jan 1 – At home. Ethan[2] and girls[3] went down to Lois.[4] Ed Wilcut and wife[5] came here, stayed all night.

Jan 2 – Eds folks went home. No snow [but very] muddy.

Jan 3 – Quite warm 60 Abz.[6] [Not much done but chores.]

Jan 4 – At home. 60 Abz in morning, cool at night 30 Abz. Hannah[7] went to Battlecreek to learn Dress Makers trade. [All well.]

Jan 5 – Cool, no snow, 20 Abz in morning. [Choring round.]

Jan 6 – At home. Not much work [but chores].

Jan 7 – Hank and Nancy[8] moved to Lawton.[9] Fine day.

Jan 8 – Pleasant morning, 30 Abz. Went over to burg.[10] Bot Lock for schoolhouse 30 cts.

Jan 9 – Filed saw for [N. A.] Randal 10¢.

Jan 10 – At home. Mrs [Hat] Hawleys[11] Father and Brother came [here in afternoon, stayed all night].

Jan 11 – At home. Cold, no snow. Henry Semer paid me Nine Dollars.

Jan 12 – Mr Abbot and son[12] left. Went over to burg. Paid my tax 16.87 cts.

Jan 13 – Cool, no snow. At home. Catharine,[13] [Mrs] Gaffing and Jo Lee[14] here.

Jan 14 – Cold. Hannah came home. Snowed [some].

Jan 15 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Cool and blustering, snow 2¼.

Jan 16 – Cold, 7 Abz in morning. At home [no work] not very well.

Jan 17 – At home. Worked in shop some.

Jan 18 – Not very cold. Ethan & Hannah [went down to Streators] went over to Barbers[15] in Evening.

Jan 19 – At home. Went down to Streators[16] in morning.

Jan 20 – Went down to Catharines, stayed all night. Thrashers came to [____] thrash clover [seed]. Mart and Lucy[17] went to town. Rainy night.

Jan 21 – Rained in afternoon. Came home in Evening. Rainy. Lois here.

Jan 22 – Rainy morning. [No work but chores.]

Jan 23 – Worked on bob rods and neap. Paid D. S. Bronson fifteen Dollars. Ethan & Hannah went up to S[am] Whites to a Dance. [Hiram Lovelands wife Died to day.][18]

Jan 24 – Snows some. At home. All well.

Jan 25 – At home. Ethan & Hannah went up to Wesleys.[19]

Jan 26 – Finished Bobs. Went down to A. Browns[20] in Evening. Cold, no snow.

Jan 27 – Rainy morning. [Not much work.]

Jan 28 – At home. Worked in shop some.

Jan 29 – Went down to M O Streators, got five 5 bushels wheat. Mrs Semer paid one Dollar.

Jan 30 – 28 cold and snowy. No work. Very blustring.

Jan 31 – Pleasant morning 2 below zero. Went over to burg got Louesas[21] shoes mended 60. Alfleda[22] came back.

Feb 1 – 11 Abz, pleasant morning. Traded harness for sleigh.

Feb 2 – At home. Not much work.

Feb 3 – Went to Comstock[23] to mill. Fine day.

Feb 4 – Made saw frame for Mrs Semer.

Feb 5 – Went over to burg at noon. Carried hams down to A. Browns. J. R. Towsley Buried. Mart and toot[24] came here. Posted up to here.[25]

Feb 6 – Snows this morning. At home.

Feb 7 – At home. Worked round shop and home.

Feb 8 – At home for day.

Feb 9 – Went down to Lois in Evening. All right.

Feb 10 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine came home with me. Went over to burg in Evening. Streator came up in Evening. Wes and Harriet[26] here. Alfleda _____

Feb 11 – Fine day. Went up in woods, got load wood. Carried Catharine home. Streator and T Ford here in Evening.

Feb 12 – At home. Not very well. Rainy night.

Feb 13 – Repaired hand slead. Snow all gone.

Feb 14 – At home. Worked round house and shop some. No snow.

Feb 15 – At home. All Well.

Feb 16 – At home. Cut some wood.

Feb 17 – Sawed some wood. Cold, no snow.

Feb 18 – Went to Kalamazoo. $4.00 paid four Dollars on Sewing machine note.[27]

Feb 19 – Sarah[28] and Alfleda went down to Streators. Stormy.

Feb 20 – At home. Work in barn. Husked corn.

Feb 21 – Sarah went over to burg. Hannah went up to Battlecreek. Oscar[29] called here in morning. Had been to Lansing. No snow.

Feb 22 – Fine day. 29 Abz in morning. At home all day. Hawleys folks went up to Ridlers.[30] Alfleda and Oscar came back just at night. Oscar went home.

Feb 23 – Put top on my new violin. Very blustring day.

Feb 24 – Went down to Skinners, got some apples. Hawley[31] got a fart crosswise and blowed a perfect gale.

Feb 25 – Cold, not much wind in morning. At home. Cut some wood.

Feb 26 – At home. Choring round. All well. Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.[32] Turned balance wheel for Ethans Engine.

Feb 27 – Turned balance wheel for Ethans Engine.[33] Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.

Feb 28 – Cut wood. Pleasant day. Eugene[34] came up in Evening.

Mar 1 – Cloudy, no snow.

Mar 2 – At home. Finished husking corn. Caroline Earl[35] came here. Ethan went down to Marts.[36] Nancy came home.

Mar 3 – Carried Caroline over to burg. Rained some.

Mar 4 – Round home, fine day.

Mar 5 – Sawed wood, got quite a pile.

Mar 6 – Went over to burg. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catharines. M. O. Streator and wife[37] here. Sold the bobs to Streator. He paid $.00 ten Dollars.

Mar 7 – Some wind in morning. Rough day, blustrous.

Mar 8 – Hank and Nancy here. They went down to Browns. George Maffit Died.[38]

Mar 9 – Cold. At home. Hank and Nancy went home. Not much work.

Mar 10 – Maffit buried. Went to Comstock to mill. Very cold. Stopt to Catharines. Got letter from Carry Plank.[39]

Mar 11 – Cold morning, no snow.

Mar 12 – At home. No work out doors.

Mar 13 – Went over to burg twice. Went up to Durkees. Received 88 Dollars of Township Treasurer. Paid Miss Davis 88 Dollars. Aunt Linda Hobbs Died.

Mar 14 – Went to Kalamazoo with Dell.[40] Paid A. B. Sumner thirteen Dollars 13.00. Nice day. Sarah went to ARS.

Mar 15 – Catharine here.

Mar 16 – Went over to burg. Went down to Skinners. Got his wagon.

Mar 17 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sold Ira Carlton twenty and half bushels corn fifteen Dollars and 37½ cts. Rained in Evening, Thundered. First thunder storm. Paid Doc Finch ten Dollars. Sarah and Catharine went up to Wesleys.

Mar 18 – At home. Worked round. Got some wood, got Peacock.

Mar 19 – Worked round some in shop some.

Mar 20 – Went down to Kalamazoo with Wesley. Traded my watch with Wes for his Buggy and Harness. Martin Turner[41] stayed here all night. Theodore, Elva and Hurb Earl[42] here in Evening.

Mar 21 – Went over to burg with A. Brown. Tild and Jule[43] here in afternoon. Went over to burg in Evening after Azros and wife. They stayed all night.

Mar 22 – Pleasant. Azros folks went up to Wesleys.

Mar 23 – Went over to burg. Received of Town Treasurer forty Nine and Ninety nine/100 Dollars 49.99. Cold wind.

Mar 24 – Painted wheelbarrow. Ethan went down to Catharines.

Mar 25 – Lois, Sate and Mrs Skinner[44] came down here. Rained some. Jim[45] went up to Mr Flanders, got Pea hen. Henry[46] came brot Boiler.

Mar 26 – Trimed some appletrees and choped some. Cut one tree up in woods.

Mar 27 – Jo Lee and Catharine came up here. Jim and Harvey went down to Catharines.

Mar 28 – Cold and windy. At home.

Mar 29 – Went down to Catharines. Orson Starr and wife came up there. Had some new shugar.

Mar 30 – Helped A. Brown clean up wheat. Sarah came home with him.

Mar 31 – Cold wind. Major commenced to set. She had 14 Eggs.

Apr 1 – Split some logs for wood. Henry came down. They fired up Engine. Martin Turner here to dinner. Hannah came home.

Apr 2 – Wesleys Auction to day. Went up to Wes Auction. Cold, snowed some.

Apr 3 – Went up to Wesleys, got bedstead. Went up agan, got buggy. Ethan, Hannah and sis[47] went up in afternoon. Henry came down. He went up to Wesleys. Snowed like fun.[48]

Apr 4 – Cold morning, 9 Abz in morning. District No. 7 paid C. L. Keith[49] one Dollar $1.00.

Apr 5 – At home.

Apr 6 – Went to town meeting.

Apr 7 – At home. All well.

Apr 8 – Sarah went over to Hoags,[50] Lois Barbers. I went over to Dicks in Evening. Cut wood. Ethan drawed some.

Apr 9 – Tinkered in shop some and round house.

Apr 10 – Went up to Wesleys. Helped him pack his things. He took them to the burg. Harvey and Ellis[51] stayed all night. Ethans Engine went the first time.

Apr 11 – Ellis and Harvey here.

Apr 12 – Mart and Lucy came, Lucy stayed.

Apr 13 – Put in crosbar in M O 50 Streators buggy thills.[52] Made pole for Hawley 1.00 one Dollar. Rained in Evening. Ethan Drawed wood.

Apr 14 – Cloudy. At home. Made Evener for Hawley 25¢.

Apr 15 – At home. Toot here _____. Chored round, cleaned door, yard, piled wood.

Apr 16 – Fixed up kettle for making soap. Toot went up to Jims.[53]

Apr 17 – Cloudy. Hawley took load stalks. Made soap.

Apr 18 – At home. Not very well. No work.

Apr 19 – At home. Fine day, cold wind.

Apr 20 – Worked round in garden and yard.

Apr 21 – Went to Kalamazoo to probate Court.

Apr 22 – Went to Comstock to mill. Got three bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Harriet stayed here.

Apr 23 – Went over to burg, carried Harriet and children over. Mr Murphy died.[54]

Apr 24 – Drawed manure, put round appletrees. Setled up with Hawley.

Apr 25 – Lame, no work to day. Fine day.

Apr 26 – At home all day. Fine weather.

Apr 27 – Finished trimming currant brush. Catharine here. Ethan packed over Engine.

Apr 28 – Snow 1 inch and ¼ deep this morning.

Apr 29 – Hawley left this morning, he was very sick. Soing machine miller here. Catharine went home. Bely Right paid over first payment on the land.

Apr 30 – Drawed manure from Hogpen. Henry came down here.

May 1 – Fine morning. At home all day. Went down to Skinners just at night.

May 2 – Went to Kalamazoo. Borrowed twenty five Dollars of Jule Allen. Paid miller for machine 30 Dollars.

May 3 – At home. Mart and Lucy came up. Wes and family here.

May 4 – Worked round yard and garden. Went over to burg in Evening. Wesley and family left for Kansas on the Eleven fifty Eight run. Nancy came home.

May 5 – At home, fine day. Alfleda went up to A. Browns. Henry came down.

May 6 – Moved fence south of orchard and west side of lane. Will Plank[55] came in Evening.

May 7 – Pleasant morning. Ridler commenced plowing in south lot.

May 8 – Repaired A. Browns Roller in morning. Ridler plowing. Heard the first Whipporwill.

May 9 – Put handles in Ridlers plow. Ethan got Bill Brown to plow garden. Hank came home.

May 10 – Fine warm day. At home.

May 11 – Plowed gardens. Will Plank went home. Burnt brushheap. Mrs Delia Birge died.[56]

May 12 – Worked round garden. Drawed some roots and brush of plowed ground. Hank went home. Ethan planted for A. Brown.

May 13 – Put cover in Browns churn. Hot day. Will Barber[57] commenced plowing in East lot. Mrs Birge buried to day.

May 14 – Sarah and Nancy went down to Skinners. Ethan planted corn for Dell. Ridler planting in South lot.

May 15 – Went down to M. O. Streators got some potatoes. Rained in afternoon and night. Finished planting South lot.

May 16 – Rainy morning. Worked round garden and and shop.

May 17 – At home. All right. No one here.

May 18 – Planted potatoes. Ed Childs stayed Marked potatoe ground. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Barber and Dell plowed.

May 19 – Planted potatoes. Ed Childs stayed here all night. Rained.

May 20 – Went down to Charles Lees.[58] Sarah Stayed.

May 21 – Went to Kalamazoo to attend Browns & Allertons lawsuit.[59]

May 22 – Went to Kalamazoo. Was sworn on suit.

May 23 – Went to Kalamazoo. Browns Suit Ended. Brown got judgment of 26 Dollars. Ida Barber[60] came home sick.

May 24 – At home. All right.

May 25 – Chored round. Went over to burg. Got Wheel for hank. Hank and Nancy went home. Went down to Skinners just at night.

May 26 – Worked round garden and shop.

May 27 – Worked in shop and chored round.

May 28 – Made Hogyard. Put hogs in. One of them sick.

May 29 – Jo Lee here all day. Altered hog, put rings in his nose. I went down to Catharines, carried Lucy home. Alfleda went with Jo Lee.

May 30 – Went to Kalamazoo as witness on uncle Isaac Pierce Estate.[61] Giddings baby[62] buried to day.

May 31 – Went over to Mrs Wilson in Evening to Spiritual circle.[63]

Jun 1 – Worked on Hanks wheel. Went over to burg in Evening.

Jun 2 – Finished Hanks wheel.

Jun 3 – Not very well. At home. Barber brot thills over to be made.

Jun 4 – Worked in shop some on thills.

Jun 5 – Hued out thills. Barber and Ridler cultivating. Had a fine shower in afternoon

Jun 6 – Cut out rockers for chair. Went over to burg, sent Hanks wheel to him. Ethan and Henry turned mallets and balls for Ed flanders.[64] Had a heavy rain in Evening. Went down to Lois just at night.

Jun 7 – At home. Alvin and Ida Lee[65] came up here.

Jun 8 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Had a heavy shower. Went over to burg in afternoon. Saw Doc. Johnson.

Jun 9 – Hot morning. Took felloes[66] of Wightmans wheels.

Jun 10 – Went over to burg to see show come in.

[End of 1874 entries in his 1873 diary, then two entries in 1874 diary on August 30 and September 1]

Aug 30 – Judge Bazel Harrison[67] Died to day Ae 100 & 3 years.

Sep 1 – Judge Bazel Harrison Buried to day.

[No entries for September 2-21]

Sep 22 – Husked corn in East lot. Nancy came home. Ethan came home in Evening.

Sep 23 – Carried Sarah down to Catharines. Received twenty four Dollars of Town Treasurer $20, primary $4 Library. Husked pop corn, had one bushel of Ears.

Sep 24 – Husked corn, put in the barn. Warm day.

Sep 25 – Husked corn. Finished husking Barbers corn, had 37 thirty seven bushels of Ears. Drawed in seven shock of Ridlers, had seven and half bushels. Hot and dry.

Sep 26 – Rainy forenoon. Drawed in some corn in afternoon. Went down to Catharines after Sarah, stayed all night. Had a heavy shower in Evening. Charley Harris[68] Died this morning.

Sep 27 – At Catharines. Came home in Evening. All right.

Sep 28 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Skinners, got some peaches. Went over to burg in Evening. Paid Emma Sumner[69] forty three Dollars $43.

Sep 29 – Husked corn. Pleasant day. Carried 2½ wheat over to mill. Nancy put on her quilt.

Sep 30 – Pleasant morning, no frost yet. Husked corn. Hannah came home. Mrs Brown and Jule here quilting.

Oct 1 – Husked corn. Ethan and Jim went to Fair at Kalamazoo.

Oct 2 – Husking corn. Finished South lot. Fine day.

Oct 3 – Carried up corn into Cornhouse, 38 bushels. Browns folks here in afternoon quilting. Hank came in Evening. Lois came down in afternoon, helped Nancy quilt.

Oct 4 – Cool, first frost, 31 Abz, pleasant day. Ethan and Hannah, Hank and Nancy, Sis and Jim all gone down to Browns. Mr Spires Died this Evening.

Oct 5 – Drawed corn in forenoon, husked in afternoon. Had a shower. Henry and Sate came in the rain. They were going up to Battle Creek to get Dol doctered.

Oct 6 – Cloudy but warm. Jim and I husked corn. Ethan and Hank went over to Mr Arms.[70] Mrs Brown and Jule up here, got quilt of. Lucy called here, she went to burg. Henry and Sate came back. Mr Spires buried to day.

Oct 7 – Husked corn, drawed in some. Hank and Nancy went home. Had some squirels for dinner. Cullin Town married to night.[71]

Oct 8 – Finished drawing in corn in forenoon. Finished husking my corn. Got hard cold.

Oct 9 – Sick with cold. Jim husking corn for A. Brown. Ethan picking apples. Fine day.

Oct 10 – Fixed Hog pen so I could put hogs in. Ethan and Sarah went down to Orsons. High wind part of the day.

Oct 11 – Rainy morning. Put Hogs in pen this morning. Stormy day. Frank Lee Shot himself to day.[72] He was hunting in Jacksons woods.

Oct 12 – Durkee called and got report for supervisor to Assess on District No. 7 for incidental Expences.

Oct 13 – Shelled two bushels new corn to take to mill. Chored around house and barn. Ethan and Sarah went down to Charles Lees[73] to Franks funeral. Fine day. Ambrose Fields[74] brot in on cars[75] to night. He Died in Ohio.

Oct 14 – Put box on stove boot. Got some apples up to the corner. Brot some wood of the hill.

Oct 15 – Went to mill to Comstock. Carried two bushels new corn, got one ground into _____, the other fine meal. Joel James[76] came here, Stayed all night. Nice day. He was selling washing machines Territory.

Oct 16 – Carried Joel over to burg. Came back and picked some tomatoes and carried them over to Barbers. Sarah went over. Ethan picking apples down to Browns. Jim went down to Catharines. Carried petition over to An Eliza Deckers.

Oct 17 – Dug potatoes. Fine day. Ethan and Jim husking for Brown. Received letter from Oscar.

Oct 18 – Fine morning, very little frost. Charley and Will[77] here. Sarah and I went up to Flanders,[78] went round by Brick School house.

Oct 19 – Dug potatoes. Ridler husked corn in South lot. Ethan and Jim husked corn for Brown. Brot Apples up at night.

Oct 20 – Dug some potatoes. Carried sis down to Catharines.

Oct 21 – Dug potatoes. Fine day. Ethan and Jim husking for Brown. Went down to Browns in Evening. Repaired Blinds for Mr. Ralph.

Oct 22 – Dug potatoes. Boys husking to Browns. Mr Ralph got his Blinds. House Warming to Shimdts. Warmed up the Big House. Ridler and Will husking, finished the South lot. Fine day.

Oct 23 – Sarah went up to Mr Ralphs. Jo Lee came up here. Finished diging my potatoes. Alfleda came home. They had a concert at Methodist Church in Evening. Brownell got the Jack Knife.

Oct 24 – Carried potatoes down cellar. Warm day. Went over to Burg, bot Beef bone, got Alfledas watch cleaned[?]. Rained in the night.

Oct 25 – Warm day. Went down to Catharines after Louesa.

Oct 26 – Took wagon to pieces. Made steps to East Door. Ridler finished drawing his cornfodder, cleared both lots. George Tomlinson[79] called here in afternoon bout a our. Rained some.

Oct 27 – Repaired Em Ralphs chair. Drawed pumpkins. Jesse Earl, Martin turner, and Mr Latta called here in afternoon. A. Brown finished husking corn to day.

Oct 28 – Rainy. Ethan and Jim went down to Browns to work. No work to day, sick, head, back and belly ache.

Oct 29 – Sick, no work. Ethan and Jim to Browns drawing cornfodder. Cold, high wind.

Oct 30 – Cold, some snow flying. Ethan down to Browns. Filed saw for A. Caywood. Snowed some, stormy night.

Oct 31 – Snow two inches deep this morning. Dillenbecks Auction to day. Cold raw day. Not well. Went over to burg in afternoon. Snowed and rained, cold, bad storm.

Nov 1 – Cold wind. Jim gone down to Catharines. Sis over to Allens.[80] Jim & Stella Milham[81] here in afternoon. Jim came down to see the binder. Jim went down to Catharines.

Nov 2 – Pleasant, but cold wind. Not very well.

Nov 3 – Went over to burg to Election. Not very weell.

Nov 4 – Carried Sarah over to Hoags. Went up to Schrams[82] to get horse and wagon.

Nov 5 – Got Schrams Horse and wagon. Went down to Marts. Made some cider 34 galons. Fine day. Jo Lee sick.

Nov 6 – Took Horse and wagon home. Cleaned up some wheat got of Mart, took it over to mill. Sarah went home. Ethan and Jim went up to Flanders after Walnuts.

Nov 7 – Mary Ann and Nettie, Glen and Hobert[83] came here. Jim Went to Lawton.

Nov 8 – Not very cold, 59 Abz, rains some. Went down to Catharines. Jo sick there.

Nov 9 – Went down to Catharines. Hannah went with me. Carried stool to Jo. Libby Clark[84] stayed with Sis. Went over to burg, bot shoes for Hannah and odder dings &c.[85]

Nov 10 – Carried Sarah over to Hoags. Carried one pair shoes back to Shroeder and Olins.

Nov 11 – Worked round house and shop. Went after Sarah in Evening. Net came back.

Nov 12 – Cut maple tree by the west stoop. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Cold, snowed some. Jo no better. Libby Allen[86] came here, stayed all night.

Nov 13 – Cold, pleasant morning. Mary Ann and youngones came down. Stayed all night. Sarah and Mary Ann went over to Evys.

Nov 14 – Cold wind. Mary Ann Started for home. Cold wind. Jim came home from Lawton.

Nov 15 – Went down to Catharines to see Jo. He was no better. Pleasant day, no snow yet. Charles Lee sick.

Nov 16 – At home, not much done, not very well. Went over to burg, got ax fixed, 50. Rainy.

Nov 17 – Chored round. Not very well to day.

Nov 18 – Cut down two trees in woods, drawed two loads wood.

Nov 19 – Went up to Henry Clintons. Carried some things to send Mrs Wiseman.[87] Went to burg when we came back. Bot some red paint and blue vitrol.

Nov 20 – Moved bench in to South room. Snowey day. Cut holes in seat for Skinners privy. Henry came down here, stayed all night. Snow 3½ inches.

Nov 21 – Put thill in Sleigh. Drawed load wood on Sleigh. First snow. Henry went home. A. Brown brot quarter Beef, 90 lbs. Henry and I went over to burg.

Nov 22 – Not very cold, looks some like rain in morning. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Rained hard when we came home.

Nov 23 – Rainy and cold. Carried Sis to school. Not much work to day. Snowed and blowed like the old nick, afternoon and Evening. Ethan went after Sis at night.

Nov 24 – Cold, snows some. Worked in shop some. Put batten on crack in well room. Cold blustrous day. Not very well.

Nov 25 – Lois came down, stayed all night. Worked in shop some.

Nov 26 – Went down to A. Browns to turkey dinner. Mr Hubbard and boy was there. Lois went home. Stormed some in Evening.

Nov 27 – Worked on portable partition. Snowed some. Sarah colored Sis and Alfledas Dresses.

Nov 28 – Snowes like fun this morning.

Nov 29 – Ethan and I went down to Catharines with Sleigh. Cold day.

Nov 30 – Shelled and carried three bushels corn over to burg mill. Went down to Mrs Simmons to see about stove.

Dec 1 – Cold. Very good sleighing. Made Shovel and tongs box.

Dec 2 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg with sleigh. Not much sleighing now, snow about all gone. Made Lois lap board.

Dec 3 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg, got grist. Went with buggy. Henry here. Dick Barber and Mr Allen called here.

Dec 4 – Pleasant, no snow, fine October weather. Worked on gearing.

Dec 5 – Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg in Evening. Sarah went to Jane Hoags.[88] Ethan up to Flanders. Pleasant day. Got first Rilegio[?].

Dec 6 – At home, fine day, Mercury 40 Abz. Pleasant as spring almost. Cut Will Browns hair.

Dec 7 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg. Got pattern of Mary Mason. Sarah went to Lawton on night train.

Dec 8 – Went up to Jo Flanders. Got three bushels wheat, took it over to mill. Fine day, no snow. 13 bushels wheat $1.5¢ pr bushel.

Dec 9 – Went over to burg, got my grist. Cold but pleasant. Worked on gearing some.

Dec 10 – Very pleasant but cool. Went over to burg after Sarah but she no come. Worked in shop some. Staring got ten bushels corn 40 lbs $.4.00.

Dec 11 – Very pleasant day. Roads dusty. Worked in shop. Went down to Browns got ____tting for sand board. Ethan worked for Brown. Will Clark stayed here all night.

Dec 12 – Pleasant morning. Drawed pole to hang hogs on. One load wood. Edwin Flanders brot boards to make tool chest of Mr Flanders. Got Hay Knife. Pleasant and dusty.

Dec 13 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy day. Jo some better. Came home in Evening, got wet. Jim went with me.

Dec 14 – Cold, some snow on ground. Worked in shop. Received letter from Hiram.[89]

Dec 15 – Went up in woods, cut down tree. Ethan drawed two loads wood. Finished waggon gearing. Plasant day.

Dec 16 – Went over to burg at noon. Sarah came home from Lawton. Rainy night.

Dec 17 – Worked in shop on cross head for Theodore Earl. Fine weather.

Dec 18 – Worked on cross head. Pleasant and cold. Put up stove in shop. Henry, Mr. Ives and George Ives called here in afternoon to see my new violin.

Dec 19 – Killed hogs. A. Brown helped. Pleasant day. Theodore got crosshead. Killed two hogs. Lois went to Mary Jane Birges[90] funeral, left Inez[91] here. Mr Flanders called here in Evening.

Dec 20 – At home all day, not very well. Cool day.

Dec 21 – Chored round house and barn &c. Went down to Catharines in Evening. Snowed like fun when we came home. Went up to Mr Flanders to pick out boards for wagon box.

Dec 22 – Snow 2 inches deep this morning. Cut up hogs and salted them. Mart, Catharine and Lucy called here in Evening. They went over to burg. Sarah went with them.

Dec 23 – Not very cold. Work on A. Browns wringer. Ethan drawed some wood.

Dec 24 – Worked on wringer. Made Lapboard for Mrs Flanders,[92] one for Mary Mason.

Dec 25 – Worked on wringer some in forenoon. Dick Barber and wife here to dinner. Fine day, not much snow.

Dec 26 – Pleasant morning. Worked on wringer and chored round. Charles and Julia Lee[93] came up here. Went over to burg with Charles.

Dec 27 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy. Ethan went up to Mr Flanders, stayed all night.

Dec 28 – Worked in shop some. Henry came down, stayed all night.

Dec 29 – Cold morning, 15 Abz, fine snow.

Dec 30 – Worked in shop on wagon box some. Got out cleats. Henry here making stool.

Dec 31 – Henry came down, finished stool. I dressed out some stuff for box cleats under box. Hannah came home.

——-

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

[2] His son, Ethan Keith

[3] His daughters, Nancy, Hannah and Louese

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

[5] His maternal first cousin and cousin’s wife, Edward G. & Sarah (Bliss) Wolcott

[6] Above zero

[7] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[8] His son-in-law and daughter, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown

[9] Lawton, Michigan

[10] Galesburg, Michigan

[11] Neighbor, Harriet (Abbott) Hawley

[12] Harriet Hawley’s father and brother

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

[14] His first cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)

[15] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[16] Neighbors, Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

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

[18] FindAGrave.com confirms that Elizabeth Loveland died January 23, 1874; she was buried in the Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Michigan Marriage Records show that her maiden name was Russell

[19] John Wesley Keith, his adopted brother

[20] Ambrose Brown, neighbor and father-in-law of his daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[21] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith

[22] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith

[23] Comstock was the town he lived in

[24] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham, daughter of Luke’s sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[25] The entries up to this date had been copied over to his 1874 diary

[26] Wesley Keith’s wife, Harriet (Blakslee) Keith

[27] He made the following entry in his 1873 diary: Jun 5 – Bot Sewing Machine $60. Paid twenty, gave note for forty payable in Eight Months

[28] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[29] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr) Keith

[30] Neighbors, James & Mary (Croak) Ridler

[31] His neighbor, Byron Hawley

[32] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[33] Ethan was an inventor; this was one of the projects he was working on

[34] Sarah’s nephew; Eugene was the son of her late brother, Edwin Crawford, and his first wife, Louisa Hall

[35] His cousin, Caroline (Wolcott) Earl, the sister of Edward Wolcott

[36] Martin Milham, husband of Lucy (Lee) Milham. Lucy was daughter of his sister Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[37] Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[38] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that George Maffit, age 38, died from pneumonia on March 9, 1874 in Lawton, Michigan, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Lawton, Michigan

[39] Caroline Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank. The Plank family had been neighbors, but on April 3, 1873, Luke noted in his diary that they had left for Grand Rapids, Michigan

[40] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner, who was married to his daughter Lois

[41] His cousin

[42] Neighbors, the sons and daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[43] Ambrose Brown’s wife and sister-in-law, Matilda and Julia Ann Allen

[44] His daughter Lois, and her sister- and mother-in-law, Sarah Skinner and Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[45] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[46] Henry Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[47] Nickname for his daughter, Louese

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

[49] He’s referring to himself

[50] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[51] Wesley’s sons, Ellis and James Harvey Keith

[52] Two poles between which a horse is hitched to a wagon

[53] Not sure who this is; his son, Jim, was only 12 at the time

[54] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Levi T. Murphy died in Kalamazoo on April 23, 1873 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo. Michigan Death Records also show that he died in 1873, so it is unclear why Luke added this in 1874

[55] The son of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[56] A search at FindAGrave.com reveals that Fidelia (Bronson) Birge, age 43, died May 11, 1874 and is buried in McKain Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

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

[58] His paternal first cousin. Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee

[59] Luke and Nancy & Hank Brown all wrote in their 1873 diaries of the Brown and Allerton lawsuit. There was a judgment entered on March 6, 1873 awarding Ambrose Brown $22.00 plus costs. It is unknown whether this was a new lawsuit or if John Allerton had requested a retrial

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

[61] Michigan Death Records show that Isaac Pierce died in Climax, Michigan, on July 12, 1873

[62] Michigan Death Records show that Adelia Giddings, age 1, died of spinal meningitis on April 29, 1874

[63] A seance

[64] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[65] His paternal first cousin, Alvan Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee. Ida Lee’s father, Joseph Warren Lee (Alvan’s brother), died April 4, 1864 in an Army hospital from wounds received in battle in Tennessee during the Civil War. Her mother, Nancy E. Taylor, remarried July 29, 1864 to William Count, but died three months later on October 1, 1864. The step-father relinquished his rights to the children and they went to live with their grandparents, Charles & Juliana Lee, in Comstock

[66] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel

[67] From the Kalamazoo County Sesquicentennial Committee marker: Bazel and Martha Harrison are buried in the Harrison cemetery south of this marker. He led a party of 21 who were the first permanent settlers on Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo County, where they arrived on November 5, 1828. One thousand people attended his funeral on September 1, 1874 because he was admired, esteemed, respected and loved by all who knew him.

[68] Michigan Death Records reveal that Charles Harris, age 28, died of Typhoid Fever on September 26, 1874; FindAGrave.com shows that he was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[69] Neighbor; the 1880 Census shows that she was a school teacher so perhaps she was teaching in 1874 and that was her payment for services rendered

[70] Believe he is referring to Hank’s uncle, William Arms, Cynthia Brown’s husband

[71] Michigan Marriage Records show that Cullen Towne married Sarah Antoinette Adams in Comstock, Michigan on October 7, 1874

[72] The Michigan Death Records reveal that Francis Lee died October 11, 1874 from accidental discharge of gun

[73] Charles Lee (1797-1878), Francis Lee’s grandfather

[74] FindAGrave.com shows that Ambrose Field died October 10, 1874 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[75] The train

[76] His maternal first cousin

[77] His grandsons, Charles and William Clark

[78] Neighbors, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders. After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith, died, Joseph & Amanda took in their children, Henry and Lois Keith. From letters from that time, it would appear that Lois was then sent to Minerva’s parents while Henry lived with the Flanders family. According to Carol (Boyer) Stafford, the Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like he lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” who I believe was actually Henry L. Keith, age 16, living with Joseph & Amanda

[79] The husband of Luke’s niece, Marion Sprague

[80] Neighbor, John S. Allen

[81] Believe he is referring to neighbors, James Milham and his daughter, Stella. James was Martin Milham’s half brother

[82] Neighbors, Isaac & Olive Ellen (Atkinson) Schram

[83] James “Oscar” Keith’s wife and children, Mary Ann (Batey), Glen and John Herbert Keith; Oscar and Mary Ann had two daughters, Jessie and Catherine, but it is unclear if either one of them went by that nickname

[84] The daughter of Loren & Amanda (Taylor) Clark. Loren was the brother of Lois (Keith) Clark Skinners’ first husband, Byron Clark

[85] Other things, etc.

[86] The daughter of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[87] Former neighbor, Caroline (Williams) Wiseman. An October 11 entry in Luke’s 1871 diary reported that “Mr Wiseman (Joseph) and wife left,” and a December 28, 1871 letter from Mrs. Wiseman shows they were living in Utica, Kansas. Another letter dated January 16, 1876 shows they were living in Spring Side, Kansas

[88] Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[89] Most likely his brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr.

[90] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Mary Jane (Bronson) Birge, age 38, died December 17, 1874 in Brady, Michigan, and was buried in McKain Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[91] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, who was born June 13, 1874

[92] Neighbor, Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[93] Charles (see footnote for May 20) & Juliana (Davis) Lee

Advertisement

Luke Keith’s 1873 Diary

1873 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.^[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 10 were first written in the back of his 1872 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1873 diary. Anything from 1872 that clarifies the 1873 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Worked in shop some on cutter boddy. Went over to burg[2] with Ed Flanders.[3] Louesa[4] went over to burg.

Jan 2 – Worked on cutter boddy. Ida Allen[5] here. Mercury 35 Abz,[6] rainy. Henry [Keith][7] and H. A. Brown[8] went to Benton Harbor.

Jan 3 – [Lots ice.] Henry and Hank came home. Went down to A Browns[9] in Evening. Very windy day. Worked on cutter box.

Jan 4 – Worked on cutter box, cut some wood. Sate Skinner[10] came here, stayed all night.

Jan 5 – Hank and Nancy[11] came up here. Snows like fun.[12] Snow fell 4 inches.

Jan 6 – Went to Kalamazoo. Got two bushels wheat of Mart.[13] Could not get it ground.

Jan 7 – Pleasant [morning]. Ethan[14] went over after Nancy. She was sick could not come over.

Jan 8 – Put cutter box frame together. Cold and blustring. Henry came down. Very cold [darn cold day]. Flora Swaddle[15] died to day.

Jan 9 – 6 Below zero, very cold. Put chain on well. Henry came down agan. Very [cold and] Blustring. Flora Swaddle buried. Mr Joy[16] died to day. He was 80 years old. Cullen Bryant Town here in Evening.

Jan 10 – Cold, mercury 6 below zero. Henry went home. [Louesa down to Lois.[17]] Jo Lee[18] came up after Ethan. Paid I. D. L. Schram[19] $42.00 Dollars to get School wood.

Jan 11 – Went over to Nancys. Bot this Diary .50¢. Paid Amos Rogers 1.50. for Detroit Tribune for one year.

Jan 12 – Went down to Marts. Nice sleighing. Found them some better.

Jan 13 – Rainy, snow most gone, lots of ice, very slipery.

Jan 14 – Went up to Howlands to Mill. Very Icy. Went over to barbers[20] in Evening. Mr Baley and wife[21] there. Rained some.

Jan 15 – Rainy morning, mercury 34 Abz this morning. Cut tree out East boot of the hill. Went up to Wesleys[22] and Schrams to see if they folks could have the Schoolhouse to have a lecture.

Jan 16 – Snowey day. Snow fell 8½ inches. Shelled some corn, put up some Buckwheat to carry to mill, put Eight bushels in box. Snowed all day. Charley Town[23] borowed two inch auger.

Jan 17 – Went up to Howlands mill. Sarah[24] went up to Swadles.[25] We took dinner there.

Jan 18 – Went over to burg after Nancy then went down to Catharines.[26] Carried some meal and Buckwheat flour. Hank came over. Nick Gault Buried to day.

Jan 19 – Ethan came up, brot Hannah.[27] Henry came with him. Jim[28] down to A. Browns.

Jan 20 – Snow 4 inches. Went over to burg. Cut two dry trees on South road. A. Browns folks here in Evening.

Jan 21 – Snows 3 inches. Carried girls to school. Carried Sarah and Mrs Brown[29] up to Mr Ralphs. I went up in Evening.

Jan 22 – Sarah and Mrs Plank[30] went up to Mr Taylors. Henry came down and tinkered the old clock. We went over to burg. Hank and Nancy, Byron Allen, Cory, Ida and Libby[31] came over in Evening.

Jan 23 – Snows and blows some. Got State map of Mr Plank[32] this morning 1.25 one Dollar and twentyfive cents. Very Blustring night.

Jan 24 – Went up in woods, got load wood. Not much done to day. Snow fell 4 inches.

Jan 25 – Snows this morning, snow fell about 1 inch. Elder Philip Potts[33] Died to day. Cold ay.

Jan 26 – Fine pleasant morning. Ethan, Catharine and Jo Lee came up here.

Jan 27 – Cut down one tree. Drawed two loads wood. Hung ax for Mart. Henry, Lois and Sate called here. Cold, mercury 4 Abbz. Went over to burg after Nancys cloths to wash.

Jan 28 – Cold 4 Abz in morning, snow about 20 inches in woods. Went down to Charles Lees.[34] Broke sleigh thill[35] on Huds hill. Elder Philip Pots buried to day.

Jan 29 – Cold morning, mercury 20 blow zero at six A.M. Shaved out axhelve[36] for Wesley.

Jan 30 – Went over to burg with Jesse and Alvin Lee.[37] Cold and windy. Sick, no work to day.

Jan 31 – Nice day. Went down to Catharines. Mr Plank went with us. I went over to Comstock got money on order 2649 $5.17 cts Libray money.

Feb 1 – Not very cold, snows some, ten Abz. Went over to burg after Nancy. Paid Amos Rogers 26 Dollars and 49 cents for Book and globe for school. Lois came home with us. Henry and Sate came home from the creek.

Feb 2 – Pleasant and cold, 11 below. At home all day.

Feb 3 – Drawed one load wood. Rained some. Went up to Wesleys. Put side boards on my cutter box in Evening.

Feb 4 – Put end boards on cutter box. Not very cold. Mart brought Ethan home. Jo came up with them. Sarah went down to A Browns. Ethan sick.

Feb 5 – Went over to burg with A Brown, bot some screws. Put plugs in cutter box. Fine day. Mo Streator[38] brot buggy pole. Went down to A. R. Skinners[39] in Evening. Lois sick.

Feb 6 – Fine day. Cut and drawed two loads wood. Mart and Toot[40] came up in Evening. Clara Spire stayed here all night.

Feb 7 – Sawed wood. Went over to burg in Evening. Henry came down here. Mrs Polly Earl visiting Mrs Plank. Thaws some, very sloppy.

Feb 8 – Snows and blows, mercury __2 Abz. Charles Lees folks came up to day. Bent cutter dash in Evening. Edwin Flanders called and got my clamps. Fixed violin, set sound post and cut down the bridge for Monroe Hamiltons boy. Snow fell 1 inch.

Feb 9 – Pleasant morning. At home all day. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah. Sis[41] went over and stayed.

Feb 10 – Put dash on cutter box. Worked in shop some.

Feb 11 – Worked on box some, smothed dash.

Feb 12 – Cut and drawed three loads wood. Old Mrs Ralph[42] here to day. Very icy.

Feb 13 – At home, not very well. Henry came home, stayed all night. Henry and Hannah went up to Wesleys in afternoon.

Feb 14 – Carried Henry and Hannah down to Catharines. Mart thrashed his clover seed out, had six bushels. I changed bells with Mart.

Feb 15 – Cut and drawed one load wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Louesa. Clarence Wing[43] died this morning.

Feb 16 – Not very cold, smoky, very good sleighing, not much snow, very icy. Oscar and Mary An[44] came here.

Feb 17 – Fine day. Oscar left for Saginaw. Mary went up to Mr Bateys.[45] Ethan finished his cupling. Thawing some.

Feb 18 – Worked on Streators cutter pole. Very warm, snow went of some. Ethan and Hannah, Mary and Carry Plank[46] went up to Mr Flanders[47] in Evening. Del[48] got his new sleigh.

Feb 19 – Pleasant. Henry carried Hank and Nancy home. Cate Keith[49] came down from Mr Bateys. She an Louesa went over to burg. Henry carried Streators pole down.

Feb 20 – Jo Lee brot Cate Chafy[50] up here. Cold day. Ethan and girls went down to T. Fords to an Evening party. Henry Started for Havannah York State.

Feb 21 – Cate here. Lois came up. Went over to burg. Got Murties[51] picture. Carried Lois home. Snow 2 inches, mercury 6 Abz.

Feb 22 – Cold 2 Abz in morning. Meredith and Melvill Blod_____ came up after Cate. Hannah went down with them. Oscar came back he went down to Catharines. Very cold. Mr Hall called here in Evening. A little light he got.[?] Very cold.

Feb 23 – 4 below zero in morning, cold, blows some. At home all day. Mrs Walter Coe[52] buried to day.

Feb 24 – Cold 2 Abz in morning. Sun came out in the morning. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Ed York[53] died to day.

Feb 25 – Drawed two loads wood. Ethan went down to Catharines after Hannah.

Feb 26 – Went over to burg, got Jims boots tapt 50¢. Sarah went over to Nancys. Ethan went down to Dels to do his chores. Snowed and blowed some. Del and Lois went over to Deal Birges.

Feb 27 – Snows and blows very rough, 13 Abz. Sarah washing. Snow fell 3 inches. Edwin York buried to day.

Feb 28 – Went up to Howlands to Mill. Carried four bushels Buckwheat, three of corn. Did not get it. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Mart sawing wood.

Mar 1 – Went up to Howlands after my grist in morning, got it all right. Nancy came home with me. Not very cold.

Mar 2 – At home all day. Mrs Gafing and Edith and Chub here. Amos Chipman[54] Buried to day.

Mar 3 – Cut and drawed some wood. Cold. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Mar 4 – Went to Kalamazoo on the Brown and Allerton Suit.[55] Came up to Catharines, stayed all night. Mr Darling and Mitchel folks there. Very cold but pleasant.

Mar 5 – Went back to Kalamazoo. Came home at night. Ethan sick. Cold and pleasant.

Mar 6 – At home. The Brown and Allerton Case decided. Judgment tendered in favor of Brown 22 Dollars and costs.

Mar 7 – Not very cold. Drawed two loads wood, one load cornfodder. Lois called a few minutes.

Mar 8 – Snow about gone, very windy. Ethan sick.

Mar 9 – Snows like fun, not very cold. Snow fell 7½ 6½ inches. At home all day. Henry and Sate came down here.

Mar 10 – Hued out one axhelve. Went over to burg in morning. Went down to Skinners in Evening. Mr and Mrs Plank went a burg.

Mar 11 – Cleaned out barn some. Chore round barn.

Mar 12 – Went down to Catharines. Catharine not very well. Called to Loises when I came back. Will[56] some better. Henry came home with me. Carried Hannah over to burg in Evening. Henry went up to Mr Taylors to see about Amandas childrens Pension. Mr Plank started out to find him a place.

Mar 13 – Cool and cloudy, snow about gone.

Mar 14 – Went down to Catharines. Sarah went down and stayed. Charles, Alvin, Jesse and Jule[57] was there. Some muddy. Lucy some better. Will Clark better. Lois not very well yet.

Mar 15 – Rainy and windy. Went over to burg in Evening after Jim. Hued out ax helve.

Mar 16 – Went down to Catharines after Sarah. We stoped to Skinners. Sarah got Rocking Chair of Jo Lee.

Mar 17 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. I cut up trees in cornfield up south. Put up some fence.

Mar 18 – Drawed four loads wood. Went over to burg. Rainy. Sarah went. Mrs Plank and Rebecca[58] went along. Muddy, snow about gone.

Mar 19 – Cut lots grubs in woods. Rained in afternoon, got wet. Mr Plank got home. Ethan Started after his mother. Bill[59] run away with him, broke wagon Ex and came back.

Mar 20 – Went over and got wagon home. Sarah came home with Lois. She carried Dell and henry over to burg. They went to Plainwell. Hank and Nancy sick. Snowed in night. Mrs Philip Goodrich[60] hung her self in night.

Mar 21 – Snows Blustering. Lois, Mrs Skinner[61] and Sate came down to Planks. Snow one inch.

Mar 22 – Ethan and I went to the woods sawed some, cut of ten blocks. Mrs Jackson called here. I went up in woods in afternoon, cut some grubs. Ethan went over to burg in Evening.

Mar 23 – Pleasant morning. Mrs Philip Goodrich buried to day.

Mar 24 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Hank and Nancy moved over. H. A. Taylor, Myron Latta and Hat, Lib and Ida Clark[62] here in Evening. Snowed some about ½ inch. Very cold and windy.

Mar 25 – Not very well. Ethan went over to burg twice. Nancy sick. Cold and windy, snowed in night.

Mar 26 – Cold. Nancy no better. Snows, cold. Hank rode Bill over to burg after Doc Alfred. He came over. Snow 8 inches this morning. A Brown came up here. Mr Plank went to Grand Rappids to see about getting a house.

Mar 27 – Mercury at zero in morning. Dell and Lois came here. He brot his drag.

Mar 28 – At home, not very well, no work.

Mar 29 – Went to Kalamazoo with Schram. Got order for money on City Bank one Hundred and Seventy Dollars 170.00. Allertons[63] and Simmons folks here to Planks.

Mar 30 – Fine morning, sun came out.

Mar 31 – Mr Plank packing his goods. I went over to burg after Emmet Crawford.[64] Helped Mr Plank in afternoon.

Apr 1 – Cloudy morning. Jim and Emmet went down to Catharines. Snowed like fun. Mr Allerton and Mr Simmons took two loads goods for Mr Plank to Kalamazoo. Snow fell ¾ inch. Mr Allertons folks had the Plank family to stay all night. Sarah sick. Jim

Apr 2 – Snows this morning, disagreeable day. Planks folks went down to Allertons, stayed all night.

Apr 3 – Drawed three loads cornfodder. Went down to Dels, got his democrat wagon. Went over to burg, got Mary Chaffee. Mr Planks folks left for Grand Rapids. Went down and got Hank and Nancy. J T Allertons old white mare lying in the lot almost dead.[65] Paid Schroder and Lay five Dollars $5.00.

Apr 4 – Put some slats in A. Browns drag. Paid Myron Latta one Hundred and seventy Dollars for teachers wages.

Apr 5 – Wesley came down and helped me kill hog in forenoon. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Catharine and Lucy sick. Cate got her arm burnt. Jo and Hellen[66] there. Ethan went up to Mr Flanders, stayed all night. Mercury 85 Abz.

Apr 6 – At home all day.

Apr 7 – Mr Clark called here from Plainwell to see my place. I went to Comstock to Town meeting. Went with Mr Ridler. Cold, windy.

Apr 8 – Rainy day. Repaired Skinners Drag. Hank and Ethan went to burg.

Apr 9 – Carried my wagon wheel over to burg to get Tire set. Very muddy, cold, raw day.

Apr 10 – Went over to burg in morning. Got wheel and skeins. Hannah went down to Fords. Stayed all night.

Apr 11 – Worked in shop on Ex. Not very well. Rainy morning. Lind Matthews called here just at night. Hannah came home in morning. Put poke[67] on cow the first time.

Apr 12 – Snow one inch 1 inch. Carried two bushels corn to burg. Cut _____ for Jo Lee, put on his cane. Henry and Dell called here.

Apr 13 – Carried Ethan and Hannah down to Catharines. Pleasant day. Mr Henry Rogers called here in afternoon. Saw Jesse and Jule Lee. They are going to Salt Lake.[68]

Apr 14 – Pleasant morning. Worked in shop on Ex. Mart brot Ethan home just at night.

Apr 15 – Worke in shop. Set skeins on Ex. Rained in afternoon. Jim carried some Eggs over got some shugar. Hank took picture of tent.

Apr 16 – Worked in shop on Ex. Went over to burg twice. Got shoulder bands set. Went over and got two bolts. Rained some. Lois called here. Mr Clark from Plainwell came up to se Dell.

Apr 17 – Worked on thills. Went over to burg, bot bolt and whiffletree[69] iron. Rainy day. Will Plank came here to day.

Apr 18 – Finished my wagon Ex. Took Skinners buggy home. Will came home with me. Will Plank went down to Allertons, stayed all night.

Apr 19 – Went down to Catharines. Dell, Lois and Ethan there to dinner. Jule Lee there. Jo Lee let me have a cask with some vinegar and a jug. Fine day.

Apr 20 – Pleasant. Henry and Will came down. Mart brot Hannah home.

Apr 21 – Got out manure, put on garden. Pleasant. Hank went down home to take Photograph of A. Browns house. Some snow in the air during the day. Snowed some in Evening.

Apr 22 – Snows like fun, snow six inches in morning. Drawed three loads wood on sleigh. Cool, damp wind.

Apr 23 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Cates, found them some better. Stoped to Lois, took supper when we came back, had oysters.

Apr 24 – Cool, some snow in the air. Mr Hawley commenced plowing west lot, had Bill. Moved fence. Mr Hawley helped move it. Took about two Hours. Henry came in night. He came from Elkhart.

Apr 25 – Hawley plowed, had Bill. Snowed like fun some of the time. I burnt brush and the old stuf from the fence. Jim went down to Catharines in afternoon.

Apr 26 – Hawley finished sod ground in forenoon, burnt fodder on hill.

Apr 27 – Pleasant. Henry Clinton and wife called here. Dick Barber and wife and Ida came over.

Apr 28 – Put up leach. Wheeled out some ashes on garden. Hannah went over to Barbers. Hank Brown went out photog. Henry and Edwin flanders called here. Cloudy day.

Apr 29 – Wheeled some dirt. Put around maple trees west side house. Cleaned out cornhouse. Hawley plowed to day. Hannah came home. Ida Barber came with her.

Apr 30 – Cleaned out cellar. Smoked hams. Hank Brown plowed East garden. Ethan went to Kalamazoo, his car starter.[70] Ida went home in Evening. Hawley plowed all day.

May 1 – Finished cleaning out cornhouse. Filed saw for Ned Thomas 15¢. Hawley finished plowing corn ground, commenced draging. Rained before noon, rainy afternoon. Hawley went home. He worked half day.

May 2 – Cleared out the hog yard in forenoon. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Ethan came home. Mrs Brown and Jule[71] came up here. Cloudy and cool.

May 3 – Some rainy in morning. Went over to burg bot Jims pants. Cold. Cleared of in afternoon. Took fence away round hog yard. Henry and Will Clark and Harvey came down. Stayed all night.

May 4 – Pleasant morning. Ethan, hannah and Henry went down to Catharines. Eliza Galfus[72] buried. Fine day. Heard the first whipporwill this Evening.

May 5 – Warm day. Hawley draged cornground. I carried two bushels corn to mill. Ethan and I measured corn ground.

May 6 – Put cover on Lois chest. Hawley Draged corn ground. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to see Geo Turner about car starter. He paid him $12½ Dollars.

May 7 – Hawley finished draging half past nine AM. He took drag home. He worked ¼ of a day. I made a corn marker. Finished Lois chest. Lois came home. Rainy afternoon and night.

May 8 – Rainy day. Made mallet for Mart. Ethan and Hank made saw mill.

May 9 – Rainy day. Went up to Wesleys got four bushels Bagas for myself and Catharine. Wes plowing. Got brass ferrel[73] of Geout[?].

May 10 – Bot four bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Went to Comstock to mill. Catherine and Toot better. Got the Foundry building fraim up to Comstock, working on dam putting on dirt. Hannah went down to Gus Giddings to work a few days. She rode down with T. Ford.

May 11 – Pleasant Morning at home. Put head on Jo Lees cane.

May 12 – Cut some lims on apple trees, drawed brush in afternoon and burnt them. Sold Heifer to Mr Brockway, Received ten Dollars. Hawley marked corn ground. Rube Coe[74] Died to day.

May 13 – Commenced planting corn. Ethan and I planted one day for Hawley.

May 14 – Finished planting about ten AM. Took up and set out onions. Mrs Brown and Jule, Mrs Barber and Ida here. All hands here to tea.

May 15 – Worked round house, chored round. Turned legs for stool.

May 16 – Got oak bark to color with. Worked on stool. Ethan planted corn for Cull Town.[75] Mrs Nathanial Potts[76] buried. Mercury 44 Abz in morning.

May 17 – Drove Heifer over to burg. Received four Dollars of John Levens for Brockway on Heifer. Worked in shop on stool some. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Paid Lucy ten Dollars.

May 18 – Went up to Jesse Earls[77] lot to find some soft stone.

May 19 – Ethan, Hank and Nancy gone to Kalamazoo I Expect. Commenced raining about ten A.M.

May 20 – Put stool together. Fine day, cool. Went over to burg. Bot two Bushels Potatoes 1.80. Bill got down broke thill.

May 21 – Had Bill Brown Ethan plowed garden. Hot day, rained in night. Will Clark stayed here all night.

May 22 – Nice warm morning. Every thing looks fresh and nice.

May 23 – Went down to Skinners and Fords. Went after Mrs Fords Brass Kettle. No get him.

May 24 – Draged my gardens. Brown drawed Straw. Ethan went down to Catharines after Net Whitmore. Made bars. Del got bolts for stool. Mr Hawley and fife[78] came down to see the corn. Town[79] finished planting. Second time.

May 25 – Pleasant morning. Ethan went and took Net back to Catharines.

May 26 – Planted potatoes in South garden. Marked both gardens. Rained in night. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to take lesson.

May 27 – Planted potatoes in west garden. Ethan planted beans. Commenced raining about two oclock. Sowed corn in morning. Went down to M. O. Streators got bushel Potatoes and Mrs Fords Brass Kettle.

May 28 – Pleasant morning. Finished Skinners Stool. Sarah and Nancy, Hannah went down to Browns. Finished planting potatoes. Agent for the Home Sewing Machine Company left machine here. Warm day.

May 29 – Warm morning. Went up to Hawleys, stopt to Hargers, went up to Benj Hartwells in afternoon. Went to Burg, bot overall cloth.

May 30 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot grind stone 1.62 hung stone. Sterreoscope pedler here to dinner 50¢. Went over to burg in Evening after Sis Shoes 50¢. Sarah went down to A. Browns. Nancy sick, had twins, both dead.

May 31 – Pleasant morning, but cool, no frost here. Ethan and I helped Hawley plant over the corn. I worked all day. Ethan commenced about ten oclock. Sowing machine pedler came and took the Home Shuttle Machine and left the Home. Sarah down to Browns.

Jun 1 – At home all day. Put the cow in A. Browns lot.

Jun 2 – Henry went to Albion. Hugh Shafter came over to see about gate. Not very well. Hawley cultivated corn. Hot day.

Jun 3 – Went over to burg, bot boards. Made gate. Will Plank came here. Hawley cultivated corn. Very warm day. Henry and Sate called here.

Jun 4 – Warm morning. Carried gate over to Hugh Shafters. Ebberley Underwood called here. He was sick. Ethan carried him home.

Jun 5 – Worked on road. Warm day. Bot Sewing Machine $60. Paid twenty, gave note for forty payable in Eight Months.

Jun 6 – Worked on road in forenoon, finished my tax.[80] Warm and dry. Mr Ralph washed his sheep.

Jun 7 – Worked round. Made drawer to sewing machine. Conklin Smith called here. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Jun 8 – At home all day. Mart and Lucy came up with Ethan.

Jun 9 – Moved some stuff out of shop. Exchanged Horses with Dell for a few days. Henry came down and stayed all night. Rained a little in night.

Jun 10 – Henry left in forenoon. No work to day. Not very well. Mr Havens called here, the Baptist Minister.

Jun 11 – Took sulky over to burg to get it repaired. Warm and dry. Went up to Mr Swaddles to see if we could get Mrs Semer to come down and show Sarah how to weave carpet.

Jun 12 – Went down to A. Browns in morning to see Nancy. Hank got the ague.[81] Hot and dry.

Jun 13 – Went up to Mr Flanders to see about getting the loom. Stopt to Dells got Bill. Went over to burg in Evening. Auction there in Evening.

Jun 14 – Went up to Jo Flanders to see about the loom. Sarah stayed to A. Browns all night. Carried two bushels corn to mill. Hot and dry.

Jun 15 – Very hot morning. No Signs of rain. Granny Hen Died about five P.M. A. A.Eged[?] about Eighteen years. James S. King[82] Died about six P.M. Ae 64 years 3 months and 19 days.

Jun 16 – Worked on wheelbarrow some. Went over to burg in Evening after meal. Jo Lee came up here to day. Sarah went home with Jo.

Jun 17 – Went down to Catharines in morning. Came home. Went up to Mr Flanders after loom. Mr Flanders brot loom down and helped set it up. Hawley cultivated corn.

Jun 18 – Not much work to day. Very hot, 96 in shade. Hoed some potatoes. Barbers folks here in afternoon. Mr Flanders washed sheep. Ethan helping Dell draw hay.

Jun 19 – Turned five pins for A. Brown. Went up to Mr Swaddles after Mrs Semer. Went up to Flanders after _____. Bot Eight yards of muslet netting 75¢. Hawley paid me one Dollar. Hawley cultivating.

Jun 20 – Put up warping bars. Ethan and Hank gone to Vicks burg. Hoed some potatoes. Very hot and dry. Mrs Semer put in the peace and wove some. I went in Swimming the first time this season. Water very warm.

Jun 21 – Turned tredles around on loom. Carried Hannah down to Skinners. Carried Mrs Semer over to burg in Evening. Got Sulky. Made pitman[?] box for Jesse Earl. He paid 50¢. Henry came down. Turned Six pins for Dell and six for Mr Earl. Hank Brown went to Lyons to get a place.

Jun 22 – Very warm and dry. Rained a very little.

Jun 23 – Went to Kalamazoo with Edwin Flanders. Got Hubs, spokes and Felloes[83] for set wheels for their buggy _____. Henry went home. Hawley paid one Dollar. Had a fine shower. Hawley cultivated corn. Put some screws in Streators buggy.

Jun 24 – Hot morning, mercury 91 in shade. Went over to burg in Evening. Carried Flanders hubbs over to Bristols to be banded. Had a heavy shower. Nancy came home. Lois brot her up. Mary and Edna[84] came in about Eleven in Evening. Sarah bot Hannahs dress.

Jun 25 – Worked on wheelbarrow some. Mary and Edna went on the Eight oclock _____ Evening.

Jun 26 – Cut out felloes for my wheelbarrow. Mrs Semer came back. Mr and Mrs Flanders[85] called here. Ethan went down to Marts after cabbage plants. Hank packed his things. Painted Sulky some. Bill Matthews child drownded in cistern to day.

Jun 27 – Ethan gone to help Dell get in hay. Worked on wheel some. Hawley cultivated. Matthews child buried to day.

Jun 28 – Finished my wheelbarrow wheel. Went over to burg in Evening. Dressed out sills for cutter boddy. Hawley cultivating. Mrs Hawley came down. They went down to see Murpheys place.

Jun 29 – At home. Not very well. Had a shower. Mrs Semer here.

Jun 30 – Sick, no work to day much. Put name on Jo Lees cane. Went down to Skinners, got 4½ bushels of wheat of Dell. Hawley cultivated corn.

Jul 1 – Started to go to mill, went down as far as Browns. He took my grist. Hawley cultivated corn in forenoon, finished. Rainy afternoon.

Jul 2 – Worked in shop some. Mart and toot called here. Dol[86] had collick. Had a shower. Bot this ink 5 cts, Bot comb 10¢.

Jul 3 – Hawley commenced plowing Buckwheat ground. A. Brown commenced cutting wheat. Had a heavy shower in afternoon. Mrs Semer got carpet out. Not very well.

Jul 4 – Had a shower in the morning. Put hoops on pounding Barrel. Hank, Jenny and John Crawford[87] came to day. Hawley finished plowing. Mrs Semer went over to burg.

Jul 5 – Hank went home on the Mail one thirty five. Hawley went to Kalamazoo. Sowed Buckwheat. Hawley dragged it in. Ethan and Jim worked for Brown in afternoon.

Jul 6 – Went down to Catharines and Charleses. They wer cutting wheat. Hall and Parker cradled. Mrs Semer came back.

Jul 7 – Ethan and Hank work for A. Brown in wheat. Jim worked for Randall.

Jul 8 – Made Reel for Town. Bot medicine of Warren Brown 50¢. Sate came here, stayed all night. Cool.

Jul 9 – Cooll morning. Jo Lee and Catharine came up here.

Jul 10 – Put spokes in to Jo Flanders hubbs. Fine day. Had good luck with this. Carried Mrs Semer over to burg.

Jul 11 – Went up to Battlecreek with Jo Flanders after Horse. Frank Hogges Saw Enos smith and Howell. Fine day. Folks all Harvesting, lots wheat cut. Mrs Semer came back.

Jul 12 – Plowed out all the potatoes and beans. Hoed the beans. Fine day, not very hot. A. Brown finished cutting wheat. Henry Semer came here.

Jul 13 – Carried Hannah down to Catharines. All well.

Jul 14 – Worked on wheels, put rims on two and half. Hot day. Ethan went down to Skinners to work. Hot night.

Jul 15 – Worked on wheels some. Hank Started for Muir.[88] I carried his chest over. Went and saw Mrs Hoges buggy. Very hot day.

Jul 16 – Very hot. Work on wheels. Worked on wheels. Fitted rims.

Jul 17 – Put rims on wheels. Rounded up some felloes on fore wheels.

Jul 18 – Finished Flanders wheels. Cool and windy. Skinner finished his harvest. Ethan came home.

Jul 19 – Went over to burg. Bot shoes for Sarah 2.00. Jim bot Hat. Sarah over to Mr Towns sowing.

Jul 20 – At home all day. Ethan went down to Catharines after Hannah and Sis. Fine day.

Jul 21 – Worked on cutter sills some. 4 Paw Show in the burg to day.

Jul 22 – Worked on cutter sills some. Jo Lee here. Lois came home. Henry Semer came over here. Hawley cultivated corn. We setled up for horse work and my work. He paid me 3 Dollars. Warm day.

Jul 23 – Worked in shop on cutter boddy sills. Hot and dry.

Jul 24 – Worked in shop some. Very dry, no rain.

Jul 25 – Worked in shop. Went up in woods, got load wood in Cart. Sarah and Mrs Semer went down to A. Browns. Old cow sick.

Jul 26 – Not much work in shop. Mr Flanders brot paint to paint wheels. Mrs Semer finished weaving. I carried her home. Henry and Dell called here, left team and went over to burg.

Jul 27 – At home. Hot and dry. A. Brown cradled round his oats.

Jul 28 – Worked in shop, painted Flanders wheels.

Jul 29 – Worked on wheelbarrow. Painted wheels over. Hawley cultivating corn. Jo Lee up here all day. Went down to bridge saw them drive spiles.

Jul 30 – Finished wheelbarrow frame. Smothed of cutter box. Went down to Charles Lees with Hawley to see about taking his farm.

Jul 31 – Had a fine shower this morning. Worked in shop.

Aug 1 – Put mouldings on cutter box. Went over to burg. Bot paper, brads, one paper, carpet tacks. Henry Clinton[89] Died in night. Pulled a tooth for Ollive Schram.[90]

Aug 2 – Henry here. Ethan helped him on his moddle. I painted cutter box. Worked on hub some. Mr Flanders came along, told of Mr Clintons Death.

Aug 3 – Henry Clinton buried to day. Went down to Catharines. Nice cool day.

Aug 4 – Worked on Hubbs. Fine day. Ethan worked for Brown. Mrs Brown here. Ezra came and got saw to to saw spiles.

Aug 5 – Worked on hubbs. Mart and Catharine here. I went over to burg with Mart. Eugene Crawford[91] Came along. I rode home with him. They finished driving spiles for Bridge. Extracted tooth for Mart.

Aug 6 – Finished my Hubbs. Worked on wagon pole for M. O. Streators wagon.

Aug 7 – Finished Streators pole 1.50. Sarah went down to A. Browns. Nancy went. Had a nice shower.

Aug 8 – Worked on gearing. Ethan went to Kalamazoo with A. Brown. Ed Flanders came along, left his team here.

Aug 9 – Not very well. Made Spile driver for Jim. Will Clark here. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon. Henry called here just at night. Went over to burg.

Aug 10 – At home all day. Not very well.

Aug 11 – Worked on Jims Driver some. Worked on gearing some. Went over to burg in forenoon.

Aug 12 – Went down to Marts. Got some Baswood boards. Ethan henry went to Kalamazoo.

Aug 13 – Went over to burg with Edwin Flanders. Picknick up in Jesse Earls woods.

Aug 14 – Cut my cornfodder. Henry here to work on Hotell starter.

Aug 15 – Henry and Ethan at work at Hotel Starter. I finished Jims Driver.

Aug 16 – Henry here at work to day. Doctor Alfred[92] Died this morning. Alfleda[93] came here to day.

Aug 17 – Hannah and Adelpha[94] came up. Mr Alfred buried to day.

Aug 18 – Went to Comstock to mill. Got 4 bushels and 14 pounds of wheat of Mart Milham. Will and Cary Plank came here.

Aug 19 – Packed up Nancys things and carried them over to burg. I went up to Hawleys to tell him about Murphys farm.

Aug 20 – Made Door frame for butry door. Lois came up, stayed all night. First team[tram?] crossed new Bridge to night about dark. Very hot, 98 in shade.

Aug 21 – Put netting on Door frame. Ethan, Lois, Hannah and Nancy went up to Wesleys in afternoon. Rained some, hot forenoon, 93 in shade.

Aug 22 – Hot, 98 in shade. Worked in shop some. Edwin Flanders got Buggy wheels. Got the paint.

Aug 23 – Ethan and I dressed out spokes for lumber wagon. Mrs Streator and Nell here. Ida barber came over stayed all night. Cool, 78 in shade. Ground Mr Flanders plane Irons.

Aug 24 – At home all day. Ida Barber here. Dell and Lois came up at night. Henry called here. Carry Plank came in Evening, stayed all night. Wes here. Mr and Mrs Brown came up. Charles Lee and Alvin came up after colts. Hot, 96 in shade.

Aug 25 – Hot and dry. Nancy left for Muir ten minutes past Eight. Alfleda came Back this morning. Hannah went Kalamazoo with Nancy, lost her Parasol. Carry Plank went down to Mr Allertons. Rained North and south of us, no rain here.

Aug 26 – Cloudy and cool morning. Worked on spokes. Went over to burg in morning. Got order on Treasurer for 82 and 60.100 Dollars. Wesly went to Kalamazoo got the money. Got two pigs of A. Brown. Edwin Flanders got their new Roller. Paid Wesley one Dollar and sixty cents out of school money.

Aug 27 – Mended Parasol for Mr David Bronson and one for Louesa. M. O. Streator called here to see Alfleda.

Aug 28 – Ethan gone Down to Catharines with Henry. I am repairing old table. Not very well, sick all night. Picknic over to Pickerel Lake. The Galesburg Band went.

Aug 29 – Warm morning. Ethan worked sum on bobs.

Aug 30 – Ethan got out beams for bobs. Jim pulled beans. I repaired barnyard fence. Jo Lee brot Hellen and Vinny[95] up in afternoon. Rainy night. Jo Lee went over to burg carried over lot Eggs. Got shugar 7 doz.

Aug 31 – Rainy morning at home. Hellen and Vinny here.

Sep 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot Sis shoes 2.00. carried Sis down to Mr Carletons to pick hops. Went to schoolmeting in Evening. I. D. L. Schram Elected Director. Hellen here. Bot Brass Kettle of Jo Lee.

Sep 2 – Alfleda went to Battlecreek. Went up to Wesleys in afternoon. Hellen stayed. Only four of us here to night. Toots Gal[96] Born to night about Eleven P.M.

Sep 3 – Rain day some. Ethan morticed bob runners. Wes called here. I tenonded bob knees. Only four to day.

Sep 4 – Hellen and Vinny came back from Wesleys. Put up Notices for School meting. Went over to burg in morning. Mr Town paid one Dollar for Repairing reaper.

Sep 5 – Hellen came back. Hawley commenced cutting corn. Put the carpet down. Went down to Skinners in afternoon. Left Hellen.

Sep 6 – Ethan and I cut of corn. Eugene Came up here. Henry called here a while.

Sep 7 – Rained some. Eugene and Ethan gone up to Mr Flanders. Went down to Catharines.

Sep 8 – Cut corn. Warm day. Sold Hawley the sleigh. Henry came down.

Sep 9 – Finished cutting corn. Hawley worked in forenoon. Sold my Sleigh to Hawley for 12 Dollars. Paid Nettie Quay 80 Dollars.

Sep 10 – Round home. Worked in shop some. Henry here. Went to Comstock. Went to Schoolmeeting. Elected Coly Durgy Director.

Sep 11 – Worked on case some. Went down to Catharines after Hannah.

Sep 12 – Worked on case. Henry and Ethan worked on machine. Henry went to Comstock.

Sep 13 – Working on case for their machine. Henry and Ethan gone to Kalamazoo. Paid I. D. L. Schram one Dollar on Order.

Sep 14 – Mode hook for case to telegraph. First ice of the Season.

Sep 15 – Finished case. Mr and Mrs Hawley came down here to take farm. Henry and Ethan went down to Mr Fords in Evening to be Swared[?] on their machine.

Sep 16 – Carried Ethan and Hannah Sarah over to burg. Sarah went to Janes. Ethan and Hannah went to Grand Rappids State Fair. Henry Leroy came here stayed until Evening. Went over to burg with Mr Hawley came down cultivated in forenoon, went home. Gave up sowing my wheat.

Sep 17 – Rainy Morning. Not much done to day. Dilinbecks Bull in my garden this morning.

Sep 18 – Went down to Catharines to see about working her land. Pleasant day. Mart making cider. Spence Thomas cow in my garden this morning, in all night.

Sep 19 – Cut tree up in south lot for wood. Cut one Hickory tree. Spencer Thomas cow in my lot. Cut popcorn what was left after Thomas cow had been in and got her part.

Sep 20 – Chored round house and barn. Put cornfodder in barn. Jim husked corn for A. Brown. Hawley came down to see about moveing. Fine day.

Sep 21 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.

Sep 22 – Worked in shop some. Worked at Theodores stuff for car. Hawley brot down some things.

Sep 23 – Hawley moved to day. Came down, hogs, cow and all. Fine day. Eugene came here. He was posting bills.

Sep 24 – Fine morning this. Ethan and Hannah got home. Lois and Mrs Skinner here.

Sep 25 – Built fence down to corner of orchard. Sarah went over to burg. Stayed with Jane Hoag all night. Cow got out. Smith Shapsteen buried to day.[97]

Sep 26 – Ethan went over to burg after Sarah. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Hawley and Ethan picked up load apples. Filed saw for A. Brown 25.

Sep 27 – Hawley and Ethan went up to cider mill. Made 70 galons. Made handles for Maple Grange. Sarah went over to Jane Hoag. Eugene came in Evening. Put hogs in pen.

Sep 28 – Hawley put bell on his cow. Put cows in woods. Rainy day.

Sep 29 – Worked on Skinners wheel. Hawley drawed manure. Ethan boiled cider. Eugene went to Kalamazoo. Ethan went over after Sarah. Spencer Thomas cow got in here in Evening.

Sep 30 – Finished Dels wheel and Marts Grange tools. Hawley moing for Mr Taylor. Spence Thomas cow got in here, eat up pumpkins. Caried Hannah and Ethan down to Catharines. Mart paid one Dollar. Jo Flanders paid Eight Dollars for making wheels.

Oct 1 – Sawed out stuf for Theodores car. Made some blocks for saw. Old Maid Clark buried to day. Hawley helped Taylor draw hay. Jo Lee and Catharine came up here. I went over to burg with Catharine.

Oct 2 – Worked on car some and odder dings.[98]

Oct 3 – Went to Kalamazoo to County Fair. Rainy day. Stayed to Catharines all night. Alfleda came back.

Oct 4 – Got home about noon. No work to day.

Oct 5 – At home all day. Hank and Nancy came in night.

Oct 6 – Went up to Mr Ridlers to rasing in afternoon. Sarah went over to Janes stayed all night. Carrie Knap Died.[99]

Oct 7 – Went over to burg to see about getting rollers to move Hog pen. Ethan to work for the band boys. Carried two Ex sticks over to Mr Burrel. Went down to Dels and Streators. Got 4 four bushels wheat of M. O. Streator $1.35.

Oct 8 – Husked some corn. Henry and Lois here in Evening.

Oct 9 – Husked some corn. Ethan went down to Charles Lees. Hank and Nancy went down to Catharines. Schyler Harris and wife came here. Stayed all night.

Oct 10 – Went to Comstock to Mill. Harris and Sarah went down to Catharines. Pleasant day, warm.

Oct 11 – Drawed in buckwheat, thrashed some, drawed one load corn. Ethan came home in forenoon. Mrs Polly Earl, Hat and Libby Taylor here in afternoon. Pleasant day. Opened Hannahs fellon[100] in Evening.

Oct 12 – Pleasant, cold East wind.

Oct 13 – Thrashed buckwheat. Hawley put corn in barn. Hank left for Chicago.

Oct 14 – Finished thrashing buckwheat. Went over to burg got rollers and pries to move hogpen. Cleaned up buckwheat, had 12½ bushels. Fine day.

Oct 15 – Harriet and Edith[101] here. Made whiffletree for Wes buggy. Sawed out stuf for Catharines rack. Drawed cornfodder. Went over to burg.

Oct 16 – Drawed cornfodder. Went over to burg. Got plank of Burrall. Rained some. Town thrashed wheat. Nancy went down to Browns.

Oct 17 – Some misty. Barber came over helped move Hog pen.

Oct 18 – Leveled up hogpen. Hawley helped. Ed Wilcut[102] came here in afternoon stayed to tea.

Oct 19 – Not well. Ethan, Hannah and Louesa went down to Catharines. Pleasant day. I gathered some Hickory nuts.

Oct 20 – Worked round hogpen, made henroost larger. Jim went up to Wes after Beech nuts. Went back stayed all night. Libby stayed all night. Wes called here in Evening.

Oct 21 – First Snow this morning. Worked on car some. Rainy day. No work.

Oct 22 – Ethan dug potatoes. Put car together. Pleasant day and cool.

Oct 23 – Put wheels on car. Sarah went over to burg to see Jane, stayed all night.

Oct 24 – Went to burg. Took Roolers home. Worked on apple rack. Ethan dug potatoes.

Oct 25 – Carried Mr Knapps pries home. Finished apple Rack. Pleasant day. Hawley finished husking. Went down to Catharines stayed all night. Alfleda went to Kalamazoo with Mr Carlton to see Orson Stars folks. Wm Wheeler got his violin. He paid 75 cts.

Oct 26 – Rainy day. Got some beechnut. Came home in Evening.

Oct 27 – Made bin for corn in cornhouse. Cool wind. Snowed in night.

Oct 28 – Snow 3 inches deep. Hawley started for Hastings. Worked on whiffletrees. Made two for Theodore Earl.[103]

Oct 29 – Went down to Marts. Got hog. Hawley got home.

Oct 30 – Went up in woods cut two trees for sleepers for stable. Snowed like fun, melted fast as it came. Had it sayed on then would have ben 2 inches.

Oct 31 – Drawed two sleepers, some wood. Snowed all day.

Nov 1 – Got one load plank from mill, one load wood. Hewed sleepers. Rained in night. A. Brown get Knife handles made three.

Nov 2 – Ran and snow, bad day to be out. Hawley carried Lou over to Rowlands. Mart came up after Sarah in Evening. Rainy.

Nov 3 – Picked up Apples in orchard. Fine day. Hawley dug potatoes for John Blake.

Nov 4 – Drawed in corn and husked in afternoon. Pleasant day. Hawley helped A. Brown butcher Hogs and sheep. Hawleys Brother had Jack to carry their Boat up to the lake.

Nov 5 – Lucys Baby died about ten AM.[104] Sarah came home. Alfleda came. Pleasant day. Husked corn all day. Hawley dug potatoes for J. C. Blake.

Nov 6 – Pleasant morning. Drawed corn some.

Nov 7 – Drawed one load corn. Went down to Catharines to funeral. Lucys Baby buried to day. Came home in Evening. Rained.

Nov 8 – Drawed sleepers out to barn and some straw.

Nov 9 – At home. Nancy and Jim went over to Barbers. I gathered some Hickory nuts. Snowed and rained some.

Nov 10 – Nancy came home this morning. Received of Town Treasurer twenty five Dollars. Paid James McLarry Eleven and fifteen 100 Dollars. Alfledas Box came 75 cts Express Charge.

Nov 11 – Went up to sawmill got 256 feet baswood boards ½ inch. Snowed like fun. Snow fell 2 inches. Husked 15 bushels corn. Hawley helped one hour and a half.

Nov 12 – Snowey. Husked out what corn there was in the barn.

Nov 13 – Put in floor in stable. Put horses in.

Nov 14 – Put manger in stable. Hawley went to mill. Sent three bushels Buckwheat, one of corn.

Nov 15 – Killed hog, the one I got of Mart. Worked in stable some. Fine day. Wes got plank.

Nov 16 – Lucy and Hannah came up.

Nov 17 – Sawed out Worked in stable on stalls. Ethan and A. Brown went to Kalamazoo after Hanks things.

Nov 18 – Sawed out out thills for wagon, one for sleigh. Stormy day.

Nov 19 – Hawley Killed his black pig. Brown brot up some of hanks things. Paid Mrs Chipman $5.00 five Dollars for cleaning school house. Worked on thills some.

Nov 20 – Worked in barn some on stall. Got stick up to corner. Bradley and Theodore after some ___ails.

Nov 21 – Dick barber brot cross cut saw to be filed. Pedler Layton called here. Sawed out raves for bobs. Drawed in lot corn. Filled barn floor. Fine day.

Nov 22 – Finished hawleys sleigh thill, painted thill. Mr Flanders got his handles. Brot paint down. Hank came home from Chicago.

Nov 23 – Sick all day. Snowey.

Nov 24 – Snow 2½ inches this morning. Hawley gone over to help his father[105] kill beef. Theron went to Battlecreek. Old cow kicked me. Uncle Sam Curtis Died to day Ae 87 yr.[106]

Nov 25 – Worked on bobs some. Snow 3 inches. Husked corn some. Hawley helped J. C. Blake thrash.

Nov 26 – Snows some. Hawley gone up to Blakes. Aunt Mima Curtis Died to day Ae 84 yrs.[107]

Nov 27 – Cleared out shop. Hank and Nancy here. Snow 1¾ inches. Hawley up to Blakes.

Nov 28 – Snow ¾ inches. Jim went down to Catharines.

Nov 29 – Cut out some battings for shop. Will Plank came. Ethan down to Catharines.

Nov 30 – At home all day. Hawleys folks went over with boys just at night with sleigh.

Dec 1 – Sawed some battens, put them on. Ethan drawed load wood. Rained just at night. Hawley at Blakes.

Dec 2 – Rainy day. Worked on bobs all day. Very warm, rain.

Dec 3 – Snow all gone. Worked in shop some.

Dec 4 – Worked on ax helves some. Set glass for shop window. Ethan and Will Plank went over to burg. Very high wind. Hawley Paid three Dollars on sleigh.

Dec 5 – Drawed two loads wood in morning. Ethan went down to Catharines. I drawed lot corn, filled barn floor, put window in shop. Hung ax for O. D. Schram.

Dec 6 – Worked in shop. Put in some battens.

Dec 7 – Rained in forenoon. At home. Ethan down to Catharines.

Dec 8 – Rainy. Husked some corn. Not much done to day. Turned handle for Mr Flanders. He called here, got his handle. Mrs Hawley sick. I went over to burg after Wightman[108] in night. Very muddy.

Dec 9 – Went down to M. O. Streators after some straw. Filled Alfledas bed. Hawleys girl born[109] about one AM this morning.

Dec 10 – Not very well, lame back. Lois here.

Dec 11 – No work, lame back. Cant get around much.

Dec 12 – Rainy day. Ethan went to Comstock to mill. Sarah went down to Catharines. Edith stayed here all night.

Dec 13 – Snows like fun, snow fell ¾ inch. Old Mr Watts fell down cellar and killed himself.

Dec 14 – Lame, no work. At home.

Dec 15 – At home, no work. Repairing violin.

Dec 16 – No work Except on violin. Mart and Toot called here.

Dec 17 – Repairing violin for Climax boy. Back lame as Ever. Mr Watts buried to day. Sarah went. Fine day. Alfleda over to burg.

Dec 18 – Cloudy morning.

Dec 19 – At home. No work, lame back. Paid L. Mead one Dollar pr order.

Dec 20 – Rowe boy got his violin. He paid $1.50. Went down to A. R. Ses[?]. Ethan went over got Gaffing. A. Bartholomew and Haynes boys here in Evening. Brot their instruments. Eugene came. Henry and Frank Tomlinson[110] came here about nine in Evening.

Dec 21 – Snowed some. Went down to Catharines. Mrs Gaffing went. Hannah went home with me.

Dec 22 – Fine day, pleasant and cold. Frank came back. Henry, Dell, Lois and Sate here in Evening.

Dec 23 – Ethan and Hank went up to Wesleys in forenoon. Sarah went to Kalamazoo with browns folks. Got cloak cloth for Hannah. Fine day. Ethan and Hank went up to Flanders in Evening.

Dec 24 – Cloudy 32 Abz in morning. Put hams smoking. Went up to Mrs Semers after money, git none. Received fifty dollars of Town Treasurer. Fine day.

Dec 25 – 39 Abz in forenoon. Paid E. S. Davis $10 ten Dollars. Snowed some in night.

Dec 26 – Snows. Ethan came home. Patty[111] sent me three Dollars.

Dec 27 – Snow 3½. At home, no work.

Dec 28 – At home all day.

Dec 29 – At home. Fixed for butching. D. C. Crawford[112] came here in afternoon.

Dec 30 – Butchered my hogs. Wes helped me. Hawley killed his hog. His Father helped him. Cool. D. C. Left for South Bend Indiana.[113]

Dec 31 – Cool Morning 22 Abz. Not very well.

——-

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

[2] Galesburg, Michigan

[3] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[4] Daughter, Louese Keith. Also referred to as Sis or Lou

[5] Neighbor girl. See footnote for January 22^nd entry

[6] Above zero

[7] Henry Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith

[8] Henry “Hank” Brown, his daughter Nancy’s husband

[9] Ambrose Brown, Hank Brown’s father

[10] Sarah Skinner, the daughter of Sylvester & Sarah (Knight) Skinner, and the sister of Adelbert Skinner, the husband of Luke’s daughter Lois

[11] Daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown. She and Hank were married October 5, 1872

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

[13] Martin Milham, husband of Lucy (Lee) Milham. Lucy was daughter of his sister Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[14] His son, Ethan Keith

[15] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Flora Swaddle, age 16, the daughter of W. G. Swaddle, died January 8, 1873, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[16] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Ira Joy died January 9, 1873, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

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

[18] His first cousin, Joseph Lee (son of Rhoda (Keith) and Charles Lee)

[19] Isaac Schram, a neighbor

[20] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[21] Neighbors, John & Eliza Ann (Young) Bailey

[22] John Wesley Keith, his adopted brother

[23] Charles D. Towne, married daughter Hannah on September 21, 1891

[24] Third wife, Sarah Crawford

[25] Neighbors, William & Celestin Swaddle

[26] Sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[27] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[28] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[29] Matilda (Allen) Brown, Hank Brown’s mother

[30] Neighbor, Harriet (Groat) Plank

[31] Byron, Cora, Ida and Libbie Allen, the children of neighbor, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen, who are mentioned quite frequently

[32] William Plank

[33] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Rev. Phillip Potts died January 25, 1873 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

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

[35] Two poles between which a horse is hitched to a wagon

[36] Ax handle

[37] His paternal first cousins, Jesse and Alvan Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[38] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[39] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner, who was married to his daughter Lois

[40] Nickname for Lucy (Lee) Milham, daughter of his sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[41] Nickname for his daughter Louese, also called Louesa

[42] Believe he is referring to his neighbor, Hetta (Burgess) Ralph

[43] A search of the Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com shows that Clarence G. Wing, age 6, the son of B. A. & Louise Wing, died February 14, 1873; FindAGrave.com reveals that he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[44] His nephew, James “Oscar” Keith, son of Harvey & Alfleda (Starr) Keith, and Oscar’s wife, Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[45] Mary Ann’s father, John Batey

[46] Daughters of neighbors William & Harriet (Groat) Plank

[47] Believe he is referring to his neighbor, Joseph Flanders, the father of Edwin Flanders (mentioned previously)

[48] Adelbert Skinner

[49] Catherine E. Keith, the daughter of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[50] See previous footnote

[51] Mertie LaVern Chaffee, the daughter of Thomas & Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[52] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Charlotte Ann (Goodrich) Coe died February 21, 1873 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[53] Edwin R. York was the brother of Joseph York who was married to Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[54] A search of FindAGrave.com reveals that Amos Chipman died February 27, 1873 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[55] Luke, Nancy and Hank all wrote in their diaries of the Brown and Allerton lawsuit. Luke wrote the following in his diary on November 18, 1872: Mr Allerton drawed some wood for Mr Plank. He asked me about the hogs, did Mr Brown say any thing about the hogs before the trial commenced. I think not. He says we stood by the gate talking, heard the hogs and I started to go to home and Mr Brown followed an we saw the hogs in my lot. This is what he says to day

[56] His grandson, William Byron Clark, son of Lois (Keith) and her first husband, Byron Clark

[57] Charles Lee, his two sons, Alvan and Jesse, and Jesse’s wife, Julia (Toupence) Lee

[58] Rebecca Plank, William & Harriet (Groat) Plank’s oldest daughter

[59] His horse

[60] The Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Nancy (Meade) Goodrich committed suicide on March 21, 1873 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[61] Del and Sate Skinner’s mother, Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[62] Libbie and Ida Clark were the daughters of Loren and Amanda (Taylor) Clark

[63] Neighbors, John & Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton

[64] The son of Sarah’s brother, Edwin, and his second wife, Mary (Hamilton) Crawford

[65] Hank Brown made the following entry in his diary: John T. Allerton licked and drove his gray mare all the forenoon in a shamefull manner

[66] Joseph and Helen (Bradley) York. Helen was the daughter of Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee by her first husband, Ethan Bradley

[67] A wooden collar put around a cow’s neck to prevent the cow from getting under or through a fence

[68] Many members of the Lee family were Mormons. Several of them had previously moved to Salt Lake City

[69] 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

[70] One of Ethan’s inventions (see May 14, 1873 letter)

[71] Julia Allen, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, who lived with Matilda and Ambrose

[72] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Eliza (Gilfus) Delano, age 19, died May 3, 1873

[73] A ferrule is a ring or cap usually of metal put around a slender shaft (such as a cane or a tool handle) to strengthen it or prevent splitting

[74] A search at FindAGrave.com shows that Reuben L. Coe died in 1873 and is buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery, in Climax, Michigan

[75] Cullen Albert Towne, brother of Charles Towne (see footnote for January 16^th entry)

[76] A search of Michigan Death Records at Ancestry and at FindAGrave.com reveals that Sarah (Odell) Potts, age 24, died of consumption May 15, 1873 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Her brother, Azor (Ezra) Potts, age 19, died earlier in the year on January 10, also of consumption. They were the children of Isaac and Polly “Mary” (Shoemaker) Odell. Searching further, three of their other children also died of consumption: Angeline/Adeline (Odell) Youngs, age 29, on June 3, 1874; Jane Ann (Odell) Olin, age 30, on February 13, 1877; and Ellen Odell, age 25, also on February 13, 1877

[77] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[78] Byron & Harriet (Abbott) Hawley

[79] Albert H. Towne (Charles’ and Cullen’s father)

[80] According to a document from the Commissioners of Highways of the Township of Comstock, Luke, as Overseer of Highways in Road District No. 26, was “… hereby commanded and required to take charge of men named in the annexed assessment, and cause them faithfully to work the number of days therein specified …” The men were required to work a certain number of days based on how many acres they owned. While this particular document is for the year 1877, it can be assumed that this is what Luke is referring to for 1873. In 1877, the men Luke was to take charge of, and the days they were required to work, was: Ambrose Brown, 45 acres, ¾ day; __. C. Durkee, 120 acres, 5¾ days; Jesse Earl, 120 acres, 5¼ days; Theodore Earl, 20 acres plus saw mill, 1¼ days; James Ridler, 40 acres, 1½ days; O. D. Schram, 80 acres, 2¾ days; Luke Keith, 35 acres, 1¼ days; Albert Towne, 116 acres, 5 days; H. A. Taylor, 55 acres, 2½ days; Bela[?] Wright, 51 acres, 1¼ days; and John Schroder, 42 acres, ¾ day

[81] A form of malaria characterized by stages of chills, fever, and sweating

[82] His maternal first cousin

[83] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel

[84] The widow and daughter of his brother-in-law, Edwin Crawford

[85] Joseph and his wife Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[86] His horse

[87] Sarah’s brother and his family, Henry, Virginia (Worley) and John. Nancy’s 1873 diary also includes George

[88] See Henry Brown’s 1873 diary. He and Nancy were moving to Muir, Michigan to set up his photography business

[89] The Michigan Deaths & Burials Index at Ancestry.com shows that Henry Clinton, age 73, died August 1, 1873 in Charleston, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

[90] Neighbor, Olive Ellen (Atkinson) Schram, the wife of Isaac D. L. Schram

[91] Sarah’s nephew; Eugene was the son of her late brother, Edwin Crawford, and his first wife, Louisa Hall

[92] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Dr. Melancthon W. Alfred, age 63, died August 16, 1873 in Galesburg, Michigan, and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery

[93] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith

[94] Marion Adelpha York, the daughter of Helen (Bradley) & Joseph York, and granddaughter of Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[95] Neighbor, Lovina Allen, another daughter of John & Amanda Allen

[96] Catherine Samantha “Kitty” Milham, born to Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[97] According to FindAGrave.com, Smith Sharpsteen died September 23, 1873 and is buried in Oak Grove Cementery, Galesburg, Michigan

[98] Other things

[99] Michigan Death Records at Ancestry.com show that Cora L. Knapp, age 15, the daughter of William & Eliza Knapp, died October 6, 1873 in Comstock, Michigan

[100] Felon – deep inflammation on a finger or toe

[101] Harriet (Blakeslee) and Edith Keith, Wesley Keith’s wife and daughter

[102] Believe he is referring to his first cousin, Edward G. Wolcott

[103] Neighbor, the son of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[104] Catherine Samantha “Kitty” Milham, born September 2, 1873

[105] Chester Hawley

[106] Samuel Curtis was the father of Sarah, who married Henry Crittenden, who was the brother of Luke’s first wife, Jerusha Crittenden

[107] Mima (Knapp) Anable Curtis was Samuel’s second wife and thus the stepmother of Sarah (Curtis) Crittenden)

[108] Dr. George Ransom Wightman

[109] The 1880 Census lists Laura Hawley, age 7, as the daughter of Byron & Harriet; no further information regarding her has been found

[110] His grand-nephew, Frank John Tomlinson, the son of George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

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

[112] His wife Sarah’s brother, David Caleb “D. C.” Crawford

[113] Sarah’s other brother, Henry Clay Crawford, lived in South Bend, Indiana