1886 Diary of Charles Luke Keith Jr.

1886 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH, JR.[1]

Luke wrote his entries for 1886 in three different diaries: it appears that he first wrote the January 1-30 entries in the back of his 1885 diary, then January 31 to March 31 in the back of his 1881 diary. On March 4^th he bought an 1886 diary and started to copy all those entries, but only copied January 1-9, left the following pages blank and then started entering daily on April 1 through the end of the year. As the January 1-9 entries in his 1886 diary are shortened versions, I have used the 1885 version.

Jan 1 – Mercury 36. Very nice day no snow. Went over to Lois[2] to a New Years dinner me self and Sarah,[3] Hannah,[4] Lou,[5] Mrs Brown,[6] Jim,[7] Ethan,[8] Will Clark.[9]

Jan 2 – Mercury 41. Filed saw for Jim. Cut and drew two loads wood and one load corn. Rainy day.

Jan 3 – Mercury 43 no snow, rainy morning. At home all day.

Jan 4 – Mercury 38. No work but chores. Ethan went over to Foundry to work.

Jan 5 – Mercury 30 snowey. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. D.[10] came home with him.

Jan 6 – Mercury 11 Abz.[11] Lou and D. went home. Mr Lanfor Burdick Died Six Oclock this morning.[12] Went down to Mr Randals got Butter. Cold wind. Fanny Town[13] called in.

Jan 7 – Mercury __4. Took Hannah over to the burg[14] in morning. Choring around. Took saw up to Theodores[15] to be gumed[?]. Filed saw for Skinner[16] 25 cts.

Jan 8 – Mercury 16. Not much done. Very windy day. Mr Burdick buried to day.

Jan 9 – Mercury 18. Snowey and Blustring day. Drew two loads wood one corn. Theodore came down here.

Jan 10 – Mercury 14 in morning. At home. Cold snowey day about 4 inches snow. Husked some corn. Mercury 4 four below in Evening.

Jan 11 – Mercury 3 below in morning cold and blustring. Jim and Will Clark posting bills for H. A. Brown.[17]

Jan 12 – Mercury 6 Abz. At home doing chores.

Jan 13 – Choring, no work to amount to much. Cutting some wood. Went down to Randalls.

Jan 14 – Mercury 10 Abz. Cut and drawed three loads wood.

Jan 15 – Rainy. Drawed two loads corn.

Jan 16 – Mercury. Went over to burg in morning got glass for schoolhouse. Went and set them. 4 lights 40 cts. Got 3½ lbs Butter of Fanny Town.

Jan 17 – At home all day. No one here till just at night George and Evva Blake[18] called here.

Jan 18 – Mercury 32. Went up to mill. Ground my ax. Herb Earl and wife[19] stayed in their new House for the first time.

Jan 19 – Mercury 14 Abz. Husked some corn cut some wood. Went over to burg got some nails.

Jan 20 – 9 Abz. Went down to Katharines[20] and M. O. Streators.[21] Very stormy day snow all day.

Jan 21 – Made door to Egg cupboard.

Jan 22 – Mercury 1 below. Stormy. Painted cupboard.

Jan 23 – Mercury 15 below. Took Sarah down to Marts.[22] She went to Kalamazoo to see Ed Allen.[23] Very cold. Plenty snow but not very good sleighing.

Jan 24 – At home all day.

Jan 25 – Mercury 29. Went to Kalamazoo after Sarah. Stoped to Marts saw the mill run. Charley and Clara[24] stayed here.

Jan 26 – Mercury 26 Abz. Jim drawed 3 loads wood one corn. Hank, Lelah and Bes[25] came over they came to Lois.

Jan 27 – 30 Abz. Went over to burg. Took Clara up to Hats.[26] Charley went home. I shelled some corn. Filed saw for N L Randall.[27] Hank to work in galery at the Burg.

Jan 28 – Mercury 22 Abz. Went down to Marts to mill. Got six bushels corn and oats ground. Louese came home.

Jan 29 – Mercury 23 Abz. Took Lou over to burg to get pictures taken. Lou, Clara, Lelah and Bessey here stayed all night.

Jan 30 – At home all day. Lou here she went over and got negatives of the children. D came at night. Cold day.

Jan 31 – Lou went over to burg. Got pictures of the children. D came at night. Cold day.

Feb 1 – Cold good sleighing. No work but chores. Mr Albert Carletons House burned to day.

Feb 2 – Cold day. Took Hannah over to Mrs Sumners. D went up to Scotts.[28] Cold.

Feb 3 – Mercury 32 below zero in morning. Hank went to Kalamazoo. Theodore & Dick Barber[29] came down here. D. & Lou, Ethan and Hannah went down to Mrs Browns.

Feb 4 – Mercury 17 below. D. & Lou went home. Clear and cold. No work but chores.

Feb 5 – Cold day at home. Choring. Old Mr Bennet[30] killd at the burg by the cars.[31]

Feb 6 – At home, cold, bad getting around. Hank left for Galesburg Ill. on Evening Express.

Feb 7 – Mercury. At home. Will Aldrich here. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Mrs Joh Schrader called here.

Feb 8 – Mercury 40 Abz. Went over to Mr Towns[32] got 2¾ lbs butter paid $1.20 cts. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah.

Feb 9 – Mercury 54. Drawed two loads corn. Jim drawed one Load wood. Hank and Nancy[33] came on noon Train.

Feb 10 – Mercury 44. Took sarah over to Mrs Watts[34] Funeral. Husked in fore noon. Went over in Evening got Nancys trunks.

Feb 11 – Mercury 45. Took Nancy down to Mrs Browns in morning. Took Sarah up to Mr Rogers in afternoon. I drew two loads corn in afternoon. Sprinkled some just at night.

Feb 12 – Mercury 35. Husked corn some. Worked round house and shop.

Feb 13 – Mercury 33. Choring, not much work. Hannah came home from Austin Peases place. Hank came home in Evening.

Feb 14 – Mercury 35. Hank, Nancy an children[35] here. Hank and Nancy went down to Mrs Browns.

Feb 15 – Mercury 27. Hank and Nancy went to Kalamazoo. Snows some. Edna Allen came to day.

Feb 16 – Mercury 5 Abz. At home. Took Nancy over to burg she went to Kalamazoo. Georde [sic] Tomlinson[36] came on noon train. Went down to Katharines.

Feb 17 – Mercury 23 Abz. Went over to Burg. George left for home on noon train.

Feb 18 – Mercury 38. At home. Worke in barn fixed stall for fan.[37] Ed and Madge[38] here.

Feb 19 – Mercury 23. Cut and drawed some wood. Cold wind.

Feb 20 – Mercury 12 Abz. Cut some wood. Hannah came home from Caywoods.

Feb 21 – At home. Ed and Mage here. Lelah and Bes here.

Feb 22 – Mercury 23. Took Hannah and girls over to cars. Lelah and Bes went home. Hannah went to Lous. I cut some wood.

Feb 23 – Mercury 21. O. M. Allen[39] came up to see Ed. Fan had a calf to day it droped 12 noon.

Feb 24 – Drawed load wood. Made pen for calf.

Feb 25 – Mercury 15 Abz. Cleaned up some wheat. Cold and snowey, high wind, very blustring.

Feb 26 – At work round Barn. Sawed some wood. Went over to burg went to mill.

Feb 27 – Drawed some wood. Not much snow. Very rough roads.

Feb 28 – At home. No one here Except the Allen family. O. M. came up in afternoon.

Mar 1 – Choring round as usual. Went over to Burg at noon. Got some medicin for Edna. Got Harness oil of Semour Miner.

Mar 2 – At home. Jim had Bill[40] to draw straw.

Mar 3 – Mercury 26. Cut some wood drawed some wood.

Mar 4 – Went to Kalamazoo. Went to Hanks. Bot Diary 75 cts.

Mar 5 – Mercury. Mended Kettle. Chored round. Very pleasant day.

Mar 6 – Cut and Drew two loads wood. Very nice day.

Mar 7 – Nice day. O. M. came up. Doc McBeth came over to see Edna. I went over in Evening after McBeth.

Mar 8 – Snows like fun. Doc came over in morning. Ethan sick.

Mar 9 – Mercury 32. A. R. Skinner cut wood part of the day. Fine day snowed some not very cold.

Mar 10 – Mercury 38. Went over after Lois in morning. Put clasp on Mrs Bradshaws album. Cow sick.

Mar 11 – Went over to burg bot medicine for cow. Drawed some wood and some corn. Cow sick.

Mar 12 – Mercury 38. Ben Smith Died shelby ville.[41] Snowed like Blazez. Went over after Del he came over to see cow. Charley Corey taking down the old Brick on corner.

Mar 13 – 30 Abz. Not very well. Went over to Burg got oil. Cow some better not much.

Mar 14 – At home all day. Mrs Hubberd Lewis marred to day.[42] Mr Benj Smith of Shelby Ville Buried to day.

Mar 15 – Went up to Mr Ridlers to by some wood. He Brot one cord wood $1.75.

Mar 16 – Cow sick. Went over to burg after Hanks things at Galery. Put handle in Spade.

Mar 17 – Went up to Jesse Earls[43] got vice of Theodore. Went to burg got some medicine for cow of Munger $1.00.

Mar 18 – Went down to Mrs Brown & got some potatoes. Glued Mrs Rogers chair. Mrs Bradshaw got her Album 25 cts.

Mar 19 – Mercury 70. Cut some wood. Filed saw for A. Kaywood. Put up iron vice. Clara Milham[44] here.

Mar 20 – At home. Cut some wood.

Mar 21 – At home. Filed saw for Dell Skinner.

Mar 22 – Went down to Mrs Browns got some potatoes. Snowed some cold March wind. Hannah came home from Shelby Ville.[45]

Mar 23 – Went over to burg after Cora Meridith.[46] She came stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Worked on Hat & Libs[47] cupboard. Cora went up to Jim Milhams.[48] Ethan took Hannah down to Smith Carletons.[49] Very nice day.

Mar 25 – Worked on cupboard. Fine day. Ina[50] came over stayed all night.

Mar 26 – Went over to burd [burg] in morning after Lumber to finish cupboard.

Mar 27 – Mercury 32. Worked on cupboard. Very nice day. Charley Town[51] finished fence on north side road. Hannah came home from Carletons.

Mar 28 – Went to Katharines. Cold East wind.

Mar 29 – Changed corn with W^m Rogers. They moved three Loads goods.

Mar 30 – Rainy day. Finished the cupboard. Mended spade for Jim. Jim bot Horse of Taylor Girls.[52]

Mar 31 – Mercury 41. Rainy fore noon. Davis Stafford and Mr Brown came down to see the Binder. I took the girls cupboard up to them. Mr W^m Rogers took the last load goods to day.

Apr 1 – Mercury 34 stormy snowey bad day. Shelled some corn. Doc McBeth[53] here morning and Evening.

Apr 2 – Mercury 24 some snow ground well covered. Filed saw for Jim. Went over to burg after Doc McBeth at noon Ed Allen Blowed out this evening.[54]

Apr 3 – Mercury 20 very pleasant morning. Cut and drew some wood one load corn. Lois came over.

Apr 4 – At home. Ethan took Hannah up to Scotts to Jon Powers.

Apr 5 – Nice pleasant day. Went to town meeting. Ed some better. Doc comes twice a day.

Apr 6 – Mercury 32 the wors Bluster of the season, snowed and blowed a perfect gale all day.

Apr 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Bot some maple shugar 48 cts.

Apr 8 – Mercury 25. Ethan and Lois went to Kalamazoo. Nancy gone up to Lous. Very nice day. I cut some wood. Bot can Honey of Mr Rainy[?].

Apr 9 – Drew two loads straw two loads corn one wood. Very pleasant day.

Apr 10 – Worked in woods and in shop. Ed not much better.

Apr 11 – Nice day. I husked corn all day. O. M. Allen came up. Rainy day.

Apr 12 – Nice warm day. Laid up fence on hill south of orchard. Went over to Lois just at night.

Apr 13 – Went to Kalamazoo. Lois went to see Nancy. Bot Hat $1.50. Paid for the Telegraph[55] one year $1.50. Nicholas Chilson Died to day Ae 80y.[56]

Apr 14 – Mercury 85 Abz very nice day. Drawed stone in forenoon. Took down some fence up by the woods in afternoon. Hannah came home from Scots.

Apr 15 – Moved some fence. Nice day. Drew some corn.

Apr 16 – Took down fence. Drew one load old rails.

Apr 17 – Husked corn in forenoon. Hot day had a thunder shower just at night. Hannah came from Em Ralphs.[57]

Apr 18 – At home. Ed some better. Bessie here. O. M. no come up to day. Theodore and Hannah went to W^m Rogerses.

Apr 19 – Very warm day. Went over to burg got groceries. Ed Rouland paid two Dollars for Repairing violin.

Apr 20 – Mercury 80 Abz. Drew 3 loads corn one load old rails. Jim commenced plowing on the hill for oats. Nice warm day.

Apr 21 – Mercury 84. Took Lois trunk to the Depo. She went to shelbyville. Husked some corn. Jim plowing. Bot 1½ bushel clover seed $10.50.

Apr 22 – Mercury 84. Husked some corn. Very nice day.

Apr 23 – Mercury 87. Ethan went to Kalamazoo after Nancy. The children came.

Apr 24 – Mercury 84. Jim finished plowing the oat ground drew in the corn all in. I dug out some stumps.

Apr 25 – At home. Nancy and children came up stayed all night. Very pleasant day. O. M. came up in afternoon.

Apr 26 – Nancy went home on 11 oclock run. Jim ploting oat ground. W^m Blake called in to see Jim. Rainy afternoon.

Apr 27 – Went up to M. O. Streators bot six bushels wheat 85 cts pr bushel. Took it over to mill in afternoon.

Apr 28 – Drew some stumps of south lot one load stone. Jim commenced Drilling oats.

Apr 29 – Jim finished drilling oats he plowed the garden.

Apr 30 – Went over to Burg in morning. Draged the garden and potatoe ground.

May 1 – Not mutch work to day. Rainy some. Went over to burg in afternoon.

May 2 – Nice day. Jim, Mrs Brown and Hannah went down to Nancys.

May 3 – Took Edna Allens trunk over to the Depo at noon. Got a draft cashed for her $50.22 cts. She went on the 9.20 train Evening.

May 4 – Went up to Mr Flanders[58] got ½ bushel potatoes 25 cts. Rained quite hard. Sarah went down to Mr Randals a dance to Mike Maloneys new barn.

May 5 – Went up to mill. Turned rooler for Mr Beals of Climax. Went over to Burg got Sarahs Dress and ticking.

May 6 – Husked corn in afternoon. Nice day.

May 7 – Finished husking corn. Mrs Brown and Bessie came up here. Bes stayed all night. Show at the burg I went saw murmaid.

May 8 – At home. Mended wire fence on East road spliced one wire. Rainy night. Hannah over to Nells.

May 9 – Went down to Katharines. Rained some not vey cold.

May 10 – At home. Worked round house and garden.

May 11 – Went over to burg in afternoon to the Band Torniment. Received postal from George.[59]

May 12 – Worked round choring. Went over to burg. Shelled corn in afternoon. Nancy and Mrs Wagner came up in afternoon.

May 13 – Mercury 81 warm day. Sarah went over to Hoags.[60] Ina went to Shelby Ville. I went to Milhams to mill.

May 14 – Mercury. Worked in garden some. Went over to burg. Bes here.

May 15 – Went over to Forbush in afternoon. Rainy.

May 16 – At home all day. Nice day.

May 17 – Went over got the Buggy thill[61] iron mended 85 cts. Lois came home from Shelby.

May 18 – Took Sarah over to Lois. I cut and drew one load wood plowed out corn in the garden went after Sara.

May 19 – Pleasant morning. At home working round house and garden. Jim plowed the corn ground.

May 20 – Went down to Mrs Browns got drag. Draged corn ground and floated it. Very warm day. Lois came over.

May 21 – Very warm day. Marked my corn ground. Went down to M. O. Streators got seed corn.

May 22 – Hot as blazes. Planted corn. Mr & Mrs Streato[62] and Mrs Brown here in Evening. Expected Forbush & Blakes folks here dey no came.

May 23 – Mercury 90 in shade. At home all day. No one here. Ethan took Lois and Ina home in morning.

May 24 – Planted potatoes covered them with straw. Nice day.

May 25 – Planted potatoes. Cool day north wind. Set hen to night in Bills west feed box.

May 26 – Not mutch done. Went over to burg. Nancy and girls came up this morning.

May 27 – Went over to burg in morning. Jesse Earls gray Horse died this morning. Ob Evens and Maty Carson married this Evening.[63]

May 28 – Went over to burg in morn sold 1400 & 60 lbs Hay to Met Thomas 50 cts pr 100. Took some things up to Wm Ralphs to go to Lous. Mr Williams of Berry died.

May 29 – Went over to burg twice. Worked in garden some cultivated corn and potatoes.

May 30 – Went up to Mr Levi woods. Syrus and Moridz Streator went had a good time. Nice day. Very dry.

May 31 – Worked in garden planted beans hoed corn plastered corn.

Jun 1 – Sarah went over to Mr Austins to a crazy quilt party.

Jun 2 – Went to Kalamazoo to get Sarahs teeth Extracted. Bot coat. Nice day very dry.

Jun 3 – Plastered corn. Hot day no rain.

Jun 4 – Painted Jims Buggy. Mr Wood and wife of Shelby here stayed all night. Charles Anderson came he went over to Mr Fords stayed all night.

Jun 5 – Charles came over in morning left on noon train for Battle Creek. Mr Woods folks left for home.

Jun 6 – At home. Very dry. Jesse Earl came down here. Walter Thresher and his uncle came over to see the binder.

Jun 7 – Very warm and dry. Made corn drag. Painted Jims Buggy boddy one coat.

Jun 8 – Mercury 84. Cultivated corn. Very hot and dry. Hannah went up to Mr Deweys at Scotts.

Jun 9 – Worked on buggy. Put last coat on boddy. Very hot and dry.

Jun 10 – Put leathers on thills. Cleaned the dash. Finished the buggy. Went down to Mrs Browns got my buggy.

Jun 11 – Mercury 90 in shade very hot. Cultivated corn. Went over to burg twice.

Jun 12 – Mercury 99 in shade. Cultivated corn in fore noon. Took Sarah down to Mrs Browns.

Jun 13 – Mercury 84. Sprinkle some in forenoon.

Jun 14 – Mercury 104 in shade. Got one tire set on carriage 35. Got Bridle mended 20¢. Charley cut Mrs Wrights grass. Cameron & George Barber[64] here.

Jun 15 – Mercury 90 very hot. Jim commenced cutting the grass in East lot. Had a nice shower just at night.

Jun 16 – Mercury 84. Ethan went to burg to pay Thresher for Enterprise.[65] Jim got cabbage plant.

Jun 17 – Mercury 83 pleasant nice day. Chored round in forenoon. Went down to Katharines in afternoon to see Mart. He is sick had his wens[66] cut out.

Jun 18 – Worked in garden and hay field. Went up to Herbs got cabbage plants.

Jun 19 – Jim finished cutting hay. Tip and Quin called in Evening to see Binder.

Jun 20 – At home. Nancy and Lelah & Bes here. Lois came over.

Jun 21 – Mercury 96. Worked in hay field all day finished. Ethan went to Kalamazoo took Nancy home. Took ook[?] his Knotter down to West.

Jun 22 – Mercury 84. Drew in some hay finished up. Had a nice rain.

Jun 23 – Worked in garden some. Mr Town and Fanny went to Kalamazoo. Hannah went up to Hat & Libs to sew. I cultivated corn some.

Jun 24 – Took Sarah over to Lois had a big rain. Mary Flanders[67] an her cousin Mrs Jackson came in stayed through the shower.

Jun 25 – Hoed in garden some. Plowed corn in afternoon.

Jun 26 – Took Sarah to Kalamazoo she went to Shelbyville. Claud[68] came home with me.

Jun 27 – At home. Lois and Ina came over. I finished plowing corn plowed out the potatoes up by the woods.

Jun 28 – I finished plowing corn plowed out the potatoes up by the woods.

Jun 29 – Hannah to Hats sewing. Hoed in garden some. Set out cabbage plants 77.

Jun 30 – Mercury 80. Hoed cabbage, chore round. Hannah went to Streators. Mr Erastus Stuart Died this afternoon.[69]

Jul 1 – Mercury 8 [sic]. Mr Streator came and got sewing machine.

Jul 2 – Hoed corn some cultivated potatoes up by the woods. Sarah came home from shelbyville. Maria Flanders buried to day.[70] Erastus Stuart buried to day.

Jul 3 – Went over to burg to celebration. Took dinner to Lois. Went over in Evening to the dance in Corey Block and at the rink.

Jul 4 – At home all day. Clara and Lee came up. Hanah went down to M. O. Streators. H. N. Tubbs buried to day.[71]

Jul 5 – Hot morning. Working in garden and choring round.

Jul 6 – Went over to burg. Hoed some. Went to M. O. Streators in morning and afternoon. Mr Streator sick.

Jul 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Sold Eggs 9 Doz. Took zinc back.

Jul 8 – Went to Kalamazoo after Hannah. Mr M. O. Streator Died 15 minutes past twelve noon.[72]

Jul 9 – Mercury 104. Hoed in garden some, chored around, set up wheat.

Jul 10 – Mercury 94. Plowed corn in forenoon and some afternoon. Very hot. Mr Burdick and Mr Wilson called here to show some violins.

Jul 11 – Mercury 90 very hot and dry. Mr M. O. Streator Buried to day.

Jul 12 – Mercury 84. Hoed in garden and chored round. Jim Drew in wheat. Fine day not so hot.

Jul 13 – Jim raked the wheat and

Jul 14 – Jim raked the wheat scatterings and drew them in. The Whiting family at the burg to day. I went over in Evening. Oliver Young died.

Jul 15 – Ethan, Hannah, Jim and Claud went to Kalamazoo to see Barnums show. Nice day Mercury 84.

Jul 16 – Plowed corn. Fine day. Went over to Burg in morning. Cyrus and Quincy Streator[73] called here.

Jul 17 – Hoed corn some in forenoon. Went over to burg at noon. Syrus & Quin called here jus at night. Some cooler.

Jul 18 – Mercury 74 some cooler. Katharine and Lee came up here.

Jul 19 – Lelah and Bess came on noon train. I went over and got them. Lois came over with me.

Jul 20 – Mr. Harry and Ed Rowland called here. Lelah and Bes here. Very smoky.

Jul 21 – Mercury 91. I went up to Levi woods with Cyrus Streator. Mrs M. O. Streator and Quin and Cyrus here to tea. Very dry.

Jul 22 – Mercury 94. Hoed corn and done the chores. Went up to Cullin Towns[74] afternoon.

Jul 23 – Mercury 93 very hot, dry and smoky. Hoed garden.

Jul 24 – Mercury 94. Hoed some corn and cabbage. Very hot day. Nancy came up.

Jul 25 – Mercury 104 in shade. At home all day. Ethan, Hannah and Hanks folk, Lizzie and Will[75] came to Mrs Browns.

Jul 26 – Mercury 69 rainy morning, rainy day. Nancy and girls went home.

Jul 27 – Took Sarah over to Lois. I worked in shop on axhelves.

Jul 28 – Made helve for G. A. Lockhart. Ethan took crank pattern over to Foundry. Rained some this morning.

Jul 29 – Mr Randal cut the oats. Mrs Ed Hoges Buried to day.[76] I worked in shop to day.

Jul 30 – Jim drawed oats. Fine hot day rained just at night.

Jul 31 – Mercury 94. Mr Johnson thrashed the wheat and oats 129 oats 46 wheat. Rained one ledl mite just at night. Very hot.

Aug 1 – Mercury 104. Hannah came home from Howlands Burg. I went down to Katharines. All well.

Aug 2 – Worked in garden some. Chored round most of the day.

Aug 3 – Went over to burg. Worked round house and garden.

Aug 4 – Cut weeds and grubs along the fence up the hill. Hot day. Allerton[77] thrashed. Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo.

Aug 5 – Went down to Mrs Browns. Helped Jim clean up wheat. Rainy forenoon. Cut weed on hill.

Aug 6 – Went up to Mr Flanders in afternoon. Sarah went. Ed took pig down to Rial French.

Aug 7 – Took Fan up to Mr Flanders to get Jersey calf.[78] Went down to Katharines in afternoon after Hannah. Sarah went down to see Minnie Randal.

Aug 8 – Nice day. Jim and Hannah went to Kalamazoo to see Lou.

Aug 9 – At home choring. Not much work to day.

Aug 10 – Took Hannah down to Mate Fords.[79]

Aug 11 – Mercury 96. Mr Joseph Whitford buried.[80] Henry Crawford[81] came here this morning. He went home on the Eleven Oclock train.

Aug 12 – Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo after Lou. Robert Crawford[82] came to day. George Turner Buried to day.[83]

Aug 13 – Robert here. Went over to Burg after Lous trunk. Robert and I went around the squair. Rained in Evening.

Aug 14 – Cloudy some mist. At home. Robert here. Very warm.

Aug 15 – At home. Hot day. Robert and Sarah went over to cemetry.[84] Mary Ellen Allerton[85] and Carrie Plank[86] called here in Evening.

Aug 16 – Took Robert over to the train. Rainy morning. Robert left for Canada.

Aug 17 – Sarah and Lou went down to Mrs Browns. I helped Jim repair the grainry.

Aug 18 – Cut and drawed some wood. Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo to see the Sham Battle. Cord Beach got hurt.

Aug 19 – Took Sarah and Lou up to Em Ralphs. I Repaired chair for Em.

Aug 20 – At home. Went down to Mr Browns in morning.

Aug 21 – Harry Crawford[87] came on 7 Oclock train. Carrie Plank and Mary Allerton here in afternoon. Lois came over. D came. Went over to burg in Evening. Ha[d] a heavy shower rained in night.

Aug 22 – Cloudy looks like rain. Harry Crawford here. All well.

Aug 23 – Not much work to day. Jim commenced plowing East lot. George Hubbards baby died this morning.[88] Carry Plank here.

Aug 24 – Hannah and Carey went down to Mr Allertons. Lou and children went over to Lois. Oat Hills mother Died to day.[89]

Aug 25 – Took Lou over to Mr Ralph. Robert came back from Canada. Glen Keith[90] came on noon train. Mrs Hill buried.

Aug 26 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Harry went with him. Robert went up to Nelt Blass.

Aug 27 – Mercury 102. Took Robert over to burg he went to Chicago. Carrie Plank came here stayed all night.

Aug 28 – Mercury 99. Carrie went up to Gull Lake to attend the Grange Picknic. Jim plowing. Lou here.

Aug 29 – Had a heavy shower. Went down to Katharines.

Aug 30 – Let Jim have six bags full of corn. Mr Hampton here to dinner tin pedler. Hannah took Carrie Plank to Kalamazoo.

Aug 31 – Lou and children here. Jim plowing. Very warm.

Sep 1 – Jim plowing. Nice day. Lou here. I not very well. I commenced my last years work for H Cruttenden[91] 40 years ago to day.

Sep 2 – Took Lou to Kalamazoo. She stayed to Nancys all night. Very nice day.

Sep 3 – Jim plowing. Warm. Working round as usual. Some hot weather.

Sep 4 – Jim plowing. I cut load wood drew it down. Just at night had a heavy thunder storm. Lightning struck Cole Durkees hors Barn burnt it and straw stac.

Sep 5 – Mercury 80. At home. No one here but our own folks. Hannah came home this morning from Streators. She is making Mary Fishers wedding dress.[92]

Sep 6 – Mercury 93. Cut some corn. Jim floted wheat ground. Very hot day.

Sep 7 – Mercury 90. Cutting corn. Jim working for M. Caywood[93] cutting corn spec so.[94]

Sep 8 – Mercury 86. Cleaned wheat. Took 4 bushels to mill. Hot day. Rained in night.

Sep 9 – Mercury 69 some rainy this morning. Went down to Mrs Browns. Jim went to Kalamazoo. Cate Crawford[95] came home with him.

Sep 10 – Chored around house and shop. Not much done. Warm day.

Sep 11 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in afternoon. Cate went over with me. Rained in night.

Sep 12 – Nice morning. At home all day. Kate here.

Sep 13 – Work in shop some. Kate here. Ethan working on Knapps canal power. Got the sewing machine 60 cts Freight.

Sep 14 – Choring around. Cut some corn. Hannah & Nancy went to Jackson. Lelah & Bes came here.

Sep 15 – Took Ethan over to Burg. He went to Jackson to State Fair. Jim took Kate to Kalamazoo. Sarah went over to Mr Ralphs.

Sep 16 – Cut corn some. Fine day some wind. Blowed uncle Isaac Clarks[96] Barn down.

Sep 17 – Cut corn. Choring round.

Sep 18 – Finished cutting corn. Ethan came home.

Sep 19 – At home all day. Nancy came home to day.

Sep 20 – Fine morning. Jim dragging. I cut some wood and d[r]ew it down.

Sep 21 – Mercury 56 some lidle rany. At home. Jim dont be dragging to day some. Mr Franklin brot machine home.

Sep 22 – Mercury 67. Jim draging with spring tooth.[97]

Sep 23 – Went over to Burg in morning. Bot ½ bushel Timothy seed 1.13¢. Rainy lots Lightning & thunder.

Sep 24 – At home. Hannah came home sick from Mr Ogdens.

Sep 25 – Choring around. Put Beens in Barn and done various things. Mr Levy Woods folks came over. Stayed to Mrs Browns all night.

Sep 26 – All hands went up to Mrs Streators. Had a good time. Hannah some better. Rainy night.

Sep 27 – Rainy morning. Helped Jim. I went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Sep 28 – Helped Jim clean up wheat. Mr D. L. Tuttle buried at Galesburg to day.[98]

Sep 29 – Mrs Skinner Died.[99] Mrs Forbush and Eva Blake here in afternoon. Mrs Browns Jersey cow Died.

Sep 30 – Went down to Mrs Browns. Helped bury the cow.

Oct 1 – Cut some wood dug some potatoes. Lumis Robinson came here. He went home on nine oclock run.

Oct 2 – Went to Kalamazoo stayed all night. Went to the Accadamy of music** in Evening. Hank and Nancy went with us.

Oct 3 – Nice weather. At Browns. I went up to the Asylum in forenoon and then Hank and I went over to the water works. We came home at night. Old Mrs Daniels Died to day.

Oct 4 – Mercury 76 in shade. Fine day. Drawing rails for fence south of Barn next to the wheat.

Oct 5 – Laid bottom rails for fence. Fixed two saws for Allan Simmons. Jim and Charley Ford moved Rial French.

Oct 6 – Finished filing Simmons saws and turned driver for Bench Screw. Very nice day. Mercury up in the 70 & 80.

Oct 7 – Went over to burg in morning and down to C. Fords. Ethan picking apples down to Mrs Browns. Very nice weather.

Oct 8 – Mercury 80. Went up in woods cut some steaks. Went over to burg got band for sewing machine. Bot box Buggy greace. Lois came home. Nice weather.

Oct 9 – Mercury 84. Took Sarah over to Lois. I chored a round house and barn.

Oct 10 – At home all day. Lois and Ina came over. George Yeomans and Burt Burrell here.

Oct 11 – Jim came home from Shelby Ville. Jay[100] came home with him. Ethan went to Kalamazoo.

Oct 12 – Husked some corn. Very nice day very dry. Lum Robinson and wife here in afternoon.

Oct 13 – Built fence south of barn. Very nice day. Mrs Gilfus died to day. Jay here all right.

Oct 14 – Rainy day. No work. Rained and blowed hard all day. Blowed my corn most all down.

Oct 15 – Nice day. Finished my fence. No frost yet of any account. Dell and Sate[101] got home. 73 years old to day.

Oct 16 – Went over to burg. Bess and Jay went over to Lois. Nice day. Not much done. Rather lame. Old Pionere here to dinner.

Oct 17 – Mercury 69 pleasant some wind. Ethan, Hannah, Bes and Jay gone to Kalamazoo. George Yeomans and Burt Burrell here to day.

Oct 18 – Mercury 54 very nice day warm and dry. Husked corn. Jay here. Mr Knap here. Work on propeller.

Oct 19 – Mercury 57 very pleasant and dry. Husked corn. Mr Knap here to day working on propeller.

Oct 20 – Kalamazoo House Burned to day. Drew in my cornfodder in the morning. Went down to Mrs Browns got apples. Rainy. Went over to burg in afternoon. Not cold.

Oct 21 – Warm day. Choped some wood. Aunt Hannah Wilmarth[102] here to dinner stayed the afternoon.

Oct 22 – Nice day. Put apples in cellar. Drawed some wood in afternoon. W. H. Knap & Agent came over in afternoon.

Oct 23 – Fine day. Went to Kalamazoo with Jay. He went home. Claud went with him.

Oct 24 – Picked up Hickory nuts. Nice warm day. Jim went down to Hanks after Hannah. Lois went with him.

Oct 25 – Took the W. H. Knap Propeller up to Butterfield to try the Boats. Husked corn in afternoon. Cold day.

Oct 26 – Cool wind. Husked corn. Ethan dug potatoes. Hannah work for Fanny Town. Jim went to Kalamazoo with wheat.

Oct 27 – Husked corn. Cool day. Put potatoes in cellar. Jim went to Kalamazoo with wheat.

Oct 28 – Went to Mr Isaac Clarks funeral to day. Cool wind.

Oct 29 – Went up to Levy Woods. Mrs Streator and Mrs Green and Cyrus went.

Oct 30 – Husked some. Chored round. Put lights in windows to school House.

Oct 31 – At home. Picked up some Hickory nuts and cut some sage.

Nov 1 – Mercury 54. Finished husking to day. Sate worked for Hannah. Charley Smith came over after Sate.

Nov 2 – Mercury 55 nice warm day. Went over to Election. Levy Wood and wife here, Fanny Town and Mrs Pease.

Nov 3 – Drawed my cornfodder. Very nice day. Went over to burg at noon. Mr Knap an Ethan tried the Boat.

Nov 4 – Ethan and Jim Conky went to Kalamazoo. I dug some roots for Sarah. Cyrus and Mrs Streator. called. Tip Town[103] called.

Nov 5 – Worked round. Lelah and Bes here. Nancy came up. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 6 – Went over to burg. Took Nells dress over. Went to Lois. Saw Mary Hall. Nancy and girls went down to Mrs Browns. Snowed in night the first of the season.

Nov 7 – About ½ inch snow on the ground this morning. Jim Konky came got his camery. Hank came up here.

Nov 8 – Cut some wood. Nancy and girls went down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 9 – Drawed one load wood. Rained then snowed like fun.[104] Made stall for Peter. Not very cold. Will Brown moved to day.

Nov 10 – Doing chores. Made ladder or apart of one. Cold.

Nov 11 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Cut out rounds for ladder. Cleaned up some wheat.

Nov 12 – Went over to mill. Made cloths stick for Nancy.

Nov 13 – Nancy went home. Lou came home. She came up with Jim. I went over to Comstock. Sarah went down to Katharines.

Nov 14 – Pleasant day cool wind. Herb Earls Boy born this morning.[105]

Nov 15 – Put plank down at the west door at barn.

Nov 16 – Took Lou over to Lois and Mr Ralphs. Mr Knap and Ethan tried the Boat. Cold wind.

Nov 17 – Rainy day. Got pig of Jim. Went over to burg at night. Got oil. Lou went up to Jim Milhams.

Nov 18 – Mercury 25 cold and blustrous, snowey, cold. I worked in barn some.

Nov 19 – Lou and children[106] here. Cold wind. Ethan cut some wood. I drew two loads.

Nov 20 – Ethan choped some wood. I jointed boards for East side of barn. Doc Martin and wife called in Evening to see Hannah.

Nov 21 – At home all day. Pleasant. Lou went to Kalamazoo. Levy Wood and wife and Mrs Streator here.

Nov 22 – Boarded up East side barn. Nice day.

Nov 23 – Mercury 58. Repaired pump and well in barn.

Nov 24 – Mercury. Went over to burg got shugar and oder dings,[107] cinnamon and Raisins, oil &c.[108]

Nov 25 – Went over after Lois. Snows. Del came over got Horse and wagon. Took load stone over. Hannah came home.

Nov 26 – Ethan took Hannah down to Mrs Howlets. I got thirty Dozen Eggs of Fanny Town to send to Chicago. Cold day.

Nov 27 – Sent Eggs and Butter to Chicago to Hiram Crawford.[109]

Nov 28 – At home. Hannah went up to Herb Gilsons.

Nov 29 – Mercury 2 Abz. Not much done. Ed Schram called here. I hired him to cut some wood.

Nov 30 – Ethan went over got Lois in morning. She came over to wash. I went over to burg in Evening to get stove for Hanks folks.

Dec 1 – Mercury 8 Abz. Went to Kalamazoo took Hanks stove down to them. Mrs Brown went. Very Blustring. Jim and Bell Starr came up with me. Lum Robinson started for home. Saw Dob Zinsky[?].

Dec 2 – Cut some wood. Put ladder together in Evening. Cold and blustring he snow very hard some.

Dec 3 – Drawed two loads of wood on sleigh. Jim called here said he had sold his team to Will Brown. Ed chopping. Dr Babcock buried to day.[110]

Dec 4 – Ed chopping. Cold day. I drawed wood.

Dec 5 – Mercury 16 Below zero. Went over to burg in morning. Jim shingling for Dell. Ed Schram chopping.

Dec 6 – Mercury 2 blow zero. Went over to burg in morn. Jim shingling for Dell. Ed chopping.

Dec 7 – Drawed wood in forenoon. Went down to Marts in afternoon. Nice day.

Dec 8 – Fine day. Drawed wood. Ed no chop some. Fanny Town came over in afternoon.

Dec 9 – Drawing wood. Not much snow. Very nice weather.

Dec 10 – Drawed wood in forenoon. Got all down that was cut. Snow about gone. Leon[111] here stayed all night.

Dec 11 – Leon went up to Batey.[112] Glen came down with willow[?] in morning. Leon came back stayed all night. Dell put some shingles on Barn.

Dec 12 – Leon and Glen lef for home.[113] Rained some.

Dec 13 – Not much done but chores.

Dec 14 – Snowed and blowed hard. Very rough day. Went down to Caywoods and Mr Flanders. Paid Ed $— for butter. Mate Ford came here.

Dec 15 – Cold snow about — inches deep. Hannah went to Dr Ma– to sew. Took Sarah down to Mrs Browns. Filed saw for Jim. Hung ax for Herb Earl.

Dec 16 – Cold day. Worked in shop some. Smoothed up axhelves. Ethan went to burg in Evening.

Dec 17 – Finished up axhelves and chored round. Sarah went up to Ha–. I went up took tea with them. Snowed and blowed.

Dec 18 – Worked in shop some. Finished up my helves. Ed Schram called here.

Dec 19 – At home. Went over brot Lois over. Some stormy.

Dec 20 – Mercury at zero. Took Hannah over to train she went to Kalamazoo.

Dec 21 – Mercury 34 Abz. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah and Lelah. Shelled corn for feed.

Dec 22 – Mercury 5 Abz. Went down to Mrs Browns. Took letter down to Lizzy with sample in. Hannah went up to W^m Ralphs.

Dec 23 – Went over to burg in morning paid my tax $6.78 cts. Went over at noon got money order cashed. Went over to Lois in Evening.

Dec 24 – Went down to Marts to mill. Took 7½ bushels corn and oats ground. Sent books to Claude, Lelah & Bes, Jay and Verne[114] and Marts children.

Dec 25 – Worked on toboggin for Claude. No good he break some. Not very cold.

Dec 26 – At home. No one here. Cold winter weather. Good sleighing.

Dec 27 – Mercury 13 Abz. Went up to Theodores got board for toboggin. Oscar, Mary Ann[115] and Glen here to day. They left for home.

Dec 28 – Mercury 3 below. Went over to burg. Got shoes for Sarah. Cold day.

Dec 29 – Mercury 3 Abz. Went over to burg in morning got calender. Mrs Beley Wright Died this morning 7 oclock.[116] Went over to burg in Evening.

Dec 30 – Mercury 15 below very much cold day. Sarah & I went to Kalamazoo she stayed to Nancys. Bot articks $1.25. Very cold. D. and Jim came.

Dec 31 – Mercury 13 below. Went over to burg in afternoon. Ina went home. Mrs Bela Wright buried to day. Very cold day. I done nodings not much to day ver mooch goot sleigh plendy snow some. Lou sent me money, pay some money. D went home on noon train.

——-

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

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

[3] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[4] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[5] His daughter, Louese (Keith) Harris

[6] His son-in-law Hank Brown’s mother, Matilda (Allen) Brown, who was also Luke’s neighbor

[7] His son, James Clinton Keith

[8] His son, Ethan Keith

[9] His grandson, William Clark

[10] His son-in-law, Louese’s husband Daniel Harris, Jr.

[11] Above zero

[12] The Michigan death record lists his date of death as January 21 (although it’s possible that the 1 in 21 is actually a 4) and there is a notation “Names added to list by Henry Laffitt [Labbitt] Undertaker Galesburg Michigan.” FindAGrave.com agrees with Luke’s entry of death on January 6, 1886, and shows he is buried in Lawler Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. The January 9, 1886 edition of the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, p.3, noted: The funeral services of the late Langford [sic] Burdick of Galesburg were held in the Baptist church at that place yesterday, Rev. J. S. Boyden officiating, and were largely attended. The remains were interred in the cemetery in Charleston Township.

[13] His neighbor, Frances Towne

[14] Galesburg, Michigan

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

[16] His son-in-law, Lois’ husband, Adelbert Skinner

[17] His son-in-law, Nancy’s husband, Henry Brown, who was a photographer. It appears Jim and Will were posting advertisements around town. The February 9, 1886 edition of the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph, on page 6, reported the following: Henry A. Brown, photographer, recently of Galesburg, Ill., who has been taking all the pretty prizes in town (if each is left to be sole judge) for the past two weeks, will locate in Kalamazoo in the bank building, on the northwest corner of Main and Burdick streets.

[18] George & Mary Evelyn “Eva” (Forbush) Blake lived in Charleston, Michigan, which is about five miles east of where Luke lived

[19] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Herbert Earl, and his wife, Luella (Farr) Earl. Herb and Theodore (see footnote to January 7^th entry) were brothers

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

[21] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

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

[23] His wife Sarah’s niece, Edna (Crawford) Allen. See also February 23^rd entry

[24] His grandson, Charles Clark, and his wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark

[25] His son-in-law and his daughters, Lela and Bess Brown

[26] Neighbor, Harriet Taylor

[27] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[28] Scotts, Michigan

[29] Neighbor, Richard Barber

[30] Michigan death records show that F. K. Bennett was “run over by cars” in Galesburg, Michigan on February 5, 1866

[31] Train cars

[32] His neighbor, Albert Towne, who was the father of Fanny Towne (see January 6 & 16) and Charley Towne (see March 27)

[33] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown

[34] Michigan death records reveal that Harriet Watts died February 8, 1886 in Otsego, Allegan County, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Allegan County, Michigan

[35] Claude, Lela and Bess Brown

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

[37] His cow

[38] Edna Allen and her daughter Madge

[39] Edna’s husband, Oscar M. Allen, Jr.

[40] His horse

[41] According to FindAGrave.com, Benjamin Smith died March 11, 1886 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Wayland, Michigan

[42] Michigan marriage records show that Adeliza (Hubbard) Lewis, the widow of Franklin Lewis, married Charles Rimmey in Galesburg, Michigan on March 14, 1886

[43] Neighbor, and father of Theodore (see January 7^th entry) and Herbert Earl (see January 18^th entry)

[44] His great-niece, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[45] Shelbyville, Michigan, where his daughter Louese lived

[46] Cora Meredith, his future daughter-in-law; she would marry his son Jim in June 1891

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

[48] Neighbor, James Milham, who was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote to January 23^rd entry)

[49] Neighbor, Smith Carlton, son of Albert Carlton (see February 1^st entry)

[50] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner

[51] His neighbor, Charles Towne

[52] Hat and Lib Taylor

[53] From an ad in the October 23, 1880 Galesburgh Express: Wm. L. McBeth, M.D., PHYSICIAN & SURGEON. Office at Burdick’s drug store. Residence on Battle Creek street, two doors east of Bennett House. Calls attended to promptly at all hours. Galesburgh, Mich.

[54] Hard to decipher the order of his words as some were squeezed in between lines, so this may not be a true reading

[55] The Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph newspaper

[56] An old neighbor from when Luke lived in Covington, Genesee County, New York. The New York Death Index shows that Nicholas Chilson died in Batavia, Genesee County, New York and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York, although it shows his age as 77

[57] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

[58] His neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[59] George Tomlinson

[60] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah “Jane” (Mason) Hoag

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

[62] Marius O. & Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

[63] Michigan marriage records show that Oliver Evans and Mary Carson were married in Richmond, Michigan on May 27, 1886

[64] His neighbor, the son of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[65] Kalamazoo County Enterprise newspaper

[66] Common fluid-filled growths (cysts) that form from hair follicles that are most often found on the scalp

[67] Neighbor, Mary (Smith) Flanders, the wife of Edwin Flanders

[68] His grandson, Claude Brown

[69] Michigan death records mistakenly show that Erastus Stewart died October 3, 1886 in Comstock, Michigan with the notation “Names added to list by Henry Laffitt  [Labbitt] Undertaker Galesburg Michigan.” Langford Burdick (see footnote to January 6^th entry), likewise added by Henry Labbitt, was also incorrectly entered. The Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph newspaper editions of July 1 and July 6 (both on p. 2) agree with Luke’s entry showing that Erastus Stewart died on June 30, 1886

[70] Maria (nee Thayer), who was the widow of James Flanders (the son on Joseph Flanders, see footnote to May 4th entry), married Victor Gardner. She is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan alongside her first husband, James Flanders

[71] FindAGrave.com reveals that Horatio N. Tubbs died July 2, 1886 and is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, Wayland, Michigan

[72] Michigan death records show that he died in Comstock, Michigan on July 8, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Luke Keith’s diary entry of 10-18-1894 reads: Went down to Mrs Streators with Will Clark they took up Mr M. O. Streators remains and put them in the new cemetry at Galesburg

[73] Believe them to be the brother and son of Marius Streator

[74] Cullen Towne, the son of Albert Towne (see footnote to February 8^th entry)

[75] Willis & Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown; Willis was the son of Matilda Brown (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[76] Michigan death records show that Adeline Hodges died July 27, 1886 in Galesburg, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[77] His neighbor, John T. Allerton

[78] Fan was his cow. Presume he was taking Fan to the bull

[79] Neighbor, Mary Ann “Mate” (Thompson) Ford

[80] Michigan death records show that Joseph Whitford died in Charleston, Michigan on August 10, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Lawler Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan

[81] His wife Sarah’s brother

[82] His wife Sarah’s brother

[83] Michigan death records show that George Turner died in Kalamazoo from a fall from a scaffold on August 10, 1886 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[84] Most likely the Galesburg Old Cemetery where their mother, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts, was buried

[85] The daughter of neighbors John & Caroline (Rapelje) Allerton

[86] Carrie Plank was the daughter of William & Harriett (Groat) Plank who had been neighbors of the Keiths in Comstock until they moved to Grand Rapids in 1873

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

[88] Michigan death records reveal that Floyd Hubbard, the six-month-old son of George & Alice Hubbard, died in Galesburg, Michigan on August 23, 1886

[89] Michigan death records reveal that Sarah (Watters) Hill died August 23, 1886 in Galesburg, Michigan

[90] His grand-nephew, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[91] On July 25, 1847 Luke married his second wife, Jerusha Crittenden (she died September 23, 1848). Jerusha had a brother Henry; perhaps this is who he is referring to

[92] Mary Fisher married Marenus Caywood in September. Sadly, on March 4, 1887 Marenus was killed when his horses “run with him” according to Luke Keith’s 1887 diary

[93] Neighbor, Marenus Caywood

[94] Expect so

[95] Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, the wife of Hiram Crawford, Jr., Sarah’s brother

[96] No relation is known at this time; however, often the parents of a husband or wife of a family member, or the parent of a neighbor, were referred to as Aunt or Uncle

[97] An outdated piece of farm equipment which used many flexible iron teeth mounted in rows to loosen the soil before planting

[98] FindAGrave.com shows that David Tuttle died in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 25, 1886 and he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[99] Sarah (Knight) Skinner, the mother of Del Skinner (see footnote to January 7^th entry). FindAGrave.com shows she died September 29, 1886 in Ceresco, Michigan and that she is buried in the Quaker Cemetery in Waterloo, New York

** See https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/academy-of-music-kalamazoo-michigan for more info on the Academy of Music

[100] His grandson, Jay Keith Harris, who was 3 years old

[101] Sarah Skinner, the sister of Del Skinner (see footnote to January 7^th entry)

[102] According to the 1880 census, Hannah was the sister of Luke’s neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[103] Neighbor, Eunice (Wood) Towne

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

[105] Royal J. Earl was born to Herbert & Luella (Farr) Earl

[106] Jay (3), LaVerne (just under 2) and Floyd (7 months) Harris

[107] Other things

[108] Etc.

[109] His brother-in-law

[110] FindAGrave.com shows that Isaiah J. Babcock died December 1, 1886 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[111] His grand-nephew, James Leon Keith, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[112] Presumably to visit his grandmother, Betsy (Olds) Batey, in Pavilion, Michigan

[113] Bloomingdale, Michigan

[114] Lou’s children

[115] His nephew’s family; see footnotes to August 25^th and December 10^th entries

[116] Betsy (Fisher) Wright. Michigan death records reveal that she died in Galesburg on December 29 and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

Advertisement

1885 diary of Charles Luke Keith Jr.

1885 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

The entries from January 1 through January 18 were first written in the back of his 1884 diary and are basically identical to what he then wrote in his 1885 diary. Anything from 1884 that clarifies the 1885 entries is noted in brackets.

Jan 1 – Mercury 2 Abz[2] Blustring. D & Lou [and children][3] came on noon train. Nancy [and children came over. Hank no come],[4] Will Brown and Lizzy,[5] Charley, Lois & Clara & Mrs Youngs,[6] Ella Allen.[7]

Jan 2 – 2 Abz. Went got Lous trunk. [Got Charleys pork barrel.] Ethan,[8] D., Hannah[9] & Jim[10] went down to Mrs Browns[11] in Evening.

Jan 3 – 12 Abz. D. & Lou here. Old Mrs Williams buried to day.[12] Dell[13] got ax in Evening. Em & W^m Ralph[14] here.

Jan 4 – Mercury 23 Abz. At home all day. [Mrs Youngs, Clara and Charley came down.] D. & Lou went up to W^m Ralphs. [Charley and Mrs Youngs went round the squair.]

Jan 5 – Mercury 34 Abz. Cut up Peter.[15] Went over to Burg got oil. [Lou and Jay and Vern.] D. went home. Dell paid for ax $1.00.

Jan 6 – Mercury 38 Abz. Took Hannah down to top of [Browns] Hill. Met Caywood he took her down to his House. Made two pulleys for Theodore.[16] [He sayed to supper. Theodore, Ethan and Jim went over to the Rink to see Burroughs, Austin, Wilson and Durkee skate.]

Jan 7 – Mercury 32 Abz. Sarah[17] and Lou went down to Mrs Browns. Got out stuf for Skinners Pie tongs.[18] [Made one. No storm some to day.]

Jan 8 – Mercury 34 Abz. Worked on tongs. Sarah and Lou went up to Claras. Lois came over after sausage cutter.

Jan 9 – Mercury 34 Abz. Worked on pie tongs. Cool wind no snow on ground.

Jan 10 – Mer 28 Abz. Went over to burg. Took Lou to Mr Ralphs. Got my glasses mended. Mr Randal paid 15¢.

Jan 11 – Mercury 37 Abz in mor. Took Hannah over to over to Lois in morning. Jim and Clark went down to Marts.[19] Rainy day.

Jan 12 – Mer 27 Abz [snows some. Mercury 40 in afternoon.] Went up to mill after oil [no got some]. Shelled some corn. Lou came home in Evening.

Jan 13 – Mercury 8 Abz. Snows some. Jim went up to Frank Bronsons after Hanks Horses. Cold day.

Jan 14 – Mercury 8 Abz. Jim went to Howlands mills. [No snow. Mrs Youngs, Clara, Lois and Charley here in afternoon.] Charley Town[20] drew some straw. Mrs Hitchcock Died [in night.][21]

Jan 15 – Mer 20 Abz. Snowed in night [snow about 4 inches. Went over to burg in morning to help Lou of.] Lou went Home. Hank went to Kalamazoo with her. [Got calendar. Ethan turned Herbs[22] Stand top.]

Jan 16 – Mercury 16 Abz. [Ethan went over to burg in morning to see about moulding his patterns.] Herb came down with his canvasing Book. Cold Blustring Eight inches snow.

Jan 17 – Mercury 10 Abz. Snows and blows snow about 12 inches on level. Cold rough day.

Jan 18 – Mercury 10 below zero. Very cold Blustring day. Mrs Hichcock Buried to day. [Bad day for man or beast to be out, say nodings aboud de vimmins.][23]

Jan 19 – Mercury 10 below zero. Took Hannah over to Lois in morning. Cold. Will Clark[24] called here at noon.

Jan 20 – Mercury 15 below zero. At home all day. Theodore and Ethan went to Burg in afternoon. Very cold day.

Jan 21 – Mercury 3 below. No clouds, pleasant, sun came out clear. Went over to Burg in afternoon. Cold and snows. Quite a blustring day.

Jan 22 – Mercury 10 below zero. Took up pork out of Barrel. Put some in crock. Made two Pie raisers. Very much winter.

Jan 23 – Mercury 8 Abz. At home most of the day. Went over to burg in afternoon. Uncle Pat Smith Died to night.[25]

Jan 24 – Mercury 26 Abz. Went over after Nancy in morning. C. I. Clark[26] went to Jackson.

Jan 25 – Mercury 16 Abz. Went down to Katharines.[27] Not very cold, good sleighing. Mrs Bee buried to day.

Jan 26 – Mercury 2 below. Very cold & blustring. Mr W^m Simonds buried to day.[28] Rough day to be out. No work to day a regular Perry[29] day.

Jan 27 – Mercury 3 below. Chored round some. Went over to burg.

Jan 28 – Mercury 11 below 7 P.M. Worked in shop on Herbs Book Box. Will Brown here making tent.

Jan 29 – Mercury 10 Abz in morning. Worked in shop some on Herbs Book box. Sarah went up to Jesse Earls.[30]

Jan 30 – Mercury 24 Abz. Worked on Box. Herb here. Cut out stuff for Box.

Jan 31 – Mercury 4 Abz. Turned pulley for Theodore. Worked on Box. Dick Lamkin came over got rags.

Feb 1 – Mercury 4 Abz. At home. Dell came over. Bess[31] here came over with Hannah last Evening. Pleasant.

Feb 2 – Worked some on Herbs Box.

Feb 3 – Ethan went down to Coes. Not very cold. Worked in shop on Box. Sarah went over to Mr Forbush.

Feb 4 – Mercury 32 Abz. Worked on Box put Box together. Shelled corn.

Feb 5 – Mercury 1 below at 7 PM. Put the Buttens in Herbs Box and smoothed it up. Sarah went over to Lois.

Feb 6 – Mercury 2 below zero. Cleaned out shop and moved the bench. Herb brot clasp for Box.

Feb 7 – Mercury 22 Abz. Jim went to mill. Snowed hard. Chored round. Fastened down Bench. Mr John Milham Died.[32]

Feb 8 – Mercury 7 Abz. Clara and Edna[33] came down. George and Clara Milham[34] came up. Very nice day any way.

Feb 9 – Mercury 4 Abz. Very blustring lots snow. No work but chores. Bad day to be out.

Feb 10 – Mercury at zero. Snows and blows very rough day. Mr John Milham buried to day.

Feb 11 – Mercury 24 below zero. Gefired cold day. No work to day. Snow from one to five feet deep round the house and Barn.

Feb 12 – Mercury. Very cold. At home. No got out some no how.

Feb 13 – Mercury 24 Abz. At home. Shoveled snow dug a road to Mrs Jones. Very cold day. Mr Merryman stayed all night.

Feb 14 – Mercury 22 below. Went up to mill got tongs to fix pump. Went over to burg. Ed Rumery Buried to day.[35]

Feb 15 – Mercury 24 Abz. Went Down to Katharines. Snowed all day. Came home at night.

Feb 16 – Mercury 14 below zero. Theodore came down in morning. Verry bad day, snows, blows. No teams out to day.

Feb 17 – Mercury 18 below in morning. Very blustrous, cold wind. Edwin Flanders[36] Brot glass for schoolhouse.

Feb 18 – Mercury 13 below zero. Shoveled path to Barn. Very much bluster, big snow.

Feb 19 – Mercury 5 below zero. Took Hannah down to Katharines. Very cold, south west wind.

Feb 20 – Mercury 12 below. No work not much. Filed cross cut saw for Jim.

Feb 21 – Mercury 14 below. Took Sarah over to burg. Set glass in school House in morning. Went over after her in evening. Mercury 17 below in Evening.

Feb 22 – Mercury 9 below. Pleasant day. Hanks folks went over to Mrs Browns. Ida Lewis Died about ten oclock PM.[37]

Feb 23 – Mercury 18 below. Spliced Bob pole for Will Brown. Took Hams down to Mrs Browns to smoke.

Feb 24 – Mercury 10 below. Made boulsters for Theodore. I went over to burg. Ida Lewis buried.

Feb 25 – Mercury at zero in morning. Took Sarah over to Hoags in morning. Repaired cutter.

Feb 26 – Mercury 26 Abz. Snowed some in forenoon. Thawing some.

Feb 27 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went up to mill. Theodores Brace and some bolts to Repair cutter beams[?]. Very nice day.

Feb 28 – Worked round. Done chores. Went over to burg. Took Sarah over to Mr Austins.

Mar 1 – Mercury 34 Abz. Went down to Katharines. Quite Blustrous. Dick Lamkins here in Evening.

Mar 2 – Mercury 26 Abz. Put trimmings on Herbs Box. Fixed Hallocks violin Box & and Bow.

Mar 3 – Mercury 15 Abz. Worked on violin and Bow some on Herbs Box.

Mar 4 – Mercury 33 Abz. Worked on Box oiled and varnished.

Mar 5 – Mercury 23 Abz. Varnished Herbs Box and smoothed it. Herb got his Box. Took Sarah up to Claras.

Mar 6 – Mercury 36 Abz. Mended chair some. Snowed. Went up to Claras in afternoon. Pulled Ethans tooth.

Mar 7 – Mercury 17 Abz. Went up to Hat & Libs.[38] Extracted tooth for Libby. Hannah came home. Hallock got his violin 50 cts.

Mar 8 – Mercury at zero. Very pleasant. Mrs Youngs and Clara came down.

Mar 9 – Mercury 24 Abz. Mr Chipman came down after Hannah. Will Clark sold his house to Jane Galligan.

Mar 10 – Mercury 17 Abz. Went over to Burg after Bob pole. Chored round. Dug ditch to Mrs Jones 4½ feet.

Mar 11 – Mercury 5 Abz. Took Hannahs trunk over to burg. She went up to Lous. Dell went up to Ceresco.[39]

Mar 12 – Mercury 15 Abz. Went down to Mrs Browns in morning. Took the Butter. Edna and Madge[40] came here.

Mar 13 – Mercury 21. At home. No work not much. Edna here.

Mar 14 – Mercury 22. Took Sarah and Edna over to Nancys. Edna went home on noon train.

Mar 15 – Mercury 21 Abz. Pleasant day. At home all day, no one here. Verien Youngs and wife[41] at Charleys.

Mar 16 – Mercury 7 Abz. Made whiffletree[42] for Austin Potts 25¢. Ethan went over to Burg got his patterns. Charley Towns man called here.

Mar 17 – Mercury 6 below zero. Made large pulley for Theodore. Cleaned up some wheat to send to mill. Ethan went to Comstock.

Mar 18 – Mercury 16 Abz. Took wheat down to Browns. Jim gone to mill. Charley went to Jackson.

Mar 19 – Mercury. At home, chores. Lois here coloring. Sarah went up to Rogers. Lois went to Charleys.

Mar 20 – Mercury 10 below. John Schroder came over after Lois. Nancy sick. Took Sary[43] over afternoon. Cold day. Lots snow.

Mar 21 – Mercury 13 below. Chores mostly to day. Cold raw weather very windy.

Mar 22 – Mercury. At home. Clara and Maud Addams here.

Mar 23 – Mercury At zero. Drew three loads Hay from Charleys. Went over to burg. Nancy was better. Ethan go castings.

Mar 24 – Mercury 29 Above. Snows and blows regular Blizzard. Mrs Philo Buried to day,[44] Sam Carsons Daughter.

Mar 25 – Mercury 10 Above. Ethan took castings over to Burg.

Mar 26 – Mercury 29 Above. Worked on violin some. Dell came over stayed all night.

Mar 27 – Mercury 38 Above. Worked on violin some. Ethan went to Comstock after castings. Clara and Mrs Youngs came stayed. Mrs Con Youngs Buried.[45]

Mar 28 – Mercury 33 Abz. Chored round cut some wood. Mrs Youngs and Clara here.

Mar 29 – Mercury 35 Abz. At home. Pleasant day.

Mar 30 – At home. Worked on violin some.

Mar 31 – Mercury 34 Abz. Choring round. Mrs Youngs and Clara here. Pleasant day.

Apr 1 – Mercury 31 Abz. Worked in shop some. Mrs Youngs and Clara here getting ready. Took goods over to Burg.

Apr 2 – Mercury 34 Abz. Took Mrs Youngs and Clara over to burg. They went to Jackson. Rained in Evening. Took the Beadstead up to the girls.

Apr 3 – Mercury 28 Abz. Took Sarah over to Burg in morning.

Apr 4 – Mercury 34. Went over to burg in morning. Got one Barrel salt $1.25. Saw D. Harris.

Apr 5 – Mercury __3. Pleasant day. At home. No one here. Strung new violin.

Apr 6 – Mercury 40. Went to town meeting. No work to day but cut one load wood.

Apr 7 – Mercury 35. Went up in the woods drawed one load wood two loads rails.

Apr 8 – Mercury 32 Abz. Took Sarah over to Nancys in morning. Cold North ____wind.

Apr 9 – Mercury 3__. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to get key seats cut. Charley Town drawed straw.

Apr 10 – Mercury 35. Went over to burg in morning. Took castings over. Got Charleys buggy down.

Apr 11 – Mercury 40. Cool damp wind. Charley Town commenced plowing south lot for oats.

Apr 12 – Mercury 34 cold north wind. Went over to Hanks, all there. Hank starts for Galesburg Ill on the 12.20 train Evening.

Apr 13 – Mercury 28. Went over to burg at noon after ___ stuf. Drawed some cornfodder. Charleys man plowing.

Apr 14 – Mercury 31. Cleaned out stable. Put cutter up over stable. Took one load out stable one out of the bay. Snowed like fun.[46]

Apr 15 – Mercury 49 snow about 2 inches deep this morning, all gone before night. Ethan got castings over for the binder.

Apr 16 – Not very well. No work, choring.

Apr 17 – Mercury 32. Went over to burg at noon after the stuff. Drawed some corn fodder. Charleys team plowing. Mr W^m Carey died to day.[47] Not very well. Work round barn.

Apr 18 – Mercury 31. Cleaned out stable. Put cutter up over stable. Drawed one load stuf from out the Bay to a ___. Went over to burg in morning. Went over after Nancy. Nancy and children came.

Apr 19 – Mercury 50. At home all day. Made Hammer Handle for Mrs Brown. Nice warm spring day.

Apr 20 – Mercury 81. Went over to burg. Took Binder castings over to foundry. They put Cell Straits[48] Engine in to Foundry.

Apr 21 – Mercury 66. At home. Worked round barn and garden. Florence and Ray[49] came to Kalamazoo.

Apr 22 – Mercury 75. Worked in shop some in yard and garden. Put some straw in Barn.

Apr 23 – Went over to burg bot ½ Bushel clover seed __3 oz. Charley sowed oats. Hannah and Lou came. Rained some in Evening.

Apr 24 – Charley Clark here to day. I made hoop for Verns[50] Jumping Jack.

Apr 25 – Worked on Herbs Boxes all day.

Apr 26 – At home all day. No one here.

Apr 27 – Worked on Herbs Boxes. Fine day.

Apr 28 – Worked on Herbs Box. Very fine day. Florence and Ray came to day.

Apr 29 – Finished Herbs Boxes this morning. Took Lou over to Mr Ralphs in morning.

Apr 30 – At home. Worked round done chores &c.[51]

May 1 – At home. Went over to burg. Not very well. Sowed clover seed on south lot.

May 2 – At work as usual around. Drawed some old rails of the hill. Put Fan in pasture to day.

May 3 – D. came over after Lou. Mrs John Luce buried to day.[52]

May 4 – D went home left Lou. Florence went home. D. took her down to Kalamazoo.

May 5 – Took Lous trunk over to burg. Rained hard. I went to Kalamazoo with Lou. She went home.

May 6 – Took Hannah over to Mr Ralphs. Bot cloths line 65 cts.

May 7 – Mercury 40 Abz. At home no work. Took finger board of the old violin raised it some higher. Sarah went down to Mrs Browns. Very high wind.

May 8 – Cut walnut tree on hill on road. Hannah and Lois came home. Snowed and blowed. High wind, cold. A Potter died.

May 9 – Cold wind, snows some. Worked round shop and house.

May 10 – Lois and Ina[53] here. Cold wind. Not very nice day.

May 11 – Went over to burg with Nancy. She went over to pay Interest on Mortgage.

May 12 – Went down to Caywoods got strawberry plants. Went down to M. O. Streators[54] got potatoes.

May 13 – At home working round house and garden.

May 14 – Working in garden some choring. Went over to burg.

May 15 – Went over to burg. Working as usual all around the yard and garden.

May 16 – Went down to Charley Fords got six hundred lbs Hay 40 cts pr Hundred ___ 40 cts. Fan went to Bull.

May 17 – Fine day. Went down to Katharines.

May 18 – Went and got Theodore to come down and repair Pumps.

May 19 – Theodore put down W^m Ralphs well. Took Nancys couch over to Burg in morning. Took chairs over at noon. Hat, Lib, Mrs Rogers and Mrs Bradshaw here. Charley Town planted corn.

May 20 – Went over to burg got some things from Hanks.

May 21 – Went over to burg in morning got loads of traps[?] from Hanks, some cider. Jim got stove. Got bark for Bill.

May 22 – Some ledle rainy. Not much work.

May 23 – At home working in garden some not much.

May 24 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Marts. Hailed & rained some, high wind.

May 25 – Mercury __8. Jim and Dell drew rails built fence across East lot at foot of big Hill.

May 26 – Skinner helped me draw rails and lay up fence around the south lot on hill. Jim and Hannah, Nancy and Mrs Brown went to Kalamazoo.

May 27 – Pleasant. Nancy came up here.

May 28 – Cleaned up 5 bushels wheat to take to mill. Went over to burg.

May 29 – Rainy day no go to mill. Went over to burg got screws for Lois doors. Got Ethans patterns.

May 30 – Rainy morning. Went up to Cooks to mill.

May 31 – At home all day. Two tramps stayed here all night. Some rainy day.

Jun 1 – Hot day. Took carpet yarn over to Mrs Atkins. Went round by Staffords. Went over after Sarah in Evening.

Jun 2 – At home. Worked in garden and shop some.

Jun 3 – Made some Lamberqua[?] shelves. Made soap down to Mrs Browns in afternoon.

Jun 4 – Painted chairs and two Boxes. Rained some in afternoon and Evening.

Jun 5 – Not much work. Went over to burg. Took Nancy over. Got lumber for Rack 3.24.

Jun 6 – Worked in garden some. Hot day.

Jun 7 – Hot day. Went up to Levy Woods had a good time. Mr Streator, Syrus and Mrs Streator and Mrs Brown went.

Jun 8 – Cut Dock in East lot and planted sunflower seeds. Went over to burg at noon.

Jun 9 – Worked in garden and round barn.

Jun 10 – Worked in garden and chored round.

Jun 11 – Hoed some. Painted screen doors for Lois. Went down to M. O. Streators to see Rack.

Jun 12 – Choring round. Went down to Mrs Browns got cultivator. Mrs Potts here. Fanny Town[55] called.

Jun 13 – Went on up to mill. Got plank for sawhorses. Went to burg. Hung Lois screen doors.

Jun 14 – Mercury 96. At home all day. No one here. Very hot day.

Jun 15 – Katharine and Mrs Gaffing came up. Jim and Florence came home from Shelby.[56]

Jun 16 – Worked on road[57] in afternoon on hill up by Schrams.

Jun 17 – Worked in garden some. Nancy and children left for Galesburg Ill.[58] Ethan went down brot Hellen[59] up. Florence went Home.

Jun 18 – Went over to Mrs Atkins to see about carpet.

Jun 19 – Warm nice weather. Worked in shop and garden. Went over to burg. Made sawhorses.

Jun 20 – Worked on Ed Rowlands violin. Sarah & Hellen went down to Mrs Browns. Mrs Sylvester Mills Buried to day.[60]

Jun 21 – Nice morning. Had a big rain at noon. Mr Osborns came in storm. Blowed hard.

Jun 22 – Worked on Rack. Went over to burg. Hellen here.

Jun 23 – Went over got bolts and straps. Put rack to gether. Nice day. Lois and Ina came over.

Jun 24 – Went over to burg got bolts. Finished Rack. Lois and Ina went down to Browns.

Jun 25 – Put Paris green[61] on potatoes. Hoed some in garden.

Jun 26 – Went down to Mr Streators to invite them _____ here sunday. Levi Woods and wife are coming down.

Jun 27 – Cut some grass in orchard. Chored round. Went over to burg to see Blake and Forbush. Mrs Burgess Buried to day.

Jun 28 – Mr Levy Wood and wife, Mr Pease and Miss Swift, Mr Streator & wife and Mrs Brown, Mrs Barber all here.

Jun 29 – Jim commenced cutting hay. Will Barber worked. Will mowed on hill. Mr G. F. Warren Buried to day.[62] Lydia Milham died.[63]

Jun 30 – Jim mowed west lot commenced East lot. Ground Mr. Randals knife and turned some pins and filed saw 160¢.

Jul 1 – Went down to Katharines with Hellen. Jim Drawing hay. Lydia Milham Buried to day.

Jul 2 – Went over to burg at noon. Mrs Forbush and Eva Blake came here.

Jul 3 – Mrs Brown went to Reed city.[64] George King Died this morning.[65] Marion Rice died this morning.[66]

Jul 4 – Went over to Burg. D. and Lou came. I bot Hat $1.75.

Jul 5 – George King Buried to day. Marion Rice Buried to day.

Jul 6 – Went over to Burg in morning. Got Jays[67] hair cut. D. went home. Rained hard at noon.

Jul 7 – Jim finished mowing drawed in some. John Williams Brot Bed spring 3.75 cts.

Jul 8 – Took Lou to Kalamazoo she went home. Jim finished Drawing in Hay.

Jul 9 – Chored round done most nodings some vend over mit Burg.[68]

Jul 10 – Charley Town cut some wheat to day. Some warm day. Made churn cover and dash for Katharine. Ethan and Hannah went to Burg.

Jul 11 – Cut some grass in hill lot, hoed some. Hat and Libby, Nell Steel and boy called here.

Jul 12 – Went down to Katharines. Fine day.

Jul 13 – Drawed in some hay from hill.

Jul 14 – Cut weeds round the wire fence. Lois came over.

Jul 15 – Worked round. Lois here. Got some stuf for [didn’t finish entry].

Jul 16 – Made mortar bed. Very hot day. Hannah came home in Evening. Jim left Bill[69] here.

Jul 17 – Sick some not much no work but chores.

Jul 18 – Drawed two loads sand.

Jul 19 – At home all day. Some little shower. Charles Whitcome came over to let me know that Martin Turner was dead.[70]

Jul 20 – Mercury 102 in shade at 2 oclock P.M. Went over to Burg got lime and sieve. Went down to Katharines after Hellen. Martin Turner Buried.

Jul 21 – Mercury 96 in shade. Made mortar.

Jul 22 – Mercury 99. Hoed in garden some. Jeneral U. S. Grant Died Eight forty oclock this morning.

Jul 23 – 96 Abz. Jeneral U S Grant Died 8.40.[71] Worked in garden some.

Jul 24 – Mercury 104 in shade. Not much work to hot. Hoed some. Ground Reaper Knife for N. L. Randal.

Jul 25 – Mercury 94. Took Sarah over to burg in forenoon. Got tyre set on one of the carriage wheels. Had a fine shower just at night. Cow went over the River.

Jul 26 – Mercury 90. Lee Milham came up here. Hellen over to Lois.

Jul 27 – 94. Took plastering of the front room. Jim helped some.

Jul 28 – Mercury 100. Finished cleaning out mortar. Jim and Hannah went to Kalamazoo. Harvey Keith Killed.[72]

Jul 29 – Mercury 102. W^m Ralph thrashed to day. Set some bean poles. Alvin Lee, Julia and Rhoda[73] and her boys here.

Jul 30 – Mercury 97. Set bean poles, hoed some. Went over to burg in Evening to Jim McLary. Very dry.

Jul 31 – Mercury 103 hot and dry. Hoed in garden some. Charley Town cut the oats.

Aug 1 – Worked over the mortar. Had a nice shower between ten & Eleven AM.

Aug 2 – At home all day. Very much rainy day.

Aug 3 – Jim came over put on first coat mortar. Rainy forenoon. Went over to burg at night to mill. Got Lime & stuco.

Aug 4 – Prepaired my Lime for my hard finish.

Aug 5 – No work except chores. Rainy. Charley Town drew the oats.

Aug 6 – Rained some. Not very well.

Aug 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Got paper. Took Sarah to Kalamazoo. She went to Shelby. Went to Katharines took dinner.

Aug 8 – Not very well. No work in particular. Had a heavy thunder shower in night. U. S. Grant Buried.

Aug 9 – Mercury 87. Ethan, Dell and Jim went to Gull Lake. Will Clark, Bill went up to W. W. R___.

Aug 10 – Jim came over put on the finishing coat of mortar. Paid him two Dollars.

Aug 11 – Mercury 100 at noon. Took Went over got Lois at noon. Took Hellen down to Marts in afternoon. Ethan putting on paper.

Aug 12 – Mercury 93. Ethan and Hannah papering front Room. Went over to burg at noon. Clara, Edna & Sam[74] came.

Aug 13 – Mercury 98. Went over to Burg took sive[?] home. B. A. Wing left for Hudson. Bina Earl[75] came down here in afternoon.

Aug 14 – Hellen and I went to to Shelby ville got there ½ past one P.M. Cool day.

Aug 15 – At Shelby. Not very well.

Aug 16 – At Harris House. Myron Rawson preaced there. We went up threw the Indian setlement.

Aug 17 – Went to Wayland to see the Rawson family. Saw Dr Wightman.[76]

Aug 18 – At Harris House. Went over to the mill. Saw them saw. Mr Dunning Died.[77]

Aug 19 – At Harris House as usual. They finished sawing cut all their Logs.

Aug 20 – At Harris House some. Not very well. Rather dull not mutch trade.

Aug 21 – At Harris House. Set some glass. Went up to Mr Woods in afternoon. Had a first rate visit.

Aug 22 – Left Shelby for home. Got home about ½ past three. Fine day rained in night.

Aug 23 – At home. Rainy day. Clara and Edna here.

Aug 24 – Rainy morning. No work. Harry Crawford[78] came here.

Aug 25 – Nice morning. Went over to burg with Clara. Harry left for home on two oclock run.

Aug 26 – At home. Not much work. Not very well.

Aug 27 – At home some nice weather.

Aug 28 – Choring round some work not much. Repairing Eds violin.

Aug 29 – Work on violin put strings on.

Aug 30 – Fine day. Went down to Katharines. All well. Will Brown and Lizzie at home.

Aug 31 – Nice day. Jim commenced plowing west lot. Hannah went to Mrs Browns.

Sep 1 – Very pleasant morning. No work. Not well.

Sep 2 – Sick. No work but chores. Lois and Ina came over.

Sep 3 – Lois and Ina here. Not much work. Lois and Ina went home.

Sep 4 – Not much done. Jim took load hay over to Cap Rowland.

Sep 5 – No work. At home. Mrs Skinner and Sate[79] came to Lois on Evening train. Em got Bedstead.

Sep 6 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went over to Lois. Sate and Lois went to church.

Sep 7 – Mercury 76 in shade. Hannah went to Mate Fords.[80] Ethan and I repaired wire fence in forenoon. Mrs Barlow Died to day.[81]

Sep 8 – Rainy morning cool wind. At home.

Sep 9 – Rainy day. Took Sarah over to Lois. Eleven telegraph men came here stayed all night.

Sep 10 – Jim drew one load wood. Eleven men here to Breakfast. Went over to burg in morning. Dell came back with me. Made Pie lifter.

Sep 11 – Went over to burg in morning after satchel. The boys are digging telegraph holes.

Sep 12 – Hannah went up to Earls. Went down to Schoolhouse got Blackboard cut it off. Mr Fullerton and Mr Nye plastering the House. Telegraph poles set to day _____.

Sep 13 – Mercury 76. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Rained in Evening.

Sep 14 – Went to Mr Flanders[82] in afternoon. Fine day.

Sep 15 – Mrs Streator came down in afternoon. Mr Streator went to burg.

Sep 16 – Nice day. Went up in woods got poles for fence steaks. Ina here. Ethan went over in Evening after Lois.

Sep 17 – Fine day. Ethan, Lois & Hannah went down to Kalamazoo to State Fair.

Sep 18 – Drawed some old rails from south fence laid some bottom rails. Went over to burg in Evening took some eggs 10 Doz & 9 ___ pr Dozen.

Sep 19 – Fine morning. Went to Kalamazoo after florence. She gone up on cars.

Sep 20 – Mercury 84. Florence here. Katharine, Adelpha[83] and George came up. Alvin and Julia called in.

Sep 21 – Mercury 84. Laid up some fence. Nice day. Went to burg after Hannah. She came from Lois.

Sep 22 – Mercury 84. Made some fence. Went over to Burg after Lou. Laid up some fence. Took Hannah up to Mr Flanders.

Sep 23 – Mercury 36. Hannah left for Galesburg Ill. Fine day. First frost. Florence came over.

Sep 24 – I took Florence to Kalamazoo. Nice day. Took dinner at Mr Ketchums.[84]

Sep 25 – Mercury 81. Very warm day. Not much work.

Sep 26 – At home choring. Lou and children here.

Sep 27 – Mercury 84. At home all day. Jim McGrady cut corn to day for me.

Sep 28 – Mercury 84. Picked up scatering corn. Jim finished sowing wheat. Lou went home.

Sep 29 – Mercury 89. Very dry. Sowed some grass seed. Toped some corn. Warm day.

Sep 30 – Mercury 85. Very warm & dry. Bound some corn and toped some. Finished in afternoon.

Oct 1 – Finished binding cornfodder. Rained some ledle mide.

Oct 2 – Took Sarah over to Hoags.[85] Went up to mill no see bub. Rained in night.

Oct 3 – Rainy morning. Went up to mill got some barposts. Went to the woods got some posts.

Oct 4 – At home. Some rainy. Jim had Hannahs carriage went up to Scots.[86]

Oct 5 – Cleaned up wheat. Went to mill.

Oct 6 – Made some bars to East lot. Cool day. Paid Charley Ford $2.40 cts for hay.

Oct 7 – Drew two loads pumpkins. Mary Austin and Mrs Gilbert called in afternoon. Rainy.

Oct 8 – At home. No work done Except chores.

Oct 9 – Nice day. Went to Kalamazoo to see Florence and Carry[87] they left on 2.15 train for home. Telegraph line cut. Heavy frost some ice.

Oct 10 – Pleasant. Picked one load corn.

Oct 11 – Warm pleasant day. Dod Sumners Baby buried to day. Telegraph wire repaired to day.

Oct 12 – Worked round barn some. Will and Lizzy went home to Reed City.

Oct 13 – Went down to Mrs Browns to get apples. To wet no got some. Jim drew two loads wood. Sarah went to Lois. Rainy day.

Oct 14 – Cleared out corn House. Husked load corn. Nice day.

Oct 15 – Not much work chored round. My Birth day 72 years old ___.

Oct 16 – Work round most Evry thing. Put apples in cellar. Went over to the Rink in Evening first time. Lou sent Neck tie. Sylvester sisters.

Oct 17 – Mercury 70. W^m Ralph picke the apples. Took them to cider mill. Very nice day. Mr Raneys team run a way.

Oct 18 – Very nice day. At home all day. No one here. Lots folks went to church.

Oct 19 – Rainy day. Worked in barn cleared out stable for new floor.

Oct 20 – Some rainy. No work out side. Took 10.85 lbs hay over to A. Hoag ½ ct pound $5.42½ cts.

Oct 21 – Went over to Burg in morning after Lois she no come over. Went over to burg in Evening got pay for hay. Paid Williams $3.75. Hoag paid $5.00.

Oct 22 – Went over after Lois she came over. Mrs Skinner and Sate came here. Drew two loads corn. Barkers went to Jackson to day.[88]

Oct 23 – Took Mrs Skinner, Lois and Sate over to burg. Husked some corn picked one load and drew it in. Very fine day.

Oct 24 – Finished picking corn drew it into the Barn. Very nice day.

Oct 25 – Very nice day. Sarah and I went down to Katharines in afternoon.

Oct 26 – Dug some potatoes. Husked ten Baskets corn put into cornhouse. Very nice day.

Oct 27 – Husked Eight Bushels corn put in cornhouse. Went up to Mr Flanders got load apples. Nice day.

Oct 28 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Sold 5 doz Eggs 15 cts pr Doz. Bot 1 bunch shingles 37½ cts put some on cornhouse. Went up to Flanders took Hannah home. Howell died to day.[89]

Oct 29 – Mr Howell taken to Battle Creek. Dell came over. I put some shingles on cornhouse. Worked some on inside.

Oct 30 – Worked on cornhouse in forenoon. Finished husking the corn in barn. Put some shingles on in afternoon.

Oct 31 – Worked on cornhouse in afternoon put on battens on inside. Nice day. Mr Woods folks came down to Mrs Browns.

Nov 1 – First snow 2 inches this morning. Went down to Mrs Browns had a seance.[90] Quin Streator[91] there. Mr Wood & wife there.

Nov 2 – Mercury 36. Dug out west end of stable. This is Fathers[92] 104^th Birth day. We have had sunshine, snow & rain a number of times to day.

Nov 3 – Mercury 47. Put down stable floor. Dell over here to day. Made some pye lifters.

Nov 4 – Mercury 56. Worked in barn in forenoon. Drew one load pumpkins two loads cornfodder. Rained some.

Nov 5 – Mercury 45. Put up cornfodder and pulled turnips. Rainy day. Put Hors and cow in sable.

Nov 6 – Mercury 46 rainy day. Pulled some turnips. Dell over here.

Nov 7 – Mercury 54. Chored round. Went down to Mrs Browns. Jim brot log jack here. Dell dug potatoes.

Nov 8 – Mercury 43. At home all day. Cool cloudy misty day. Sally,[93] my self and Ethan alone to day no one here.

Nov 9 – Mercury 44. Went down to river after prickley ash[94] no find him. Churned most of the day.

Nov 10 – Mercury 48. Went over to burg in morning after pattern timber. Sawed out stuff for Jims log jack.

Nov 11 – Mercury 61. Chored round in forenoon. Went down to M. O. Streators in afternoon. Got some apples.

Nov 12 – Went down to Marts in afternoon came home in Evening dark and rainy. Run into Franklins potato patch. D. A. Frink died at six AM.[95]

Nov 13 – Mercury 34 cold wind. Churned for four hours. Pedler here to dinner. Got two spools linnen cotton thread. Jim brot wood.

Nov 14 – Mercury 32. Chored round. Went over to burg in afternoon. Snow 2½ inches. Jim brot load wood.

Nov 15 – Mercury 32. Sloppy some snow.

Nov 16 – Worked for Skinner in forenoon. Worked on Jims log jack in afternoon.

Nov 17 – Mercury 35. Went to Kalamazoo for Mrs Brown, sent some Apples to Will.

Nov 18 – Mercury 55. Went over to burg in morn. Rainy day. Took my boots over got them tapt 70 cts. Very sloppy bad day.

Nov 19 – Mer 38. Worked in shop making axhelves for Mr Flanders. Mary Flanders[96] called here got some plants.

Nov 20 – Went up to Hat & Libs. Jesse Earl came home with me. Extracted two teeth for him. I went up to Herbs house.

Nov 21 – Mercury 38. Went over & got Lois in morning. I cut out some helves for Mr J Flanders. Will Clark here.

Nov 22 – Mercury 36 pleasant & clear in morning. Went down to Mrs Browns all hands. Cold wind.

Nov 23 – Mercury 35. Cleaned up wheat. Cool and cloudy. Jim took load hay over to Mr Smith Thomas.

Nov 24 – Took 5 bushels wheat to mill. Lois came over. Got corn of Wm Rogers. Changed corn with him.

Nov 25 – Mercury 25. Took corn and wheat over to mill. Got meal & and graham. Lois went home. Nice day.

Nov 26 – Put in thill[97] for Jim. Not feeling very well. Nice day.

Nov 27 – Worked on thill and whiffletree. Painted thill. Solomon Kingsley called here a few moments.

Nov 28 – Made lever to Jims lifting jack. Very fine day. Will Clark helped Jim draw cornfodder.

Nov 29 – Turned handle for Lous pie lifter. Hellen and Clara came here.

Nov 30 – Mercury 50. At home choring around as usual. Very pleasant day. Theodore came down.

Dec 1 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Oscar and Mary[98] came here. Hannah came home. Cool damp day.

Dec 2 – Mercury 34. Oscars folks went up to Mrs Bateys.[99] Lois came over. No snow.

Dec 3 – Mercury 30. Sawed out door stops for Mrs Browns doors. Oscar called here. Mrs Brown came up.

Dec 4 – Mercury 34. Hannah & Lois went down to Mrs Browns. I put sawdust in well. Mrs Bradshaw came down. Snowed just at night. Hannah went to M. O. Streators.

Dec 5 – Made table for Mr Caywood and chored round. Snowed and blowed like fun all night.

Dec 6 – Mercury 5 Abz at 5. At home. Very blustring. Snowed and blowed all day.

Dec 7 – Mercury 9 Below zero. At home. Snowed and blowed some not much. Hannah went to Kaywood.

Dec 8 – Mercury 13 Abz. Snowed very little. Will Clark came over. Rainy afternoon and Evening. Wm Vanderbilt died.[100]

Dec 9 – Mercury 43 in morning. Cold windy day. Went down to Mrs Browns. Put on door stops. Filed saw for Gallusha[?]. Cold night. Jim drew 5/8 cord wood.

Dec 10 – Mercury 18 Abz. Turned Plunger for Charley Towns cistern pump. Dell came over made some pie lifters.

Dec 11 – Mercury 10 Abz. Worked on pie lifters some. Cut out axhelve for Walter Thomson.

Dec 12 – Mercury 12 Abz. Cold day. Skinner came over in morning got his lifters. Two wagons broke down on hill in afternoon.

Dec 13 – Mercury 17. At home. Hannah sick. Cold some sleighing.

Dec 14 – Mercury 2__ Abz. Worked in shop. Made axhelve for Walt Thompson.

Dec 15 – Mercury 23. Made axhelve for mesilf _____ finished Jims log jack.

Dec 16 – Mercury 24. Finished Walts Axhelve. Went down to Marts afternoon. Not very cold.

Dec 17 – Mercury 29 in morning. ____ set saw. Sawed some wood. Went over to burg forenoon. Mercury 35 at night. Put front pannel in cutter.

Dec 18 – Mercury 35. Finished Streators cutter. Walter Thompson choped in afternoon. Nice day.

Dec 19 – Mercury 30. Fine day. Put in glass at schoolhouse in fore noon. Flanders paid one Dollar. Went over to see about tax 7.35.

Dec 20 – Mercury 3. At home. Nice day. Hannah went down to Caywood at night. Mr Hopkins buried to day, a colored man. Elder Hamlin Died.[101]

Dec 21 – Mercury 36 in morning. Very pleasant. Drawed one load wood. Not much sleigh.

Dec 22 – Mercury 39. Drawed one load corn from the field.

Dec 23 – Mercury 49 in morn. Took Hannah over to Lois. Fixed well at the Barn. Very nice day. Elder Hamlin Buried. Snow all gone.

Dec 24 – Mercury 23. Worked on well in afternoon. Took Sarah over to Hoags. Old Mrs Brigham died to day.[102]

Dec 25 – Mercury 20. Worked on well. Cold day. Finished well room. No snow on ground.

Dec 26 – Mercury 9 Abz. Went to Mrs Brighams funeral in forenoon. Went over to Burg in afternoon.

Dec 27 – Mercury 38. At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Nice day no snow.

Dec 28 – Mercury 34. Went to Kalamazoo after Lou. Saw Lum Robinson. Lost whip. Very foggy.

Dec 29 – Mercury 37. Went over to burg after Lous trunk. Drawed one load wood some corn. Some rainy.

Dec 30 – Mercury 36. Went over to burg. Chored round. Nice day.

Dec 31 – Mercury 36. Went took Sarah & Lou down to Mrs Browns. Went over to Burd after. Paid my tax 7.35 cts.

——-

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

[2] Above zero

[3] His daughter’s family, Daniel D. & Louese (Keith) Harris and their children, Jay and LaVerne

[4] His daughter’s family, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown and their children, Claude, Lela and Bess

[5] Hank Brown’s brother and sister-in-law, Willis & Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown

[6] His grandson, Charles Clark; his daughter (and Charley’s mother), Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner; Charley’s wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark; and Clara’s mother, Rhoda (Wood) Youngs

[7] Ella was Hank Brown’s maternal first cousin, the daughter of his Uncle Wilson Allen

[8] His son, Ethan Keith

[9] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[10] His son, James Clinton Keith

[11] Matilda (Allen) Brown; his neighbor and the mother of Hank and Will Brown

[12] FindAGrave.com shows that Louisa (Andrews) Williams died January 1, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[13] His son-in-law (Lois’ husband), Adelbert Skinner

[14] Neighbors, Emaline (Stone) & William Ralph

[15] His hog

[16] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[17] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[18] Apparatus for lifting hot pies out of the oven

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

[20] Neighbor, Charles Towne

[21] While the Michigan death records indicate that Sarah (Ridler) Hitchcock died in Pavilion, Michigan on January 23, 1885, FindAGrave.com shows her date of death as January 14, 1885, which agrees with Luke’s entry

[22] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Herbert Earl, who was the brother of Theodore Earl (see footnote to January 6^th entry)

[23] To say nothing about the women

[24] His grandson, the son of his daughter Lois

[25] While no death record has been found, FindAGrave.com shows that Patrick Smith died January 24, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Luke often referred to the parents of a husband or wife of a family member, or the parent of a neighbor, as Aunt or Uncle

[26] Charles Ira Clark (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

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

[28] No death record has been found, but FindAGrave.com shows that William Simonds died January 25, 1885 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[29] Believe he is referring to Perry, New York, where his niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson, lived

[30] Father of Theodore and Herb Earl (see footnotes to January 6^th and 15^th entries)

[31] His granddaughter, Bess Brown (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[32] The father of Martin Milham. Michigan death records show that he died February 7, 1885 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, also in Kalamazoo

[33] His great-granddaughter, the daughter of Charles & Clara (Youngs) Clark

[34] The children of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham (see footnote to January 11^th entry)

[35] Michigan death records reveal that Edmond M. Rumery, the 18-year-old son of Isaac & Cynthia Rumery, died on February 11, 1885 in Pavilion, Michigan. It is unknown where he is buried

[36] His neighbor

[37] While no death record has been found, FindAGrave.com and cemetery records show that Ida M. Lewis, the 21-year-old daughter of F(ranklin) R. & A(deliza Hubbard) M. Lewis, died February 22, 1885 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

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

[39] Ceresco, Michigan

[40] Edna (Crawford) Allen and her daughter, Madge Allen. Edna was the daughter of Edwin Crawford, the late brother of Luke’s wife, Sarah

[41] Varian & Libbie Youngs. Varian was the son of Rhoda (Wood) Youngs and brother of Clara (Youngs) Clark (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[42] The pivoted horizontal crossbar to which the harness traces of a draft animal are attached and which is in turn attached to a vehicle or an implement

[43] His wife Sarah

[44] Oak Grove Cemetery (Galesburg, Michigan) records show that Martha Rebecca (Carson) Philow died March 21, 1885; she was the wife of Joseph Philow

[45] While no death record was found, FindAGrave.com revealed that Jennie M. Young, wife of Converse T. Young, died March 25, 1885 and is buried in Augusta Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan. Census records for Converse Young, living in Comstock, Michigan, list his wife as Jane in 1870 and Mary J. in 1880

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

[47] Michigan death records confirm that William C. Caray died in Charleston, Michigan on April 17, 1885

[48] Neighbor, Lacelle Strait

[49] His daughter-in-law and grandson, Florence (Stall) Keith and Arthur Raymond Keith

[50] His granddaughter, LaVerne Harris

[51] Etc.

[52] No death record was found, but FindAGrave.com shows that she died May 1, 1885 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan. A marriage record shows that Mary Pilot married John Luce on April 2, 1879 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan

[53] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner

[54] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[55] Neighbor, Frances “Fanny” Towne, Charley Towne’s sister

[56] Shelbyville, Michigan, where D. & Lou Harris lived

[57] See “Luke Keith’s Road Tax,”

https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2018/06/16/luke-keiths-road-tax

[58] According to a November 8, 1885 letter from Sarah Keith to Oscar & Mary Ann Keith: Henry Brown went to Galesburg Ill. Nancy and children followed in June. Henry lived out in a gallery for twenty five $25 per week for one year.

[59] His niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[60] Michigan death records show that Louisa (Terry) Mills died June 18, 1885 in Benton, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[61] A poisonous emerald-green powder used as a pigment, insecticide, and wood preservative

[62] FindAGrave.com reveals that Julius F. Warren (believe Luke mistakenly wrote a G instead of J), who had been a neighbor of Luke’s, died June 27, 1885 in Petoskey, Michigan and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[63] While the Michigan death record shows that Lydia (Turner) Milham died June 1, 1885 in Pavilion, Michigan, information at FindAGrave.com, along with the headstone, confirms that she died on June 29, 1885 and is buried in Indian Fields Cemetery, Portage, Michigan. Portrait and Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan and Van Buren Counties, Michigan, (Chicago, Chapman Brothers 1892, Page 235 & 236) states the following: Mr. [Ambrose] Milham was married May 18, 1854, to Miss Lydia Turner, who was a true and tender wife to him and devoted mother to their children, and their neighbors found in her a kind and sympathizing friend. She was born near Rochester, N.Y., December 29, 1829, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1843. She died June 29, 1885, after a happy married life of thirty-one years.

[64] Reed City, Michigan, about 125 miles north of Galesburg

[65] Michigan death records confirm that George T. King died July 3, 1885 in Galesburg, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com reveals he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, also in Galesburg

[66] Michigan death records confirm that Marion (Wolcott) Rice died July 3, 1885 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com reveals she is buried in Riverside Cemetery, also in Kalamazoo. Marion was Luke’s maternal first cousin

[67] His grandson, Jay Harris

[68] Luke quite often used silly language in his diaries. Possibly here it seems to mean something along the line of done most nothing, some went over to the burg

[69] The family horse

[70] While Michigan death records show his death as June 19, 1885, Riverside Cemetery records confirm that he died on July 19, 1885. Clipped newspaper obituaries show that he died on a Sunday — June 19, 1885 was a Friday; July 19, 1885 was a Sunday

[71] Ulysses S. Grant, 18^th President of the United States

[72] His grand-nephew, the son of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith. See newspaper accounts of his murder and the ensuing murder trial at https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/a-foul-murder

[73] Alvin Lee; his mother, Juliana (Davis) Lee (the wife of Luke’s first cousin, Charles Lee); and his sister, Rhoda (Lee) Wilcox

[74] His granddaughter-in-law, Clara (Youngs) Clark, and her daughter, Edna Clark; however, it is unknown at this time who Sam was

[75] Albina Earl, daughter of Jesse Earl (see footnote to January 29^th entry)

[76] His neighbor, George Ransom Wightman

[77] Levi Dunning. No death record has been found. While the online entry for FindAGrave.com shows he died August 18, 1886, the picture of his marker clearly shows the year as 1885. He is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[78] The son of Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford; Hiram was the brother of Luke’s wife Sarah

[79] Adelbert Skinner’s (see footnote to January 3rd entry) mother and sister, Sarah (Knight) Skinner and Sarah “Sate” Skinner

[80] Neighbor, Mary Ann “Mate” (Thompson) Ford

[81] Believed to be Helen (Lindsay) Barlow. While no death record was found, FindAGrave.com shows Helen Barlow died in 1885 and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Jackson, Michigan. 1880 census records show Sidney & Helen Barlow living in Comstock, Michigan

[82] After Luke’s first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. The Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda

[83] His sister Catherine’s granddaughter, Marion Adelphia York

[84] Justus Ketchum, the stepfather of his daughter-in-law, Florence (Stall) Keith

[85] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah “Jane” (Mason) Hoag

[86] Scotts, Michigan, which was about 8 miles south of Galesburg

[87] Believe this is referring to Florence’s sister, Carrie Stall

[88] October 22, 1885 Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph coverage of the murder of Harvey Keith relate that Marshall Barker was sentenced to “hard labor at Jackson for the rest of his natural life,” and his brother, William Barker, was sentenced to 25 years in the state prison

[89] Presumed to be Lavander S. Howell. FindAGrave.com shows that Lavander S. Howell died on October 29, 1885 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, Michigan

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

[91] Neighbor, John Quincy Streator, the son of Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[92] Charles Luke Keith Sr.

[93] Nickname for his wife, Sarah

[94] Northern prickly ash bark and berries were used to make medicine to treat blood circulation problems, joint pain, cramps, low blood pressure, fever, swelling, toothache, sores, ulcers, and cancer, also for sweating out a fever

[95] FindAGrave.com shows that Daniel A. Frink died in Kansas City, Missouri on November 11, 1885; no death record has been found to date. According to the 1860 census, Daniel Frink had been Luke’s neighbor in Comstock, but by 1870 was living in Kansas City

[96] Neighbor, Mary (Smith) Flanders, wife of Edwin Flanders

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

[98] His nephew and his wife, James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[99] Mary Ann’s mother, Eliza “Betsey” (Olds) Batey

[100] The American railroad magnate and philanthropist who nearly doubled the Vanderbilt family fortune

[101] Michigan death records show that E. H. Hamlin, a Baptist minister, died in Comstock, Michigan on December 20, 1885; no burial record has been found

[102] FindAGrave.com reveals that Marinda (Cole) Brigham, died December 25, 1885 at the age of 89 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

Luke Keith’s 1879 Diary

1879 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Went over to burg[2] with Edna Allen,[3] she went home. Bot stove pipe 40 cts. Mr Browns folks,[4] Hank and Nancy[5] and Mrs Betts[6] here. Had a jolly old time. [Che Che[7] came. Had a dance.][8] Carried Mrs Betts home at night. Mink Streator died this morning.

Jan 2 – No work to day. Very blustring day. Carried Nancy home at night. Cold as blazes.

Jan 3 – Mercury 10 below zero in morning. No work to day Except chores.

Jan 4 – Shoveled snow so we could get to the woods. Drawed four loads wood. Carried Hannah[9] over to Nancys at night. Lucinda Brown of East Gainesville, Wyoming County, NY died to day AEged 63 years.[10]

Jan 5 – Alvin Lee[11] came here made an axhelve for him. Went over to burg after Hannah.

Jan 6 – Went over to burg in the morning to see Doc Burrows to get county order. Went up in woods after wood. Went over to Bartons. Ethan[12] went over to Hanks to stay with Nancy. Hank gone to Kalamazoo. Mr Philip Goodrich died this morning at seven Oclock.[13] Jim[14] went to school. Bot this Diary 40 cts. Hannah went down to Henry Kings. Ethan repaired Guittar.

Jan 7 – Not much done. Cold day. Ethan came home. Wind south west.

Jan 8 – Went over to burg. Sarah[15] went over to go to Funeral. Mr Goodrich buried to day. Went up in woods got one load wood. Went over to burg after Sarah. Wind west south west.

Jan 9 – Cut out bords for Box. Went over to burg got board for End boards to Dells[16] box. Got nine Dollars of County on county order. Dressed out some box boards. Konk Smith called here. Wind North west in morning North East at night.

Jan 10 – Worked in shop, plained out side and End boards for Dells box. Made moulding board for Sarah. Let Alfleda[17] have one Dollar, Sarah half Dollar. Mercury 2 Abzo.[18] Wind 2 minutes North of west.

Jan 11 – Worked in shop some. Sawed out sash stuf, plained out some boards. Mercury 14 Abz.

Jan 12 – At home. Katharine,[19] Orrin[20] and Jim came up here. Mercury 10 A. Wind west. Caywood brot Hannah home in morning.

Jan 13 – Worked in shop on Skinners box all day. Not very cold. Wind west North west. Mercury 2 Abz in morning.

Jan 14 – Mercury 21 Abz in morn. Wind South west.

Jan 15 – Carried Sarah over to burg. 3 lbs nails 15¢. Claud[21] came home with me. Went down to Mr Caywoods after Hannahs Pleeter.[22] Snowed and blowed like fun.[23] Wind in North East. Mercury 18 Abz.

Jan 16 – Mercury 17 abz in morning. Cut down tre East of house south side road. Sun came out. Wind North west. Went down to Browns got four bushels wheat. Cleaned up four bushels Buckwheat, shelled 2 bushels corn. Jim came home stayed all night. He paid me fifty cents. Lost bag of Buckwheat flour of of the sleigh. Mr Ridler picked it up.

Jan 17 – Went to mill up to Howlands. Alvin, Julia and Orrin at Hanks. Jed Blodget and wife here when I got home.

Jan 18 – Went and cut some wood. Split and drawed some wood. Charley Smith came after Hannah. Orrin went up to Mr Flanders.[24] Walter Austin came over after Guitarr in Evening. Fine day, wind South west. Austin Potts Hulling clover up to Schrams.

Jan 19 – Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Cold and some blustrous. Wind North west in forenoon, South East in Evening.

Jan 20 – Went over to burg in forenoon. Snowed some. Bot salt bottles 10, bot two for Katharine. Went over to Straits got Calipers. Mr Peter Johnson paid me 50¢. Wind South South west.

Jan 21 – Nelson Nickols choped wood for me to day. I drawed wood in afternoon. Very good day. Mercury 11 Abz. Wind south west.

Jan 22 – Nickols choped and sawed wood. Went down to Browns got his saw. Luther Eldred and wife here to dinner. Fine day mercury 43 Abz. Paid Nelt one 1.25 Dollar and 25 cents. Wind South East.

Jan 23 – Filed Browns saw. Made some bix ins for Theodore.[25] Drawed one load wood. Went over to burg at noon. Went down to M O Streators[26] in Evening. Wind South west. First Egg for the season.

Jan 24 – Mercury 24 Abz in morn. Wind South west.

Jan 25 – Went over got Nancy in morning. Worked on patterns some. Carried Hank and Nancy down to Browns in Evening. Wind South west.

Jan 26 – Mercury 19 Abz in morning. Jim came home after his cloths. Rained in night. Wind South East.

Jan 27 – Rainy day mercury 44 very foggy. Worked on Churn cut grove for head, made head. Wind south west. Snow setled very fast.

Jan 28 – Worked on churn. Fine day all day. Wind south. Mike Hess wife died.

Jan 29 – Fine day. Finished churn in fore noon. Alvin, Ida and Julia called here. Alfleda went home with them. Wind south west. Harry Streators girl Born to day. Hellen Randall helped Born it.[27]

Jan 30 – Very pleasant morning no clouds looks like spring. Mercury 37. Wind North west at noon. Shortened up Mrs Betts cupboard.

Jan 31 – Drove up to Mr Ralphs. Went over to burg bot file &c.[28] Theodore came down to gum saw. Worked on Box some. Got out stuf for pulley to Henrys[29] Buz saw. Sarah went up to Mr Taylors. Mrs Jo Flanders[30] called here. Mr Knap came over. Mrs Fancher buried.[31] Wind North west.

Feb 1 – Mercury Abz 16 in morning. Carried Sarah up to Ralphs in morning. D. Stafford came down and helped turn some patterns. Went after Sarah in Evening. 7 Eggs. Wind North in morning.

Feb 2 – At home all day. No one here. Nice day, cold wind. Got 10 Eggs. Wind North west.

Feb 3 – Worked in shop. Went up in woods got load wood. Worked on pully to Buz saw. Mrs D. K. Rogers died this morning.[32] Browns folks here in Evening. Wind south and south East.

Feb 4 – Put cleats on Dells box. Turned out pully for buz saw. Theodore turned the lathe. Made Nancys Ironing board. Not very cold. Bot three brooms of pedler for fifty cents. Wind south East.

Feb 5 – Carried Sarah over to burg to Mrs D. K. Rogers funerall. Dressed out seat for Dells box. Bot paint. Went over after Sarah at night. Bot oil and venecian red 25¢ paint 50¢. Not very cold. Wind North East. Ruth McLary died 6 oclock P.M.[33]

Feb 6 – Worked on box. Alvin and Julia came up brot Alfleda home. Carried Sarah over to Barbers at noon. Went after her just at night. Wind North West.

Feb 7 – Pleasant morning very good sleighing. Jim came home this morning. Painted Dells Box. Ruth McLary buried to day. Wind west mercury 32 Abz.

Feb 8 – Worked in shop some. Painted Dells box. Mrs Streator[34] called here. Nancy came over with Allen Simmons. Hank came over stayed all night. Wind North west.

Feb 9 – Pleasant morning. Not very good sleighing. Went down to Katherines in afternoon found them all well as usual. Orrin went over to Comstock. Wind North west.

Feb 10 – Carried Nancy home this morning. Got some rivet head nails made for wagon box 10¢. Drawed 3 loads wood in afternoon. Ethan went over to burg. Davis Stafford brot load wood for shop in afternoon. Wind South East 7½ minutes.

Feb 11 – Worked on sash all day. Not very cold. Ethan came home. Wind South.

Feb 12 – Finished my sash. Dressed of cross head for Theodore. Mr Taylor came down after meat grinder. Wind west.

Feb 13 – Turned out some patterns. Primed sash. Edwin Flanders[35] brot down 3 bas boards. Theodore came down. T. C. Ford[36] called in to see Theodore. Snowey and blustrous wind North west. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah, she no come home. T. C. Ford got runaway with, got hurt some.

Feb 14 – Worked on patterns. Cold and blustrous. Dell Skinner called. Mercury 2 below zero. Wind North west.

Feb 15 – Worked in shop some. Painted sash and Mrs Betts cupboard. Dell went home. Wind south south East.

Feb 16 – At home. Jim and Katharine came up, she stayed. Mercury 20 Abz. Wind North west.

Feb 17 – Went over to burg carried over patterns. Went to Staffords. Went down to A. Browns. Hannah went down to see Mrs Brown[37] about going to Kalamazoo.

Feb 18 – Put glass into shop window. Carried Sarah and Katharine over to burg. Drawed one load wood. Not very good sleighing. Mercury at zero. Wind North west. Carried Hannah over to Nancys in Evening took Mrs Betts cupboard over. Sarah and Katharine came home with me.

Feb 19 – Went over to burg in morning. Katharine went over to see Osgood. Snowey bad day. Carried Katharine home in afternoon. Wind North south East.

Feb 20 – Put glass into sash to south window in shop. Tamer Ford[38] called here. Orrin Lee and Miles came stayed all night. Wind south East.

Feb 21 – Orrin and Miles here making candy. Cold. Wind west Mercury 16 Abz. Volney Hascall Died AE. 59 years.[39]

Feb 22 – Orrin and Miles went over to burg. Pleasant day. Dell and Lois[40] came Dell got his Box. Mercury 36 Abz.

Feb 23 – At home. Carried Hank and Nancy down to A. Browns. Cold west wind. South west wind Mercury 20 Abz.

Feb 24 – Snowey day not very cold. Husked some corn split some wood. Lois and Ina[41] here they washed to day. Wind East mercury 20 Abz.

Feb 25 – Carried Lois over to burg. Brot Mrs Betts over. Lucy[42] and Orrin came up went over to Hanks. I carried Mrs Betts home in Evening. Lucy and Orrin stayed the Evening. Che Che came up had a dance. Wind south East.

Feb 26 – Some blustrous this morning. Wind South west in morning. Worked on patterns some. Paw Paw fruit man Claxton came here. Stayed all night. Wind South west. Good sleighing.

Feb 27 – Mercury 6 Below zero. Worked on patterns. Carried Lois and Sarah down to Browns. Claxton left. Wind south west but cold.

Feb 28 – Worked on patterns orin patterns. Snowed some not very cold. Ethan not very well. Lois here. Wind South East mercury 29 Abz.

Mar 1 – Worked in shop on patterns some. Carried Lois over to burg in Evening. Mercury 44 Abz. Wind south East.

Mar 2 – Mercury 24 Abz. Went down to Marts[43] after Jim, he no come home. Cold wind. Very good sleighing. Wind East.

Mar 3 – Pleasant morning. Worked on patterns. Wind East in morning mercury 18 Abz.

Mar 4 – Worked in shop on twister grear. Carried Lois up to Myron Flanders[44] in afternoon. Alfleda went down to Browns. Sarah went down to Mr Randalls to see Ella. Henry came home stayed all night. Wind North west not very cold.

Mar 5 – Worked on patterns. Stafford came down. Peter Hall came down I filed two saws for him. Henry went up to Mr Flanders in morning. Mr Flanders, Edwin and Henry went over to burg in after noon. D. J. Hart went to Mr Flanders after Lois. She went up to Harts spect Mrs Hart is coming in soon. Wind South East.

Mar 6 – Went over to burg carried patterns over to Foundry. Drawed one load wood. Henry came down I turned pick handle for him. Wind South west.

Mar 7 – Worked on patterns. Not very cold. Henry went home. Lois came back.

Mar 8 – Carried patterns over to burg in morning. Drawed two loads wood two loads corn. D. J. Hart called here. Mrs Brown came up. Wind south mercury 68 Abz.

Mar 9 – Quite warm in morning. Lois and Ina here. Killed two Roosters White Jimme. Rained some had some thunder just at night heavy shower of north. Wind South west very strong. Mercury 58 Abz.

Mar 10 – Finished the circle pattern. Got out three spoke for my wagon wheel. D. J. Hart came after Lois in afternoon. Rained in Evening some Thunder and Lightning, quite warm. Mr T. C. Ford Died to day.[45] Wind South west.

Mar 11 – Repaired my thills[46] to wagon. Wind North west, warm.

Mar 12 – Went to funeral T. C. Ford buried. Made boulster to wagon. Jim came home. Wind North west.

Mar 13 – Put boulster on wagon. Nice warm day. Draw twenty stooks corn one load wood. Wind west.

Mar 14 – Husked some corn. Worked round barn some. Went over to burg in Evening to a dance. Cold wind. Nettie Keith Died to day.[47] Wind west.

Mar 15 – Put End board into wagon box in forenoon. Some blustrous. Wind. Mercury 15 Abz.

Mar 16 – At home all day. Mercury 20 Abz wind North west. Dell and Will[48] came here stayed all night. Nettie Keith buried to day.

Mar 17 – Dell and Ina went home. Ethan went to the burg. Jim and Will went down to Katharines. Painted front End of wagon box. Willard Baty[49] Called here left Postal card. Mercury 17 Abz wind North west.

Mar 18 – Drawed in and husked corn some. Cold. Will Clark[50] here. Wind North west.

Mar 19 – Cold but pleasant. Finished drawing in corn husked some. Mr Henry King started for Nebraska. Wind west.

Mar 20 – Finished husking corn. Went over to burg carried my boots got them tapt 50¢. Went down to M. O. Streators got some scions for grafting. Harry came down in Evening. Wind South East.

Mar 21 – Went over to burg in morning got my Boots. Fine morning. Bot pail 10¢. Mr Thomas Brown of Kalamazoo County superintendant of County Poor.

Mar 22 – Worked round barn and house. Drawed two loads wood. Cold wind. Went over to burg in afternoon to Caucus. Wind west.

Mar 23 – Went down to Marts. Mart gathering sap. Saw Mr Dun. Mr Thomas Brownell Died to day.[51] Wind south west mercury 29 Abz.

Mar 24 – Some rainy. Hannah went down to Mr Browns. Claud went. Will Clark came here. Made plate for Orrin Lees cane cut his name. Wind North West.

Mar 25 – Worked round. Drawed some wood. Chored round. Went over to burg in morning. Ethan came over. Wind west.

Mar 26 – Went over to burg in morning. Sarah went over to Nancys. Made cross head for Theodore. Wind West north west.

Mar 27 – Went down to A. Browns carried lime down. Went up to mill got some bark and wood to butcher with. Wind North west.

Mar 28 – Butchered my Hog. A. Brown helped me. Had a Thunder shower in afternoon. Ethan went over to burg. Wind south East.

Mar 29 – Went over to burg in morning with Orrin Lee. Went to the burying ground. He wanted to see where his grand mother[52] was buried. Salted my pork. Made Orrins cane. Warm day. Wind North west.

Mar 30 – Cold wind. Went down to Marts got some warm shugar. Sent letter and two pictures to Mark.[53] Wind North west.

Mar 31 – Pleasant morning. Worked round. Went over to burg to see Burrows. Went down to Browns got clover one bushel. Bot mop stick. Ambroze, Matilda,[54] Marias, Laury and Cyrus Streator[55] here in Evening. Wind North west.

Apr 1 – Some rain in morning. Ethan went over to Foundry. Wind west in morning.

Apr 2 – Ethan went over to Foundry. Very snowey afternoon. D. J. Hart brot Lois C down. Snow four 4 inches. Cow calved this morning be Jabers had a cow calf be gorry. Wind North West.

Apr 3 – Snows. Went over to burg. Ethan went over. Lois went over to see Mrs Wheeler. Wind North west mercury 18 Abz.

Apr 4 – Went over to burg. Sarah went over to get Mrs Betts dress. Ethan commenced lathing. Got 9.75 cts of county. Wind North west.

Apr 5 – Went over to burg at noon. Took Lois over she went home. Brot Nancy and Frank over. Ethan to work over to Foundry. Fine day. Wind West Nouth west.

Apr 6 – At home. Carried Nancy home at night. Will carried Frank home. Mrs Polly Nobles of Pavilion N. Y. Died.[56] Wind south west.

Apr 7 – Went up in woods cut and sawed some wood. Pleasant day. North west wind.

Apr 8 – Went over to burg in morning got ashes of Hank. Went up in woods sawed some wood. Went down to Katharines in afternoon. Wind south west.

Apr 9 – Sawed wood in forenoon. Rained in afternoon. Wind south.

Apr 10 – Sawed wood some. Went down to Charles Lees. Rained some. Wind south.

Apr 11 – Drawed 4 loads wood. Not very cold. Went over to burg in Evening. Sold 19 Doz Eggs 8[?] ct pr Doz. Wind North East.

Apr 12 – Carried Ethan over to burg Nancy came over with me. Wind North.

Apr 13 – At home all day. Alvin Lee, George Newton and Ida here. Wind west.

Apr 14 – Took Ethan over to burg. Jim plowing up by the woods. Cut some brush. Wind North west.

Apr 15 – Jim plowing. Moved log, fixed fence. Got Jesse Earls[57] seed sower. Sowed clover seed in afternoon.

Apr 16 – Worked round. Jim plowing. Wind North.

Apr 17 – Working round garden and house. Henry here. Sherman Cummings and Neal Daniels married.[58] Wind North west.

Apr 18 – Got out manure. Henry and Ethan went to burg. Henry went up to Mr Flanders. Let Henry have two Dollars. Mr Brinningstool Died.[59] Wind west.

Apr 19 – Got out manure and plowed gardens. Planted some potatoes in East garden. Went down to A Browns in Evening. Stranger came here in night about twelve oclock stayed all night, was going to Mr Fords. Wind North East.

Apr 20 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Kates in afternoon. Fine day. Mr Brinningstool died buried to day. Wind North East.

Apr 21 – Went over to burg in morning. Got lumber for windmill patterns of E. R. Strait. Went down to Browns got four bushels wheat. Warm day.

Apr 22 – Went to Comstock to mill. Fine day. Worked on patterns some. Mrs Betsey Lee of Salt Lake City Died to day.[60]

Apr 23 – Worked on patterns some. Warm day. Henry and Ethan work on binder. Hank went to Kalamazoo, had bill.[61]

Apr 24 – Worked on patterns some. Henry and Ethan went over to burg in afternoon. Lawton safe pedler stayed here all night. Wind north.

Apr 25 – Worked on patterns. Jim rolled the wheat. Henry went home. Dave Walker left for Tekonsha.[62] He paid 75¢ for keep overnight. Rained in night. Wind North East.

Apr 26 – Worked in shop on patterns. Warm day. Wind south west.

Apr 27 – Fine day, quite warm, rained some towards night. Hank and Nancy came over after church. Wind south west.

Apr 28 – Worked on patterns. Fine day. Went down to Marts in afternoon with Jim. Mr Hiram Woolcot Died to day.[63] Wind North west.

Apr 29 – Worked in shop on patterns. Went over to burg in Evening. Wind south west.

Apr 30 – Worked on patterns most of the day. Wind East.

May 1 – Fine morning. Worked on patterns some. Wind North East.

May 2 – Worked on patterns. Fine day. Jim plowing in south lot. Wind North.

May 3 – Finished Straits patterns. Jim plowing. Rained in afternoon. Put some grafts in apple tree in south lot. Snocked cow turds some. Wind south west.

May 4 – Rainy morning. Hank had Frank and buggy went up to Rass Towns.[64] Wind North west.

May 5 – Pulled corn stalks. Chored around. Henry came home. Ethan Grafting, Jim plowing. Wind North west.

May 6 – Altered over patterns. Davis Stafford came over. Fine day. Wind North.

May 7 – Finished pattern carried it over to burg. Henry went home. Ethan stayed all night. I glued Johney Blakes violin some. Wind North East.

May 8 – Pleasant day. Ethan over to burg. Work on violin. Old Stocking pedler here, bot 4 prs stockings 55 cts. Cleaned out stove. Mercury 34 some frost. Wind North East stout.

May 9 – Worked on patterns. Went over to burg in Evening. Got some mortar to plaster front room. Wind south East.

May 10 – Barber[65] Came over plastered front room. Nancy came over. Went down to Browns at night. Hank came over. Wind south.

May 11 – Warm. At home all day. No one here. Wind south west.

May 12 – Worked on patterns some. Went over to burg in morning. Jim ploted corn ground. Wind south west.

May 13 – Not much done in shop. Hoed potatoes. Found some bugs. Jim Draged corn ground. Had a shower in afternoon. Wind west.

May 14 – Worked on patterns. Went up to Mr Flanders. Got seed corn and some potatoes snowflake and La_ y Rose. Had a fine rain. Wind North East.

May 15 – Worked in shop some. Rained some. Jim helped Mr Brown plant. I went up to sawmill got to 4×4 scantling. Wind North.

May 16 – Marked out Corn ground. Jim and Will Brown[66] plant. Wind North East. Amos Rogers Died this morning.[67] Warm day.

May 17 – Went down to Mr Browns in morning. Got some seed potatoes. Hannah and Adelfa York[68] went down. Mr Brown and Nancy went to Kalamazoo. Finished planting corn. Carried Sarah over Mrs Betts she stayed all night. Tub[?] came of with nine chickens. Wind North.

May 18 – Warm day. At home all day. Alvin and Julia here. Amos Rogers buried to day. Old Mrs Hurd Died. Wind East.

May 19 – Worked in shop on patterns. Fine day. Sam Cressey called here with a petition for postmaster. Wind south East.

May 20 – Went over to burg in morning with patterns. Hannah and Delpha went up to Jim Milhams.[69] Planted potatoes. Old Mrs Hurd buried to day.[70] Wind north.

May 21 – Cool morning. Went to Kalamazoo after some stiel $2.61 for Binder. Delpha went down to Katharines. Mr Evens Died to day.[71] Wind North East.

May 22 – Mr William Plank Died this morning.[72] Worked on cog circle. Went over to burg twice. Wind south East.

May 23 – Went up in woods got sakes for fence. Drawed three loads slabs from mill to make fence.

May 24 – Went over to burg. Mrs Cornell died.[73] Not much done. Ethan and Hannah went down to Marts stayed all night. Rained in night. Wind south East.

May 25 – At home all day. Dell and Lois came here afternoon. Wind south west.

May 26 – Cool morning. Mrs Lemmon buried to day.[74] Mrs Cornell buried to day. Went to Kalamazoo to get iron. Wind North East.

May 27 – Went over to burg. Got lumber to make platform and door step. Jim plowed some ground for potatoes and corn in south lot. Hannah went up to Mr Flanders to sew for Mate. Wind south west.

May 28 – Warm day. Jim to work for I. D. L. Schram[75] plastering corn. Planted potatoes. Wind south East.

May 29 – Went over to burg in morning after Mrs Betts and Nancy. Sowed some corn planted calafornia corn. Had a fine shower rained in night. Pla[?] wind south East

May 30 – Fine morning. Hoed in garden some. Jim plastered corn. Mad bars out by hen yard and Hogpen. Wind west.

May 31 – Hoed potatoes, corn and berry bushes. Ethan cultivated garden. Windy, verry warm. Had a nice rain. Went over to burg just at night. Nancy came over. Went down to Browns. Rained in night. Wind south.

Jun 1 – Rainy morning. At home all day. R. C. Strait and George Yumans came over to see binder. Wind North East.

Jun 2 – Went over to burg in morning brot Binder patterns home. Planted in corn. Rained some just at night. Wind west south west.

Jun 3 – At home all day. Worked in shop some. Wind south East.

Jun 4 – Went over to burg in morning. Worked in shop some. Hoed some. Frank Tomlinson married to night.[76] Wind North west.

Jun 5 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried over boards to have sawed and planed fore door frames to put netting on. Went over at night got boards. Patty[77] came over with me. Wind North.

Jun 6 – Worked in shop some on patterns some on violin. Jim cultivating corn. Wind North East.

Jun 7 – Worked in shop some on violin and patterns.

Jun 8 – At home some. Went down to Katharines. Patty went down stayed. Jim went to Goguac Lake to Spiritualist meeting.

Jun 9 – Worked in shop on violin some. Turned out some pins for O. D. Schram.[78] Jim cultivated corn. Wind North west.

Jun 10 – Worked on violin put it together. Jim finished cultivating corn. Went over to burg got boots mended. Wind west.

Jun 11 – Went down to Caywood in morning carried Hannahs dress. Went over to burg bot strings pegs for Blakes violin 75¢. Very windy.

Jun 12 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg.

Jun 13 – Went over to burg in morning. Quin[79] left for Ohio. Henry took possession of store. Strait came over. Sarah went over to burg. Henry came over stayed all night.

Jun 14 – West over to burg in morning.

Jun 15 – At home. Mart brot Patty and Katharine up. Stafford and Henry came here.

Jun 16 – Carried Hannah to Mr Flanders. Turned twelve pins for Ayres Raymond. Got two bushels corn of M O Streator. Worked on cultivator.

Jun 17 – Finished cultivator. Jim cultivating.

Jun 18 – Carried all hands over to burg to see show come in. I came home. Hoed some plowed out garden. Sarah, Patty, Katharine and Hannah went.

Jun 19 – Hoed gardens. Davis came down got pattern made. Lucy came up. I went over after Patty and Katharine at night. Henry went to Comstock to get rollers cast.

Jun 20 – Worked in garden. Plowed out gardens. Mr Flanders came down took all the folks up to his house. I carried Katharine home at night.

Jun 21 – Hoed garden. Had a good rain. Went over to burg in Evening. George Travis stayed here all night.

Jun 22 – Cloudy morning. At home. Went in swimming. Warm day. Went over after Nancy.

Jun 23 – Nancy went to Kalamazoo. I went to Comstock after castings. Patty went with me. Henry Nobles married to day at Niles Mich.[80]

Jun 24 – Not much done. Not very well. Henry came over worked on binder. Lucy came up after Hannah and Patty. Hot day Mercury 92 in shade.

Jun 25 – Not very well. No work to day. Jim cultivated Buckwheat ground.

Jun 26 – Not very well. Mr Brown sowed Buckwheat for me. Had a shower in night.

Jun 27 – Carried Sarah over to burg in morning. Jim cultivated corn for Brown. Had a fine shower in afternoon. Dell came after his harvester. Rained in Evening.

Jun 28 – Worked round in shop some. Hoed garden some. Repaired cradle for A. Caywood.

Jun 29 – Fine day. Went down to Winslows Island to a meeting. Patty and Lucy went. Charley Towns[81] Bull screwed a calf into the old Cow so says Jim.

Jun 30 – Hoed some and chored around. Jesse Turner and wife[82] came here stayed all night.

Jul 1 – Hoed in garden some. Jess and Sally went home in afternoon. Went over to burg in Evening bot sack flour 65 cts. Charley Town commenced cutting wheat. Harry Rowland commenced cutting his wheat.

Jul 2 – Some cloudy in morning. Ethan went over to burg. Commenced the step to in and out of Buggy. Painted some.

Jul 3 – Worked round. Put two fingers into A Browns cradle. Went down to novelty shops after castings. Lucy Brot Patty and Hannah up. Will Clark and Lois came.

Jul 4 – I went down after Katharine in morning carried her over to burg. Made boxing and three pins for Jesse Earl.

Jul 5 – Went down to Comstock after twister. Fine day.

Jul 6 – At home. Lois and Will went home. Jim went with them. Had a fine rain in Evening.

Jul 7 – Went to Kalamazoo and Comstock to get castings. Warm day. Folks all cutting wheat. Had a heavy thunder shower in night. Got cabbage plants of H. A. Taylor.[83]

Jul 8 – Went to Kalamazoo after segment. Fine hot day.

Jul 9 – At home. Not much done. Work on binder.

Jul 10 – Worked round shop an garden. Carried Patty down to Marts. Mr Brown cutting wheat. Had a heavy shower.

Jul 11 – Mr Brown finished cutting wheat. Had a shower at noon. I went to Comstock in afternoon got twister cast. Cow gone all night. Carried Sarah over to burg in morning.

Jul 12 – Went over to burg Early in morning after cow, no find her. Went before breakfast, went over again after a while, cow came before I got back. Mr Knap came over. Mr Ralph came down, I Extracted three teeth, he paid fifty cents. Hot day. Ida Barber[84] came over.

Jul 13 – Fine day for harvesting. Davis Stafford came down. Put Binder in opperation.[85] Bound the first bundle of wheat quarter to one P.M. Put six bands around one bundle. Mr Flanders and Mate called here.

Jul 14 – Very hot day. Not much work to day. Lucy Came up just at night after Hannah. Ethan went over to burg in Evening. Mercury 94 in shade. Mr Brown drawed in wheat.

Jul 15 – Very hot morning Mercury 90 in shade in the morning. Picked currants. Mr Knap and Henry came over. Mrs Vradenberg came here stayed all night.

Jul 16 – Hot morning 84 in shade. Went down to Browns got muzle. Mrs Vrandenberg left.

Jul 17 – Plowed out corn an potatoes on hill. Went down to Marts in afternoon.

Jul 18 – Plowed potatoes and corn sout of orchard in forenoon. Went over to burg in afternoon to see Mary and Emmet.[86] They came up to get pictures. Bot two shovel plow shares of W. H. Knapp[87] 80 cts. Jim came home from Lois.

Jul 19 – Hoed some corn on hill. Jim plowed corn. Patty and Kate went to Vicksburg.

Jul 20 – At home all day. Ethan and Henry went down to Marts and Comstock. Hot day.

Jul 21 – Chored round. Hoed some in garden. Jim plowing corn. Very warm day. Willis Oatman and Fred Burrows here in afternoon. Mr Brown cutting oats. Turned some pins for Brown. Claud here just at night. Had a nice rain in night. Mart Milham Sarted his new Engine and Thrasher to day at A. Carletons.[88]

Jul 22 – Rainy morning, a nice rain it is, no wind comes, just right to do good. Lots of wheat out in the shocks. Cut steaks for Tomatoes. Rained in night some Thunder towards morning.

Jul 23 – Some lidle rain in morning. Went over to burg in morning after Mrs Betts. Hoed in garden some.

Jul 24 – Sick all day hard head and back ache. Stafford and Theodore Earl called in in afternoon. Ethan went over to burg. Mrs Betts went home. Rained in morning.

Jul 25 – Fine morning. No work to day. Jim cultivating corn.

Jul 26 – Not much better. I no work to day. Jim work in corn.

Jul 27 – Hank, Will and Jim sarted to go to Lansing to camp meeting. Cars loaded so they could not go. Lucy brot Hannah home in afternoon.

Jul 28 – Fine morning cool not so very hot as it has been.

Jul 29 – Went over to burg in morning got oil and Turpentine. Went over in Evening. Hannah went over to Hanks. I got lumber for steps and board for Nancys lambrequin.[89]

Jul 30 – Went over to burg got lumber plained. Worked on steps some. Very hot.

Jul 31 – Made steps. Sarah and Jim went to Kalamazoo. Bot chairs. Very hot day. Patty and Hellen[90] came home with Sarah and Jim. Mr Olin Came over to see the Binder.

Aug 1 – Very hot. Finished the buggy stand. Jim gone to Comstock.

Aug 2 – Went over to burg in morning after Nancy and Mrs Betts. No work to day. Lucy and Katharine came up here. Louese[91] and Jill Murphy[92] Came on the noon train. Went over at night after trunks, got Jills, no got Loueses trunks some.

Aug 3 – Heavy Thunder shower about four this morning. Lois and Patty went over to Nancys stayed all night.

Aug 4 – Went over to burg after Trunks, no get him. Mrs Flanders, aunt Hannah and Mate[93] here in afternoon. I made plow beam for Charley Town.

Aug 5 – Fine Morning. Not very well not much done.

Aug 6 – Went over to burg at noon. Mrs Storms Died about noon.[94] Went down to Katharines in afternoon stayed all night.

Aug 7 – Went over to Mr Maloneys with Mart saw his Engine and Thrasher. Went to Kalamazoo with Patty and Katharine. They started for Perry[95] went on the one forty train. Fare from K. to B. $11.35 cts. Nelson Blass Barns, sheds and stacks burnt in Evening.

Aug 8 – Went over to burg in morning, carried Hannah over, got Lelah.[96] I went to Kalamazoo got casting to Comstock 75 cts. Carried Lelah here at night. Barnums Show in town to day. Hank, Nancy and Hannah went. Louese and Lill went to Shermans Lake in afternoon with Will Brown and Frank Hubbard.[97]

Aug 9 – Chored round. Painted steps and door.

Aug 10 – At home all day. No one here.

Aug 11 – Went down to Marts got some wheat. Got corn of M. O. Streator. Claud went with me. Went over to burg in Evening. Nancy sick.

Aug 12 – Went to Mill. Nancy came over stayed all day.

Aug 13 – Painted some East side house and steps. Rained some. Jim plowed out potatoes. Ethan worked on moddle for Strait.

Aug 14 – Jim and Bill helping I. D. L. Schram Thrash. R. E. Strait[98] came over to get his big pattern change. Rained some in night. Girls went down to Mr Browns. Stranger called here got hammer to fix buggy spring. Pioneer Pickinic at Schoolcraft to day.

Aug 15 – Cloudy rained some in morning. Thrashing Riddlers wheat on Theodores lot. Martha Knapp Died in the night.[99]

Aug 16 – Worked on patterns altered one Straits big pattern. Went over to burg at noon and Evening. Louese and Jill went up to Jim Milhams.

Aug 17 – Working on pattern some.

Aug 18 – Worked on pattern finished patterns. Alva Burgess Died about noon to day.[100] Jim moving stove.

Aug 19 – Finished moving stove. Working on pattern. Boy from Jackson Called here and fed cow. He was going to Vicksburg.

Aug 20 – Jim gone to Picknic to Sherman Lake. Finished pattern. Alva Burgess buried to day.

Aug 21 – Worked in shop some. Turned some washers for Strait. Ethan and girls went down to Marts, had Browns colts Nip and Tuck.

Aug 22 – Not very well. Sis[101] and lill went over to Mrs Betts. I drawed load wood.

Aug 23 – Went over to Vicks burg stayed with Mr York and Hellen.[102] Found them all well. Nice day.

Aug 24 – Went over to Schoolcraft to Spiritualist meeting. Went back to Hellens stayed all night. Found Memorandum book in buggy when I got back to Vicksburg.

Aug 25 – Left Vicksburg about 3 PM for home got home about sun down all right. Went and saw Ives Foundry. Nice Building.

Aug 26 – Worked round house and garden. Lill Murphy went home to night.

Aug 27 – Went up in woods cut some wood. Fixed fence some. Went over to burg at night brot Mrs Betts over. Very dry.

Aug 28 – Working round some. Mrs Betts and Sarah went down to A Browns. Will carried Mrs Betts home.

Aug 29 – Went up in woods got two loads wood. Steamer Thrashing to towns. Mart Thrashing up to Jims. Ethan and Louese went up there just at night. I went over to burg in Evening. Very warm and dry. Jim helping Town Thrash.

Aug 30 – Jim over to Towns. Mercury 84 in shade at nine A.M. 94 at 2 PM. Allerton thrashing. Mart Thrashing up to Nyes. Gefired hot. Sarah went to Dowagiac[103] on the Through freight about 12 oclock in night.

Aug 31 – At home all day. Jesse Earl came down here after some Tanzy.[104] Very hot day. Davis Stafford came here.

Sep 1 – Commenced topping corn. Commenced to rain quater to three PM some Thunder. Mart Thrashing to Jim Spires.[105] Rained most all night. Ethan went to Kalamazoo in afternoon.

Sep 2 – Raining nicely, rained all day. Carried Bags down to A Browns Thrashing. Went over to burg. Expresed Pocketbook to Newton Hutchings, Wakelee Cass Co Mich. Rained all night.

Sep 3 – Raining nicely. No work to day. Went over to burg in rain after Louese. Stopt raining about Eight in Evening 41 hours rain. Thrashers went up to Earls. Henry went up to Whites to tend mill.

Sep 4 – Pleasant morning. Thrashers at Randalls. Went down to Jacksons[106] to see some hogs. Randall had 140 bus wheat. Went down to Browns got my wheat 12 bushels.

Sep 5 – Pleasant day. Went down to Jacksons got sow $6.00. Topt some corn.

Sep 6 – Topping corn. Cloudy some wind. Mr Knap came over in morning.

Sep 7 – At home all day. No one here. Fine day. Hank and Nancy down to Browns. Nancy had toothache all day and night.

Sep 8 – Nice day. Topping corn. Jim over to burg. Ethan went over to burg. Louese went with him. Sow pigged about 4 four PM had Six pigs.

Sep 9 – Topping Corn. Ethan went over to burg in morning. Mr & Mrs Brown went over and got Lelah going to wean her. Nancy sick. Warm day.

Sep 10 – Topping corn. Warm day.

Sep 11 – Topping corn. Ethan went over to burg. I carried Hannah down to Mr Browns. Paid M. O. Streator for Corn 2.33. Turned seven pins for Mr Streator.

Sep 12 – Bound and set up wheat corn stalks I cut yesterday. Commenced raining half past nine AM.

Sep 13 – Cut corn stalks. Claud and Lelah here. Carried them home.

Sep 14 – At home all day. Sis came over just at night. Ethan and Hannah went around the square up by Powlisons Sharpsteens.

Sep 15 – Pleasant some wind. Topping corn some. Mowers stopt at the corners East of house set up their stoves and got dinner. Two wagons, smart looking folks set table, they went south.

Sep 16 – Went over to burg in morning. Carried over 15 day & 5 Eggs 1.80 ct. Went up in woods cut down tree got load wood.

Sep 17 – Topt corn some. Jule Allen[107] came here stayed all night.

Sep 18 – Went over to burg in morning got Nancy and Loese. Finished topping corn. Mr Terry here to dinner. They all went away at night.

Sep 19 – Cutting wood. Fine day. Drawed two loads wood. Mrs Vrandenberg here. Mrs Forbush and Blake here in afternoon.

Sep 20 – Cut wood in forenoon. Went over to burg after Sarah she no come. Old Cow got choaked. Went down got Mr Brown. Ethan & Hannah went over to burg in Evening. Claud came home with them. Nice weather.

Sep 21 – Pleasant morning. At home all day.

Sep 22 – Fine day. Got some wood. Sarah came home on noon train. Mr William Gilmore Died to day AE. 70 years.[108]

Sep 23 – Went over to burg got load lumber of Strait. Went down to Katharines just at night. Rained when we came home. Saw Mr Huntington he had been down to Perry.

Sep 24 – Pleasant Morning. Went over to burg got lumber roof boards & floorboard. The whole amount 6.59. Hannah went down Mr Browns. Nancy & Louese went also too.

Sep 25 – Worked. Worked on sills. Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo to County Fair.

Sep 26 – Put sills together. Chored around. Rained in night. Done Belas chores. Went over to burg in Evening got oil, bot ½ bushel Peaches. The Philothumpers[109] had a show in burg this Evening. Done B. Wrights[110] chores milked two cows fed five pigs pumpd water for five nine head of cattle & one horse.

Sep 27 – Rainy forenoon. Went over to burg after the girls. Made whiffletree[111] for A. Brown. Punched pan for a steamer for Mrs Brown. Sarah went over and stayed with Jane Hoag.[112] Done Belas chores.

Sep 28 – Rained hard in forenoon. Went over to Janes after Sarah. Went down to Katharines. Katharine got home. Ella Randall Died to day.[113] Done Belas chores.

Sep 29 – Cut and drawed my corn and pumpkins in south lot. Cut the fodder and one swath Buckwheat. Done Belas chores.

Sep 30 – Cut Buckwheat in forenoon. Went to Ella Streators funeral in afternoon. Very pleasant day. Done Belas chores.

Oct 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Drawed cornfodder in forenoon. Cut and set up Buckwheat in afternoon. Ethan and carried Jims Bed over to burg this Evening. Mercury 86 in shade noon. Very hot day.

Oct 2 – Cut Buckwheat and chored round.

Oct 3 – Worked in Buckwheat. Cut and put up some. Ethan and Hannah went down to Marts.

Oct 4 – Finished my Buckwheat. Nice day.

Oct 5 – Very warm morning. At home all day. Mercury 100 at the burg.

Oct 6 – Chored around. Carried two bushels wheat to mill. Bot lamp chimney 1.20. Tamer Ford stayed here all night. Mrs Brown here in Evening.

Oct 7 – Nancy came over this morning. Carried Nancy home in Evening. Mrs Barber[114] and Ida came over.

Oct 8 – Carried Sarah down to Browns. She went to Kalamazoo with Browns folks. Rainy day. Ed Childs folks came here stayed all night. Got timber for sills to Sxxx house.

Oct 9 – Fine morning Mercury 82 in morning in shade. Childs folks went to Plainwell.

Oct 10 – Warm day. Fraimed falce sills to shit house. Mercury 93 in afternoon. Mrs Skinner and Sate[115] came stayed all night. Had a heavy shower in night. Mrs Stevenson Died to night.[116] Mrs Stowell buried to day.[117]

Oct 11 – Very warm day. Work on Privy some. Raised my Shithouse. D. J. Harts Baby died to day.[118] Ambrose, Matilda and Jule here in Evening.

Oct 12 – Mrs Skinner, Sarah and Sate went down to A. Browns. Very hot day uncomen warm. Hank and Nancy went down to Browns. Had showers North and East of us in afternoon. Had a thundershower in night. Rained hard in night.

Oct 13 – Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Dell and Lois came here to dinner. Mrs. Harts baby buried to day.

Oct 14 – Went over to burg got money on order. Not very well. Chored round some.

Oct 15 – Sowed clover and Timothy seed on west lot. Hot day Mercury 84 Abz. Alfleda went to Paw Paw.[119] Mrs Betts came over with sis to stay all night in Pig pen. I am 66 years old to day.

Oct 16 – Turned over Buckwheat got load wood husked some corn.

Oct 17 – Worked on backhouse sided it up. Warm day.

Oct 18 – Put roof boards on college. Rainy some, some cooler.

Oct 19 – Went over to burg after Louese. Nancy and Hank came over. Jim and Louese went down to Katharines.

Oct 20 – Fine pleasant morning. Paid James Jackson Seven Dollars this morning for Sow.

Oct 21 – Drawed Buckwheat. Thrashed some. Jim helped Louese in store. Sarah and Nancy went down to M. O. Streators.

Oct 22 – Thrashed Buckwheat got it all in at night. Hannah went to Mr Simmons in morning.

Oct 23 – Cool some rainy. Mrs Skinner, Sate and Sarah went over to Nancys. Rained snowed and blowed and rained. Finished Thrashing Buckwheat had 10 & one ½ bushels. Mrs Skinner and Sate stayed here all night.

Oct 24 – Cool North East wind. Mrs Skinner and Sate went home to day. Dug potatoes in south lot and some in corn field.

Oct 25 – Went up in woods got load wood. Chored round.

Oct 26 – Went down to Katharines stayed all night. Lucy and Katharine out to Hellens. Hellen is very sick with Typhoid fever.

Oct 27 – Came home from Kates in forenoon. Husked corn in afternoon. Nice weather.

Oct 28 – Husked corn to day. E. R. Strait over here to work on patterns. Some windy. Henry came home to day. Hellen some better this morning.

Oct 29 – Husking corn. Very windy. Mart thrashing clover to to J. Flanders. Henry went up to see Stafford.

Oct 30 – Husking corn put in 30 bushels. Fine day. Went to mill 2 Bushels wheat one and half corn.

Oct 31 – No work to day. Mr Stephen Hall and wife here to day carried them over to Hoags at night. Old Mr Nye Died.[120]

Nov 1 – Carried Louese over to burg in forenoon. Nancy, Louese and the children went up to Skinners[?] on the noon train. Went over to burg in Evening after Jims things. Sawed some wood.

Nov 2 – Snows like fun not very cold. Snow fell 8¾ inches. Henry L. and Hank Brown stayed all night. Hannah went up to Mr Ralphs. Nancy and Louese out to Loises. Old Mr Nye Buried to day.

Nov 3 – Pleasant shiny morning. Not much done. Went up in wood got one load wood.

Nov 4 – Put up stove in shop. Theodore called here. Jim went Kalamazoo with Mr Brown.

Nov 5 – Snows some this morning. Drawed one load wood two loads corn. Ethan casting his moddle castings.

Nov 6 – Pleasant day. Went down to Katharines. All at home. Hellen some better. Louese and Ina came home this morning.

Nov 7 – Husking corn. Nice day.

Nov 8 – Husking corn. Lois and Will came. Finished husking in the lot. Rained in night.

Nov 9 – Cloudy morning not very cold. Mr Browns folks here in Evening. Mrs Emeline Davison and Mrs Corkins[121] came with them.

Nov 10 – Jim and Will husked corn in afternoon for Brown. Killed two pigs in forenoon. Lois and Nancy went down to Katharines. Had a thunder shower in night. Thundered and Ligtened right smart.

Nov 11 – Cloudy and warm. Lois went up to Mr Flanders. Carried Hannah down to J. Gibbenys. Jim husking for Mr Brown. Rained some Mercury 69. Worked in stable. Rainy night warm spring weather.

Nov 12 – Mercury 64 in morning. Rainy morning real spring weather. Ethan and Henry working on moddle. Ethan making pattern for J. C. Blake.

Nov 13 – Dug some potatoes in East garden. Lois and Sally[122] went over to Nancys. Ethan carried Blakes patterns over to foundry. Bot Barn door hook of Bidwell. Mercury 70 Abz.

Nov 14 – Some rainy some thunder some Lighting about four Oclock. Went over to burg in morning. Lois went over stayed with Nancy. Went up in woods. Jim and Will Mercury 64 Abz sawed some wood. I cut down tree. Boys all went over to burg in afternoon to the theater Philometheans.[123]

Nov 15 – Jim went down to Katharines. Chored round.

Nov 16 – At home all day. All well.

Nov 17 – Drawed cornfodder and sweet corn out of west garden. Mary Ann Oscar[124] called here.

Nov 18 – Sawed wood up in woods, sawed up the black oak. Mary Ann came down stayed all night.

Nov 19 – Jim and I sawed up tree in forenoon cut 21 logs or lengths of stove wood. Very Windy day. Mary Ann went up to her Fathers.[125] Henry an Ethan went to burg. Mr Brown drawing corn.

Nov 20 – Drawed two loads wood. Chored around. Went down to Browns in afternoon carried crick bed scythe and sage and various things. Cold windy day. Forty years ago to night I played for a Wedding party at Comstock. D. M. Hall and Matila Newman wer married.[126]

Nov 21 – Cold some snow flying this morning. Working around house and barn. Went over to burg carried over 3 bushels Buckwheat. Took Dinner with Mrs Betts also Tea. Had Oysters for Dinner.

Nov 22 – Went over and got Buckwheat flour in morning. Chored round.

Nov 23 – Carried Jim down to Marts. He is going to school down there. Hank & Nancy called here when they went home in Evening. Hannah went down to Mr Browns in Evening. She is sewing for Jule & Mrs Corkins.

Nov 24 – Worked up in woods in forenoon. Henry and Sarah went over to burg at noon. Hank and Nancy went to Kalamazoo, they had Bill and buggy. High wind South west. Wind South West.

Nov 25 – Worked round cut some wood. Went up to the sawmill got plank to make cross head. Went down to Mr Browns in Evening Mrs Corkins.

Nov 26 – Went down to Browns got bedstead. Drawed two loads wood. Rainy afternoon. Mrs Corkins left for home[127] on Evening train.

Nov 27 – Rainy. Not much done but chores. Boys to work in shop.

Nov 28 – Made cross head for Theodore. Ethan and Henry over to burg. Some windy no snow.

Nov 29 – Worked around house in shop some. Went over to burg in Evening. Brot Nancy, Hannah, Louese and Claud and Lelah. Hank came over on foot. Not very cold, some windy, no snow.

Nov 30 – All at home. Jim came up from Marts. Carried Hanks folks in Evening. Claud took sled home to use a while.

Dec 1 – Very pleasant day sun shines no wind. Choring round. Barber brot his wheel over to get it new rimmed.

Dec 2 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg, bot lamp chimneys and tin for stovepipe. Not very cold.

Dec 3 – Sawed out felloes[128] for Barbers wheel. Repaired Hugh Aldrich violin. Filed saw for N. L. Randal.[129]

Dec 4 – Cloudy not very cold. Cattle out to pasture. Drawed two loads wood. Boys to work on Binder.

Dec 5 – Fine day sun shone all day. Rimed Barbers wheel. Carried 3 bushels wheat to mill just at night. Hugh Aldrich got his violin 25¢. Seems like spring.

Dec 6 – Worked round shop and house. Not much done.

Dec 7 – Went down to Marts. All well. No snow not very cold.

Dec 8 – Chored round. Carried Hannah Went over to burg after Hannah. Robert Crawford[130] came on noon train.

Dec 9 – Rainy not very cold. Robert, Sarah and I went over to burg at noon took dinner with Mrs Betts. Had a big shower rained all night.

Dec 10 – Rained this morning not quite warm Mercury 58 Abz. Worked on R. E. Straits violin. Carried Hannah over to burg at night brot Sarah home. Robert went to Battlecreek. Henry went up to the Creek to get some Steel to make needle point. Freezing some tonight no snow.

Dec 11 – Put Straits violin together. Nice day for the time of year.

Dec 12 – At home. Drawed wood. Robert came over. Not much done. Nice weather for winter no snow.

Dec 13 – At home. Went over to burg in Evening after Hannah. Jesse W. Turners 80 Eightieth birthday.

Dec 14 – Robert came over in morning stayed until noon. He went over to burg stayed to Nancys all night. Jim and Katharine came up.

Dec 15 – Snowed and blows some like winter. Jim Came home this morning. Went over to burg. Robert left on the one Oclock run he went to Dowagiac.

Dec 16 – Worked round cut some wood drawed some wood. About four inches snow. Hannah went to Mrs Howlets to sewing or to make a woolen Gown.

Dec 17 – Worked round house and shop. Went over to burg just at night after Ethan. Blake made needle for Binder.

Dec 18 – Some sleighing. Ethan went over to burg after needle. I went up in woods cut one load wood. Hannah Came home She went back to Caywoods. Mr Caywood Came and got sewing machine. He no freeze not much some.

Dec 19 – Cut and drawed one load wood. Carried 7½ bushels Buckwheat to Mill. Not very good sleighing. Paid Katharines tax $18.88 cts. Elmer Latell came down and got some Turning done.

Dec 20 – Chored round in forenoon. Went over to mill in afternoon. Saw Quinn Streator and Solomon Kingsley.

Dec 21 – At home all day. Very windy cold East wind. Rain and sleet in Evening, not much snow.

Dec 22 – Sleigh runs verry nicely this morning. Hannah at Caywoods. Henry going to the creek to get goods. Quincy Streator went back to Ohio to day.

Dec 23 – Shelled some corn took it to mill 4 bushels. Sarah went over to burg stayed all day. Went over at night after her. Henry got back from the creek. Very good sleighing. Hannah came home from Caywoods.

Dec 24 – Not very cold, some ice, river very high. Went over to burg in Evening.

Dec 25 – Went At home. Very blustrous. Went over to burg. Went down to Browns. Carried saw home. Jim and I sawed wood in forenoon.

Dec 26 – Cold and blustrous. Went over to burg. Carried boards over to get plainned for panels. Got grist. Mercury 6 Abz.

Dec 27 – Not very cold Mercury 19 Abz ca.

Dec 28 – At home. Jim came up. Louese at home to day.

Dec 29 – Drawed four loads wood. Went over to burg got my boards at Straits.

Dec 30 – Put in knee to Charley Towns bob, he paid 75 cts. Not very cold, not much snow, rather sandy sleighing.

Dec 31 – Snows some. Ethan gone over to burg. Mercury 29 Abz at nine 30 AM

——-

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

[2] Galesburg, Michigan

[3] Edna Alice (Crawford) Allen, the daughter of his wife’s late brother, Edwin, & Mary (Hamilton) Crawford

[4] Neighbors, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown, who were the parents of his son-in-law, Henry Brown. Matilda’s sister, Julia Allen, who lived with Ambrose & Matilda, was also there

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

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

[7] Both the Brown and Keith families were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances. Chee Chee was Ambrose Brown’s spirit guide

[8] January 1-5 entries were originally written in the back of his 1878 dairy and then copied into his 1879 diary. This phrase, however, was only in his 1878 diary

[9] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[10] FindAGrave.com shows that Lucinda (Curtis) Brown died January 4, 1879 in Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York, and is buried in Wrights Corner Cemetery, Wyoming, New York

[11] His cousin, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[12] His son, Ethan Keith

[13] FindAGrave.com confirms that Phillip Goodrich died January 6, 1879 in Galesburg, Michigan, and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[14] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[15] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

[16] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner

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

[18] Above zero

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

[20] His cousin, Orrin Strong Lee, the son of Ezekiel & Elizabeth (Strong) Lee

[21] His grandson, Claude Keith Brown

[22] Hannah was a seamstress so it is thought this was one of the items she used in her sewing

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

[24] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders

[25] His neighbor and “shirttail relative,” Theodore Earl

[26] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[27] Mabel Streator was born to Henry “Harry” & Helen (Randall) Streator. Since Helen is the baby’s mother, presume Luke is being funny. Harry Streator was the son of Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[28] Etc.

[29] His son, Henry Lindsey Keith

[30] Neighbor, Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[31] FindAGrave.com records show that Almira Fancher, the wife of Jacob Fancher, died January 30, 1879 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[32] FindAGrave.com reveals that Eliza (Beadle) Rogers died February 3, 1879 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[33] Michigan death records confirm that Ruth (Scarborough) McClary died in Charleston, Michigan on February 5 and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[34] Laura (Rawson) Streator, the wife of Marius O. Streator (see footnote to January 23^rd entry)

[35] Neighbor, Edwin P. Flanders, the son of Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[36] Neighbor, Thomas Clark Ford

[37] Matilda (Allen) Brown (see footnote to January 1^st entry)

[38] Mary Tamer Ford, the daughter of neighbors Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford

[39] FindAGrave.com records show that Volney Hascall died on February 24, 1879 (not the 21^st), in Kalamazoo County, Michigan and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[40] His son-in-law and daughter, Adelbert & Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner

[41] His granddaughter, Ina, the daughter of Adelbert & Lois Skinner

[42] Lucy (Lee) Milham, his niece (Catherine’s daughter by her second husband, George Clinton Lee)

[43] Martin Milham, the husband of his niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham

[44] Neighbor

[45] FindAGrave.com records reveal that Thomas C. Clark died on March 10, 1879 in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[46] The long shaft between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon

[47] Jessie “Nettie” Keith was the daughter of his cousin, James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith. FindAGrave.com shows that she died on March 3 (not the 14^th) and is buried in Covert Cemetery, Covert, Michigan

[48] Believe he is referring to his grandson (see footnote to March 18^th entry)

[49] Willard C. Batey, the brother of Mary Ann (Batey) Keith (see footnote to March 14^th entry)

[50] His grandson, William Byron Clark, the son of his daughter Lois by her first husband, Byron Clark

[51] Michigan death records and FindAGrave.com confirm that Thomas C. Brownell died March 29, 1879 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[52] From Luke’s diary entry of 2-28-1863: Mark & Joseph Lee Brot up Aunt Rhodas remains & buried them side of Clinton. (Note: Marquis deLafayette Lee was the grandson and Joseph Warren Lee was the son of Charles Lee & Rhoda Keith. Believe “Clinton” refers to George Clinton Lee, Charles & Rhoda’s son.) George Clinton Lee was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[53] “Mark” is referred to quite often in Luke’s earlier diaries and it is believed Luke is referring to his cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind to run his father’s farm and lived with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee, until the Spring of 1870 when he moved to Utah

[54] Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown; see footnote to the January 1^st entry)

[55] Neighbors, Marius O. Streator, and his wife, Laura (Rawson) Streator; it is believed Cyrus Streator, who lived in Waverly, Michigan, was Marius’ brother

[56] Mary “Polly” (Sprague) Nobles was the first cousin of Luke’s first wife, Jerusha Crittenden. FindAGrave.com confirms that she died April 6, 1879 in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York and is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York

[57] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[58] No marriage record was found; however, the 1880 census shows Sherman Comings and his wife, Cornelia Comings, living in Comstock, Michigan

[59] Michigan death records show that Alanson Brininstool died April 17, 1879 in Comstock, Michigan; his burial location is unknown

[60] Elizabeth (Strong) Lee was the wife of Dr. Ezekiel Lee, Luke’s first cousin. She actually died in Peoa, Utah, and was the mother of Orrin Lee (see footnote to January 12^th entry)

[61] His horse

[62] Tekonsha is located in Calhoun County, Michigan

[63] Michigan death records show that Hiram Wolcott died April 27, 1879 in Climax, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Boughton Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[64] His neighbor, Erasmus Towne

[65] His neighbor, Richard Barber

[66] Ambrose & Matilda Brown’s son, Willis Brown

[67] Michigan death records confirm that Amos Rogers, age 33, died of consumption on May 16, 1879 and FindAGrave.com reveals that he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[68] Marion Adelpha York, the granddaughter of his sister, Katharine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[69] James Milham was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for March 2^nd entry)

[70] FindAGrave.com confirms that Anna Hurd was buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan on May 20, 1879

[71] Michigan death records reveal that Andrus M. Evans died May 21, 1879 in Charleston, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[72] FamilySearch.com shows that William Plank died May 2, 1879 [as opposed to May 22] and FindAGrave.com lists his place of burial as Greenwood Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan

[73] Michigan death records reveal that Hepsa Cornell died May 24, 1879 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[74] Michigan death records reveal that Isabel Lemon died May 24, 1879 in Pavilion, Michigan

[75] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[76] Michigan marriage records confirm that John F. Tomlinson married Hattie A. Root in Concord, Jackson County, Michigan on June 4, 1879

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

[78] Neighbor, Orrin D. Schram. Orrin was the father of Isaac D. L. Schram (see footnote for May 28^th entry)

[79] Neighbor, John Quincy Streator, the son of Marius O. Streator

[80] Michigan marriage records show that Henry Nobles married Katie B. Nickhane on June 23, 1879 in Niles, Michigan

[81] Neighbor, Charles Towne; his daughter Hannah’s future husband

[82] Jesse & Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner; Luke and Jesse were maternal first cousins

[83] Neighbor, Hannibal “Hat” A. Taylor

[84] Daughter of neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[85] For more about the binder see my blog post at https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/2018/11/15/ethan-keith-inventor

[86] Mary (Hamilton) Crawford and her son, Emmett Patrick Crawford, the wife and son of the late Edwin Crawford who was the brother of Luke’s wife, Sarah

[87] Neighbor, William H. Knapp

[88] Neighbor, Albert Carlton

[89] A short piece of decorative drapery hung over the top of a door or window or draped from a shelf or mantelpiece

[90] Believe this to be Helen (Bradley) York, the daughter of Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee, and niece of Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague

[91] His daughter, Louese Keith; she had been living in Chicago with her uncle and aunt, Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, while attending school there

[92] Assume she was Louese’s friend from Chicago

[93] Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders; her husband Joseph’s sister, Hannah (Flanders) Wilmarth; uncertain as to Mate Flanders’ identity

[94] Michigan death records show that Alice (Hughes) Storms died at the age of 32 on August 6, 1879 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Prairieville Cemetery in Prairieville, Michigan

[95] Perry, Wyoming County, New York; his sister Patty’s daughter and son-in-law, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson, lived in Perry

[96] His granddaughter, Lela Brown, Nancy & Henry Brown’s daughter who was almost one year old

[97] Neighbor, the son of Albert & Margaret (Jackson) Hubbard

[98] Neighbor, Ransom E. Strait

[99] Michigan death records indicate that Martha (Knapp) Perry, age 24, died of Typhoid Fever on August 15, 1879

[100] Michigan death records, the 1880 Census Mortality Schedule and FindAGrave.com show that Alvah/Elva Burgess, age 23, died of consumption on August 18, 1879 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[101] Nickname for his daughter, Louese Keith

[102] Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was the daughter of Luke’s sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[103] Dowagiac, Michigan, where the family of Sarah’s late brother, Edwin Crawford, lived

[104] A perennial flowering plant of the aster family. Tansy was used to treat intestinal worms, rheumatism, digestive problems, fevers, sores, and to bring out measles

[105] Neighbor, James Spier

[106] Believe he is referring to his neighbor, James Jackson

[107] Julia Allen, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister

[108] The 1880 Federal Census Mortality Schedule confirms that William Gilmore, aged 70, died in New York in September 1879 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York, although it shows the date of death as 1878

[109] Believe he is referring to Bible lovers

[110] Neighbor, Bela Wright

[111] 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

[112] Neighbor, Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

[113] The 1880 Federal Census Mortality Schedule confirms that Helen “Ella” (Randall) Streator, age 25, wife of Henry “Harry” Streator (see footnote to January 29^th entry), died of consumption on September 28, 1879 and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[114] Mary (Knowles) Barber

[115] Adelbert Skinner’s (see footnote to January 16^th entry) mother and sister, Sarah (Knight) Skinner and Sarah “Sate” Skinner

[116] Michigan death records show that Julietta Stephenson, age 37, died in Comstock, Michigan on October 10, 1879; however no other information concerning her was found at this time

[117] Michigan death records show that Mary Stowell, age 58, died of heart disease in Comstock on October 8, 1879; no other information was found

[118] Michigan death records show that Frances Bell Hart, age 7 months, died in Richmond, Michigan, on October 11, 1879, and FindAGrave.com shows that she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Hart and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[119] Paw Paw, Michigan, where Alfleda’s (see footnote to January 10^th entry) daughter Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee’s family lived

[120] Michigan death records shows that Jonathan Nye died October 31, 1879 in Charleston, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan

[121] Believe this is actually Mary (Allen) Calkins, Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister. She is also mentioned on November 23, 25 & 26

[122] Assume he is referring to his wife, Sarah. Their marriage license lists her name as Sally

[123] The Philomathean Society was founded in 1813 “for the advancement of learning” and appears to have been a sort of debate society. Perhaps this is what Luke was referring to

[124] His nephew and his wife, James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[125] John Batey, who lived in Pavilion, Michigan

[126] Luke made the following entry in his 1839 Ledger/Diary: “November the 20 1839 Attended A party at Cumstock or A wedding rather.” Results from a search of Ancestry.com shows a family tree (Lisa Grace Warren Family Tree) wherein Daniel Mason Hall (1816-1891) married Matilda D. Newman (1820-1908) about 1840

[127] The 1880 census shows she was living in Wysox, Carroll County, Illinois

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

[129] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[130] His wife’s brother

Luke Keith’s 1877 Diary

1877 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

 Jan 1 – At Tomlinson House.[2] Very blustring. Frank[3] and I took a ride out East in afternoon. Mercury 14 Abz.[4]

Jan 2 – Snows some. George[5] gone over to Mount Morris after Nell.[6] Bot this Diary in Perry.[7] Nell came home about two oclock. Went over to Nobles in Evening, saw fountain.

Jan 3 – Snows and blows, snow piled up, Mercury 14 Abz. Mr Braughton and Lady here. Marion[8] and I went to see the Waubinoes performe.

Jan 4 – Cold morning. Left Perry one oclock P.M., went over to Gainesville, took the cars[9] for Buffalo, arrived about six P.M., left Buffalo half past one for Detroit.

Jan 5 – Got to Detroit about 12 noon, left Detroit half past six, got to Galesburg about twelve night, got home about one.

Jan 6 – At home all day. Not very well. Found the folks all well. Mercury 45 Abz.

Jan 7 – Went down to Katharines.[10] All well. Not very cold.

Jan 8 – Went up to Skinners. Del[11] over to burg[12] to attend a lawsuit. All well. Sent letter to Patty.[13]

Jan 9 – Cold, mercury 4 below zero. At home, no one here. Filed three saws for Ernest 60 cts. Browns folks[14] here in Evening. Mrs Calkins[15] here with them.

Jan 10 – Went over to burg, carried Jims[16] Boots over, paid 60 cts. Mrs Ralph[17] here.

Jan 11 – Not very well. Went over to burg, got Jims Boots. Snowed like fun.[18]

Jan 12 – Cold, 2 below zero. Filed my Bucksaw. Major[19] killed to day. Hog hunt here.

Jan 13 – Cold day, Mercury 8 Abz above zero. Went up in woods, cut down one tree, drawed two loads wood. Snow very deep in woods.

Jan 14 – Ed Childs and wife here. Went down to Katharines in Evening. Henry[20] here stayed all night.

Jan 15 – Went up to Mr Flanders[21] with Henry. Snowed and blowed like the mischief.

Jan 16 – Very pleasant day. Shelled 3 bushels corn.

Jan 17 – Earnest[22] killed my hogs. Went over to burg after grist, no get him. Mercury 30 Abz. Went down to Browns in Evening. Mr Morrison and wife there.

Jan 18 – Mercury 30 Abz, ledle some rain in morning.

Jan 19 – Mr Ives and George called here. Sarah[23] and Mrs Betts[24] went to burg. Went to Barbers[25] in Evening. Put hair in one End of bow.

Jan 20 – Cold and blustrous Mercury 16 Abz morning. At home. Mrs Emeline Bradley[26] died to day.

Jan 21 – At home all day. Ethan[27] and Henry went up to Foundry. Cold day Mercury 2 below.

Jan 22 – Mercury 18 Abz in morning.

Jan 23 – Went over to burg with Henry. Mart, Ansil and Lucy[28] here. I went down to M. O. Streators[29] to see if I could get some straw.

Jan 24 – Pleasant cold day. Made saw Buck for Earnest Whiting.

Jan 25 – At home all day. Not much done.

Jan 26 – Went down to Katharines. Mrs Betts and Sarah went down to Browns.

Jan 27 – Drawed Straw from M. O. Streators, two loads for Brown, one for my self. Went up to Nathan Lamkins in Evening with Browns folks. Mrs Betts went over to Burg.

Jan 28 – Fine pleasant day Mercury 34 Abz.

Jan 29 – Drawed some wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. No find him.

Jan 30 – Drawed two loads Straw from Streators. Went over to burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. Got him this time. Mr and Mrs Streator[30] called here no stop long. Rained in night. Sleighing thin.

Jan 31 – Not very cold snow melting. Drawed two loads wood. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer one hundred and four dollars. Lois[31] came down.

Feb 1 – Went to Foundry. Boys making Cider. Got mawl.

Feb 2 – Carried Hannah[32] up to Mr Ralphs.[33] Went up to Foundry. Boys making cider. Filed saw for A Brown[34] by golly. Hall sent timber for two ax helves.

Feb 3 – Went up to Foundry. Got three bushels wheat of H. A. Taylor[35] 1.35¢ pr bus, paid him 3.05¢. Carried it over to burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. Carried Lois down to Browns.

Feb 4 – At home. Mrs Benjamin came down after Lois. Hannah went down with her. Not very cold. Went over to burg after Sarah and Mrs Betts.

Feb 5 – At home. Worked in shop some.

Feb 6 – Worked in shop on violin some.

Feb 7 – Worked in shop on violin. Charley called here to see about his violin. Fine day.

Feb 8 – Pleasant morning. Put Charley Gillis violin together. Ethan and Hannah went down to Mr Randal.[36] Ethan fixed their melodian.

Feb 9 – Cut wood, cut one tree. Ethan and Hannah went up to T. C. Fords[37] in Evening.

Feb 10 – Worked in woods cutting wood. Charley Gillis got his violin. He paid me two Dollars.

Feb 11 – At home all day. Put new finger board on my violin. Mrs Betts went to burg with Jacksons folks.

Feb 12 – Worked in woods cutting grubbs &c.[38] Fine day.

Feb 13 – Worked in woods. Ansil Lee called here. I cut his hair. Pleasant day. Two of Isaac Odels girls died to

Feb 14 – Pleasant day. Went up to woods, got one load wood. Filed saw for A. Brown. Ella and Minnie Randall, they stayed in Evening. Two of Isaac Odels girls Died to day.[39]

Feb 15 – Worked in woods some sawed some wood. Cut some grubbs. Odells girls buried to day. Pleasant day. Jim lost cold chisel. Ethan up to shop.

Feb 16 – Fine day no snow. Cut some grubs in after noon. Ethan up to shop.

Feb 17 – Ethan drawed wood. I shelled some corn and acarried corn and oats to mill. Carried Mrs Betts and Sarah over to burg. Fine day.

Feb 18 – Pleasant day mercury 27 Abz in morning. At home.

Feb 19 – Worked round shop some. At home.

Feb 20 – Worked in shop. Made cross head for Theodore Earl.[40] Fine day.

Feb 21 – Went up to Swaddles. Mrs Betts stayed up there. Warm day. Roads nice, dusty.

Feb 22 – Very smoky. Choped wood. Warm day. Cut some trees in in grove on hill South East of barn. Ebenezar Flanders died this morning.[41] Mercury 53 Abz.

Feb 23 – Went down to Catharines[42] to Auction sale. Bot ax and Iron mortar[?] of Ansil Lee. Went over to Henry Rogers[43] in Evening. Had a big time, lots there.

Feb 24 – Cloudy morning. Ethan drawing wood. Jule Allen[44] came up with Browns folks stayed the Evening. Ebenezer Flanders buried to day.

Feb 25 – At home all day. Jim went down to Katharines. Nice day. Rass[45] folks and Mrs Totty to Browns to day. Henry came here stayed all night.

Feb 26 – Fine pleasant morning Mercury 30 Abz in morning. Henry and Ethan gone up to shop.

Feb 27 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg. Got pole for Streators wagon. Fine day. Went down to Browns in Evening Whitcom Blake Forbush &c.

Feb 28 – Put in pole for Streator. He paid me one Dollar $1.00. Very nice day. A. R. Shere to dinner. Sent Lois ham bone, sent Ina[46] sum nuts.

Mar 1 – Pleasant morning mercury 23 Abz in morning. Worked in shop some on violins. Rained in night. ____ Rowland buried to day.[47] Hannah went up to Lois to sewing.

Mar 2 – Worked on violins. Rainy day, snowed some, not very cold.

Mar 3 – Cold morning mercury 27 Abz. Put tops on two violins Talsimers[?] and Keans. Snowed all day snow fell 8 inches.

Mar 4 – Pleasant morning mercury 18 Abz in morning, lots snow.

Mar 5 – Carried two bushels corn to mill. Lost my tie strap. Mart called here. Carried hams down to Browns. Browns folks came up here in Evening.

Mar 6 – Mercury 14 Abz, cold, some sleighing. Made Herbert Earls[48] Oars. Worked some on violins.

Mar 7 – Worked in shop on patterns for binder. Rained in night. Made Ina a wash board. Mrs Betts got mad because Sarah let her hand go but she felt better after it. Rested[?] first rate.

Mar 8 – Worked on patterns. Snowed and blowed all day Mercury 17 Abz. Verry good sleighing. Hannah up to Lois to work.

Mar 9 – Cold snowy blustrous day. Making patterns. Mercury 15 Abz. Filed _____ saw for Ernest _____ Whiting brot it down. Jim went to burg with him.

Mar 10 – Mercury 6 Abz in morning. Rather a fine day. Worked on patterns in fore noon. Went over to burg in afternoon. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over. They went to uncle peats. They stayed all night in burg. Bot Box in post office 25 for one year Box 86[?].

Mar 11 – Fine day. Ansel and Katharine came up here. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts and Sarah. Henry here.

Mar 12 – Warm morning Mercury 31 Abz. One foot snow on ground. Worked on patterns. Snows and blows very blustrous day. Henry and davis Stafford called here. They had been to cut tree for shaft ____ water wheel.

Mar 13 – Very pleasant morning Mercury 5 Abz, not very cold. Went up to Lois in Evening. 13 inches snow. Carried Ina her washboard. Snowed in night.

Mar 14 – Snows some, blustrous morning, 14 inches snow. Worked in shop some. Drawed some wood. Will Planks[49] Girl born to day.[50]

Mar 15 – Fine day. Went up to Marshall with Dell Skinner to see his farm. Stayed all night. Found them well.

Mar 16 – Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to Browns[?]. Snows like fun. Dell went and saw Mr Stage abut taking the Hull farm. Left for home not far from 12 noon. Snowed hard. Called at Luke Smith took dinner. Got to Skinners about seven Evening. Ethan came up after me. Got home about Eight oclock.

Mar 17 – Fine morning mercury 7 Abz in morning. Worked in shop on patterns.

Mar 18 – Snowed in morning like fun. Not very well hard cold. Mrs Oakly[51] buried to day. Lots snow on ground.

Mar 19 – Snowing Mercury18 Abz at ten oclock A.M.

Mar 20 – Worked on patterns some. Filed saw for Win. Mart called here. Snowed hard. Dell and Lois drove in here. Drawed two loads wood. Snow very deep. Thundered and lightened in afternoon.

Mar 21 – Pleasant, sun came out, lots snow on ground, nearly 2 feet. Worked in shop on patterns. Henry here to dinner. Dell and Lois called here. Not very cold. Extracted two teeth for Mrs Wolcots hired man Emmet Emmons. He paid 50¢.

Mar 22 – Worked on patterns. Thawed all day. Win got saw. Sarah and Browns folks went over to tabernacle in Evening. Mr Sherwood Died this morning.[52]

Mar 23 – Worked in shop on patterns. Henry came down stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Worked in shop. Drawed two loads wood. Lots snow in woods. Stormy day. Mr Sherwood buried to day. Carried Mrs Betts and Sarah over to burg. Sarah rode home with Brown. Sylvester Mead[53] died 7 AM to day.

Mar 25 – At home. Snowey day. Went down to Katharines in afternoon stayed all night.

Mar 26 – At Marts. Mart scalded sap bucketts. Jo York came after Adelpha.[54] Got home about two Pm. Dave Barton[55] brot load hay, wheelbarrow &c. Sylvester Mead buried to day.

Mar 27 – Worked in shop some on wagon neap.[56] Turned some acorns for I. D. L. Schram.[57] Fine day. Hannah came home with him. Ina came with her.

Mar 28 – Worked in shop some. Drawed two loads wood. Went up to H. A. Taylors. Got one bushel potatoes paid one Dollar. Bot 4 bushels wheat paid 4 Dollars. Jo Kean paid me one Dollar.

Mar 29 – Worked in shop made neap for A. R. Skinners wagon. George ives called and got Taloimers violin. He paid 2.25. Ina here.

Mar 30 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah went bot table spread. Sent letter for seeds. Sawed out stuf for wheelbarrow. Rained all night.

Mar 31 – Worked on wheelbarrow some. Filed saw for E Whiting. Rained in morning. Will Clark[58] came with two horses. Dell and Lois called got Ina. They went down to Browns stayed all night. Ida Barber[59] came over stayed all night. Mrs Betts went to Burg.

Apr 1 – Rained some in morning. At home all day. Dell and Lois came up just at night.

Apr 2 – Went over to Town meeting. Dell and I went up to Blanchards.[60] Got load stalks, straw and hay. Went after Sarah and Mrs Betts at night.

Apr 3 – Worked in shop some. Put rockers on Hat Taylors chair. Dell went to Kalamazoo. Ethan, Lois and Hannah went down to Katharines.

Apr 4 – Went up to Blanchards with Lois. They left for Marshall. Ethan went with them. Rained in Evening. Paid Hat Taylor 1.60 one Dollar and sixty cents.

Apr 5 – Ethan and Will came back from Marshall. Made pick handle for Herb Earl. Fixed Browns handle.

Apr 6 – Fine morning. Jim and Will left for Marshall. Went down to Katharines. Sarah and Mrs Betts went to eat new shugar, got some.

Apr 7 – Worked in shop on patterns. Mrs Betts went over to burg to hear the gospel preached. Ethan and Bill went down to Katherines. Henry went a long. Fine day.

Apr 8 – Warm looks some like rain, considerable wind. Mrs Betts came home.

Apr 9 – Ethan went up to Foundry. Sarah went over to burg stayed all day. Old Mr King[61] Died this morning. I worked on Skinners wheel barrow. Fine day high wind.

Apr 10 – Ethan gone up to shop after chain wheel pattern. Repaired Skinners wheel barrow.

Apr 11 – Will Brown[62] commenced plowing. Worked round house. Fixed my stove boat. Old Mr King buried to day. Elder Gage called on Mrs Betts. Went over to burg in Evening. Sarah went to Hoags.[63] I waited bout a our and half in the road.

Apr 12 – Made soap. Painted Dells wheelbarrow, Jims slead. Uncle Daniels lost wagon tyre. Cleaned out cellar. Looked over apples &c. Mrs Betts put her ward robe in her room. Mr Brown plowing to day.

Apr 13 – Worked round house and yard. Dell came down to Harts.

Apr 14 – Worked in yard trimmed some trees. Went down to Katharines in Evening. Browns folks went. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Henry stayed all night. Bill sick. Skinner called here got his wheelbarrow.

Apr 15 – At home all day. Henry went up to Flanders.[64] Fine day very dry.

Apr 16 – Worked in shop on patterns. Sarah went over to Janes[65] Stayed all night.

Apr 17 – Went over to burg after Sarah. Went over after Alfleda.[66] Mrs Calkins came home with her. Had a rainy night. Mrs Hennika[67] Died to day.

Apr 18 – Carried Mrs Calkins over to burg. Rained. Carried Hannah down to Browns. Rained hard. Filed saw for Erve Hall[68] 20¢. Man called here canvasing for Diary.

Apr 19 – Worked in shop on patterns. Charley Town[69] called in.

Apr 20 – Worked on patterns. Carried Hannah over to Barbers. Bot midlings[?] over to mill[?] 50¢. Bot one Bushel potatoes, one Dollar to be paid in work. Manne Hennikas[70] wife buried to day.

Apr 21 – Worked in shop on patterns. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Apr 22 – At home all day. No one here.

Apr 23 – Worked in garden pulled grubbs. Hot day. Brown sowed oats. Carried Hannah over to aunt Peets. Sarah went over to Janes stayed all night.

Apr 24 – Went over to burg in morning after Sarah. Put fellow[71] in one wheel. Split some wood in afternoon. McNaughten boy[72] buried to day.

Apr 25 – Worked round. Got out manure. George Barber[73] helped all day.

Apr 26 – Got out two loads manure. Chored round. Spread manure on East garden. Cyrus Streator and Laura called here just at night.

Apr 27 – Carried some corn over to mill 2½ bushels. Spread manure on west garden. Earnest Whiting plowed garden. Rained just at night. Henry came down. Jo Kean paid 50¢ cts.

Apr 28 – Rained in morning. Not much done. Went over to burg in Evening after hannah. Got my meal.

Apr 29 – At home all day. Rainy day. Henry came down stayed all night. Snowed in night. Hailed in afternoon.

Apr 30 – Ethan and Henry gone up to shop. Hannah went over to Mr Johnsons.

May 1 – Cool day snowed and blowed some. Split some wood. Will Ridler[74] commenced plowing. Hannah came home. Got some lumber of Theodore.

May 2 – Commenced hen yard. Ethan went up to shop. Fine day froze ice.

May 3 – Cool, ice this morning. Put the cow in Browns lot to day. Ethan gone up to shop.

May 4 – Worked on hen yard. Fine day. Ridler plowing. Went up to Jim Spires[75] to raise Barn, big Barn.

May 5 – Worked on hen yard. Very pleasant day. Will Ridler finished plowing. Mrs Betts went over to burg to hear the gospel preached in the Babtist Church.

May 6 – At home all day. No one here.

May 7 – Trimed trees south side road. Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Betts came home.

May 8 – Worked round hen yard and house. Frost this morning.

May 9 – Went up to Foundry. Got chissel made for Binder. Got my grubb ax repaired. Mr daniels lost tire of one wheel. Fine day, cool wind, frost this morning.

May 10 – Frost this morning. Worked on hen yard some.

May 11 – Worked round yard and in garden.

May 12 – Worked on got two bushels potatoes of H A Taylor. Got some lumber up to mill 5 boards 14 feet long. Not very good. Went up to foundry after Ethan. Jim came home. Mrs Betts went to burg.

May 13 – Went down to Katharines. Jo Darling[76] maried to day. John Darling[77] was there. Fine day.

May 14 – Worked on hen yard. Will Ridler planted corn in south west lot. Herbert Earl helped him. Mrs Betts came home.

May 15 – Worked on hen yard put the gate up. Ernest plowed in afternoon. Jim went back to Marshall. Brown planting. Considerable wind.

May 16 – Rained in morning. Brown planting. I trimed some trees. Warm day. Brown put Snap and buggy in Barn.

May 17 – Went up to shop in morning with Ethan. Mr Ford and M O Streator came down and made out release on Mortgage. I went up to Streators. Got seed corn some potatoes of Brown.

May 18 – Mercury 90 in shade. Went up to shop in morning. Ground gr____ Ax. Hot day. Draged some of my corn ground. Jesse Earl[78] planting.

May 19 – Hot day. Carried Ethan up to shop. Finished draging corn ground. Jesse Earl planting. Ernest plowing his corn ground. Burnt brush East of Barn. Barber came over and started the plow.

May 20 – Very hot day Mercury 85 in shade. At home. No one here.

May 21 – Made corn Markers. Marked ground one way. Rained in afternoon. Paid Minnie Randall twenty Dollars.

May 22 – Rainy day. Barber came over. Plowed some moved old cornstalks. Went up to shop after Ethan at night.

May 23 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Barber plowing. Berban Jacobs and Brother called here a while in forenoon. Commenced planting corn East of house. Fine day cold East wind.

May 24 – Cold North East wind. Went up to Foundry. Mercury 50 Abz. Planted corn.

May 25 – Finished planting. Old Mrs Youngs buried to day. Henry Earl died this morning.[79]

May 26 – Went up to shop in morning with Ethan. Worked on hen yard some. Hoed in garden. Went up after Ethan at night. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg stayed all night.

May 27 – Fine morning. Sun came out nice.

May 28 – Worked round garden. Went over to burg. Went up to Ridlers to see him about road work.

May 29 – Went up to shop in morning. Hoed some in garden. Went up to shop in afternoon. Hannah and Ida Barber went. Elward Agent called on the boys to see Binder.

May 30 – Working on road. Hot day. Went up to Foundry.

May 31 – Worked round garden. Worked on road.

Jun 1 – Hoed in garden. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Wi___ans to strawberry festival. Barber put on plaster in front room. Conk Smith here stayed all night.

Jun 2 – Hoed corn, beans and potatoes. Cultivated cabbage ground. Went up to Foundry after Ethan. He had gone by the burg have rode with Ed Flanders.[80]

Jun 3 – Some cloudy, no rain yet, very dry. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Hannah stayed. Little Dutch man stayed here all night.

Jun 4 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Marked out potatoe ground. Barber planted in some corn. Rained in night. Conk Smith stayed here all night.

Jun 5 – Cloudy some mist. Ethan set out some plants.

Jun 6 – Planted in corn. Mrs Betts went to Dowagiac.[81] Sarah went over to burg. Theodore put in bridge. Ethans patent papers came or a part of them.

Jun 7 – Finished planting corn. Put handle on Mr Taylors hoe. Hoed in garden some. Water wheel busted. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon.

Jun 8 – Ethan and Henry at work on patterns. Plowed out potatoes. Rained in afternoon. Barber brot over some more ashes for corn.

Jun 9 – Cloudy morning, rainy day. Not much done. Cow out. Filed saw for Whiting.

Jun 10 – Cool wind Mercury 53 in morning. Went down to Katharines. Mrs Gaffing there.

Jun 11 – Put ashes on corn. Rainy afternoon. Ridler came down to work in corn.

Jun 12 – Cool morning Mercury 62. Went down to Katharines. Expected to go to Kalamazoo but no go. Came home and finished ashing my corn. Ezekiel Lee Died to day.[82]

Jun 13 – Hoed in garden some. Barber commenced plowing for Buckwheat. Ethan finished patterns. Cow out to night. Rainy night. Brown and I went to find Cattle no find him.

Jun 14 – Rainy morning. Found Cattle over by Rail Road. Had been in Whitbecks wheat. Worked in garden some. H. A. Taylor brot his buggy down to paint.

Jun 15 – Worked on Barbers cultivator. A. Browns folks came up in Evening. Mrs Semer came with them. Had a heavy shower rained all the Evening. They went home in the rain.

Jun 16 – Went up to Foundry. Henry went up to Battle Creek with patterns.

Jun 17 – At home all day. Mr Henry Rogers and wife[83] and Mrs Wilson here. Ethan carried Hannah down to Katharines. Dell came stayed all night.

Jun 18 – Dell went to Kalamazoo, had Bill.[84] Dell and Henry stayed all night. Finished Barbers Cultivator. George put ashes on corn. Painted cultivator. I painted Taylors buggy boddy.

Jun 19 – Painted Taylors buggy. Hoed in garden some.

Jun 20 – Rainy day. Not much done.

Jun 21 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Ansil, Catharine and Hellen[85] came up here. Ansil and I went up after Ethan.

Jun 22 – Fine morning. Henry came down to have pattern alterd some.

Jun 23 – Carried Ethan up to shop. I cultivated turnip ground. Barber Cultivated corn one way. Brown plowed Buckwheat ground. Henry got Castings. Lois came home in Evening. Went down to Browns in Evening. Alfleda down to Browns.

Jun 24 – At home. Mr Daniels called here a while. He went down to Browns. Ethan went down to Katharines carried some things to Hannah. Lois went with him. Had a heavy shower.

Jun 25 – Went up to shop. Very hot. Hoed in garden some.

Jun 26 – Went over to burg. Got wire for hen yard. Bot one Barrel plaster paid one Dollar for it.

Jun 27 – Put wire round Hen yard. Hot day. Sarah went down to Browns. Carried Hannah up to Mr Flanders. Ina here.

Jun 28 – Barber sowed Buckwheat. Hoed some in garden. Dell and Lois went home took Ina.

Jun 29 – Went up to shop with Ethan. Brown sowed Buckwheat. Hot day. I hoed potatoes. Got ½ bushel potatoes of H. A. Taylor. Ridler plowed out corn in south west lot. Mrs Benagar Dean[86] died.

Jun 30 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Sarah went to burg. I plowed potatoes and corn. Very high wind all day.

Jul 1 – Wind continues to blow. Mrs Dean buried to day also Mr Enoch Nap[87] of Comstock. Mart and Lucy came up here. I had a chill.

Jul 2 – Not very well to day. Went over to burg. Got dress for Hannah. Put new bridge on new violin. Rained a little in afternoon.

Jul 3 – Worked some in shop and garden.

Jul 4 – At home all day. Sarah went over to burg. Ethan and Hannah went over in Evening to see fireworks.

Jul 5 – Varnished Taylors buggy and turned some pins for _____. Had a hard blow in afternoon, blowed down our Locust tree in front yard.

Jul 6 – Finished Taylors buggy. Turned 6 pins for Jim Millham.[88] Hoed corn in afternoon some. Went over to burg after Sarah.

Jul 7 – Pleasant morning. Went up to shop. Took Mr Taylors buggy home. Hoed corn some. Hank and Nancy came home.

Jul 8 – Hank and Nancy* here. Ethan took Hannah down to Katharines. Hank and Nancy went down to Mr Browns.

Jul 9 – Worked in corn some.

Jul 10 – Plowed and hoed corn. Mrs Betts came home to day.

Jul 11 – Hoed corn. Brown cut wheat in west lot. Mr Barber commenced cutting wheat.

Jul 12 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Plowed and hoed corn.

Jul 13 – Finished hoing corn. Brown drawed one load wheat.

Jul 14 – Cleaned out Barn. Worked in potatoes some. Put paris green on them. Hot day Mercury 91 Abz.

Jul 15 – Very hot. Ethan took Mrs Betts over to burg. Ethan went after Mrs Betts at night.

Jul 16 – Went to Kalamazoo after Louese. Had Ernest buggy. Cows got in Whitbecks lot. Sold calf to Whitbecks for 4.00. Bot set Spokes $3.00 pr _____.

Jul 17 – Chored round house and garden. Run after cows and fixed fence.

Jul 18 – Made wheelbarrow for Claud K. Brown Esqr of Chicago.[89]

Jul 19 – Went Kalamazoo with Hank. He went to Chicago. Bot coat and pants $3.00. Dell and Lois came here. Mart and Lucy called here. Hannah went to Caywoods. Sis[90] went up to Milhams.

Jul 20 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Corked barn floor in forenoon.

Jul 21 – Hoed[?] corn some. Barton[?] thrashed some. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jul 22 – At home all day. Lois came back. Dell went home. Mr Clark called in a while.

Jul 23 – Barton[91] thrashed some. I plowed corn. Very hot. Ridler plowed corn. Finished plowing.

Jul 24 – Hot day. Plowed corn. Emma Allen[92] here. Twelve here to dinner.

Jul 25 – Rainy morning. Headache. Hoed some potatoes. Tamer Ford[93] here. Barber plowed some corn. Lois went up to Jo Flanders.

Jul 26 – Some cooler this morning. Spect had rain somewhere. Finished plowing corn. Mr Flanders came down got all the whimmen[94] took them up to their house. Had a heavy shower, rained and blowed hard. Mr Flanders had to drive in _____.

Jul 27 – Cloudy morning. Laid up fence in forenoon. Carried all the wimmin down to A. Browns in afternoon. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer 36 Dollars. Rained hard in night. Adda Ralph here to day.

Jul 28 – Sun came out in morning, fine day, rained some in afternoon. Cow went to Bull. Mrs Betts went to burg.

Jul 29 – Hot day. Went down to Katharines. All well. Mrs Gaffing there.

Jul 30 – Made Ex for Skinners Democrat[?]. Jim came home. Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Betts came home. Mrs G____ preached at burg this Evening.

Jul 31 – At home. Worked worked in shop some.

Aug 1 – Worked on spokes some. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon.

Aug 2 – Worked on spokes. Repaired Huntings guitar. Lois went home.

Aug 3 – Worked in corn some. Drove some spokes in afternoon.

Aug 4 – Drove some spokes in morning. Catharine and Mrs Gaffing came up. Mrs G. went up to Jim Milhams. Estella came down stayed all night. Hoed corn in afternoon.

Aug 5 – Katharine here. Hank and Nancy came up. Warm day.

Aug 6 – Hank moved his things over. Hoed corn. Sarah and Katharine went up to Jim Milhams. Hannah went down to A. Browns. Rained a very little towards night.

Aug 7 – Cloudy morning looks like rain. Finished hoing corn and potatoes. Katharine went home. Mrs Betts went to burg. Dr Upham came here stayed all night from Elkhart, Ia. Hot and dry.

Aug 8 – Cut weeds in yard hoed some. Sarah went to burg to meeting. Ethan came home in morning. Hot day. Babtist Association at Burg.

Aug 9 – Chored round. Belas calf got in corn lot. Went round woods put up some fence. Hoed some. Will Clark came. Ethan sick in night. Mrs Betts came home. A____ closed to day.

Aug 10 – Fine morning. Went up in woods. Plowed out the potatoes. Cut some grubbs in cornfield side road. Will Clark here.

Aug 11 – Hunt preaches in D K Rogers Saloon this morning. He paid five Dollars for the room. Drawed one load wood. Not feeling very well. Jim and Will went up to Henrys.

Aug 12 – Fine morning some cloudy. At home all day. Mrs Betts went burg on her own hook I guess some mad spose.[95] Peer Whitcomb brot her home. Hank and Nancy came up stayed all night.

Aug 13 – Some cloudy. Will Clark went home. I cultivated my corn one way. Had a good shower in afternoon rained hard. Nancy and Claud here all day. A. Browns folks went to Kalamazoo to Seance at Wagners.

Aug 14 – Killed 3 fowls, one white Rooster, old Speckled hen, one yellow hen. Nice morning. Went down to Katharines got 25 lbs flour. Had a heavy shower, rainy afternoon, rained all night.

Aug 15 – Rainy morning. Picknic at South Haven. Jim gone.

Aug 16 – Put rims on wheels. Ethan worked up to shop. Charles Lees[96] folks here came up with they new buggy. Mrs Betts, Nancy and Mrs Brown and Jule went up to Mr Ralphs.

Aug 17 – Work round, cut some wood, chored round. Mr Barber plowed corn. Sate Skinner[97] went up to Flanders. Henry came down in Evening.

Aug 18 – Pleasant morning. Cut some wood. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to Burg to stay all night.

Aug 19 – At home all day. Very hot Mercury 92 in shade. Alvin, Ida and Henrys _____ _____ _____ ____ and Louese went over to Burg after Sarah and Mrs Betts.

Aug 20 – Not very well. Drawed one load wood. Nancy and Claud went down to Ambrose and Matildas to attend to business &c.

Aug 21 – Worked round garden pulled weeds in Strawberry patch. Rained in night.

Aug 22 – Went up to sawmill in morning. Some rainy. Worked round house and shop. Rainy afternoon and night. Ethan & Louese calculated to went down to Katharines but no go, to much rain.

Aug 23 – Rainy. Jim went over to Barbers after umbrella. Carried Ethan up to shop. Got Whitings buggy. Wedged two axes for E Whiting and mended pruning shears. Rainy day and night.

Aug 24 – Rainy morning. Mrs Skinner[98] and Sate came here stayed all night. Henry came down in Evening. Fixed Whitings buggy wheels.

Aug 25 – Went over to burg. Bot sack flour 90 cts. Bot oil, cheese, paper, Envelopes. Mrs Skinner and Sate went home. Henry here. W^m Gleason[99] died this morning. Went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Aug 26 – Went to Kalamazoo, took the cars. Went to Schoolcraft. Attended a Spiritual meeting. Left my horse to Jesse Turners.[100] Came back. Went up to Katharines stayed all night. Alfleda went down to Charles Lees. Mr W^m Gleason buried to day.

Aug 27 – Rained some. Came home at noon. Hank here to work. Not much done in the work line.

Aug 28 – Some misty. Not very well. Not much work don to day. Rained hard in night.

Aug 29 – Worked in shop some on cross head. Mart and Lucy, Delpha come up. Louese went home with them. I went over to burg in morning. Received of township treasurer $3.70 cts.

Aug 30 – Finished cross head. Went up to saw mill. Hannah went down to Browns. Mr Brown thrashed his wheat. Saw Mr Dilenbeck from Yorkstate. Martin Turner and wife[101] called here just at night. Brown thrashed.

Aug 31 – Hot morning Mercury 83 Abz. Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Louese came back with me. Rained some. Stoped to Browns.

Sep 1 – Cool morning. Town[e] thrashing. Chored round, drawed two loads wood. Louese and Stella went up to Sherwoods in afternoon. Rained some in night. Cool days.

Sep 2 – Henry came down in morning. Rainy.

Sep 3 – Chored round. Went up to Mr Flanders. Bot one bushel corn 60. Claud went with me. Jim helping Streator thrash.

Sep 4 – Went to Comstock to mill, carried 4 bushels wheat, one corn. Mrs Betts and Mrs Keith went over to burg on a visit.

Sep 5 – Chored round. Split some wood. Cool day. Ethan carried patterns up to shop. Rained some in afternoon. Commenced (indecipherable). Extracted two teeth for Herbert Earl.

Sep 6 – Pleasant morning but hot. Pioneer Picknick at Augusta. Drawed one load wood. Mr Browns folks and Mr Wagner here in Evening had a Circle. The Old Preach came Che Che would not let him talk.[102]

Sep 7 – Henry and Louese gone up to Marshall. Had Bill. Worked in shop some. Cut out sides for wheelbarrow. Ethan worked up to shop.

Sep 8 – Stript some corn. Nancy here. Ridler commenced cutting corn.

Sep 9 – All well at home. Hank and Nancy here.

Sep 10 – _____ worked in shop on mold pattern. Mart and Lucy came up. Rainy. Mart went to burg with Sewing Machine.

Sep 11 – Finished mold pattern. Rained in afternoon. Barber came up and cut some corn. I went down to Browns to tea. Hank and Will topping corn.

Sep 12 – Worked in corn. Mrs Betts and Nancy came back. Homes girl died.[103] Henry got home with Bill. Ridler cutting corn.

Sep 13 – Lottie Holmes buried to day. Ethan and Henry went up to shop. I toped corn all day. Ridler finished cutting. Barber cutting. Sarah, Mrs Betts and Nancy went up to Hanibals in afternoon. Boys made some cider.

Sep 14 – Pleasant morning. Finished cutting corn in fore noon. Set up cornfodder in afternoon. Hot day. Ancil got back from Salt Lakecity.

Sep 15 – Nice morning. Browns folks gone to Plainwell. Will came up to ___s after Louese. Ethan gone up to shop.

Sep 16 – At home all day. Ethan down to Browns. Mrs Betts went to burg. Louese came home from Marshall. Ancil and Lucy came up here in afternoon. Rainy night.

Sep 17 – Rainy morning. Sarah went over to burg in morning. Took old buggy to pieces. Went after Sarah and Mrs Betts. Mrs Betts (indecipherable) Eat to much Honey. Dell called here.

Sep 18 – Pleasant morning. Chored round. Made fire under Kettle[?]. Sarah colored lot cloth for Louese. Took the old buggy wheels to pieces. _____ up hubbs to get the _____ out. Ethan went up to shop. Sent my patterns _____.

Sep 19 – Made rack[?] for Cart to draw corn _____ on. Drawed some _____. Louese went up to _____ stayed all night. _____ stayed here with Jim.

Sep 20 – Sprinkled some. Took Ethan over to burg. He went to Jackson to State fair. Drawed two loads wood in forenoon. Went over Ethan in Evening.

Sep 21 – Hank and Will cut the Buckwheat. I made Claud a husking ____. Worked on wringer.

Sep 22 – Fine morning. Hank, Jim, Jule and Nancy gone to Skinners. Ethan gone up to shop. Mrs Betts gone to burg. Sarah and I went down to Katharines. Stayed all night.

Sep 23 – Went Came home in Evening all right.

Sep 24 – Worked round shop, cleaned out old shop. Barber husked little corn. Hank and all hands got home. Mrs Betts came home from burg.

Sep 25 – Ethan went shop. I husked some corn in forenoon. Sawed out felloes for Barbers wheel. Mr Orrin Case called here at noon to see about Sam Chichester stealing[?] hogs of Father.

Sep 26 – Finished Barbers wheel at noon. Ethan went up to shop. I worked round, picked apples up at the corner then went down to Jacksons. Stayed all night.

Sep 27 – Pleasant morning. Ethan went up to shop. I stript some corn leaves in forenoon. Mercury 88 at one oclock, very hot. Mrs Betts went over to burg Ethan took her over to hear the gospel preached once more in her life. Rained hard up to _____.

Sep 28 – Henry and Ethan went up to shop. Cloudy morning. Worked on wheel some. Asel left for home Titusville Pennsylvania.

Sep 29 – Worked on wheel finished one wheel. Husked some corn. Mr and Mrs Ira Clark[104] here to Dinner. Fine day. Claud went up to Rass Towns with Mr Brown, got some peaches.

Sep 30 – At home. Hank and Nancy here, Henry here. I went down to Katharines just at night after tea and butter.

Oct 1 – Sarah went over to burg in morning with Ethan. I put bottom in three peck basket. Picked lot corn. Hot day. Mercury 94 at one PM in shade. Husked some corn.

Oct 2 – Picked sixteen rows corn. Earnest brot Hogs head down in morning. Sarah, Mrs Betts and all the girls went up to Jesse Earls. I set tire on Barbers wheel. Very hot and dry.

Oct 3 – Warm and dry, 89 in shade. Repaired rake wheel for Jesse Earl in morning. Cut popcorn in west garden in fore noon. Jim and George Barber gone down to Jacksons to gather butternuts. Went down to Jackson after walnuts. Rained in night.

Oct 4 – Some rainy and very high wind. Picked some corn and husked some. Barber finished cutting Buckwheat.

Oct 5 – Carried Ethan up to Henrys. They went to Marshall, had Whitings buggy. I picked and husked some corn, drawed one load wood.

Oct 6 – Jim and I husked corn. Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to A. Browns. Mrs Betts was so lame she could not stay at home. She had been housed up for for four days, had not been visiting in four days. She thought it would do her good.

Oct 7 – At home all day. Not much rain.

Oct 8 – Worked round done chores &c. Went over to burg at noon. Sarah went over to get pattern for Hannah. We went down to Katharines stayed all night. Rained most all night.

Oct 9 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sarah Expected to go to Chicago.[105] There was no Excursion Train going so she no go. Came home in forenoon. Dell here to dinner. He went to Kalamazoo Sis went with him. Ethan came home.

Oct 10 – Rainy day. Husked some corn carried it in to corn house. Dell and Ethan went to burg in forenoon.

Oct 11 – Husked some corn. Ethan worked on patterns. Hank and Nancy moved over to burg. I carried over two loads.

Oct 12 – Hank cleaned out gallery. Worked round house and barn.

Oct 13 – Hank carried one load over to gallery. I finished husking my ____ corn. Ridler and Barber husking. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Ethan went up to Foundry.

Oct 14 – Hannah and I went around the Squair. Saw Bronsons, Burgess and Peet Milhams houses for the first time. Henry Rogers and wife and Mrs Wilson came over here.

Oct 15 – Cleared out corn house and sorted corn. Sarah went over to burg in morning. Barber husked some. I am Sixty four years old to day.

Oct 16 – Sorted corn some. Barber put in some. Nancy and Claud here to day. Ethan and girls went over to Nancys in Evening.

Oct 17 – Sorted corn. Ridler brot one load. Barber thrashed Buckwheat. Rained in afternoon. Brown Drawed his Buckwheat. Ridler finished drawing my corn.

Oct 18 – Sorted corn. Ridler took one load home the last. Minnie Randall here in Evening. Mrs Corkins came from Battle Creek. Rainy night.

Oct 19 – Rainy day. Sorted corn. Took Mrs Corkins over to burg at noon she went home on the 12.55 train. Mart and Jay Barton[106] thrashed wheat.

Oct 20 – Worked in corn some sorted some corn.

Oct 21 – Went down to Katharines after some butter.

Oct 22 – Chored round house and barn.

Oct 23 – Fixed up bin in cornhouse. Sorted some corn. Went over to burg. Got potato hook mended.

Oct 24 – Mr Chapin Died[107] to day. Took Hannah up to Jesse Earls and Ethan up to shop. Went down to M. O. Streators. Dug potatoes. Barber thrashed Buckwheat. I get three bushels B.wheat. To Browns to buy eleven bushels potatoes.

Oct 25 – Went down dug 3 bushels. Mr Streator raised his Hog pen and corn house. Floral[?] Hall burnt on the Galesburg Fair ground in Evening.

Oct 26 – Went over to burg in morning after Louese. Rained some. Barber came over and shelled some corn.

Oct 27 – Dug my potatoes up at the corner and put them in the cellar. Ethan, Hannah and Louese went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Oct 28 – Pleasant, nice day, some wind, Mercury 70 Abz at noon in shade.

Oct 29 – Husked corn some. Fine day. Husked about fifteen baskets and put it in corn house.

Oct 30 – Finished husking. Louese started for Chicago.[108] Sorted corn.

Oct 31 – Worked round house and barn. ____ some all day. Went up to shop with Ethan.

Nov 1 – Went up to mill got load _____ for fence got some steaks for fence.

Nov 2 – Went up to shop with Ethan. Rainy day. Brot sewing machine home from Earls. Carried it over to burg. Sarah went over bot warp for Katharines carpet.

Nov 3 – Carried Sarah down to Katharines. Clarra came home with me. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Made fence around the Strawberries. Susan Giddings[109] here to day. Whiting brot his cutter down.

Nov 4 – Carried Hannah and Clarra down to Katharines. Sarah came home. Rained quite hard when we came home.

Nov 5 – At home. Snowey day. Not much done but move stoves. Put stove in shop and in middle room. Cold night. Ethan and Jim went over to burg. Jim got boots. Mrs Betts came home.

Nov 6 – Not very well hard cold. Mercury 3 Abz in morning. No work to day.

Nov 7 – Mercury 10 Abz in morning. Husked popcorn &c. Rather disagreable day. Ethan went up to shop. Rained all night. Jim went up to Milhams stayed the night.

Nov 8 – Rainy. No work to day hard cold. Eugene Powlisons wife died.[110] Elva Earl Married[111] to day spec so maby some.

Nov 9 – Cut and drawed two loads wood. Hank and Nancy came over stayed all night. Walter Barton died to day.[112]

Nov 10 – Nancy gone down to Mr Browns. Fine morning. Put handle and heads in my mawl. Mrs Powlison buried to day. Fine pleasant day. Not much done, hard cold.

Nov 11 – Nice day. At home all day, not very well. Walter Barton buried to day.

Nov 12 – Went down to Katharines after tea and Hannahs cloths. Mrs Gaffing started for Tennessee.

Nov 13 – Pried up well room in forenoon. Worked on road in afternoon. Picked stone on the hill. Fine day.

Nov 14 – Patched the roof some. Chored round. Banked house some. Mr Mitchel called here. Dell and Lois drove in did not get out of the carriage. Rained some in after noon. Mr R Ransom died this morning.[113]

Nov 15 – Some rainy. Ethan went over got Nancy. I put up shelf on back roof to put iron ware on. Shelled some corn. Ethan made water spout.

Nov 16 – Went to Comstock to Mill got Buckwheat and corn ground.

Nov 17 – Went over to Burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. Sarah started for South bend.[114]

Nov 18 – Went over to burg after Hank and Nancy. Henry came down. Herbert Clark and Jimmy Millham[115] came down here. Very nice day. All well as usual.

Nov 19 – Fine day. Worked on Skinners buggy. Mr Barton and David thrashed. Lois and Hannah went down to Mr Browns. Ross Ingersoll died to day.[116]

Nov 20 – Nice morning. Lois and Hannah went over to Nancys. Mrs Betts came home to get ready to go over to Galesburg. Finished Skinners buggy.

Nov 21 – Repaired my wagon wheel in forenoon. Carried Alfleda down to Katharines. Rainy afternoon, rained in night.

Nov 22 – Cloudy morning, Ross Ingersoll buried to day.

Nov 23 – Lois and Will went home. I went up to James Ralphs. Took up two bushels Buckwheat, got almost three bushels and a half potatoes. Henry came down. Ethan went up to shop in Evening. Bot stove pipe. Old Mrs __oo___ died.

Nov 24 – Warm morning. Went up in woods got load wood. Went over to burg after Nancy. Mrs Betts went over with me. Extracted tooth for Jenny Giddings.[117] Had head ache in afternoon.

Nov 25 – Mercury 51 Abz nice warm morning. Mr Brown called in. Claud went home with him. Hank came over. Will and Jule came up here. Claud went down home with Jule stayed all night.

Nov 26 – Warm, mercury 49 Abz rainy morning. Cow gone, found her down on Randals. Dressed out cutter Knees. Rainy day. Claud went home this morning.

Nov 27 – Mercury 38 Abz in morning. Rained some in morning. Ethan went over to burg.

Nov 28 – Mercury 28 Abz in morning. Fixed up hatch way in forenoon. Snowey and blowey. Fixed up high chair in afternoon. Allen Simmons called here to get buggy boddy made. Cold day.

Nov 29 – Mercury 15 Abz in morning, cold and Blustrous, no snow. Filed buck saw for Whiting.

Nov 30 – Worked in shop on cross Head. Stormy.

Dec 1 – Finished cross Head in forenoon. Sawed out cutter Beams in afternoon. Mrs Betts went over to burg with A. Brown.

Dec 2 – Pleasant, Mercury 17 Abz. At home all day. Claud stayed here all night.

Dec 3 – Pleasant, sun out all day, warm. Carried Claud home. Mrs Betts came home. Drawed two logs down from the corner on sleigh.

Dec 4 – Rainy morning, not very cold, some snow. Worked in shop some on wheel barrow.

Dec 5 – Went up to mill in the morning. Worked on road some. Windy, not very cold. Jesse Earl and Burgess and Ed Schram worked. Drawed some dirt.

Dec 6 – Worked on road in forenoon. Snowey day. Went over after Sarah, she no come.

Dec 7 – Worked in woods in fore noon. Cut maple tree. Went over after Sarah, she come. Drawed some wood.

Dec 8 – Snowey. Jim and I cut some wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Hank and Nancy. Ethan carried Hannah down to Caywoods. She came home at night. Ambrose and Matilda here in Evening.

Dec 9 – At home. Hank and Nancy here. Fine day. Mart brot Alfleda home. Katharine came with them.

Dec 10 – Worked on bob patterns some. Barber came over shelled some corn.

Dec 11 – Took the carpet rags over to Mrs Semer. Katharine and Sarah went to Nancys. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Burdicks. Barber came over. I hung ax for him. He cut stub down for _____. I went over (indecipherable). Bot Horse Blankets.

Dec 12 – Fine day, mercury ____ Abz. Went up in woods cut some wood. Katharine, Sarah and Alfleda went up to Nichols. Byron Allen and wife, Cora, Ida and Emma[118] here in Evening. Henry took Claud home.

Dec 13 – Drawed three loads wood in fore noon. Went down to Marts. Katharine and Hannah went home. No snow, cold wind.

Dec 14 – Pleasant morning. Worked in woods, cut wood.

Dec 15 – Cut wood in forenoon, drawed some. Went over to burg carried Mrs Betts over. Sarah went down to Kalamazoo with Nancy to get stove and furniture. Jim went over got his over coat.

Dec 16 – Pleasant day. At home all day.

Dec 17 – Repaired guitar for Harry Streator.[119] Bot _____ of Whiting 8½ lbs 5 cts pr pound. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts. Warm day.

Dec 18 – Rainy morning. Worked in shop. Commenced Simmons buggy boddy. Browns folks and Sarah went over to Hanks in Evening. Rained in Evening.

Dec 19 – Cloudy, mercury 55 Abz in morning. Not much done to day. Worked in shop some.

Dec 20 – Sick, no work. Mercury 66 Abz.

Dec 21 – Fine day. Worked in shop in afternoon. Ernest brot shank. Plained board for Ernest.

Dec 22 – Not any work to day. Ethan carried Mrs Betts over to burg.

Dec 23 – At home. Not very well. Went down to Katharines. Took Hannahs things down, got tea. Lost Martingale ring. Warm day, rained in Evening.

Dec 24 – Worked some in shop on sills. Went over to burg with N. L. Randall. Received of Township Treasurer 40 forty Dollars. Paid Minnie Randall 40 forty Dollars.

Dec 25 – Rainy morning, not very cold, Mercury 46[?] Abz in morning. Went down to Browns in Evening. Ed Phelps got hurt, gun burst, blowed britch pin into his head.

Dec 26 – Worked in shop some. Carried Nancy home. Alfleda went over. Mrs Betts came home. Old cow out, found her at Blakes barn in galesburg. Filed saw for Erve Hall 15.

Dec 27 – Worked in shop some. Not very cold, 20.

Dec 28 – Filed saw for Erve Hall 20. Put in cross bar in Rand___ saw frame and filed saw 20. No frost, Mercury 50 Abz.

Dec 29 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in Evening. Mrs Betts went over with me. Hank and Nancy came over.

Dec 30 – Henry came down. Carried Hank and Nancy home in Evening. Mrs Betts came home.

Dec 31 – Worked in shop in forenoon. Mart came up with Hannah. Went over to burg, paid my tax 7.69 cts. Ed Phelps Died this morning.[120] Hannah stayed over to Nancys.

——-

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

[2] Luke had taken a trip back to New York and was presently staying with his niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson

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

[4] Above zero

[5] George Tomlinson

[6] George & Marion’s daughter, Nellie Tomlinson

[7] Perry, New York, where the Tomlinsons lived

[8] His niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson

[9] Train

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

[11] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner

[12] Galesburg, Michigan

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

[14] Neighbors, and his daughter Nancy’s in-laws, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

[15] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Mary (Allen) Calkins

[16] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith

[17] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph

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

[19] Believe this is one of his farm animals

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

[21] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders. After his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. The Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda

[22] Neighbor, Earnest Whiting

[23] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith

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

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

[26] FindAGrave.com shows that Emeline (Bigelow) Bradley is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pavilion, New York

[27] His son, Ethan Keith

[28] Luke’s niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham, her husband, Martin Milham, and her uncle, Ansel Lee

[29] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator

[30] Marius O. & Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator

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

[32] His daughter, Hannah Keith

[33] Neighbor, William Ralph

[34] Ambrose Brown

[35] Neighbor, Hannibal “Hat” A. Taylor

[36] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall

[37] Neighbor, Thomas Clark Ford

[38] Etc.

[39] Michigan Death Records confirm that both Jane Ann (Odell) Olin, age 30, and her sister Ellen Odell, age 25, died of consumption on February 13, 1877, and FindAGrave.com shows they are both buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[40] Luke’s cousin

[41] FindAGrave.com confirms that Ebenezer Flanders died February 22, 1877 and is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan

[42] In all his previous diaries up until 1875, Luke has spelled his sister’s name as Catharine. Since then he sometimes spells it starting with a K, as can be seen in previous entries for January, and other times starting with a C

[43] Neighbor, Henry D. Rogers

[44] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Julia Allen. She lived with Ambrose and Matilda

[45] Neighbor, Erasmus Towne

[46] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, the daughter of Lois & Del Skinner

[47] Michigan Death Records reveal that Harry M. Rowland, age 14, the son of Henry C. & Delilah Rowland, died February 27, 1877, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[48] Luke’s cousin, and brother of Theodore Earl

[49] The Plank family had been Luke Keith’s neighbors in Comstock, Michigan, but on April 3, 1873, Luke noted in his diary that they had left for Grand Rapids, Michigan

[50] A search of the Michigan, Births, 1867-1902 index and images on Family Search listed a Gertie Plank born in 1877 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to William Plank and Mary Plank. The 1880 Census does not show Gertie so it is assumed that she had died

[51] FindAGrave.com records show that Emma (Scofield) Oakley, wife of Walter E. Oakley, died March 16, 1877 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[52] FindAGrave.com reveals that Cyrus Gould Sherwood died March 22, 1877 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[53] Michigan Death Records confirm that Sylvester Mead died March 24, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Schoolcraft, Michigan

[54] Joseph and Marion Adelpha York, the husband and daughter of Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York

[55] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[56] The pole or tongue of a cart or wagon drawn by two animals side by side

[57] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram

[58] His grandson, William Byron Clark, the son of Lois and her first husband, Byron Clark

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

[60] Samuel & Lucretia (Judson) Blanchard

[61] Michigan Death Records reveal that Samuel A. King, age 72, died April 9, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[62] The son of Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown

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

[64] Neighbors, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders

[65] Neighbor, Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag

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

[67] Michigan Death Records confirm that Elwilda Henika, age 21, died April 17, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan

[68] Believe this to be his neighbor, Irwin I. Hall

[69] Neighbor, Charles Towne. In 1891 Charles married Luke’s daughter Hannah

[70] Manuel Henika, the husband of Elwilda (see April 17 entry)

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

[72] Michigan Death Records show that Lafayette P. McNaughton, the 14-year-old son of Peter & Flora McNaughton, died on April 22, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[73] The son of neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber

[74] Neighbor, William Ridler

[75] Neighbor, James Spier

[76] Census and FindAGrave.com records show that Joseph Darling was married to Anna, however no marriage record was found

[77] Joseph Darling’s father

[78] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”

[79] FindAGrave.com shows that Henry L. Earl died May 24, 1877 and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan. Henry was the nephew of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[80] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders

[81] Dowagiac, Michigan, where she had once lived and where her late son Edwin Crawford’s family lived

[82] His paternal first cousin

[83] Neighbors, Henry & Lucy (Harris) Rogers

[84] His horse

[85] His niece, and sister Catharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York

[86] Michigan Death Records show that Angeline (Murray) Dean, the wife of Benajah Dean, died June 29, 1877 in Pavilion, Michigan with FindAGrave.com showing she is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan

[87] FindAGrave.com reveals that Enoch S. Knapp died June 29, 1877 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan

[88] Neighbor; James was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for January 23 entry)

* His son-in-law and daughter, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown

[89] His 2-year-old grandson, Claude Keith Brown, Nancy & Hank Brown’s son

[90] Nickname for his daughter Louese

[91] His neighbor, Samuel Barton

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

[93] Mary Tamer Ford, the daughter of neighbors Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford

[94] Women

[95] Some mad I suppose

[96] The family of his cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee

[97] His daughter Lois’ sister-in-law, Sarah “Sate” Skinner

[98] His daughter Lois’ mother-in-law, Sarah (Knight) Skinner

[99] Michigan Death Records show that William Gleason died August 25, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan

[100] His maternal first cousin, Jesse W. Turner

[101] His maternal first cousin (and Jesse Turner’s brother) and wife, Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner

[102] Both the Brown and Keith families were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances, or “circles.” Don’t know who the “Old Preach” was, but Chee Chee was Ambrose Brown’s Indian Spirit Guide

[103] Michigan Death Records reveal that Charlotte Holmes, the 16-year-old daughter of Hamlin & Jane (Abbott) Holmes, died September 11, 1877 from Typhoid Fever in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[104] Believe this to be Ira & Angeline Clark, the parents of Lois’ first husband, Byron Clark

[105] Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr., and his family lived in Chicago so perhaps she was going to visit them

[106] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton

[107] Michigan Death Records reveal that Henry Chapin died October 23, 1877 in Battle Creek, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan

[108] Louese was attending school in Chicago and staying with her uncle and aunt, Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford Jr.

[109] Neighbor, Susan (Ford) Giddings, the widow of Augustus Giddings

[110] Michigan Death Records show that Sarah (Wheeler) Powlison, age 27, died November 8, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows she was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[111] Michigan Marriage Records shows that Elva Earl married Frank Crossfield on November 8, 1877 in Galesburg, Michigan. Elva was the daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl

[112] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton. Michigan Death Records confirm that Walter died November 9, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, at the age of 21

[113] Michigan Death Records reveal that Roswell Ransom died November 13, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

[114] Sarah’s brother, Henry Clay Crawford, and his family lived in South Bend, Indiana

[115] Believe this to be neighbor, James Edgar Milham, the son of James & Ellen (Adams) Milham

[116] Michigan Death Records confirm that Ross A. Ingersoll, age 29, died November 19, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan

[117] Neighbor, the daughter of Augustus & Susan (Ford) Giddings

[118] Byron (& his wife, Ida Chittenden), Cora, Ida and Emma Allen, were the children of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen

[119] Neighbor, and the son of Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator

[120] Michigan Death Records confirm that Edward Payson Phelps, age 19, died December 31, 1877 from explosion of gun (see December 25^th entry) and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan

Luke Keith’S 1876 Diary

 1876 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]

Jan 1 – Paid Clarrie E. Austin[2] order $11.00. Rained some in morning, mercury 60 fifteen minutes to nine, sun shone out warm. Went down to Browns[3] in afternoon stayed in evening. Hank[4] came home. Barbers folks came over. High wind all night.

Jan 2 – Pleasant morning, 39 Abz.[5] At home all day.

Jan 3 – Cut some wood in forenoon. Went to mill in afternoon. Got my Buckwheat flour. Cold, froze some. Henry[6] came down stayed all night. Hank and Nancy[7] here.

Jan 4 – Cold morning 18 Abz at nine oclock. Sarah,[8] Nancy and Hannah[9] went over to Barbers. I went up to Mr. Benjamins. Lois[10] came home with me stayed all night.

Jan 5 – Rained some in morning. Went up in woods cut one tree down. Drawed two loads wood. Browns folks came up here in Evening. Lois went home.

Jan 6 – Cool to snow ground, not froze any. Went over to burg[11] got paint for Katie. Went down to Kates[12] stayed all night.

Jan 7 – Went to work on closset. Worked all day. Fine day.

Jan 8 – Worked on closset. Work all day. Warm day. Old Mr Nelson died.

Jan 9 – Worked on closset. Rainy. Worked all day. Blowed and snowed all night, high wind. Mr Nelson buried.

Jan 10 – Wind blows yet. Put shelves in cellerway. Painted closset and door below. Came home. Very cold. Mart[13] took sawing machine in woods. Darling helped him saw.

Jan 11 – At home. Cold morning. Hannah gone up to Mr Taylors[14] to work on dress. Went over to burg, bot some dings.[15] Cold, snowed some. Had headache.

Jan 12 – Cold morning. Cut some wood. Hat, Libby[16] and their aunt Mrs Taylor here in afternoon. A. Brown and family here in Evening. Mr J Allen and girls here, Cora and Ida.[17] Mr Hu___ died at L. Barbers.

Jan 13 – Cold morning. Worked round choring mosof the day. Commenced lap board for girls.

Jan 14 – Not very well. Nancy and Hannah went to Lawton[18] on the one thirty seven run. Sarah went over to burg.

Jan 15 – Not very cold. Put gudgeons in Schrams machine rollers. Not very well, headache, hard cold. Old Mrs Sherwood[19] brot in and buried to day.

Jan 16 – At home. Not well, hard cold. No snow on ground, rained some.

Jan 17 – Damp day. No work to day. Mercury 49 Abz. Hard cold.

Jan 18 – Rainy morning, 51 Abz, rained all day. Husked some corn. Went over to burg in afternoon. Very muddy.

Jan 19 – Some colder, no snow. Mr Flanders[20] brot his wagon down to be mended.

Jan 20 – Pleasant day. No work. Not very well. Carried Sarah over to burg she stayed all night.

Jan 21 – Carried Sarah over to burg she stayed all night with Jane.[21]

Jan 22 – I went over to burg after Sarah. Rained. Not very well yet, cold hangs on yet. Not very cold, no snow.

Jan 23 – At home. All well but I.

Jan 24 – Went up in woods, sawed some wood. Went over to burg, bot Barrel salt $1.75 cts. Not very cold, ground froze. Rather rough wheeling.

Jan 25 – Pleasant but cool, no snow. Went down to Katharines[22] stayed all night.

Jan 26 – Painted closset in forenoon. Went to Kalamazoo in afternoon to see B. M. Austin. Fine day.

Jan 27 – Painted front room up stairs in fore noon. Came home in afternoon. Rained in night some. Went over to burg in Evening, got oil and Sellers cough syrup. Ancil Lee[23] came to Jos.[24]

Jan 28 – Some rainy in morning. Made cross head block for Theodore.

Jan 29 – Split and drawed wood some.

Jan 30 – At home all day. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Jan 31 – Fine pleasant day. Worked in shop. Put in reach in Flanders wagon. John Kirkwood and wife came here.

Feb 1 – Pleasant morning, mercury 36 Abz in morning. Went down to Katharines. Snowed and blowed when we came home. Saw Ancil Lee.

Feb 2 – Cold 3 Abz in morning. Alfleda[25] went down to M. O. Streators.[26] Frank called and got her. I finished Flanders reach.

Feb 3 – Worked on Earnests box all day. Browns folks here in Evening.

Feb 4 – Sick, no work to day. Snowed some.

Feb 5 – Pleasant day. Sawed and drawed some wood on sleigh.

Feb 6 – At home all day. Henry Rogers[27] here a while. Not very cold.

Feb 7 – Fine day. Went to Kalamazoo with Engine. Saw B. M. Austin and Gipson their fore man.

Feb 8 – Worked on Whitings box all right. Not very cold.

Feb 9 – Rainy day, some thunder, warm for the season.

Feb 10 – Worked on box some. Carried Sarah over to burg. Went over after her in Evening. Rainy, some thunder, mercury 60 Abz, some very sharp lightning.

Feb 11 – Sold cow to Earnest Whiting for $33.00 and if she weighs over 550 lbs he pays me 6¢ pr pound for what is over that weight. Mercury 44 Abz. Jo & Ancil Lee came up here. Jim Krom called here.

Feb 12 – Jo and Ancil here. Worked in shop some. Made churn cover for A. Brown. Put heads on Joes crutches. Browns folks here in Evening. Fine day.

Feb 13 – Pleasant, no snow, mercury 45 Abz in morning. Ancil and Jo went home. Mercury 63 2 oclock P.M.

Feb 14 – Finished Whitings box. The cow weighed 568 pounds.

Feb 15 – Cut one tree, drawed two loads wood. Snowed some, cold day, froze some.

Feb 16 – Snowed some. Went down to Fords to see cow. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Feb 17 – Worked round house some and shop some. At home all day.

Feb 18 – Went up in woods, cut some wood in forenoon. Nice day. Ernest brot some lard down in Evening 11½ eleven and half pounds.

Feb 19 – Pleasant morning, mercury 36 Abz. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer $80.50.

Feb 20 – Went down to Katharines, Alfleda stayed. Warm day.

Feb 21 – Went over to burg. Came back with Charly and Em Spire. Paid Emma Spire one hundred and twelve Dollars 112.00.

Feb 22 – Went up to Skinners to see cow, made bargain for her. Cold night.

Feb 23 – Went up to Skinners, got cow, paid $35.00. Pleasant but cold wind.

Feb 24 – Went out to Taylors and Earls in morning. Carried Sarah went up to Earls. I went up to Mr Earls in Evening. Pleasant day. Drawed some wood.

Feb 25 – Fine morning. Paid Z. C. Durkee twenty 24.50 four Dollars and fifty cts.

Feb 26 – Warm and pleasant. Husked and drawed corn, drawed four loads. George Barber came over here. Jim[28] and Will Brown[29] went fishing up to East Lake. Rained in night.

Feb 27 – Stormy morning. Trees and fences covered with sleet and ice. A hard storm for cattle that have to be out, for Marts any way.

Feb 28 – Husked corn. Snowey day, not very cold. Wm Ralphs folks[30] here in Evening.

Feb 29 – Husked corn in morning. Finished what was in the barn. Snows some, not very cold, the most snow we have had any one time this winter. Went over to burg. Went down to Browns in Evening with sleigh.

Mar 1 – Snowes like fun.[31] Carried Sarah over to Burg.

Mar 2 – Shelled corn and put up grist 4 bushels wheat. Went over to Henry Rogers in Evening with Browns folks. Had a circle.[32]

Mar 3 – Went to mill in morning. Carried 4 bushels wheat, 4 Buckwheat, 2 corn. Nice sleighing. Carried Louese[33] up to Mr Ralphs.

Mar 4 – Fine day, snow most gone. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Mar 5 – At home. Lois and Will[34] came down here. Rained some.

Mar 6 – Snow about gone, rained some in morning.

Mar 7 – Not much done to day. Alfleda sick. Went down to Browns in Evening. No snow, all gone, freezing some bot[?].

Mar 8 – Got meat of Ernest 77¢. Worked round.

Mar 9 – Ancil and Jo came up. Went over to burg to buring ground.[35] Jim went home with them.

Mar 10 – Fine warm day. Drawed in and husked corn. Warm as summer, rained in night, some thunder.

Mar 11 – Ancil and Lucy[36] came up here stayed all night. Lois came down. Browns folks came up in Evening.

Mar 12 – Ancil went back. Snowed and blowed some.

Mar 13 – Carried Lucy up to Skinners. Cold wind. Got 8½ lbs Beef of Whiting 9¢ pr pound.

Mar 14 – Ernest had my wagon to go to Kalamazoo.

Mar 15 – Carried Lucy home. Very windy day. All right.

Mar 16 – At home, rainy day, hard storm, very icy.

Mar 17 – Not very cold, snowed. Went over to burg, got strap for Sis,[37] trunk patterns for Hannah. Louese left for Chicago,[38] stopt to Lawton.

Mar 18 – Pleasant day. Carried corn up in cornhouse, drawed some wood. Went down to Browns in Evening. Frank Tomlinson[39] came in Evening.

Mar 19 – I went up to Lois with Frank. Cold wind. Ethan[40] and Frank went down to Marts stayed all night.

Mar 20 – Ethan and Frank came home. Snowey day, cold.

Mar 21 – Frank left for Allegan. Went up to Lois, Ethan went with him. Pleasant day. Jim and I sawed some wood.

Mar 22 – Drawed some wood on sleigh.

Mar 23 – Finished drawing in corn. Fine day. Jim went up to Sherman Lake with Brown after Ice, got none.

Mar 24 – Finished husking corn. Snowed in afternoon and Evening, very damp snow.

Mar 25 – Carried corn in cornhouse. Some 4 inches snow.

Mar 26 – At home all day. Not very cold.

Mar 27 – Cleared out cornhouse. Theodore came down wanted crosshead made.

Mar 28 – Made crosshead for Theodore. Very stormy day, snowed all day, very blustring.

Mar 29 – Snows like fun. At home.

Mar 30 – Drawed one load wood. Not much work. Shelled 12 bushels corn. Skinner got two bags corn.

Mar 31 – Went over to Comstock to mill. Sarah went down to Katharines.

Apr 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Drawed one load wood. Browns and Streators[41] folks here in Evening.

Apr 2 – Pleasant and cold, lots snow.

Apr 3 – Went to townmeting. Very good day, some snow and very muddy.

Apr 4 – Cut and drawed some wood. Warm day.

Apr 5 – Fine day, very high wind.

Apr 6 – At home all day. Working round house and barn.

Apr 7 – Worked in shop some, chored round.

Apr 8 – Went to Comstock to mill. Pleasant day. Hannah and Nancy came home. Mr Rogers, Forbushs and Browns folks here in Evening.

Apr 9 – Ethan and Hannah, Jim went down to Katharines. Pleasant day.

Apr 10 – At home all day. Solomon Youngs and wife[42] here to Tea.

Apr 11 – Went down to Marts. Fine day, warm. Got some new shugar. Barton[43] got out manure.

Apr 12 – Sarah and Nancy, Ethan went up to Skinners. Rained in morning. Paid John Schroder 3 Dollars. Rained in night, some thunder. Mr Barton got out manure.

Apr 13 – Pleasant and hot. At home, all right.

Apr 14 – Hannah and Nancy here.

Apr 15 – Hank came up on 6 oclock freight.

Apr 16 – At home to day, not very well. Sarah and all went down to Browns. Ethan and Hannah went up to Skinners.

Apr 17 – Hank and girls went back on Evening freight. Went down to see Jo Lee. Cate came home with me.

Apr 18 – Went up to Skinners. Moved machine down to Foundry.

Apr 19 – Went down to Katharines to see about money of Jo Lee. Jo York[44] came here, stayed all night.

Apr 20 – Jo went home. Went up to Foundry and burg. Jo got malodion. Went over to burg with Eggs and after Ethan. Fine day.

Apr 21 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Fine day. Mr Barton commenced sowing oats.

Apr 22 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Jim and I sawed some wood. Pleasant day.

Apr 23 – At home all day. Pleasant.

Apr 24 – Worked round house and shop.

Apr 25 – Sorted over potatoes. Sold Mr Barton 3 three bushels corn.

Apr 26 – Went to Kalamazoo got $300 Dollars of Jo Lee. Pleasant day. Bot suit cloths $8.00, one Hat $2.00.

Apr 27 – Went over to burg after Mrs Betts[45] goods. Mr Barton bot them over. Went up to Skinners after Mrs Skinner[46] and Lois.

Apr 28 – Cut and drawed some wood. Went down to Lawton on Evening Freight got there about Eleven P.M.

Apr 29 – Went over to Paw Paw in morning. Paid C. P. Galligan[47] 285.84 to apply on mortgage. Went down to furnace in afternoon.

Apr 30 – At Hanks all day or most of the day. Went up to the Coal bins saw them Coal one Engine.

May 1 – At Lawton. Went up to Iron Works and run around town.

May 2 – Left Lawton on the 10.10 train got off at Kalamazoo. Went to Registers office got mortgage and note. Got home about 6 P.M. all right.

May 3 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Sarah went over to burg.

May 4 – At home. Worked in shop some. Filed saw for N. L. Randal,[48] one for Whiting & Smith. Browns folks here in afternoon. Rainy night.

May 5 – Rainy day. No work out side.

May 6 – Went over to burg after mortar. Barber came over, plastered bed room. Went over to train after Mrs Betts. She came on the 11.12 train. Let Mr Barton have 4 bushels corn.

May 7 – Cloudy and warm. At home all day.

May 8 – Rainy. plowed croca ground rained some. Mr Barton plowed in afternoon. At home. Cut some wood. Put cow in Browns lot[49] to day.

May 9 – Cloudy. Took boxes to pecies. Plowed croquet ground. Rained some. Mr Barton plowed in afternoon.

May 10 – Cloudy morning, rain. Worked round in shop some.

May 11 – Made bedstead for Jim, turned lathe some. Pleasant.

May 12 – Fine day. Plowed garden, had Bill Brown.

May 13 – Worked in shop. Killed Jenny.

May 14 – Lois and Mrs Skinner here.

May 15 – Worked in shop some on patterns. All well.

May 16 – Barton planting. Warm day.

May 17 – Barton planting. Worked on patterns. Had a heavy shower.

May 18 – Warm and cloudy. Worked in shop some on patterns.

May 19 – Worked on patterns some. Warm day. Shelled some corn.

May 20 – Worked on patterns. Carried Sarah and Mrs Betts over to burg. Let Barton have two bushels corn.

May 21 – Very hot day. Barton planting. Barton had seed corn, one bushel and half.

May 22 – Went to mill carried 4 wheat, 3 corn. Sarah went down to Katharines.

May 23 – Warm day. Made cover to flour barrel. Planted Early Vermont potatoes.

May 24 – Worked in shop on patterns. Fine day.

May 25 – Finished up patterns this morning. Warm. Barton commenced plowing for Hungarian grass.

May 26 – Worked on crosshead. Went up to Foundry.

May 27 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Cut some wood. Received $40.00 Forty dollars of township treasurer. Paid Sate Beckwith $25.00 twenty five Dollars.

May 28 – At home. Del[50] and Lois here.

May 29 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Warned folks out on road. George Ives tried his new plow.

May 30 – Worked on road.[51] Sarah and Mrs Betts went to Mr Ralphs.

May 31 – Worked on road. Had a fine shower.

Jun 1 – Worked on road some, picked out stone and leveled same, 4 hours. Went down to Katharines after Bedstead. Rained some.

Jun 2 – Cloudy morning. Worked round shop and garden.

Jun 3 – At home. Worked round house and shop. Hank came in Evening. Draged my potatoe ground.

Jun 4 – At home all day. Hank left for Birmingham.

Jun 5 – Dragged my corn and potatoe ground. Bushed my ground.

Jun 6 – Planted potatoes. Very hot day.

Jun 7 – Went up to foundry. Mrs Betts went over to burg got her teeth repaired.

Jun 8 – Went up to foundry in morning. Mrs Betts came home. She gave me one Dollar. Worked on patterns. Rained all night.

Jun 9 – Cloudy morning, cool wind. Worked round garden and in shop some. Mr Austin Wolcott[52] died this morning. Mrs Betts went to Lawton.

Jun 10 – Went up to Foundry. Varnished some patterns. They run of a heat.

Jun 11 – Went down to Katharines. Mr Wolcott buried to day. Very hot day.

Jun 12 – Sowed my corn. Hot day. Jim commenced work for ARS.[53] Jo Lee came up here after his pants. Sowed my corn.

Jun 13 – Cultivated and marked out my bean ground. Hoed garden. Had a heavy Shower in afternoon.

Jun 14 – Planted beans and pop corn and sow forth and some.

Jun 15 – Went down to Marts. Got some timber for slats for Binder. Went up to Foundry. Sawed out slats. Had a heavy shower, got wet.

Jun 16 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Some rainy. Not very well. Got letter from Hank Nancy.

Jun 17 – Went up to Foundry. Had a heavy shower. Del came here in rain.

Jun 18 – At home all day. Not very well.

Jun 19 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Ethan at work on Binder.

Jun 20 – Worke on binder. Ethan up to Foundry.

Jun 21 – Went up to Foundry. Not very well.

Jun 22 – Bent slats for Binder. Tried to make soap. Jo Lee came up here.

Jun 23 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Went over to Burg at noon after Mrs Betts, she no come. Had a wind and rain storm.

Jun 24 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Saw Rufus Clapp. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jun 25 – At home. Mrs Semer came here. She paid me 50 cts. Browns folks came up in Evening.

Jun 26 – Carried Mrs Semer over to burg in morning. Worked in garden, plowed out potatoes, plastered corn in west garden. Had a shower. Went over to burg in Evening. Had a thunder shower, rainy night.

Jun 27 – Worked round garden some. Went over to burg after Hannah. Cars run of track at Comstock. No one hurt.

Jun 28 – Hung East door. Worked on Hills violin. Went over after Hannah, no come.

Jun 29 – Went up to Foundry in morning with Ethan. Not much work. Worked on Hills violin. Hannah came home.

Jun 30 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Put violin together to day. Hoed in garden.

Jul 1 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Not much work. Not well. Some rainy. Charley Town[54] bored his hubbs. Mrs Betts went over to burg.

Jul 2 – At home all day. Had a heavy shower. Lewis Barber and wife[55] here just at night.

Jul 3 – Fine morning, cool wind, sun came out, had a heavy shower in afternoon. Mr Rogers sowed Buckwheat. Cut down tree, drawed one load wood. Charley Town commenced cutting wheat.

Jul 4 – Rainy morning. Carried Sarah and Alfleda over to burg in morning, went over after them in afternoon. Carried Hannah over just at night.

Jul 5 – Put up leach. Carried Ethan up to Foundry in morning, went around by burg got Hannah. Hank and Nancy came home. High wind, no rain to day. Mrs Hank Potts[56] Buried to day.

Jul 6 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Cut out Gloves for D. D. Harris.[57] Very hot day. Nancy went down to Browns. Mr Brown commenced cutting wheat. Stafford cuting wheat.

Jul 7 – D. D. got his Gloves. At home. Went up to Foundry in morning. Hot 98 in shade.

Jul 8 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry.  Very hot 98 in Shade. Went up to Foundry at night, took machine home. Lois came down, stayed all night. Hannah, Nancy and all at home.

Jul 9 – Ethan and Hannah went down to Katharines. Hot 95 in Shade. Del came down after Lois. Jim went down to Jacksons to work.

Jul 10 – Very warm. Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Nancy here. Went after him at night. Claud[58] went with me. Jim to work for Jackson.

Jul 11 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Claud went up with me. Carried Sarah, Mrs Betts, Nancy and Hannah down to A. Browns in forenoon. Mrs Barton[59] came over, picked currants. Hot, had a shower.

Jul 12 – Very hot. Went up to Foundry. Very hot all day.

Jul 13 – Round home. Went up to Foundry. Worked in shop some on cart.

Jul 14 – Went up to Foundry. Plowed potatoes, beans and pop corn. Mrs Barber, Ida,[60] Mrs Brown and Jule[61] here. Brown finished his wheat.

Jul 15 – Plowed out, Sowed corn and some potatoes. Carried Sarah, Nancy and Mrs Betts over to burg. Went down to Browns in Evening. Hot day.

Jul 16 – At home all day. Ethan and Hannah went up to Skinners. Hank and Nancy went down to Katharines.

Jul 17 – Hank went home. Drove cow. I went up to mill to find timber to repair bridge and up to Schrams. Went over to burg in morning after Mrs Betts. Got Boiler.

Jul 18 – Went down to Mitchels. Alfleda went down to Katharines. Nancy went home.

Jul 19 – Went up to foundry in afternoon. Built fence around bridge. H. A. Taylor helped me.

Jul 20 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry in morning. Hoed some in garden, put up grist, shelled 3½ bushels corn. Paid Stella Milham five Dollars $5.00.

Jul 21 – Went to mill to Comstock. Carried 3 & ¼ bushels wheat, 3-2/4 corn. Ida Barber came over in Evening with Will Brown.

Jul 22 – Ethan went to Foundry. Hannah went home to Lawton. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Louese Crawfords girl Born to day.[62]

Jul 23 – At home all day. Jesse Earl[63] and R. S. Clapp here.

Jul 24 – Took Ethan to Foundry. Mr Barton cutting _____ oats.

Jul 25 – Went up to Foundry. Worked in garden some. Went over to burg and up to Foundry. Got new Boiler.

Jul 26 – Put flange on pattern. Went up to Foundry in morning. Mr Barton finished cutting oats. Went to Foundry, went to burg. Got five Dollars on postal order from Henry Crawford.[64]

Jul 27 – Went down to Katharines. Paid Jo Lee three hundred and seven Dollars and fifty cts $307.50. Had a fine shower.

Jul 28 – Went up to Foundry in morning and Evening.

Jul 29 – Carried Ethan to shop. They put Binder on machine. Mr Ives brot wheel to be repaired. Worked on road some, finished bridge.

Jul 30 – At home all day. Lois down here.

Jul 31 – Worked on Mr Ives wheel. Got out spokes and drove them.

Aug 1 – Went up to Foundry. Finished Mr Ives wheel. Mrs Clinton here. Carried her up when I went after Ethan.

Aug 2 – Went up to Foundry. The Boys cider press came. John Ives got his wheel, he paid 1.50. Paid Osgood 20 cts for repairing glasses.

Aug 3 – Went to Foundry in morning. Put in Plow handle for Caywood. Went after Ethan. Henry came down with us. He went up home. Mr Hobbs called here. Sawed out Marts runners.

Aug 4 – Went up to Foundry in morning.

Aug 5 – Went up to Skinners in Morning. Head ache all day. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg, stayed all night.

Aug 6 – Let Bill[65] out in lot this morning. Went over to burg after the Whimmin[66] after noon.

Aug 7 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry in morning. Chored round. Went down to Browns. Made Claude Ball & Mallet. Sent them with carpet. Hot day.

Aug 8 – Went to Foundry. Chored round some. Mr Allen cutting grass. Hot day.

Aug 9 – Ethan worked on pattern. Allen finished cutting grass. I no do mutch. Hot day.

Aug 10 – Went up to Foundry and Skinners. Carried some apples. The Boys clearing out old press. Barton and Rogers put up hay. Had a fine shower in Evening.

Aug 11 – Rainy morning. Worked round shop and garden. Went up to Foundry.

Aug 12 – Went up to Foundry. Barton drawed hay. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Johnsons _____.

Aug 13 – At home all day. Lois went down to Katharines. Jim came home. Mr Terry came here, stayed all night.

Aug 14 – Went up to Foundry, came back. Carried Terry down to Mr Browns. Had a fine Shower. Mr Barton Seated two Chairs 75 cts. Ed Flanders[67] girl born.[68]

Aug 15 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Terry went up to Nathan Lamkins.

Aug 16 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Carried Osgood ½ bushel apples.

Aug 17 – 54.39. Carried Ethan to Foundry. Hot day. Paid Sate Beckwith $45 Dollars. Received of township Treasurer fifty four Dollars and thirty nine cts. Got some ash plank of Earl.

Aug 18 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Pulled black beans.

Aug 19 – Worked round repaired Miss Jones &c[69] Henry c

Aug 20 – At home all day. Lois came down.

Aug 21 – Worked on Skinners buggy. No go to Foundry to day.

Aug 22 – Worked on Ives violin some. Repaired Skinners buggy Boddy.

Aug 23 – Finished Skinners buggy, painted it some. Worked on violin. B. Hartwell called here. Hot day.

Aug 24 – Went over to Burg. Saw George Browns cancer.[70] Worked on Ives violin. Very hot.

Aug 25 – Duglass thrashed Bartons oats had 85 bushels. Very comfortable day. Finished Browns wheat. Charly Town paid 25 cts.

Aug 26 – Worked round shop and house. David Barton[71] drawed straw home.

Aug 27 – Went to Winslows Island to a Spiritual Meeting. Fine day.

Aug 28 – Chored round. Mr Ives brot violin to be repaired. Dave Barton got out manure. Jim and George Barber cut some corn fodder. Fine day. Douglass took his machine away. Had a good rain in night.

Aug 29 – Worked on violin some and had a good rain in night.

Aug 30 – Went up to Foundry. Carried some boards for apple gatherer. Mrs Hawver here to day. Turned wheel for Clauds wheelbarrow.

Aug 31 – Ethan went up to Foundry. Bot fingerboard for Ives violin. Got Bathric violin to Repair. Mrs Betts left for Chicago.[72]

Sep 1 – Worked on violin some. Ethan went up to Foundry. Had a heavy shower.

Sep 2 – Got five bushels wheat of M. O. Streator. Went to mill. Cleaned out Jo Lees stove &c. Jimmie Milham[73] stayed here all night.

Sep 3 – Rainy morning. At home all day.

Sep 4 – Worked round house and shop on violin.

Sep 5 – Went down to Marts. Got one bushel grass seed 1.75¢. Went up to foundry. Ethan stayed all night.

Sep 6 – Sawed out Herbert Earls oars. Put finger board on Mr Ives violin. Had a big rain.

Sep 7 – Went up to Foundry and Skinners. Got some crabbapples. Del gave me five Dollars.

Sep 8 – Went to Foundry with Ethan. Worked round. Dave finished sowing wheat.

Sep 9 – Went up to Foundry and down to A. Browns.  Repaired buggy wheel for M. O. Streator. Browns folks went to Lawton on Evening freight. Some rain.

Sep 10 – Cloudy damp morning. At home all day.

Sep 11 – Worked round shop and house. Worked on violin. Ethan went up to Foundry.

Sep 12 – Worked on violin some. Mr Ives called here. Ethan went to Foundry. Sarah, Alfleda and Bill went to Skinners.

Sep 13 – Worked on guitar and Bathrics violin. Ethan up to shop. Rainy night.

Sep 14 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Rainy. Worked on violin.

Sep 15 – Went up to Foundry in morning.

Sep 16 – Went up to shop. Went over to burg at noon after Mary and Carry Plank.[74] Frank Bird Died to day.

Sep 17 – Went to Foundry. Mary and Carry here. At home all day.

Sep 18 – Ethan went to Foundry. Carry and Mary went to Allertons.[75]

Sep 19 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Worked in shop some.

Sep 20 – Worked on Bartons box. Went up to Foundry.

Sep 21 – Went up to Foundry. Made Henry scraper they commenced making Cider. Layed up the first cheese. Finished Bartons box $2.00.

Sep 22 – Went to Foundry. Worked on Box, finished.

Sep 23 – Went up to Foundry. Got Strawberry plants of Charly Macomb.

Sep 24 – Went down to Marts. Mart and Lucy came up here. Lois here.

Sep 25 – Went to Foundry. Dave Barton made cider. Bot shingles for house 3.45 ct. Carry and Mary came back in Evening. Bot 5 lbs nails 5 cts. pr pound.

Sep 26 – Went up to sawmill got load slabs. Put on some shingles. Had a shower just at night.

Sep 27 – Shingling House. Had a shower at night. Girls went down to Browns. Finished Shingling.

Sep 28 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo to fair. Went up to Skinners in morning. Put on ridge boards and done some patching. Will Plank[76] came.

Sep 29 – Rainy morning. Ernest brot cider down. Got Whitings buggy.

Sep 30 – Went over to Vicksburg. Rainy day. Got there about sundown.

Oct 1 – At Jo Yorks. Went over to Old Mr Yorks[77] in Evening. Heard Oscar and Frank play the violin. Cow had a calf. Spect so.

Oct 2 – Came home. Fine day. Got home before night. Will, Mary and Carry Plank went home.

Oct 3 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Henry came home with us at night. Sarah went over to burg.

Oct 4 – At home. Chored round. Went up to Foundry. Sawed out stuf for steps to cornhouse. Put shingles on Barn and hogpen.

Oct 5 – Went up to shop. Drawed lot slabs from mill. Sent things to Hank.

Oct 6 – Went to shop in morning. Rainy day. No work to day. Patty[78] came at noon. I went over got her trunk. Went after Ethan at night.

Oct 7 – Cleaned out corn house and chored round some. Ethan not well.

Oct 8 – Went down to Katharines. Found Jo Lee sick.

Oct 9 – Made axhelves for Mart. Henry Seymore here.

Oct 10 – Went up to shop in morning. Joseph W. Lee Died this morning about Six. Hannah went up to Mr Taylors to work. Went down to Katharines stayed all night.

Oct 11 – Came home this morning in day. Went up after Ethan. Went down to Browns in Evening.

Oct 12 – Pleasant morning. Went down to Katharines. Jo Lee buried[79] to day. Ansel Lee came.

Oct 13 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Worked in shop some.

Oct 14 – Went up to Shop. Worked round house and barn. Chored.

Oct 15 – At home all day. Skinners folks called here. They went down to Browns. I am 63 years old to day.

Oct 16 – Barton got load apples for cider. Skinner sent load _____ down. Fine day.

Oct 17 – Went down to Charles Lees.[80] Catharine and Patty went down. Patty came home with us. Very fine day.

Oct 18 – Put up Stairs to corn house. Fine day. Ethan gathered apples. Pleasant.

Oct 19 – Not much done to day. At home.

Oct 20 – Worke