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

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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